Michigan Runner, July / August 2010 by Great Lakes Sports Publications, Inc.

In This Issue July / August 2010

Vol. 32, No. 3

Calendar July - October 2010

Features & Departments Editor’s Notes: Field Day By Scott Sullivan

Michigan Runner Race Series

Running Shorts with Scott Hubbard

Beyond the Chip: Get Your Head Out of Your Buds By Robin Sarris-Hallop

Book Review: End of ‘Shamateurism’ in Track Makes Compelling Tale By Ron Marinucci

Fourth-Grade Mile, 2001 By Rachael Steil

Bryan of Lapeer West By Dean Johnson

Notes on the Run: 101 Reasons I Run, Part 2 By Daniel G. Kelsey

Letter to the Editor: Certified Courses Should Be the Norm By David M. Patt

Course Accuracy: Sometimes Vital, Sometimes Not By Ron Marinucci

Melissa Bergeron’s ‘Fountain of Youth’ By Gale Fischer

Running with Tom Henderson

At the Races River Bank Run is (Almost) All-American Affair By Grant Lofdahl

River Bank Run Rewards Record Crowds By Scott Sullivan

Spartans Show Heart in Run Through Rain By Katie Kelly Noble

Hartland Takes Runs to Heart By Tracey Cohen

398 Fast Feet Race Ferndale Frolic By Charles Douglas McEwen

O’Mara Makes Clean Getaway in Potawatomi Trail Slop By Charles Douglas McEwen

MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division I Track & Field Finals Photos by Pete Draugalis

Lokken, Park Win Masters National 10K Crowns By Charles Douglas McEwen

Keep on Chasin’ That Dream: Boston Beckons Michigan Runners By Anthony Targan

Runners Attack ‘Mighty Mac’ By Cynthia Cook

Brian Diemer Amerikam 5K Race, Cutlerville Photos by Carter Sherline and Scott Sullivan 25 Comrades is Unforgettable Adventure Trip By Gary Morgan

May & June Races Photos by Carter Sherline and Greg Sadler

Etchill, Lupini Make It Two Straight at Dooby Du By Charles Douglas McEwen

Graf Charts Debut Marathon Success By Bill Khan

Fruitport Champs Run Gamut in Clammy Heat By Grant Lofdahl

Storms Subside for Pre-Dirt Jamboree By Tracey Cohen

Dohm, Johnson Dominate Road Ends 5-Mile By Charles Douglas McEwen

Two Dragon Runs Double Fun By Bill Kalmar

Women Rule at Grosse Ile 5K By Charles Douglas McEwen

University of Michigan Alum, Katie McGregor, captures her second USA 25K title at the Fifth Third River Bank Run. Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios. 2

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Editor’s Notes Field Day By Scott Sullivan

orking for newspapers is no field day. I compete with friends who work for dailies and another weekly. Then there are TV, radio and the Internet. “Snooze on news and you lose,” they say.

So when my daughter Flannery, 10, asked me to go to her fourth-grade field day, I asked, “When is it?” “Tomorrow.” “What time?” “All day.” She’s like me: rarely plans ahead because improvising is interesting. In the news business, I have faith that, er, stuff will happen: if not “big” stories, small can be even better. And who knows what pictures wait, begging to be taken? So it’s standard that Flannery spring her spring field day on me at the last minute. But I couldn’t go. It is more than an hour’s commute from my work to her school, and even I

have commitments ... Mom couldn’t go either. “I went last year and I was the only mom there,” she said. This gave me solace. As a working dad, my absence would put me in good (OK, not “great”) company. I helped Flannery double-knot her sneakers so they wouldn’t fall off and drove her to school that morning. “Have fun!” I said. “I’ll think of you.” “See you, Dad,” Flannery said. I drove to work thinking I had done my due daddy diligence: gone to her spring concert, Donuts with Dad Night and Dancing with Dad Night when on crutches. My parents hadn’t gone to my field days (I’d never asked, knowing my performance would be embarrassing). They were occupied earning livings so they could feed, clothe and raise me to be productive at whatever cost to missed fairy tales or sunsets. No parent can be everywhere or everything, though we should ... I pictured Flannery on the field as the school year ended, giving way to beach visits, freckles, fireflies ... next year middle school, soon her teens, romance, too soon the vortex of becoming ... She will never be in fourth grade again. - MR-

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

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Fifth Third River Bank Run, Grand Rapids

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

River Bank Run is (Almost) All-American Affair

Stephan Shay (left), Brett Gotcher (bib no. 35), Fasil Bizuneh (bib no. 7), champion Andrew Carlson (bib no. 39), 2009 winner Isaak Kimaiyo (bib no. 87), Abebe Yimer (bib no. 49) lead the pack at the start of the 53 River Bank Run 25K. By Grant Lofdahl

GRAND RAPIDS (5/8/10) — The 33rd annual Fifth Third River Bank Run men’s elite race unfolded much like past years’ races: a large early pack dwindled as its leaders kept up a relentless pace, clicking off 4:40 to 4:50 miles one after another. The difference this year was that when the lead group was down to five, they were all Americans. After defending champ Isaack Kimaiyo of Kenya dropped off the back of the pack in the seventh mile, it was clear an American would take home not only the 6

USATF 25K title but overall win as well.

crown in Jacksonville, Fla., in 2008.

Andrew Carlson used a strong move in the 11th mile to seize control of the race, dropping Flagstaff, Ariz., training partner Brett Gotcher and three others. Carlson went on to win in 1:14:41.

“It wasn’t bad out,” he continued. “I pictured myself winning, but didn’t really have a strategy.

The 40-degree temperatures and stiff northwest wind didn’t bother Carlson, 28, a former University of Minnesota track and cross country star.

“You have to commit to win if you’re going to do it, so I surged with about four miles to go. I knew the guys behind me would not give up, so I had to keep going. Brett’s run 2 hours, 10 (minutes) for the marathon, so I knew he was strong.”

“I’m from North Dakota and this was nothing today,” he said after nabbing his second USATF title. Carlson claimed a 15K

Former Hansons-Brooks runner Nick Arciniaga, who also now trains in Flagstaff, followed Gotcher (1:15:05) across the line in

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Firehiwot Dado, 26, of Ethiopia crushed Joan Benoit Samuelson’s course record with a time of 1:23:45

Robby Young and Nate Peck finished side-by-side in 13th and 12th places.

1:15:17, giving the McMillan Elite training group a 1-2-3 sweep.

Ex-Grand Valley State University teammates Robby Young, a Wayland native who now lives in Colorado, and Nate Peck, who grew up in Coopersville and now trains with ZAP Fitness group in North Carolina, finished side-by-side in 13th and 12th places. It was the longest race either have run to date. “For the weather and everything, it wasn’t too bad,” said Peck of his performance. “I kind of fell apart in the last couple miles. If it wasn’t for Robby, I probably would’ve DNF’ed. We pretty much ran every step together. “There was one part where Robby

Photo by Scott Sullivan

Haslett’s Nick Stanko, the reigning Michigan Runner of the Year, and Stevensville’s Stephan Shay led the in-state finishers, placing eighth and ninth.

Local native Jason Hartmann placed fourth here for the second straight year

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Local native Jason Hartmann, an exRockford High School and University of Oregon star who now lives in Concord, Mass., placed fourth here for the second straight year, crossing in 1:15:37.

Dot McMahan, the top Michigan finisher, was 5th and captured 3rd place in the USA Championship.

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

dropped me and I came back to put some space on him. Then we just finished shoulder-to-shoulder.”

River Bank Run Rewards Record Crowds

Redford’s ageless Paul Aufdemberge, 45, continued his masters-level dominance, placing 16th overall in 1:22:21, beating over-40 runnerup Carl Rundell of Birmingham by four minutes. “I’ve been second here a few times and now first last year and this year,” said Aufdemberge. “I like running this course. I ran about a minute faster here last year, but still feel good about my run today. I’ve done less mileage and more quality in my training this year, so maybe less mileage hurt me.”

Genoviva Kigen, 29, of Kenya was second in 1:24:52, followed by former University of Michigan star Katie MacGregor. MacGregor, 32, claimed the women’s USATF championship in 1:26:23, nearly three minutes ahead of fifth-place (and second American) Samia Akbar of Virginia.

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (5/8/10) — Through miles amassed through millenniums, solitude, sweat and setbacks, runners chase a dream: to have a gold medal draped around our necks or a laurel wreath placed upon our foreheads.

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Not far behind him was record-setting female champion Firehiwot Dado, 26, of Ethiopia. Dado, unlike her African male counterparts, seemed unfazed by the cold weather, crushing Joan Benoit Samuelson’s course record with a time of 1:23:45.

By Scott Sullivan

Such is the state of my running that, upon entering the expo for the Fifth Third River Bank Run, the USATF 25K championship, I was draped with a beer koozie.

Nick Stanko, the top Michigan finisher, placed 8th.

Hansons-Brooks athlete Dot McMahan, 33, was the top Michigan finisher in fifth (1:30:07), while Holton’s Jessica Graf, 29, placed seventh overall and second among in-state runners in 1:34:11.

Greg Meyer, elite athlete coordinator and 7-time winner here, called the showing another sign of the renaissance of distance running in this country. “We saw Meb Keflezighi win last fall’s New York City Marathon, Dathan Ritzenhein (raised in Rockford, 10 miles north of here) break the U.S. 5K record last summer and Chris Solinsky do the same in the 10K two weeks ago,” said Meyer, the last U.S. male to wear the laurel wreath as Boston Marathon champion before any of today’s top-3 finishers were born.

Kris Warszawski, 50, of Northville was the top in-state grand masters male in 1:35:36, but was beaten by overall senior champ Doug Winn of Portland, Ore. who ran 1:34:01 at age 60. The 2010 River Bank Run 25K set a new record for finishers with 6,562. In total, the race set a record of 19,737 participants including the 5K run, 10K run, 5K walk and the featured 25K race. MR

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Marybeth Reader, 41, of Bloomfield Hills made it 2-for-2 with Aufdemberge as a Michigan-based masters champion, crossing in 1:38:35. Renee Damstra, 40, of Grand Rapids was second in 1:41:16. Peggy Zeeb, 51, of Colon led the grand masters women in 1:50:34, while Westphalia’s Sharon Dolan, 68, clocked an impressive 2:12:53 to lead senior masters females.

Not that the 33rd running of this classic lacked talent, turnout, or, as it turned out, squalls and wind. Heading the record 6,562 entrants in the 25K — which took runners over the Grand River and through woods on the day before Mother’s Day before finishing back downtown — was Andrew Carlson, 28, of Flagstaff, Ariz. (see related story). Fourteen U.S. runners crossed before defending champ Isaack Kimaiyo of Kenya, flustered by the blustery day, led in non-native entries.

When will he lose that distinction? “Soon, maybe,” Meyer said. A record 19,737 runners and walkers braved 40-degree gales of May to take part in events that included 10K and 5K runs and a 5K walk. Some came home with medals and part of a $95,500 total purse. Most returned with aches overwhelmed by a sense of accomplishment that their miles of trials had allowed them to finish a celebration.

Paul Aufdemberge captured the Master’s title for the second year.

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Still others came home with beer koozies, attached to openers and strings to wear ’round our necks, so that cold ones, ready to go, will ever be near our hearts. MR

Heart of a Spartan, East Lansing

Spartans Show Heart in Run Through Rain

By Katie Kelly Noble

EAST LANSING (5/2/10) — About 4,500 Michigan State University loyalists showed up with full hearts for the first-ever Heart of a Spartan road runs. Many ran for more than 50 non-profit organizations, and other charities took part to raise funds and awareness for their causes. A morning rain created soggy shoes, but an excited pulse pumped from Trowbridge Road to Spartan Stadium. Staring on campus, runners ended on the football field’s 50-yard line.

The 10K set off first at 8 a.m. After traversing the MSU campus, runners poured across the finish line, waterlogged but with smiles rampant. Everyone had their own reasons for attending, but Chris Stoddard, 23, from Bath was running with a specific goal. “I was coming to win,” he said. Stoddard accomplished that in 34:05. J.C. Collins, 52, of Livonia was the grand masters winner with a time of 36:05. “The race was soggy. It felt like a steeplechase,” he said. “The course and people were great,” Collins added. “I drove through a major thunderstorm getting here, so I was expecting worse.” Lanni Marchant, 26, from London, Ontario, blew away the women’s field, crossing in 37:06, almost five minutes faster than the next female. “I have exams now and it was nice to break up the studying,” said Marchant, an MSU law student and member of the Playmakers Women’s Elite Team. “It gave me something fun to look forward to,” she said. Martha Olsen, 46, of Jackson was the second female finisher and first master in 42:41. Colthorp finished the 10K in 49:52 with energy to burn. “I never really got tired,” he said. “When I asked someone where we were on the course, he said, ‘4 kilometers,” and I

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

WILX TV-10’s Jason Colthorp emceed pre-race ceremonies, speaking with provost Kim Wilcox and race directors Andrea and Jim Highfield. “Who’s going to blow right past the finish line and make a touchdown in the endzone? I am!” Colthorp told the crowd.

Phil Rider (bib no. 1793) and Drake Rider (bib no. 1794), both of Dexter, finish the 5K in style. ed in honor of her son who died of osteosarcoma, was appreciative.

said, ‘I’m out of here.’” The TV personality, who ran for the Ronald McDonald House, said he does not consider himself a real runner. “I don’t use Vaseline in odd places; those are the real runners,” Colthorp said. Alex Whitmer, 15, of Mason won the 5K in 17:03. Kaylie Milne, also 15, of Grand Blanc took the women’s title in 19:51. Masters champions were Brian Olsen, 49, of Jackson (17:50) and Robin Mitchell, 42, of Plymouth (21:04). The intent of the race was help out charities that lack time and resources to plan big fund-raising events, said Andrea Highfield. Julie Gordon of Dewitt, who ran for the Brandon Defense Foundation, a charity creat-

“We started a foundation to help build awareness of childhood cancer, to help fund pediatric research and to help local children and their families with cancer,” said Gordon. “Brandon was a huge Spartan fan even since he was born. The MSU hockey team adopted him during his battle. When the opportunity came up to do this, we jumped all over it,” she continued. The foundation exceeded its goal of raising $10,000 and 60 runners signed up to run for the cause. “I have never run in my life and I ran today for my son,” Gordon said. “It was quite an honor and accomplishment for me.” MR

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Running Shorts with Scott Hubbard year uncovered plenty of upside, including a modest amount of running, while the revised 8,500 cycling miles is my second-highest total, behind the nearly 9,200 of 2008. I could have kept this boo-boo to myself since, after all, it is my diary and contents are likely only interesting to me, but thought some of you might empathize with my failing, feel my pain and laugh too. Also, I’ve shared this because it’s natural to feel good about the miles you’ve put in, but nobody should take credit for more than they’ve earned. Perspective aside, finding the miscalculation was initially deflating — I ain’t gonna lie.

Trivia: How many NCAA Division 1 national championships in cross-country, indoor and outdoor track and field did the University of Arkansas men win between 1984 and 2006?

D’OH. I went to compare April 2010 cycling mileage with ‘09 in my training log and, in the process, looked at May figures also. Something wasn’t right about my ‘09 numbers. A closer look revealed that a smudge mark at the base of a 1 made it look like a 6, turning 2,161 into 2,661 for ‘09 total mileage at the end of April. Having misread it, I added my May ‘09 total to the erroneous 2,661, a 500-mile mistake I unwittingly repeated all year. At the end of December, I was dealing with physical trouble and was pleased to just eke out enough miles to exceed, I thought, 9,000. I don’t share these numbers to brag or impress. Nine thousand miles isn’t the kind of number you see for runners. They’re easier to accumulate on a bike and are only meaningful to the person who logs them. The numbers aren’t a way of keeping score because they’re too hollow for that. What they are is a record of a journey. Back to my math error: with a touch of embarrassment I revised my ‘09 year-end total to just over 8,500 miles — a respectable amount. After that I paged through the year and was reminded how miserable winter had been, while November weather was the best in recent memory. I had mixed results in races and held my own in two century (100mile) bike tours. In mid-December, an illness ended a nearly six-year streak without missing a day of running or cycling at 2,172 days. My review of the 10

PICTURE THIS. During Hillsdale College’s Gina Relays April 22-24, Al Owens handed me a picture that took me back to another time and place. I first met Al at some Grand Rapids-area running event more than 25 years ago. He seemed to know everybody and everybody knew him, a happy arrangement. We hadn’t seen each other in about 15 years before we reconnected at the relays, where I quickly gathered he had close ties to the Grand Valley State University athletics program and was a busy guy officiating events. And, as befits his outgoing way, he still seemed to know everybody and everybody knew him.. Al also has deep roots with the formerOld Kent, now-Fifth Third River Bank Run in Grand Rapids. He was part of the original organizing team in November 1977, months before the first race the following May, and remains active with the popular multi-race event. The picture he gave me, from the 1981 River Bank 25K, shows me running with my then-girlfriend of eight months Karen Blackford, a Wyoming, Mich., native. I showed it to friends who remarked about my mustache and long, brown hair. Minus a mustache for years and with gray hair now, I look different. Karen’s hair, like mine, turned gray early and many were surprised to learn she was once a redhead. The race back then ran in a counterclockwise loop along the Grand River and the picture appears to have been taken after 10 miles, on the return to downtown from Johnson Park. Karen wore Etonic racing shoes and had No. 5 pinned to her singlet. Big races often give low numbers to fast people and she had won the women’s River Bank Run the prior year. The picture shows us in lockstep, right legs

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

about to touch down, both feet off the ground, similar arm carriage and hair tossed back. One person I showed the picture to asked, “Were you pacing her?” My immediate reaction was, “No,” but there’s more to it. If there was a rule in the TAC (The Athletics Congress, then the national governing body for the sport) book against pacing, an act regarded as “illegal assistance, I was unaware of it at the time. The questioner asked knowing I wasn’t running “my own race” and could have gone faster. The implication is I was helping “set pace” and, perhaps, passing along information regarding Karen’s competition or grabbing aid for her. It appears from the picture I might be pacing her, but I knew of no rules that forbid it. From about 1983 for another 12 years, there was lively debate over what constituted pacing of women by men in road races and illegal assistance. The discussion failed to address “rabbits” who had been setting the pace for men on the track for years (Roger Bannister’s groundbreaking first sub-4-minute

mile is an example).

Hartland Memorial Day 10K, 5K and 3K Run and Walk, Hartland

“Rabbits” are still employed regularly on the track today and in certain road races, none of them “running their own race.” In 99 percent of cases they drop out before the finish.

Hartland Takes Runs to Heart

Back to the picture and question. Although I wasn’t running as fast as I could, we were moving nicely at 6 minutes per mile, ahead of 98 percent of the men’s field and behind only one other woman, Joan Benoit. However it might have been perceived by others, I regarded running with Karen as high-quality time, something cool to share with an exceptional athlete.

Basically, I was along for the fast ride and mutual experience. She didn’t need any help from me. Sharing words of encouragement was the extent of my “assistance.” Karen finished second in the River Bank Run that year and ran about 30 seconds faster in ‘82 to finish second to Benoit again. We were married later that summer. She won her second Free Press Marathon that October and won it again in ‘84 and ‘92 (at age 42). In May 1984 Karen ran 2:46 in the first Women’s Olympic Trials Marathon in Olympia, Wash She also ran in the ‘88 OTM. She’s run 19 marathons: 17 of them under 2:57, 11 under 2:50 and has a 2:43 PR. She still lives in Ann Arbor, works in the University of Michigan library system and keeps fit running 15 to 20 miles per week. For someone who didn’t start running until she was in her mid-20s, Karen’s career was extraordinary — one I consider the second best ever among women who attended Michigan elementary and secondary schools. Thanks for the picture, Al!

RAFF. On March 29 my friend Duane Raffin passed way. Truth is, he was friends with many who knew him as a lighthearted, down-to-earth guy, terrific teacher, successful and inspirational coach at Holly High School. Duane was a hands-on man who loved our sport and gave back as a writer, announcer, coach and official. He had a long memory and was fun to talk to. He took what he did seriously, but not himself and we were all better off for our time with him. Sometimes a man is more than the sum of his parts. That was “Raff.” Duane was 76. Answer: The Razorbacks won an astounding 42 titles. MR

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

I knew before I met her that she had won the ‘79 Detroit Free Press Marathon. In the few months we’d dated, I’d been impressed by her ability to focus and awareness for all things connected to her task.

Flip-flop clad members of the Hartland High School cheer team hand out water to Liz Ludwig of Brighton at an aid station. By Tracey Cohen HARTLAND (5/31/10) — Records were made to be broken, which is what Josh Karanja and Dot McMahan did at the fifth annual Hartland Memorial Day 10K, 5K and 3K Run & Walk. On a steamy morning under clear skies, temperatures in the 70s, Karauja shattered the 5K course record by nearly a minute, crossing in 15:18. McMahan led the women in 17:26, 21 seconds faster than the old standard. The 10K race followed the 5K route with an out-and-back loop that included ascending a large dirt hill. RP White and Erin Webster claimed overall honors at that distance, leading the men and women in 33:39 and 39:06. When directors Dennis Tierney and Rob Buti began planning their first race, their goal was to do it as well or even better than other races they had run. They received immediate support from Hartland schools and businesses. Walmart alone donated $600 in gift certificates for the new course records and to overall 5K and 10K winners. After Tierney and Buti learned that Hartland High School’s cheer team was one

of the best in the state but scantly funded, they decided to donate race proceeds to the program. They have since expanded contributions to Hartland special education programs. All 56 cheer team members attended, many handing out water at aid stations. Some, including varsity cheerleader, Elizabeth Ventura, ran in a race themselves. Varsity cheer coach Paula Cunningham praised her girls’ efforts and said she is grateful for the support. She said her squad, seventh in the state in 2010, hopes to do even better next year. “We plan to certify our courses next year,” said Tierney, “and will likely have timing mats at the start and finish.” Canton transplant Greg Stoner said he enjoyed “coming home” to race the 10K and its “placement of the hills was challenging.” The town, with its wide-open, rolling countryside roads, is a perfect venue for a half marathon, he added. Tierney laughed and said that he found that idea “interesting.” For complete results, visit hartlandschools.us/athletics/Events/Run/. - MR -

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Beyond the Chip

Get Your Head Out of Your Buds!

By Robin Sarris-Hallop

ners (but not because you are being tripped by people who can’t hear you).

f you remember my last column you know that music is important to me. I play two instruments, support local music and take in at least one or two live shows a month.

Running a race is about interacting — with other runners, listening for indications of strain in their breathing, reacting to and being inspired by spectators (who came to cheer you on, after all) and yes, enjoying the music and live bands on the course, even if the selections are not part of your personal life soundtrack.

I have also owned several generations of personal music players, from a 1980s-era metal Sony Walkman tape player to my present-day 16G iPod Nano which is almost out of free space. I hope this gives me some “cred” as a music lover before I make the audacious statements I am about to make.

I too am tired of “Born to Run” and the “Theme from Rocky,” but perhaps we could just make some creative suggestions to event organizers for their playlists.

I am going to take a strong position and sing it loud: Personal music players and headphones should be banned at all races! I had planned to focus on something else in my turn at this column, but I am writing this piece while my first racing experience of the year is still fresh in mind. I ran in a 3,000-plus participant race this St. Pat’s where a guy who lined up in the first few rows next to me had no idea that the 10second countdown had started and gun was ready to go off because he was listening to his music. He wasn’t even facing in the right direction when we started. About 800 meters into the race, a young woman dropped her iPod, stopped, turned around and bent down to pick it up, almost tripping several people around her. I was cut off by another runner who veered in front of me and would have knocked me over if I hadn’t been running with my arm out in front of me; I was trying to prevent it from happening because I could see she was wearing a headset and couldn’t hear me. At that point I was distracted from my race effort by having to watch for and give wide berth to runners wearing ear buds. Not what I expected for my $30. By the time I reached the mile mark I was thinking about writing this column. Falling in a crowd is not to be taken lightly. I was once knocked down at the start of a race just after the gun fired. Someone fell right in front of me and I was catapulted over him. 12

Robin Sarris-Hallop

Once in a lifetime is more than enough to have that happen. Not only is it terrifying when a few thousand people are stampeding down on you, but I spent weeks with my shoulder-to-elbow hurting and incurred hospital x-ray expenses as a result. Although an accident can happen at any time in a race, we all bear a shared responsibility to work to reduce the likelihood of problems when so many people are in tight quarters. While individuals might argue for the opportunity to express themselves and “do their own thing,” it is not a runner’s right to endanger others around them regardless of how much the music motivates their running. If you can’t hear and are not aware of your surroundings, you don’t belong on the street running closely alongside hundreds of other people. I admit generally to an “old school,” minimalist bias (after almost 30 years of competition, I am entitled). If you want to run in an isolated cocoon, put on your GPS wrist timer, GU flask, Camelback and iPod and run on your own. Racing is not a solitary event and is ultimately about “mixing it up” with other run-

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Headphones and music have an appropriate place in the world of exercise. At the gym, on a treadmill or other stationary machine, they are a great distraction from the boredom and lack of outside stimuli inherent in the indoor exercise world and don’t pose a significant risk to anyone (as long as you keep the volume below “11”). Once you step outside, however, the rules change. Even when you run on your own there is a good deal of risk involved in running with headphones. The Road Runners Club of America website includes a page of general safety tips — www.rrca.org/education-advocacy/rrca-general-running-safety-tips/) — with an admonition against wearing headphones. As for racing, since the mid-1980s the RRCA has maintained a guideline against the use of headphones in running events and group training runs, suggesting race directors ban or strongly discourage headphones. USA Track & Field originally instituted a ban on the use of headphones by all runners in their events. While headphones remain banned for any athlete competing in a U.S. championship, the devices are now allowed by race directors at their discretion. The difficulty in enforcement was a large reason for the change to the previous ban, though USATF admits that several good-sized events have demonstrated that they were able to enforce the rules.

