Joel Rich and Shana Ryberg Pearsons take the Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic 50 Mile

“You couldn’t ask for better weather,” declared Gary Griffin. “Cool but not cold, overcast, and no wind.”


Griffin wasn’t talking about weather for going to the beach, but optimum conditions for long-distance running. That Saturday morning, Dec. 8, he was in the middle of some very long-distance running, the fifty-kilometer race in Gulf Winds Track Club’s 38th annual Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic. Of the athletes running in Wakulla Springs State Park that morning, Griffin wasn’t the only one with good things to say about the conditions, but you had to give his comments some weight. It was his 22nd finish at the Ultra, and he had also directed the event for several years. This year, the 69-year-old master runner placed ninth in the 50K, completing the 31-mile run in 5:08:08.

Joel Rich

If performance is any indication, Joel Rich didn't have any problems with the conditions, either. The Gainesville, Florida master runner won the 50-mile, the longest race at the Classic. The course for the 50-mile race is just over eight laps around a ten-kilometer loop, and Rich slowed slightly during his final two laps, but still averaged under eight minutes for each of the 50 miles. He was also still widening his lead on the competition--when Rich finished the 50 miles, the next runner had only just passed the 46-mile mark.

Shana Ryberg Pearsons

Rich had some company for the first half of the race, running the first four laps with another Gainesville master runner, Patrick Gallagher. But Gallagher faded on the fifth lap, leaving Rich to finish the race on his own. While Rich went on to win the 50 miler, Gallagher dropped out after 50 kilometers.


Jack McDermott of Tallahassee, the 2007 winner of the 50-mile, took second in 7:24:24. Shana Ryberg Pearsons, a master runner from Aiken, South Carolina, was the first woman in the race, placing third overall in 7:32:59. 2015 TUDC 50-mile champ Mark Tombrink was fourth in 7:53:08, just ahead of the 7:53:20 posted by fifth-place finisher Ettore Aldrovandi--practically a photo finish in a race of that length.

Thomas Dever

There were only two runners on the course moving faster than Joel Rich, and both of them were in shorter races. Thomas Dever was one of those two. A 61-year-old master runner from Panama City Beach, Dever won the 50-kilometer race for the second year in a row, posting a winning time of 3:39.50. Darcy Brinkmann of Tallahassee had to scoot a little faster at the end of the 50K to break five hours, but she did--running 4:58:58, Brinkmann was the first woman in the race and fifth overall.

Darcy Brinkmann

Jay Silvanima and Nancy Stedman had taken over the Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic in 2014, but they decided that 2018 would be their last year as race directors. Their valedictory gift to the event was the addition of a marathon-length race. Elvis Maradzike took first in the 26.2-miler, running 3:14.23. Tallahassee master runner Laura Reina was the top woman in the race as well as the overall runner-up at 3:35:18.

Elvis Maradzike

It took more than ten hours for the last runner to cross the finish line. He was the fourteenth runner in the 50 miler, while another 54 athletes had finished the 50K. Twenty completed the marathon. Gulf Winds Track Club chip-timed the races.


2018 Tallahassee Ultradistance Classic 50 Mile

1. 6:37:22, Joel Rich (M, 49) Gainesville, FL
2. 7:24:24, Jack McDermott (M, 49) Tallahassee, FL
3. 7:32:59, Shana Ryberg Pearsons (F, 43) Aiken, SC
4. 7:53:08, Mark Tombrink (M, 31) Tallahassee, FL
5. 7:53:20, Ettore Aldrovandi (M, 57) Tallahassee, FL
6. 8:44:33, Jason Seitz (M, 46) Gainesville, FL
7. 8:47:42, Scott Ward (M, 51) Panama City Beach, FL
8. 8:57:21, Jonathan Mays (M, 44) Gainesville, FL
9. 9:09:47, Tatiana Orozco (F, 32) Gainesville, FL
10. 9:17:32, Stephen Beaupre (M, 53) Panama City Beach, FL
11. 9:39:02, Juli Aistars (F, 60) Palatine, IL
12. 9:56:46, Heather Malloy (F, 50) Tallahassee, FL
13. 9:59:31, Le Gibson (M, 49) Winder, GA
14. 10:13:58, Thomas Carney (M, 59) Tallahassee, FL

