Michigan Runner, September / October 2014 by Great Lakes Sports Publications, Inc.

Online: Photo Gallery

Inside September / October 2014 online issue:

http://issuu.com michiganrunner/docs/mr0914 Photography by Carter Sherline, Pete Draugalis & Victah Sailer

In This Issue Event Calendar

September / October 2014

September / October 2014 Events

Editor’s Notes: Archie, R.I.P. By Scott Sullivan High School Runner of the Year: Grant Fisher

Features and Departments 8 10 14

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

18 20 22 27 29

AATC Summer Mini Meet Ann Arbor Mile Asha Detroit 5K Binder Zoo Cheetah Chase Crosstown Kids Triathlon Electric Bolt 5K Experience Triathlon IAAF World Championships Livonia 64 Spree Run Michigan Track Classic Pickerel Run Steve’s Run Whitmore Lake Races

33 34 35 35 44 45

By Jeff Hollobaugh

Running Shorts with Scott Hubbard Mile Time Trial By Rachael Steil Michigan Woman Joins 50-50 Club

By Ron Marinucci

Beyond the Chip: My New Running Buddy

By Robin Sarris Hallop

Masters Training for the Rest of Us

By Bob Shaffer

Letting Go: A Daddy-Daughter Moment at Dexter-Ann Arbor By Anthony Targan Sore Muscles After Running? Try This By Dave Foley

Denver-Based RSG Acquires Running Fit

By Tracey Cohen

Book Review: ‘Runyaker’s Journey’

By Ron Marinucci

Turning Corners By Kacey Tulley Boston-Qualifying Hopefuls Get 2 for Price of 1

By Scott Sullivan

Running with Tom Henderson More Than Winning By Jason Elmore

Online: Michigan Running News

About the cover: Grant Fisher’s winning time of 4:02.02 broke three state records in the adidas Dream Mile which was held during the adidas Grand Prix, New York City, June 14, 2014.

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Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Vol. 36, No. 4

Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net

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At the Races 12

‘Dated’ Diemer Diminishes Donut Damages

Fecht, Veneziano Sweep Father’s Day Runs

17 21 23 24 25 26 28 30 31 32 36 46

By Scott Sullivan

Publisher and Chief Executive Officer

By Charles Douglas McEwen

Former Soccer, Hockey Standouts Score Big in Flirt with Dirt By Charles Douglas McEwen Taylor, Heenan Make it 2-2 at Burns Park

By Charles Douglas McEwen

Krzyzanowski, Henris Soar to New Pterodactyl Heights By Charles Douglas McEwen Morgan, Miller, Rock Rock at People’s Run

By Charles Douglas McEwen

Sun Shiles on T-Rex 10 Miler, Wimpy 8K Trail Runs

By Tracey Cohen

Run Thru Hell Runs True to Legendary Form Inch, Close Sweep Aquathlon, Open Water Swim

By Charles Douglas McEwen

Williams, Kasten Sweep Atwood Races By Charles Douglas McEwen

Runners Pay Homage to Hollywood at Red Carpet Run By Charles Douglas McEwen

National Cherry Festival Photos by Carter Sherline Kona Run Photos by Carter Sherline

Online: Video through Fall

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• • • •

New York City Marathon Playmakers Spartan Invitational Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo Sandhill Crane All Trail Half Marathon The Brooksie Way Half Marathon UA Plumbers and Pipefitters 5K & Pub Crawl Waugoshance Marathon, Mackinac City Zero Cancer Challenge 5K

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Editor

Jennie McCafferty jennie@glsp.com Associate Publisher

Dave Foley Mike Duff

Editors Emeritus

Jamie Fallon Composer

Rose Zylstra

Social Media Editor

Carter Sherline

Senior Photographer

Paul Aufdemberge Ian Forsyth Tom Henderson Scott Hubbard Desiree Linden Herb Lindsay Laurel Park Robin Sarris Hallop Rachael Steil Tracey Cohen Jason Elmore Jeff Hollobaugh Dean Johnson Bill Kahn William Kalmar Dr. Edward H. Kozloff Doug Kurtis Grant Lofdahl Ron Marinucci Riley McLincha Contributors

Callup Gallop Beats Rain By Tracey Cohen

• • • •

Scott Sullivan scott@glsp.com

Columnists

By Tracey Cohen

• 40 Years of Steve’s Run with Ron Gunn & Dave Briegel • Bank of America Chicago Marathon • Dan Jilek Memorial 5K Run • Detroit Free Press Marathon • Helen DeVos Children’s Marathon • IAAF World Junior Championships • Kona Chocolate Run ª Kona Wicked Halloween Run • Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon • MHSAA LP Cross Country Finals

Art McCafferty artmccaf@glsp.com

Charles D. McEwen Gary Morgan Jim Neff Bob Schwartz Bob Shaffer Nick Stanko Anthony Targan Kacey Tulley Cregg Weinmann Pamela Zinkosky Michael Zuidema

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Editor’s Notes

Archie, R.I.P. By Scott Sullivan

rchie dead? Say it isn’t so! Well, it isn’t really.

Archie Comics — which announced in April its lead character had three months to live — was quick to add his demise would not affect overall Archie storylines. After all, that’s how they make their money. His death would take place in “Life with Archie,” which occurs in an alternate timeline. This series of the brand portrays redheaded Archie Andrews and his Riverdale High School friends after graduation, with him married alternately to Betty and/or Veronica amid 2014-style situations — the idea being to move new product. In “Life with Archie” No. 36, released in July, Archie took a bullet for his friend Kevin Keller, the first openly-gay character in Archie Comics history. Jughead and Reggie were unavailable for comment. “Archie died as he lived — a hero, representing the best in all of us,” said Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater in anticipation of the media attention (such as I’m giving here) and sales spike. Comics kill their stars often because it works, but what happens once you’ve used up your gimmick?

Ask Marvel Comics, which last year knocked off Spiderman’s alter ego, Peter Parker, replacing him with his nemesis, Dr. Octopus, as “The Superior Spiderman.” This acknowledged their franchise guy was inferior. I remember when DC Comics snuffed Superman in “Imaginary Stories” (as opposed to real ones), then reverted to their monthly narratives as if his death never happened. I felt somehow cheated. My comic running career is another victim. Had I stayed young forever, had more talent, trained smarter and not kept hurting myself, I coulda been a contender. Instead, I was only — but always — a step away. After deep meditation about mortality, I’ve concluded I think of Jon as I do about Barry Goldwater, the late Arizona senator and 1964 GOP nominee for president: I know in my heart he’s right. Archie died as he lived, the right way: born a wholesome teenager and, for 73 years, stayed one … had two beautiful girls drawn exactly alike (one had black hair, the other blonde) lusting after him … growing up to become an admired and successful bigamist … dying a hero in the prime of life — but not really. How can I do that? - MR -

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

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High School Runner of the Year: Grant Fisher By Jeff Hollobaugh

he moment that changed everything: Grant Fisher accelerated to full speed on the final turn at Icahn Stadium on New York’s Randall’s Island. Behind him, the nation’s best high school milers gasped for breath and struggled to hold their form. With a graceful stride that almost appeared effortless, the junior from Grand Blanc High School left a line of defeated runners in his wake. Says Fisher, “The whole race is conserve energy, conserve energy, get into position to kick. And the kick is just the pinnacle that you look forward to.”

every single race he’s in. That’s it. Whatever the time is, that’s for someone else to start and stop their watch and tell him. But what record that is, I don’t care. No one finishes in front of him,” Scannell says. Both athlete and coach feel that racing is about one thing: winning. And winning is one thing that the 4.0-student does very well indeed. Over the last year, he has taken on all high school challengers, nationwide, and won everything. In November, Fisher ran in the state finals for cross country, after missing the meet the year before to play soccer. He beat the defending champion by 18 seconds in 15:14. Two weeks later, he ran in Kenosha, Wisc., at the Foot Locker Midwest Regional, winning in 15:02. “We wanted to test the field,” recounts Scannell. “It worked out. Grant was well prepared for the test and wound up running alone earlier than we expected.”

Past the 1500-meter mark he went, clocking 3:46.81, breaking the state record set by Pan-American Junior Champion Omar Kaddurah — also of Grand Blanc — in 2011. The acceleration continued. The full mile is 109.34 meters farther than the metric Olympic distance. With no sign of fatigue, Fisher swept past the 1600-meter mark (the high school metric mile) in 4:00.6, crushing three-time Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein’s state record by more than five seconds. He flew over the five strides to reach the actual mile distance, crossing the line victorious in 4:02.02: another state record, taking down Steve Elliott’s 39-year-old record of 4:07.4.