Race directors need to start by, if not banning headphones and personal players completely, at least excluding anyone who chooses to wear them from receiving prize money and age-group awards. This would be an incentive to at least keep the devices away from the front of the field, where people are running faster and the danger is therefore greater. While race organizers need to do their part, the rest of us are responsible to put peer pressure on fellow runners to leave their headphones at home on race day. I often hear old-timers complain that newer runners don’t understand running etiquette. Rather than complain about it, we are responsible to educate them. For an overview of race course etiquette, check out the RRCA Web site at www.rrca.org/education-advocacy/etiquette-for-runners/. If you don’t know that you should announce yourself when passing on a bike or that you should yell “track” when you need room on the track as you pass slower runners, you might not understand why it is important to be able to hear in your surroundings. At a race, you might not know that you shouldn’t stop dead in your tracks at a water station in the middle of the street, or that you shouldn’t just stop, bend and tie your shoe without stepping to the side of the road. If you are not attentive to your surroundings, you might not even realize this sort of thing is disruptive and dangerous to those around you. You can’t hear the chaos you might be creating behind you. So please leave your headphones back on the treadmill. Carry your inspiring race-day theme inside of your head — or maybe, you should just hum.

Robin Sarris-Hallop has been running for 28 years without missing a season. She was Michigan Runner magazine’s 1999 Women Runner of the Year, 1998 and 2002 Masters Runner of the Year and 2006 Senior Runner of the Year. She now considers herself retired from serious competition. When not running, she is administrative director of the College of Literature, Sciences and the Arts dean’s office at the University of Michigan and enjoys making art quilts, playing mandolin and banjo, reading history, gardening and traveling. She hopes she never has to write an article about banning text messaging while racing” M R

Ferndale Foot Frolic, Ferndale

398 Fast Feet Race Ferndale Frolic

By Charles Douglas McEwen

won a road race. “I was a hurdler in junior high school and won some of those races, but none since.”

FERNDALE (5/16/10) — Melissa Nasers, 27, of Clinton Township seemed to have the 24th annual Ferndale Recreation Foot Frolic all to herself, as she ran the last mile of the 5K leading not only all the women, but all the men.

Everal has won a few races, but nothing recently. “I actually almost lost this one,” she said. Everal opened a big gap on the women’s field during the third mile and appeared to have the 10K won. But with a little more than a quarter-mile to go, Mandy Mitroff, 36, of Royal Oak snuck up on her.

Scott Stryker, 38, of Oxford passed her with less a half-mile to go. “I could hear him coming,” said Nasers. “I would have put up more of a fight, but I didn’t know how far I had to go to the finish.”

“All of the sudden she was right next to me,” said Everal. “I pulled away a bit, turned a corner, saw the finish and kicked it in.”

Stryker won in 16:31, followed by Nasers six seconds later. “She was really blazing for the first couple miles,” Stryker said. “I just tried to stay with her for the most part. On the last mile, I caught a little tail wind that let me catch up.” For Nasers, finishing second didn’t make the race less a frolic. Her 16:37 shattered her personal record by more than a minute, and was more than five minutes faster than the women’s runner-up.

Mitroff finished seven seconds behind her in 45:10. Sharon Terlep, 31, of Royal Oak grabbed third place in 46:08.

Photo by Charles Douglas McEwen

If you want to take these risks for yourself, that is and should be your decision. But as soon as you step into an organized event, you put others at risk as well and your personal rights are overruled by regard for the safety of everyone.

Jenny Everal won the Ferndale Foot Frolic 10K

“The course was awesome. It felt like it was downhill the whole way,” she said. Following Stryker in the men’s race were Kyle Rascher, 23, in 17:10 and Jason Ellenberge, 34, of Royal Oak in 18:15. The next women were Catie Earle, 28, of Royal Oak in 21:49 and Rebekah Stoutenberg, 29, of Madison Heights in 23:48. Altogether, 199 runners competed in the Frolic, double last year’s total. Among them, 102 ran the 5K and 97 the 10K. Claiming the longer race were masters runners Jeff Royer, 44, of Ferndale (36:38) and Jennie Everal, 45, of Taylor (45:03). “Smelling fumes of a pace car is unusual for me,” said Royer, who had never before

Everal’s husband, Greg, 50, also ran the 10K and was elated with his wife’s victory.“We score a lot of races (for their business, Everal Race Management) but don’t run a lot of them,” he said. “So for her to take an overall female win is fantastic!”

Following Royer were Nathaniel Gallegos, 30, of Detroit (37:55) and Scott Bzdok, 27, of Ferndale (38:40). Members of the Huntington Woods Running Group (aka the Green Team) competed in the 10K, as they do each year. This year, however, they rode their bikes to and from the race. “We are biking and swimming in addition to our regular running,” said member Adam Bornstein, 45. “We all feel we are in better overall shape.” Jack Folbe, 47, led the Huntington Woods runners, timing 39:08. He was followed by Bornstein (45:32), Steven Krasnick, 48 (45:35) and Barry Leshman, 48 (49:00). For complete results, go to www.gaultracemanagement.com. MR Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Book Review

End of ‘Shamateurism’ in Track Makes Compelling Tale

By Ron Marinucci

“The End of Amateurism in American Track and Field,” by Joseph M. Turrini. University of Illinois Press, 2010. 288 pp. $80 cloth, $28 paper.

under-the-table payments for favored, selected race directors, while suspected troublemakers received the iron fist.

In this period, the charade of complete amateurism disappeared. (Of course, it still exists, for example, on high school and collegiate levels.)

t wasn’t so long ago that track and field was an “amateur” sport — in the sense that its athletes were not openly paid, at least. Participants, sports groups (even those associated with the Olympics) and the media, especially after World War II, kept up this charade for years.

The introduction of professionalism into track and field did not prove to be the Eden-like solution some envisioned. New problems were created, such as a general loss of interest in U.S. track, conflicts between coaches, agents and athletes over short- and long-term training and competition strategies, the quality of collegiate track and performanceenhancing drug usage.

Top track and field participants received under-the table remuneration — padded expense money, secret appearance fees, etc. Occasionally, to continue the charade, athletes were suspended and even banned from competition. The great Finn Paavo Nurmi received such punishment.

The story is fascinating, with instances of individual courage, conviction and leadership alternating with or followed by hesitancy and retraction.

Yet the concept of amateurism as preached and practiced by athletes, promoters and, especially, ruling bodies was selective and hypocritical.

Important roles were played by not only Santee but other recognizable names from the ‘60s and ‘70s: Hal Connolly, Bob Seagren, Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter and many more. Michigan’s own Greg Meyer and Herb Lindsay were in the forefront of the movement a decade later, in road racing.

The past four decades have witnessed a revolution. Track and field athletes now are not only paid, but the top ones receive huge sums of money for their appearances, performances and endorsements. “The End of Amateurism” details the past century of this change, beginning with a survey of the late 19th and early 20th century concepts of amateurism, from “pedestrianism” to Victorian stigmas attached to professional athletics. These early pages are pedestrian in their own right, but the interest and action pick up quickly. Some of the best parts of the book focus on the Amateur Athletic Union’s role as a governing body. The AAU is portrayed correctly as heavy-handed and even dictatorial. It ruled U.S. track and field without question, especially as Congress and the courts kept their distance until quite late. The AAU meted out suspensions often with the flimsiest of evidence, even based on rumor. Hearings were at the whim of its governors. It often looked the other way on 14

sented itself to them — or at least the opportunity for more money from television, sponsorships, endorsements, etc. athletes initiated the sweeping changes seen in track and field from the late ‘70s to the present.

The most serious early challenge to the AAU’s dictatorship came from Wes Santee, one of the early-1950s threats to run the first sub 4-minute mile. Santee fought the AAU’s “shamateurism,” even through the legal system. Though he failed and it ruined his career, he encouraged later challenges from other individuals and groups. One such challenge came in the 1960s from NCAA track and field coaches. Money wasn’t the primary focus of this confrontation, but it further weakened the AAU, opening the door wider for further challenges. Many came in the 1970s from promoters, coaches and athletes themselves, who sometimes organized. As more and more money pre-

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

“The End of Amateurism” tells a good story, sharing interesting insights and revelations. It is heavily documented (Turrini is an assistant professor of library and information science at Wayne State University), with the footnotes also providing good reading. The bibliography, another appendix usually ignored by readers, is worth a look. The dozen or so black-and-white photographs are lackluster and the index could use some work. Although the price is steep, anyone interested in this important episode in the history of track and field would do him or herself favor by picking up this book. MR

Running Fit Trail Marathon and Half Marathon, Pinckney

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

O’Mara Makes Clean Getaway in Potawatomi Trail Slop

Erin O’Mara won the half marathon by more than 4 minutes. Ann Arbor, in 1:43:43. Only four men in the 650-runner field beat O’Mara. The first was Rick Straughen, 29, of Shelby Township, in 1:32:15. “I finished 20th here last year and my best finish ever was sixth,” he said. “This wasn’t my fastest half marathon, but considering the course and conditions, this is probably the best I’ve done in a race.”

Peter Hogg of LIvonia won the marathon. By Charles Douglas McEwen PINCKNEY (4/25/10) — Erin O’Mara made a clean getaway on a muddy Potawatomi Trail at Pinckney Recreation Area, winning the Running Fit Trail Half Marathon. “I was expecting to get pretty trashed (with dirt) out there,” said O’Mara, 25, of Ypsilanti. “But I ended up pretty clean.” A storm hours before the race started drenched the trail, leaving puddles and mak-

Two masters runners from Okemos followed Straughen across the finish line: Mark Voit, 49, in 1:34:19, and Jim Wynn, 42, in 1:34:40.

ing hill climbs precarious. But O’Mara, running this race for first time, found enough traction to finish in 1:37:08, more than four minutes ahead of her closest rival. “It’s definitely tough out there,” she said. “I give a lot of credit to the people doing the full marathon. That’s pretty hardcore.” Last year’s Running Fit Road Ends 5Mile race winner, Carrie Hatfield, 31, of Ypsilanti, finished second in the women’s half marathon, crossing in 1:41:30. Next came masters winner Melissa Sunderman, 40, of

Voit led the race for the first eight miles. “Then I got cramps,” he said. “He (Straughen) passed me and I couldn’t keep up.” Peter Hogg, 28, of Livonia and Jennifer Entwistle, 27, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario — both running the marathon here for the first time — took over leadership of the men’s and women’s races as they passed the 13.1-mile aid station, then continued to victory.

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

“It was tougher than I thought it would be,” said Hogg. “That long hill at mile 24 was brutal. “For the last three miles, I was hurting. I was thinking, ‘Don’t die and don’t get caught,’” he said. Hogg didn’t have much to worry about, winning the men’s race by almost nine minutes in 3:16:45. Next came Michael Becker, 37, of East Lansing (3:25:43), Jared Mott, 32, of Ann Arbor (3:29:08) and masters champ Bruce Daman, 41, of Eaton Rapids (3:43:50). Entwistle also triumphed handily in 3:57:31, ahead of masters Julie Berger, 40, of Ionia (4:03:02) and Lisa Shaw, 42, of Lexington (4:06:37). “It’s worth the drive from Sault Ste. Marie (some 330 miles), to do a Running Fit race,” said Entwistle. The marathon had 165 finishers. For complete results, visit www.trailmarathon.com. MR

Fourth-Grade Mile, 2001 By Rachael Steil

the rustling grass with graceful ease and speed.

“You are all running the mile today,” my gym teacher announced with a twisted smile. Amid groans of others, my body quivered with excitement and adrenaline shot through my veins.

I took stride after stride along earth’s green hairs, focusing ahead. The breeze felt wonderful; I was in first place and staying there.

This was the day. I smiled as my teacher caught my eye. He knew I was ready for some fun. He made a hand gesture to the door, out of which 27 among 28 students trudged reluctantly. I was the exception — the one who bounced out the door into glorious sun. The rays hit my face as I bounded down a hill to the starting line. I took a deep breath of the fall air to calm my legs. My body was like a racehorse, my mind the jockey; the jockey held back the horse until it was time to show what speed and power she had. This is where I was comfortable; this is where I was meant to be. It just felt right. As each fourth-grader’s shoe toed the tippy-tip edge of the white line, our teacher gave instructions ending with, “The mile record for girls is 7:15” — shocked silence — “and the boys’ is 6:45.” My heart leapt, my excitement mounted. Not more than a week ago I had run a 7:04 mile. I could easily beat the girls’ school record. The mere sound of the “r” word sent goose bumps rippling to my skin’s surface.

Photo by Charles Douglas McEwen

I knew who had gotten that 7-minute mile: Stacey Streeter, the fastest girl in fifth grade. But I was faster and my body knew it. My heart seemed to climb my throat, beat by beat. I felt its power thud in anticipation. I smiled again as the teacher told us get ready … set … go! Whoosh! Everyone blasted forward, straining to be No. 1 in the first few yards. I stayed a little behind, but soon caught up to everyone around the quarter-mile field.

Jennifer Entwistle of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario won the marathon. 16

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

My classmates slowed to a steady jog or walk and I blew by them. I felt in my legs, heart and mind that I was a racehorse, transforming into a cheetah, racing across

Up the hill I went, down the slope, crunch, crunch over gravel, huffing and puffing with a smile on my face. I felt my hair brush my cheeks as the wind picked up and sent trees before me into a dancing frenzy. It was work but this run felt incredible. I knew at this rate Stacey’s old record would be crushed. I watched as classmates whipped their heads around when they heard me coming from behind to lap them. “Good job, Rachael!” I heard them cry. Some grumbled with jealousy, but I knew I had worked hard for this. The boys looked in disbelief as I passed them. I loved beating them, feeling their embarrassment and surprise. I may have looked like an innocent girl, but in a race I was out for blood. I pushed harder. I couldn’t wait to see the looks on everyone’s faces when I came across the finish line with the fastest time ever run at that school by a girl. When I began my fourth and final lap, I surged forward with all my might, arms reaching forward and feet gliding over the bumpy ground. I was free — a cheetah gliding through the trees, up the hill again, to the soccer goal post, around the fence. There it was! The finish! With one final stride, I made it. The wings on my feet flew away, back into the breeze. The cheetah’s muscles rested, the jockey leapt off of the horse. “Time?” I gasped. My gym teacher looked at his timer and announced, “6 minutes, 23 seconds.” I smiled.

Recent Grandville High School graduate Rachael Steil competed in track and cross country for the Bulldogs. She plans to continue running and writing this fall at Aquinas College. - MR-

Records set at MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division I Track and Field Finals, Rockford, June 5 Photos by Pete Draugalis

Isaac Cox, East Kentwood, set a new meet record in the 800m run, 1:51.78 in a tight race.

Hannah Meier, Grosse Point South set a new state record in the 800m run: 2:08.83

Dallas Wade, aka â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flashâ&#x20AC;? and Jon Henry helped lead their East Kentwood team to the LP D1 title with an extraordinary 92 points.

Megan Goethals led her Rochester team to the LP D1 Title with wins & records in the 3200m run, 1600m run & 4x800m relay.

Omar Kaddurah, Grand Blanc set a new all-division finals meet record of 4:07.67

Michigan Runner TV http://michiganrunner.tv/2010mhsaa_tf_finals/

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Dexter Ann Arbor Run, Ann Arbor

Photo by Charles Douglas McEwen

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Lokken, Park Win Masters National 10K Crowns

Laurel Park (bib no. 7038) battles Michelle Simonaitis (bib no. 7046) in the Masters 10K Championship. John Brabbs (behind Park), Doug Kurtis (bib no. 7030) and Monica Joyce (behind Simonaitis) also competed in the Masters 10K.

Men’s champion, Tracy Lokken, finished the 10K course in 31:38 By Charles Douglas McEwen

ANN ARBOR (6/6/10) — A storm that battered the area the night before the 37th annual Dexter-Ann Arbor Runs left downed trees, branches ... and cool, breezy weather for a record 6,950 participants in the half marathon, 10K and 5K. A new 10K course started and finished in downtown Ann Arbor. (In the past, organizers bussed runners to the outskirts, then had them run into the city.) It also drew elites ages 40 and over for the USA Track & Field Masters National 10K Championship. “It’s absolutely wonderful,” said Tracy Lokken, 44, of the hilly, out-and-back course. “For the first half you can relax a bit, then you’ve got to grind. It’s never a cakewalk. But I love hills!”

Lokken, who traveled 440 miles from Marquette to run, won the men’s national title in 31:38. Laurel Park, 47, of Ann Arbor, was the women’s champ in 36:20. Both had to overcome runners from Draper, Utah, named Simonaitis. Lokken surged ahead of Dennis Simonaitis, 47, a four-time USATF Masters Age Division Runner of the Year, with about half a mile to go. Simonaitis took second six seconds back in 31:44. Third was Paul Aufdemberge, 45, of Redford in 31:57. Park battled Michelle Simonaitis, 44, Dennis’ wife, for the first five miles, then began pulling away with a mile to go.

Michigan Runner TV http://michiganrunner.tv/2010dexter_annarbor/

“I was trying to hang on,” said Michelle Simonaitis. “But she just cruised up the hill at the end.” (All races at Dexter-Ann Arbor climb a steep hill to the finish line.) “That uphill has never bothered me,” said Park, who has run here many times. “But my stomach was cramping for the last 100 meters or so. ‘Please, let me get through it,’ I thought, because I know Michelle has leg speed. I kept waiting to hear her footsteps behind me.” Park never heard them and finished first by 12 seconds. Next came Simonaitis in 36:32 and Monica Joyce, 51, of Ann Arbor in 37:16. “Laurel is awesome,” Simonaitis said. “I nipped her in the USATF Masters 5K Championship last year in Syracuse, N.Y., and she beat me here. So, we have a friendly rivalry.” The Med Sport 10K, which was for any-

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

one who didn’t compete in the masters championship, began a few minutes after the masters started. It was won by University of Michigan freshman Zachary Ornelas, 18 (31:36) and Kelly Morgan, 28, of Rochester (39:50). Morgan was surprised to win. “I haven’t been doing much training,” she said. “I was hoping for top three, maybe.” The weather surprised Ornelas, who is originally from Austin, Texas. “Last night there were tornado sirens going off,” he said. “But the race weather turned out nice and I had a PR, so I’m glad I came.” A storm-downed tree delayed the start of the IHA Half Marathon. Once the race started, Stephen Muturi, 34, of Rochester Hills and Claudia Nero, 39, of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., sprang into action. Wearing a Hansons-Brooks Development Project singlet, Muturi won the men’s race in 1:06:35. Nero, who collapsed after crossing the finish line, claimed the women’s title in 1:18:49. In the NuStep 5K, overall victories went to Deion Pruitt, 19, of Ann Arbor (15:55) and Erin Webster, 24, of Dearborn, (16:50, 22 seconds faster than her winning time here last year). “Last year, I didn’t know the last mile was an uphill battle,” said Webster. “I was more prepared this time.”

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

The Ann Arbor Track Club has hosted Dexter-Ann Arbor Runs since 1974. For complete results, go to www.DxA2.com. MR

Stephen Muturi, Rochester, won the half marathon in 1:06:35

Bryan of Lapeer West By Dean Johnson

he boy did not care. I’m telling you, he just didn’t care.

Back when all of us high schoolers were way too concerned about what other people thought of us and our actions, my friend Bryan Hawes could not have cared less. “Care what people think of me? Why?” The trait served him well as a runner. Bryan was apparently born without the “care-what-other-people-think” gene. Either that, or God gave him an extra portion of confidence with a side of eccentricity. I first saw it the beginning of our 10th-grade year at Lapeer West High School. This was the late-1970s, the golden age of men’s distance running at West, when the cross-country team regularly won the Flint Metro League, challenged for the state title and ruled the mile and 2mile in track meets. Hawes was a short, scrawny kid who had never really run, but he decided he’d go out for cross-country, immediately break into the varsity and be part of the glory before the seniors all graduated. The coach, seniors and I all told him to go out for the team, but realized that his plan was unlikely. So the legend began that Hawes didn’t let what anyone else said affect him. In their earliest workouts he would occasionally run in front of the seniors just to show he could. He soon bumped a senior off the varsity, and as fifth man ran on the team’s last (to this day) league CC championship. That’s what got me into cross country the next fall, along with another guy named Rick. I was painfully quiet and Bryan liked me, but Rick was another story. He was popular, athletic, handsome, intelligent and a bully to little guys like Bryan and me. Yet everyone bowed to his status, which of course meant that Hawes wouldn’t do it. It tormented Rick and his puffed-chest pride. One afternoon Coach McCarrack assigned us to run a 7-mile route that would take us past Rick’s house. Hawes announced — this sounds mean now but it

was hilarious at the time — “Rick, you’re so obnoxious, I’m going to spit on your driveway when we run past your house.” Rick threatened to pound him, but Bryan took off running, staying just far enough ahead of Rick so he could see that Bryan actually did the deed. On the way back, he did it again. I always admired that Bryan really didn’t care what Rick thought. Then there’s the time that Hawes taught me to cover one nostril and blow snot out the other. Booking along at 6:30 pace, he did it and I asked how he did it. He talked me through it and I got it right, though in his direction. “You know you just blew snot on me,” he said calmly. I apologized and he said, “If a friend can’t let a friend blow snot on him his first time, what are friends for?” Hawes made the state meet our junior year and got something like 30th place. Afterwards he said, “I’m hungry, let’s go get something to eat.” His senior year he was a much better runner but had a terrible state meet race, and afterwards said to us, “I’m hungry, let’s go get something to eat.” Circumstances didn’t affect him much, and I admired that. So I was hugely disappointed when he announced that he wasn’t going to run track his senior year. He didn’t enjoy track that much, hated being made to run the mile instead of the two, and just wanted to enjoy his last semester of high school. It seemed like a waste of talent to me, but I couldn’t change his mind, which I guess is the point. He dropped out of running and became a competitive roller-blader. “Why don’t you run?” I asked him. “Because I want to roller blade,” he told me. I guess that made sense. How many times do we do something only to meet others’ expectations? Bryan married a pretty girl — though I don’t think that’s why he married her — and they moved from Lapeer to Minnesota. Last I heard, he’d dropped out of roller-blading because he had a son and just enjoyed taking him hunting, fishing and hiking. It sounds like a great thing, but to be honest, he didn’t ask my opinion. MR

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net

Keep on Chasin’ That Dream: Boston Beckons Michigan Runners

114th Boston Marathon starts in Hopkinton Story by Anthony Targan, Lyrics by Boston BOSTON (4/19/10) — It may have been the 114th running of the Boston Marathon, but for Michigan runners embarking on the Bauman’s buses to Hopkinton for their first encounter with the fabled course, it was all new. Nothing they had read, heard or trained for could totally prepare them for what lay in store on a glorious Patriot’s Day. As we rode to the start, we knew that the winners would cross the finish line before most of us had crested Heartbreak Hill. Soon enough, Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot would be setting a new course record (2:05:52), beating out U.S. hopefuls Ryan Hall (fourth in 2:08:41) and Meb Keflezighi (fifth in 2:09:26). Women’s winner Teyba Erkesso (2:26:11) would edge out Tatyana Pushkareva by three seconds. None of that would surprise us. But what the newbies couldn’t know, until they experienced it firsthand, was how Boston spectators would welcome, embrace and carry us to the finish line.

While this was my fourth Boston, I relished seeing the race through first-timers’ eyes. This is their story … with help from a rock n’ roll band out of Boston.

Hopkinton: A Wicked Fast Start Now I like takin’ off, don’t like burnin’ out Every time you turn it on makes me want to shout We keep getting hotter, movin’ way too fast If we don’t slow this fire down we’re not gonna last We Michigan runners take many roads to get to Boston. Sarah Smalheer’s journey began in Chelsea in 2006 when she decided to start running again, after a 15-year hiatus, to lose weight. “My first session on the treadmill lasted half a mile; I couldn’t go any further,” she remembered. “My muscles, long out of practice, were screaming in pain. I pushed through those first agonizing weeks of exercise ... and never stopped.” Now 65 pounds lighter, Smalheer qualified for Boston in the 2009 Cleveland Marathon with just 45 seconds to spare.

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Dorothy Johnson and her husband, John, of Indian River, both qualified at Grand Rapids in 2009 in their 19th and 14th marathons, respectively … both at the ripe age of 64. My running buddy, Jim Rocktoff of Farmington Hills, is normally quiet. We have done 20-mile training runs together in virtual silence. But not even he could contain his enthusiasm for race start in Hopkinton. “It was unbelievable!” Rocktoff said. “Moving out amid the sea of runners was amazing. Even though I had heard the advice a million times, it was difficult to hold back and not get caught up in the initial burst of energy.” Ralf Ostmann of Walled Lake described the start as “a never-ending band of runners in front of you and behind you. Especially right after the start, curving downhill through the woods, you see this colorful band of thousands of runners surrounded by the lush green of the trees. “Throw in a little sunshine, like we had, and it makes for a picture-perfect postcard.”

Wild Wellesley Women Embolden BostonBound Boys Now, I’m not like this, I’m really kind of shy But I get this feeling whenever you walk by My own race strategy — hardly profound or unique — was to run easy for the first half, survive the Newton Hills and see what I had left for the last 10K. I maintained a steady pace, effort level, breathing and heart rate as I ticked off the early miles … at least until I reached Wellesley College. Once there, I ran by the gauntlet of girls with arms extended over my head, displaying a bumper sticker that read “Wellesley, Wellesley, Only to Be There.” The screams reached a crescendo as my sign registered with each wave of women, and I fed off their energy. Without realizing it, I accelerated to my fastest pace of the race and was breathless when I left campus.

myself think. I just kept telling myself to stay within myself and stick to the plan.” The Wellesley girls “didn’t let us down,” Dorothy Johnson said. “Each one had a sign with ‘Kiss me,’ followed by a reason … ‘I’m from Michigan,’ ‘I’m a nerd,’ ‘I’m Italian,’ etc.”

pass. Just past the firehouse, runners take a sharp right turn to encounter a short (0.3 miles), steep (4.7-percent grade) gut check at Mile 17.6. The Mile 19.2 hill is deceptively tough: 0.4 miles with a 3-percent average grade, but 4.5-percent at its steepest. “Midway up that hill, my hamstring tightened and started cramping,” Rocktoff said. “I thought about stopping to work it out, but I worried that I might not get going again. The crowd support helped pull me up that hill.”

“With the crowd’s cheering it seemed that every runner out there was winning the race,” Rick Abbot of West Bloomfield observed. “Maybe everybody gets their 15 minutes of fame, but if you run Boston they give you 26.2 miles of fame.”

