25K RECAP FINALE

runguru May 14, 2013

Summer of Fun tune up complete, a little over 1700 miles in 4 days. Today, The Race:

Mo Trafeh (pronounced Truh-fay) set a new 25K American Record of 1:14:18. It turned out to be the Perfect Morning (if just a little windy). Mo was dropping 4:45 miles like nobody’s business. And when he hit the hills from 8 through 11, how about a little 4:40-4:42 action to spice things up!

Mo had dinner with Linda & I on Friday night (along with Luka Thor and Allan Wagner) and we all became New Buddies. Allan attended Dana College but I joked I wouldn’t hold that against him. He is also a 2:17 marathoner, originally from Hawaii and has moved back there. Turned out to be a delightful guy.

Men’s Championships Chair Bob Latham congratulates Mo at the awards ceremony. Bob is a 3 time National High School Coach of the Year out of Bend, OR (ever heard of him Craig?). We go way back to when I served in the same capacity for the Women’s Champs from ’02-’09 and remain great friends.

Matt Tegenkamp finished 3rd overall, the longest race of his life (he’s a middle-long specialist up to 10K). He does not like to lose at any distance.

My Real Old Buddy Clint Verran finished just outside of the top 10. During warm ups I heard someone holler “Hey Run Guru”, turned around and it was Clint. We ran together a bit and relived our trip to the World Championships Half Marathon in Vera Cruz, Mexico way back in 2000. I’ve always been flattered that he named his physical therapy business after me. He’s 38, still runs for Hansons, and is still a stud!

Ladies and gentlemen, your top 10 Men!

Dot McMahon of the Hansons gets a Championship Hug from Linda. Linda was the Women’s Liaison to the event and had the privilege of draping medals over the top 10 ladies. It was Dot’s first National Championships at age 36! Dot was on the 2008 World Championships Half Marathon team I took to Rio de Janeiro in 2008.

Linda preparing to drape Katie McGregor. She finished 9th, at age 35! Stephanie Pezzullo looks on, Linda took her to Chiba, Japan for the International Ekiden in 2010.