Maybe they should rename the Wauhatchie Trail Run the Tim Ensign Trail Run.
Ensign, who has been an outstanding runner for more than three decades, celebrated his 50th birthday on Tuesday and that gave him an additional 90 second advantage in Saturday’s race, a 6.7-mile handicapped race at the Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center.
It’s the toughest race on the Chattanooga Track Club schedule and it’s also the most unique. Using a pre-determined handicapped scale, the females aged 80 and older got the largest head start of 45 minutes while those males aged 25-29 are considered the fastest group and got no advantage.
Ensign had an additional 5:30 to work with, so add that to his overall winning time of 35:46 and his total time was 41:16, which is still outstanding for a course that includes gravel, leaves and a slope on the side of Lookout Mountain that slows even the most fit runners present.
Sergio Bianchini was second as he finished in 36:38. This 71-year-old stud had a 16-minute head start, but it still wasn’t enough.
Jan Gautier was third overall in 38:20 and the first female.
Patrick Hall and Daniel Goetz were fourth and fifth with times of 38:30 and 38:43, respectively.
Weather conditions were about perfect. Overcast skies yielded a light rain for a short time.
And while it was cool, it wasn’t cold and windy like it has been in years past.
Ensign was in Lexington, Kentucky last weekend taking part in the USA Track & Field Cross Country Nationals where he posted a time of 36:20 for the 10K and helped an outstanding team from Chattanooga finish fifth out of 25 teams.
“That was about as good as I could do today as I needed every second I could get,” he said after winning this race for the eighth time.
“I was getting scared as I never saw Sergio, but he was my motivation to run hard today. I was hoping to run a little faster, but I’m happy,” Ensign smiled.
Bianchini is an outstanding runner in his own right and will celebrate his 72nd birthday on Feb. 25. He’s quick on his feet and came within three-quarters of a mile of winning on Saturday.
“Tim beat me by 10 seconds last year, but he got an extra minute and a half,” Sergio said, he himself not saying that he had started 10 and a half minutes before Ensign took off.
“He passed me at the six-mile mark and he was really going. I tried a little harder this year, but maybe I’ll win in three years when I turn 75.
“This race is beautiful and challenging. I love it. I guess it will be three years before I win, but he’s good,” Sergio nodded.
Gautier had been the runner-up in the past, but she was perfectly content with being third.
“The best I ever got was second, but it’s an honor to lose to guys like Tim and Sergio. It also didn’t hurt that I got an extra 11 minutes at the start. This is a tough run, but the second half is easier than the first.
“I always think about Chris Presley, who was instrumental in getting women to run this event. She loved this race more than anyone and I always think about her when I come out here for it,” Gautier said about Presley, who died several years ago from breast cancer.
Connie Petty is a 46-year-old physical therapist who is the head of therapy at Center for Sports Medicine. Saturday was the first time she had taken part in this annual event, but it won’t be her last.
“What a fun race. Jim (Steffes) started working with us as our CFO and he encouraged me to do it today. I promise I’ll be back next year. My neighborhood is all ups and downs, so this wasn’t too bad.
“We were out in God’s creation enjoying a beautiful day with a nice run. What could possibly be better than that?” she added.
Debbie Gates was the dominant female in the Chattanooga Track Club back in the mid 80s and she’s done this race a bunch of times. She took part on Saturday after a break of at least 10 years, but she was also celebrating her 56th birthday.
“I just thought this would be a great way to celebrate my birthday. I had a really good run as I ran with Sue Minton. I found out that we’re about the same age and have been running about the same number of years. I’ve never been one to chatter a lot on the run, but today, we had a nice conversation.
“I also got a call from my brother Bo, who called during the race to wish me a happy birthday. I don’t think he realized I was doing this race today,” she said, referring to her infamous brother Bo Watson.
Gates was 31st in 48:30.
Belinda Young, Lynda Webber and Bernice Delaney all did the Lookout Mountain 10K before coming down the hill to do Wauhatchie. Young was 41st overall in 49:49 while Webber and Delaney were 44th and 84th with times of 50:23 and 1:02:32, respectively.
Kathryn Vradenburgh, Jonathan Boyd and Joshua Albertus were the youngest runners at age 12 with Vradenburgh leading the way with her time of 47:33, which was 26th overall.
Jean Horgan was the oldest participant at age 84 who finished in 1:16:47 after getting a headstart of 40:15.
Sue Anne Brown was recognized for having run 23 of the 28 Wauhatchie runs. She was 11th overall in 43:06 after getting a 24:45 advantage at the start. Brown had a less than memorable race here several years back when she fell on the trail and broke her arm.
While Ensign captured one of the coveted Golden Antlers trophy as the overall winner, the family trophy went to brothers Bradley and Bob Adams who ran together and finished sixth and seventh overall with times of 39:08 and 39:09, respectively.
