The Gulf Coast Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, and 5K run took place at Stennis Space Center on Saturday, November 24.  More than 450 runners and walkers participated in the event.  It was a cold morning with windy conditions and temperatures in the 40's.  The three races started at the same time and took the runners throughout a flat course inside the streets of the space center.
 
Two girls were the top runners in the 5K run.  Marguerite King was the overall winner in 19:34 closely followed by Lindsay Anderson who finished in 19:39.  Pine Belt Pacer Phillip Wedgeworth took Masters honors and finished 5th overall in 21:14.  Adam Dave won the half marathon in 1:18:40.  Susanne McNeil was the first female in 1:28:03.  Gulf Coast Running Club race director (and also Pine Belt Pacer) Leonard Vergunst claimed the victory in the marathon with an impressive time of 2:51:31.  Theresa Novak was the top female in 3:30:46.  Pine Belt Pacers Ginny Dufrene and Nestor Raul Anzola finished strong and got PRs.  Ginny won her age group and the award to the top female from Mississippi.  Her time was 3:59:20.  Nestor Raul completed the 26.2m in 4:05:24.
 
As usual the race was very well organized by the GCRC crew.  The volunteers were A+ in the aid stations and finish line, and the food and beverages after the race were phenomenal.
 
Here are some comments from the runners:
 
Phillip: 
These girls in the 5K run were flying!  However, I feel very happy with my time (21:14) after eating a whole 12 lb turkey by myself on Thursday.  Now I am ready for the Blues Marathon in Jackson in January.  Let's go there Pacers!
 
Ginny:
Sat - What can I say? AWESOME DAY, I FINALLY DID IT! Now I'm done!
Was a little nervous the day before the race, what to wear, how to go out, etc., the morning of the race, I was just ready to get started to see what would happen. Raul greeted me at the start and we talked about not going out too fast and the race was off. I felt awesome through the 1/2 half, I stayed under control, and did not go out too fast. I tried to stay around 8:55 pace. Out of the first 15 miles, I only had 3 miles that were over 9:00 and those were 9:03, 9:02, and then 9:11. From 16-26.2, couldn't hold the pace and did not have any under 9:00. Mile 24 and 25 were my slowest miles at 9:40 and 9:46. Let me just say, without Amber showing up to run the last 8 with me, I would NOT have gone under 4 hours. I was fading fast. She stayed out in front of me, and I just tried to stay with her, it was a struggle, but she did exactly what I needed at that point in the race. It was nice to have family and friends out there supporting me. Let me say this is a lonely marathon. When we started the second loop, I could see someone about 200 yards ahead of me and then someone around 300 yards. I didn't mind that, I'm just saying if you need a lot a support, don't try this one.

I had talked with Chad the night before about the effects of a full moon on a marathon runner. I guess it is exactly what I needed, it pulled me to the finish, along with Amber, Chad, Sonja, Mackie, and Scott. It was a great day that I definitely will not forget any time soon, probably ever. It was just a GREAT day. Thanks for all of the support! Now y'all know I was kidding about being done, when's the next race?
 
Raul:
I ran the marathon too! However, I did not manage to break the four hours mark! -- I did a more conservative run this time. I started slower and kept a steady pace (between 8:45 to 9:00).  I reached the half marathon point in 1:55 (11 minutes slower than in Washington).  Everything was really really fine until mile 24 when I started struggling.  However, I didn't have cramps; I didn't have any pain in my feet.... I was just running out of gas (?).  Ginny and Amber who was running with her the last miles came close to me in mile 25.  Both gave me some words of encouragement and cheered me up!  The 4 hours goal was still very reachable. I just needed to follow Ginny and stay with her for the last 1.2 miles..... but, I DIDN'T.  So they went... and, I kept fighting with my thought of not running at all.... I ran.. I walked... I jogged.. I walked again.. I crawled.. ( I can't believe it!).  At the end, I spent around 15-16 minutes crawling the final 1.2 miles and finished in 4:05:24!!! (Giving up the race one mile away from the marathon finish line only happens to me! ).  To give me some comfort in this performance, I can claim I broke my PR for the marathon by another 12 minutes.  I have to seriously work on my finish!  My mind plays games with me! As Ginny says:...when's the next race?  -- We are ready! © Pijume Diwesi

Raul (Nestor) - ran the full marathon

Ginny - full

Phillip Wedgeworth - 5k

Scott Guidry - friend of ours from South LA, (one of Chad's running buddies)  Member of the BRASS running club in Houma, LA Bayou Runners Association.  He ran the 1/2 marathon.

Ginny - with Amber pacing her to the finish

 

Thanks, © Ginny   See Results