1985 Space Coast 50km Beach Run- December 28th
Cocoa Beach, Fl
report by Bob Hogan

Thanks to some unusually good weather and beach conditions, a few very
dedicated runners met the extended challenge of sand and slope in the
eighth annual SCR 50km beach run.   The entrants were grouped into fully-
and half crazy categories.   Nineteen People entered into the attempt to
complete the entire 50km: ten others chose to be part of two-person teams.

The talented Bill Hibbard entered on somewhat of a whim (or warm-up to a 
previously planned evening of dancing) , and won the solo competition in a
time of 4:03:35.   Jim Armstrong came in second, thirteen minutes latter.
The first woman finisher , Christine Gibbons, tied for third place overall
(with husband Wayne) by virtue of a 4:18:40 finish. Mike Sheffey from
Maitland came in fifth, followed by David Balfour of New York City.   Dick
Whitmore utilized a run/walk scheme that enabled him to finish in front
of Joel McAliley (and get even for last year's close race for first place).
Samara Balfour  (David's wife) , Kim McAliley (the Fudge King's Mate) and 
Pat Dixon also Completed the run. Don Dore and Harold Tucker again showed
their incredible disregard for the supposed aging process; both finished
looking very strong and fresh.   Criag Kennedy, who looks like an all-
pro tight end than an ultra runner, powered through the entire course, and
promptly rewarded himself with a well -earned bottle of Guinness Stout.
Christine Gibbons not only set a new women's' record by 27 minutes, but also
claimed the random drawing prize of a round-trip ticket on Florida Express.
Other finishers had to settle for shirts and engraved cups.

In the team Category, the  "masterful" pair of Walt Bush & Mike McLaughlin
ran away from the entire field, setting a new team record time of 3:38:01,
thereby eclipsing last year's mark set by Maxwell & Hogan. Dan Blaine and
Pat Stafford edged out Lisa Palmisano & Bobby Mendes for the mixed pair
title.   A Father/Son team both named Dan Gamble came in second overall in		
the team competition.		

Thanks to Chuck Desrosier , Mark Weimer , Everett Weidner , Janet Hogan, Rose		
Tucker , Henry & Rosie Campbell for taking care of the runners en route.		


Also from a separate article about the 50k:		
Harold Tucker, 68, may have set a national age group record with his		
5:26:47 run . The time is being checked against  national records and		
it is believed it will stand as a record.		


Place	  Runner	   		time
MEN		
1	  Bill Hibbard	   		4:03:35
2	  Jim Armstrong	   		4:16:04	
3	  Wayne Gibbons	  		4:18:40	
4	  Mike Sheffey	   		4:41:49	
5	  David Balfour	   		4:48:11	
6	  Dick Whitmore	   		4:49:11	
7	  Joel (Snickers) McAliley	5:06:45	*Fudge factor adjusted
8	  Don Dore	   		5:07:16	
9	  Harold Tucker	   		5:28:47	
10	  Craig Kennedy	   		5:30:11	

WOMEN			
1	  Christine Gibbons	   	4:18:40	*New Course Record
2	  Samara Balfour	   	5:07:37	
3	  Kim McAliley	   		5:25:04	
4	  Pat Dixon	   		5:33:24	

TEAM			
1	  Walt Bush/Mike McLaughlin	3:38:01	*New Course Record
2	  Dan Gamble Sr./Dan Gamble Jr.	4:17:11	
3	  Dan Blaine/Pat Stafford	4:32:12	
4	  Lisa Palmisano/ Bobby Mendes	4:35:31	

Submitted by Don Dore Jr. on Apr. 19, 2008
erdyoga at bellsouth dot net