michigan runner, september / october 2010

Michigan Runner - September / October 20102

In This IssueSeptember / October 2010 Vol. 32, No. 4

Cover: Megan Goethals set a meet record and won the national title at the Nike IndoorNationals 2 Mile, Boston, March 13, 2010. Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net.

Features & Departments

CalendarSeptember - December 2010 p. 45 - p. 62

Editor’s Notes: TheWeight By Scott Sullivan p. 4Megan Goethals: High School Runner of the Year, 2009 - 2010 By Jeff Hollobaugh p. 6Kurtis Comes Home for 200th Marathon By Paul Aufdemberge p. 10Running Shorts with Scott Hubbard p. 12Running at State: Goals Met and Not By Rachael Steil p. 13Notes on the Run: 101 Reasons I Run, Part 3 By Daniel G. Kelsey p. 14Beyond the Chip: Forty Years of Running By Herb Lindsay p. 16Michigan Runner Race Series p. 17Running (and Running In) Races 300Miles, 14 Hours Apart By Grant Lofdahl p. 19Fall Shoe Review By Cregg Weinmann p. 29Cross Country Shoes, Fall 2010 By Cregg Weinmann p. 42Running with Tom Henderson p. 63

Sparta Runners Survive, Thrive in Red-Sky Heat By Daniel G. Kelsey p. 11Grand IslandMarathon, Firecracker 5K, Carrollton Festival of Races, Heart of the Hills

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios p. 15

Plymouth’s Triple Play Provides Family Fun for All By Anthony Targan p. 18

Pomaranski Shatters 22-Year Mark at Volkslaufe By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 20

Michigan Athletes Tak Podium at U.S. ChampionshipsPhotos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios p. 21

K-zoo Klassic’s Maple Hill is Fierce Test By Daniel G. Kelsey p. 22

Steve’s Run Start ‘Fire Up’ on Semi-Cool Day By Daniel G. Kelsey p. 23

First Timers Dominate,Masters Rule at Women’s Triathlon and Dri-Tri By C. D. McEwen p. 24

Michigan Discus Throwers Compete at World JuniorsPhotos by Victah Sailer/ photorun.net p. 25

Under 20 Athletes Shine at U.S. Juniors Photos by Carter Sherline/ Frog Prince Studios p. 25Solstice Run Adds 10-Mile, Enjoys Record Turnout By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 26

Roasted Duck: Heat Takes Toll on Runners By Anthony Targan p. 26

Rains Cease, Numbers Soar at Run Charlevoix By Tracey Cohen p. 27

Farmington Founder’s Run is Flat-Out Fun By Anthony Targan p. 28

Highland Festival Adds 8-Miler By Michael Heberling p. 28

National Cherry Festival Meijer Festival of Races and GoldenMilePhotos by Carter Sherline/ Frog Prince Studios p. 37

O’Mara, Deighan Grab Triceratops by Horns By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 38

Deighan, Smith Triumph in Pterocactyl Tri By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 39Venetian Festival / Jeff Drenth Memorial Footrace and Ryan ShayMile

Photos by Carter Sherline/ Frog Prince Studios p. 39

Aquathlon, Swim are Just Day at the Beach for Pair By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 40

O’Mara Ups Heat at Humid Flirt with Dirt By Ron Marinucci p. 40

Masters Francis, Sundermann Triumph at Waterloo By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 41

Diemer Runners Beat Humidity, Handicaps, Heat By Daniel G. Kelsey p. 44

At the Races

3Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Conspiracy theorists are right saying evilexists and there’s no lack of peoplewho would exploit you — conspiracy

theorists themselves being foremost.

Paranoia plays in Peoria, fear in Fenton.Mongers make hay persuading patsies that theyare “patriots” — hey, who’s not angry badthings happen?

Still, when I hear demagogs blame “fatcats,” “big government” and the usual sus-pects while offering nothing practical as alter-natives, I grow wary. Should they claim theyare backed by “God,” “Honor,” “Decency,”“America’s Founding Fathers” or some otherequally-irrefutable source too sweeping ordead to protest, my doubt deepens.

We fear having freedoms taken, especiallyour freedom to be idiots. I’ve been paranoidabout having my fear exploited ever since

learning I have the Midas touch in reverse:everything I touch turns to ... well, you know.

This began when I broke a bone in myknee and my doctor said not to run for threemonths. I at last found a health-club machinethat allowed me exercise both arms but justmy good leg, began to hammer it (themachine, not myself) with vengeance ... andbroke that too.

By the time I can run again, I will be sofat (from non-exercise and all my continuedexcesses) I will break the street and keepsinking.

“When will it stop, Dad?” asked mydaughter, Flannery, 10, when I told her mylatest prospective peril. “Will you pop out theearth’s other side, in China?”

Here was a chance to teach her a lessonin physics, geology or something.

“I will come to rest at the earth’s core ofgravity,” I told her.

“Hell?” she asked.

“It’s supposed to be hot and dense.”

“You’d fit so far.”

“I’ll burn the flab,” I sang. “Then I’ll getup again! You’re never gonna keep medown!”

“Like the Chumbawamba song?”

“I’ll imagine so many enemies, I will begalvanized! I’ll show them!”

“Who’s ‘them’?” she asked.

“I will rage against a machine that is deafto people! The axis of evil (or at least myaccess to it)! The system! Without scapegoats,I am nothing!”

“But what are you for?” she asked.

“Well, God. Honor. Decency ...”

“And America’s Founding Fathers?”

“Them too.”

She seemed skeptical. “Will there be frieswith that?”

“Not till I work off this wait,” I said.

- MR -

4 Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

The WeightEditor’s Notes

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By Scott Sullivan


By Jeff Hollobaugh

Megan Goethals had it anything buteasy during her senior year. She justmade it look easy.

The Rochester High School graduate —the first runner ever to win this award twice— actually improved over her junior year.Sounds simple enough, but in truth, it’salmost a rarity at her level. The all-time listsfor high schoolers are littered with names ofunderclassmen who had terrific seasons andassumed that things would only get better forthem as seniors.

It’s something we tend to take as a given:improvement. How often have we said, “Justwait till she’s a senior ...”?

For a national-class runner, easier saidthan done. As an armchair coach, I’d say thatthe biggest risk comes when the precociousyoung athlete ups the ante and starts trainingharder for that magic senior campaign.

They tell themselves that Alan Webb didit, Dathan Ritzenhein did it; to achieve thatkind of greatness, they have to do it. Thenthey hear an ominous knock on the door, andfearfully open it to find Injury standing onthe porch with his overnight bags. He’s cometo stay awhile and make their senior year aliving hell.

Goethals dodged that bullet, and herKevlar was probably something her coach,Larry Adams, said last year. When asked ifshe was going to increase her training as asenior, he said, “No. I don’t want to over-train her by bumping her mileage up. I wanther moving on to college and the next levelfresh. She’ll still have success.

“We’d like to see her get under 17:00 forcross country and hopefully finish with a bet-ter placing at Foot Locker,” Adams contin-ued. “As a coach, I’d be failing her if I hadher push her mileage up to 60-65 a week.”

For Goethals, those were modest goals after

a junior year that saw her win the state crosscountry title in 17:10.1, place third at FootLocker Nationals, win two events at the statetrack meet, and set a Michigan two-mile recordof 10:20.25 in placing second in the nation.

Last fall in cross country, Goethalsindeed seemed to have moved to anotherlevel, even while training at her old level. Shekept winning all fall, and occasionallypopped times that made that sub-17-minuterace look achievable.

At Michigan State University’s SpartanInvitational she won in 17:22 for 5K. Shetook the prestigious Oakland County meet in17:40, then improved to 17:12 to win herconference.

At the state finals at MichiganInternational Speedway, Goethals cruisedwith supreme confidence to a 16:54.8, shat-tering her own meet record in the face of anasty headwind in the final half-mile. Shelooked ready, very ready, to take on the rest

Megan Goethals:High School Runner of the Year,

2009-2010

The 2009 Footlocker Cross Country Championship Girls First Team are (from left) Megan Ferowich (5th) ,Emily Sisson (3rd) , Megan Goethals (1st) , Chelsey Sveinsson (2nd), and Aisling Cuffe (4th).

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of the nation in the Foot Locker series.

The difference, though, with nationalcompetition is that suddenly Goethals, whohad grown used to racing without the soundof other footsteps near her, would have com-pany. For instance, she won the SpartanInvitational by 30 seconds, Oakland Countyby 49 and the state meet by 75. But at theFoot Locker regional in Kenosha, Wisc., shebeat Missouri rival Emily Sisson by just 18seconds, winning in 17:24.

At Nationals, New Jersey star ChelseyLey powered to an early lead, breaking thepack in two, with Goethals leading the“chase” pack. Goethals gradually worked herway back to the leaders, planning her bigmove for the top of the last hill.

That was where Texan Chelsey Sveinssonmade her move instead, leaving Goethals toconsider the upside of second place. Mostobservers figured it was all over.

Adams didn’t. He later told reporters, “Iknow Megan, and she can outkick anybody,”her coach said.

Goethals herself didn’t think she couldwin at that point, but with the finish in sight,she began her kick. When she noticed thatshe was actually gaining on Sveinsson, itbecame an inspired kick.

With 150 meters to go, she was still fiveseconds behind her rival, but the crowdgasped as Goethals ferociously ate into thatmargin and passed Sveinsson at the finish,winning by two-tenths of a second, 17:06.9to 17:07.1.

“I just told myself I was going to give itmy all, so I sprinted as hard as I could andcaught her,” Goethals said at the time.

“What sets me apart,” she says now, “isthat I made running my lifestyle. I based mostof my decisions on what to do and what notto do on how they would affect my running.I don’t think I was too focused on running,though occasionally some of my friendswould say I was.”

When the first track meets of the indoorseason rolled around, Goethals and Adamsbegan sharpening her after a winter of build-ing the base. The goal: more national titles.

Her indoor season seemed fairly subdued.She ran a 5:00.62 mile in East Lansing, andcruised 3200 meters in 10:25.66 on GrandValley State University’s big track.

Goethals won the state indoor title in10:26.98 — not bad by any means, but noneof this gave any indication what kind ofshape she was really in.

That she showed at Nike Indoor

Nationals, though in many ways the race wasan eerie throwback to cross country nation-als. At the front of the pack, Emily Sisson ledconfidently while Goethals slipped behind.The leader passed the mile in 5:03 andGoethals wasn’t with her.

Then, with three laps to go, another run-ner came up and threatened Goethals’ holdon second. That’s what brought her to life.

She remembered Foot Locker. “When Iwas hurting, I thought of how amazing itfelt,” she said.

So she turned on that same kick andgradually started to reel Sisson in. It didn’tlook likely, but the more Goethals’ legschurned, the more she gained speed, like arunaway locomotive. Once again, she nailedvictory at the line, topping Sisson 10:10.14 to10:10.21. She had won by seven-hundredthsof a second.

She told reporters: “I was so happybecause 10:10 was the goal I had set formyself at the beginning of the season for the3200 meters. That’s 10 seconds faster than Iran at Nike Outdoors last year.” She hadpassed through the more familiar 3200-metermark in 10:07.1. Now it was clear: Goethalswould be revising some records this year.


At the state finals Goethalscruised to a 16:54.8

At the Nike Indoor Nationals, Megan nailed victory at the line, toppingEmily Sisson 10:10.14 to 10:10.21.

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What made the Rochester senior so scaryduring the outdoor season was how fast sheran in meets that she was obviously trainingthrough: five-minute 1600s and 10:33 for3200 in dual meets. We had never before seena runner like this in Michigan. Then, whenthe big meets came, she got even better. Sheran 4:52.4 and 10:28.2 to win the double ather conference meet.

Goethals took off all the wraps at theOakland County Championships so that shecould attempt a fast two-mile. While the raceofficially would be the regulation 3200meters, Goethals and Adams went with themeet director’s proposal to have a second fin-ish line another 18-plus meters farther. Thatwould give her a shot at the national recordfor two miles (10:01.08).

As the sun set, the heat died down andGoethals embarked on her challenge. Herfirst lap was a tad fast, but after she steadiedherself she started clicking off laps close torecord pace.

She passed 3000 meters in 9:25.5 (a staterecord) and kept kicking toward the dual fin-ish lines. She passed 3200 in 10:00.15, anoth-er state record, and hit two miles in 10:03.2.

She had missed the national mark by twoseconds, and had come tantalizingly close tobeing the first Michigan girl to break 10 min-utes for 3200 meters.

The question must be asked: Did contin-uing on to the second finish line cause her tomiss breaking 10 minutes at the first line?

“I don’t think so,” Goethals says. “Eventhough I kept telling myself at the start of therace to remember to go to the second line,coming down the final stretch I forgot. It wasonly after I crossed and people were yelling atme to keep going that I remembered.”

A week later at the state meet, Goethalshad to juggle several concerns. For one, herRochester team had a serious shot at theteam trophy. And while she was the over-whelming favorite in the 3200, success wasnot assured in the 1600 where Grosse PointeSouth frosh Hannah Meier had clocked a4:45.0, faster than Goethals’ PR.

Before she could run either of those racesshe would have to run her fastest 800 ever inorder to give her relay team a chance at maxi-mum points. In other words, her plate was full.

Goethals led off what would be the mostamazing 4x800-meter relay in state meet his-tory. She ran several seconds faster than herbest two laps ever, handing off in the lead. Atthe finish, Rochester’s anchor, Brook Handler,passed South’s Meier as she tumbled to thetrack.

Not only did they win the dramatic race,

they broke the meet record. The hunt for thetrophy was on.

When the 1600 came around, Goethalsrealized that Meier wouldn’t be her competi-tion. Banged up from her relay fall, the fresh-man withdrew from the race to concentrateon the 800 (which she would win).

Instead, Meier’s twin sister Haley becamethe competition and chased Goethals for fourlaps. In the end, age and experience tri-umphed, Goethals winning in 4:47.47, withHaley Meier at 4:53.85.

Then the 3200 came, and Goethals wonin 10:22.75 after overcoming a stiff challengefrom Gabrielle Anzelone of Grand Blanc(10:29.07).

At the Midwest Meet of Champions thenext weekend, Goethals hammered her 800PR with a 2:10.58 win, then blasted the 1600in a lifetime best of 4:43.05.

“I wanted one last go at the 1600, to tryto get a better PR before I go to college,” shetold Flotrack. Only one Michigan girl hasever run faster, the enigmatic Laura Matson(4:39.4 from 1985).

That left one more meet in Goethals’ highschool career. One last national championships.After wins at cross country and indoor nation-als, could she make it a perfect sweep?

Originally she and Adams planned thatshe would run the 5000 meters first at theNew Balance Nationals in Greensboro thencome back for the two-mile. But after missingthe 10-minute barrier at Oakland County,Goetheals decided she wanted another go atit in North Carolina with fresh legs. Thistime, she didn’t want to run from behind.

Goethals led from the start, completingthe first mile in 5:03.03. That was slowerthan she wanted, so it probably helped whenNew Yorker Aisling Cuffe moved up to makeit a seesaw race.

Both kicked hard on the final lap,Goethals edging into the lead. She passed3000 in 9:26.08, a tad slower than her best.But she finished faster than ever.

Goethals got her sub-10 at 3200 meters,crossing that line in a record 9:58.1. Then shehit the finish victorious in 10:01.16, a mereeight-hundredths slower than the national two-mile record. She beat Cuffe by 1.33 seconds.

The Rochester standout became the firstgirl in U.S. history to win Footlocker andboth national two-mile crowns in the sameyear, a feat that only Rockford’s DathanRitzenhein has accomplished among the boys.

“Not only did I have the pressure to tryto break 10, but I also had the pressure to get

first. I really wanted to win,” she said.

Adding up the winning margins of herthree national championships gives Goethalsa total margin of only 1.6 seconds!

With that race, she closed the book onher high school career. She wasn’t eventempted to try out for the World JuniorChampionship team. “I love racing, but I wasready to move on. I know my body; it wasglad to be done,” she says.

University of Washington fans are thrilledthat Goethals signed with the team last win-ter and have heralded her as one of theirmost distinguished recruits ever.

“I’ll be in good hands,” she says of theUW coaching staff. And she admits she’slooking forward to a snow-free winter.

“I really appreciate all the support I’vegotten from the people of Michigan. It wasgreat to feel that,” Goethals said.

Writer Jeff Hollobaugh produces the annualMichigan High School Track Yearbook, oper-

ates the www.michtrack.org Web site, is alongtime correspondent for Track & Field

News and teaches English at Pinckney HighSchool. He published his debut novel “Fire,

Barbed Wire and Tacks” last year. MR


At the Midwest Meet ofChampions, Megan Goethals wasnamed “Star of Stars”.

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Kurtis Comes Homefor 200th Marathon

By Paul Aufdemberge

When Doug Kurtis, Michigan’smarathon man, crosses his nextmarathon finish line, it will be the

200th time he has done so. The math is easy;that’s more than 5,240 miles of marathonracing!

The journey has been a long and reward-ing one for Kurtis, covering parts of fivedecades and most of the globe, from Detroitand Seattle to Tahiti and Bangkok, and lotsof places in between. He will go for number200 at the Detroit Free Press InternationalMarathon Oct. 17.

Kurtis’ marathon career has been well-documented for its quality and quantity: arecord 76 sub-2:20 performances, six consec-utive Free Press victories (from 1987 to1992), 40 overall wins, a lifetime best of2:13:34, masters best of 2:15:47 and 12 sub-2:20’s in one year (1989).

The Livonia native did much of his bestracing after age 35, and had an amazing abil-ity to run quality marathons back to back; infive of those six Free Press wins, he had run amarathon the week before — and won threeof those!

Kurtis, now 58, is adding impressivenumbers for longevity. While the goal ofreaching 200 marathons had been in the backof his mind for years, the timeline was accel-erated in early 2010.

“Amby Burfoot (of Runner’s World mag-azine) encouraged me to go after five decadesof sub-3-hour marathons,” Kurtis says. “Ijumped into the Boston Marathon at the lastminute because my brother Dennis and wifeAnn were running.”

Doug finished in 2:54, and Dennis wassuccessful as well in the bid to span fivedecades of sub-3:00’s. Doug’s first marathon,and first sub-3, had been at Boston in 1974,a spread of 36 years.

Another 2:54 at Grandma’s in Duluth,Minn., June 19 was marathon finish No.199.

“Grandma’s is special to me,” saysKurtis. “I won it twice and I’m the only run-ner over 40 to win it. Race director ScottKeenan still brings me up every year to helpout with the events.”

Of deciding to go for his milestone atDetroit, Kurtis says, “Race director BrianBirney took me to breakfast and made thesuggestion to do my 200th at home in frontof my family, friends and fans. I care deeplyabout the success of the running communityin Detroit.”

His actions show it.As a race organizer,Kurtis has contributedmuch to the success ofthe three largest raceevents in the city: theFree Press Marathon,

Kurtis wins the 1990 Detroit Free Press / MazdaMarathon in 2:19:36

Corktown Race Director Kurtis holds the tape forthe 2010 winner, author, Paul Aufdemberge.

Doug Kurtis runs the 2008 Crim 10Mile.

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Thanksgiving Turkey Trot and Corktown St.Patrick’s Day Run.

As for wearing his race director’s hat,Kurtis says, “I feel fortunate to have theopportunity to use the knowledge I’ve gainedfrom observing races around the world.

“I love being creative,” he goes on. “TheParade Company and Fifth Third Bank giveme a lot of leeway with the Turkey Trot. Mygoal from day one was to create a parade-likeatmosphere during the event.

“Corktown is similar in that regard. Theattendance at both races is booming becauseeveryone involved in organizing them makesthem fun.”

Running 200 marathons “means I’vebeen able to stay injury-free and consistent inmy training and racing,” Kurtis says. “Of the199 so far, only two were over three hours.When I look back at my entire list, I can’tbelieve I really did it.”

Kurtis, now retired from Ford MotorCo., says of his current training, “it’s up anddown. I managed to reach 70 miles a weekbefore this year’s spring marathons.

“I get my speed from running lots ofraces and from my running club buddies who

push me Tuesday nights (in the DowntownRunners and Walkers).” At his peak,Kurtis ran consistent weeks of around 105miles.

