No sooner did 2006 lean across the finish line than the 2007 running calendar race out of its blocks. While the rest of us were sleeping off New Year's Eve hangovers or watching the Tournament of Roses Parade, 281 determined runners took on the five-mile course at the annual New Year's Day Dash in Middleton.
First across the line: John Niederhaus, in a NYDD record time of 28 minutes, 17 seconds. Jim Reichling was second in 28:54, followed by Ron Ofstun (29:24), Mark Ott (30:33), Paul Kmiecik, (fifth at 31:08) and 169 other male finishers.
Leading a field of 106 female finishers was Megan Thomas (first at 32:46 to set the women's record for the event), followed by Wendy Miller (33:24), Sandy Gregorich (34:02), Beth Schadd (34:50) and Laura Flanagan (fifth at 35:52).
Complete results for the first local leg-driven race of the year are available here.