Who's the Best Ringer You've Ever Seen Show Up at an Obscure Local Race??

In 1996 I ran this 5k in Bainbridge, GA. No prize money, but 3 members of the Mexican Olympic Team who were training in Tallahassee, FL came up to run the race. I have no idea what time they ran, but I finished 5th overall...

I put on a seven-mile road race in Dallas in 1973. There were maybe 150 runners overall. The winner was Jim Crawford, who was ranked fifth nationally in the mile in 1970, fourth in 1971, and 10th in 1971 (according to TFN).

I meant 10th in 1972.

I just ran a 1/2 marathon in Morgantown, WV. It was called the Decker's Creek 1/2 marathon, was run on a "rail-trail" and was a very small, obscure race (less than 300 people). Mike Dudley ran and blew everyone away.

Wendy Sly showed at a dinky women's 5 mile race in St. Pete one year, maybe 1984. Ran 25:00

16x wrote:

Wendy Sly showed at a dinky women's 5 mile race in St. Pete one year, maybe 1984. Ran 25:00

Close on most details. 25:00 would have been a world record at the time. She ran 25:59 in 1985 and the race was in Tampa.

Marcus O'Sullivan used to mop the floor with the locals at the Manasquan Turkey Trot in NJ. I think he had family nearby and his CR still stands.

This is not the best ringer story, but it kind of is... Ever seen a ringer get beat at his own game?

The 3rd Annual Pud's Run in Ithaca, NY - 1999. Local health teacher Scott Weeks had won it the previous two years in a row (15:30's or 15:40's). For the 1999 race, they had prize money set up so that if you won the race and set the course record (15:37 I think) you got $500.

A Kenyan showed up - Elijah Kitur... He ran with the lead pack (there were four of us) for the first 2 miles. And then he took off and had a fairly comfortable lead... was going to cruise across the line for the win and the money. What he didn't know is Scott Weeks has run 2:25 for the 1000... At the very end Scott just lays the hammer down, and outkicks Kitur to win the race, something like 15:00.

Funny, the local health class teacher outkicked the Kenyan. The guy who probably had the best PR in the whole field was 3rd - Brian Clas... I saw everything happen from 4th place - never will forget seeing Scott outkick the guy in the last 200m or so!

I am surprised none of the AZ people listed this one. The local running store, The Strapped Jock, used to have a 10k. Well, one year, I think 1994 or 1995, who shows up to run it, Deiter Baumann. Then in the womens race Lisa Ondieki wins the womens race. So that is a double ringer. I mean two olympic medal winners in one local race.

Better yet was that Yobes Ondieki was there as well but did not race.

Back in '98 I showed up at a local mile race and Rip Hamilton was there, the night after a UConn win in philly he ran 4:24 to take my scalp.

Must be his summer house. His main house in in San Francisco at Lands End/Sea Cliff area. The Escape from Alcatraz triathlon bike route passes in front of it and he often comes out and cheers on the racers.

Steve Spence

John Henwood

Chris Graf

Paul Tergat (didn't race, just showed up)

hey i was on the pace truck for that one! That was a great event while it lasted.

AZ people?? wrote:

I am surprised none of the AZ people listed this one. The local running store, The Strapped Jock, used to have a 10k. Well, one year, I think 1994 or 1995, who shows up to run it, Deiter Baumann. Then in the womens race Lisa Ondieki wins the womens race. So that is a double ringer. I mean two olympic medal winners in one local race.

Better yet was that Yobes Ondieki was there as well but did not race.

There'a modestly famous story about Gerry Lindgren finally resurfacing after years and years on the lamb -- just showing up at some road race in Hawaii planning to compete. Of course he was much older than in his heyday, and wasn't in particularly great shape even for his age -- but heck, it was Gerry Lindgren, who could mistake him? Jug ears, preternaturally white skin, legs like batman, and that high squeeky voice. Did he really think he was going to remain anonymous?

His family in Washington didn't even know where he was.

If that's not a ringer, what is?

starmiler wrote:

There'a modestly famous story about Gerry Lindgren finally resurfacing after years and years on the lamb

I think the expression you're looking for is "on the lam," but with Lindgren, who knows...

ontheother hand wrote:

I think Lance has actually only lost once at the Dirty Duathlon, and that was due to a punctured tire on the bike. Guess they didn't have team support cars out there. Someone did beat his course record last year or the year before, but that is so dependent on conditions that's it's somewhat meaningless.

Lance did get beat pretty well a few years ago. He did indeed have a flat but the guy who beat him, Brett Vaughn, is a pretty sick cyclist in his own right

Back in the day when they were best in U.S. in the 3000m/5000m and 400m/400H respectively Pattie Sue Plumer and Sandra Farmer Patrick showed up to a small indoor meet in Houston. The races weren't even remotely close for either of the ladies who you can tell wasn't running near their capabilities.

Hands down winner!!!!

Daniel Kipchirchir Komen, 2004, Victoria BC Canada

Do it for Dad 10K for Prostate Cancer

$500 for the winner.

http://pih.bc.ca/results/2004/prostate10.html

He lived at my house for 2 months. I've had a whole host of top class Kenyans live with me over the years and I probably have some other great ringer stories.

Cheers

Steve Merm

snake wrote:

I wasn't at this race, but a new some folks who were. The funny thig is they really didn't know how good Lincoln is.

http://arkansasrunner.com/misc/results2006/rftl5k06.htm

This is truly one to remember. Running in the 16s isn't bad for a little local race, yet to be spanked by almost 1200 meters.