‘Women rule!’ Nearly 600 strong, 5K by the Bay is just for the ladies

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‘Women rule!’
Nearly 600 strong, 5K by the Bay is just for the ladies

Results Photos Videos Part 1 Start/Finish line Video Part 2 Finish line Video

By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com

HAVRE DE GRACE, Md., April 10 – Sunday wasn’t the first time Carrie Lang crossed the finish line of the 5K by the Bay run in Tydings Memorial Park.

But Lang’s finish – a respectable 91st among 578 starters and 559 official finishers – wasn’t her priority. Instead, the Anytime Fitness gym owner and Darlington resident was inspired by more than 60 other colleagues and new friends through work. Many were attempting their first-ever 3.1-mile race.

“We had 65 runners from the gym to come out today,” Lang said. “I would say more than half of them have never done a 5K before. It was the first time for most of them. Everybody did great today. It was really fun.”

Many of them were easy to spot in their lime-green Team ATF shirts as they approached the finish line.

Those runners didn’t toe the starting line of the race – the first of 12 Maryland RRCA Women’s Distance Festival races – without a plan. Any Time Fitness offered an eight-week training program through a certified running coach. Program topics included pacing, training and injury prevention, among others.

Participation in the race has nearly tripled just in the past three years. There were 161 more finishers this year than last. Lang said race director Sue Jacobs does a good job of promoting. But many women, perhaps especially first-timers like the ones from Any Times Fitness, might feel “intimidated by being in races with men,” Lang said.

The idea of a women’s-only race makes them “more comfortable.”

In addition, the event serves as the unofficial kick-off to the Spring racing season, and “that’s kind of nice, too,” Lang said.

Lang insisted that while women might be more comfortable in a female-only event, it’s by no means less competitive. She pointed to 2011 race winner Hirut Mavdefro, 25, who trains in Flagstaff, Arizona. Mavdefro posted a time of 17 minutes and eight seconds – a full 63 seconds faster than last year’s winning time.

Defending champ Susan Hendrick, 25, of Washington, D.C., finished third on Sunday in 18:24. Diane Heiser, 27, of Baltimore, finished second for the second straight year in 18:10.

Lang herself finished with a chip time of 27:29. In 2010, that time would have been good for nine spots better in the standings. And it’s not just the established runners that are improving from year to year. In 2010, the top 10-and-under finisher was 9-year-old Katie McGrain of Forest Hill.

This year, the slowest of the first four runners in that age group finished no less than 85 seconds faster than McGrain’s time. Gracie Goetz, 10, of Joppa, led the way with a chip time of 28:24 – good for 126th overall.

In spots 143 through 145, Julia Walsh (9, Bel Air) led a trio of young harriers in 28:43, closely followed by Lily Bowditch (9) and Shannon King (10), both of Abingdon and both of whom earned chip times of 28:44.

                    22nd Annual Women’s Distance Festival Grand Prix Series
          “RUNNING IS A CELEBRATION OF THE HEART”

The 2011 Maryland Women’s Distance Festival Grand Prix Series is sponsored by the Maryland RRCA and its participating RRCA clubs. Our WDF Grand Prix Series consists of eleven 5K (3.1 miles) races for women runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. Women who complete 4 or more of the following races are eligible to receive the WDF PARTICIPATION AWARD. Complete the form below and RETURN BY 09/08/2011. For more information about the individual races, please visit the Club web sites listed, contact the race directors indicated, or email joannemallet@verizon.net <mailto:joannemallet@verizon.net>. The complete schedule is also posted on the www.mdrrca.org <http://www.mdrrca.org> website.
April 10, 2011 8:00 a.m. “Women’s 5K By The Bay” RASAC Tydings Park Havre de Grace, MD Sue Jacobs gusandsuerun@comcast.net <mailto:gusandsuerun@comcast.net>
www.rasac.com <http://www.rasac.com>

May 22, 2011 8:00 a.m.
BALTIMORE RRC
Goucher College
Towson, MD
Mia Turo
Christy St. Clair 410-661-7870
www.brrc.com <http://www.brrc.com>

