Michigan Runner, September / October 2010 by Great Lakes Sports Publications, Inc.

In This Issue September / October 2010

Vol. 32, No. 4

Calendar September - December 2010

p. 45 - p. 62

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

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At the Races Sparta Runners Survive, Thrive in Red-Sky Heat By Daniel G. Kelsey Grand Island Marathon, Firecracker 5K, Carrollton Festival of Races, Heart of the Hills Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Plymouth’s Triple Play Provides Family Fun for All By Anthony Targan Pomaranski Shatters 22-Year Mark at Volkslaufe By Charles Douglas McEwen Michigan Athletes Tak Podium at U.S. Championships Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

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K-zoo Klassic’s Maple Hill is Fierce Test By Daniel G. Kelsey p. 22 Steve’s Run Start ‘Fire Up’ on Semi-Cool Day By Daniel G. Kelsey p. 23 First Timers Dominate, Masters Rule at Women’s Triathlon and Dri-Tri By C. D. McEwen p. 24 Michigan Discus Throwers Compete at World Juniors Photos by Victah Sailer/ photorun.net

Under 20 Athletes Shine at U.S. Juniors Photos by Carter Sherline/ Frog Prince Studios Solstice Run Adds 10-Mile, Enjoys Record Turnout By Charles Douglas McEwen Roasted Duck: Heat Takes Toll on Runners By Anthony Targan Rains Cease, Numbers Soar at Run Charlevoix By Tracey Cohen Farmington Founder’s Run is Flat-Out Fun By Anthony Targan Highland Festival Adds 8-Miler By Michael Heberling National Cherry Festival Meijer Festival of Races and Golden Mile Photos by Carter Sherline/ Frog Prince Studios

O’Mara, Deighan Grab Triceratops by Horns By Charles Douglas McEwen Deighan, Smith Triumph in Pterocactyl Tri By Charles Douglas McEwen Venetian Festival / Jeff Drenth Memorial Footrace and Ryan Shay Mile Photos by Carter Sherline/ Frog Prince Studios

Aquathlon, Swim are Just Day at the Beach for Pair By Charles Douglas McEwen O’Mara Ups Heat at Humid Flirt with Dirt By Ron Marinucci Masters Francis, Sundermann Triumph at Waterloo By Charles Douglas McEwen Diemer Runners Beat Humidity, Handicaps, Heat By Daniel G. Kelsey

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

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Editor’s Notes The Weight By Scott Sullivan

learning I have the Midas touch in reverse: everything I touch turns to ... well, you know. This began when I broke a bone in my knee and my doctor said not to run for three months. I at last found a health-club machine that allowed me exercise both arms but just my good leg, began to hammer it (the machine, not myself) with vengeance ... and broke that too. By the time I can run again, I will be so fat (from non-exercise and all my continued excesses) I will break the street and keep sinking. “When will it stop, Dad?” asked my daughter, Flannery, 10, when I told her my latest prospective peril. “Will you pop out the earth’s other side, in China?” Here was a chance to teach her a lesson in physics, geology or something. “I will come to rest at the earth’s core of gravity,” I told her. “Hell?” she asked. “It’s supposed to be hot and dense.” “You’d fit so far.” “I’ll burn the flab,” I sang. “Then I’ll get up again! You’re never gonna keep me down!” “Like the Chumbawamba song?”

onspiracy theorists are right saying evil exists and there’s no lack of people who would exploit you — conspiracy theorists themselves being foremost. Paranoia plays in Peoria, fear in Fenton. Mongers make hay persuading patsies that they are “patriots” — hey, who’s not angry bad things happen? Still, when I hear demagogs blame “fat cats,” “big government” and the usual suspects while offering nothing practical as alternatives, I grow wary. Should they claim they are backed by “God,” “Honor,” “Decency,” “America’s Founding Fathers” or some other equally-irrefutable source too sweeping or dead to protest, my doubt deepens. We fear having freedoms taken, especially our freedom to be idiots. I’ve been paranoid about having my fear exploited ever since

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

“I’ll imagine so many enemies, I will be galvanized! I’ll show them!” “Who’s ‘them’?” she asked. “I will rage against a machine that is deaf to people! The axis of evil (or at least my access to it)! The system! Without scapegoats, I am nothing!” “But what are you for?” she asked. “Well, God. Honor. Decency ...” “And America’s Founding Fathers?” “Them too.” She seemed skeptical. “Will there be fries with that?” “Not till I work off this wait,” I said. - MR -

Megan Goethals:

Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net

High School Runner of the Year, 2009-2010

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

egan Goethals had it anything but easy during her senior year. She just made it look easy.

The Rochester High School graduate — the first runner ever to win this award twice — actually improved over her junior year. Sounds simple enough, but in truth, it’s almost a rarity at her level. The all-time lists for high schoolers are littered with names of underclassmen who had terrific seasons and assumed that things would only get better for them as seniors. It’s something we tend to take as a given: improvement. How often have we said, “Just wait till she’s a senior ...”? For a national-class runner, easier said than done. As an armchair coach, I’d say that the biggest risk comes when the precocious young athlete ups the ante and starts training harder for that magic senior campaign. 6

They tell themselves that Alan Webb did it, Dathan Ritzenhein did it; to achieve that kind of greatness, they have to do it. Then they hear an ominous knock on the door, and fearfully open it to find Injury standing on the porch with his overnight bags. He’s come to stay awhile and make their senior year a living hell. Goethals dodged that bullet, and her Kevlar was probably something her coach, Larry Adams, said last year. When asked if she was going to increase her training as a senior, he said, “No. I don’t want to overtrain her by bumping her mileage up. I want her moving on to college and the next level fresh. She’ll still have success. “We’d like to see her get under 17:00 for cross country and hopefully finish with a better placing at Foot Locker,” Adams continued. “As a coach, I’d be failing her if I had her push her mileage up to 60-65 a week.” For Goethals, those were modest goals after

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

a junior year that saw her win the state cross country title in 17:10.1, place third at Foot Locker Nationals, win two events at the state track meet, and set a Michigan two-mile record of 10:20.25 in placing second in the nation. Last fall in cross country, Goethals indeed seemed to have moved to another level, even while training at her old level. She kept winning all fall, and occasionally popped times that made that sub-17-minute race look achievable. At Michigan State University’s Spartan Invitational she won in 17:22 for 5K. She took the prestigious Oakland County meet in 17:40, then improved to 17:12 to win her conference. At the state finals at Michigan International Speedway, Goethals cruised with supreme confidence to a 16:54.8, shattering her own meet record in the face of a nasty headwind in the final half-mile. She looked ready, very ready, to take on the rest

Nationals, though in many ways the race was an eerie throwback to cross country nationals. At the front of the pack, Emily Sisson led confidently while Goethals slipped behind. The leader passed the mile in 5:03 and Goethals wasn’t with her.

of the nation in the Foot Locker series. The difference, though, with national competition is that suddenly Goethals, who had grown used to racing without the sound of other footsteps near her, would have company. For instance, she won the Spartan Invitational by 30 seconds, Oakland County by 49 and the state meet by 75. But at the Foot Locker regional in Kenosha, Wisc., she beat Missouri rival Emily Sisson by just 18 seconds, winning in 17:24.

Then, with three laps to go, another runner came up and threatened Goethals’ hold on second. That’s what brought her to life.

At Nationals, New Jersey star Chelsey Ley powered to an early lead, breaking the pack in two, with Goethals leading the “chase” pack. Goethals gradually worked her way back to the leaders, planning her big move for the top of the last hill.

So she turned on that same kick and gradually started to reel Sisson in. It didn’t look likely, but the more Goethals’ legs churned, the more she gained speed, like a runaway locomotive. Once again, she nailed victory at the line, topping Sisson 10:10.14 to 10:10.21. She had won by seven-hundredths of a second.

That was where Texan Chelsey Sveinsson made her move instead, leaving Goethals to consider the upside of second place. Most observers figured it was all over.

She told reporters: “I was so happy because 10:10 was the goal I had set for myself at the beginning of the season for the 3200 meters. That’s 10 seconds faster than I ran at Nike Outdoors last year.” She had passed through the more familiar 3200-meter mark in 10:07.1. Now it was clear: Goethals would be revising some records this year.

Adams didn’t. He later told reporters, “I know Megan, and she can outkick anybody,” her coach said. Goethals herself didn’t think she could win at that point, but with the finish in sight, she began her kick. When she noticed that she was actually gaining on Sveinsson, it became an inspired kick.

Photo by Scott Sullivan

She remembered Foot Locker. “When I was hurting, I thought of how amazing it felt,” she said.

At the state finals Goethals cruised to a 16:54.8

With 150 meters to go, she was still five seconds behind her rival, but the crowd gasped as Goethals ferociously ate into that margin and passed Sveinsson at the finish, winning by two-tenths of a second, 17:06.9 to 17:07.1. “I just told myself I was going to give it my all, so I sprinted as hard as I could and caught her,” Goethals said at the time.

When the first track meets of the indoor season rolled around, Goethals and Adams began sharpening her after a winter of building the base. The goal: more national titles. Her indoor season seemed fairly subdued. She ran a 5:00.62 mile in East Lansing, and cruised 3200 meters in 10:25.66 on Grand Valley State University’s big track. Goethals won the state indoor title in 10:26.98 — not bad by any means, but none of this gave any indication what kind of shape she was really in. That she showed at Nike Indoor

Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net

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

At the Nike Indoor Nationals, Megan nailed victory at the line, topping Emily Sisson 10:10.14 to 10:10.21. Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Goethals took off all the wraps at the Oakland County Championships so that she could attempt a fast two-mile. While the race officially would be the regulation 3200 meters, Goethals and Adams went with the meet director’s proposal to have a second finish line another 18-plus meters farther. That would give her a shot at the national record for two miles (10:01.08). As the sun set, the heat died down and Goethals embarked on her challenge. Her first lap was a tad fast, but after she steadied herself she started clicking off laps close to record pace.

The question must be asked: Did continuing on to the second finish line cause her to miss breaking 10 minutes at the first line?

Originally she and Adams planned that she would run the 5000 meters first at the New Balance Nationals in Greensboro then come back for the two-mile. But after missing the 10-minute barrier at Oakland County, Goetheals decided she wanted another go at it in North Carolina with fresh legs. This time, she didn’t want to run from behind.

Not only did they win the dramatic race, 8

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

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

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

Goethals led off what would be the most amazing 4x800-meter relay in state meet history. She ran several seconds faster than her best two laps ever, handing off in the lead. At the finish, Rochester’s anchor, Brook Handler, passed South’s Meier as she tumbled to the track.

University of Washington fans are thrilled that Goethals signed with the team last winter and have heralded her as one of their most distinguished recruits ever.

Then the 3200 came, and Goethals won in 10:22.75 after overcoming a stiff challenge from Gabrielle Anzelone of Grand Blanc (10:29.07).

She had missed the national mark by two seconds, and had come tantalizingly close to being the first Michigan girl to break 10 minutes for 3200 meters.

Before she could run either of those races she would have to run her fastest 800 ever in order to give her relay team a chance at maximum points. In other words, her plate was full.

With that race, she closed the book on her high school career. She wasn’t even tempted to try out for the World Junior Championship team. “I love racing, but I was ready to move on. I know my body; it was glad to be done,” she says.

Instead, Meier’s twin sister Haley became the competition and chased Goethals for four laps. In the end, age and experience triumphed, Goethals winning in 4:47.47, with Haley Meier at 4:53.85.

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

A week later at the state meet, Goethals had to juggle several concerns. For one, her Rochester team had a serious shot at the team trophy. And while she was the overwhelming favorite in the 3200, success was not assured in the 1600 where Grosse Pointe South frosh Hannah Meier had clocked a 4:45.0, faster than Goethals’ PR.

Adding up the winning margins of her three national championships gives Goethals a total margin of only 1.6 seconds!

When the 1600 came around, Goethals realized that Meier wouldn’t be her competition. Banged up from her relay fall, the freshman withdrew from the race to concentrate on the 800 (which she would win).

She passed 3000 meters in 9:25.5 (a state record) and kept kicking toward the dual finish lines. She passed 3200 in 10:00.15, another state record, and hit two miles in 10:03.2.

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

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

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

Goethals led from the start, completing the first mile in 5:03.03. That was slower than she wanted, so it probably helped when New Yorker Aisling Cuffe moved up to make it a seesaw race. Both kicked hard on the final lap, Goethals edging into the lead. She passed 3000 in 9:26.08, a tad slower than her best. But she finished faster than ever. Goethals got her sub-10 at 3200 meters, crossing that line in a record 9:58.1. Then she hit the finish victorious in 10:01.16, a mere eight-hundredths slower than the national twomile record. She beat Cuffe by 1.33 seconds. The Rochester standout became the first girl in U.S. history to win Footlocker and both national two-mile crowns in the same year, a feat that only Rockford’s Dathan Ritzenhein has accomplished among the boys. “Not only did I have the pressure to try to break 10, but I also had the pressure to get

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

“I really appreciate all the support I’ve gotten from the people of Michigan. It was great to feel that,” Goethals said. Writer Jeff Hollobaugh produces the annual Michigan High School Track Yearbook, operates the www.michtrack.org Web site, is a longtime correspondent for Track & Field News and teaches English at Pinckney High School. He published his debut novel “Fire, Barbed Wire and Tacks” last year. MR

Photo by Peter Draugalis / dragaulisphotography.com

What made the Rochester senior so scary during the outdoor season was how fast she ran in meets that she was obviously training through: five-minute 1600s and 10:33 for 3200 in dual meets. We had never before seen a runner like this in Michigan. Then, when the big meets came, she got even better. She ran 4:52.4 and 10:28.2 to win the double at her conference meet.

At the Midwest Meet of Champions, Megan Goethals was named “Star of Stars”.

Kurtis Comes Home for 200th Marathon

hen Doug Kurtis, Michigan’s marathon man, crosses his next marathon finish line, it will be the 200th time he has done so. The math is easy; that’s more than 5,240 miles of marathon racing! The journey has been a long and rewarding one for Kurtis, covering parts of five decades and most of the globe, from Detroit and Seattle to Tahiti and Bangkok, and lots of places in between. He will go for number 200 at the Detroit Free Press International Marathon Oct. 17. Kurtis’ marathon career has been welldocumented for its quality and quantity: a record 76 sub-2:20 performances, six consecutive Free Press victories (from 1987 to 1992), 40 overall wins, a lifetime best of 2:13:34, masters best of 2:15:47 and 12 sub2:20’s in one year (1989). The Livonia native did much of his best racing after age 35, and had an amazing ability to run quality marathons back to back; in five of those six Free Press wins, he had run a marathon the week before — and won three of those!

Doug finished in 2:54, and Dennis was successful as well in the bid to span five decades of sub-3:00’s. Doug’s first marathon, and first sub-3, had been at Boston in 1974, a spread of 36 years. Another 2:54 at Grandma’s in Duluth, Minn., June 19 was marathon finish No. 199. “Grandma’s is special to me,” says Kurtis. “I won it twice and I’m the only runner over 40 to win it. Race director Scott Keenan still brings me up every year to help out with the events.” Of deciding to go for his milestone at Detroit, Kurtis says, “Race director Brian Birney took me to breakfast and made the suggestion to do my 200th at home in front of my family, friends and fans. I care deeply about the success of the running community in Detroit.”

Doug Kurtis runs the 2008 Crim 10 Mile.

His actions show it. As a race organizer, Kurtis has contributed much to the success of the three largest race events in the city: the Free Press Marathon,

Photo from Michigan Runner archivdes

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Kurtis, now 58, is adding impressive numbers for longevity. While the goal of reaching 200 marathons had been in the back of his mind for years, the timeline was accelerated in early 2010.

