Outlaw Tim Ramsey?

The annual DCRRC Steve Thompson 8K race was scheduled for July 23rd. There was a threat of thunderstorms that evening but the skies were clear when I left the office at 5PM. When I pulled into the parking lot at Belle Haven Marina I saw the usual assortment of runners so I thought everything was going as usual. However, it didn't take long to learn that the club had cancelled the race for fear of the storms, had posted this cancellation on the website at around 5PM - after many, including myself, had already left for the race, and perhaps worst of all, had not sent anyone to the site to advise people that showed up of the cancellation. I realize that managing the club and directing races is voluntary but I think that if you accept these positions then you are also accepting a certain amount of responsibility to the club membership to do the right thing. Ed Grant, the President of the club, has since apologized for the handling of the cancellation on the club website but by then the damage was done. Argh!

Anyway, since the skies were clear a lot of people showed up for the expected race. We were fortunate to have Bob Platt there, the man in charge of Race Packet. He volunteered to unofficially take charge of the race. Karsten Brown created makeshift finish cards from old flyers. Jon Palks suggested the name "Outlaw 8K" as the new name for this unofficial,un-sanctioned, non-event.

Bob said the "g" word and we were off. It was another hot evening and 2 hours earlier than the Rockville race a few nights before so it was tough. Nonetheless, I felt better than I had recently as I ran that first mile. I ran it all before taking a break. I passed Ric Franke during that first mile. I swore to myself he wouldn't beat me again :)

For the next 2 miles I ran close to a man I later learned was Joe Belkoski. I drafted off of him for awhile and then I would take a walk break. Then I would run and catch up to him again until I could draft off of him for a minute or two until I took another walk break. I did this until after the turnaround. Then we hit a nice downhill section and I accelerated by him. I actually ran at this point for about 4 minutes and I ran it pretty fast (all things relative) so I left him so far behind I couldn't see him. But that run took a lot out of me. I couldn't do another sustained run for the rest of the race. I did a number of 1 or 2 minute runs followed by 1 minute walks. Finally another run that had been running behind both Joe and I caught and passed me. I tried to stay close to him for awhile but I couldn't do it. Then I saw Joe gaining on me. I started running again but he passed me during my next inevitable walk break. He passed along his encouragement as he passed but I told him the race was his. I tried a few times to catch him but I just couldn't do it. I could see him ahead of me for most of the remaining mile but I just couldn't close the gap. He finished in 62:27 while I finished in 63:37 (63:30 watch time). Joe approached me after the race and said he thought I could have caught him on a couple of those downhills but I told him I tried but it just wasn't in me. He said he ran in the Parkway 10 miler and ran along with people that also ran/walked. He said he probably should try it but he's too stubborn. I say, keep doing what you are doing Joe! I would run it all if I could.

It did start to rain during my drive home and we had a pretty strong storm which Ed felt justified the cancellation of the original race. I disagree but I do understand he has to think about liability.

Here are the total results for the race...


pl.nameagesexhometowntime
1Leoule Degfae18MAlexandria, VA28:10.70
2Karsten Brown34MFront Royal, VA28:36.75
3Tikut Degfae18MAlexandria, VA30:30.78
4Ted Poulos46MMcLean, VA30:35.48
5Mark Drosky47MAlexandria, VA32:48.52
6Jason Page63MHamilton, VA33:13.33
7Bill Stahr47MThe Plains, VA35:24.74
8Jim Noone63MFairfax, VA35:28.70
9Kirk Gordon52MMitchellville, MD35:37.72
10Jay Wind58MArlington, VA36:31.16
11Steve McCollum46MWashington, DC36:56.04
12Ken Krehbiel54MWashington, DC37:02.88
13Kristin Dahling32FArlington, VA37:14.87
14Joe Emerson42MAlexandria, VA37:15.99
15Robert Trost62MFalls Church, VA37:41.46
16Greg Chaconas62MWashington, DC37:56.92
17Karen Young40FBeallsville, MD38:04.72
18Tony Keenant36MArlington, VA38:06.86
19James Scarborough50MMcLean, VA38:15.32
20Alex Friend48MFalls Church, VA39:07.76
21Lucia Olivera30FWashington, DC39:26.68
22Bob Platt56MArlington, VA39:54.06
23Patrick Groton30MAnnandale, VA39:59.95
24Eamonn McEvilly65MSpringfield, VA40:38.60
25Michael Knapp14MAlexandria, VA41:15.80
26John Lyon15MAlexandria, VA41:33.61
27Jon Palks59MBowie, MD41:39.80
28Glenn Gardner47MWoodbridge, VA42:26.80
29Leslie Stanfield58FReston, VA44:16.80
30Patrick Brown63MReston, VA44:20.11
31Lisa Schaefer37FVienna, VA44:30.53
32Robert Bowie43MUpper Marlboro, MD44:42.00
33Jaques Bure52MTakoma Park, MD44:42.58
34Laure Veissiere26FWashington, DC45:02.05
35Foster Friedman45MAlexandria, VA45:27.75
36James DeMartino50MWashington, DC45:37.18
37Andy Buechele65MWashington, DC46:21.16
38Monica Mora29FWashington, DC46:42.43
39Irving Todds47MSterling, VA48:00.98
40Bonie Agera32FBurke, VA48:06.85
41Bob Weiner61MAccokeek, MD48:19.79
42Dan Haney40MAlexandria, VA48:33.02
43Andrew Kent44MArlington, VA48:35.56
44unidentified maleM49:13.86
45Bernadette Flynn51FSpringfield, VA50:54.83
46Shelly Cavey28FAlexandria, VA52:51.75
47Bob Gurtler73MThe Plains, VA53:11.53
48Wayne Holland66MAlexandria, VA55:24.66
49Tarah Hepburn30FSterling, VA57:15.38
50Kathie Kramer30FArlington, VA57:28.12
51Mark Ferguson46MArlington, VA1:01:08.18
52Joe Belkoski50MAlexandria, VA1:02:27.07
53Tim Ramsey49MAlexandria, VA1:03:36.78
54Ric Francke61MMcLean VA1:09:58.36

So 53rd out of 54 finishers. Not good. But I beat Ric. OK. And I bettered my time from the Rockville race by over 3 minutes...very good. I'll be glad when I can consistently and easily maintain a 12 minute pace over 5 or 6 miles though.

BTW This was my 27th race of the year.