Lebanon's Robinson wins county challenge

Another runner's misfortune paid dividends for Jamie Robinson.
The Lebanon truck driver won the Foot Locker County Challenge in Saturday's Country Music Marathon with a time of 3:55.16.
"Barely," Robinson said Monday night. "When I crossed the finish line, I was kind of delirious."
Robinson was one of five runners - each from a different county – who competed in a race within the 26.2-mile marathon with a prize package at stake.
As per the contest rules, the quintet ran together for the first 13 miles before taking off on their own. Robinson, representing Wilson County, and Middle Tennessee State University professor Charlie Apigian, representing Rutherford County, were side by side until Apigian suffered a calf cramp with about a mile to go.
"Charlie would have beaten me if his calf muscle hadn't cramped up," said the 49-year-old Robinson, who completed his 34th marathon. "He's 33 and weighs 25 pounds less."
On the other hand, staying with the other four Foot Locker competitors cost Robinson 10 minutes, he estimated. He said they ran the first 13 miles in 2:05.
"If all five of us hadn't stayed together for 13 miles, I felt I couild have done the last half in 1:50," Robinson said.
Sports Editor Andy Reed can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 17 or by e-mail at andy.reed@lebanondemocrat.com.