FTC Friday Night Five

Falmouth, MA, February 9, 2001

Leonard First; Twins in Hot Water

by Ken Gartner

It was a warm 45 degrees and a perfect night for running, yet there were only 20 runners for this week's Friday Night Run. Some runners were sitting it out to rest for long 20 mile Boston Marathon training runs, while others were saving themselves for Dana and Karin Smith's upcoming fun run and subsequent feast.

Joan Pelletier shocked the running community with her first ever Friday Night Five top-five finish. She finished third, behind Carolyn Bird and Mary Leonard. It was Ms. Leonard's first Friday Night victory. Pelletier afterwards admitted to not having her best day; she stated that at times it felt as though she was actually walking out there.

Dana Miskell, the lumberyard man from West Falmouth cracked the top five for his first time with a fifth place finish. He latched on to Bob Crowley for as long as he could. Steve Ballentine made one of his very rare Friday Night appearances as he is on a desperate crash-training schedule for the Boston Marathon.

Finishing in a tie for second place, the treadmill twins did it again. For the second time in 3 weeks, Jeff List and Steve Hamel incurred the wrath of the Friday Night race directors. The two friends and training partners simply trotted across the line in a deliberate tie. There were no flailing elbows, no pushing or shoving, no surges or other deceitful racing tactics employed. Instead the race directors felt they were making a mockery of the race. One director was heard sputtering afterwards: "This is a serious hard core athletic event.... not a woman's tea party."

The Friday Night Five is held every week at 5:30 from Town Hall Square. The self-timed race is open to all runners and no registration is required. Reflective vests are required for another month or two.