Finally, if you’ve got anything left, your mettle will be tested at Heartbreak. Just past the 20-mile mark, its 97 feet of elevation gain (4.6-percent average grade) extend for nearly a half-mile of agony. As my pace slowed, “Long Time” became my mantra to get through the hills:

Heartbreaker: Climbing the Newton Hills I can’t get any stronger And I can’t climb any higher You’ll never know just how hard I’ve tried

Jason LaFave of Sanford summed it up well: “Wellesley College! What a sight! I no longer could hear my iPod. I couldn’t hear

Mile 16 welcomes you to Newton with a long (0.6 miles), gradual (2.4-percent average grade), windswept hill on a highway over-

There’s a long road I’ve gotta stay in time with I’ve got to keep on chasin’ that dream Though I may never find it, I’m always just behind it Well I’m takin’ my time, I’m just movin’ along

B.C. = Beerfest of Champions By the time I got to Boston College, I was losing my “Peace of Mind.” I was feeling kinda low ‘bout the dues I’d been paying; the future (finish line) was coming much too

Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net

One of the awesome aspects of Wellesley is that the women give every runner the rockstar treatment, male and female, from the elites through the back-of-the-packers.

If Wellesley fulfills a fantasy for many runners, the Newton Hills are often where dreams of glory come crashing back to reality. Most non-runners have only heard of Heartbreak Hill, but what makes Heartbreak tough is that it is the last hill in Newton’s fearsome foursome.

Boston Marathon, last turn onto Boylston St. Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

slow; I wanted to run but somehow just kept on staying, unable to go any faster.

“The Road is Calling, Today is the Day”: Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston

Then I remembered my secret weapon: a temporary tattoo of a B.C. Eagle affixed to my right shoulder. Pointing to my arm, I began shouting “Go Eagles!” to the raucous B.C. students, who responded in kind. Their boisterous, beer-fueled encouragement helped me pick up my pace and keep rolling all the way to Boston.

Different minds with the same old dreams We live a life of imaginary means It’s crazy, it’s how we feel A pilot always tries to fly without a winning pace A runner can never decide to end a given race

Other self-marked runners also benefitted from the B.C. cheering section. Debbie Ketner of Farmington Hills, running the marathon on her birthday, said, “The best part was Boston College. I was struggling with calf cramps at this point; the screaming and ‘Happy birthdays’ from this group acted as an energizing tunnel which pulled me through. “I received dozens of ‘Happy birthdays’ in response to my ‘Happy Birthday Debbie’ shirt during every mile of the marathon,” she went on. Many spectators also serenaded Ketner with the entire “Happy Birthday” song.

Said LaFave: “As I neared the finish line, I thought about all the miles that got me to this point. The cold, snowy runs in the winter. The 10-mile hill runs in the rain. The final 20 miles I ran training in winds of 20 to 30 mph. The work had been done. “Finally, as I neared the finish line, I thought about my dog, Nike, who had been with me for 15 years and was no longer with me. I looked up at the clock, saw a PR of 2:48:11 and shouted, ‘The Boston fricking Marathon!’” More than two hours later, but with no less sense of accomplishment, John Johnson and then Dorothy approached the finish line. Dorothy’s grandson, James, “hurdled the

Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net

LaFave found the B.C. students “nearly as crazy as the Wellesley girls. With my name written on both arms, plus the throngs of people hollering my name in the last few miles, I felt like the crowd was carrying me in.”

Boston runners know that these last two streets are the home stretch. After a short uphill on Hereford, you turn left on Boylston and can see the finish line ahead. The onethird mile downhill is just long enough to allow runners time to reflect on their journey.

Boston Marathon finish. 22

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

fence and ran with me down Boylston Street to the finish line. I wore his Boston Red Sox hat across the finish and we held hands up high together as we crossed.” Smalheer had trained for years for this moment. “Nothing could have prepared me for the way I felt as I ran down Boylston,” she said. “The crushing fatigue that had settled on me around Mile 22 melted away. I let the roar of the crowds wrap itself around me and carry me forward. I watched as the finish line drew closer and thought, ‘I don’t want this to end.’ “I started to cry, overwhelmed by all that had gone into my presence in this race. I never, ever could have dreamed I would one day run the Boston Marathon. I ran with a smile on my face, ran with tears in my eyes and crossed the finish line of the 114th Boston Marathon.”

Regular MR contributor Anthony Targan has completed 10 marathons, including four at Boston, with a personal best time of 3:25:54 (Boston 2009). Songs by the band Boston quoted or alluded to in this article include (in order): “Cool the Engines,” “Let Me Take You Home Tonight,” “A Man I’ll Never Be,” “Long Time,” “Peace of Mind,” “Don’t Look Back” and “Cryin’.” MR

Mackinaw Memorial Bridge Run, Mackinaw City

Photo Courtesy of Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau

Runners Attack ‘Mighty Mac’

By Cynthia Cook MACKINAW CITY (5/29/10) — Most folks aren’t fortunate enough to take in the view while driving across the Mackinac Bridge. Imagine the view while running across it ... then add a full moon setting on the west horizon with the sun coming up on the east. Now you’re in the shoes of nearly 600 runners treated to a once-in-a-lifetime vista during the seventh annual Mackinaw Memorial Bridge Race. A 6 a.m. staggered chip start from the north side of the bridge launched runners on their way amid beautiful conditions: sunny and clear, with a northeast breeze providing a gentle tailwind. The zen-like conditions inspired performances of overall winners Ryan Linden and Desiree Davila. Linden, 28, of Rochester

Hills, covered the 5.06-mile course in 26:23. Davila, 26, also from Rochester Hills, took top honors for women in 31:14.

true: “There’s so much to see on the bridge, you won’t even notice the hill. It’s one race in which you won’t want to hurry anyway.”

School bus transportation from the Mackinaw City finish line to the north side of the bridge provided a perfect opportunity for runners to “get into the zone.” Some listened to iPods. Some gazed out over the waters. Some “talked shop” with seatmates. One spirited group even provided an enthusiastic rendition of “Wheels on the Bus.”

Though the view was a tough act to follow, race organizers provided the perfect finishing touch. A fabulous hot breakfast catered by a local eatery included eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, muffins … anything a hungry runner could want.

Never having run the “Mighty Mac” before, I chose the event as incentive toward regaining my form after an extended stay on the “injured reserve” list and as a spectacular way to celebrate my 50th birthday. While, a steady 5-percent incline between the starting line and 2.5-mile halfway point seemed daunting to me, advice from veteran Mac Bridge runner Jennie McCafferty held

Top it off with a medal to commemorate the experience and I call it a run — an experience — like no other. I wished it would never end. Maybe next year I’ll wear a helmet-cam.

Cynthia Cook is founder and race director of the Red October Run. - MR -

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Notes on the Run:

101 Reasons I Run, Part 2

By Daniel G. Kelsey

…—listen; there’s a hell of a good universe next door; let’s go – e.e. cummings, “pity this busy monster, manunkind”

hen we hear the term social butterfly, most likely we think of a woman, not a guy like McMurdo.

Tall and heavy-boned, McMurdo runs with an apparent effort as if he’s on Jupiter and weighs 1,000 pounds. He doesn’t care if he’s slow when surrounded by friends. He feels light on his feet with company through the miles. Training two or three days a week, always in the middle of three or four buddies from a shifting roster of men and women, he talks more than the rest combined. One morning in the second mile he told a story of how fitness released a Jovian butterfly to soar. “This woman at work said to me, ‘Somebody’ll probably kill me for mentioning this, but you’ve got a nice butt.’ And she’s 20 years younger than me. That’s sexual harassment, but I don’t mind.” The story prompts me to admit one of my guilty pleasures. Running gives me a chance to look at fit, energetic, sexy women without being too obvious. Better, it gives me a chance to keep company with women without too great a risk of rejection. I’ve never chased a woman while training just because she looks sleek in shorts, at least not that I’m conscious of. But I’ve chased an attractive woman in a race or two just because she inspired me to a little more speed. I’ve spurted ahead of a cute woman in a race or two just because it showed my vigor. It’s all so Darwinian. When it comes to the social benefits of running, we’re not so much butterflies as rats in cages. On March 13, 2006, the Web site 24

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health, a service of BBC News, ran an article with the lead, “If you are a lonely long-distance runner, exercise may not be doing your brain much good, scientists suggest.” Researchers knew already that running had conflicting effects on rodent brains; it caused a proliferation of neurons, and induced the production of a stress hormone that inhibited generation of neurons. Running giveth and running taketh away. The BBC article reported on a Princeton study, led by Dr. Elizabeth Gould, that measured the different effects in brains of rats running alone or in company. “Running was found to increase neuron generation only when rats were housed in groups.” Whoa, now, back up. It’s complicated. Rats running in isolation had cell proliferation as low as a control group of rats not running at all. But rats running a long time alone got the same neurological benefit as rats running a short time in fellowship. Gould cautioned about interpreting the results for humans. Not me. The verdict’s in; given equal miles alone or with friends, social runners have healthier brains than antisocial runners. The folks at “About.com: Running & Jogging,” posted at runningabout.com, wasted no space on science. They sought to encourage people thinking about taking up running. Their writers invited beginners to join clubs and training groups. Christine Luff, in “What is Running? Reasons Why People Run,” updated Oct. 31, 2008, commended safety in numbers, in case of injury or attackers. Jesslyn Cummings, in “How the Running Community Benefits Runners,” updated Jan. 28, 2007, lauded the welcoming culture and sense of belonging. “People who understand you and your habit are one of the biggest benefits of the running community,” Cummings wrote. In his memoir, “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running,” Haruki Murakami, the Japanese novelist, gave an account of covering 62 miles in an ultramarathon at Lake Saroma on the island of Hokkaido.

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

At 47 miles he passed through a barrier, as if from one state of being into another, as if from man to machine. He mentioned no analogous breakthroughs in his two dozen marathons. The passage -- that is, the writing as well as the running -- came off as intensely personal. His book opened with a treatment of running as equal in loneliness to writing. He felt no pain at spending an hour in training or four hours on a novel all by himself. “When I’m running I don’t have to talk to anybody and don’t have to listen to anybody.” He argued that running alone promoted healing from the hurts and discontents of social interaction. He sounded as if his goals for racing, from fitness to living life to the fullest, arose from self, with no influence from nine of every ten people he met. Whoa, now, look closer. Murakami let slip hints of a yen for camaraderie. Though obsessive or compulsive, he’s a social runner under the skin. While training he listened to music: Hall and Oates, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, the Lovin’ Spoonful. He recognized runners on his favorite route in Tokyo, and even if he didn’t speak to them, felt a shared bond, remembering their faces for years, missing them after they disappeared. He felt in his element when surrounded by runners, and chatted before races, buoyed by a sense of ceremony, even as his competitive juices flowed. He reveled in a culture that set him apart. “Those of us who participate in triathlons are unusual people.” On the last page he acknowledged a debt to cohorts. “Finally, I dedicate this book to all the runners I’ve encountered on the road -- those I’ve passed, and those who’ve passed me. Without all of you, I never would have kept on running.” Spoken like a butterfly at heart. - MR -

Andrea Pomaranski, 27, of Farmington (Bib 16) was women’s champion in 16:14, besting runner-up Katie Jazwinski, 31, of Dexter (16:48).

Photo by Scott Sullivan

Ian Forsyth, 38, of Ann Arbor (Bib 2), outfinished former Calvin College star Jed Christensen Christensen, 23, (Bib 4) to capture the 21st annual Brian Diemer Amerikam 5K Race on a clammy, 74degree morning in Cutlerville, near Grand Rapids.

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Brian Diemer Amerikam 5K Race, Cutlerville, June 12

Three-time U.S. Olympian and 1984 steeplechase bronze medalist Brian Diemer, 48, who hosts the race in his hometown, ran a 17:54, meaning he treated 57 out of 1,496 finishers who beat him to free donuts. “My Achilles has bothered me for the last three weeks,” said Diemer, who nonetheless found the energy afterward to greet later finishers, ride his father’s vintage Farm-All tractor in this small town’s parade and start children’s races. As for the donuts? “I can still afford them,” he said. “But there seem to be more each year.” Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

85th Comrades Marathon, Petermaritzburg to Durban, South Africa

Comrades is Unforgettable Adventure/Trip By Gary Morgan

I crested the last hill with 5K to go and knew I was home free. The crowd in the stadium was fantastic; music played, an announcer announced and it was a circus. I’ve never finished any other race like this.

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (5/30/10) — Running the 85th annual Comrades ultramarathon was an experience I won’t forget. I arrived Wednesday, May 26, in time to see this city and nation preparing for soccer’s World Cup. There’s a new pathway that goes for miles along the Indian Ocean beach: a great place to run, walk or ride a bike. I saw a World Cup concert stage and all kinds of sand sculptures on warm beaches that can’t be beat. I did a fun run Thursday with Gary Morgan visits with kids participating in other Comrades runners from the Comrades 10K & 5K races in Durban. U.S., Australia, England and India, then checked out the expo. United Kingdom margarine giant Flora was giving out cool, yellow Comrades shirts for At aid stations we were given sealed plashaving a cholesterol check. Runner’s World tic bags of water and Gatorade that we had magazine was promoting its pasta dinner. The to squeeze or bite with our teeth to open. It most-notable name on the race wall of histotakes practice. Then they gave you Coca-Cola ry was Alberto Salazar, 1994 Comrades in small plastic bottles. There were aid stachampion. tions every one to two miles after 5K. On Friday I took a course tour from Petermaritzburg, where the race starts, to Durban, where it finishes. I saw the Comrades Museum in Petermaritzburg and famed spots along the 56-mile route.

After 13 miles we came to a small town where crowds were huge, all cheering as we went by. South Africans love this race; there were viewers all along the way.

Back in Durban I watched a new documentary on the race and attended the pasta party. Nine-times Comrades winner Bruce Fordyce, a charismatic guy with a great sense of humor, spoke about how the World Cup would change South Africa forever.

After 12 hours an official fired a gun; those who finished later did not receive a medal. The last person to cross the line, a 28-year Comrades veteran, received a bouquet of flowers. I took a 7-hour bus ride to Johannesburg the next day. Seeing the station, with people camping there at 5 a.m., was a trip. I took an all-day tour drive to Kruger National Park from there. I spent the next three nights at Marc’s Tree House Lodge, a heatless tree house where temperatures dropped to 40°. I went on a game drive and safaris where we saw rhinos, lions, cape buffalo, elephants and a leopard. We returned to Johannesburg via the Drakensberg Mountains. There I bought World Cup souvenirs. It was amazing how excited people were about the tournament. On Saturday I flew to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, where I went on a Zambezi River cruise. Then I took a river cruise and jeep tour through Chobie National Park in Botswana. The best thing was seeing three lions tracking a giraffe.

I went Saturday to the National Youth 5K and 10k held by Comrades organizers. The beach path course passed the fantastic new soccer stadium. Durban is a beautiful city to run through. After the race, some Americans played games with the children. I checked out the expo one last time, had dinner and called it a day before the big race.

Victoria Falls

My alarm went off at Sunday at 2 a.m. I took the 56-mile bus ride to Petermaritzburg for the 5:30 start, accompanied by 23,000 other runners. It was cool to see so many spectators out so early.

We climbed a large hill to the halfway point — 44.6K, or roughly 28 miles — to encounter a DJ announcing day-long and music playing. It felt great to think I was halfway home.

After we left town, we ran on a two-lane road through the countryside. It was nice to be able to see things again when the sun rose at 7:30.

The hills seemed to never end. Comrades changes direction every year: a net uphill one year, downhill the next. Although this was a “downhill” year, you’d have never known it.

After I recovered, I videoed others crossing the finish line. It was pandemonium. Pace teams (called busses) finished with hundreds of runners strong, many lugging signs, wearing costumes and/or passing out from exhaustion. I cheered as Runner’s World’s Bart Yasso completed his dream race.

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

When I got back I had dinner with new friends at the stately Victoria Falls Hotel, which boasts period architecture and prime viewing of the falls. I checked out the falls from the Zambian side the next day and got drenched, but it was worth it. Then I did zip line, flying fox and swing rides that dropped 300 feet into the gorge. I planned to come home the next day, unless I scored World cup tickets. If so,who knows? MR

Cooley Law School 5K, Lansing, June 11

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Emma Frost, Okemos (bib no. 521) and eventual winner Leah Scharl, Clarkston (bib no. 539) lead women’s race early in the Cooley 5K.

Dances with Dirt, Gnawbone Nashville, Indiana, May 15 Photo by Greg Sadler, sadlershots.com

Jennifer Ward runs through a stream on her way to a marathon age group award/

Race for the Cure®, Detroit, May 22

New Balance Girls on the Run 5K Ypsilanti, May 23

Matt Fecht gets to the tape first, 15:14, in Michigan’s largest race.

Girls on the Run, Southeastern Michigan, celebrate their training with a 5K Fun Run

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Course Accuracy: Sometimes Vital, Sometimes Not

Letter to the Editor

Certified Courses Should Be the Norm Dear editor, Most race participants, even casual, infrequent runners, expect to run the distance that was advertised. They want a 5K to be a 5K, not a little more or a little less. USATF course certification is the only method that will guarantee that. When I was CEO of the Chicago Area Runners Association, races wanted to be a part of our event series because that generated more publicity, conferred prestige and helped attract more runners. USATF certification was a condition of CARA affiliation. So races got their courses certified, even when they were not CARA races. It cost very little. Michigan race directors may need a similar incentive. Clubs, stores, the Governor’s Fitness Council and others who produce or promote race competition should make USATF certification a requirement for participation.

By Ron Marinucci

remember a running friend who, when introduced as “a jogger,” was offended. “I’m a runner!” he’d snap.

I wondered what was wrong with being called “a jogger.” I have been called that (among other things) and not felt insulted. To me it is no big deal. When I read the exchange about course accuracy and certification in the last issue of Michigan Runner, my first reaction was the same. “Close enough” is good enough. As long as the advertised distance is “in the neighborhood,” that’s all that matters — to me. Then I gave it more thought … There is no doubt that course accuracy is a must in events used for qualifying and in which records might be set. Many runners train hard, race to gauge their fitness, work on pacing and chase personal bests at distances. They want to know that a 10K is 6.21 miles and not merely 6. The only way to be certain that a race distance is legitimate is to have the course measured and certified. But the costs involved go beyond hiring a USATF-qualified measurer. They involve time and effort that smaller races, with part-time directors and all-volunteer staffs, might find hard to meet. Mt. Pleasant Striders officer, runner and race director Harry Plouff said, “The course should be very close. Dead-on is important if the race results will be used for something else,” such as qualifiers and records.

If that leaves out some popular races, so be it. If certification becomes the norm, more races will get certified, including the so-called “popular” ones.

“As a race director, I know that most people care about accuracy — in distance, direction and results,” Plouff added. But then, as a runner, he seemed to hedge.

All runners will benefit from certified courses, not just award winners or competitive athletes.

Plouff recently ran a half marathon that was maybe one-tenth of a mile off. “Now how can you log or explain that to others without sounding like you are whining?” he wondered.

So, don’t ask runners if they favor a certified course. Ask them if they favor a course that is the distance they were told it would be.

David M. Patt, CAE Executive Director Association of Running Event Directors www.racedirector.org

tors can get things close enough for me.” Gus LaRuffa and Mike Bowen are senior runners with PRs and age-group awards behind them. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t serious: they’ve still logged the miles and run the races. “I usually don’t take things too seriously,” said LaRuffa. “But when it comes to course accuracy, I want it right on. It’s the only way I can gauge my improvement. “When I finish last, I want my time to be right,” he said. Bowen, who for many years has run races carrying a POW/MIA flag, once ran a 2:50 Boston Marathon. He is a regular at the River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, Crim in Flint and other state races, and has run many marathons and ultras. “Certification means nothing to me at this stage in life,” Bowen said, adding he runs “mainly off-road (dirt) now,” where accuracy, as noted in the last issue of MR, is hard to measure. More important to him than times is the cause he runs for. “Please, never forget our Vietnam vets and those who did not come home,” Bowen said. “I think close is good enough,” said Riley McClincha, who has run all 33 Crims and can often be seen “drubbling” three basketballs in a race. Yet without basketballs, he can still pull down age-group hardware. “Close enough” to McClincha means not throwing your time off by more than five seconds. So, say, an error of 100 feet short or long is OK. “I can understand and forgive errors,” he added, “but some people in charge of courses have never run a race, haven’t a clue how to measure a course, or couldn’t care less if the distance is accurate.” He cited a recent 5K he ran which was off by two-tenths of a mile — not acceptable.

“It’s nice to know that a race has made sure the distance is correct,” “Slow Joe” Burns said. “But at the end of the day, we all run the same distance.

Jerry Mittman runs 45 to 50 races — local, state and national — every year. “For the most part, I think it’s more important to keep fees as low as possible than to have courses certified,” he said.

“Since I judge my time against past attempts at each race, not against other races, accurate distances don’t obsess me,” Burns added. “In this day of Garmins, race direc-

“Keeping fees low helps attract more participants, especially the ‘casual’ runner, and assures the future and growth of races,” he continued.

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Dooby Du Duathlon, Toledo/ Berkey, Ohio

Etchill, Lupini Make It Two Straight at Dooby Du By Charles Douglas McEwen BERKEY, OHIO (4/18/10) — With six miles of trail running and 13 miles of biking on pavement, the Dooby Du Duathlon might seem like a relatively easy one considering that it takes place on pancake-flat Secor Metropark. “It’s a grueling format though,” said Elizabeth Crowe, 32, of nearby Holland, Ohio, who finished in 1:26:30. “It feels like an hour and a half of pure sprinting.” The 105 participants ran two miles,

biked 6.5 miles, ran another two miles, biked another 6.5 miles, then finished with a 2-mile run. So where most duathlons have one transition, this had four. “You never are able to get into a good rhythm, as you’re constantly transitioning from run to bike, bike to run,” said Matt West, 35, of Ypsilanti. “It’s one of the hardest races I do all year.”

(1:28:58), and Karen Killian, 25, of Bryan, Ohio (1:30:13). Lupini said she runs Elite Endeavor-sponsored races whenever possible. “I love Elite,” she said. “They are awesome!”

“It’s a good place to work on your transitions and maybe watch other people who are good at it,” Alex Etchill, 31, of Sandusky, Ohio, said. Etchill and West raced together through the first two miles of duathlon.

Photo by Charles Douglas McEwen

“Then he transitioned to the bike quicker than I did,” West said, “and got about a 90second gap on me. That was it.”

Photo by Charles Douglas McEwen

Etchill won with time of 1:10:29, followed by West (1:13:25), Roger Bonga, 36, of Kentwood (1:14:50) and Andy Lowe, 38, of Hilliard, Ohio (1:15:24). Todd Hart, 50, placed fifth and topped the masters in 1:17:19. Etchill triumphed here last year in 1:08:40. “The times were a little slow today because it was cold,” he said. “I had to wear more clothing, which slows me down.” Geraldine Lupini, 47, of Milford, was women’s champion for the second-straight time, clocking a 1:23:48 — faster than her 1:24:29 in 2009.

Geraldine Lupini, 47, of Milford, was women’s champion for the secondstraight time

Etchill called Dooby Du a particularly good Elite race. “I hope they keep having it,” he said. “I try to promote it to all my friends. You can’t beat it for a first race of the year.”

“I would say I’m better at the run,” said Lupini. “But I had a pretty good pace on the bike today.” Next came Elizabeth Crowe (1:26:30), Zoe Metro, 34, of Ypsilanti (1:28:48), Anna Andrzejewska-Hil, 35, of Hoffmer States, Ill.

For complete results, go to www.eliteendeavors.com. MR

thoughts of PRs had been for naught. “Certification, however, is important for large events, those with highly-competitive runners and those that have more than a local significance,” Mittman said. I ran the longer race in a 10K/5K a few years back. My race went without a hitch, but the 5K proved very short. The looks on the faces of the those who thought they were running a 5K, but weren’t, were haunting: all that time, training, effort and their initial

Alex Etchill (bib no. 595) and Matt West raced together through the first 2 miles.

I set my “advertised” 10K PR on a course that was more than two-tenths of a mile short. My time there was about a minute better than my second-best, although my pace for the actual distance was likely faster. I wasn’t really angry about the mistake; everyone had run the same course that day. I don’t consider that time significant and remember the race as a fun one my family ran together.

In the end, I fall back on my first reaction: close is good enough. I consider myself a serious, if not fast, runner. I put in lots of miles and train hard for some races. Still, other things — my grandkids, the leadership (or lack thereof) of our state and nation — are more important. I also know that, for other serious runners, close is not good enough. As Sly Stone said, “Different strokes for different folks.” - MR -

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Melissa Bergeron’s ‘Fountain of Youth’ By Gale Fischer

TRAVERSE CITY (5/29/10) — The same thought went through Jessica Graf’s mind that plagues many first-time marathoners while the pain of the 26.2-mile effort is still fresh. Never again!

Bergeron, who started running at age 35, is riding a wave of personal records now, 10 years later.

Of course, most rookies don’t win their first marathons, either.

Her journey began, perversely, after tearing a meniscus in one knee. Her doctor told her to forget about running, which intensified her desire to do just that.

Bergeron improved her times at all distances, then seemed to peak, but has shown a resurgence in 2010. In February she set a PR at the Advantage Health Heart and Soul 5K with a time of 20:02. She topped that a month later at the Blue Lake Township Firefighters Association St. Patrick’s Day 5K, running 19:52. At the May 8 Fifth Third River Bank in Grand Rapids, Bergeron eclipsed her 1:54:09 25K best, set in 2009, by crossing in 1:49:24, just under a seven-minute mile pace. She did this a week after setting a new marathon PR. She actually set two marathon PRs this spring, claiming the women’s title at Novi’s Martian Marathon April 11 in 3:16:25, then “warming up” for the River Bank Run by finishing masters champ at the Illinois Marathon May 1 in 3:16:09. 30

Graf was the women’s winner at the Bayshore Marathon, posting a time of 2 hours, 49 minutes, 37 seconds. So, that kind of makes the 29-year-old Holton resident obligated to give it another go, especially when she came so close to the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials “B” standard of 2:46.

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

She added to her running résumé taking part in the 2001 Strides for Life, a four-day, 100-mile run and fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. After that, she began racing other distances including the marathon.

Graf Charts Debut Marathon Success

By Bill Khan

ge effects all athletes, but running and hard work can counteract it. Melissa Bergeron of Norton Shores is a good example.

