Professor Peabody used the Wayback Machine to teach Sherman (his boy) history every week. We’ll start today’s column off by giving a nod to 30 years ago.
Omaha Pepsi Challenge 10K 1981
1. Bill Rogers 29:04
2. Stan Vernon 29:20
3. Bob Wallace 29:34
4. Jon Eggers 29:35
5. Ted Castaneda 29:52
A Big shout out to whomever can identify the cats in this picture. I think that is Vernon in the Tiger singlet? And if anyone remembers who the Race Director was I’d love to have that info too.
Now on to this weekend. In addition to Matt Gabrielson, David Adams, & Peter vd Westhuizen there will be plenty of Real Racing going on. Of our TNB mates I expect Matt Pohren and Aaron Carrizales to be top 5 finishers. Matt has been having a great year. I’m even more excited for Aaron who has put together his best training cycle in almost 10 years as he preps for the San Jose Half Marathon. There he will be gunning for the <1:05:00 necessary to get the automatic entry into the USA Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon in January.
In the Women’s race it looks to be a Battle Royale. Kayte Tranel is rounding into excellent shape as she shoots for a sub 2:46:00 at the Chicago Marathon in a few weeks. Bridget Easley is also going for the Trials standard at CIM and her training is going very well. She is further motivated by a dissapointing loss at the GI Half a couple of weeks ago so look for her to not hold back anything this weekend. Megan Zavorka is also tuning up for a National Championships (Tufts 10K for Women, Oct. 9) and could be a spoiler. Michaela van der Westhuizen is always tough as she is talented and can’t be counted out either. Jen Viehrig has shown she is afraid of No One this summer and is also a dark horse. And let’s not forget Andrea Bowen. I don’t see Melissa Todd‘s name on the Elite list and more is the shame as I had really hoped to have someone push our ladies. No matter how it shakes I just could not be prouder of these ladies for having the huevos to get on the starting line and race the Very Best 10K runners in Nebraska. Even if that means competing against each other.
Tomorrow I’ll try my hardest to say some nice things about some of the non-TNB athletes entered into the Elite field.
Oh, and GIDDYUP!
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