• Home
  • Striders Gear
  • Races
    • January Thaw Road Race
    • Quarry Road Trails Summer Race Series
    • Doc & Mardie Brown 5K
    • Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10K
    • More Maine Races
  • News
  • Running Resources
    • Group Runs
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Run: Where to Go
    • Train: Find a Coach
    • Gear Up: Running Stores
  • Join
  • About
    • Contact Us
  • FB
  • IG
Central Maine Striders
  • Home
  • Striders Gear
  • Races
    • January Thaw Road Race
    • Quarry Road Trails Summer Race Series
    • Doc & Mardie Brown 5K
    • Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10K
    • More Maine Races
  • News
  • Running Resources
    • Group Runs
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Run: Where to Go
    • Train: Find a Coach
    • Gear Up: Running Stores
  • Join
  • About
    • Contact Us
  • FB
  • IG

Striders News

Race Report: Triple Crown Winner at Catalina Island Marathon!

3/30/2016

 
Longtime Striders member Jerry Allanach of Naperville, Illinois, sent in the following race report after running the Catalina Island Marathon in California this March.

Striders like Gene Roy and Ron Paquette that ran with me back in the '80s will likely recall how much I have always loved this California trail run. While starting and finishing at sea level, in between the roller-coaster run through mountains adds an estimated 4,310 vertical feet of climbing, and of course that means you also have to experience a much more muscle punishing 4,310 feet of running downhill.

Since I’m getting near the end of my marathon days I decided to run it for the first time in seven years on March 19, 2016. It was my 13th Catalina Marathon and as usual it was a great experience. As we age we have to get somewhat creative when claiming victory, so here is my self-proclaimed marathon triple crown.

Win # 1: Me vs. The Deer
​
​About 4.5 miles into the marathon I encountered a deer, but as I ran it down from behind and flew by it, I got kicked in the leg!

OK, that is a pretty big fish story. Here’s what really happened. The spooked deer tried to jump from a banking height of about 8 feet across the path at the same time I was going by and ran into me. I held my spot, and a forearm shove to try to avoid a collision sent the deer tumbling down the embankment on the other side, but one hoof did catch my left leg.

As many marathons as I’ve run, I can truthfully say that this has never happened to me before!

​
Win # 2: Me vs. The Dwindling Number of People in My Age Bracket

Now in my second year of the 65-69 age group, I’m finding that I seem to have basically outlasted my competition. With my age group generally comprising one percent or less of the overall field, I have been known to win my age group while simultaneously finishing last in my age group.

At Catalina I managed to win my age group, even though I wasn’t the only one in my age group! The race obviously attracts more “mature” runners, as this time my age group comprised a whopping three percent of the overall field.


Win # 3: Just an Overall Fun Weekend with Good Friends 

What has always been the best part of running for me has been the camaraderie with the other runners. I can’t begin to tell you how many hundreds of friends that I have made over the years through running. So whenever I run if there are friends there, and sometimes that is even friends made during a run, I definitely feel like a winner.

There is an interesting story behind the two friends that are pictured with me, Arthur Cookson from California and Tom Burns from Virginia.  Years ago while running a marathon in Barbados I met Mark from Irvine, Calif. We formed an instant friendship and so swapped contact information. When we subsequently got together for a run he introduced me to Kim from Rossmoor, Calif., who immediately recognized me as a Catalina Marathoner.

​A couple years later Kim introduced me to Arthur of Redondo Beach. A few more years and Arthur introduced me to Tom from Virginia. Last fall the circle was completed as Tom introduced me to John who lives about 1.5 miles from me in Naperville, Illinois!


Enjoy the roads and the many friendships that you make along them!
 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Thanks for sharing, Jerry!

Do you have an interesting race report to share with your fellow Striders members? Please let us know by contacting [email protected].

Comments are closed.

    Categories

    All
    Announcements
    Blog
    Interval Newsletter
    January Thaw
    Meeting Minutes
    Meeting Notes
    Meet Our Members
    Race Reports
    Race Results
    Races
    Strider Archives

    Archives

    May 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    November 2024
    October 2024
    July 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    October 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    January 2012
    January 2011
    January 2010
    January 2009
    January 2008
    January 2007
    January 2006
    January 2005
    January 2004
    January 2003
    January 2002
    January 2001
    January 2000
    January 1999
    January 1998
    January 1997
    January 1996
    January 1995
    January 1994
    January 1993
    January 1992
    January 1991
    January 1990
    January 1989
    January 1988
    January 1987
    January 1986
    January 1985
    January 1984
    January 1983
    January 1982
    January 1980

    RSS Feed

Picture
Central Maine Striders is a member club
of the Road Runners Club of America
Picture
Picture
Current dues-paying members of
Central Maine Striders receive
a 10%-20% discount at
RunningWarehouse.com
Copyright © 2015-2025 - Central Maine Striders, Inc.
  • Home
  • Striders Gear
  • Races
    • January Thaw Road Race
    • Quarry Road Trails Summer Race Series
    • Doc & Mardie Brown 5K
    • Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10K
    • More Maine Races
  • News
  • Running Resources
    • Group Runs
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Run: Where to Go
    • Train: Find a Coach
    • Gear Up: Running Stores
  • Join
  • About
    • Contact Us
  • FB
  • IG