“Amby Burfoot (of Runner’s World magazine) encouraged me to go after five decades of sub-3-hour marathons,” Kurtis says. “I jumped into the Boston Marathon at the last minute because my brother Dennis and wife Ann were running.”

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

By Paul Aufdemberge

Kurtis wins the 1990 Detroit Free Press / Mazda Marathon in 2:19:36 10

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

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

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

Thanksgiving Turkey Trot and Corktown St. Patrick’s Day Run. As for wearing his race director’s hat, Kurtis says, “I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to use the knowledge I’ve gained from observing races around the world.

An enduring image of Kurtis at the Free Press Marathon is of the times he trailed other runners by minutes going into the final miles, but with patience and perseverance rallied to win.

“I love being creative,” he goes on. “The Parade Company and Fifth Third Bank give me a lot of leeway with the Turkey Trot. My goal from day one was to create a parade-like atmosphere during the event.

Running 200 marathons “means I’ve been able to stay injury-free and consistent in my training and racing,” Kurtis says. “Of the 199 so far, only two were over three hours. When I look back at my entire list, I can’t believe I really did it.” Kurtis, now retired from Ford Motor Co., says of his current training, “it’s up and down. I managed to reach 70 miles a week before this year’s spring marathons. “I get my speed from running lots of races and from my running club buddies who

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

“Corktown is similar in that regard. The attendance at both races is booming because everyone involved in organizing them makes them fun.”

Now he views races differently, he says, preferring the challenge of racing with the competition rather emphasizing crossing the finish line in front of them. “As a public speaker,” the marathon master says, “I enjoy talking about what motivates people to run. I’m impressed by runners’ courage and desire to overcome their fears. “It empowers them to do other great things,” he says.

Fifth Third Turkey Race Director Kurtis sets the parade-like atmosphere in the race Expo booth.

Three-time Michigan Runner of the Year Paul Aufdemberge knows something about running success and longevity himself. The Redford resident, now 45, was most recently named winner of the 2009 USATF Masters Male Long Distance Running Runner of the Year award. MR

Run Thru Sparta, Sparta

Sparta Runners Survive, Thrive in Red-Sky Heat

By Daniel G. Kelsey

SPARTA (7/17/10) — Red sky at morning, sailors take warning. Red sky at sunrise, racers be run-wise. The sun came up in a fiery halo the day of the Run Thru Sparta, but that didn’t stop more than 400 runners and walkers from pouring through a narrow starting gateway, like rays of light under a rainbow’s arch, and heading out on the 5K course. The mercury stood at 75 degrees at 8 a.m., zero hour, but that didn’t slow Kristen Brown and Ryan Chute, who came back through the gateway as women’s and men’s champions. Brown, 38, of Muskegon defended her Sparta crown from 2009 in spite of a loss in fitness. “I’m recovering from iron deficiency,” she said. “I felt pretty strong until near the end.” At 19:08 it took Brown 38 seconds longer to cover the course this year. “I’m looking to get back in the low 18s if my body will cooperate,” she said.

Two young women, Gretchen Braymer and Alison Tuuk, narrowed so much of Brown’s gap in the final kick that they passed through the gate just three seconds behind her. Far from being bothered by cutting it so close, Brown voiced joy at seeing so many youngsters in the event. The Run Thru Sparta tends to draw high school and college athletes on the lookout for a mid-summer time trial. That was the case with Chute, 19, of Grant, a harrier and trackman at Ferris State University. His 15:56 was well off the winning time of last year’s champion Reed Kamyszek, but good enough for a 14-second margin over his nearest rival. Chute’s goal was to punctuate his summer training. “I wanted to run it in the 15s,” he said. “This course is nice; it’s flat. I got out a little quick.” He touched on the heat and humidity as a factor in the race. At start time, a bank of clouds rolled in and a breeze picked up, but that’s as close as conditions came to living up to the red-sky prediction of severe weather.

43, of Kent City, who won the masters division in 20:46, noted the muggy atmosphere. “It was thick out there,” she said. “This race always seems to have hot weather.” Rightly so, given how its date falls so near to the peak of summer, July 18, the hottest Northern Hemisphere day of the year on average. The race date is one of the few things about the event that hasn’t changed since management switched from fruit growers to a fitness club a couple years back. Gone is the old name in favor of Run Thru Sparta. Gone are the saplings given to age-group winners. Gone is the finish in a different parking lot than the start. Gone are the fruit drinks. Given the fact this year’s cherry harvest was half the volume of last year’s bumper crop, change may not be bad. The runners, chattering happily beyond the gateway after the race, didn’t seem to mind. They were wise enough to survive a red sky. MR

Still racers needed to be run-wise. Jill Evers, Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Running Shorts with Scott Hubbard still at least one race I announce with a volunteer’s help. At a couple others, I spot the runners myself and enter the race numbers. This is how “they” know who you are when you finish. Pronouncing names correctly is another story. In a related development, as the ChampionChip has given way to the D tag for scoring, many races are starting to use a B tag with an electronic strip adhered to the backside of entrants’ race bibs, or numbers. This is a disposable system favored by runners and race-scoring companies.

Trivia: How many U.S. cross country women’s titles did 1993 Crim 10-mile champion Lynn Jennings win?

MAT MAGIC. While walking away from seven hours of commentary and calling names at the Flying Pig Marathon and HalfMarathon May 2 in Cincinnati, I passed a finisher, wearing the race’s award-winning medal, accompanied by two friends. “How did they know your name when you finished?” one friend asked the runner. Being “they,” I was tempted to stop and explain how we did it, but thought it fun to let the little mystery go unsolved. Until now. Those of you who have crossed a mat set a short distance before the finish line may have wondered why it was there. You probably knew the mats at the finish are used for timing, but why the mat set in front of them? That mat is the answer to my “mystery.” It is used to send runner information to a computer used by the finish-line announcer, such as the runner’s name, age and where they’re from. Much as the now-old ChampionChip revolutionized race scoring, eliminating tag collecting and bar-code scanning, the “announcer’s mat” has replaced the need for volunteers to radio bib numbers to a person who enters them into a computer, eliciting runner info on a screen. Having used the volunteer method for more than 20 years, I am happy with the new “spotting” system. I’m also grateful to all those who have helped me over the years, particularly at marathons where the task was tedious. The new announcer-mat system relies on getting an Internet connection, meaning there’s 12

DO THE DU. Thirty years ago this August I took part in one of Michigan’s first multi-event competitions. It was held at the Fuller Road 50-meter pool in Ann Arbor and, as the years and miles have unfolded, remains the only multi-event competition for me. I somehow stumbled on a flyer for a 1500-meter swim/10K run event and am at a loss to remember why it sparked my interest. I could run, yes, but had never done any swimming of note except recreationally. At any rate, I had just over two weeks to get my swimming act together and received help from a couple swim-coach friends, one being long-time Ann Arbor Pioneer High School swami Denny Hill. The 1500-meter swim would take place in the pool; my friends said my stroke was fine and gave me a mini-training schedule that would get me through the 30 lengths of the pool on race day. They also gave me an invaluable tip — relax — which would end up being huge. Every other day in training, I’d swim a little further until I’d built up to 2x500 meters. I trusted my running-built aerobic base and adrenaline of competition would see me through the 1500 meters on race day. As I recall, I had run a good half marathon two months earlier and would run a 31:25 10K six weeks after the swim/run event. About 50 others showed up to race. We were set off in two separate waves to ease scoring and congestion in each lane. I was in wave two with the slower swimmers. I’d been up most of the night before with a bad tooth (that would require a root canal) and worried how the ache and lack of sleep might affect me. My brother, Don, was there for support and to run with me. I watched the first wave zip through the water. Upon completion, everybody was required to wait five minutes before starting the run, for reasons I never learned. There

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

were fast swim times posted! I didn’t have a time goal in mind. I just wanted to paddle steadily the entire way and time would take care of itself. I was paired with two others in the second wave, one of whom I recognized as a 50plus-year-old local runner. He could swim too, lapping me a few times, going right over the top of me twice. I wasn’t intimidated but definitely felt out of my element. I’d barely gone four lengths, 200 meters, when I noticed how tense I felt and how hard it seemed to breathe. I panicked momentarily, then remembered to relax. I felt better instantly and kept stroking on, slow and sure. I pulled myself out of the pool in 37-plus minutes, a time I was relatively happy with. I had five minutes to kill, so I took my time putting on my running shoes. With the five minutes up, I took off running ... sort of. My legs felt leaden and weak — a sensation I was not prepared for. As I ran down Fuller Road toward Huron High, I thought, “I’m not in control here.” It didn’t help that Don was teasing me about my pace, which was a minute per mile slower than normal race pace. Up the Huron Parkway, left onto Plymouth Road and down Broadway Street, I struggled with alien legs — oddly enjoying the exercise and experience. Strange stuff. With Don hooting at me, I reached the end in 36-plus minutes on rubbery, uncooperative limbs. I was happy in general with my effort, especially since I had nothing to compare it with and had completed the swim with just two weeks of preparation. Because we were set off in two waves, it took a while to determine the results. Remember, this was 1980. I stood around chatting with others including Karen McKeachie, who ended up winning among the women (and going on to a stellar triathlon career). I wound up with the fastest run time and one of the slowest swim times, putting me about mid-pack overall. Another competitor was Charlie Blanchard, who had recently opened the Total Runner store in Southfield. I didn’t know him then, so we compared notes and I learned he had a competitive swim background. Charlie, who finished several places ahead of me that day, went on to complete some Ironman Triathlons in Hawaii.

Running at State: Goals Met and Not By Rachael Steil

y coach was giving me the chance of a lifetime. With what little training I had he was letting me run the state finals cross country race.

I wanted to prove to someone, anyone, that I could do it. The stress fracture in my right foot had been a burden too long — I was going to fight against my anger and sadness of the past month. This race would prove to myself that I could do it. When my toes touched the starting line, my mind was ready. My body was not. As the gun echoed through the race area, I told my legs to fly like they had four weeks ago, but they wouldn’t. Everyone seemed to glide effortlessly ahead of me and I was in a place I wasn’t used to seeing. Never had I been in the back of the pack, struggling to keep up with everyone else. It was as if I had lost an important part of myself. As I reached the half-mile mark, my shock at what was happening began to subside. My mind eased into what I was doing; I reminded myself that I hadn’t run for a long time and at least I had no pain in my right foot. But my heart was still in a pit of shame and embarrassment. I was now the one receiving “sympathy cheers” from the few people waiting to watch me pass. Everyone else was minutes ahead and I had no chance of catching them. I ran as fast as I was able to. Up grassy slopes, down through trees, around orange flags. The race seemed to last forever. I pushed my legs to go faster, but they wouldn’t. It felt like those nightmares you have when you’re trying to run away from something but can’t get anywhere. I prayed to God to help me get through this. I felt so let down when I started thinking about my goals for this season. I had waited for high school cross country my whole life, started watching races while in sixth grade. Now I was injured and gasping for breath,

behind everyone. But what had I expected? First place? You thought you’d be up with the rest, I reminded myself. It was true; I thought I had fixed my body so much that I’d be ready for this race. With all that swimming I did at the Y every day, I was sure I had stayed in shape. Not so. My mind wandered to that day I was diagnosed with the stress fracture. I was back in the office, and the doctor put the tiniest bit of pressure on my right foot. My body jerked away from the pain and my brain awoke to reality. I was injured and not going to run for a long, long time. Tears gushed down my face as my mom drove me home from the med center. I curled up in the seat, wanting to scream at God for doing this to me. I felt like ripping Him to pieces, letting Him feel the pain consuming me. I had never been so frustrated and confused. I felt like I had been suctioned into a tight hole of fear and anger. This, this wonderful hobby — my friend, my life — was taken away from me. These memories flew back to me, but not with sympathy for my “old” self. I was a different person now, had grown wiser over these four weeks. I was no longer mad at God — He was merely carrying me along through the hard times and the only One I could turn to. My change in attitude helped me not only run again, but run without pain at this state meet. There were a few other girls running near me, one way ahead. “Go get that girl!” a man shouted to me. He had no idea what I could really do, what I had been before. I could have easily beaten her. This isn’t really me! I screamed in my head. This isn’t me … Finally, finally I was more than halfway through the race. My shoes sloshed and slipped through a puddle of goopy mud, made worse by the runners who had already finished. Go, Rachael! Go! I couldn’t.

As I found myself staring at the finish line a quarter-mile ahead of me, one of my mom’s friends was the only one there to cheer me. He tried to encourage my heavy body to go faster and reminded me that not everything was lost. I tried to push a little more and make this worthwhile, but my body felt strained and awkward. My arms reached for nothing and my legs pounded on the spongy ground. Sucking in as much air as possible, I changed my mindset. My negative thoughts floated away and I finally lunged through the empty finish. There were no volunteers, no spectators, nothing. I came to a slow walk, breathing deeply. It was strangely quiet. I wish I could say that after a month of healing from an injury, I came back to run a spectacular 5K race. You always hear those stories about how the underdog comes from a low point and achieves a miraculous victory. You get chills when you learn how the injured player conquers the pain and carries on to glory. As for me, I had no medal, no comeback story and no victory to claim. I was, for once in my life, not on top. As I walked alone through the chute, I knew I would be all right. I had run the race so many runners wished they could run. I had run and walked and jumped to warm up before the race when some have no legs to do so. I was lucky, as hard as it was to think when so disappointed. Going through that finish was a goal I had aimed for. And I did it. I found my team minutes later and congratulated the girls on their great races. I spotted my parents and fell into their open arms. As happy as I was to run, the emotions of the past month spilled out of me through tears. The pain in my foot was gone, but it would take time for my heart to heal too. Recent Grandville High School graduate Rachael Steil plans to continue running and writing this fall at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. MR

Running Shorts continues The 50-plus-year-old, twice my age at the time, also beat me. “That’s one fit old dude,” I thought, seeing him through new eyes. Now I am that “old dude.” Over the past 10 years I’ve evolved into cycling due to bad feet. I can hold my own against peers and

dream a little about what I could do in run/bike duathlons. My former Eastern Michigan University teammate Dave Burkhart has become a very good duathlete. I don’t put much stock in dreams, but enjoy reliving them for their inspiration and

entertainment value. Answer: Jennings won an unprecedented nine national cross titles. - MR -

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Notes on the Run:

Photo by Jennie McCafferty

101 Reasons I Run, Part 3

Dan Kelsey takes notes with Rebecca Downs, Steve’s Run 10K winner. By Daniel G. Kelsey “... (F)or he who runs hard leaves time behind as well as space.” – Hope Mirrlees, “Lud-in-the-Mist”

y friend Boysen told me a story of how experience made him more humble and sensible. He found out he was not as sure-footed as his pride had told him. “I was running on a windy night in January. We’d gotten four inches of snow since the day before, when there wasn’t any.

“This was weird snow. My brother would say it was slick as snot. It caked on the bottom of my shoes, more slippery than ice, and going down a slope, my feet would slide when they landed, like I was skating. “Maybe I should’ve called it a night, but I kept on. Then, just like that, at five miles, I went down. “It wasn’t much like falling. There was no in-between. I was on my feet, then my back. Somewhere along the way, my elbow slammed into the pavement, through the snow, and my shoulder slammed into my neck, about where it meets my skull behind my ear. I heard a crackling. “Not that I was really thinking, not right then, but what I felt was something like, ‘You’re all right, boy, but you’re going to pay for this tomorrow.’” He finished the last two miles. But that crackling was a new sound that stuck with him all the way. Boysen had been running long enough to 14

know his body well. He’d been in team sports before he took up running, more than long enough to predict he’d have a bruised elbow. That shoulder, the left one, had recurring bursitis and he was certain it would go stiff.

