Tour de Lac event stands tests of time, endurance

In this era of road racing, it’s very seldom to see a race last more than 30 years.

One of Eastern Maine’s favorites, the Tour du Lac 10-miler, will celebrate its 33rd birthday this weekend.

The challenging Bucksport race, the fourth in the Sub 5 Track Club’s race series, goes off Saturday morning at 7:30 from the town swimming pool, just down the road from the high school on Broadway.

Registration on race morning starts at 6:30 and the fee is $10.

To say the course is one of the area’s more challenging is an understatement, as it features just about everything: a couple of tough uphills, some friendly downhills, rolling hills, and flat portions.

“This is a true test for runners, because it has flats, enough uphills, a true test for someone to run 10 miles,” said race director and Bucksport runner Chris Jones, who will be running his 19th Tour du Lac.

While there have been some fast times run throughout the state this spring – particularly by local favorites Adam Goode and Judson Cake, it’ll take an amazing effort to eclipse Gerry Clapper’s 1986 record time of 50 minutes, 48 seconds.

To do so, a runner would have to average roughly 5:04 per mile, an arduous task on this course.

“This is a tough one to break as far as records,” Jones said.

Three runners, Ellsworth High School running coach Andy Beardsley, Nichi Farnham and Kevin Dow, have a chance to join the elusive 100-mile club if they run and finish their 10th Tour du Lac, Jones said.

Eighty-two runners crossed the finish line last year, and 14 people had pre-registered as of Tuesday evening.

“I think the reason for its popularity is because its still part of the race series,” said Jones, who noted that the race is the longest in the area until September’s Bar Harbor Half Marathon, which provides those who are training to race that or the marathon distance later this summer or in the fall a good long-distance run.

Last year’s champs were Erik McCarthy of Orono and Mary Clapper Buck, a Bucksport native now living in Altamont, N.Y.

Jones noted that Clapper Buck will not be back this year, so there will be a new women’s champ. McCarthy has yet to sign up.

Overall winners will receive pottery bowls while age-group winners will earn homemade jam, with apricot, strawberry, blackberry, peach and blueberry being choice flavors.

Another Cake-walk

The aforementioned Judson Cake smashed yet another course record last weekend, this time at the Tremont Trot 4-miler.

The Bar Harbor runner blazed through the course in 19:35, a 4:54 per-mile clip.

Elsewhere around the state over the weekend, some fast times were posted at the Christopher Scott Cash 5K in Old Orchard Beach Saturday.

The top eight finishers in this race all broke the 16-minute barrier, with Freeport’s Ethan Hemphill winning in 15:07. Bangor’s Goode finished fourth (15:39).

Kristin Barry of Scarborough continued her outstanding season, racing to the women’s title in a fast 16:51.

T.J. Niles of Lewiston and Lee native Ty Thurlow, now living in Farmington, were big winners at the Pottle Hill 10K and 5K races in Mechanic Falls.

Thurlow took the 10K race in 37:57 while Niles won the 5K in 16:51, edging second-place Dylan Lajoie of Mechanic Falls, who was clocked in 16:53.

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

990-8193