5K -113 finishers
10K - 78 finishers
10K - 78 finishers
In Ormond Beach, a stone’s throw from the ocean, is a sliver of a road that many feel is a highway to a bygone era. In some places it is barely inches above the primordial muck of swamps and estuaries, and is more a home to alligators, frogs, snakes, and turtles than humans. Where the depth of the tea-colored water is sufficient to allow their passage, blue claw crabs, manatees, and mullet slip silently by, unnoticed from the embankments where the hopeful--both feathered and furred--wait for a glimpse of dinner.
Gnarled limbs, moss and lichen-covered, stretch out over this narrow road in their patient reach for sunlight, creating the illusion of a miles-long tunnel. During daytime, well-camouflaged great horned owls sit in silence on these natural perches, like sentinels watching all that pass beneath. Once the sun sets, however, their perch becomes a launch pad, as they dive, on silent wings, toward the forest floor and put an end to the rustlings of rodents foraging for acorns and insects.
For three decades, while living just off the Loop, I was witness to the sometimes peaceful, sometimes violent--but always beautiful--drama of Tomoka Woods. Running silently on foot, or gliding swiftly along on the seat of a bicycle, I was continually caught up in the cycle of nature and its surprises. Once I spied a family of otters playing in a natural water slide. Another time I was frightened half to death by a sudden symphony of snorts from 30 wild boars that were feeding at dusk and saw me an instant before I saw them.
Gnarled limbs, moss and lichen-covered, stretch out over this narrow road in their patient reach for sunlight, creating the illusion of a miles-long tunnel. During daytime, well-camouflaged great horned owls sit in silence on these natural perches, like sentinels watching all that pass beneath. Once the sun sets, however, their perch becomes a launch pad, as they dive, on silent wings, toward the forest floor and put an end to the rustlings of rodents foraging for acorns and insects.
For three decades, while living just off the Loop, I was witness to the sometimes peaceful, sometimes violent--but always beautiful--drama of Tomoka Woods. Running silently on foot, or gliding swiftly along on the seat of a bicycle, I was continually caught up in the cycle of nature and its surprises. Once I spied a family of otters playing in a natural water slide. Another time I was frightened half to death by a sudden symphony of snorts from 30 wild boars that were feeding at dusk and saw me an instant before I saw them.
However, it was on a 90 minute run that did not end until long after the total darkness of a moonless night completely enveloped me that I realized how special this place was.
It was so dark that I couldn’t even see my feet. Still miles from home, I trusted my lifelong habit of running in a very straight line to get me back. It was the most invigorating run I have ever been on, and all throughout it, I wasn’t alone for an instant.
Bats and birds flew so close that I could feel them go by. Noises from the air, trees, and forest floor enveloped me like a cloud. I spent the time trying to identify the source of each sound. And I felt every step on the hard concrete as if they were the very first steps of my life.
It was so dark that I couldn’t even see my feet. Still miles from home, I trusted my lifelong habit of running in a very straight line to get me back. It was the most invigorating run I have ever been on, and all throughout it, I wasn’t alone for an instant.
Bats and birds flew so close that I could feel them go by. Noises from the air, trees, and forest floor enveloped me like a cloud. I spent the time trying to identify the source of each sound. And I felt every step on the hard concrete as if they were the very first steps of my life.
It was with these thoughts (and because of emotions that haven’t resurfaced in years) that I drove to the first annual Cobb’s Corner 5K on Highbridge Road. Cobb’s Corner, if you don’t know, is the name of a sharp turn in the road where there once stood a structure that was a bar/restaurant/speakeasy. In more recent years it became the home of an inventor who lived there until his death, I believe, in the late 1980s. The building that was used for both is, after many years, being rebuilt by a local entrepreneur.
Two races were being proffered, a 5K and 10K, beginning concurrently at 8:00 AM on a Saturday morning. Being a Saturday, there was an ample amount of traffic--cars, motorcycles, trucks, vehicles with trailers, bicyclers, runners, fishermen, photographers, painters, net casters in boats, and the like--not associated with the nearly 200 registered runners, walkers, and bandits participating in the race.
Given the “Go” by Alta Vista Sport’s Jacob Smith, 23 year old Keith Helms (on a weekend vacation from Boone, NC with his wife Chelsea) and my 14 year old son Andrew went out with the same idea in mind: to win. Only Keith, as it turns out, had the credentials to make it happen. Keith is a 2006 graduate of cross country powerhouse Appalachian State, which he attended on a running scholarship. There he ran a 14:48 5K and a 25:16 8K in cross country.