Besides the above, she gave Alex ample motivations on the surface for kicking up his heels. He needs a break from poring over a scholarship application that’s driving him crazy. He wants to beat Tony because he envies his roommate’s knee lift.

As anybody should know, a body can’t crash on a street, even on a buffer of snow, without putting muscles at risk of going lame.

What she didn’t give the students, not in so many words, were deeper cravings they must squelch by running. Credit her with the sophistication to understand they’re too young to thoroughly know, let alone to admit, what lurks inside.

That crackling, though. It had sounded like paper crumpling in a hand. Was it the bone behind his ear, a vertebra in his neck or tendons in his shoulder? Could he have given himself a light concussion?

Boysen figured he knew the answer when a lame neck never came and a mild headache went away, but a soreness in his shoulder stayed. Besides all that, there was the mystery of why he took all the damage on his left side. He’d already begun to think, because of a rash persisting all winter, every winter, but only on that side of his rib cage, that he tilted when he ran, causing friction between clothing and skin. Odd, he told me, finally tired of my inquisition, how a fall had made him feel sure of his tilt. Joyce E. Turner contributed a short story, “Alex, the Barista,” to the fall 2008 issue of the literary journal Ploughshares. Behind the scenes of a comedy, Turner offered a theme of life lessons for a gifted student in the crushing world of academia. Alex, the narrative character, drops his major in mathematics for a newfound interest in English. He’s really dropping his math professor, a stuffy man who got him a math job, for a crush on his English teaching assistant. Alex snubs the math job even if it means staying behind a counter at a coffee house. The comedy gets outrageous when the professor and Jennifer, the teaching assistant, meet on a blind date at the coffee house during Alex’s shift. Turner put Tony, Alex’s roommate, into the mix to shed light on Alex’s drives. “They had started running freshman year, partly to drown out hangovers, partly to explore campus …”

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

They might recognize they’d bounce off the walls of a dorm room if they didn’t bleed off energy. But they might not recognize that sexual deprivation could get the better of them if they didn’t wear themselves out. They might never, never recognize that if they didn’t compete they could turn to each other for comfort. Yes, I hear Turner, not to mention readers, dismissing such Freudian drivel. Alex likes to run and Tony aims to please. Running’s wholesome. As we run we can talk about bicycle gears and swimming strokes in the same breath and not have people think we’ve lost it. We can put screws in the soles of our shoes for traction and not have people look at us like we’ve gone bonkers. I left Boysen alone about his fall, not even bringing up the screws, once he made it clear he didn’t want to discuss it any more. I didn’t even ask if his shoulder healed. He brought it up himself after a couple weeks. According to his estimate, he’d run 23,000 miles in his lifetime and couldn’t recall ever having fallen before. But he decided he hadn’t injured his pride. As he’d fallen, a car trailed by a van happened to pass. The van’s brake lights had gone on. He imagined the driver watching, before driving on, to see if the klutz climbed to his feet and brushed himself off, or to laugh at the sight of a grown man with his feet flying out in front of him like Charlie Chaplin on roller skates. He’d already known without thinking about it that runners make a spectacle of themselves for lookers-on. Now he saw the nobility of entertaining a sit-down audience. - MR -

Grand Island Trail Marathon & 10K, Munising, August 1 Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Firecracker 5K, Ann Arbor, July 4

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

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

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

Carrollton Festival of Races, Carrollton, July 25

Heart of the Hills, Bloomfield Hills, July 31

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

The new Carrollton marathon course included a section on a new bike path. Michigan Runner TV http://michiganrunner.tv/2010carrollton

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Erin Webster won the 10K in 37:53. Matt Fecht also took first in the 10K in 32:52. Michigan Runner TV http://youtube.com/watch?v=cT48FzGu96w

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Beyond the Chip By Herb Lindsay

Forty Years of Running coach directed me to significantly increase mileage and set insanely-challenging target time goals in interval workouts. These workouts were directly influenced by what Gibbard had learned from Lydiard.

s with most good ideas, running for personal fitness and challenge began in many places.

New Zealand Olympic coach Arthur Lydiard was one of the most influential early innovators. His training methods for athletes transferred slowly and steadily to other coaches around the world.

By the early ‘70s the good ideas about running training were shaping the experiences of many others, although still mostly college coaches and their young runners. Frank Shorter, the 1972 Olympic marathon gold medalist, and his coaches were well aware of Lydiard’s success-proven practices and they, too, applied them.

Many U.S. college coaches studied Lydiard’s training practices and applied them to their athletes, University of Oregon coach Bill Bowerman among them.

Many credit Frank’s marathon victory with starting the running boom. It brought surging popularity to the sport. I remember taping his picture, on the cover of Life magazine, to my bedroom wall during high school, with my personal running goals posted below.

Bowerman had traveled to New Zealand, where he witnessed and participated in jogging programs that were in place. Upon return, he successfully applied the approaches to his work with the Oregon track team. Bowerman also saw the potential for a less-intense version of Lydiard’s training practices to benefit people of all ages. In 1967, he actively promoted the health and well-being benefits of “jogging,” writing a book on the subject and organizing one of the earliest programs to teach people how to train for personal fitness. Only recently have I come to understand how profoundly Lydiard and Bowerman influenced the “running boom” of the late 1970s and early ’80s, and my personal experience in running over the last 40 years.

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

While volunteering at a garage sale fundraiser this summer, I discovered a copy of Bowerman’s book “Jogging” nestled among musty stacks for sale. When I picked it up and examined the cover, I remembered where and when I had first seen the book. It was in the hands of my first coach, Dale Clark, who in 1969 described it as offering “the newest information.” I recall reacting to the title and declaring, “But I’m not a jogger, I’m a runner.” Coach Clark assured me the title was not important, but information in the book would provide valuable guidance in how to train and become the best runner I could be. I believed him. As my fitness improved, 16

Coach Clark challenged me with opportunities to practice seeing how much faster I could go and how long I could maintain it. I now understand how the information in “Jogging” influenced him to teach me Bowerman’s hard-easy training approach. These early training experiences introduced me to a long-term pursuit of excellence and exuberance for racing. A few years ago while interviewing my old Michigan State University coach Jim Gibbard, I learned that he was among the first U.S. coaches to adopt Lydiard’s training practices. The results were an impressive string of top finishes for the Spartans in the NCAA Cross Country Championships. In 1977 I appeared on the scene, a high school state champion from Reed City eager to challenge myself at the next level. The transition was harder than I imagined. My

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

In 1976 Frank’s business partner, Steve Flanagan, opened a running specialty store on Ann Street in East Lansing. Eager to learn how to take my running to the next level, I came to know Steve as a mentor and training partner. He described and demonstrated what he had learned from his coaches, including Frank and other elite runners in Boulder, Colo. This exposure accelerated my running to a new height with a focus on goals of evenfaster times. The workouts were all about going faster, achieved by group runs around parks and ball fields with each runner taking turns in leading the next time-targeted interval. Long runs from the store through the farms south of campus were proof of how fast we could go — pushing each other as we talked about great races past and a great breakfast feast to follow the run. Steve’s training principles and practices, learned and adapted from several coaches, could be traced to Lydiard too. By the time I chose to move from East Lansing to Boulder in 1979, the running boom was riding the creative energy of innovation in running shoes, apparel, communitycentered road races and proliferation of local running clubs. Runners World, The Runner and Running Times became national publications with runners on staff writing about what they loved to do. This time also marked the begin-

ning of Michigan Runner magazine. Articles informed new runners about how to train and race, what to eat, how to stretch and treat injuries. And, of course, they wrote stories describing races with photos of them. I recall reading these magazines and studying finish times of major road race winners. I calculated and compared pace per mile times and thought, “Hey, I can run with those guys! Someday I will race them and win!” I held a vision of running in big races, winning and making the cover of running publications. Just as I ran high school races with the vision of having my name and accomplishments described in the next morning’s announcements, I applied the vision of recognition in magazines as a motivational tool before and during races. Living in Boulder for 10 years provided me a wider range of life experiences and many meaningful friendships. The Boulder Road Runners furnished support for new runners, sponsored training sessions and managed road races. Club founder Rich Castro and other leaders contributed to shaping the sport, not just locally but across the country. He too had been influenced by international coaching clinics where the Lydiard training system was taught. Nike, Inc. played an important role in fueling the running boom. Not only was the company manufacturing and marketing shoes designed for running (strongly influenced by Bowerman), it was developing an impressive stable of young athletes who it helped with travel expenses to races, apparel, footwear, recognition and support for continued improvement. In his book, “Out of Nowhere: The

Inside Story of How Nike Marketed the Culture of Running,” Geoff Hollister describes how the company’s relationships with athletes contributed to shaping the running boom. I feel fortunate to have been an influencing factor in the evolution of running as a member of the Nike-sponsored Athletics West team when it was the perennial favorite to win national championships. As I move into my mid-50s, I see revived interest in revisiting the events of the running boom. Authors have asked me to recall experiences I shared with the subjects of their books, among them a pending authorized biography of Craig Virgin. I was recently inducted into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame. Sportswriter John Meyer called to interview me about my Boulder running and racing. You can find his profile piece at www.denverpost.com/search/ci_15058094. Interviews have a wonderful way of reviving memories. John also spoke with me to research events that led to the rules change allowing athletes to earn money in their sport and still be eligible for international competition, including the Olympics. The Denver Post recently ran a series of articles about this. Here’s a link to one of three in the series: http://denverpost.com/extremes/ci_15194047. People who have not been in touch with me for years often ask, “Are you still running and racing?” Yes; the sport continues to be a celebration of movement for me, driven by will and desire to retain the wonderful ability and well-being it brings. I occasionally race too. Other top running boom-era racers continue to benefit from the sport as well. I

enjoy connecting with Jeff Galloway, a grand mentor of countless runners, who promotes participation in the sport through social networking sites. He provides valuable and appreciated service as a positive role model for runner. I celebrate the contributions of Jeff and others like him. There is evidence that the creative energy and willingness to accept a personal challenge that fueled the running boom is being discovered by newcomers to the sport. The Fremont Area Runners (F.A.R.) in Fremont is an example. Among this dedicated group are runners who have shed hundreds of pounds, changed their diets and lifestyles and found new friends, excitement and satisfaction in running races, including marathons. In them, I see the same eagerness I felt in my early days as a runner. They are hungry to learn all they can to improve performance. For them, like me, it becomes like an addiction to run every day and train with goals in mind for the next race. I celebrate their tremendous accomplishments. Bowerman would celebrate our successes too, and agree that jogging, or running, has had a profound and positive influence not just on individuals, but our society. His little book titled “Jogging,” inspired by Lydiard’s approaches, had a part in making running the largest participatory sport in the world.

Michigan native/now Fremont teacher Herb Lindsay is former U.S. record holder at the half-marathon and 10 miles. He was America’s No. 1-Ranked Road Racer in 1980 and 1981, according to The Runner magazine. 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 Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Plymouth YMCA Father’s Day Races, Plymouth

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

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

PLYMOUTH (6/20/10) — The Plymouth YMCA Father’s Day races are truly a family affair. If you can’t find a distance that suits you at this event, you’re not trying. From the Diaper Dash to the Kids’ Trot to the One Mile (run and walk), 5K (run and walk) and 10K, there is a race for every age and ability.

For those not conversant in the metric system, that’s 10.3 miles total between the races. That might not sound like a lot, but running three races in any one day, let alone consecutively, is a recipe for disaster. Throw in extra heat, humidity and downed tree limbs from a storm the night before, and you’ve got yourself quite a challenge, even on a flat course. Add a little prize money to the mix, and you’ll attract plenty of local elite runners up for that challenge.

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

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

Strategy plays an important part in any race, but it’s amplified in the Triple. Go out too hard in the mile and 5K and you’ll be toast by 10K time. I was determined to take it easy in the first two races and see what I had left for the 10K, figuring there was a lot more time to be gained or lost in the longest distance. Of course, having a good strategy and executing it in the heat of the moment are different things. At first glance, I mistook the One Mile starting line for one of the kid’s races. So many boys were jockeying for position at the front of the pack that there was hardly room for the elites. The starter’s admonition that runners should “seed yourselves according to pace” went right over the boys’ heads. So when the gun went off, the first straightaway was spent chasing the “hares”; the boys sprinted with exuberance until they flamed out a quarter-mile down the street. By then the elite men were already blazing towards the finish line, where Rondell Ruff of Gallitzin (4:31) edged Clint Verran of Orion (4:33) and David Brent of Monroe (4:34). Westland’s Angela Matthews’ race strategy was to take it easy in the mile. But when she found herself locked in a tight race with 18

That mere four seconds was also Verran’s margin of victory in the Triple, as he completed all three races (10.3 miles) in a total of 52:49, edging Brent (52:53) and Kutzefares (53:25). In hindsight, the winner said his strategy had “worked perfectly,” attributing his success to the fact that he is “good at suffering” in distance races. Verran plans to run the Chicago Marathon this fall. Matthews entered the 10K with about a 30-second lead over Webster, but wasn’t taking anything for granted. She poured it on in the final race, easily winning in 37:29 (6:02 pace) over Webster (38:20) and Leah Scharl of Clarkston (38:34). The final Triple tally: Matthews in first (1:00:13), Webster second (1:01:33) and masters winner Lisa Veneziano third (1:03:45).

Triple winner Angela Matthews (bib #62) battles Erin Webster (bib #78) in the 10K. Erin Webster of Dearborn, “everything went out the window.” Matthews outkicked Webster to win by two seconds (5:05 to 5:07). Afterwards, she regretted letting her competitive streak get the better of her: “I thought it was going to do me in” for the remaining races. In the 5K, the battle between Brent and Verran continued, with Brent winning in a photo finish as both runners posted times of 15:28, a 4:59 pace. Nick Allen of Northville rounded out the top three in 15:40. Monica Joyce, 51, of Ann Arbor schooled women half her age by taking the 5K in 17:04 (5:30 pace) over Matthews (17:39) and Webster (18:06). But since Joyce was only entered in the 5K, Matthews and Webster were set up for a 10K showdown with the Triple at stake. Going into the final race, Verran was confident that he could execute his strategy. “As a marathoner,” he said, “all I want to do is stay close” in the two shorter races, then “get a gap in the 10K.” Verran, 35, and Brent, 22, were neck and neck with about two-tenths of a mile to go. Then Verran surged ahead, streaking to the finish line in 32:48 (5:17 pace), four seconds

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

What’s next for the winner? “I haven’t mapped out a schedule of races for the summer yet,” said Matthews. “I’m an assistant coach for track and cross country at Southfield Christian and we just finished up the track season. Since then I’ve been focusing on getting back to my normal training because I was running with the high school team throughout spring. “I’m sure you agree that doing the triple on Sunday was a good workout because the recovery time between races was so short!” she said. Beyond the elite runners, the Plymouth races really are about community and family. More than 200 “Girls on the Run” (a program that encourages preteen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running) participated in the various races. The youngest Dashers and Trotters got a taste of race-day excitement and could someday be future race winners. Case in point is the McSween family, who have been running since the girls were in the Kids’ Trot: Mandy McSween, now 15, won her age group in the 10K, and sister Molly, 13, took a secondplace age group medal in the 5K. What a perfect Father’s Day present for proud papa Mike McSween, himself a second-place age-group winner in the 10K!

