michigan runner, january / february 2010

By Scott Sullivan

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. (12/12/09) — What did2009 Michigan High School Runner of theYear Megan Goethals do for an encore hersenior season?

How about win Foot Locker CrossCountry Nationals?

Goethals, a Rochester High School senior,came from far back in the rain at Balboa Parkto edge South region queen Chelsey Sveinssonat the finish line, 17:06.9 to 17:07.1.

She became the first Michigan girlschamp in Foot Locker’s 30-year history. Fourstate boys have claimed U.S. titles: BrianGrosso in 1988, Abdul Alzindani in 1995,Dathan Ritzenhein in 1999 and 2000, and

Tim Moore in 2001.

Sveinsson—who with fellow regionalwinners Goethals (Midwest), Aisling Cuffe(Northeast) and Molly Grabill (West) was apre-race favorite—seemed to have it wonwhen she opened a big lead on the downhillin the third mile.

“I though she was gone,” said Goethals.“But I could see her, so I bore down and triedas hard as I could.

“Crossing the line was the best feelingever,” the winner said.

Goethals, a two-time Division 1 statechamp and top returnee from last year’snationals, where she finished third, shared thelead for most of the first two miles on a slop-py morning.

Sveinnson’s late move appeared deci-sive, but Goethals had one more gear left.“I don’t know how I got her at the end,”she said.

Call it heart, speed or magic. Whatever itis, it worked.

The girls race saw two other Michiganrunners, Waterford Mott junior ShannonOsika and Livonia Churchill senior SaraKroll, finish 30th in 18:28.3 and 35th in18:35.2, respectively.

Lukas Verzbicas of Illinois become FootLocker’s first male sophomore champion,finishing almost 15 seconds ahead of run-ner-up Matthew McElroy in 15:07.8.Michigan’s lone male representative, AnnArbor Pioneer senior Nathan Karr, placed39th in 16:34.2. MR

Goethals’ Foot Locker TitleMakes Michigan History

On her way to the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championship, Megan Goethals captured her secondFoot Locker Midwest title in 17:24.

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1Michigan Runner - January / February 2010

In This IssueJanuary / February 2010 Vol. 31, No. 6

Michigan Runner of the Year Nick Stanko poses with his Haslett Cross Country team:top row from left: Grant Wortley, John Roehr, Ian Hancke, Nick Stanko, Alex VanCamp,Travis Stirewatt, Dan Alchin;middle row: Logan Kukulis, Ryan Beyea, Ian James;front row: Cassie Wagner, Jordan Strickler, Ellen Corder, Emma ClauchertyPhoto by Pete Draugalis / draugalisphotography.com

At the Races

Features & Departments

CalendarJanuary - April 2010 p. 29-37

Goethals’ Foot Locker Title MakesMichigan History By Scott Sullivan p. 1

Editor’s Notes: Stoic By Scott Sullivan p. 3

Michigan Runner of the Year: Nicholas Stanko By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 4

Female Runner of the Year: Sarah Plaxton By Daniel G. Kelsey p. 5

Female Masters Runner of the Year:Marybeth Reader By Ron Marinucci p. 6

MaleMaster Runner of the Year: Eric Green By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 7

Male Senior Runner of the Year: Kevin Deyo By Daniel G. Kelsey p. 8

Senior Female Runner of the Year: Monica Joyce By Ron Marinucci p. 9

Beyond the Chip: The Towell By Ian Forsyth p. 10

Contributor of the Year: Jeff Crumbauch By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 11

The Dream By Bob Shaffer p. 13

Monumental Efforts at Monumental Marathon By Hank Risley p. 14

Running Shorts with Scott Hubbard p. 16

Matt Bedford: First of the MichiganMohicans By Ron Marinucci p. 19

Becoming a Runner By Tyrin Johnson p. 25

Introducing Runyaking By Riley McClincha p. 26

Mt. Pleasant Striders: 26 Years and Going Strong By Ron Marinucci p. 27

Running Like a Dog By Sheryl Lozicki p. 28

Running with Tom Henderson p. 38

Michigan Runner - January / February 20102

Record FreepMarathon Field Meets Triumph, Tears By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 12

Detroit Turkey Trot Sets Another Turnout Mark By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 18

‘Go-Go’ Goethals Runs Into History at State Meet By Scott Sullivan p. 20

Women LeadWay as GR Smashes Turnout Mark Again By Grant Lofdahl p. 22

‘Newbies’ Exuberant after finish GR Race By Daniel G. Kelsey p. 23

Big Bird Rises into Fourth Decade, Going Strong By Scott Sullivan p. 24

Big Bird Run Soars to Heights By William Kalmar p. 25

Ann Arbor Turkey Trot ‘On the Grow’ By Tracey Cohen p. 28

Michigan Runner - January / February 2010 3

Runners aretough. Paindoesn’t hurt

us, nor does hurtcause us pain.

When I hyper-extended my leftknee, I asked,“Would BillRodgers keepgoing?” Roger!Would FrankShorter stop short?

No way!On I went, compensating the hitch in my

stride until my right ankle rankled. Thisstoked my competitive fires further.

Which side would give way first? If theknee, I could hop home on my triumphant rightleg till the ankle went. If the ankle, vice-versa.

Then what? I’m like Bobby Fischer, thechess great who thought so many steps aheadhe went crazy. I would run home on my hands!

So what if I’d never walked on myhands? Necessity is the mother of circumven-tion. If my palms blistered, I would wear myshoes on my hands.

This would make quite the sight in myneighborhood, where people already shaketheir heads when they see me run in all kindsof weather. Assuming they do so from admi-ration, I wondered why stoicism so long agofell from favor.

In the good old days, Zeno of Citium,Epictetus and Seneca opined upon how a

wise man was indifferent to pain or pleas-ure, free from passion, unmoved by joy orgrief. A stoic, believed Epictetus, wouldamend his will to suit the world and be,“sick yet happy, in peril yet happy, dyingyet happy, in exile yet happy, in disgrace yethappy.”

I’ve got down the “sick” and “disgrace”parts. “Happy” I’m still working on.Anything to save me from becoming theopposite of a stoic: an epicurean “fond of oradapted to luxury or indulgence in sensualpleasures; having luxurious tastes or habits.”

I can’t afford to be epicurean. Worse,imagine a hardcore runner walking home onhis hands in the snow — suffering yet happy,close to death yet happy — to a feast withnymphs peeling grapes for him. My reputa-tion in the neighborhood would be shot.

Stoic Marcus Aurelius said, “A man shouldbe upright, not be kept upright.” It follows run-ners too should rely on our own resources.Crutches? Never! Even shoes are suspect.

“Get rid of the judgment; get rid of the ‘Iam hurt’ and you get rid of the hurt itself,”said Aurelius. Pain is all in the mind; indeedhaving a mind is painful.

Things are better since I lost mine, thanksto running. Now if we can only bring backthe stoics.

One of them, Diogenes, so favored livingsimply that he resided in a clay tub, ate rawmeat and masturbated in public to show offhis independence.

Kids today lack role models, but thatwasn’t the case back then. MR

StoicEditor’s Notes

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4 Michigan Runner - January / February 2010

Nicholas Stanko:Michigan Runner of the Year

By Charles Douglas McEwen

Nicholas Stanko pretty much had the2009 Michigan Runner of the Yearaward wrapped up with his victory at

the Kensington Challenge 15K in September.But just for good measure he won the DetroitFree Press/Flagstar Marathon in October.

Stanko, 28, of Haslett amassed 180 pointsin the Michigan Runner Race Series. He wasalso Michigan Runner of the Year in 2005.

Stanko started the series winning the St.Patrick’s Day 8K in Bay City in 24:41, thenadded runner-up finishes at Running Fit’sMeteor 10K in Dearborn (30:25) and the BrianDiemer Amerikam 5K in Cutlerville (14:34).

He finished third among state runners atthe Fifth Third River Bank Run 25K in GrandRapids (1:17:36) and the Crim 10-miler in Flint(49:48). Then came wins at Kensington (47:51)and Free Press marathon (2:20:22).

The former University of Michigan trackand cross-country standout describes 2009 asa good year. “I set a couple personal records,but I really wanted to run 2:19 in themarathon.” That time would have qualifiedhim for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trialsmarathon.

Stanko came nearest his goal at the P.F.Chang Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in Phoenix inJanuary. There he finished eighth overall andfirst among Americans with a 2:19:37 PR.That beat his previous-best 2:20:29 run atDetroit in 2004.

He knew 2:19:00 was out of reach by the20th mile of this year’s Freep marathon. At thatpoint he shared the race leadership with ChadJohnson, who runs for the Hansons-BrooksDevelopment Project in Rochester Hills.

“On Belle Isle, a little after 20 miles,Chad upped the pace to see if he could breakopen the race,” said Stanko. “He put a fewseconds on me, but I closed the gap before heincreased it further.

“Going into 22 miles, it was my turn tolead. I was familiar with Chad’s credentialsand knew if I left it up to the last mile, I’d bein trouble. I figured the boardwalk, with itsturns and limited spectators, would be a goodspot to try to open a gap on Chad.

“Once we hit the boardwalk, I upped thepace and put a few seconds on him. Fromthen on I red-lined it to the finish, worrying

about getting caught. My hamstringscramped every now and then, forcing me toback off a few seconds. I was able to get backat it after they calmed down.”

The winner, who ended up beatingJohnson by 31 seconds, said Hansons-Brooksrunners inspire him. “They’re going to give youa good race whenever they’re out there,” saidStanko, who is also sponsored by Brooks.

He became the first American man towin the Freep since Fred Kieser of Ohio did itin 1999, and the first Michigan man to win itsince Doug Kurtis in 1992. Still, Stankothought his 1:17:36 PR at the River Bank25K was his best race of the year.

“They changed the course this year becauseof the Grand River flooding,” he said. “Itseemed much more difficult than in the past.And it was a really competitive race.”

Stanko would like get back on the tracka little more next year. “I like to be competi-tive in everything from 800 meters to themarathon,” he said. “I don’t want to pigeon-hole myself as just a marathoner or 10Ker.”

He and his wife, Theresa, teach and coachcross country at Haslett High School. Theirfour-year-old daughter also keeps them busy.

“Theresa and I are still in the early stagesof developing the Haslett program to wherewe want it to be,” he said. “The runners arestarting to see how important consistency is... and running for most of the year.

“Coaching high school runners who aredevoted to the sport is an honor. To be suc-cessful at running, one must have an intrinsicdesire to succeed. As coaches, we try to givethe runners as many useful tools as possibleso they can get the most out of themselves.

“The 4H’s — being humble, healthy,hungry and happy — are something I teachconsistently. If they’re not being met, notmuch else matters.

“I try to teach the kids how to be in controlof their running, both in races and in training.A major piece of that puzzle is having the kidsrun a good amount of hard aerobic running.Not intervals, not easy recovery runs, but goingout and doing a progression run of 6 to 12miles, with each mile getting faster and harder,but always in control,” he said.

Many of Stanko’s Haslett runners cameout to cheer him on at the Free Pressmarathon, which he appreciated greatly.

As to his own efforts, “My strength as arunner seems to be my intrinsic need toimprove,” he said. “I feel I have gotten the mostout of myself, both in workouts and in races.

“This sometimes is a double-edged swordand comes back to bite me, because when Igo into a workout I always want to run all-out. I am getting better at keeping things incheck. When I find a happy medium and runmost of my harder workouts a little morecontrolled, I have better races.

“I grew up doing a lot of hard manuallabor jobs for my dad. This instilled early onmy perspective of what hard work really is.

“But there comes a point in runningwhen too much hard work can be a negativething,” Stanko said. MR

Nick Stanko ran the Crim10 Mile in 49:47.

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Female Runner of the Year:Sarah Plaxton

By Daniel G. Kelsey

Through injuries, through ashifting focus on educa-tion and life and family,

through 52 marathons to date,Sarah Plaxton has kept her joyin running. She had it as ateenager and she has it still,almost three decades later, as adynamo in the masters division.

That joy took on anotherdimension in 2009 as sheearned, for the second time infive seasons, the title ofMichigan Runner magazine’sFemale Runner of the Year.

“It’s almost a surprisebecause I run for fun; it’s mypassion,” Plaxton said. “The lastyear or so I’m not even thinkingabout winning and placing.

“You can always feel goodin a race when you feel like youdid the best you could.”

For Plaxton, 41, ofHighland Township (nearer toBrighton than to Pontiac), herbest is well under seven minutesa mile for a marathon. For thatmatter, even her “all right” isunder seven minutes a mile.

In 2009 she ran theBayshore Marathon in 2:54:06— winning the event for maybethe eighth or ninth time, she’slost track — and the DetroitFree Press/Flagstar Marathon inan “all right,” as she put it,2:57:09.

“I’ve always liked long distances,” shesaid. “That’s pretty much my thing. I focuson the marathon training. That’s about all Ineed, with my family.”

The mother of three was born and raisedin Michigan, graduating from MidlandBullock Creek High School. She ran cross-country and track at Central MichiganUniversity for two and a half years beforeconcentrating on studies in French and sec-ondary education.

“I really took a break from competitionafter college,” Plaxton said, “after being frus-trated with some injuries. But I’ve always

loved running.”

That doesn’t mean she could have stayedaway indefinitely from mixing it up. Shedecided to get in shape in 1995, which inturn led that year to the Free Press, her firstmarathon. Which in turn led in 2002 to herPR of 2:46:27 at Philadelphia. Which in turnled in 2005 to her first go-round as Runnerof the Year.

This past October, the women’s title wasup for grabs as Plaxton ran Detroit, the finalrace in the MR series. A pair of Hansons-Brooks runners led in points for the season.Plaxton ran behind three other women for

much of themarathon, notcatching her firstglimpse of any ofthem until mile 18.

She beganpicking them off.With four-tenths ofa mile to go shefinished her come-back.

“I could seethe lead runner as Iturned the last cor-ner,” Plaxton said.“Yes, at that pointI did know I wasgoing into firstplace.”

She didn’t —she couldn’t —know she was seiz-ing the title ofRunner of theYear. That wasicing on the cake.In a sense, it wasan unintended perkof her recentapproach to train-ing ... more dis-tance and lessspeed work inorder to reduceinjuries.

“What I’velearned is to workwith my body,”she said. “I’m lis-tening to my bodymore than I usedto.”

She’s listening to her life as well. At thebeginning of the 2009 season she looked atthe MR race series and decided it wouldn’t fitwith her commitment to family. Obviously, asit turned out, if she thought she’d have towait until a later date to make another run ata title, and this time in the masters, she washappily mistaken.

“I’ve had a great year,” Plaxton said. “Iwanted one really good year with the mastersdivision.”

Oh, the joy of it all; she picked off thecompetition without hardly trying. MR

Sarah Plaxton wins the Detroit Free Press / FlagstarMarathon.

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Female Masters Runner of the Year:Marybeth Reader

By Ron Marinucci

Excited and surprised — those wereMarybeth Reader’s first reactions tobeing named Female Masters Runner of

the Year.

“Wow! Really? I didn’t expect that!” saidReader, despite the fact she is no stranger tosuch honors. She was Michigan Runner’sFemale Runner of the Year.

Reader scored 60 points in the 2009 MRRace Series, 10 more than runner-up LisaVeneziano.

“It wasn’t the year I had hoped for,”Reader said, explaining her surprise. “It waskind of a rough year with injuries. I was run-ning injury-free for 10 years, then ...”

“Then” was 2008, when her string ofinjuries began, continuing to hamper her in2009. Reader’s litany reads like an encyclope-dia of running injuries: stress fractures, piri-formis syndrome, plantar fasciitis, Achillesproblems ... “One would get better, thensomething else would strike,” she said.

To add insult to, well, injury, duringtreatment Reader discovered “one leg islonger than the other.” Rest, orthotics, chiro-practic and leg-strengthening exercises(“those helped a lot”) got her through 2009— not exactly as planned, but well enough toearn ROY honors.

Reader was the first masters woman(other than overall champion Monica Joyce)at the Meteor 10K in Dearborn in 39:48 (a6:24-mile pace). Her 1:40:46 was good forsecond master at the Fifth Third Bank RiverBank 25K run in Grand Rapids.

She ran 18:50 to grab the top mastersspot at the Brian Diemer 5K in Cutlerville.She placed fourth in her age group, secondmaster from Michigan, at the Crim 10-milerin Flint, running 1:03:31 (a 6:21-mile pace).

“One of my favorites is the River Bank;it’s a beautiful run,” she said. “I like the long,rolling hills and the natural setting. And they(the race directors) were great! They provideda hotel. I felt like a celebrity.

“I enjoy the Diemer race too, how com-petitive it is. But it’s not my distance. The 5Kis torture for me,” she said.

Reader’s other favorites include the Great

Lakes Relay. “The team part is best,” shesaid. “I like the Bayshore (Marathon) too.I’ve always done well there. It’s beautiful upnorth, but it’s a low-key race.”

One of Reader’s bugaboos has been herinability to post a B qualifying time for thewomen’s Olympic marathon trials. She hasmissed by just a few minutes twice. She hitthe standard at Bayshore last spring ... a cou-ple weeks too late.

“I was never athletic in high school orcollege,” she said. “I never dreamed that I’dever run the Boston Marathon or be acceptedas an elite athlete.”

She ran Boston last April, despite havingsuffered a stress fracture two months earlier,finishing under three hours.

Reader started running “about 12 years ago,”after the births of her daughters, Olivia andCharlotte. “In the beginning it was for fitness, thenas an outlet for stress,” she remembered. “It wasnice to get out for fresh air.”

Her first race was the West Bloomfield 5K. “Iran it with my brother-in-law,” said Reader. “Icredit him for getting me into racing.

“I didn’t realize I was a competitive per-son,” she continued. “I compete with myselfand the others around me.”

Reader is coached by national mastersstandout and friend Paul Aufdemberge. “Paulwas reluctant, but I talked him into coachingme. He’s a tremendous coach,” she said.

With two daughters and a work schedule as anurse at Beaumont Hospital, Reader’s time to trainis at a premium. “I like getting it done in the morn-ing,” she said, although also admitting, “I likedoing two-a-day workouts.”

She meets Aufdemberge and training part-ner Andrea Pomaranski (“She’s one to watch!”)at a local high school track at 6 a.m.

She and Aufdemberge favor longer temporuns. “For example,” said Reader, “we’ll dothree miles hard, 600 meters rest, two mileshard, 600 rest, a mile and a half hard ...We’ll also do three times two miles or twotimes three miles after warm-ups.

“Right now I’m in the 90s (miles) perweek. I was doing 100 to 105 before,” shesaid.

Reader’s favorite distance “is definitelythe marathon. The longer distances are forme. I have the endurance. I have to warm upthe first four or five miles of a race,” shesaid.

“Sometimes I use running as a stress out-let to a fault,” she went on. “I have learnedthat running too much, while stressed, canlead to injuries. So I’ve been trying to balancethings.”

One of the things she likes best aboutrunning is the friends she meets. Reader hasbeen known to bake post-workout goodiesfor training partners. And she really appreci-ates the support she receives from herBeaumont co-workers, who have run the

Marybeth Reader nears the Crim10 Mile finish line.

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Male Masters Runner of the Year:Eric Green


His accomplishments include achievingDivision II All-American statusindoors for 800 meters at Northwest

Missouri State University, setting two nation-al 35-39 age-group records (since broken),winning the Julie Run 10K for six straightyears from 2003 to 2008, and finishing topstate master in the Detroit Free Press/FlagstarMarathon the past two years. Yet, EricGreen, 41, of Pontiac calls winning MastersRunner of the Year “the highlight of my run-ning career so far.”

Green had looked forward to becoming amasters runner like a kid looks forward toChristmas. When he finally did turn 40, hetook advantage.

In his first race as a master on July 4,2008, Green finished age-group champion atthe Volkslaufe 20K in Frankenmuth, nearlysetting a PR in the process. He was the topmasters runner at several other road racesthat year, but he really made the most of hisstatus in 2009.

To do so, Green upped his training miles.

“I’ve been doing 80 miles a week, which ismore than I’ve done in the past,” he said. “It’sall long, slow distance. The only speed work Ido is the races I run. The extra mileage allowsme to recover quickly after my races.”

All the miles have paid off.

“I made close to $1,500, which was morethan what I spent on entry fees,” Green said.“Previously, I hadn’t won much money at all.”

In the Michigan Runner Race Series,Green was first master at Running Fit’sMeteor 10K in April (33:57), Steve’s Run10K in July (35:15), the KensingtonChallenge 15K in September (51:53) and theFree Press marathon in October (2:41:44).

He was second master at the Bay City St.Patrick’s Day 8K in March (27:13) and Fifth

Third River Bank 25K Run in May (1:32:09).Altogether, he accumulated 125 MichiganRunner Race Series points.

