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3rd Annual Veteran’s Day 11k
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3rd Annual Veteran’s Day 11k
November 15, 2009
8:00 AM
Kit Carson Park (Tingley Drive &
Alcalde)
Why an 11k distance? Veteran’s Day is
on November 11. If you have never run an 11k
race before, this is your chance to get a
personal record (PR)!! This race is an out
and back course that will start on the Paseo
Del Bosque multiuse path by Kit Carson Park
turn around at Campbell Road.
Cost to register:
$25 through November 1st
$30 through November 13th
$35 at packet pickup and on race day
Proceeds will go to the New
Mexico Veterans Integration Center. You
are welcome to bring additional donations to
the race.
Click
here to register online. Or you can
register in person at ABQ Running
Shop (Montgomery & Tramway) or on
race day at Kit Carson Park. Click here to view the event
brochure.
Packet pickup will be at ABQ Running Shop on
Saturday, November 14th from noon - 4 PM.
The Veteran’s Day 11k is produced by
the Albuquerque Road
Runners Club. It replaces our
“Dirty Dozen” trail race.
View the 2009 Results:
View the
pictures by Larry Mounger
Cold Temps Don’t Deter Runners at
3rd Annual Veteran’s Day 11k
By Kelley Garcia, Race Director
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Race day started out in blizzard
conditions at my house (near Eubank and
Montgomery). We were loading up the car
at 5:45am while heavy, wet snow poured
down upon us. I couldn’t keep my
windshield wipers going fast enough!!
Typical of Albuquerque though, the
weather was clear by the time we hit I-40
& University. We were greeted by an
incredible sunrise—a beautiful, yet
cold, day for the race..
We saw a slight increase in registrations
this year with 106 people signed up for
the race and 87 brave souls who turned a
blind eye to the weather and came out to
run.
The Volcano Vista High School ROTC
displayed the colors in fine form. Since
Jeremy Palmer was not available to sing
the National Anthem for us (a garage
sale, babysitting duties and nursing a
house full of H1N1 patients took
precedence) we said the Pledge of
Allegiance instead. Afterwards, the
runners were escorted across the railroad
tracks and on to the Paseo Del Bosque
trail.
Because of trail construction under I-40,
this year’s race course varied from
previous years. Instead of starting out
heading north on the Bosque trail,
runners went south to the wooden bridge
leading to the Hispanic Cultural Center
where they turned around and headed back
north.
I gave directionally challenged
information to the “TURN AROUND
HERE” volunteer. Many people saw
her trying to get directions from me on
her phone. I finally told her to just
follow the runners (she did find her
specified place). The second turn around
location was at I-40 which was full of
orange construction signs. The true 11k
distance should have been 6.82 miles and
the majority of runners polled after the
race said they showed 6.75 – 6.78
on their GPS units.
Tim Koehler (44:00) and Kellie Nickerson
(46:29) were the overall male and female
winners. They each received a $50 gift
certificate to ABQ Running Shop as well
as a fantastic commemorative coin from
the NM Veteran’s Integration
Center. The top two in the Men’s
19-under division were Clay Bosseler
(55:00) and Dylan Green (1:10:19). On the
Female 19-under side, the top three
places were Krista Garcia (56:08),
Justine Moquino (57:56) and Kaylynn
Hererra (1:05:26). In the Open division
which included age ranges 20-39, the male
winners were Randy Arriola (45:24),
Martin Miller (46:40) and Christian Prout
(47:11). Female open winners were Shannon
Zanelli (49:03), Holly Borowski (50:35)
and Arianna Trott (57:36). Taking home
trophies in Men’s Masters division
(40+) were Vincent Valdez (45:06),
Richard Knapp (45:30) and Ed Zanelli
(47:00). Winners of the Masters women
were Kathy Foucar (51:30), Andrea
Schoelkoph (54:05), and Mary Anne Hinkes
(55:14).
The runners shivered in the frosty wind
while we called winners’ names and
gave out door prizes from ABQ Running
Shop, Heart & Sole, and Fleet Feet
Sports, Albuquerque.
As usual, there were many unique things
done at this race. First, Amphipod
supplied unique Xinglets. These highly
reflective, minimalist vests were given
to the race entrants instead of shirts.
Second, we had trophies for the first
male and female to enter the race. The
first male to enter was Steve Grossman
and the first female was Karla
Young.
Larry Mounger, our great club
photographer, snapped lots of photos of
the day. You can find a link to them on
the ARR Facebook page. Also in attendance
were Fermin Ortega of the NM
Veteran’s Integration Center. He
was there to accept donations for the
center but he also provided lots of
volunteer help. Luis Sarmiento from El
Semanario de Nuevo Mexico newspaper was
present to report on the race and take
photos. His fine article was published in
the 11/19/09 edition of the paper
(http://www.elsemanarionews.com/news/index.php?id=911)
I would like to thank the incredible
group of volunteers who came out to help.
None of this race would have happened
without their assistance.
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Contact
information:
Kelley Garcia
10044 Del Chaparral Ct. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87111
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