COMPLETE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RESULTS
Official Time
Place Time Name Gender Age Headstart Course
1 35:46 Tim Ensign M 50 5:30 0:41:16
2 36:38 Sergio Bianchini M 71 16:00 0:52:38
3 38:20 Jan Gautier F 47 11:45 0:50:05
4 38:30 Patrick Hall M 28 :00 0:38:30
5 38:43 Daniel Goetz M 25 :00 0:38:43
6 39:08 Bradley Adams M 34 :30 0:39:38
7 39:09 Bob Adams M 32 :30 0:39:39
8 39:46 Jack McGinness M 20 :15 0:40:01
9 39:54 Ryan Shrum M 45 4:00 0:43:54
10 42:19 Bill Minehan M 50 5:30 0:47:49
11 43:06 Sue Anne Brown F 66 24:45 1:07:51
12 43:10 Shannon Wood M 39 1:00 0:44:10
13 43:13 Dianna Leun F 40 9:30 0:52:43
14 43:23 Jim Upton M 68 12:15 0:55:38
15 44:09 Joseph Goetz M 29 :00 0:44:09
16 44:18 Karla Vradenburgh F 18 6:15 0:50:33
17 44:24 Frank Mathews M 42 2:45 0:47:09
18 44:32 Rick Schumacher M 49 4:00 0:48:32
19 44:35 Connie Petty F 46 11:45 0:56:20
20 45:02 Lisa Lisa Logan F 40 9:30 0:54:32
21 45:05 Tracy Gartman M 46 4:00 0:49:05
22 45:44 Jason Webb M 37 1:00 0:46:44
23 45:54 John Crawley M 60 9:30 0:55:24
24 46:04 Adam Webb M 34 :30 0:46:34
25 47:14 Steve Morrison M 41 2:45 0:49:59
26 47:33 Kathryn Vradenburgh F 12 9:15 0:56:48
27 47:48 Neal Crutchfield M 30 :30 0:48:18
28 47:56 James McGinness M 56 7:30 0:55:26
29 48:04 Tammy Apthorp F 49 11:45 0:59:49
30 48:22 Spencer Morse M 17 2:00 0:50:22
31 48:30 Debbie Gates F 56 17:00 1:05:30
32 48:30 Susan Minton F 55 17:00 1:05:30
33 48:36 Nico Mateo M 17 2:00 0:50:36
34 48:46 Jason Duncan M 35 1:00 0:49:46
35 48:48 Jerryd Tennyson M 14 5:00 0:53:48
36 48:52 Sue Barlow F 47 11:45 1:00:37
37 49:00 Cory Avlich M 14 5:00 0:54:00
38 49:04 James Beach M 16 2:00 0:51:04
39 49:20 David Moghani M 46 4:00 0:53:20
40 49:36 Tim Zorca M 21 :15 0:49:51
41 49:49 Belinda Young F 43 9:30 0:59:19
42 50:04 Joseph Minton M 56 7:30 0:57:34
43 50:15 Jonathan Boyd M 12 5:00 0:55:15
44 50:23 Lynda Webber F 53 13:45 1:04:08
45 50:33 Barbara Ensign F 44 9:30 1:00:03
46 50:34 Tyler Keys M 21 :15 0:50:49
47 50:39 David Knowles M 45 4:00 0:54:39
48 50:48 Andy Zorca M 51 5:30 0:56:18
49 50:53 Scott Moschkau M 41 2:45 0:53:38
50 50:56 Marco Bianchini M 22 :15 0:51:11
51 51:09 Mark Przybysz M 34 :30 0:51:39
52 51:19 Jim Steffes M 57 7:30 0:58:49
53 51:22 Matt Buck M 43 2:45 0:54:07
54 51:27 Ron Woody M 43 2:45 0:54:12
55 51:39 Larry Avlich M 46 4:00 0:55:39
56 52:01 David Barron M 34 :30 0:52:31
57 52:15 Stephen Smith M 31 :30 0:52:45
58 52:51 Mike Alley M 40 2:45 0:55:36
59 53:00 Laura Hall F 25 5:15 0:58:15
60 53:13 Carlos Mateo M 41 2:45 0:55:58
61 53:27 Hope Hessler F 46 11:45 1:05:12
62 53:43 Richard Tennyson M 42 2:45 0:56:28
63 54:15 Joe Clark M 25 :00 0:54:15
64 54:23 Debbie Przybysz F 34 6:00 1:00:23
65 54:35 Beth Rice F 53 13:45 1:08:20
66 55:07 Mike Kirklan M 52 5:30 1:00:37
67 56:02 Clay Taylor M 46 4:00 1:00:02
68 56:15 Corinne Henderson F 50 13:45 1:10:00
69 56:18 Jeff Poteralsie M 36 1:00 0:57:18
70 56:25 Neal Potter M 39 1:00 0:57:25
71 56:32 Joshua Albertus M 12 5:00 1:01:32
72 56:37 Spencer Evans M 60 9:30 1:06:07
73 56:44 Rebecca Albertus F 38 7:45 1:04:29