Green started out more than 25 years agoas a sprinter at John F. Kennedy MiddleSchool in Pontiac, but found himself muscledout of the starting lineup by faster, strongerrunners. So he gravitated to longer distances

— 800, 1600 and 3200 meters — and foundhis niche.

“As skinny eighth-grader growing up inPontiac, I quickly realized that I would haveto run longer distances if I wanted to stay onthe track team,” he remembered.

Green still tries to mix in some races onthe track, usually during winters, along withhis road races. “I’ve always been a trackguy,” he declared.

He briefly held 35-39 national age-grouprecords of 4:26 for the mile and 9:00 for the3K. Of course, he also enjoys longer races.One in particular stands out.

“The first marathon I ever ran was theFree Press in 2000,” Green said. “I’ve done itevery year since. It’s one of my personalfavorites.”

He ran extremely well at Detroit thisyear, finishing seventh overall, second masterand first state master. “It’s the first time I’vemade the top 10 there,” Green said.

He and his wife, Julia, have three children.During the weekdays, Green works three jobsat Oakland Community College: assistant coachfor the men’s and women’s cross country teams,physical education building manager and athlet-ic coordinator for the school.

Green often runs with his OCC team. Healso has competed for the Frontline RacingTeam for many years and is currently its vicepresident.

“I have to run every day,” Green said.“When I get my run out of the way, life isgood for the rest of the day. It makes all thestress go away.”

He looks forward to next year’sMichigan Runner Race Series.

“It really was a motivator,” he said. “Istarted scoring points in the series and Iwanted to score more and more.” MR

Eric Green runs at theBrooksie Way HalfMarathon.

Race for the Cure and Brooksie Way 5K withher.

“My husband, Bill, is a huge supporter,”she said. “I thank him for helping me getthrough my injuries and these other stressfulthings. He is always there when I need him.”

Reader hopes 2010 will be “what Ihoped for in 2009” — without the injuries.She also wants to get the B standard for theOlympic trials. “I want to be there withAndrea (Pomaranski),” she said. “And I wantmy daughters to see this happen.

“Things don’t always come in the time-frame you want. But if you work hard ...There is a lesson there,” Reader said.

Ron Marinucci can be reached by e-mail [email protected]. MR

Reader continues

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By Daniel G. Kelsey

For a man who’s become an advo-cate for another sport, Kevin Deyocan still make a statement with his

size-13 feet in running shoes.

But then, even in Michigan an ath-lete can’t go snowshoeing all yearround, so he has to keep in shape in theoff-season.

Deyo was speedy enough over thesnow-free months to reign as 2009Michigan Runner Senior Runner of theYear. Maybe his name rings a bell; he’sthe same athlete who took home honorsas 2007 MR Masters Runner of theYear.

He’s the same athlete … only withchanging interests in competitive sportsand new ways of staying fresh and fastat 50 years old.

“I was able to stay healthy thisyear,” Deyo said. “The senior thing justkind of came up. It wasn’t even on myradar screen.”

He got points in the race series asfirst senior at the Fifth Third River BankRun 25K in May with a time of1:35:50. He said a big loop in thecourse, altered due to flooding along theGrand River, allowed him see what hisrivals were doing. The cool weatherallowed him to finish stronger than heever had in the River Bank Run.

“It was a steady downpour for thefirst five miles,” Deyo said. “We alllooked like drowned rats by the time itwas done.”

Later he got points as second open,first master and first senior in the MetroHealth Grand Rapids Half Marathon inOctober with a time of 1:18:56. Hechalked up his high placing to weatherconditions — clear skies, no wind and 30degrees.

“I was surprised to get second overall,”he said. “I prefer running in the cold ratherthan the heat any day of the week.”

Maybe that’s why his running highlightsfor the season came before the end of Mayand after the first of September.

Number one on his list was the Irish Jig

5K in East Grand Rapids in March. He ran a17:01, taking eight seconds off the formerage-group record set by Scott Liversedge.

In May he won the masters division inthe Bayshore 10K with a time of 35:31. InSeptember he took second overall for the sec-ond year in a row in the Harvest Stompede, agrueling seven-miler over hilly terrain on theLeelanau Peninsula within a couple of milesof his home.

Deyo’s low point came in the National

Cherry Festival 15K in Traverse City ona hot day, for a cool July. Another mas-ters title and a time of 58:13 didn’tmake up for the wear and tear of run-ning in the heat.

“After that I took a couple monthsoff from racing,” he said. “I felt kind ofburned out and stale.”

Deyo, of Traverse City by address,of Suttons Bay by proximity, changedhis training regimen after his first title asRunner of the Year. He said he’s prettymuch given up the track. His shortestintervals are about 1K on trails; moretypically he does mile repeats. He’supped his mileage from the 40 a weekof two years ago.

“I’m usually over 50 every week,”he said. “If I’m serious about an upcom-ing race, I get up over 60 miles.”

He’s a devotee of cross-trainingnow even more than he was in 2007. “Ido biking,” he said. “In the winter I docross-country skiing. That keeps mefresh.”

Then there’s the snowshoeing,which raises his fitness to yet anotherlevel.“It takes a lot out of me,” he said. “Iuse the snowshoeing as my hard daysand my running as easy days.”

Deyo started racing in the snowabout five years ago. Last winter hecompeted on his 22-inch-long snow-shoes twice. In January at Traverse Cityin the Bigfoot Boogie, a regional qualifi-er for nationals, he placed first overall inthe 5K with a time of 29:29.8, winninga waist-high trophy in the shape of aSasquatch walking.

He stayed home from the 2009snowshoe nationals at Mt. Hood inOregon. But if he qualifies in the 50 and

over division at Traverse City Jan. 23, hewon’t stay home from the 2010 nationals inupper New York State.

“It’s become my favorite sport,” he said.“I fell in love with it. I actually like it morethan running.”

Well, don’t say there’s no accounting fortaste. Deyo’s just one of those athletes who’drather come in from the heat and go out inthe cold. MR

Male Senior Runner of the Year:Kevin Deyo

Kevin Deyo finished second overallat the Metro Health Grand RapidsHalf Marathon.

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Senior Female Runner of the Year:Monica Joyce

By Ron Marinucci

It’snotoftenapersonwinsRunneroftheYearwhileenteringjustoneevent intheMichiganRunnerraceseries.ButMonica

Joyce,51,ofAnnArborachievedjust that.

Joyce was named Senior FemaleRunner of the Year despite runningonly the Meteor 10K April 4 inDearborn. She tallied 48 points inthe one event, placing her eightpoints ahead of runner-up RebeccaPrice.

Her achievement was anythingbut a fluke. Joyce, an elite runnerinternationally, trailed only ColleenDeReuck in the 2008 Running USArankings of U.S. female masters run-ners. And Joyce was leaving the mas-ters rankings that year for the sen-iors.

The Meteor 10K was the onlystate race she ran in 2009. “I reallydidn’t road race last year,” she said.“In the summer I ran on the track. Ideveloped tendonitis and had toregroup for the fall.”

The Meteor 10K took place on ablustery day with temperatures in the30s. No matter. Joyce, then 50, ran34:51.8, a 5:37-mile pace. She fin-ished 20th overall and the firstfemale of any age. Her time age-graded to 30:38, a standard of 99.5percent.

Joyce has run at an elite level foralmost four decades. “I began run-ning at age 11,” she recalled. “Ijoined our local running club inEngland.” She came to the U.S. in1980 to attend San Diego StateUniversity and became a citizen in2000.

Competing for Ireland in the 1984 SummerOlympics in Los Angeles, Joyce ran 8:54.34 for3000 meters. She posted her 8:49.51 PR for thedistance that same year.

“By the time I became a master, my timeshad slowed due to training and time off,” shesaid. Not that drastically: Joyce, a Michiganrunner since 1998, was MR’s Female MastersRunner of the Year in 2000 and 2001.

“My fitness has improved over the last 10years,” she noted. “Gradually my times haveimproved as well.”

Joyce set several world and American age-grouprecords (pending) in 2008 and 2009 on theroads and track, at distances from 5K to 15K.At a 2008 Boston track meet, she clocked16:01.7 for 5000 meters. “That one excited memost,” she said.

At the 2008 women’s 8K championships inAkron, Ohio, Joyce ran 28:04. At the Crim 10-miler in Flint, she posted a 1:02:58, good for

third woman overall and first U.S.master. She closed out the year thatThanksgiving with a 35:23 at theDetroit Turkey Trot 10K.

Although Joyce didn’t racemuch in Michigan last year, sheproduced remarkable times else-where. At the Gate River Run inJacksonville, Fla., during March,she broke the old 15K seniorwomen’s record by almost twominutes, running 52:38. A monthlater, at the Mt. SAC Relays inCalifornia, she ran 16:19 in the 5K,smashing a 12-year-old 50-54 age-group record by 58 seconds.

“I never set out to run age(group) records,” Joyce said. “I wasnot aware of most of these recordsuntil someone mentioned them. ButI wasn’t surprised by them. My fit-ness would indicate that I wouldrun faster than the records.”

Joyce lives and trains in AnnArbor. “I do a lot of distance andtempo runs,” she said. “I have nofavorite, or least-favorite, workout.It’s a process.”

Matt Holappa is her coach,husband and training partner.Holappa is one of the state’s topmasters himself, with PRs of 33:11(10K) and 52:05 (15K). At theMeteor, wife edged husband by amere second.

They have a running teamthrough Tortoise and Hare, theAnn Arbor running store he owns.Members can be seen running, intheir T&H singlets, at state andMidwest races.

Joyce’s first goal for 2010is to “stay healthy!” she said. She would alsolike to qualify for the U.S. Championships. Sheplans to return to the Carlsbad (N.M.) 5000and Mt. SAC Relays.

Look for her more at state races too. “I’mgoing to get back on the track,” Joyce said. “Iplan to do a couple indoor races in Michigan.”

It would be no surprise to hear more aboutsenior runner Monica Joyce in 2010.


Monica Joyce runs a few steps in front ofMatt Holappa, her coach, husband andtraining partner.

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By Ian Forsyth

You stole my bikeso I broke your nose.You said your momwas better lookingthan my mom;who knows?– Jordy Birch-Pure

Sliding unsheathed feet through blanchedSuperior sand, my spinning-HD mindejects the majestic UP and shifts to dusty

VHS. As my girls explore this iciest of lakes,my overwrought guilty conscience discardsme on the shores of the Great Lake Huron ofmy past.

Jim and I became instant friends, stum-bling upon each other the summer beforegrade five. Both being the sole male inmakeshift homes of sisters and mother, itseemed a natural alignment; I was soon wel-come as family in his house and he in mine.Through this binding, I often climbed aboardhis family’s day ventures to The PineryProvincial Park, to devour his mom’s exquis-itely-simple gourmet and romp through beau-tifully-blown dunes.

Ellen, Jim’s older sister, was often loath to endure our inane nuisance;teasing and bothering have long been my pestering partners, as even nowmy wife and daughters are grudgingly subjected to undue needling andnudging. This particular lake excursion became lastingly lodged inregretville, as my antics tipped into the untold depths of no return.

In Charles Schulz’s world of retro animation, Charlie Brown’s bestfriend, Linus, relentlessly refuses to be detached from his loyal blanketappendage. Deceitfully aware of Ellen’s equally-fervent devotion toher untouchable beach towel, my fiendishness couldn’t resist its for-bidden allure. Silently sliding this magical sand guardian from cau-tious shelter to my perilous delight, I boiled with possibilities.

Years separated by a mere slice of sound-permeable drywall stirred animperceptibly-osmotic knowledge of each other; from crudest depths tofinest sophistication. Jim and I grew up as brothers in adjoining house-holds. We inhaled sport and belched out fatigue. Not always on the sameteams, we amassed independent circles of cronies, not always intersecting,and we poked a place in our world, together and alone.

After innocent beginnings, we were eventually engulfed in thehazy realization that we could run — and run well. Racing each otherwith a vengeance sporadically stressed, but never dented, our regardfor the other. Ripping rivals, so intensely familiar, inevitably addedsome subtle mental chaos to the proceedings and rarely allowed bothof us to succeed on the same day. Through elementary school, highschool, college and beyond, whether teammate or adversary, ourprogress fired and sputtered upward, but was seldom parallel.

Illicit treasure in hand, I turned to task. Stealthy sand burial wasmy instinctual mode of mischief. Timelessly, the towel ceased to flutterand disappeared to unknown stillness; Ellen’s patience was about tobe gloriously strained.

As sun started to succumb to the lake’s gentle bidding, my satisfactionwas sure to be dramatically realized. Only a single unforeseen glitchskewed the situation: I couldn’t find the towel.

A few years ago, at a mutual high school friend’s pre-wedding fest,Jim’s mom called to say he couldn’t make it; he was in the hospital, hecouldn’t feel his legs and could only sit up to excruciating head pain. Thisstruck an especially-extreme chord as Jim’s health certainly bettered allattending. Having recently run a number of fierce marathons, he lookedto be rocketing forward.

Later he related that he had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barresyndrome; his immune system was revolting against his nervous sys-tem. He had been told he might never run again. After regaining com-mand over what was normally innately granted, he appropriately pun-ished his body’s disobedience by adding yet another tally to his stellarmarathon résumé.

Not to be too darkly overshadowed, shortly thereafter I stirred myown taste of mayhem to our co-history. A dissident blood clot mysterious-ly settled in my shoulder, spurning blood flow out of my arm, promptingit to fill and bulge to Popeye proportions until it all but burst. Sixteendebilitating hospital days of human experimentation and complicationbrought it to rest. Following a year of post-traumatic bodily dysfunction, Iwas also back ravaging the roads.

There’s a classic scene in the movie “Fargo” where Carl Showalterdesperately claws through frigid snow with bloody hands to conceal hismurderous money for later retrieval. After frantically finishing, he marksthe spot with a small windshield scraper and takes a moment to absorbthe situation. Upon looking up, the camera pulls away to an expansiveshot of nothing but shining snow as far as the viewer can imagine. Thisworld of white reduces the scraper to ludicrously-little stature; that bag isnot to be found.

That’s the sense I had returning to the beach to locate the towelthat evening. Looking over eternal sand wispily renewing itself withevery breath from its massive, gently-rolling lake, my enjoyment beganto tighten. Digging at my remembered original spot was soon deemedfruitless and as Jim, his mom and two sisters watched, I awkwardlysearched for familiarity. My dread intensified until I finally slunk backto the car, glaringly empty-handed. The silence clung oppressively aswe departed my unspeakable deceit.

Responding to my most-recent veiled fitness inquiry, quietly gaugingif I could still hang, Jim revealed that his unwarranted symptoms hadreturned. Sporadic numbness and erratic, overwhelming fatigue hadheightened his original diagnosis to multiple sclerosis.

Rocked by the perceived severity of these words, I was greatlygratified to hear he had again overcome. Though his days remainedfrustratingly unpredictable, Jim had already snuck in enough turbulenttraining to pop a good race or two, mightily displacing enough tur-moil within to retain himself.

Although our notion of “us” is abstractly indescribable, Jim and Istill know tangible connection after many years and miles of separa-tion. Sometimes I feel his footsteps quickening behind me as I feverish-ly lift to the top of the final hill.

Other times my thoughts relax, back to the beginning; inevitablyreturning to our day at the beach, digging for that towel one moretime. –IF

The TowelBeyond the Chip

Ian Forsyth

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When running on the woodedtrails near his home in north-eastern Wisconsin, Jeff

Crumbaugh generally enjoys gettingclose to nature. But on one occasionnature got too close to him:Crumbaugh almost ran into a bear.

“We both stood there for a few sec-onds,” he said. “Then the bear went upa tree and I went the other way!”

Participants in the trail runs thatCrumbaugh coordinates for the GreatLakes Endurance Series don’t have toworry too much about bears. But theymight catch a glimpse of an eagle soar-ing or a fawn with her mother (ifthey’re really quiet).

The Endurance Series, whichCrumbaugh founded, now consists offour challenging trail runs that delvedeep into the woodlands of northeast-ern Wisconsin and Michigan’s UpperPeninsula.

They include the NavarinoSnowshoe Adventure Feb. 27 andNavarino Trail Run April 18 at theNavarino State Wildlife Area inShiocton, Wisc. In Michigan, the GrandIsland Trail Marathon takes place Aug.1 near Munising and the Taqua TrailRun is Aug. 15 at Taquamenon FallsState Park.

For a decade, Crumbaugh alsodirected the Keweenaw Trail RunningFestival on the U.P.’s KeweenawPeninsula. The three-race series, praisedby Runner’s World, Trail Runner andMichigan Runner magazines, wasretired this year.

“It was a wonderful race,”Crumbaugh said. “But it was a longway away from where we live and a lotof work to get up there and put it on.Ten years seem like a good time tomove on to something else. And we’re work-ing on new events.”

Crumbaugh generally limits race entriesto a few hundred people. (He has gone ashigh as 500 at Grand Island.)

“We keep our races small and try tofind routes that are truly beautiful,” hesaid. “We want to create an experience for

runners that connects them with nature,and we want to do it in as ecologically-sen-sitive way as possible.”

Runners can bring small cameras andtake pictures. But Crumbaugh wants every-one to leave behind only footprints.

He requires runners to bring their ownwater bottles, which are filled at aid stations

so that no paper or Styrofoam cups areused. Race t-shirts are made fromorganic materials that are easily recycla-ble.

“In the pre-run packets we giveout, you get a bib and a shirt,” he said.“After the runs you get food. And wecompost all our food waste.”

Crumbaugh emphasizes com-muning with nature over competition,but Endurance Series races do givememorable awards.

“We work with local artists, farm-ers and food producers to provideunique gifts, in the process supportingthe area’s economy,” Crumbaugh said.

Endurance Series trail runs havegiven out hand-made medallions andceramic bowls, wild forest jams, honey,blocks of cheese and more.

Before he began directing trailruns, Crumbaugh ran cross country forHope College in Holland. While com-peting in road races in the 1980s, heran PRs of 16:06 for 5K, 32:48 for 10Kand 2:36:12 for the marathon.

While living in Ann Arbor, hedeveloped a passion for trail running atthe nearby Pinckney Recreation Area.He also spent happy hours on trailsnear Mammoth Falls, Calif., when helived there.

Crumbaugh now teaches chemistryand physics at Clintonville High School,where he is head coach of the crosscountry team and long-distance coachfor track.

“I’m really honored by this,” he saidof his MR Contributor of the Yearaward. “I grew up in Michigan. And I’vebeen reading Michigan Runner since the1970s, when I circled races on the calen-dar that I wanted to run.”

What does he hope runners take awayfrom an Endurance Series trail run?

“I hope they have an inspiring experiencein a natural environment,” Crumbaugh said.“I hope they have an opportunity to meetlike-minded people in a positive social envi-ronment. And I want it to be a great experi-ence for kids.” (The series offers kids races atall events.) MR

Contributor of the Year:Jeff Crumbaugh

Jeff Crumbaugh is pictured at the 2009Tahqua Trail Run.

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Record Freep Marathon Field Meets Triumph, Tears


DETROIT (10/18/09) — Nick Stanko ofHaslett and Sarah Plaxton of Highland tookdifferent routes to victory at the 32nd annualDetroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon.

While Stanko, 28, seized control of themen’s race with four miles to go, Plaxton, 41,made her move with fewer than 400 meters left.

Stanko, 28, outdueled Chad Johnson, 33,of Rochester Hills by 31 seconds. Plaxtonedged Ariella Gottfried, 22, of Minneapolisby just nine seconds.

Stanko, a former University of Michiganstandout who now coaches at Haslett HighSchool, and Johnson, who runs for theHansons-Brooks Distance Project, took turnsleading for the first 22 miles.

“With about four miles to go, it was my

turn to lead,” said Stanko. “I pushed it as muchas I could and opened a little gap. I wonderedwhether I had accelerated too soon, but I knewChad has a very good kick. I didn’t want tohave to outsprint him at the end.”

Stanko timed 2:20:22, Johnson 2:20:53.Matt Fecht, 25, of Warren finished third in2:27:46.

Henry Scollard, 46, of Cambridge, Mass.,topped the masters in 2:36:51. Eric Green,41, of Pontiac was the first Michigan masterin 2:41:44.

Plaxton turned the final corner of thewomen’s race and saw Gottfried in front ofher. “Then I pulled the string (and went byher),” Plaxton said.

The winner, a mother of three who hasrun this race many times and finished secondin 2002, was shocked to win overall. She hadjust hoped to win the masters. “I can’t believe

it!” Plaxton said of her victory.

She finished in 2:57:09, Gottfried in2:57:18. Another masters runner, MichelleDidion, 47, of Laporte, Ind., was third in2:58:29.

The marathon had a new course thatstarted and finished on Fort Street, near theFree Press building. Among other highlights,it took runners through Mexicantown andgave them a spectacular view of the DetroitRiver toward the end of the race.

“The course was awesome,” Stanko said.“I hope that Detroit can stick with thiscourse. It’s one of the best I have ever run.”