2018 Tallahassee Ultradistance Classic 50 Km

1. 3:39:50, Thomas Dever (M, 61) Panama City Beach, FL
2. 4:12:48, Patrick Gallagher (M, 43) Gainesville, FL
3. 4:43:46, Juan Hincapie Casti (M, 28) Gainesville, FL
4. 4:47:43, Addison Hendricks (M, 20) Pensacola, FL
5. 4:59:58, Darcy Brinkmann (F, 38) Tallahassee, FL
6. 5:02:20, Howard Helbein (M, 48) Oakland Park, FL
7. 5:04:47, Bill Willard (M, 48) Oviedo, FL
8. 5:04:47, Michael Vaughn (M, 49) Oviedo, FL
9. 5:08:08, Gary Griffin (M, 69) Tallahassee, FL
10. 5:08:41, Lisa Homann (F, 48) Tallahassee, FL
11. 5:10:04, Chris Stanley (M, 40) Tallahassee, FL
12. 5:17:37, Jackie Nance (F, 41) Elizabethtown, NC
13. 5:18:35, John Showalter (M, 59) Tallahassee, FL
14. 5:22:59, Melissa Hooke (F, 40) Crawfordville, FL
15. 5:28:29, Denis McCarthy (M, 59) Saint Louis, MO
16. 5:29:10, Matt Minno (M, 59) Tallahassee, FL
17. 5:35:20, Bud Fennema (M, 63) Tallahassee, FL
18. 5:40:08, Jana Madara (F, 55) Fort Myers, FL
19. 5:49:17, Lorna Castellanos (F, 58) Miami, FL
20. 5:49:29, Worth Corn (M, 36) Tallahassee, FL
21. 6:06:26, Dennis Hafford (M, 47) Decatur, GA
22. 6:15:43, David Oppenheimer (M, 58) Gainesville, FL
23. 6:16:49, Jessica Vanvalkenburgh (F, 35) Stuart, FL
24. 6:21:52, Jeff Picker (M, 56) Tallahassee, FL
25. 6:23:13, John Wyche (M, 55) Minnetonka, MN
26. 6:23:31, Jairan Duke (F, 43) Gulf Breeze, FL
27. 6:23:43, Steven Wilson (M, 37) Tallahassee, FL
28. 6:27:33, Isabel Gonzalez-Jetti (F, 69) Coral Gables, FL
29. 6:35:00, Wally Hesseltine (M, 75) Lafayette, CA
30. 6:36:20, Sara Jablonowski (F, 39) Somerville, AL
31. 6:45:46, Keith Haskins (M, 35) Tallahassee, FL
32. 6:49:29, Marcel Tampied (M, 49) Miami, FL
33. 6:49:29, Leonardo Toglia (M, 59) Miami, FL
34. 6:52:46, Kathleen Wheeler (F, 57) Saint Petersburg, FL
35. 6:55:37, William Hillison (M, 74) Tallahassee, FL
36. 6:59:55, Beth Miller (F, 54) Mobile, AL
37. 6:59:55, Leigh Ceci (F, 54) Tallahassee, FL
38. 7:09:30, Trixie Smith (M, 39) Crawfordville, FL
39. 7:11:20, Keith Berry (M, 62) Tallahassee, FL
40. 7:20:44, George Maxwell (M, 68) Indialantic, FL
41. 7:35:52, Elizabeth Kamerick (F, 42) Tallahassee, FL
42. 7:44:26, Joanny Rodriguez (F, 31) Davie, FL
43. 7:44:27, Vicki Sue Merry (F, 61) Cantonment, FL
44. 8:03:37, Dana Stetson (M, 62) Tallahassee, FL
45. 8:19:19, Sarah Shuler (F, 38) Tallahassee, FL
46. 8:19:19, Fran Bridges (F, 58) Tallahassee, FL
47. 8:19:19, Thomas Biance (M, 37) Tallahassee, FL
48. 8:26:56, Bradford Johnson (M, 37) Tallahassee, FL
49. 8:26:56, Bryan Howard (M, 31) Tallahassee, FL
50. 8:27:23, Robin Elyse Bennett (F, 33) Tallahassee, FL
51. 8:30:50, Mellody Hughes (F, 55) Defuniak Springs, FL
52. 8:35:20, Kimberly Davis (F, 30) Baton Rouge, LA
53. 8:35:21, Elena Branzaru (F, 50) Baton Rouge, LA
54. 9:02:54, Carey Clarkson (F, 51) Pensacola, FL

