Godiva Women Take #1

The combined efforts of Alison Gracey, Betsy Kempter, Carolyn Huettel and Cathy Mencarini produced the winning masters team for Godiva at the USATF 10k Trail Championships on August 27th. Alison was the second place masters (and 9th overall) in 1:04:01. Betsy was the third masters (and 11th female overall) finishing in 1:05:20. Carolyn was 21st overall and finished in 1:21:36. Cathy was 25th overall in 1:28:13.

This same Godiva masters team, along with Shannon Johnstone and Aline Lloyd, competed as the Godiva open team and finished #1 in the open competition.

You might be thinking, "Gosh! Those times aren't so fast for a 10k." Well, before you get worried about the time inconsistencies, consider the course. The championships were hosted by the Continental Divide Trail 10K Race in Laurel Springs, NC. This incredible course is billed as one of the "most difficult 10k courses in the southeast," in part because of its 1,500 foot climb!

Difficult may be an understatement according to the members of the team. Cathy Mencarini said, "I seriously underestimated the effects of the altitude combined with the huge hills; I walked more in the race than any other race in my life."

Walking? Alison thinks the crawling slowed her down: "Laurel Springs was the most challenging 10K I have ever run! Running as team made the event more fun and made me run (hike and crawl) harder."

Betsy adds that it was "a formidable challenge that kept the TRAIL in trail running! It is hard for me to believe it was only a 10K."

But all agreed that it was a beautiful course and running as part of a team (especially a winning team) was terrific.

The Godiva men's team finished the USATF championship race in second place.

Congratulations to Team Godiva!

-Cathy Wides

p.s. Photos of runners climbing hand over hand up the rocky course are at http://www.continentaldividetrailrace.com/Photos_and_Videos.html.  Shannon Johnstone and Anthony Corriveau have also posted a gallery of race pictures featuring Godiva runners, including the photo used in this news item.