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Post by gdbrown on Aug 3, 2010 10:09:56 GMT -5
You bring up a good point related to the lack of 10k's in the area, Justin.
At one time, 5 milers, 10k's, 15k's, 10 milers and 20k's were the norm, not only in this area but in other areas as well. Heck, there was even an 18k that many of us used to run in Bedford, PA.
It would be interesting to do some research and figure out when and why the 5k is now the norm.
In a bit I'll share a photo that is of significance to me for a variety of reasons; it was taken during the first road/trail race I was aware of in this area. I hope it is also significant to others as we view the history of running in this area.
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Post by gdbrown on Aug 3, 2010 11:25:35 GMT -5
One additional note about the Mall 10k - I just found an old QCS Newsletter dated February 1981. It states the President of the QCS at that time was Bob Thomas and he was also the "race director for the inaugural Mall Race." Thomas was given a service award for his efforts at the annual Awards Dinner, held on January 31st at the Holiday Inn.
Other award winners: Slug Armstrong - Most Improved Runner Glen Workman - Outstanding Master Runner Award Liz Moran - Outstanding Female Runner (was a student at Allegany High School at the time) Dennis Albright - Outstanding Male Runner
There is also a listing of up to the top ten performances at various distances from 1980. Here is a list of the best performers:
5 Mile - Dave Rinehart (25:55); 10k - Dennis Albright (31:33); 10 Mile - Dennis Albright (52:33); 20k - Dennis Albright (67:42); 1/2 Marathon - Dennis Albright (1:13); Marathon - Bob Thomas (2:35:14). Does anyone notice what common distance of today is missing?
12 members of the QCS ran the MCM in 1980. Beside our times in the newsletter there is an * noting "short course - add 1-1/2 minutes to each time." Yes, it was true - most of the runners that year were led off course by one of the marines (many of us felt pity for that guy). I believe our certificates have the adjusted time on them.
One note of interest: While an award was given to the Most Outstanding Female, females were not recognized as having "Top Performances."
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kw
Walker
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Post by kw on Aug 3, 2010 12:16:08 GMT -5
Coach Brown, So far I've only recognized one of the pictures (Justin) but I have enjoyed seeing the photos and hearing the history of the running in the area.
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Post by gdbrown on Aug 3, 2010 12:43:33 GMT -5
I'm glad you're enjoying the reading, kw. If you're who I think you are, you have played an integral role in my history as it relates to running in the area. (It would be nice if I could upload the video your dad made at one very special race.) Before I get to the one photo promised earlier, I found another one to see if folks can identify the runners. This is a photo of two gentlemen who, in one way or another, were instrumental in assisting with the "End of Summer Four Miler." As you can see the photo was taken on Race Street in South Cumberland by Smith Park (start/finish area of the race). A hint about the guy on the right (as you are viewing): For several years he would dress up like Santa Claus and he would run the streets of Cumberland on Christmas Eve. Attachments:
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kw
Walker
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Post by kw on Aug 3, 2010 12:57:22 GMT -5
I am who you think I am- Kandi. I had forgotten about the videos my Dad used to take of our races. I'll have to see if he can dig them up for me the next time I'm in town.
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Post by gdbrown on Aug 4, 2010 8:32:30 GMT -5
The video your dad gave me is of the one state championship meet, and it also includes the AHS band slipping and sliding through the mud at a major competition...all very good days, Kandi.
The two gentlemen in the photo are the late Jim Rowan on the left and Ernie Weisenmiller on the right. Jim was a member of the QCS, and became friends with many in the running community. He lived across the street from Smith Park and after his retirement he did a lot to maintain the park. As mentioned in an earlier post, the "End of Summer Four Miler" was sponsored by the Cumberland - Hagerstown Building Trades, so it was only fitting to have an electrician working out of Local 307 and a runner to be in a race promo shot - that person was Ernie, a man who grew up in south Cumberland. Almost "like clock work," Ernie and Bill Dudley (long-time QCS member) still meet once a week like they have for several years to run or bike. The great thing about running and being a member of the QCS is the life-long relationships that are built.