In December, he lined up for the Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego. “It’s a two-lap course, and the game plan was to conserve as much energy as possible on the first lap,” says Fisher. “Then there’s a big hill you go up with about 1200 meters to go; when you get to the top, it’s 800 to go.

Fisher’s run served up a feast for stat nuts. In what other event can a talented “The plan was to get to the 800-to-go athlete break three different records? mark at the top of the hill, using as little Focus on that final 4:02.02, however. energy as possible, then give a little bit of Only 15 high schoolers have ever run a surge and get into striking position Grant Fisher (left) leads 2012 champion Brian Kettle at the faster in American history. The list is a where I could win the race.” MHSAA L.P. Cross Country final. who’s who of legends: Alan Webb, Jim Ryun, Marty Liquori, Gerry Lindgren, Fisher kicked to win by three seconds the win on my mind. We feel that, if I go to these big Galen Rupp and so on. The names underneath Fisher’s in 15:07. He became the sixth winner ever from the national meets, if I can win them and have the mentalare equally impressive: Matt Centrowitz and Mac Fleet Great Lakes State, after Brian Grosso of Walled Lake ity to win, the time it’s going to take will be fast. Win were also 4:02 milers, though a notch slower. Centro Western (1989), Abdul Alzindani of Dearborn Fordthese races, the times will come.” won the World bronze in 2011, in between his two son (1995), Ritzenhein of Rockford (1999 and Olympic teams. Fleet captured his second straight 2000), Tim Moore of Novi (2001) and Megan Fisher’s coach is Mike Scannell, Michigan RunNCAA title for Oregon a few weeks ago. Goethals of Rochester (2009). ner magazine’s 2003 Runner of the Year. Scannell Fisher, though, ran his 4:02 as a high school was a college teammate of Fisher’s dad, Dan, at Arijunior. Only three boys, including Jim Ryun, have “The intensity of that moment was very high,” zona State. Fisher’s mom, Sonia, did her collegiate ever run faster at that age. Alan Webb — the current says Scannell. “I’m a racer. I dreamed of doing the running at Houston, where she stood out as a halfnational record holder for high schoolers at 3:53.43 things Grant is doing.” miler. (“Grant gets his speed from his mom,” Scan– didn’t. nell jokes.) Not the school coach, Scannell is a In March, Fisher ran in his fifth indoor race ever, family friend who has been coaching top high Naturally, the speculation about the high the mile at the New Balance Nationals in New York schoolers for about seven years. He also coached schooler challenging the fabled four-minute barrier City. He and Scannell worked on a strategy to take the Kaddurah, Grand Blanc’s previous superstar miler. began immediately. What makes Fisher different lead with two laps left. “That was the plan, and it was from every other schoolboy who has flirted with the kind of defense for a lap and then offense for a lap,” Scannell says he and Fisher have never discussed magic 240-seconds is this: he doesn’t chase the clock. Fisher says. It worked better than he had dreamed. going after the four-minute mile. “Not one time. If someone times him in the mile and it turns out “I’m not a big time trial guy,” said Fisher. “When I The field crumbled when Fisher started kicking 3:XX, good for Grant. I will be happy if Grant wins go to these races, I go not with a time in mind but with and he won by more than 10 meters. His last half8

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

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In June, he won a double victory at the Division 1 track state finals in Rockford. First he took out the 1600 field with his 4:10.82. Then he came back to win the 3200 in 9:07.11. Those performances felt especially gratifying to Fisher. The year before he had lost the 1600 by a sliver of time, 0.006 seconds. “That was a big redemption race for me. It was really special to share it with my team,” he says.

He followed up with a second place at the USA Junior Championships, the race won by a college freshman. Then, after several months of hard racing, he faced the best juniors in the world at the World Junior Championships. (“Juniors” in international track means athletes under age 20.)

Then came the Dream Mile in New York City. “That race was weird for me because just the year before I was back home live-streaming it on my laptop,” he remembers. “To be there the next year was kind of a surreal experience. I like going into meets without having a target on my back. My PR going in was 4:09 for the mile, so not a very high seed. It’s always easier to go in as an unknown with less pressure at that distance.” A week later, he moved up to two miles to take on the nation’s best at that distance at the Brooks PR Invitational in Renton, Wash., outside Seattle. The field played into his hands with a relatively easy 4:30 first mile.

Not to worry. For Grant Fisher, this is a longterm project. This summer he is sorting through college offers. Most have been for running, but he’s had a few letters for soccer. He has decided to focus on collegiate track, but as for deciding what school, he says, “Not even close.” Lest anyone think it took mega miles of training to get Fisher to this level, it didn’t. A big week for him is 40 to 45 miles, and he didn’t start training seriously until his sophomore year. Says Scannell, “My opinion of the whole training and high school thing, is that we’re just here for a short period, to get them ready to be a fast runner. If you think he is a fast runner now, he’s not. We’re getting him ready to be a fast runner later. He’s not old enough to be a fast runner. 4:02 is really fast for 17. But it’s not fast in the world. We’re getting him ready to be fast in the world.”

“I thought that people would push it the first mile,” says Fisher, “and they went out slower than I expected. I was perfectly OK with it. That helped the race plan we had all along, because I know that the more conservative it goes out, the more of a kick I’ll have at the end. I’m always

Finally, Fisher ran out of steam after two laps in the heats. “One second I was right where I wanted to be on the outside, not boxed in; then the next second I got shot out the back of the pack. At that pace I couldn’t respond to a move that far out from the finish line,” he analyzes. “I never really had a race where the whole field surged with 600 to go. I was mentally ready for it, I just couldn’t respond physically because of the pace.”

Grant Fisher, bib 4, won the Footlocker Midwest Regional, Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Next up for Fisher is his annual decision on whether he will play soccer, which runs concurrently with the cross country season. “A lot of factors will go into it, but it’s going to be a tough one,” he says. As for the running, “I don’t want to take the foot off the gas, so to speak. I want to go into cross country season, do the best I can, and hopefully roll that over into track season and have a fun senior year. I’m happy with how my junior year ended up. It was pretty crazy. I’m confident that senior year will be even more enjoyable.

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confident in how I can close a race, so for that one I was really happy.”

Grant Fisher, bib 71, battles John Dressell of Colbert, Washington, for the Footlocker Cross Country Championship.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Hollobaugh

mile took 1:59, his last quarter 56.8. His final time: 4:09.46, a state record.

Grant Fisher trains while coach Mike Scannell looks on. Jeff Hollobaugh is an author, statistician, teacher and coach. His michtrack.org website, which has been tracking Michigan high school running since 1996, has recently been augmented by mercury-chronicle.com, which analyzes races and race tactics from great track meets past and present. Hollobaugh’s upcoming book, “Racing the Mile: What Great Runners and Races Teach Us About Competing at 1500, 1600 and the Mile,” is due for release this December. - MR -

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Running Shorts with Scott Hubbard Trivia: Which woman has run the world’s fastest 10 miles in August?

Taking the Measure On June 7 I received the following email from Justin Kuo, who is affiliated with the USA Track and Field Road Running Scott Hubbard Technical Council, the group that deals with course certification. For those needing more info, certification has to do with course measurement based on rules established by USATF, the national governing body for the sport in America. “Effective June 6, 2014: USA Track & Field Position on GPS used by runners

“Race courses are measured along a well-defined path called the SPR: the Shortest Possible Route that a runner can possibly run. Most runners don’t actually run the SPR so the distance recorded by their GPS device will usually be longer than the certified length of the course, even though the course was properly measured along the SPR according to USATF rules.”

When I received this, I immediately saw places where the policy could be strengthened but my suggestions were rejected. I received much the same reaction when I first recommended the RRTC come up with a policy about use of other measuring devices, particularly the new GPS units eight years ago, in 2006. The reaction for my call to action was oddly noncommital, even in the face of too many runners claiming certified courses were long based on their GPS numbers. I was looking to stave off the flow of unhappy runners sending race directors nasty notes about their certified courses. With no support, exactly what I feared has played out since that time, with GPS sales and complaints both skyrocketing.

“GPS devices work by receiving signals from satellites. The quality of different GPS units can vary, but all can be affected by conditions such as buildings in urban environments or heavy overhead tree cover that interfere with reception of satellite signals and cause them to be inaccurate.

