I can't think of a better way to start off a new year than doing the First Day Five-Miler race at Presque Isle. It was a great day for a race (unlike the slippery, icy First-day courses of years past) and that probably contributed to the good turnout (228 finishers).

I was hoping to start the '07 racing season off with a P.R., but I fell about 20 seconds short of that. I was still quite happy with my finish since I'm surely lugging around a couple of extra holiday pounds right now.

You can see complete race results here .

News and Notes:

* I saw Norb Pastewka at Wal-Mart after Christmas and he is doing well. He had a new pacemaker installed that will also send an electrical shock to his heart should he have an event such as the one that toppled him at the East Side Y a month ago. He looked good and is already walking regularly again. Won't be long before he's tearing up the local race courses again, I'm sure. Of course, first he's off to Florida to winter over.

* Speaking of flying, Carmen Garrison -- former ERC board member and active member -- flew home to Erie to spend the holidays with her two sons (and many ERC friends). She's living in Washington now where she just accepted a position working for a nursing union. That's right, Carmen is now an office gal -- but it's obviously not hurting her fitness level as she finished the First-Day 5-Miler in under 44 minutes.

* Cary Twitchell and Clarence Mason were fine ERC ambassadors -- they were interviewed by WICU TV 12 at the race. I saw it on the 6 p.m. news that night.

* Marathon co-director and all-around great guy, Mike Vieyra was suffering with shin splints which hit him hard in the first mile of the race yesterday. Be careful, Mike...you know what happens to lame horses. Toni may have to put you down.

* The one person not hopping around and complaining about the cold weather at the start line was John Lytle who says the perfect running weather is in the 40 degree range. (Me? I'll take another 10 degrees or so).

* Looks like I'll see some familiar faces at the Cleveland Marathon in May -- I overheard several ERC runners talking about doing the race.

* The oldest finisher -- our beloved ERC matriarch Margaret Walker -- covered the five mile course in less than 90 minutes. How many 85 year olds do you know that can do that? She is one of a kind.

* Also one of a kind is ERC volunteer Jean Stevens who can always be found working the registration table and finish line on any given race day.

* The First-Day 5-Miler race premiums were embroidered knit hats in your choice of white or yellow -- they seemed to be popular with the guys and the younger crowd. I don't see me wearing it on my short-haired peanut head (I don't need anything else to make me look like an adolscent boy!). My all-time favorite First-Day 5-Miler premium were the blankets (2000, I think). Dan always does a nice job finding something special and unique -- no standard cotton t's for those of us who brave the gales of Presque Isle on Jan. 1 each year.

* The Huegels, Comis and Vieyras will soon be setting sail on a cruise through paradise at a bargain basement price -- a little more than a $1,000 for each couple -- that's two people, two flights (out of Pittsburgh) on a one-week Caribean cruise leaving from Houston. If the husband and I had the extra spending money (and passports) we'd have jumped on board too.

So...there you have it...all the news and information I managed to gather, coerce and overhear at the First-Day Five-Miler!