Regular contributor Anthony Targan effectively executed his “tortoise” race strategy and was the third male master in the Triple, despite not medaling in any of the three races. MR

Running (and Running In) Races 300 Miles, 14 Hours Apart By Grant Lofdahl ALLENDALE/CEDARVILLE (7/2-3/10) — Two races, 300 miles apart, separated by just 14 hours. It was a crazy and possibly ill-conceived idea, but I had to try it. My Allendale High School cross-country team’s annual fundraiser, the Gina VanLaar 5K, was scheduled Friday, July 2, at 7 p.m. I was heavily involved in its planning and raceday activities.

Things came together splendidly for the VanLaar race (named for Allendale’s first woman cross country runner, a two-time state champion killed at age 29 in a car crash after an incredible Hillsdale College career). I awoke July 2 and packed my bags. By 5 p.m. our unique course was set up: hay bales, logs, creek crossings and all. The gun fired at 7 with 175 runners sprinting from the line. Middle school coach Andrew Augustine and I led the race on a four-wheel-drive Gator and watched the leaders spread out. Former Potterville track state champion and current Grand Valley State University runner Larry Julson tried to drop Dave VanderMeer, my roommate who had won two races in the previous six days. Julson maintained a 15- to 20-meter lead and eventually finished the difficult course in 16:35, one of the faster times recorded in the six years “The Gina” has existed. VanderMeer finished five seconds later, with former Allendale all-stater Josh Moskalewski third.

by Hessel. His 28:20 was a new record on the unforgiving 5-mile loop, despite temperatures climbing into the 70s by 10 a.m. The best performance of the day came from women’s winner Clara Shaw, a recent Oberlin College graduate who holds that school’s 800-meter record. The Minnesota native clocked 32:39 for fifth place overall. Having visited Cedarville and the beautiful Les Cheneaux Islands area many times, I was glad to have finally raced there. Passing my grandparents’ house with less than a mile to go and waving to them was worth the long, late-night drive and fatigue that set into my legs late in the race. A boat ride through the islands, trip to the local bar to watch my uncle play drums in his band and a fireworks display made this an Independence Day weekend I won’t forget. -MR -

Photo from Michigan Runner archivdes

Our own AHS stars fared well on the women’s side as well, with recent 1600- and 3200-meter track state champion Ali Wiersma breaking the tape in 19:21, followed by seven-time all-stater Camille Borst. Calvin College runner Alyssa Penning was third. After awards had been given and runners dispersed, three of my ex-runners drove the Gator and helped me clean up the course. With that done, my dog and I hopped in my car and (after fueling with coffee) headed north at dusk. The traffic was light and I arrived in Cedarville before 2:30 a.m.

Gina VanLaar in 1987 Since I wouldn’t compete July 2 because of this, I searched for a race after it I could enter and learned that Cedarville — the eastern Upper Peninsula town where my father’s relatives live — would be hosting a 5-miler the morning of Saturday, July 3. I decided to go for it. As July approached I told my dad to expect me around 2 a.m. July 3 and that, yes, I would get up to run the race next morning.

Waking up less than six hours later was rough, but by the time I warmed up and the 5-mile run started at 9:30, I felt ready. Two runners sprinted the first 400 meters and opened a gap, but by the 1-mile mark I’d passed one of them: a youngster whose enthusiasm got the better of his fitness. The other runner steadily pulled away and had a 30-second lead on me after two miles. Realizing I was not going to reel him in despite the hills around Cedarville’s FourMile Block, I did the best I could and finished runner-up in 29:15. The winner was Lee Kanitz, 36, of nearMichigan Runner - September / October 2010

Volkslaufe, Frankenmuth

Pomaranski Shatters 22-Year Mark at Volkslaufe FRANKENMUTH (7/3/10) — Though it took place July 3, the 35th annual Volkslaufe had plenty of fireworks as Andrea Pomaranski of Farmington Hills broke Cheri Sly’s 1988 course record in the 20K and Mike Morgan of Rochester Hills won the 10K and 5K. Pomaranski, just six years old when Sly set her 1:13:31 standard, shattered it with a time of 1:12:12. “Last year (when she won the 20K in 1:14:35) I didn’t think I really had a shot at the record,” said Pomaranski. “I’m in better shape now. I wanted to go out and run hard.” Pomaranski, who as Andrea Kremer ran steeplechase at Miami (of Ohio) University, has won major state races this year, including the Martian Invasion of Races Meteor 10K, Bayshore Half Marathon and Brian Diemer 5K. “I have to give credit to Paul Aufdemberge,” she said. “He started coaching me last year at this time and my running has taken off. Paul is coaching Marybeth Reader too; we meet Tuesday mornings. Without them working with me, I wouldn’t be half as strong as I am.” Reader, 41, of Bloomfield Township, who took second among the women, won this 20K in 2006 and 2007, but said she doesn’t

mind chasing Pomaranski. “This is a kid who has not reached her full potential,” Reader said. “It’s going to be fun to watch her achieve that.” Pomaranski received a 2.5-liter, OldWorld German beer stein for her triumph, plus $100 for setting a record. Masters champ Reader finished in 1:19:38, not too far off Iris Black’s over-age40 course record of 1:17:40. Beth Woodward, 34, of Ortonville took third overall in 1:19:53. Among the men, Ian Forsyth, 38, of Ann Arbor was nearly as dominant as Pomaranski, winning in 1:06:51. Last year’s champ Matt Fecht, 26, of Warren was a distant second in 1:08:20. Leo Foley, 29, of Howell finished third in 1:08:30. Top master Kirk Walrath, 40, of Lapeer placed fifth overall in 1:11:12. “I wanted to get a stein, of course,” said Forsyth, who ran the 20K here for the first time. “I’ve won a couple in the past (for winning the 5K) but gave those to friends.” (The 2.5-liter steins go to overall 5K, 10K and 20K victors, while smaller steins are given to first, second and third in the age categories.) Morgan, 30, who runs for the HansonsBrooks Distance Project, won the Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland 10K by almost three minutes, then came back 90 minutes later to claim the The Bavarian Inn Restaurant 5K by 23 seconds. “I was in the well (deep-down tired) during the second half of the 5K,” Morgan said.

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Still, he enjoyed his first visit to the Volkslaufe. “What a way to kick off the July 4 weekend!” Morgan said. “It’s unique with kilometer (instead of mile) splits and running in the countryside. “I’m from Nebraska and it reminds me of home,” he said. Morgan finished the 10K in 30:31. Next came Adam Roach, 26, of Saginaw (33:22) and Patrick Webster, 22, of Sterling Heights (33:41). In the 5K, Morgan’s 15:07 topped David Madrigal, 18, of Durand (15:30) and Neil Grundman, 22, of Croswell (15:32).

Mike Morgan won both the 10K and the 5K. 20

Among the women, Bethany Brewster, 30, of Madison, Wisc., won the 10K, and Melissa White, 29, of Rochester Hills the 5K.

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

By Charles Douglas McEwen

Andrea Pomeranski set a new 20K record of 1:12:12. Brewster, who coaches men’s and women’s cross country and track at Edgewood College in Madison, and White, a Hansons-Brooks star originally from Naples, N.Y., both ran the Volkslaufe for the first time. “It was good,” said Brewster. “The turns on the course slow you down some, but it was awesome.” White said the 5K was “awesome” too. “I was hoping to win a big beer stein for my dad and I did,” she said. Brewster timed 35:19. Next came Nicole Blaesser, 25, of Rochester, who recently joined the Hansons-Brooks team, in 35:48; and Tina Muir, 21, of Big Rapids in 37:43. White finished the 5K in 17:11, followed by Sarah Squires, 22, of Sebewaing (19:16) and Kirsten Olling, 15, of Breckenridge (19:26). Winning the 5K competitive walk were Corey Peyerk, 27, of Royal Oak (28:23) and Lynette Heinlein, 53, of Vassar (30:31). A kids fun run was presented by Jaami’s Jams & Jellies. For complete race results, go to www.volkslaufe.org. MR

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USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Des Moines, Iowa

Michigan Athletes Take Podium at U.S. Championships Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

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

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

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

Desi Davila, Arizona State/ Hanson-Brooks, won bronze in the 10,000m run, 32:22.

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

Bette Wade, Michigan/Nike, won bronze in the heptathlon with 5966 points.

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Kalamazoo Klassic, Kalamazoo

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

It’s much of the talk afterwards among runners with a sense of accomplishment at conquering an enemy. Collins, 53, of Livonia had a few words for it after the finish. By and large he liked the course, saying it was scenic and cool on the last day of spring because of the trees along Maple Street on the front half and along Bronson Boulevard on the back half.

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

The Klassic 10K runs twice around a loop, beginning on high ground, ending on low, with a grueling climb of the Maple Street hill from Miles 3 to 3.5. Set in a shaded neighborhood, paved with red brick instead of asphalt along its steepest block or two, the hill looms in the eyes of runners. Participants have to climb it to get from registration to the start line. It’s all the talk before the race.

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

KALAMAZOO (6/19/10)—Year by year, the lead story in the Kalamazoo Klassic is the Maple Street hill. This spring, a close runnerup was the performance of J.C. Collins.

“The hill’s tough,” he said. “It took me until about Mile 4 to recover.” Collins conquered the hill for a time of 36:49 and a runner-up showing in the open division. He picked off two younger men near the end to move from fourth to second; that, from a runner who, except for a few

J.C. Collins, age 53, conquered the Maple Street Hill for a time of 36:49 and a runner-up finish.

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

months in 1981, never raced until two years ago. With the Klassic as part of Michigan Runner’s race series, Collins piled up points in the open, masters and senior classifications.

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

Besides the series, this year’s Klassic served as the 10K National Championship for the Road Runners Club of America.

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

The first man to crest the hill was defending titlist Jason Drudge, 20, of Grayling. By that point Drudge, a junior at Central Michigan University, had opened a two-minute gap between himself and Jonathan Kay, 25, of Three Rivers and Lucas Wolthuis, 22, of Vicksburg. Drudge crossed the finish line down below at 33:03.

Brendan Maloney looks over as winner Hannah Norton crosses the finish line in 38:18. 22

For everyone who takes on the course, the hill is a psychological barrier. Three 40something marathon women from Portage — Christine Behrens, Kristen Fillar and Kim Maystead — contemplated the tilt of the street they’d just climbed at a walk before the start. It was enough to drive any thoughts of the scattered debris from a windstorm the night before, or of the nice weather on the last morning of spring, out of their minds. In roughly a half-hour they’d climb the hill again in earnest. “We’re doing it together,” Behrens said. “If we have to take baby steps, that’s OK. We’ll talk each other up the hill.”

“I hate that hill,” Drudge said. “It slowed me down a ton. I knew I had a big lead, but you keep racing.”

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

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

“I’m scared,” Fillar said, glancing down the tilt despite herself. “I don’t really want to look at it.”

“At first I thought this slope down here was the hill,” Norton said. “Then I realized there were two parts. The second half

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

After the finish an hour later, the three reported that indeed they’d talked each other up Maple Street. As Behrens said, putting a full stop on the lead story, now that they’d conquered the hill they could wear the Kalamazoo Klassic shirt with pride. MR

Steve’s Run, Dowagiac

Steve’s Run Stars ‘Fire Up’ on Semi-Cool Day

DOWAGIAC (7/31/10) — If ever a runner won a race in the first dozen strides, Kenyan Cosmas Letting did so in the Steve’s Run 10K. Letting, 27, of Elkhart, Ind., sprinted to daylight down the opening half-mile straightaway, putting a few seconds between himself and the field by the first turn.

straight Steve’s Run, Andrew Weingart, 19, of Elkhart said he’d never seen conditions so cool and wet for the midsummer event. “This feels pretty good compared to most years,” Weingart said. “I’m going to hit some puddles out there. But at least it’s not ungodly hot.” He splashed his way to a time of 44:10.

Justin Kowalski, winner of the 5K, said Letting had such a lead that the Kenyan backed off before the 10K course split off from the 5K.

Race director Ron Gunn – famed for his traditional calls of “Fire up!” among other things — acknowledged that a couple low spots where creeks crossed the trails out in the woods were slick.

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

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

Letting confirmed that he didn’t go all out. “I maintained,” he said. Letting got across in broken English that he has designs on 27 minutes at 10,000 meters and a spot on the Kenyan Olympic team. With a wave of his hand, he indicated that the Dowagiac course was too hilly for such speed. He dismissed the weather, mid60s with a soaking rain that diminished to a drizzle by gun time, as a factor in the race. While warming up prior to his sixth

school and college runners from southwest Michigan and northern Indiana.

Rebecca Downs, 19, of Fort Wayne, Ind., skated over damp grass in the golf course and cemetery, and skimmed over pavement on roads in the back half in soggy shoes, to post a 42:55. No one was more surprised than Downs, a sophomore at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis, to learn she came in first. She nipped Melissa Bergeron, 45, of Norton Shores, the top Michigan finisher, by four seconds.

Photo by Ann Burch, Southwestern Michigan College

The results left Downs as happy as a lark. “This is my first time running this race,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting to win. It’s kind of cool.”

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

The 10K for the secondstraight summer offered points in this magazine’s Runner of the Year series, and so drew in veteran racers from around Michigan. As it does every year, the 5K and 10K offered a midsummer fitness check, and so drew in high

Photo by Ann Burch, Southwestern Michigan College

By Daniel G. Kelsey

Steve’s Run 10K winner, Cosmas Letting

Kowalski, 24, of Mishawaka, Ind., finished first in the 5K for the second year in a row. His 15:57 was off his 2009 time by one second, maybe because his nearest rival trailed by almost half a minute.

“I don’t run fast when I’m leading,” Kowalski said. “And it stopped raining, so I got a little hot at the end.” Cameron Magro, 17, of Bridgman came in first overall among Michigan runners with a 16:47.

Whitney Bowman, 23, of Portage, Ind., beat all women to the finish in 19:24. The Valparaiso University runner gave a nod with emphasis when asked if the win surprised her. “Oh, yeah,” she said. The 2010 Steve’s Run compared favorably, Bowman said, to seasons gone by. “It was nicer than in past years,” she said. “Usually it’s so hot here.” Elley Hinkel, 17, of Lawton placed second overall and first among Michigan women in 19:38. Three jogging jugglers joined the hundreds of runners in solidarity with the Steve’s Run theme of honoring those whose lives have been marred by cancer. MR

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Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

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

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

By Charles Douglas McEwen

About half of the the record 393 competitors were doing a triathlon or duathlon for the first time, said Joyce Donaldson, who coordinates this event with her husband, Jim, for Elite Endeavors. That’s not surprising considering the course, which starts and finishes at the Centennial Terrace and Quarry, lends itself to novices dipping their toes in tri waters for first time. Both the bike and run have flat courses. And the quarry, in which entrants swim, looks more like a super-sized swimming pool than a lake or pond. “I loved the course and women’s-only races,” said Andrea Workman, 40, of Saline. “I think it’s more comfortable for women coming out for the first time to try it. With men involved, you feel like you have to get out of the way or they run you over.”

Photo by Charles Douglas McEwen

Workman and her daughter, Bailey, 17, a swimmer and water polo player at Saline High School, have competed in this triathlon several times.

Karen McKeachie won the triathlon for the second time.

Photo by Jennie McCafferty

SYLVANIA, OHIO (8/01/10) — Daughters raced mothers, husbands rooted for wives and veterans fended off newcomers at the Women’s Only Triathlon & Dri Tri on a nearperfect Sunday in northern Ohio.

Triathletes on the Centennial Terrace wait for their turns to begin the time-trial style swim race. passed me on the bike, then I passed her back, then she passed me again,” said Bailey.