I’ve measured courses for certification since the Dexter-Ann Arbor half marathon in late 1981 and have been the Michigan contact since ‘86. As I write, I’m working on three certification apps for courses spread from the Upper Peninsula to northern Michigan to Harsens Island. I’ve measured hundreds of courses over time and, for the most part, “Race courses certified by USATF are measured enjoy the work and interaction with race contacts. by a proven method that incorporates the calibration It’s satisfying to be part of the process to ensure a of measuring devices against a steel tape and are verirace fundamental course accuracy. I have lots of perfied by multiple measurements. stories, some of which I’ve shared third square template_third square 8/13/14 9:52 PMsonal Pagemeasuring 1 here. Michigan is lucky to have a hardworking

2014 Michigan Runner Race Series Corktown Races, 5K, Detroit - March 16 Striders Saturday Classic, 10 Mile, Grandville - April 19 Burns Park Run 10K, Ann Arbor - May 4 Fifth Third River Bank Run 25K, Grand Rapids - May 10 Dexter Ann Arbor Half Marathon, Ann Arbor - June 1 Brian Diemer Family of Races 5K, Cutlerville - June 14 Volkslaufe 20K, Frankenmuth - July 4 Cherry Festival 15K, Traverse City - July 12 Crim Festival of Races, 10 Mile, Flint - August 23 Mackinac Island Road Race, 8 Mile, Mackinac Island - Sept. 6 Sault International Marathon, Sault Ste. Marie, MI - September 27 Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon - October 19 Wicked Halloween Run, 10K, Plymouth - October 26 For details, see facebook.com/pages/Michigan-Runner/413094780653

group of course certifiers spread throughout the state to take care of measuring needs. Anybody can do it, but many find the process daunting and hire somebody to do the job right. Early on I gathered the numbers generated by GPS units were coming out long on certified courses. Over the course of a year, I watched the numbers and concluded that, on average, they were 1 part in 100 long. In other words, for a certified 10-mile course like Crim, GPS units would show around 10.1 miles, give or take .01 here and there. Since that time I’ve adjusted the figure up a little and the range is between 1 and 2 parts in 100 long. Clearly, the numbers vary, as is borne out by comparing numbers between different GPS users over the same courses. But, to make the point again, they seem to always show a certified course to be long — as the position statement above suggests. Bottom line, our measuring devices are more accurate than those used by GPS users. Always. If there was a better way to measure a running course, we’d use it. Two other points: I’m not naive enough to think publication of the USATF policy statement will placate or even educate runners regarding numbers their GPS units generate. I hope it will but know a good many swear by their expensive gadgets that churn out a variety of data. Hey, the GPS units do provide very useful info regarding distance, pace, etc. They are extremely popular, particularly among newer runners. However, GPS units are not as accurate as the methods used by USATF measurers certifying courses. After having said all this, there’s the stark reality that probably 95 percent of all race courses in Michigan are not certified. What does this mean? In my experience, I’ve found 100 percent of proposed course layouts to be short. Some a little, some a lot. This troubles me. But not so much I feel compelled to quiz race directors about how their courses are measured. Fact is, I don’t think I want to know. And I’m not sure many here want to know either, although I suggest you should care. Why? How can you be sure your PRs are legit? I’ve said 100 percent of all courses I’ve measured were originally short. This means the uncertified courses you’re setting your PRs on are not long enough. I’ll let you mull that over and allow that many, for reasons known only to them, don’t care if the course is accurate. They’re caught up in comparing times and settle for the easy way out by wrongly assuming what they ran was as long as it was supposed to be.

Answer: American Cathy O’Brien ran 51:47 in the Crim 10-mile Aug. 26, 1989. Her time was set on a course run the wrong way. It was quickly determined it would be OK to re-measure the wrongly-run course for records purposes and it proved about 15 feet long — long enough and O’Brien had a then-world record. She still owns the Crim women’s 10 mile record, 25 years later. - MR -

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

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Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Brian Diemer Family of Races, Cutlerville

‘Dated’ Diemer Diminishes Donut Damages By Scott Sullivan CUTLERVILLE (6/14/14) — Nothing dates you like having an annual road race named for you. Ask Brian Diemer. “You must have just been born when they started this,” we told him before the 25th annual Brian Diemer Family of Races. In fact he was 27, with an Olympic bronze medal and two of his three Games appearances in the steeplechase logged, when he and friends launched this 5K. The Diemer continues to draw elite athletes with its rocket-fast course and prize purse, but has branched out with fun events that appeal to more-recreational runners and entire families. This year’s celebration included a pre-race pasta dinner, five bands on the course, Mobility 5K for handcycle and wheelchair athletes, junior jogs for boys and girls in many age groups and a mile run for more-ambitious kids. Then came the Cutlerville Days parade down the course finish area and daylong festival.

And let’s not forget the Brian Diemer donut challenge. Beat Diemer — no easy feat, even though he is 52 and has ceased training to compete — and he buys you a donut. In case you’re not sure where he is on the course, he has one of the Calvin College athletes he coaches run next to him, tethered to colored balloons and carrying a giant donut. This year’s $8,520 prize purse included $600 each for the overall men’s and women’s champions, $500 for the top masters and $100 for grand masters. Smaller payouts went to the top 10 of both sexes overall and and top five masters. Kenyan Philip Lagat, 31, now of Hebron, Ky., repeated as overall male winner, leading 1,135 finishers with a time of 14:21. He nipped Zach Ripley, 25, of Grand Rapids by a single second. Men’s masters champion Sammy Cheptoo, 40, another Kenyan, paced the masters runners and was third overall in 14:31.

Photo by Scott Sullivan

There was also the tweaked-each-year stuff that is just plain goofy. Diemer celebrates Father’s Day eve by surprising his dad with a new way to start the race every year. This time Everett Diemer, 82, rang hand bells.

Eventual winner Sarah Boyle, bib 986, leads Betsy Frens, bib 98, early in the race. Sarah Boyle, 28, of Brighton topped the women in 16:35, followed by Nicole Michermhuizen, 22, of Holland in 16:46 and Liudmila Stepanova, 30, of Hebron, Ky., in the same time. Luibov Denisova, 42, of Gainesville, Fla., captured masters honors in 17:43. The grand masters winners were Brian Olsen, 53, of Jackson (16:42) and Laurel Park, 51, of Ann Arbor (17:55).

Photo by Scott Sullivan

Diemer, who didn’t run in his own run last year due to a hamstring injury, was pleased that his 18:05 finish cost him fewer than four dozen donuts. “If you count the handcyclists, it’s more. But I’m happy with that,” he said. For complete results and more information about the 2015 Brian Diemer Family of Races, visit http://diemerrun.com. - MR -

Brian Diemer is ready to start the Mile Run. 12

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

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Race Director Coach Ron Gunnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 7th Annual Old Fashion Foot Race

Non Repeat Trails

Corral Start

October 11

DR. T. K. LAWLESS PARK, 15122 Monkey Run St., Vandalia, MI 49095

Awards: Custom Medal & Custom T, 15 Age Groups, Music, Food, Fun

DETAILS & SIGN UP INFO ONLINE: CairnStoneAdventureTours.com

PROCEEDS BENEFIT:

Cass County Parks & Mayo Clinic Cancer Research

Mile Time Trial By Rachael Steil © Pete Dragaulis / dragaulisphotography.com

is your last.

Something deep; this is not good.

If there’s one thing you do know, it’s that today is your day. You know it from the moment Coach Woj shouts, “Go!” and you and your team explode from the line. You take the lead at once and know something good will come out of this because you no longer feel the sharp pain in your hip. You glide effortlessly around the first bend and your spikes hit the spongy red surface with strength and vigor. I can race without pain. You feel reassured in that moment. Yes, the conference cross country meet next week will work out. The adrenaline will pull you through the race, will make this bearable.

A crack like a whip, a stumble — Where did this come from? But all you know now, all you can think of as you slow down because you feel scared and wonder what just happened, is the choice you must make. It’s in my right knee. God, something bad happened to my knee. Should I stop? But you don’t fall to the ground. That need, that urge to run and finish the job, is the last thing you can hold onto in that moment. You must finish. You must complete this. Because now you know — this is it.

