PRTC wins an 8th consecutive Mayor's Cup

After a week of monsoon-like conditions, the skies cleared for a beautiful (although humid) Saturday morning for the 10th Mayor’s Cup. Breaking tradition, the start, finish, and athlete village were set up on Chamounix Drive, not Belmont Plateau. The parking situation was a little trickier (thank you Liz and Ben for lugging a tent and cooler a half-mile) however Chamounix might have my vote as a preferred location because the team set ups were a lot closer to the start and finish lines – creating a more intimate atmosphere and allowing for a better cheering experience.

The day started with the Trail 13.2 where our formerly beloved teammate, Jordan Payne, kitted up for Team Philly and went head-to-head with our loyal friend, Tom Thomas. The Trail 13.2 is not a slam-dunk race for any runner. It’s the race with the highest probability of falling, taking a wrong turn, or being told to take a wrong turn (sorry Matt Bruner and Zach Brooks). In the end Jordan emerged from the woods 5th with a time of 1:38:43 – with Temple Tom about a minute behind. In a twist of fate, Zach Brooks, who was sent off course, appears to be PRTC’s top scorer on the results page. According to Strava, Brooks ran about 11.5 miles he placed 4th, ahead of Jordan. Things went a bit more smoothly on the women’s side. Emily Dooley, 2-time champion of the Dirty German 50K, won the race decisively with a time of 1:56:42.

Meg “The Meg” Feehan and Andy “Dad Strength” Potocek came up clutch in the 10 Mile, running 1:10:25 (for 5th) and 1:01:16 (for 3rd), respectively. Paul “BBall Paul” Decembrino and Scott “Sinatra” Heigl-Yates worked together, pushing up the monstrous Greenland Drive hill to the finish with times of 1:09:54 and 1:10:22, respectively.

Laura Antinucci Esq. smoked the 5 Mile with a time of 33:02 for 2nd and Liz Coda pushed through a tender foot for 4th. Kevin Brandon, former PRTC President and a member of the Mayor’s Cup Board, placed 4th overall. However that was not his only race of the day as he later paced his toddler Yuna in the Kids Run, hand-in-hand.

Cindy George snagged us 2nd place in the Trail 10K. This was light work for Cindy who has been crushing huge training sessions at the Wissahickon in preparation for an ultramarathon in the Alps. Right behind Cindy was Srta. Estes who finished in 52:44.

The men’s side of the Trail 10K was a bit more contested. The seasoned Mayor’s Cup veteran Ben Nieto squared up against the hot-handed Jason Norat and the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, Kevin Hudson. Experience proved to be an important factor in the race a bewildered Kevin popped out of the woods 20 minutes into what should have been a 45-minute race. Kevin had run a mile off course and re-entering the race seemed like a lost cause to all of us who had no idea how to get him back to the right trail. Thankfully, the trail queen herself, Emily Dooley, gave Kevin directions with military-like precision. In the end, Ben won in 44:12, Jason placed 4th in 49:06, and Kevin completed the longest 10K of his life in 58:01.

Globetrotter Chris Mateer hadn’t even unpacked his bags yet from his European trip (and boy was it a trip). But he woke up and got it done in the 5K, pacing out an 18:42 on the modified course for 2nd. Right behind him was Max Krall, the prodigal son of PRTC, who finished with a time of 19:10 - his first race back in PRTC threads. Welcome back Max!

Club newcomer Marella Angello kicked in her 21:56 5K with determination. She had a serious game-face on. I was impressed and intimidated (but I’m easily intimidated). Another newcomer, Zarah Kayhan made her debut race for PRTC, notching a time of 23:47.

These performances were all amazing and they earned us our 8th consecutive Mayor’s Cup trophy (I wouldn’t be counting but its etched on the trophy). However, the best performance of the day was not on the trail or on the road but on the karaoke set. Scott Heigl-Yates was first in line for karaoke and in a completely business-like manner, started belting “My Way” by Frank Sinatra. It was the karaoke equivalent of a lead-off Schwarbomb. The music took Scott to a different place and he took the audience back to prime Sinatra. Thank you for being 100% authentically you Scott. And a huge thank you to all who came, brought snacks, and cheered on the team (e.g. Julie, Sarah, Will, Lucy, and Heather).

Who else but Ben Nieto carried the 25lb Mayor’s Cup trophy from Tir na Nog to Walnut Street Beer Garden to Dirty Franks and eventually to House of Payne (not Tyler Perry’s but Jordan’s). Although it feels wrong to have Jordan be the steward of the trophy after he raced in different threads, I’ll allow it because I actually don’t have space for that wrought-iron behemoth in my house.

We’ll see you next year!