Bergeron went for her first run six months after the scope to repair her knee, then signed up and trained for a local 5K. Although her initial effort did not provide her a “runner’s high,” she stuck with it and at the race finished second in her age group. She was hooked.

Traverse City State Bank Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K

“I was saying no (to another marathon) at about mile 23, but now that it’s over I’m sure I’ll be convinced to try another one,” Graf told the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Graf dueled with Erin O’Mara of Ypsilanti most of the race, opening up a cushion with about 10 miles to go. O’Mara finished second in a personal-best 2:50:26.

Melissa Berergon won the Fruitport 10K for the third straight year.

Bergeron credits her recent success to Mark Paulson, who ran across Michigan unassisted last year to raise money for breast cancer treatment and research. He trains using a metronome. Bergeron claims that the steady beep of the timing device has taught her to run with a balanced cadence. Keeping fit doing lots of running has helped too. At 45 she has learned that running not only helps slow the aging process, she is getting faster. She is getting out of it what she puts into it. A fountain of youth, it seems.

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

- MR -

“It was my first one so it was a learning experience,” said Graf, who was fifth in the U.S. 25K championships in Grand Rapids three weeks earlier. “I felt I stuck with my plan and that was to try and feel good through 20 and just push through the pain after that — and when I got to 20 it definitely started to hurt.” Heat and humidity protected the course records from assault. Marybeth Reader set the women’s standard of 2:46:23 in 2008, while Jeff Sharp’s mark of 2:17:40 has held since 1983. Kenyan Hilary Cheruiyot was the overall winner in 2:24:09. He was running his second marathon in six days, having placed second at a race in Fargo, N.D., in 2:25:35. Cheruiyot, who certainly has the last name for marathon success, talked his coach into letting him race in Traverse City. “I wasn’t expecting much from him,” said his coach, William Kosgei. “And I was wondering how he was going to fare against athletes who have been training for this race. We didn’t know about this race until the last minute. To run a 2:25 last Sunday and then come back six days later and run a 2:24, that’s unbelievable.” Increased prize money attracted a stronger field to Bayshore, not just for the marathon, but for the popular half marathon. The marathon paid the first five men and women, with first place earning $2,000. The top five masters also earned money, with first place worth $1,000.

The weather didn’t have as great an impact on the half marathon, which was over for the top finishers before temperatures picked up. That allowed three runners to break course records. Kenyan James Boitt won a sprint to the finish with countryman Richard Kandie to set the course mark of 1:06:01.64. Kandie registered a time of 1:06:01.78. Paul Aufdemberge set the men’s masters record of 1:09:11, while Andrea Pomaranski set the women’s course record of 1:15:08. Boitt and Kandie are also coached by Kosgei in Minneapolis. Like Cheruiyot, they made the decision to run Bayshore at the 11th hour. Boitt won the Green Bay Marathon two weeks earlier in 2:15:15. “We ran together all the way,” Kandie said. “We pushed each other. We train together in Minneapolis. We did this together.” Pomaranski’s personal record is 1:14:26, which she achieved earlier in the month by placing third in the Indy Mini-Marathon. She admitted that the heat got to her a bit. “About halfway through, I started feeling the heat a little,” she said. “I got a little sick earlier in the week. I felt fine today, but I didn’t have that little extra edge I would have liked to have had.” The open course record bonuses were $1,000. Aufdemberge won $500 for setting the masters course mark. Three University of Michigan teammates finished one second apart in the 10-kilometer run. Dallas Bowden won in 32:41.38, defending champion Geoff Burns was second in 32:41.77 and Brendon Blacklaws was third in 32:42.40. Bowden and Blacklaws are New Zealand natives who are spending their first year in the United States. “We cruised the last part of the race together, feeding off each other and having fun,” Burns said. “It’s a privilege to have these guys come up here and enjoy northern Michigan. They’re about half a world away from home.” Liz Shelton won the women’s 10K in a personalbest 36:48. The Texas resident won the 10K five years ago in 37:26. “A friend of ours who we used to run with in Austin is from Traverse City,” Shelton said. “He said this is a great course, that it’s fast and the weather is usually cool. He was really bragging about it and it’s lived up to those high standards. The people here are so nice and I love running on the peninsula.” Angela Long was second in 39:51. - MR -

Fruitport Old-Fashioned Days Runs, Fruitport

Fruitport Champs Run Gamut in Clammy Heat By Grant Lofdahl FRUITPORT (5/29/10) — Winners of the 29th annual Fruitport OldFashioned Days runs represented a microcosm of all entrants. They had varied ages, specialties and years of running experience, but all came from towns nearby to test their fitness as the summer roadracing season drew near. Jacob Batch, Cindy KikkertPenning, Brendon Thomas and Melissa Bergeron each defeated all challengers to win their divisions on a hot, humid morning in this small Muskegon County town. Batch was the first runner across the finish line, winning the men’s 5K for the second-straight year in 16:52. “There was another guy out there, but he wasn’t registered and stepped off the course,” said Batch, a hometown Fruitport High School Trojan who ran for Hope College last year. “After that I was by myself. I felt pretty good and it’s nice to win this race.”

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

In the half marathon, the payouts were to the top three places, with $1,000 to the overall winner and $750 for the masters winners. Bonus money for course records or Trials qualifiers was also in place.

Youngest runner, Jennifer Morrow, finishes with her dad, Clarke Morrow on the Fruitport HS track.

Batch wore a Muskegon Community College Jayhawks shirt after finishing and will represent the school’s cross country program, revived this fall after many years, under coach Mike Smith. The winner said he was excited to part of a brand new team. Kikkert-Penning, 43, of Spring Lake, came in 43 seconds ahead of secondplace woman Margaret Lowe, completing the 5K in 22:10. “I’ve done the 10K here four or five times, but just ran the 5K today,” she said. “It was extremely hot and humid and I’m just glad I finished. I have asthma and do better in colder weather.” The muggy conditions bothered men’s 10K winner Thomas too, but not to the point anyone could catch him. “My time (38:22) was not close to what I’d usually run,” said Thomas, 21, of Grand Haven, now a Michigan State University student who runs triathlons. “I usually do real well in the heat, so I

just ran my own race. I passed (runnerup Sam Leidel) around the 4-mile mark and took it from there.” Bergeron, 45, of Norton Shores, has honed her mental edge this year by racing nearly every weekend. “It was hot!” she exclaimed after finishing in 43:31, one second faster than her 2009 time. “I like racing marathons and did one earlier this month. Lately I’ve been racing almost every weekend. I’ve won here now three years in a row.” Bergeron showed no ill effects from her recent trip to Champaign, Ill., when she placed fifth overall at the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon. Bergeron and Kikkert-Penning were overall and masters champs. For the male masters, Muskegon’s Pedro Pantaleon (40:03) won the 10K and Aaron Brock (20:12) took the 5K crown. - MR -

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Tooth, Fang and Claw 10K Run & Swamp Party, Pinckney

Photo by Tracey Cohen

Storms Subside for Pre-Dirt Jamboree

By Tracey Cohen PINCKNEY (6/2/10) — After a day’s worth of storms, calm prevailed with temperatures in the mid 70s for runners who trekked to the heart of the Pinckney Recreation Area for the eighth annual Tooth, Fang and Claw 10K Run & Swamp Party. “It’s a run open to all, but they have to find it!” laughed event organizer and party honoree Randy Step. Step’s Running Fit business partner, Steve Angerman, said it’s become a tradition to host a run on Step’s birthday and give those training for Dances With Dirt in Hell “a sense of what it’s like to run off pavement

and raise money for Michigan state parks.” There is no entry fee for the run, but participants are encouraged to make a donation to support the parks. They can do so upon registration or after the run, when a hat is passed as they kick back and enjoy pizza, beverages and live rock ‘n’ blues tunes, compliments of Southpaw Acoustic guitarist Mike Beattie. “Last year we raised $400,” Angerman said. “Our goal this year is to beat that.” Katie and Justin Noble returned for the third year in a row. “We like the party afterwards as well as the opportunity to support the recreation area,” said Katie. “I always forget and am

surprised by how hard the course is. The hills are not very big, but you’re always going up and down, and by mile three, I really feel it!” There were no race numbers and it was up to the runners to record their efforts on the antiquated results board. Entrants could select finisher awards from a smorgasbord of leftovers from past Running Fit races: firstcome, first serve. If you have a hankering for a “wild night in the swamp” or are just looking to get off the road, check out danceswithdirt.com and look for clues. - MR-

Road Ends 5 Mile Trail Run, Pinckney

Dohm, Johnson Dominate Road Ends 5-Mile By Charles Douglas McEwen PINCKNEY (4/24/10) — Adam Dohm dominated the Road Ends 5-mile trail run, winning by more than two minutes.

“I tried not to pay attention to time, because I knew it was going to be slower than I’m used to running,” he said after finishing in 29:38.

“I wanted to get out hard,” said Dohm, 27, of Saline, “because I knew the trail was single-track. I wanted to force myself into a hard effort from the start, then survive to the finish.”

Greg Haapala of Royal Oak, second in 31:45, said he harbored no thoughts of catching Dohm. “I was behind him for the first quarter-mile, then he was gone,” the runner-up said.

The race, presented by Running Fit on the Potawatomi Trail at the 11,000-acre Pinckney Recreation Area, took place on a cool, rainy morning.

Lewis Matthew, 33, of Ann Arbor took third (32:33), Jeff Everett, 29, of Livonia fourth (32:50) and Ricky Steve, 16, of Perry fifth (34:31). Steven Alexander, 47, of Madison Heights was the first masters finisher (35:10).

“The trails were in good shape,” said Dohm, 2004 captain of the Albion College cross country team. “They were wet and difficult, of course. But there wasn’t much mud.” The trail has a long name and longer uphills, but Dohm came prepared for a challenge. 32

Lara and Laura, both of whom recently moved to Michigan from Massachusetts, led the women. Lara Johnson, 29, a physical therapy intern at the University of Michigan

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Hospital, prevailed in 34:36. “I was trying to take it as a tempo run and not race too hard,” she said. “The course here reminded me of trail runs in Massachusetts, with lots of ups and downs,” Johnson added. Laura Ellison, 25, who is also now living in Ann Arbor, finished runner-up in 38:14. “The sand out there is worse than the hills,” said Ellison, “although the hill after Mile 3 absolutely killed me. It took me forever to get my stride back after that.” Next came Erica Harrell, 31 (39:17) and two 30-year-olds from Dearborn: Kelly Valente (40:12) and Teresa Cook (40:30). Sharlene Day, 40, of Ann Arbor, topped the masters in 41:05. For complete results, go to www.trailmarathon.com. MR

Memorial Day Run, Grosse Isle

Women Rule at Grosse Isle 5K

Two Dragon Runs Double Fun

By Charles Douglas McEwen

ran the 14th annual Lake Orion Dragon Dash 8K May 16. The 202 runners and 31 walkers traversed the usual course in the opposite direction, which surprised me. I had no idea of the hills one encounters running the route in reverse.

In 2008, Matthews’ first visit to this race, she prevailed in 18:14. She won last year in 17:47.

By Bill Kalmar

The race began at the civic center, traversed safety paths and at one juncture wound through a scenic subdivision with lakes on either side of the road. This race is special to me in that part of it passes in front of my home. Each time I run it, I point out the beautiful blonde on the porch and tell peers I will make a move on her. It always elicits laughter when I tell them afterwards it’s my wife, Mary. Adam Richmond, 21, won with an impressive time of 26:01. Melissa McKiernan paced the women in 35:48, or 7:19 per mile. I was ecstatic about placing third in my 65-69 age group in 46:20, or 9:29 per mile. Of course, there were only three in my age group. In celebration, I did make a move on the blonde lady later that day. I took part in the first Grosse Pointe Park Dragon Run, a fundraiser for Defer Elementary School, one week later. The 200 runners and 35 walkers gathered on an idyllic morning in the park on Windmill Pointe Drive. The event consisted of a 3-mile run and 1-mile walk/run. Somehow I misunderstood race director Kim Kalmar’s instructions and ended up in the 1-mile. Participants awaiting the start of the 3-mile admired my wanting to use this as a warm-up run. And who was I to tell them that it was not my intention to do so? The impressive first-year turnout suggests this will be a favorite event for years to come. Permit me to brag for a moment, because my daughter-in-law, Kim, and her team staged a wonderful event. My son, Bill, provided the preand post-race music. Kim’s brother, David, provided the caricature of a dragon for the shirts. And our three grandchildren, Joseph, Alex and Caroline, each participated in the races. For us, it was truly a family event. While the race took place there were games for children in the parking lot. And there were enough bagels, fruit and drinks for everyone. Since this was labeled as a fun run, there were no official times and no one objected. I suspect in the future there will be the customary timing chips, but for now it was just a delightful morning run. So there you have it: two Dragons on successive weekends. I doubled my pleasure, doubled my fun with two Dragon runs. MR

GROSSE ISLE (5/31/10) — Every time Angela Matthews wins the Grosse Isle Memorial Day 5K, she runs it faster.

This year Matthews, 25, of Westland torched the course with a 17:30 on an exceedingly humid day, beating not only all the women but all the men. Matthews, also winner of last year’s Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Half Marathon, started out running side-byside with Stephen Balaze, 17, of Plymouth. “On a hairpin turn, I took the lead,” said Matthews, whose margin became a chasm. She finished one minute, 25 seconds ahead of men’s champ and overall runner-up Nicholas Headon, 16, of Brownstown (18:55), who held off another woman, Andrea Karl, 25, of Casco, by just one second. Michael Adamzcyk, 46, of Northville (19:13) was the men’s runner-up and first master. Carrie Montgomery, 46, of Livonia led the masters women in 24:56. The grand masters winners were Mark Chiaverini, 53, of Gibraltar (21:02) and Karen Hawes, 52, of Brownstown (27:54). Senior grand masters titles went to David Scarlin, 68, of Redford (26:56) and Maureen Webster, 60, of Dearborn (28:05).

Photo by Charles Douglas McEwen

Dragon Dash, Lake Orion Dragon Run, Grosse Pointe Park

Angela Matthews is first overall, including the men, in the Memorial Day 5K, the hardest 5:40 pace I’ve ever run,” he said. Ozimek was amazed to win and enjoyed the race. “I loved how they introduced all the veterans at the start and honored them. That was inspirational,” she said.

Scott Setzke, 29, of Wyandotte claimed the men’s 8K in 28:01. Nicole Ozimek, 36, of Taylor paced the women in 36:05.

The masters winners were Doug Kurtis, 58, of Livonia (29:46) and Lisa O’Reilly, 45, of Perrysburg (37:37). John Tarkowski, 57, Northville (30:27) and Joan Mathews, 53, of Maumee (38:48) led the grand masters. Larry Wojcik, 60, of Dearborn Heights (38:01) and Ellen Nitz, 69, of Brighton (46:06) were the senior grand masters champs.

Setzke, who took the lead with about a mile left, said the warm, sticky weather made things tough. “It was

Greg Everal was race director. For complete results, go to everalracemgt.com. MR

The event, organized and sponsored by the Island Road Runners, drew a record 603 entrants to enjoy its views of the Detroit River.

Michigan Runner TV http://michiganrunner.tv/2010grosse_isle/ Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

July - October 2010 Event Calendar (616) 821-9862 sara@marshillruns.com www.bostwicklaketri.com

July Thursday, July 1 Beaverton Run

Beaverton 7:00 pm Beaverton HS track 4 MR, 2MW (989) 435-4111 barc-mi.com

Friday, July 2 Gina Van Laar 5K Cross Country

Allendale 7:00 pm Allendale HS 5KR/W, 1MFR, Kids Run (616) 777-0365 ginavanlaar5krun.org

Harbor Shores 5K Run

Benton Harbor 7:00 pm Jean Klock Park 5KR (352) 241-7144, ext 4209 tomziebart@aol.com firecrackertri.com

Saturday, July 3 5K Night Run/Walk

Wellston 6:00 pm 5KR/W, 1/2MR, kayak, canoe, tube races (231) 723-0073 debano#earthlink.net

Bostwick Lake Triathlon

Rockford 8:00 am 6775 Sunset Cove, Bostwick Lake Tri: .4MS/ 14MB/ 3MR

Caledonia Kilt Klassic 5K Caledonia 8:00 am 9757 Duncan Lake Ave. 5KR/W (616) 406-9766 zemhilton@yahoo.com kiltklassic.com

Cedarville 5 Mile Run/Walk

Cedarville 9:30 am Cedarville High School 5MR/W (906) 484-7823 leeandlisa@lighthouse.net

Coach Kelly 5K

St. Louis 8:00 am St. Louis High School 5KR/W, 1MFR (989) 330-2430 coachk5k@yahoo.com racingactivies.org

Dorks Brothers 4th of July Run

Alpena 9:00 am Alpena County Fairgrounds 5KR, 1MR (989) 354-7314 jgentry@first-federal.com www.thunderbaytrails.org

Firecracker 5 Mile Run

Gladstone 9:00 am EDT VanCleve Park Pavilion 5MR/W (906) 399-7044 butchandjudy@yahoo.com www.gladstonemi.org

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Firecracker Triathlon

Benton Harbor 8:00 am Jean Klock Park 1/4MS/ 11MB/ 3MR, kids tri (269) 983-2453 info@firecrackertri.com firecrackertri.com

GHXC Patriots Day 5K

Road and Trail Run Grand Haven 8:30 am Grand Haven HS 5KR (616) 846-5513 tlaughlin@chartermi.net greatlakeschampionchp.com

Greatest 4th in the North

Lake City 8:30 am Downtown City Park 10KR/W, 5KR/W, 2KFR (231) 839-2943 rob030@centurytel.net lakecityschools.net/race

Hills & Dales Races

Cass City 8:00 am Hills & Dales Hospital 8KR, 5KR/W (989) 872-2084 dwohl@hillsanddales.com hdghrehab.com

Kenya Dig It 5K & 10K and 2 Mile Walk Tecumseh 8:30 am Tecumseh High School 10KR, 5KR, 2MW (517) 423-3676 preacherhawkins@ yahoo.com kenyadigit.org

Manistee Firecracker 5K Manistee 8:00 am

Manistee High School 5KR/W, 1 KFR (231) 398-9374 ethuemmel@manistee.org active.com

Pace for Poverty Run Richland 8:00 am Gull Lake Community Schools 10KR, 5KR, FW (269) 207-4988 swalbri2000@tds.net active.com

Pittsford Cross Country 5K Firecracker Road Race Pittsford 9:00 am Pittsford Elementary School 5KR (517) 523-2672 schmst@frontiernet.net

Run & Walk for Funds

Northport 9:00 am Historic Northport Depot 10KR, 5KR, 2 MW (231) 386-5188 gwanderson@ chartermi.net Run Posey 2010

Hudson 9:00 am 832 Charles Road, Figy’s Point 4MR/W (517) 403-8666 2laurieandpat@comcast.net

Schoolcraft Firecracker 5 Miler

Schoolcraft 8:00 am Schoolcraft HS

5MR, 1MFR/W (269) 679-4958 brenda@firecracker5.com firecracker5.com

St. Mary’s Festival

Westphalia 8:00 am St. Mary’s School 5MR, 5KR/W (989) 587-6984 wirthj2003@yahoo.com playmakers.com

Volkslaufe

Frankenmuth 8 am Heritage Park 20KR, 10KR, 5KR/W, 2KFR-kids run (989) 860-3388 or (800) fun-town info@volkslaufe.org www.volkslaufe.org Warrior’s Run

Fife Lake 8:30 am Fife Lake Elementary School 10KR, 5KR/W (231) 883-4921 chrissy2@chartermi.net

Whitmore Lake Races

Whitmore Lake 8:00 am Whitmore Lake Middle School 10KR, 5KR, Splash ‘n dash, Tin Man 800meter FR, 200meter FR (734) 449-8655 whitmorelakeraces@ gmail.com active.com

YMCA Buck Creek Run Grandville 8:00 am

Grandville MS 5 KR/W, kids runs (616) 822-1972 wayne@vbstriteam.com www.buckcreekrun.com

Sunday, July 4

Ann Arbor Firecracker 5K

Ann Arbor 8:00 am Downtown Ann Arbor 5KR/W, kids dash Champions for Charity (734) 213-1033 events@ champsforcharity.com champsforcharity.com Boyne City Independence Day Run

7:30 am Boyne City Downtown Boyne City 10KR, 2 MR (231) 582-9196 runboyne@charter.net

Dorr 5K Run/Walk

Dorr 7:30 am St. Peters Lutheran Church 5KR/W (616) 366-2472 bhalloran3@netzero.net

Firecracker 5K

Beulah 8:00 am Beulah Park Pavilion 5KR (231) 930-4222 kellya@benzieschools.net crystallakecommunitybusinessassoc.com

Firecracker 5K

Corunna 8:00 am Stu Cotts Pavilion,, Ferry Street 5KR/W, 1MFR (989) 743-5874 tmsarrazin@gmail.com corunna4th.org/ julyrace.html

Howell Independence Aquathlon and Open Water Swim Howell 9:00 am Howell City Park 2KR/ 1KS/ 2KR or 1MS Chris Galatis (517) 546-0693, ext. 7705 parksandrec@ howellrecreation.org howellrecreation.org Hungry Duck Run is July 5th

Independence Day 5K Run

Harbor Springs 8:00 am Zoll Street Park 10MR, 3MFR (231) 526-7999 emk@ahtech.com harborspringschamber.com

Pickerel Run

Algonac 8:00 am Algonac Elementary School 10KR, 5KR/W (810) 499-5687 jgibson30@sbcglobal.net raceservices.com

Run & Walk for Funds, Northport, is July 3

Ryan Shay Midsummer Night Run

Central Lake 7:00 pm Thurston Park 10KR, 5KR, 1MFR Joe Shay (231) 544-2815 jshay@ryanshay.org ryanshay.org

The Sparkler 5K

Luna Pier 9:00 am Luna Pier Road

5KR/W kayb3122@yahoo.com runningfoundation.com/Sparkler_5k.html

Volkslaufe is July 3

Monday, July 5 Hungry Duck Run is July 5th

Brighton 7:00 am Grand River & Main 13.1MR, 5KR, kids fun run (810) 229-4320 hungryduckrun@comcast.net hungryduckrun.com

Tuesday, July 6 Richmond Park Cross Country

Grand Rapids 7:00 pm Richmond Park 5KR, 1.5MR, kids run (616) 785-4943 rssuzannez@aol.com grandrapidsrunningclub.org

Wednesday, July 7 Doozieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ice Cream Fun Run/Walk Series

Huron Meadows Metro Park 5KR, 2MR, 1MR, (734) 972-0044 northwindrc@yahoo.com

Wayland Road Runners 7 Mile Handicap Run Wayland 6:30 pm Wayland HS Track 7MR, 3.5MW (269) 792-2427 coachantel@i2k.com waylandroadrunners.com

Thursday, July 8 Auburn Cornstalk 5K Run/Walk

Auburn 6:30 pm Western High School 5KR/W (989) 686-0246 Runwild1128@hotmail.com barc-mi.com

Huckleberry Hustle 5k Trail Run

Flint 7:00 pm Cross roads Village & Huckleberry Railroad 5KR/W, kids run (810) 249-3855 ndunn@gcparks.org GeneseeCountyParks.org

Friday, July 9 No Time To Spare

6:15 pm Sterling Heights Dodge Park 4MR, 2 games bowling, kids run Bob Busquert (586) 822=3608 fastbob@hansons racemanagement.com store.hansons-running.com

Saturday, July 10 Alsons Fit Club 5K

Hillsdale 9:00 am Alsons Corporation, 3010 W. Mechanic St. 5KR/W (517) 439-2139 mrichardson@alsons.com

Anchor Bay Triathlon

New Baltimore 7:30 am 1/2MS/ 17.7KB/ 4.8i3K (586) 725-0291 groovie56@yahoo.com cityofnewbaltimore.com/ recreaqtion.asp

Bethany Race for Home 5K Sterling Heights Delia Park (248) 414-4080

9:30 am 5KR/W

Mt. Pleasant 7:30 pm 1310 East Pickard 5MR, 3MR, 1MR (989) 772-0323 hplouff@yahoo.com edzone.net/~mphsstr/

Hansons Marathon Training Clinic #2

Royal Oak 6:30 pm Hansons Running Shop, 3407 Rochester (248) 616-9665 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

NWRC Summer Cross Series #1 Brighton

6:30 pm

Hanover Firecracker

Hanover 8:00 am Hanover Fire Station 5 MR, 5KW, kids run Jeff Heath (517) 563-2125 jlheath_hft@yahoo.com fitnesscouncil.org/ runjackson/

Horse Tail Scramble

Hancock 1:00 PM Churning Rapids Trails 10KR, 5KW (906) 482-6827 tkinzel@pasty.com uprrc.org/Calendar.htm

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

dswanson@bethany.org bethany.org/raceforhome/

Dances with Dirt - Devil’s Lake

Baraboo, WI Running Fit (734) 929-9027 events@runningfit.com danceswithdirt.com

Daystar 5K and 15K Milford 8:00 am Kensingon Metropark, Possum Hollow Picnic Area 10KR, 5KR/W (248) 628-0634 kend8n@gmail.com deightonfoundation.org

Elsie Dairy Dash

7:30 am Elsie Village Main Street 5KR/W (989) 834-5742 laurabraun@hughes.net www.playmakers.com

Golden Mile presented by the Traverse City Track Club

Traverse City downtown, Front Street 1MR Bryan Burns (213) 649-0843 bryan.burns11@gmail.com

Grandma Kay’s Orchard 5K Run/Walk

Washington Twp. 9:00 am Westview Orchards 5KR/W, 1MW (586) 651-8609 johnkhaning@gmail.com westvieworchards.com

Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Arts 5K Run/Walk

Parchment 8:00 am Kindleberger Park 5KR/W, kids run (269) (569) 5996 ccrowell@gazellesports.com kindleberger.org/5krunwalk.php

Lakeshore Miracle Run Holland 8:30 am 4686 66th Street 10KR (616) 392-2282 vkavanaugh@ gazellesports.com gazellesports.com

Michigan Senior Olympics Summer Games 5K Rochester 8:00 am

OPC 5KFR/W (248) 608-0252 stinnion@ opcseniorcenter.org michiganseniorolympics.org

