Polar Bear Strut 5K Run/Walk
Osage Beach, Missouri
February 23, 2013
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DownloadCoach Dave Weber finished fifth overall (23:52) and won the male 40-49 age group.
Unfortunately, Dave lost the battle for bragging rights in the Weber household for at least the next year.
DownloadCurt Yeager, who took second-place in the male 40-49 age group (25:38), and April Leonard, Indiana resident and occasional visitor to the Lake area, who won the female 40-39 age group (26:20).
DownloadDennis Smith, second place in the male law enforcement division (26:52), and one of the many Jolly Rogers participants at the Strut. Arrrr!
DownloadPaula O'Connor finished third among females 40-49 (27:22).
The dead end sign in the background looks instead like part of a funny hat Paula's wearing.
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Zim Schwartz, a many-time Strut participant, was again the top female law enforcement finisher (28:20),
extending her streak of victories to at least four years.
DownloadAnita Leyva finished in 29:37 (versus 26:04 in 2012--ouch!). I couldn't help but note that Pete took bib #1, and gave Anita bib #2.
Let's hope Pete never makes that mistake again.
DownloadDerrick Standley finished in 29:47, but should have been disqualified for having been pulled up the hills by "Jetta".
DownloadWhile husband Derrick has to rely on assistance from "Jetta", Dawn Standley finishes unaided, in 31:16. Look for Dawn at the GO! St. Louis Half Marathon in April.
DownloadKallie and Laura Davis. Kallie finished second in the female 10-14 age group in 30:27, just narrowly missing first place.
Her mom, Laura, finished in 30:30.
DownloadAnna Jung, Kallie Davis and Laura Davis lead a pack down the long hill.
Not too many smiles here--you can see the brutal uphill coming up right after the turn.
DownloadI'm always impressed with the younger runners at these events, and was really impressed with Joshua Williams, who finished in 32:07, second among males 10-14. He looked like he was struggling at times, but he hung in there and finished.
DownloadThe brutal uphill on Case Road, just before the Expressway overpass.
After running two miles of nothing but hills, that hill sucks the remaining life out of you.
DownloadSOMO athlete Joel Moss, who's been a Strutter since the early days, draws cheers as he crosses the finish line in 57:17.
DownloadGary Thompson (left) and Dave Weber. Ably assisted by his wife, Ellen, and a few volunteers, Gary does an outstanding job of giving us quick, accurate results. No longer do we have to wait for results recorded by hand to be tediously compiled, like in the earlier days of the Strut.
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It's always easy to spot Zim Schwartz at the Strut--she's the one sporting an extremely long, braided ponytail, and a big smile.
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Overall female winner Tessa Weber (21:14). Tessa is a Camdenton High School freshman cross country runner who finished 14th (of 164) in the Missouri State Cross Country Class 4 Championship last fall. I believe this was her very first Strut.
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Overall male winner Nigher Alfaro (20:45). Nigher had a record six overall 5K victories in the Lake area in 2011, but newcomers and out-of-town ringers reduced his 2012 victories to just one. He won't be helping his 2013 results by eating caramel corn. (Caramel corn was given to the winners since their award plaques had not yet arrived. I know an old, fat guy who would have been satisfied with just the caramel corn. :) )
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And last, but certainly not least, congratulations to our two SOMO athletes, Joshua Hamilton (left) and Joel Moss.
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