Race #135 - Coon Dog Day 5k - Saluda, NC - 07/09/11

There weren't a lot of races around the Charlotte area this weekend, so I was excited when I found the Coon Dog Day 5k in Saluda, North Carolina. This sounded like it should be a lot of fun and it definitely met our expectations. This was the 48th annual Coon Dog Day celebration and I think the 5k race has been a part of the festivities for much of that time.

Parking was a little bit of an issue but it was handled nicely by the volunteers. The race started and finished about a half mile from the parking lot so we walked to the starting line, but that's not too big of a deal of you're coming out to run a road race anyway.

I liked the course but it was a challenging one. The first mile of the race was almost entirely uphill, followed by rolling hills in the second mile and, mercifully, a nice downhill finish in the last mile.

I'm now in my fourth week of Weight Watchers and I'm not positive what my "official" weight is (my official weekly weigh-in is on Sunday morning) but I've stuck with the WW program and feel possibly better than I've ever felt in my three years of running. I think I've lost about 1 pound this week, and if that's correct that's a total weight loss of about 8 pounds since I began back on the WW program four weeks ago. Along with the weight loss I'm noticing a real improvement in the way I feel during the races. My time was around 21:25 (haven't seen the official results), which was first in the 55+ age group. I'd like to be under 21 minutes right now and I think I will be on a flatter course, but with all of the hills in Saluda it's probably about right.

We don't know many people in this area but it was good to see running buddy Drew Walker, who drove his Stickermobile from Greenwood, South Carolina, for the race. Drew runs more races than just about anybody I know -- 71 last year alone!

It was great also to meet Fred Reinhard, a 66-year-old runner from Sullivans Island, South Carolina. Fred is not only a nice guy but one of the fastest veteran runners anywhere and a South Carolina state age-group record holder. Just a couple months ago he placed 3rd in the 65-69 age group at the Cooper River Bridge Run (he's been 1st several times in the past) with a time of 43:23, so he's still flying high.

The awards ceremony was held downtown on the main stage, which was a couple miles away from the main parking area at the Saluda Mountain Jamboree. Access was easy back and forth though with a free tram ride both ways.

It was a little disappointing that the oldest age group was 55+. With so many older runners competing there really should be 5-year age groups up to age 80, or at the very least 70. I won't complain a lot since I managed to squeak out a win in the 55+ age group, but I'm sure there were some 70+ guys who weren't thrilled about competing with us young whippersnappers.

The T-shirts were great for this race -- one of the few 5k shirts that I'll actually wear. They're high quality tech shirts with a nice design, and I just love the sound of the Coon Dog Day 5k!


Click Here for Race Results (PDF format) (unformatted results below)

Click Here for 138 Professional Photos by Carey Pace on the Coon Dog Day 5k Facebook Page

Click Here for Coon Dog Day Festival Site


Race Rating:

6 - 1-10  Website (Information, results, registration, photo links, etc.)
8 - 1-10  Awards (Quality of medals, trophies, etc.) (1 to 10)
5 - 1-10  Awards Presentation (PA system, winning times, etc.) (1 to 10)
7 - 1-10  Food for Race Participants (1 to 10)
9 - 1-10  T-Shirts (1 to 10 with 5 being average)
4 - 4/6   Part of Race Series (Grand Prix, etc.) (6=Yes and 4=No)
5 - 0/5   Professional Photography (5=Yes and 0=No)
4 - 4/6   Chip Timing (6=Yes and 4=No)
7 - 3/7   Certified Course (by USA Track & Field) (7=Yes and 3=No)
7 - 1-10  Course (1 to 10 with 5 being average)
3 - 1-10  Parking (1 to 10 with 5 being average)
9 - 1-10  Entertainment (1 to 10 with 5 being average)
10 - 0-10  Age Groups (10 if 5-year groups; 0 if 10-year groups)
0 - 0/5   Indoor Shelter from Elements (0 if none; 5 if provided)
4 - 1-10  Bathroom Facilities
0-10  Other

TOTAL - 88

My Stats: 


Time:  21:25
Pace:  6:53
Age Group: 1 of 14 (50-59 age group)
Overall:  12 of 206

Mile Splits:
1 -- 7:12  (uphill)
2 -- 7:08 (rolling hills)
3 -- 6:26 (lots of downhill)