National Cherry Festival 15K & 5K Traverse City 7:30 am Eastern Elementary, 1600 Eastern Ave. 15KR, 5KR/W Mandy DePuy (800) 968-3380 info@cherryfestival.org cherryfestival.org

Michigan Runner Race Series

Open Water Challenge Interlochen 8:00 am Duck Lake, Interlochen State Park 2MS, 1MS, 1/4MS (231) 342-0480 crbissonette@gmail.com tcbreakers.com/ Home.jsp?team=mitcsc

Poker Fun Run

Clinton Township 9:00 am Clinton- Canal Don Greenway Nature Trail 13.1MR, 3MR (586) 532-1300 x 126319 mderouin@ lifetimefitness.com

Port Austin Run for Youth for Christ - tentative date

Port Austin 8:30 am Gallup Park 8KR, 2 MR/W Charlotte Thuemmel (989) 738-8772 race@parun.org www.parun.org

Razzasque 5K

LeRoy 8:15 am LeRoy Elementary School 5KR/W (231) 768-4535 mitcajan@hotmail.com www.leroyrazzdays.org

Richard Beazley Memorial 5K Run/Walk Clinton 9:00 am 5KR (517) 403-2106 beazley60@juno.com

Rockford Area Kids Triathlon

Rockford 9:00 am Rockford HS

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

triathlon: kids 0-17; distances vary by age (517) 336-6429 sweeneyk@michigan.gov www.rocktri.com

Rollie Hopgood’s Midtown Taylor 5K Run 9:00 am Taylor Heritage Park, 12111 Pardee 5KR/W, 1MFR Greg Everal (734) 507-1789 greg@everalracemgt.com downriverrunners.org

Son of a Sailor Hess Lake 10K Run/Walk

Newaygo 8:30 am Hess Lake, River Valley Community Church 10KR/W (231) 282-0581 amich@newaygo.net runnersedgeracetiming.com

Tawas Kiwanis’ Run by the Bay

East Tawas 9:00 am 1st block of Newman Street 5KR/W (989) 362-4288 runbythebay@gmail.com

Ubly Homecoming 5K Run/Walk

Ubly 8:00 am Village Park 5KR/W (989) 658-2249 grjurges@hotmail.com www.ublyrun.com/

Sunday, July 11 Aid Lansing 5K

Lansing 9:00 am Hawk Island Park 5KR/W atruss@laanonline.org runningfoundation.com/ Aid_Lansing.html

Gallup Gallop

Ann Arbor 8:30 am Gallup Park, Canoe Livery 5KR/W, 1 MR (734) 975-9199 gallup_gallop@yahoo.com www.aatrackclub.org

Grand Haven Triathlon, Sprint Tri, & Duathlon

Grand Haven 7:45 am Tri-Cities Family YMCA 1.5KS/ 40KB/ 10KR or 500meterS/ 20KB/ 5KR or 5KR/ 20KB/ 5KR, kids tri (616) 566-7870 raceinfo@ grandhaventri.com www.grandhaventri.com

Inter-Rockin Tri, Du,Sprint Tri

Interlochen 8:00 am Interlochen State Park 1.5KS/ 40KB/ 10KR or 500 meter S/ 20KB, 5KR or 5KR/ 20KB/ 5KR Kenny Krell (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Jazz Running Camp

Brooklyn camp Bob & Katie Jazwinski (734) 474-0584 jazzrun@charter.net www.jazzrunning.com/

Metro Way 5K

Wyoming 8:30 am Metro Health Hospital, 5900 Byron Center Ave, SW 5KR/W amy.corrigan@metrogr.org metroway5k.com

Mt. Olivet Cemetery 4Mile Sunrise Run

Detroit 8:00 am Mt. Olivet Cemetery 10KR, 5KR/W, 2MW (734) 417-1032 mtolivetsunriserun@ mtelliott.com www.mtelliott.com everalracemgt.com

Muddy Buddy Ride & Run Series

Shelby Township 8:00 am Stoney Creek Metro Park 6-7MR/B team relay (818) 707-8867 muddybuddy@ competitorgroup.com muddybuddy.com

Run for Life 5K Run & Walk

Mt. Morris 8:00 am Knights of Columbus 5KR/W (810) 513-8112 timmurphy9200@ comcast.net www.kofc4285.org

Run Your Bass Off

Crystal Falls 9:00 am-Central Runkle Lake Park 10KR, 3.6MR, 2MW (906) 875-6191 kolson@up.net humungusfungusfest.com/Crystal-Falls-

Business-Association-RunYour-Bass-Off.html

Waterloo Triathlon / Duathlon

Grass Lake 8:00 am Big Portage Lake, Seymour Road Tri: 1/2MS/ 16MB/ 5MR; Du: 2MR/ 16MB/ 5MR Jim / Joyce Donaldson (419) 829-2398 jdjp@ eliteendeavors.com eliteendeavors.co

Wednesday, July 14 Grand Ledge Track and Field Series

6:30 pm Grand Ledge Beagle Middle School track meet-all comers (517) 627-9076 jeffc@playmakers.com playmakers.com

Hansons Marathon Training Clinic #2

Utica 6:30 pm Hansons Running Shop training (586) 323-9683 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Wayland Road Runners Track Workout Wayland 6:30 pm Wayland HS Track 3200mR, 400mR, 200mR, 100mR (269) 792-2427 coachantel@i2k.com waylandroadrunners.com

Thursday, July 15 Concordia Summer Cross Country Fun Run

Ann Arbor 7:00 pm Concordia campus West of gym 8KR, 5KFR (734) 502-4809 cu-trackxcountry@cuaa.edu

Friday, July 16 Great Lakes Relay Eastpointe 6:00 am Begins near Tawas; finishes in Empire 270 M Relay (313) 885-3256 info@greatlakesrelay.com greatlakesrelay.com 7/16/10 - 7/18/10

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Hansons 3 Mile CrossCountry Race

7:00 pm Romeo 3 MR Wolcott Farm (586) 323-9683 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Michigan Senior Olympics Summer Games Track Meet Rochester 4:00 pm Adams High School track track and field: race walk, 1500mR, 5KR (248) 608-0252 stinnion@ opcseniorcenter.org michiganseniorolympics.org

Saturday, July 17

Alpenfest Run

Gaylord 7:30 am Pavilion on Court Street 10MR/W, 4MR/W, 1 MFR Gaylord Chamber of Commerce (989) 732-2451 events@ gaylordchamber.com gaylordalpenfest.com

Bastille Days 5K Run/Walk and 15KR

Fenton 7:45 am 150 S. Leroy 15KR, 5KR/W Adam Haffajee (810) 603-1366 ahaffajee@ geneseehabitat.org geneseehabitat.org/5k-run/

Bear River Crawl

Petoskey 8:00 am Bay Front Park 10KR, 5KR (231) 347-9300 mbowers@ northernmichigansportsmed.com northernmichigansportsmed.com

Brainy Day 5K

Nunica 9:00 am 12718 Cleveland Street 5KR/W (616) 837-6242 brainyday5k@yahoo.com www.STARS-kids.org

Escape to Belle Isle Race

Detroit 8:30 am Belle Isle 10KR/W, 5KR/W, kids run (810) 333-1740 belleislerace@kitch.com escapetobelleisle.com

Farmington Founders Festival 9:00 am Farmington Shaiwassee Park 4 MR (248) 473-1800 hsmith@fhgov.com runningfoundation.com

Frankenmuth Eagles Cross Country Race

Frankenmuth 10:00 am Memorial Park 5KR (989) 284-8726 jaschul2@svsu.edu

Gazelle Sports Tri del Sol

8:00 am Middleville YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin Tri 1/2 MS, 18MB, 4.5MR; Du 2MR, 18MB, 4.5MR (616) 855-1972 racedirector@tridelsol.com www.tridelsol.com

Hopkins 5K Run & Walk

Hopkins 7:30 am 5KR/W Kathy Sebright (269) 720-3446 ktsebright@yahoo.com

Indian River Summerfest Kiwanis 10K/ 5K Run

Indian River 8:00 am Lumber Yard, Straits Hwy 10KR, 5KR/W (231) 238-8564 rbehm@irchamber.com www.irchamber.com

Kelly Carter Scholarship Run

Tecumseh 9:00 am Carter Rehab Center, 902 Industrial Drive 10KR, 5KR, 1MW (517) 423-7722 Angie_Birdsall@yahoo.com

Kiwanis for Kids 5K Run/Walk

Standish 9:00 am downtown Standish 3MR (989) 714-2496 thetoothfairy0000@ yahoo.com

Michigan Senior Olympics Summer Games Track Meet

Rochester 8:00 am Adams High School track track and field: race walk, 1500mR, 5KR (248) 608-0252 stinnion@ opcseniorcenter.org michiganseniorolympics.org

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Our Redeemer Cares Habitat Run

Midland 9:00 am Our Redeemer Church 5KR, 1.5MR, kids run (989) 835-4188 office@ ourredeemerchurch.com ourredeemerchurch.com

Rehoboth Ramble 5K Run/Walk

8:30 am Lucas 3 1/2 miles west of McBain 5KR/W (231) 775-7943 secretary@ rehobothreformed.org

Republic Bank Canal Run/Walk

Hancock 7:00 am McLain State Park to Hancock 10MR/W (906) 482-8562 rcooney@republicbk.com keweenaw.info

The Rose Run

Petersburg 8:30 am 10 East Center St. 5KR/W Jessica Cribbs jessica@theroserun.com

Rotary Miracle Mile

Sault Ste. Marie, ON 10:45 am 1MR/W (705) 257-8784 nathan.mudge@clergue.com rotaryfest.com/index.cfm?f useaction=MiracleMile2

Run Thru Sparta

Sparta 8:00 am Sparta Middle Scfhool 5KR/W, kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s run Marguerite Teliczan (616) 887-1116 runthrusparta@ sbcglobal.net

Salomon/MooseJaw Adventure Rage

Grayling 6:00 am 30 hours, 2-4 person teams: or solo; trekking, biking, canoeing, ropes, navigation, plotting (810) 239-00165 zac@infiterrasports.com infiterrasports.com 2 day event: 7/17/10 7/18/10

Superkidstry

Hartland 9:00 am Hartland HS Triathlon: 100mS/ 5KB/ 800mR or 200mS/ 10KB/ 1MR Kenny Krell

(231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Teal Lake Triathlon

Negaunee 9:00 am Teal Lake Tri: 1/4MS/ 20KB/ 5KR, kids run (906) 227-9622 jzdunek@ymcamgt.org mattoonmultisport.com

Venetian River Run

St Joseph 7:00 am Lake Blvd and Ship St. 5KR/W (269) 983-7917 stevenhilda@qtm.net www.venetian.org

Sunday, July 18

Clark Lake Triathlon & Duathlon

Clark Lake 8:30 am Clark Lake Beach & Boat Club 1/2MS, 13 MB, 4 MR or 2.4MR, 13MB,4MR Jim / Joyce Donaldson (419) 829-2398 jdjp@ eliteendeavors.com eliteendeavors.com Fight Hunger 5K

Okemos 9:00 am Meridian Township offices, 5151 Marsh Rd. 5KR/W (517) 339-6300 michelle@ themeridianadvantage.net runwalkjog.com

Friendly Massey Marathon & Spanish River Half-Marathon

Massey, ON 6:00 am Massey District Arena 26.2MR,, 13.1MR, 10KR Elizabeth Gamble (705) 865-2655 egamble@primus.ca friendlymasseymarathon.com Happy Trails Triathlon

Milford 8:00 am Kensington Metropark, Maple Beach 800mS/ 20KB/ 5KR (248) 685-3020 jhancook@

ymcametrodetroit.org active.com

Kiwanis Island Run

8:00 am Eaton Rapids G.A.R. Island Park 5KRW (517) 230-1161 CWATL24055@aol.com runningfoundation.com

Little Traverse Triathlon Harbor Springs 9:00 am Zoll Street Beach Tri: 800mS/ 20MB/ 4MR, Relays (231) 487-1713 twb@ baytennisandfitness.com littletraversetri.com

Michigan Senior Olympics Summer Games Triathlon

Rochester 8:00 am Oakland University triathlon (248) 608-0252 stinnion@ opcseniorcenter.org michiganseniorolympics.org

Minden City Lions Club 5K Run/Walk

Minden City 8:00 am Francis Lautner Memorial Park 5KR/W (989) 864-3123 mclions5k@live.com mclions5k.webs.com

Tri 4 Life Triathlon

Otter Lake 8:00 am Kensington Metropark Triathlons: sprint and Olympic 3 Disciplines (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Michigan Senior Olympics Summer Games 5K

Rochester 9:00 am OPC 5KR (248) 608-0252 stinnion@ opcseniorcenter.org michiganseniorolympics.org

Tuesday, July 20 Aman Park Trail Run

Grand Rapids 7:00 pm 1895 Lake Michigan Dr. 5.5MR, 1.5M kids run/bike/run Grand Rapids Running Club

(616) 530-2002 bill.grrc@gmail.com grandrapidsrunningclub.org

Wednesday, July 21 Grand Ledge Track and Field Series Championship

Grand Ledge 6:30 pm Beagle Middle School track meet-all comers (517) 627-9076 jeffc@playmakers.com playmakers.com

Hansons Marathon Training Clinic #2

Lake Orion 6:30 pm Hansons Running Shop, 3 South Broadway training (248) 616-9665 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Michigan Senior Olympics Summer Games 5K

Rochester 9:00 am OPC 10KR (248) 608-0252 stinnion@ opcseniorcenter.org michiganseniorolympics.org

YMCA / Wells Fargo Advisors Kids Triathlon 5:00 pm Portage Portage YMCA 25ydS/ 1MB/ 1/2MR or 75ydS/ 2MB/ 1MR (269) 324-9622 jwhows@kzooymca.org kzooymca.org

Saturday, July 24 Arcadia Daze 5KR, 10KR Arcadia 9:00 am 5KR (231) 889-0265 ArcadiaTwpMi.Org

C-Roy Bologna Run/Walk

8:00 am Yale 200 Main St. 5KR, 1MR/W (810) 387-2225 pembertonthomas@hotmail.com eteamz.com/yalecrosscountry/

Gopher the Gold

Shelby Township 9:00 am River Bends Park 10KR, 5KR, kids run (248) 798-6533 MichaelWard@cttsbi.com

The G-Town Runaround

Gladwin 9:30 am 5KR/W (517) 589-8483 maryann.graveline@ gmail.com active.com

Ionia Free Fair 5K Race

Ionia 8:00 am Ionia Free Fair Grounds 3MR (616) 523-1800 MPainter@ ci.ionia.mi.us ioniafreefair.com/ ioniafair.htm

Muddy Shoe 5K Trail Run

Race to Rejoice Triathlon

Plainwell Island City 5K

Road Runner Classic

South Lyon Volunteer Park 5KR info@secondwindrm.com secondwindrm.com/ races.html

Plainwell 8:00 am 5KR/W, 1MFR (269) 720-6196 beierg@hotmail.com plainwelleducationfoundation.com

8:30 am Mattawan Sprint Triathlon (269) 375-6240 suecalvary@comcast.net calvaryreformed.org

5:00 pm Northville Maybury State Park 8KR/W, 1MFR (734) 748-2555 bart2233@aol.com northvilelroadrunners.org

Knuckebuster Off-Road Duathlon

Midland 8:00 am Midlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s City Forest 2MR/ 9MB/ 3MR (989) 430-7860 craige72@charger.net

Life Walk 5K Run/Walk, 1 Mile Run/Walk

Belle Isle-Detroit 9:00 am Belle Isle Casino 5KFR/W, 1MFR/W (313) 393-2446 rchapman@ giftoflifemichigan.org motteplifewalk.org / active.com

Pterodactyl Triathlon

Brighton 6:30 pm Island Lake Recreation Area Tri: 1/2MS/ 5KR/ 20KB Running Fit (734) 929-9027 events@runningfit.com www.runtrextri.com Wayland Road Runners Cross Country Run

Wayland 6:30 pm East Kentwood XC Course along scenic Falcon Creek 5KR, 2.5MW (269) 792-2427 coachantel@i2k.com waylandroadrunners.com

Thursday, July 22 Concordia Summer Cross Country Fun Run Ann Arbor 7:00 pm Concordia campus West of gym 8K, 5KFR (734) 502-4809 cu-trackxcountry@cuaa.edu

Friday, July 23 Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Run Drugs Out of Town

9:00 am Fraser Fraser High School 5KR/W (586) 438-8500 fanevents@yahoo.com active.com

Run for an Instrumental Lifelong Experience

Coldwater 8:00 am 5KR/W (734) 657-1637 a2kjw@comcast.net www.ilefund.org

Ryan Shay Mile

Charlevoix 10:30 am downtown Charlevoix 1MR - invitational (231) 547-3407 mpeterson@ejps.org venetianraces.com/ SMAC Sprint Adventure Race

Milford 7:00 am Kensington Metropark 10 hours: Mountain Bike, Paddle, Orienteering, Fixed Ropes (734) 699-5182 paul@smacworld.com www.smacworld.com

Tigertown 5000 Road Race

Liberty Center, OH 9 am Libery Center HS 5KR/W (419) 533-5838 desgrunner@yahoo.com

Truckinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for Haiti 5K Trail Run/ Walk

Traverse City 9:00 am Hickory Meadows 5KR, 1MR (231) 946-9704 vbeaux@charter.net active.com/

Tuuri Race Day 5K Run Walk & 10K Run Flint 7:30 am Hurley Medical Center 10KR, 5KR/W, 1MW, Kids Run (810) 257-9428 gaultracemanagement.com

Venetian Festival Jeff Drenth Memorial Foot Races Charlevoix 9:00 am Mt. McSauba Ski Lodge 40

10KR, 5KR, 1 MR, 1MFR (231) 547-3407 mpeterson@ejps.org venetianraces.com

training (248) 693-9900 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Iron Goddess 5K

Course of Champions Milford 9:00 am Kensington Metro Park, Possum Hollow 5KR, Karen Kramer 1MFR (248) 684-1710 courseofchampisignons@comcasst.net meup.com

8:00 am Ann Arbor Michigan League, 911, N. University 5KR (734) 678-5045 eva@epicraces.com epicraces.com

Sunday, July 25

Mackinaw City 8 am Waywatum Park Tri: 800mS/ 30KB/ 5KR, Du: 2MR/ 30KB/ 5KR or 5KR Kenny Krell (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com

Carrollton Festival of Races

Carrollton 6:00 am Carrollton High School, 1235 Mapleridge Road 26.2 MR, 20KR, 10KR, 5KR/W Craig Douglas (989) 399-8860 cdouglas@ carrollton.k12.mi.us www2.carrollton.k12. mi.us

5 am early bird start; 5K & 10K start at 8:15 am Course of Champions Milford 9:00 am Kensington Metro Park, Possum Hollow 5KR, 1MFR (248) 684-1710 courseofchampions@ comcasst.net signmeup.com

Crosstown Kids Triathlon

Howell 9:00 am Howell Area Aquatics Center triathlon distances vary by age (517) 546-0693 cgalatis@ howellrecreation.org howellrecreation.org Eleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place 5K

Okemos 9:00 am Jackson National Life Insurance Company 5KR/W, 1M kids run (517) 482-1315 kcervenak@elesplace.org www.elesplace.org

Hansons Group Run

Lake Orion 8:00 am Hansons Running Shop

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Mackinaw Multi-Sport Mix

Rudyard Lions Summerfest Triathlon & 5K

Rudyard 9:30 am Rudyard High School Tri: 3.1MR/ 14.9MB/ 500mS (pool); Run: 5K (906) 478-5244 gdavis@sault.com trifind.com/re_10026/Rudy ardLionsSummerfest5KTria thlon.html

Run for a Remedy

Lake Orion 8:00 am Glitz NXT, Orion Township 5KR/W Nina Harless (248) 625-1001 nitagirl@comcast.net runforaremedy.net Running from Cancer

Tecumseh, ON 8:00 am Tecumseh Arena 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR/W, kids run (519) 945.3786 info@runningfactory.com www.runningfactory.com

Monday, July 26 Hansons Middle/High School Day Camp

Sterling Heights 9:00 am Delia Park 7-12th grade Hansons Running Shop (586) 323-9682 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com 7/26/10 - 7/29/10

Wednesday, July 28 Grand Ledge Track and Field Series - Finale

6:30 pm Grand Ledge Beagle Middle School track meet-all comers (517) 627-9076 jeffc@playmakers.com playmakers.com

Hansons Marathon Training Clinic #2

6:30 pm Grosse Pointe Hansons Running Shop, 20641 Mack Ave. training (313) 882-1325 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Road Racing at Metro Beach

Harrison Twp 7:00 pm Pointe Road - Metro Beach 5KR Bob Blunk (248) 627-6619 ARPraces@aol.com geocities.com/arpraces/

Run the Mountain

Mt. Pleasant 7:30 pm Mountain Town Station 5KR (989) 772-0323 hplouff@yahoo.com

Wayland Road Runners 2 Person/8 Mile Relay Wayland 6:30 pm Wayland HS Track 8 MRelay (269) 792.2427 coachantel@i2k.com waylandroadrunners.com

Thursday, July 29 Concordia Summer Cross Country Fun Run

Ann Arbor 7:00 pm Concordia campus West of gym 8K, 5KFR (734) 502-4809 cu-trackxcountry@cuaa.edu

Run Fred Run 2.5 and 5 Mile

Shelby Twp. 6:30 pm Stony Creek Metropark, West Branch Picnic Area 5MR, 2.5MR (248) 321-9814 dmskelcy@yahoo.com active.com

Friday, July 30 Hansons 3 Mile CrossCountry Race Sterling Heights 7:00 pm

Delia Park 3MR (586) 323-9683 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Saturday, July 31

Alden Run

Alden 9:00 am 10KR, 5KR/W Steve Kershner (231) 377-7319 skikersh@aol.com www.aldenrun.com Byron Bank 5K

Byron Center 8:30 am Byron Bank, 2445 84th St. 5KR/W (616) 588-7454 sellison@bankatbyron.com classicrace.com

Elite Feet 1 Mile Road Race

Lapeer 9:00 am Elite Feet Running Store 1MR (810) 660-7297 dustin@elitefeetrunning.com elitefeetrunning.com

Heart of the Hills

Bloomfield Hills 8:00 am Andover HS Andover Road 10KR, 5KR Mike Cowdrey MCowdrey@ bloomfield.org (800) 666-4500, x 4332 heartofthehillsrace.com

The Legend 5 & 10 Mile Trail Run

Laingsburg 8:00 am Lake Ovid, Sleepy Hollow State Park 10MR, 5MR Running Fit (734) 929-9027 events@runningfit.com www.runlegend.com Leslie 5K

Leslie 9:00 am Grand Lutheran Church, 212 S. Sherman St., Leslie 5KR/W, 1K kids run (517) 589-0250 www.healthyandfitmagazin e.com/leslie5k

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Lumberman Triathlon

Cadillac 8:00 am 1.5KS/ 40KB/ 6.4MR or 500meterS/ 20KB/ 3.2MR or 5KR/ 20KB/ 5KR (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Mt Morris Poker Challenge

Mt. Morris 8:00 am Mt. Morris Middle School 12KR, 5KR/W, 1MR, Little Joker Shuffle (810) 659-6493 gracemgt@aol.com www.riverbendstriders.com

Muddy Watters, Bump & Run Trail Series, Race #3

Rochester Hills 9:00 am Bloomer Park, Mountain Ash Shelter 5.5MR (248) 320-5705 jeff@jeffwatters.com www.jeffwatters.com

Panther XC Open 5K Run/Walk Addison 8:00 am Addison Cross Country Course 5KR/W (517) 547-6123, x510 christensenc@ addisonschools.org

Running for the Cure

Mio 10:00 am 5KR/W Chris Whetstone (989) 826-3214 cwhetstone@ oscodacountymi.com

Steve’s Run

Dowagiac 9:00 am 10KR, 5KR/W, 1 MFR/W Ron Gunn (269) 782-1210 rgunn@swmich.edu swmich.edu/fireup /stevesrun/

10K, Michigan Runner Race Series Sunfield IGA 5K

Sunfield 10:00 am VanBuren Park 5KR/W, kids race (517) 862-9373 chrisw@budlight.com

Traverse City Film Festival Costume 5K 42

6:00 pm Traverse City Northwestern Michigan College, Elm Lot 5KR (231) 929-4263 dapmsu87@yahoo.com traversecityfilmfest.org

Tri Cities Family Coast Guard Festival 5K & 10K

8:00 am Grand Haven YMCA 10KR, 5KR/W (616) 842-7051, x20 racedirector@tcfymca.org www.tcfymca.org

Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon

Benton Harbor / St. Joseph 7:00 am Jean Klock Park 1.2 MS, 56 MB, 13.1 MR half ironman (773) 404-2372 info@caprievents.com steelheadtriathlon.com

August Sunday, August 1 Bath Trail Run

Bath 9:00 am Bath High School 5KR/W, kids run Rick Hammond (517) 641-6947 runbathrun@hotmail.com bathboosters.com

C-Roy Bologna Run/Walk - tentative

Yale 8:00 am 200 Main St. 5KR, 1MR/W (810) 387-2225 pembertonthomas@ hotmail.com eteamz.com/yalecrosscountry/

Craig Greenfield Memorial Triathlon & Duathlon

Clarkston 8:00 am Depot Park 800 meter S/ 16MB/ 4.4MR or 1.9MR/ 16MB/ 4.4MR Kenny Krell (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Downtown YMCA 5K Run/Walk

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Lansing 10:00 am Riverfront Park 5KR/W, 1MR/W (517) 484-4000 benwheeler@ ymcaoflansing.org ymcaoflansing.org

Wayland 6:30 pm Gun Lake State Park 4 MFR, 2MW (269) 792-2427 or (616) 291-3903 coachantel@i2k.com waylandroadrunners.com

Grand Island Trail Marathon & 10K

Thursday, August 5

Munising 7:00 am Williams Landing, Grand Island, Lake Superior 26.2 MR, 10KR Jeff Crumbaugh (715) 460-0426 jcrumbaugh@ charter.net greatlakesendurance.com

“Run Like Mike” Rutka 5K

Ann Arbor9:00 am Gallup Park 5KR, 2MW, kids’ dash Kathleen Gina (734) 369-2492 thebigdog@ twodogsrunning.com runlikemike.org