Laura Reina

2018 Tallahassee Ultradistance Classic Marathon

1. 3:14:23, Elvis Maradzike (M, 32) Tallahassee, FL
2. 3:35:18, Laura Reina (F, 54) Tallahassee, FL
3. 3:50:42, Lisa Rutledge (F, 57) Tallahassee, FL
4. 4:08:09, Anne Carroll (F, 52) Riviera Beach, FL
5. 4:11:46, Jessica Carey-Webb (F, 29) Tallahassee, FL
6. 4:14:48, Kirk Kimler (M, 56) Watercolor, FL
7. 4:15:33, Irma Robinson (F, 56) Tamarac, FL
8. 4:16:33, Sarah Dugas (F, 40) Tallahassee, FL
9. 4:26:15, Doug Carrell (M, 58) Salt Lake City, UT
10. 4:27:49, Lourena Maxwell (F, 44) Tallahassee, FL
11. 4:37:29, Shannon Trem (F, 36) Tallahassee, FL
12. 5:19:27, Michelle Butler (F, 35) Tallahassee, FL
13. 5:57:43, John Harmon (M, 55) Live Oak, FL
14. 6:17:13, Vicky Verano (F, 54) Tallahassee, FL
15. 6:20:22, Donald Vanoteghem (M, 64) Leesburg, GA
16. 6:24:35, Deanna Eller (F, 22) Tallahassee, FL
17. 6:24:41, Gina Mitchell (F, 39) Fort Myers, FL
18. 6:39:50, Marsha White (F, 71) Tallahassee, FL
19. 6:46:49, Phil Min (M, 63) Mt. Olive, AL
20. 8:45:25, Deborah Ingram (F, 64) Gainesville, FL

Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic winners, 1980 - 2018
Date	Distance	Men	Women	Finishers
13 December 1980	50 Mile	6:27:05, Dave Sheffield	No female finishers	9
9 January 1982	100 km	8:57:57, John Hesselbart	No female finishers	2
	50 Mile	5:39:43, Kenneth Lord	8:15:45, Rosemary Desloge	9
11 December 1982	50 Mile	5:14:40, Frank Bozanich	10:47:54, Lydi Pallares	16
	50 km	2:51:53, Barney Klecker	3:56:13, Kathe Brookover	18
10 December 1983	100 km	7:31:01, Rick Alderfer	10:34:29, Melissa Uchitelle	21
	50 km	2:53:45, Barney Klecker	3:13:51, Janis Klecker	48
15 December 1984	100 km	7:19:53, Steve Warshawer	9:43:03, Vicki Johnson	18
	50 km	3:25:29, John Cantwell	3:53:05, Donna Miller	40
14 December 1985	100 Mile	14:57:26, Ray Krolewicz	15:12:54, Sandra Kiddy	2
	100 km	7:29:05, Richard Westbrook	10:58:31, Joan Baker	16
	50 km	3:21:04, Ron L. Crawford	4:15:13, Mae Cleveland	42
13 December 1986	100 km	7:47:00, Steve Warshawer	No female finishers	12
	50 km	3:09:25, Mark Dorion	4:19:28, Mae Cleveland	54
12 December 1987	100 km	8:19:20, Richard Schick	9:02:52, Sue Ellen Trapp	15
	50 km	3:06:52, John Devine	4:19:23, Mary Hanudel	38
10 December 1988	100 km	7:58:03, Richard Schick	11:55:07, Pam Duke	24
	50 km	3:21:46, Tom Burr	4:06:39, Shelley Tyler	60
9 December 1989	100 km	7:21:20, Rick Clark	No female finishers	13
	50 km	3:24:30, Joe Burgasser	3:44:21 28, Paula Johnson	37
1990	No Race Held
14 December 1991	100 km	9:01:14, Gordy Hawkins	No female finishers	4
	50 km	3:40:25, Thomas Buchanan	3:57:11, Paula Johnson	14
12 December 1992	100 km	9:09:00, Gordy Hawkins	No female finishers	4
	50 km	3:43:38, Bill Hillison	11:27:08, Peggy Lanier	9
11 December 1993	50 Mile	6:22:08, Richard Schick	8:59:19, Peggy Lanier	12
	50 km	3:44:12, Bill Hillison	5:22:17, Delia Brewster	12
10 December 1994	50 Mile	6:55:40, Gordy Hawkins	No female finishers	11
	50 km	2:54:11, John Viltanen	3:50:00, Paula Johnson	31
9 December 1995	50 Mile	7:19:35, Gordy Hawkins	No female finishers	5
	50 km	3:36:48, David Yon	3:57:21, Carrie Weyant	21
14 December 1996	80 km	6:54:01, Ray Krolewicz	No female finishers	8
	50 km	3:42:29, Bill Hillison	4:04:17, Paula Johnson	16
13 December 1997	50 Mile	7:33:37, Gordy Hawkins	9:03:46, Kathleen Wheeler	9
	50 km	3:54:00, Bill Hillison	4:10:55, Kari Larsen	14
12 December 1998	50 Mile	6:28:19, David Allison	9:22:57, Peggy Lanier	13
	50 km	3:44:58, Scott Ludwig	3:46:25, Jane Johnson	36
11 December 1999	50 Mile	5:57:32, Michael Peck	6:38:02, Nancy Drach	20
	50 km	3:49:06, Bill Hillison	4:51:00, Kathleen Daumer	9
9 December 2000	50 Mile	8:06:14, Gary Griffin	7:07:11, Nancy Drach	8
	50 km	3:52:44, Dave Drach	4:29:56, Kristen Hooper	15
8 December 2001	50 Mile	7:35:27, Dana Stetson	7:41:24, Linda Mason	8
	50 km	3:35:11, Tim Lee	3:57:03, Kelly Murzynsky	26
14 December 2002	50 Mile	6:54:21, Pete Hendrickson	No female finishers	8
	50 km	3:51:46, Bill Hillison	4:30:57, Sandy Powell	30
13 December 2003	50 Mile	7:11:53, Fred Johnson	9:56:26, Kathleen Wheeler	15
	50 km	3:51:58, Bill Hillison	7:11:58, Susan Boardman	15
11 December 2004	50 Mile	5:24:45, Chad Ricklefs	8:41:40, Ann Burke	11
	50 km	3:50:10, Bill Hillison	4:03:10, Kelly Murzynsky	21
10 December 2005	50 Mile	7:41:53, Mitsuhito Tsuchida	7:23:14, Linda Mason	9
	50 km	3:55:07, Fred Johnson	4:38:07, Joan Messick	25
9 December 2006	50 Mile	7:17:49, Blaine Broadbridge	7:30:37, Amy Costa	12
	50 km	3:18:55, Colin Deasy	4:43:14, Susan Lance	18
8 December 2007	50 Mile	6:41:23, Jack McDermott	7:21:47, Amy Costa	13
	50 km	3:30:25, Thierry Asselin	4:44:39, Olivia Swedberg	29
13 December 2008	50 Mile	6:48:14, Dann Fisher	8:50:31, Ann Burke	17
	50 km	3:36:01, Jack McDermott	4:52:44, Kirsten Baggett	33
12 December 2009	50 Mile	6:48:43, Dann Fisher	7:58:10, Susan Lance	7
	50 km	3:43:22, Jon Williams	4:05:40, Jane Johnson	53
11 December 2010	50 Mile	6:26:07, Dann Fisher	7:33:52, Amy Costa	15
	50 km	3:28:17, Cameron Wheeler	3:39:53, Allison Eagen	48
10 December 2011	50 Mile	6:18:45, Sung Ho Choi	7:39:09, Amy Costa	17
	50 km	3:39:47, Pete Kaplan	4:14:19, Kristien Cox	66
8 December 2012	50 Mile	6:34:53, Ferit Toska	8:16:09, Chrissy Coutts	18
	50 km	3:44:50, John Robida	4:09:08, Ruth Levy	66
14 December 2013	50 Mile	6:45:12, Ferit Toska	7:03:01, Madeleine Zolfo	14
	50 km	3:41:28, Daniel Nix	4:19:43, Katie Sherron	66
13 December 2014	50 Mile	6:52:08, Ferit Toska	7:17:59, Madeleine Zolfo	11
	50 km	3:52:56, Jack McDermott	4:45:54, Jennifer Shafer	59
12 December 2015	50 Mile	6:50:50, Mark Tombrink	8:29:05, Holly Bohensky	12
	50 km	3:25:21, Charlie Johnson	4:28:51, Laura McDermott	70
10 December 2016	50 Mile	5:52:57, Gary Gellin	7:38:20, Sheryl Rosen	9
	50 km	3:50:17, Dan Nix	4:39:55, Emma Spencer	41
9 December 2017	50 Mile	7:28:37, Peter Strickland	8:01:14, Jamie Cooper	12
	50 km	3:38:23, Thomas Dever	4:15:24, Kat Sack	45
8 December 2018	50 Mile	6:37:22, Joel Rich	7:32:59, Shana Ryberg Pearsons	15
	50 km	3:39:50, Thomas Dever	4:59:58, Darcy Brinkmann	54
	Marathon	3:14:23, Elvis Maradzike	3:35:18, Laura Reina	20

