First Ever Roxbury Marathon

Abe Wins First Ever Roxbury Marathon

Check this page later for more photos and details !

Last revised 8pm Dec 19 - Bartkus family report

The Press Release:  

Abraham Adds Roxbury Marathon To 2004 Laurels

ROXBURY - Mike Abraham, 45, added a victory in the first annual Roxbury Marathon to his list of accomplishments over the recent months - which include guiding the New Milford High School boys' cross country team last month to its second consecutive New England championship.

Abraham, who lives in Roxbury, covered the rolling 26.2-mile course, which included a loops that covered Judds Bridge Road and Hemlock Road, in 3 hours, 11 minutes, 38 seconds on Saturday, Dec. 11.

He was in second place for more than half the race, but moved to the front after Andrew Morehouse, the early leader, withdrew from the grueling race.

Ken Moffitt, 52, of Brookfield placed second in 3:31.43.

Ed Sandifer, 53, of Newtown finished third in 3:48.38. He has completed the Boston Marathon the last 32 years.

Russ Selzer, 50, of Avon, who, like Sandifer, teaches at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, was fourth in 4:12.06.

The brother duo of Eric and Steve Kershnar, both 35, finished in a tie for fifth place with times of 4:28.22.

Eric, who lives in New Haven, and Steve, who resides in Fredonia, N.Y., grew up in Roxbury. Their father, the late Larry Kershnar, was head director for the Roxbury Road Race Series, which sponsored the marathon and holds races weekly from mid-February to early-December each year.

The series' annual MidSpring Challenge is named after Dr. Kershnar, who taught Science at New Milford High School and, later, Education at Western Connecticut State University.

Bruce Goulart of Newtown placed seventh in 4:43.31 and Mario Hasz of Cromwell was eighth in 4:52.57.

The husband-and-wife combo of Peter and Alene LoFink of Brookfield won the team competition with a time of 3:04.35.

"This was such a success that we already have scheduled a second running for Dec. 10, 2005," said Scott Benjamin of New Milford, the race director and an assitant director for the weekly series.

"As recently as the late-1980's it was fairly common to have just single digits for our turnout in the weekly races, and now we have eight people completing a marathon and about 40 people participating on some portion of the course," he added.

"It is another sign of the success of the Roxbury series, which over the last decade has established annual campaigns for T-shirts for the runners at the weekly races as well as grants that are provided to area high school running programs; the addition of a web site with complete results and standings; a two-fold increase in the average turnout for the weekly races between 1998 and 2004; and the co-sponsorship of the annual Thanksgiving Run For A Cure at the Roxbury Congregational Church."

Benjamin praised the runners that participated and the volunteers who supplied water at three points along the course.

The Inside Story

    Some people ran a marathon in Honolulu.  A few others ran one in Afghanistan.  A small cadre of determined and intrepid (maybe crazy and foolish) ran one in Roxbury instead.

    It started foggy and, as a few dozen people traipsed down West Apple Lane towards Judd's Bridge.  It was pretty confusing with all the relay teams and such, but it seems there were ten runners hoping to do the whole marathon and several teams running all sorts of things.  Among the marathoners, a pack of four college professors, Eric, Steve, Russ and Fossil, developed and held together through the first five miles.  The two Kershnars stayed together until the finish, while the Fossil and Russ Selzer separated just after they got back to Rt. 67, about six miles into the race.

    The first two hours were rather surreal, running mostly alone in the fog.  Every once in a while, someone would appear in the fog.  Most of the time, it was one of the two wonderful rest stops out on the three and a half mile loop.  Not quite often enough it was the crowd at the start/finish line signaling that we'd trudged through another of the five "little" loops.  

    After two hours, more and more of the relay teams finished and the fog lifted, so the course got kind of lonesome.  The brief human contact at those rest areas became more and more important, giving emotional as well as nutritional support.

    Roxbury's own Mike Abraham ran a smart and determined race.  Of course, he set a course record, running about 7:20 a mile.  He was the one who brought the firewood for the fireplace in the Pavilion.  Nice guy, isn't he?  After the race, he said "It's a Roxbury race. It's got to be good."  After he had time to think about it a little longer, he got philosophical (as well as a bit more rational) and said "The real credit in this race goes to the race organizers and volunteers.  For more than four hours, they stood outside, gave us water and provided moral support and the occasional heckle when we needed it.   The marathon lived up to the Roxbury Road Race series' character, and represented yet another milestone in its' charming history.  Special credit to Scott Benjamin, Bob Lewis, Ed Sandifer and Dave Harvey and Co. for continually exploring new ways to enhance the Series."

