Run to Win

Logan Price (12^th: 16:56)

The 10^th Annual Kerryman Pub 5k Road Race (and Mary’s Walk) was yesterday in Saco, Maine. Some decent weather and good competition led to some blazing fast times in a March race, with a dozen people running under 17 minutes.

The race also appealed to a younger demographic than is usually the case in this area, with only 2 runners in the top 10 over the age of 30 and 4 runners in the top 20 that were 16 or younger! There were a total of 737 finishers.

Despite the large number of fast times, the course record was safe for the first time in years. Casey Carroll was the overall winner with a time of 15:49, outsprinting Chris Harmon and Jeff Sprague by only 5 seconds.

Jenna Desrochers had a slightly more comfortable lead in the women’s race, coming through in 19:22. She was 13 seconds ahead of 13-year old Emily Durgin.

Photo Credit: Don Penta (Set 1 – Set 2)
Results: Full – Top 10 M&F – Age Group

The 9^th annual Kerryman Pub Road Race and Mary’s Walk were today in Saco, Maine. Ethan Hemphill and Timothy Rider both broke last year’s record setting pace by over 10 seconds; Ethan won by 2 seconds in 15:23. That ain’t walking, especially this early in the season. Kristin Barry won by almost a minute in 17:52, followed by Christine Reaser in 18:41 and Abby Iselborn in 19:16. Lynne Mooney and Dan Franek won the master’s races. There were a total of 660 finishers.

(Full Results – Race Photos – More Photos)

I have already run the Mid-Winter Classic, but it sort of stands on it’s own despite being a Maine Grand Prix race this year. The official start to the racing season seems to be the Mary’s Walk. I liked the Kerryman Pub race (which is concurrent with Mary’s Walk) when it was a four miler rather than a 5k.

This year, I will probably go and watch the Irish Road Rover on Sunday, but I do not expect that I will run. I think I will wait until the New Bedford Half Marathon to begin my real racing season. I am still undecided about whether or not I am going to run the Eastern States 20 Miler the week after, though.

Mary’s Walk and the Kerryman Pub 5k was yesterday at noon. Ethan Hemphill won with a new course record of 15:36, breaking his old record from last year by 10 seconds. This course is only two years old, however; the race used to be a four miler. Dirigo had a strong showing up front. It was in the high 40s and low 50s at race time, and most of the people who raced last week saw an improvement this week. This is probably due to a combination of having had the first race out of the way, there not being nearly as much wind, and the course being much easier. I myself cut just shy of a minute off of last week’s time, although my pace is still nothing to brag about at this point in the season.

It still amazes me that in March there are 9 people again under 17 minutes (2 under 16 minutes); that 7 of them are already out of their 20s is not so surprising however.

It seems to me as though early season races are usually sponsored by Pubs. Maybe it is only Maine, with last week’s Brian Ború race and this week’s Kerryman Pub Race but I know of a few races this time of year in New York that are also sponsored by taverns. I suppose one reason is since it is normally still cold, they can hold the races later in the day and still expect people to show up, which means that folk will stick around after the race. Last week’s race went off at 11 am and this week’s went off at noon.

Maybe this is all just in my imagination and Southern Maine just happens to be a fluke. But then again, maybe not. Do you know of any races in your area this time of year? Who sponsors them?