The 2014 Endurance Magazine USATF-North Carolina Long Distance Running Series 8K Championship came to Durham, North Carolina, on May 31 for the sixth annual Running of the Bulls 8K, presented by Bull City Running Co.
The race featured a new course for 2014 that winds through downtown Durham and surrounding neighborhoods and finishes with a lap of the warning track inside the historic Durham Athletic Park. There were 1,492 finishers led by a strong field of elite athletes competing for the state championship. Duriel Hardy finished in first place (24:02; 4:49 minutes/mile) and Caitlin Bullock defended her title for the women (27:47; 5:35 minutes/mile).
Complete results can be found here: http://runningofthebulls8k.itsyourrace.com/results.aspx?id=3105
The 2015 Running of the Bulls 8K is slated for May 30, 2015. Details can be found at www.bullcityrunning.com.
With three races completed in the Endurance Magazine USATF-North Carolina Long Distance Running Series, all categories are still wide open for any competitors to make moves in the standing. The overall men have no competitors with two scoring races, so there is a three-way tie for first, second and third on the men’s side with Anthony Marios, Tibor Vegh, and Duriel Hardy tied for first in the series. Heidi Bretscher has a first and second to hold the lead for the overall women. The masters men has two competitors with two scoring races, Colin Jones and Tim Pierce. Colin has the edge with a win at the first race. For the masters women, only Betsy Armentrout has two scoring races to hold the lead.
Beat the Heat 5K in Winston-Salem on July 26 is the next event in the series. This is typically a highly competitive event and is sure to draw a few new competitors to go along with these regulars. Plan on a fast race.
Info on Beat the Heat 5K can be found at http://www.twincitytc.org/Default.aspx?tabid=70.
