Mertens took home a $125 prize for being the first female finisher from the three neighboring counties around Amherst.  The Springfield resident was 233rd in the field of 691 runners.  Mertens was clocked in 1:09:27, a 6:57 per mile pace, for the hilly ten-mile loop.

Drew Best continued to improve on his best times as he was the eighth finisher overall in a scintillating time of just 53:03.  Best’s average mile time was 5:19.

Kristyn Meade also competed on the women’s side as she finished in 1:16:14 and Patrick Byrne was clocked in 1:02:24.  Complete Results can be found here.

To find out more about Manchester Running Company’s Club or to join click here!

With the recent earthquake in Haiti, Manchester Running Company would like to encourage all participants and others to donate new or “gently worn” shoes on March 20 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Many of the residents of Haiti are without even the most basic of needs, having shoes on their feet will help more than those in America can even imagine.  Simply drop off your shoes in the Soles4Souls bin at the race to help us meet our goal of at least 50 pairs of donated shoes by the end of the day.

Manchester Running Company will also be accepting donations for Soles4Souls at the Finally Spring 5k! All shoe and monetary donations are tax deductible.

“We can use the shoes taking up space in your closet to change the world one pair at a time,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls.  ”We need our partners in Manchester to ‘STEP UP’ and get behind our call to action.  It’s one of the most simple yet profound gifts you can make, because it will greatly improve someone’s life in the most difficult of times,” he said.

“We have a goal of donating at least $5,000 through the Finally Spring 5k!, be it through shoe donations or monetary gifts” said Patrick Byrne, MRC’s Co-Owner.  ”We look forward to seeing just how generous the running community can be through our initiatives and hopefully the 25 pairs we donate will only be a small part of the donation to Soles4Souls.”

Manchester Running Company will also take shoe donations for the week leading up to the Finally Spring 5k! and interested donors may email manchesterrunningcompany@gmail.com.

Week 1 (Jan. 10, 2010) saw ten official finishers in the open 5k, approximately 15 brave men and women toed the line and after some course confusion a few requested their results not be posted out of fairness.  We promise for the next week the course will be marked more clearly with volunteers out on the course for guidance.

Results:

1.  Ken Clark  - 23:11

2. John Hankins – 23:17

3. Michael Tassinari – 23:35

4. Amy Stewart – 23:59 ** First Female **

5. Aria Childress -24:12

6. Kathy Furlani   – 24:23

7. Bruce Marvonek – 24:50

8. Jesse Quagliaroli – 27:30

9. Clinton Morse – 27:50

10. Vicki Quagliaroli – 53:50

The course is covered with just enough snow (about 4″) to allow for snowshoe use.  A reminder the pick-your-distance fun run will begin at 1:00 p.m. and Dion Snowshoes will be there for participants to try out some running snowshoes.  The 5k race will start at 1:30 p.m..  Cost is $5.00 for the fun run and $10.00 for the race.

Complete Details

MANCHESTER, Conn., November 11, 2009 – Manchester Running Company­ has announced its plans to host a snowshoe race series this winter at Vernon Center Middle School. The series will consist of seven snowshoe races on Sunday afternoons beginning January 3, 2010 and extending through February 14, 2010. Each week will consist of a 5k competitive race along with a “pick-your-distance” fun-run in which participants will get a chance to try out the sport and snowshoes at no additional cost.

The Manchester Running Company Snowshoe Race Series is open to participants of all ages, abilities, and experience. The series will take place each Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. for a fun-run and lesson time while a 5k race will start at 1:30 p.m. each week. All events are weather permitting. Cost to participate is $5.00 each week for the fun-run and $10.00 each week for the 5k race. Participants will be welcome and encouraged to try “loaner” snowshoes during the fun-run and no experience is required.

For participants seeking a competitive environment, the 5k race series will feature several prizes and awards for fastest times in age-groups and genders. Registration will take place at Vernon Center Middle School each week.

For complete details click here

Manchester Running Company, LLC seeks to promote physical activity and the sport of running through event management and athlete development in the Central Connecticut area. We strive to promote and expand the running community through low-cost, high quality events throughout the region.

Reichelt out-distanced herself from the women’s field by nearly three minutes as she crossed the line in 19:34 over a very hilly 5k course.  Reichelt was in charge of the women’s field from the start, as the closest competitor finished in 22:27.

On the men’s side, Drew Best picked up yet another victory this fall, putting 17 seconds on his closest opponent and was the only runner across the line in under 16 minutes as his official clocking read 15:59.  Best averaged 5:09 miles throughout the rain soaked course.

Kevin Beals, also a member of MRC’s Running Club finished 21st overall in 20:01.

The Ray Crothers Memorial 5k was in memory of Ray Crothers, long-time co-owner of the Run In in Rocky Hill.  Crothers was well respected and loved in the CT running community, he once won the Manchester Road Race. Ray passed away just a short time ago after a battle with skin cancer.

Full Results

October 19, 2009

At the Baystate Marathon held on Sunday Morning in Lowell, both Meade and Mertens ran just over 3:24 as both went well under the 3:40 standard needed to qualify for Boston.  Mertens was officially clocked in 3:24:17 while Meade was just back at 3:24:25.  Despite the miserable weather conditions, both were in good spirits after the race and Meade commented “I love these [marathons]!” via text message.

Drew Best has also been representing the MRC singlet well and continuing a string of great success along the roads.  The defending Providence Marathon Champion and Finally Spring 5k! champ returned to winning ways on October 4th at the Covered Bridges 10k in Conway, Mass. as he ran away from the field in 35:01 for the win.  He followed that performance up with another victory on Saturday (Oct. 18) in Hadley, Mass. taking the 5k for Farmland title in 15:58.

Several members of the Manchester Running Company team are now gearing up for the Manchester Road Race which is just over a month away.

You too can be a part of the MRC Racing Team by joining here!