Linda - 2nd Place - 55+ age group
Richard - 1st Place - 55+ age group

Coon Dog Festival 5K
Results
July 9, 2011
PLACE FIRST LAST AGE SEX TIME
1 Zach Boone 14 M 18.34.89
2 David Hefley 34 M 18.40.65
3 Nick Murray 15 M 19.25.79
4 Christopher Czech 28 M 19.32.89
5 William Butler 15 M 20.07.40
6 Tommy McAfee 51 M 20.11.25
7 Phil Feisal 47 M 20.15.27
8 Sam Inman 49 M 20.23.08
9 Jonathan Kirkland 18 M 20.58.50
10 David Martoccia 46 M 21.06.53
11 Kylie Smith 38 F 21.14.08
12 Richard Hefner 59 M 21.25.07
13 Drew Walker 52 M 21.34.03
14 Shawn Pace 32 M 21.36.00
15 Chris Sherman 16 M 21.47.00
16 Ian Schools 19 M 22.08.54
17 Cosby Dudley 51 M 22.14.48
18 Patrick Cole 13 M 22.17.51
19 Rebecca Elliott 17 F 22.20.58
20 Mead Walker 28 M 22.27.60
21 Sean Smith 38 M 22.29.03
22 David Spark 62 M 22.39.35
23 Paul Fitzpatrick 47 M 22.42.36
24 Scott Kohr 49 M 22.46.83
25 Daniel Worley 23 M 22.53.55
26 Bruce Arrington 51 M 22.55.58
27 Jason Suhy 30 M 22.57.77
28 Simon Niebler 19 M 23.11.30
29 Lance Morsell 14 M 23.16.17
30 Fred Reinhard 66 M 23.21.67
31 Nicholas Foil 21 M 23.23.58
32 Nate Inman 13 M 23.26.78
33 Leyden Hane 35 F 23.31.70
34 Anne Smith 41 F 23.35.20
35 Cathy Pryor 48 F 23.51.29
36 Elisabeth Elliott 20 F 23.58.73
37 Seth Knight 14 M 24.01.67
38 Alan Redmon 45 M 24.02.46
39 Vickie Steuben 51 F 24.10.93
40 Zoltan Desi 36 M 24.14.18
41 William Kirkland 22 M 24.17.73
42 David Bendert 44 M 24.21.18
43 Wayne Boynton 66 M 24.22.74
Coon Dog Festival 5K
Results
July 9, 2011
PLACE FIRST LAST AGE SEX TIME
44 Steve O'Brien 56 M 24.47.34
45 Frances Bendert 40 F 24.51.87
46 Brian Asbill 43 M 24.54.79
47 Henry Asbill 9 M 24.56.43
48 Dewayne Elliott 48 M 24.58.44
49 Jay Goree 55 M 24.59.45
50 Anthony Stepp 18 M 25.02.14
51 Margaret Manuel 38 F 25.03.60
52 Greg Coast 52 M 25.06.80
53 Thomas Ingram 41 M 25.23.51
54 Kenan Dudley 16 M 25.41.25
55 Alli Bendert 14 F 25.51.43
56 Gay Reilly 49 F 25.56.51
57 Bruce Douglas 54 M 26.00.16
58 Matthew Reed 22 M 26.01.93
59 Richard Carns 43 M 26.05.31
60 Beth Harris 48 F 26.26.68
61 Bill Hay 50 M 26.28.28
62 Alice Tongue 26 F 26.31.84
63 Brian Pace 41 M 26.40.23
64 Kate Seng 38 F 26.41.22
65 Meredith Harling 30 F 26.44.73
66 Justin Ward 25 M 26.48.13
67 Angela Conner 51 F 26.55.77
68 Chris Moss 39 M 26.57.78
69 Judith Spivey 50 F 27.03.35
70 Linda Ketcham 47 F 27.05.10
71 Anthony Marino 14 M 27.07.15
72 Kelly Harris 22 F 27.11.77
73 Byron Butler 40 M 27.13.05
74 Ben Cates 14 M 27.14.97
75 John Marino 46 M 27.16.88
76 Woodley Nelson 34 F 27.18.08
77 Michael Lewis 42 M 27.23.06
78 Scott Sweet 14 M 27.24.57
79 Peggy Mary Ambler 33 F 27.36.35
80 Tessa Epperson 14 F 27.48.49
81 Dale Epperson 38 M 27.49.60
82 Julie Allen 30 F 27.52.84
83 Sara Lacono 33 F 27.54.27
84 Thomas Tennant 44 M 27.55.05
85 Leigh Paschke 30 F 27.55.94
86 Lucy Somers 14 F 27.01.25
Coon Dog Festival 5K
Results
July 9, 2011
PLACE FIRST LAST AGE SEX TIME
87 Danny Senn 57 M 28.17.34
88 Kyle Edney 31 M 28.18.91
89 Taylor Reeves 18 F 28.22.66
90 Elizabeth McIntosh 20 F 28.23.46
91 Michelle Greene 22 F 28.24.62
92 Srebrenka Robic 36 F 28.39.89
93 Carol Jean Vosburgh 65 F 28.46.40
94 Carrie Evans 14 F 29.07.34
95 Jason Ferguson 36 M 29.09.11
96 Scott Strong M 29.10.88
97 Jerry Smith 40 M 29.14.30
98 Coleman Troop 21 M 29.21.49
99 Jim Winfree 60 M 29.24.33
100 Jim Becker 42 M 29.28.15
101 Jen Mahoney 37 F 29.30.96
102 Jessica Franco 32 F 29.36.89
103 Kinney Gause 65 M 29.38.41
