From the sidelines, Sawyer Updike's idea of fun looked downright painful.
But it didn't matter what anyone else thought as he crossed the finish line first — barefoot, that is — to capture the 21st running of yesterday's High Street Mile youth boys race.
Updike, 15, posted a time of 5 minutes, 02 seconds, while Abigail Livingston, 15, of Barrington, R.I., won the girls youth title in 5:43.
Ethiopia native Abiyot Endale, 24, won his second straight men's open championship and third in five years in 4:05, while 29-year-old Stephanie Pezzullo of Foster, R.I., took home the women's open title in 4:49.
With a consistent drizzle at times heavy, any records would likely remain intact. Still, as far as talent and story lines, the High Street Mile never disappoints.
Chris Kealey, in his sixth years as race director, can't remember anyone running barefoot.
Updike, the grandson of the famed author John, wasn't out to promote the new fad of barefoot running (he was unaware of its growing popularity). Because of an open wound on his right big toe, sustained last Wednesday in a bike accident, he is unable to wear any type of closed-toe shoe due to the friction.
While biking at a good clip, his chain fell off, causing his right foot to slip and drag on the pavement.
There was no mishap yesterday as Updike's barefoot ploy gave him a seven-second cushion on the remainder of the field. He carried a steady, comfortable pace without pounding his feet over the final three-quarter mile to win the title.
"I've been training for this, so it was a pretty good time," Updike said. "I can't wear any covered shoes, so I just decided to do it barefoot for fun."
Making his second appearance in the High Street Mile (his last was as a sixth-grader), Updike got out in the lead pack and, for the first quarter-mile, was leading alongside Josh Raposa (fourth, 5:23).
"We were pacing each other and I noticed he started to drop," Updike said.
Updike took the lead after a quarter mile and never faltered. "I just wanted to finish," he said. "I wasn't sure how I would do with bare feet."
Livingston, who placed third in 2009 in 6:29, entered the girls youth race with a goal of breaking 5:40. She was slow by three seconds, but nevertheless, it was a significant improvement.
Livingston was challenged over the first half mile by runner-up Michaela Jones, 11, of North Andover, but steadily surged by and cruised to the finish with a 13-second lead.
"I wanted to see how much I've improved from two years ago," said Livingston, who is entering her sophomore year at Barrington (R.I.) High School. "I'm running cross country this fall and I like running the mile."
If only for dry weather, the men's open record might have fallen. Even in winning his third title and pocketing the $400 prize money, Endale was disappointed.
"I've been trying to break the course record, or to run under 4:00," said Endale. "It's not about the money. I really like this race. I always come here."
Making his sixth appearance at the High Street Mile, Endale was on a mission. He led from start to finish, but came up just short of Erik Nedeau's record of 4:03.41, set in 1995. (Nedeau, 39, the cross country/track and field coach at Amherst College, placed seventh yesterday in 4:29 — believed to be his first appearance since 1995.)
"I really tried to push the pace," said Endale, who estimated himself at 1:58 for the first half mile and 62 seconds over the final 400 meters. "I thought I was going to do it. But it's OK. At least I won.
"In past years, I stayed with the lead pack and finish in 4:10 or 4:11," he added. "But this time I went out on my own."
Making her first appearance at the High Street Mile, Pezzullo ran it like a seasoned pro. A soccer standout at Penn State, Pezzullo joined the track and field team her second semester senior year.
Following a two-year professional soccer career, Pezzullo turned full-time to running and qualified for the Olympic Trials in 2008 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. A broken ankle curtailed her plans for 18 months, but evidenced by yesterday's results, she is back on the radar.
Yesterday, Pezzullo shared the lead with third-place finisher Solome Rosgei (5:03), the 2010 champion, for the first 300 meters but left the lead pack in her wake the rest of the way.
"After about 300 meters I wanted to push the pace," Pezzullo said. "I think I did the first quarter mile in 65 or 66 seconds. I didn't look back."
Even with such a quick start, Pezzullo said, displacing the course record (4:34.20 by Amy Mortimer in 2008) was probably a stretch.
"It's a great course, but it was definitely slippery, not just for me but for everyone," she noted. "If it was dry, I might've had a chance. I think I would've broke 4:40 if I had a little more grip."
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