An enduring image of Kurtis at the FreePress Marathon is of the times he trailedother runners by minutes going into thefinal miles, but with patience and persever-ance rallied to win.

Now he views races differently, he says,preferring the challenge of racing with thecompetition rather emphasizing crossingthe finish line in front of them.

“As a public speaker,” the marathonmaster says, “I enjoy talking about whatmotivates people to run. I’m impressed byrunners’ courage and desire to overcometheir fears.

“It empowers them to do other greatthings,” he says.

Three-time Michigan Runner of the YearPaul Aufdemberge knows something aboutrunning success and longevity himself. The

Redford resident, now 45, was mostrecently named winner of the 2009 USATF

Masters Male Long Distance RunningRunner of the Year award. MR

Fifth Third Turkey Race DirectorKurtis sets the parade-like atmos-phere in the race Expo booth.

Sparta Runners Survive, Thrive in Red-Sky HeatBy Daniel G. Kelsey

SPARTA (7/17/10) — Red sky at morning,sailors take warning. Red sky at sunrise, rac-ers be run-wise.

The sun came up in a fiery halo the dayof the Run Thru Sparta, but that didn’t stopmore than 400 runners and walkers frompouring through a narrow starting gateway,like rays of light under a rainbow’s arch, andheading out on the 5K course.

The mercury stood at 75 degrees at 8a.m., zero hour, but that didn’t slow KristenBrown and Ryan Chute, who came backthrough the gateway as women’s and men’schampions.

Brown, 38, of Muskegon defended herSparta crown from 2009 in spite of a loss in fit-ness. “I’m recovering from iron deficiency,” shesaid. “I felt pretty strong until near the end.”

At 19:08 it took Brown 38 secondslonger to cover the course this year. “I’mlooking to get back in the low 18s if my bodywill cooperate,” she said.

Two young women, Gretchen Braymer andAlison Tuuk, narrowed so much of Brown’s gapin the final kick that they passed through thegate just three seconds behind her. Far frombeing bothered by cutting it so close, Brownvoiced joy at seeing so many youngsters in theevent. The Run Thru Sparta tends to draw highschool and college athletes on the lookout for amid-summer time trial.

That was the case with Chute, 19, ofGrant, a harrier and trackman at Ferris StateUniversity. His 15:56 was well off the win-ning time of last year’s champion ReedKamyszek, but good enough for a 14-secondmargin over his nearest rival.

Chute’s goal was to punctuate his summertraining. “I wanted to run it in the 15s,” hesaid. “This course is nice; it’s flat. I got out a lit-tle quick.”

He touched on the heat and humidity asa factor in the race. At start time, a bank ofclouds rolled in and a breeze picked up, butthat’s as close as conditions came to living upto the red-sky prediction of severe weather.

Still racers needed to be run-wise. Jill Evers,

43, of Kent City, who won the masters divisionin 20:46, noted the muggy atmosphere.

“It was thick out there,” she said. “Thisrace always seems to have hot weather.”

Rightly so, given how its date falls sonear to the peak of summer, July 18, thehottest Northern Hemisphere day of the yearon average.

The race date is one of the few thingsabout the event that hasn’t changed sincemanagement switched from fruit growers to afitness club a couple years back. Gone is theold name in favor of Run Thru Sparta. Goneare the saplings given to age-group winners.Gone is the finish in a different parking lotthan the start. Gone are the fruit drinks.

Given the fact this year’s cherry harvestwas half the volume of last year’s bumpercrop, change may not be bad.

The runners, chattering happily beyondthe gateway after the race, didn’t seem tomind. They were wise enough to survive ared sky. MR

Run Thru Sparta, Sparta

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Trivia: How many U.S. cross countrywomen’s titles did 1993 Crim 10-mile

champion Lynn Jennings win?

MAT MAGIC. While walking away fromseven hours of commentary and callingnames at the Flying Pig Marathon and Half-Marathon May 2 in Cincinnati, I passed afinisher, wearing the race’s award-winningmedal, accompanied by two friends.

“How did they know your name whenyou finished?” one friend asked the runner.Being “they,” I was tempted to stop andexplain how we did it, but thought it fun tolet the little mystery go unsolved. Until now.

Those of you who have crossed a mat seta short distance before the finish line mayhave wondered why it was there. You proba-bly knew the mats at the finish are used fortiming, but why the mat set in front of them?

That mat is the answer to my “mystery.”It is used to send runner information to acomputer used by the finish-line announcer,such as the runner’s name, age and wherethey’re from.

Much as the now-old ChampionChiprevolutionized race scoring, eliminating tagcollecting and bar-code scanning, the“announcer’s mat” has replaced the need forvolunteers to radio bib numbers to a personwho enters them into a computer, elicitingrunner info on a screen.

Having used the volunteer method formore than 20 years, I am happy with the new“spotting” system. I’m also grateful to all thosewho have helped me over the years, particularlyat marathons where the task was tedious.

The new announcer-mat system relies ongetting an Internet connection, meaning there’s

still at least one race I announce with a volun-teer’s help. At a couple others, I spot the run-ners myself and enter the race numbers.

This is how “they” know who you arewhen you finish. Pronouncing names correct-ly is another story.

In a related development, as theChampionChip has given way to the D tagfor scoring, many races are starting to use a Btag with an electronic strip adhered to thebackside of entrants’ race bibs, or numbers.This is a disposable system favored by run-ners and race-scoring companies.

DO THE DU. Thirty years ago thisAugust I took part in one of Michigan’s firstmulti-event competitions. It was held at theFuller Road 50-meter pool in Ann Arbor and,as the years and miles have unfolded, remainsthe only multi-event competition for me.

I somehow stumbled on a flyer for a1500-meter swim/10K run event and am at aloss to remember why it sparked my interest.I could run, yes, but had never done anyswimming of note except recreationally.

At any rate, I had just over two weeks toget my swimming act together and receivedhelp from a couple swim-coach friends, onebeing long-time Ann Arbor Pioneer HighSchool swami Denny Hill. The 1500-meterswim would take place in the pool; myfriends said my stroke was fine and gave mea mini-training schedule that would get methrough the 30 lengths of the pool on raceday. They also gave me an invaluable tip —relax — which would end up being huge.

Every other day in training, I’d swim alittle further until I’d built up to 2x500meters. I trusted my running-built aerobicbase and adrenaline of competition would seeme through the 1500 meters on race day. As Irecall, I had run a good half marathon twomonths earlier and would run a 31:25 10Ksix weeks after the swim/run event.

About 50 others showed up to race. Wewere set off in two separate waves to easescoring and congestion in each lane.

I was in wave two with the slower swim-mers. I’d been up most of the night beforewith a bad tooth (that would require a rootcanal) and worried how the ache and lack ofsleep might affect me. My brother, Don, wasthere for support and to run with me.

I watched the first wave zip through thewater. Upon completion, everybody wasrequired to wait five minutes before startingthe run, for reasons I never learned. There

were fast swim times posted!

I didn’t have a time goal in mind. I justwanted to paddle steadily the entire way andtime would take care of itself.

I was paired with two others in the sec-ond wave, one of whom I recognized as a 50-plus-year-old local runner. He could swimtoo, lapping me a few times, going right overthe top of me twice. I wasn’t intimidated butdefinitely felt out of my element.

I’d barely gone four lengths, 200 meters,when I noticed how tense I felt and how hardit seemed to breathe. I panicked momentarily,then remembered to relax. I felt betterinstantly and kept stroking on, slow and sure.

I pulled myself out of the pool in 37-plusminutes, a time I was relatively happy with. Ihad five minutes to kill, so I took my timeputting on my running shoes.

With the five minutes up, I took off run-ning ... sort of. My legs felt leaden and weak— a sensation I was not prepared for.

As I ran down Fuller Road towardHuron High, I thought, “I’m not in controlhere.” It didn’t help that Don was teasing meabout my pace, which was a minute per mileslower than normal race pace.

Up the Huron Parkway, left onto PlymouthRoad and down Broadway Street, I struggledwith alien legs — oddly enjoying the exerciseand experience. Strange stuff. With Don hoot-ing at me, I reached the end in 36-plus minuteson rubbery, uncooperative limbs.

I was happy in general with my effort,especially since I had nothing to compare itwith and had completed the swim with justtwo weeks of preparation.

Because we were set off in two waves, ittook a while to determine the results.Remember, this was 1980. I stood aroundchatting with others including KarenMcKeachie, who ended up winning amongthe women (and going on to a stellartriathlon career).

I wound up with the fastest run time andone of the slowest swim times, putting meabout mid-pack overall.

Another competitor was CharlieBlanchard, who had recently opened theTotal Runner store in Southfield. I didn’tknow him then, so we compared notes and Ilearned he had a competitive swim back-ground. Charlie, who finished several placesahead of me that day, went on to completesome Ironman Triathlons in Hawaii.

Running Shorts with Scott Hubbard


The 50-plus-year-old, twice my age at thetime, also beat me. “That’s one fit old dude,”I thought, seeing him through new eyes.

Now I am that “old dude.” Over the past10 years I’ve evolved into cycling due to badfeet. I can hold my own against peers and

dream a little about what I could do inrun/bike duathlons. My former EasternMichigan University teammate DaveBurkhart has become a very good duathlete.

I don’t put much stock in dreams, butenjoy reliving them for their inspiration and

entertainment value.

Answer: Jennings won an unprecedentednine national cross titles.

- MR -

Running Shorts continues

By Rachael Steil

My coach was giving me the chanceof a lifetime. With what little train-ing I had he was letting me run the

state finals cross country race.

I wanted to prove to someone, anyone,that I could do it. The stress fracture in myright foot had been a burden too long — Iwas going to fight against my anger and sad-ness of the past month. This race wouldprove to myself that I could do it.

When my toes touched the starting line,my mind was ready. My body was not. Asthe gun echoed through the race area, I toldmy legs to fly like they had four weeks ago,but they wouldn’t.

Everyone seemed to glide effortlesslyahead of me and I was in a place I wasn’tused to seeing. Never had I been in the backof the pack, struggling to keep up with every-one else. It was as if I had lost an importantpart of myself.

As I reached the half-mile mark, my shockat what was happening began to subside. Mymind eased into what I was doing; I remindedmyself that I hadn’t run for a long time and atleast I had no pain in my right foot.

But my heart was still in a pit of shameand embarrassment. I was now the onereceiving “sympathy cheers” from the fewpeople waiting to watch me pass. Everyoneelse was minutes ahead and I had no chanceof catching them.

I ran as fast as I was able to. Up grassyslopes, down through trees, around orangeflags. The race seemed to last forever.

I pushed my legs to go faster, but theywouldn’t. It felt like those nightmares youhave when you’re trying to run away fromsomething but can’t get anywhere. I prayed toGod to help me get through this.

I felt so let down when I started thinkingabout my goals for this season. I had waitedfor high school cross country my whole life,started watching races while in sixth grade.Now I was injured and gasping for breath,

behind everyone.

But what had I expected? First place?You thought you’d be up with the rest, Ireminded myself. It was true; I thought I hadfixed my body so much that I’d be ready forthis race. With all that swimming I did at theY every day, I was sure I had stayed in shape.Not so.

My mind wandered to that day I wasdiagnosed with the stress fracture. I was backin the office, and the doctor put the tiniest bitof pressure on my right foot. My body jerkedaway from the pain and my brain awoke toreality. I was injured and not going to run fora long, long time.

Tears gushed down my face as my momdrove me home from the med center. I curledup in the seat, wanting to scream at God fordoing this to me. I felt like ripping Him topieces, letting Him feel the pain consuming me.

I had never been so frustrated and con-fused. I felt like I had been suctioned into atight hole of fear and anger. This, this won-derful hobby — my friend, my life — wastaken away from me.

These memories flew back to me, but notwith sympathy for my “old” self. I was a dif-ferent person now, had grown wiser overthese four weeks. I was no longer mad atGod — He was merely carrying me alongthrough the hard times and the only One Icould turn to. My change in attitude helpedme not only run again, but run without painat this state meet.

There were a few other girls running nearme, one way ahead. “Go get that girl!” aman shouted to me. He had no idea what Icould really do, what I had been before. Icould have easily beaten her. This isn’t reallyme! I screamed in my head. This isn’t me …

Finally, finally I was more than halfwaythrough the race. My shoes sloshed andslipped through a puddle of goopy mud,made worse by the runners who had alreadyfinished. Go, Rachael! Go!

I couldn’t.

As I found myself staring at the finishline a quarter-mile ahead of me, one of mymom’s friends was the only one there to cheerme. He tried to encourage my heavy body togo faster and reminded me that not every-thing was lost.

I tried to push a little more and make thisworthwhile, but my body felt strained andawkward. My arms reached for nothing andmy legs pounded on the spongy ground.

Sucking in as much air as possible, Ichanged my mindset. My negative thoughtsfloated away and I finally lunged through theempty finish. There were no volunteers, nospectators, nothing. I came to a slow walk,breathing deeply. It was strangely quiet.

I wish I could say that after a month ofhealing from an injury, I came back to run aspectacular 5K race. You always hear thosestories about how the underdog comes froma low point and achieves a miraculous victo-ry. You get chills when you learn how theinjured player conquers the pain and carrieson to glory.

As for me, I had no medal, no comebackstory and no victory to claim. I was, for oncein my life, not on top.

As I walked alone through the chute, Iknew I would be all right. I had run the race somany runners wished they could run. I had runand walked and jumped to warm up before therace when some have no legs to do so.

I was lucky, as hard as it was to think whenso disappointed. Going through that finish wasa goal I had aimed for. And I did it.

I found my team minutes later and congrat-ulated the girls on their great races. I spottedmy parents and fell into their open arms.

As happy as I was to run, the emotionsof the past month spilled out of me throughtears. The pain in my foot was gone, but itwould take time for my heart to heal too.

Recent Grandville High School graduateRachael Steil plans to continue running and

writing this fall at Aquinas College in GrandRapids. MR

Running at State: Goals Met and Not


By Daniel G. Kelsey

“... (F)or he who runs hard leaves timebehind as well as space.”– Hope Mirrlees, “Lud-in-the-Mist”

My friend Boysen told me a story ofhow experience made him morehumble and sensible. He found out

he was not as sure-footed as his pride hadtold him.

“I was running on a windy night inJanuary. We’d gotten four inches of snowsince the day before, when there wasn’t any.

“This was weird snow. My brotherwould say it was slick as snot. It caked on thebottom of my shoes, more slippery than ice,and going down a slope, my feet would slidewhen they landed, like I was skating.

“Maybe I should’ve called it a night, butI kept on. Then, just like that, at five miles, Iwent down.

“It wasn’t much like falling. There wasno in-between. I was on my feet, then myback. Somewhere along the way, my elbowslammed into the pavement, through thesnow, and my shoulder slammed into myneck, about where it meets my skull behindmy ear. I heard a crackling.

“Not that I was really thinking, not rightthen, but what I felt was something like,‘You’re all right, boy, but you’re going to payfor this tomorrow.’”

He finished the last two miles. But thatcrackling was a new sound that stuck withhim all the way.

Boysen had been running long enough to

know his body well. He’d been in teamsports before he took up running, morethan long enough to predict he’d have abruised elbow. That shoulder, the leftone, had recurring bursitis and he wascertain it would go stiff.

As anybody should know, a bodycan’t crash on a street, even on a bufferof snow, without putting muscles at riskof going lame.

That crackling, though. It hadsounded like paper crumpling in ahand. Was it the bone behind his ear,a vertebra in his neck or tendons inhis shoulder? Could he have givenhimself a light concussion?

Boysen figured he knew the answerwhen a lame neck never came and a

mild headache went away, but a soreness inhis shoulder stayed.

Besides all that, there was the mystery ofwhy he took all the damage on his left side.He’d already begun to think, because of arash persisting all winter, every winter, butonly on that side of his rib cage, that he tiltedwhen he ran, causing friction between cloth-ing and skin.

Odd, he told me, finally tired of myinquisition, how a fall had made him feel sureof his tilt.

Joyce E. Turner contributed a short story,“Alex, the Barista,” to the fall 2008 issue ofthe literary journal Ploughshares. Behind thescenes of a comedy, Turner offered a theme oflife lessons for a gifted student in the crushingworld of academia.

Alex, the narrative character, drops hismajor in mathematics for a newfound interestin English. He’s really dropping his math pro-fessor, a stuffy man who got him a math job,for a crush on his English teaching assistant.

Alex snubs the math job even if it meansstaying behind a counter at a coffee house.The comedy gets outrageous when the profes-sor and Jennifer, the teaching assistant, meeton a blind date at the coffee house duringAlex’s shift.

Turner put Tony, Alex’s roommate, intothe mix to shed light on Alex’s drives.

“They had started running freshman year,partly to drown out hangovers, partly toexplore campus …”

Besides the above, she gave Alex amplemotivations on the surface for kicking up hisheels. He needs a break from poring over ascholarship application that’s driving himcrazy. He wants to beat Tony because heenvies his roommate’s knee lift.

What she didn’t give the students, not inso many words, were deeper cravings theymust squelch by running. Credit her with thesophistication to understand they’re tooyoung to thoroughly know, let alone toadmit, what lurks inside.

They might recognize they’d bounce offthe walls of a dorm room if they didn’t bleedoff energy. But they might not recognize thatsexual deprivation could get the better ofthem if they didn’t wear themselves out. Theymight never, never recognize that if they did-n’t compete they could turn to each other forcomfort.

Yes, I hear Turner, not to mention read-ers, dismissing such Freudian drivel. Alexlikes to run and Tony aims to please.

Running’s wholesome.

As we run we can talk about bicyclegears and swimming strokes in the samebreath and not have people think we’ve lostit. We can put screws in the soles of ourshoes for traction and not have people lookat us like we’ve gone bonkers.

I left Boysen alone about his fall, noteven bringing up the screws, once he made itclear he didn’t want to discuss it any more. Ididn’t even ask if his shoulder healed.

He brought it up himself after a coupleweeks. According to his estimate, he’d run23,000 miles in his lifetime and couldn’trecall ever having fallen before. But he decid-ed he hadn’t injured his pride.

As he’d fallen, a car trailed by a van hap-pened to pass. The van’s brake lights hadgone on. He imagined the driver watching,before driving on, to see if the klutz climbedto his feet and brushed himself off, or tolaugh at the sight of a grown man with hisfeet flying out in front of him like CharlieChaplin on roller skates.

He’d already known without thinkingabout it that runners make a spectacle of them-selves for lookers-on. Now he saw the nobilityof entertaining a sit-down audience.

- MR -

101 Reasons I Run, Part 3Notes on the Run:

Dan Kelsey takes notes with RebeccaDowns, Steve’s Run 10K winner.

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Heart of the Hills,Bloomfield Hills, July 31

Erin Webster won the 10K in 37:53. Matt Fecht also tookfirst in the 10K in 32:52.

Nicholas Katsefaras took the win in 15:40 andMonica Joyce ran a blazing 17:11 to win.

Firecracker 5K,Ann Arbor, July 4

The new Carrollton marathon course included asection on a new bike path.

Grand Island Trail Marathon& 10K, Munising, August 1

Chuck Engel, Dubin, Ohio, won the marathon in3:02:04. Jan Guenther of Long Lake, Minnesota, wasthe first women in 3:39:04

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios


Carrollton Festival of Races,Carrollton, July 25



Michigan Runner TVhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=cT48FzGu96w

Michigan Runner TVhttp://michiganrunner.tv/2010carrollton


By Herb Lindsay

As with most good ideas, run-ning for personal fitness andchallenge began in many places.

New Zealand Olympic coachArthur Lydiard was one of the mostinfluential early innovators. His train-ing methods for athletes transferredslowly and steadily to other coachesaround the world.

Many U.S. college coaches studiedLydiard’s training practices andapplied them to their athletes,University of Oregon coach BillBowerman among them.

Bowerman had traveled to NewZealand, where he witnessed and par-ticipated in jogging programs thatwere in place. Upon return, he success-fully applied the approaches to hiswork with the Oregon track team.

Bowerman also saw the potentialfor a less-intense version of Lydiard’straining practices to benefit people ofall ages. In 1967, he actively promotedthe health and well-being benefits of“jogging,” writing a book on the sub-ject and organizing one of the earliestprograms to teach people how to trainfor personal fitness.