Rachael Steil

want to tell you to cherish this run; it will be your last run of the year. No, not just your last workout — your last run. I want to tell you that this is your last warm-up, that as you jog down the street on this dreary Friday afternoon surrounded by teammates — as you breathe in the crisp fall air — you will not run with these women again. Not for a long, long time. I want to tell you that yes, your left hip feels sharp and heavy, painful from the mystery injury that has been plaguing you for the past two weeks, but the hip won’t be your problem today. No, that will not stop you from running like you think it will once you complete the warm-up, once you and your teammates reach the track and you feel the tears of hopelessness flood your eyes. You know, in that moment, that this workout will hurt, that this might mean a bad conference cross country race the next week — or a good one, if you can prove to yourself today, in this mile timetrial, you can bear the pain and allow your body to find a way to glide through it. “Rachael, if it hurts, don’t do it,” your teammate, Crysta, warns you. But I want you to cherish this run, to cherish running in this weather because this is the weather you live for. It is dark, cloudy and 50 degrees with a misty rain. And as you stand at the line with your teammates after you have shed your black pants and long-sleeve shirt, you are in your element again. No matter what happens to that hip, it doesn’t matter now, because you just want to run this mile. It is not as much about staying in shape as it is about the yearning to be in it — to feel it, to remember you are alive again.

You can help your team. You can finish out this season.

You run. You run in peace. Your mind clicks into race mode as you finish that second lap. You run tall and proud, confident and assured, happy and free. I will run conference like this, exactly the way I am doing it here: conservative, calm, relaxed, holding back until I release everything at the end. Patience, Rachael. “That’s right Rach, right on pace! C’mon Jackie. Let’s go Crysta!” Coach Woj shouts. Your form feels effortless. Your arms pump strongly. Your shoulders relax and you focus ahead. You hold onto this pace and your position for the next lap, building momentum with every straightaway. As you lead the final lap, your emotions swirl like leaves in the wind on a fall day. You will take off. You will take flight. I fly. I want to tell you — to remind you — that as you take that last lap, as you pick up speed around the curve, to cherish every step. I want you to love it – this — this run, because this is not about your time or place, but about your freedom. I want you to love it from the moment you dashed from that line, to the moment you reached 300 meters to go — the moment your right leg hits the ground and you feel a pop explode like a gunshot in your right knee. It’s deep and it hurts; this is not good. My knee.

You hover over the line and smile. Everything will be OK.

It’s all so distant — so eerily far away. But I hear you cry out, I feel your agony.

This is it, your last. You don’t know it, but this

Rachael, this is it.

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Something popped, had burst, in my knee. |

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And when you do, you find that you can keep going, that you can make it through those final 300 meters knowing, yes, this will be your last run for a long time. You don’t know yet your kneecap just cracked in half, but you do know that even though something must be terribly wrong, there is also something keeping you on your feet and running. A form regained, tunnel vision for the final 200 meters. You barrel around the final curve and reach the straightaway. Everyone cheers you in — the guys who have already finished their mile time trial and injured teammates who came to watch the workout. Coach Woj, who thinks nothing is wrong, calls out your name. Didn’t they hear the pop? Didn’t they see me stumble? Don’t they know this is it? You will finish this alone. You are the only one who knows that these are your final steps, but maybe this is all for the best. Cherish every step. You race down the final stretch, tell yourself to push away the fear. Cherish this, Rachael. You are free.

wish I could tell you — before this all happened — to cherish every run, to run each race and workout like it is your last. I wish, somehow, you could remember what you love about every step, about your freedom. But I don’t — because I already know, you did. - MR -

Sam Adams Mighty Mac Bridge Race 11K Run

Saturday, September 27, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ 7am

$40 entry fee includes *Free busing and free local shuttles *Long sleeve t-shirt for each participant *Participant medals *Division Trophies

*Souvenir Bib *Chipped bib timing *Casino package *Timed to the top Mackinac Bridge Photo *Sam Adams Party & Swag

Sponsored by Kewadin Casino, Boston Brewing Co. Sam Adams, St. Ignace Events Committee, St. Ignace Kiwanis Club www.stignace.com or saintignace.org * 800-338-6660

Mackinac Island 8 Mile Road Race 45th Annual

8 Mile Run/Walk

Saturday, September 6, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ 9:30am

$40 entry fee includes *Awards & Prizes *Participant t-shirts

*Chipped bib timing *Ferry discounts *Kids Fun Run $10.00

Portion of proceeds to benefit St. Ignace Kiwanis Club www.runmackinac.com

Plymouth Family YMCA Father’s Day Runs

Fecht, Veneziano Sweep Father’s Day Runs

By Charles Douglas McEwen

Fathers Kel Vasileff (left) & David Workman, both of Plymouth, run the 10K with kids in strollers on Father’s Day.

The Plymouth Family YMCA Father’s Day Runs bring out families: Jack Riley, bib 1280, Meg Riley, bib 1281, Arvie McDaniel, bib 1282, and Patricia Vanplet, bib 1283, all of Farmington Hills, run the 5K.

PLYMOUTH (6/15/14) — Matt Fecht and Lisa Veneziano cleaned up at the 35th annual Plymouth Family YMCA Father’s Day Runs.

yourself out there. To win all three races ... I just thank God that He gives me the ability to do it.”

Fecht, 30, of Warren and Veneziano, 49, of Fenton swept the men’s and women’s mile, 5K and 10K races, thus claimiing MDG Triple Race crowns for the fastest combined time in the three races. Veneziano was also the top masters woman in the Triple Race. David Caine, 40, of Ypsilanti was the men’s masters winner.

His easiest triumph may have been in the mile. Fecht finished in 4:36, seven seconds ahead of runner-up Chad Norton, 21, of Walled Lake and nine ahead of Kyle Smith, 26, of Linden.

“I love these races,” said Veneziano, who claimed a similar sweep in 2009. “I keep coming back every year. It’s awesome — and a good way to celebrate Father’s Day as well.” The event started with a one-mile “sprint” at 7:45 a.m., followed by the 5K at 8 and 10K at 8:45. So the 1,100-plus entrants could run all three races and be home for a late breakfast. About 80 actually did all three. John Kelly of Plymouth and Mariah Cornelius of Pinckney, both 13, were the youngest; Donald Cherry, 70, of Grosse Pointe and Donna Olson, 64, of Canton were the oldest. Fecht and Veneziano were the most dominant. But it wasn’t as easy as 1-2-3 for either.

Veneziano fended off Kimberly Peterson, 45, of Farmington, 5:43 to 5:45. Mariah Cornelius was third in 6:55. In the 5K things went a little haywire. Fecht and Kyle Smith shared the lead entering the third mile when they and several other leaders veered off course. “The sign pointed to the right,” Fecht said. “The guy in the pace car kept going straight. I figured, ‘When in doubt, follow the signs.’ Big mistake!” Eventually they found their way back on course, but the lead men ended up running close to 6K instead of 5K. Fecht reached the finish line in 18:52 with Smith two seconds back. Zack Rhodes, 17, of Plymouth placed third in 18:59. Veneziano, who stayed on course with most of the 5K field, led the women in 19:07. Next came Bethany Pilat, 19, of Plymouth (19:14) and Peterson (19:43).

“It’s a challenge,” Fecht said. “You really push

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

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In the 10K, Fecht had to come from behind to win. Donald Richmond of Portland jumped out to huge early lead — by almost two minutes at one point, Fecht said. “I started dropping some decent miles, then saw he was struggling a little,” Fecht said. “I surged at the five-mile mark to get him.” “He went by me really hard,” said Richmond. “We had close to a mile to go and I didn’t have it in me to stay with him. He paced himself really well.” Fecht finished in 33:07, nine seconds ahead of Richmond. Smith captured third in 34:27. “After running the mile and 5K, I didn’t know how I would do in the 10K,” said Veneziano. “But I felt strong the whole way.” She finished in 41:35. Next came Peterson (42:45) and Amber Dermyre, 24, of Canton (43:39). Dermyre, who won the 10K in 2012, said she has run it for the past three years. “I enjoy it every time,” she said. For complete results, go to http://gaultracemenagment.com. - MR -

Flirt with Dirt, Novi

Former Soccer, Hockey Standouts Score Big in Flirt with Dirt By Charles Douglas McEwen NOVI (6/7/14) — Wearing her collegiate soccer uniform, a former University of Toledo defender played offense at Flirt with Dirt presented by Running Fit. Alyssa Niese, 24, of Maumee, Ohio, attacked the course and won the women’s 10K by nearly two minutes.

