If you’ve been reading race reports here you’ve noticed I am constantly amazed by the racing dominance of a handful of local masters women.
Sam McManis profiles these local speedsters in today’s Sacramento Bee. The article is titled: 40-It’s the new fast. Be sure to check it out! Try not to be intimidated.
Jaymee Marty looking strong at the halfway point.
Since the 1970s, runners from around the region have lined up on the first Sunday after Labor Day to take on one of Sacramento’s premier distance running events: The Buffalo Stampede.
In the heyday of American distance running, there were fewer races to choose from and the competition was fierce. A sub-60 minute time might not guarantee you a top-20 finish!
The popularity of this 10-mile race has ebbed and flowed over the years, and the fast end of the field at one point dwindled to a single runner breaking that 60-minute barrier.
Over the past few years, the Race for the Arts 5K has managed to remake itself from a unique Friday evening, race in downtown to just another Saturday morning 5K in Land Park.
Still, Land Park is a great place to run a 5K and the weather was perfect, so a good crowd assembled to take on the event and support local arts organizations.
Did I mention the weather was perfect? For last year’s race, we “enjoyed” high temps and Gulf Coast-like humidity. This year, it was absurdly cool for late August–about 59 degrees at the start–and clouds filled the sky. It was a perfect fall morning, about a month early.
The overall event seemed larger this year, and the race organization made use of the park’s amphitheater for showcasing local performers. Young opera singers serenaded us as we warmed up and a rock-band was on the stage as we cooled down.
Many of the usual (fast) suspects were on hand for the start and once all the kids that went out at a sub-5:00 per mile pace faded, local speedsters Steven Schenck and Mike Styczynski battled it out for first.
