SEMO Running: 3rd Annual 5KFVS 12 Run

Cape Girardeau, MO -- May 14, 2011
(Results @ SplitMaster Timing: http://www.splitmastertiming.com/assets/5Kfvs%20Final%20Results%20with%20Splits.pdf )
(Race photos available from Goddard Photography: http://www.goddardphotographyonline.com/f430416726 )

Good day to run. Hadn't planned on racing this one but Brandon's sectional race in St.L didn't start until noon so I had just enough time to "run and go". Elliott Shearon is the man today. Elliot stated he had biked around 240 miles for the week in prep for his upcoming Half-ironman races and his legs were hurting. We decided to go out together and then he could take off whenever he wished. He ended up pacing me through the entire course which was nice of him and helped me. I kept telling him to "go" from 2 miles on but he stayed with me until the final straight-away on Main Street. We then sprinted to the finish. My garmin mile splits were 5:49/5:47/5:46 and:23 seconds for the last .10 miles for a 17:45 second place finish to Elliot. Just enough rolling hills on the course to make it interesting and the only "tough" hill was getting up Independence street. Bramlett finishes a strong third with Joe W in fourth place.... Once again, the local Master's runners show up in force. SE Missouri definitely is a hotspot for the 40 and over running crowd. Well run event for a great cause.

-KHammes

All 500 slots filled for 3rd Annual 5KFVS 12 Run, but cool, rainy day scares a few away as there are only 344 on the starting line. Race Director Stephanie Byars has a new course for 2011 which features lots of turns, challenging hills to finish off both the first and second miles, then one last cardio-blaster in the middle of mile three. I'm not sure how much spunk will be in the "old man legs" after last week's hard 12K effort, but do have a plan on how I want to run the course, and will see how things shake out. Start conservatively and finish first mile in 5th place overall. Get to my "go" point on Fountain Steet having just moved into 3rd place, and the game plan fell into place. Mile splits of 6:13 / 6:09 / 5:55 / and 0:27 on the downhill finish. Third to Elliot Shearon and Kevin Hammes. Joe Windeknecht and Paul Breitenstein both run solid sub-20s to take 4th and 5th respectively. 2011 Boston Marathoner Julie Wunderlich wins the female overall. Stephanie continues to improve the event each year, and today raises nearly $10,000 for The United Way.

-KBramlett