June 14, 2011 7:00 p.m.
DCRRC
Bluemont Park South Pavilion
399 N. Manchester St., Arlington, VA
Ben Richter
races@dcroadrunners.org <mailto:races@dcroadrunners.org>
www.dcroadrunners.org <http://www.dcroadrunners.org>

June 18, 2011 8:00 a.m.
“Run for Roses”
MONTGOMERY COUNTY RRC
Wheaton Regional Park, Wheaton MD
Nancy Betress
Christina Caravoulias 301-236-4869
run4roses@mcrrc.org <mailto:run4roses@mcrrc.org>
www.mcrrc.org

June 25, 2011 8:00 a.m.
RESTON RUNNERS Reston YMCA                 Reston, VA                                 Check website! wdf@restonrunners.org <mailto:wdf@restonrunners.org>
www.restonrunners.org <http://www.restonrunners.org>

June 26, 2011 8:00 a.m.
The New Balance Baltimore Women’s Classic 5K
Rash Field-Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD
Carrie Sauter
carrie@baltimorewomensclassic.com <mailto:carrie@baltimorewomensclassic.com>
www.baltimorewomensclassic.com <http://www.baltimorewomensclassic.com>

July 9, 2011 7:45 a.m.
ANNAPOLIS STRIDERS
West Annapolis Elementary School
Annapolis, MD
Roxanne Hatcher roxhatcher@yahoo.com <mailto:roxhatcher@yahoo.com>
Joe Hatcher
www.annapolisstriders.org <http://www.annapolisstriders.org>

July 10, 2011 8:00 a.m.
HOWARD COUNTY STRIDERS
Howard Community College
Columbia, MD
Tacy Powers tlf_21_21@yahoo.com <mailto:tlf_21_21@yahoo.com>
www.striders.net <http://www.striders.net>

July 17, 2011 8:00 a.m.
WESTMINSTER RRC
Union Mills, MD
Liuda Galinaitis 410-857-5427
liuda@netzero.com <mailto:liuda@netzero.com>
<https://sites.google.com/site/wrrclub>.

WESTERN MARYLAND ROAD RUNNERS
Rocky Gap State Park, MD
Maureen Hall 301-729-7849
mhall@allconet.org <mailto:mhall@allconet.org>     NO RACE THIS
www.wmtiming.com <http://www.wmtiming.com>           YEAR

August 13, 2011 8:00 a.m.
FREDERICK STEEPLECHASERS
Frederick Community College
Opossumtown Pike
Frederick, MD
Peggy Waxter
301-663-8082
www.steeplechasers.org <http://www.steeplechasers.org>

August 27, 2011 8:00 a.m.
PRINCE GEORGE’S RUNNING CLUB
Lake Artemesia
College Park, MD
Valerie Grasso
training@pgrc.org <mailto:training@pgrc.org>
www.pgrc.org <http://www.pgrc.org>

2011 WDF Grand Prix Series Participation Award Registration
THIS FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 09/08/2011 to ensure you will be included as an award winner. Circle all the races you completed (must be at least 4).   Mail form to Joanne Mallet, 14358 Chesterfield Rd., Rockville, MD 20853.   Or email: joannemallet@verizon.net. WE CANNOT GUARANTEE AN AWARD IF FORM IS SUBMITTED AFTER 9/08/11. IF AWARD IS CLOTHING, WHAT SIZE DO YOU WANT?___________________
Name: First ______________________________        Last: __________________________________________

Street: ____________________________________________________________________________________

City: _________________________________ State: __________ Zip: ________________ Club:_____________

Phone: ______ - _____-______(D) _____- _____- _____(E)   e-mail___________________________________________
Even though only four are required for the participation award, please circle ALL WDF races you completed.
? RASAC 4/10 ? BRRC 5/22 ? DCRRC 6/14   ? MCRRC 6/18 ? RESTON 6/25 [] BALTIMORE WOMEN’S CLASSIC 6/26
? ANNAPOLIS 7/09 ? HOWARD COUNTY 7/10 ? WRRC 7/17         ? FREDERICK 8/13    [] PGRC 8/27