Week in Review: China Grove

Ashley Hunter Arnold was the lone member of the Collective in action this past weekend, as she toed the line for the China Grove 5k. This historically fast race has been an ARC favorite for years. It features a flat out-and-back course and often has a deep and competitive field. A 9:00 pm start helps mitigate the summer heat, but it’s usually still quite warm and humid.

From the start, Ashley found herself running solo.  Regardless, she took advantage of the quick course to run a very solid 17:51 for first female honors and sixth place overall.  Keep an eye out for more fast times from Ashley and the rest of the Asheville Running Collective this summer.

China Grove 5k, China Grove, NC
Ashley Arnold Hunter - 1st - 17:51
Results

Week(s) in Review: The Debut of Women of the ARC (and More!)

The ARC crew at the Running of the Bulls 8k 

It was an exciting weekend for the Asheville Running Collective with the debut of our women’s team at the Running of the Bulls 8k. The team of Kate Schwartz, Ginna Lee Reid, Margaret Brennan, Natasha Shipman, and Ashley Hunter Arnold made a statement with all finishing in the top eight. “It was a lot of fun to have five ladies on the line together, to take the top three podium spots, and to be out there with the ARC guys”, said Schwartz, who earned the win on Saturday. On the men’s side, Alex Griggs and Frankie Adkins placed well with a strong third place and the master’s win respectively. We are still awaiting team results, but it should be close with Bull City Track Club in the mix gender division.

Ginna

Ashley

Natasha

Margaret

Kate

Alex

Frankie

Also representing on Saturday, Wil Norris raced the grueling Asheville Half Marathon, which winds in and around the hills of downtown and North Asheville. This event brings out some heat chasing a hefty prize purse. This year was no different and Wil had to settle for 5th after a hard fought 1:10 - a very legit time on this course!

Two weeks back, Phil Latter lined up for his first track race since 2005 at the Atlanta Track Club All-Comers 5000m. Originally, he planned to pace one of his high school athletes for two miles or so, but he ended up staying in it and pushing to the finish in 16:00. He had quite the experience getting by lapped runners as there were 70+ runners on the track at one time!

Phil Latter

Over Labor Day weekend, Dave Workman took on one of the more challenging courses in WNC at the Rock2Rock Trail 10k. The trail shoots up from the start with 1500 ft of gain in the first three miles before a steep and treacherous descent back down. Dave had a great comeback race after months of hamstring issues and earned the overall victory. Hopefully, this is the start of a healthy and successful summer of running.

Dave Workman

Running of the Bulls 8k - Durham, NC
Kate Schwartz - 1st - 28:54
Ginna Reid - 2nd - 29:26
Margaret Brennan - 3rd - 29:31
Natasha Shipman - 7th - 30:53
Ashley Hunter Arnold - 8th - 31:05
Alex Griggs - 3rd - 25:12
Frankie Adkins - 6th - 26:23
Results

Atlanta Track Club All-Comers Track 5000m - Atlanta, GA
Phil Latter - ?? - 16:00
Results: “N/A. But Strava don't lie” - Phil

Asheville Half Marathon - Asheville, NC
Wil Norris - 5th - 1:10:44
Results 

Rock 2 Rock Trail 10k - Camp Rockmont, Black Mountain, NC
Dave Workman - 1st - 52:47
Results

Week(s) in Review - Busy Busy Busy

The race schedule has been packed this year with Collective members competing in events in WNC and beyond nearly every weekend.  This week was no different.

Chass Armstrong repping the Goat & Pony

Brent Schouler made his post-marathon return to racing with a win at the Run for Holland 10k in Spruce Pine.  He will spend the summer hitting the roads and working on speed before taking another crack at 26.2 in the fall. 

In Philadelphia, Chass Armstrong raced the Broad Street Run 10 Miler for the second year in a row.  His 53:44 result was off of his goal, but he’s excited to jump back into training and ramp up for a good summer and fall. 