He and Plaxton were the first state tan-dem to win this race since the 1990s. AnotherMichigan native, Travis Peruski of Linden,won the handcycle marathon in 1:38:54.Grant Berthiaume of Tucson, Ariz., won thewheelchair race in 2:06:16.

Detroit Free Press / Flagstar Marathon, Detroit

A busy finish line depends on volunteers to provide medals, mylar blankets and smiles to Detroit Free Press/ Flagstar Marathon runners and walkers. Diane Burns (bib no. 2275) of Valparaiso, Indiana, finished in5:34:47 (chip time). Michael Wills (bib no. 6054) of Lasalle, Ontario, finished his first marathon in 5:36:45.

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“I was third last year,” Peruski said.“This year I had the pace car in front of methe whole way. My goal was simply to stayahead of everybody — and I did.”

Overall the event, which included a halfmarathon, 5K, relay teams and walk, saw19,326 runners register, up close to 1,000over last year’s record. Sadly, it also sawthree fatalities.

Rick Brown, 65, of Marietta, Ohio, andDaniel Langdon, 36, of Laingsburg collapsedon the course near the end of the halfmarathon, while Jon Fenlon, 26, ofWaterford passed away after completing thehalf marathon in 1:53:37. They were the firstdeaths in this race since 1994, when one run-ner died.

The weather didn’t appear to be a prob-lem. The temperature hovered around 29degrees when the race began at 7:15 a.m.,but rose into the 40s as the sun came up.Runners didn’t have to fight much wind, evenon the notoriously-gusty Belle Isle.

Many thrived in the cool conditions.With a 1:13:11, Ryan Piippo, 31, of Detroitset a personal record by almost a minute inwinning the men’s half marathon.

“I’ve been training a lot,” Piippo said,“It’s great to get my best time ever.”

Matt Yacoub, 35, of Farmington led therace going into the second mile. “He (Piippo)passed me on the bridge,” Yacoub said, “andprobably had 10 or 15 seconds on me allthrough Windsor.

“Then, coming out of the tunnel, he real-ly dropped me. From there, I just tried tofocus on staying in second place.”

Yacoub, head cross country coach atSouthfield Christian High School, did so in1:14:55. Jason Mahakian, 20, of FarmingtonHills finished third in 1:15:51.

Southfield Christian assistant coach AngelaMatthews, 25, of Westland won the women’shalf marathon in a personal-record 1:18:51.“Angela ran amazing,” Yacoub said. “She hada great 5K a week ago, so I knew she was inshape to pull something off today.”

Mindy Fernando, 31, of Franklin took sec-ond in 1:26:28. Andrea Blake, 30, ofDearborn was third in 1:27:03.

The top finishers in the half marathonwalk were David Potter, 45, of Royal Oak(2:07:51) and Lori Lynn Short, 43, of Clio(2:22:40). In the 5K, Matthew Behrensmeyer,26, of Albion (17:27) and Sara Gerhardt, 21,of Macomb (19:23) won.

For complete race results, go towww.detroitmarathon.com. MR

By Bob Shaffer

Most people who have pinned bibson singlets and double-knottedlaces have wondered/ questioned/

aspired (before they respired), “What wouldit be like to win a race?”

Except for the golden, speedy youth and“young” masters, the chances of doing soare so small that we store the idea in ourdrawers along with a few ribbons, finishersmedals and age-group awards, if we’re for-tunate or persistent.

When I first started running in the1970s, I didn’t know about road races.When I raced “competitively” in the ’80s, a38-minute 10K would get you about 500thplace in races that only gave prizes to thetop three.

In the ‘90s and “noughties” things lookedup a bit, because I slowed just a tad less thanmy peers, some of whom ceased racing. It’snot so bad when there are three in your agegroup; you can phone it in and still medal.

Still, other than masters wins (one) andage-group placings, I, like most entrants,never won a race overall. As my age pushed60, with a full-time-plus demanding careerand a lovely, if less-demanding, family, itdidn’t look promising.

In addition I have no talent, never wonwhen I was young and have had insulin-dependent diabetes for going on 40 years.Winning overall? Fat chance.

Two years ago I targeted one small race,but it had its issues. They promised two age-group medals; of course I got second and nomedal. Oh well, it was for charity.

I heard of a new race the next year thatsounded good, but it wasn’t for charity. So Idecided to give the old race one last chance.It was for charity, you know.

I got up early and found the road I taketo the race was closed because of the nearbyReeds Lake Triathlon. I made up a detouron the spot and floored the accelerator —good for the adrenalin, if not blood pres-sure.

The fog was like pea soup city. WasGod trying to tell me something?

I arrived just in time, but with little timeto warm up. Good thing for those stresshormones and hypertension: they’ll get youthrough in a pinch.

All the guys were there. We’re friends,competitors — and two in my age group werefaster than I am. I think one of them, a springchicken (with 100,000-plus miles on his run-ning odometer) in his early-mid-50s, designedthe course. And, yep, medals to two again.

We took off, bold masters, behindyoung studs in cotton jerseys, with maybe100-plus runners behind.

On the first hill we were in a tidygroup, with the cotton kids in front and oldfarts hanging in ready to overtake them. Itturned out the fast coots were both nursinginjuries and I wasn’t.

There were just a few up in front and Itook the lead just for fun, so I could tell dis-believing grandchildren (if they ever arrive),“Yeah, I led a race once, a long time ago ...”

Surprisingly, it was getting a little lonelyout there. I was following the cop car andsmelling its exhaust.

Now, you’d think if the car turned leftand the straight was blocked by orangecones, you’d turn left too, right? The mar-shall was on his cell phone and didn’t point,the carbon monoxide was getting to me, Iwas going into oxygen debt and, of course,I’d never been in such a situation before.

“Turn left, Bob,” said my friend behindme, and I was grateful.

As in the movies, he caught me beforethe last hills, near the finish. Who’s got it?We both went, but I had it and he, with hisinjury, did not.

I reached the finish line by a church.Divine intervention? Hardly, but a miracleas I see it.

Got first. More than 100 runners, hillycourse. Of course they spelled my namewrong — so who’s going to believe me? ButI swear the dream came true.

Postscript: If you win, you shouldalways return the next year. As luck wouldhave it, it was my turn to feel lameness (twohamstrings and a glute) and a virus. I gotsecond in my age group, another miracle ifyou will, and I did get a medal with myname spelled correctly. It’s for charity.

Bob Shaffer, 57, is a Grand Rapids psychol-ogist, runner and sometimes-exponent of the

virtues of Newton shoes. MR

The Dream


Monumental Efforts atMonumental Marathon

By Hank Risley

7a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. Leonard, Jackie,Pam and I settle in the car in anIndianapolis parking ramp. We’re

preparing to run the Monumental Marathon.

Temperatures are reasonable in the darkmorning, although it’s forecast to warm later.

A few minutes before the start I wrigglemy way up to the Seed 2 corral. Behind theKenyans and other elites I feel slow. I’m nerv-ous. There are 5,700 runners going out thismorning: 3,400 in the marathon and 2,300 inthe half marathon.

I make small talk with the guys aroundme. One, directly behind me, chimes in, “I’mgetting engaged at the finish!”

The mood lightens and we all high-fivehim. He’s staged a pal at mile 25 to give himthe ring. His girlfriend, running the half, will bedone and waiting for him when he crosses theline. We wish him luck and the gun goes off.

The first couple miles are in central,downtown Indy; we pass the Lucas OilStadium twice and have fans lined along thecourse. The course is wide but congested. Toomany runners are going out hard, pumped upon adrenalin from the crowds and buildup.

6:20 first mile, 6:21 second; I’m not get-ting any space and can’t settle in. I decide topull away and get some room. 6:13 third mileand I’m free.

I back it down to a 6:23 fourth and headinto suburbia. Nice houses, a fair amount ofspectators out to encourage us.

The sun is up and it’s warming quickly.I’ve already pitched the throw-away white t-shirt that my 8-year-old daughter had so gra-ciously markered with words of wisdom.

I grudgingly pull off the homemade hat(cutoff sleeve from the plain-white T) thatMadison had made into a piece of art. She’sdrawn pictures of hamsters, in runningshorts, start lines and finish banners on it.She’s been woken too many mornings to herdad spinning the “wheels” of the treadmilland in her mind likens me to a hamster.

Hamster Hank isn’t ready to throw outthe “hat” yet. It feeds me strength. I doublewrap it on my wrist and continue. 6:27, 6:22,I am basically where I want to be. Feelingrested and well.

I jokingly tell a runner, “The best run for adistance runner is the first half of a marathon.”It’s true. Well-rested with a long taper. Loadedwith carbs and energy. Running light in raceshoes and gear. Not running so hard as to taxyour system during the first 13. Spectators, fel-low runners, it’s the best!

The wind is starting to pick up, althoughthe neighborhood homes give breaks from it.The forecast is for high winds, 20-30 mph.I’m hoping I am done long before they reachthose levels. The course veers back and forth,but predominantly north for the first half,giving us a slight tailwind.

I break into conversation with thosearound me. All guys, looking to run 2:45 tojust under 3 hours. A couple gals, attracting alarge group of male runners (typical!) are 30yards up on us.

Those of us out for the full 26.2 are stillrunning side-by-side with the half-marathon-ers at this point. They veer off at mile 7.I decide it’s time to get a group together andtry to work as a team. 6:27 mile, I pull upand encourage others to tuck in behind me. Ichat a little with each and then tell them to“get on the bus!”

Names are optional, we’re attracting“states” today. Two former high-school team-mates from Indiana, a fast-looking 30ish fromTennessee, Ohio, Washington and New York.

6:28, 6:29, we pass the half-marathonturnoff and lose sight of the gals. It’s startingto get warm now. We’re all taking GU’s and

chuckling about the flavors and consistencydifferences. Aid stations come and go, wedrink and splash our heads and faces withthe cool water.

“Max” joins us. He appears very young.I joke with him, tell him that my daughter’sdog is named Max (true). When I tell him thedog is a St. Bernard-Newfoundland mix andweighs 176 lbs., he smiles.

We find that Max is an 18-year-old highschool kid. He’s not lean like a Kenyan, butlooks strong. His first marathon today, hereports to have “completed a tri-atholon.”We’re rolling at a sub-2:50 pace at this point.Those of us who have been around are con-cerned that he’s in pretty deep for a youngkid.

6:28 and we roll past 10 miles. 64 andchange on the watches. My GPS unit, and thetwo other runners with me, are registeringour splits before the race mile markers.

It’s getting warm, but I am encouraged asmy digestive system feels OK and I am takingGU: two down and considering a third withina couple more miles. I am a little short onfluid intake, as the aid station volunteers arenot always handing them to us and I refuseto stop at a table to get it myself. I’ve dousedmyself with red Powerade, unable to keepsteady and drink it smoothly at race pace.

6:31 and I tell the pack I’ve got to step itup a bit. We’ve had one runner pull ahead atthis point, Max and another have dropped off.

I surge and run 6:21 and 6:23 for 12 and13. Two runners stay with me and we crossthe half at 1:24 and change. They both lookstrong, good form and no labored breathing.

We’re into some hills now, up and down,up and down. More difficult is the fact thatthe sun has warmed the air, brought the windup and we’ve turned the primary corner onthe course and are heading south, into thewind and towards the city.

I tell myself, this is where the race starts.Keep focused. This is where the body startsto fatigue.

The course is coming into the hilly areasand will combine with the elements to makeit harder. It’s a balance now. Mental strengthmust drive as the body burns through theremaining easy energy (glycogen stores).

6:27, 6:31, the three of us are workinghard but helping each other. We’re hot now;

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our communication has dropped to shortbursts.

Our mile splits on the GPS units continueto show a long course. We’re two tenths of amile over now, wondering if we’ll “get itback” with a short mile later.

Did we miss cutting a tangent some-where? No, we’ve been in sight of others andrunning smart the entire race. Were we misdi-rected minimally?

I can feel my feet acutely now. The warmweather and turning course has compoundedthe friction buildup and I can tell I am blis-tering.

My heart is in the race and I know I’vegot some gas left in the tank. I’ve spent a lotof time training my body to be used to hav-ing to pick it up late in the run, to work hardwhen it’s hardest to do. I don’t look forwardto it, but know I will. I concentrate on thefact that I have only 10 miles left.

Miles 16-19 are the hilliest on the course:due south, into the wind. I tell myself, “Thesenext three miles will make or break the racefor me.” If I can hold pace through them,stay on target up the hills and not blow up, itwill be a good race.

I challenge my two partners. We tightenour strides, drop our heads a notch and driveup the hills, into the wind. 6:33, 6:36. 6:32.We come off of the major final hill, sun beat-ing on our faces and still together. We’vepassed a dozen others in the last three miles,carnage from the hills and what MotherNature is dealing us. Our GPS units continueto show the course long: .22 mile over at themile markers now.

A lone pedestrian stands at the top of thefinal hill. In a coach’s jacket, he looks lean andfit. We see him, eyeing our form as we climb.He calls to us “32, 33, 34. You guys look goodand are reeling them in. Stay strong.”

His encouragement and coming off of thefinal major hill charge me. I tell the othertwo, “I have to go, dig hard and work thelast seven out.” 6:21 mile, I am on my own.

I come upon an aid station, make eyecontact with a volunteer and holler for water.She looks at me. I am wild-eyed, red-facedand moving fast. My white singlet is splashedwith red Powerade. She stands still for amoment, but as I come towards her for a cupshe pulls away with a nervous look on herface. Argh!

I am making ground on others. My mindis frazzled, but I try to compute my position.I think I am in the mid to upper 20s now,maybe 27th or 28th.

6:25 for mile 20. The GPS is registering

20.27 at the race mile marker. I tell myself,“Only a 10K left and if the course is accurateI’ll find a ‘short mile’ in here somewhere.”

I try to calculate my finish time based onthe GPS time and distance remaining. My men-tal capacity is going down; I can’t do it. I amstarting to come apart and I know it.I think back to last May, when I fell apart atmile 22 in the Bayshore Marathon and tellmyself I can’t do that again. Not today. Notwith the wind and hot sun; it just can’t happen.

6:30 on the dot for mile 21. I kiss thePowerAde-splashed and sweat-covered “hat”still wrapped around my wrist, and in mymind tell Madison that her “Hamster Dad” isgoing to keep spinning that wheel.Another aid station, this one stocked withM&Ms, Snickers, water and Powerade -- butonly two volunteers working it and neither infront of the table. I know I can’t slow orstop; I won’t start again if I do. I roll pastthem, angry but focused.

I have a chocolate GU tucked in myshorts. I pull it out, tear it open and squeezethe thick package of energy into my mouth. Iam dehydrated and need water, but I knowthe sugar and caffeine in the GU will give mea quick hit. I look up at the sun, thank Godthat I can run and swear that I will pourevery ounce of energy in my body into thenext five miles.

I surge and roll a 6:19 at mile 22. I am wayout now. Marginally coherent, hot, dehydratedand thoroughly exhausted. My toes feel likesomeone played xylophone on them with a ballpeen hammer. I am out in the danger zone now,not sure how long I can last.

Mile 23 clocks off at a 6:20, but I amfalling apart. It’s unbelievably harder to findenergy in my body. I slow. am sluggish in mymind as I fight to keep my leg rotation up.

The GPS shows the course over .27 now;I pray for a short mile. My effort increases,but I move slower. I see a runner, gray-hairedguy, likely a fellow masters (over 40) divisionrunner in front of me and I focus. I know Imust pass him soundly, with some speed andgood form. I overtake him and come throughmile 24 at 6:35.

Mile 25 is Monumental (No pun intend-ed). I am kept moving by drive and the sightof a few other runners in front of me. Mostare moving slow and I am gaining on them.“Carnage.” I tell myself that I cannot becomethat, not today. I roll past each one, recogniz-ing one as the guy that burned by me and mypack at mile 14.

Mile 25 passes at a 6:37. Mile 26, I seeanother gray-haired runner, running butslow. I am sure he is masters competitorand will myself to stay strong. I surge as Ipass him, wanting to be sure he doesn’t

make an attempt to speed up himself andstay with me.

There are more spectators now; we arenearing the finish. I draw energy from themand push the last of my energy into my legs. Iam moving again now, spent, running onempty, but moving.

I see more carnage from the heat andwind, runners barely moving as I pass them. Ipass one walking and tell him to “stay strongand dig hard.”

He lifts his low-hanging head and looksat me. As he does, a hint of a wicked smileflashes on his cheek and he starts to run. Runfast. He is 24 years old and lean, his formresembles that of a well-trained runner andhe pushes forward like a champion.

I will myself to match his tempo and staywith him. The GPS bleeps, we’ve knocked offa 6:09 mile for number 26!

The crowd has grown, but no sign of thefinish. I make peace with the fact that yes,the course is long and I try to hold onto thetiger I awoke in this young runner.

He edges ahead of me as we climb theslight hill near the final turn of the race. Thecrowd is cheering as I make the turn on thefinal one eighth mile, red bricks on a shortuphill.

I pump my arms and run as though my lifedepends on it. The young runner does the sameand gaps me further as I cross the finish fiveseconds behind him. The GPS clocked my lasthalf-mile (the race was 26.5 miles) at 3:09.

I stumble in the finish area, relieved butconfused. I know I will get better, but fight tostay focused and on my feet. Bob Kennedy,former U.S. Olympian and the race director,holds me up and congratulates me. Someonehands me a water bottle.

2:50:13. Slower than I ran Bayshore thispast spring. Two minutes off of my goal pace.Disappointed? No! The course was long,probably adding 1.5 to 2 minutes. The heat,inexperienced aid station volunteers and windmade for a challenging race.

I thank God for my health and start toresume coherency. Someone cuts off my chipand hands me a banana. I look at my “ham-ster hat” splashed like a tie dye from all thered PowerAde that missed my mouth, cov-ered in sweat and still wrapped around mywrist. I silently thank Madison for the helpher creative artwork did to keep her hamsterdad kept rolling on his wheel today and wan-der off to bask in the sun.

I climbed from 34th at Mile 19 to 17that the finish. Out of 3,400 marathon runners,first masters. Prize money ten-deep in the


Trivia: How many finishers werethere in the 1969 Boston Marathon?

TURNING FORTY. In mySeptember/October 2009 column, I men-tioned my Ann Arbor Huron High cross-country team won the 1969 Class A statechampionship. Former teammate KarlTsigdinos, who now lives in Ireland, respond-ed and I invited him to share his thoughtsabout that season of serendipity.

Karl’s description is full of things I hadlong forgotten, refreshed other memories andI found my thoughts wandering to otherhappy moments from that season. It was aspecial team and remains Huron’s only statecross titlist. Here’s hoping you enjoy this tripdown memory lane:

“I remember the rain most of all,” wroteKarl. “It was bitterly cold and coming downin torrents. It would have been bad for aMichigan February, but for the first ofNovember it was especially miserable. Wewere at the Washtenaw Country Club inYpsilanti to run in the championships.

“If there was a section below underdogs,that’s what we were. But it suited the sevenmisfits who made up the our team. (In thosepre-running boom days, everyone crazyenough to run cross-country was a misfit. Asone-time harrier Bill Cosby said, ‘No girlwants to watch a skinny kid run two milesand then throw up.’)

“We’d had a mediocre season, losing ourfirst three dual meets and only finished sec-ond in the South Central Conference toAdrian on their home course. I had run JVfor the first few races, then joined the varsity,though I was never better than sixth or sev-enth man most of the season.

“I moved up to fifth man as a result offinally getting spikes I’d ordered from Moe’sSports Shop. They were a beautiful pair ofadidas Tokyos which cost the princely sum of$27. Previously I’d raced in my $11 adidas

Roms, training shoes made of thick leatherwith rippled rubber soles and the flexibilityof a mahogany plank.

“We were so bad that midway through theseason our coach, Des Ryan, promised to shavehis head if we won the state championship. Hewas obviously quite confident in us!

“We did, however, improve as wentalong and even pulled an upset by winningour regional at Cass Benton Park inNorthville. We assumed that would be thehigh point of our season. Heck, Huron Highwas only 2-plus years old and had been in itsbrand-new building for just a few weeks.What right did we have to win anything? Aregional title was pretty darn good.

“On top of that, our best runner, ScottHubbard, was nursing a hip injury, which pret-ty much put to rest any chances we might haveentertained of greater glory — had we enter-tained any in the first place. We were thus verycasual about an event where defending-champFlint Kearsley and our SCC rival Adrian werefavored to clash for the title.

“I was a 15-year-old sophomore and thiswas my first state meet, so I had no ideawhat to expect. I think I was nervous, butless so than in previous races. I do recall ussitting in a car singing ‘Cupid’ before warm-ing up.” (SH: Indeed we did and with gusto!)