    As for the course, few complaints were heard about the up hills; everyone knew they would be formidable.  Lots of people struggled going down the hill on Hemlock. One person said, though "My biggest problem was running alone so much."

    When Mario Hasz finished, it was a real scene.  The twenty or so people who were at the finish formed two lines to make a chute and applauded wildly as he crossed the line.  Of course, it was partly because we all like Mario, and he'd run well to finish comfortably under five hours, but also it was because it marked the successful conclusion of the First Ever Roxbury Marathon.  Well done, everyone!

    When the Fossil finished, he said "I feel like I've been bitten in the head by a Dragon!" (see below)

Ken Moffit's Report

The first Roxbury Marathon was a big success from my point of view.  I'm impressed that the volunteers were willing to stay several hours out in the cold and fog while we kept ourselves relatively warm by running. 

My run went well, with a finish time about what I had planned.  I was a little behind schedule through 15 miles and then picked up the pace.  I thought of it as "3 more times around Hemlock" rather than "10 miles to go," and somehow it seemed shorter that way.

The hilly course didn't seem to be a problem for me, and, judging by his time, not for Mike Abraham either.  

Congratulations to the race committee and all runners and volunteers on ushering in this new era in the Roxbury experience.  It's a privilege to participate in this small, but historic event.

Relay Team Reports

Send the story of your relay team, water station or marathon experience. You know the eMail: esandifer@earthlink.net.

The Angels - as reported by Ron Karl:

Here are the results for Mo's team, with appropriate explanations: 

Carl Rosa                    8.2 course        1:10:54

Mo Van Moffaert        7.2 leg                1:15:54

Ron Karl                    10.8 leg                1:44:33

Sharon Gawe            --                            injured

Total for 26.2 miles:   4:21:21

    Sharon Gawe, the 4th member of the team, was injured due to a spill on some black ice earlier in the week, and wisely chose to forgo running today.   She had planned to do the anchor Hemlock lap, so I did 3 laps instead of 2.

    Also, we did a "simul-relay" -- all running at the same time.   I believe another team did this.   We asked Scott's blessing for this before the race and duly received it.

    I also have lots of pictures, which I haven't looked at yet.

    Since there are two cops and a teacher on the team, in addition to some guy who thinks he's an Angel, we are calling our team "The Angels"

 :-)))

Team marathon - Jeanne Bartkus reporting

A most motley crew were we,

Walt, Dan, Tarryn and me.

Walt started down toward Judd's Bridge Road, 

he seemed to be on "automatic" mode. 

Off he dashed into the fog, 

down the dirt road and back he slogged..

He completed his leg in a respectable time,

you've made it, your done, the stop watch chimed!

Dan, Tarryn and I started off together,

round the track and past the heather (or whatever it is).

Dan Lynch was our eleventh hour mate,

he committed Friday night - didn't hesitate!

We lost Dan at the top of Hemlock,

he was out to beat the clock.

Tarryn the trooper just turned eleven,

she pumped out  3.5, but was ready for 7.

She chugged behind the Kershar brothers,

afraid if she got lost she'd never recover.

I was thrilled since it wasn't cold, 

no evidence of snow and I was sold.

intermittent training slowed my pace,

to...hardly what I would call a race!

A great day for running we all agreed,

water, food, fire and even latrines!

A fun-filled morning for all of us,

We'll be there next year no hesitation or fuss.

Congratulations for a job well done,

No matter your time you're all number 1!

Good Will

From Carl Hunt in Australia

    Congratulations to all who participated in what must have been a great run. Great write-up, almost felt as though I were there. Have been working in Australia for the last couple of weeks or I would have been there with everyone. 

    Take care.

    Carl

Next Year

    We've already announced that we'll have another marathon next year, December 10.  With luck and determination, it might be certified and sanctioned by then.  We have to be realistic, though; we were very lucky with the weather.  We probably won't be lucky enough to have a marathon every December.  Still, start training now.  As soon as you get a new calendar, mark the date.  And, in the mean time, there's Roxbury Almost every Saturday.

Pictures

    We got our first picture, shot by the PhotoAngel.  One of these is the Fossil Impersonator, and one of these is the Real Deal.  Can you figure out which is which? Here's a hint - the Fossil has a beard and often wears an orange hat.  On cold days, he wears yellow tights and sometimes a yellow long-sleeved shirt.

    Then, WCSU Chemistry  professor Russ Selzer on his way around the jogging track.  Below that, Bruce Goulart gets a festive libation from Santa Claus Impersonator Bob Lewis.  A little farther, Russ Selzer and Ed Sandifer demonstrate their flexibility in front of the fireplace after the race.

    Got more pictures?  Send them in!

Results of this week's race

Created December 12, 2004