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

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

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

Bailey, who timed 1:15:17, was the fastest competitor under age 22 in the field. Mom Andrea finished eighth among masters in 1:10:57. It was a good day for many over-40 runners. Karen McKeachie, 57, of Ann Arbor won the triathlon and Becky Mincheff, 47, of Oregon, Ohio, the Dri Tri.

Bailey whipped across the quarry in the 400yard swim as if a shark were chasing her. Her 6:51 was 16 seconds faster than the nextfastest woman.

McKeachie, who won this race in 2007 and finished second in 2008, had to overcome last year’s winner, Monica West, 37, of Saginaw. Both both did well in the swim, then dueled for much of the 11-mile bike. At the start of the 5K run, McKeachie made her move.

Quite a few women, including her mom, passed Bailey during the next leg. “Mom

McKeachie won in 1:01:35. West took second in 1:02:39.

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

West dismissed the notion that this triathlon course was easy. “It’s like hitting yourself on the head with a hammer for Michigan Runner TV an hour,” she said. “At least if you have michiganrunner.tv/2010womenonlytri/ some hills, you have

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

“This was first my triathlon,” said Jarrett, who has now competed here four times. “It started me doing other tris. “They call it ‘getting the bug’ where you want to do a tri every other weekend. I’ve definitely got the bug,” she said. Mincheff has the same bug. She won the Dri Tri in 2007 and 2008, but finished second last year and hoped to reclaim her title. And she did. Leading pretty much from the start, Mincheff completed the one-mile run, 13mile bike and 3.1-mile run course in 1:04:42. Next came Lori Deshetler, 30, of Sylvania (1:06:13) and masters Brenda Clark, 43, of Fairgrove (1:08:18), Julie Evans, 43, of Ann Arbor (1:08:47) and Laurie Kemp, 50, of Bowling Green, Ohio (1:09:59). Mincheff plans to keep doing du’s (duathlons). “You’re not done at age 30,” she said. For complete race results, go to http://eliteendeavors.com. MR

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

Erin Pendleton, Lindsey, Ohio/University of Michigan, US Junior Champion, won silver with a discus throw of 54.96m

Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net

Michigan Discus Throwers Compete at World Juniors

Andrew Evans, Portage Northern/ University of Michigan, US Junior Champion, placed 10th at World Juniors with a throw of 56.91m.

Alexander Rose, West Branch/ Central MIchigan, runner-up at the 2010 US Juniors. throw the discus 53.46m.

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

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

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

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Under 20 Athletes Shine at U.S. Juniors

Nick Kaiser, Temperance, placed 5th in the 800m run, 1:50.10.

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

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Solstice Run, Northville

Solstice Run Adds 10-Mile, Enjoys Record Turnout

By Charles Douglas McEwen

NORTHVILLE (6/26/10) — Boaz Cheboiywo and Nicole Blaesser made the new 10-mile almost look easy despite an abundance of hills, heat and humidity at the eighth annual Solstice Run.

The women’s champ recently moved from Pennsylvania to Michigan to join the Rochester Hillsbased HansonsBrooks Distance Project.

Cheboiywo, 31, of Ypsilanti, won the men’s race by almost 10 minutes. Blaesser, 25, placed second overall and claimed the women’s title by close to six minutes.

“There are lot of turns!” he said. This year’s 10-mile, 10K and 5K started with a circuit on the Northville Downs horse track and ended on a pedestrian path in Ford Field. A Mustang Mile took place entirely on the track. Wearing bib No.1 on his racing singlet, Cheboiywo led from the gun and timed of 50:49. The next males were Robert Fergan, 17, of Livonia (1:00:44) and John Niemans, 38, of Sterling Heights (1:00:55).

“The course was easy to understand,” said Blaesser. “There was plenty of water too. That’s important on a hot day like this.”

Photo by Charles Douglas McEwen

Cheboiywo, a track and cross country national champion while at Eastern Michigan University, has become well acquainted with the Northville hills, having won the Solstice 5K and 10K in 2005 and 2006. He found the 10-mile course’s twists and turns just as challenging.

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

Blaesser finished closest to Cheboiywo in 59:39. “She went out strong. I could never catch her,” Fergan said.

Nicole Blaesser was second overall in the 10 Mile in 59:39

“The hills?” Fergan said. “They’re a killer. For the first mile I was saying, ‘Oh my gosh, those are huge!’ I really had to take advantage of the downhills and relax my body and finish strong.”

Finishing 2-3 among the women were masters Marybeth Reader, 41, of Bloomfield (1:05:46) and Dori Downey, 40, of Grosse Pointe Farms (1:06:14).

Ageless Doug Kurtis, 58, of Livonia paced the men’s masters in 1:04:18. His wife, Ann, 48, finished in 1:18:57. Andrew Porinsky, 25, of Dexter (34:03) and

“I was running by myself basically the whole way,” Porinsky said. “That was tough. I can usually handle a little humidity if I have someone with me to help with the pace a bit. Still, I was fourth in this race last year, so it’s good to win.” Lacertosa, a recent Imlay City High School graduate starting her freshman year at Saginaw Valley State University, was running her first 10K. “I’ve won a few cross country and track races, but never a road race before,” she said. “I had to skip track and cross country my senior year because of a torn meniscus, so this is amazing!” Men’s and women’s seconds went to Alexander Townsend, 20, of Farmington Hills (35:29) and Mary Dorazio, 42, of Whitmore Lake (43:06). Scott Setzke, 29, of Wyandotte (16:38) and Andrea Karl (18:44) were 5K winners. Seconds went to Eric Green, 41, of Pontiac (16:40) and Kristi Matuszewski, 38, of Brighton (19:50). The Solstice Run, presented by Foresters, had by far its largest turnout ever. Alan Whitehead is founder and race director. For complete results and more information, go to http://solsticerun.org. MR

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Hungry Duck Run, Brighton

Roasted Duck: Heat Takes Toll on Runners

By Anthony Targan

BRIGHTON (7/5/10) — Hungry Duck Run half-marathoners and 5K runners faced scorching heat and soaking humidity, in addition to Brighton’s hills, to make this year’s races the most challenging yet. The fourth annual event, benefitting the

Gleaners Community Food Bank, was nothing like 2009, when cool temperatures led to fast times. This year, despite a 7 a.m. start, the temps quickly shot into the 80s. High humidity sent beads of sweat rolling off runners like water off a duck’s back. The half-marathon course took runners from downtown Brighton through challeng-

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

ing hills the first four miles, then along a flatter 5-mile loop on rural roads. Miles 9 through 13 were the reverse of miles 1 through 4, but I could swear that the same stretch ran mostly uphill in both directions! Eric Stuber of Lansing won the half in 1:17:53 (a 5:57 pace), but his time was almost two minutes slower than the 1:16:05

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

Run Charlevoix, Charlevoix

Rains Cease, Numbers Soar at Run Charlevoix

Redford’s Heather Dyc was the fastest woman in 1:35:59 (a 7:20 pace), easily outdistancing the rest of the field on a day when only three other women could manage a sub8:00 pace. “It was an extremely difficult race,” Dyc said. “The heat, coupled with the hills, was enough to make me debate quitting on several occasions. “I’ve never run this race before so I was shocked by the hills,” she continued. “They really wear you down during those last few crucial miles. “Overall, I tried to run strong and steady for as long as I could, then the plan was to kick it up the last few miles. But it felt more like I was just hanging on for the mere sake of finishing.” Krys Brish of Milford ran a 1:42.50 to take the female masters crown. In the 5K, Paige McGahan, 17, of Brighton (20:32) was the overall female winner, unseating three-time reigning champion Dana Cline of Hartland. This year, Cline (20:55) was the second overall, but could not catch the younger McGahan. The female masters winner was Jeralyn McGahan of Brighton (23:36). On the men’s side, Ryan Rau, 29, of Pinckney crossed first in 17:21 (5:36 pace). He held off a pair of 15-year-olds, Michael Cox of Pinckney and Jack Kosaian of Brighton, who finished a close second (17:31) and third (17:36), respectively. Dominic Nicita continued Brighton’s strong showing by winning the male masters 5K in 18:58.

Photo by Sharon Suffolk

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

Half-marathoners start at Run Charlevoix.

By Tracey Cohen

CHARLEVOIX (6/26/10) — The morning rain ended with 15 minutes to spare, while temperatures remained cool for nearly 1,300 runners and walkers from 41 states and 11 countries taking part in the fourth annual Run Charlevoix. The event featured a half and full marathon for those looking to go long, as well as 5K and 10K races, considerable in their own right. Race directors Ron and Sharon Suffolk created Run Charlevoix based on how much he loves northern Michigan summers and riding his bike on the path to Petoskey. He thought others might share these feelings. This year’s race attendance was up more than 400 over last year — a sign he was right and more people are catching on.

Attendance was down from last year (238 for the 5K, down from 294; 153 for the half-marathon, down from 188), probably due to the heat. Hopefully, next year’s race will enjoy more-favorable conditions for the running of the ducks!

The flat, fast course starts in town and takes runners past a small ski hill, through pristine neighborhoods and onto a bike path. A 1.1-mile wooden bridge allows athletes to cross wetlands while enjoying a “real spring in their step.”

Regular contributor Anthony Targan has competed in all four Hungry Duck Runs, posting a half-marathon personal-record time of 1:30:49 in 2008. MR

Bill Fuchs, the marathon walk champion (4:43:58) in his third year here, called the course, “pretty with lots of good views. The bridge

is awesome.” He was impressed with the novelty of cruising past the ski hill while still in town. Chuck Engle defended his marathon running title, finishing in 2:39:26. Anna Forsythe paced the women in 3:12:55, nearly five minutes faster than runner-up Jenny Robbins. Ryan Linden and Amanda Vintevoghel claimed overall honors in the half marathon, posting times of 1:11:39 and 1:34:52 respectively. Luke Pease (34:53) and Kathy Daniels (43:57) won the 10K. Alex Dane prevailed in the 5K in 19:57, a two-second victory over Erica Westbrook, who led the women. Lisa Radandt captured the women’s marathon walk in 5:46:41. Walkers Vince Fochtman (2:51:08) and Jeanne Bocci (2:45:08) were victorious in the half. The post-race party was festive, with plenty of food and beverages for all. Marathon finisher Marit Janse was especially impressed with the vegetarian sandwiches, a “nice surprise” that she seldom finds. For complete results and more information on next year’s race, visit http://raceservices.com and http://goodboyevents.com. - MR Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Farmington Founder’s Festival Run, Farmington

Farmington Founder’s Run is Flat-Out Fun

By Anthony Targan

FARMINGTON (7/17/10) — There’s nothing like a parade. And there’s nothing like a spectator-filled parade route to bring out the best in runners. The Farmington Founder’s Festival mixes a carnival atmosphere with community spirit, and it’s a winning combination on race day. At the starting line, Kevin Sherwood (aka “Captain America”), wearing his trademark American flag shorts and headband, finally met his match, coming face-to-face with Karen Bhagwat, decked out as Wonder Woman. A motorcycle police escort led runners on a fast downhill start. The 4-mile course wound around well-marked corners in residential neighborhoods and climbed some gradual hills, which proved more challenging than expected given the heat. The 9 a.m. start, designed to maximize spectators, contributed to above-normal temperatures. Just after the 2.5-mile mark, runners turned right on Grand River Avenue and began their gradual descent along the parade route towards the finish. Some faced an additional challenge at the final turn into Shiawassee Park: navigating a

narrow passage past a team of Clydesdales that stood nervously at attention while runners slipped by. Emery Pitcel, 19, was the overall winner in 21:25 (a 5:21 pace). Angela Matthews repeated as first woman overall in 22:30. “It was significantly warmer this year than last year,” said Matthews. “It’s always fun to get a win and I like running around Farmington. A lot of familiar faces come out for the race.” She really enjoyed the long straightaway on Grand River: “It’s great because it’s almost impossible to run slow in the last mile,” Matthews said. Steve Menovick took the male masters crown in 22:22 despite recovering from a recent stress reaction in his foot. “I felt pretty good out there,” said Menovick, although the “heat was definitely a factor” the last two miles. He applauded the “great course” design, and, as an 18-year Farmington Hills resident, also enjoyed the entire weekend of festivities. The women’s masters title went to Donna Olson (28:21), who at age 60 has seen her

share of Founder’s Day races. She agreed that the city’s recreation department “does a nice job” with the course and seemed to enjoy the race despite the hills and heat. The four winners each received running shoes courtesy of race sponsor New Balance. One group of young runners had the additional incentive of beating their mentor at his own game. Coach Mark Wright’s Farmington Soccer Club U-13 girls decided as a team to run the race. Lindsay Crawley agreed that doing so was good training for soccer. Grace Voorman, 10, thought that the course was “fun” and “not really hard.” Coach Wright has encouraged his girls to do one- to two-mile runs as off-season conditioning for soccer and to keep track of their collective miles, just as he does during his marathon training. On this day, the girls tallied 32 miles to their coach’s four, putting the team ahead in their friendly competition. The influx of young runners gave a welcome boost of energy to this race, as more than 20 percent participants (70 of 297) were under 20 years old.

Anthony Targan is a regular contributor to Michigan Runner magazine. MR

Alma Highland Festival Runs, Alma By Michael Heberling

Highland Festival Adds 8-Miler

ALMA (5/29/10) – I have run every Alma Highland Festival 5K race since 2004, last year finally winning my age division. As a new challenge, I decided to try the festival’s new 8-mile race this year. I lined up with 800-plus others in front of the Alma College campus on a beautiful morning with near-perfect running conditions. Race director Craig Tubbs started all the 5K runners/walkers and 8-mile runners at 9:15. I had a hard time holding myself back. I needed to pace myself for an 8-mile race, not the usual 5K. The first, downhill mile here is always fast. We ran the same route as the Festival parade, which would start at 10:30. Many people were already sitting in lawn chairs on both sides of the street to guarantee a good view of the parade. My son, Adam, was among them. He 28

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

back to the finish line. Many well-wishers lined the final section of the course. I finished in 1:01:22/7:41, good enough for second place in my 55-59 age division, and won an attractive medal attached to a Scottish tartan ribbon.

It is always exciting to have people cheer you on as you run along the parade route. Mile 3 would be through the Alma neighborhood.

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

At just over 2.5 miles, the course split. The 5K runners turned right and headed back towards the campus and finish line. The 8-milers turned left onto the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, site of an old railroad track converted into a bike path. We ran two miles out and two miles back on a very flat, scenic asphalt course. As I was outbound, the eventual winners flew past me heading the other way: Tyler Noble, 18, of Shepherd (42:21/a 5:18-permile pace), and Tori McConnell, 35, of Mt Pleasant (55:21/6:56). After four miles on the bike path, I headed

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

This well-organized race enjoyed a large number of local sponsors. Everyone received a technical shirt and pass to the Highland Festival as part of registration. The Alma Highland Festival is becoming a major running event in central Michigan. In 2009 there were 648 runners and walkers. This year there were 875, a 35-percent increase. Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Heberling, Ph.D., is president of the Baker College Center for Graduate Studies in Flint. MR

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

National Cherry Festival Meijer Festival of Races, Traverse City, July 10 Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

R.P. White won the 15K in 49:02.

Kylen Cieslak was the first woman in the 15K, 57:13.

Race Director Lisa Taylor has brought popular changes to the Meijer Festival of Races.

Golden Mile

Cherry Festival Parade spectators enjoyed the return of the Golden Mile. Molly Lehman (bib #12) won the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s race in 4:49.44. Moses Wawara won in 4:06.67.

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

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Triceratops Triathlon, Brighton

O’Mara, Deighan Grab Triceratops by Horns By Charles Douglas McEwen BRIGHTON (6/23/10) — Hannah Smith dominated the half-mile swim and Anne Marie Phillips had a powerful 12.4-mile bike, but Erin O’Mara passed both on the 5K run and won the Triceratops Triathlon.

