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The Runners' Choice Circuit provides a competitive structure and recognition for Chicagoland runners and clubs. The Circuit annually honors Chicagoland’s top runners and clubs with Runner of the Year and Club Champion titles. Comprised of various race distances, the Runners’ Choice Circuit providers all runners - both recreational and competitive - with the opportunity to chase personal, club, and competitive goals.
Check out the CARA Circuit webpage: https://www.cararuns.org/circuit
Of the 15 Circuit races, a runner's or team's top eight are scored. Any runner who is a member of the ERC and finishes a Circuit race counts for us as a team.
Current CARA Teams Standings (updated October 8, 2022): https://tinyurl.com/CARACircuit-October-2022
Alpine 10 Miler 2023 Full Report
We had 6 runners compete for the ERC at Lake Zurich. Our senior men took 3rd led by David Hensley, Bob Richards and Colin Grey. This keeps us in 3rd for the division on the circuit. CARA started a report on circuit standings with this race. It stated that Elmhurst's best chance at a division win is with our 2 time defending champion veteran men's team. I disagree. Our best shot at placing top 3 and winning is with our senior men's team. The resent addition of David Hensley helps along with any time Tim Conheady can show up. With the marathon being one of the 4 remaining circuit races, Rich Zappen may even be a factor. Our veteran men's team now is tied for 3rd with Oak Park. It will take good performances just to stay in the top 3 and finish in the awards.
We had 63 runners compete for the club. At many races we would have dominated with this many runners, but our race attracts good competition from many clubs. The Xtra Mile Fast Track team had only 2 less runners than us. Thanks to Bob Richards, the race committee and numerous volunteers, this was again the premier race in the area for the 4th of July weekend. We did manage to win one division. Tim Conheady, Marc Woodcock and Roger Knopf won the senior men's division over the Oak Park Runners Club by just one second. This leave us in 3rd in that division. We placed second in 2 divisions. Camille Brune, Naoko Ostermann and Jessica Domanko took 2nd in the master women's divison and Sheila Kaczynski, Dawn Muckian and Cathy Macejik took 2nd in the senior women's division. Our open men led by Christopher Pusinelli, Matt Johnson, Shawn Healy, Tim Conheady and Doug Pearson finished 3rd at the race leaving us on 3rd on the circuit. Our masters men's team led by Christopher Pusinelli, Shawn Healy and Tim Conheady also took 3rd at the race and has us in 3rd on the circuit. Our veteran men's team is also currently in 3rd on the circuit.
Complete ERC Race Results for the 4 on the 4th: Full Report
Bucktown 5k on October 2, 2022
Our veteran men won their 7th race to wrap up a win for the season on the circuit! After a great start winning the first 6 races we had to wait until the 12th race to pick up the key 7th win. We were led by Tim Conheady, Doug Pearson and Bob Browne with Marc Woodcock and Carlos Viramontes as backup. The front 3 also won the masters division for the first time this season to keep us in 3rd in that division and all 5 took 2nd in open men. Tim Conheady and Edward Straka took 3rd in the senior men's division to keep us in 3rd for the season. On the women's side Julie Bruns, Tina Helm and Eileen Malec took second in the veteran's women division to keep us in 3rd for the season and Eileen by herself took 3rd for us in the senior women's division. We also took 3rd in the age graded category led by Tim Conheady, Doug Pearson, Julie Bruns, Bob Browne and Marc Woodcock.
This race had a nice race day experience, but it had many complaints outside of race day such as a limited mandatory pre-race day packet pickup. I highly doubt this race will be back on the circuit.
Top 25 Women
23rd Julie Bruns
Top 25 Age Graded
*14th Tim Conheady
Top 3 in Age Group
1st Julie Bruns F50-54
1st Tim Conheady M60-65
3rd Eileen Malec F75-79
Complete ERC Race Results for the Bucktown 5k: https://tinyurl.com/ERC-Bucktown-5k-2022
Hidden Gem Half Marathon
Larry Kravets led our 3 finishers. We will have to wait until our resurgence at the Bucktown 5k to wrap up our win in the veteran men's division. We are awaiting official results from Bucktown.
Complete ERC Race Results for the Hidden Gem: https://tinyurl.com/HiddenGem2022
We only had 4 runners at the Alpine Races, which had a nice small race atmosphere. Our veteran men took 3rd led by Doug Pearson, Carlos Viramontes and Robert Jungwirth. Oak Park did not win so we are still 4 wins ahead with 5 races to go. Robert Jungirth and Bob Richards also led the senior team to a 3rd place finish.
