Boy, that was fast. Craig Curley, a former Pima Community College standout from Ganado, Arizona, demolished a fine field of Arizona’s top runners and ran a blistering pace at the 39th Annual Saguaro National Park Labor Day 8-Miler.
Craig finished the brutally hilly circuit under bright sunshine in a blazing time of 41:38. At first thought to be a course record, Curley’s time seems to be the second-fastest ever run on the historic course, with Harrison Carrizo still holding on to the course record of 41:19. (We confess, though, to not having the specific information – indeed, there seems to be some uncertainty even about the spelling of Harrison’s name – we need help from SAR historians on the details!).
Regardless, Curley ran faster than his coach, 7-time Saguaro winner, Greg Wenneborg has ever run. And he crushed the race director’s best time by almost a full minute. Because Curley is still a collegiate runner, he cannot receive the prize money set aside for the Race Director Glory Day’s prize money; however, he requested that the $430 in Glory Days prize money be donated to the Pima Community College Athletic Foundation to help support college athletes.
Thanks to everyone for coming out to the 39th Annual Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run – close to 750 finishers completed either the 8-mile loop or the 2-mile fun run, and a grand time was had by all.
Following the speedy Curley, the top men were a who’s-who of local running, with former Salpointe, PCC, and UA standout Jason Colavito taking second overall in 44:48, just ahead of third-place finisher Robert Seaman, with Performance Wogger James Miles
and Grinder Shaun Haley rounding out the top five.
The women’s race saw another returning champion, Paula Morrison running for the Boulder Running Company, who won for the third time in the past handful of years in a nice time of 51:39. Morrison held off hard-charging Hayley Benson from Flagstaff. In third was the Grinder’s Stephanie Wenneborg, running very nicely, with 2007 Grand Prix Champ and WOG racer Jessica Munson and Fleet Feet’s Alison Meadow finishing in fourth and fifth. All the way around, this was a great kick-off to the Fall 2008 SAR racing season – so come on out to the upcoming SAR races: Run N’ Roll 8k, Children of the Corn 5k at Buckelew Farms, the Carondelet Get Moving Tucson 10-miler and 5k in Downtown Tucson, the Oracle 10k in, well, Oracle, the CATwalk 10k run at the UA, and the Running Shop’s Thanksgiving Cross Country 5k, and more.
Thanks to all who came out: over 650 registered in the 8-miler and another 80+ in the 2-miler made this year the largest field in years.
This year, funds raised will go to a host of organizations, including the Park Service, the Watershed Management Group, Sahuaro High School Cross Country, Santa Rita High School Cross Country, Pima Community College Athletics Foundation, and the Southern Arizona Roadrunners and the SAR Children’s Fitness Fund. Sponsors: We are grateful for the financial assistance of XOOD, a local replacement sports drink, and the in-kind donations from Small Planet Bakery, Kalil Beverage and Snapple, and Safeway. Without such sponsors, events couldn’t happen, and we appreciate their assistance and urge our members to do business with sponsors. Culligan/Oasis Water, one of our most important local sponsors, provided 50 5-gallon jugs of refreshing water to quench our thirst -- thanks to Oasis for making sure we’re all hydrated.
Thanks to the Running Shop and Worldly Soles for all of their help with packet pickup and gift certificates for the racers. Finally, noted local artisans provided much needed
art: Jeweler Craig Dabler crafted two unique watches for the overall winners. Kola Graphics did the screen printing on the shirts. Rural Metro provided an ambulance for emergency, which, thankfully, we didn’t have much use of, though they did provide much-needed assistance to a fellow a bit underhydrated – thank you to Rural Metro and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department for being available and keeping us safe!
Volunteers: Steve and Sheryl Felde handled much of the race registration; the women of the Tri-Girls; Sahuaro High School cross country team and Santa Rita Cross Country team were out at the hills handing out water, while the Pima Community College Cross Country and Track teams helped at the finish line. Indeed, it is a gift to have the support of friends who helped out on race day – in no particular order, I’d very much like to thank those who helped: Rane Clements, Dennis Richards, Glen Daw, Mike Erickson and his daughter, Sandy White, Connie Lopez, Stephan Moore and his daughter, Marc Janis, Jim & Steve Peller, Steve Outridge, Eve Shapiro, Sue Abramson, Robyn Graskey, Kamran and Christine, Earl Evans, Caroline Gardiner, Doug Kelley, Maureen Cunningham, and a woman from WOG, whose name I cannot remember. Gary Denny, Tim Bentley, and Mark Martin did yeoman’s work dropping off course supplies, after I ran down the truck battery. Lucas Tyler and Scott Last-Name-Unknown saved the day by figuring out how to jumpstart the Tile Outlet truck! I’m sure I’ve missed a few names, but please know that I am grateful to the running community for all their help!
The Park Service: This is the only race in the country that takes place on Park lands, and we are grateful to the Park Service for letting us run the loop year after year. Officer Michelle Uhr was extremely helpful in handling the permits and contracts, and
providing good cheers and plenty of help on race day. We can’t emphasize enough how grateful to the Park Service we are – if you’re ever out at either the West or East Park, please tell ‘em how happy you are!