The race took place on a sweltering Wednesday evening that made Island Lake Recreation Area feel like Jurassic Park. O’Mara played catch-up for much of it. Smith, 23, of Dexter, a recent University of Michigan swim team member, led everyone coming out of Kent Lake in 11:53. Eventual masters champ Phillips, 49, of Northville, took over the lead on the bike leg.

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

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

Photo by Charles Douglas McEwen

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

Photo by Charles Douglas McEwen

O’Mara, 26, of Ypsilanti repeated as women’s champion of the event, part of Running Fit’s T-Rex Series. She also won the T-Rex Triathlon in 2008 and 2009 and finished second in last year’s Pterodactyl Tri, giving her enough dinosaur trophies to make a paleontologist jealous.

Erin O’Mara won with There O’Mara, who had the the fastest 5K run. fastest 5K run (19:09) among the women, passed Smith and Phillips to finish in 1:10:23, 10 seconds faster than her winning time last year. Smith ended up second (1:11:58) and Phillips third (1:12:54). For the men, Joe Deighan, 39, of Beverly Hills, emerged from the water a few seconds behind Smith, but quickly opened a big lead on the bike. He then held off runner-up Ryan Rau, 30, of Hamburg during the 5K run to win the race. “He (Deighan) was out of the water about a minute ahead of me,” said Rau, “and it stayed that distance the rest of the way. We’re closely-matched on the bike and run, but he’s always out of the water before me in triathlons.” Deighan finished in 1:01:19. Rau, the winner of last year’s Pterodactyl Tri, crossed in 1:01:47. Roman Krzyzanowski, 39, of Plymouth placed third (1:04:38). Masters champ Louis Probst, 40, finished fourth overall (1:05:48). “It’s a fast course with little traffic,” Deighan said. “Running Fit did an awesome job.” “Any Wednesday night that you do a triathlon is a good Wednesday night,” Rau said. For complete race results, go to http://runtrextri.com. MR

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Pterodactyl Triathlon, Brighton

Deighan, Smith Triumph in Pterodactyl Tri

By Charles Douglas McEwen

BRIGHTON (7/21/10) — While giant, winged reptiles may have glided over what is now Island Lake Recreation Area millions of years ago, Joe Deighan and Hannah Smith tore through the 4,000-acre state park at this year’s Pterodactyl Triathlon. Deighan, 39, of Beverly Hills and Smith, 23, of Dexter snagged overall victories in the race. The Pterodactyl was race No. 2 in Running Fit’s T-Rex Triathlon Series, which also includes the Triceratops Tri in June and T-Rex Tri in August. All three take place on Wednesday evenings and use the same course. In June Deighan won the Triceratops, while Smith took second among the women behind Erin O’Mara. Both employed the same strategies this time. Each took the lead in the half-

mile swim, stayed strong through the 20K bike and finished the 5K run more than two minutes ahead of their closest rivals. “I was actually behind her (Smith) coming out of the water,” Deighan pointed out. “She was fast!” Deighan passed Smith on the bike as did several other men, but no other woman could touch her. The winner, who graduated from the University of Michigan last year, was an All-American swimmer for the school. “I got a new bike before this race. That helped as well,” Smith said. She finished in 1:07:17. Next came O’Mara, 26, of Ypsilanti (1:09:41), Anne Marie Phillips, 49, of Northville (1:10:39), Kelly Bennett, 35, of Royal Oak (1:10:46) and Chrissy Robert, 28, of Ann Arbor (1:11:35).

Deighan, who timed 1:10:10, was followed across the finish line by Roman Krzyzanowski, 39, of Plymouth (1:03:24). The two men, who both compete for Team Mongo, enjoyed vying on a Wednesday evening. “I think it’s a great idea,” Krzyzanowski said. “It doesn’t interfere with your weekend. It’s late enough that you don’t have to take time out from work, but you still get home by 9 p.m.” Finishing third, fourth and fifth were Chad Mahakian, 25, of Farmington Hills (1:05:40), Thierry Guertin, 37, of Windsor, Ontario (1:05:53) and Doug Bishop, 26, of Ann Arbor (1:06:18). For complete results, go to http://runtrextri.com.

- MR -

Venetian Festival / Jeff Drenth Memorial Footrace and Ryan Shay Mile, Charlevoix, July 24 Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

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

Jeff See (3:55.98) edged Liam Boylan Pett (3:56.42) in the Ryan Shay Mile. Five men ran sub 4:00 miles.

Tina Muir won the 5K in 17:47.

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Howell Independence Aquathlon and Open Water Swim, Howell

Aquathlon, Swim Are Just Day at the Beach for Pair

By Charles Douglas McEwen

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

HOWELL (7/4/10) — Brian MacIlvain enjoyed a spectacular holiday at the eighth annual Howell Independence Aquathlon and Open Water Swim, winning the former and finishing second in the latter. But Heidi Hendrick fared even better, winning both.

“We had a great day and crowd,” race director Peter Bowen said. Races started and ended on the Howell City Park beach and made use of Thompson Lake.

He finished in 26:53, followed by Rau in 27:03. Baker, eighth overall, again paced the masters in 29:59.

Photo by Charles Douglas McEwen

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

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

Matt West, 35, of Ypsilanti won the open swim in 17:31, beating MacIlvain, 26, of Ann Arbor (17:48). Top master Scott Baker, 48, of Bay City finished sixth overall in 18:54. Hendrick, 29, a former collegiate swimmer who now lives in Saginaw, led the women, placing just behind MacIlvain in 17:52. Her friend Jennifer Coleman, 41, of Midland took second in 18:58. “Heidi is an amazing athlete,” said Coleman, who was also the top masters woman in the race. The aquathlon — which consists of a 2-mile run, 750-meter swim and another 2-mile run —

Hendrick, women’s runnerup in last year’s aquathlon, won this time in 30:43.

Eventual Aquathlon winner, Bruce MacIlvain (far right) take an early lead. blasted off one hour after the swim, at 10 a.m. Ryan Rau, 30, of Brighton, shot out to a huge early lead, but MacIlvain, a former swimmer for the University of Rochester in New York, caught up to him in the swim. “The swim is really important here, because Ryan crushed me in the first 2-mile run,” said MacIlvain. “But I was able to get back into the race during the swim.” Rau reclaimed the lead early in the second run, the two dueled, “then I went into overdrive,” said the winner. “I was an 800meter runner in college, so if I can stay in

“This is the only aquathlon I know of,” she said. “That’s why I came back — because it’s so different from any other race.”

Whitney Wilson, 22, of Commerce took second in 31:19. Third was masters champ Jennifer Coleman in 32:11. Jim Donaldson, 66, of Sylvania, Ohio, who coordinates triathlons and duathlons with his wife, Joyce, for Elite Endeavors, competed in both July 4 events. “The water was beautiful,” Donaldson said. “This is a low-key event with a nice atmosphere. The organizers do a good job.” For complete results, go http://www.everalracemgt.com. - MR -

Flirt with Dirt, Novi By Ron Marinucci

O’Mara Ups Heat at Humid Flirt with Dirt

NOVI (6/12) — It wasn’t just the humidity and heat that grabbed runners’ attention at the annual Flirt with Dirt trail races. Erin O’Mara’s efforts opened eyeballs too. O’Mara ran both races, tearing through the 7:30 a.m. 5K to get to the 10K start with more than five minutes to spare. This is nothing new, as she has won the women’s 5K and 10K each of the last two years. But this year, she was the overall 5K winner in 20:27, then came back to win the women’s 10K (42:54) while finishing fourth overall. “Yes, the 5K is my first overall win,” said O’Mara after the races. “But I’d like to thank Brian St. Onge for going the wrong way and 40

Jason Mahakian for following him.” The two men, leading at the time, missed a turn and ended up running close to 10K in a race supposed to be half that distance. “If they had stayed on course, I would have been in third overall,” O’Mara said. “I am bummed it happened. No runner wants to win because someone else went the wrong way, especially when they’re your friends. “There isn’t much time between races, so you can’t plan on much recovery,” she continued. “The key is not working too hard in the 5K where you feel fresh, then trying to keep a good attitude in the 10K when your legs feel a little dead. “I noticed more people running both races

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

this year. It’s a fun challenge. I like races that allow people to do both,” O’Mara said. Flirt is billed as a trail race in “the land of malls and mansions,” but it is a true trail race. Both competitions are run on narrow footpaths, making passing difficult. There are many twists, turns and switchbacks. Roots, limbs, branches and rocks “litter” the course. Two fallen logs just past mile one required hurdling two or three feet, sort of a steeplechase. Recent rains left the courses muddy, puddled and slippery in spots. In the woods, the trees trapped humidity and blocked potentially-cooling breezes. But Flirt has seen worse — or better, depending on one’s view.

After running for several charities, the students chose a race, “as a celebration for working.” They agreed they wanted “to get dirty,” laughed Tuite, so Flirt was their choice. In the week before the race, “their main excitement” was watching for rain to help them “get dirty.” Two Daycroft runners are visually impaired — “legally blind,” said Tuite. “But you’d have no idea they’re blind. They run independently.” She and one student’s mother ran with each of the youngsters, but, “we had to hurry to catch up with them a couple times!” Tuite said. “Flirt with Dirt is always a good time,” said Joe Burns, who ran the 10K. “Running Fit’s Serious Trail Series gives us three great reasons to look forward to each summer.” Burns was glad that he’d carried a water bottle. “Humid was the word of the day,” he said. “When it’s cooler out in the open field in the sunshine than it is back on the trails, you know you’re in for a good test. “I was struggling the last couple miles. With a mile to go, I looked like I’d just stepped out of a pool (or nearby Walled Lake?) thanks to the humidity. I ran up to a young lady (Elizabeth Peterson, also struggling); we encouraged each other down to the last turn, then up that blasted hill” — a sadistic finishing flourish of 40 yards in both races. “It seems that those who struggle together always finish together,” Burn said. Flirt cut off registration at 600, as it did last year, due to parking and trail limitations. Both races sold out several weeks beforehand. The 5K drew 208 finishers. Leading the men, errant and otherwise, was Alexander Gray (20:54), almost half a minute behind O’Mara. Alex Dane blew in just five seconds later. The overall 10K winner was Jeremy Doody (40:47). He was well over a minute in front of runner-up Jimmy Hicks (41:58). Results can be found at http://runflirt.com. - MR -

Waterloo Triathlon, Waterloo

Masters Francis, Sundermann Triumph at Waterloo

By Charles Douglas McEwen

WATERLOO (7/11/10) — Who’s afraid of the big 4-0? Not Melissa Sundermann, 40, of Ann Arbor or Brian Francis, 43, of Brighton. They won the Waterloo Triathlon, presented by Elite Endeavors at Waterloo State Recreation Area. Francis had already enjoyed a good week when he came to this triathlon on Sunday morning. His wife, Angie, had given birth to a daughter four days before the race. (Francis dedicated his victory to his family.) He had also won here in 2008, but finished second last year and was determined to reclaim his title on this halfmile swim, 16-mile bike and 5-mile run course. “I told my wife before I left this morning, ‘I’m going to put the hammer down today. Whoever shows up, tough bananas. I’m winning this thing!’” he said.

Photo by Charles Douglas McEwen

“The race was a blast!” enthused O’Mara. “I love trail runs. Running Fit always puts on great events. I thought the courses might be sloppy, but they were in pretty good shape. There were a few slick turns, but I didn’t have any problems.” Also running the 5K were nine elementary students from Daycroft Running Club in Ann Arbor. Coached by Mandi Tuite, the club is part of the Daycroft Montessori School. “We trained for nine weeks,” said Tuite, “specifically for Flirt with Dirt.”

While Francis has won often through the years, Sundermann had never claimed an overall victory in a triathlon before.

Melissa Sundermann claimed her first triathlon win.

“I’m very happy to win here,” she said. “I thought I could be in the top three. I didn’t know if I could win.” Not that she didn’t want it. “I’ve trained a lot harder, and the right way, as I’ve neared 40,” said Sundermann. “It’s paid off!” Both champs had to overcome a strong field. Francis, who timed 1:22:20, beat 2007 champ Joe Deighan, 39, of Beverly Hills (1:23:18) by 58 seconds. Next came William Vann, 21, of East Leroy (1:24:37) and Matt West, 35, of Ypsilanti (1:25:23). Vann and West were 1-2 out of the water in 12:05 and 12:18 respectively, to Francis’s 12:46. The eventual winner kicked it up a notch in the bike. “I took the lead at about six miles,” Francis said, “and really pushed hard from there. We were going pretty fast downhill; I had an aerodynamic position and really cranked it. I took the corners kind of hard, but not too aggressively.” His 37:17 in the 16-mile bike was by far

the best time in the competition. Sundermann also fared well on the bike, but still trailed entering the run. She then picked off one woman after another and won the race in 1:35:42. Next came Terry Bennett, 35, of Royal Oak (1:37:07), Mindy Fernando, 32, of Franklin (1:38:47) and Ann Marie Phillips, 49, of Northville (1:40:14). Bennett led with a couple miles left in the run when Sundermann whipped by her. “I knew she was coming,” Bennett said. “I knew she was going to run me down. She looked lean, mean and faster than me.” Waterlooo also hosted a duathlon, won by Kurt Sherwood, 50, of Kalamazoo and Melinda Calgie, 38, of Toledo. “I train hard and try to be a good example for my three daughters,” Calgie said. Race directors Jim and Joyce Donaldson “are terrific,” said Francis. “I’ve done many of their races and they do the job with no hiccups. They are right on target every time.” For complete results, go to http://eliteendeavors.com. MR

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Brian Diemer Amerikam 5K Race, Cutlerville

Diemer Runners Beat Humidity, Handicaps, Heat

By Daniel G. Kelsey

Stone covered the course on a running prosthesis she was fitted for a year and a half before. Overbeck entered the event after returning to Grand Rapids from a stint in the engineering of prosthetics.

Photo by Scott Sullivan

CUTLERVILLE (6/12/10) — Elizabeth Stone and Christina Overbeck didn’t meet before or after the 21st annual Brian Diemer Amerikam 5K Run. They were nowhere near one another during the race. But in spirit they went hand in hand.

Eventual winner Ian Forsyth, bib #2, and runner-up Jed Christiansen, bib #4, are

Stone, 20, of Grand Rapids, among early leaders of the Diemer 5K Run. was born without a femur — her right knee in the region of her hip; her foot, since removed, about where her Overbeck, 24, of Chicago, a Seattle native, knee might have been. Adopted from Russia majored in mechanical engineering at Calvin at age 4, she wore a prosthetic from early College. Her interest in biomechanics landed childhood. her this spring at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago as a volunteer. The bubbly Overbeck In 2009 her running prosthesis freed her worked both with patients and in the lab, to participate in track during her senior year assessing motion, tweaking prosthetics. at Grand Rapids Christian High School and to race in the 25K at the Fifth Third River “I’ve had a pretty cool time for the last Bank Run. month,” Overbeck said. “I’ve seen a couple athletes. If I decide to get into the field I’d But her focus this year was on preparations like to work with athletes, because running’s to swim in six events at the Paralympics World such a joy to me.” Championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, in August. While warming up for the Diemer, A while later she reacted as if overjoyed at Stone said she hadn’t trained for running and word that her 18:13 landed her in ninth place. had no particular goal in terms of speed. “Finishing would be good,” she said. Danielle Quisenberry, 28, of Hillsdale, was one of the eight women who came in Half an hour or so later, she posted a ahead of her. A year ago Quisenberry lost out chip time of 28:28. on a Diemer championship by three seconds, placing third in a race to the finish with Denisa Costescu and Sarah Hinkley. Before this year’s running she said she hoped to better her 2009 time of 17:07. “Yeah, I’d like to run faster than that. But it’s kind of muggy out here,” she said. “I’ll try to go out fast and then hold on.”

