2006 Roxbury Race #4

Race for the Cure

Thanksgiving Race for the Cure, Four Months Late

    Remember last Thanksgiving?  Some of us were a year younger.  It snowed.  We were supposed to have a race, but it got snowed out.  Most of the time, if a race gets snowed out, the race is just gone, but this was the Thanksgiving Race, the Race for a Cure, a special race, different starting line, a time for those who want to Run for Breast Cancer can rub elbows with those who want to help fight breast cancer.  People were disappointed.

    So, through the hard work of dozens, especially Scott Benjamin and Bob Satterlee, we were able to have Thanksgiving in March, a Thanksgiving Race that Just Couldn't Be Beat, and the weather was spectacular, sunny, a bit windy, but perfect weather for running.

    Seventy-four runners finished the race (five of whom are still unidentified.  Help out if you can.) and a couple of dozen walkers, too.  Big points, for those who keep track of them.

    The race itself was quite a race.  Last year's Points winner and Roxbury's only Second Millennium Man Jeff Sheldon went out like a shot, with Ken Merrick and John Hirsch on his heels, with the Two Marks, LoSacco and Andreczyk watching from not too far back.  After a while, John Hirsch dropped back a bit, so he was able to pick up Ken's hat when it blew off, but Jeff pulled away for a 12-second win.

    Among the women, Eunice Bussom edged Jenna Hannibal by 17 seconds, with Pam Quist another 19 seconds farther back.  Close race.

    Last week's winner, John Hirsch, and 2006 first-timer Pat Dennen, though went out like they were shot from a gun.  John, though, quickly learned that the kid was for real, and found himself all alone, well ahead of the folks behind him, but watching Pat disappear over the hill.  By the end of the race, Pat had built a two minute lead, while Ken Merrick kept John's heels warm from about 15 seconds  farther back.

    Among the women, only 24 seconds, but six places separated last week's winner Jenna Hannabal from Terri Lee.  Jenna becomes the season's first two-time winner.

Personal Notes

    Longtime Roxbury Regular Paul Teixeira has talents beyond running.  During the ten-week winter break, he bowled a perfect 300 game.  

    The name Ben Webster doesn't ring many bells around Roxbury just yet.  Just wait.  Now that he's graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University, a teammate of last week's winner Pat Dennen, Ben has a job in Washington Depot now, and usually has Saturdays off from work.  Welcome to Roxbury, Ben.

    Bethel's Rich Zuvich spent part of his winter in South Carolina.  This is his first weekend back, and so, like a logical person, he came to Roxbury.  After the warm South Carolina weather, he is the only one at the race who's allowed to complain that the weather was cold.

    Shiloh Gawe (pictured at the right) has been a bit sick lately, and hasn't been running as much.  Even if she didn't have the strength to run the whole way, it's a good cause, she was proud to make the effort.  It's OK to walk.

    Last year's second race in March could have been snowed out, with all the snow we had that day.  We were able to run anyway, but as you can see from the second picture, it was adverse.  We were luckier this year.

Safety

      The Roxbury Races are now listed on the Internet both on RunningInTheUSA and on HiTekRacing.com

Created March 4, 2006