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Post by gdbrown on Aug 4, 2010 9:33:04 GMT -5
This is the photo I mentioned a few posts ago. I just mentioned how running allows runners to build relationships with runners and members of their families. In many ways, this photo is a symbol of the beginning of the running journey for me. First, the race, known as the "Western Maryland 10-Mile Run Championship" was held on August 8, 1976, and it was held in the evening. The race was directed by former FSU Coach Bob Lewis (to be inducted into the FSU Hall of Fame this coming Fall), and I believe it started and finished at Spring Gap. If my memory serves me correctly we ran three miles toward Oldtown, came back past the start/finish area, ran two miles toward Cumberland, turned around and ran back to the finish at Spring Gap. This, I now believe, was the second annual race. (According to a QCS Newsletter (August-September 1978), the fourth annual "Western Maryland 10-Mile Run" was held at New Germany State Park in 1978.) This race was held prior to the QCS hosting a race...more on that in a day or so. Ralph Perry, who was a sophomore at FSU at that time, won the race in a record time of 56:13. Tim Gavin, who eventually became an All-American at FSU and still holds records in the 5,000 (14:16) and the 10,000 (29:58), placed second in 59:40, and Tim Travis placed third in 62:11. After having a confrontation with a skunk, this, then, 15 year old kid placed fourth in 63:34. (I was actually in front of Tim prior to the skunk incident (mile 7-8), but when he came running by the skunk simply left the towpath.) An interesting note: The masters only ran a six mile race. However, the winner of that division, Bob McGreevy (42:20), continued to finish the ten miles (72:02). At first I couldn't remember who took this picture of me. I thought it was Mr. Harry Cornelius, but he ran in the race...the six mile race (49:20), so now I'm confident he is the one who took the photo. If you look at the photo you can see a group of spectators just before the finish line. The late Mrs. Mary Cornelius is one of the spectators...what a gem of a woman - she always had a smile and more than one kind word to say to all she met. I believe Mr. Cornelius was either a charter member of the QCS or a very early member. He is now 94, and he still ran in races into his eighties...Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius - very, very good people. This photo was taken on a day that I truly became a member of the running community. It was after this race that Tim Travis, Charlie Thompson, Sandy Dyche, Donnie McCreary, Pat McWhirter, Bob McGreevy, Frank Palumbo, Dennis Albright, Matt Cline and Dan Whetzel took me "under their wings" and nurtured me as a runner and, more importantly, as a person. Others came a bit later to nurture me along - Bob Thomas, Coach John "Slug" Armstrong, Bob James, etc. All the while, Mr. Harry Cornelius and Mrs. Mary Cornelius were there to offer support in any way they could. Attachments:
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Post by gdbrown on Aug 4, 2010 9:49:14 GMT -5
Here is the article as it appeared in the CTN. (Minus my name being underlined - I guess at the time I needed to make sure I really participated???) By the way, the best training shoe of the day, in my mind at least, was the Adidas Country - white leather upper with three green stripes...shoe companies today don't make running shoes that last as long as a pair of those lasted. Attachments:
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Post by jordan on Aug 4, 2010 13:26:35 GMT -5
saw Ray kiddy in the list as well. is this the same Ray Kiddy who was my principal all those years? or his father? great guy, always supported running in the area. one of the only "higher up's" in the educational system that came to watch cross country meets and track meets.
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Post by gdbrown on Aug 4, 2010 14:13:41 GMT -5
A very good observation, Jordan, but, it's not the same Ray Kiddy who is the current VP at AHS and current runner. If my memory is correct, the "Ray Kiddy" mentioned in the article eventually became the first president of the QCS. I can remember as a teenager going to QCS meetings at his house off Wellington Lane in Cumberland.
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Post by Justin on Aug 4, 2010 14:22:26 GMT -5
Awesome, one of my earliest running mentors (heroes) came in 12th, Shannon Shook. What a guy, and truly a grizzly of a man.
And Ernie Weisenmiller is one of my Dad's old friends too. I just saw him at Lowes yesterday. I believe those 2 guys were responsible for getting my father running.
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Post by gdbrown on Aug 4, 2010 16:06:36 GMT -5
You're right, Justin - Shannon is "a grizzly of a man" - but a "gentle giant" at the same time. I never trained with him, but when I did construction work I worked around him, and was amazed how strong of a man he was/is. I met your dad via running before I ever met him on a job site. I can see Shannon and Ernie getting him involved in running - all three were very hardworking tradesmen at the time. Movin'on... NOTE: AFTER WRITING THIS, I REALIZED THE DOCUMENT EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM SIZE, SO I'M GOING TO ATTACH ONE DOCUMENT TO THIS POST AND THE CORRESPONDING CTN ARTICLE TO THE NEXT POST.