After humoring Andrew for about a tenth of a mile, the coach and civics teacher at Avery County High School took off like he was on in-line skates. He passed the mile in 5-flat and the two mile in a little over 10 en route to a 15:50 first place win.
Andrew didn’t give up, though. Despite the fact that Helms was so far ahead that he was out of sight when he finished, Andrew crossed under the clock when it said 17:59...or 18:00 if you insist on believing in official time. His lead over the rest of the field was pretty much what Keith’s was over him.
Andrew didn’t give up, though. Despite the fact that Helms was so far ahead that he was out of sight when he finished, Andrew crossed under the clock when it said 17:59...or 18:00 if you insist on believing in official time. His lead over the rest of the field was pretty much what Keith’s was over him.
What each of these runners didn’t know while they were running their own race, is that as a college student Keith specialized in the study of the Civil War. Andrew, ironically, is a Civil War re-enactor, specializing in the bugle. While they cooled down together, they had lots to talk about.
The Helms, who left 28 degree weather in Boone, enjoyed the change in weather: low sixties, bright blue skies, and low humidity.
“It was nice not having to run in tights and gloves,” said Keith.
Chelsea and Keith started going out together in ninth grade; their first date was the day of his cross country regionals. They were married this past June. So, as she says, “We’ve been doing this running thing for a long time. When he was doing his 110 mile weeks in college, he would go into the woods and disappear for hours. I would worry about him the whole time.”
It may have been inevitable that she herself try a race. “I married into a family of runners,” she explained, laughing. “Today was my first race. I ran slow!”
The first woman in the 5K, with a 19:48, was 28 year old Katie Crow, from Ormond Beach.
“This is my first 5K. I usually do triathlons. Now that the tri season is winding down and the running season is picking up I thought I’d do one. It’s kind of funny. This is nice doing just this and not all three,” she said afterwards.
The 10K winner, Kevin Keating of Daytona Beach, was also doing his first race at the 10K distance.
“I don’t really do 10Ks,” the 33 year old carpenter said. “I don’t like sprinting. I do marathons. The short tracks are for fast people. I like to run with my radio and think…try to figure out carpentry problems in my head.”
As for the future, he has his sights set on ultras, maybe a 100 miler. However, with a 37:32 overall win in his first 10K, and an ongoing hip problem that may end up requiring surgery, he may have to consider a change in plans.
Mary Ann Rau, a 42 year old self-employed graphic designer--her business is called Perfect Image--was almost as inexperienced as the male winner in 10Ks.
“This is only my second 10K, so the 46:06 is a PR,” she said. She also said that her trip to Ormond was because of her confidence in Alta Vista Sports’ track record of putting on first-rate events.
“I love John Boyle’s races. They’re so well organized...the timing chips and everything. They always start on time. There’s water when you need it. The mile markers are where they belong. And they get the times up right away.” And on this date, all of this rang true once again.
As a first race, this one got off to a pretty good start. Race organizers made the best of the logistics of their location, while providing fabulous t-shirts (they pictured a painting inspired by a scenic spot on the course), varied and scrumptious refreshments, an army of well-trained volunteers (especially appreciated at the turns and at the water stops), and trophies supplemented by a generous raffle. The next trip Andrew and I make to this area no doubt will be to play a round of golf at Halifax Plantation.
Footnotes: A couple of items that were of particular note in this race are worth mentioning, first of which was the course itself. Due to the fact that this was an out and back race on a twisting, winding--but certainly beautiful, so worth the effort--road, on the return trip of the 5K the front runners had to navigate around the runners still behind them (not to mention quite a bit of vehicular traffic) and so were unable to cut the tangents. It’s my guess that this softened the times somewhat. Anyone disappointed in their finish time shouldn’t worry too much about it. They probably ran pretty well, all things considered. It is unfortunate that the popularity of this part of “The Loop” has so affected the enjoyment of its use. Personally, I wish the state would just close it off at Walter Boardman Road and turn it into a park. They’ve done so in other places in Florida and this would be in the best interests of everyone who goes there….The second item is related to the first. The four Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies on motorcycles should each be given a commendation. Deputies Frost, Higgins, McDaniel and Whillets provided just about the best course protection I’ve witnessed in the State of Florida. They literally drove circles around the runners in an effort to keep them safe. In light of the truly irritating (and sometimes dangerous) behavior of the drivers on the morning of the race, they did well to maintain a professional attitude. Thank you gentlemen for keeping my family members and all the other runners safe….Oh, and I want to personally thank D.B. Pickles for donating a really good coffee bar for the race. That coffee was just what I needed at the time.