Only recently have I come to under-stand how profoundly Lydiard andBowerman influenced the “runningboom” of the late 1970s and early ’80s,and my personal experience in running overthe last 40 years.

While volunteering at a garage salefundraiser this summer, I discovered a copyof Bowerman’s book “Jogging” nestledamong musty stacks for sale.

When I picked it up and examined thecover, I remembered where and when I hadfirst seen the book. It was in the hands of myfirst coach, Dale Clark, who in 1969described it as offering “the newest informa-tion.”

I recall reacting to the title and declaring,“But I’m not a jogger, I’m a runner.” CoachClark assured me the title was not important,but information in the book would providevaluable guidance in how to train andbecome the best runner I could be.

I believed him. As my fitness improved,

Coach Clark challenged me with opportuni-ties to practice seeing how much faster Icould go and how long I could maintain it.

I now understand how the information in“Jogging” influenced him to teach meBowerman’s hard-easy training approach.These early training experiences introducedme to a long-term pursuit of excellence andexuberance for racing.

A few years ago while interviewing myold Michigan State University coach JimGibbard, I learned that he was among thefirst U.S. coaches to adopt Lydiard’s trainingpractices. The results were an impressivestring of top finishes for the Spartans in theNCAA Cross Country Championships.

In 1977 I appeared on the scene, a highschool state champion from Reed City eagerto challenge myself at the next level. Thetransition was harder than I imagined. My

coach directed me to significantlyincrease mileage and set insanely-chal-lenging target time goals in intervalworkouts. These workouts weredirectly influenced by what Gibbardhad learned from Lydiard.

By the early ‘70s the good ideasabout running training were shapingthe experiences of many others,although still mostly college coachesand their young runners. FrankShorter, the 1972 Olympic marathongold medalist, and his coaches werewell aware of Lydiard’s success-provenpractices and they, too, applied them.

Many credit Frank’s marathon vic-tory with starting the running boom.It brought surging popularity to thesport. I remember taping his picture,on the cover of Life magazine, to mybedroom wall during high school,with my personal running goals post-ed below.

In 1976 Frank’s business partner,Steve Flanagan, opened a running spe-cialty store on Ann Street in EastLansing. Eager to learn how to takemy running to the next level, I cameto know Steve as a mentor and train-ing partner. He described and demon-strated what he had learned from hiscoaches, including Frank and other

elite runners in Boulder, Colo. This expo-sure accelerated my running to a newheight with a focus on goals of even-faster times.

The workouts were all about going faster,achieved by group runs around parks and ballfields with each runner taking turns in leadingthe next time-targeted interval. Long runs fromthe store through the farms south of campuswere proof of how fast we could go — pushingeach other as we talked about great races pastand a great breakfast feast to follow the run.Steve’s training principles and practices, learnedand adapted from several coaches, could betraced to Lydiard too.

By the time I chose to move from EastLansing to Boulder in 1979, the runningboom was riding the creative energy of inno-vation in running shoes, apparel, community-centered road races and proliferation of localrunning clubs.

Runners World, The Runner andRunning Times became national publicationswith runners on staff writing about what theyloved to do. This time also marked the begin-

Forty Years of RunningBeyond the Chip

Bill Bowerman’s book “Jogging”influenced Herb Lindsay’s first coach,Dick Clark.


ning of Michigan Runner magazine. Articlesinformed new runners about how to trainand race, what to eat, how to stretch andtreat injuries. And, of course, they wrote sto-ries describing races with photos of them.

I recall reading these magazines and study-ing finish times of major road race winners. Icalculated and compared pace per mile timesand thought, “Hey, I can run with those guys!Someday I will race them and win!”

I held a vision of running in big races,winning and making the cover of runningpublications. Just as I ran high school raceswith the vision of having my name andaccomplishments described in the next morn-ing’s announcements, I applied the vision ofrecognition in magazines as a motivationaltool before and during races.

Living in Boulder for 10 years providedme a wider range of life experiences andmany meaningful friendships. The BoulderRoad Runners furnished support for newrunners, sponsored training sessions andmanaged road races. Club founder RichCastro and other leaders contributed to shap-ing the sport, not just locally but across thecountry. He too had been influenced by inter-national coaching clinics where the Lydiardtraining system was taught.

Nike, Inc. played an important role infueling the running boom. Not only was thecompany manufacturing and marketing shoesdesigned for running (strongly influenced byBowerman), it was developing an impressivestable of young athletes who it helped withtravel expenses to races, apparel, footwear,recognition and support for continuedimprovement.

In his book, “Out of Nowhere: The

Inside Story of How Nike Marketed theCulture of Running,” Geoff Hollisterdescribes how the company’s relationshipswith athletes contributed to shaping the run-ning boom. I feel fortunate to have been aninfluencing factor in the evolution of runningas a member of the Nike-sponsored AthleticsWest team when it was the perennial favoriteto win national championships.

As I move into my mid-50s, I see revivedinterest in revisiting the events of the runningboom. Authors have asked me to recall expe-riences I shared with the subjects of theirbooks, among them a pending authorizedbiography of Craig Virgin.

I was recently inducted into the ColoradoRunning Hall of Fame. Sportswriter JohnMeyer called to interview me about myBoulder running and racing. You can find hisprofile piece atwww.denverpost.com/search/ci_15058094.

Interviews have a wonderful way ofreviving memories. John also spoke with meto research events that led to the rules changeallowing athletes to earn money in their sportand still be eligible for international competi-tion, including the Olympics. The DenverPost recently ran a series of articles aboutthis. Here’s a link to one of three in theseries:http://denverpost.com/extremes/ci_15194047.

People who have not been in touch withme for years often ask, “Are you still runningand racing?” Yes; the sport continues to be acelebration of movement for me, driven by willand desire to retain the wonderful ability andwell-being it brings. I occasionally race too.

Other top running boom-era racers con-tinue to benefit from the sport as well. I

enjoy connecting with Jeff Galloway, a grandmentor of countless runners, who promotesparticipation in the sport through social net-working sites. He provides valuable andappreciated service as a positive role modelfor runner. I celebrate the contributions ofJeff and others like him.

There is evidence that the creative energyand willingness to accept a personal challengethat fueled the running boom is being discov-ered by newcomers to the sport. The FremontArea Runners (F.A.R.) in Fremont is anexample. Among this dedicated group arerunners who have shed hundreds of pounds,changed their diets and lifestyles and foundnew friends, excitement and satisfaction inrunning races, including marathons.

In them, I see the same eagerness I felt inmy early days as a runner. They are hungryto learn all they can to improve performance.For them, like me, it becomes like an addic-tion to run every day and train with goals inmind for the next race. I celebrate theirtremendous accomplishments.

Bowerman would celebrate our successestoo, and agree that jogging, or running, hashad a profound and positive influence notjust on individuals, but our society.

His little book titled “Jogging,” inspiredby Lydiard’s approaches, had a part in mak-ing running the largest participatory sport inthe world.

Michigan native/now Fremont teacher HerbLindsay is former U.S. record holder at the

half-marathon and 10 miles. He wasAmerica’s No. 1-Ranked Road Racer in 1980

and 1981, according to The Runnermagazine. MR

Michigan Runner Race Series 2010St. Patrick's Corktown Races, 5K, Detroit - March 14Kent City Ridge Run, 15K, Kent City - March 27Fifth Third River Bank Run 25K, Grand Rapids - May 8Dexter Ann Arbor Half Marathon, Ann Arbor - June 6Kalamazoo Klassic 10K, Kalamazoo - June 19Solstice Run 5K, Northville- June 26National Cherry Festival, 15K, Traverse City - July 10Steve’s Run 10K, Dowagiac - July 31Crim Festival of Races 10 Mile, Flint - August 28Labor Day 30K, Milford - September 4Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon, Detroit - October 17Great Turtle Half Marathon, Mackinac Island - October 23

Point System, Results & Standings posted online:http://michiganrunner.net/read_new/2010-michigan-runner-race-series


Plymouth’s Triple Play Provides Family Fun for AllBy Anthony Targan

PLYMOUTH (6/20/10) — The PlymouthYMCA Father’s Day races are truly a fam-ily affair. If you can’t find a distance thatsuits you at this event, you’re not trying.From the Diaper Dash to the Kids’ Trot tothe One Mile (run and walk), 5K (run andwalk) and 10K, there is a race for everyage and ability.

More than 2,000 people participated inthe 31st running of this event, with morethan half of those in the 5K alone. And forthe 16th time, runners wanting too much ofa good thing lined up for the “Triple”: theOne Mile, 5K and 10K, run back-to-back-to-back.

For those not conversant in the metricsystem, that’s 10.3 miles total between theraces. That might not sound like a lot, butrunning three races in any one day, letalone consecutively, is a recipe for disaster.

Throw in extra heat, humidity anddowned tree limbs from a storm the nightbefore, and you’ve got yourself quite achallenge, even on a flat course. Add a lit-tle prize money to the mix, and you’llattract plenty of local elite runners up forthat challenge.

Strategy plays an important part in anyrace, but it’s amplified in the Triple. Go outtoo hard in the mile and 5K and you’ll betoast by 10K time.

I was determined to take it easy in the firsttwo races and see what I had left for the 10K,figuring there was a lot more time to be gainedor lost in the longest distance. Of course, havinga good strategy and executing it in the heat ofthe moment are different things.

At first glance, I mistook the One Milestarting line for one of the kid’s races. Somany boys were jockeying for position at thefront of the pack that there was hardly roomfor the elites. The starter’s admonition thatrunners should “seed yourselves according topace” went right over the boys’ heads.

So when the gun went off, the first straight-away was spent chasing the “hares”; the boyssprinted with exuberance until they flamed outa quarter-mile down the street. By then the elitemen were already blazing towards the finishline, where Rondell Ruff of Gallitzin (4:31)edged Clint Verran of Orion (4:33) and DavidBrent of Monroe (4:34).

Westland’s Angela Matthews’ race strate-gy was to take it easy in the mile. But whenshe found herself locked in a tight race with

Erin Webster of Dearborn, “everything wentout the window.”

Matthews outkicked Webster to win bytwo seconds (5:05 to 5:07). Afterwards, sheregretted letting her competitive streak get thebetter of her: “I thought it was going to dome in” for the remaining races.

In the 5K, the battle between Brent andVerran continued, with Brent winning in aphoto finish as both runners posted times of15:28, a 4:59 pace. Nick Allen of Northvillerounded out the top three in 15:40.

Monica Joyce, 51, of Ann Arborschooled women half her age by taking the5K in 17:04 (5:30 pace) over Matthews(17:39) and Webster (18:06). But since Joycewas only entered in the 5K, Matthews andWebster were set up for a 10K showdownwith the Triple at stake.

Going into the final race, Verran wasconfident that he could execute his strategy.“As a marathoner,” he said, “all I want to dois stay close” in the two shorter races, then“get a gap in the 10K.”

Verran, 35, and Brent, 22, were neck andneck with about two-tenths of a mile to go.Then Verran surged ahead, streaking to thefinish line in 32:48 (5:17 pace), four seconds

ahead of Brent and Nicholas Kutzefares ofPinckney (32:52).

That mere four seconds was also Verran’smargin of victory in the Triple, as he com-pleted all three races (10.3 miles) in a totalof 52:49, edging Brent (52:53) andKutzefares (53:25). In hindsight, the winnersaid his strategy had “worked perfectly,”attributing his success to the fact that he is“good at suffering” in distance races.Verran plans to run the Chicago Marathonthis fall.

Matthews entered the 10K with about a30-second lead over Webster, but wasn’ttaking anything for granted. She poured iton in the final race, easily winning in 37:29(6:02 pace) over Webster (38:20) and LeahScharl of Clarkston (38:34). The final Tripletally: Matthews in first (1:00:13), Webstersecond (1:01:33) and masters winner LisaVeneziano third (1:03:45).

What’s next for the winner? “I haven’tmapped out a schedule of races for the sum-mer yet,” said Matthews. “I’m an assistantcoach for track and cross country atSouthfield Christian and we just finishedup the track season. Since then I’ve beenfocusing on getting back to my normaltraining because I was running with the

high school team throughout spring.

“I’m sure you agree that doing the tripleon Sunday was a good workout because therecovery time between races was so short!”she said.

Beyond the elite runners, the Plymouthraces really are about community and family.More than 200 “Girls on the Run” (a pro-gram that encourages preteen girls to developself-respect and healthy lifestyles throughrunning) participated in the various races.

The youngest Dashers and Trotters got ataste of race-day excitement and could some-day be future race winners. Case in point isthe McSween family, who have been runningsince the girls were in the Kids’ Trot: MandyMcSween, now 15, won her age group in the10K, and sister Molly, 13, took a second-place age group medal in the 5K.

What a perfect Father’s Day present forproud papa Mike McSween, himself a sec-ond-place age-group winner in the 10K!

Regular contributor Anthony Targan effec-tively executed his “tortoise” race strategy

and was the third male master in the Triple,despite not medaling in any of the three

races. MR

Plymouth YMCA Father’s Day Races, Plymouth

Triple winner Angela Matthews (bib#62) battles Erin Webster (bib #78) inthe 10K.

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Running (and Running In) Races300 Miles, 14 Hours Apart

By Grant Lofdahl

ALLENDALE/CEDARVILLE (7/2-3/10) —Two races, 300 miles apart, separated by just14 hours. It was a crazy and possibly ill-con-ceived idea, but I had to try it.

My Allendale High School cross-countryteam’s annual fundraiser, the Gina VanLaar5K, was scheduled Friday, July 2, at 7 p.m. Iwas heavily involved in its planning and race-day activities.

Since I wouldn’t compete July 2 becauseof this, I searched for a race after it I couldenter and learned that Cedarville — the east-ern Upper Peninsula town where my father’srelatives live — would be hosting a 5-milerthe morning of Saturday, July 3.

I decided to go for it. As July approachedI told my dad to expect me around 2 a.m.July 3 and that, yes, I would get up to runthe race next morning.

Things came together splendidly for theVanLaar race (named for Allendale’s firstwoman cross country runner, a two-time statechampion killed at age 29 in a car crash afteran incredible Hillsdale College career). Iawoke July 2 and packed my bags.

By 5 p.m. our unique course was set up:hay bales, logs, creek crossings and all. Thegun fired at 7 with 175 runners sprintingfrom the line.

Middle school coach Andrew Augustineand I led the race on a four-wheel-driveGator and watched the leaders spread out.Former Potterville track state champion andcurrent Grand Valley State University runnerLarry Julson tried to drop Dave VanderMeer,my roommate who had won two races in theprevious six days.

Julson maintained a 15- to 20-meter leadand eventually finished the difficult course in16:35, one of the faster times recorded in thesix years “The Gina” has existed.VanderMeer finished five seconds later, withformer Allendale all-stater Josh Moskalewskithird.

Our own AHS stars fared well on thewomen’s side as well, with recent 1600- and3200-meter track state champion AliWiersma breaking the tape in 19:21, followedby seven-time all-stater Camille Borst. CalvinCollege runner Alyssa Penning was third.

After awards had been given and runnersdispersed, three of my ex-runners drove theGator and helped me clean up the course.With that done, my dog and I hopped in mycar and (after fueling with coffee) headednorth at dusk. The traffic was light and Iarrived in Cedarville before 2:30 a.m.

Waking up less than six hours later wasrough, but by the time I warmed up and the5-mile run started at 9:30, I felt ready.

Two runners sprinted the first 400 metersand opened a gap, but by the 1-mile mark I’dpassed one of them: a youngster whoseenthusiasm got the better of his fitness. Theother runner steadily pulled away and had a30-second lead on me after two miles.

Realizing I was not going to reel him indespite the hills around Cedarville’s Four-Mile Block, I did the best I could and finishedrunner-up in 29:15.

The winner was Lee Kanitz, 36, of near-

by Hessel. His 28:20 was a new record onthe unforgiving 5-mile loop, despite tempera-tures climbing into the 70s by 10 a.m.

The best performance of the day camefrom women’s winner Clara Shaw, a recentOberlin College graduate who holds thatschool’s 800-meter record. The Minnesotanative clocked 32:39 for fifth place overall.

Having visited Cedarville and the beauti-ful Les Cheneaux Islands area many times, Iwas glad to have finally raced there. Passingmy grandparents’ house with less than a mileto go and waving to them was worth thelong, late-night drive and fatigue that set intomy legs late in the race.

A boat ride through the islands, trip tothe local bar to watch my uncle play drums

in his band and a fireworks display made thisan Independence Day weekend I won’t forget.

-MR -

Gina VanLaar in 1987

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Pomaranski Shatters 22-Year Mark at VolkslaufeBy Charles Douglas McEwen

FRANKENMUTH (7/3/10) — Though it tookplace July 3, the 35th annual Volkslaufe hadplenty of fireworks as Andrea Pomaranski ofFarmington Hills broke Cheri Sly’s 1988 courserecord in the 20K and Mike Morgan ofRochester Hills won the 10K and 5K.

Pomaranski, just six years old when Slyset her 1:13:31 standard, shattered it with atime of 1:12:12.

“Last year (when she won the 20K in1:14:35) I didn’t think I really had a shot at therecord,” said Pomaranski. “I’m in better shapenow. I wanted to go out and run hard.”

Pomaranski, who as Andrea Kremer ransteeplechase at Miami (of Ohio) University, haswon major state races this year, including theMartian Invasion of Races Meteor 10K,Bayshore Half Marathon and Brian Diemer 5K.

“I have to give credit to PaulAufdemberge,” she said. “He started coach-ing me last year at this time and my runninghas taken off. Paul is coaching MarybethReader too; we meet Tuesday mornings.Without them working with me, I wouldn’tbe half as strong as I am.”

Reader, 41, of Bloomfield Township, whotook second among the women, won this20K in 2006 and 2007, but said she doesn’t

mind chasing Pomaranski.

“This is a kid who has not reached herfull potential,” Reader said. “It’s going to befun to watch her achieve that.”

Pomaranski received a 2.5-liter, Old-World German beer stein for her triumph,plus $100 for setting a record.

Masters champ Reader finished in1:19:38, not too far off Iris Black’s over-age-40 course record of 1:17:40. BethWoodward, 34, of Ortonville took third over-all in 1:19:53.

Among the men, Ian Forsyth, 38, of AnnArbor was nearly as dominant asPomaranski, winning in 1:06:51. Last year’schamp Matt Fecht, 26, of Warren was a dis-tant second in 1:08:20. Leo Foley, 29, ofHowell finished third in 1:08:30. Top masterKirk Walrath, 40, of Lapeer placed fifth over-all in 1:11:12.

“I wanted to get a stein, of course,” saidForsyth, who ran the 20K here for the firsttime. “I’ve won a couple in the past (for win-ning the 5K) but gave those to friends.” (The2.5-liter steins go to overall 5K, 10K and20K victors, while smaller steins are given tofirst, second and third in the age categories.)

Morgan, 30, who runs for the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, won the Bronner’sCHRISTmas Wonderland 10K by almostthree minutes, then came back 90 minuteslater to claim the The Bavarian InnRestaurant 5K by 23 seconds.

“I was in the well (deep-down tired) dur-ing the second half of the 5K,” Morgan said.

Still, he enjoyed his first visit to theVolkslaufe. “What a way to kick off the July4 weekend!” Morgan said. “It’s unique withkilometer (instead of mile) splits and runningin the countryside.

“I’m from Nebraska and it reminds meof home,” he said.

Morgan finished the 10K in 30:31. Nextcame Adam Roach, 26, of Saginaw (33:22)and Patrick Webster, 22, of Sterling Heights(33:41). In the 5K, Morgan’s 15:07 toppedDavid Madrigal, 18, of Durand (15:30) andNeil Grundman, 22, of Croswell (15:32).

Among the women, Bethany Brewster,30, of Madison, Wisc.,won the 10K, and MelissaWhite, 29, of RochesterHills the 5K.

Brewster, who coaches men’s and women’scross country and track at Edgewood College inMadison, and White, a Hansons-Brooks staroriginally from Naples, N.Y., both ran theVolkslaufe for the first time.

“It was good,” said Brewster. “The turnson the course slow you down some, but itwas awesome.”

White said the 5K was “awesome” too.“I was hoping to win a big beer stein for mydad and I did,” she said.

Brewster timed 35:19. Next came NicoleBlaesser, 25, of Rochester, who recentlyjoined the Hansons-Brooks team, in 35:48;and Tina Muir, 21, of Big Rapids in 37:43.

