Race Updates: Cure is Coming 5K, Pittsburgh Marathon, etc

Big congrats this weekend to two NETT members, Jerry De Zutter and Mary Smith, who each pulled off impressive tasks.

Mary ran her second marathon this weekend, the Pittsburgh Marathon, with Sister Clare and both finished very well in 3:38. This being the return of their "hometown" marathon, the Sisters Smith ran the whole race together and cracked the top 100 women in the huge field of almost 3,500 runners. They were 26th and 27th in the women's 25-29 age group (crazy kids!). Great teamwork.

For his part, Jerry pulled of a very successful semi-debut as a race director at the Cure is Coming 5K for ALS in Lexington on Saturday, with a lot of the extended NETT (and De Zutter) family helping out. NETT members were all over the course, both in the race and volunteering. The NETT ladies looked extra stylish in their new singlets. Adrienne Cyrulik was second woman overall in 20:05 and Katherine De Zutter was third in the 0-29 age group (she's 13!) in 21:38. On the men's side, Dave Guertin dusted off the cobwebs in 20:21 and Jim De Zutter cranked out the 8s for a sub-25 clocking.

The post-race festivities in Lexington Center were top-notch with food from Jasper White's Summer Shack and a long list of awards and raffle that kept participants happy and raised money for ALS research.

Big props go out to Frank and Tina for getting up early to mark not only the 5K run course, but the separate four mile walk course as well with great signage. As if that wasn't enough, Frank hopped on the mountain bike and led the runners on the course and Tina worked as course marshal. Dave and Doris chipped in as course marshals and course sweep. Rod and Mike M worked the water stop great. And Jerry's tireless wife Jennifer just seemed to be everywhere, at registration, post-race cleanup, mom duties, and even crossing guard at one point! I'm sure there's plenty more volunteers Jerry would like to thanks as well.

All in all it was a great event and big kudos go out to Jerry for the work he put in in his first official duties as RD (at least to my knowledge?).

Photos courtesy of WangPix International.

And as if Tina wasn't busy enough volunteering, getting enlightened by the Dalai Lama and outlet shopping, she managed to sneak in a second-place finish in the Exercise for Education 5K race in Burlington on Sunday. She says: "I wanted to test the water after Boston Marathon in preparation for our Sudbury triathlon relay race next weekend. I felt okay in the beginning and was leading more than half way through. But definitely could feel the speed was not there. With a half mile to go, can't believe a 58 year old woman passed me. I tried to move my legs faster. But my legs were just not listening. I settled for second place overall and missed the first place by one second." Congrats!