Injury sidelines Wakeland Runner has to cool heels after setting blistering pace in race

Imagine running a pace of 5 minutes, 39 seconds for 9.3 miles. Sounds grueling, right? Not if you’re Tim Wakeland.

That’s the exact mile pace Wakeland recently ran over a fast, scenic Sugarloaf 15K course, good for second place and a blistering 52:33. Michael Payson took the top spot in 48:41.

“It’s a good rolling, downhill course with a few little rises near the end,” Wakeland said. “There is one tough little hill with about 800 meters to go.”

On his way home, however, Wakeland felt a pain in his right foot. A visit to his doctor revealed that Wakeland has joint inflammation, an injury that will sideline him for several weeks.

“I’m going to bike the rest of the summer, and I hope to be back for the Labor Day 5-miler,” said Wakeland, one of the top performers on the local road racing circuit.

Wakeland, who is from Dover-Foxcroft originally, attended Bellevue West High School in Bellevue, Neb. His father was a captain in the Air Force. Wakeland now makes his home in Dedham, which is good for training with many hilly and challenging loops, including Copeland Hill.

He went on to run cross country and track at Iowa State University, earning All-American cross country status in 1984 and running the 3,000-meter steeplechase in the 1988 Olympic Trials.

Wakeland has been running for 25 years, and he idolized many of the greats growing up. “One of my favorites was Sebastian Coe, but my long-distance favorite was Carlos Lopez, who won the Olympic Marathon in 1984 at age 37,” Wakeland said.

Tour du Lac

This weekend in Bucksport, one of the more popular races on the Sub 5 race series, the 28th Tour Du Lac 10-miler, will be contested.

The race kicks off at 7:30 a.m. with registration getting under way at 6:30.

The race, which was originally a bike race, was founded in 1975 by Anne Norton, a local French teacher. According to race director Fred Merriam, the name comes from “race around the lake.” It’s all road around one big lake.

Merriam described the course as hilly and scenic, a course many veteran runners enjoy running. A year ago, the course was changed so the race started and finished at the Bucksport swimming pool, so runners could take a dip after the race.

Around 100 runners are attracted each year.

“In the past, I’ve had trouble getting them out [of the pool] for the awards,” Merriam said.

In addition to the postrun swim, a potluck dinner hosted by Charles and Leona Clapper is always a favorite. It takes place at their home at the mile mark.

The award categories include overall male and female, 18-under, 19-34 (top 5 male/female), 35-39 (top 2), 40-44 (top 3), 45-49 (top 3), 50-54 (top 2), 55-59 (top 2), and 60-over (top 3 males, 2 females).

The defending men’s champion is University of Southern Maine standout Mike Bunker, while the women’s defending champ is Belfast High track and cross country coach JoAnn Nealey.

Bunker could be challenged by Judson Cake and Evan Graves, who will be in the mix.

Merriam said some runners use the race as a tune-up for the Walter Hunt Memorial 3K, in which Bunker could give brothers Joey and Louie Luchini a challenge. Many area high school athletes use it to enjoy a scenic long run.

Finishing Kick: If you’re looking for a race this weekend, you have a few options. Saturday, runners can head to Waldoboro for the Waldoboro Day 5K. Registration is at 7:30 a.m., with the race getting under way at 8:30. Down the coast in Rockport, the Penobscot Bay YMCA Harbor View 5K kicks off at 9 a.m. with registration at 7:30. Sunday, the Surry Bicentennial 5K and 1-mile fun run will be held at 10 a.m. at the Surry Elementary School.