White finished the 5K in 17:11, followed bySarah Squires, 22, of Sebewaing (19:16) andKirsten Olling, 15, of Breckenridge (19:26).

Winning the 5K competitive walk were CoreyPeyerk, 27, of Royal Oak (28:23) and LynetteHeinlein, 53, of Vassar (30:31). A kids funrun was presented by Jaami’s Jams & Jellies.

For complete race results, go towww.volkslaufe.org. MR

Volkslaufe, Frankenmuth

Michigan Runner TVmichiganrunner.tv/2010volkslaufe/

Andrea Pomeranski set a new 20Krecord of 1:12:12.

Mike Morgan won both the 10Kand the 5K.

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Michigan Athletes Take Podium at U.S. Championships

Jamie Nieto, Chula Vista, Cal./Eastern Michigan, placed 3rd inthe high jump, 7-03.75.

Becky Breisch, Edwardsville/Nike,is US Champion, discus, 207-10.

Anna Pierce, Michigan/Nike, wonthe 1500m run, 4:13.65.

Desi Davila, Arizona State/Hanson-Brooks, won bronze in the10,000m run, 32:22.

USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Des Moines, Iowa

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Nicole Bush, MSU/New Balance,was 2nd, steeplechase, 9:56.08

Bette Wade, Michigan/Nike, wonbronze in the heptathlon with5966 points.


K-zoo Klassic’s Maple Hill is Fierce TestBy Daniel G. Kelsey

KALAMAZOO (6/19/10)—Year by year, thelead story in the Kalamazoo Klassic is theMaple Street hill. This spring, a close runner-up was the performance of J.C. Collins.

The Klassic 10K runs twice around aloop, beginning on high ground, ending onlow, with a grueling climb of the MapleStreet hill from Miles 3 to 3.5. Set in a shad-ed neighborhood, paved with red brickinstead of asphalt along its steepest block ortwo, the hill looms in the eyes of runners.Participants have to climb it to get from reg-istration to the start line. It’s all the talkbefore the race.

It’s much of the talk afterwards amongrunners with a sense of accomplishment atconquering an enemy.

Collins, 53, of Livonia had a few wordsfor it after the finish. By and large he likedthe course, saying it was scenic and cool onthe last day of spring because of the treesalong Maple Street on the front half andalong Bronson Boulevard on the back half.

“The hill’s tough,” he said. “It took meuntil about Mile 4 to recover.”

Collins conquered the hill for a time of36:49 and a runner-up showing in the opendivision. He picked off two younger mennear the end to move from fourth to second;that, from a runner who, except for a few

months in 1981, never raced until two yearsago. With the Klassic as part of MichiganRunner’s race series, Collins piled up pointsin the open, masters and senior classifica-tions.

Besides the series, this year’s Klassicserved as the 10K National Championshipfor the Road Runners Club of America.

The first man to crest the hill wasdefending titlist Jason Drudge, 20, ofGrayling. By that point Drudge, a juniorat Central Michigan University, hadopened a two-minute gap between himselfand Jonathan Kay, 25, of Three Rivers andLucas Wolthuis, 22, of Vicksburg. Drudgecrossed the finish line down below at33:03.

“I hate that hill,” Drudge said. “Itslowed me down a ton. I knew I had a biglead, but you keep racing.”

The first woman to crest the hill wasHannah Norton, 28, of Union City. Bythat point she led Katie Opdycke, 26, ofKalamazoo by more than a minute.Norton crossed the finish line in 38:18,almost three minutes ahead of Opdycke.

“At first I thought this slope down herewas the hill,” Norton said. “Then I real-ized there were two parts. The second half

was definitely harder than the first. But thenice thing is it’s a net decline.”

For everyone who takes on the course,the hill is a psychological barrier. Three 40-something marathon women from Portage —Christine Behrens, Kristen Fillar and KimMaystead — contemplated the tilt of thestreet they’d just climbed at a walk before thestart. It was enough to drive any thoughts ofthe scattered debris from a windstorm thenight before, or of the nice weather on thelast morning of spring, out of their minds. Inroughly a half-hour they’d climb the hillagain in earnest.

“We’re doing it together,” Behrens said.“If we have to take baby steps, that’s OK.We’ll talk each other up the hill.”

“For us it’s about being together,”Maystead said. “It’ll be interesting to see ifwe run or walk it.”

“I’m scared,” Fillar said, glancing downthe tilt despite herself. “I don’t really want tolook at it.”

After the finish an hour later, the threereported that indeed they’d talked each otherup Maple Street. As Behrens said, putting afull stop on the lead story, now that they’dconquered the hill they could wear theKalamazoo Klassic shirt with pride. MR

Kalamazoo Klassic, Kalamazoo

Jason Drudge said “that hill”slowed him down, but he stillposted a 33:03 for the 10K win.

J.C. Collins, age 53, conquered theMaple Street Hill for a time of36:49 and a runner-up finish.

Brendan Maloney looks over as win-ner Hannah Norton crosses the fin-ish line in 38:18.

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Steve’s Run Stars ‘Fire Up’ on Semi-Cool DayBy Daniel G. Kelsey

DOWAGIAC (7/31/10) — If ever a runner wona race in the first dozen strides, Kenyan CosmasLetting did so in the Steve’s Run 10K.

Letting, 27, of Elkhart, Ind., sprinted todaylight down the opening half-mile straight-away, putting a few seconds between himselfand the field by the first turn.

Justin Kowalski, winner of the 5K, saidLetting had such a lead that the Kenyanbacked off before the 10K course split offfrom the 5K.

Thus runner-up Adam Dohm, 27, ofSaline, the top Michigan finisher, stayed with-in a minute and a half of Letting’s 32:04.

Letting confirmed that he didn’t go allout. “I maintained,” he said.

Letting got across in broken English thathe has designs on 27 minutes at 10,000meters and a spot on the Kenyan Olympicteam. With a wave of his hand, he indicatedthat the Dowagiac course was too hilly forsuch speed. He dismissed the weather, mid-60s with a soaking rain that diminished to adrizzle by gun time, as a factor in the race.

While warming up prior to his sixth

straight Steve’s Run, Andrew Weingart, 19, ofElkhart said he’d never seen conditions socool and wet for the midsummer event.

“This feels pretty good compared to mostyears,” Weingart said. “I’m going to hit somepuddles out there. But at least it’s not ungod-ly hot.”

He splashed his way to a time of 44:10.

Race director Ron Gunn – famed for histraditional calls of “Fire up!” among otherthings — acknowledged that a couple lowspots where creeks crossed the trails out inthe woods were slick.

“But it’s not bad,” Gunn said. “The run-ners expect that. It’s cross-country.”

Rebecca Downs, 19, of Fort Wayne, Ind.,skated over damp grass in the golf course andcemetery, and skimmed over pavement on roadsin the back half in soggy shoes, to post a 42:55.

No one was more surprised than Downs,a sophomore at Indiana University PurdueUniversity in Indianapolis, to learn she camein first. She nipped Melissa Bergeron, 45, ofNorton Shores, the top Michigan finisher, byfour seconds.

The results leftDowns as happyas a lark. “This ismy first time run-ning this race,”she said. “I was-n’t expecting towin. It’s kind ofcool.”

The 10K forthe second-straight summeroffered points inthis magazine’sRunner of theYear series, andso drew in veter-an racers fromaroundMichigan. As itdoes every year,the 5K and 10Koffered a mid-summer fitnesscheck, and sodrew in high

school andcollege run-ners fromsouthwestMichiganand north-ern Indiana.

Kowalski,24, ofMishawaka,Ind., fin-ished first inthe 5K forthe secondyear in arow. His15:57 wasoff his 2009time by onesecond,maybebecause hisnearest rivaltrailed byalmost halfa minute.

“I don’trun fastwhen I’m

leading,” Kowalski said. “And it stoppedraining, so I got a little hot at the end.”

Cameron Magro, 17, of Bridgman camein first overall among Michigan runners witha 16:47.

Whitney Bowman, 23, of Portage, Ind.,beat all women to the finish in 19:24. TheValparaiso University runner gave a nodwith emphasis when asked if the win sur-prised her.

“Oh, yeah,” she said.

The 2010 Steve’s Run compared favor-ably, Bowman said, to seasons gone by. “Itwas nicer than in past years,” she said.“Usually it’s so hot here.”

Elley Hinkel, 17, of Lawton placed sec-ond overall and first among Michigan womenin 19:38.

Three jogging jugglers joined the hun-dreds of runners in solidarity with the Steve’sRun theme of honoring those whose liveshave been marred by cancer. MR

Steve’s Run, Dowagiac

Michigan Runner TVmichiganrunner.tv/2010stevesrun/

Steve’s Run 10K win-ner, Cosmas Letting

Among the pack chasing Cosmas Letting across theSouthwestern Michigan College campus in the 10K areAnthony Laramie (bib #465), Chad Ganger (bib #280),eventual women’s winner Rebecca Downs, (bib #220),and Kelsey Nielsen (bib #1127).

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First Timers Dominate, Masters Ruleat Women’s Triathlon and Dri-Tri

By Charles Douglas McEwen

SYLVANIA, OHIO (8/01/10) — Daughtersraced mothers, husbands rooted for wivesand veterans fended off newcomers at theWomen’s Only Triathlon & Dri Tri on a near-perfect Sunday in northern Ohio.

About half of the the record 393 com-petitors were doing a triathlon or duathlonfor the first time, said Joyce Donaldson, whocoordinates this event with her husband, Jim,for Elite Endeavors. That’s not surprisingconsidering the course, which starts and fin-ishes at the Centennial Terrace and Quarry,lends itself to novices dipping their toes in triwaters for first time.

Both the bike and run have flat courses.And the quarry, in which entrants swim,looks more like a super-sized swimming poolthan a lake or pond.

“I loved the course and women’s-onlyraces,” said Andrea Workman, 40, of Saline. “Ithink it’s more comfortable for women coming

out for the first timeto try it. With meninvolved, you feellike you have to getout of the way orthey run you over.”

Workman andher daughter, Bailey,17, a swimmer andwater polo player atSaline High School,have competed inthis triathlon severaltimes.

Baileywhipped across thequarry in the 400-yard swim as if ashark were chasingher. Her 6:51 was16 seconds fasterthan the next-fastest woman.

Quite a fewwomen, includingher mom, passedBailey during thenext leg. “Mom

passed me on the bike, then I passed herback, then she passed me again,” said Bailey.

“Mom stayed ahead of me for the rest ofthe race,” she said.

Bailey, who timed 1:15:17, was thefastest competitor under age 22 in the field.Mom Andrea finished eighth among mastersin 1:10:57.

It was a good day for many over-40 run-ners. Karen McKeachie, 57, of Ann Arborwon the triathlon and Becky Mincheff, 47, ofOregon, Ohio, the Dri Tri.

McKeachie, who won this race in 2007 andfinished second in 2008, had to overcome lastyear’s winner, Monica West, 37, of Saginaw.Both both did well in the swim, then dueled formuch of the 11-mile bike. At the start of the 5Krun, McKeachie made her move.

“She’s 57 and smoked me like bacon.She’s awesome!” West said.

McKeachie won in 1:01:35. West tooksecond in 1:02:39.

West dismissed the notion that thistriathlon course was easy. “It’s like hitting

yourself on the headwith a hammer foran hour,” she said.“At least if you havesome hills, you have

an excuse to slow down a little. Here, yousprint the whole way.”

Emily Jarrett, 28, of Milford finished thirdin 1:03:24; Robin Kremer, 40, of Tucson, Ariz.,fourth in 1:05:32; and Kacy Myers, 29, ofPerrysburg, Ohio, fifth, also in 1:05:32.

“This was first my triathlon,” saidJarrett, who has now competed here fourtimes. “It started me doing other tris.

“They call it ‘getting the bug’ where youwant to do a tri every other weekend. I’vedefinitely got the bug,” she said.

Mincheff has the same bug. She won theDri Tri in 2007 and 2008, but finished sec-ond last year and hoped to reclaim her title.And she did.

Leading pretty much from the start,Mincheff completed the one-mile run, 13-mile bike and 3.1-mile run course in 1:04:42.Next came Lori Deshetler, 30, of Sylvania(1:06:13) and masters Brenda Clark, 43, ofFairgrove (1:08:18), Julie Evans, 43, of AnnArbor (1:08:47) and Laurie Kemp, 50, ofBowling Green, Ohio (1:09:59).

Mincheff plans to keep doing du’s(duathlons). “You’re not done at age 30,” shesaid.

For complete race results, go tohttp://eliteendeavors.com. MR

Michigan Runner TVmichiganrunner.tv/2010womenonlytri/

Triathletes on the Centennial Terrace wait for their turns to beginthe time-trial style swim race.

Karen McKeachiewon the triathlonfor the secondtime.

Women’s Only Triathlon and Dri-Tri, Sylvania, OhioP

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Michigan Discus Throwers Compete at World Juniors

Alexander Rose, West Branch/Central MIchigan, runner-up atthe 2010 US Juniors. throw thediscus 53.46m.

Erin Pendleton, Lindsey,Ohio/University of Michigan, USJunior Champion, won silver witha discus throw of 54.96m

Kendall Baisden, Motor City TrackClub, is US Junior Champion, 400mdash, 52.59 & 7th, 100m dash.

Andrew Evans, Portage Northern/University of Michigan, US JuniorChampion, placed 10th at WorldJuniors with a throw of 56.91m.

USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Des Moines, Iowa

IAAF World Junior Championships, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, July 19-25, 2010

Nick Kaiser, Temperance, placed5th in the 800m run, 1:50.10.

Zach Hill, Zeelande/MichiganState took 3rd shot put, 63-6.75 &5th, discus throw, 179-09

Under 20 Athletes Shine at U.S. Juniors

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Solstice Run Adds 10-Mile, Enjoys Record TurnoutBy Charles Douglas McEwen

NORTHVILLE (6/26/10) — BoazCheboiywo and Nicole Blaesser madethe new 10-mile almost look easydespite an abundance of hills, heat andhumidity at the eighth annual SolsticeRun.

Cheboiywo, 31, of Ypsilanti, wonthe men’s race by almost 10 minutes.Blaesser, 25, placed second overall andclaimed the women’s title by close tosix minutes.

Cheboiywo, a track and crosscountry national champion while atEastern Michigan University, hasbecome well acquainted with theNorthville hills, having won theSolstice 5K and 10K in 2005 and2006. He found the 10-mile course’stwists and turns just as challenging.

“There are lot of turns!” he said.

This year’s 10-mile, 10K and 5Kstarted with a circuit on the NorthvilleDowns horse track and ended on apedestrian path in Ford Field. AMustang Mile took place entirely onthe track.

Wearing bib No.1 on his racingsinglet, Cheboiywo led from the gunand timed of 50:49. The next maleswere Robert Fergan, 17, of Livonia(1:00:44) and John Niemans, 38, ofSterling Heights (1:00:55).

“The hills?” Fergan said. “They’re akiller. For the first mile I was saying, ‘Oh mygosh, those are huge!’ I really had to takeadvantage of the downhills and relax mybody and finish strong.”

Blaesser fin-ished closest toCheboiywo in59:39. “She wentout strong. I couldnever catch her,”Fergan said.

The women’schamp recentlymoved fromPennsylvania toMichigan to jointhe Rochester Hills-based Hansons-Brooks DistanceProject.

“The coursewas easy to under-stand,” saidBlaesser. “Therewas plenty of watertoo. That’s impor-tant on a hot daylike this.”

Finishing 2-3among the womenwere mastersMarybeth Reader,41, of Bloomfield(1:05:46) and DoriDowney, 40, ofGrosse PointeFarms (1:06:14).

Ageless DougKurtis, 58, of Livonia paced the men’s mas-ters in 1:04:18. His wife,Ann, 48, finished in1:18:57.

Andrew Porinsky, 25,of Dexter (34:03) and

Amanda Lacertosa, 18, of Imlay City (42:22)won the 10K.

“I was running by myself basically thewhole way,” Porinsky said. “That was tough.I can usually handle a little humidity if I havesomeone with me to help with the pace a bit.Still, I was fourth in this race last year, so it’sgood to win.”

Lacertosa, a recent Imlay City HighSchool graduate starting her freshman year atSaginaw Valley State University, was runningher first 10K.

“I’ve won a few cross country and trackraces, but never a road race before,” she said. “Ihad to skip track and cross country my senioryear because of a torn meniscus, so this isamazing!”

Men’s and women’s seconds went toAlexander Townsend, 20, of FarmingtonHills (35:29) and Mary Dorazio, 42, ofWhitmore Lake (43:06).

Scott Setzke, 29, of Wyandotte (16:38)and Andrea Karl (18:44) were 5K winners.Seconds went to Eric Green, 41, of Pontiac(16:40) and Kristi Matuszewski, 38, ofBrighton (19:50).

The Solstice Run, presented by Foresters,had by far its largest turnout ever. AlanWhitehead is founder and race director.

For complete results and more informa-tion, go to http://solsticerun.org. MR

Solstice Run, Northville

Nicole Blaesser wassecond overall in the10 Mile in 59:39

Michigan Runner TVmichiganrunner.tv/2010solstice/

Roasted Duck: Heat Takes Toll on RunnersBy Anthony Targan

BRIGHTON (7/5/10) — Hungry Duck Runhalf-marathoners and 5K runners facedscorching heat and soaking humidity, in addi-tion to Brighton’s hills, to make this year’sraces the most challenging yet.

The fourth annual event, benefitting the

Gleaners Community Food Bank, was noth-ing like 2009, when cool temperatures led tofast times. This year, despite a 7 a.m. start,the temps quickly shot into the 80s. Highhumidity sent beads of sweat rolling off run-ners like water off a duck’s back.

The half-marathon course took runnersfrom downtown Brighton through challeng-

ing hills the first four miles, then along a flat-ter 5-mile loop on rural roads. Miles 9through 13 were the reverse of miles 1through 4, but I could swear that the samestretch ran mostly uphill in both directions!

Eric Stuber of Lansing won the half in1:17:53 (a 5:57 pace), but his time wasalmost two minutes slower than the 1:16:05

Hungry Duck Run, Brighton

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Rains Cease, Numbers Soarat Run Charlevoix

By Tracey Cohen

CHARLEVOIX (6/26/10) — Themorning rain ended with 15 min-utes to spare, while temperaturesremained cool for nearly 1,300runners and walkers from 41 statesand 11 countries taking part in thefourth annual Run Charlevoix.

The event featured a half andfull marathon for those looking to golong, as well as 5K and 10K races,considerable in their own right.

Race directors Ron and SharonSuffolk created Run Charlevoixbased on how much he lovesnorthern Michigan summers andriding his bike on the path toPetoskey. He thought others mightshare these feelings.

This year’s race attendance wasup more than 400 over last year —a sign he was right and more peo-ple are catching on.

The flat, fast course starts intown and takes runners past asmall ski hill, through pristineneighborhoods and onto a bikepath. A 1.1-mile wooden bridgeallows athletes to cross wetlandswhile enjoying a “real spring intheir step.”

Bill Fuchs, the marathon walkchampion (4:43:58) in his thirdyear here, called the course, “prettywith lots of good views. The bridge

is awesome.” He was impressedwith the novelty of cruising pastthe ski hill while still in town.

Chuck Engle defended hismarathon running title, finishing in2:39:26. Anna Forsythe paced thewomen in 3:12:55, nearly five min-utes faster than runner-up JennyRobbins.

Ryan Linden and AmandaVintevoghel claimed overall honorsin the half marathon, posting timesof 1:11:39 and 1:34:52 respectively.

Luke Pease (34:53) and KathyDaniels (43:57) won the 10K. AlexDane prevailed in the 5K in 19:57,a two-second victory over EricaWestbrook, who led the women.

Lisa Radandt captured thewomen’s marathon walk in 5:46:41.Walkers Vince Fochtman (2:51:08)and Jeanne Bocci (2:45:08) were vic-torious in the half.

The post-race party was fes-tive, with plenty of food and bever-ages for all. Marathon finisherMarit Janse was especiallyimpressed with the vegetariansandwiches, a “nice surprise” thatshe seldom finds.

For complete results and moreinformation on next year’s race,visit http://raceservices.com andhttp://goodboyevents.com.

