by Bob Cooper
courtesy of Running USA wire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dave Rhody, race director, (415) 759-2690
Amy Cramer, California Academy of Sciences media relations, (415) 750-7391

SAN FRANCISCO - (November 26, 2000) - Richie Boulet is a 3:53 miler who led a portion of the U.S. Olympic Trials 1500 meters last summer, so he's a serious runner. But if there's any race where it made sense for him to wear a bumblebee outfit, complete with dangling antennae, it was Sunday's Run to the Far Side XVI in San Francisco.

At America's only road race where runners wearing the wackiest costumes take home more loot than the fastest finishers, Boulet's get-up didn't create much buzz among 12,000 fellow runners. The 27-year-old high school coach from Oakland did, however, win the 5K for the third straight year.

"I decided to have a little fun," he shrugged, "although it did get warm under these black sweatpants and the long-sleeve shirt." Boulet's 15:12 was a winner by 34 seconds.

Wilhelm Gidabuday, a Tanzanian based in Riverside, California, also claimed his third Far Side title by easily winning the 10K in 30:43. The 26-year-old, who also won a 10K (beating Boulet) three days earlier in Sacramento, has won scores of California road races during the last four years. He noted: "I always like to do this race as my last one before returning to Tanzania for the winter."

The women's races also weren't close. Topping the 5K in 17:46 was Ceci St. Geme, a 37-year-old former Stanford track star who still lives a short jog from the campus in Atherton, California. The mother of six (ages 2 to 13) joked: "Most of my running these days is down the block running after the kids." In fact she manages about 30 miles a week, much of it with Betsy Diaz, who placed second behind her in 18:38.

Katy Spink, a graduate student in cancer biology at Stanford, won the 10K by over two minutes in 35:58. The 26-year-old's biggest previous win was at another large San Francisco run, the Houlihan's to Houlihan's 12K.

As fog yielded to sunshine in Golden Gate Park, the costume winners were announced outside the race-sponsoring California Academy of Sciences. It was the day's only close contest, although no hanging chads had to be recounted. (Among the entries were the "Gush/Bore" gang, who hoisted a sign that read, "Pro-life for Pregnant Chads!")

Costumes eligible for contest prizes are required to honor characters depicted in Gary Larson's "Far Side" comics. Edging out the Jellyfish and the Early Vegetarians (cavewomen dragging a giant carrot) for the $500 top prize were the Nervous Little Dogs: three women dressed as dachshunds accompanied by a real dachshund on a leash. Which raises the question: Who let the dogs out?

The 16th Run to the Far Side will be telecast on ESPN's "Saucony Running and Racing" in January. Exact dates and times will be posted at runningandracing.com .

Run to the Far Side XVI
San Francisco, CA, November 26, 2000

5K
MEN
1) Richie Boulet, CA    15:12
2) Angel Roman, CA  15:46
3) Michael Cahill (40+), UT 16:06
4) Michael White    16:20
5) Grant Palmer 16:25

WOMEN
1) Ceci St. Geme, CA    17:46
2) Betsy Diaz, CA   18:38
3) Honor Fetherston (40+), CA   18:53
4) Laura Sanchez    19:09
5) Angela Lilley    19:16

10K
MEN
1) Wilhelm Gidabuday, TAN   30:43
2) Juerg Stalper    31:22
3) James Neilsen    31:48
4) Jonathan Lyau    32:19
5) Rolf Schmidt 32:58
40+
1) Hank Lawson, CA  35:01

WOMEN
1) Katy Spink, CA       35:58
2) Christine Brighton, CA   38:14
3) Katelyn Johnson  38:23
4) Regina Connell   39:02
5) Step Rhudy   40:44
40+
1) Janice Prudhomme 40:50

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Special thanks to 
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Coordinator for providing us this press release.
USATF Road Running Information Center
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