The Old Fartleks is a loosely organized, over-40 group that assembles a team for a few races each year.  On October 30, 1999, the OFs entered Penn State's intramural cross-country race.  The team captain provided the following post-mortem.

A large group of mostly very young runners assembled on the Penn State 5K Cross Country Course for Saturday's IM Cross Country Races. The 5K course is the blue chalk line laid out on the Penn State Golf Courses. It was sunny and uncharacteristically warm (~70 degrees), with a light breeze, for the start of the mid-afternoon run.

The Old Fartleks, at least the rump team assembled at the last minute for this race, suffered their first defeat in three years. In fact, the OFs came in dead last in the open division! The best that can be said was that (1) the OFs finished in exactly the same place as they did in the State High Booster Club 5K race a week earlier; (2) one OF team member finished very high in the standings; and (3) the OFs carried out their team strategy.

Unfortunately, with regard to (1), in the Booster Club 5K the OFs finished FIRST as well as LAST because they were the ONLY team there. And while the OFs made a near sweep of age group prizes at the BC5K, there were no such prizes to be had at the IM race. We were quite probably the ONLY runners over 40 at the IM race! The team of Mike Dooris, Gerry Glyde, Nick Harris and Marty Mazur finished 6th out of 6 teams. And, wouldn't you know it, they were giving awards to the first 5 places! We finished out of the running! I believe that 5th place went to one of our old whipping boys, the Navy ROTC team.

With regard to (2), one of our (erstwhile) team members made a splash at the race. Simon Tavener finished very high in the rankings (he was 2nd among team finishers, if I remember correctly). Unfortunately for the OFs, he was running NOT for the OFs, but for a team that may have an even worse name than the OFs: the Sneetches! The Sneetches finished 2nd in the open team competition. The top scoring team was the Triathlon Club Team I. They took 1st, 3rd and 4th among open division team finishers. The Tri Club also fielded another team.

Finally, with regard to (3), the OFs carried out their team running strategy to a T. We let our fast guy out in front to do whatever he could. Mike Dooris muscled past quite a few hung-over bar-hoppers, some members of the women's lumberjack team, and at least a few other team runners to finish a respectable 17th among team runners. The remainder of the team was to run as a pack and mow down any challengers from the rear. Well, Gerry, Nick and I ran as a pack all right. We took 22nd, 23rd and 24th places, respectively, among team runners. Unfortunately, there were no challengers from the rear: although we beat our share of cheerleaders, debate clubbers, and pasty-faced Trekkies, all running unattached, we were dead last among team runners. I'm proud to say I ran a good minute faster than I did at the BC5K, never got passed after the first quarter mile, and passed about 10 kids myself. Too bad they were all non-team!

We have our work cut out for us on Sunday's Lactic Acid 5K. First, we need to get some of our best runners on board for this race. If Tom, Tim and Simon had been our front three, we would've probably finished 2nd. Maybe first. (Yes, the Tri Club Team I is that good!) Second, we have to carry out the Forstmeier Directive. Since this is unencrypted email, I can't go into the details. Let's just say it's a more aggressive team approach relying on our considerable team weight advantage.

Keep Running!

Martin A. Mazur .................... Representing only himself
http://www.personal.psu.edu/mxm14/