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Mrs. Smith's Challenge trail run draws 63
BY GREG CALDWELL, Correspondent
Running through mud, across streams and over logs might not sound like a lot of
fun to the normal person, but to Heide Moebius and Jenny Sassaman, it is part of
what keeps them healthy and in shape

Moebius, 69, of Lancaster, was the oldest competitor in the recent Mrs. Smith's
Challenge trail race throughout Lancaster County Park.

Her age did not play a factor in her performance, though, as she finished in the
top 40 percent of all racers, a similar result to her showings in the 45-50
half-marathons and other trail races she does throughout the year.

Moebius is nationally-ranked in her age group and often finishes ahead of
runners more than half her age.

"The competition is not always great in my age group so I usually make first,"
Moebius said. "It feels great for me to finish in the top 60 percent in a field
of 20,000 runners in a marathon. It is a big thrill for me to be competitive at
my age."

The Mrs. Smith's Challenge five-mile run was started 10 years ago as a way for
women to let loose and play in the mud like they were kids. The idea was the
brainchild of Bill Smith, who hosts a variety of trail races throughout the
county and area. "I had a race for men, so I decided to create another one just
for women," said Smith.

The course meanders through the park, twice forcing the women to cross Mill
Creek. "The first crossing is 65-feet wide with the water knee deep and the
second one is 80-feet wide and calf deep," said Smith, who has held the race the
Saturday of Mother's Day weekend for the last 10 years. The course includes
changes in elevation, logs to jump over and a combination of grass and hiking
trail type ground to run across.

Sassaman, 38, of Lancaster, won this year's Challenge on May 10 for the second
consecutive year. She completed the course in 41:46, five seconds ahead of Jenny
Motway of York.

Sassaman, who has missed the race only four times since its inception, has been
running a variety of trail courses the last few years. She started participating
in these as a way to keep running after competing in cross-country throughout
high school and college.

"This is not a pure road race. There is a lot of camaraderie and sportsmanship,"
Sassaman said. "If someone falls, everyone will stop to help them up and if
someone goes off course, we point them in the right direction. This is a neat
race and is not for the faint of heart."

Smith has changed the course slightly over the years, but it is not marked out
in advance so no one can gain an early advantage. This year's race included a
Japanese woman from Elizabethtown, Kazuko Shimada, 46, who was in her first
trail race ever. "We have a lot of new people in the race every year as
old-timers drop out," Smith said.

A total of 69 women signed up for the race this year, and all 63 who showed up
completed it. Moebius and Sassaman said they wish the race could attract younger
runners and more participants. But its timing, on the day before Mother's Day,
keeps the numbers down.

"Bill works hard and it is a shame to see such small numbers, but graduation and
family definitely plays a role in the (low number of) participants," said
Moebius.

Sassaman, who was awarded a rolling pin with her name on it, said women have so
much to do. "If you are married, there is so much going on in your life. Women
tend to take less times for their selves. It is a challenging race that requires
training, and people do not have the time to put in."

Smith said he always gives unique trophies. The overall winner and each age
group winner were awarded a rolling pin. Trophies in the past have included
11-inch cast iron frying pans with a name plate on the bottom and doorstops with
the winner's name.

"Most races give their winners plastic runners on a pedestal. I like to be
unique. These awards are functional," Smith said.

Moebius, who has lived in Lancaster since 1960, said her husband was not in
favor of her running trail races at first due to the injury factor. As time went
along and she jumped into running full-force, he became her coach and supportive
of every race she entered. She now runs an average of one race a week, mixing in
trail runs with road races.

"Mrs. Smith's Challenge trail race lit a fire for me that still burns today,"
Moebius said. "Bill Smith puts on challenging races all over the area that are
challenging and competitive."

Smith said trail racing is a perfect way to keep the love of running alive even
when the knees and ankles are worn out. "Most people do not get into trail
racing until they get beat up in their knees from running on the road," Smith
said. "The trails are softer and give the runner more of a full-body workout."

Jeanette Arnold, 47, won the Masters Division, for all competitors age 40 and
older, finishing sixth overall.

1. Jenny Sassaman, 41:46; 2. Jenny Motway, 41:53; 3. Sierra Schenk, 42:29; 4.
Suzanne Kraynack, 42:49; 5. Sherry CLower, 43.35; 6. Jeanette Arnold, 44:22; 7.
Wendy Kimmel, 45:09; 8. Bonnie Stoeckl, 45:35; 9. Tammy Harris, 46:10; 10.
Eileen Calkins, 47:58;

11. Melanie Marinaccio, 48:27; 12. Beth Foster, 49:31; 13. Sarah Miller, 49:03;
14. Aimee Harmon, 49:16; 15. Karen Sandt, 49:27; 16. Monica Starrett, 49:35; 17.
Meghan Mellinger, 49:43; 18. Kristine Stein, 49:49; 19. Norma Loudenslager,
51:00; 20. Kathy Gumph, 51:57;

21. Denise Pangborn, 52:37; 22. Ginny Ackiewicz, 52:46; 23. Crystal Brubaker,
53:16; 24. Melissa Mattilo, 53:41; 25. Lisa Sanders, 53:50; 26. Heide Moebius,
53:56; 27. DeDe Harner, 55:55; 28. Jodi Drummond, 55:58; 29. Molly Hans, 56:06;
30. Rebecca Sprenkle, 56:07;

31. Barb Hohenwater, 56:47; 32. Susan Walker, 57:42; 33. Kay Mede, 58:00; 34.
Barb Beck, 58:51; 35. Robin Williams Harnish, 58:38; 36. Agnes Kelly, 59:26; 37.
Ann Moore, 59:36; 38. Keri Cohen, 59:40; 39. Kim Hoffer, 59:58; 40. Traci
Cummings, 1:00:13;

41. Beth Superdock, 1:00:14; 42. Sharon Keller, 1:00:20; 43: Sherri Harpold,
1:00:21; 44. Lois Summers, 1:01:43; 45. Michelle Erb. 1:01:49; 46. Cynthia
Haughery, 1:02:03; 47. Johana Reed, 1:02:07; 48. Kris Ward, 1:02.12; 49. Nancy
Husser, 1:02.30; 50. Amanda Husser, 1:02.35;

51. Alejandra Bonilla, 1:03:48; 52. Cory Laudenslager, 1:04:08; 53. Kim
Bennett, 1:04:15; 54: Mary Curtin, 1:04:25; 55. Joni Shirk, 1:04:50; 56. Lori
Gray, 1:04:57; 57. Jessica Jack, 1:05: 34; 58. Rose Ward, 1:13:15; 59. Jamie
Morrisey, 1:20:28; 60. Amber Ross, 1:20:28; 61. Kazuko Shimada, 1:21:41; 62.
Dianne Showers, 1:28:39; 63. Jan Mateer, 1:28:41.



Mrs. Smith's Challenge article from May 21, 2008 Lancaster New Era

Thank You,
The LancasterOnline.com Team

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