Photo by Scott Sullivan

But she had no expectation of winning, due to the presence of Andrea Pomaranski, who beat her going away in the Spectrum Health Irish Jig 5K in East Grand Rapids in March.

Danielle Quisenberry 44

Katie Jazwinski, 31, of Dexter finished second in 16:48. Suzanne Larsen, 32, of Fenton claimed third in 17:10. Costescu, 34, of Walled Lake, took seventh place. Like Quisenberry, Ruben Henderson, 48, of Grand Rapids noted the mugginess before the race. But the former Saginaw Valley State University track and cross-country athlete shook off any suggestion that conditions might influence his results. “No. I trained in the dead of heat,” he said. “I’m racing against Paul Aufdemberge, my old running rival.” With a straight face Henderson said he’d come to win the Amerikam and to break 14 minutes. He finished 38th overall with a gun time of 17:17. Ian Forsyth, 38, of Ann Arbor won the 21st Diemer men’s crown by nosing out Jed Christiansen, 23, of Greenville, Penn., in a two-way finish. Forsyth posted a 14:45, Christiansen a 14:47. Two other men, Dennis Pollon, 23, of Ransomville, N.Y., in third and Kristopher Koster, 28, of Grand Rapids, in fourth, eclipsed the 15-minute mark.

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

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

Pomaranski, 27, of Farmington made sure there would be no repeat of a three-way finish among the women, posting a 16:14 to break Mandi Zemba’s course record.

For complete results, visit http://classicrace.com. MR

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

July - October 2010 Event Calendar September Wed., September 1 Hansons Half/Full Marathon Training Clinic #3

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

Grass River Natural Area Trail Run

Bellaire 9:00 am 5KR (231) 533-8314 grnarun@hotmail.com grassriver.org / active.com

Greatest 5K Ever Grand Rapids

10:00 am

Riverside Park 5KR (616) 828-9557 joseph@ helpfightscleroderma.com helpfightscleroderma.com/run

Harrison Community Days 5K Run/Walk Harrison 9:00 am Harrison City Park 5KR/W (989) 802-4759 todreeve@hotmail.com harrisonschools.com

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

Marquette 8:00 am 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 Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

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

Port Oneida Run

Glen Arbor 9:00 am Charles Olsen Farm 5KR/W, 1/2MFR (231) 334-6103 phsb@leelanau.com phsb.org

Ringside Fitness Marquette Marathon

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

Run Beaver Island Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K Beaver Island 8 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

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 (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com Swampfoot 4 Mile Saint Clair 4MR, 1MR

swampfoot@ymail.com swampfoot4mile.com/

Witchy Wolf 3

7:30 pm Omer 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

Ontonagon 10:00 am 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

Marathon Oasis de Montreal

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

Running Waters 5K

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

10:00 am

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

Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

COVE Benefit Beach Walk and Run

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

Dances with Dirt - Hell

Pickney/Hell 6:15 am Pinckney Recreation Area, Half Moon Lake 50MR, 50KR, 100 K Relay Running Fit (734) 929-9027 events@runningfit.com danceswithdirt.com 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

Grape Lake 5K Run/Walk

Rose City / Lupton Walk/Run

Paw Paw 8:00 am Bronson LakeView Hospital, 408 Hazen St. 5K R/W (269) 657-1326 mmcconnell@ bronsonhq.org www.thtiming.com

Wed., September 8

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

Lupton 9:00 am Rifle River Recreation Area 10KR/W (810) 247-0104 ptlhiben@hotmail.com active.com

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 Jackson 8:00 am Allegiance Radiation

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Oncology - Tejada Center 5MR, 5KR/W, kids run (517) 788-4970 amy.saties@ allegiancehealth.com fitnesscouncil.org/ runjackson/

Kazoo Area Foot Chase

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 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

NSO Riverwalk 5K

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

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 Pink Arrow Quiver

Lowell 7:30 am Lowell HS 5KR/W (616) 862-8376 bethkaminski@yahoo.com signmeup.com/71067 / pinkarrowpride.org

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

10:45 am Grand Ledge 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 HS 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

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

Sprinterlochen

9:07:50 am Interlochen Tom’s of Interlochen 15KR, 5KR/W (231) 947-0003, ext. 18 Josh@wklt.com raceservices.com

St. Mary Parish Festival 5K Run Walk Morrice 12:45 pm Main and Davis 5KR, 2KR/W (517) 625-4260 lnebo@catholicweb.com stmarymorrice. catholicweb.com

St. Mike’s Race for Faith 5K

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

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/ Run To Remember

Sandusky 9:30 am Sandusky Diamond Trail 5KR/W (810) 648-0330 kathleen61966@yahoo.com

Walk the Walk Grand Blanc Health Park

9:00 am

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

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

Hardick Chiropractic Centre Springbank Half-Marathon and 5K

London, ON 8:00 am 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

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

(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

Motor City Marathon

7:00 am Detroit Belle Isle 13.1MR, 10KR (734) 255-3676 alex@ontherunraces.com ontherunraces.com

River Run

8:00 am Cleveland, OH Wallace Lake /Rocky River High School 13.1 MR, Relay, Inline Skate, 5KR (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/

St. Mary Mercy Hospital 5K Run/Walk for Cancer Livonia 9:00 am St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Five Mile and Levan Rd. 5KR/W (734) 655-1593 kennedyj@trinity-health.org active.com / www.stmarymercy.org

Tortoise and Hare Marathon Training Run

Ann Arbor 9:00 am 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 4:45 pm Starr Park camp (586) 822-8606 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

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

Utica 6:30 am 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

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

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

9:00 am Mackinaw City 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

Sturgis 9:00 am 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

Dirty Dog Dash Boyne Falls 10:00 am Boyne Mountain 3MR (517) 819-5898 casey@dirtydogdash.com dirtydogdash.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 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 Kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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/

Peacock Strut

Portage 8:00 am Celery Flats 10KR, 5KR/W, kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s run (269) 323-1942 dschrock@charter.net www.iserv.net/~pcoc / classicrace.com

Riverbend 5K Run / Walk for MS

West Branch 9:00 am Page Street Senior Center 5KR/W, kids run (989) 225-9213 orlandos@m33access.com active.com

St. John Applefest

Fenton 9:00 am 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

VNA 5K Run/Walk for the Health of It Grosse Pointe Shores 9:30 am Edsel & Eleanor Ford House 5KR/W (248) 967-9600 aweaver@vna.org active.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

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

Eastern Michigan Softball Knock Cancer Outta the Park 5K

Ypsilanti 10:00 am Eastern Michigan Varsity Softball Field 5KR/W (734) 487-2274 eoakley@emich.edu

Fox Cities Marathon

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

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

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

Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

White Pine Academy 5K

Leslie 8:00 am 5KR/W (517) 403-8813 whitepine5k@gmail.com whitepineacademy.homestead.com/5k.html

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@

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

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

10:00 am Royal Oak 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

Clarkston 9:00 am 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

Esperanza 5K Run/Walk

Traverse City 11:00 am Grand Traverse Commons 5KR/W, 1MW Great Lakes Friends of Safe Passage greatlakesfriends@ safepassage.org sites.google.com/a/safepassa ge.org/esperanza5k/home/traversecity

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

2:00 pm Kalamazoo 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/

Happy Heart Run

Coldwater 9:00 am Heritage Park 5KR/W, 1MFR mashauns@chcbc.com runningfoundation.com/ Happy_Heart.html Highland Conservancy 5K Nature Highland 9:00 am Railroad Tracks by Highland Feed 5KR (248) 887-8470, x40 hcinfo@ highlandconservancy.org highlandconservancy.org/pages/home/

Jefferson Cross Country Invitational Monroe 9:00 am Sterling State Park HS, MS XC meet (734) 289-5590 speare@jhtrack.com www.jeffinvite.org

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

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

Midnight Run

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

Oktoberfest Lagerlauf 5K Fun Run & Walk

Grand Rapids 12:00 pm John Ball Park Zoo 5KR/W (616) 890-5978 dbostian@live.com oktoberfestwestmichigan.com / signmeup.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 Race the Lake

Houghton Lake 10:00 am Arbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on Iroquois Ave. 5KFR JoJean Thompson (989) 787-0550 racethelake@gmail.com www.artesiayouthpark.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

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

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 (906) 632-3301 director@saultstemarie.org www.saultstemarie.org

Save the Wildlife 5K Run/Walk

5KR/W, 1MW (517) 546-0249 hcnc@howellnaturecenter.org howellnaturecenter.org

Walk of Remembrance

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

Howell 10:00 am Howell Conference and Nature Center

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

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Sun., Sept. 26

Aspen Attack MTB Duathlon and Race

8:00 am Gaylord 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 5KR/W (419) 724-2873 raceinfo@ komennwohio.org komennwohio.org/ race_info.htm

Quad Cities Marathon

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

Run with Attitude 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk

Commerce Twp 10 am Martin Parkway Project 5KR, 1MR/W Greg Janicki runwithattitude@aol.com active.com

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

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

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

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

Grand Rapids 10:00 am 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 Riverside Park 5KR (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

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

Pumpkinfest Run 5K and 10K

South Lyon 10:00 am 9 Mile Road and Pontiac Trail 5KR/W, 1MR Scott Smith (248) 207-5135 smiths@slcs.us southlyonpumpkinfest.com/1/124/pump kinfest_run.asp

Red October Run

Wayne 9:00 am Oakwood Annapolis Hospital 10KR, 5KR/W, 1M kid’s run Cynthia Cook (313) 586-5486 cynthia.cook@ oakwood.org oakwood.org/ redoctoberrun/ Remembrance Run

Traverse City 10:00 am 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 Pinehurst Lake 50KR, 25KR/W (519) 576-1824

9:30 am

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 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

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

Zonta Walks for Women / Breast Cancer Awareness

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

Sunday, October 3 Andrews University Homecoming Run

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

9:00 am Berrien Springs 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

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

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

Farmington Fall Classic

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

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

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

MSU Federal Credit Union Dinosaur Dash

10:00 am East Lansing MSU Museum 5KR/W, 1MR (517) 432-4655 dinodash@ museum.msu.edu museum.msu.edu/ events/dinosaurdash/

Thurs., October 7 White Pumpkin 5K

Caro 6:00 pm Highland Pines School 5KR/W (989) 673-4241 whitechiro@centurytel.net

Sat., October 9 Bee Brave 5K Run/Walk

Caledonia 9:00 am 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

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Easy as Pi 5K Run/Walk

11:00 am Mt. Pleasant Island Park 5KR/W (616) 902-2431 Greve1me@cmich.edu phisigmapi.org

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

Harbor Springs Marathon and 1/2 Marathon

Harbor Springs 7:00 am Zorn Park 26.2MR, 13.1MR The Outfitter of Harbor Springs (231) 526-2621 info@outfitterharbors prings.com outfitterharborsprings.com 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

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

Pride Glide Memorial Race Bay Port 9:30 am 10KR, 5KR/W (989) 550-2109 fademing@yahoo.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

SOS Animal Rescue Dirty Dog Run

Midland 8:00 am Midland City Forest 10KR, 5KR, 1MFR Heather Kettelhohn (989) 859-1496 heatherkettelhohn@att.net sosanimalrescue.org

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

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

10:00 am Mason 5KR/W (517) 676-2290 mcsusan@acd.net inghamconservation.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

KDB Melanoma 5K Run/Walk

Milford Kensington Metropark East, Boat Launch 5KR/W (313) 505-2445 triciae363@comcast.net melanomawalk.org

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

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 56

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

Fish Lake 5K

Sturgis 9:00 am 5KR/W (269) 625-=3969 jeremyleebailey@yahoo.com

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 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

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Run for Ethiopia

tbd Honor 5KR/ 1MR/W (888) 935-2748 adam@foodforthought.net foodforthought.net

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

7:00 am Columbus, OH 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

Mon., October 18 Greater Lansing Junior Cross Country Championships DeWitt 3:30 pm 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 Chris Galatis cgalatis@ howellrecreation.org howellrecreation.org/ HeadlessHorseman5K .html

Dress in Halloween Costumes

KAR Halloween Hash & Kids Trick or Treat Mini Hash Run

Kalamazoo 10:00 am KVCC Texas Corners Campus. Texas Drive Trailhead. 3-7MR, 1/2MFR, kids’ run (269) 276-0431 david.walch@pfizer.com kalamazooarearunners.com

Manistee National Cross Country Invitational

Manistee 8:00 am Manistee National Golf and Resort 5K XCmeet, Open 5K Eric Ross (231) 690-0596 xcracemninvite @gmail.com manisteenationalinvite.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 Haunted Graveyard 5K

6:00 pm Adrian Oakwood Cemetery 5KR/W Dustin Lent (517) 264-4872

Niagara Falls International Marathon

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 MFR (231) 546-2229 info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com racingforrecovery.com Twinrivers Fun Run 5K

Muir 10:00 am 5KR/W (989) 855-3333 dellis@ionia.k12.mi.us www.ionia.k12.mi.us

Friday, October 29 Frightning Friday Fun 5K Walk/ Run

Minden City10:00 am 5KR/W (989) 864-3123 mclions5k@live.com mclions5k.webs.com

Sat., October 30 Alger Heights Halloween 5K

9:00 am Grand Rapids Alger Heights MS 5KR/W (616) 291-7988 alger5k@gmail.com www.alger5k.com

Child Benefit Fund Halloween Hustle 5K

6:00 pm Lansing 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

Haslett 10:00 am Lake Lansing Park - North 10KR (517) 655-9698 chris.holzer@earthlink.net www.theear.org

Fight for Air Climb - Lansing Lansing varies Spartan Stadium stair climb Rob Powell (616) 252-5028 rpowell@alarm.org lungusa.org/ associations/ states/michigan/

Hawley Ween Run/Walk

White Lake 9:00 am Judy Hawley Park 4MR/W (248) 698-3300, ext. 177 jpderen@aol.com whitelaketwp.com

Prairies and Ponds Poltergist Pursuit

Lapeer 9:00 am Lake Drive 5KR/W, 1MR/W (810) 538-1731 jblock@chatfieldschool.org

Run of the Dead

Detroit 9:00 am 5KR (3113) 842-0986, ext. 41 events@southwestdetroit.com savorsouthwestdetroit.org

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Scary Runner

Bay City 4:00 pm Wild Woods of Terror 5KR/W Runners Store (989) 686-8846 barc-mi.com

Sunday, October 31 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

November Sat., November 6 Don Dansereau Memorial Scholarship 5K Run/Walk

Bay City 10:00 am Bay Arenac Career Center 5KR/W (989) 553-6656 jmetevia@yahoo.com barc-mi.com

Iceman Cometh Mountain Bike Race

Kalkaska 8:00 am 27MB (231) 922-5926 race@iceman.com www.iceman.com

Livonia Turkey Trot

Livonia 9:30 am Bicentennial Park 5KR/W (734) 466-2411 awalker@ci.livonia.mi.us www.ci.livonia.mi.us

Michigan High School Cross Country L.P. State Finals

Brooklyn 10:00 am Michigan International Speedway 5KR Michigan High School Athletic Association (517) 332-5046 mhsaa.com/sports/bxc/

