The Miracle Miles 15K is a great name for the race that benefits the Neonatal Intensive Care unit at Winnie Palmer Hospital. More than 1,200 preemies are cared for each year in the hospital and the 112-bed unit is the fourth largest neonatal intensive care unit it the country with Level II and Level III beds for the tiniest, most seriously ill babies.

Locals who completed today’s Orlando race included Tammy Bagdasrian, 1:35:14; Cyndi Bergs, 1:25:52 (above left with husband); Warren Caputo, 1:11:37; Joan Meadows, 1:36:34; Susie O’Connell, 1:44:48; William Roth, 1:40:27; Natalie Rymer, 1:53:21; John Schmidt, 2:07:14; Troy Sheets, 1:05:39.  Congrats to all!

Cathi Rodgers (left), mentor for the Brevard county Team in Training triathletes, wanted to share the good news about their recent race – the Walt Disney World Triathlon – and how much money they raised for the fight against cancer.

“The Brevard county Team in Training took eleven participants to the race. Everyone finished and one person, Leanne Hensley, won third place in her age group.  It was her first triathlon!  Not only did we all finish the event, we also raised thirty thousand dollars in the fight against cancer.  Nationwide, Team in Training brought 301 participants to the event that raised a total of $1.1 million for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.”

Congrats to Cathi and the rest of the TNT members on their continued success in the war on cancer.  (Scroll down for complete local results that were posted a couple of days ago. TNT members are in purple!)

If you are interested in being part of a future team, contact Cathi at singsongs@earthlink.net

Most people won’t run 10K and even fewer will swim that far. Next year the Olympics will welcome marathon swimming (6.2 miles) to the line-up for both men and women.

We were sent that little tidbit along with a pretty interesting website that has a lot of info that is applicable to swimmers of all open water races, particularly the 2.4-mile variety. The site also provides a forum for folks to toss out their questions, concerns and comments on the sport.

Take a peek at http://www.10kswim.com/main.html

In spite of the ‘Great Amoeba Scare of ’07, two dozen locals joined more than 900 other athletes to complete Sunday’s Walt Disney World Triathlon. Those completing the 1500-meter swim, 36 mile bike and 10K run included Maria Albritton, 5:00:49; Rafael Alvarez, 4:32:29; Kris Burchfield, 4:05:27; Jeff Cook, fastest local male, 3:24:08; Linda Cowart, fastest local female, 3:44:25; Jerry Davis, 4:39:49; Kasey Drennen, 3:53:23; Amanda Figueiredo, 4:24:32; Michael Glover, 3:50:28; Clayton Gruenstein, 4:16:27; Kimberlee Gruenstein, 4:03:11; Katherine Halle, 4:35:05; Leanne Hensley, 3^rd 20-24, 3:51:11; Elvira Johnson, 4:00:07; Mike Melton, 3:35:51 (Melton, at left, turned in the third fastest local time); Ana McQueary, 4:18:37; Ben Park, 3:47:04; Jeanette Roach, 4:16:03; Cathi Rodgers, 4:25:39; Suzanne Shaffer, 4:51:58; Thomas Turek, 4:00:30; Mike Wasson, 3:28:48; Lynelle Westra, 4:48:01; Patricia Williams, 3:54:41.

Those who chose to do the duathlon of a 36-mile bike and 10K run, included Emily Burke, 3:31:35; Joseph Alcorn, 3:09:38; Nathan Manese, 3:27:29; Nicholas Manese, 3:39:27.

Congrats to all!

More than 220 runners helped enrich the lives of others today at the inaugural BK Memorial 5K as all proceeds will benefit the Brandon Killingsworth scholarship fund at Eau Gallie high school.  Brandon graduated from Eau Gallie with honors in 1992 (photo left) and then began college at Lenoir Rhyme College in Hickory, North Carolina. On Nov. 24, 2004, while on his way home to visit his family for Thanksgiving, Brandon was killed.  Today’s race established to honor his memory and provide funds to help others pursue collegiate dreams.

Congratulations to all who had a part in today’s race.

