Hancock 10 mile - Hancock - July 26, 2003. Another win for Judson Ellsworth American: Cake Places First in Lobster Classic. Beth Lawson is fourth female. John Rolfe, continuing his long streak of running this venerable race, wrote in his 8/17 Portland Press Herald column: "The Hancock Lobster Festival 10-miler had me a bit worried when only 28 people finished it a couple of weeks ago - would the event be held again? But race director Terry Robertson assured me that the 10-miler will be back for its 27th straight year, on the last Saturday in July, as always. And the 5K beginning 15 minutes after, which more than doubled the 10-miler's turnout, will also be back. The low numbers are partly due to a new same-day race, the Fort Knox 5K just 30 miles down the road in Bucksport. The Fort Knox event is part of the Applebee's/Sub5 Track Club race series, and so attracts a number of Bangor-area runners who used to run Hancock when that race was on the Sub5 circuit."

Tremont Trot 4 Mile - Tremont - July 20, 2003. Evan, Judson, Ryan, ...1,2.3. MDIslander: Helmeted Graves takes Tremont Trot

Vermont 100 mile Endurance Run - July 19-20, 2003. Gary writes: Peter Palmer of Bar Harbor finished in 8th place in the prestigious Vermont 100 (as in miles) endurance held race on July 19/20. There were 200 entrants. Runners attempt to get" Buckled" meaning if you finish in less than 24 hours you win a belt buckle not as I thought from and E-mail I received from Bob Dunfey, another competitor that said he buckled and I sent back my apologies thinking he had collapsed. Peter's time of 17 hrs 19 min 23 sec also came with a special "top 10" inscription. When he is not running Peter is walking as a postal carrier. He was the first finisher over 50.

Crow 24 Hour Run - MDI - July 12-13, 2003. And see also: MDIslander: 24-hour relay makes records. With Judson pacing and Peter Palmer tracking the splits, Gary Allen shatters the 20 mile American Masters' record for 45-49 year-olds. After more than 80 laps around the track, he reports his left leg shortened by several inches. Larry Allen writes: ...Ted was 47 when he set it, Gary is 46. Ted ran it 10/15/66 in Walton England. Oddly Ted and Gary met for the 1st time last fall at the NYC marathon expo. Gary saw him sitting at NYRRC booth by himself (hardly imaginable at the madhouse the Javits Center becomes with 30,000 over hyped marathoners buzzing around). Gary and I being two "old birds" vs. the lycra crowd that populates much of the sport, recognized Ted immediately, approached him and he was flattered to chat. Nice man. Nice record that lasted a long time, one of the oldest records on the books, having lasted 37 yrs through the running booms and boomlets of the 70's, 80's, 90's and now the 00's. As a milepost, in the Spring of 1967 a few months after Ted set his record, the Boston Marathon had a record field of 601 entrants and the winning time was 2:16 for MEN and K Switzer was thrown off the Boston course for being a woman. Gary started running 5 yrs after Ted's record was set and has been pounding the roads for the last 32 yrs.

Runners' World Cruise runs - Carriage Trails - July 11, 2003. Brian writes: We took the cruise people on four different loops in the Park with distances ranging from six to fourteen miles. Not really knowing beforehand what they'd like, we set up the runs to provide plenty of challenge for those who wanted it, perhaps not fully appreciating that their running hosts on each of their previous days' stops had endeavored the same and that their week's mileage was already substantial by the time they arrived here, their final port of call. Nonetheless, typical runners, they were a good-humored bunch and we easily accommodated their range of paces and I think everyone had a great time. Most of the busload went for fairly easy runs around either Eagle Lake or Witch Hole. For those wanting a bit more we threw in a slightly faster and longer 8.3 mile loop which added Aunt Betty Pond to Eagle Lake. The most ambitious did Jordan Pond as well, for a total of about 14 miles. The Jordan group ended up splitting in two pace groups with Judson and Joan Benoit Samuelson taking the faster one around at a pretty good 6:50 per mile clip. Several Crows, including me, having finished guiding other groups, went back out to meet these greyhounds and finished with them. Although it was perhaps a bit unearned as we joined them late, it was definitely the high point of my week running a last fast mile with Joanie, while at the same time trying to stay loose and good-looking as if being part of an Olympian's running posse were an ordinary occurrence. Afterwards Joanie told Judson it was the best run she'd had in a month. Pete Travers photographed us all rounding the bend just before the bridge. And, even if it doesn't make the paper, I'm going to pester him for a print. Hope our grins weren't too goofy. Kevin adds: This may be a bit of hyperbole, but we ran with legends in Joan Benoit Samuelson and Frank Shorter. It was like playing pick-up football with Joe Montana or shagging flies with Willie Mays. For a little while, we got to participate in a sport we love with two of the greats in running. Acadia's carriage roads are really great for running. It was fun to share that experience with the people on the Runners World Cruise. Steve Calder wrote: Joan Benoit Samuelson started off running with Frank Shorter. Two of America's marathon legends running side-by-side on the beautiful carriage trails of Acadia and being lead by local runners. At first, Joan decided to run with the 8-mile loop group because she said she had been plagued with an Achilles tendon injury. It was hard to say if it was the beauty of the carriage trails or the wonderful condition of the trails, but she asked if the group ahead was doing the 14-mile loop. She stated she wanted to take advantage of the trails and pushed on ahead to catch the 14-mile loop runners leaving us in her dust. And to add to Kevin's hyperbole ... it was like being a kid again, let loose in a candy store.

Mount Desert Island 100K Relay - MDI - July 4, 2003. Gary's idea for a experimental run circumnabulating the Island. Tom St. Germain, Gary, Pete and Annie Palmer, Kevin, Judy, and Craig made the relays. Brian, Judson, and Evan joined in on their way back from the Walter Hunt 3K.

Walter Hunt 3K - Bangor - July 4, 2003. Poor Boys' Gourmet takes three out of top four. BDN: Graves, Jovanelli win Hunt