“After a short jog, we stopped in thewoods near the start for a quick leak. As weemerged, we heard the starter calling the run-ners to the line. We hastily shed our warmupsand got to the line just as the gun went off.

“Starting at the very back of the pack hadtwo advantages: One, there was no time to gettense; and two, we missed the crush as the fieldmoved en masse up the slight hill toward thefirst corner. I remember hurdling a fallen runner,his legs bloody from spike wounds.

“From there on the race was essentially ablur. I recall passing runners one after anoth-er and a sense of flying through a crowdreduced to a flurry of colors. At around the 1

1/2-mile mark the pack began to thin, thoughI didn’t understand the significance of this;- Ijust worked harder to catch guys in front ofme. I do recall passing two runners clad inthe distinctive blue singlets of Adrian.

“With a quarter mile to go I caught myfirst sight of a teammate, Eddie Fisher. Eddiehad been our second man all year, but moved tolead man when he finished fourth place inregionals. As I pulled level with Eddie, wepassed Coach Ryan, who roared ‘Go!’ at us.This had the desired effect, spurring us to runfaster. Eddie and I booted it for the finish line.

“We dropped into a dip, then hit a sharpturn up a short hill which took us onto thesloping straight to the finish. I don’t remem-ber anything more until we were in the chutewhere I was handed a card with the number13 on it. I had passed Eddie and one morerunner in those last few yards and didn’t evenrealize it. I also had no idea I’d gotten soclose to the front.

“Our teammate Andy Campbell had agreat gallop and was just behind us in 18thplace. Adrian Newby and Martin Hueter alsoscored for us in 29th and 45th respectively.Scott limped home in 80th, with Martin’sbrother Carl one place behind him.” (SH: Iwas definitely in a bad way and hadn’t run astep during the week between the regionaland state meets).

“We got out of the chute as quickly aswe could and the team gathered, happy butcalm. I couldn’t believe that I had finished13th in the state over a distance that 10weeks earlier I couldn’t even cover in a jog.That was the extent of our excitement. Afterall, we had 120 points and our No. 1 manhad finished 80th. It was time to go home forhot showers and hot meals.

“We were packing to leave when Des ranaround telling us to stay. He’d been checkingthe other teams’ scores and reckoned wemight have a chance for a medal. We thoughthe was nuts but waited nonetheless.

“When they finally announced the

Running Shorts with Scott Hubbard

open division, with Kenyans picking up thefirst two positions. I didn’t expect to, but waspleasantly surprised to collect a little moneyfor winning masters.

I ran into Max at the awards ceremony.The 18-year-old, on track for a 2:50 at mile10, finished in 3:10. With the seriousness anddepth of understanding of one who has beento complete exhaustion and back, he looked

at me and said, “Miles 22 through 26 werethe hardest thing I have ever experienced inmy life.”

It wasn’t my “best” marathon but a solidone and surely a monumental effort at theMonumental Marathon!

Pam, Jackie, Leonard, Rick, Lynn andCathy all ran well also. Laurel Dawson of

Muskegon won grand masters with animpressive time of 3:28.

After some food, shower and R&R, agroup of us met for a little fun that eveningbefore dropping into blissful sleep … wrap-ping up a memorable trip to Indianapolis!

Hank Risley was Michigan Runner of theYear in 2008. MR

Monumental Marathon continues


results, it transpired we had won! Kearsleyfinished second with 142 points and Adrianwas a distant fifth with 174. PontiacNorthern and Harper Woods Notre Damesplit the two challengers with 154 and 162points each.

“Doug Brown of Harper Woods NotreDame won the team race, with Adrian’s DaveEddy in second. Mike Parrett of emerging dis-tance power St Joseph’s took third. Another fineSCC runner, Mike Goodwin of JacksonParkside, won the individual race crown.

“There was some celebrating at thecourse, but I don’t know if any of us reallyunderstood what had happened — I certainlydidn’t. The photos which Andy’s mother tookshow us looking dazed and bemused.

“The full impact of the win didn’t sink infor a few days. We were briefly heroes inschool; partly because they held an assemblyfor us, but mainly because they gave everyonethe afternoon off in our honor.

“Later that week Coach Ryan came to usin something of a panic, offering a lameexcuse why he couldn’t shave his head. Wejust laughed and let him off the hook. Naturehas since done to Des what he failed to dothat November day long ago and his head isfinally shiny.

“Though I can’t vouch for my formerteammates, I’m considerably less aerodynamicthan I was in ‘69. It’s been two decades sinceI’ve been able to run competitively. My last run-ning days were ironically spent as a member ofthe Donore Harriers here in Dublin, the clubDes had belonged to before he came to AnnArbor to run for the University of Michiganand then to coach at Huron.

“Having lived in Ireland for some threedecades and with both my parents dead, I’vehad little reason to return to Ann Arbor for awhile. Thus it’s been close to three decadessince I’ve seen the Hueters and longer sinceI’ve seen Scott, Eddie, Andy or Adrian. I can’tbelieve November 2009 marks the 40thanniversary of that cold, wet, miserable daywhen a group of misfits won a championshipwhich nobody, including their coach or thosemisfits themselves, thought they would win.

“Although winning the title is a pleasantmemory, it’s the friendships with my team-mates and the running itself which I cherishmost. Even now, on a cold, crisp autumn day,when my legs ache for a fast 11-miler, thoseare the things I truly miss.

“I’m especially proud to have been partof that generation of Michigan distance run-ners. They were tough kids. It was the quan-tity of great runners which strikes me now asI look over old clippings from those days.

“In addition to future Olympian Doug

Brown, our era featured great runners fromAdrian and St Joseph’s, as well as severalindividuals who were always dueling for thetop spots including Doug Kurtis of LivoniaStevenson, Southgate’s Dave Burkhart, BobHunt of Bay City Central and Don Andersonof Garden City West.

“The following year, 1970, a certainGreg Meyer finished fifth in the Class B race,leading Grand Rapids West Catholic to theteam title. Mike Gilleran of BirminghamSeaholm beat Dave Baker of Kearsley andmyself that year for the title.

“Meyer went on to win the Class Acrown in ‘71, the Class B title in ’72 and,like, Doug Brown, even greater things. ReedCity’s Herb Lindsay won Class B and C titlesin ‘71 and ‘72, and became the top-rankedroad racer in the world in ‘79 and ‘80.”

THREE MEN. It took me more than weeksto compose my thoughts and send a note toDetroit Free Press Marathon race director PatBall after this year’s Oct. 18 running. Thiswas the heart of my message to her:

“It was a long day and, for the mostpart, a good long day. Being physically cen-tral to so much that happened, I couldn’thelp feeling pulled in many directions.

“I first heard about a medical problem onthe course via radio chatter. Minutes later, arunner collapsed about 10 yards behind me inthe finish area. It wasn’t until I got home that Iheard about a third medical problem and thatall three runners involved had died: RickBrown, Jon Fenlon and Daniel Langdon.

“Over the next three to four days,reports of the deaths were very much in thenews. I took them all in and tried my best toput things in perspective.

“I thought about the friends and families ofthe three men. I thought about those who wit-nessed and helped the fallen men. I thoughtabout you, the other runners and walkers.

“I listened to the reactions of medicalexperts, pundits and non-runners. Looking atthe big picture helped me distill what hap-pened and find some calm in the tragedy.

“My thoughts went first to the familiesand friends of the dead men. How awful itmust have been to learn their loved ones hadpassed away.

“I felt torn, unsettled and distracted for aweek after race day thinking about those whohad lost a husband, father, son or friend. Ilost a friend to running 23 years ago and itstill hurts to think about it.

“Next I thought about the running com-munity and how they’d respond. All sentprayers and condolences. It was a terriblething to happen — and rare too.

“It asks the question, ‘What’s next?’What’s next is each runner will assimilatenews of the deaths as they will and likelycontinue running. They know the exercise isdoing them good and odds of prosperity verymuch outweigh the downside.”

Answer: 1,152. MR

Michigan\'92s 1969 high school Class A cross country champions were(from left) Adrian Newby, Karl Tsigdinos, Andy Campbell, Eddie Fisher,Scott Hubbard, coach Des Ryan (with his daughter Michelle), CarlHueter and Martin Hueter}

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DETROIT (11/26/09) — In her first racesince giving birth to a daughter last May, DotMcMahan, 33, romped to victory in the 27thannual Fifth Third Bank Detroit Turkey Trot10K, a race she seems to win every two years.

McMahan, who runs for the Hansons-Brooks Development Project, also triumphedin 2005 (with a time of 37:41) and 2007(34:43). She timed 35:38 this year.

“I was hoping to run faster than 36 min-utes,” she said. “Because of my pregnancy, it’sbeen more than a year since I last raced and it’staken a long time to get back into race shape.But I’m right where I want to be now.

“My next race will probably be amarathon, so I’m going to work hard to getready for that,” she said.

McMahan didn’t mind the cold, windyweather. “It’s always windy here,” she said.“I did this in a blizzard four years ago.”

The runner-up woman, 30 seconds back,was Sarah Price, 23, a Minnesota native andrecent Michigan State University graduate.

After traveling from East Lansing, Pricediscovered she had forgotten her running-

shoes. No worries. She borrowed a pair fromher boyfriend’s mother and finished in 36:18,comfortably ahead of third-place finisherJessica Graf, 28, of Holton (36:42).

“I’ve never run a road 10K before, so Ididn’t know what to expect,” Price said. “Iwas shooting for a six-minute pace per mileand I got that.”

Another Hansons-Brooks runner, SageCanaday, 24, won the men’s race in 31:11.

“There was a guy with me for the firstfour miles or so. We kind of worked togeth-er,” said Canaday. “Then I put in a littlesurge and brought it in from there.

“I was running by myself (in the lead) forthe last couple miles. But there were always alot of spectators, especially along the paraderoute,” the winner said.

The Turkey Trot enjoyed more than greatspectator support; it also set a turnout recordwith more than 14,600 runners and walkers,close to 4,000 more than last year.

Jon Rock, 20, took second behindCanaday in 31:27. Aaron Metler, 25, of St.George, Utah, finished third in 32:31.

The5K leaderstook a wrong

turn around the two-mile mark and ended uprunning an extra half-mile — making theirrace closer to 6K. Scott Setzke, 28, ofWyandotte (19:51) edged Tim Horst, 22, ofTrenton (19:53) and Mike Gibbons, 19, ofLivonia (19:55) for the victory.

“I don’t know if I would have finished inthe top three if it had not been extendedbeyond 5K,” Horst said. “Everybody sort ofbunched up; then, when we figured out theway to finish line, everyone sprinted.”

Denisa Costescu, 33, of Commerce joinedthe lead men running an extra half-mile. Shestill edged defending women’s champ MayaStovall, 27, of Birmingham, 20:25 to 20:28.Nicole Kowalchick, 13, of Rochester tookthird in 20:30.

The Turkey Trot always precedes theDetroit Thanksgiving Day Parade. This year’srun, which also included a Mashed PotatoMile, was presented by The Parade Company,Fifth Third Bank and New Balance.

Race director Doug Kurtis was blown awayby the turnout. “My goal was to hit 12,000,”he said, “based on the way it has been growing.

“To hit 14,000 is phenomenal!” Kurtissaid.

Complete results can be found atwww.gaultracemanagement.com. MR


Michigan Runner TVhttp://michiganrunner.tv/2009_53turkeytrot/

Detroit Turkey Trot Sets Another Turnout Mark

The costume contest brought out chefs, santas, trees, tin soldiers, and the Big Bad Wolf chasing Little RedRiding Hood.

Fifth Third Turkey Trot, DetroitP

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Matt Bedford:First of the Michigan Mohicans

By Ron Marinucci

Matt Bedford’s first racing interestwas with motorcycles. “I ran onand off my whole life,” he

shrugged, “but only because I lived in a ruralarea and, to visit a friend, I pretty much hadto run there.”

Bedford discovered competitive running abit later. This past summer, for the third timesince 2006, the 48-year-old was the firstMichigan finisher at the Mohican 100-Mile TrailRace in Ohio, finishing fourth overall out of 70entries. The next state runner was 22nd.

Motorcycles to ultra running?

“I didn’t embrace running until 17 or18years ago,” Bedford admitted. “Julie and I gotmarried and we were broke. Running wascheap.”

He first talked Julie into running. She wasan aerobics instructor who “traded one addic-tion,” smoking, “for another,” running. She’sbecome a pretty good marathoner, ultra run-ner and triathlete.

“After Julie ran her first marathon, I ranone in ’93 or ’94,” Bedford remembered.Soon afterward, they did Dances with Dirt as“a family team.” There, he saw the legendaryDick West running the 100K. “I asked myself,‘How do they do that?’ It piqued my inter-est,” Bedford said.

He ran the 50K at DWD in 1998 and1999, thinking that “was the biggest thing I’dever do in my lifetime.” Then he learnedabout the Leadville 100, one of the granddad-dies of American ultra racing. “I said, ‘This iseven crazier than Dances with Dirt,’” herecalled. “But in the back of my mind ...”

After finishing the DWD 50-miler a cou-ple years later, Bedford decided “to step upwith the big boys. I was thinking Leadville,but I found Mohican.”

The Mohican, near Loudonville, Ohio, isa beautiful but very challenging ultra. It startsat 5 a.m. on a Saturday and runners are timeduntil 11 a.m. on Sunday. Running through thenight, participants carry flashlights, wearheadlamps or have some other source of illu-mination.

Although there is some pavement anddirt-road surface, much of the course is single-track trail. There are waterfalls and sectionsthat have to be traversed “hand-over-hand,”said Bedford. From start to finish, there are

11,400 feet of total climb.

“I’d never run it before, so I went downthree weeks early for practice runs on Fridaynight, Saturday and Sunday morning,” herecalled. “I wanted to see the waterfalls andtry out hand-over-hand.”

While there he met other “Mohicans,” run-ners who took him out on the course. “I metsome great people and families,” said Bedford.“It’s the friendliest race I’ve ever run.”

One of those guides was Regis Shivers,Sr., a 1,000-Mile Buckle Holder (meaning a10-time Mohican finisher) who also wears apacemaker.

“He’s my inspiration,” Bedford said. “Igained more knowledge from him in one nightthan ever since.”

Bedford runs with Shivers’ son, Regis, Jr.,now. One of their goals is to earn their own1,000-Mile Buckles together.

During the Mohican, Bedford uses a flash-light — “a green one,” he said. “I prefer it (overa headlamp). I can point it in different direc-tions. It helps with my peripheral vision.

“A Mexican woman recommended using ablue or green flashlight,” he continued. “It does-n’t mess with your night vision. Red isn’t brightenough. And I’m one of the few guys with agreen light, so my crew can see me coming.”

Bedford’s crew helps with fluids andnutrition on the course. He practices to deter-mine the balance of foods and drinks heneeds. “Balance leads to a positive attitude. Ican keep rolling long. A bad attitude is whysome people bonk,” he said.

There are aid stations every five miles, “asmorgasbord of stuff.” Runners can get sportsand energy drinks, plus anything from “a chunkof hamburger to a piece of turkey. There’s evena bowl of table salt,” Bedford said.

“I follow my cravings, but my staple ispeanut butter and jelly,” he continued. “Raceveterans tell me Coca-Cola and chicken soupwill cure any bonk. So 15 to 20 hours into it,I look for soup.

“There is always pizza at mile 95,” headded. “I was really looking forward to it atmile 75 this year. But by 95 miles I didn’twant it.”

Mile 80 begins a particularly toughstretch. “It’s a climb for more than 20 min-utes,” said Bedford. “It’s something you don’t

forward to. You do it twice and the first timeis not too bad.

“The second time you sort of go numb,”he said.

Julie said her husband usually trains forultras with mere 15-mile long runs. He him-self likened preparation to “training for atough marathon, trying for a PR.”

Often, he trains on the Torn Shirt Trail atBrighton State Recreation Area: a 6-mile loopwith 3,000 feet of elevation gain. “It’s as closeto simulating the Mohican as we get aroundhere,” he said.

He still runs trails during winters, ice,snow and all. “It toughens the leg muscles,”Bedford said, “and you become more coordi-nated. I seldom trip and fall (on the trails).”

He mostly trains by himself. “I don’tknow a lot of people who like to go out in thewoods and run like I do,” he said.

Bedford sees “a bit of a lull in Michiganultra runners,” noting there aren’t many DickWests out there. But, he looks “for state run-ners to step it up a bit. There’s really only one100-mile race in Michigan.”

And he sees “more and more people fromMichigan at the Mohican. I’m losing my littlesecret down in the woods of Ohio,” he laughed.

For more information about the Mohican,including history and results, visithttp://www.mohican100.org.



‘Go-Go’ Goethals Runs into History at State MeetBy Scott Sullivan

BROOKLYN (11/7/09) — Megan “Go-Go”Goethals blew through headwinds into histo-ry at the Michigan HIgh School AthleticAssociation Lower Peninsula Cross CountryFinals at Michigan International Speedwaythis sunny day.

The Rochester senior broke 17 minutes —the first time a prep girl has ever done that onthe state meet’s 5K layout — and destroyed herDivision 1 competitors, clocking a 16:54.8 thatwas more than 1 minute, 15 seconds ahead ofher nearest rival.

How good was Goethals? The top returneefrom last year’s Foot Locker Nationals wouldhave finished 11th in this year’s Division 4 stateboys race and 25th, also good for all-state hon-ors, among D3 males.

Temperatures rising by mid-afternoon tothe mid-60s proved ideal for spectators butnot runners, who for weeks had trained inmore-seasonal cool conditions. Add home-stretch headwinds gusting to 30 mph andmost athletes labored to slower times thanrun last year.

Not Goethals, whose frame is as slenderbut strong as rails. Mile splits of 5:27 and5:26 set her up to bore into the finishingwinds alone. Pumping her arms high wherelesser runners had crashed and burned, “Go-Go” reached her goal, obliterating the the17:10.1 state record she set last year.

In 2000 Dathan Ritzenhein launched thedecade posting a jaw-dropping 14:10.4 atMIS. No boy has come within 40 seconds ofthat time since then.

Goethals’ effort, even more dominant,served as bookend for a remarkable 10-yearstretch.

Déjà Vu Again

The day opened with Mt. Pleasant SacredHeart senior Bridget Bennett doing her bestGoethals imitation, crushing the D4 girls fieldfor the second-straight year with an 18:35.9time.

North Muskegon junior Lindsay Neal,state champion as a freshman, finished run-ner-up in 19:18.2.

Harbor Springs and Manton placed 1-2in the team race, same as they did in 2008.

John Three-Peats

Allendale senior Devan John made herown claim on history, winning her third-straight D3 girls crown. John, so light-footedthat the grass doesn’t feel her passing, fin-ished in 18:30.6, besting Lansing Catholicjunior Megan Heeder (19:05.3).

Hanover-Horton registered the lowestteam score, 63 points, of the day’s eightraces, with its top five runners claiming top-30 all-state honors. So dominant were theComets that their sixth girl, 35th in a 250-runner field, had her score thrown out.

Their entire team returns next year.

Rejoice, We Concord

Phidippides, dispatched to run from thebattlefield at Marathon to Athens to reporton his army’s victory, covered the 26 (or so)mile distance, cried “Rejoice, we conquer!”and promptly died.

Concord High fared better at theDivision 4 boys finals, claiming the team titleover Bridgman thanks to the 1-2 finishes ofsenior Kyle Stacks (15:54.8) and sophomoreSpencer Nousain (16:09.7).

Michigan State High School Lower Peninsula Cross Country Finals, Brooklyn

Megan Goethals (bib no. 314) leads the D1 Girls race at the start.

Bridget Bennett, D4 GirlsChampion

Devan John, D3 Girls Champion Lindsey Chinavare’s effort helpedHanover Horton win D3 Girls

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No Moss on B.C.

Benzie Central, which won eight state titlesunder coach Eldon “Pete” Moss, has lost littlesince Asa and Traci Kelly took over last fall ascoaches. The Huskies were D3 girls champs lastyear and boys kings this year.

Grandville Calvin Christian improvedfrom sixth in D3 to boys runner-up this falldespite losing three of its top four runnersfrom last year’s team.

Durand senior David Madrigal finishedindividual champ in 15:42.3, outkickingHarrison’s Blake Allison (15:45.9) andAlbion’s Paul Lewis (15:49.8) during thewind-tunnel closing stretch.

Pioneers, Pogue Prevail

Winning state championships is nothingnew for the Pioneers of East Grand Rapids.The girls claimed their second-straight D2crown, and fourth since 2003, edgingHamilton, which climbed all the way from10th place last season.

Goodrich senior Taylor Pogue boltedhard through a door left open when JordanTomecek was unable to defend her individualcrown due to injury.

Pogue’s 5:38 first mile gave her a 12-sec-ond lead over a small chase pack. EGR seniorLauren Grunewald closed in the final milebut spent herself doing so; the Martian starsurged again to prevail in 18:11.0.

