Tri State
|
Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival
For runners, it was a day of triumph, defeat, joy, sadness
CUMBERLAND — It was 26.2 miles of delight, or something like it, for more than 400 participants in the inaugural Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival.
Sunday’s festivities presented opportunities for triumph and defeat; for joy and sadness; for health and despair.
Sue Moessinger, 59, of Cumberland, finished in 4 hours, 54 minutes and 2 seconds — an average pace of 11:14 per mile. Neither the incline nor the mercury, which steadily rose throughout late morning and early afternoon, was enough to force Moessinger to miss out on a custom finish-line celebration.
With two thumbs up, the elementary school reading specialist began to smile and wave to friends and supporters several meters before reaching the finish line. It might have slowed her, but it didn’t seem to matter.
For Hagerstown resident Doug Oates, the marathon festival, presented by Life Fitness Management, was a moment to bask in the limelight of more than a year of high-level training. His winning performance — and a personal best time of 2 hours, 40 minutes and 4 seconds — earned him the $1,000 cash prize and the awe and respect of his wife, Laura, who had surprised him in coming to the Queen City to watch him complete his trek through downtown Cumberland and conquer the 10.5-mile incline along the Great Allegheny Passage.
For runners, it was a day of triumph, defeat, joy, sadness
CUMBERLAND — It was 26.2 miles of delight, or something like it, for more than 400 participants in the inaugural Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival.
Sunday’s festivities presented opportunities for triumph and defeat; for joy and sadness; for health and despair.
Sue Moessinger, 59, of Cumberland, finished in 4 hours, 54 minutes and 2 seconds — an average pace of 11:14 per mile. Neither the incline nor the mercury, which steadily rose throughout late morning and early afternoon, was enough to force Moessinger to miss out on a custom finish-line celebration.
With two thumbs up, the elementary school reading specialist began to smile and wave to friends and supporters several meters before reaching the finish line. It might have slowed her, but it didn’t seem to matter.
For Hagerstown resident Doug Oates, the marathon festival, presented by Life Fitness Management, was a moment to bask in the limelight of more than a year of high-level training. His winning performance — and a personal best time of 2 hours, 40 minutes and 4 seconds — earned him the $1,000 cash prize and the awe and respect of his wife, Laura, who had surprised him in coming to the Queen City to watch him complete his trek through downtown Cumberland and conquer the 10.5-mile incline along the Great Allegheny Passage.
Oates, Vest win first Mountain Marathon
Men’s, women’s champions each set personal best times
Chris Appel
Cumberland Times-News
CUMBERLAND — Doug Oates may have been willing to settle for second place, but gladly accepted first when he broke the tape in the first Mountain Maryland Marathon Sunday in Cumberland with a personal best time of 2 hours, 44 minutes and four seconds.
The clouds beat the hundreds of runners to the starting line, but the rain balked as runners from one end of the country to the other took to the course in five events that began and concluded near the Western Maryland Station at Canal Place.
Oates, who had completed just two prior marathons, was joined in the winner’s circle by Frostburg’s Kim Vest. Vest posted a time of 3:28.04 to tie a personal record as the women’s marathon champion.
“I didn’t go into the race thinking I was going to beat my best time, but I started to get that feeling during the run,” said Oates, a Hagerstown native. His former best time was 2 hours and 51 minutes.. Read More
Men’s, women’s champions each set personal best times
Chris Appel
Cumberland Times-News
CUMBERLAND — Doug Oates may have been willing to settle for second place, but gladly accepted first when he broke the tape in the first Mountain Maryland Marathon Sunday in Cumberland with a personal best time of 2 hours, 44 minutes and four seconds.
The clouds beat the hundreds of runners to the starting line, but the rain balked as runners from one end of the country to the other took to the course in five events that began and concluded near the Western Maryland Station at Canal Place.
Oates, who had completed just two prior marathons, was joined in the winner’s circle by Frostburg’s Kim Vest. Vest posted a time of 3:28.04 to tie a personal record as the women’s marathon champion.
“I didn’t go into the race thinking I was going to beat my best time, but I started to get that feeling during the run,” said Oates, a Hagerstown native. His former best time was 2 hours and 51 minutes.. Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jose Orellana
Angel Lyn Schultz
Woody Snoberger
Kelly Gruber
Doug Oates
Kimberly R.Vest
Mountain Maryland Marathon
5k Winners
5k Winners
Mountain Maryland Marathon
Half Marathon
Half Marathon
Mountain Maryland Marathon
Marathon Winners
Marathon Winners
|
|
|
|
|
Photos
Pre-race dinner
Photos by: Annette Arceneaux, Frostburg State University Click Here
5K & More Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5
Photos by: Kristina Lambert, a senior at Frostburg State University Click Here
Dr. Ronnie Hill's marathon photos
Media Links: Local runners Snoberger, Vest post wins at Mountain Maryland event
Oates wins first Maryland Mountain Marathon
Pre-race dinner
Photos by: Annette Arceneaux, Frostburg State University Click Here
5K & More Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5
Photos by: Kristina Lambert, a senior at Frostburg State University Click Here
Dr. Ronnie Hill's marathon photos
Media Links: Local runners Snoberger, Vest post wins at Mountain Maryland event
Oates wins first Maryland Mountain Marathon
|
|
Photo by Kristina Lambert, a senior at Frostburg State University
|
|
|
“It was a little bit more of a climb than I thought,” said Lauri Fauerback Adams, 38, of Philadelphia, Pa.