Muskegon Turkey Trot 5K Trail Run Muskegon 10:00 am Orchard View MS 5KR (231) 282-1215

jdwolters6436@gmail.com runnersedgeracetiming.com

St. Clair River Turkey Trot

St. Clair 9:00 am St. Clair Riverview Plaza 5KR (810) 329-7186 hollands@ieee.org stclairumc.org/node/24

Sun., November 7 Angus Glen Half Marathon

Markham, ON 8:00 am Angus Glen Golf Club 13.1MR/W, 10KR/W, 5KR/W (905) 887-0766 sara@raceworks.ca angusglenhalfmarathon.com

ING New York City Marathon New York City 26.2 MR (212) 423.2249 www.nyrrc.org

10:50 am

Stay in the Shadeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Highland Trail Run

Highland 10:00 am Highland Recreation Area 4.8MR, 2MW (248) 320-9102 karl.stayintheshade@ gmail.com www.stayintheshade.org

Turkey Trot Cross Country Run

Mt. Pleasant 3:00 pm Deerfield County Park 6KR X-C Harry Plouff (989) 772-0323 hplouff@yahoo.com www.edzone.net/~mphsstr/

Sat., November 13 ANG Road Hawg Classic

Battle Creek 9:00 am Battle Creek Air National Guard Base 10KR, 5KR/W (269) 969-3441 110.road.hawg@ang.af.mil greatlakeschampionchip .com

Glen Lake Turkey Trot Maple City 10:00 am Glen Lake School 5KR, 1MFR (231) 334-3080 getfit@skiwalking.com

Last Chance Cross Country Race

Brighton 10:00 am Huron Meadows Metro Park 5KR info@secondwindrm.com www.secondwindrm.com

Middleville Turkey Trail Trot

Middleville 9:00 am Roxanne Potter (269) 795-5535 rpotter@tkschools.org tkschools.org/departments/ operations

NCAA Division I Cross Country Regionals Great Lakes

Rochester 11:00 am Oakland University 10KR, 6KR NCAA (765) 494-7747 ncaasports.com

NIRCAOpen & Alumni XC Race

Bloomington, IN 8:30 am Indiana Univ. X-C Course 5KR race.management@ clubrunning.org www.clubrunning.org

Original Ann Arbor Turkey Trot

Dexter 8:30 am Hudson Mills Metro Park 10KR/W, 5KR/W, 1MFR, 200mFR Champions for Charity (734) 213-1033 events@ champsforcharity.com champsforcharity.com Panther Fall Classic

Comstock Park 9:00 am 100 Betty Dr NE, Mill Creek Middle School 5KR/W Scott Taylor/ The Runnery (616) 785-7880 svirkstis@cppschools.com therunnery.com

Saginaw Veterans Memorial Plaza Veterans Day Run

Saginaw 10:00 am 3MR/W (989) 529-7592 colleen@universalsign.us

Scarecrow Sprint XC Race Fremont, OH

10:00 am

Walsh Park 5KR (419) 332-5906 mdglotz@fremontohio.org

St. Jerome School/PSAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ohio/Michigan 5K

Walbridge, OH 9:00 am 5KR St. Jerome School (419) 699-3364 ttwil@embarqmail.com toledoroadrunners.org

The Alternate Half / 10K / 5K Midland 10:00 am Pere Marquette Rail Trail 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR Ryan Hackett (989) 289-2361 shepherdboy818@ yahoo.com signmeup.com

Woldumar Nature Center Run-a-Munk

Lansing 10:00 am Woldumar Nature Center, 5739 Old Lansing Road 10KR, 5KR/W (517) 627-1251 littlepup52@yahoo.com

Sun., November 14 The Burg Trail Run

Laingsburg 1:00 pm Laingsburg HS X-C course 10KR, 5KR/W, 1MW (517) 285-6487 josetbrown@gmail.com www.leaf4Kids.com

Roseville Big Bird Run

Roseville 10:00 am 10KR, 1MR/W, 4KR Tony Lipinski (586) 445-5480 alipinski@rosevillemi.com

Tues., Nov. 16 Wayne County Lightfest 8K Fun Run/Walk

Westland 7:00 pm Merriman Hollow Park, Hines Drive 8KR/W (734) 261-1990 khealy@co.wayne.mi.us waynecountyparks.org

Sat., November 20 Grand Finale

Lansing 9:30 am Grand Woods Park 5KR, 5K/8K team (517) 755-8440 runningrev72@juno.com runningfoundation.com/ Grand_Finale.html

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis

Bloomfield Hills 9 am Covington School 5KRW, kids run Arthritis Foundation, Michigan Chapter (248) 269-2895 / (800) 968-3030 x232 smertins@arthritis.org www.2010jbrbloomfiel d.kintera.org One Hill of a Run

Grand Rapids 9:00 am Union High School 10KR, 5KR Dan Droski (616) 260-2669 coachdroski@aim.com onehillofarun.mysite.com

Schrauger Memorial 5K Lake Orion 10:00 am Lake Orion High School 5KR, 1MR/W (248) 762-6825 jakerunner27@gmail.com active.com

WMU Turkey Trot

Kalamazoo 8:30 am tentative time Student Recreation Center 5KR (269) 387-4732 amy.seth@wmich.edu wmich.edu/rec/

Mon., Nov. 22 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships

Terre Haute, IN 11:00 am Wabash Family Sports 10KR, 6KR Center NCAA (812) 237-4040 ncaasports.com

Southwestern Michigan CollegeTurkey Trot 4:00 pm Dowagiac Southwestern Michigan College 8KR, 5KR, 1 MR Ron Gunn (269)782-1209 rgunn@swmich.edu www.swmich.edu

Thurs., Nov. 25

Ann Arbor Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

Ann Arbor 8:30 am University of Michigan North Campus Recreational Center 5KR/W Sharon Suffolk (248) 437-4524 sharon@ goodboyevents.org goodboyevents.com

KAR Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot Prediction Run

9:00 am Kalamazoo Kalamazoo Valley Community College,Texas 5KR Corners Campus (269) 679-2351 sctaylor75@verizon.net kalamazooarearunners.com

Lansing Turkeyman Trot Lansing 9:00 am Lansing Community College 5KR (517) 702-0226 cblock@lcc.edu runningfoundation.com

Smoke the Turkey 5K

Sylvania, OH 9:00 am St. James Club 5KR Elite Endeavors (419) 841-5597 jdjp@sev.org eliteendeavors.com

Fri., November 26 Fantasy 5K Howell 5KR

6:00 pm

(517) 546-3020 or (517) 464-7982 bpilot@cac.net howell.org

Bob Blunk 2MR (248) 627-6619 ARPraces@aol.com

Sun., November 28

December

Hansons Group Run 8:00 am Lake Orion Hansons Running Shop (248) 693-9900 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Road Racing at Metro Beach

11:00 am Harrison Twp Pointe Road - Metro Beach

Thurs, December 2 Run Through the Lights

6:30 pm Kalamazoo 5KR Gazelle Sports (269) 342-5996 chybels@gazellesports.com gazellesports.com

Dorks Brothers Turkey Trot Alpena 9:00 am Great Lakes Maritime Museum-Heritage Trail 5KR, 1MR (989) 354-5634 smischley@charter.net www.thunderbaytrails.org

Fifth Third Bank Thanksgiving Turkey Trot

Detroit 7:15 am Cobo Center 10KR, 5KR, 1MR The Parade Company (313) 247-4149 detroitturkeytrot.org Galloping Gobbler 4 Miler

Fort Wayne, IN 8:30 am Hutzell Athletic Center, Univ. of St. Francis Campus 4MR, 2MW (260) 436-4824 MitchVHarper@gmail.com FortWayneGobbler.com

Gazelle Sports Gobble Wobble

Grand Rapids 8:00 am 3930 28th Street 4.1MR, 1MR (616) 940-9888 twebster@gazellesports.com gazellesports.com

Gobbler Gallop Trail Run

Saginaw 9:00 am Imerman Memorial Park 5KR, 1.5MR/W (989) 513-5195 dfbernar@stcs.org

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Sat., December 4 Christmas Stocking Run

Flushing 10:00 am 4 MR/W Riverbend Striders (810) 487-0954 GRaceMgt@aol.com riverbendstriders.com

Dashing through the Snow

6:00 pm Fowlerville Downtown Fowlerville 5KR/W (517) 223-3098 Ashley_mrspt@yahoo.com fowlervillesports.com

Dickens of a Run

Mt Pleasant 8:30 am Max & Emily’s, downtown 5KR (989) 772-0323 hplouff@yahoo.com edzone.net/~mphsstr/

Holiday Hustle 5K / 1 Mile Dexter 4:00 pm

Monument Park 5KR, 1MR Running Fit (734) 929-9027 events@runningfit.com runholiday5k.com

Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis Northville

Northville 9:00 am Northville Downs 5KRW, 1/4 M Snowman Shuffle Arthritis Foundation, Michigan Chapter (248) 269-2895 / (800) 968-3030 x232 smertins@arthritis.org 2010jbrnorthville.kint era.org Reese Winter Road Race Series

Reese 10:00 am Reese High School 10KR, 5KR/W (989) 529-7904 Runwild1128@yahoo.com

(248) 328-3200 rob.basydlo@hask12.org runlikethedickens.com

Sun., December 5 Road Racing at Metro Beach

11:00 am Harrison Twp Pointe Road - Metro Beach Bob Blunk 2MR (248) 627-6619 ARPraces@aol.com

Tues., December 14 Grosse Pointe Christmas Light Run

Running of the Elves

6:30 pm Grosse Pointe Grosse Pointe store 6MR (248) 616-9665 sshoudy@hotmail.com hansons-running.com

Rochester 12:00 pm 5KR/W info@the-spf.org

Sat., December 11 Candy Cane Run

Sat., December 18

Grand Rapids 10:00 am GR Home for Veterans 6MR, 3MR, 1.5 MR (616) 459-5085 bill.grrc@gmail.com grandrapidsrunningclub.org

Jingle Belle Women’s 5K

Lansing 10:00 am Delta Township District Library 5KR/W (517) 490-2578 delta5k@dtdl.org www.dtdl.org

Run Like The Dickens and Tiny Tim Trot

Holly 9:00 am Karl Richter Campus 10KR, 5KR/W, Tiny Tim Trot Rob Basydlo

Bay Area Runners Club Holiday 5K Run/Walk Bay City 10:00 am Bay County Community Center 5KR/W John Metevia (989) 832-2267 jmetevia@yahoo.com barc-mi.com

HUFF 50K Trail Run

Huntington, IN 8:00 am Kekionga Trail, J. Edward Roush Lake, Kil-So-Quah Campground 50 KR, 50K Relay, 11MR (260) 436-4824 MitchVHarper@gmail.com www.huff50k.com

Sun., December 26 Hansons Group Run Lake Orion 8:00 am Hansons Running Shop

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

Harold Webster Boxing Day 10 Mile Run Hamilton, ON 11:00 am YMCA 79 James Street South 10MR James Van Dyke (905) 971-6040

james_van_dyke@hotmail.com

boxingdayrun.ca

Fri., December 31

Fifth Third New Year’s Eve Family Fun Run/Walk Detroit 3:00 pm Belle Isle Park, 4MR/W, 1MR/W Jeanne Bocci (313) 886-5560 jeannebocci@ excite.com belleislefunrun.com

New Year’s Resolution Run

Flint 2:00 pm Downtown YMCA 8KR, 5KR/W (810) 659-6493 GRaceMgt@aol.com riverbendstriders.com

- MR -

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Michigan Runner - September / October 2010

Running with Tom Henderson Stop, peel of singlets, pull off shoes, wade in a few yards and dive, every cell electric with the cold charge of water on baking skin.

We floated there, the ridge of trees across from us forming a deep green U at the river’s bend. Has anyone ever had more fun before going off to an interview and photo shoot? Later in the month, I mentioned by e-mail to a colleague that I need to make plans around a run with the dog and a jump in a river or lake somewhere. It was another day in the 90s.

Tom Henderson

ippie! A summer with heat. HEAT! Lots of days in the 90s, humidity to match. Lakes and rivers you can get into after a run without giving yourself a heart attack or shrunken round things that don’t look right that small.

“You runners are nut jobs,” the colleague responded. “Ninety degrees is good for nothing but AC and margaritas. What kind of hell are you going through to consider jumping in any river a highlight?” Guess you’d have to be there.

to finish our 15, or follow Rogucki’s path and do 18 or 19.

Rogucki was a man after my own heart. He talked a lot about the three H’s — heat, hills and humidity. The three H’s are near to my heart, too. I love running at high noon on a hot day. Makes those 8 a.m. race starts in the summer seem like a breeze. I love hills, too, the steeper the better.

John seemed invincible. In my heyday, I beat him once in a while, not often. And then he was struck with brain cancer and soon was gone. It was 1997 — can it be possible it was 13 years ago? Anyway, we took the shortcut back to Silver Lake, which was still way too cold to get into that day. Knee deep was best we could do. Even the dog only got in for a second.

But since then? Find a lake or a river and dive in. We run on Belle Isle a lot at lunch, and there’s this sorta secret little beach at the far east end we call the Huck Finn Swimming Hole. It’s right where the Detroit River opens up to Lake St. Clair, and the water flowing by is crystal clear, having arrived from Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and Lake Huron. No, seriously, crystal clear.

So me and my buddy from Crain’s Detroit Business, Nate Skid, had to go to Ann Arbor in early July for an interview by me and a photo by him of a couple entrepreneurs with a start-up software company that was having success raising money.

Now, you’d hate to waste a trip to Ann Arbor, so we didn’t. We got there in time to take an early lunch, which for us was running a sixmiler through the Barton Nature Area to Bird Hills Park, through most of Bird Hills and retracing our steps back to the parking lot on Huron River Drive.

Photo by Nate Skid

Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Notes on the Run: Dogs

Jack Riley holds two bottles, one filled with Evian water from France, the other with water just scooped out of the Detroit River.

Going out the door from Crain’s, temperature already in the mid-90s at 10:30, we ran into a couple colleagues who sometimes walk on their lunch hour. “You guys aren’t running today, are you,” one of them said. Said it as a declaration of fact, not a question.

“Sure we are,” I said, with a tone of: Of course. What else would we be leaving the building for on a nice, steamy summer day?

The run was wonderful. Get loose in a hurry, pour sweat, run across a deer, pause to pick and eat early blackberries. Stop, best of all, half a mile from the finish where a trail through Barton winds along the Huron River.

Which reminds me of a bench in the middle of the Potawatomie Trail in the Pinckney State Recreation Area. Me and Nate were running a 15-miler there one Sunday in May and stopped to rest at about the 10-mile mark atop a steep hill. Right there was a bench I’d somehow never noticed before, with a marker in honor of John Rogucki. There was a sign saying “Boston,” with an arrow pointing the way. It didn’t literally meant Boston. It was a juncture where you could head back to the parking lot, following the sign that said “shortcut,” like me and Nate and the dog did

Last summer I ran there with Jack Riley, the VP of marketing for Fifth Third Bank, who sponsors Jeannie Bocci’s New Year’s Eve run next year. He doubted the water would be as clear as I promised, so Nate took a picture of Jack holding two bottles, one filled with Evian water from France, the other with water just scooped out of the river. You can’t tell which is which, no matter how close you scrutinize them.

After work, the dog and I might head to Stony Creek Metropark for a trail run and a jump in Upper Stony Creek Lake, not on the public beach, but where the trail runs along the shore. Or, time permitting, head out to Kensington for a six-miler into the woods and a stop on the way back for a dive into the Huron River.

Nut jobs? Maybe. But for other reasons. Not because we cherish floating in a river or lake after a run in heat sedentary types bitch about as they hurry from their air-conditioned cars to their air-conditioned houses. - MR -

Michigan Runner - September / October 2010