“It was nice and relaxed, a nice recovery race,” said Elsner, who raced Flirt two weeks after running 2:53:53 in the Bayshore Marathon, another Running Fit-sponsored event.

awesome,” said Elsner. “I’d like to run more of them.” For complete results, visit http://runflirt.com.

half page template_half vertical “Everyvertical Running Fit event I’ve page done has been 8/12/14 12:05 PM Page 1 - MR -

Niese has gone from blocking shots on the soccer field to running long distances in races. “I did a half marathon last year,” she said. “This is the first time I’ve done a trail run.” Niese timed 48:48 at Lake Shore Park, followed by Teresa Cook, 34, of Dearborn (50:37) and Michelle Acton, 44, of Battle Creek (51:11). “Soccer is more stop-and-go,” Niese said. “Running is usually more continuous. But this race had a lot of stop-and-go in it.” Men’s 10K winner Nicholas Budzyn, 28, of Wyandotte, who played high school hockey for Cranbrook Kingswood a decade ago, enjoyed the technicality of the Flirt course. “It’s single-track most of the way,” he said. “It has lots of little of ups and downs, twists and turns, minibridges, obstacles, rocks and things to jump over. It keeps you focused. You can’t let your mind wander.” Budzyn led wire to wire to cross first in 41:25. Next were Gabe Pringle, 30, of Grand Blanc (44:09) and Donnie Tietsema, 29, of Ann Arbor (45:13).

The winner, who wrote, “Hey, dirt. How you doing!” on his t-shirt, doesn’t just flirt with trail races. He loves them. “They’re the best,” he said. “Trails, trails, trails all day! It’s my favorite thing in world to do.” Kelly Valente, 34, of Dearborn has also developed an affection for Flirt with Dirt. She has run it every year since 2008. After finishing second the past two years, she won the women’s 5K in 23:02. Humidity slowed things down some. “I wanted to beat last year’s time (22:56),” Valente said. “I don’t think I did.” She did beat all the other women and all but two of the men. Lisa Florida, 34, of Ann Arbor finished second among the women (27:07), followed by Jenna Przbycien, 27, of Ferndale (28:20). Pacing the men were Merlin Elsner, 40, of Warren (20:40) and Cory Pontious, 18, of Wolverine Lake (21:46).

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Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Michigan Woman Joins 50-50 Club By Ron Marinucci

o most people, “50-50” conjures images of raffle tickets sold for a local charity, church or school group. Others may think of Las Vegas odds or iffy weather forecasts.

New to this club is Michigan runner Donna Swanson. On July 6 she finished the Mad Marathon, named for the Mad River in Waitsfield, Vt. — her 50th marathon in her 50th state. It was her 89th completed marathon.

Photo courtesy of Donna Swanson

But to runners, 5050 means something special. The 50-50 Club includes men and women who have completed at least one marathon in each of the 50 United States.

The 2002 Chicago Marathon marked her 50th 26.2-miler overall. She “ran it with a group of girlfriends” to celebrate her 50th birthday, also that year. Twenty-five friends ran the New Orleans Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon with her for her 60th birthday. “They presented me with a tutu, tiara and Mardi Gras beads the night before,” Swanson remembered. She ran the marathon wearing all three. Her only “foreign marathon,” as she put it, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France. It also marked John’s and her 20th wedding anniversary. In Little Rock, Ark., in March, Swanson found herself “trying to outrun an incoming storm. As I approached the 20-mile mark, they announced the marathon was officially canceled. They did, however, let runners finish if they chose to and kept the timing-mats going. I was concerned that my plan to make Vermont my last state was in jeopardy (since) there was no other Arkansas marathon to run before the Mad Marathon.” But she finished in Little Rock. One marathon and one state to go.

Donna Swanson (left) celebrates her 50th marathon in Vermont with Nina Bovio. Swanson’s first marathon came in 1980 in Detroit. Twenty-five years later she decided to run a marathon in every state.

marathons in new states. Up until then, I had repeated states often: 22 of them. It took me almost nine more years to do the remaining 28 states,” she said.

She started to run in 1979, when she was 27. “My husband, John, got into running before I did,” she said. “He ran his first marathon in ‘79. I had just begun running regularly a couple months before then. When I watched him finish, I decided I wanted to run a marathon too. I started running primarily for health and fitness reasons, but soon grew to love doing races and competing.”

She and John like to travel to new places, so this seemed to be a good way to see more of the U.S. They moved from Michigan to Montana, letting her focus on marathons in the West for about five years until they returned to the Great Lakes State. “I had also retired from full-time work when we moved west, which helped with the training and the traveling,” she said.

In the ‘80s and ‘90s Swanson was a fixture at Michigan races. She often won, either outright or in her age group, at a variety of distances. But the marathon bug had bitten her; off she went.

Beginning in 2005, Swanson usually ran four to six marathons each year. “I’ve had to adjust my time expectations doing that many,” she admitted. “I run them a lot slower than I used to. Of course, age has played a part there.”

She ran Detroit Free Press Marathons in ’81 and ’82, then tackled others including Bayshore in Traverse City and the Columbus (Ohio) Marathon. She finished Boston in 1988. In doing two Running Fit trail marathons, where she finished first overall among women, she discovered, “I really enjoyed trail running.” By 2005 Swanson had run marathons in 22 states, but hadn’t committed to 50-50. She went to the Ridge Runner Marathon in West Virginia to watch Nina Bovio complete her 50-50 quest. “Nina has been an inspiration, motivator and close friend for many years,” said Swanson. “After she finished the 50 states, I decided, with her encouragement, to go for the same goal.”

She also made training concessions. “I don’t put in mega-mileage weeks but I do make sure I get in the long training runs,” she said. “I used shorter races for speed work.” Swanson also does “yoga regularly to prevent injuries and keep the muscles stretched. I think that has been key in staying injury-free.” The memories are too many to list. And of course there were anxious moments. She noted the altitude and elevation climbs during marathons in Leadville, Colo., and the Bighorn Mountain in Wyoming. In 1989, Swanson ran Boston with her sisters Laura Hazen and Vicki Webster. “It was wonderful to share qualifying and running with them,” she said.

Once she set her goal, Swanson “only ran

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

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Throughout her quest, Swanson tried to space her races. “I worried about getting injured and didn’t want to chance it,” she said. “I have never done back-to-back, two days in a row, which many state and marathon maniac runners do.” In 1988 she ran Boston, the Running Fit Trail Marathon and Bayshore within six weeks. “I didn’t run any that close together again until 2010, when I ran back-toback weekends doing Hartford, Conn., one weekend, then Newport, R.I.” Her PR came in 1990 in Las Vegas, where she ran 3:13, one minute faster than her first masters marathon two years later. “That got me $500 in prize money,” she remembered. More recently, “adjusting my time expectations,” she ran a 4:26 in Austin, Tex., last year. Finally, on July 6, “50-50” was here. The Mad Marathon “was probably the toughest road marathon I’ve run,” Swanson said. “The hills were long, steep and plentiful. But it was also very scenic.” Many of her family and friends were there, 26 in all. “I ran the first 16 miles with Jon Lewis,”

With a mile to go they were joined by Kathy and Randy Step. “Nina Bovio handed me a poster with my photo on it to carry across the finish line,” said Swanson. “The race director (Dori Ingalls) had given my finisher’s medal to my husband so he could place it around my neck. People I didn’t even know were taking my photo and the finish line announcer was great. I felt like a celebrity!” Along the course, she became aware of posters put up for her. At 10 miles one with her picture read, “She’s run a marathon in 49 states and now she’s running Vermont!” Another poster included photos of her New Orleans Marathon, wearing her tiara and tutu. It was followed by a third that read, “Vermont is not tutu much for this girl! Congrats on a marathon in all 50 states.” Swanson finished in 5:05. “Given the difficulty of this course, I was satisfied,” she said. She won her age group, finishing 23 minutes ahead of the runner-up.

But Vermont was not without anxious moments. Getting to Detroit Metropolitan Airport Friday morning, she found their flight had been canceled. No flights were available later that day, July 4. The best the airline could do was get her to Vermont at 9 p.m. the night before the race. “We ended up renting a car at Metro and driving 13 hours to Vermont,” said Swanson. “I’m sure glad we planned to travel two days before the marathon and not the day before. “I’m happy I chose to go for this goal,” she continued. “It has been a fantastic experience combining fun and interesting travels with my passion for marathon running. I’m fortunate to have shared them with a spouse who is also passionate about running.” John, after Vermont, now has five states remaining to join the 50-50 Club himself.