Caleb Masland has been racing himself back into a very respectable level of fitness this spring.  It’s fun to watch him improve every time he pins on a race number.  His most recent effort was a win at the Carolina Brewsfest Half Marathon in 1:13:09.

Also - Shout-outs are in order for two Wedge Run regulars who posted impressive performances last week.  At the Legacy Run Half Marathon a rich prize purse brought out a competitive women’s field.  Kate Schwartz made strong moves in the hilly second half to earn the win and a nice payday.  Out in California, on one of the most strikingly beautiful courses in the country, Arek Robinson set a massive 10+ minute PR of 2:39:22 to place second in the Avenue of the Giants Marathon.  It’s great to see your hard work pay off, Kate and Arek!

Run for Holland 10k - Holland, NC
Brent Schouler - 1st - 35:04
Results

Broad Street Run 10 Miler - Philadelphia, PA
Chass Armstrong - 31st - 53:44
Results

Carolina Brewfest - High Point, NC
Caleb Masland - 1st - 1:13:09
Results

Week in Review - Ramblin'

ARC put in work this past week with Javan Lapp pulling double duty in AVL and Frankie Adkins battling for a USATF masters podium spot in Massachusetts.

On Saturday, Javan went back-to-back with two races in the AM. First up was the brand new Camp Cedar Cliff Trail Run 8k. After trading leads on the long ascents and descents with WNC newcomer Matthew Busche, Lapp had to settle for second after some strong climbing from Busche in the final section of the course. Next up was the Race to the Taps 5 Miler at New Belgium Brewing, Lapp ran strong on the tough climbs to start and finish the race (damn you, Riverview Drive!) and got the W. Solid day of work, Javan!

Javan Lapp

On Sunday, Frankie lined up for his first USATF masters national championship of 2017 at the James Joyce Ramble 10k in Dedham, MA. Adkins planned to give himself a shot at a top-3 finish, so he set a strong pace from the start. 5k was passed in 16:07 before hitting the hilliest section of the course in miles 4 and 5. He came into the final 400m in a tight battle with 2nd-5th and finished a close 4th. The fact that he was outkicked by a 50 year old (Kristian Blaich of Atlanta) for 33-minute 10k shows the impressive depth and competitiveness of the USATF masters scene. In the end, Frankie finished 3rd in the 40-45 year old age group - good enough for some USATF hardware.

Frankie Adkins collecting USATF hardware 

Camp Cedar Cliff Trail Run 8k - Asheville, NC
Javan Lapp - 2nd - 38:53
Results

Race to the Taps 5 Miler - Asheville, NC
Javan Lapp - 1st - 29:56
Results

James Joyce Ramble / USATF 10k Masters National Championships - Dedham, MA
Frankie Adkins - 4th OA / 3rd AG - 33:01
Results

Week in Review: 10ks and a Half

More solid racing across the southeast for the Collective this past weekend.

On Friday night, Alex Griggs competed in his first outdoor track race of 2017 when he lined up for the 10,000m at the Montreat College Invitational. His third place finish in 32:22 was a good start to his spring and summer racing campaign.

Alex Griggs

In Richmond, Peyton Hoyal (On Running) put in good work at the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k. His 32:44 was good for 15th place in the deep field.

Peyton Hoyal

Finally, Caleb Masland (Skechers Performance) continued building his fitness with a strong showing at the Foothills Brewing Hopswap Half Marathon. He got the win and notched a solid 1:13:07 on the hilly course.

Caleb Masland

Keep it rolling, boys!

Montreat College Invitational 10,000m - Black Mountain, NC
Alex Griggs - 3rd - 32:22.74
Results

Ukrop Monument Avenue 10k
Peyton Hoyal - 15th - 32:44
Results

Foothills Brewing Hopswap Half Marathon - Winston-Salem, NC
Caleb Masland - 1st - 1:13:07
Results