The Annapolis Striders put on the annual Endless Summer 6 (ES6) hour run last Saturday. The ES6 raises money for the Semper Fi Fund, and is just a fun event full of interesting characters and camaraderie.
What is a six-hour run, you say? It is an opportunity for each competitor to run as far as they can in six hours. You can start or stop at your discretion, and you can even leave the course halfway through and come back later. That’s the beauty of timed races; it is up to the runner to decide what the day will bring.
ES6, the brainchild of race directors John Hayward and Mosi Smith, offered a new venue for this year’s edition. The race was run on an approximately 3.5 mile loop course at Greenbury Point. Due to a conflict with another event, the start time for ES6 was moved back from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and due to another unexpected contingency did not start until 10 a.m. Not ideal conditions, to say the least, but John and Mosi would not be deterred.
Even though a 10 a.m. start would mean that the runners would be out in the heat and humidity of a full sun at Greenbury with little shade or wind, the runners were not daunted and put up some remarkable distances given the conditions. It is quite something to watch runners continue to press on in the heat, gradually showcasing their endurance in sometimes unexpected ways, all while the aid station volunteers continue to tell them to run “just one more lap.”
Aaron Ellison of Ellicott City won the male division with 38.1 miles and Genna Heaps won the women’s division with 33.7 miles.
One of the competitors at ES6, Dave Phipps, ran 25.9 miles in his six hours. Now, if you know Dave, you may be thinking that’s not much (or maybe you are thinking, that’s a lot!). But you see, a week before, Dave finished the Vermont 100 miler in 22:31:02, so we can cut Dave some slack ask anyone who witnessed the run knows Dave left it all out there on the ‘Point!
Not up for doing all six hours yourself? Many folks participated in the relay division, where three team members run individual laps to see who can go the furthest. Check it out next year, or you can do the winter edition in January, the Eternal Winter 6 hour.
Marine Corp entries
Interested in running the Marine Corps Marathon but you missed the fast and furious lottery/registration window? Or would you like to run MCM for a good cause? Can’t get enough of hockey after the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup and want to show your hockey pride while doing something related to running?
Well, you are in luck. Bob Stroud from the Washington Ice Dogs has an opportunity for you. The Washington Ice Dogs are a participating MCM Charity this year and has slots for runners who will contribute to their program.
The Ice Dogs is a 510 (c)(3) nonprofit that provides opportunities to children and young adults with cognitive and physical disabilities to play hockey in a learning and supportive environment. The special hockey program endeavors to keep expenses as low as possible for players and relies on fund raising efforts, such as the offering of MCM slots, to meet its expenses.
So if you still want to run in the Marine Corps Marathon in October but didn't get a slot in the lottery, there is good solution for you to run and help a very worthwhile special hockey team.
For more information, contact Malissa Schabb at washingtonicedogs@gmail.com.
The Wall Mile
The Annapolis Striders put on the John Wall Memorial One Mile Track Run on July 21 at the track at South River High School. First-time race director Lee Crumbaugh carried on in fine fashion this classic test of summer, now in its 37th year.
The Wall Mile is run in honor of John Wall, a longtime advocate for running, and not to be confused with the Washington Wizard basketball player. John was a member of the 1936 Olympic team and ran with the legendary Jesse Owens. John’s grandson, Dave Wall, was a long time co-coordinator of the race honoring his grandfather.
Runners showed their mettle at the race, with Mark Eagles taking the win for the men in 4:47 and Perez Ayshalynn winning for the female division in 5:43. Now those times are impressive, but both Alyssa Dangel and Katherine Dangel, who are each 8 years old, finished in 8:14 and 8:18, respectively, and Carson Malone (age 10) and David Bove (also age 10) finished in 7:19 and 7:54, showing that the youth running is alive and well. Congratulations to all the runners!
RUNNING CALENDAR
LOCAL RACES
Registration opens for the 43rd annual Annapolis 10 Mile Run (scheduled for Aug. 19). Information: annapolisstriders.org
Aug. 4 – Ben Moore Memorial Half Marathon and 10K, 7:30 a.m., Truman Park N Ride, Information: active.com
Aug. 5 – Dog Days 8K, 8 a.m., Anne Arundel Community College, Information: annapolisstriders.org
Aug. 19 – Annapolis 10 Mile Run, 7 a.m., Navy Marine Corps Stadium, Information: annapolisstriders.org
Sept. 16 – 9/11 Heroes Run, 2 p.m., Navy Marine Corps Stadium www.911heroesrun.org/annapolis.
AREA RACES
Sept. 1 - Under Armour Charles Street 12 presented by KELLY - The Shops at Kenilworth, 7:30 a.m., Baltimore
Sept. 15 - Susquehanna River Running Festival Half Marathon, Half Marathon relay and 5K Run. www.susquehannarunfest.org