Grunewald collapsed upon finishing sec-ond in 18:18.7, but recovered to celebrate ashared title with her team.

Saline’s Supreme

If Goethals left little doubt who the bestD1 girl was, there was ample suspense overwho’d claim the team title. No. 2-rankedSaline, led by seniors Alex Leptich (fifth over-all) and Kate Carter (10th), bested top-ranked Rockford, 141 points to 192.

Hartland freshman Avery Evenson(18:10.3) ran down Livonia Churchill seniorSarah Kroll (18:10.7) at the finish to post theday’s second-fastest girls time.

Rise in Fall

Ionia, which had owned D2 boys foesuntil a late-season flu bug grounded it, roseto recovery. The Bulldogs, whose top six fin-ished between 16:22.7 and 16:59.4,outscored runner-up Dexter, 92 to 184.

The Dreadnaughts, state champions from2002 to 2006, pulled off their own resurrec-tion, having not even qualified for the statemeet last year.

Pontiac Notre Dame senior ChristopherBurns (15:47.8) outsprinted Linden senior JakeHord (15:50.2) for first among individuals.

From 2 to 1

Troy senior Mike Atchoo, second in the2008 D1 boys race, used his 4:07-mile speedto run down last year’s D2 champion,Kenowa Hills senior Reed Kamyszek, in theday’s final competition.

Kamyszek, whose school changed divi-sions, went out hard and led through thefinal mile, then was passed by seven runnersin the home stretch.

Atchoo crossed in in 15:28.5. SwartzCreek junior Jeremy Dickie (15:50.2) edgedDetroit Catholic Central senior RichardGalindo (15:51.2) for second.

Galindo’s Shamrocks, ranked No. 2behind defending champ Ann Arbor Pioneer,had the day’s last laugh, seeing its top fiverunners finish in 16:24 or better to tally 68team points to Pioneer’s 96.

It was coach Anthony Magni’s fifth titlewith DCC since 1983.

Post-Partum

It was hard for teams crossing Michigan toand from the meet not to notice cars flying“S” (for Michigan State) and “M”(University of Michigan) flags, bound to andfrom home football games that day.

Some, perhaps noting smugly that “Oursport (running) is yours (football’s) punish-ment,” might have reflected on the effort thatwent into qualifying for the cross finals.

Runners’ own “S&M” flags may be justthe thing next year. MR

Christopher Burns, D2 BoysChampion

David Madrigal, D3 BoysChampion

Kyle Stacks, D4 Boys Champion Michael Atchoo, D1 BoysChampion

Taylor Pogue, D2 Girls Champion

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By Grant Lofdahl

GRAND RAPIDS (10/18/09) — For Union City’s HannahNorton, the plan going into the Metro Health GrandRapids Marathon was simple: stick to her goal pace andhopefully break three hours. She ended up doing that —and a lot more.

Norton passed Kim Fleet late in the race and went onto win in a women’s course-record time. It was the first yearon the new course, but Norton’s 2:58:51 was the second-fastest ever in the six-year history of the marathon. Shebecame just the third woman to break the three-hour barri-er in Grand Rapids. Fleet, of London, Ont., became thefourth in 2:59:23.

“My strategy was to stick to my pace — a pace thatwas slightly uncomfortable,” said Norton, who averagedjust under 6:50 per mile. “Not where you’re going to dieand not slow either. Just a steady pace that would get meunder three hours.

“I ran Grand Rapids last year and really like thecourse,” she added. “It’s flat and beautiful. I love runningthrough the parks and the wooded areas. It’s just a gor-geous, gorgeous course.”

It was the most competitive GR ‘Thon ever on thewomen’s side, especially in the 25-29 age bracket. The topthree overall finishers, also including Emily Weinmann ofWashington, D.C., were 27 years old. Jessica Sowles, 28, ofMuskegon placed fourth. Ann Arbor’s Melissa Sundermann,39, was fifth.

For the front-running Fleet (who came over to congratulate thewinner during a post-race interview) and the steady Norton, it was abattle until the end.

“I was behind for most of the race,” said Norton, who was competing injust her third marathon. “It wasn’t until the last few miles that I passed (Fleet).She was very strong and fast. I told myself she had a target on her back.

“My first goal was to be under three hours. Last year’s winningtime was just over that, so I thought if I hit my goal I would be right

up there. When I got toward the end, I thought, ‘I can really win!’”

Nancy Agrillo, 41, of Grand Rapids claimed the women’s master’s title in3:16:42. Peggy Zeeb, 51, of Colon won the grand master’s title in 3:18:17 —the best age-graded effort of the day and good for 14th overall.

The event’s growing popularity was evident in the men’smarathon, where three of the top five finishers came from out of state.Jeff Scovill, 35, of Minneapolis won in 2:31:14, giving him a comfort-able cushion over Christopher Bain, 32, of Rockville, Md., whocrossed in 2:37:12.


Women Lead Way as GRSmashes Turnout Mark Again

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon, Grand Rapids

Monica Huff (bib no. 267) of Athens, Georgia, and her sisterKris Huff (bib no. 266) of Cordova, Tennessee, finish theirsecond marathon of the weekend. Both ran the CommunityHealth Indianapolis Marathon the day before, with Kris win-ning in 3:08:06. See MRTV's interview with Kris:http://michiganrunner.tv/2009indianapolis/

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathonmichiganrunner.tv/2009grandrapids/

Michigan Runner TV

Community Health Indianapolis Marathonmichiganrunner.tv/2009indianapolis/

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Gerry Myers (l), Crim Fitness Foundation,CEO, finishes the marathon in 3:37:55. AnnGasta, a member of the Crim Board ofDirectors, celebrates with Gerry. Earlier,Ann finished the half in 1:44:44.

By Daniel G. Kelsey

GRAND RAPIDS (10/18/09) —About when Lauren Skorupski, run-ning her first marathon, crossed afootbridge over the Grand River mid-way through the Metro HealthGrand Rapids Marathon, she crossedinto another realm. Her two half-marathons earlier in the year hadbeen the longest races of her life.

Every step past 13.1 miles took herinto new racing territory.

Skorupski, an exuberant 25-year-oldfrom Caledonia only three years intoher running life, said the previousFriday she was thrilled at the comingadventure at distance. She said GrandRapids Running Club friends helpedher figure out a lot of stuff inadvance.

“I’m excited to put my body to workand see what it’ll do,” Skorupskisaid. “I’m such a newbie at this. Inever ran in high school or college.I’m trying to go in there with noexpectations.”

Her only qualm in the run-up to therun was a knee that had been actingup in training. During the race, whenshe twice passed through a gatheringof spectators between mile markers17 and 18, her personality bubbledover.

“I’m hanging in there. I’m feelinggreat,” she said. “At mile two myknee started to give out, but now itfeels pretty good.”

Judging by the way Molly Cybowski,51, of Lowell, running her first raceof any kind, greeted her husband,Mark in the 18th mile, she felt greatas well.

Mark said she was walking thecourse as well as running. He spokeas if she’d gotten the marathon bugafter she’d progressed from walkingfor exercise to running.

“Once Molly did the training, shereally got into it,” he said. “Shekeeps running more and more.”

Mark competed in cross-country inhighschool and in 5K and 10K races asan adult, until he was sidelined by afoot injury.

“I might have to get back into it nowthat she’s running,” he said.

Another first-time marathoner wasLindsey Jacobs, 25, of Caledonia. Afriend of hers from college, workinga booth near the aid station at thespectator area, said she’d talked toJacobs a couple of days earlier.

“She said she was super-excited, butnervous,” the friend said.

Jacobs came past the booth in rough-ly the same time frame as Skorupski.

About when Skorupski re-crossed thefootbridge going the other way, shecrossed into still another realm. Herlongest distances in training were 22miles on Sept. 5 and 20 miles onSept. 26. Every step past 22 milestook her into new running territory.

“I wasn’t worried going in,” she saidthe day after the race. “Even after the22- and 20-milers, I didn’t havefatigue. I just had that little issue withmy knee.”

She said it helped that a friendstepped in and ran the last threemiles with her.

“When I hit mile 23, I hit a wall,”she said. “I was never winded. Butmy legs felt like they weighed 100pounds each.”

All of these three first-timers finishedthe marathon. Skorupski posted atime of 4:20:02, Jacobs 4:24:13 andCybowski 5:24:47.

Skorupski came out of it as exuber-ant as ever in spite of a stiff leg.Before the Sunday of the race wasover, she’d Googled for anything shecould find out about the GrandRapids Marathon for 2010.

“I think I’m going to do it again nextyear,” she said. MR

‘Newbies’ Exuberant afterFinishing GR Race

David Mart, 20, of Zeeland, was the top state runner withtime of 2:38:38. Another young marathoner, Tyler Bishoff, 21,of Columbus, Ohio, was fourth, followed by Zeeland’s DavidVanderMeer, 31. That gave one Michigan’s last towns alphabet-ically its top two finishers for the day.

Scot Ursum, 41, of Grandville was the masters champion in2:48:42. Brian Watson, 50, of Lucan, Ont., led the grand masters in2:58:07.

The marathon attracted 1,559 finishers, while the half-marathon added another 1,444. The 3,003 total was up morethan 400 from the old record set last year, and nearly quadru-pled the number who ran the first 2004 event.

Women were impressive in the half marathon as well, withwinner Kylen Cieslak, 21, of Livonia third overall in 1:20:33,and runner-up Jessica Graf, 28, of Fremont fifth overall in1:21:24. Both broke Graf’s year-old race record. Laurie Swaney,47, Kalamazoo led the masters in 1:26:23.

Ryan Hackett, 23, of Shepherd won the men’s race in1:17:31. Traverse City’s remarkable Kevin Deyo, 50, grabbedsecond-place overall, plus masters and grand masters titles witha 1:18:50 time. Henry Hofman, 45, of Grandville, was noslouch either, placing third among men (and just behindCieslak) in 1:21:20.

It was Norton’s effort that ruled the day though, as the neo-phyte marathoner showed that late bloomers can do extraordi-nary things in distance running.

“I played basketball in high school and would run like amile here or there,” she remembered. “I went to a really smallschool that didn’t have track or cross country programs.Gradually I got into some 10Ks and then more into running.”

Her running growth mirrors that of this sixth-yearmarathon. For more information about this growing GrandRapids favorite, visit www.grandrapidsmarathon.com. MR

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By Ron Marinucci

ROSEVILLE (11/8/09) — The Good Lordcould have created a more perfect day forrunning, but I’m not sure He ever did!

The 31st annual Big Bird took place inglorious sunshine and low-50s temperatures,with only the slightest wisp of breezes.

Before the 1-mile mile, 4K and 10K races,runners congregated outside the Roseville recre-ation building. Normally they mill aroundinside, sheltered from the more-typical cold andwindy Michigan November morning.

Race director Tony Lipinski enthusedabout both the weather and 863 runners.“Maybe we can top 900 next year,” he said.

Twenty-time entrant Mike Markie, wholives near the course, noted streets were socrowded he had to move his car into hisdriveway. He finished his 10K in 46:29 andenjoyed traditions including the RosevilleHigh band performing, clowns giving awayballoons, post-race raffles of two dozenturkeys (real big birds) and other prizes.

The course has changed little through theyears. Except for an out-and-back pedestrianoverpass across I-696, it is flat. There are lotsof turns, but the many marshals and policeofficers make certain runners find their way.

Darrell McKee and Russ LaBarge werealso there again. Each has run all 31 BigBirds. LaBarge, 65, finished in 1:08:01 andMcKee, 75, less than five minutes behind.

“I think LaBarge trained for this one,”McKee joked afterward. “But I was realproud of myself: I finished ahead of two peo-ple.” (Of course, that wasn’t true.)

David Rau, 63, was also grinning afterthe race. He finished his eighth Big Bird andwas third in his age group.

“It was the best weather in a long time,”Rau remarked. “I like to run in this warmstuff. My goal was around 42 (minutes).” Hejust about hit it, finishing in 42:59. With thattime and only third place, he shrugged andsaid, “There are a lot of good runners here”in the age group.

I was chagrined that my time was goodfor just seventh in the same age group. WhenI lamented how fast these “old guys” were onthis day, Markie smiled and consoled me, “Iguess you’ll have to wait ‘em out.”

“Captain America” Kevin Sherwood hasdone 27 consecutive Big Birds. His biggestproblem was what patriotic outfit to wear,

given the conditions. He entered both themile and 10K. “I’m here,” Sherwood rea-soned. “I might as well enjoy both runs.” Hefinished runner-up in the mile, posting a 5:51to Joel Kozlowski’s 5:40. Captain Americanthen turned in a 47:41 10K.

“I’m a bit tired from raking leaves all dayyesterday,” Sherwood noted. I wondered ifrunning “close to 70 races this year” also hadhim tuckered out.

Twelve-year-old Shanleigh Conlan wasthird overall in the mile while leading thefemales in 6:12.

The seldom-raced 4K was won by PaulSchultz, 19, in 13:16 (a 5:18-mile pace), withVincent Jesudowich, 52, runner-up and mas-ters winner in 13:22. Mike Cudlip, 52, pacedthe seniors (14:32).

Kelsie Schwartz, 13, won the women’s4K in 15:35. Sue Slayton, 41, led the masters(18:14). Many-time 10K and 4K champ EllaWillis, 52, was the second woman and firstsenior in 15:42.

The 10K was dominated by Hansons-Brooks runners. Third overall in the race waswomen’s winner Desiree Davila. Her 34:06shattered the decades-old 10K record held by

Willis (35:20). That’s a 5:30 pace. KellyMorgan also bested the old mark by 32 sec-onds, but had to settle for runner-up.

Last year’s 10K winner Nick Krus repeat-ed in 33:27. Second-place Jake Dialesandrowas only five seconds back.

Fourth overall was masters winner KraigSchmottlac, 43 (36:18). Sonja Hanson, 40,was the first masters woman (41:52). Theseniors were led by Tim Emmett, 54 (38:43)and Joan McDonald, 56 (50:08).

Also noteworthy were the oldest finishers.

Fred Hagen, 80, ran 1:08:27. Jessica Manha,76, ran 1:01:25, which age-grades to 39:18.

Doug Goodhue, 67, was a little disap-pointed in not breaking 40 minutes (40:11).“I could feel (the good weather) dragging mea bit,” he joked afterward. His time age-grad-ed to a remarkable 30:49.

Recognized as Big Bird’s first Rosevillefinishers were Amanda McCutcheon, 31(47:51) and Michael Fisher, 19 (37:30).

“Our volunteers, especially in registra-tion, did an awesome job,” said Lipinski.“We hope to make good-size donations to allthe community-service organizations that

Big Bird Rises into Fourth Decade, Going StrongBig Bird Run, Roseville

“Captain America”Kevin Sherwood hasdone 27 consecutiveBig Birds.

Desiree Davila’s 34:06 shat-tered the decades-old 10Krecord held by Ella Willis(35:20).

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Big Bird RunSoars to Heights

By William Kalmar

The 31st annual Roseville Big Bird RunNov. 8 emulated its namesake (thebird) and rose to the occasion once

again.

Participants in this unique event knowthat the 10K course traverses the I-696pedestrian overpass, which is exhilarating,exciting and sometimes excruciating (don’tyou just love alliteration?). But I’m gettingahead of myself. Let me return to the start-ing line.

Big Bird began it as a double three-mile loop in the 11 Mile-Gratiot area ofthe Roseville Recreation Center. As yearswent on, the route was expanded. At onetime it went straight down Gratiot past thepungent smells of the White CastleRestaurant. Back then it took dedicatedrunners not to stop and down a couple ofsliders. Now we dedicated slider aficiona-dos reserve that gastronomical outing untilafter the race.

I have participated in the Big Bird 10Kalmost every year since its inception. In pastyears runners were greeted with sounds oflive turkeys wallowing in cages, perhaps cog-nizant of the approaching Thanksgiving holi-day. There were always three or four pilgrimswith blunderbusses in hand to signal the startof the sundry races.

When I asked about the absence of theturkeys for this year’s event, I was told sev-eral years ago one escaped, creating a bitof a havoc along the streets and thus end-ing a tradition. Now a picture of a fleeingturkey on racers’ shirts suffices.

As you are putting together your 2010running calendar, make sure the RosevilleBig Bird Run is penned in. You will not bedisappointed, especially when you soar tothe top of the pedestrian crossway; theview is spectacular.

While up there, maybe you will be ableto spot the missing turkey from years ago!MR

helped this year, so they can in turn use thosefunds to help families and students in need.”

Full results can be found atwww.gaultracemanagement.com. MR

By Tyrin Johnson, Age 10

Hi, my name is Tyrin, I live inPlymouth (near Detroit), I’m 10years old and I’m becoming a run-

ner.

My dad has been a runner for about 30years, and after watching some of his racesI asked him if I could be in one. Since I wasonly 8 at the time, he said he would lookfor a one-mile race that my sisters and Icould run in.

He found the Roadrunner Classic, puton in July by the Northville Roadrunners atMaybury State Park, not far from ourhouse. I didn’t train for it, but I run a lot atsoccer practice and in recess at school. Themile race was out and back on a park road,sort of hilly, pretty hot but very shaded, andmy time was 8:57. Then we got free drinksand snacks!

Two weeks later I ran the mile at theFalcon 5K in Dearborn and improved mytime to 8:42. I asked my dad if I could runa 5K and he said no, he thought I was tooyoung. We decided that I would wait until Iwas 10 to run my first 5K.

So I ran a few more mile races. Myfastest was last summer on a Wednesdaynight at an informal race in HuntingtonWoods, put on by the Motor City Striders. Iran 7:31 and my dad only beat me by aminute, even though I was only 9 at thetime.

My dad says that there will come a daywhen I finally beat him, but he will try tostay in shape to make that day as far awayas possible. He says he thinks that maybewhen I’m 14 I may catch him.

When I turned 10 last March we beganto keep our eyes open for a good first 5Kfor me. My younger sister, Charissa, 8,signed up for something called Girls on theRun, where they train to run a 5K. The racethey train for around here is the PlymouthFather’s Day Run in June, so we decidedthat our whole family would run it.

This is the first time I did any actualtraining, as my dad took me running on thetrails at the Holliday Nature Preserve near

our house. He really loves running on dirttrails, and now I do too.

The Father’s Day race was a big racewith lots of people! We got little orangetags with computer chips in them to attachto our shoes. This is how they time howfast you run.

My dad ran with me. We started slowand I only walked at the water stop to get adrink. We passed people the whole way, Isprinted at the end and finished my first 5Kin 28:29. It was lots of fun and I wasn’teven that tired.

I ran a bit more on trails with my dadover the summer, but still not that much.He says he doesn’t want me to do too muchor to put any pressure on me. My second-ever 5K was the Livonia Turkey Trot, whereI was happy to finish in 26:11.

Then just yesterday (Nov. 21, 2009) Iran my third 5K, the Schrauger Memorial5K in Lake Orion. It’s named after a fami-ly I actually met at the Upper PeninsulaBible Camp where my family goes everysummer.

The Schraugers had two boys who ranon the Lake Orion High School cross coun-try team, who were both killed in a carcrash two years ago. The Schraugers alsohad a son in the army in Afghanistan, andabout the same time their house burntdown! The first race was to raise money forthem, but now the money goes to a min-istry that helps the poor.

My dad wanted to take me to that racebecause we know the family and it’s for agood cause. But he said that since the raceis held on the very hilly Lake Orion cross-country course, I should not care about mytime because it would be slow.

So we were both pretty surprised whenI set a PR and got 57th place in 25:09. Mydad got 25th in 22:12, but he beat me byless than three minutes, and I’m still only10.

I’m looking forward to running moreraces, but not too many. That way I stillhave time for soccer and to read and playwith my friends and just have fun. MR

Becominga Runner


Introducing RunyakingBy Riley McClincha

Iretired in 2004 and began a new career, orso it’s beginning to seem. I make nomoney in it but the pay is great. It

involves some running, kayaking, cycling,writing and photography, but mostly adven-ture is my payment.

In the past five years, with a kayak, I’veexplored the four main rivers — the Cass,Shiawassee, Tittabawassee and Flint — of theSaginaw Valley, our state’s largest watershed.You could call me the Saginaw Valley Man,for nobody has explored the watershed to thedegree that I have.

I find where the rivers begin, which inmost cases is a trickling stream leading outfrom a small lake or pond. I follow thattrickle as it grows into a stream and eventual-ly a river. I keep following it all the way tothe Saginaw Bay. I’ve documented every inchof my travels with photos and journals.

The one constant of my travels is mysidekick, Swiftee, a kayak that is only 9.5-feetlong and fits perfectly inside my minivan.

After that four-year explorer apprentice-ship, I’ve stepped it up a couple notches. InApril 2009 I began the adventure of my life-time.

