2010 OTCM Fall Celebration Run

By Keith McConnell, OTCM Race Director
Photos by Mike Cahn, OTCM

OTCM held this annual event on Sunday Sept. 26, with sunny skies and moderate temperatures so runners and walkers could leave their rain gear at home again this year. Many OTCM members and friends were at Alton Baker Park in the early hours getting things ready for the race.

Ken Vendley, our course manager and an OTCM Board member, had the course clearly marked and ready for action well before the runners and walkers gathered behind the starting line. Ken included a group of young Sheldon High Cross Country runners as course monitors.

Likewise, all was in place at the finish line as Eclectic Edge Racing, William Wyckoff's race management company, had everything set to go. Their on-site team of Andy Downin and Nicole did a great job of mc'ing, playing music and handling the results. Andy also was instrumental in getting the 8K course officially certified before the event.

The starter's pistol was fired promptly at 9 am and off they went. Over a hundred runners in either the 5K or 8K races and a small cadre of 5K walkers took off down Day Island Road. In no time, the first 5K runner was approaching the finish line. Jason Vaughn ran the course in a super time of 17:48 despite adding some distance to his run with an unintentional "detour" on his way around the duck pond; the first female finisher, as well as first Masters (40+) Charlie Soloman, sped across the line in 20:42. First Masters male was Tom Reitmann in 19:32. In the 5K Walkers division, Becky Chineworth, came home first in 40:49 while the first male, Kirk Simrin, was close behind in 41:50.

The 8K race has always been the highlight race of the Fall Celebration since it has been the distance we have used for the Fall Celebration race over the years with the 5K added just a few years ago. Overall winners were Trisha Kluge, first female runner and first Masters in 35:23; Tristan Rice was first male finisher in 29:50 and the first Masters male was Paul Van Donkelaar in 32:36. Longtime OTCM members Bill McChesney (82) and Jane Dods (74) led their age groups in 54:56 and 56:09 respectively.

Our annual Kids' Race, a one half mile celebration run, went off smoothly and with great enthusiasm, both by the 30 or so young runners and their parents. All of the children received "Finishers" ribbons. New OTCM club member Mike Cahn, directed the Kids' Race including the start and, after a short jog down the path, the finish, as well.

I would like to thank the many volunteers, both club members and their friends and family, for their assistance. Thanks to OTCM board treasurer, Dave Wilkins, who served as "decathalon" man doing everything from t-shirt design to flier production, emailing PR materials, to packet pick up, to race day registration - and he still managed to make time to run the 8K with a friend's dog in tow. Special thanks also to Ken Vendley for his course management role, to Mike Cahn as my "shadow" as he learned all aspects of the event in preparation for taking over as race director next year, to Kathy Anderson for her usual standout job managing race day registration and to Jane Dods who solicited the vast array of prizes that were given randomly to participants - many thanks to all the local businesses who donated items as prizes; they contribute a lot to make the festivities so much fun. We especially appreciate the support of Bob and Laura Coll and the Eugene Running Company including the donation of many gifts for prizes and for providing the site for packet pick up and registration the day before the race.

For complete race results, please go to www.EclecticEdgeRacing2.com or look here at www.OTCMasters.org.