Complete results are available at http://mahoney4.home.netcom.com/scr/races/07bk.txt

Lori Kruger (photo left, in black, competing at the 2006 Escape from Alcatraz triathlon) gives a ‘thumbs up’ rating to the Escape to Siesta triathlon which took place in Sarasota last weekend.  Here is her take on the 1/4-mile swim, 13-mile bike and three-mile run.

“It was a very different tri.  The swim was in the Gulf and we swam/ran through the water in an M-shaped path. We swam out, around a buoy, back to the beach, ran around a buoy, then swam back out around a buoy and then back to beach and across the mat.  There was a long run through the sand to T1, also.  The bike was a normal 13-mile ride along smooth roads in a nice beach community.  The run was on trails through the park, then along the beach and then back, so it produced much longer run times then a typical tri.  But I did enjoy it  and would recommend it to others.”

Lori finished fourth in the 45-49 age group in 1:21:17 and Wyatt Hoover took thirdin the 25-29 division in 1:16:43.  Michelle Smurl took first in the 35-39 age group of the duathlon in 1:18:16.  Race organizers swapped the swim for a one-mile run in the duathlon.

Thanks, Lori and congrats!!

Not to be outdone by their counterparts across the pond, organizers of the Sept. 2 First Monster Duathlon in Scotland have taken out a one-million pound (1.46-million-euro, 1.97-million-dollar) insurance policy against an attack by or the sighting of Nessie, the fabled Loch Ness monster.

According to an AFP (Agence France Press) release, John Woodman, director of Royal and Sun Alliance insurers, was quoted as saying “This is one of our more unusual requests but it certainly gave our team something to get their teeth into.”

The policy terms and conditions state that any “proven sighting” must be independently verified.

Wonder if Nessie eats amoebas?

Hardware and fast times returned to Brevard with many of those who raced at the Autumn Rock ‘n’ Run 5K in Casselberry last Saturday.  The race is the second in the seven-race 2007-08 Track Shack Grand Prix series.

Local competitors included Michelle Boggs, 41:36; Louis Boisseau, 27:22; James Faircloth, 26:58; Larry Henderson, 28:33; Jeffrey Homan, 21:30; Shelby McFall, 3^rd 15-19, 34:49; Theresa Miller, 23:55; Blanche Morrison, 31:42; Kara Niedermeier, 20:22; Rebecca Sparks, 2^nd 40-44, 21:41; Ed Springer, 2^nd 30-34, 18:11; Sue Strout, 1^st 50-54, 22:56 (photo left); Sandra Walker, 28:11; Mike Wasson, 1^st 40-44, 17:47.

Congrats to all!

Tomorrow is a big day for Brian Murtha and his brother, Kevin. (That's Brian, left, and Kevin, right, in the Ironman Village in Madison)  For quite a few hours, the Melbourne men get to milk Ironman Moo, or as it’s known by it’s proper name: Ford Ironman Wisconsin.  (Wisconsin=cheese=cow=moo! Get it?  We are not making this up!)

While Kevin, 38, already claims IM status, this is Brian’s first shot at the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run. You can follow their progress on-line tomorrow at www.ironmanlive.com  We hope to see Brian cross the finish line wearing one of those big, yellow cheesehead hats. 

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO for the Murthas or at least clang the cowbells!

This is certainly not to take anything away from any of today’s athletes such as Kara Niedermeier, (left) who took second overall in 19:56, or Theresa Miller, (right) who won the 45-49 division in 23:45. I think most would have to agree that the toughest racers at today’s Sister Run 5K weren’t those at the front of the pack. In fact, some of the strongest, instead, watched and cheered from the sidelines. And those most unbreakable were the women who are racing for their lives against Ovarian Cancer. Today’s race was about helping them win.

It looks like Wayne Wright (left) is doing more than running with the horses after completing the Run with the Horses Marathon in Green River, Wyoming on August 25.  Fiona Wright described the route as such: “The course was the Wild Horse Loop Tour.  Elevation at the start was 6800 feet which climbed to 7500 feet in the first 5 miles.  After that there were multiple ups and downs then shortly after mile 20 we ran downhill into town to finish at Expedition Island, elevation 6100 feet.” 

