Nutcracker 5K                         Dowell MD
  1   Karsten Brown                  M  33  Front Royal VA          17:06
  2   Victor Papagno                 M  39  Hughesville MD          18:21
  3   Noah Wood                      M  24  Columbia MD             19:00
  4   Jay Clarke                     M  40  Lexington Park MD       19:16
  5   William Allen II               M  16  Prince Frederick MD     19:17
  6   John Way                       M  42  Montgomery Village MD   19:42
  7   William Allen                  M  47  Prince Frederick MD     20:00
  8   Kerry Staats                   M  42  Lexington Park MD       20:57
  9   David Luigi Walser             M  26  Lusby MD                21:10
  10  Jeff Moore                     M  41  Hollywood MD            21:43
  11  Jay Jacob Wind                 M  57  Arlington VA            23:19
  12  Peter Blank                    M  53  Annandale VA            24:09
  13  Jon Palks                      M  58  Bowie MD                24:36
  14  Donna Moore                    F  42  Hollywood MD            27:53
  15  Jim Mankins                    M  31  Hagerstown MD           28:08
  16  Shawn Stanley                  M  36  California MD           29:08
  17  Nathan Kendle                  M  21  Hagerstown MD           30:41
  18  Jeanette Kaufman               F  54  Hollywood MD            30:56
  19  Liza Recto                     F  51  Lexington Park MD       30:56
  20  Michele Neel                   F  42  Lusby MD                31:30
  21  Christina Caravoulias          F  52  Silver Spring MD        33:36
  22  Jeanne Larrison                F  52  Chesapeake Beach MD     35:24
  23  Julie Trapp                    F  63  Silver Spring MD        35:58
  24  Ethan Mankins                  M  11  Hagerstown MD           36:04
  25  Fred C. Briggs                 M  61  Solomons MD             38:36

      ‘Twas the second of winter, unseasonably warm,
      And twenty-five runners showed up in fine form.
      Tami yelled “Go!” and in a blanket of fog,
      Some took off like rabbits, some chose just to jog.

      Paul Serra declined, and helped with the timing,
      As did Dave Walser, with temperatures climbing.
      Pho-jog-rapher Jeanne, maintaining pace,
      With digital camera recorded the race.

      Ponytailed Karsten wasn’t running for kicks.
      He won the race in seventeen-six.
      Next behind him was Vic, the president-elect,
      With 18:21, and second prize to collect.

      It started to drizzle, and as the fog lifted,
      The rest of the runners down Dowell Road drifted.
      Donna Moore was first female in 27:53,
      By 38 minutes, everyone was home free.

      The post-race food table was laden with treats,
      Doughnuts and clementines, and bourbon-soaked sweets.
      T-shirts and prizes were laid out for the choosing.
      Everyone won, even runners just cruising.

      Though he wasn’t top finisher, good Peter Blank
      Found the best prize, and has Tami to thank
      For a dancing red lobster, a funny crustacean
      That sings out a verse with every gyration.

      The tables were cleared and the runners filed out,
      To log some more miles or just be out and about
      The Nutcracker 5K, our Christmas tradition,
      Had wrapped up its 2007 edition.

      We’ll be back in Oh-Eight, no ifs, ands, or buts.
      Merry Christmas to all, and to all some good nuts.