- MR -

Run Charlevoix, Charlevoix

Half-marathoners start at Run Charlevoix.

posted by last year’s winner, Josh Partridge.This year, hometown-favorite Partridge fin-ished fourth overall in 1:25:30, almost nineminutes off his 2009 pace. He attributed hisdrop off to the heat and humidity, calling itthe “hardest race I’ve ever run.”

The half-marathon’s youngest competitor,Ian Cleary, 14, of Farmington Hills, won hisage group and finished 14th overall in1:36:02. Cleary did not appear fazed by theheat, but thought the course had “more hills,but not as steep” as the Dexter-Ann Arborhalf-marathon. Terry Carmean of Ortonvillewas the male masters winner in 1:34:43.

Redford’s Heather Dyc was the fastestwoman in 1:35:59 (a 7:20 pace), easily out-distancing the rest of the field on a day whenonly three other women could manage a sub-8:00 pace.

“It was an extremely difficult race,” Dycsaid. “The heat, coupled with the hills, wasenough to make me debate quitting on sever-al occasions.

“I’ve never run this race before so I wasshocked by the hills,” she continued. “Theyreally wear you down during those last fewcrucial miles.

“Overall, I tried to run strong and steadyfor as long as I could, then the plan was tokick it up the last few miles. But it felt morelike I was just hanging on for the mere sakeof finishing.”

Krys Brish of Milford ran a 1:42.50 totake the female masters crown.

In the 5K, Paige McGahan, 17, ofBrighton (20:32) was the overall female win-ner, unseating three-time reigning championDana Cline of Hartland. This year, Cline(20:55) was the second overall, but could notcatch the younger McGahan. The femalemasters winner was Jeralyn McGahan ofBrighton (23:36).

On the men’s side, Ryan Rau, 29, ofPinckney crossed first in 17:21 (5:36 pace).He held off a pair of 15-year-olds, MichaelCox of Pinckney and Jack Kosaian ofBrighton, who finished a close second (17:31)and third (17:36), respectively. DominicNicita continued Brighton’s strong showingby winning the male masters 5K in 18:58.

Attendance was down from last year(238 for the 5K, down from 294; 153 for thehalf-marathon, down from 188), probablydue to the heat. Hopefully, next year’s racewill enjoy more-favorable conditions for therunning of the ducks!

Regular contributor Anthony Targan hascompeted in all four Hungry Duck Runs,

posting a half-marathon personal-record timeof 1:30:49 in 2008. MR

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Highland Festival Adds 8-MilerBy Michael Heberling

ALMA (5/29/10) – I have run every AlmaHighland Festival 5K race since 2004, lastyear finally winning my age division. As anew challenge, I decided to try the festival’snew 8-mile race this year.

I lined up with 800-plus others in front ofthe Alma College campus on a beautiful morn-ing with near-perfect running conditions. Racedirector Craig Tubbs started all the 5K run-ners/walkers and 8-mile runners at 9:15.

I had a hard time holding myself back. Ineeded to pace myself for an 8-mile race, notthe usual 5K. The first, downhill mile here isalways fast.

We ran the same route as the Festivalparade, which would start at 10:30. Manypeople were already sitting in lawn chairs onboth sides of the street to guarantee a goodview of the parade.

My son, Adam, was among them. He

had reserved a spot for the family in front ofthe Main Café. I gave Adam the “high five”as I ran past and made the U-turn to headback up the same hill toward the college forthe second mile.

It is always exciting to have people cheeryou on as you run along the parade route. Mile3 would be through the Alma neighborhood.

At just over 2.5 miles, the course split.The 5K runners turned right and headed backtowards the campus and finish line.

The 8-milers turned left onto the FredMeijer Heartland Trail, site of an old railroadtrack converted into a bike path. We ran twomiles out and two miles back on a very flat,scenic asphalt course.

As I was outbound, the eventual winnersflew past me heading the other way: TylerNoble, 18, of Shepherd (42:21/a 5:18-per-mile pace), and Tori McConnell, 35, of MtPleasant (55:21/6:56).

After four miles on the bike path, I headed

back to the finish line. Many well-wishers linedthe final section of the course. I finished in1:01:22/7:41, good enough for second place inmy 55-59 age division, and won an attractivemedal attached to a Scottish tartan ribbon.

The 137 finishers in the 8-mile race hadan average time of 1:09:04, an 8:38 pace. Ofthem, 83 were men (1:06:07/8:15) and 54women (1:13:35/9:11).

This well-organized race enjoyed a largenumber of local sponsors. Everyone receiveda technical shirt and pass to the HighlandFestival as part of registration.

The Alma Highland Festival is becominga major running event in central Michigan. In2009 there were 648 runners and walkers.This year there were 875, a 35-percentincrease.

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. MichaelHeberling, Ph.D., is president of the Baker

College Center for Graduate Studies in Flint.MR

Alma Highland Festival Runs, Alma

Farmington Founder’s Run is Flat-Out FunBy Anthony Targan

FARMINGTON (7/17/10) — There’s nothinglike a parade. And there’s nothing like a spec-tator-filled parade route to bring out the bestin runners. The Farmington Founder’sFestival mixes a carnival atmosphere withcommunity spirit, and it’s a winning combi-nation on race day.

At the starting line, Kevin Sherwood (aka“Captain America”), wearing his trademarkAmerican flag shorts and headband, finallymet his match, coming face-to-face withKaren Bhagwat, decked out as WonderWoman.

A motorcycle police escort led runners ona fast downhill start. The 4-mile coursewound around well-marked corners in resi-dential neighborhoods and climbed somegradual hills, which proved more challengingthan expected given the heat. The 9 a.m.start, designed to maximize spectators, con-tributed to above-normal temperatures.

Just after the 2.5-mile mark, runners turnedright on Grand River Avenue and began theirgradual descent along the parade route towardsthe finish. Some faced an additional challenge atthe final turn into Shiawassee Park: navigating a

narrow passage past a team of Clydesdales thatstood nervously at attention while runnersslipped by.

Emery Pitcel, 19, was the overall winnerin 21:25 (a 5:21 pace). Angela Matthewsrepeated as first woman overall in 22:30.

“It was significantly warmer this yearthan last year,” said Matthews. “It’s alwaysfun to get a win and I like running aroundFarmington. A lot of familiar faces come outfor the race.”

She really enjoyed the long straightawayon Grand River: “It’s great because it’salmost impossible to run slow in the lastmile,” Matthews said.

Steve Menovick took the male masterscrown in 22:22 despite recovering from arecent stress reaction in his foot.

“I felt pretty good out there,” saidMenovick, although the “heat was definitelya factor” the last two miles. He applaudedthe “great course” design, and, as an 18-yearFarmington Hills resident, also enjoyed theentire weekend of festivities.

The women’s masters title went to DonnaOlson (28:21), who at age 60 has seen her

share of Founder’s Day races. She agreed thatthe city’s recreation department “does a nicejob” with the course and seemed to enjoy therace despite the hills and heat. The four win-ners each received running shoes courtesy ofrace sponsor New Balance.

One group of young runners had theadditional incentive of beating their mentorat his own game. Coach Mark Wright’sFarmington Soccer Club U-13 girls decided asa team to run the race. Lindsay Crawleyagreed that doing so was good training forsoccer. Grace Voorman, 10, thought that thecourse was “fun” and “not really hard.”

Coach Wright has encouraged his girls todo one- to two-mile runs as off-season condi-tioning for soccer and to keep track of theircollective miles, just as he does during hismarathon training. On this day, the girls tal-lied 32 miles to their coach’s four, putting theteam ahead in their friendly competition.

The influx of young runners gave a wel-come boost of energy to this race, as morethan 20 percent participants (70 of 297) wereunder 20 years old.

Anthony Targan is a regular contributor toMichigan Runner magazine. MR

Farmington Founder’s Festival Run, Farmington


National Cherry Festival Meijer Festival of Races,Traverse City, July 10

Cherry Festival Parade spectators enjoyed the return ofthe Golden Mile. Molly Lehman (bib #12) won thewomen’s race in 4:49.44. Moses Wawara won in 4:06.67.

Kylen Cieslak was the first womanin the 15K, 57:13.R.P. White won the 15K in 49:02.


Michigan Runner TVhttp:/youtube.com/watch?v=0BgExzoiS10

Golden Mile

Race Director Lisa Taylor hasbrought popular changes to theMeijer Festival of Races.


O’Mara, Deighan Grab Triceratops by HornsBy Charles Douglas McEwen

BRIGHTON (6/23/10) — Hannah Smithdominated the half-mile swim and AnneMarie Phillips had a powerful 12.4-mile bike,but Erin O’Mara passed both on the 5K runand won the Triceratops Triathlon.

O’Mara, 26, of Ypsilanti repeated aswomen’s champion of the event, part ofRunning Fit’s T-Rex Series. She also won theT-Rex Triathlon in 2008 and 2009 and fin-ished second in last year’s Pterodactyl Tri, giv-ing her enough dinosaur trophies to make apaleontologist jealous.

“It’s fun and creative,” she said of the thun-der-lizard theme. (Colorful, blow-up dinosaursline the course, showing runners the way.)

The race took place on a swelteringWednesday evening that made Island LakeRecreation Area feel like Jurassic Park.O’Mara played catch-up for much of it.

Smith, 23, of Dexter, a recent Universityof Michigan swim team member, led everyonecoming out of Kent Lake in 11:53. Eventualmasters champ Phillips, 49, of Northville,took over the lead on the bike leg.

“The girl who came in second overall(Smith) rocked the swim,” said O’Mara.“Ann Marie was amazing on the bike. I was in fifth coming out of thewater, then third going into the run.”

There O’Mara, who had thefastest 5K run (19:09) amongthe women, passed Smith andPhillips to finish in 1:10:23, 10 seconds faster than her winningtime last year.

Smith ended up second (1:11:58) and Phillips third(1:12:54).

For the men, Joe Deighan, 39, of Beverly Hills, emergedfrom the water a few seconds behind Smith, but quickly openeda big lead on the bike. He then held off runner-up Ryan Rau,30, of Hamburg during the 5K run to win the race.

“He (Deighan) was out of the water about a minute aheadof me,” said Rau, “and it stayed that distance the rest of theway. We’re closely-matched on the bike and run, but he’salways out of the water before me in triathlons.”

Deighan finished in 1:01:19. Rau, the winner of last year’sPterodactyl Tri, crossed in 1:01:47. Roman Krzyzanowski, 39,of Plymouth placed third (1:04:38). Masters champ LouisProbst, 40, finished fourth overall (1:05:48).

“It’s a fast course with little traffic,” Deighan said. “RunningFit did an awesome job.”

“Any Wednesday night that you do a triathlon is a goodWednesday night,” Rau said.

For complete race results, go to http://runtrextri.com. MR

Triceratops Triathlon, Brighton

Joe Deighton beat Ryan Rau out of the waterby over a minute and held on to win.

Erin O’Mara won withthe fastest 5K run.

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Deighan, Smith Triumph in Pterodactyl TriBy Charles Douglas McEwen

BRIGHTON (7/21/10) — While giant,winged reptiles may have glided over what isnow Island Lake Recreation Area millions ofyears ago, Joe Deighan and Hannah Smithtore through the 4,000-acre state park at thisyear’s Pterodactyl Triathlon.

Deighan, 39, of Beverly Hills and Smith,23, of Dexter snagged overall victories in therace.

The Pterodactyl was race No. 2 inRunning Fit’s T-Rex Triathlon Series, whichalso includes the Triceratops Tri in June andT-Rex Tri in August. All three take place onWednesday evenings and use the same course.

In June Deighan won the Triceratops, whileSmith took second among the women behindErin O’Mara. Both employed the same strate-gies this time. Each took the lead in the half-

mile swim, stayed strong through the 20K bikeand finished the 5K run more than two minutesahead of their closest rivals.

“I was actually behind her (Smith) com-ing out of the water,” Deighan pointed out.“She was fast!”

Deighan passed Smith on the bike as didseveral other men, but no other woman couldtouch her. The winner, who graduated fromthe University of Michigan last year, was anAll-American swimmer for the school.

“I got a new bike before this race. Thathelped as well,” Smith said.

She finished in 1:07:17. Next cameO’Mara, 26, of Ypsilanti (1:09:41), AnneMarie Phillips, 49, of Northville (1:10:39),Kelly Bennett, 35, of Royal Oak (1:10:46)and Chrissy Robert, 28, of Ann Arbor(1:11:35).

Deighan, who timed 1:10:10, was followedacross the finish line by Roman Krzyzanowski,39, of Plymouth (1:03:24). The two men, whoboth compete for Team Mongo, enjoyed vyingon a Wednesday evening.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Krzyzanowskisaid. “It doesn’t interfere with your weekend.It’s late enough that you don’t have to taketime out from work, but you still get homeby 9 p.m.”

Finishing third, fourth and fifth wereChad Mahakian, 25, of Farmington Hills(1:05:40), Thierry Guertin, 37, of Windsor,Ontario (1:05:53) and Doug Bishop, 26, ofAnn Arbor (1:06:18).

For complete results, go tohttp://runtrextri.com.

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Pterodactyl Triathlon, Brighton

Tina Muir won the 5K in 17:47.

Venetian Festival / Jeff Drenth Memorial Footraceand Ryan Shay Mile, Charlevoix, July 24

Nicole Edwards won the EliteWomen’s One mile in 4:34.91


Jeff See (3:55.98) edged LiamBoylan Pett (3:56.42) in the RyanShay Mile. Five men ran sub 4:00miles.



HOWELL (7/4/10) — Brian MacIlvainenjoyed a spectacular holiday at the eighthannual Howell Independence Aquathlon andOpen Water Swim, winning the former andfinishing second in the latter. But HeidiHendrick fared even better, winning both.

The event, presented by the HowellArea Parks and Recreation Authority,enjoyed record turnouts of 145 entries inthe one-mile swim, then 148 in theaquathlon. Many tackled both.

“We had a great day and crowd,” racedirector Peter Bowen said.

Races started and ended on theHowell City Park beach and made use ofThompson Lake.

Matt West, 35, of Ypsilanti won the openswim in 17:31, beating MacIlvain, 26, of AnnArbor (17:48). Top master Scott Baker, 48, ofBay City finished sixth overall in 18:54.

Hendrick, 29, a former collegiate swim-mer who now lives in Saginaw, led thewomen, placing just behind MacIlvain in17:52. Her friend Jennifer Coleman, 41, ofMidland took second in 18:58.

“Heidi is an amazing athlete,” saidColeman, who was also the top masterswoman in the race.

The aquathlon — which consists of a 2-milerun, 750-meter swim and another 2-mile run —

blasted off one hour after the swim, at 10 a.m.

Ryan Rau, 30, of Brighton, shot out to ahuge early lead, but MacIlvain, a formerswimmer for the University of Rochester inNew York, caught up to him in the swim.

“The swim is really important here,because Ryan crushed me in the first 2-milerun,” said MacIlvain. “But I was able to getback into the race during the swim.”

Rau reclaimed the lead early in the sec-ond run, the two dueled, “then I went intooverdrive,” said the winner. “I was an 800-meter runner in college, so if I can stay in

contention until the last 200meters or so of a race, I canusually take it.

“But I was hurting outthere. Ryan really pushed me,”MacIlvain said.

He finished in 26:53, fol-lowed by Rau in 27:03. Baker,eighth overall, again paced themasters in 29:59.

Hendrick, women’s runner-up in last year’s aquathlon, wonthis time in 30:43.

“This is the only aquathlon Iknow of,” she said. “That’swhy I came back — becauseit’s so different from any otherrace.”

Whitney Wilson, 22, ofCommerce took second in 31:19. Third wasmasters champ Jennifer Coleman in 32:11.

Jim Donaldson, 66, of Sylvania, Ohio,who coordinates triathlons and duathlonswith his wife, Joyce, for Elite Endeavors,competed in both July 4 events.

“The water was beautiful,” Donaldsonsaid. “This is a low-key event with a niceatmosphere. The organizers do a good job.”

For complete results, gohttp://www.everalracemgt.com.

- MR -

Aquathlon, Swim Are Just Day at the Beach for PairHowell Independence Aquathlon and Open Water Swim, Howell

Eventual Aquathlon winner, Bruce MacIlvain(far right) take an early lead.

O’Mara Ups Heat at Humid Flirt with DirtBy Ron Marinucci

NOVI (6/12) — It wasn’t just the humidityand heat that grabbed runners’ attention atthe annual Flirt with Dirt trail races. ErinO’Mara’s efforts opened eyeballs too.

O’Mara ran both races, tearing through the7:30 a.m. 5K to get to the 10K start withmore than five minutes to spare. This is noth-ing new, as she has won the women’s 5K and10K each of the last two years. But this year,she was the overall 5K winner in 20:27, thencame back to win the women’s 10K (42:54)while finishing fourth overall.

“Yes, the 5K is my first overall win,” saidO’Mara after the races. “But I’d like to thankBrian St. Onge for going the wrong way and

Jason Mahakian for following him.” The twomen, leading at the time, missed a turn andended up running close to 10K in a race sup-posed to be half that distance.

“If they had stayed on course, I wouldhave been in third overall,” O’Mara said. “Iam bummed it happened. No runner wantsto win because someone else went the wrongway, especially when they’re your friends.

“There isn’t much time between races, soyou can’t plan on much recovery,” she con-tinued. “The key is not working too hard inthe 5K where you feel fresh, then trying tokeep a good attitude in the 10K when yourlegs feel a little dead.

“I noticed more people running both races

this year. It’s a fun challenge. I like races thatallow people to do both,” O’Mara said.

Flirt is billed as a trail race in “the landof malls and mansions,” but it is a true trailrace. Both competitions are run on narrowfootpaths, making passing difficult. There aremany twists, turns and switchbacks. Roots,limbs, branches and rocks “litter” the course.

Two fallen logs just past mile onerequired hurdling two or three feet, sort of asteeplechase. Recent rains left the coursesmuddy, puddled and slippery in spots. In thewoods, the trees trapped humidity andblocked potentially-cooling breezes.

But Flirt has seen worse — or better,depending on one’s view.

Flirt with Dirt, Novi

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WATERLOO (7/11/10) — Who’s afraidof the big 4-0? Not Melissa Sundermann,40, of Ann Arbor or Brian Francis, 43,of Brighton.

They won the Waterloo Triathlon,presented by Elite Endeavors at WaterlooState Recreation Area.

Francis had already enjoyed a goodweek when he came to this triathlon onSunday morning. His wife, Angie, hadgiven birth to a daughter four daysbefore the race. (Francis dedicated hisvictory to his family.)

He had also won here in 2008, butfinished second last year and was deter-mined to reclaim his title on this half-mile swim, 16-mile bike and 5-mile runcourse.

“I told my wife before I left thismorning, ‘I’m going to put the hammerdown today. Whoever shows up, toughbananas. I’m winning this thing!’” hesaid.

While Francis has won often throughthe years, Sundermann had never claimedan overall victory in a triathlon before.

“I’m very happy to win here,” she said.“I thought I could be in the top three. I didn’tknow if I could win.”

Not that she didn’t want it. “I’ve traineda lot harder, and the right way, as I’ve neared40,” said Sundermann. “It’s paid off!”

Both champs had to overcome a strongfield. Francis, who timed 1:22:20, beat 2007champ Joe Deighan, 39, of Beverly Hills(1:23:18) by 58 seconds. Next came WilliamVann, 21, of East Leroy (1:24:37) and MattWest, 35, of Ypsilanti (1:25:23).

Vann and West were 1-2 out of the waterin 12:05 and 12:18 respectively, to Francis’s12:46. The eventual winner kicked it up anotch in the bike.

“I took the lead at about six miles,”Francis said, “and really pushed hard fromthere. We were going pretty fast downhill; Ihad an aerodynamic position and reallycranked it. I took the corners kind of hard,but not too aggressively.”

His 37:17 in the 16-mile bike was by far

the best time in the competition.

Sundermann also fared well on the bike,but still trailed entering the run. She thenpicked off one woman after another and wonthe race in 1:35:42. Next came Terry Bennett,35, of Royal Oak (1:37:07), MindyFernando, 32, of Franklin (1:38:47) and AnnMarie Phillips, 49, of Northville (1:40:14).

