Scott Mueller has made winning the Superun 5K almost as much of a tradition as the beer and Italian sausages served at the finish of the venerable race.

The 26-year-old from Pewaukee won Tuesday night for his fourth consecutive Superun victory, and a hot summer double-dip. He won the inaugural Schlitz Park Miler on Monday night, in a 4:29, then clicked off the 5K through Lake Park in 15:42. (Full results can be found here).

Scott Mueller turns up Ravine Road on his way to victory in the Superun 5K. Photo by Tom Held.

Holly Nearman matched him victory for victory.

The In-Step team runner dashed to a 5:12 to win the Miler, then came back and paced the women’s Superun field in 18:48.

“This one was a lot harder,” Nearman said after second straight Superun win. “I made the mistake of biking last night to a friend’s barbecue after the mile.”

The 26-year-old University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee alum said her quads suffered on the long climb up Ravine Road, to the top of Lake Park.

Mueller also said the effort on a tough mile course in Schlitz Park slowed him more than he expected on Tuesday; and the heat was definitely a factor. By the 7 p.m. start time, the cool breeze off the lake had vanished and the temperature topped 90.

“I’m not one for excuses,” Mueller said. “Priority one is always to win.”

He also plans to be back, in search of the Superun course record: 15:23.

Connor Farrell, six, also figures to be back; and for many years to come.

Jennifer and Connor Farrell keep pace to the finish line in Lake Park. Photo by Tom Held.

Running the second 5K of his life, Farrell took a solo victory in the men’s under double-figures age group. He finished beside his mom, Jennifer Farrell, in 35:34, but was most proud of making it to the top of Ravine hill.

“It was hard,” Connor said. “None of my friends could have made it.”

Jennifer explained at the finish that she checked with Connor’s pediatrician and got the OK for him to run the 3.1 miles, “as long as I’m not pushing him and he wants to do it.”

His running pursuits actually started with her pushing him, in a stroller, to get back in shape after his birth.

“I hated running in high school and college,” Jennifer said. “He likes being in motion, and slept better in the stroller than the crib.”

She was surprised to discover one day that he had slept and she had run five miles. That lead to six marathons, for her, and three more on the calendar.

New date? Race director John White announced during the awards that the race committee from the Badgerland Striders would consider moving the Superun from its traditional Wednesday night date, to avoid a conflict with Summerfest, which moved up its start date last year.

The participation was almost 200 runners, from 679 in 2011 to 490 on Tuesday.

“According to the runners, Superun kicks off their summer and leads into Summerfest,” White said. “A lot of people want to go to Summerfest.”

One option being considered is moving the Superun date to the last Tuesday in June.

Reunions: I’ve often found that the Superun serves as a running reunion – an opportunity to catch up with friends in the hectic pace of the summer. That was particularly true last night. It was a relief to see Bob Neumann, thankfully on the road to recovery from a frightening run of infection, and remarkable to come across two fellow Slinger Owls that I hadn’t seen in…could it really be 30 years.

Thanks to Meg and Janet for hailing me out of the crowd and bringing me up to date on your exploits on Brady St. and your families; and you’re always welcome to call me Tommy.