Race on the Base 10k 02/21/04

Race on the Base 10k
Los Alamitos, CA - Feb. 21, 2004

A 10k inline race was added to this year's Race on the Base on February 21, 2004. The formerly running-only event took place on a military base in the Los Angeles suburb of Los Alamitos. Unfortunately, the strong threat of rain kept many skaters away. The weather forecasters were wrong and it turned out to be completely dry, although it was cloudy and windy. Temperatures were in the mid 50s. Around 70 skaters lined up for the 9:00am start.

The course was on the base's runways. Competitors started down the tarmac and then proceeded to the furthest runway. Skaters then returned down a jetway, back up a second runway, and finished back on the tarmac. Of course, it was completely flat, giving spectators a complete view of the action when aided with binoculars. Various military aircraft dotted the course for excitement.

The race started off with a bang. Aided with a tailwind down the tarmac, skaters took off at a fast pace. Turning onto the furthest runway, competitors were greeted with a stiff headwind. The lead pack of around ten skaters kept the pace high, but no breakways were attempted. Returning down the jetway with a tailwind, the skaters attempted to catch the pace motorcycle, but the police officer was aware of the action and did not allow this.

Coming back into the headwind up the second runway, Scott Wolf sprinted past the pack. Everybody immediately chased, but into the wind the pack simply broke up. With over a quarter mile to go, the rest of the race was just a disorganized pursuit to the finish. Scott Wolf took the win uncontested, with Jordan Malone second and Troy Atwell third.

Peggy Girgenti finished solo shortly after the men's pack for the women's victory. Second place went to Mechele Busby and Haley Galbraith took third.

SDSE members who braved the risky weather for this race included Luis Illanes, Carl Yee, Tara Yee (third place 25-39), and Howard Yeh (third place 25-39).

This was a fun local race and another one of what we hope is a resurgence of inline skating events in southern California.

Howard
SDSE-IR