Scott Leslie won the 6th Annual
Laborious Labor Day Ten Miler, in perfect running conditions (58 and sunny) finishing
ahead of 55 other runners, covering the course in just 55:45. This was Leslie’s third time repeating as
race champion. Second place finisher
Chris Gooley from Hopkinton finished in 1:00:56,
while Steve Levandosky, also of Hopkinton, took third
in 1:02:24. The first finisher from Marlborough was Ken
Hutton, 7th overall, in a time of 1:07:25. Top female finisher was Catherine Malloy, from
Marlborough, who covered the course in 1:07:30 (9th overall),
followed by Heidi Brockman, the second female finisher from Lexington, MA (14th
overall) in 1:11:05. The third place female
finisher was Hudson High alumna Andy Marinelli, who
finished 19th overall and ran the course in 1:14:25. Mark Vital, the race director, noted that the
word, “Laborious” comes not from the fact that it is Labor Day, but because the
course is so hilly and difficult.
The all-time course record is held by Dan Ostiguy (9/2007) in the incredible time of 54.25. The
course record for a female competitor is Sumner Fletcher (11/07) from Uxbridge
in the time of 1.04.10. Complete results can be found on Coolrunning
at http://www.coolrunning.com/results/10/ma/Sep6_Labori_2_set1.shtml
Race director Mark Vital, former president of the Highland City
Striders, said that the primary purpose of the race is to raise food and
community awareness for the Hudson & Marlborough Food Pantries. Vital says,
“I love running and just wanted to help out. This type of run is great for the
community and a lot of fun for the runners.” Instead of charging an entry fee
to run, the recommended fee is ten nonperishable food items. “Many runners
bring extra,” says Vital.
The run is organized and sponsored by the Highland
City Striders, a local running club in the Greater Marlborough area. The
Striders will also organize the upcoming Marlborough
Main Street Mile (Sunday, Oct. 3rd) in
conjunction with the Heritage Day Fair that will be held in Marlborough that
day. In addition, the Striders will also
organize the 2nd
Annual School Spirit 5K Run and Walk on Saturday, November 27th,
which celebrates the longstanding athletic rivalry between Hudson and
Marlborough and benefits the Elks Scholarship Fund and finally the running
group will host another ten miler, the Tough
Ten Mile Turkey Trot (Sunday, Nov. 28th), which, like
the Labor Day Race, is held to benefit the local food pantries.