Fauerbach Adams had intended to push race officials’ limit of 8 hours to be counted as an official finisher in the first-time event. But she had little to worry about. She crossed Baltimore Street and was in view of the water fountain in front of the Western Maryland Railway Station with about 30 minutes to spare.
It was the agony of defeat for pre-race favorite John Piggott. Piggott, 43, of Williamsburg, Va., has posted dozens of marathon finishes, each faster than Oates’ personal best, new or old. But his luck — or more accurately, his sciatic nerve — wasn’t up for it.
Fauerbach Adams had intended to push race officials’ limit of 8 hours to be counted as an official finisher in the first-time event. But she had little to worry about. She crossed Baltimore Street and was in view of the water fountain in front of the Western Maryland Railway Station with about 30 minutes to spare.
It was the agony of defeat for pre-race favorite John Piggott. Piggott, 43, of Williamsburg, Va., has posted dozens of marathon finishes, each faster than Oates’ personal best, new or old. But his luck — or more accurately, his sciatic nerve — wasn’t up for it.
“I’ll definitely come back next year and run,” Piggott sighed wistfully as he watched one of more than 400 participants cross the finish line.
Henry Rueden isn’t necessarily fast — speed is, after all, relative — but he is steady. Sunday’s finish was the 594th at the 26.2-mile distance for Rueden, 59, of De Pere, Wis.
For Cumberland area resident Connie Milligan, it was quit or else. And she chose the latter option. Milligan, 39, suffered an asthma attack in the event’s late stages. However, husband Charlie Falter provided medical assistance and helped pace her to a 6-minute mile over the final 5,280 feet.
“I felt better after getting” medicine, she said. “I felt good enough to run a 6-minute mile for the last mile.”
For Brian Esker of Elkridge, Md., the race was not at all about fast times, beautiful scenery or much of anything else, really — other than a tribute. Esker promised his cancer-stricken father, who died last week, that he’d run a marathon. Esker’s dad had told all his friends about the son’s quest — and he felt obligated.
While personal responsibilities kept him from attending the pre-race dinner on Saturday, the 40-year-old still managed a middle-of-the-pack finish as a tribute to his father’s legacy.
Henry Rueden isn’t necessarily fast — speed is, after all, relative — but he is steady. Sunday’s finish was the 594th at the 26.2-mile distance for Rueden, 59, of De Pere, Wis.
For Cumberland area resident Connie Milligan, it was quit or else. And she chose the latter option. Milligan, 39, suffered an asthma attack in the event’s late stages. However, husband Charlie Falter provided medical assistance and helped pace her to a 6-minute mile over the final 5,280 feet.
“I felt better after getting” medicine, she said. “I felt good enough to run a 6-minute mile for the last mile.”
For Brian Esker of Elkridge, Md., the race was not at all about fast times, beautiful scenery or much of anything else, really — other than a tribute. Esker promised his cancer-stricken father, who died last week, that he’d run a marathon. Esker’s dad had told all his friends about the son’s quest — and he felt obligated.
While personal responsibilities kept him from attending the pre-race dinner on Saturday, the 40-year-old still managed a middle-of-the-pack finish as a tribute to his father’s legacy.
Not everything started on time Sunday morning, the first time such a running festival has been started in the heart of Cumberland. The combined start for the marathon and half marathon was up to 5 minutes late and the projected times for the festival’s awards ceremonies were up to 20 minutes off kilter.
But few seemed to mind, instead focusing on the region’s newest health and wellness initiative.
For Cumberland area resident Connie Milligan, it was quit or else. And she chose the latter option. Milligan, 39, suffered an asthma attack in the event’s late stages. However, husband Charlie Falter provided medical assistance and helped pace her to a 6-minute mile over the final 5,280 feet.
“I felt better after getting” medicine, she said. “I felt good enough to run a 6-minute mile for the last mile.”
For Brian Esker of Elkridge, Md., the race was not at all about fast times, beautiful scenery or much of anything else, really — other than a tribute. Esker promised his cancer-stricken father, who died last week, that he’d run a marathon. Esker’s dad had told all his friends about the son’s quest — and he felt obligated.
While personal responsibilities kept him from attending the pre-race dinner on Saturday, the 40-year-old still managed a middle-of-the-pack finish as a tribute to his father’s legacy.
Not everything started on time Sunday morning, the first time such a running festival has been started in the heart of Cumberland. The combined start for the marathon and half marathon was up to 5 minutes late and the projected times for the festival’s awards ceremonies were up to 20 minutes off kilter.
But few seemed to mind, instead focusing on the region’s newest health and wellness initiative.