Bennett led with a couple miles left in therun when Sundermann whipped by her. “Iknew she was coming,” Bennett said. “Iknew she was going to run me down. Shelooked lean, mean and faster than me.”

Waterlooo also hosted a duathlon, wonby Kurt Sherwood, 50, of Kalamazoo andMelinda Calgie, 38, of Toledo.

“I train hard and try to be a good exam-ple for my three daughters,” Calgie said.

Race directors Jim and Joyce Donaldson“are terrific,” said Francis. “I’ve done manyof their races and they do the job with nohiccups. They are right on target every time.”

For complete results, go tohttp://eliteendeavors.com. MR

Masters Francis, SundermannTriumph at Waterloo

Waterloo Triathlon, Waterloo

Melissa Sundermann claimed her firsttriathlon win.

“The race was a blast!” enthusedO’Mara. “I love trail runs. Running Fitalways puts on great events. I thought thecourses might be sloppy, but they were inpretty good shape. There were a few slickturns, but I didn’t have any problems.”

Also running the 5K were nine elemen-tary students from Daycroft Running Club inAnn Arbor. Coached by Mandi Tuite, theclub is part of the Daycroft MontessoriSchool. “We trained for nine weeks,” saidTuite, “specifically for Flirt with Dirt.”

After running for several charities, thestudents chose a race, “as a celebration forworking.” They agreed they wanted “to getdirty,” laughed Tuite, so Flirt was theirchoice. In the week before the race, “theirmain excitement” was watching for rain tohelp them “get dirty.”

Two Daycroft runners are visuallyimpaired — “legally blind,” said Tuite. “Butyou’d have no idea they’re blind. They runindependently.”

She and one student’s mother ran with eachof the youngsters, but, “we had to hurry tocatch up with them a couple times!” Tuite said.

“Flirt with Dirt is always a good time,”said Joe Burns, who ran the 10K. “RunningFit’s Serious Trail Series gives us three greatreasons to look forward to each summer.”

Burns was glad that he’d carried a waterbottle. “Humid was the word of the day,” hesaid. “When it’s cooler out in the open fieldin the sunshine than it is back on the trails,you know you’re in for a good test.

“I was struggling the last couple miles.With a mile to go, I looked like I’d just steppedout of a pool (or nearby Walled Lake?) thanksto the humidity. I ran up to a young lady(Elizabeth Peterson, also struggling); we encour-aged each other down to the last turn, then upthat blasted hill” — a sadistic finishing flourishof 40 yards in both races.

“It seems that those who struggle togeth-er always finish together,” Burn said.

Flirt cut off registration at 600, as it didlast year, due to parking and trail limitations.Both races sold out several weeks beforehand.

The 5K drew 208 finishers. Leading themen, errant and otherwise, was Alexander Gray(20:54), almost half a minute behind O’Mara.Alex Dane blew in just five seconds later.

The overall 10K winner was JeremyDoody (40:47). He was well over a minutein front of runner-up Jimmy Hicks (41:58).

Results can be found athttp://runflirt.com.

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Diemer Runners Beat Humidity, Handicaps, HeatBy Daniel G. Kelsey

CUTLERVILLE (6/12/10) —Elizabeth Stone and ChristinaOverbeck didn’t meet before orafter the 21st annual BrianDiemer Amerikam 5K Run. Theywere nowhere near one anotherduring the race. But in spirit theywent hand in hand.

Stone covered the course on arunning prosthesis she was fittedfor a year and a half before.Overbeck entered the event afterreturning to Grand Rapids from astint in the engineering of pros-thetics.

Stone, 20, of Grand Rapids,was born without a femur — herright knee in the region of herhip; her foot, since removed, about where herknee might have been. Adopted from Russiaat age 4, she wore a prosthetic from earlychildhood.

In 2009 her running prosthesis freed herto participate in track during her senior yearat Grand Rapids Christian High School andto race in the 25K at the Fifth Third RiverBank Run.

But her focus this year was on preparationsto swim in six events at the Paralympics WorldChampionships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands,in August. While warming up for the Diemer,Stone said she hadn’t trained for running andhad no particular goal in terms of speed.“Finishing would be good,” she said.

Half an hour or so later, she posted achip time of 28:28.

Overbeck, 24, of Chicago, a Seattle native,majored in mechanical engineering at CalvinCollege. Her interest in biomechanics landedher this spring at the Rehabilitation Institute ofChicago as a volunteer. The bubbly Overbeckworked both with patients and in the lab,assessing motion, tweaking prosthetics.

“I’ve had a pretty cool time for the lastmonth,” Overbeck said. “I’ve seen a coupleathletes. If I decide to get into the field I’dlike to work with athletes, because running’ssuch a joy to me.”

A while later she reacted as if overjoyed atword that her 18:13 landed her in ninth place.

Danielle Quisenberry, 28, of Hillsdale,was one of the eight women who came inahead of her. A year ago Quisenberry lost outon a Diemer championship by three seconds,placing third in a race to the finish withDenisa Costescu and Sarah Hinkley. Beforethis year’s running she said she hoped to bet-ter her 2009 time of 17:07.

“Yeah, I’d like to run faster than that.But it’s kind of muggy out here,” she said.“I’ll try to go out fast and then hold on.”

But she had no expectation of winning, dueto the presence of Andrea Pomaranski, whobeat her going away in the Spectrum HealthIrish Jig 5K in East Grand Rapids in March.

Quisenberry finished fourth in theAmerikam with a clocking of 17:19.

Pomaranski, 27, of Farmington madesure there would be no repeat of a three-wayfinish among the women, posting a 16:14 tobreak Mandi Zemba’s course record.

Katie Jazwinski, 31, of Dexter finishedsecond in 16:48. Suzanne Larsen, 32, ofFenton claimed third in 17:10.

Costescu, 34, of Walled Lake, took sev-enth place.

Like Quisenberry, Ruben Henderson, 48,of Grand Rapids noted the mugginess beforethe race. But the former Saginaw Valley StateUniversity track and cross-country athleteshook off any suggestion that conditionsmight influence his results.

“No. I trained in the dead of heat,” hesaid. “I’m racing against Paul Aufdemberge,my old running rival.”

With a straight face Henderson said he’dcome to win the Amerikam and to break 14minutes. He finished 38th overall with a guntime of 17:17.

Ian Forsyth, 38, of Ann Arbor won the21st Diemer men’s crown by nosing out JedChristiansen, 23, of Greenville, Penn., in atwo-way finish. Forsyth posted a 14:45,Christiansen a 14:47.

Two other men, Dennis Pollon, 23, ofRansomville, N.Y., in third and KristopherKoster, 28, of Grand Rapids, in fourth,eclipsed the 15-minute mark.

Aufdemberge, 45, of Redford won themasters title on the men’s side with a 15:27and Laurel Park, 47, of Ann Arbor on thewomen’s side with a 17:24.

For complete results, visithttp://classicrace.com. MR

Danielle Quisenberry

Brian Diemer Amerikam 5K Race, Cutlerville

Eventual winner Ian Forsyth, bib #2, and runner-up Jed Christiansen, bib #4, areamong early leaders of the Diemer 5K Run.

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September

Wed., September 1

Hansons Half/FullMarathon TrainingClinic #3Royal Oak 6:30 pmHansons Running ShopTraining Clinic(248) [email protected]

Sat., September 4

Aliferis MemorialRun/Walk/Bike RaceAlpena 7:30 amAlpena Regional MedicalCenter13.1MR, 5KR, 2MW,18.5MB(989) [email protected]

Big Bad WolfAdventure RaceBig Rapids 8:30 amBig Rapid Middle Schooland Northend Park5KR/ 6MB/ 4M canoe,individual, teams, or relay(231) [email protected]

Grand Marais 5KGrand Marais 9:00 amBayshore Park 5KR(906) [email protected]

Grand Marais JuniorTriathlonGrand Marais 11:00 amBeach, downtownwade/swim, run, bike/trike(906) [email protected]

Grass River NaturalArea Trail RunBellaire 9:00 am5KR(231) [email protected] / active.com

Greatest 5K EverGrand Rapids 10:00 am

Riverside Park5KR(616) [email protected]/run

Harrison CommunityDays 5K Run/WalkHarrison 9:00 amHarrison City Park5KR/W(989) [email protected]

Labor Day 30KRun & 10KWalk/RunMilford 8:00 amBakers Restaurant,2025 Milford Rd.30KR, 10KR/W, 1/2kids run, 30KB, 30KInline skateDoug Klingensmith(248) 685-7580 /(248) [email protected] Runner RaceSeries

Marquette MarathonMarquette 8:00 amPresque Isle26.2MR, 13.1MR,1/2MFRNancy [email protected]

Marshall RunNewaygo 9:00 amRiverfront Park5KR/W(517) [email protected]

Michiana Shores 5KMichiana, IN 9:00 amMichiana Shores FireDepartment5KR/W(219) [email protected]

Niles TriathlonNiles 8:00 amBarron Lake Rd. &Lakeshore Dr.Tri: .1.5kW/ 40KB/ 10KR;200meterS-20.9 MB/ 10KB/2.5 MR; Du: 5KR,-20.9

MB-5MR; 5KR(269) [email protected]

Over the River andThru the Woods 5KBig Rapids10:00 amBig Rapid Middle Schooland Northend Park5KR(231) [email protected]

Owen Scully MemorialBig Star Lake 15K Run& 5K Walk

July - October 2010 Event Calendar

Baldwin 8:30 amLake Township Fire Barn15KR, [email protected]/bslrace.htm

Port Oneida RunGlen Arbor 9:00 amCharles Olsen Farm5KR/W, 1/2MFR(231) [email protected]

Ringside FitnessMarquette MarathonMarquette 8:00 amPresque Isle26.2MR, 13.1MR,1/[email protected]

Run BeaverIslandMarathon, HalfMarathon & 5KBeaver Island 8 amDowntown Beach26.2MR, 13.1MR,5KR/WSharon Suffolk(248) [email protected]

Run Like The WindWestland 9:30 amHines Park, Nankin MillsPicnic Area10KR, 5KR(517) [email protected]

Shared PregnancyBaby Steps 5KLansing 9:00 amRiverfront Park 5KR/W(517) [email protected]

SuperKids TryBarefootTriathlonTraverse City 9 amGrand TraverseResort and SpaTriathlon: distancesvary by age3 Disciplines(231) [email protected] 4 MileSaint Clair 10:00 am4MR, 1MR

[email protected]/

Witchy Wolf 3Omer 7:30 pmSundaes Afternoon15MR, X-C, 2 person relay(989) [email protected]

Sun., September 5

BarefootTriathlonsTraverse City 8 amGrand TraverseResort and SpaTri: 1.5KS/ 26MB/10KR or 500mS/16.4MB/ 5KR3 Disciplines(231) [email protected]

Ed Hansen MemorialRun/WalkOntonagon 10:00 amFire Hall on River Street10KR, 5KR(906) [email protected]

Grand Marais TriathlonGrand Marais 1:30 pmGrand Marais City ParkTri: 300-yardS/ 14MB/5KR(906) [email protected]

Marathon Oasisde MontrealMontreal, QC9:00 am26.2MR, 13.1MR,10KR, 5KR, kids runBernard Arsenault(514) [email protected]

RunningWaters 5KGaylord 8:00 am5KR/W, kids runAnn Wagar(989) [email protected]

Mon., September 6

Blueberry StompPlymouth, IN 9:00 amCentennial Park15KR, 5KR(574) [email protected]

Governor’s Labor DayBridge RunMackinaw City5MFRMichigan FitnessFoundation(517) [email protected]/bridgerun.html

Labor Day Run &PotluckMidland 10:00 amChippewa Nature Center10KR, 5KR/W(989) 662-6802www.barc-mi.com

Labor Day Run forRecoveryCharlotte 8:00 amBennett Park5KR/W, 1MFW, kids run(517) [email protected]

Mackinac Bridge WalkSt. Ignace 7:00 amSt. Ignace to MackinawCity 5MWMackinac BridgeAuthority(906) 643-7600mackinacbridge.org

Rose City / LuptonWalk/RunLupton 9:00 amRifle River Recreation Area10KR/W(810) [email protected]

Wed., September 8

Hansons Youth TeamRochester 4:45 pmBloomer Parkcamp(248) [email protected]

Sat., September 11

Allegiance Health Raceto HealthJackson 8:00 amAllegiance Radiation

Oncology - Tejada Center5MR, 5KR/W, kids run(517) [email protected]/runjackson/

COVE Benefit BeachWalk and RunPentwater 8:30 pmCharles Mears State Park10KR, 5KR/W(231) [email protected]

Dances withDirt - HellPickney/Hell6:15 amPinckney RecreationArea, Half Moon Lake50MR, 50KR, 100 KRelayRunning Fit(734) [email protected]

First National Bank ofWakefield MarathonWakefield 8:00 am CDTSouthwest Park, 2/10 of amile west of US2 & M2826.2MR(906) [email protected]

Grape Lake 5KRun/WalkPaw Paw 8:00 amBronson LakeViewHospital, 408 Hazen St.5K R/W(269) [email protected]

Kazoo Area Foot ChasePortage 9:00 amCelery Flats Park3.5 MR(269) [email protected]

Kirby 5KNew Boston 10:00 amWillow Metro Park5KR/W(734) [email protected]

Lake City MarathonWinona Lake, IN 7:00 amWinona Lake Park50KR, 26.2MR, 13.1MR(574) 267-3306www.lakecitymarathon.info

Live Life Nspired 5KCharlotte 9:45 amHayes Green BeachHospital5KR/W, 1MWJake Campbell(517) [email protected]

Mackinac Island8 Mile RoadRaceMackinac Island9:30 amMission Point Resort8 MR/W, kids runJohn Gault(810) [email protected]

Miles for Meals 5KRun/WalkBrighton 9:00 amdowntown Brighton5KR/W(586) [email protected]/

Muskrat Classic RunAlgonac 8:30 amAlgonac HS5KR(810) [email protected]

NSO Riverwalk 5KDetroit 9:00 amDetroit RiverfrontRiverwalk5KR, 1MR(313) 961-4890nso-mi.org

Page BurnerRun and WalkKingsley Village11:00 amCivic Center South10KR, 5KR, kids runDuane Travis(231) [email protected]/recreation.php

Pink Arrow QuiverLowell 7:30 amLowell HS5KR/W(616) [email protected]/71067 /pinkarrowpride.org



Rhoades McKee ReedsLake TriathlonEast Grand Rapids 8 am750 Lakeside Dr. SE1/2MS/ 17.2MB/ 4.9MR(616) [email protected]

Run and Walk for theAnimalsGrand Ledge 10:45 amFitzgerald Park5KR/W, 1MW(517) 626-6060, x [email protected]

Run for RyanFlat Rock 5:30 pmFlat Rock Community HS8KR, 1 MR/W(734) [email protected]/ ryans-friends/ryansrun.htm

Run for Your HeartSaginaw 8:00 amMichigan CardioVascularInstitute, 1015 S.Washington St.10KR, 5KR/W(989) [email protected]

Sand Point / BeadleBay Marina 5K Run /WalkCaseville 10:00 amBeadle Bay Marina &Campground5KR/W(517) [email protected]

St. Mike’s Race forFaith 5KGrand Ledge 6:00 pmFitzgerald Park5KR/W, kids run(517) [email protected]

SprinterlochenInterlochen 9:07:50 amTom’s of Interlochen15KR, 5KR/W(231) 947-0003, ext. [email protected]

St. Mary Parish Festival5K Run WalkMorrice 12:45 pmMain and Davis5KR, 2KR/W(517) [email protected]

St. Mike’s Race forFaith 5KGrand Ledge 6:00 pmFitzgerald Park5KR/W, kids run(517) [email protected]/school/race-for-faith

Tawas TriathlonFestivalEast Tawas 8:00 amEast Tawas City Park1.2MS/ 56MB/13.1MR or 1.5KS/40KB/ 10KR or500mS/ 20kB/ 5KRKenny Krell(231) [email protected]

Walk/ Run ToRememberSandusky 9:30 amSandusky Diamond Trail5KR/W(810) [email protected]

Walk the WalkGrand Blanc 9:00 amHealth Park

3KR/[email protected]

Witch’s HatRunSouth Lyon8:00 amSouth Lyon HS10KR, 5KR/W, 1 MFRScott Smith(248) [email protected]/witch

Sun., September 12

Delta College 5K Run &WalkUniversity Center 9:00 amUniversity Center5KR/W(989) [email protected]

Grand Blanc Walk theWalkGrand Blanc Noon3KR/W(810) [email protected]

michiganlungcancer-walk.org

Hansons 16 MileMarathon Training RunRoyal Oak 8:00 amHansons Running Shop4-16 MR(248) [email protected]

Hardick ChiropracticCentre SpringbankHalf-Marathon and 5KLondon, ON 8:00 amStone Cottage, SpringbankPark13.1 MR, 5KR/W, kids run(519) [email protected]

Henry FordRock and Road5 / 10KWest Bloomfield8:30 amCivic CenterComplex, 4640Walnut Lake Road10KR, 5KRDenny Troshak

48

(248) [email protected]

Kellie Sebrell DeWitt 5KTrail RunDeWitt 10:00 amDeWitt High School5KRW(517) [email protected]

Motor City MarathonDetroit 7:00 amBelle Isle13.1MR, 10KR(734) [email protected]

River RunCleveland, OH 8:00 amWallace Lake /Rocky RiverHigh School13.1 MR, Relay, InlineSkate, 5KR(216) [email protected]

Sparrow WomenWorking Wonders 5KLansing 10:30 amHawk Island Park5KR/W(517) [email protected]/foundation/runwalk/

St. Mary Mercy Hospital5K Run/Walk forCancerLivonia 9:00 amSt. Mary Mercy Hospital,Five Mile and Levan Rd.5KR/W(734) [email protected] /www.stmarymercy.org

Tortoise and HareMarathon Training RunAnn Arbor 9:00 amTortoise and Hare Runningand Fitness Center13.1MR, 20MR, 10MR,5MR(734) [email protected]

Tower Run forEducationMichigan City, IN 8:30 amWashington Park8KR, 5KW(219) [email protected]/run/

Trish Donnelly-RunnionMemorial Road RacePlymouth 8:00 amPlymouth Cultural Center5KR, 1 MFR/W(734) [email protected] with PlymouthFall Festival Race

Mon., Sept. 13

Hansons Youth TeamRoyal Oak 4:45 pmStarr Parkcamp(586) [email protected]

Wed., Sept. 15

Hansons MarathonTraining Clinic #3Utica 6:30 amHansons Running ShopTraining Clinic(586) [email protected]

Fri., September 17

AVSO Forks 5KRun/WalkAlbion 6:00 pmVictory Park5KR/W, 1KFR(517) [email protected]

SpartanInvitationalEast Lansing 1:00 pmMichigan StateUniversity - ForestAkers Golf Coursecollege and highschool x-cNancy Lumley(517) [email protected]

Sat., September 18

Apple Cider RunFenton 9:00 amSpicer Orchards5KR/W, 1/2MFR(517) [email protected]/races.html

Autumn ColorsTriathlon andDuathlonHolly 9:00 amHolly Recreation Area1000 meterS/ 18MB/5.5MR or 2MR/18MB/ 5.5MRKenny Krell(231) [email protected]

Big Mac ShorelineScenic Bike TourMackinaw City 9:00 amMackinaw City HighSchool Pavillion25MB, 50MB, 75MB,100MB(888) [email protected]

Chad SchieberMemorial RunMidlandEmerson Park10KR, 5KR, 1MR, kidsrun(231) [email protected]

Chasing the Cure forOvarian CancerSturgis 9:00 amDoyle Community Center5KR/W, 5K pump and run,1MFR(269) [email protected]

Deerfield Park Trail Half/ 10K / 5KMt. Pleasant 10:00 amDeerfield Park13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR(989) [email protected]

Dirty Dog DashBoyne Falls 10:00 amBoyne Mountain3MR(517) [email protected]/

Dunes DuathlonSaugatuck 9:30 amSaugatuck Dunes StatePark5MR, 17.8 MB(616) [email protected]

Grosse PointeRunGrosse Pointe8:30 amGP Farms Pier Park10KR, 5KR/W, 1MFR,kids runsWayne Manchester(800) [email protected]