In my beat-up little boat, I plan to paddlerivers from Horseshoe Lake near Oxford tothe Saginaw Bay, then keep going by meansof the Great Lakes to the Horseshoe Falls ofNiagara — and run back. I’m calling it theHorseshoe-to-Horseshoe Expedition.

When I say “run back,” I mean that atthe end of each kayak leg, point B, I will runback to point A. In the prior four years Iwould kayak 4- to 14-mile segments, thenbike, run, or when with fellow kayakers, carpool back to the starting point. In theHorseshoe-to-Horseshoe Expedition, nowheels will be allowed and I’m doing itentirely solo.

Last year every segment was a day trip.Sometime this year, I hope to be following theshoreline of Lake Erie in Canada. Day tripswill likely be out of the equation. Some of thelogistics I haven’t thought through yet; I’llcross that bridge when I get there.

Running more than paddling will dictateeach segment’s length. That will be even truerwhen day trips are out of the picture. I canalways spend a few nights camping afterkayaking, but how many back-to-back dayscan I run 10 miles or more?

One could say I like introducing new formsof recreational running. My first attempt, drub-bling (running while dribbling three basket-balls), doesn’t seem, after 15 years of promot-ing, to be taking off. So now I’m here to intro-duce and promote runyaking.

I realize that in the running world thereare duathons and triathlons that involvekayaking. My style, runyaking, is different inthat there is no racing. It fits better in therecreational category of hiking.

Paddling a waterway is comparable tohiking a trail, but using your arms. In run-yaking, legs get their turn when running backto point A.

With that said, I do perform my share ofhiking in a watershed’s headwaters, where Imust blaze my own trail. My backpack whenrunyaking is Swiftee, stocked with necessities.I drag my 50-pound “backpack” through theswampy floodplains and over fallen trees.

The H2H Expedition began April 27,2009, when I filled a small bottle with waterfrom Horseshoe Lake and began paddling.Someday I hope to pour that bottle of waterinto Niagara Falls. It’s an adventure of morethan 650 miles and I don’t care how manyyears. In the pursuit, last year I paddled morethan 200 miles and ran 180 miles.

No sooner had I paddled out of HorseshoeLake into the South Branch Flint River — atrickling stream — than I had to exit Swifteeand haul him over fallen trees. Nothing newabout that: I’d done the same the previous fouryears. I’ve become quite efficient at what I call“guerrilla kayaking,” where terrain is jungle-like and I travel covertly. I try to stay in thechannel as much as possible, so I can’t beaccused of trespassing.

Michigan waterway rights are not clear-cut and often contested in courts. For exam-ple, there is a thing called “recreational tres-passing” but only if the waterway is deemed“navigable.”

So I just try to avoid being seen altogether.It helps that I only explore on weekdays; Irarely see riparian homeowners and they don’tsee me. Also by runyaking only Mondaythrough Friday, I avoid most other recreationalwatercraft when on main streams.

I do enjoy kayaking with friends butobserve more nature going solo. Obviously,without human voices, more wildlife will beseen, but also when alone I stop more oftento look at plants, mosses, fungi and otherrealms of wildlife. Time is not as big a factorwhen traveling alone.

There is one more reason I decided to gosolo: the running restriction as the only meansof getting back to point A would probably goout the window if I invited fellow travelers. Idon’t need the temptation of a vehicle waitingfor me at the end of segments.

Although I will always consider myself arunner first, the running legs lack the excite-ment of paddling legs. In my lifetime of run-ning I’ve never seen a bald eagle fly byclutching a squirrel in its talons, or a bale ofsnapping turtles devouring a deer.

I’ve been accosted by dogs when runningand kayaking, but only while kayaking have Ibeen attacked by a feral pig!

Moving quietly down a river, I’ve hadmany close encounters with muskrats, beaver,raccoon, deer, carp and trout. We scare thebegeezus out of each other; they take off inone direction and I paddle the other.s

Riley McClincha with his kayak,Swiftee

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Paddling through the larger cities ofFlint, Saginaw and Bay City, I’ve run back topoint A through parks, downtown and resi-dential streets, sidewalks and bike trails.

I’ve paddled though hamlets most peoplehave never heard of: Thornville, Russellville,Morseville and Weale. There, I’ve run back tomy van on trails, paved and unpaved roads,some washed-out and muddy.

Since leaving the rivers seven runyakingsegments back, I’ve been in the Saginaw Bay.Following the Great Lakes shoreline is noth-ing like paddling a river, and definitely shouldnot be done in a vessel as small as Swiftee. Awiser, practical person would have switchedto a kayak better equipped to take on waves.Being more hardheaded than practical, and inthe spirit of Kon-Tiki, I won’t give up myship! Swiftee and I are an inseparable team.

In the running segments of runyaking I’velost my bearings at times, but even without amap I’ve figured out the way back to pointA. But, while kayaking there have been timesI’ve gotten lost — even with a map in frontof me. Recently, I even got lost on SaginawBay. I thought that was only possible in themarshy river headwaters; figuring when I gotto the Bay that would never happen.

But there I was, heading from Sebewaingto Bay Port, when I paddled into a marshyarea. To paddle around the marsh wouldhave taken hours. Instead, I paddled into thewetland and soon had that agonizing lostfeeling. Having a GPS I knew the direction Ihad to go, but cattails blocked the way. So Icontinued in the right direction, through thecattails.

Eventually I had to exit Swiftee and usehim as a wedge to plow through the cattails.I was in muck above my calves and stuck attimes.

Disturbing the muck had another ill effect.Swamp gas, particularly H2S, was beingreleased and all I could smell was rotten eggs.

I should hush up about the not-so-delightful runyaking occurrences if I’m tryingto promote it. Leave it to say, following awaterway week after week with a finish lineon a far horizon can be a great adventure,even when including the less-exciting runningleg of runyaking.

Adventurous runners interested in run-yaking should read Riley’s photo/journal, to

be found at the Flint River WatershedCoalition’s blogsite:

http://frwc.livejournal.com. The writer maybe contacted at [email protected] or his

Web site www.McLincha.com. MR

Mt. Pleasant Striders:26 Years and Going Strong

By Ron Marinucci

The Mt. Pleasant Striders may not be thebiggest running club in Michigan. But interms of enthusiasm and activities, mem-

bers take a back seat to no one.Club historian Harry Plouff, involved in

the Striders’ birth 26 years ago, recalled how,“at an early Mt. Pleasant race, too many peo-ple showed up.”

Not “too many” as in bad and the racewent off, but the outcome left much to bedesired.

“Some of us realized we needed somekind of structure,” said Plouff.

“About eight of us met at my home. Wetalked about forming a running club, but wedidn’t want to compete with big races aroundthe state.”

To gauge interest, they held a publicmeeting at the local junior high school.“More than a hundred people showed up,”Plouff said.

MPS now has about 180 active members.“Those are just household heads,” he said.“Including whole families, we have close to300 members.”

The Strider Web site lists 18 club events.Its recent Run the Mt. 5K attracted morethan 200 people.

“We wanted a family-oriented group,”Plouff said. Although Strider fun runs arecompetitive, each race has an accompanyingwalk. For instance, the annual ChristmasDickens Run includes a Candy Cane Crawl.

On the second Wednesday of every warmmonth, Striders host the Doozy Ice Creamseries. “It’s free for members and a buck fornonmembers. Everyone gets a ‘Doozy buck’for ice cream. It’s low-key,” Plouff said, “butthere’s serious racing, too.”

Many fun runs are simply timed with abig clock at the finish. After a race, “we sitaround for hours and talk. It’s a social activi-ty,” Plouff said.

The Striders organize group runs too.Sunday long runs, from six to 12miles, will attract a dozen or more

people. Once a week, Monday or Wednesday,members will show up at 7:30 a.m. for a“Max and Emily Run,” the local coffee shopserving as the post-run gathering spot.

To encourage members to run in mid-Michigan winters, there is the “300 MileClub.” Striders who run 300 miles fromDecember through February get specialrecognition at the spring banquet.

There is also a winter running series atMax and Emily’s, where, club president TracyCollins noted, members find “running fellow-ship, great coffee, and piping-hot scones.”

“We have a neat relationship with CMU(Central Michigan University) and the(Chippewa) tribe,” Plouff noted. CMU repre-sentative Kennen White serves on the Strideradvisory team. The tribe also has a represen-tative, Walt Kennedy. “We work with them toput on two races a year,” Plouff said.

One is the Human Race, the other theRun on the Reservation. The latter includes1-mile and 5K races, “then a huge meal after-ward. A tribe member makes awards in theshape of a huge feather; he carves them byhand,” Plouff said.

The Striders have fun but are committedto running too. “Early this summer, a core ofus ran half-miles at the local high schooltrack in 92-degree heat,” Plouff said. Thenext morning, some of them met to get in atrail run.

Some club sponsorship comes from TheRunner’s Store, known locally as “Runners.”Members wear its shirts at different races, oftenrunning as a team at the Great Lakes Relay,Dances with Dirt and other state events.

“We used to run the Randy Step races, PortHuron to Mackinaw and Novi toMackinaw,” Plouff remembered. “We’d takekids’ teams from Mt. Pleasant High School. Westill do Dances with Dirt and the Great LakesRelay.”

With the age handicap at Dances, “oneyear we finished second overall, out of morethan 300 teams,” he said.

“Twenty or 30 of us do a lot ofmarathons,” Plouff continued. As of June,he’d done six this year.

Several Striders are aiming at two elitemarathoning groups: 50-state and seven-con-tinent clubs. Stan Curtiss, 72, Brian Doty andPlouff, both 61, and Plouff’s son, Ben, arenow working toward 50 states.

“We’re fortunate to be able to travel alot,” Plouff said. “We went to China andAfrica together (for the continents club).We’re in this together. It’s nice, especiallywith my son.”

Plouff recently returned from the IncaTrail Marathon in South America, which fin-ishes at the ruins of Machu Picchu.

“It was grueling,” he remembered, “start-ing at 8,000 feet elevation along a river.Within the first six miles, we went up to14,000 feet. The winner, from New Zealand,finished in 6 hours and 3 minutes.”

“I’m on the waiting list for Antarctica. Istill have it and Australia to go,” he said.

Strider information, including events, canbe found at www.edzpme/met~mphsstr or byGoogling Mt. Pleasant Striders.

Ron Marinucci can be reached by e-mailat [email protected]. MR


Running Like a DogBy Sheryl Lozicki

Anyone who has ever run with their doghas experienced the bond that extendsbeyond the length of the leash.

I began running with our lab from themoment the vet said it was safe to do so. Ziggywas my running companion for ten long years.

He was an effortless runner. I often pon-dered what a faster runner I’d become if I ranlike a dog; at the very least I’d make it out thedoor a lot quicker!

While I fumbled in the sock drawer for theright pair based on the conditions; high, low,thick or thin, and laced up my shoes, Zig justran bare-pawed. While I consulted TheWeather Channel to determine what layerswere needed and the type of weather protec-tion, Zig was ready to shake any sleet, snowor rain my way if conditions warranted. Islicked my hair back into a ponytail andsecured bangs while Zig just ran full-coat.

I never wore my Walkman when I ran withmy dog; there was no need to. We had far toomuch to talk about. He would point out squir-rels, birds and deer along the route and I wouldtell him “Heel” far more often than a disciplinedretriever should have to be told.

His favorite running path was the trail byour house. He always stopped to introducehimself to everyone along the course, whetherhe knew them or not. I met quite a few peoplethat way and learned there was more to run-ning than making it out and back within a cer-tain time.

I never feared getting lost in new woodswith Zig because he marked so many trees, hecould surely find our way out.

I would describe Ziggy’s running as pas-sionate. From the moment I laced up myshoes, he was 100 percent in the zone. Hisbest running attributes were:

• Power. His four legs beat my two any day.• Enthusiasm. He approached each run withtail-wagging and tongue-out zeal, blocking thedoor in case I tried to make a getaway withouthim.• Agile. His gazelle-like leaps over logs weregraceful to watch yet hazardous to follow. Heapproached each obstacle without hesitationand full speed, regardless of whether they wereat the start of the run or near the end.• Baggage free. He never searched for aclean water bottle; any puddle, stream or snowpile would do.• Champion of hill workouts. He bounded uphills, often faster than he went down them.• Uncomplicated. He relieved himself fre-quently on the sides of trees, grassy patches,

fire hydrants or wherever, but it neverimpaired his running time.• Consistency. Zig approached every runwith the same zest, from beginning to end.• In the moment. He didn’t worry about hisappearance, ears flapping, tongue lapping andhair collecting burrs, twigs and snow. It wasstrictly about being outdoors, breathing fresh air,taking in the sights and smells and appreciatingthe invitation to join me on my run.

As Ziggy became older he was forced torun on leash again. He began to experiencesenior moments that would cause him to for-get what we were doing mid-run or, worse, liedown and roll in some unmentionable.

As an older adult, he never gained weight,his muscles remained solid and coat thick. Hedid have to go on an expensive dog food forsensitive stomachs, but I suspect it had moreto do with one too many nose plunges intounsecured trick-or-treat bags.

There was also the time he ate 24Valentine’s Day cards with suckers, sticks andall that had taken my kindergartner three daysto hand write.

I have a new running partner these days.He’s younger, faster and still running on aleash. Ziggy and I obviously slowed downover ten years, because this new guy, Chuck,has me running at a much quicker pace. I’malso developing biceps as I rein him in whenhe spies woodland creatures that Ziggy nolonger cared to chase.

Chuck constantly banks around trees thewrong way, making navigation more challengingin the woods. Our first few times back on thetrail he would spy a golden lab from afar and tughard, hoping for it to be Zig, but it never was.

We’ve had a two-dog household for thelast few years because my hunter husbandclaims it’s important to have a starter dog asthe older one slows down. I just hope he does-n’t feel the same way about his wife!

While I will never run on all fours, condi-tion myself to run free of water bottles andporta-potties or skip the shower afterwards, Ican run like a dog in other ways.

As winter training wears on, I will remem-ber that running is more than a check mark onmy task list; it’s a creative outlet that gets myheart beating and has the ability to engage allmy senses if I let it.

Thanks for making me a better runner, Zig!

Sheryl Lozicki, a registered dietitian, runnerand freelance writer, contributes nutritionadvice to MR’s online Michigan Running

News MR

By Tracey Cohen

ANN ARBOR (11/26/09) — The mood wasfestive as nearly 1,200 athletes ages 4 to 78turned up for the fourth annual Ann ArborThanksgiving Day Turkey Trot. Since itsinception, the race has grown each year bynearly 400 runners.

The day’s rain held off while runnersambled through the serene streets of theUniversity of Michigan’s North Campusunder mostly-cloudy skies, temperatures inthe high 30s. The race began with a longdownhill, giving everyone’s “motors” a jumpstart as they wound their way around campusand back up to the finish.

Lindsay Matthews, who didn’t want tomiss out on the fun, found the course espe-cially challenging as she was in her fifthmonth of pregnancy. Matthews glowed as shevoiced her enjoyment of the family-friendlyatmosphere “with all of the kids and dogs.”

Kate Cecil — who has run the race forthe past three years with friends Becky, Jeffand Jennifer —described the race as “greatfun” with a feeling of community. She alsoliked seeing costumed people, herself includ-ed, “run with turkeys on their heads.” Therace has become a Thanksgiving tradition forthe quartet.

Competitive spirit was also evident.Bobby Aprill, 19, of Ann Arbor commandedthe field in 15:38, while Erin Webster, 24, ofDearborn flew to the finish in 16:57.

ChronoTrack D-tags, provided by RaceServices Co., were used for timing, with matsat the start and finish. Thus no one needed toworry about starting further back in thepack. Instant results were available after therace. Faster athletes could make their wayinside the U-M Recreation Center and findtheir results on monitors simply by enteringtheir bib numbers.

Awards were plentiful and began withthe youngest age divisions, then went up.Special recognition was given in categoriessuch as “first dog” and “first stroller.” Therewere raffle prizes to be won too.

No one left hungry, as post-race refresh-ment tables were filled with trail mix, pret-zels, cookies and hot beverages to ward offthe post-race chill.

Santa was also on hand, right next to a treeunder which entrants donated food, shoes andclothing to benefit the New Life CommunityChurch, the Salvation Army and Active Faith ofSouth Lyon. Little ones were greeted with acandy cane, warm lap and open ear as TonySaputo, who has “played Santa for 40 years,”listened to their hopes and dreams.

For complete results and information onnext year’s race, visitwww.goodboyevents.com. MR

Ann Arbor TurkeyTrot ‘On the Grow’

Turkey Trot, Ann Arbor


January - April 2010 Event CalendarJanuaryFriday, January 1

Aloha RunDowagiac 10:30 amSt. Paul’s Episcopal Church7 MR/W, 3.2 MR/W, 1MR/W, no frillsRon Gunn(269) [email protected]

Gazelle Sports’ JohnDaley Memorial OneOne RunKalamazoo 1:00 pm4.4MR/W, 2.2MR/WSpring Valley Park(269) [email protected]

New Year’s ResolutionRunLake Orion 10:00 amDowntown Lake Orion5KR/W, 1MFR(248) [email protected]

Sergeant Preston,Yukon King RunMuskegon 11:00 amMuskegon State ParkWinter Sports Complex6MR, 5KR/FW(231) [email protected]

Sat., January 2

Reese Winter RoadRace SeriesReese 10:00 am10KR, 5KR/WReese High School(989) [email protected]

Resolution RunAlpena 9:00 amThunder Bay Rec Center5KR Joe Gentry(989) [email protected]

Winter SeriesResolution RunMt. Pleasant 9:00 amMax & Emily’s5MR, 1/2 MFR(989) [email protected]/~mphsstr/

Sunday, January 3

�� Boyne HighlandsClassicHarbor Springs 10:00 amBoyne Valley Lodge, Walloon Lake5K/ 11K classic XC ski(231) 526-3029www.boynehighlands.comMichigan Cup Race

Tuesday, January 5

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesGrand Rapids 6:30 pmCornerstone Universitytrack & field, shot, HJ, PVonly

[email protected]

Thurs., January 7

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesHillsdale 6:00 pmHillsdale College tracktrack & [email protected]

Hansons Tempo RunRoyal Oak 6:30 pm(248) [email protected]

Friday, January 8

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesAnn Arbor 6:30 pmUniversity of Michigantrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

Michigan Indoor TrackSeries - tentativeWarren 5:30 pmMacomb CCtrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

Great Lakes IndoorSeriesAllendale 5:00 pmCentral Michigan Univ.track & field meet(810) [email protected]/greatlakesindoorseries/

Sat., January 9

�� HiawathaInvitational - ClassicSault Ste. Marie, ON 10 amHiawatha Highlands1,2,5,7.5,10,15K XC Ski (705) [email protected]

IDADARUNLinden 6:30 pm8MR, 8M relayLinden Community Ed.(810) [email protected]

�� Michigan CupTraining Day TeamTime TrialsGrayling 10:00 amHanson Hills5K Time Trial / 3 personteams - freestyle or classic(989)[email protected]

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesAllendale 1:00 pmGrand Valley StateUniversitytrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

Run Frosty Run!Watervliet 10:00 amWatervliet Fire Dept., 217Pleasant St. 5KR/W(269) [email protected]/node/30

Rungazelle TrainingProgram Kickoff

Grand Rapids 7:00 pm3930 28th [email protected]

�� SISU Ski FestivalIronwood 10:00 amABR Trails42K/ 21K/ 12K xc ski clas-sic & skatewww.nordicskiracer.com

�� Valley Spur SkiBashMunising 9:30 amValley Spur Ski Lodge24K, 12K, classic and skateXC ski(906) [email protected]

Walt DisneyWorld® HalfMarathonOrlando 6:30 am13.1 MRJon Hughes/disneyworld-sports.disney.go.com

West Catholic HighSchool RaceGrand Rapids 10:00 amWest Catholic High School6MR, 3MR, 1.5MR(616) 453-8600 / (616) 450-8088 [email protected]

Sunday, January 10

Dave’s 10 Mile ShoeRunDelta 2:00 pmDelta High School�� Cross Country Ski


30

10 MR(419) 882-8524toledoroadrunners.org

�� GRNST Langlauf Grayling 10:00 amHanson Hills15K/ 7.5K/ 5K XC SkiFreestyle(231) [email protected] Cup Race

�� HiawathaInvitational - FreestyleSault Ste. Marie, ON 10 amHiawatha Highlands5,7.5,10,15K, 20K XC Ski(705) [email protected]

Walt DisneyWorld®MarathonOrlando 6:00 am13.1MRJon Hughesdisneyworld-sports.disney.go.com

Thurs., January 14

Hansons Tempo RunRoyal Oak 6:30 pmHansons Royal Oak Store(248) [email protected]

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesYpsilanti 6:00 pmEastern Michigantrack & field, M. Jurasek (616)[email protected]

Friday, January 15

Michigan Indoor TrackSeries - tentativeWarren 5:30 pmMacomb CCtrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

