Pace Setter : January 2025

The Doug Bowden Winter Series Race #1 - Recap by Cathy Sliwinski

A record number of runners braved a cold but snowless Sunday for The Doug Bowden Winter Series Race #1, the first of five winter events in the Ed Thomas Winter Series. The Race Series kicked off on December 15th with two distances for runners, a 5k and 15k. The two races were run simultaneously (starting in different directions!) at the University at Albany. They covered a modified State Campus loop course from previous years, making it safer for runners and traffic. 

First to cross the 5K finish line in 17:54 was retired jockey Ramon Dominguez, 48, from Saratoga Springs who is also in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Seconds later, at 17:59, was Chuck Terry III, 42, of Albany who is also the 2023 and 2022 winner of Winter Series #1. Rounding out the top three on the men’s side was Christopher Miedema, 33, of Pattersonville, with a time of 18:03. On the female’s side, repeating her 2023 first place win was Meghan Mortensen, 39, of Glenville, with a time of 20:27. Lauren Scarupa, 33, of Albany, was second in 20:40 and Danielle Eckler, 31, of Troy was a short distance behind in third with a time of 20:45.

In the longer distance of the two races, Ricardo Estremera, 38, of Albany, an NCAA D1 All-American and one of the top distance runners in UAlbany history, easily won the 15K in 54:11. Maynard Holden, 25, of Schenectady, was second in 55:23 and Thomas O’Grady, 39, of Slingerlands, was third in 56:18. Emily Taft, 34 of Albany, won the women’s side 1:04:09. Emily was also the first woman in the 2022 race. Kerri Thomas, 49, of Middle Grandville, was second in 1:06:57 while Mercedes Planavsky, 25, of Albany was third in 1:08:07.

Bountiful Bread provided post-race goodies and sponsored the bread and pie awards for the top runners in each 10-year age group. The club continues to appreciate their generosity and delicious food.  

The Winter Series continues on January 1 at noon, with the Hangover Half Marathon and the Bill Hogan 3.5 miler beginning at noon. Stay tuned for a recap on this race. 
Do you know the history of the Winter Series?

Winter Series races began shortly after the club was formed in 1971. Don Wilcox’s participation in the North Medford Club’s (Massachusetts) series of winter races sparked the idea of bringing similar races to the Capital District. The races were planned to offer increasing distances to help runners prepare for spring races and qualify for the Boston Marathon. Don was affiliated with the University at Albany and got permission to use the then new physical education facilities. The inaugural race of 5.64 miles had twelve diehard winter runners. The shorter distance of 2.62 miles had 4 runners (and the 4th was a 7-year-old!). Participation quickly increased after that.  

The Winter Series survived (and thrived) due to the efforts of Burke Adams, Bill Schrader Sr., Paul Rosenburg, and Ed Thomas (now esteemed members of the Hall of Fame). Ed took over responsibility for the Winter Series in the 1980s and was the liaison with the University at Albany. He arranged for the “survivor awards,” which continue today to reward those who run and volunteer (at least once) at all five series. Ed served in that capacity for over 30 years until his untimely death in 2016.

Winter Series #1 was renamed the Doug Bowden Winter Series #1 in 2010 to honor long-time race director Doug Bowden. 

Special thanks must go to the University at Albany, whose facilities HMRRC has continuously used for fifty years, and Bountiful Bread, which has provided excellent refreshments and edible awards for over ten years.