Posted by: Presto
With a win at Chile Pepper, the LRRC has clinched the team title for the 2009 Grand Prix Series. So with 4 races left in the schedule the men can sit back with a beer and cheer on the women as the continue their sprint to the finish for the women’s team title. Or at least that’s what they would like to do!
Arkansas Cross Country Agri-Park
Our own Glen Mays was the top male Grand Prix finisher in a time of 34:23 and Leah Thorvilson the top female Grand Prix finisher in 36:52. The course was a little muddy, but not as bad as was expected. There was some re-routing around the starting line, which was pretty much a mud pit. Overall, a great day for a brisk cross country run!
If you have not participated in this event, I suggest you add this to your race calendar for next year right now. It’s currently the only cross country event on the Grand Prix series. Good change of pace from the road races we do most of the year. Also, you can stay after the race and cheer on some of the best collegiate cross country runners in the nation. This year, the Okky State Cowboys took home the men’s team title with a glamorous 1-2-3 finish.
Oklahoma State Men Capture Collegiate Team Title
Hope to see everyone among the 1,000 participants in the Soaring Wings Half-Marathon this Saturday in Conway. This is the state championship half-marathon for the Grand Prix series.
Posted 2 years, 3 months ago at 10:11 pm. Add a comment
Posted by: Presto
The Roadrunners traveled down I-30 to Benton to tackle the Arkansas 20K. When all was said and done both the LRRC men and women’s teams took home the 20K titles. After an interesting start where the lead-pack of runners paced the pace car (see below), Leah Thorvilson came in as 1st overall female in 1:22:24. That was after taking to scenic detours. 1st at the beginning when the lead pack missed the first turn because of the pace car not being ready and the 2nd when almost back to the finish line thinking the girl directing runners was yelling “Go Leah, Go Leah”. Go…No…Same thing : ) Other LRRC women completing the 20K include: Jenny Weatter (3rd Overall Female, way to go Jenny!), Mary Wells, Sarah Olney, Tina Coutu, Mira Lelovic, Ginea Qualls, Becky Humes, and Donna Trawick.
Wondering why the pace car is BEHIND most of the runners?!?
On the men’s side, Josh Holt of CCC won in a time of 1:13:51. Kevin Golden was the first LRRC, 5th overall finisher, and 2nd Overall Male Masters in 1:22:20. LRRC would go on to take the next 6 places on the men’s side! Other LRRC men completing the 20K include: Steven Preston, Imari Dellimore, Scott Anderson, David Williams (3rd Overall Male Masters), Bill Diamond, Joel Perez, Bill Torrey (3rd Overall Male Grand Masters), Ross Bolding, Raj Bhanot, Brian Watson, Keving Groustra, Daniel Butler, Jeff Maher, John Russell, Dan Belanger, and Jesse Garrett.
I want to give a shout out to all the GREAT volunteers who came from all over the state to help support this race after the Saline County Striders lost a large portion of the volunteers they had gathered in the last week before the race. It goes to show you the greatness of RUNNERS! Keep it up. Overall, the race was a good time and the post-race hot dogs hit the spot (Thanks to Charles Gattin!).
We also had 3 women members competing in the Arkansas Marathon that day as well. Alison Acott and Michelle Rupp (new PR!) came in as 2nd and 3rd Overall Females. Tammy Walther also completed the grueling double out-and-back course. You go girls!!!
Next up on the 2009 Grand Prix Series is the Tyler Curtis 5K right here in our backyard. Hope to see a very large LRRC contingent. Check out this Monday’s Dem-Gaz Active section for an article on the race. Easy Runner will accept registrations from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday. Since this race is supported by the LRRC, if you are resting your legs this weekend, please contact Bill Torrey at (501) 231-3730 or bjtorrey@sbcglobal.net and lend your hands.
Steady as she goes!
Posted 2 years, 4 months ago at 12:45 pm. Add a comment
Posted by: Presto
If you have a shirt, hat, or workout bag and want the LRRC logo on it, you are now in luck!
Contact for Logo Stitching: Patsy Varner
E-mail: Patsy.Varner@dillards.com
Address: 1600 Cantrell Road., Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 870-917-9495 (cell) or 870-942-4639 (home)
Delivery and pickup: At Dillards Corporate Offices, Steven Preston can work out pickup if needed.
She has two sizes that she can put on shirts and caps. They are 2.5 X 3.5 inches and 1.5 X 2.5 for $10.00.
She has a 4X4 logo that will be $12.00 on any item - this size would work well for a workout bag.
She has a 6X6 logo that should look good on sweat shirts and large bags.
No discounted rate on multiple items. She said it takes her the same time to do each one.
She can also change the colors on any part of it. You might want to change the color of the lettering depending on the color of the item.
Get the Bird on your shirt!
Get the Bird on your hat!
Posted 2 years, 5 months ago at 11:39 pm. Add a comment
Posted by: Presto
A few of the Little Rock Roadrunners invaded the Pacific Northwest this past weekend, including our very own Leah Thorvilson (hoping for revenge from her 2 second loss at Green Bay). The weather was perfect. It started with an early morning chill and a search for a vacant potty! By mid-day, the temps only reached into the low 70s with little to no humidity.
The course was a very hilly according to most others in Seattle, but what are hills to Little Rockians? There were awesome views to be seen all along the course including: Lake Washington (there was a bald eagle sighting), Mount Rainier in the background, running on the world’s longest floating bridge (I-90), the Space Needle, and Pudget Sound via the Alaskan Way Viaduct. The only kicker was at about mile 23 and a half you went downhill and you knew that at mile 25 you were going to have to come right back up it.
In the marathon, Leah Thorvilson had a great tug of war with Michele Suszek of Westminster, CO. According to the Seattle Times, there were 3 lead changes in the final 6 miles. I remember passing Leah as I was going towards North Seattle and she was making her way back south and you could see the war eyes on her as she was neck and neck with her opponent. Leah finished as the 2nd overall female with an awesome time of 2 hours 38 mins and 49 seconds, only 12 seconds behind Suszek. Great race Leah! Being able to hold a great duel like that late in the race is a big accomplishment in itself… Among others to run the marathon was Michael Harmon. The marathon happened to fall on his birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARMON!!! He gave himself a nice present with a whopping 35 min PR with a time of 4 hours 41 mins and 48 secs. Way to go! Raj Bhanot completed the course in 3 hours 43 mins and 27 secs. I wish I could have his excitement so late in a marathon. He was cheering fellow Roadruners on late into the race while finishing in a fast time himself. Myself, I ran 3 hours 17 mins and 14 secs. Loved the course, but my body hated the Cytomax (is it just me or does that stuff taste like sweet tea). I ended up almost puking on the guy that handed me my medal.
LEAH THORVILSON AT FINISH
STEVEN PRESTON AT FINISH
In the half marathon, John Russell came sneaking by his wife, Polly, at the finish line in 2 hours 19 mins and 40 secs. Leah’s sister, Jamie, also had a great half time of 1 hour 37 mins and 38 secs. I ran with her for a bit in the first half and I can tell that the great personality runs in Leah’s family.
As this was a Rock ‘N’ Roll event, they had a R&B singer (can’t explain) for the headliner concert that night, Keb Mo. However, with a few bottles of Washington’s finest merlots, the crew had a fantastic time swaying to the rhythms. Before the concert started, Leah received her first Billboard Top 100 gold record (see below).
LEAH MAKES HER DEBUT ON THE BILLBOARD TOP 100
GROUP SHOT AT HEADLINER CONCERT THAT NIGHT
Seattle Rocked!
Posted 2 years, 7 months ago at 3:50 pm. Add a comment