Links

• Complete results of the 2018 Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic at gulfwinds.org
  http://gulfwinds.org/raceresults/2018/TUDC_2018.asp
  
  
• More photos of the 2018 Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic
  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10112842792941843&type=1&l=c1ddfc1ca5
  
  
• Fred Deckert's photos of the 2018 Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic
  https://photos.app.goo.gl/7ezqYPEWFRgop6Uk9
  
  
• Kat Sack's photos of the 2018 Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic
  https://photos.app.goo.gl/KRhZu3zhZjqBXHBC8
  
  
• 2017 story, “They keep going and going and going at the Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2017/12/tudc-2017.html
  
  
• 2015 story, “Mark Tombrink wins the Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic 50 mile”
  https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/12/tudc-2015.html
  
  
• 2014 story, “Ferit Toska makes it three in the 50 at the Tallahassee Ultradistance Classic”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/12/tudc-2014.html
  
  
• 2012 story, “A nifty fifty for Toska and Coutts at the Tallahassee Ultra”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/12/tudc-2012.html
  
  
• 2011 story, “Testing limits at the 2011 Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/12/tudc-2011.html
  
  
• 2010 story, “The tradition of the long run goes on at the Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic”
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/12/tudc-2010.html
  
  
• Tallahassee Ultra-Distance Classic
  http://www.tallahasseeultra.com/
  
  
• Find upcoming races at more civilized distances in the Tallahassee region
  http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
  
  

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