Harvest StompedeSuttons Bay 9:30 amCiccone Vinyards, LeelanauPeninsula7MR, 5KR, 3MW(231) [email protected]/harvest/

John RoguckiMemorialKensingtonChallengeMilford 8:30 amKensingtonMetropark, MapleBeach15KR, 5KR/W, 1MR/WDoug Goodhue(248) [email protected]

Kid’s Fitness CaperPortage 8:00 amCelery Flats, Garden Lane10KR, 5KR/W, kids run(269) [email protected]

Michigan State PoliceFall Color 5KNorthville Twp 10:00 amMaybury State Park5KR/W(586) 727-0200, ext. [email protected]

Nike-Holly CrossCountry InvitationalDavisburg 7:40 amSpringfield Oaks CountyParkX-C meet, 5KR, 2MR(248) [email protected]/hhs/activities/site/xxcountry/home.html

Oakland TownshipCuramus Terram 5K &Half MarathonOakland Township 9 amPaint Creek Cider Mill13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR(586) [email protected]

Oh These Irish HillsTipton 9:00 amHIdden Lake Gardens,6214 W. Monroe5KR/W(517) [email protected] / www.otih.org

Oktoberfest Marathon,Half Marathon and 5KSpring Lake 8:00 amOld Boys Brewhouse26.2MR, 13.1MR, 5kR/W(616) [email protected]/

Peacock StrutPortage 8:00 amCelery Flats10KR, 5KR/W, kid’s run(269) [email protected]/~pcoc /classicrace.com

Riverbend 5K Run /Walk for MSWest Branch 9:00 amPage Street Senior Center5KR/W, kids run(989) [email protected]

St. John ApplefestFenton 9:00 amSt. John Church10KR, 5KR/W, 1MR(810) 735.9193gaultracemanagement.com

United States Air ForceMarathonDayton, OH 7:15 amNational Museum of theUnited States Air Force26.2 MR/W, 13.1MR/W,(937) [email protected]

VNA 5K Run/Walk forthe Health of ItGrosse Pointe Shores9:30 amEdsel & Eleanor FordHouse 5KR/W(248) [email protected]



Sun., September 19

Big Mac ShorelineScenic Bike TourMackinaw City 7:00 amMackinaw City HS(888) [email protected] ride in September 18Tour to ride the bridge

Charity ChallengeWindsor, ON 9:00 am1 Riverside Drive W.8KR, 3KR/W, kids runs(519) [email protected]

Eastern MichiganSoftball Knock CancerOutta the Park 5KYpsilanti 10:00 amEastern Michigan VarsitySoftball Field 5KR/W(734) [email protected]

Fox Cities MarathonNeenah, WIRiverside Park26.2 MR, 13.1 MR/W,relayDebbie Jansen(920) 727.1726debbie.jansen@

50

communityfirstcu.orgwww.foxcitiesmarathon.org

Gazelle Sports BridgeRunGrand Rapids 8:00 amRosa Parks Circle10MR, 5KR(616) [email protected]

Lung Cancer 5KRun/Walk and LittleLungs Fun RunMilford 8:00 amKensington Park, MapleBeach5KR/W, kids run(313) [email protected]

Michigan’sTriathlon &DuathlonChampionshipShelby Twp. 8:00 amStony CreekMetropark1.5KS/ 40KB/ 10KRor 500mS/ 20KB/5KR or 5KR/ 40KB/5KRKenny Krell(231) [email protected]

Neal V. SinglesMemorial RunMorenci 8:30 amMorenci HS5KR/W, 1MFR/W(517) [email protected]/index_files/nvsrun.htm

PlaymakersAutumn Classic8KHaslett 9:00 amLake Lansing Park,North8KR/W, 1MFR, 1/2 MFR(517) [email protected]

Romeo 2 RichmondHalf MarathonRichmond 8:30 amRichmond, bus to Romeo13.1MR/W, 5KR/W(586) 469-5065

[email protected] Farley RunPinckney 10:00 am5KR, 1/4MR(734) [email protected]

Run Wild forthe Detroit ZooRoyal Oak 8:00 amDetroit Zoo10KR, 5KR, FWChristine Kenny(248) 541-5717, [email protected]

Timber Trail TrotHarrison 10:00 amMid Michigan CommunityCollege, Harrison Campus5KR/WMMCC Foundation(989) [email protected]

UEA 5K Trail Run & 1Mile Fitness WalkShelby Township 9:30 amStony Creek Metro ParkEastwood Beach5KR, 1MW(586) [email protected]

White Pine Academy5KLeslie 8:00 am5KR/W(517) [email protected]/5k.html

Wed., Sept. 22

Hansons MarathonTraining Clinic #3Lake Orion 6:30 pmHansons Running ShopTraining Clinic(248) [email protected]

Fri., September 24

Run WoodstockPinckney 6:00 amSilver Lake Beach5KRRunning Fit(734) 929-9027canadianchick@

runningfit.comrunwoodstock.com3 day event; Saturday:100MR, 50MR, 50KR,26.2MR, 13.1MR, 10KR,5MR; Sunday: 5MFR

Sat., September 25

1 Hour MidwestRegional RacewalkingChampionshipRoyal Oak 10:00 amBerkley HS Track1 hour walk(248) [email protected]

Bangor Cross CountryInvitationalBangor 9:00 amBangor HSHS & MS XCmeet(269) [email protected]/

CNS Stomp Out Stigma5K Run/WalkClarkston 9:00 amIndependence Oaks CountyPark 5KR/W(248) [email protected]

Detroit Catholic CentralCross CountryInvitationalNorthville 10:00 amCass Benton ParkHS X-C, Open races(248) [email protected]

Esperanza 5KRun/WalkTraverse City 11:00 amGrand Traverse Commons5KR/W, 1MWGreat Lakes Friends of [email protected]/a/safepassage.org/esperanza-5k/home/traversecity

Fort-4-Fitness HalfMarathon / 4 Mile Run /WalkFort Wayne, IN 7:30 amFreimann Square13.1MR, 4MR/W(260) [email protected]

Garden RunTraverse City 8:30 amGrand Traverse Commons

at the Barns10KR, 5KR, 3KRMike McNulty(231) [email protected]

Gazelle Sports MetroMini Adventure Racefor KidsKalamazoo 2:00 pmDowntown Kalamazoo2MR, 5MB(269) [email protected]

Genesys 5K Run/WalkGrand Blanc 10:00 amGenesys Health ParkNature Trails5KR/W, 1MFR(810) [email protected]/

Hadley Run-of-theMillHadley 9:00 amHadley Mill, HartwigCommunity Park5KR/W(248) [email protected]/site/hadleyrunofthemill/

Happy Heart RunColdwater 9:00 amHeritage Park5KR/W, [email protected]/Happy_Heart.html

Highland Conservancy5K NatureHighland 9:00 amRailroad Tracks byHighland Feed 5KR(248) 887-8470, [email protected]/pages/home/

Jefferson CrossCountry InvitationalMonroe 9:00 amSterling State ParkHS, MS XC meet(734) [email protected]

Kilometers for CamSt. Joseph 8:30 amWhirlpool CompassFountain5KR/W, [email protected]

Komen Grand RapidsRace for the CureGrandville 8:30 amRivertown Crossings Mall5KR, 1MW(616) [email protected]

Metro Trek AdventureRaceKalamazoo 8:00 amVerburg Park10 hour sprint: mtn bike,road bike, run, paddle,ropes, etc.(269) [email protected]

Midnight RunPort Huron 11:50 pmYMCA of the Blue WaterArea 5KR(810) [email protected]

Oktoberfest Lagerlauf5K Fun Run & WalkGrand Rapids 12:00 pmJohn Ball Park Zoo5KR/W(616) [email protected] / signmeup.com

Park 2 ParkHalf Marathonand 5KHolland 8:30 am1627 W. LakewoodBlvd.13.1MR, 5KR(616) 399-9190, x [email protected]

Race the LakeHoughton Lake 10:00 amArby’s on Iroquois Ave.5KFRJoJean Thompson(989) [email protected]/

Road Runner AkronMarathonAkron, OH 8:00 amLockheed Martin Airdock26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, 5 or 2person relays, kids run(330) 375-2RUNakronmarathon.org

Run for the SonPortage 9:00 amCelery Flats 5KR/W


(269) [email protected]

Run WoodstockPinckney 6:00 amSilver Lake Beach5KRRunning Fit(734) [email protected] day event; Friday: 5KR;Sunday: 5MFR

Running Fit 20Mile TrainingRunWestland 8:00 amNankin Mills on HinesDr.20 MR or training runof any distanceRunning Fit(734) [email protected]

Saginaw SpiritSaginaw 8:00 am5KR, 1MR/W

Gerber Auto [email protected] Area Chamber ofCommerce ChaseSault Ste. Marie, MI 7 am26.2MR, 13.1MR, 10KR(906) [email protected]

Save the Wildlife 5KRun/WalkHowell 10:00 amHowell Conference andNature Center

5KR/W, 1MW(517) [email protected]

Walk of RemembranceLivonia 9:00 amFelician Groundsdistance varies(734) [email protected]


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Sun., Sept. 26

Aspen AttackMTB Duathlonand RaceGaylord 8:00 amAspen ParkDu: 4MR/ 21KB or21KBKenny Krell(810) [email protected]

Birmingham Lions Runfor the BlindBirmingham 9:00 amDowntown Birmingham10KR, 5KR, 1 MW(248) [email protected]

Capital CityRiver Run HalfMarathon/ 5KLansing 8:30 amImpression 5 ScienceCenter13.1MR, 5KR, 1MFR,1/4 MFRDan Casey(517) [email protected]

Hansons 16 MileMarathon Training RunGrosse Pointe 8:00 amHansons Running Shop4-16 MR(313) [email protected]

Harvest DashRace forRecoveryLake Orion 10:00 amWilliam E. ScrippsEstate 5KR/WColleen Richards(248) [email protected]

Komen Northwest OhioRace for the CureToledo, OH 9:00 am5KR/W(419) [email protected]/race_info.htm

Quad Cities MarathonMoline, IL 7:30 am26.2 MR, 13.1MR, relay,5KR/W, 1MW, kids run(309) [email protected]

Run with Attitude 5Kand 1 Mile Run/WalkCommerce Twp 10 amMartin Parkway Project5KR, 1MR/WGreg [email protected]

Run WoodstockPinckney 6:00 amSilver Lake Beach100MR, 50MR, 50KR,26.2MR, 13.1MR,10KR, 5MR(734) [email protected] day event: Friday: 5KR;Saturday: 100MR, 50MR,50KR, 26.2MR, 13.1MR,10KR, 5MR

ScotiabankTorontoWaterfrontMarathonToronto, ON 7 amCity Hall, Bay &Queen Streets26.2 MR, 13.1MR,5KR, kids runKevin Inouye(416) 944-2765, ext.501info@torontowaterfrontmarathon.comtorontowaterfront-marathon.com

Wed., Sept. 29

Hansons MarathonTraining Clinic #3Grosse Pointe 6:30 pmHansons Running Shop,Training Clinic(313) [email protected]

OctoberFriday, October 1

Running for the Cure -October date tbaMio 10:00 am

5KR/WChris Whetstone(989) 826-3214

;

Sat., October 2

Depot DaysStandish 10:00 amdowntown Standish5KR/W(989) [email protected]

Fall FrolicMishawaka, IN 8:45 amMontessori Academy, 530East Day Road10KR, 5KR/W, 2KFR, KidsRun(574) [email protected]

GRAAHI Rhythm RunGrand Rapids 10:00 amMartin Luther King Park5KR/WEmily Smith(616) [email protected]/graahirhythmrunr.html

Greatest 5K EverGrand Rapids 10:00 amRiverside Park 5KR(312) [email protected]/run

Hansons Cross-Country InvitationalSterling Heights 9:00 amDelia Park XCHansons Running(586) [email protected]

Hartwick PinesChallenge Trail RunGrayling 10:00 amHartwick Pines State Park10KR, 5KR, 1MW(989) [email protected]/pinerace/

Holly Fire DepartmentFive Alarm 5KRun/WalkHolly 9:00 amVillage of Holly FireDepartment, 313 S. BroadSt. 5KR/W(248) [email protected]: 1868234

Island Boodle 5KRun/WalkBeaver Island 10:00 amSt. James, Beaver Island5KR/W(231) [email protected]

PumpkinfestRun 5K and10KSouth Lyon 10:00 am9 Mile Road andPontiac Trail5KR/W, 1MRScott Smith(248) [email protected]/1/124/pumpkinfest_run.asp

Red OctoberRunWayne 9:00 amOakwood AnnapolisHospital10KR, 5KR/W, 1Mkid’s runCynthia Cook(313) [email protected]/redoctoberrun/

Remembrance RunTraverse City 10:00 amTimber Ridge5KR/W, 1MR/W(231) [email protected]

Rockhead TrailMarathonWaterford 9:00 amPontiac Lake RecreationArea26.2MR, [email protected]

Rotary Bay 5/10KRun/Walk for CharityPetoskey 8:00 amBay View AssociationGrounds10KR, 5KR/W(231) [email protected]/bay10k.htm

Run for the ToadCambridge, ON 9:30 amPinehurst Lake50KR, 25KR/W(519) 576-1824

[email protected]

Salmon Run/WalkBaldwin 9:00 amSt. Ann’s Meals Building,690 E. 9th St.10KR/W, 5KR/W(231) [email protected]

South Lyon Hotel -Second WindOktoberfest Beer FunRunSouth Lyon 4:00 pm5KR/WGreg Sadler(248) [email protected]

Walt DisneyWorld® Wine &Dine HalfMarathonWeekendLake Buena Vista, FL10:00 pm13.1MRdisney-winedinerun.com

Wild Goose ChaseSaginaw 9:00 amShiawassee NationalWildlife Refuge5KR/W Becky Goche(989) [email protected]

WMU HomecomingCampus ClassicKalamazoo 8:15 amWestern MichiganUniversity Campus,Bernhard Center5KR/W, 1KFR(269) [email protected]/race

Zonta Walks forWomen / Breast CancerAwarenessAlpena 9:30 amGreat Lakes MaritimeHeritage Trail5KR(989) [email protected]

Sunday, October 3

Andrews UniversityHomecoming Run


54

Berrien Springs 9:00 amAndrews University10KR, 5KR, kids run(269) [email protected]/alumni

Betsie Valley RunThompsonville 9:00 amCrystal Mountain Resort13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR/W,kids run(231) [email protected]

Big House / BigHeart 5KAnn Arbor 9:00 amMichigan Stadium5KR,Champions forCharity(734) [email protected]

Brooksie WayHalf MarathonRochester Hills8:00 amOakland University13.1MR, 5KR/WDeb Kiertzner(810) [email protected]

Community ActionCoalition Fun RunHarrison Township 8 amMetro Beach5KR, 2MR/W(586) [email protected]

Don Baese CrossCountry InvitationalCarson City 9:00 amFish Creek Sportsmen’sClub school x-c(989) [email protected] car-soncity.k12.mi.us/ athlet-ics/don-baese-invitational/

Farmington Fall ClassicFarmington 10:00 amHeritage Park 5KR/WFarmington Hills Parks andRec.(248) [email protected]

HuronTownshipApplefestNew Boston 9:00 amLower HuronMetropark10KR, 5KR/W, 1MFRGreg Everal(734) [email protected]

Medtronic Twin CitiesMarathonMinneapolis, MN 8 am26.2 MR, 10 MR, 5KR(763) [email protected]

MSU Federal CreditUnion Dinosaur DashEast Lansing 10:00 amMSU Museum5KR/W, 1MR(517) [email protected]/events/dinosaurdash/

Thurs., October 7

White Pumpkin 5KCaro 6:00 pmHighland Pines School5KR/W(989) [email protected]

Sat., October 9

Bee Brave 5K Run/WalkCaledonia 9:00 am6195 Buttrick Ave.5KR/W(616) [email protected]

Cruisin for a Cure 5KGrand Ledge 9:00 amFirst United MethodistChurch5KR, 2MW(517) [email protected]

Dielh’s OrchardRunMilford 9:00 amDiehls Orchard3 Disciplines Racing(231) [email protected]

Easy as Pi 5KRun/WalkMt. Pleasant 11:00 amIsland Park5KR/W(616) [email protected]

Fall ColorBridge RaceMackinaw City7:00 amSt. Anthony’s ParishHall5.4MRMackinaw AreaVisitors Bureau(231) 436-5664 / (800)[email protected]

Fall Color Tour Run orRelayFalmouth 10:00 am10KR or 2person relay(231) [email protected]

Harbor SpringsMarathon and1/2 MarathonHarbor Springs7:00 amZorn Park26.2MR, 13.1MRThe Outfitter ofHarbor Springs(231) 526-2621info@outfitterharborsprings.comoutfitterharbor-springs.com

Hometown HustleRochester 8:30 am501 West University5KR/W(248) [email protected]

Mercantile Bank RunThru the RapidsGrand Rapids 9:00 amDavid D. Hunting YMCA10KR, 5KR/W(888) 909-2267

Portage InvitationalPortage 9:00 amx-c meet, open 5K(269) 323-5233 or cell(269) [email protected]

Pride Glide MemorialRaceBay Port 9:30 am10KR, 5KR/W(989) [email protected]

Rescue RunHolland 9:00 am356 Fairbanks Avenue5KR/W(616) [email protected]

Run at theFarmWaterford 9:30 am825 S. Williams LakeRoad5KR, 1MR/WLori Soma(248) [email protected]/parksandrec/

Run for ResearchMt. Pleasant 9:00 amRunners Performance 2316S. Mission St.13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR(989) [email protected]

Run VasaWilliamsburg8:30 amVasa Trail Head, 4450Bartlett RdWilliamsburg25KR, 10KRDaniel Siderman(231) [email protected]

Scary HalloweenHallowPort Huron 9:00 amCentral Middle School5KR, 1.5MFR(810) [email protected]

SOS Animal RescueDirty Dog RunMidland 8:00 amMidland City Forest10KR, 5KR, 1MFRHeather Kettelhohn(989) [email protected]

U of M/MSU TailgateChallengeFlint 9:00 amDowntown Flint YMCA5KR/WRiverbend Striders(810) [email protected]

Wayne County CrossCountryChampionshipsNew Boston / Belleville10:00 amWillow Metropark,Chestnut Picnic AreaHS X-C 5KR(734) [email protected]

Whistlestop Marathonand Half MarathonAshland, WI 8:00 amBay Area Civic Center26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, 10KR,5KR(800) [email protected]

Sunday, October 10

Bank of America ChicagoMarathonChicago 7:40 amGrant Park26.2 MR, 5KRCarey Pinkowski(312) 904-9800www.chicagomarathon.com

Goodlife FitnessVictoriaMarathonVictoria, BC 7:30 am26.2 MR, 13.1MR,8KR, kids runVictoria MarathonSociety(250) [email protected]

Great Pumpkin/ Spooky SprintDuathlonsDetroit 8:00 amBelle Isle5KR/ 23MB/ 10KR or5KR/ 20KB/ 5KRKenny Krell(231) [email protected] Space Race



Mason 10:00 am5KR/W(517) [email protected]

Green Space RaceMason 10:00 am5KR/W(517) [email protected]

Hidden Forest Trail RunClarkston 9:30 amIndependence Oaks Park8.5 MR, 5.5 MR, 2.5MR/WRiverbend Striders(810) 487-0954riverbendstriders.com

KDB Melanoma 5KRun/WalkMilfordKensington Metropark -East, Boat Launch5KR/W(313) [email protected]

Michigan Youth Arts inMotion 5KRoyal Oak10:00 amStarr Jaycee Park5KR/W, 1MR/W(248) [email protected]/5k/

Portland St. PatrickFall Festival 5KPortland 9:00 amGrand River Avenue andWest Street5KR/W(517) [email protected]

Pumpkin Trot 5K R/WSt. Johns 1:30 pmSt. Johns City Park10KR, 5KR/W, kid’s runGeorge Campbell(989) [email protected]

Towpath MarathonCleveland, OH 8:00 amCuyahoga Valley NationalPark26.2MR, 13.1MR, 10KROhio Canal Corridor(216) [email protected]

USCTRI-MSUEast Lansing 8 amMSU Intramural Pool

400mS/ 12MB/ 5KRMichigan StateUniversity Triathlon(231) [email protected]

