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Saturday, September 18, 2010 -- Scottdale, PA
Scottdale Fall Festival 10K Run, 5K Run/Walk (iPO Event Id#: 12716)

2010: [Details] [Coverage] [Photos] [Overall Results] [Results by Class]

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Story and photos by Don Parks.

Every running event should be a party. In Scottdale, PA, they have a party that happens to include a running race. It's the annual Scottdale Fall Festival and it includes a 10K run and a 5K run and walk.

Scottdale Race photo by Don Parks
Peace & love in Scottdale.
The racing does not get underway until 2:30pm and that gave me and my family plenty of time to take in the festivities: from the petting zoo, to the trains, to the live music, to the many food vendors, and everything in between.

As the start time approached the closed off Pittsburgh Street was cleared of pedestrians and the participants lined up for the start. It's a hilly course and the warm weather would make it difficult for all.

Eric Rankin wasted little time getting out in front and never looked back as he went on to win the 5K with a time of 18:36. There was plenty of space between the leaders as Zach Teich (19:45) took second over a minute later and Patrick Carns (20:36) took third almost another minute after that.

On the women's side my wife, Heather Parks, wasn't looking for a win as she's three months pregnant with our second child. But a steady pace and a time of 24:18 proved good enough to take the 5K crown. And once again there wasn't really any battles for the podium placing as Angie Molinaro (26:00) and Elizabeth Molek (27:33) took second and third with plenty of space between them.

The wide gaps between leaders held true for the men in the 10K distance as well. Levi Foust pulled away from early challengers to finish in 39:34 and gap the rest of the field by almost two minutes. Joe Molinaro was next to cross the line at 41:26 with almost a minute lead over third place finisher Joe Bierhals (42:29).

Scottdale Race photo by Don Parks
Kids raced too!
Finally there was some close racing as Stacey Dolfi had Valerie Farino chasing her along the long downhill finish. Dolfi had just enough to take the win at 49:31 just nine seconds ahead of Farion's 49:40. Third place went to Dana Newlin at 51:17.

Dolfi couldn't have been happier as she took home the $75 top prize. This was the first time the 28-year-old Uniontown resident and mother of two had ever won a running race.

If you really wanted to watch some close competition the 5K walk was where your attention needed to be. Just four seconds separated the top three finishers with Starla Snyder out doing the men to take the overall win in 31:58. Right on her heels were Ken Landman (31:59) taking second overall, first for the men, and Linda Rumbaugh (32:02) grabbing third overall.

Now it was time for more festival fun and our family plans to come back next year and make sure we get there even earlier. We don't want to miss the parade and we also want to have time to take the train ride. Hope we see you there next year.