Part of the allure of the race, which is part of the River Festival Weekend, is “There are wild mustangs wandering all over the high desert areas of Wyoming and other western states.” The weekend also offered a raffle for a shot to win your own mustang pony. Thankfully, organizers made those wishing to enter show proof of ability to adequately care for the animal.

And Fiona explains how the Wrights fared on the filly and hilly course.  “I was quite happy to finish in 5:15, knowing that I had pushed hard.  Wayne had a bad day.  As if the breathing wasn’t enough of a challenge, he also had some major leg cramps.  He had to walk most of the uphill sections and the last few miles.  He made it to the finish line in 5:49 with a smile on his face.  Not bad for a guy still recovering from open heart surgery.”

Look for Fiona's article on the race in the October issue of Space Coast Runners.

More than 17,000 runners turned concert-goers as they ran the Rock n- Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach on Sept. 2.  Bands were on hand to serenade the athletes at each mile along the 13.1-mile route and all were treated to a post-race concert featuring INXS.

Hitting the tape first for his $12,000 share of the $80,000 purse was the 2004 race winner, Haron Toroitich. The 29-year-old Kenyan crossed the line in 1:02:20 – within the 40 seconds following his finish were the next top four.  Edna Kiplagat, 27, also of Kenya, took the women’s race in 1:11:14.

Those from Brevard also crossing the finish line included Marilyn Bertot, 2:17:03; Jack Bolinger, 1:44:40; Thalena Boyd, 1:50:55 (photo at left); Cliffton Chandler, 3:01:51; Brooke Derosa, 3:01:50; Libby Gilson, 2:38:25; Thomas Guidera, 2:18:50; Sue Hoyt, 2:14:35; James Johnson, 1:46:18; Kathryn Johnson, 2:16:53; Chester Jones, 1:45:55; Mindy Middleton, 3:02:52; Lewis Oliver, 3:19:42; Dick White, 1:55:25; Marlene White, 2:06:44.

When we reported the race results from the Loggerhead Triathlon in Jupiter (Florida, not the planet) last month, we omitted Amanda Muller and we regret it because Amanda is on fire for the sport. (That's Amanda left, in a photo taken by her hubby, Paul, prior to the start of Loggerhead)

After moving to Melbourne last year, the Ph.D and systems engineer for Northrop took third in the Athena division at Pineapple Man. Since that time she has gone on to win the same division at six additional races, including Loggerhead where she bested 13 others in her class.

This is the teachable moment…….We obtain the info on this site from athletes as well as posted race results.  When out-of-town races don’t list the athletes’ hometowns we have to rely on foggy memories as to who may or may not be from the Space Coast.  Having not met Amanda, we missed an opportunity to showcase her prowess.

If you have something you’d like posted here, please let us know and send a photo to the info on the ‘contact’ tab.  The more that people submit, the better the site becomes.

Thank you!

It is with sadness that we post the passing of Dave Horner.  After an incredibly courageous 12-year battle with multiple cancers, Dave passed away in his sleep on Friday evening.  A Celebration of Life will take place on Sat. at noon at the Merritt Island Presbyterian Church at 600 S. Tropical Trail.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lance Armstrong Foundation, Wuesthoff Brevard Hospice and Moffitt Cancer Research Center.

Dave and his wife, Carol, owned Adventure Cycles on Merritt Island and, until the last few years, Cocoa Beach. The two were instrumental in bringing growth to duathlon (then called biathlon) and triathlon in the mid-80s to early 90s with the formation of Team Rocket, a tri/du team/club.  They also put on the Team Rocket Duathlons and were big sponsors of those early triathlons and many road races. 

Oh, yeah-they were also big on cycling. Thanks to their efforts on behalf of all cyclists, shoulders began to be included in Brevard’s roadways. And who can forget the 10-mile out-and-back time trials up on North Merritt Island or the excitement of the criteriums over in old Rockledge?

Throughout his illness, both Dave and Carol maintained upbeat attitudes, remarkable strength and gentle kindness and humor throughout even the worst of pain and failing capability.

Much sympathy and many prayers are extended for Carol, Billy and the rest of their family and close friends…….