Coffee-O-Five

Falmouth, MA, December 6, 2002

Slow Times and Icy Roads at Coffee-O

It was another meager turnout for the Coffee-O-Five. This week it was the slick and icy snow covered roads that deterred all but 10 runners, and one determined walker. For some strange reason many of the streetlights along the course seemed to be programmed to turn off just as a runner approaches and this certainly didn't help matters. The course wasn't really all that bad until the three-mile mark. Unfortunately Quashnet Road was better suited for an ice hockey game than a foot race. Some of the smarter runners simply slowed to a crawl and tip toed-through the treacherous ice, while others careened recklessly out of control through the difficult stretch. In the end everyone made it through unscathed. It was kind of an antisocial running night as most people were spread out by at least two to three minutes. Dan Webb skated into Town Hall Square in just over 42 minutes to garner one of his first ever top five finishes. Just as his fellow runners were toasting his fine effort with cups of steaming hot cocoa, Paul Hartel pulled up to the start an hour late and set out on a solo run through the night. In the end Hartel's time of 39 minutes bumped him into fourth and bumped Webb down to sixth. Carolyn Bird was the only brave woman to run this week and she ran uncontested to a first place finish. Don Lunn, the iron walking man of Waquoit, was the only walker this week. Mr. Lunn traversed the course early in order to take in a Bruins game in Boston during the afternoon. As allowed by bonafide official Coffee-O-Five rules, contestants may run or walk the course at any time during the day or night on Friday. The Coffee-O-Five is a weekly five mile run and 2.4 mile walk which is held every Friday night at 5:30 from Town Hall Square in Falmouth. There is no entry fee and all runners and walkers are welcome to participate. Reflective clothing is required through the winter.