Slab City Running Company finished 6th of 11 teams on the 2007 USATF Minnesota Team Circuit. Run N Fun "edged" GEAR for the overall title, Lundgren Ford enjoyed its final year finishing third and Collegeville rode a rejuvenated Peder Arneson and some fresh-legged studs to a fourth-place tie with newcomers, TC Running Company. After seven months and eight races, SCRC was only ten points from making that a three-way tie and matching our 2006 debut. SCRC's 2007 successes promise continued success for the 2008 season. Slab City Rookie of the Year, Ben Merchant, led the team at Brian Kraft (15:35), Rice Street (4:21), and the Master's 15K (49:30). Prodigal son, Bryan Donald punctuated his return to Minnesota with a crucial 5th-man performance at Get in Gear and followed it up with a post-collegiate best (16:07) at Brian Kraft. Runner-up for Slab City Rookie of the Year, Reuben Woodruff, announced himself as a strong mid-distance threat with a blistering race at Rice Street (4:28). Andy Sherman PR'd by over 25 minutes at Grandma's Marathon, continuing his journey back to reasonable fitness and Matt "Ol' Faithful" Gehring ensured that SCRC would not drop from the standings with his gutsy performance in Duluth.
But the 2007 SCRC Runner of the Year has to be Dan "Chapel" Church. Chapel put together one of his most consistent and one of his most impressive seasons, carrying an often ailing or depleted Company. He opened his year with a huge PR at the Human Race (26:29), followed that with a 33:22 at Get in Gear only 2s off his PR, and surprised himself with a 4:43 mile at Rice Street. In the meantime he helped to anchor another dominant Woods to Water squad and PR'd by over four minutes at the Gary Bjorklund Half-Marathon. He PR'd again at the Master's 15K (51:02) and led the team to a 4th place finish at the City of Lakes 25K with a 1:29:27. At City of Lakes Chapel ran his final 5mi in 27:45, just 5s slower than his 2006 Human Race 8K.
The team has some individual business to finish up before looking ahead to 2008. Chapel, Sherman, Schrades and Nick Mascioli are sleeping now for the Twin Cities Marathon on October 7th. Bizyah will test himself against Abdi and Dan Browne in the TC 10miler before competing in the slower of the two November marathons in New York.
