The FSU Autism Institute's eighth annual 5K run in Tallahassee, Florida, was billed as the Superhero 5K. It was therefore no surprise that when the race started from Northwood Centre on Saturday morning, 18 April 2015, that Batman darted out into the lead. It was surprising, though, that even after the runners had turned out of Northwood and headed west into the Parkside-Park Terrace neighborhood, Batman was still out front."I thought Batman was going to blow up," said Tallahassee master runner Michael Martinez. "But it took me two miles to catch him."
Martinez did overtake the Caped Crusader near the two-mile mark, though, and now it was the Dark Knight's turn to pursue. Suddenly, another runner appeared in front of them. In defiance of the course markers and the course marshals at each corner, an athlete dressed as Wonder Woman had missed a turn and blundered into the lead. After two miles of chasing one costumed crimefighter, Martinez had to run after another one. Did Lex Luthor ever have a morning like this?
Back in the Northwood Centre parking lot Martinez passed Wonder Woman. After that, no other athletes in capes or tights jumped out in front of him and Martinez crossed the finish line first in 19:03. Wonder Woman was disqualified for cutting the course, so Batman placed second with a 19:46. Coming in sixth overall in 23:16, Melanie Leitman was the first woman in the race. The women's runner-up, Jane Skalski, was eighth overall in 23:31. Hilary Farnum was the first woman master and ninth woman finisher, placing 24th overall in 27:21.
It had been a warm and muggy morning for racing, prompting one runner to comment, "If I had a costume on, I'd really be struggling!" In spite of the conditions Batman was not only still in costume over an hour after the race, he was still talking in a gruff Batman voice.
"You do know who I am?" rasped the Dark Knight.It was Trevor Sununu, who had finished the 50-mile run at the Tallahassee Ultradistance Classic last December while hobbled by bleeding blisters on both heels. Compared to that ordeal, roasting in a bat-suit for a few miles must have seemed tame.
"Not many people would do this besides me," admitted Sununu. "It got brutally hot in this suit. But it was worth it. It was the best feeling, seeing the reactions of the kids."
199 people finished the 8th annual Autism 5K, plus another 109 in a one-mile fun run. All net proceeds of the event went to benefit the FSU Autism Institute. Chip timing of the race was provided by Gulf Winds Track Club of Tallahassee.
Top Ten Men, 2015 Run For Autism 5K
- 19:03 ~ Michael Martinez (M, 49)
- 19:46 ~ Trevor Sununu (M, 19)
- 22:21 ~ Hugo Gonzalez (M, 24)
- 22:29 ~ Daniel Rivalti (M, 29)
- 22:36 ~ Michael Savage (M, 58)
- 23:18 ~ Jeremy Fowler (M, 26)
- 24:07 ~ Randy Naylor (M, 44)
- 25:18 ~ Carlo Que (M, 19)
- 25:28 ~ Tristan Carrasquilla (M, 10)
- 26:01 ~ Gene Opheim (M, 68)
Top Ten Women, 2015 Run For Autism 5K
- 23:16 ~ Melanie Leitman (F, 31)
- 23:31 ~ Jane Skalski (F, 30)
- 24:52 ~ Sandy Jones (F, 30)
- 25:16 ~ Laura Clark (F, 33)
- 25:18 ~ Hillary Smith (F, 26)
- 25:54 ~ Ann Delaney (F, 23)
- 26:17 ~ Adrienne McGeehan (F, 38)
- 26:37 ~ Megan Walker (F, 28)
- 27:21 ~ Hilary Farnum (F, 40)
- 27:32 ~ Allyssa Appleget (F, 21)
| Run For Autism 5K champions, 2009 - 2015 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Men | Women | Finishers |
| 18 April 2009 | 19:21, Daniel Bradford | 20:39, Jennifer Watts | 163 |
| 17 April 2010 | 18:01, Brian Corbin | 21:08, Jamie Barrett | 280 |
| 26 March 2011 | 17:55, Peter Kaus | 21:10, Jamie Barrett | 192 |
| 7 April 2012 | 17:43, Peter Kaus | 22:14, Jennifer Hall | 243 |
| 30 March 2013 | 17:25, Jeff O' Connell | 22:18, Sheri Poskanzer | 273 |
| 5 April 2014 | 19:38, Jemal Legrand | 21:48, Lydia Ware | 137 |
| 18 April 2015 | 19:03, Michael Martinez | 23:16, Melanie Leitman | 199 |
| Please contact me if you have any information about the results of the 2008 race. | |||
Links
- Complete results of the 2015 Run For Autism 5K at gulfwinds.org
http://www.gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2015/Run%20for%20Autism%202015.asp
- More photos of the 2015 Run For Autism 5K
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10106056178107373.1073742089.5215641&l=2422a1fbbf
- 2014 story, “LeGrand and Ware prove amphibious at the Autism 5K”
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/04/autism-2014.html
- 2013 story, “Southwood wins for O'Connell and Poskanzer in Run For Autism 5K”
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/03/autism-2013.html
- 2011 story, “Kaus sets record while Barrett defends title at Autism 5K”
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/03/autism-2011.html
- 2010 story, “It's Corbin and Barrett's race at the Autism 5K”
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/04/2010-autism-5k.html
- USATF course certification map FL14068EBM for the 2015 FSU Autism 5K
http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/maps/showMap.asp?courseID=FL14068EBM
- Choose your next 5K race from the assortment on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
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