Four CG Teams Complete Cape Relay

Four Coast Guard Teams completed the Cape Relay on May 1-2. Much like The Relay (Calistoga to Davenport, CA) the Cape Relay is a 200 mile relay run from Boston to Provincetown.  Photos:  CG Engineered Acronyms (top) MAYDAY (bottom)

The Coast Guard has shown great strength and depth this spring with participation in many team events.  The CGRC exists to network the individuals so that even after transfer season our teams are able to mobilize quickly and efficiently and our talent pool isn’t lost in the lengthy familiarization process associated with PCS transfers.  In the future, the consistent socialization of club accomplishments should help to motivate and maintain CG presence in the running community service wide.

CG Competes at USATF XC Nationals

Four USCG Athletes competed in Saturdays Armed Forces Championships in Spokane, WA.  LT Ken Burgess (Open Men – Oakland), LT Laura Springer (Open Women – Seattle), LT Emily Reuter (Headquarters), and AETCM Michael Ferreira (Masters Men – Barbers Point). These Coasties were selected to compete on the All Navy Sports XC Team, coached by Jim Felty and organized by Mr. James Senn. In addition to the hard work by these members, thanks go out to Steve and Kent who helped herd the team and a job well done to the rest of the Navy competitors. On our side of the fence, thanks to CWO Downs and Mr. Gary Scheer for their efforts in putting together CG participation in the championships. Results can be found here and photos here. More photos will be posted as they are received from other participants and friends.

USCGRC Excels at Berkeley Track Meet

On Saturday 16 January 2010 the NorCal Chapter of the USCG Running Club fielded one competitor at the Cal All Comers Track Meet held in Berkeley, CA (PAUSATF).  Patrick Fernandez toed the line against collegiate and open field competitors for the 1500m race.  Patrick ran a calculated race, coming through the 800m mark in 2:10 and finishing in a highly respectable 4:15.  Patrick has been doing double speed workouts, Mondays and Wednesdays, at the Piedmont track and one spectator from the crowd commented that, “Pat’s just starting to get fast – he’s intense and looking to get much faster”.  We can only hope that’s true as Pat is now the lead scorer for the Coast Guard in PAUSATF Track and Field.

Join Pat, and others, for workouts – check back often for updates

PAUSATF XC Championships Results

Results and standings for the Championships and Season are posted on the PAUSATF site here

An interesting graphical look at the results from 2008 and 2009 (here). The graph clearly shows that the field is faster as a whole than it was in the past even though it is larger, and that the back half of the field is the group with the most significant increase in speed. Want to plug your team in, here’s the excel.

Six brave CG souls ventured into the foggy morning and completed the 2 mile loop in Golden Gate Park 3 times. Two new members of the team, ENS Phil Murray and Jeff Roth came out to help bolster our ranks and ensure we had the scoring 5.  The mens team went into the race registering the loss of some of their top runners, Matt Eyler and Pat Fernandez, to operational requirements and a series of injuries plaguing the rest of the team.  A huge thank you to these last minute runners that allowed us to continue as a team in the Grand Prix.  Although the course was wet and muddy, all runners put forth tremendous effort and were able to finish the day with a celebratory gathering back in the East Bay where we were also able to celebrate Charlies Birthday!

After months of training and competing team Coast Guard looks forward to spending time with friends and family over the holidays and we’ll be back next year to better our Grand Prix standing.

Clarksburg 30k

USCG has it’s first Road Racing Grand Prix Competitor.

ENS Matt Eyler went out for a long run on Sunday November 8th – and finished the greater than 18 mile distance in 6:07 pace, placing 19th overall, not bad for a guy on a 378.  Full Results

Once Brightroom puts up an embarrassing photo of Matt, we’ll get it linked up for all to see; patience is a virtue.

Tamalpa Challenge

Tamalpa presented quite the challenge – our team numbers were diminished but spirits were high….and the clouds were low – like right on top of us. Still, USCG fielded it’s first ever masters competitor as Captain Steve “I am the fastest of my peers by far” Finton took to the trail in a classic CG jersey – he can still rock it. Also joining the pack was first timer LCDR Jason Beatty of the TRACEN Petaluma contingent (as you may recall – Petaluma ferocity at The Relay planted the seeds for our team – Sailors with a Running Problem, and then the club and XC program).

Team at Tamalpa

Place First Last Time (4.25mi)
51       Steve Finton          27:38
18       Kenneth Burgess  22:35
45      Matthew Eyler       24:17
51      Charlie Epperson  25:06
53     Jason Beatty            25:34

A great run by all, including the recovering Charlie Epperson who came out against the best wishes of his physical therapist.

Following the race, since the USCG didn’t field a full team, the chase pack caught up and Empire is now tied with USCG for fifth heading into the championships!

XC Grand Prix Team Standings – update

USCG – 6th overall with 3 races scored and 27 points.

With three regular season races and the championships left, US Coast Guard is only 4.5 points behind New Balance Excelsior (31.5 and four races). This comes after a 10.5 point boost from the fourth place finish at the Presidio Challenge. The team is continuing on even though they have multiple runners now underway serving their country, others recovering from injuries, and more on difficult duty rotations. In order to finish the season respectably the USCG must muster 5 person teams for 2 more races and the championships.  Then, when all the cards have been played, we will know where this newly commissioned team stands.

For now, the race continues and we continue to call to our AOR for runners.  To the North to TRACEN Petaluma, to the West to Sector San Francisco and to the East to Airsta Sacramento – come out and represent as a member of the USCG Running Club – Gold Coast Chapter.

PAUSATF Standings

SANTA CRUZ TEAM RESULTS

Official Results of Santa Cruz Cross Country Challenge revealed USCG actually got 5th place.  After the first meet, the USCG team has already broken into the ranks of the sponsored and longstanding local clubs, as well as narrowly edging out WVJS by 1 point!

1. Transports – Adidas
2. West Valley Track Club
3. Asics Aggies
4. River City Rebels
5. US Coast Guard
6. West Valley Joggers and Striders
7. Pamakids
8. Wolfpack Intl