Top Dog Trophy

"If you can't run with the Big Dogs, don't get off the porch!"

Charles Harris Challenge
March 10, 2001

Never trust a dog that is not barking. Big Dog Anderson misled Ed Finucan into believing that one could get to Tucker, GA by driving around Stone Mountain. After several minutes of looking at the big rock, Finucan finally called his wife to get the real directions. Anderson knew that intelligence coupled with deception sometimes is better than strength and skill when it comes to winning the Top Dog spot. Finucan was a dog no one wanted to deal with in this race. What Anderson did not count on was Finucan's own intelligence and technology. Thank God that He created cell phones.

Finucan had been training for the ironman triathlon and it was paying real dividends for this 10K. He never had any competition. No big dog even got close. Adams chased his tail through the first mile only to give up at the first mile mark. A six minute first mile was too fast for that dog. By mile two his tongue was dragging on the ground and besides, the view never changes when you are not the lead dog.

Ed Finucan took the big dog trophy with a 39:15. The real race was for second place. Anderson, Vlastnik and Adams fought for second place like it was the last bone to chew. With two miles to go, all three big dogs were slobbering all over each other all the way to the finish. Anderson (40:14), Adams (40:35), and Vlastnik (40:37), respectfully, crossed the line in close succession. Vlastnik ran a personal record for this 10K. Anderson used his superior hill strength to pull away by 21 seconds in the last half mile.