Club News

Backshore 5 Mile Race
by Mike Pelletier
Friday, May 14, 2010

GLOUCESTER, MA - The weather in Gloucester was perfect: temperature in the low 50's, no rain, and a cold but not too strong headwind for the first two miles. Thirty-four Striders took advantage of the weather to run some very good times for a five-mile race so early in the racing season. Veteran runners know how tough it can be to step up to 5 miles after a steady diet of 5Ks. They also know how tough it is to show any speed at this point in the season after only 6 weeks of training under Coach Fernando Braz.

Defying all those caveats was Layce Alves. Layce, Linda Fitzpatrick's daughter, was first Strider woman and first woman overall in the race. New Strider Carl Buxbaum was first Strider male, edging long-time Strider Rich Tabbut by a second.

In age group competition, new Veteran Bonnie Hallinan was first woman 60-69, followed closely by Anita Robboy who was second woman 60-69.

Four other Strider women also placed second in their age groups: Alexandra Kay in the 0-19 category, Sue Quimby in the 30-39 category, Lauren Hamilton in the 40-49 category, and Jayne Sexton in the 50-59 category. Since Layce Alves is only 29, Strider women medaled in every age category except 70+ where there was only one entrant in that category in the entire field.

Finishing just out of the medals was Linda Fitzpatrick who was 4th in the 50-59 category, even though she is at the high end of her age group.

Full results at Cool Running.