Photo courtesy of Donna Swanson

Swanson said. “He and his wife Karen shared the house we rented in Vermont and have traveled with us to many marathons. Another friend, Ken Jeffery, met me around the 24-mile mark and ran with me the last two miles.”

What’s next for Donna? “I have already registered to run the Grand Rapids Marathon in October,” she said. “I have never run that one and I enjoy Grand Rapids.” That event will help Swanson reach her next target. “Since I now have a total of 89 marathons, my next goal will be to get to an even 100.

Donna Swanson with husband, John, and two of the posters put up for her along the course.

“I would also like to qualify again for Boston. I Swanson became “quite teary-eyed” when she came within one minute a year ago, so now I will be was later given a booklet compiled by Karen Lewis running fewer marathons per year I am hoping to with “60 congratulatory messages from friends and do them faster and do Boston one more time. family. What wonderful friends I have!” half page horizontal template_half page horizontal 6/8/14 10:34 AM Page 1

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“I also ran half marathons in 10 different states, so I’ll attempt to finish halves in half the states.” -

MR -

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Beyond the Chip

My New Running Buddy By Robin Sarris-Hallop

hen our dog died in 2007, my husband and I agreed that as much as we love dogs, we didn’t want to be tied down by the responsibility of another one any time soon. We made a pact to talk each other back “from the edge” whenever one of us had a weak moment. This was an effective strategy until last summer, when we both had a weak moment at the same time.

Everyone told us we were the perfect candidates for an Australian shepherd — one of the most high-energy, very intelligent herding breeds. We thought this would be a great choice, since for a long time I have wanted a dog I could run with. Our last dog was a pug, the antithesis of athleticism, and though Peter ran with her a short distance every day when she was a young adult, she was never going to be a runner. We should have had some clue what we were in for this time around, though, when everyone we met while walking our new puppy said the same thing — “Those dogs need a job!” Before long, I started to wonder if what they meant was “those dogs are a full-time job.” At three and a half months, arriving in his new home, Johnny was a dream puppy in the house. He was completely housebroken, never chewed up a thing that didn’t belong to him, slept soundly in his crate at night and had few bad habits while indoors. Outside he was a different creature. Even if he had been out 10 minutes earlier, any sign of one of us going outdoors made him jump to attention … and I mean jump … Johnny can leap 4-5 feet in the air from a sitting position without apparent effort. Once out of the house, he wanted to make a game of every walk. The leash was a tug-of-war rope and he was close to uncontrollable in his glee for leaping, tugging, play growling, and grabbing clothing. Anyone watching would have thought we were dealing with a vicious, snarling maniac, while to him it was oodles of fun. Bred to herd sheep and cattle, he was strong, fearless and tireless. To make matters worse, this was now late November of 2013. Bearing down on us was one of the coldest, snowiest and slipperiest winters in recent memory. We took our pet parenting responsibilities seriously. Johnny started puppy play and obedience classes soon after coming to live with us. He quickly learned to sit, shake hands, lie down and mostly come when called. Walking on a leash, however, remained a constant challenge. Any attempt at running was even worse. Conveniently, I was suffering from a flare up

Photo courtesy of Robin Sarris-Hallop

That is how Johnny came to live with us.

Slowly with the coming of spring, Johnny also bloomed as a more-mature, manageable dog. My investment in a chain-link leash that he could not grab onto helped move the process along. Soon we were running most of the one-mile course I had staked out for us with only a few stops for random jumps, followed by more obedient sits — as long as I was carrying a treat bag. This dog was smarter than me. After a few weeks, I finally realized he was actually now acting badly so he could then show how well he could sit afterward and get the treat. It took me a bit more time and patience to make progress, but eventually he started to listen to me without the treats. One of the high moments of the spring was our walk to the finish of the Dexter-Ann Arbor races two miles from our house to watch the runners come in. Johnny behaved nicely all the way downtown, watched all three races and walked home again without incident.

Robin Sarris-Hallop of a chronic hip injury all fall and early winter, so I spent a great deal of time taking Johnny for long walks rather than running. He slowly improved on the leash as a walker, but if I tried to break into a run, after no more than 100 feet we would be in a duel of serious tug-of-war. In late November he knocked me down for the first time. There was no damage other than to my ego as the neighbor down the street witnessed the whole thing. I went flat on my back, surrounded by scattered dog treats, and Johnny ended up barking at me in the middle of the street in full warning mode, Lassie-style. Luckily neither of us was hurt. I was timid about walking him for a few days and pretty discouraged about my dream of a running dog companion. By January, the snow-pocalypse winter was in full swing. I persevered with taking Johnny out for a runwalk every morning, but it would often end with me dragging him home as a punishment for his acting out. One morning, we made it all the way around the block successfully in a run and I let hubris get the best of me, going just a bit further. Next thing I knew, Johnny had come to a full stop in front of me on the inch-thick ice on our neighborhood sidewalks. Over the top of him I went onto the snowcovered cement. My palms and knees were scraped up. At that point I decided we needed to take several steps back in our training and stick to walking until the streets were clear.

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

By early summer he began running up to a mile and half a day with me without a fight. Johnny loves to lead out in front. We stop and walk sometimes but he can trot the whole way now. I don’t plan to run him further until he is older, but eventually expect we will run 3-4 miles a day. As I look back, I realize my friends who kept saying “he’s just a puppy” were right. I sometimes miss the wonderfully rambunctious pup Johnny started out as, but I now love running every morning with my new buddy — Johnny the dog. Author’s Note: As a responsible Australian shepherd owner, I must add that this breed is definitely not for everyone, even though they may seem a great match for a runner. They are smart and require significant training in order to avoid behavioral problems. They demand a very high level of interaction as well as exercise. They are attentive, crave human contact and should not be left alone every day while their humans are at work. They are not suited to apartment or city dwelling without somewhere to exercise — and they need exercise daily even if their owner wants a day of rest. The decision to bring any dog into your home should not be made lightly, as it should be a lifelong commitment to their care and wellbeing. Robin Sarris-Hallop has been running for more than 32 years without missing a season. She was the 1999 MR Women Runner of the Year, 1998 and 2002 Masters Runner and 2006 Senior Runner of the Year. She now considers herself “retired” from competition but still runs every day. - MR -

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Burns Park Run, Ann Arbor

Taylor, Heenan Make it 2-2 at Burns Park By Charles Douglas McEwen ANN ARBOR (5/3/14) — Austin Taylor and Erin Heenan brought heat to the 36th annual Burns Park Run on a chilly morning.

particularly good shape now,” she said. “I tore up my ankle the first week of February and had to take off about six weeks from running. I feel great now, but I was slow.”

topped the masters. Richard Roux, 58, of East Aurora, N.Y., (20:15) and Debbie Ternes, 58, of Ann Arbor (25:39) were the grand masters champs.

Taylor, 25, and Heenan, 32, repeated as The Burns Park Runs, which included a chilthe men’s and women’s winners in the 10K, sponPhilip Tosteson, 22, who recently moved to dren’s fun run, drew nearly 1,300 registrants. For sored by Probility Physical Therapy and the Ann Ann Arbor from New Hampshire, won the men’s complete results, go to http://burnsparkrun.org. Arbor Track Club. Proceeds benefited Burns Park 5K in 17:18. Ann Arbor residents Paul Mayer, 46, Elementary PTO programs. The event was also part (17:41) and A.J. Lumsdaine, 40, (20:32) who - MR half page vertical template_half page vertical 6/5/14 9:16 PM Page 1 of the Michigan Runner Race Series. Heenan ran away with the women’s race, timing 37:17, shy of the 36:12 she ran here last year. “It was a rough winter training-wise,” she said. “Hopefully I’ll get faster as the weeks go on.” Heenan found the double-loop course challenging. “There are two big hills you do twice,” she said. “And it never really flattens out.” Ann Arbor resident Shannon Kohlitz, 25, (39:41) and Zuzana Tomas, 37, (39:45) were the second- and thirdplace women. Josephine Weeden, 45, of Saline, fourth overall, topped the masters in 41:23. Jackie Blair, 58, of Southfield led the grand masters in 47:41. Taylor and Heenan live within jogging distance of the race starting line. Taylor actually did jog here. “I got here 10 seconds after the gun went off,” he said. “I started at the back of the pack. It took me a mile to make it to the front.” The Ann Arbor High School graduate finished in 35:27, after crossing in 34:33 last year. Hank Risley, 46, of Rockford (36:04) beat fellow masters runner Eric Green, 45, of Pontiac (36:27) to place second overall. “Eric went out like he was shot from a cannon,” said Risley. “I caught him at two miles on an inside lane. He breathed down my neck the rest of the way.” Adil Ali, 35, of Ann Arbor finished fourth overall in 37:10, followed by Steve Menovcik, 45, of Grand Ledge in 37:13. Mike Stone, 63, of Southfield paced the grand masters in 46:02. Laurel Park, 51, of Ann Arbor won the women’s 5K in 18:52. “I’m not in

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Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Masters Training for the Rest of Us By Bob Shaffer

t seems every year at a scheduled time running magazines publish an edition devoted to “masters” runners. The articles appear aimed at either retired pros, now-age groupers really bothered by their slow 5:30-per-mile pace in their daily 12-milers, or to folks struggling to break 10 minutes for one whole mile. What about those of us in the middle?

who‘s counting? Ever try to remember how many laps are left to run when you’re tapped out? There are a few other standard chestnuts. For example, your long run should not exceed 50 percent of your weekly mileage. Don’t increase weekly mileage by more than 10 percent. You can reduce mileage every third week, followed by a return to base.