Sat., January 16

Freeze Your Fanny 5KRun/WalkBay City 10:00 am5KR/W Bay CountyCommunity Center(989) [email protected]

Frigid Five KNiles 9:00 am5KR/WKeri Pawielski(269) [email protected]

�� Frosty 15KFreestyle CrossCountry Ski RaceBrighton 10:30 am15K X-C Ski; 5K X-C SkiHuron MeadowsMetropark(248) [email protected]

�� Jackrabbit Time Trial#1Sault Ste. Marie, ON11:30 amHiawatha HighlandsXC ski classicnordicskiracer.com

Lake State ClassicTrack and Field MeetSault Ste. Marie, MI 11amindoor trackNorris Center(906) [email protected]

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesAllendale 1:00 pmGrand Valley State Univ.track & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]/Schedule.asp

Portland Winter RunPortland 10:00 amPortland High School5KR/W(517) [email protected] only

Snowflake Run andWalkFlushing 10:00 amFlushing Central ES5K R/W, 10KR(810) [email protected]

�� Talvitohinat WinterScrambleHoughton 12:30 pmMichigan Tech Trails 11K, 4K XC skiKeweenaw Convention &Visitor Center (906) [email protected] www.talviskijor.com

Sunday, January 17

�� Potto Raid BackCountry Nordic SkiRacePinckney 10:00 amPotawatomi Trail17M XC ski(734) 433-9174nordicskiracer.com

Chevron HoustonMarathonHouston 7:45 am26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, 5K,kids run(713) 957-3453chevronhouston-marathon.comUSA Half MarathonChampionship

P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘N’Roll ArizonaPhoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe26.2MR, 13.1 MR(800) [email protected]

� Copper IslandClassicChassell 1:00 pmChassell Ski Trails10K, 5K, 2K XC Ski classic(906) [email protected]/events/chassell

Mon., January 18

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesEast Lansing time tbaMichigan State Universitytrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

Tues., January 19

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesGrand Rapids 6:30 pmCornerstonetrack & field, Shot, HJ, PVonly M. Jurasek [email protected]

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesMt. Pleasant 6:00 pmCentral MichiganUniversitytrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

Wed., January 20

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesSaginaw 5:00 pmSaginaw Valley State Univ.track & field, girls only(616) [email protected]

Thurs., January 21

Hansons Tempo RunRoyal Oak 6:30 pmHansons Royal Oak [email protected]

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesAnn Arbor 6:30 pmUniversity of Michigantrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]/Schedule.asp

Sat., January 23

Bigfoot Boogie5 & 10KSnowshoe RaceTraverse City 9 am10K, 5K snowshoe Timber Ridge ResortDaniel Siderman(231) [email protected] for U.S. NationalSnowshoe Championships

Borgess Run CampKalamazoo 7:30 amBorgess Health and FitnessCenterTraining for Borgess 5K &half marathon - 13 weeks(269) [email protected]

�� Garland GripperClassic XC Ski RaceLewiston 11:00 amGarland Resort10K, 5K XC Ski classic(989) 786-2211, ext. 1311garlandusa.comMichigan Cup Race

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesAlbion 10:00 amAlbion Collegetrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesAllendale 1:00 pmGrand Valleytrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

�� Ohio Nordic FlurryClassic and FreestyleKirtland, OH 8:00 amPine Lodge Ski Center5K classic xc ski, 10K/ 2Kfreestyle xc ski(440) 256-3810nordicskiracer.com

Paint Creek 50KRochester 8:00 amDuck Pond, Rochester Park50KR, 25KR (248) [email protected]

Winter Wolf RunOmer 6:30 pmOld Courthouse15MR, 2 person relay(989) [email protected]

Sunday, January 24

�� Garland GlideFreestyle XC Ski RaceLewiston 10:00 am16K/ 8K XC ski, freestyleGarland Resort (989) 786-2211, ext. 1313garlandusa.comMichigan Cup Race

Wed., January 27

Michigan Indoor TrackSeries Ypsilanti 6:00 pmEastern Michigan Univ.track & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]/Schedule.asp

Thurs., January 28


Friday, January 29

�� Junior NoqueMarquette 4:00 pmForestville Trailhead51K, 25K XC Ski(888) [email protected]


31

January - April 2010 Event CalendarGreat Lakes IndoorSeriesSaginaw 5:00 pmSaginaw Valley State Univ.track & field meet(810) [email protected]/greatlakesindoorseries

Sat., January 30

�� MGH NoquemanonSki MarathonIshpeming 8:45 am51K, 25K XC SkiNoquemanon Trail -Ishpenming to Marquettte(888) [email protected]

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesAlbion 10:00 pmAlbion Collegetrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]/Schedule.asp

Michigan Indoor TrackSeries Allendale 1:00 pmGrand Valley State Univ.track & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]/Schedule.asp

Montrose FrozenBlueberryMontrose 10:00 am5KR/W Montrose CarterElementary School(810) [email protected]

�� Pigeon CreekBiathlonWest Olive 8:30 amPigeon Creek County Park2MR, 5K XC Ski, teams(616) [email protected]

Sunday, January 31

Hansons Group RunLake Orion 8:00 amHansons Running Shoptraining(248) [email protected]

FebruaryWed., February 3

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesSaginaw 10:00 amSaginaw Valley State Univ.track & field - boys [email protected]

Thurs., February 4

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesAnn Arbor 6:30 pmUniversity of Michigantrack and field - boys [email protected]/Schedule.asp

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesHillsdale 6:00 pmHillsdale Collegetrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]


Friday, February 5

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesAnn Arbor 6:30 pmUniversity of Michigantrack and field, girls only [email protected]

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesWarren 5:30 pmMacomb CCtrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

Sat., February 6

Dragon GAP CharityWinter MTB Race andCross Country RunLake Orion 11:00 amLake Orion HS3.1MR / 3.1MB(248) [email protected]/lohs/gap/

The FrostbiteFremont 10:00 amFremont High School10KR, 5KR(231) [email protected]

Hour of PowerAlpena 7:00 amNorthern Lights IndoorArena Indoor Track60 minute time trialJoe Gentry, (989) 354-7314or (989) [email protected] event also 2/7/10

�� Maple SyrupStampedeSt. Joseph Island, ON10:30 amJocelyn Township Trails20K XC Ski-skating; 7KXC Ski-classic(705) 759-0626www.soofinnishnordic.com

Reese Winter RoadRace SeriesReese 10:00 am10KR, 5KR/WReese High School(989) [email protected]

Snow Melt Shuffle 5KRun / WalkHolland 8:00 amHolland Civic Center5KR, 1MW(616) [email protected]

�� White PineStampedeMancelona 9:00 am10K / 20K / 50K skiclassic & freestyleMancelona HS /Shanty Creek(231) [email protected]

Winter Witch’sHat RunSouth Lyon 9:00 amSouth Lyon HS5KR/W, 1 MFRScott Smith(248) [email protected]/witch

WinterlaufeFrankenmuth 10:00 amHeritage Park 8KR/W(989) 860-3388 or (800)[email protected]

Sunday, February 7

Citizens BankGroundhog GallopJackson 12:00 PMParkside Fieldhouse5KR/W, Kid’s Run(517) 784-3950centerforfamilyhealth.org/gallop/5krun.htm

Hour of PowerAlpena 7:00 amNorthern Lights IndoorArena Indoor Track60 minute time trialJoe Gentry, (989) 354-7314or (989) [email protected] event also 2/6/10

�� Jackrabbit Time Trial#2Sault Ste. Marie, ON11:30 amHiawatha HighlandsXC ski classicsoofinnishnordic.com

Kahtoola MichiganMountain RunClarkston 8:30 amPine Knob Ski Area8KR, 4KR(231) [email protected]

�� Michigan CupSprintsGrayling 10:00 amHanson Hills12K xc ski, 6K jr xc ski(989)[email protected]

Super 5KNovi 9:00 am5KRNovi Town CenterRunning Fit


32

(734) [email protected]

Super Bowl 5KOkemos 10:00 am5KR Kinawa MiddleSchool, 1900 Kinawa Dr.(517) [email protected]

�� Women’s WinterTour ThompsonvilleCrystal Mountain15K, 5K, 3K XC ski tour(800) [email protected] 3 day event

Tues., February 9

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesGrand Rapids 6:30 pmCornerstone Univ.track & field, shot, HJ, [email protected]

Wed., February 10

Bumper Run Shelby Twp. 6:15 pm

Stony Creek Metro Park,Boat Launch 6.2 MRDonald C. Richmond(248) 628-4036 [email protected]

Thurs., February 11

Hansons Tempo RunRoyal Oak 6:30 pmHansons Royal Oak Store(248)[email protected]

Friday, February 12

�� Midwest TelefestOntonagonMt. Bohmia & PorcupineMountain State ParkXC ski clinic, races(906) 226-7112www.downwindsports.com2/12/10 to 2/14/10

Sat., February 13

�� Bon Soo Lantern SkiSault St. Marie, MI 5 pmLookout Trailski tour(705) [email protected]

Dances withDirt - GreenSwampDade City, FL50MR, 50KR, 100KrelayRunning Fit (734) [email protected]

Frosty Five Trail RunAdrian 8:30 amHeritage Park, 3241 N.Adrian Hwy. 5MRRunning with E’s (517) [email protected]

Get Luckey 5KLuckey, OH 10:00 am335 Park Street5KR(419) [email protected]

Gladstone Snowshoe5K Run/WalkGladstone 10:00 am ESTGladstone CommunityCenter, Irish Oaks GolfCourse 5KR//W(906) 428-4457

[email protected]

Michigan indoor TrackSeriesAlbion 10:00 amAlbion Collegetrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

�� North AmericanVASATraverse City 8:30 am50K ski, 27K ski, 12K ski,freestyle & classic, 3K and12K tour, 1K, 3K kidsTimber Ridge Resort(231) [email protected]

Sweetheart 10K Run,5K Run/Walk & TeamCompetitionFlushing 10:00 amFlushing Central ES10KR, 5KR/W, CoupleTeams(810) 238-5981www.riverbendStriders.com

USA Cross Country ChampionshipsSpokane, WA 9:00 am6KR, 8KR, 12KRPlantes Ferry Rec. Park

usatf.org/events/2010/USAXCChampionships/World X-C Team Trials

Sun., February 14

Frosty 5KAcme 9:00 amGrand Traverse Resort5KRJC [email protected]

Riverview WinterfestBreakfast and 4 MileRunRiverview 10:00 amSeitz Jr. High School4 MR, 4x1M relayMark Kerr(734) [email protected]

Howell Splash n’ Dash Indoor TriHowell 9:00 amHowell Area AquaticCentertriathlon: 20 minS/ 20minB/ 20 minR(517) [email protected]

�� Hagerty InsuranceGran Travers CrossCountry ClassicTraverse City 9:00 amTimber Ridge Resort16K / 6K XC Ski(231) [email protected] Michigan Cup Race

Tues., February 16

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesGrand Rapids 6:30 pmCornerstone Universitytrack & field, shot, HJ, [email protected]

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesMt. Pleasant St. 6:00 pmCentral Michigan Univ.track & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

Wed., February 17

Michigan Indoor TrackSeries Saginaw 5:00 pmSaginaw Valley State Univ.track and field, girls [email protected]

Thurs., Feb. 18


Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesAnn Arbor 6:30 pmUniversity of Michigantrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

Friday, February 19

�� Cote Dame MarieLoppet Kids RaceGrayling 7:00 pmHanson Hills Ski Trailskids XC races(989) [email protected]

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesWarren 5:30 pmMacomb CCtrack & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

Great Lakes IndoorSeriesMt. Pleasant 5:00 pmCentral Michigan Univ.track & field meet(810) [email protected]/greatlakesindoorseries2/13/09 - 2/14/09

Sat., February 20

Chilly Willy IndoorTriathlonMarquette 8:00 am individual/ 1:00 pm teamPEIF Building - Rec Centertri: 30minuteS/ 30minuteB/30minuteR(906) [email protected]/recreation

�� Cote Dame MarieLoppet 15/ 30KGrayling 10:00 amHanson Hills30K/15K/ XC Ski skate(989) [email protected]

Heart & SoleEast Grand Rapids 9 amEast Grand Rapids HS5KR/W Joe O’Brien(616) [email protected]

�� Michigan HighSchool Championships- Classic SprintMarquette tbd1.2KF sprintsnordicskiracer.comMichigan Cup Race

Michigan Indoor TrackSeriesAllendale NoonGrand Valley State Univ.track & field, M. Jurasek [email protected]

�� NCAA CentralRegion ChampionshipsHoughtonMichigan Tech Nordic

Training Centerwww.ncaa.com/sports/2/20/10 - 2/21/10

Spirit of Winter 5KRun/WalkBay City 10:00 am5KR/W Bay CountyCommunity Center(989) [email protected]

Winter Blast 5KGrandville 10:00 amCalvin Christian HS5KR/WLaurens TenKate(616) [email protected]

Sun., February 21

�� Michigan HighSchool Championships- PursuitMarquette4x4, 5x5 pursuitnordicskiracer.comMichigan Cup Race

�� Hanson Hills ClassicGrayling 10:00 amHanson Hills 12K, 6K XC Ski(989) [email protected]

Thurs., Feb. 25

�� Birkie Elite SprintsHayward, WI 2:30 pmxc ski sprints(715) [email protected]

Thurs., Feb. 25


Friday, February 26

�� Junior BirkieHayward, WI 9:00 amTelemark Resortxc ski sprints(715) [email protected]

Mid AmericanConference IndoorChampionshipsMt. PleasantCentral Michigan Univ.track & field meetmac-sports.com2/26/10 - 2/27/10

Indoor TriathlonBattle Creek evening182 Capital Ave NETriathlon: 15 minute S, 15minute bike, 15 minute run(269) 963-9622ymcabattlecreek.org2/27/09 - 2/28/09

Sat., February 27

�� AmericanBirkebeinerHayward, WI 8:20 am57K, 23 K XC SkiCable to Hayward(715) [email protected]

Big Ten IndoorChampionships - MenMinneapolis, MNUniversity of Minnesotatrack & field meetbigten.cstv.com2/27/10 - 2/28/10

Big Ten IndoorChampionships -WomenState College, PAPenn State Universitytrack & field meetbigten.cstv.com2/27/10 - 2/28/10

C-Ville Chill 5KCoopersville 10:00 am5KR/W Church CentralFamily Worship, 247Church St.(616) [email protected]

�� Jackrabbit Time Trial#3Sault Ste. Marie, ON11:30 amHiawatha Highlands


33

January - April 2010 Event Calendar


34

XC ski freestylesoofinnishnordic.com

Michigan Indoor TrackSeries StateChampionshipYpsilanti time tbaEastern Michigan Univ.track and fieldMike Jurasek [email protected]

Navarino SnowshoeAdventureShiocton, WI 10 am CSTNavarino Wildlife Refuge10K, 5K snowshoe, 5Ksnowshoe tour, kids snow-shoeJeff Crumbaugh(715) [email protected]

Race Director Training -DetroitLivonia 8:30 amLivonia Family YMCA,14255 Stark Rd.(847) [email protected]

USA Indoor Track &Field ChampionshipsAlbuquerque, NMtrack & field meetwww.usatf.org/calendars/2/27/10 - 2/18/10

Sun., February 28

Fight for Air ClimbDetroitDetroit 10:00 amRenaissance Center70 or 40 floors, kids race(248) [email protected]

Hansons Group RunLake Orion 8:00 amHansons Running Shop(248) [email protected]

�� Junior Muffin RaceSkiathlon Classic /FreestyleHiggins Lake 11:00 amXC Ski Headquarters xc ski, classic & freestyle, dis-tances tbdwww.nordicskiracer.comMichigan Junior Cup Race

USA Indoor Track &Field ChampionshipsAlbuquerque, NMtrack & field meet

www.usatf.org/calendars/2/27/10 - 2/18/10

MarchThursday, March 4

Hansons Tempo RunRoyal Oak 6:30 pmHansons Royal Oak Store(248)[email protected]

Saturday, March 6

�� Black MountainNordic 30K Classic Onaway 10:00 am30K XC Ski, classic, 10KXC Ski tour(888) [email protected]

Black River PublicSchool Rat Race 5KRun/WalkHolland 10:00 amBlack River Public SchoolsHolland5KR/W, kids race(616) 355-0055, x [email protected]

Hospice Holiday 5KRun/Walk & Kids SprintBrooklyn 10:00 am8500 Jefferson Rd.5KR/W, kids run(517) [email protected]

Infiterra Sports MarchMadnessWaterford 10:00 amPontiac Lake Rec. Area6 hour sprint adventurerace, 2 person co-ed (231) 233-4736www.infiterrasports.com

Reese Winter RoadRace SeriesReese 10:00 amReese High School10KR, 5KR/W(989) [email protected]

Strider Training RunMt. Pleasant 8:00 amMax & Emily’s10MR, 5MR(989) [email protected]/~mphsstr/

Sunday, March 7

Arnold 5K Pump & RunColumbus, OH 9:30 am5KR, Weight LiftingMatt McGowan(740) [email protected]

USATF Michigan Open/Masters Indoor Track &Field ChampionshipsYpsilanti 11:00 am - ten-tativeEastern Michigan Univ. track & field meetJan Birch(231) [email protected]

�� Wabos WildernessLoppetGoulais River, ONStokely Creek Lodge26K XC ski (866) [email protected]

Tuesday, March 9

Gazoom 5K TrainingProgramHolland 5:30 pmGazelle Sports10KR, 5KR(616) 391-2282gazellesports.com

Thursday, March 11


Friday, March 12

�� Junior Bear Chase Houghton 5:00 pmMichigan Tech Trails2.1K, 1K, 1/2K XC ski kids- classic & freestyle(906) 482-1308www.bearchase.org

NCAA Division I IndoorTrack and FieldChampionshipsFayetteville, AKUniversity of Arkansastrack and field (800) 982-4647ncaasports.com/track-and-field/schedules3/12/10 - 3/13/10

NCAA Division II IndoorTrack and FieldChampionshipsAlbuquerque, NMtrack and field ncaasports.com/track-and-field/schedules3/12/10 - 3/13/10

NCAA Division IIIIndoor Track & FieldChampionshipsGreencastle, INDePauw Universitytrack and field (507) 646-3749ncaasports.com/track-and-field/schedules3/12/10 - 3/13/10

St. Patty’s Pacer 5KHolland 5:30 pmCentennial Park5KR/W(616) [email protected]

Saturday, March 13

�� Boyne Highlands10K ClassicHarbor Springs 10:00 amBoyne Highlands10K, classic XC ski(231) 526-3029www.boynehighlands.comMichigan Cup Race

Fight for Air Climb -Grand RapidsGrand Rapids 8:30 amRiver House at BridgewaterPlace23 flights, kids race(616) [email protected]

�� Great Bear ChaseCalumet 9:00 amSwedetown Ski Trails50K freestyle, 26Kfreestyle/ classic XC Ski (906) [email protected]

Shillelagh FourMileFlushing NoonEarly ChildhoodCenter4 MR/W, kids runJohn Gault(810) [email protected]

Snowman Triathlon -CANCELLED for 2010Munising

St. Patrick’s DayCharity RunClare 9:00 amDoherty Hotel10KR, 5KR, 1/4 M kids run(989) [email protected]

St. Urho 2.5 Mile RunAlpena 9:00 amThunder Bay Jr. High2MR Joe Gentry(989) [email protected]

Sunday, March 14

�� Boyne Highlands15K FreestyleHarbor Springs 10:00 amBoyne Highlands15K/5K freestyle XC ski(231) 526-3029nordicskiracer.comMichigan Cup Race

St. Patrick’sCorktown RacesDetroit 12:00 pmTrain Station atMichigan Ave. &Vernor 5KRDoug Kurtis(248) [email protected]/corktownraces.htm

Shamrocks andShenanigansAnn Arbor 1:00 pmConor O’Neill’s,downtown Ann Arbor5KR/W, kids’ runRunning Fit Events(734) [email protected]

Gazoom 10K & 5KTraining ProgramsGrand Rapids 5:30 pm10KR, 5KR(616) [email protected] begins 3/15/10 atEast Grand Rapids Library

Wearin’ of the Green 4Mile Prediction RunOregon, OH 9:15 amMaumee Bay State park7KR, 1KR, kid’s run(419) [email protected]


35

Wed., March 17

St. Patrick’sDay Pot O’ GoldShuffleFlint 5:30 pmMasonic Temple, 755South Saginaw4 MR/W, kids runCurtis Thompson(810) [email protected]

Thurs., March 18


Saturday, March 20

�� Boyne HighlandsKrazy DazeHarbor Springs 10:00 amBoyne Highlandsxc, downhill ski races(800) GO-BOYNEboynehighlands.com3/20/10 - 3/21/10

St. Patrick’s Day BlueLake Fire Department 5KBlue Lake Twp. 10:00 am5KR/W(231) [email protected]

