Closer to consistency

Rhodes, Mudy-Mader win Woodstock titles on their way back to top form

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

Jeff Rhodes moved a step closer to where he wants to be as a runner Saturday, just in time to take the next big step in his life.

Rhodes, a 29-year-old sporting goods merchandiser from Birmingham, won the 2016 men’s Woodstock 5K, leading the field of 1,485 runners across the line in an unofficial time of 15:41.

Justyna Mudy-Mader of Huntsville won the women’s race, defending her title in 17:57 on the hot and steamy morning. It was 40 seconds slower than her winning time last year, but she’s just coming back from a three-month break in training.

“I just wanted to come out here to see what shape I’m in,” Rhodes said. “I’ve averaged like 30 miles a week right now, so I’m not back to where my fitness can be. I felt pretty good today. I think my shape will turn around pretty quick.”

Rhodes, a former four-year Jacksonville State runner originally from Florence, said he’s had more success as runner post-college, but he’s been working to become sharper knowing in a couple months his race priorities will change dramatically.

His wife Candace is due to deliver the couple’s first child Feb. 1.

Rhodes last ran the Woodstock in 2012 and 2013, finishing seventh both times in years when the elites dominated the field. The time he ran in 2012, ironically, was the same time he ran Saturday to win. He ran his best Woodstock in 2013 (14:58).

He figures he’s about 50 to 60 percent of where he wants to be, which ultimately is to break the four-minute mile. He did win a Birmingham Corporate Challenge 5K earlier this year, but Saturday was what he considered his first “really 100 percent pushing for a race” since committing to getting back to consistently challenging his personal bests.

“I feel like I’ve always had the ability, but now it’s time management, really finding ways I can train as efficiently as possible, to get the most out of my running and still be a successful father,” he said. “Leading up with this fall and going into spring hopefully there will be some good, consistent training. Less racing, more consistency is the key.”

Mudy-Mader’s break from training was designed to help rest a pesky heel injury that was bothering her since November.

During the break she returned to her native Poland to visit with family, friends and training partners – some who are now at the Rio Olympics – and unwind on the family farm.

While she did some recreational biking and running to test the heel, the Woodstock was her first competitive race since finishing fifth in the 39th annual Gum Tree 10K in Tupelo in mid-May, a favorite event she undertook after recently shutting down her formal training.

On Saturday, she was committed to “just going to go my flow” and enjoying the day. She won by 18 seconds over former UAB runner Rachel Harley.

“It was under 18, so I was happy with that,” Mudy-Mader said. “I was thinking I wasn’t going to break 18. Last year (at the Woodstock) I had already done a few races before and trained with my friend from Poland who came to stay with me for two month, so we were more in shape. This year I’m just a little bit slow, but I’m happy.”

NOTES: First-year race director Neeli Faulkner was pleased with the turnout. “I was worried it wouldn’t be that high with it being my first year, but you never know,” she said. “We thought we were going to get the record initially but registration kind of slowed down Friday. … The oldest finisher was 89-year-old Melvin Ford of Anniston, who finished in 1:02.55 – two spots and a half-second ahead of the youngest finisher, 2-year-old Andrew Slayton of Anniston.”

On the cover: Jeff Rhodes (R) and Justyna Mudy-Mader were the men’s and women’s overall winners of the Woodstock 5K Saturday. (Mudy-Mader photo by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)

2016 WOODSTOCK 5K RESULTS
MALE TOP 35
Jeff Rhodes, Birmingham 15:41
Sean Brown, Hoover 15:49
Samuel Mueller, Birmingham 15:50
Doug Smith, Birmingham 15:57
Donny Barnes, Huntsville 16:15
Carl Corley, Danville, Ga. 16:31
James Graham, Birmingham 16:52
Alec Beers, Birmingham 16:52
Darrius Woody, Alexander City 16:55
Chase Buckelew, Arab 16:57
Golden Coachman, Bessemer 17:00
Jordan Poche, Montevallo 17:05
Samuel Palmer, Birmingham 17:10
Jacob Russell Lister, Homewood 17:12
Joshua Evans, Chelsea 17:26
Trent Dean, Cullman 17:28
Daniel Burton, Jacksonville 17:30
Brandon Mader, Huntsville 17:33
Alexander Beverly, Evans 17:44
Daniel Sillivant, Huntsville 17:46
Justin Arsement, Birmingham 17:52
Joseph Pitard, Birmingham 17:53
Chris Edmondson, Southside 17:55
Jase Bell, Madison 18:01
Janek Wasserman, Birmingham 18:02
Austin Farmer, Hoover 18:10
Christo Clements, Gadsden 18:11
Jabe McCoy, Hayden 18:14
Chris Mahaffey, Odenville 18:24
Sam Moultrie, Guntersville 18:29
Michael Brown, Birmingham 18:36
Luke Thomas, Oxford 18:40
Zachary Koch, Huntsville 18:43
Beck Wilkes, Winfield 18:45
Davis Holdbrooks, Winfield 18:46

FEMALE TOP 35
Justyna Mudy-Mader, Huntsville 17:57
Rachel Harley, Birmingham 18:15
Whitley Waldrop, Birmingham 18:39
Megan Wasserman, Birmingham 19:00
Rebecca Hearn, Anniston 20:36
Kristin Day, Madison 21:17
Chelsey Palmer, Birmingham 21:18
Lauren Howell, Birmingham 21:19
Elizabeth Holcomb, Madison 21:34
Abby Nunnelly, Alexandria 21:35
Lori Godweber, Birmingham 21:44
Haley Hancock, Huntsville 22:14
Adan Youngblood, Madison 22:33
Nicole Dieckow, Anniston 22:37
Mary Reid Goodwin, Gadsden 22:41
Lauren Waltz, Anniston 22:58
Grace Williams, Madison 23:02
Susan Keith, Birmingham 23:04
Brooke Nelson, Munford 23:10
Libby Davis, Anniston 23:16
Kelsey Dunn, Anniston 23:17
Makenna Leathers, Madison 23:29
Melissa Tippets, Jacksonville 23:45
Theresa Burst, Birmingham 23:48
Emmy Mattingly, Madison 23:50
Jennifer Ellis, Anniston 23:55
Alyssa Hudgins, Anniston 24:00
Jessica Johnson, Anniston 24:02
Ana Parker, Madison 24:18
Rachel Seeley, Madison 24:57
Carla Grace, Weaver 25:00
Hayley Long, Anniston 25:02
Sherry Hannah, Oxford 25:07
Jamie Albright, Tuscaloosa 25:10
Kourtney Shuler, Ohatchee 25:23

Enjoy this collection of images from B.J. Franklin, starting with the start of the Woodstock 5K and ending with winner Jeff Rhodes crossing the finish line. Click to enlarge.

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