PARKERSBURG -Competing in Parkersburg for the first time, 54-year-old Dave Talcott of Owego, N.Y., blistered the field in the News and Sentinel Half Marathon men's walk division.
But there was one walker he couldn't beat -his wife, Erin -who claimed the women's championship.
"That's five times in a row she has beaten me,'' Talcott laughed while sharing a moment with his wife after they had finished the race.
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Dave Talcott
It was their first time in Parkersburg and they wouldn't have been here had it not been for a chance meeting with local racewalking legend Donna Graham at the World Masters Championships in Brazil.
"Donna told us what a great race it was and we decided to try it,'' Talcott said.
The Talcotts left New York on Thursday and made the eight-hour drive to Parkersburg, where Erin was kind enough to give racewalk lessons to local participants.
On Friday, they drove the course, which they obviously were seeing for the first time.
"It's a tough race,'' said Talcott. "I was totally happy with this course. The hospitality here is fantastic. It seems like the whole city gets involved. The spectators are great.''
Talcott is a lifelong walker. While competing in high school track his senior year, his coach announced that the State of New York was adding an event to the track menu, the 5-mile walk. He asked for volunteers and Talcott immediately switched from running to walking, and finished second that year.
He's been walking ever since.
Talcott is an accomplished walker. He finished fourth at the World Masters Championship and qualified for the United States Olympic Trials in 2012.
He's also a member of the governing committee of USA Masters Track and Field, and coordinates its records.
His winning time of 1 hour, 50 minutes and 29 seconds on Saturday wasn't a record, as Matt Boyles, an Eastern High School graduate finished in 1 hour, 38 minutes and 46 seconds in 2007.
Runnerup in the men's field was 32-year-old Lee Stough of Glassport, Pa., who finished nearly 11 minutes later in 2:01.26. Meanwhile, 62-year-old Don Slusser of Monroeville, Pa., a former multiple-time winner of the walk, took third in 2:15.07.
For the record, Erin Talcott's time of 1:49:51, did set a new walk record for females.
The Talcotts never know where their walking schedule is going to take them, but if it is at all possible, it will take them back to Parkersburg next year.
After all, their initial experience here was a, er, win-win-situation.