The 10K on the coast was held at the CB base. The race started and finished on the grinder. We were forced to park over a half a mile away from the registration and the start finish area. I like most runners require at least two trips to the car prior to start and at least one trip afterwards to get dry clothes. The CB base was having open house that day in conjunction with the race.

The weather was great and the course was flat and very accurate according to my GPS. However it was very boring. Long straight-aways and nothing to see but big warehouses, Secrete stuff inside Boys and Girls. After the race there was the usual beer and soft drinks plus water from Abita Springs. The awards came very quickly after the last finishers came in. I think the reason we had a low turn out was the fact that the Pine Belt Pacers held a 5k and the Mississippi Track Club also had a Grand Prix event in Prentiss. After looking at the Results of the Pine Belt race I saw I could have come up and walked and won my age group instead I stayed down on the coast and got the snot beat out of me. Two guys showed up in the 55-59 age group and ran a 40 something 10K while I ran a 46:20 I assumed that would get me at least a 3rd place since I also came in ahead of Steve Ulrey, my nemesis. Steve took the "Belt" from me back at the AZT last year and managed to hold onto it for the whole year. However I took it back at the AZT this year. He was on pace to regain it but I managed to squeak by him around mile 3 and stayed ahead of him till the finish line. You can not imagine the shock and dismay when they called some one else for third in the 55-59 age group. I mean after all, last week I was 4th overall in the Pine Hills 10k. When I questioned the gentleman that received my, I mean the third place award. He was very polite and helpful. I asked him what his time was and he said he didn't remember because he was so out of it when He crossed the line. I said Ok what was your place, he had amnesia on that one also. I stopped the award ceremony and asked Leonard. He informed me that the guy had finished 34th over all. I said "nevermind" I was 41st and out of the money. It was a long walk back to the car. It was a good day to race and the results can be found on the Gulf coast running clubs web site. © Bob Clark

The local 10K race season ended this weekend with the Gulf Coast Classic hosted on the Naval Construction Base.  The weather was warm, but with a gentle breeze at race time; the course was flat; thus, conditions were perfect for a fast race.  There were only two Pine Belt Pacers present, but since Robin Ryder almost won the thing, we were well represented.  The course had two sharp right turns within the first couple tenths which allowed us mid-packers to actually see the leaders and wonder how they got so far ahead in just a short distance.  To beat Robin, the Gulf Coast Running Club had to import Rocky Silva from the Northeast who crossed the line in 34:54.  Robin finished in a blistering 35:04 closely followed by the legendary Leonard Vergunst in 35:19.  It was another 2 ½ minutes before the forth runner crossed the line.

But enough about the real runners.  I was here for a re-match with the crafty Bob Clark who beat me in the Azalea Trail Run by a mere twenty seconds.  I started fast but still could not see Bob ahead.  I realized that he was not ahead of me at the first mile mark; I had gone out too quick.  At about 2.5 miles, here comes Bob chugging past.  Miles 3, 4 and 5 on this course are brutal.  You are running into the sun, and would have to be a Seabee to appreciate the torn up landscape.  Without visual stimulus, I lost focus in these miles and ran slower than I wanted.  However, I picked it back up in the last 1.2 miles and finished in 46:57…way behind Bob.  Even though I thought I was running good at the end, I was passed at the 6 mile mark by a guy in the next older age group that had a kick like a mule!  Where did he come from?  It didn’t matter at award time; all the locals in my age group were shutout by some guys from Alabama.  Thus, I took my award from the selection of beer and sandwiches…maybe why I don’t run as fast as before.

On parting note, Robin received a nice plaque and $200.  Unless he tried to parlay his luck at the casinos; he should be flush with cash for anyone holding his markers!  Keep running.  © Steve Ulery