Women’s Only Triathlon & DriTri Sylvania, OH 7:30 am Centennial Terrace & Quarry 400yardS, 13MB, 3.1MR or 1MR, 13MB, 3.1MR Jim / Joyce Donaldson (419) 829-2398 jdjp@sev.org eliteendeavors.com

Wed., August 4 Doozie’s Ice Cream Fun Run/Walk Series

Mt. Pleasant 7:30 pm 1310 East Pickard 5MR, 3MR, 1MR (989) 772-0323 hplouff@yahoo.com www.edzone.net/~mphsstr/

Road Racing at Metro Beach

Harrison Twp 7:00 pm Pointe Road - Metro Beach 5KR (248) 627-6619 ARPraces@aol.com

Wayland Road Runners 4 Mile Run & Banquet

Great Pizza Challenge Flint 6:30 pm Downtown Flint YMCA 5KR/W, 1/4 MR (810) 487-0954 GRaceMgt@aol.com riverbendstriders.com

Stony Creek Distance Run

Shelby Twp 6:00 pm Stony Creek Metropark, Eastwood Beach 5KR, 1MFR (248) 969-1323 runyatesrun@sbcglobal.net stoneycreekrunningclub.org

Saturday, August 7 a-Round Green Lake Association Walk/Run Caledonia 8:30 am Green Lake 5KR/W, 1MFR (616) 536-2124 pthopkins01@charter.net greenlake.us.events

AdvoKate Run

Rochester 8:30 am Rochester Municipal Park 10KR, 5KR/W, 1MW (248) 709-7673 beck_42000@yahoo.com www.advokaterun.org

Allen Park Street Fair 8K Allen Park 9:00 am Allen Park Presbyterian Church, 7101 Park Ave. 8KR (734) 377-0122 marathonmark@ hotmail.com active.com

Aspirus Keweenaw Copperman Triathlon

Copper Harbor Fort Wilkins State Park 0.5MS/ 23MB/ 5MR (906) 482-8201 tsmythe@ aspiruskeweenaw.org keweenawcopperman.org

Catholic Federal Pig Gig - tentative date

Bay City 10:30 am Vet’s Park 5KR/W, kids run

Ann Gasta (989) 415-5593 gastazoo@chartermi.net

Coloma Glad-Peach Run/ Walk/ Bike

Coloma 8:05 am N. West St. 10KR/B, 5KR/W/B, .6KFR (269) 468-6606 mjqjrun@aol.com ColomaPeachFest.com

Community Day 5K

9:00 am Adrian The Centre 5KR/W, 1/2 MR/W (517) 403-7687 druesi@tc3net.com

Crystal Lake 8K/5K

Crystal 8:00 am Crystal Elementary School 5MR, 5KR Janet Campbell (989) 328-1208 / (989) 235-5454 janetc@montcalm.edu

Detroit Hydrocephalus Association Walk-RunRide

Westland 10:00 am Hines Park, Nankin Mills Recreation Area 5KR/W, 5KB (734) 812-2314 djbhydrowalkmi@ gmail.com

Harbor Days Harborun 10K

Elk Rapids 8:30 am Veteran’s Park 10KR, 5KR/W, FR (800) 626-7328 mikchrnner@gmail.com www.elkrapidschamber.org

Harrisville Eye Care’s Wellness Walk/Run Harrisville 9:00 am Harrisville Eye Care 5KR/W (989) 724-7440 officemanager@ harrisvilleeyecare.com harrisvilleeyecare.com/ specialevents.htm

Imlay City Blueberry Stomp 5K

Imlay City 9:00 am Imlay City Town Hall 5KR/W (810) 724-2135 aplanck@imlaycity.org www.imlaycity.org

Kayla O’Mara Memorial Run Goodrich 7:30 am Goodrich High School 10KR, 5KR/W, 1MFR

Erin Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Mara (810) 429-3991 erin@kaylarun.com kaylarun.com 10K RRCA State Championship

Lake Antoine Classic

Iron Mountain 9 am CST Lake Antoine County Park 15KR, 5MR/W, 2MR/W, 15KB (906) 776-5918 Katie.Maxon@dchs.org

Little Bear 5K Challenge and Mother Daughter 5K Relay

Merrill Farm Fest

8:00 am Merrill Merrill High School 5KR/W (989) 284-1336 prattv@sisd.cc

Mint City 10 Miler, 5K & Family Fun Walk

St. Johns 7:30 am 900 W. Townsend St. 10MR, 5KR (989) 224-3316 mint10@mintcity10miler.com www.mintcity10miler.com

Ready Or Not 5K Otsego

Memorial Park 5K/W Steve Long (269) 808-0613 otsegocoach@yahoo.com runotsego.com

Roscommon County Fair 5K Run/Walk

Roscommon 9:00 am (989) 710-7165 tom@roscommonvillage.com roscommonmanager.blogspot.com/2010/06/ro scommon-county-fair5k.html

8:00 am

St. Ignace 10:00 am Little Bear East Arena 3MR (906) 643-8676 lbe@cityofstignace.net

Loganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Run

8:30 am South Bend, IN Notre Dame campus 10KR, 5KR/W, 1MFW (574) 289-4831, Ext. 1027 jill@logancenter.org www.RunWithLogan.org

Lynn Johnson Memorial Road Race

Colon 9:00 am Colon HS 5KR/W Marty Klein mklein@cononschools.org

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Run Clark Lake

8:25 am Clark Lake Beach Bar 12KR, 5KR/W, 3/4K Kids run Pat Dwyer (517) 782-6106 sixthdwyer@comcast.net

Run Manchester

Manchester 8:30 am Downtown Manchester 10KR, 5KR, 1MFR (734) 428-9890 woodsie668@ aol.com manchesterareafriends. googlepages.com/runmanch ester

Saline’s Summerfest 5K Run/Walk

Saline 8:30 am 5KR/W Chamber of Commerce (724) 429-4494 salinechamber@aol.com salinesummerfest.com/

Shermanator Triathlon & 5K Run

Augusta 8:30 am Sherman Lake YMCA 5KR, sprint triathlon: 500 yd.S/ 10MB/ 5KR, kids run (269) 731-3004 jackiem@ymcasl.org shermanlakeymca.org

Streets of Fire 8K

Grand Rapids 6:30 pm Kosciuszko Hall, 935 Park NW 8KR/W (616) 742-0384 grrunningclub@ sbcglobal.net grandrapidsrunningclub.org

Sylvania SuperKids Triathlon / Duathlon

Sylvania, OH 7:30 am Olander Park varies by age group Jim / Joyce Donaldson (419) 829-2398 jdjp@sev.org eliteendeavors.com UA Scholarship Fund 1K & 5K Run/Walk Ann Arbor 9:00 am Washtenaw Community College 5KR/W, 1KW (734) 973-3359 kbillings@wccnet.edu www.wccnet.edu/

Sunday, August 8

Eastpointe Lions Club Ox Roast Run

Eastpointe 8:30 am Kennedy Park on Stephens Road 5R/1MFR/W Kim Lubinski (586) 393-6292 schobiek@aol.com www.eplcoxrun.org Fired Up for Kids

Petoskey 7:00 am 13.1MR, 3MR/W, 1MR/W (231) 330-1377 firedupforkids2010@ gmail.com firedupforkids.com

Memphis Duck Dash

Memphis 9:00 am 5KR/W, 1MW Jacqueline Chevalier duckdash@banyanol.com

Sylvania Triathlon/ Duathlon

Sylvania, OH 7:30 am Tam-O-Shanter SportsComplex, Olander Park Olympic Tri: 1.5MS/ 40KB/ 10KR; Sprint Tri: 0.25S/ 13MB/ 5KR; Du: 3KR/ 40KB/ 10KR Jim / Joyce Donaldson (419) 829-2398 jdjp@sev.org eliteendeavors.com

Lansing Legislator Tri, Du, Sprint

Lansing 8:00 am Sleepy Hollow State Park 1.5KS/ 40KB/ 10KR or 500meterS/ 20KB/ 5KR or 5KR/ 20KB/ 5KR Kenny Krell (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Milford Fun Days 5K

Milford 8:00 am Central Park, Downtown Milford 5KR/W (248) 685-7129, ext. 104 daveyarm@aol.com 5k.milfordmemories.com

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Run Through the Hills

9:00 am Vassar Vassar High School 5KR/W (989) 823-7574 vassar5k@hotmail.com elitefeetrunning.com/

Tuesday, August 10 Siren Chase 5K

East Grand Rapids 7 pm Aquinas College 5KR (616) 855-1972 radedirector@sirenchase.com

Wed., August 11 Strider Track Meet

Mt. Pleasant 7:30 pm Mt. Pleasant HS Track, 1155 South Elizabeth track and field (989) 772-0323 hplouff@yahoo.com edzone.net/~mphsstr/

Thurs., August 12 Bauman’s Charity 5K

Flint 6:45 pm Kettering University Recreation Center 5KR/W, kids runs Riverbend Striders (810) 238-5981 riverbendstriders.com

Concordia Summer Cross Country Fun Run

Ann Arbor 7:00 pm Concordia campus West of gym 8K, 5KFR (734) 502-4809 cu-trackxcountry@cuaa.edu

Marquette County Fair Mid-Summer Night Fun Run

Marquette 5:30 pm Marquette County Fairgrounds 4 MR (906) 226-6924 marquettecountyfair.com

Red Carpet Run 5K

West Bloomfield 7:00 pm Running Fit West Bloomfield 5KR Dawn McConnachie (734) 929-9027 events@runningfit.com redcarpetrun.com

Friday, August 13 St John’s Festival 5K is Saturday, August 14.

Sat, August 14 Almont’s Run for Health - tentative date

Hansinger Mud Fest

9:30 am Port Huron Jeddo Boy Scout Camp, 7140 Jeddo Road. 5MR/B team obstacle race Joel Eisinger (517) 706-1011 mhanton@comcast.net www.mudfestrace.com

Marine City River Run

Almont 9:00 am Almont High School 5KR/W, 1/4MFR (810) 798-7500 barc-mi.com

8:00 am Marine City 10KR, 3MW (810) 765-9700 julie0913@yahoo.com

Bath City Run Mount Clemens 8:00 am Rec. Bowl 4MR, 2MW, kids run Michelle Weiss (586) 469-4168 weissii@msn.com www.downtownmount

8:00 am South Haven Lake Michigan shoreline 5KR/W, kids run (269) 639-2805 kwise@shch.org shch.org

Board of Water and Light Hometown Power 5K Lansing 9:00 am BWL Customer Service Center , 1232 Halco Drive 5KR/W (517) 702-6880 jlb3@lbwl.com www.bwl5k.com

Crystal Lake Team Marathon

Beulah 8:00 am Beulah Park Pavilion 26.2 M Relay Asa & Traci Kelly (231) 930-4222 kellya@benzieschools.net crystallakecommunitybusinessassoc.com

Dwayne Rau Memorial Road Race

West Branch 8:30 am Surline Middle School 5KR, 2.5KW Marjorie Taylor (989) 345-0901 raut@m33access.com

Falcon 5K

Dearborn 8:15 am Divine Child HS 5KR,1 MR/W, 1/4MR/W Tony Mifsud (313) 389-2333 tonymifsud150@aol.com divinechildhighschool.org/ alumni

Fallsburg Festival of Races

Lowell 8:00 am Fallsburg Park 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 5KR (616) 260-2669 CoachDroski@aim.com www.fallsburghalf.8k.com

National Blueberry Festival 5K

Origami 5K Mason 9:00 am 3181 Sandhill Rd. 5KR, 1MW (517) 455-0264 jpascoe@origamirehab.org www.origamirehab.org

Orthopedic Associates Fun Run

Port Huron 9:00 am 940 River Centre Drive 10KR, 5KR, 1MFR/W (810) 985-7412 mmuzzarelli@oaph.com www.oaph.com

Paavo Nurmi Marathon

Hurley, WI 7:30 am CDT Upson to Hurley 26.2MR, 2 & 5 person relays (866) 340-4334 hurley@hurleywi.com www.hurleywi.com or paavonurmimarathon.com/

Panda Bear Cancer Prevention Run

Alma 9:00 pm Fred Meijer Rail Trail 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR Ryan Hackett (989) 289-2361 shepherdboy818@ yahoo.com

Petoskey Festival by the Bay Wellness Walk & Run

Petoskey 9:00 am Bayfront Park 5KR/W, 1MR/W, kids run (231) 347-7874 sturt919@aol.com active.com

Ron Winans Heart of a Champion 5K

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

8:00 am Detroit Belle Isle Park Bandshell 10KR, 5KR/W Deneen Carter (313) 365-3787 dcarter@perfectingchurch.org perfectingchurch.org/ron5/

Sanford and Sun Triathlon

Sanford 8:00 am Sanford Lakae Country Park Tri: 1.5KS/ 40KB/ 10KR or 500 meterS/ 20KB/ 5KR Du: 2MR/ 20KB/ 5KR Kenny Krell (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Spread Eagle Barrens Trail Run/Walk

Florence, WI LePage Creek Overlook 12KR, 5KR (715) 528-5377 info@florencewisconsin.com florencewisconsin.com

St John’s Festival 5K Run/Walk and 1/4M Tot Trot

Essexville 6:30 pm Corner of Main & Hudson 5KR/W, 1MR (989) 894-2753 wadebaha@aol.com barc-mi.com

(705) 759-2467 sherri@ stjosephislandtriathlon.com stjosephislandtriathlon.com

Steve’s “Raider Stomp”

Decatur 8:00 am Decatur High School 10KR, 5KR/W (269) 423-5081 bsmola101@yahoo.com www.stevesraiderstomp.org

Summer in the City 5K Run & 1 Mile Fun Run 9:00 am Battle Creek Bailey Park 5KR,1MFR (269) 788-4325 lindafreybler@yahoo.com www.bcacs.org/

Up North Duathlon

Grayling 2 person teams, 38MB/ 19MR Ronny or Dennis upnorthdualathlon@ gmail.com

West Michigan I TRI 4 FUN Triathlon

Fremont 4:00 pm Fremont Lake Park 200 Meter S / 9 MB/ 5KR (231) 924-2100

matt@cityoffremont.net freewebs.com/ westmichigantri/

West Michigan Kids Triathlon

Fremont 9:00 am Fremont High School distance varies with age (231) 924-2100 matt@cityoffremont.net freewebs.com/ westmichigantri/

Wood Duck Dash

9:00 am Brownstown Lake Erie Metropark 10KR, 5KR (734) 379-5020 info@woodduckdash.com www.woodduckdash.com

Sunday, August 15 Battle of Waterloo

7:30 am Waterloo Big Portage Lake, Waterloo Recreation Area 10 stage adventure tri: 1.4MS/ 26.5MB/ 13.6MR (734) 678-5045 eva@epicraces.com epicraces.com

Island Lake of Novi Triathlon & Open Water Swim 8:00 am Novi 50641 Drakes Bay tri: .5MS/ 12MB/ 3MR or 1.5MS Ford Athletic Seim & Triathlon swimfasttrifast.com/ islandlakeofnovi/

Mary Angela Run for Angels’ Place

Farmington Hills9:00 am Oakland Community College, Orchard Ridge Campus 10KR, 5KR, 1MW, 1M kids’ run (248) 496-8449 lnorton@angelahospice.net angelsplace.com

Petoskey Triathlon & Duathlon

Petoskey 8:00 am City Park Across from the Fire Dept. 1.5KS/ 40KB/ 5MR or 500mS/ 20KB/5MR or 2MR/ 20KB/ 5MR Kenny Krell

(231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com

Tahqua Trail Run

Paradise 8:00 am Tahquamenon Falls State Park 25KR, 10KR, 2KR Jeff Crumbaugh (715) 460-0426 info@greatlakesendur ance.com greatlakesendurance.com

Tuesday, August 17 Riverside Park Co-Ed Relay

Grand Rapids 7:00 pm Riverside Park X-C relay, 4 alternating .5mile laps Grand Rapids Running Club (616) 884-0088 bill.grrc@gmail.com grandrapidsrunningclub.org

St. Joseph Island Triathlon, Duathlon and Kids of Steel Triathlon

St. Joseph Island, ON 9 am Richards Landing Tri: 1500mS/ 40KB/ 10KR or 750mS/ 20KB/ 5KR or 400mS/ 10KB/ 2.5KR Du: 10KR/ 40KB/ 5KR or 5KR/ 20KB/ 2.5KR, kids tri-distances vary

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Wed., August 18

T-Rex Sprint Triathlon

Brighton6:30 pm Island Lake Recreation Area Tri: 1/2MS/ 5KR/ 20KB Running Fit (734) 929-9027 events@runningfit.com www.runtrextri.com

Thurs., August 19 Concordia Summer Cross Country Fun Run

Ann Arbor 7:00 pm Concordia campus 8K, 5KFR (734) 502-4809 cu-trackxcountry@cuaa.edu

Thunder Bolt 5K Run & Cross Country School Team Challenge

Whitehall 6:30 pm Funnel Field 5KR/W (231) 282-1215 jdwolters6436@gmail.com RunnersEdgeRaceTiming.com

Friday, August 20

Howell Melon Run

Howell 6:15 pm - 1 Mile FR 7:00 pm - 10K & 5K Howell City Park 10KR, 5KR, 1MFR, kids’ run, melon roll Beth Schrader (517) 546-0693 parksandrec@ howellrecreation.org howellrecreation.org Q-Town 5K

Quincy 7:00 pm Quincy High School 5KR/W, 1MFR, 1/4MFR Loretta Tobolske-Horn (517) 283-1726 lorettahorn@charter.net runningfoundation.com/

Sat., August 21 Anchor Bay Rotary Fun Run Chesterfield 8:30 am Chesterfield Township offices 5KR (586) 484-2070 ted@whittlesey.com

Carl Olson Memorial Adventure Run

Chassell 9:00 am Chassel Community Center 10KR, 5KR/W, 2KR (906) 482-1308 michael.young@ thermoanalytics.com keweenaw.info

Cat Tracks 5K Trail Run/Walk

Niles 9:00 am Brandywine High School 5KR/W (269) 684-6123 cattracks5k@aol.com

Churchill Classic

Cheboygan 8:00 am Water Street 10KR, 5KR/W, 1MR (231) 627-7111 lindsayn@ cnbismybank.com www.cheboygan.org

Danish Festival Road Race

Greenville 8:15 am Baldwin Heights Elementary School 4MR, 2MR (616) 754-6369 danishfestival@charter.net danishfestival.org

Farmington Run for the Hills

Farmington 8:00 am Shiawassee Park 10KR, 5KR, 1MFR, Teams Ed Anderson (248) 880-3852 ed@agback.com farmingtonrunforthehills.com Fragile X 5K Run & Walk

Clarkston 10:30 am Independence Oaks County Park, Twin Chimneys shelter 5KR/W (248) 674-2147 kim.young@fxam.org

Glen Lake Fun Run Glen Lake 11:00 am Glen Lake School 1MFR/W (231) 334-3080 getfit@skiwalking.com

Grand Woods Trail 5K Lansing 9:00 am Grand Woods Park on Willow Road 5KR - trail Chuck Block

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

(517) 702-0226 cblock@lcc.edu runningfoundation.com

Hastings Summerfest Run is August 28 Infiterra Sports Summer Quest

10:00 am Shelby Twp. Stony Creek Metro Park 4-6 hour adventure race (231) 233-4736 zac@infiterrasports.com www.infiterrasports.com

International Canned Beer Month Can Do Road and Trail Run

Kalamazoo 10:00 am Bilbo’s Parking Lot, Stadium Drive 4.8MR (269) 365-3850 candoactive@hotmail.com www.candoactive.com

Jacob’s Race

Laingsburg 8:30 am McClintock Park 5KR/W, kids run (517) 599-4693 mnthelen38@yahoo.com

Livonia Youth Triathlon

Livonia 8:30 am (varies) Clements Circle Park Tri: distance varies with age (734) 466-2411 awalker@ci.livonia.mi.us www.ci.livonia.mi.us

Mark Mellon Triathlon & Duathlon

Gaylord 8:00 am Otsego County Park 1000mS/ 28MB/ 10KR or 500mS/ 14MB/ 5KR or 250mS/ 5MB/ 2MR (231) 546-2229 dsmithaction@hotmail.com goracego.com

Mitchell’s Run Through Rockford

8:30 am Downtown Rockford 5KR/W, kids run (616) 863-9168 mitchellsrun@charter.net mitchellsrun.org

Stony Creek Relay

Shelby Township 8:00 am Stony creek Metropark West Branch Picnic Area 40 Mile Relay, 5 person teams, 2 legs each Hansons Running Shops (586) 822-3608 sshoudy@hotmail.com www.hansons-running.com

Strides for Health

9:00 am Allegan Allegan General Hospital, 555 Linn Street 5KR/W, kids fun run (269) 673-5431, ext. 3003 stridesforhealth@ aghosp.com aghosp.org

Three Rivers Triathlon & Duathlon

Three Rivers 8:00 am Corey Lake Olympic: 1.5KS/ 40KB/ 10KR; Sprint: 300mS/ 18KB/ 5KR; Du: 5KR/ 40KB/ 10KR (269) 278-2075 aquamantriusa@yahoo.com aquamantri.com

Tying the Knot Trot

8:00 am Bellaire 5KR, 1MW Cadia Humpula chumpula@hotmail.com

Wildcat Cross Country Course 5K Run

Pittsford Pittsford High School 5KR, 1/2MFR (517) 523-2672 schmst@frontiernet.net

Sunday, August 22 Blue Water Triathlon

Port Huron 7:45 am Lakeside Park Sprint tri: 500mS/ 20KB/ 5KR (231) 546-2229 m.maclean1@amcan.us amcan.us

Feet for Seats

Rochester 9:00 am Meadow Brook Theatre 5KR/W (248) 370-3316 twalter@mbtheatre.com www.mbtheatre.com

Island Lake Triathlon

Brighton 7:30 am Island Lake Recreation Area Tri: 5MS/ 12.4MB/ 5KR or .09MS/ 24.8MB/ 10KR (734) 845-7559 jim@elementevents.com www.theelementevents.com

Ludington Lighthouse Triathlon & Duathlon

Ludington 8:00 am 900 W. Ludingnton

1.5KS/ 40KB/ 10KR or 500meterS/ 20KB/ 5KR or 5KR,/ 20KB/ 5KR Kenny Krell (810) 714-5768 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Montrose Blueberry Festival

8:00 am Montrose Montrose Carter Elementary School 8KR, 5 MR/W Suwienski (810) 449-8340 mandy@bluberryrace.com blueberryrace.com

Race for Hopes and Dreams

East Lansing 10:00 am Burcham Hills Retirement Community 5KR/W, 1MFR (517) 827-1061 aschneider@ burchamhills.com

Runnin’ the Rails

Ypsilanti 8:00 am Corner Brewery, Depot Town 10KR, 5KR/W (517) 231-6156 mgallowa@emich.edu runnintherails. eventbrite.com

formerly Great Train Race Vietnam Veterans United Annual 5K Run

Allen Park 9:00 am Champaign Park 5KR, 1 MR/W (734) 552-8538 rjfordone@comcast.net www.active.com

Walk/Run for Child Rights

Shelby Township 9:00 am 5KR/W Ramya Panchangam rpanchangam@gmail.com

Wed., August 25 Road Racing at Metro Beach

Harrison Twp 7:00 pm Stony Creek Metro Park / Westbranch 2MR (248) 627-6619 ARPraces@aol.com

Friday, August 27 Q-Town 5K

7:00 pm Quincy Quincy High School 5KR/W, 1MFR, 1/4MFR (517) 283-1726 lorettahorn@charter.net runningfoundation.com Saturday, August 28

28th St. Metro Cruise速 5K / 10K

Wyoming 8:00 am 28th St. 10KR, 5KR/W (616) 430-2496 chris@mirunning.com cruiserun.com

The Arc Stroll, Roll & 5 K Run

Midland 9:00 am Northwood University & Pere Marquette Rail Trail 5KR/W (989) 631-4439 admin@thearcofmidland.org thearcofmidland.org/ arcrun.php

Coldwater Mini Triathlon

Coldwater 9:00 am Coldwlater Lake Marnia tri: 300ydS/ 6 MB/ 3 MR (517).279-9038 MSUDAD@cbpu.comcold water-mini-triathlon.org

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Crim Festival of Races Flint 8:00 am First and Saginaw Streets 10 MR/W, 8KR/W, 5KR/W, 1 MR/W, Teddy Bear Trot Deb Kiertzner (810) 235.3396 crim@flint.org www.crim.org

Michigan Runner Race Series D-bar-A Challenge

Metamora 9:00 am D-A Scout Ranch 5KR Great Lakes Council - Boy Scouts of America (866) 532-1844 d-aracedirector@ comcast.net

Freeland Lamplighter 5K Run/Walk

Freeland Freeland Banquet Center Tittabawassee Twp. Park 5KR/W, kids runs (989) 695-6584 johndeanalbaugh@ gmail.com www.signmeup.com/69764

Girls Best Friend Triathlon

Vicksburg 8:00 am Prairie View Country Park 1000mS/ 40KB/ 10KR or 500mS/ 20KB/ 5KR or 2MR/ 20KB/ 5KR (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com

Hastings Summerfest Run - date changed from 8/21/10

Hastings 8:30 am Hastings Middle School 10KR, 5KR/W (269) 948-3139 wellness@ pennockhealth.com www.pennockhealth.com

Ithaca Fun Fest 5K tentative date

Ithaca 9:00 am Corner of Center St. and Pine River St. 5KR/W, kids run (989) 875-3663 toddcrawfordslf@ yahoo.com www.ithacami.com

Lawton Euro-Trail 5K Challenge

Lawton HS 5KR (269) 624-6643 kbullock@lawtoncs.org www.lawtoncs.org

North Country Trail Run

Manistee 7:30 am Big M Trails, Manistee National Forest 50MR, 26.2MR, 13.1 MR (616) 430-2496 chris@mirunning.com northcountrytrailrun.mirunning.com

Physically Strong Triathlon

Kalamazoo 9:00 am Rota-Kiwan Reservation 400ydS/ 6.5MR/ 3.1MR or 100ydS/ 1.2MB/ .3MR (269) 3443-4687 rd@physicallystrong triathlon.org physicallystrongtriathlon.org

