Member News from
Co-President Sue Fletcher
Thunder Mountain Running Club members have been busy training and racing since the
last news letter. Thought I would report on
some out-of-town races that have taken place. A
5K cross country race was held at Lower Lincoln Park in Tucson on April 15th. There were 4 separate races, a men’s masters,
women’s masters, and an open men and open women’s. Local runners Sue Fletcher and Barbara Chavez ran
in the masters race, Sue finished 2nd overall in 25:02 and Barbara’s time
was 32:40. The course was dirt trail and
fairly rocky in spots, lots of ups and downs! Great
refreshments at the end. Other TMRC runners
were: Jim Peller-20:45; Don Branaman-21:19, William Chapdelain-22:27, and Sue Smith-32:33.
The two “iron
women” Kelly Martinez and Kathy Krebs turned in an awesome performance in a Nogales, Son. 10K on May 7th.
This, of course, was following their half-marathon race the previous day at
Ft. Huachuca! Kelly got 3rd place
in the women’s age group 30 and over (go figure) and took home 400 pesos as her
reward. Kathy was only a few steps behind. Gary Cross also ran and he had completed the
Thunder Mt. Marathon the day before! Just ask
Gary which is harder, the West Gate or the Nogales, Son. 10K. The course was point-to-point beginning just
inside the border at the Mariposa Gate. TMRC
member Alfonso Gonzales was race director and very helpful to us. He also brought us back to the border when we all
piled into his car. Other members racing that
day were Don Branaman, Sue Fletcher, and Pedro Santilliano.
There was lots of fruit to eat after the race and water stops every 2K along
the course.
On May 27th an 8 mile wilderness run was held at Ft. Bayard near Silver City, NM.
The first 5 miles
were on rugged, sometimes rocky, up and down trails.
The final 3 miles were basically downhill on a gravel road. There were 94 runners in the 8 miler, 25 in the 2
miler, and 13 in the 5K. Paul Valentin turned
in an outstanding time of 57:15 for 7th place overall and 3rd in age
group. Other TMRC members were Don Branaman
1:02:41, Elise Kinder 1:14:25, Linda Brewer 1:14:25, Sue Fletcher 1:16:57, Richard Cooper
1:18:56, Jeanie Cooper 1:33:34, and Sue Smith 1:43:01.
Steve Havens has found the answer to “hitting the wall” in a marathon!
Steve ran the Rock and Roll Marathon in San Diego on June 4th in 4:37. You will have to ask him about his newfound
elixir. Mark Tashiro also ran his first, and
I hear last, marathon in 5:31. I know Mark
won’t let Steve train without him. They
will be out there again on another 26.2 race! Former
TMRC members Rouda Mikeworth Adema-3:33, and Kelly Haines Doland-4:58 also turned in
noteworthy times in San Diego, both running their first marathon.
Kelly and Kathy are training hard for the San
Francisco Marathon in July. Good luck, ladies!
They are just getting too fast.
Pat DelVecchio is in training for a tri-athalon
in San Francisco in July, same day as the
marathon. We wish her good luck, also.
Dick Haines will be an official at the Track
and Field Olympic Trials in Sacramento in July. Sue
and Dick will also be going to the Olympics in Sydney in Sept.
If anyone runs an O.O.T.R. (Out of Town Race) call me, Sue Fletcher, at 458-8029
with the results so we can put it in the newsletter. |
