Highland City Striders

The Ten Milers - 2008

The Tough Ten Mile Turkey Trot November 30, 2008 Results

http://www.freewebs.com/hcstriders/Ten Mile Course overall Overall Results.xls

Laborious Labor Day Ten Miler

Great Road Race for a Great Cause

Early Labor Day morning from the beautiful Ghiloni Park on Concord Road in Marlboro, 40 runners ran a torturous ten mile fun run through the stunning back roads of Marlborough and Hudson. The 4^th annual Laborious Labor Day Ten Miler had begun, and it looked to be a fast group. Under perfect running conditions (sunny and 68 degrees), Chris Green from Marlborough and Dan Ostigay from Gilbertville sprinted the 1^st mile in 5:20. The two of them stayed together through the first 5k as they passed in 16.45. It wasn’t until the infamous Hosmer hill (one mile long at the 7.9 mark) that Green pulled away and won with a time of 54.58. Ostigay ran the course in 55.19. The all-time course record is actually held be Ostigay (9/2007) in the incredible time of 54.25. The course record for a female competitor is Sumner Fletcher (11/07) from Uxbridge in the time of 1.04.10.

Not too far behind Ostigay was Marlborough’s Gary Cattarin (1^st master) who completed the course in a fine time of 1.01.04 for 3^rd place. The 4^th place finisher was John Tanner (1.04.38) also from Marlborough. The first female runner was Heather Arsonault from Leominster (9^th overall) in an outstanding time of 1.10.20. The 2^nd overall female was Liz Masterjohn (15^th overall) from Hudson in a time of 1.14.43. The 1^st female master runner was Elaine DeBitotto (16^th overall) from Stow in a time of 1.15.18

This race was the creation of Mark Vital (MHS girls’ cross country coach and President of the Highland City Striders) in 2003 and its primary purpose is to raise can goods and community awareness for the Marlborough Food Pantry. Vital says, “I love running and just wanted to help out. This type of run is great for the community and a lot of fun for the runners.” Instead of charging an entry fee to run, the recommended fee is ten can goods. “Many runners bring extra,” says Vital.

The run was sponsored by the Marlborough Recreation Department and Marlborough High School cross country teams, and organized by the outstanding volunteers from the local running club, the Highland City Striders (www.highlandcitystriders.org). The Highland City Striders will also organize the upcoming Marlborough Main Street Mile (Oct. 5^th) and the Tough Ten Mile Turkey Trot (Nov. 30^th). See their website for details and applications.

2008 Results

Great People for a Great Cause at a Great Race

Tough Ten Miler Course

MAP

Course Records Shatter at Laborious Labor Day Ten Miler

On this perfect Labor Day morning, Scott Leslie returned to Marlborough to defend his title at the Laborious Labor Day Ten Miler. Having previously won this challenging ten mile course through the beautiful back roads of Marlborough and Hudson, Leslie knew that he had to save a little for the big hills that awaited him.

Unfortunately for Leslie, the competition this year was tremendous with 45 runners competing. Dan Ostiguy (from Gilbertville) and Michael Panas (from Westborough) running together, went out hard (5.07 - mile, 16.40 - 5k) and was never challenged the rest of the way. Ostiguy went on to win the male division is a record setting time of 54.25, almost 3 ½ minutes faster than the previous record. Both Panas and Leslie also broke the previous course record.

Kara Benson (from Sudbury) also shattered the women’s course record by three minutes in a time of 1.06.22, placing 6^th overall.

Gary Catterin from Marlborough was our first male master (5^th overall) in a time of 1.04.56. Elaine DeBitetto from Stow was the first female master (15^th overall) in a time of 1.10.35.

Sponsored by Highland City Striders, Marlboro High Cross Country Teams and the Marlboro Recreation Department, this unique race benefited the Marlborough Food Pantry. Unlike most of the local running events, this event had no entry fee; however, race director Mark Vital suggested that runners donate can goods for the pantry. Thanks to the generosity of those who competed; over 500 donated can goods will help fill the pantry's shelves that feed the community's most needy.

The next race on the schedule for the Highland City Striders is the Marlboro Main Street Mile which will be at 9:45 AM on September 30th, just before the glorious Heritage Day Fair in downtown Marlboro.