104 Alice Hunter 50 F 29.39.61
105 Randy Hunter 49 M 29.40.52
106 Henry Sparrow 64 M 29.42.14
107 Amy Caughorn 27 F 29.50.54
108 Erika Ashley 33 F 30.19.14
109 Frances Whiteside 29 F 30.21.11
110 Hans Morgan 32 M 30.22.59
111 Hillary Bendert 12 F 30.26.86
112 Andy Ratcliffe 35 M 30.28.49
113 Polly Ketcham 21 F 30.37.41
114 Tamara Faulkner 47 F 30.41.86
115 Lynn Kohr 44 F 30.43.95
116 Carol Kellar 39 F 30.45.86
117 Amy Parrish 38 F 30.49.75
118 Jacob Asbill 5 M 31.29.65
119 Sarah Asbill 43 F 31.30.90
120 Kristen Harvey 45 F 31.37.89
121 Jessica Ward 18 F 31.55.63
122 Ashtan Evans 23 F 31.57.94
123 Bryan Powell 25 M 31.58.77
124 Whitmire Lori 45 F 31.59.95
125 Sarah Johnson 17 F 32.31.15
126 Blake Butler 12 M 32.39.24
127 Amy Cole 40 F 32.48.05
128 Monique Ruiz 29 F 32.59.33
129 Bobbie Williamson 32 F 33.25.64
Coon Dog Festival 5K
Results
July 9, 2011
PLACE FIRST LAST AGE SEX TIME
130 Brandon Moffitt 33 M 33.34.33
131 Sallie Covington 19 F 33.41.33
132 Bill Corder 40 M 33.46.25
133 Kathy Campbell 40 F 33.48.06
134 Claudia Tafurt 46 F 33.48.96
135 Terrie Harris 46 F 33.49.86
136 Elizabeth Beard 18 F 34.00.38
137 Malinda Whitaker 42 F 34.01.93
138 Meghan Horsey 14 F 34.12.22
139 Heather Pittman 15 F 34.13.60
140 Bess Wilson 30 F 34.24.19
141 Abigail Moffitt 34 F 34.28.17
142 Dale Cleaveland 56 M 34.29.70
143 Boots Summers 31 M 34.31.64
144 Veronica Alverson 36 F 35.04.81
145 Reece Alverson 6 M 35.05.56
146 Lauren Hendrix 20 F 35.06.44
147 Tom Nerad 39 M 35.22.28
148 Kenneth Andersson 65 M 35.24.29
149 Susan Webb 53 F 36.05.56
150 Cole Nerad 11 M 36.22.60
151 Charlie McCollough 8 M 36.23.28
152 Cindy Camp 45 F 36.34.47
153 Linda Hefner 58 F 36.49.04
154 Cori Ray 32 F 37.15.36
155 Daniel Callahan 44 M 37.17.34
156 Frank Webb 56 M 37.46.68
157 Anna Johnson 15 F 38.07.36
158 Claire Reeves 15 F 38.08.80
159 Keith Mattison 49 M 38.13.43
160 Meg Hendrix 52 F 38.15.23
161 Karla Ward 49 F 39.04.16
162 Toni Atchley 46 F 39.05.78
163 Julia McCollough 48 F 39.52.63
164 Mike Chivers 41 M 39.55.74
165 Anna Chivers 43 F 39.59.30
166 Russell Harper 41 M 40.15.17
167 Adam Hendrix 16 M 40.57.97
168 Tylar Powell 12 F 41.26.33
169 Lily Pittman 12 F 41.32.28
170 Mollie Belise 12 F 41.34.21
171 Dayna Lewis 40 F 41.42.44
172 Mary Ferguson 34 F 41.51.59
Coon Dog Festival 5K
Results
July 9, 2011
PLACE FIRST LAST AGE SEX TIME
173 Jodee Skoog 35 F 41.52.65
174 Michelle Tennant Nicholson 41 F 41.57.48
175 Kate Spencer 14 F 42.30.98
176 Richard Chivers 71 M 42.34.25
177 Joelle Chivers 33 F 42.35.48
178 Anna Hudson 25 F 42.55.74
179 Katie Wilson 22 F 43.02.54
180 Lance Chambers 16 M 43.15.15
181 Mary Wise Howle 15 F 43.16.83
182 Logan Nerad 8 M 43.31.10
183 Ashley Schultz 15 F 43.33.04
184 Carey Nerad 39 F 43.43.29
185 Nancy Wooten 58 F 44.05.00
186 Valerie Holt 40 F 45.52.55
187 Kaya Parham 15 F 46.26.89
188 Samantha Pennington 17 F 46.52.94
189 Louise Maurisset 17 F 46.54.56
190 Julia Wooten 25 F 46.55.51
191 Lauren Johnson 25 F 47.15.61
192 Julie Johnson 55 F 47.20.13
193 Walker Manuel 7 M 47.42.94
194 Larry Fincher 76 M 47.44.66
195 Steve Manuel 60 M 47.46.63
196 Nick Swafford 66 M 49.00.04
197 Denise Kennedy 41 F 49.01.24
198 Bert Swafford 44 M 49.02.44
199 Cindy Crawford 50 F 53.07.39
200 Amy Dillon 34 F 53.08.80
201 Brittney Smith 15 F 53.49.74
202 Laura Huber 16 F 53.51.53
203 Sara Smith 14 F 53.53.14
204 Jennifer Smith 24 F 54.17.91
205 Emily Burgis 22 F 54.327.52
206 David Cantwell 50 M 59.15.06