Top 3 in Age Group
2nd Bob Richards M70-74
Complete ERC Race Results for the Alpine Races 10 Miler: https://tinyurl.com/ERC-Alpine-Races-2022
Chi-Town Miles
Our master team took 2nd led by Allan McLachlan, Bob Brown and Doug Pearson to maintain 3rd on the circuit. Our veteran team also took 2nd led by Bob Brown, Doug Pearson and Sean Hayden only 12 seconds behind Oak Park. We now have a 4 win lead with 6 races to go over Oak Park on the circuit in the division. Joe Sehnal arrived in time to place 3rd for us in the senior division maintaining our 3rd place on the circuit. We have dropped to 3rd in the women's veteran division despite the efforts of Julie Bruns and Judith Warren.
Top 25 Women
21st Julie Bruns
Top 3 in Age Group
1st Talan Pearson M0-9
1st Julie Bruns F50-54
3rd Joe Sehnal M75-79
Complete ERC Race Results for the ChiTown Miles: https://tinyurl.com/ChiTownMiles2022
4 on the 4th 2022
We had 67 club members finish the 4 miler. As usual, our race attracted many runners from area clubs making it very competitive. Our senior men won their division led by Tim Conheady's amazing 3rd best age graded score of 873.3 and followed by Roger Knopf and Edward Straka. This keeps us in 3rd in the division. Our open women finshed 2nd to Fleet Feet at the race led by Kaitlin Steele, Julie Chamberlin, Catherine Bartindale, Julie Bruns and Caitlyn Truong to move us into 3rd on the circuit in the division. Our veteran women also finished 2nd in the race led by Julie Bruns, Tina Helm and Dawn Muckian to stay in 2nd on the circuit. Our veteran men took 3rd in the race led by Tim Conheady, Roger Knopf and Marc Woodcock. We remain in 1st in the division only 3 points away from a perfect score. Our senior women finished 3rd at the race led by Sheila Kaczynski, Anita LeDonne and Judith Warren. Our open men and master men remain in 3rd on the circuit.
Top 25 Age Graded
3rd Tim Conheady
Top 3 Age Group
1st Tim Conheady M65-69
2nd Julie Bruns F50-54
3rd Julie Chamberlin F30-34
3rd Roger Knopf M60-64
3rd George LeDonne M70-74
Complete ERC Race Results for the 4 on the 4th: https://tinyurl.com/4onthe4th2022ERC
June 5, 2022 Chicago 13.1 Half Marathon
Rich Zappen was the oldest of 12 ERC runners to finish the half marathon and also the fastest. He was also the first finisher for the ERC at the Chicago Marathon despite only using it as a training run for the Boston Marathon the next day. Our veteran men extended their undefeated streak to 6 races on the circuit led by Rich Zappen, Doug Pearson and Dave Stevenson. This trio also placed 3rd in master men. Our veteran women finished second at the race led by Tina Helm, Pamela Luka-Hamstrom and Luzmary Nation. The veteran women are currently in 3rd on the circuit but are only 2 points out of first. This trio also placed 3rd in masters women. Our other 3rd place finish in the race was in open women led by Tina Helm, Pamela Luka-Hamstrom, Rachel Cavanaugh, Amy Clavio and Luzmary Nation. Pamela was our second women as a 2 hour pace group leader. She was also the first women to finish for us at the Chicago Marathon using it as a warm up for Boston.
Top 3 in Age Group
2nd Rich Zappen M65-69
Complete ERC Race Results for the Chicago 13.1 Half Marathon: https://tinyurl.com/Chicago131
May 21, 2022 CARA Spring Trail Chase 10K
We had the largest turnout of any team on the circuit with 16 finishers. This helped us finish top 3 in all 9 categories that the circuit is scored in. Our veteran men remain undefeated again led by Doug Pearson, Bob Browne and Marc Woodcock. This trio also placed 2nd for masters in the race and 3rd on the circut. Our veteran women won their division for the first time this season led by Julie Bruns, Tina Helm and Sheila Kaczynski to currently be in 3rd on the circuit. This trio also finished in 2nd for the race in the masters category. Our senior women won their division led by Sheila Kaczynski, Judith Warren and Eileen Malec. Our senior men finished 3rd at the race and are currently 2nd on the circuit. They were led by Robert Jungwirth, Edward Straka and David Kaczynski. Our Open men also finished 2nd at the race and are in 3rd on the circuit led at this race by Doug Pearson, Bob Browne, Marc Woodcock, Robert Jungwirth and Edward Straka. Our open women took third at the race. They were led by Julie Bruns, Tina Helm, Sheila Kaczynski, Judith Warren and Eileen Malec. Our combined (Age graded) team also finished 3rd at the race led by Julie Bruns, Doug Pearson, Bob Browne, Marc Woodcock and Tina Helm.