No Frills, All Thrills,Trail RunBrighton 10:00 amHuron Meadows MetroPark 5 MR(734) 834-0939nofrillsallthrillsrace.com

Melt the Ice 5KFremont, OH 10:00 amFremont Community Recreation Complex5KR/W(419) [email protected]

�� Michigan CupRelays at Cross CountrySki HeadquartersRoscommon 10:30 amXC Ski Headquarters 3 x7K XC Ski, classical/

freestyle(800) [email protected] Cup Relay

Bill Roney Memorial 5KUtica 10:00 amFlickinger ES5KR, 1M kids runSonja Hanson(586) [email protected]

Fitness ExpoBay City 9:00 amBay CountyCommunity CenterAnn Gasta(989) [email protected]

St. Patrick’s DayLeprechaunRacesBay City 2:00 pmBay County

Community Centerkids runsAnn Gasta(989) [email protected]

Sunday, March 21

Churchill’s HalfMarathonMonclova, OH 1:00 pmShops at Fallen Timbers13.1 MR, 6KR(419) [email protected]

MSU Law 5KEast Lansing 10:00 amMSU Campus5KR/W(218) [email protected]

Sam Costa HalfMarathon & QuarterMarathonCarmel, IN 9:00 am13.1MR, 6.55MR

(317) [email protected]

St. Patrick’sDay RacesBay City 12:00 pmDowntown Bay City8KR, 5KR/WAnn Gasta(989) [email protected]

Thurs., March 25

Hansons Tempo RunRoyal Oak 6:30 pmHansons Royal Oak [email protected]

Friday, March 26

USA Masters IndoorTrack & FieldChampionshipsBoston, MA

(703) 481-3530www.usatf.org3/26/10 - 3/28/10

Saturday, March 27

Eagle 10KHudsonville 9:00 amHudsonville HS10KR(616) [email protected]

Kent City Ridge RunKent City 9:30 amKent City HS15KR, 5KR/W(616) 678-4210, ext. [email protected]

Bill AgrestaScholarship HustleHemlock 10:00 amHemlock HS 4MR/W(989) 642-5287www.hemlockbash.com



36

Flushing Township 1/2 Marathon & 5kRun/WalkFlushing 9:30 amFlushing HS13.1 MR, 5KR/W(810) [email protected]

Walker Pump & RunWalker 9:00 amWalker Ice & Fitness Center5KR (616) [email protected]

Passion for Life 5KWalled Lake 9:00 amWalled Lake Central HS5KR/W, 1MFR(248) [email protected]

Ronald McDonald Runfor the HouseLansing 10:00 amHawk Island County Park5KR/W, kids run(517) [email protected]

Kal-Haven Trail RunKalamazoo 9:00 amKal-Haven Trailhead33.6 MR , relays(269) [email protected]

Sunday, March 28

Around the Bay 30KHamilton, ON 9:30 amHamilton, Ontario30KR, 5K, relays(905) [email protected]

Mountain Man Trail Runand HikeLake Orion 10:00 amBald Mountain Rec. Area5.6MR, 2.1MW(248) [email protected]

Hansons 16 MileMarathon Training RunLake Orion 8:00 amHansons Running Shop4-16 MR(248) [email protected]

AprilThursday, April 1


Saturday, April 3

Strider Training RunMt Pleasant 8:00 amMax & Emily’s10MR, 5MR(989) [email protected]/~mphsstr

Ringing in SpringValparaiso, IN 9:00 amYMCA, 55 Chicago St.5KR/W, Kids Run(219) [email protected]

Sunday, April 4

April Fools’ 5KClarkston 9:00 amClarkston CommunityChurch 5KR/W(248) [email protected]

Thursday, April 8


Saturday, April 10

Great Lakes LoonsPennant RaceMidland 11:00 amDow Diamond, Downtown 5KR/W, 1MFR, kids run(989) [email protected]

MartianMarathon andHalf MarathonDearborn 7:00 amFord Field26.2MR, 13.1MRRunning Fit Events (734) [email protected]

Meteor 5 & 10K& Kids MiniMarathonDearborn Heights9 amHenry Ford DearbornHeights Center10KR, 5KR, kids runRunning Fit Events (734) [email protected]

Orthopaedic Rehab8K/5K Run and 5KWalkJackson 8:00 am2136 Robinson Road8KR, 5KR/W(517) [email protected]

Run for ReadingLansing 9:00 amDelta Township DistrictLibrary, 4538 Elizabeth Rd.5KR/W, kids run(517) [email protected]

Sarett Spring StampedeBenton Harbor 8:30 am5KR/W, 5K bird walk, 1Mkids run (269) [email protected]

Town Crier 5K & 10KSaugatuck 9:00 amCorner of Butler and Main10KR, 5KR/W, kids’ run(616) [email protected]/towncrier/

Sunday, April 11

Ohio River RoadRunners Club Marathonand Half MarathonDayton, OH 8:00 am26.2 MR,13.1 MR, relay(937) [email protected]

Thursday, April 15


Saturday, April 17

Clarkston RiverdawgsSpring Training 5K

Clarkston 10:00 amClintonwood Park 5KR/W(248) [email protected]

Lake Michigan CollegeSpring TrainingBenton Harbor 9:00 amLake Michigan CollegeNapier Campus10KR, 5KR/W(269) 927-8100, [email protected]

Norway Spring Classic Norway 10:30 am 10KR, 2 MR(906) [email protected]

Snowbird SpringScamperGaylord 10:00 amTreetops10KR, 5KR/W, [email protected]

Striders SaturdayClassicGrandville 8:00 amCovenant Christian HS10 MR(616) [email protected]

Tax Trot Flushing 10:00 amFlushing High School15KR, 10KR, 5KR/W(810) [email protected]

TGIS Spring 5K RunGaylord 11:00 amDowntown Gaylord,Pavilion 5KR(989) [email protected]/

Sunday, April 18

Dooby DuBikesportDuathlonToledo/ Berkey, OH8:30 amSecor Metropark2MR, 6.5MB,2MR,6.5MR,2MRJim / Joyce Donaldson(419) [email protected]

MSUFCU Race for thePlace 5KEast Lansing 1:00 pmJenison Fieldhouse, MSUCampus 5KR/W(517) [email protected]/p_safeplace.html

Navarino Trail RunShiocton, WI 10:00 amNavarino Nature Center26.2MR, 13.1MR, 6KR/W,kid’s run Jeff Crumbaugh(715) [email protected]

Yellow JacketChallenge 5KGreenville 2:00 pmGreenville HS5KR, 1MR/W, kids runs(616) [email protected]

Thursday, April 22

Hillsdale “Gina” RelaysHillsdale 10:00 amtrack meetBill Lundberg(517) [email protected]/athletics/mens_track/ginarelays.asp4/22/10 - 4/24/10


Saturday, April 24

Borgess Run for theHealth of ItKalamazoo 8:15 am13.1MR, 5KR/W, 5KJudged RaceW, 1 MFR,kids run(877) [email protected]

Calvin Spring ClassicGrand Rapids 8:30 amCalvin College Field House5KR/W, 1KFR(616) [email protected]

Interact 5K Run/WalkHowell 10:00 amHowell HS 5K R/W(517) [email protected]


37

Road Ends 5MilePinckney 9:00 amSilver Lake, PinckneyRecreation Area5 MRRunning Fit (734) [email protected]

Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival 5KShepherd 8:00 amShepherd HS5KR/W, 1/2MFR(989) 828-6601shepherdmaplesyrupfesti-val.org

WYLD Bill 5KHillsdale 10:00 amHillsdale College track5KR/WBill Lundberg(517) [email protected]/chargers/mens/track

Cabin Fever 5KSault Ste. Marie, MI 9 amLake Superior State Univ.5KR(906) [email protected]

Sunday, April 25

Glass City Marathon &Team RelayToledo, OH 8:00 amPark Inn26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, 5 per-son relay, 5KR(419) [email protected] or [email protected]

Hansons Group RunLake Orion 8:00 amHansons Running Shoptraining(248) [email protected]

Mid-Michigan Race forthe Cure®Lansing 1:00 p.m.Lansing State Capitol5KR/W(517) [email protected]

Running FitTrail Marathonand HalfMarathonPinckney 7:30 amSilver Lake, PinckneyRecreation Area26.2 MR, 13.1 MR(734) 929-9027

[email protected]

Steelcase GrandDuathlonKentwood 10:00 am5KR/ 30 KB/ 5KR(231) [email protected]

Wed., April 28

Run Fit 5KNovi 6:30 pmNovi Town Center5KR, 1MR, kids run(734) [email protected]

Thursday, April 29

Hansons Tempo RunRoyal Oak 6:30 pmHansons Royal Oak StoreSonja Hanson(248) [email protected]

- MR -



38

Notes on the Run: DogsRunning with Tom HendersonBy Tom Henderson

My boss at Crain’s Detroit Business,Andy Chapelle, who was one ofthe early editors at Michigan

Runner magazine and a marathon runner,had the bad news for me when I got back towork on Dec. 7 after two weeks of runningon the beach in the Florida Panhandle: Did Iknow Dave Hinz? He died in a car accidentwhile I was gone.

I didn’t know Dave well. I was new torunning, and brand new to writing aboutrunning when he was a force on the nationalrunning scene in the early 1980s. I only inter-viewed him a time or two, but was saddenedto hear of his death on Nov. 27.

Hinz, a driver for FedEx, was driving towork on I-94 when his car hit a patch ofblack ice and careened into another car thathad hit the same patch and collided with aguardrail. Luckily for the woman who haddriven that car, she was out of it and walkingalong the shoulder of the freeway whenHinz’s car hit hers. She was unhurt.

Hinz, a noted conservative blogger andone-time nationally-ranked duathlete as well,was 56. Hearing of his death, and reading hisage, are reminders at my age, 61, of howtime flies, and of mortality.

I ran my first marathon in 1981. I wasgoing to do one, just one, to show formercolleagues I was no longer tooting cocainenight and day and was once again suitablefor gainful employment.

The Detroit Free Press marathon that fallwas the first time I ever ran with anotherhuman being, and the field of 4,000 was uptill that point, and for many years, the largestfield in the event’s history. I ran 3:28 and, tomy surprise, found out I’d traded one addic-tion for another. That was 40 marathons and1,200 races ago.

I did an article for the Free Press onMichigan Runner in 1982 and, if memoryserves, started writing a column for MR in1983. Hinz won the Free Press in 1982, arace I’ll never forget for other reasons. Atotal numbskull with no understanding oftraining techniques or race strategy, I figuredI could easily hit 3:10 that year and, to do so,I’d better put some time in the bank. Ithought it was good news, not bad, that I hitthe one-mile split in a PR of 5:55.

I ran like a banshee through five and wastoast by ten. I suffered somehow to the finish,

whipped, dipped and demoralized. I forgetmy time. Seemed like days.

Wanting to climb back on the horse soonas possible after a fall, I looked for anotherfall marathon to run. Joe LaPointe, a FreePress sportswriter back in the day when thepaper sent staffers to events like the Bostonand New York marathons, told me I couldcrash with him at his hotel in New York if Icould get into that race.

The race was filled. I tried to pull rank,promising race officials a first-person articlein the Free Press if they’d let me in, but theywere less than impressed. Those were thedays of the giant Emily Gail 10Ks in down-town Detroit which drew crowds of 20,000,and Emily was a friend of mine and memberof the New York Road Runners.

She said she and her boyfriend, HerbSquires, were great friends with marathon co-founder and legend Fred Lebow. She said I

should ignore what his minions were tellingme, fly to New York, look up Fred at therace expo, tell him Emily and Herb sent meand he’d get me in. No problem.

So I got a plane out on Friday and wentto the expo Friday night. Fred was alreadygone for the day, I was told, but to look forhim at noon Saturday. I found Fred asexpected and told him what wonderfulfriends I was with his wonderful friends andhow I wanted to run the New YorkMarathon and they said it was no problem.

Lebow exploded. Emily and Herb areidiots, he said, and so was I. He had peopleflying in from Sweden and France offeringhim bribes to get in and he’d laughed in theirfaces, so why should he help me? It was pre-posterous. It was out of the question. I wasworse than an idiot.

But, he said, if you come back at 6, whenthe expo is closing, maybe I’ll change my mind.

Yee-HAH!!

I was back at 5:30. Didn’t see Fred.Asked around. He’d left for the day. Longago. Is incommunicado. No way to contacthim. Bye.

I stood there in a daze. It was 6:30 now,hardly anyone around, a few people cleaningup. A woman came over. “Can I help you?”she asked.

“I don’t think so.”

“You look sad. What happened?”

I told her my tale.

“Herb and Emily? Aren’t they great? Ilove them!” she said. “Come here.”

She led me to the end of the huge halland through a screened-off area. She askedme for my name and age, told a guy to getme a number and within seconds an officialrace number had been printed out and was inmy proud possession.

“Don’t tell anyone how you got this,”she said.

I ran 3:38 on Sunday and had the time ofmy life.

Earlier that year, in the spring, LaPointehad put me up in his hotel room in Boston,where we watched the first half of themarathon on TV, then ran down to the finish

Dave Hinz is pictured compet-ing at the 1984 U.S. OlympicMarathon Trials.

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39

line. Doug Kurtis, whom I would come toknow well, ran with the leaders in the earlygoing that day, an unknown from Michiganthe TV guys knew nothing about. He wouldwilt in the late going from the heat. “I could-n’t believe how easy the early pace felt,” he’dsay later. “After that, I realized it was a hotday, and I was in over my head.”

Kurtis would go on to fame of his own inthe sport with a world record of 75 sub-2:20marathons.

A couple blocks before the finish line, Isaw a ladder leaning against a theater mar-quee with photographers up on it taking pic-tures. I’d finagled a press pass and climbedthe ladder, showed the photogs my pass, andhad a bird’s-eye view next to them of the bestfinish in the race’s history — Alberto Salazarand Dick Beardsley flying underneath me in amad dash for glory, Salazar winning by twoseconds in 2:08:52, the first time ever twomen had broken 2:09 in the same event.

The next year, the Boston TV announcershad another unknown from Michigan to beflummoxed over, Hinz this time. He ended upfinishing 11th in 2:12 and later that year ranon the U.S. team in the Pan-Am Games.

The winner of the 1983 Bostonmarathon? Greg Meyer, a University ofMichigan All-American and another formerFree Press winner who flirted with a worldrecord before fading in the late going.

Meyer’s thunder was muted, to someextent, by a breakthrough run by JoanBenoit, who demolished the women’s worldrecord in 2:22:43, winning the race by nearlyseven minutes.

It was a wonderful time. The runningboom was in full bloom. Michigan runnerswere kicking ass and taking names, and I wasenthralled to find myself part of such a coolsport by such a back-door route. We were allso young with the best years of our livesahead of us.

~~

Kudos to Jeff Crumbaugh, lovinglyreferred to as Evil Jeff, or Evil Bastard Jeff,by those of us who have run his wonderfuland wonderfully-tough trails runs in theUpper Peninsula.

Crumbaugh is MR’s 2009 Contributor ofthe Year and you can read about him in moredepth elsewhere in this issue.

I met Jeff in 1999 at the Popeye 10K inEagle Harbor on the Fourth of July. It was awonderful small-town race on a quirky,downhill course, the downhill nature the rea-son why I was able to break 39 minutes for

the last time in my 10K career. Heck, it wasthe last time I broke 40 minutes.

Jeff finished first and I finished second ina small field. I introduced myself to him laterand he told me if I liked running in the U.P.,he had this crazy two-day, three-race series hewas launching the next year called theKeweenaw Running Trail Festival.

Crazy? Oh my! Insane. Insanely tough.Insanely beautiful. Words are not adequate,though I’ve used a lot of them to try to cap-ture the essence of the event. I even soldRunner’s World magazine a long profile ofthe event a few years ago. (Boy, was AmbyBurfoot at RW surprised to get my invoicefor mileage: 1,200 miles for the round tripfrom Detroit to Eagle Harbor.)

Crumbaugh has since greatly expandedhis race offerings. Want to see another crazy-tough, crazy-beautiful course? Do the Tahqua10K at Tahquamenon Falls next August.

Crumbaugh was green too, before it waspopular. Everything in his events is green,from the organic cotton t-shirts to biodegrad-able cups.

A man ahead of his time. And out of hismind. MR


40

“Marathon: A Novel” by Hal HigdonBy Ron Marinucci

If you have chores planned for a few days,don’t read this book yet. You won’t put itdown until the last page — and will still

yearn for more. Those chores won’t get done.

Author Hal Higdon is famed and popu-lar, having written almost three dozen books— many about training — and countless arti-cles, especially in Runner’s World.

This is his second book entitled“Marathon”: the first being a trainingguide for the distance. This, a novel, iscentered on the 72 hours leading up to amega-marathon (50,000 plus runners) andon the race itself.

During the television broadcast of theLake City Marathon, one commentatornotes with no little amazement, “So manystory lines.” Indeed, there are so manysubplots to the book, with twists andturns, that it’s difficult to determine whichis most compelling. Fortunately, Higdonprovides a list of characters and skillfullyweaves their stories into an exciting, dra-matic conclusion.

Peter McDonald is the race director.Under his guidance, Lake City has becomeone of the premier marathons in theworld, rivaling Boston, London, NewYork City and the rest. But this year’s run-ning promises to be the best, most-intrigu-ing one yet.

Despite its success, Lake City is infinancial purgatory. The major sponsor, abank, has been bought out and the newowner, from Ireland, doesn’t seementhralled with continuing support.McDonald and the race must win them over.

McDonald is increasingly concernedabout the forecast for weather not conduciveto running a marathon, much less world-record attempts as planned. He is forced todevise contingency strategies, just in case.What transpires with the marathon-dayweather is a complete surprise.

The runners themselves run the gamut —well-developed characters all. The returningchampion has a surprise announcement at thepre-race press conference. And he is beingchallenged by an up-and-coming countryman,one filled with resentment, intensity and con-fidence. The world’s top woman marathonercomes to set a new world record. She, too,has a pre-race announcement, although oneof a very different nature.

The world’s most-recognized fashionmodel is running her first marathon. She hasa purpose and serves as a temporary coverfor another entrant, McDonald’s “CelebrityX.”

You’ll likely figure out who Celebrity Xis within a few pages, but that won’t detractfrom the intrigue with the possibility. There

are several wonderful and humorous quota-tions surrounding Celebrity X, but I hesitateto use them lest giving away the identity. Thefinal mile of the marathon with Celebrity X isspectacular.

In addition, there’s the “Mystery Girl.”“Who are you?” people continually ask her asshe runs near the front of the race. A seemingnon-elite, a podiatrist who sells running shoes ata local specialty store, she makes a serious chal-lenge to win. “Who are you?”

As compelling as any of the multitudi-nous (yes, that word is in the book) subplotsis the growing romantic interest betweenMcDonald and a newly-hired televisionreporter assigned to cover the marathon andits festivities. Its climax is as intense as thatof the marathon itself.

There are still more characters, mostimmensely likable. A couple are less pleasing,even unctuous, although they are softenedsomewhat by the marathon and participants.

Many of the events and characters arethinly disguised: Starburst Coffee Shop?Burton Ambrose, editor of RunningMagazine? Lake City itself? But all of thatadds to the enjoyment.

As expected, Higdon captures the essenceof the mega-marathon. Veterans will rec-ognize and even chuckle over what theyread. “Theirs was the God of Fitness, oneto whom human sweat was Holy Water.”

One marathoner worries, as we all have,about the impending weather “thwartingthe months of training that had gotten himinto the best shape of his life.” And at theexpo, attire is the familiar “traditionalrunner’s garb: jeans, T-shirt and runningshoes.”

Higdon also documents the ins and outsof directing a marathon of this size.McDonald and his staff must handlecountless matters, often unseen andunknown, more than just having enoughwater and bagels, chip-timing, etc. Citypolice must be secured, directed and paid,especially with the presence of CelebrityX. For the world-record attempts, “rab-bits” must be found and paid (with whomMcDonald later exhibits his nobility).Media coverage must be catered and coor-dinated.

Much, much more is required to ensurethat the Lake City Marathon experience ispleasing and memorable to the mid- and

backpackers as much as to the well-paidelites. (And where would McDonald be with-out his cell phone?)

Nonrunners will also get a taste of themarathon’s appeal. One character, certainlynot a runner, “could not understand the fasci-nation with running 26 miles and 385 yards... He just did not get it. Did it not hurt?”He’d learn and become, if not a convert, afan.

“Marathon” is an entertaining, informa-tive and compelling book. We can hope thatHigdon has another such novel in his pen.But be forewarned: if you start reading it, thechores won’t get done for a while.


Book Review

michigan runner, january / february 2010

Documents

male senior runner

senior female runner

year history

malemaster runner

net1michigan runner

year nick stanko

female masters runner

charles douglas mcewen