June 25: A Fantastic Finish to Jogger Joe 2021
A great turnout, stellar times and wonderful camaraderie marked the June 25 final fun run in the 2021 Jogger Joe series.
This season was a joyous return to group running, after last year’s largely virtual competition because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Damn it was good to be back in person with the whole group,” said Amby Burfoot, a Jogger Joe veteran and 1968 Boston Marathon champ. "There's no race more fun and casual than this one, and the coastal 3 mile-loop is an absolute classic."
As has been a longstanding Jogger Joe tradition, the final race was staged as a handicapped competition, in which runners took off in stages based on their estimated times, and were asked to refrain from checking their watches.
Awards were then given to those who finished closest to their estimated times.
Keeny Donahue lapped the field by crossing the line precisely at her predicted pace. Well done!
Amby was off by one second – better luck next year, Amby (ha)!
For the second year in a row, Melinda Hedding was presented the dreaded Sandbag Award (an actual bag of sand) for running way faster than she predicted. Slow down, Melinda! (Or at least, have faith in your speed).
After slower runners set out, Geralson Withrow and Tom Fagin took off last together, each hoping to run the 3-mile course in a blistering 17 minutes flat.
Fagin (left) and Withrow
Geralson came close, missing the mark by about 15 seconds, but Tom sprinted to the speediest time of the season: 16:07, nearly a minute faster than his estimate.
We ‘re delighted to see young speedsters join veterans and walkers.
Though this year’s series has ended, Way Hedding notes that some runners occasionally will continue showing up about 5:30 Friday nights for informal runs on the Jogger Joe course, starting at the Esker Point Beach parking lot on Groton Long Point Road in Noank. Denise Descheneaux also puts on a seasonal Friday night trail race series at Bluff Point Coastal Reserve in Groton.
Thanks to all for coming out and supporting the Jogger Joe tradition, which dates back more than 45 years. Stay healthy and stay active – we look forward to seeing everyone at other running events throughout the rest of the year, and back at Esker Point in May-June 2022.
June 18
1. Josh Harwell – 22:10
2. Todd Guertin – 23:40
3. Sean Fallon – 23:49
4. Jim Roy – 23:50
5. Paul Gray – 23:51
6. Gary Burfoot – 23:55
7. John Valentine – 25:33
8. Sarah Flynn – 25:40
9. Keeny Donahue – 25:40
10. Bob Kerwin – 26:17
11. Alden Wheeler – 27:41
12. Steve Dinsmore – 27:43
13. Julia Bergman – 25:21
14. Steve Fagin – 28:40
15. Way Hedding – 29:40
16. Ian Frenkel – 29:40
17. Faith – 29:42
18. Melinda Hedding – 31:14
June 11 results:
1. Geralson Withrow – 17:10
2. John Erikson – 20:55
3. Sarah Flynn – 22:50
4. Sean Fallon – 23:26
5. Jim Roy – 23:27
6. Julia Bergman – 25:38
7. Steve Fagin – 28:55
8. Josh Harwell – 28:55
9. Phil Plouffe – 28:55
10. Janine Orman – 35:42
11. Neal Bobruff – 35:42
12. Dan – 52:24
13. Laura – 52:25
May 21, 2021
2--Bob, 22:10
3--Antonio Farinha, 22:20
4--Bob Kerwin, 23:18
5--Phillip Plouffe, 23:43
6--Sarah Flynn, 25:23
7--Amby Burfoot, 25:32
8--Gary Burfoot, 27:05
9--Denise D, 27:57
10--Jen Rich, 27:57
11--Steve Fagin, 29:14
12--Tom Barker, 30:20
13--Cristina, 31:45
14--Alison, 31:45
15--Joe, 31:45
16--Peter Colonis, 35:08
17--Janine Orman, 38:40
18--Maggie Jones, 44:21
19--Jim Roy, 44:22
MAY 7, 2021
1. Bob Gralton, 22:34
2. Steve Misser, 23:01
3. Josh Harwell, 23:15
4. Bob Kerwin, 23:27
5. Amby Burfoot, 25:10
6. Steve Dinsmore, 26:39
7. Philip Rourff, 26:59
8. Steve Fagin, 29:10
9. Joe Delusha, 30:15
10. Alison Sam, 30:15
11. Katie Wissink, 32:55
12. Dan Kerwin, 33:00
13. Tom Fagin, 36:18 (6.1 miles)
14. Tom Baker, 36:43
15. Peter Colonis, 36:44
16. Janine Orman, 36:51
17.Cristina Negron, 36:58
18. Neal Bobruff, 36:58
19. Maggie Jones, 44:57
20 .Jim Roy, 44:58