Top 25 Age Graded
13th Julie Bruns
14th Doug Pearson
22nd Bob Browne
Top 25 Women
5th Julie Bruns
18th Tina Helm
Top 25 Men
14th Doug Pearson
19th Bob Browne
Top 3 in Age Group
1st Julie Bruns F50-54
2nd Tina Helm F 50-54
2nd Bob Richards M70-74
3rd Doug Pearson M50-54
3rd Sheila Kaczynski F60-64
3rd Robert Jungwirth M65-69 followed by 3 ERC members in the division
3rd Bob Sievert M70-74
Complete ERC Race Results for CARA Spring Trail Chase 10K: https://tinyurl.com/Spring-Trail-Chase-2022
May 7, 2022: Quarryman Challenge 10 Miler
With this brutal race, showing up is half the battle. We had more finishers than any other team with 11, which showed in the team results. Our veteran(Over 50) men are still undefeated with 6 straight win this season. They were led by Doug Pearson, Bob Browne and Marc Woodcock again. This trio also placed 3rd in masters men and we are holding 3rd in that division on the circuit as well. Our veteran women also won their division and moved into 1st place in the division as well. They were led by Tina Helm, Ninfa Queyquep and Annu Mehta. Tina has been consistently coming through in this division and is a big part in why we are in 1st place. The lead in the division is only 1 point and we are 1 of 4 teams in a good position to win this division. Our open women also won at this race led by Tina Helm, Rosa Worwa, Jamie McGowan, Ninfa Queyquep and Annu Mehta. Our masters women also won their division led by Tina Helm, Rosa Worwa and Jamie McGowan to move into 3rd on the circuit. Our open men team led by Doug Pearson, Bob Browne, Marc Woodcock, Carlos Viramontes and Iranshad Mohammed finished 3rd keeping us in 3rd on the circuit. Our senior men maintained 3rd on the circuit despite only having Bob Sievert representing us.
Top 25 Age Graded
8th Doug Pearson
22nd Bob Browne
Top 25 Men
15th Doug Pearson
22nd Bob Browne
Top 3 in Age Group
1st Doug Pearson M50-54
3rd Bob Brown M50-54
3rd Bob Sievert M70-74
Complete ERC Race Results for the Quarryman Challenge 10 Miler: https://tinyurl.com/Quarryman2022ERC
April 10, Wintrust Lakefront 10 Miler
We had 8 official finishers at the Lakefront 10 miler. Our veteran men won again to
remain in 1st place on the circuit led by Doug Pearson, Marc Woodcock and Carlos
Viramontes. They also took 3rd in masters men. Our senior men took 2nd at the race to
hold 3rd on the circuit. They were led by Edward Straka, Bob Richards and Bob Sievert.
Tina Helm and Ninfa Queyquep took 3rd in the veterans women category for the race.
Top 3 in Age Group
2nd Bob Richards M70-74
3rd Tina Helm F50-54
3rd Doug Pearson M50-54
3rd Bob Sievert M70-74
Complete ERC Race Results for the Lakefront 10 Miler: https://tinyurl.com/2022Lakefront10milerERC
April 3, Good Life 5K, Oak Park:
We had 15 finishers at the Good Life Race. Our defending champion veteran men won their division led by Doug Pearson, Tim Conheady and Bob Browne. We also had three 3rd place finishes: Open men led by Damian Bednorz, Allan McLachlan, Doug Pearson, Tim Conheady and Bob Brown; Master men led by Damian Bednorz, Doug Pearson and Tim Conheady, and Senior men led by Tim Conheady, Richard Straka and Bob Richards.
Top 25 Men
18th Damian Bedorz
Top 25 Women
19th Julie Bruns
Top 25 Age Graded
6th Tim Conheady
1st Julie Bruns F50-54
1st Marc Woodcock M55-59
1st Tim Conheady M65-69
1st Bob Richards M70-74
2nd Doug Pearson M50-54
2nd Bob Sievert M70-74
3rd Bob Browne M50-54
Complete ERC Race Results for the Good Life 5K: https://tinyurl.com/ERCGoodLife5k2022
Shamrock Shuffle 8k on March 20,2022
We had 27 finishers at the Shuffle. Our veteran men led by Doug Pearson, Bob Brown and Marc Woodcock won their division. A good turnout at a very competitive race.
Complete ERC Race Results for the Shamrock Shuffle 8K: https://tinyurl.com/ShamrockShuffle2022ERC
Last Year's Results (2021) for the CARA Circuit:
Teams:
Veteran Men 1st
Veteran Women 2nd
Masters Men 3rd
Senior Men 3rd
Senior Women 3rd
Individuals:
Adrian Malec qualified for the CARA Hall of Fame
Bob Richards was Super Senior Runner of the Year
Doug Pearson Finished 8th open Men
Age Group Awards:
1st Tina Helm F 50-54
1st Eileen Malec F 57-79
1st Bob Richards M70-74
1st Adrian Malec M75-79
2nd Doug Pearson M50-54
2nd Marc Woodcock M55-59