DAVID A. DZOMBAK - RUNNING HIGHLIGHTS [last updated 12-5-07]

I have enjoyed running since high school.  As a mid-life challenge, I have taken on longer distances.  The publication of this record is to motivate me to keep going.   My faculty running compatriot is Professor Cliff Davidson (CEE).  Former Carnegie Mellon colleagues Dick Luthy (now at Stanford) and Omar Ghattas (now at UT-Austin) inspired and encouraged me to try longer distances.

                Halfway point (mile 13.1) of 2002 Chicago Marathon

  • MARATHONS [26.2 mi]

Marine Corps Marathon (Washington, DC), October 28, 2007:  4 hrs, 12 min, 12 sec (chip time).  Cool, sunny, windy.  Hilly course, including a climb to the Iwo Jima Memorial at the end.  Wind-induced dehydration in the last 8K.

Marine Corps Marathon (Washington, DC), October 29, 2006:  4 hrs, 13 min, 56 sec (chip time).  Cool, sunny, very windy.  Hilly course, including a climb to the Iwo Jima Memorial at the end.  Wind-induced dehydration in the last 10K. 

Columbus Marathon, October 16, 2005:  3 hrs, 42 min, 59 sec (chip time).  Cool, sunny, windy.  Relatively flat course.  New strategy (go easier in the early miles) paid off.  This is my personal best time.

Columbus Marathon, October 17, 2004:  3 hrs, 55 min, 36 sec (chip time).  Cool, sunny, windy.  Relatively flat course. 

Vermont City Marathon (Burlington, VT), May 25, 2003:  4 hrs, 4 min, 24 sec (chip time).  Overcast to sunny.  Temps in 60s.  Hills, hills, hills.  Challenging.

Chicago Marathon, October 13, 2002:   3 hrs, 50 min, 40 sec (chip time).  Cool and sunny.  Flat course.   Great event:  37,500 runners, 500,000+ spectators.

Pittsburgh Marathon, May 5, 2002:   3 hrs, 58 min, 13 sec (chip time).  Warm and sunny. Hilly course.

Detroit Marathon, October 21, 2001:  3 hrs, 49 min, 29 sec (chip time).  Cool and overcast.  Flat course.   An enjoyable race.

Pittsburgh Marathon, May 7, 2000  4 hrs, 13 min, 10 sec (chip time).  My first marathon.  Extremely hot (90F+).  Hilly course and very challenging weather conditions. 

Favorite marathon quote:  "After you do a few of these, you see how these people just absolutely beat themselves to pieces.  I think running is okay, but I'm a great believer in moderation.  This is not moderation."   - Nell Davidson, Medical Station Nurse, Mile 24.2, Pittsburgh Marathon, May 7, 2000 (as quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 8, 2000).

  • HALF MARATHONS [13.1 mi]

St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon, Memphis, TN, December 1, 2007:  1 hr 49 min 2 sec

Just A Short Run, North Park, March 31, 2007:  1 hr 50 min 11 sec

IKEA-Montour Trail Half Marathon, September 9, 2006:  1 hr 43 min 40 sec

Just A Short Run, North Park, March 25, 2006:  1 hr 47 min 49 sec

IKEA-Montour Trail Half Marathon, September 10, 2005:  1 hr 43 min 56 sec [identical to 2004!]

Just A Short Run, North Park, March 26, 2005:  1 hr 48 min 01 sec

IKEA-Montour Trail Half Marathon, September 11, 2004:  1 hr 43 min 56 sec

Just A Short Run, North Park, March 27, 2004:  1 hr 47 min 32 sec

IKEA-Montour Trail Half Marathon, September 13, 2003:  1 hr 43 min 50 sec

Just A Short Run, North Park, March 29, 2003:  1 hr 45 min 36 sec

IKEA-Montour Trail Half Marathon, September 14, 2002:  1 hr 39 min 52 sec

Just A Short Run, North Park, March 30, 2002:  1 hr 47 min 07 sec

IKEA-Montour Trail Half Marathon, September 8, 2001:  1 hr 44 min 03 sec

Just A Short Run, North Park, March 31, 2001:  1 hr 43 min 00 sec

IKEA-Montour Trail Half Marathon, September 9, 2000:  1 hr 49 min 41 sec

IKEA-Montour Trail Half Marathon, September 11, 1999:  1 hr 39 min 00 sec

  • PITTSBURGH GREAT RACE [10 km]

I have run in the Pittsburgh Great Race almost every year since 1988.  This is a large (10,000+ runners), fun community race held the last Sunday of September every year.  It starts in Squirrel Hill, winds through Oakland (the university and medical district), and finishes at Point State Park where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers meet to form the Ohio River.  It is mostly downhill except for one long uphill section.  Due to City of Pittsburgh budget difficulties, the race was not held in 2003, but returned in 2004.

Year

Time (min:sec)

2007

47:03

2006

46:23

2005

45:14

2004

45:33

2001

43:02

1999

43:34

1998

47:45

1997

44:00

1996

44:05

1995

47:04

1994

47:15

1993

51:09

1992

47:08

1991

46:10

1989

44:14

1988

45:03
  •  LATROBE ROLLING ROCK RUN [5 mi]

The Rolling Rock Run is a 5-mile race held in Latrobe, PA, the last week of June every year.  I have run in it almost every year since 1987.  It is part of the July 4 celebration festivities in Latrobe.  It is a hilly course, and challenging because of the hills and the weather which is usually hot and humid.  In 2001 the course was altered to remove one significant uphill climb.

Year

Time (min:sec)

2007

39:18

2005

39:20

2004

38:33

2003

36:54

2001

36:31

1999

37:45

1998

38:24

1997

38:16

1996

37:27

1995

38:05

1994

38:43

1993

38:37

1992

37:45

1991

38:22

1989

38:08

1988

41:46

1987

39:10