Well, there’s hope. But first let’s define our terms: A “master” is a male of female runner over 40 years old. It doesn’t mean they are good or masters of any universe. In the U.K. they are termed “veterans,” which might ring truer as it does seem as if we have been through a war. In truth we have not; combat is different. Then there are grand masters, senior masters and really, really old masters, which I guess includes me.

If you survive the exam and are a beginner, exOlympian Jeff Galloways’s approach is a good conservative, slow, walk/run start. If you’re a former hotshot (in your own mind, at least), don’t resume where you left off, but build up to it. Get a coach (or be one). That about covers the outliers. What about those of us in the middle? Usually that’s not a bad place to be, but performance-wise it can stifle. If you just do the same thing repeatedly, you’ll get really good at doing the same thing. Thus change can be good. But how do we train otherwise? If all basic plans are melted down, we have just a few in essence: 1) The random style, running how and when you feel. This works for a few gifted runners. I’m not gifted and bet you aren’t either. 2) Same thing every day. It’s consistent and you’ll get better at exactly the thing you do. You’ll get a lot better if you run lots of hard, fast miles and don’t break down. Good luck with that. Historically, three methods come to mind. One, quite European, was initially based on running hard, then letting your heart rate return to about 120 beats per minute, then repeating. For many, this has turned into running quarter-miles at their target race pace on their local high school track, then a lap (now 400 meters) at a jog to recover. Repeat. Many use this as often as twice a week. Then came Arthur Lydiard, who advised starting with several months (yes, months) of low-intensity, high mileage. For the real deal, build to 100 or more miles a week, for sprinters and distance runners. I never got there. The idea was to build an aer-

A big, old, hairy debate now raises its head (or bare foot) with the Form Wars, or Minimalism vs. Maximalism. I’m in the former camp now, but it’s taken years and I can get away with it. My personal recommendations are as follows.

Photo by Scott Sullivan

These articles do advise physcial checkups before training. My med mags tell me more than 70 percent of primary care physicians discuss exercise and diet with their patients (but don’t say what percent follow their own advice). However vitals (heart rate, cardiac recovery, blood pressure, lipid profile and BMI ) should be included. If there are family history, personal history or current or past symptoms of biomechanical, pulmonary or cardiovascular issues, more examination is indicated, e.g., EKG, stress test, etc.

If all those numbers are too much for those of you with math phobia or dyscalculia, here’s one for the verbally inclined. FIT or FID means Frequency and Intensity in Time or Distance. (I’d rather be FIT than FID, but that’s up to you.) Ha, I tricked you. There’s math involved with this too. You can only increase two — frequency, intensity and/or time/distance — at a time, not three. You decide which ones.

Posture first. This means ears over shoulders, shoulders over hips, hips over ankles or, possibly, midfoot. A slight forward lean from the ankles may help some. No, we don’t bend at the waste; do we, kids?

Bob Shaffer is outkicked by the Boxhead at the 2012 Diemer Run.

Next comes cadence. Just as J.D. describes, this feels fast but is helpful for speed, form and injury reduction.

obic foundation, then underpin it with anaerobic work. Lydiard’s great student, multi-Olympic medalist Dr. Peter Snell, pointed out that you run your slow-twitch muscles to exhaustion, then recruit fasttwitch fibers and get them all up to speed. This base is followed by strengthening (think hill repeats), followed by target race-specific training (think track intervals, as above), followed by (one hopes) a personal record in your next race.

Last, and most contentious, is form itself. Thank Peter McDouglas, or the Pose guy (Romanov) or the Chi guy (Dwyer) or the Evolution or Explosion guys. Oh yeah, there’s the Nature guy. They all sound like Good Form Running, probably found at a store near you. The main concept is don’t over-stride, i.e. land in front of your center of mass. This is old-school coaching and sound for many reasons.

Although both the above have benefits, most successful and serious runners I know subscribe to some variation of Dr. Jack Daniels’ research (don’t make whiskey jokes; someone already beat you to it). To oversimplify it (a lot), there are five parts.

More contentious is what part of the foot lands first. If you don’t over-stride it may not matter; if you do, you are probably forcing it anyway. Landing zone may depend on speed, overall form or personal anatomy. You decide, but if for some reason you want to change, do so gradually.

The first is to determine your VO2 max (VDOT) time. By plugging your most recent serious 5K time into a conveniently-located chart, you get your target time for the next concept. This approach, for most of us, will include an endurance run, a tempo run (medium length and kind of hard) and fast intervals on a weekly basis. Each of these workouts work out different physiological systems, making a well-trained and well-rounded runner. Daniels’ other ideas include recovery runs, maybe a rest or really easy day, as the final biggie. In the 1980s J.D. taped (think video camera) middle- and long-distance Olympic runners. Nearly all had a cadence (consisting of two steps) of 180-plus repeats per minute. About what the tires of my car can do. I think that may actually be four or six parts, but

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

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A final contention: the marathon. Just don’t! OK, I know you want to; yes, I’ve succumbed myself. Please run for a year first, then get a good training plan. Think Hansons (go local) or our friend Mr. Galloway, or your local running group for mass support. Do some of this stuff, keep on running, grow old with grace and you too can be a master runner. Writer Bob Shaffer is a licensed Grand Rapids psychologist and veteran (think age 60 and older) runner last pictured in this magazine being beaten in a 5K by a (much) younger runner wearing a box (with a face painted on it) over his head. - MR -

Pterodactyl Triathlon, Brighton

Krzyzanowski, Henris Soar to New Pterodactyl Heights By Charles Douglas McEwen BRIGHTON (7/16/14) — The cool, almost-brisk evening might have given your typical 75-millionyear-old pterosaur chills, but it sparked a fire under Roman Krzyzanowski in the Pterodactyl Triathlon at Island Lake State Park. Krzyzanowski, 43, of Plymouth, has competed in all 18 of the T-Rex Series races since race director Randy Step and Running Fit hatched the idea for dinosaur-named triathlons in 2008. In 2009 Krzyzanowski won the series, which starts with Triceratops Tri in June and culminates with the T-Rex Tri in August. (Running Fit uses the same half-mile swim, 20K bike and 5K run course for all three races.) His most recent triathlons here have probably been his best.

During this race, Krzyzanowski took over leadership during the bike, passing his Motor City Endurance teammate Dan Lynch, 34, of Novi, who led after the swimming portion. “It took a while to pass Dan on the bike,” Krzyzanowski said. “On the run, I just put the hammer down. With a little cooler weather, my goal was to break an hour.” “His motto is ‘consistency and frequency’ and it really pays off,” Lynch said. Lynch finished second in 1:01:27. Dave Furey, 55, an Ann Arbor resident who competes for Ann Arbor Triathlon Club, claimed third in 1:02:32. Next came Louis Probst, 49, also of Ann Arbor, in 1:02:37.

At the T-Rex in August 2013, Krzyzanowski laid down a PR on this course of 1:00:05. He won the Triceratops this June in 1:00:37. At the Pterodactyl, he became the first triathlete over age 30 to break one hour here, timing 59:41. (Will Jurkowski set the course record of 56:50 at last year’s T-Rex Tri.)

