Charlotte Running Company 4.44 Miles

30 participants for the first fun race at the new place?  Not bad for starters!  So good to see some people I haven't seen for a while, including the young and fast Mr. William Hooker, the prolific mileage king, Joe Hord, east coast old school, Adam Newman, and west coast style, Todd Patterson, and Pete Hunt.  Some new faces (and pretty ones, at that!) Elizabeth, Emily, Julie, Genia, and Eimear, all welcomed newbies.   Once we got underway on the fresh course, James Haycraft took the lead and promptly ran off course after I begged everyone to take one of my painstakingly hand drawn maps.  The whole gang followed James at first until figuring out that the course markings ceased to exist.  Once they righted the course, the race was on.  Everyone partook and was grateful for the super water stop provided by Brenny Thompson at the halfway point.  Todd Patterson ended up with the win and the coveted 20 points for first place.  Mohammed Idlibi just completed his first 100 mile race!  He didn't pick one of the "easier" ones either.  No, this boy chose Coyote Two Moons 100, one of the most difficult in the country.  Next time you see Mohammed, congratulate him on a truly special accomplishment.

I will be tabulating the points standings after this first event and have them online by Monday.  Next week we have something special for the ladies (hint: need a new running outfit?)  Also, Charlotte Running Company signs on as presenting sponsor of the Sharksbite Thursday night point series.  Since everyone ran off course this week, tune into next week to see the PRs fly!  I'm predicting a sub 27 minute run by one of our fast boys....or girls.

Photos by Jim Payne

"James, who ran off course tonight?  Was it you?"

Happy young ladies, Elizabeth and Julie finishing up the Sharksbite run.