03 December 2006

“Everybody seemed to know Jason,” Luke Kimmel said about running the 30th Annual Metric Marathon on December 3.  From a town near Philadelphia, PA, Kimmel had gravitated to the Metric Marathon in Columbia, MD, simply because he wanted to run a long race in preparation for the Houston Marathon in January.  None of the local runners knew him, and suddenly he appeared to be contending with two of the best, Jason Tripp and Dave Berardi, both of whom had won the event in past years.  The three found themselves running close together about nine miles into the 16.3-mile race when Kimmel began to run harder.  By ten miles he had pulled into the lead.  “I don’t know who he was,” Berardi commented, “but he was sure good on the hills.”  Kimmel  confided that two of the hills were difficult, but he was still able to “cruise” through the final several miles, winning in 1:33:32.  “There ought to be a rule against that,” Jason Tripp commented after finishing second about a minute behind.
        In the women’s race, Justine Whipple of the U.S. Naval Academy ran so fast that she had no apparent competition except for a few male runners.  “She passed me around eight miles,” said a somewhat disgruntled Steve Olenick.  Whipple usually runs 10k races and did no specific training for the Metric Marathon.  Nevertheless, she held a steady pace throughout the race and beat second-place Kristen Malloy by over five minutes.  The race marked the first time Midshipman Whipple had ever run 16 miles.  “I liked the hills,” she remarked.  In winning the women’s division, Whipple finished seventh overall in the field.
        Two local favorites did win the master’s competition, and both finished third in their respective gender groups.  Howard County Strider Hall of Famer Dave Berardi actually contended for the lead at one point, but then fell back to finish third overall in 1:35:04.  Strider Female Runner of the Year (2005) Robyn Humphrey really enjoyed running with a gaggle of men, and she passed several women in working her way up through the women’s field.  “Robyn did all the talking in our group,” George Orlean (3rd, 45-49M) said about her performance.
        A 5 km event was held for those not up to running a full Metric Marathon, a 5k.  Mike Pfarr of Jarretsville blasted the field with a course-record of 15:34, leaving local favorite Mark Breitenbach to hang on for second.  Mark’s wife Katie earned some measure of redemption, however, by winning the women’s division of the short-distance event (19:03).
        A total of 311 competed in the Metric Marathon, while 510 ran the 5k race.  The 5k field was greatly increased from its usual numbers by an influx of Girls on the Run of Baltimore.  Sponsored by Hadassah of Greater Baltimore, Girls on the Run promotes a healthy life-style and self-respect though coaching the sport of running to girls from third through eighth grade.  The 5k race provided a supportive, non-competitive venue for the girls to practice their sport.
        At least some Metric Marathoners got off to a late start, perhaps because the confused the 8:15 AM start of the Metric with the 8:20 AM start of the 5k.  Doug Kuderna started three minutes late, but that only inspired him to charge through the field to eventually claim first place in the 45-49 men (1:46:52).  Ronnie Wong, however, claimed to have been using the porta-potty when the race began, could not manage to win back much time, and finished third in his 60-64 men’s age group in 2:08:39.  “That’s the worst excuse I’ve ever heard,” said Jerry Warfield, who won that age group in 1:59:21 and was, in fact, Ronnie’s principle competitor.
        The Howard County Striders stage the Metric Marathon and 5k every autumn.  To prevent competition with major marathons in October and November, this year’s event moved from October to December, where it was originally.  The runners seemed happy with this arrangement.  Age group winners received large commemorative plaques and gift certificates from Feet First of Wilde Lake.  In addition to a multi-colored t-shirt, all finishers also received signature Metric Marathon running gloves.
        John and Ann Worley directed the Metric Marathon, which celebrated its 30th birthday.  They wish to thank the Howard County Police, the Oakland Mills High School students and the Boy Scouts of America at the water stops, and the dozens of course marshals who got out early on a cold Sunday morning.

-- by Jim Carbary