Wild LifeMarathonConcord 8:00 amDowntown Concord26.2MR, 13.1MR/W,5KR/W, kids run(517) [email protected]/2efpcgc

Sat., October 16

Fall AdventureChallengeWest Michigan TBA 9 amAdventure Race - Running,Mountain Biking, Canoeingand Orienteering(616) [email protected]

Fish Lake 5KSturgis 9:00 am5KR/W(269) [email protected]

Fr. Gabriel Richard HSCross CountryInvitationalDexter 8:45 amHudson Mills Metropark,South X-C coursehs x-c meet(734) [email protected]/lansing/fgrhs/

Greater LansingCross CountryChampionshipsGrand Ledge 10 amLedge Meadows GolfCoursecross country meetKim Spalsbury(517) [email protected]

Indianapolis Marathonand Half MarathonIndianapolis, IN 8:30 amFort Harrison26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, 5KR,relay, kids run(317) [email protected]

Run for EthiopiaHonor tbd5KR/ 1MR/W(888) [email protected]

Second Chance forGreyhounds “Run forthe Hounds”Augusta 10:00 amFort Custer RecreationArea10KR, 5KR/WMelissa DeGayner(269) [email protected]

Sweetest 5K Run/Walk -tentative dateFlint 9:00 amYMCA Downtown5KR/W(810) [email protected]

Sunday, October 17

Detroit FreePress/FlagstarMarathonDetroit, MI andWindsor, ON 7:15 am26.2MR, Wheelchair,Handcycle,13.1MR/W, 5 personrelay teams,5KFR/WBrian Birney(313) [email protected] Runner RaceSeries

East Lansing PumpkinTrotEast Lansing 10:00 amAbbot Road north of LakeLansing 5KR/W(517) 319-6897, x [email protected]

Metro HealthGrand RapidsMarathonGrand Rapids8:00 amGrand Rapids26.2 MR, 13.1 MRDon Kern(616) [email protected]

grandrapids-marathon.com

Nationwide BetterHealth ColumbusMarathonColumbus, OH 7:00 amBroad and High Streets26.2 MR/W 13.1 MR/W,wheelchair, kids run(614) [email protected]

Toronto Marathon, HalfMarathon, 5K & RelayToronto, ON 9:00 amMel Lastman Square -Queen’s Park26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, 5KR,relay(416) [email protected]

Mon., October 18

Greater Lansing JuniorCross CountryChampionshipsDeWitt 3:30 pmmiddle school x-cRon Womboldt(517) [email protected]

Tues., October 19

Hansons YoungstersCross-CountryInvitational (7-10Grade)Sterling Heights 4:00 pmDelia Park X-C Meet(586) [email protected]

Sat., October 23

Bailey’s Doggie DashRockford 9:00 amWabasis Park5KR/W, 1MW(517) [email protected]

Every Stride 5K/10KBelding 9:00 amCandle Stone Golf &Resort10KR, 5KR/W, kids runChris Nicholas(616) [email protected]/

Great Turtle HalfMarathonMackinac Island

11:30 amMission Point Resort13.1 MR, 5.7 MR/WJohn Gault(810) [email protected]

Halloween 5K forJunior AchievementLansing 10:00 amHawk Island County Park5KR/W(517) [email protected]

HeadlessHorsemen 5KHowell 8:00 pmDowntown Howell5KR(517) 546-0693Chris [email protected]/HeadlessHorseman5K.htmlDress in HalloweenCostumes

KAR Halloween Hash &Kids Trick or Treat MiniHash RunKalamazoo 10:00 amKVCC Texas CornersCampus. Texas DriveTrailhead.3-7MR, 1/2MFR, kids’ run(269) [email protected]

ManisteeNational CrossCountryInvitationalManistee 8:00 amManistee NationalGolf and Resort5K XCmeet, Open 5KEric Ross(231) [email protected]

Michigan High SchoolCross Country U.P.State FinalsEscanaba 10:00 amMichigan Tech UniversityTrails 5KRMichigan High SchoolAthletic Association(517) 332-5046www.mhsaa.com


Race for a Reason(R4R)Mt. Pleasant15KR, 10KR, 5KR, 1MRPhil Coffman(989) 775-7101, ext. [email protected]

Westside YMCABooathlon DuathlonPotterville 10:00 amPotterville HS3MR/ 10MR/ 3MR, kidsrun(517) [email protected]

Sun., October 24

Haunted Graveyard 5KAdrian 6:00 pmOakwood Cemetery5KR/W Dustin Lent(517) 264-4872

Niagara FallsInternational MarathonNiagara Falls, ON 9:45 amAlbright-Knox Gallery.Buffalo, NY26.2 MR/W/Wheel/ relay;13.1 MR/W/Wheel,5KR/WJim Ralston(800) [email protected]

Racing forRecovery RunSylvania, OH9:00 amLourdes College10KR, 5KR/W, 1/4MFR(231) 546-2229info@3disciplines.com3disciplines.comracingforrecovery.com

Twinrivers Fun Run 5KMuir 10:00 am5KR/W(989) [email protected]

Friday, October 29

Frightning Friday Fun5K Walk/ RunMinden City10:00 am5KR/W(989) [email protected]

Sat., October 30

Alger HeightsHalloween 5KGrand Rapids 9:00 amAlger Heights MS5KR/W(616) [email protected]

Child Benefit FundHalloween Hustle 5KLansing 6:00 pmAdado Riverfront Park,Westside 5KR/W(517) [email protected]

Cross-Country ClassicAnn Arbor 10:00 amBuhr Park5KR, 4KR, 3KR(734) [email protected]

d’Ear Lake LansingNorth 10K Trail RaceHaslett 10:00 amLake Lansing Park - North10KR(517) [email protected]

Fight for AirClimb - LansingLansing variesSpartan Stadiumstair climbRob Powell(616) [email protected]/associations/states/michigan/

Hawley Ween Run/WalkWhite Lake 9:00 amJudy Hawley Park4MR/W(248) 698-3300, ext. [email protected]

Prairies and PondsPoltergist PursuitLapeer 9:00 amLake Drive5KR/W, 1MR/W(810) [email protected]

Run of the DeadDetroit 9:00 am5KR(3113) 842-0986, ext. [email protected]

Scary RunnerBay City 4:00 pmWild Woods of Terror5KR/W Runners Store(989) 686-8846barc-mi.com

Sunday, October 31

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

Margaret PeruskiMemorial 4 Mile RunDearborn 10:00 amFord Field 4 MR(248) [email protected]

NovemberSat., November 6

Don DansereauMemorial Scholarship5K Run/WalkBay City 10:00 amBay Arenac Career Center5KR/W(989) [email protected]

Iceman ComethMountain Bike RaceKalkaska 8:00 am27MB(231) [email protected]

Livonia Turkey TrotLivonia 9:30 amBicentennial Park5KR/W(734) [email protected]

Michigan High SchoolCross Country L.P.State FinalsBrooklyn 10:00 amMichigan InternationalSpeedway 5KRMichigan High SchoolAthletic Association(517) 332-5046mhsaa.com/sports/bxc/

Muskegon Turkey Trot5K Trail RunMuskegon 10:00 amOrchard View MS5KR(231) 282-1215

[email protected]

St. Clair River TurkeyTrotSt. Clair 9:00 amSt. Clair Riverview Plaza5KR(810) [email protected]/node/24

Sun., November 7

Angus Glen HalfMarathonMarkham, ON 8:00 amAngus Glen Golf Club13.1MR/W, 10KR/W,5KR/W(905) [email protected]

ING New York CityMarathonNew York City 10:50 am26.2 MR(212) 423.2249www.nyrrc.org

Stay in the Shade’sHighland Trail RunHighland 10:00 amHighland Recreation Area4.8MR, 2MW(248) [email protected]

Turkey Trot CrossCountry RunMt. Pleasant 3:00 pmDeerfield County Park6KR X-CHarry Plouff(989) [email protected]/~mphsstr/

Sat., November 13

ANG Road HawgClassicBattle Creek 9:00 amBattle Creek Air NationalGuard Base10KR, 5KR/W(269) [email protected]

Glen Lake Turkey TrotMaple City 10:00 amGlen Lake School5KR, 1MFR(231) [email protected]

Last Chance CrossCountry RaceBrighton 10:00 amHuron Meadows MetroPark [email protected]

Middleville Turkey TrailTrotMiddleville 9:00 amRoxanne Potter(269) [email protected]/departments/operations

NCAA Division I CrossCountry Regionals -Great LakesRochester 11:00 amOakland University10KR, 6KRNCAA(765) 494-7747ncaasports.com

NIRCAOpen & AlumniXC RaceBloomington, IN 8:30 amIndiana Univ. X-C [email protected]

Original AnnArbor TurkeyTrotDexter 8:30 amHudson Mills MetroPark10KR/W, 5KR/W,1MFR, 200mFRChampions forCharity(734) [email protected]

Panther Fall ClassicComstock Park 9:00 am100 Betty Dr NE, MillCreek Middle School5KR/WScott Taylor/ The Runnery(616) [email protected]

Saginaw VeteransMemorial PlazaVeterans Day RunSaginaw 10:00 am3MR/W(989) [email protected]

Scarecrow Sprint XCRaceFremont, OH 10:00 am


Walsh Park5KR(419) [email protected]

St. JeromeSchool/PSA’sOhio/Michigan 5KWalbridge, OH 9:00 amSt. Jerome School 5KR(419) [email protected]

The Alternate Half / 10K/ 5KMidland 10:00 amPere Marquette Rail Trail13.1MR, 10KR, 5KRRyan Hackett(989) [email protected]

Woldumar NatureCenter Run-a-MunkLansing 10:00 amWoldumar Nature Center,5739 Old Lansing Road10KR, 5KR/W(517) [email protected]

Sun., November 14

The Burg Trail RunLaingsburg 1:00 pmLaingsburg HS X-C course10KR, 5KR/W, 1MW(517) [email protected]

Roseville BigBird RunRoseville 10:00 am10KR, 1MR/W, 4KRTony Lipinski(586) [email protected]

Tues., Nov. 16

Wayne CountyLightfest 8K FunRun/WalkWestland 7:00 pmMerriman Hollow Park,Hines Drive8KR/W(734) [email protected]

Sat., November 20

Grand FinaleLansing 9:30 amGrand Woods Park5KR, 5K/8K team(517) [email protected]/Grand_Finale.html

Jingle BellRun/Walk forArthritisBloomfield Hills 9 amCovington School5KRW, kids runArthritis Foundation,Michigan Chapter(248) 269-2895 /(800) 968-3030 [email protected]

One Hill of a RunGrand Rapids 9:00 amUnion High School10KR, 5KRDan Droski(616) [email protected]

Schrauger Memorial 5KLake Orion 10:00 amLake Orion High School5KR, 1MR/W(248) [email protected]

WMU Turkey TrotKalamazoo8:30 am tentative timeStudent Recreation Center5KR(269) [email protected]/rec/

Mon., Nov. 22

NCAA Division I CrossCountry ChampionshipsTerre Haute, IN 11:00 amWabash Family SportsCenter 10KR, 6KRNCAA(812) 237-4040ncaasports.com

Southwestern MichiganCollegeTurkey TrotDowagiac 4:00 pmSouthwestern MichiganCollege8KR, 5KR, 1 MRRon Gunn(269)[email protected]


Thurs., Nov. 25

Ann ArborThanksgivingDay Turkey TrotAnn Arbor 8:30 amUniversity ofMichigan NorthCampus RecreationalCenter5KR/WSharon Suffolk(248) [email protected]

Dorks Brothers TurkeyTrotAlpena 9:00 amGreat Lakes MaritimeMuseum-Heritage Trail5KR, 1MR(989) [email protected]

Fifth ThirdBankThanksgivingTurkey TrotDetroit 7:15 amCobo Center10KR, 5KR, 1MRThe Parade Company(313) 247-4149detroitturkeytrot.org

Galloping Gobbler 4MilerFort Wayne, IN 8:30 amHutzell Athletic Center,Univ. of St. Francis Campus4MR, 2MW(260) [email protected]

Gazelle Sports GobbleWobbleGrand Rapids 8:00 am3930 28th Street4.1MR, 1MR(616) [email protected]

Gobbler Gallop TrailRunSaginaw 9:00 amImerman Memorial Park5KR, 1.5MR/W(989) [email protected]

KAR Thanksgiving DayTurkey Trot PredictionRunKalamazoo 9:00 amKalamazoo ValleyCommunity College,TexasCorners Campus 5KR(269) [email protected]

Lansing Turkeyman TrotLansing 9:00 amLansing CommunityCollege 5KR(517) [email protected]

Smoke theTurkey 5KSylvania, OH9:00 amSt. James Club5KRElite Endeavors(419) [email protected]

Fri., November 26

Fantasy 5KHowell 6:00 pm5KR

(517) 546-3020 or (517)[email protected]

Sun., November 28

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

Road Racing at MetroBeachHarrison Twp 11:00 amPointe Road - Metro Beach

2MR Bob Blunk(248) [email protected]

DecemberThurs, December 2

Run Through theLightsKalamazoo 6:30 pmGazelle Sports 5KR(269) [email protected]

Sat., December 4

Christmas StockingRunFlushing 10:00 am4 MR/WRiverbend Striders(810) [email protected]

Dashing through theSnowFowlerville 6:00 pmDowntown Fowlerville5KR/W(517) [email protected]

Dickens of a RunMt Pleasant 8:30 amMax & Emily’s, downtown5KR(989) [email protected]/~mphsstr/

Holiday Hustle5K / 1 MileDexter 4:00 pm

Monument Park5KR, 1MRRunning Fit(734) [email protected]

Jingle Bell Runfor Arthritis -NorthvilleNorthville 9:00 amNorthville Downs5KRW, 1/4 MSnowman ShuffleArthritis Foundation,Michigan Chapter(248) 269-2895 /(800) 968-3030 [email protected]

Reese Winter RoadRace SeriesReese 10:00 amReese High School10KR, 5KR/W(989) [email protected]

Sun., December 5

Road Racing at MetroBeachHarrison Twp 11:00 amPointe Road - Metro Beach2MR Bob Blunk(248) [email protected]

Running of the ElvesRochester 12:00 pm5KR/[email protected]

Sat., December 11

Candy Cane RunGrand Rapids 10:00 amGR Home for Veterans6MR, 3MR, 1.5 MR(616) [email protected]

Jingle Belle Women’s5KLansing 10:00 amDelta Township DistrictLibrary 5KR/W(517) [email protected]

Run Like TheDickens andTiny Tim TrotHolly 9:00 amKarl Richter Campus10KR, 5KR/W, TinyTim TrotRob Basydlo

(248) [email protected] run-likethedickens.com

Tues., December 14

Grosse PointeChristmas Light RunGrosse Pointe 6:30 pmGrosse Pointe store6MR(248) [email protected]

Sat., December 18

Bay Area Runners ClubHoliday 5K Run/WalkBay City 10:00 amBay County CommunityCenter5KR/W John Metevia(989) [email protected]

HUFF 50K Trail RunHuntington, IN 8:00 amKekionga Trail, J. EdwardRoush Lake, Kil-So-QuahCampground50 KR, 50K Relay, 11MR(260) [email protected]

Sun., December 26

Hansons Group RunLake Orion 8:00 amHansons Running Shop

training(248) [email protected]

Harold Webster BoxingDay 10 Mile RunHamilton, ON 11:00 amYMCA 79 James StreetSouth10MRJames Van Dyke(905) [email protected]

Fri., December 31

Fifth Third NewYear’s EveFamily FunRun/WalkDetroit 3:00 pmBelle Isle Park,4MR/W, 1MR/WJeanne Bocci(313) [email protected]

New Year’s ResolutionRunFlint 2:00 pmDowntown YMCA8KR, 5KR/W(810) [email protected]

- MR -

62

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FAX: 734-434-4765Email: [email protected]



Yippie! A summer with heat. HEAT!Lots of days in the 90s, humidity tomatch. Lakes and rivers you

can get into after a run without givingyourself a heart attack or shrunkenround things that don’t look right thatsmall.

So me and my buddy fromCrain’s Detroit Business, Nate Skid,had to go to Ann Arbor in earlyJuly for an interview by me and aphoto by him of a couple entrepre-neurs with a start-up software com-pany that was having success rais-ing money.

Now, you’d hate to waste a tripto Ann Arbor, so we didn’t. We gotthere in time to take an early lunch,which for us was running a six-miler through the Barton NatureArea to Bird Hills Park, throughmost of Bird Hills and retracing oursteps back to the parking lot on HuronRiver Drive.

Going out the door from Crain’s,temperature already in the mid-90s at10:30, we ran into a couple colleagues whosometimes walk on their lunch hour. “Youguys aren’t running today, are you,” one ofthem said. Said it as a declaration of fact, nota question.

“Sure we are,” I said, with a tone of: Ofcourse. What else would we be leaving thebuilding for on a nice, steamy summer day?

The run was wonderful. Get loose in ahurry, pour sweat, run across a deer, pause topick and eat early blackberries. Stop, best ofall, half a mile from the finish where a trailthrough Barton winds along the Huron River.

Stop, peel of singlets, pull off shoes, wade ina few yards and dive, every cell electric withthe cold charge of water on baking skin.

We floated there, the ridge of trees acrossfrom us forming a deep green U at the river’sbend. Has anyone ever had more fun beforegoing off to an interview and photo shoot?

Later in the month, I mentioned by e-mailto a colleague that I need to make plans arounda run with the dog and a jump in a river or lakesomewhere. It was another day in the 90s.

“You runners are nut jobs,” the colleagueresponded. “Ninety degrees is good for noth-ing but AC and margaritas. What kind of hellare you going through to consider jumping inany river a highlight?”

Guess you’d have to be there.

Which reminds me of a bench in the mid-dle of the Potawatomie Trail in the PinckneyState Recreation Area. Me and Nate were run-ning a 15-miler there one Sunday in May andstopped to rest at about the 10-mile mark atopa steep hill. Right there was a bench I’d some-how never noticed before, with a marker inhonor of John Rogucki. There was a sign say-ing “Boston,” with an arrow pointing the way.

It didn’t literally meant Boston. It was ajuncture where you could head back to theparking lot, following the sign that said“shortcut,” like me and Nate and the dog did

to finish our 15, or follow Rogucki’s path anddo 18 or 19.

Rogucki was a man after my own heart.He talked a lot about the three H’s — heat,hills and humidity. The three H’s are near tomy heart, too. I love running at high noon ona hot day. Makes those 8 a.m. race starts inthe summer seem like a breeze. I love hills,too, the steeper the better.

John seemed invincible. In my heyday, Ibeat him once in a while, not often. And thenhe was struck with brain cancer and soon wasgone. It was 1997 — can it be possible it was13 years ago?

Anyway, we took the shortcut back toSilver Lake, which was still way too cold to getinto that day. Knee deep was best we could do.Even the dog only got in for a second.

But since then? Find a lake or ariver and dive in. We run on Belle Islea lot at lunch, and there’s this sortasecret little beach at the far east end wecall the Huck Finn Swimming Hole.It’s right where the Detroit River opensup to Lake St. Clair, and the waterflowing by is crystal clear, havingarrived from Lake Michigan, LakeSuperior and Lake Huron. No, serious-ly, crystal clear.

Last summer I ran there with JackRiley, the VP of marketing for FifthThird Bank, who sponsors JeannieBocci’s New Year’s Eve run next year.He doubted the water would be as clearas I promised, so Nate took a picture ofJack holding two bottles, one filledwith Evian water from France, theother with water just scooped out of theriver. You can’t tell which is which, nomatter how close you scrutinize them.

After work, the dog and I mighthead to Stony Creek Metropark for a trail runand a jump in Upper Stony Creek Lake, noton the public beach, but where the trail runsalong the shore. Or, time permitting, head outto Kensington for a six-miler into the woodsand a stop on the way back for a dive into theHuron River.

Nut jobs? Maybe. But for other reasons. Notbecause we cherish floating in a river or lakeafter a run in heat sedentary types bitch aboutas they hurry from their air-conditioned carsto their air-conditioned houses.

- MR -

Notes on the Run: DogsRunning with Tom HendersonP

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Jack Riley holds two bottles, one filled withEvian water from France, the other withwater just scooped out of the Detroit River.

Tom Henderson

michigan runner, september / october 2010

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