74 56:55 Brad Pryor M 54 5:30 1:02:25
75 58:17 Susan Gallo F 53 13:45 1:12:02
76 58:31 Diane Halstead F 54 13:45 1:12:16
77 58:33 David Marks M 54 5:30 1:04:03
78 1:00:16 Joey Howe M 48 4:00 1:04:16
79 1:00:38 Kristy Lee F 41 9:30 1:10:08
80 1:01:00 Melissa Guinn F 27 5:15 1:06:15
81 1:01:45 Stephanie Clark F 28 5:15 1:07:00
82 1:02:12 Antonio Franco M 49 4:00 1:06:12
83 1:02:14 Stacy Duncan F 36 7:45 1:09:59
84 1:02:32 Bernice Delaney F 47 11:45 1:14:17
85 1:02:32 Gwen Meeks F 51 13:45 1:16:17
86 1:03:03 Jesse Roberson M 73 16:00 1:19:03
87 1:03:04 Lucas Slade M 15 2:00 1:05:04
88 1:03:38 Abby Bender F 36 7:45 1:11:23
89 1:03:47 Terry Knowles M 39 1:00 1:04:47
90 1:03:48 Stephen Warren M 40 2:45 1:06:33
91 1:04:05 Jose Rodiguez M 31 :30 1:04:35
92 1:04:35 Paula McGown F 46 11:45 1:16:20
93 1:04:45 Anj McCain F 30 6:00 1:10:45
94 1:04:45 Katrina Fomich F 31 6:00 1:10:45
95 1:05:44 Anne Horgan F 58 17:00 1:22:44
96 1:07:07 Ongeleigh Gipson F 30 6:00 1:13:07
97 1:07:33 Brenda Zorca F 50 13:45 1:21:18
98 1:08:01 Lauri Slade F 49 11:45 1:19:46
99 1:08:13 Michelle Rice F 31 6:00 1:14:13
100 1:08:16 Sharon Farrelly F 43 9:30 1:17:46
101 1:08:19 Whitney Allison F 34 6:00 1:14:19
102 1:08:59 Bonnie Wassin F 68 24:45 1:33:44
103 1:13:35 Lise Capehart F 43 9:30 1:23:05
104 1:13:36 Sharon Braden F 40 9:30 1:23:06
105 1:15:32 Antonio Jr. Franco M 28 :00 1:15:32
106 1:16:47 Jean Horgan F 84 40:15 1:57:02
107 1:23:52 Geneva Morse F 15 6:15 1:30:07
108 1:23:55 Hannah Ginese F 34 6:00 1:29:55
109 1:25:15 Chas Webb M 25 :00 1:25:15
Family Competition
Place Time Competitior 1 Competitor 2 Time Team Time Relationship
1 39:08 Bradley Adams Bob Adams 39:09 1:18:17 brothers
2 38:43 Daniel Goetz Joseph Goetz 44:09 1:22:52 brothers
3 35:46 Tim Ensign Barbara Ensign 50:33 1:26:19 husband/wife
4 36:38 Sergio Bianchini Marco Bianchini 50:56 1:27:34 father/son
5 39:46 Jack McGinness James McGinness 47:56 1:27:42 father/son
6 38:30 Patrck Hall Laura Hall 53:00 1:31:30 brother/sister
7 45:44 Jason Webb Adam Webb 46:04 1:31:48 brothers
8 44:18 Karla Vradenburgh Kathryn Vradenburgh 47:33 1:31:51 sisters
9 50:04 Joseph Minton Susan Minton 48:30 1:38:34 husband/wife
10 49:00 Cory Avlich Larry Avlich 51:39 1:40:39 father/son
11 50:48 Tim Zorca Andy Zorca 50:48 1:41:36 father/son
12 48:36 Nico Mateo Carlos Mateo 53:13 1:41:49 father/son
13 48:48 Jerryd Tennyson Richard Tennyson 53:43 1:42:31 father/son
14 51:09 Debbie Przybysz Mark Przybysz 54:23 1:45:32 husband/wife
15 48:46 Jason Duncan Stacy Duncan 1:02:14 1:51:00 husband/wife
16 56:32 Joshua Albertus Rebecca Albertus 56:44 1:53:16 father/son
17 50:39 David Knowles Terry Knowles 1:03:47 1:54:26
18 54:15 Joe Clark Stephanie Clark 1:01:45 1:56:00 father/daughter
19 56:44 Rebecca Albertus Abby Bender 1:03:38 2:00:22 mother/son
20 54:35 Beth Rice Michelle Rice 1:08:13 2:02:48
21 1:03:04 Lucas Slade Lauri Slade 1:08:01 2:11:05 mother/son
22 48:22 Spencer Morse Geneva Morse 1:23:52 2:12:14 brother/sister
23 1:16:47 Jean Horgan Anne Horgan 1:05:44 2:22:31 mother/daughter
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@comcast.net)