Run for the Rolls

Chelsea 12:30 pm 20700 Old US 12 1MR/W (734) 475-0843 triveline@hotmail.com runforthe rolls.com

Sandhill Crane Trail 1/2 Marathon & 10K

Vandalia 9:00 am Dr. T.K. Lawless Park 13.1MR, 10KR (574) 215-4779 rongunn3@ verizon.net cairnstoneadventuretours.com

Somerset Stampede

Somerset Center 7:30 am Somerset Beach 13.1MR, 5KR/W Dave Parham (517) 780-4216 somerset-run@ earthlink.net somerset-run.com

Summer’s End Trail Run

Saginaw 9:00 am Imerman Memorial Park 5KR, 1.5M kids’ run, 1.5MW (989) 513-5195

Lawton

8:30 am

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

dfbernar@stcs.org barc-mi.com

Sunday, August 29 Breakwater Triathlon 70.3

Petoskey 7:00 am tri: 1.2MS/ 56MB, 13.1MR or .6MS / 28MB/ 6.2MR Jim Jackson (734) 845-7559 jim@elementsevents.com elementevents.com

Charyl’s Run2BFit

Milford 9:00 am Kensington Metropark, Possom Hollow Playfield 5KR/W, 1MFR (810) 632-4778 hlucas@csaschool.org

Hansons 16 Mile Marathon Training Run

8:00 am Lake Orion Hansons Running Shop, 3 South Broadway 4-16 MR (248) 693-9900 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

No PR 10K

Brighton 8:00 am Brighton Recreation Area, Bishop Lake Complex 10KR info@secondwindrm.com secondwindrm.com/ races.html

Tuesday, August 31 Johnson Park Cross Country 5K

Grandville 7:00 pm Johnson Park Cross Country 5KR (616) 257-7818 aheathcoterunner@yahoo.com grandrapidsrunningclub.org (517) 364-5680 dana_zecchino@yaoo.com sparrow.org/ foundation/runwalk/

September Wed., September 1 Hansons Marathon Training Clinic #3

Royal Oak 6:30 pm Hansons Running Shop Training Clinic (248) 616-9665 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Fri., September 3 Feets of Strength 5K Race / Walk - tentative date

Bay City 6:00 pm Vet’s Park, Imagination 5KR/W Station (989) 671-1345 nwcac@sbcglobal.net active.com

Sat., September 4 Aliferis Memorial Run/Walk/Bike Race

Alpena 7:30 am Alpena Regional Medical Center 13.1MR, 5KR, 2MW, 18.5MB (989) 356-7738 adiamond@agh.org alpenaregionalmedicalcenter.org

Big Bad Wold Adventure Race

Big Rapids 8:30 am Big Rapid Middle School and Northend Park 5KR/ 6MB/ 4M canoe, individual, teams, or relay (231) 598-1918 jmossel@hotmail.com leadershipmecosta.com

Grand Marais 5K

Grand Marais 9:00 am Bayshore Park 5KR (906) 494-2700 ebowen@jamadots.com grandmaraismichigan.com

Grand Marais Junior Triathlon

Grand Marais 11:00 am Beach, downtown wade/swim, run, bike/trike (906) 494-2700 ebowen@jamadots.com grandmaraismichigan.com

Greatest 5K Ever

Grand Rapids 10:00 am Riverside Park 5KR (616) 828-9557 joseph@ helpfightscleroderma.com helpfightscleroderma.com/run

Labor Day 30K Run & 10K Walk/Run Milford 8:00 am Bakers Restaurant, 2025 Milford Rd. 30KR, 10KR/W, 1/2 kids run, 30KB, 30K

Inline skate Doug Klingensmith (248) 685-7580 / (248) 830-2935 racedirector@ laborday30k.com laborday30k.com

Michigan Runner Race Series Marquette Marathon

8:00 am Marquette Presque Isle 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 1/2MFR Nancy Bailey nunu49855@hotmail.com marquettemarathon.com

Marshall Run

Newaygo 9:00 am Riverfront Park 5KR/W (517) 336-6429 sweeneyk@michigan.gov www.msp.gov

Michiana Shores 5K

Michiana, IN 9:00 am Michiana Shores Fire Department 5KR/W (219) 898-6720 msvfd_5k@yahoo.com

Niles Triathlon

Niles 8:00 am Barron 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) 845-9815 tommajerek@aol.com www.triniles.com

Over the River and Thru the Woods 5K

Big Rapids 10:00 am Big Rapid Middle School and Northend Park 5KR (231) 598-1918 jmossel@hotmail.com leadershipmecosta.com

Owen Scully Memorial Big Star Lake 15K Run & 5K Walk

Baldwin 8:30 am Lake Township Fire Barn 15KR, 5KW bigstar@bestfoot.com bigstarlake.org/bslrace.htm

Run Beaver Island Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K Beaver Island 8:00 am

Downtown Beach 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 5KR/W Sharon Suffolk (248) 437-4524 sharon@ goodboyevents.org goodboyevents.com Run Like The Wind

Westland 9:30 am Hines Park, Nankin Mills Picnic Area 10KR, 5KR (517) 702-0226 cblock@lcc.edu runningfoundation.com

(231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Swampfoot 4 Mile

Saint Clair 10:00 am 4MR, 1MR swampfoot@ymail.com swampfoot4mile.com/

Witchy Wolf 3

Omer 7:30 pm Sundaes Afternoon 15MR, X-C, 2 person relay (989) 846-6018 hilyards@m33access.com witchywolfrun.com

Sun., September 5

Barefoot Triathlons

Traverse City 8 am Grand Traverse Resort and Spa Tri: 1.5KS/ 26MB/ 10KR or 500mS/ 16.4MB/ 5KR 3 Disciplines (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com

Ed Hansen Memorial Run/Walk

10:00 am Ontonagon Fire Hall on River Street 10KR, 5KR (906) 884-8108 jlwaters@chartermi.net northlandrunner.com

Grand Marais Triathlon

Grand Marais 1:30 pm Grand Marais City Park Tri: 300-yardS/ 14MB/ 5KR (906) 494-2700 ebowen@jamadots.com grandmaraismichigan.com

Montreal International Marathon

Montreal, QC 9:00 am 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR, kids run Bernard Arsenault (514) 879-1027 info@marathondemo ntreal.com marathonoasisdemontreal.com

Shared Pregnancy Baby Steps 5K

Lansing 9:00 am Riverfront Park 5KR/W (517) 484-365 sharedpregnancy@msn.com www.sharedpregnancy.org

SuperKids Try Barefoot Triathlon

Traverse City 9 am Grand Traverse Resort and Spa Triathlon: distances vary by age 3 Disciplines

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Running Waters 5K

Gaylord 8:00 am 5KR/W, kids run Ann Wagar (989) 732-4038 downingam@ yahoo.com

Mon., September 6 Blueberry Stomp 9:00 am Plymouth, IN Centennial Park 15KR, 5KR (574) 952-8443 mpglaub@yahoo.com blueberryfestival.org

Governor’s Labor Day Bridge Run

Mackinaw City 5MFR Michigan Fitness Foundation (517) 347-7891 mlieber@michiganfitness.org michiganfitness.org/ bridgerun.html

Labor Day Run & Potluck

Midland 10:00 am Chippewa Nature Center 10KR, 5KR/W (989) 662-6802 www.barc-mi.com

Labor Day Run for Recovery

Charlotte 8:00 am Bennett Park 5KR/W, 1MFW, kids run (517) 231-3408 recovery2008@ sbcglobal.net eatoncounty.org

Mackinac Bridge Walk

St. Ignace 7:00 am St. Ignace to Mackinaw City 5MW Mackinac Bridge Authority (906) 643-7600 mackinacbridge.org

Wed., September 8 Hansons Youth Team

Rochester 4:45 pm Bloomer Park camp (248) 616-9665 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Sat., September 11 Allegiance Health Race to Health 52

Jackson 8:00 am Allegiance Radiation Oncology - Tejada Center 5MR, 5KR/W, kids run (517) 788-4970 amy.saties@ allegiancehealth.com fitnesscouncil.org/ runjackson/

COVE Benefit Beach Walk and Run

Pentwater 8:30 pm Charles Mears State Park 10KR, 5KR/W (231) 869-5030 lcavazos5939@charter.net

First National Bank of Wakefield Marathon

Wakefield 8:00 am CDT Southwest Park, 2/10 of a mile west of US2 & M28 26.2MR (906) 224-7011 engelj@wmschools.org northlandrunner.com

Kazoo Area Foot Chase Portage 9:00 am Celery Flats Park 3.5 MR (269) 321-9264 race@kazoofootchase.com www.kazoofootchase.com

Kirby 5K

New Boston 10:00 am Willow Metro Park 5KR/W (734) 231-0397 tommy@kirbychurch.com www.kirbychurch.com

Lake City Marathon

Winona Lake, IN 7:00 am Winona Lake Park 50KR, 26.2MR, 13.1MR (574) 267-3306 www.lakecitymarathon.info

Live Life Nspired 5K

Charlotte 9:45 am Hayes Green Beach Hospital 5KR/W, 1MW Jake Campbell (517) 543-9575 JCampbell@hgbhealth.com www.hgbhealth.com

Mackinac Island 8 Mile Road Race Mackinac Island 9:30 am Mission Point Resort 8 MR/W, kids run John Gault (810) 659-6493 GraceMgt@aol.com runmackinac.com

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

NSO Riverwalk 5K

9:00 am Detroit Detroit Riverfront Riverwalk 5KR, 1MR (313) 961-4890 nso-mi.org

Miles for Meals 5K Run/Walk

Brighton 9:00 am downtown Brighton 5KR/W (586) 924-4682 cindy@lcsnp.org livingstonseniornutritionprogram.com/

Muskrat Classic Run

Algonac 8:30 am Algonac HS 5KR (810) 794-4911 dshafer@algonac.k12.mi.us algonac.k12.mi.us

Page Burner Run and Walk

Kingsley Village 11:00 am Civic Center South 10KR, 5KR, kids run Duane Travis (231) 620-5391 detravis@ centurytel.net www.villageofkingsley. com/recreation.php Rhoades McKee Reeds Lake Triathlon

East Grand Rapids 8 am 750 Lakeside Dr. SE 1/2MS/ 17.2MB/ 4.9MR (616) 949-1750 sperry@eastgr.org www.eastgr.org

Run and Walk for the Animals

Grand Ledge 10:45 am Fitzgerald Park 5KR/W, 1MW (517) 626-6060, x 11 dellis@cahs-lansing.org www.cahs-lansing.org

Run for Ryan

Flat Rock 5:30 pm Flat Rock Community High School 8KR, 1 MR/W (734) 676-4296 aclark@heritage.com heritage.com/ ryansfriends/ryansrun.htm

Run for Your Heart

Saginaw 8:00 am Michigan CardioVascular Institute, 1015 S. Washington St.

10KR, 5KR/W (989) 754-3222 bfelker@mcvi.com www.mcvifoundation.org

Sand Point / Beadle Bay Marina 5K Run / Walk

Caseville 10:00 am Beadle Bay Marina & Campground 5KR/W (517) 256-2078 runwildtotton@gmail.com

St. Mike’s Race for Faith 5K

Grand Ledge 6:00 pm Fitzgerald Park 5KR/W, kids run (517) 646-9746 psbiergans@hotmail.com stmichaelgl.org

Tawas Triathlon Festival East Tawas 8:00 am East Tawas City Park 1.2MS/ 56MB/ 13.1MR or 1.5KS/ 40KB/ 10KR or 500mS/ 20kB/ 5KR Kenny Krell (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Walk the Walk

Grand Blanc 9:00 am Health Park 3KR/W Amanda walkthewalk@ LUNGevity.org michiganlungcancerwalk.org

Witch’s Hat Run

South Lyon 8:00 am South Lyon HS 10KR, 5KR/W, 1 MFR Scott Smith (248) 207-5135 smiths@slcs.us www.slxc.com/witch

Sun., September 12 Delta College 5K Run & Walk

University Center 9:00 am University Center 5KR/W (989) 696-9865 caseycornelius@delta.edu

Grand Blanc Walk the Walk Grand Blanc

Noon

3KR/W (810) 487-0954 rymolyneaux@yahoo.com michiganlungcancerwalk.org

Hansons 16 Mile Marathon Training Run

8:00 am Royal Oak Hansons Running Shop 4-16 MR (248) 616-9665 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Hardick Chiropractic Centre Springbank Half-Marathon and 5K

8:00 am London, ON Stone Cottage, Springbank Park 13.1 MR, 5KR/W, kids run (519) 672-5928 runners@ runnerschoice.on.ca runnerschoice.on.ca

Henry Ford Rock and Road 5 / 10K

West Bloomfield 8:30 am Civic Center Complex, 4640 Walnut Lake Road 10KR, 5KR Denny Troshak (248) 451-1900 wbparks@westbloomf ieldparks.org westbloomfieldparks.org

Kellie Sebrell DeWitt 5K Trail Run

DeWitt 10:00 am DeWitt High School 5KRW (517) 669.8102 rmwieber@attbi.com

River Run

Cleveland, OH 8:00 am Wallace Lake / Rocky River High School 13.1 MR, Relay, Inline Skate, 5KR Hermes Road Racing (216) 623-9933 roadracing@ hermescleveland.com www.hermescleveland.com

Sparrow Women Working Wonders 5K

Lansing 10:30 am Hawk Island Park 5KR/W (517) 364-5680 dana_zecchino@yaoo.com sparrow.org/ foundation/runwalk/

Tortoise and Hare Marathon Training Run

9:00 am Ann Arbor Tortoise and Hare Running and Fitness Center 13.1MR, 20MR, 10MR, 5MR (734) 623-9640 events@tortoiseandhare.com www.tortoiseandhare.com

Tower Run for Education

Michigan City, IN 8:30 am Washington Park 8KR, 5KW (219) 874-8927 towerrun@toweronline.org www.toweronline.org/run/

Trish Donnelly-Runnion Memorial Road Race

Plymouth 8:00 am Plymouth Cultural Center 5KR, 1 MFR/W (734) 495-9512 cbrown57@comcast.net plymouthfallfestival.com Combined with Plymouth Fall Festival Race

Mon., Sept. 13 Hansons Youth Team

Royal Oak Starr Park

4:45 pm

camp (586) 822-8606 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Wed., Sept. 15 Hansons Marathon Training Clinic #3

6:30 am Utica Hansons Running Shop Training Clinic (586) 323-9683 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Fri., September 17 AVSO Forks 5K Run/Walk

Albion 6:00 pm Victory Park 5KR/W, 1KFR (517) 629-5574 albionvolunteers@gmail.com www.avso.forks.org

Spartan Invitational

East Lansing 1:00 pm Michigan State University - Forest Akers Golf Course

college and high school x-c Nancy Lumley (517) 353-0816 lumleyn@ath.msu.edu playmakers.com

Sat., September 18 Apple Cider Run

Fenton 9:00 am Spicer Orchards 5KR/W, 1/2MFR (517) 862-9233 rick@secondwindrm.com secondwindrm.com/ races.html

Autumn Colors Triathlon and Duathlon

Holly 9:00 am Holly Recreation Area 1000 meterS/ 18MB/ 5.5MR or 2MR/ 18MB/ 5.5MR Kenny Krell (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Big Mac Shoreline Scenic Bike Tour Mackinaw City

9:00 am

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Mackinaw City High School Pavillion 25MB, 50MB, 75MB, 100MB (888) 455-8100 info@mackinawchamber.com mackinawchamber.com

Chad Schieber Memorial Run

Midland Emerson Park 10KR, 5KR, 1MR, kids run (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Chasing the Cure for Ovarian Cancer

9:00 am Sturgis Doyle Community Center 5KR/W, 5K pump and run, 1MFR (269) 251-8740 chasingthecure@yahoo.com chasingthecure.net

Deerfield Park Trail Half / 10K / 5K

Mt. Pleasant 10:00 am Deerfield Park 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR (989) 289-2361 shepherdboy818@ yahoo.com signmeup.com

Dunes Duathlon

Saugatuck 9:30 am Saugatuck Dunes State Park 5MR, 17.8 MB (616) 566-2085 racedirector@dunesdu.com www.dunesdu.com

Grosse Pointe Run

Grosse Pointe 8:30 am GP Farms Pier Park 10KR, 5KR/W, 1MFR, kids runs Wayne Manchester (800) 299-5007 wayne@cadlp.com active.com Harvest Stompede

Suttons Bay 9:30 am Ciccone Vinyards, Leelanau Peninsula 7MR, 5KR, 3MW (231) 357-3222 nath49684@yahoo.com lpwines.com/harvest/

John Rogucki Memorial 54

Kensington Challenge

Milford 8:30 am Kensington Metropark, Maple Beach 15KR, 5KR/W, 1 MR/W Doug Goodhue (248) 685-0043 douggoodhue@ comcast.net www.aatrackclub.org Kid’s Fitness Caper

Portage 8:00 am Celery Flats, Garden Lane 10KR, 5KR/W, kids run (269) 323-1942 dschrock@charter.net portagecommunitycenter.org

Michigan State Police Fall Color 5K

Northville Twp 10:00 am Maybury State Park 5KR/W (586) 727-0200, ext. 523 fallcolorrun@comcast.net www.tblofmi.com

Nike-Holly Cross Country Invitational

Davisburg 7:40 am Springfield Oaks County Park X-C meet, 5KR, 2MR (248) 328-3242 mweisdorfer@ holly.k12.mi.us hollyareaschools.com/ hhs/activities/site/xxcountry /home.html

Oakland Township Curamus Terram 5K & Half Marathon

Oakland Township 9 am Paint Creek Cider Mill 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR (586) 484-4937 dibble@oakland.edu www.oaklandtownship.org

Oh These Irish Hills

Tipton 9:00 am HIdden Lake Gardens, 6214 W. Monroe 5KR/W (517) 467-2670 kroumell@frontiernet.net active.com / www.otih.org

Oktoberfest Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K

Spring Lake 8:00 am Old Boys Brewhouse 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 5kR/W (616) 844-2734 oktoberfest@charter.net oktoberfestmarathon.com/

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Peacock Strut

8:00 am Portage Celery Flats 10KR, 5KR/W, kid’s run (269) 323-1942 dschrock@charter.net www.iserv.net/~pcoc / classicrace.com

St. John Applefest

9:00 am Fenton St. John Church 10KR, 5KR/W, 1MR (810) 735.9193 gaultracemanagement.com

United States Air Force Marathon

Dayton, OH 7:15 am National Museum of the United States Air Force 26.2 MR/W, 13.1MR/W, (937) 257-4350 usaf.marathon@wpafb.af.mil usafmarathon.com

Sun., September 19 Big Mac Shoreline Scenic Bike Tour

Mackinaw City 7:00 am Mackinaw City HS (888) 455-8100 info@mackinawchamber.com mackinawchamber.com Must ride in September 18 Tour to ride the bridge

Charity Challenge

Windsor, ON 9:00 am 1 Riverside Drive W. 8KR, 3KR/W, kids runs (519) 945.3786 info@runningfactory.com www.runningfactory.com

Fox Cities Marathon

Neenah, WI Riverside Park 26.2 MR, 13.1 MR/W, relay Debbie Jansen (920) 727.1726 debbie.jansen@ communityfirstcu.org www.foxcitiesmarathon.org

Gazelle Sports Bridge Run

Grand Rapids 8:00 am Rosa Parks Circle 10MR, 5KR (616) 890-5978 thebridgerun@live.com thebridgerun.com

Lung Cancer 5K Run/Walk and Little Lungs Fun Run

Milford 8:00 am Kensington Park, Maple Beach 5KR/W, kids run (313) 532-0983

info@gianniscause.com www.gianniscause.org

Michigan’s Triathlon & Duathlon Championship

Shelby Twp. 8:00 am Stony Creek Metropark 1.5KS/ 40KB/ 10KR or 500mS/ 20KB/ 5KR or 5KR/ 40KB/ 5KR Kenny Krell (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Neal V. Singles Memorial Run

Morenci 8:30 am Morenci HS 5KR/W, 1MFR/W (517) 458-6025 schaffner@tc3net.com morencieducationfoundation.org/index_files/nvsrun. htm

Playmakers Autumn Classic 8K

Haslett 9:00 am Lake Lansing Park, North 8KR/W, 1MFR, 1/2 M FR (517) 349-3803 playmakers@ playmakers.com www.playmakers.com Romeo 2 Richmond Half Marathon

Richmond 8:30 am Richmond, bus to Romeo 13.1MR/W, 5KR/W (586) 469-5065 john.crumm@ macombcountymil.gov romeo2richmondrace.com

Run Farley Run

Pinckney 10:00 am 5KR, 1/4MR (734) 878-9680 mlrondeau@hotmail.com

Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo Royal Oak 8:00 am Detroit Zoo 10KR, 5KR, FW Christine Kenny (248) 541-5717, ext. 3122

ckenny@dzs.org runwilddetroitzoo.com Timber Trail Trot

Harrison 10:00 am Mid Michigan Community College, Harrison Campus 5KR/W MMCC Foundation (989) 386-6651 timbertrailtrot@ midmich.edu www.midmich.edu

UEA 5K Trail Run & 1 Mile Fitness Walk

Shelby Township 9:30 am Stony Creek Metro Park Eastwood Beach 5KR, 1MW (586) 850-6611 nancy.smith@uticak12.org www.ueastaywell.org

Wed., Sept. 22 Hansons Marathon Training Clinic #3

Lake Orion 6:30 pm Hansons Running Shop Training Clinic (248) 616-9665 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Fri., September 24

Run Woodstock Pinckney 6:00 am Silver Lake Beach 5KR Running Fit (734) 929-9027 canadianchick@ runningfit.com runwoodstock.com

3 day event; Saturday: 100MR, 50MR, 50KR, 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 10KR, 5MR; Sunday: 5MFR Sat., September 25 1 Hour Midwest Regional Racewalking Championship

Royal Oak 10:00 am Berkley HS Track 1 hour walk (248) 549-3569 racebreak@aol.com motorcitystriders.com

Bangor Cross Country Invitational

Bangor 9:00 am Bangor HSHS & MS XC meet (269) 427-6842 mquinn@bangorvikings.org bangorvikings.org/

CNS Stomp Out Stigma 5K Run/Walk

9:00 am Clarkston Independence Oaks County Park 5KR/W (248) 871-1403 ayashinsky@cnsmi.org cnsantistigmaprogram.org

Detroit Catholic Central Cross Country Invitational

Northville 10:00 am Cass Benton Park HS X-C, Open races (248) 596-3829 amagni@catholiccentral.net www.cathloiccentral.net

Fort-4-Fitness Half Marathon / 4 Mile Run / Walk Fort Wayne, IN 7:30 am Freimann Square 13.1MR, 4MR/W (260) 760-3371 race@fort4fitness.org fort4fitness.org

Garden Run

Traverse City 8:30 am Grand Traverse Commons at the Barns 10KR, 5KR, 3KR Mike McNulty (231) 938-9511 mcnulty@yahoo.com northwestmichigangarden.org

Gazelle Sports Metro Mini Adventure Race for Kids

Kalamazoo 2:00 pm Downtown Kalamazoo 2MR, 5MB (269) 342-5996 chybels@gazellesports.com gazellesports.com

Genesys 5K Run/Walk

Grand Blanc 10:00 am Genesys Health Park Nature Trails 5KR/W, 1MFR (810) 606-7909 GRaceMgt@aol.com www.genesys.org/

Hadley Run-of-theMill

Hadley 9:00 am Hadley Mill, Hartwig Community Park 5KR/W (248) 622-1738 hadleyrunofthemill @charter.net sites.google.com/site/hadley runofthemill/ Highland Conservancy 5K Nature Highland 9:00 am Railroad Tracks by

5KR Highland Feed (248) 887-8470, x40 hcinfo@ highlandconservancy.org highlandconservancy.org/pages/home/

Kilometers for Cam

St. Joseph 8:30 am Whirlpool Compass Fountain 5KR/W, 3KFR guthrika@yahoo.com iamcam.org

Komen Grand Rapids Race for the Cure

Grandville 8:30 am Rivertown Crossings Mall 5KR, 1MW (616) 752-8262 contactus@komengr.org komengr.org

Metro Trek Adventure Race

Kalamazoo 8:00 am Verburg Park 10 hour sprint: mtn bike, road bike, run, paddle, ropes, etc. (269) 342-5996 chybels@gazellesports.com gazellesports.com

Midnight Run

Port Huron 11:50 pm YMCA of the Blue Water Area 5KR (810) 987-6400 jermaine@ bluewaterymca.com www.bluewaterymca.com

Park 2 Park Half Marathon and 5K

Holland 8:30 am 1627 W. Lakewood Blvd. 13.1MR, 5KR (616) 399-9190, x 303 sherriek@ harderwyk.com park2parkrace.com Road Runner Akron Marathon

Akron, OH 8:00 am Lockheed Martin Airdock 26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, 5 or 2 person relays, kids run (330) 375-2RUN akronmarathon.org

Run for the Son

Portage 9:00 am Celery Flats 5KR/W (269) 344-7333 joni@deaconsconference.org s-heights.org

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Run Woodstock Pinckney 6:00 am Silver Lake Beach 5KR Running Fit (734) 929-9027 canadianchick@ runningfit.com runwoodstock.com

3 day event; Friday: 5KR; Sunday: 5MFR

Running Fit 20 Mile Training Run

Westland 8:00 am Nankin Mills on Hines Dr. 20 MR or training run of any distance Running Fit (734) 929-9027 events@runningfit.com runningfit.net Saginaw Spirit

Saginaw 8:00 am 5KR, 1MR/W Gerber Auto Group nwatson@ saginawspirit.com barc-mi.com

Sault Area Chamber of Commerce Chase

Sault Ste. Marie, MI 7 am 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 10KR Leisa Mansfield (906) 632-3301 director@saultstemarie.org www.saultstemarie.org

Save the Wildlife 5K Run/Walk

Howell 10:00 am Howell Conference and Nature Center 5KR/W, 1MW (517) 546-0249 hcnc@howellnaturecenter.org howellnaturecenter.org

Walk of Remembrance

Livonia 9:00 am Felician Grounds distance varies (734) 953-6045 biovan@angelahospice.net askforangela.com

