Tri State
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Hobo's Heartbreaker 10K
Hobo’s Heartbreaker 10K run set for Saturday
Low-key race will go on as scheduled
LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa., Feb. 11 – Despite all the weather-related cancellations this past week, the second low-key Hobo’s Heartbreaker 10K run and half-mile children’s run on Saturday will go on as planned.
The 10K (6.2-mile) run begins at Cooks Mill United Methodist Church, located on Cooks Mill Road off Pennsylvania Route 96 in southern Bedford County (about 2.5 miles north of Ellerslie). Church officials once again are opening their friendly doors for all to sign up and conduct pre-race stretching.
The 10K road run entry fee is just $3 for the general public and free for all current Mountain Maryland Marathon Club members. Runners should note that 2009 membership has expired but club memberships can be renewed on race day.
“This is a low-key way for a family to get outside after several days of being cooped up inside,” said event director Kevin Spradlin. “Of course, safety for everyone is a primary concern. If potential runners don’t feel they can travel and run safely, please don’t come. For those who can do so safely, we’ll be there."
The 10K road run entry fee is just $3 for the general public and free for all current Mountain Maryland Marathon Club members. Runners should note that 2009 membership has expired but club memberships can be renewed on race day.
“This is a low-key way for a family to get outside after several days of being cooped up inside,” said event director Kevin Spradlin. “Of course, safety for everyone is a primary concern. If potential runners don’t feel they can travel and run safely, please don’t come. For those who can do so safely, we’ll be there."
Spradlin spent part of Thursday on the course and was satisfied a safe event could be conducted.
"Without a doubt, times are likely to be slower than in 2009," Spradlin said. "Four of the six-point-two miles remained totally snow-covered, which is far better than being ice-covered. Hardcap can be seen on the majority of miles two and five, although things could change by Saturday morning."
The half-mile kids run, which is free for anyone to participate, will begin at about 10:45 a.m., after which participants are invited to join club members and event volunteers at Hobo’s Restaurant for a nice lunch. The restaurant is located about 2.5 miles from the start/finish line.
In addition, early-bird registration fees can still be obtained for the Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival scheduled for April 18 if runners sign up on race day. The original deadilne expired Jan. 31, although there remain a handful of opportunities to take advantage of the lowest prices possible.
For more information, visit www.mountainMDmarathon.org or call 301-697-6035.
"Without a doubt, times are likely to be slower than in 2009," Spradlin said. "Four of the six-point-two miles remained totally snow-covered, which is far better than being ice-covered. Hardcap can be seen on the majority of miles two and five, although things could change by Saturday morning."
The half-mile kids run, which is free for anyone to participate, will begin at about 10:45 a.m., after which participants are invited to join club members and event volunteers at Hobo’s Restaurant for a nice lunch. The restaurant is located about 2.5 miles from the start/finish line.
In addition, early-bird registration fees can still be obtained for the Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival scheduled for April 18 if runners sign up on race day. The original deadilne expired Jan. 31, although there remain a handful of opportunities to take advantage of the lowest prices possible.
For more information, visit www.mountainMDmarathon.org or call 301-697-6035.
Husband-wife team takes Hobo's Heartbreaker 10K titles
Griffth, Baniak led small but brave field in less-than-perfect conditions
Photos
By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com
LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa., Feb. 13 -- How fitting that a married couple claimed the men's and women's titles of the second Hobo's Heartbreaker 10K run on Saturday, just a day before Valentine's Day.
Afterward, Jason Griffith and Mary Jane Baniak, of Keyser, W.Va., asked for a photo to be taken of them. After all, this was one memory worth preserving.
Griffith completed a come-from-behind win on the out-and-back horseshoe-shaped course with a winning time of 41 minutes and 14 seconds, overcoming Cumberland resident David Mertz (42:58). Justin Taylor, 30, of LaVale, took third on the partially ice-laden run in 45:32 and Bill Stahr, 49, of The Plains, Va., was fourth in 47:35.
Griffth, Baniak led small but brave field in less-than-perfect conditions
Photos
By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com
LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa., Feb. 13 -- How fitting that a married couple claimed the men's and women's titles of the second Hobo's Heartbreaker 10K run on Saturday, just a day before Valentine's Day.
Afterward, Jason Griffith and Mary Jane Baniak, of Keyser, W.Va., asked for a photo to be taken of them. After all, this was one memory worth preserving.
Griffith completed a come-from-behind win on the out-and-back horseshoe-shaped course with a winning time of 41 minutes and 14 seconds, overcoming Cumberland resident David Mertz (42:58). Justin Taylor, 30, of LaVale, took third on the partially ice-laden run in 45:32 and Bill Stahr, 49, of The Plains, Va., was fourth in 47:35.
Griffith, 39, is in training for the Mountain Maryland Marathon on April 18 but already knows that in distance running, patience is a virtue. So he didn't let Mertz's first mile, somewhere in the 6:00 range, bother him. Instead, he slowly closed the gap and overtook Mertz, 24, by the turnaround point at the 5K mark.
Baniak, meanwhile, started out front and stayed there among female competitors. The 37-year-old finished fifth overall in 50:09 - breaking former course recordholder Rhonda Johns' time of 52:41 set in 2009. Karen Young, 41, of Boyds, Md., was the top masters woman and second overall in 53:00.
Many runners cited ice and snow, which covered an estimated 30 to 40 percent of the course, as reasons why they didn't meet their goal times. Stahr, who traveld more than 145 mile to the race in southern Bedford County, was asked if the drive was worth it after all.
"Oh, heck yeah," Stahr said without hestitation.
The event was sponsored by Hobo's Restaurant and staged by the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club. More than half a dozen club members gathered for lunch at Hobo's Restaurant afterward for mostly running-related discussion.
The next marathon club event is the Run for the Plunge 15K and 5K races at Rocky Gap State Park on Saturday, March 6. For more information on that and other events, visit www.mountainMDmarathon.org
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