Attached is an article and some writing I did on a piece of paper torn out of a small spiral notepad - both found in my old leather-bound scrapbook. Early on in this thread, I questioned when the QCS originated. I'm now rather confident it was sometime in 1976. The first QCS sponsored race was held on Sunday, November 21, 1976. It was the "Mason Road Five Miler." It started at the entrance to Saint Peter and Saint Paul Picnic Grounds on Mason Road. Almost all races run on Mason Road from that day and after started at 2:00 p.m., and the majority were held on Sundays. The five mile course simply went out 2.5 (Hazen Road?) and came back 2.5. Notice that the article has Mike Harper (26:16) as the winner. However, John Blankfield, who was a senior at Beall High School at the time and the winner of the Class C state XC championship earlier in the month, actually won the race in 26:05, and I placed 4th in a time of 28:30. This is noted on the notebook paper. However, we were not listed in the CTN results because we would/could not accept any awards simply because we weren't certain of the eligibility rules related to high school runners. This was new territory for all involved. As noted on the notebook paper, 30 people ran in the race. However, the CTN article has 20 finishers listed, so there is a discrepancy as to the number of participants. Harper, Bob Beechil and Chip Brand were all Frostburg State College (FSC at the time - not FSU) runners. Notice that the club affiliation is listed after each runner's place, time, and division. Hopefully, followers of this thread are seeing the names of individuals who were very active in the early days of the QCS. Attachments:
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Post by gdbrown on Aug 4, 2010 16:08:56 GMT -5
Here is the corresponding CTN article about the first race hosted by the QCS. The club sponsored many low key races that were run on Mason Road and on the C&O Canal towpath. The races ranged from five miles to 10k to four and six mile predicted time runs - those were fun! - of course, no watches were permitted. Attachments:
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Post by wvrunner on Aug 5, 2010 6:42:52 GMT -5
I recall running a few of the Mason Road 5 Milers back in the late 80's early 90's. One of the races was held in conjunction with St. Patricks Day and the other in the middle of summer. I recall current ACM basketball coach Mike Baker winning one of those races.
The times put up for those races in Coach Brown's article were very impressive for the 5 mile course. Coach is correct in saying that the starting point was at the picnic grounds. The turnaround was approximately 400-600 meters past the second metal bridge you ran across on Mason.
Mason Road was marked every mile from in front of the gym at ACM to the 10 mile mark out near the Lake Gordon Dam. Doctor Glenn Workman and few other Striders wheeled of the course and it was re-painted several times over the years by various others. On any given day you would see five or six other runners out on Mason Road training. Good times.
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Post by gdbrown on Aug 5, 2010 8:20:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the clarification on the turnaround, Dennis. The 10ks took a right on what I believe is Hazen Road to pick up the additional .6 on the way out to the turnaround.
Mason Road...from my perspective there was/is no better place to train. As many as 20 runners would meet on at 7 o'clock on Sunday mornings for our 20 milers as we prepared for a fall marathon or our chance to run at Boston in the spring. For the most part, the pack would stay together for the first ten, and then it would separate. Sometimes I ran smart 20 milers with the group, and I'm convinced at other times I left my marathon on that course.
I loved running out there on a summer evening, and viewing the reflection from Gurley's (now McCagh's) pond. The terrain was hilly but not taxing, and the last two miles heading back to AC off Shade's Lane could be a very fast last two miles.
I, for one, am grateful for Dr. Workman's effort to wheel off the course, and for those who re-painted the markers several times. I believe Coach Mickey had a hand in that - thanks!
I mentioned training with Dave 1-2 times each week. There was only one time that I was able to hammer him. He was wearing his PO2 canister to simulate altitude training. We were running up Shade's Lane at about 5:45 pace just past mile 9 of a 12 mile run. For him, it was like running at 4:35-4:45 pace. It was the only time I was able to "one step" him instead of him consistently being one step ahead.
As Coach Mickey mentioned..."Good times."
Has anyone ever heard of McFarland's water stop on Mason Road?
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