This week, a Downeast pu pu platter of running notes …

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have a $25 gift certificate from the Slipway Restaurant thrust upon them. As was the case with Darren Winchenbach of Waldoboro at the recent Trekkers 10K in Thomaston.

As is his custom, Winchenbach, 32, led for the first mile or so before being overtaken by Derek Veilleux of Winslow, who surged ahead to lead by about 45 seconds, Winchenbach estimated. So when Winchenbach hit the finish line in 40:30, he was surprised, perplexed and even dismayed to be greeted as the winner.

He protested that he had been passed and must be second. But no. Nearing the three-mile mark, Veilleux failed to take a right turn onto Knox Street. Instead he continued straight on Gleason and effectively out of contention.

The circumstances are unclear. Race officials said a volunteer’s direction went unheeded; Veilleux could not be reached for comment. Winchenbach said he knew to make the turn only because he had run the event in the past and had checked the course map before the race. …

Kaine Karp, 7, of Portland, whose running prowess was highlighted in this space last week, went into the Sea Dogs Father’s Day 5K last Sunday with a goal of running under 25 minutes. He finished in 23:25 (7:32 pace) and was 195 of 1,179 finishers. …

It’s one of the few races inducted into the Maine Running Hall of Fame, and anyone who’s ever run it knows why it belongs there. The Tour du Lac 10-miler at Bucksport is set for its 39th running Saturday from the town swimming pool on Broadway. The start time of 7:30 a.m. is designed to beat the heat. The entry fee of $15 includes a T-shirt to the first 50; awards are homemade jam courtesy of race directors Chris and Margaret Jones. See sub5.com for a printable entry and more information. …

The second Bay of Fundy International Marathon at Lubec on June 15 was won by Ron Peck of Waterville in 3:01:31 and Lydia Kouletsis of Oakland in 3:23:24. If the times sound soft, well, as race director John Lough mentioned, “We have about 2,400 feet of elevation. Which is half of Mount Washington. None of the hills are very big, never 200 feet above sea level, but you do it many times. Tough but spectacular.”

The event included a middle-school relay competition, in which Campobello Island beat Lubec, 3:57:49 to 5:12:31. Also notable were some youthful performances. Juni Terry, 14, of Winchester, Massachusetts, ran 4:36:17, and Adelaine Carten of Campobello, also 14, finished in 5:28:31. And Adam Butler, 15, of Campobello ran 5:47. …

The Coastal Running League capped another big season with its cross-country championship meet at Twin Brook in Cumberland on June 7. Peter Bingham, Cumberland recreation superintendent and administrator of the regional league, noted that about 600 kids competed overall, and total attendance was “well over 2,000.”

The program is designed to promote activity and socialization as well as to accommodate competitive runners, Bingham explained. That approach helps explain why the league, which includes 14 communities from Scarborough to Wiscasset, has grown from 300 participants in 2010 to about 850 now. League membership is at capacity, though Bingham is considering ways to continue expansion.

The meet saw a number of fine performances in the half-mile (grades 1 and 2), 3/4-mile (grades 3 and 4) and mile (grades 5 and 6). Connor Coffin of Scarborough won the boys’ mile in 5:53, with Tristram Coffin 2 seconds behind; Ryanna Cox, also from Scarborough, won the girls’ mile in 6:36. Zachary Rich of Chebeague (4:24) nipped Colby Winship of Portland in the 3/4 mile, and Maggie Cochran of Cape Elizabeth was girls’ champion in 4:44. In the half-mile, Cape’s Hadley Mahoney (2:56) ruled, as did Colby Shumway of Scarborough in 2:51.

John Rolfe writes about road racing for the Maine Sunday Telegram. He can be contacted at 791-6429 or at:

jrolfe@pressherald.com

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