Sun., Sept. 26

Aspen Attack MTB Duathlon and Race Gaylord 8:00 am Aspen Park Du: 4MR/ 21KB or

21KB Kenny Krell (810) 714-5768 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com

Birmingham Lions Run for the Blind

9:00 am Birmingham Downtown Birmingham 10KR, 5KR, 1 MW (248) 354-1177 ReMaxKeena@aol.com gaultracemanagement.com

Capital City River Run Half Marathon/ 5K

Lansing 8:30 am Impression 5 Science Center 13.1MR, 5KR, 1MFR, 1/4 MFR Dan Casey (517) 332-2681 danandpeg@aol.com www.ccriverrun.org

Hansons 16 Mile Marathon Training Run

Grosse Pointe 8:00 am Hansons Running Shop 4-16 MR (313) 882-1325 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Harvest Dash Race for Recovery

Lake Orion 10:00 am William E. Scripps Estate 5KR/W Colleen Richards (248) 391-4445 crichards@ guesthouse.org guesthouseinstitute.org Komen Northwest Ohio Race for the Cure

Toledo, OH 9:00 am Downtown Toledo 5KR/W (419) 724-2873 raceinfo@ komennwohio.org komennwohio.org/ race_info.htm

Quad Cities Marathon

Moline, IL 7:30 am 26.2 MR, 13.1MR, relay, 5KR/W, 1MW, kids run (309) 751-9800 runqcm@yahoo.com www.qcmarathon.org

Run Woodstock Pinckney 6:00 am Silver Lake Beach 100MR, 50MR, 50KR, 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 10KR, 5MR (734) 929-9027 canadianchick@ runningfit.com runwoodstock.com

3 day event: Friday: 5KR; Saturday: 100MR, 50MR, 50KR, 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 10KR, 5MR

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Toronto, ON 7 am City Hall, Bay & Queen Streets 26.2 MR, 13.1MR, 5KR, kids run Kevin Inouye (416) 944-2765, ext. 501 info@torontowater frontmarathon.com torontowaterfrontmarathon.com

Wed., Sept. 29 Hansons Marathon Training Clinic #3

Grosse Pointe 6:30 pm Hansons Running Shop, Training Clinic (313) 882-1325 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

October Friday, October 1 Running for the Cure October date tba Mio 10:00 am 5KR/W Chris Whetstone (989) 826-3214 ;

Sat., October 2 Depot Days

Standish 10:00 am downtown Standish 5KR/W (989) 714-2496 thetoothfairy0000@ yahoo.com

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Fall Frolic

Mishawaka, IN 8:45 am Montessori Academy, 530 East Day Road 10KR, 5KR/W, 2KFR, Kids Run (574) 256-5313 shudak@tma-el.org www.tma-el.org

GRAAHI Rhythm Run

10:00 am Grand Rapids Martin Luther King Park 5KR/W Emily Smith (616) 915-6895 emilys@howm.net rhythmrun.com/ graahirhythmrunr.html

Greatest 5K Ever

Grand Rapids 10:00 am 5KR Riverside Park (312) 208-2213 joe.brennan@gmail.com helpfightscleroderma. com/run

Hansons CrossCountry Invitational

Sterling Heights 9:00 am Delia Park XC Hansons Running (586) 822-8606 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Hartwick Pines Challenge Trail Run

Grayling 10:00 am Hartwick Pines State Park 10KR, 5KR, 1MW (989) 390-5530 graylingkiwanis@ yahoo.com grayling-area.com/pinerace/

Holly Fire Department Five Alarm 5K Run/Walk

Holly 9:00 am Village of Holly Fire Department, 313 S. Broad St. 5KR/W (248) 514-7318 janie@ hollyfiredepartment.com active.com: 1868234

Island Boodle 5K Run/Walk

Beaver Island 10:00 am St. James, Beaver Island 5KR/W (231) 448-2505 chamber@beaverisland.org www.beaverisland.org

Red October Run

Wayne 9:00 am Oakwood Annapolis 58

Hospital 10KR, 5KR/W, 1M kid’s run Cynthia Cook (313) 586-5486 cynthia.cook@ oakwood.org oakwood.org/ redoctoberrun/ Remembrance Run

10:00 am Traverse City Timber Ridge 5KR/W, 1MR/W (231) 941.8118 karenwells@charter.net remembrancerun.com

Rockhead Trail Marathon

Waterford 9:00 am Pontiac Lake Recreation Area 26.2MR, 13.1MR nprestel@hotmail.com rockheadrace.com

Rotary Bay 5/10K Run/Walk for Charity

Petoskey 8:00 am Bay View Association Grounds 10KR, 5KR/W (231) 838-4959 Andy@northernlakes.net petoskeyrotarysunrise.org/bay10k.htm

Run for the Toad

Cambridge, ON 9:30 am Pinehurst Lake 50KR, 25KR/W (519) 576-1824 sarson@toadpatrol.com runforthetoad.com

Salmon Run/Walk

Baldwin 9:00 am St. Ann’s Meals Building, 690 E. 9th St. 10KR/W, 5KR/W (231) 745-8804 salmonrunbaldwin@ hotmail.com salmonrunbaldwin.com

South Lyon Hotel Second Wind Oktoberfest Beer Fun Run

South Lyon 4:00 pm 5KR/W Greg Sadler (248) 613-4868 info@secondwindrm.com www.secondwindrm.com

Walt Disney World Wine & Dine Half Marathon

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Weekend

Lake Buena Vista, FL 10:00 pm 13.1MR disneywinedinerun.com Wild Goose Chase

Saginaw 9:00 am Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge 5KR/W Becky Goche (989) 759-1669 Becky_Goche@fws.gov barc-mi.com

WMU Homecoming Campus Classic

8:15 am Kalamazoo Western Michigan University Campus, Bernhard Center 5KR/W, 1KFR (269) 387-8402 sue.beougher@wmich.edu www.wmich.edu/race

Brooksie Way Half Marathon

Rochester Hills 8:00 am Oakland University 13.1MR, 5KR/W Deb Kiertzner (810) 235-3397 dkiertzner@flint.org thebrooksieway.com Community Action Coalition Fun Run

Harrison Township 8 am Metro Beach 5KR, 2MR/W (586) 783-5803 kkpress@wowway.com

Don Baese Cross Country Invitational

Zonta Walks for Women / Breast Cancer Awareness

9:00 am Carson City Fish Creek Sportsmen’s Club school x-c (989) 584-3175 ptabor@ carsoncity.k12.mi.us carsoncity.k12.mi.us/ athletics/don-baese-invitational/

Sunday, October 3

Farmington 10:00 am Heritage Park 5KR/W Farmington Hills Parks and Rec. (248) 473-1800 hsmith@fhgov.com runningfoundation.com

Alpena 9:30 am Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail 5KR (989) 354-7297 boldreyp@alpenacc.edu alpenazonta.org

Andrews University Homecoming Run

Berrien Springs 9:00 am Andrews University 10KR, 5KR, kids run (269) 471-3615 crsmith@andrews.edu www.andrews.edu/alumni

Betsie Valley Run

Thompsonville 9:00 am Crystal Mountain Resort 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR/W, kids run (231) 378-2000 bvdlibrary0012@ yahoo.com betsievalleyrun.com

Big House / Big Heart 5K

Ann Arbor 9:00 am Michigan Stadium 5KR, Champions for Charity (734) 213-1033 events@ champsforcharity.com bighousebigheart.com

Farmington Fall Classic

Huron Township Applefest

New Boston 9:00 am Lower Huron Metropark 10KR, 5KR/W, 1MFR Greg Everal (734) 507-1789 greg@ everalracemgt.com huronapplefest.com Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon

Minneapolis, MN 8 am 26.2 MR, 10 MR, 5KR (763) 287-3888 info@mtcmarathon.org twincitiesmarathon.org

MSU Federal Credit Union Dinosaur Dash

East Lansing 10:00 am MSU Museum 5KR/W, 1MR (517) 432-4655 dinodash@ museum.msu.edu museum.msu.edu/ events/dinosaurdash/

Thurs., October 7 White Pumpkin 5K

6:00 pm Caro Highland Pines School 5KR/W (989) 673-4241 whitechiro@centurytel.net

Sat., October 9 Bee Brave 5K Run/Walk 9:00 am Caledonia 6195 Buttrick Ave. 5KR/W (616) 698-8054 pat@ringalda.net www.beebrave.com

Cruisin for a Cure 5K

Grand Ledge 9:00 am First United Methodist Church 5KR, 2MW (517) 622-2741 micksloan@comcast.net

Dielh’s Orchard Run

Milford 9:00 am Diehls Orchard 3 Disciplines Racing (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com

Fall Color Bridge Race

Mackinaw City 7:00 am St. Anthony’s Parish Hall 5.4MR Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau (231) 436-5664 / (800) 666-0160 courtney@ mackinawcity.com mackinawcity.com Fall Color Tour Run or Relay

Falmouth 10:00 am 10KR or 2person relay (231) 826-3854 dzuiderveen@netonecom.net

Hometown Hustle

Rochester 8:30 am 501 West University 5KR/W (248) 726-3126 sherring@ rochester.k12.mi.us

Mercantile Bank Run Thru the Rapids

Grand Rapids 9:00 am David D. Hunting YMCA

10KR, 5KR/W (888) 909-2267

Pride Glide Memorial Race

Bay Port 9:30 am 10KR, 5KR/W (989) 550-2109 fademing@yahoo.com

Portage Invitational

Portage 9:00 am x-c meet, open 5K (269) 323-5233 or cell (269) 806-7001 dwytko@portageps.org www.portageinvite.com

Rescue Run

Holland 9:00 am 356 Fairbanks Avenue 5KR/W (616) 928-3425 racheln@hollandrescue.org hollandrescue.org

Run at the Farm

Waterford 9:30 am 825 S. Williams Lake Road 5KR, 1MR/W Lori Soma (248) 618-7657 lsoma@

twp.waterford.mi.us twp.waterford.mi.us/ parksandrec/ Run for Research

Mt. Pleasant 9:00 am Runners Performance 2316 S. Mission St. 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR (989) 289-2361 shepherdboy818@ yahoo.com signmeup.com

Run Vasa

Williamsburg 8:30 am Vasa Trail Head, 4450 Bartlett Rd Williamsburg 25KR, 10KR Daniel Siderman (231) 932-5401 traverse2@ runningfit.com www.runvasa.com Scary Halloween Hallow

Port Huron 9:00 am Central Middle School 5KR, 1.5MFR (810) 984-2611 phhsrunning@comcast.net

U of M/MSU Tailgate Challenge

9:00 am Flint Downtown Flint YMCA 5KR/W Riverbend Striders (810) 487-0954 GRaceMgt@aol.com gaultracemanagement.com

Wayne County Cross Country Championships

New Boston / Belleville 10:00 am Willow Metropark, Chestnut Picnic Area HS X-C 5KR (734) 416-7774 obsports@comcast.net www.salemcrosscountry.org

Whistlestop Marathon and Half Marathon

Ashland, WI 8:00 am Bay Area Civic Center 26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, 10KR, 5KR (800) 284-9484 ashchamb@centurytel.net whistlestopmarathon.com

Sunday, October 10 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Chicago 7:40 am Grant Park 26.2 MR, 5KR Carey Pinkowski (312) 904-9800 www.chicagomarathon.com

Goodlife Fitness Victoria Marathon

Victoria, BC 7:30 am 26.2 MR, 13.1MR, 8KR, kids run Victoria Marathon Society (250) 658-4520 info@runvictoriamara thon.com runvictoriamarathon.com

Great Pumpkin / Spooky Sprint Duathlons

Detroit 8:00 am Belle Isle 5KR/ 23MB/ 10KR or 5KR/ 20KB/ 5KR Kenny Krell (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com

Green Space Race

10:00 am Mason 5KR/W (517) 676-2290 mcsusan@acd.net inghamconservation.com

Hidden Forest Trail Run

9:30 am Clarkston Independence Oaks Park 8.5 MR, 5.5 MR, 2.5 MR/W Riverbend Striders (810) 487-0954 riverbendstriders.com

Michigan Youth Arts in Motion 5K

Royal Oak10:00 am Starr Jaycee Park 5KR/W, 1MR/W (248) 649-8888 stacey@ michiganyoutharts.org michiganyoutharts.org/5k/

Portland St. Patrick Fall Festival 5K

Portland 9:00 am Grand River Avenue and West Street 5KR/W (517) 647-1709 ddswanless@att.net playmakers.com

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Pumpkin Trot 5K R/W

St. Johns 1:30 pm St. Johns City Park 10KR, 5KR/W, kid’s run George Campbell (989) 224-6464 geokath@voyager.net

Towpath Marathon Cleveland, OH 8:00 am Cuyahoga Valley National Park 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 10KR Ohio Canal Corridor (216) 520-1825 tstella@ohiocanal.org www.towpathmarathon.net

USCTRI-MSU

East Lansing 8 am MSU Intramural Pool 400mS/ 12MB/ 5KR Michigan State University Triathlon (231) 546-2229 usctri@yahoo.com 3disciplines.com Wild Life Marathon

Concord 8:00 am Downtown Concord 26.2MR, 13.1MR/W, 5KR/W, kids run (517) 392-8205 marathondirector@

fallingwatertrail.org tinyurl.com/2efpcgc

Sat., October 16 Fall Adventure Challenge

West Michigan TBA 9 am Adventure Race - Running, Mountain Biking, Canoeing and Orienteering (616) 813-6734 michael@graar.org graar.org

Fr. Gabriel Richard HS Cross Country Invitational

Dexter 8:45 am Hudson Mills Metropark, South X-C course hs x-c meet (734) 904-6431 jspencer_grcci@earthlink.net www.rc.net/lansing/fgrhs/

Greater Lansing Cross Country Championships

Grand Ledge 10:00 am Ledge Meadows Golf Course cross country meet Kim Spalsbury (517) 627-2034

spalskrun@yahoo.com playmakers.com

Indianapolis Marathon and Half Marathon

Indianapolis, IN 8:30 am Fort Harrison 26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, 5KR, relay, kids run (317) 826-1670 info@indianapolismarathon .com indianapolismarathon.com

Second Chance for Greyhounds “Run for the Hounds” Augusta 10:00 am Fort Custer Recreation Area 10KR, 5KR/W Melissa DeGayner (269) 249-5104 mail@scfg.org www.scfg.org

Sweetest 5K Run/Walk tentative date

Flint 9:00 am YMCA Downtown 5KR/W (810) 287-6234 leonardbrousseau@ yahoo.com

Sunday, October 17

Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon

Detroit, MI and Windsor, ON 7:15 am 26.2MR, Wheelchair, Handcycle, 13.1MR/W, 5 person relay teams, 5KFR/W Brian Birney (313) 222-6676 marathon@ freepress.com detroitmarathon.com

Michigan Runner Race Series

East Lansing Pumpkin Trot

East Lansing 10:00 am Abbot Road north of Lake Lansing 5KR/W (517) 319-6897, x 6606 ddekort1@ ci.east-lansing.mi.us runningfoundation.com

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon Grand Rapids 8:00 am Grand Rapids 26.2 MR, 13.1 MR Don Kern (616) 293-3145 cooladventures@aol.com grandrapidsmarathon.com Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon

Columbus, OH 7:00 am Broad and High Streets 26.2 MR/W 13.1 MR/W, wheelchair, kids run (614) 421.7866 info@ columbusmarathon.com columbusmarathon.com

Toronto Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K & Relay

Toronto, ON 9:00 am Mel Lastman Square Queen’s Park 26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, 5KR, relay (416) 972-1062 torontomarathon@ rogers.com www.torontomarathon.com

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Mon., October 18 Greater Lansing Junior Cross Country Championships 3:30 pm DeWitt middle school x-c Ron Womboldt (517) 285-6409 runrlw@comcast.net directathletics.com

Tues., October 19 Hansons Youngsters Cross-Country Invitational (7-10 Grade)

Sterling Heights 4:00 pm Delia Park X-C Meet (586) 822-8606 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Sat., October 23 Bailey’s Doggie Dash

Rockford 9:00 am Wabasis Park 5KR/W, 1MW (517) 336-6429 sweeneyk@michigan.gov

Every Stride 5K/10K

Belding 9:00 am Candle Stone Golf & Resort 10KR, 5KR/W, kids run Chris Nicholas (616) 430-2496 chris@mirunning.com mirunning.com/

Great Turtle Half Marathon

Mackinac Island 11:30 am Mission Point Resort 13.1 MR, 5.7 MR/W John Gault (810) 487-0954 JohnCGault2@aol.com runmackinac.com

Halloween 5K for Junior Achievement

Lansing 10:00 am Hawk Island County Park 5KR/W (517) 371-5437 ckangas@ jamidmichigan.org jamidmichigan.org

Headless Horsemen 5K

Howell 8:00 pm Downtown Howell 5KR (517) 546-0693 cgalatis@ howellrecreation.org howellrecreation.org/ HeadlessHorseman5K.html

KAR Halloween Hash & Kids Trick or Treat Mini Hash Run

10:00 am Kalamazoo KVCC Texas Corners Campus. Texas Drive Trailhead. 3-7MR, 1/2MFR, kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; run (269) 276-0431 david.walch@pfizer.com kalamazooarearunners.com

Michigan High School Cross Country U.P. State Finals

Escanaba 10:00 am Michigan Tech University Trails 5KR Michigan High School Athletic Association (517) 332-5046 www.mhsaa.com

Race for a Reason (R4R)

Mt. Pleasant 15KR, 10KR, 5KR, 1MR Phil Coffman (989) 775-7101, ext. 111 webmaster@ thenewgrace.org lovemp.org

Westside YMCA Booathlon Duathlon Potterville 10:00 am

Potterville HS 3MR/ 10MR/ 3MR, kids run (517) 881-2525 jsmith262@gmail.com

Sun., October 24

MFR (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com racingforrecovery.com Twinrivers Fun Run 5K

Haunted Graveyard 5K

10:00 am Muir 5KR/W (989) 855-3333 dellis@ionia.k12.mi.us www.ionia.k12.mi.us

Niagara Falls International Marathon

Sat., October 30

6:00 pm Adrian Oakwood Cemetery 5KR/W Dustin Lent (517) 264-4872

Niagara Falls, ON 9:45 am Albright-Knox Gallery. Buffalo, NY 26.2 MR/W/Wheel/ relay; 13.1 MR/W/Wheel, 5KR/W Jim Ralston (800) 563-2557 nfcvcb@ tourismniagara.com niagarafallsmarathon.com

Racing for Recovery Run Sylvania, OH 9:00 am Lourdes College 10KR, 5KR/W, 1/4

Alger Heights Halloween 5K

Grand Rapids 9:00 am Alger Heights MS 5KR/W (616) 291-7988 alger5k@gmail.com www.alger5k.com

Child Benefit Fund Halloween Hustle 5K

Lansing 6:00 pm Adado Riverfront Park, Westside 5KR/W (517) 483-6341 ljrobinson@ingham.org playmakers.com

Cross-Country Classic Ann Arbor

10:00 am

Buhr Park 5KR, 4KR, 3KR (734) 330-7931 youth@aatrackclub.org www.aatrackclub.org

dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ear Lake Lansing North 10K Trail Race

Run of the Dead

9:00 am Detroit 5KR (3113) 842-0986, ext. 41 events@southwestdetroit.com savorsouthwestdetroit.org

Scary Runner

10:00 am Haslett Lake Lansing Park - North 10KR (517) 655-9698 chris.holzer@earthlink.net www.theear.org

Bay City 4:00 pm Wild Woods of Terror 5KR/W Runners Store (989) 686-8846 barc-mi.com

Fight for Air Climb - Lansing

Sunday, October 31

Lansing varies Spartan Stadium stair climb Rob Powell (616) 252-5028 rpowell@alarm.org lungusa.org/ associations/ states/michigan/ Prairies and Ponds Poltergist Pursuit

Lapeer 9:00 am Lake Drive 5KR/W, 1MR/W (810) 538-1731 jblock@chatfieldschool.org

Hansons Group Run

Lake Orion 8:00 am Hansons Running Shop (248) 693-9900 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Margaret Peruski Memorial 4 Mile Run

Dearborn 10:00 am Ford Field 4 MR (248) 544-9099 racebreak@aol.com www.motorcitystriders.com

- MR -

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

Running with Tom Henderson

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Notes on the Run: Dogs

Lake Michigan. The fruit trees and farmers were spared devastation of a killer frost. The white on the ground, though, was reminiscent of such a frost that had hit the area a few years ago just before Memorial Day, with all the runners in the Bayshore Marathon, half marathon and 10K running past frosted grass, trees and fruit that had frozen solid.

By Tom Henderson

warm March had the cherry and apple trees up north flowering ahead of schedule. Which of course led to a brutal April, an inch of snow on the ground in woods west of Kalkaska May 8, and temperature bottoming out there at 20° May 10. Luckily, it didn’t get that cold near

Finally, on May 15, spring returned, just in time for the wacky, thoroughly-enjoyable Kick Yer Assparagus Run, a 5K that starts and finishes in the parking lot along the Lake Michigan beach in Empire, at the base of the Leelanau Peninsula.

It’s a great time up north, fresh asparagus just hitting the farm markets, morels popping up near the ash trees in the deep woods, wild leeks ready to be pulled up and fried along with the morels. And nothing works up the appetite better than a morning race.

Last year’s race was held on a blustery day that looked like late November: ugly skies, wind blowing a mist sideways off Lake Michigan. A freeze-your-ass-off run.

This year? Grand and glorious. Deep-blue sky, no wind, flat lake.

But one thing that didn’t change? That crazy first hill. As you stand at the starting line, you can see a towering bluff south of the parking lot, way, way up over the beach and lake.

And that’s where you turn around, atop the hill, just past the 1-mile mark, once you’ve busted your lungs and thighs, for a flying descent back down, then a loop through town and down Main Street, closed to traffic for the Asparagus Fest, to the finish line.

The male and female winners each got a pound of asparagus, the rest of us got cookies. The race has those quirky age groups that tell you that runners are not part of the organizing committee — 18-29, 30-45, 46-55, 56-65, 66 and up — but that adds to the charm. Another quirk? While they do have age-group awards, they don’t do awards in male and female divisions. Just one winner in each category, which meant men got all the medals except for 66 and over, whose only entrant was a woman. Not so sure that adds to the charm, but it hardly detracts from one of the coolest small-town races on one of the quirkiest courses you’ll ever find.

And the t-shirt? Hands down the best one I got all last year, and, with a different design, the best I’ve got so far this year.

If you’re up north next May, you can find out about entering at www.empirechamber.com.

he first annual Blair Elementary School 5K was held the following Saturday,

Michigan Runner - July / August 2010

May 22, and was another keeper in the quirky and cool category.

I’m always leery of first-time races, and was more than pleasantly surprised by this one.

The school is a few miles south of Traverse City, on the way to Interlochen, just off the highway. My wife, Kathleen, and I were worried about the course when we pulled into the parking lot. It was billed as crosscountry, but so close to the highway, what kind of course would they have?

About the best you can imagine, as it turned out. Lucky kids, those folks who attend Blair Elementary. Right out back of the school, there’s a wonderful mowed one-track that wends through meadow and deep forest, just enough roll to be interesting and get the lungs pumping a bit, gentle enough to press the pace and test your fitness.

They had 64 entrants and one black lab, Maddie the Wonder Dog. It was nice to see how many walkers came out to support their kids and the local school. It was nice, too, to see all the kids. All received ribbons and there were plenty of age-groups for them, too, which meant most got medals as well.

You know how it is at the start of a race where there’s a lot of kids. They all start off like bats out of hell and about 200 yards later they’re wheezing, dying and walking. That happened this time, too, and me and the dog starting picking them off one by one. Nothing Maddie, with her strong chase reflex, likes better than passing people on the run. Way up ahead was this 10-year-old kid in blue jeans and basketball high tops, in second place behind the eventual winner. Going way too fast to maintain that pace. Surely we’d reel him in. Except we never did. We passed all the kids but him. I finished fourth overall, but he just kept pulling away from us.

I congratulated him at the finish line. He looked as if he could have easily done another loop. A natural. Wonder what he could have done in shorts and running shoes.

Once you got out of the kids’ age groups, this one was pretty quirky, too — 18-25, 26-40, 41-60 and 61 and up. And, to my surprise, having never seen it at another race except the Ass-paragus run, the awards were genderless here too, males and females lumped together.

The dog was the hit of the day. The school photographer wanted her picture. The teachers and administrators who put the race on made sure she had enough water at the finish. All the kids wanted to pet her. Everyone even got a kick out of her barking like a maniac in the 20 seconds before the race started, not being able to contain her excitement over the upcoming race for a second longer.

A perfect morning. Well, almost. The race was significantly shorter than the advertised 5K. I clocked 19:32, about three minutes faster than my best time last year, and would have loved to have made that kind of breakthrough. Instead, it was an anticlimactic feeling of, jeez, great course, wonder how I did?

young running buddy, Nate Skid, was looking for a half marathon to run as he prepares for his first marathon this fall, so we decided to enter it this year, the timing being perfect because my wife had to come to the Detroit area from Traverse City anyway for her granddaughter’s first birthday. While entering online I saw a link to results and just for kicks started looking up past times. In 1994, I had my best race there, running 1:21:33 just a few weeks shy of my 46th birthday to finish 54th overall among the 995 finishers.

Last year, that time would have put me 41st overall out of 2,440 finishers. I just missed the top 5 percent in 1994, would have finished well into the top 2 percent last year. Nah, I take it back. People aren’t wussier. Just different. Glad to see so many of them out there. And if they’re running slower, that means more of them for me and the dog to pass. MR

I’ll give them a call and suggest maybe someone take a GPS unit into the meadow and woods next year. I’m at a point where I don’t need every race certified, but a decent approximation seems like a reasonable expectation.

t’s probably healthy for the most part, the relative decline in race times over the last 15 years. More people participating, fewer people fixated on performance, more fun, less pain. Maybe people are wussier. Maybe it’s some of each.

I’m not running killer times by any means, usually racing a bit under eight minutes a mile, not bad for 61, but no big deal. At a lot of the small races I tend to favor these days, I run faster times than some of the medal winners in age groups like 30-34 and 35-39.

I hadn’t run the Dexter-Ann Arbor half marathon for years, having never missed it from about 1984 to 1999. My Michigan Runner - July / August 2010