Some quick facts and figures:

Lotsa runners at Lincoln!

• There were 195 different participants in the series. That is an incredible number of runners. This breaks down to 112 men and 83 women. In contrast, the 98-99 series had 57 men and 30 women for a total of 87 different participants.
   
• Most of the races had 70-something runners. This is by far the best ever-attended winter series with an average of 66.9 finishers per race. The Jingle Bell run had the largest number of participants with 76, while the Tandem run in the cold was the lowest with 49.
   
• Fifteen runners completed all eight races. A huge increase from last year when there were only four. Nancy Specht, Paul Grosz, and Krista and Patrick Farris have now completed all eight races two years running. Additionally, Nancy and Paul have completed all eight races five years running and may have a longer streak going than that.
   
• In percentage terms, the number of runners who participated in at least these number of events was:
      8 events – 8%
      7 events – 16%
      6 events – 18%
      5 events – 23%
      4 events – 27%
  Interestingly, over half (54%) of the total participants only attended one event.

  Jeff Jardine & Ryan Bayne

  
   
• Some new faces were in the top five for points. Ryan Bayne, Jeff Jardine, William Frye, Tracy Herron-Rice, and Mary Page all appear in the top five for the first time.
   
• If you like off-road running, you loved this series. Only one race was run entirely on pavement (Mystery Race out at Powhatan).
   
• If you lived in Berryville or Clarke County, you averaged the shortest drive to races. Three races were held in your area, the Lincoln race was just east of there and the Retro race was just a little north.

  Kim Burns warms down at Claymont

  
   
• Hardly anyone cools down. While out putting in my two mile cool down after each race, I'd see: Bill Senensey, Rick Kerby, Jim Shaughnessy, Heather Owens, and some teenagers (they all look the same to me) and that was it.

• Best Race Course: the Powhatan Mystery Run. I worked out there for many summers and I really enjoy running on the roads around the school.
   
• Worst Race Course: the Poker Run. It's just me gang, but I really dislike running on grass. The trails are great, but grass just does me in. My ice hockey knees creaked for a week!
   
• Best Course Markings: The Poker Run. Tim Ritter must have gone through 6 cans of spray paint marking this course. Very easy to follow.
   
• Weirdest Theme: Retro Ramble out at Claymont. Seeing Rick Kerby and Myron Kremer in their leisure suits made me want to forget that era.

  Dustin Sweeney's mooched bagels

  
   
• Best Post Race Food: The Lincoln Race. Raylene Scott always has enough bagels to feed Biafra. Those of us moochers who stuck around got to take a bunch home.
   
• Best This IS The Winter Series Award: Mark Stickley for holding The Tandems Race even though there was snow on almost half of the course. It was cold and there was snow but the race went on as scheduled. My kind of winter series race director!
   
• The I've Got To Win An Award Award:

  Neal shows no guilt

  a tie between four runners; Ryan Bayne and Karsten Brown for stealing a hat a the Jingle Bell run rightfully assuming no one would be able to catch them to take it from them. Kim Burns for practically walking the last tenth of a mile at the Predicted Run so she could finish closer to her predicted time. And, the author of this article who saw the third place finisher at the Tandem Run filling out his finish card and then asked him to be on his team. All of us need to go to "Trophy Receivers of Physically Hardware Yearnings" (AKA: TROPHY) Meetings.

  Ruth R.

  
   
• The I Don't Need To Win A Trophy Award: Ruth Riemenschneider, who after leading the series after three races and just about being a lock to win it all opted to have surgery on her foot. (If I don't put Ruth in somewhere she becomes real crabby.)
   
• Best Award: The Hustler magazine that Nancy Specht found when marking the Treasure Hunt course.
   
• Runners Who Are Inspirations Awards: senior runners Robie Cone (76) and Bob Atkins (74).
   
• The Gabbiest Volunteer Award: Hands down, with no competition, Lucy Haywood.

  John Rice

  
   
• The Jim Shaughnessy Dress Award: John Rice, who wore only shorts and a singlet at each race.
   
• The It's Good To See You Again Award: Judy McCarthy and Bill Melson.
   
• Best Survey On The Finish Card Award: The Question "What do you treasure most?" on the cards at the Treasure Hunt Race. Unfortunately, Karsten didn't feel my response was appropriate for his e-mailing list. For the record, I simply wrote, "Ruth's naked body." Hey, we ARE married!
   
• The Boredom Award: After 3-4 races, everyone pretty much knows where they would finish, whom they would beat and who would beat them. Kind of takes some of the fun of racing. I always knew Dustin, Ryan and Jeff would be ahead of me.

  Chris Northrup

  
   
• Finally, The Loser Award: To Chris Northrup. No reason needed.

Kim and Kar