To celebrate the fifth year of Gleason Gras, organizers added the inaugural Gleason Classic road race to open the festival. Rich Bouckaert and Brandon Wingate rose to the challenge, finishing 1-2 over the 3.7 mile course along Bayou St. John. Aided by cooler temperatures, the duo ran side by side for most of the race until Bouckaert pulled away in the last half mile for a time of 18:51 (5:06/mile avg.) to Wingate's 18:59 (5:08/mile avg.). Power Milers Brandon Wingate and Will Kirkikis placed first and third at Saturday's NOTC Anniversary Race at the City Park Festival Grounds. Wingate finished in a blistering 15:23 for the 3-mile course, while Kirkikis' 16:16 was a personal best on the road. Kirkikis' PR came a week after his victory in the Splash, Roll, and Run sprint triathlon in Denham Springs, LA.
On a soggy evening at the City Park Festival Grounds, another Power Miler named Will improved on his best 2-mile time. This time, Will Kirkikis posted a PR of 10:15 for 2 miles at yesterday's NOTC Summer Series race. Kirkikis is a former cross country runner for Spring Hill College who also competes on the local duathlon scene. He is fresh off of a victory at the Armadillo Dash Trail Run at the Spillway on June 27, which also happened to be this year's RRCA Louisiana Cross Country Championship. As is our custom any time a Power Miler sets a PR, we checked in with Will to try to get him to spill the secrets to his success: How did the race feel? Were you thinking about a PR? I felt great during the race. I was caught in a gap with no runners, so I knew I would have continue pushing to get close to a PR. I knew i would get close to my 10:25 PR, but didn't think I would go 10 seconds under. How long have you been training with the Power Milers? How has training been going lately? I've been training with the Power Milers for 2 1/2 years. The longer I train with the group, the stronger I feel during races. I've been setting more and more PR's since I've started running with the Power Milers. What's next? Are you training for a specific race or distance? The next race that I will run is the inaugural Power Mile. I'm very excited to race the mile because no one else offers this distance on the road. Right now, I'm training for the shorter summer races like 2 and 3 miles. I have to reset my time goals now that I am in better shape than I thought. Is there anything else you would like to tell the vast readership of the PMTC blog? I'd like to thank the Power Milers for the great training and advice. Many more PR's to come! You heard it here first, folks. Will Kirkikis will contest the Power Mile on August 1. Will you? - PMTC HQ
Tell us about your race. How did it feel? Were you anticipating a PR?
I definitely knew a PR was possible with all the training I have been putting in lately, but I had just run a huge 4-mile PR* four days earlier and my legs were a little sore. So, I didn't know what to expect. Once the gun went off, I felt good and had a teammate out front with me, so I just stuck with it. What was your previous best for the distance? I haven't raced the 2 mile since last summer, and I believe my best was 10:58. So, 10:18 is a huge chunk. I know I have better in me too. We will see soon! How long have you been training with the Power Milers? How has training been going lately? I have been training with the Power Milers for almost a year now. My training has been going really well lately. Its great to have this group to train with and push you in workouts. I have been able to ramp up my mileage and speed work lately and set PRs in the 5K, 4 mile and 2 mile, all in the last 2 months. What's next? Are you training for a specific race or distance? I definitely have my heart set on running a fast half this winter, but right now I am focused on staying in the front of the pack in these shorter races and keeping the PRs coming! Congrats on the big week, and keep crushing. - PMTC HQ *22:48 at the Crescent Connection Bridge Run Several Power Milers placed well at the second annual 504K race, which ran through the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods on Sunday to benefit Youth Run NOLA. In Gary Estwick's race report for the New Orleans Advocate, Power Miler and dad Brandon details the advantages and disadvantages of racing with a stroller.
Check out Gary's report here. |
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Power Milers in the news, race reports, photos, and more from PMTC headquarters. Archives
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