Since Chris Almy took up running about four years ago,he has enjoyed a number of personal highlights. He ran a marathon. He qualified for Boston. He ran and completed the Patriots Day classic.

But on July 13, the Charleston man had another day to remember at the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, N.Y.

Almy ran the 9.3-mile race in 1 hour, 7 minutes, 2 seconds. He finished 931st out of more than 11,000 starters.

But that’s not the story.

This is: Almy, the district attorney for Penobscot and Piscataquis counties, outkicked a running legend.

“What happened here was, as we’re coming down to the finish line, there’s an announcer,” Almy recounted. “As you’re getting closer, you can hear him talking. There’s a huge crowd there.

“The next thing you know, he says, ‘Here comes Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter,” Almy said.

Almy’s reaction was immediate.

“I booked it. I just took off. And I must have just beaten him.”

Must have? That’s right. Almy, who had certainly heard of Shorter, didn’t actually know what the 1972 Olympic marathon champ looked like.

And even after he finished one second ahead of Shorter, he still wasn’t sure.

Then he and friend Kevin Dow of Orrington (who came in 303rd in 58:50) headed to Almy’s mother-in-law’s house and watched a videotape of a local TV station’s race broadcast.

Dow, a running fanatic, knew exactly what Shorter looked like, and pointed him out to Almy.

Almy said a company shot still photos of the racers as they finished, and runners can order the pictures on line. But when he looked at the photo of himself, he found out Shorter was missing.

“I tried to find one with me and Frank, but I can’t find one,” Almy said with a laugh. “I found one with me, but just his sneaker and left arm.”

Masters nationals back in Orono

Back in 1998, the University of Maine took on a major project when it hosted the USA Track and Field National Masters Championships.

The result: Athletes from all over the country came to Orono … and found out they loved the venue.

According to National Masters, the official publication for masters track and field in the U.S., the consensus opinion was even stronger than that.

“Best ever,” the newsletter states in this month’s edition.

From Aug. 8-11, the USATF National Masters Championships will return to Maine, and it’s not too late for area athletes to get in on the fun.

The meet is open to anyone – that’s right, no qualifying standards – from the age of 30 to … whatever. Age group competition is held in five-year blocks all the way up to 100 or older.

The entry fee is $35 for an athlete’s first event, $15 for the second, $15 more for the third, and $10 per event after that.

For more information, contact meet director Rolland Ranson at 581-1077 or assistant director Willi Gallant at 581-2099.

An option for procrastinators

So you didn’t send in your entry form in time, and you’re sitting on the sidelines for next weekend’s immensely popular Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K. You need to run a race to help you forget.

Well, help is just a short drive away.

Runners seeking a 10K test don’t have to worry about traffic and dodging 5,000 other happy hoofers on Aug. 3.

Nope. They can just head to Rockland on Aug. 4 and run another coastal 10K that’s held in conjunction with the Maine Lobster Festival.

The race starts at 8:30 a.m. … and lobster-serving begins at 11.

Finishing kick: Runners looking to race this weekend have several options on Saturday.

In Bucksport, the Fort Knox Bay Festival 5K is set for an 8 a.m. start. Registration is at the International Paper Fitness Center on Route 15.

In Danforth, the Machias Savings Bank Summerfest 5K is set for a 9 a.m. start (walkers will start at 8:45). Registration will be near the town hall.

The Loon Call 5K and fun run will be held in Smithfield, with the fun run beginning at 8 a.m. and the 5K to follow.

And on Peaks Island, the Peaks Island 5-miler will begin at 10:30 a.m.

John Holyoke can be reached at 990-8214, 1-800-310-8600 or by e-mail at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net