Like Krzyzanowski, women’s winner Kelly Henris, 25, of Saginaw, who competes for Team ATP, has enjoyed great success in the T-Rex Series. Last July, she won the Pterodactyl in 1:11:21. Earlier this year, she won the Triceratops in 1:08:51. She dropped her at this racePM to 1:07:40. half page horizontal template_half page horizontal time 6/8/14 1:03 Page 1

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“My whole goal coming in was to break into the 1:07s today,” Henris said. “I’m always racing the clock.” She took the lead midway through the bike and opened a gap thereafter. However runner-up Sara Levan of Grosse Pointe Park, who had the fastest 5K among the women (19:42), nearly caught Henris (who ran 20:50). “It was a good battle to the end,” Henris said. Levan, who came in third at this race last year nearly two minutes behind Henris, finished just seven seconds behind Henris in 1:07:47. “I’m glad to get closer to her this year,” she said. Christine Parker of Ann Arbor was third in 1:08:08. Cristina Noble, 40, of Brighton, who won last year’s T-Rex Series, was fourth overall and tops among masters women in 1:08:29. For complete race results, go to http://runtrextri.com. - MR -

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Volkslaufe, Frankenmuth

Morgan, Miller, Rock Rock at People’s Run

By Charles Douglas McEwen

20K runner-up Jordan Desilets, bib 1947, and winner Mike Morgan near the finish line. FRANKENMUTH (7/4/14 ) — Opportunity came knocking at the 39th annual Volkslaufe/The People’s Run. Mike Morgan, Danielle Miller and Jen Rock answered in a big way. “I’ve run here when it’s been 100 degrees,” said Morgan of the day’s sunny, cool and humidity-free weather. “So I loved it today!” As did most of the close to 2,700 runners and walkers who competed. Morgan, 34, of Lake Orion won the 20K in 1:03:32, the fastest this race has seen since his Hansons-Brooks Distance Project teammate Todd Snyder set the course record of 1:01:51 in 2008.

Miller, 22, of Clinton Township, who also runs for Hansons-Brooks, captured the women’s 20K with a 1:15:05 PR, almost four minutes faster than her last year’s 1:18:57 runner-up finish.

20K winner Danielle Miller 24

And Rock, 24, of Macomb swept both the women’s 5K and 10K, a feat that only Morgan (in 2010 and 2012) has accomplished, on the men’s side, in recent years.

Jen Rock, bib 1816, leads a pack in the 10K.

The three also dominated their respective races, leading almost from start to finish. For Morgan, winning here has become ubiquitous. Since 2009, he has captured the 10K three times, 5K twice and now the 20K twice. The Lincoln, Neb., native thrives on the Volkslaufe course. “There’s nothing better than running through the cornfields,” Morgan said. “Some people don’t like it. But it’s home to me.” Jordan Desilets, 33, of Pinckney was 20K runner-up with a PR of 1:04:40. Tony Filipek, 26, of Caro took third in 1:06:33. Eric Green, 46 of Pontiac won his sixth straight masters championship, timing 1:14:52, 25 seconds ahead of Miller. “I passed Dani at 5K,” Green said. “But she stayed right behind all the way. She was very focused.” Miller’s 1:15:05 put her comfortably ahead of two 49-year-old masters stars: Rachel Glasson of Wagga,Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, was the women’s overall runner-up in 1:19:30, and Lisa Veneziano of Fenton took third overall in 1:21:28. The winner, a recent Northwood University graduate, wasn’t sure how well she would run time-wise. “I just went out there,” Miller said. “I figured I’d fight as hard as I could and see where that got me.” She did hope to accompany her training partner, Rock, on the winner’s podium. “Jen is my best friend,” said Miller. “We train, work and eat together.”

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Rock ran away with the women’s 10K in 36:18, far ahead of second- and third-place Amanda George, 17, of Davison (40:12) and Addie May, 18, of Flushing (40:43). She continued her winning ways in the 5K, crossing in 17:45. Next came Remington Hobson, 14, of Montrose (19:37) and Allison Shannon, 15, of Sterling Heights (19:54). Jesse Andersen, 24, of Fenton paced the men’s 10K in 32:18. Next came Dan Glesac, 22, of East Lansing in 33:00 and Joseph Southgate, 20, of Bay City in 33:17. Nathan Bussiere, 25, of Midland won the 5K in 15:40, followed by Mitchell Klingler, 22, of Coldwater (15:46) and Jacob Secor, 23, of Royal Oak (16:09). Bussiere battled Klingler over the final mile. “He passed me with about a kilometer to go,” Bussiere said. “Just blew by me. I thought that was it. But I held my distance.” With 100 meters to go, Bussiere made his move and passed Klingler. “Once we got onto the grass, I just dug deep,” said the winner. “I guess I had more left than he did. I finished pretty darn hard.” The Volkslaufe, which was presented by the Frankenmuth Jaycees, also included a kids run. For complete race results, go to http://volkslaufe.org. - MR -

In This Issue September / October 2014 Publisher and Chief Executive Officer

Art McCafferty artmccaf@glsp.com Scott Sullivan scott@glsp.com Editor

Jennie McCafferty jennie@glsp.com Associate Publisher

Dave Foley Mike Duff

Riley McLincha Charles D. McEwen Gary Morgan Jim Neff Bob Schwartz Bob Seif Nick Stanko Anthony Targan Kacey Tulley Cregg Weinmann Pamela Zinkosky Michael Zuidema Jamie Fallon Composer

Editors Emeritus

Rose Zylstra

Social Media Editor

Carter Sherline

Senior Photographer

Paul Aufdemberge Desiree Linden Ian Forsyth Tom Henderson Scott Hubbard Herb Lindsay Laurel Park Robin Sarris Hallop Rachael Steil Columnists

Tracey Cohen Jason Elmore Jeff Hollobaugh Dean Johnson Bill Kahn William Kalmar Dr. Edward H. Kozloff Doug Kurtis Grant Lofdahl Ron Marinucci

Peter Draugalis Heather Dyc Hanks Gary Morgan Victah Sailer Gabe Zylstra Photo / Video

Online: Photo Gallery 4 5 6 7 14

Cheryl Clark

Great Lakes Sports Publications, Inc.

Chief Financial Officer

Contributors

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21 22 Michigan Runner ÂŠ is published six times yearly for $17.00 per year by Great Lakes Sports Publications, Inc., 4007 Carpenter Rd., #366, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Third Class Postage paid at Dearborn, MI and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send Address changes to Michigan Runner,4007 Carpenter Rd., #366, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. All contents of this publication are copyrighted all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. All unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, and illustrations will not be returned unless accompanied by a properly addressed envelope, bearing sufficient postage; publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited materials. The views and opinions of the writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect endorsement and/or views of the Michigan Runner. Address all editorial correspondence, subscriptions, and race information to: Michigan Runner, 4007 Carpenter Rd., #366, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, (734) 5070241, FAX (734) 434-4765, info@glsp.com, www.glsp.com. Subscription rates: Continental U.S. $17.00 per year: Payable in U.S. funds. Single issue $3.00, back issues $5.00. Change of address: Send your magazine label and your new address to Michigan Runner, 4007 Carpenter Rd., #366, Ypsilanti, MI 48197.

Vol. 36, No. 4

Ann Arbor Track Club Summer Mini Meet Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Binder Park Zoo Cheetah Chase Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios Asha Detroit 5K Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios 2014 Fall Shoe Review By Cregg Weinmann

Whitmore Lake Races Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios Livonia 64 Spree Run Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Pickerel Run Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Ann Arbor Mile - Dart for Art Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios Crosstown Kids Triathlon Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios IAAF World Junior Championships Photos by Victah Sailer / photorun.net

Electric Bolt 5K Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

The Experience Triathlon, Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios Michigan Track Classic Photos by Pete Draugalis / photorun.net and Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

About the cover: Amanda Kerwin of Portage runs the Binder Park Zoo Cheetah Chase 5K. Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

Ann Arbor Track Club Summer Mini Meet, Ann Arbor, June 10, 2014

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Schirin Rangnick placed first in the mile, 5:36.

Bennett Prudhomme, bib 3735, takes the baton from Andrew Le, bib 3742, on their way to winning the 4 x 400 meter relay.

Zach Ornelas, bib 3749, leads the mile, eventually finishing second in 4:37. Bennett Pudhomme, red singlet, behind Ornelas, won in 4:34. 4

Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

Binder Park Zoo Cheetah Chase, Battle Creek, June 21, 2014

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Taylor Hansen, bib 489, age 11, of Portage leads a pack in the 5K Run.

Curious giraffe investigates Zoo visitors.

Binder Park Zoo’s Cheetah

Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

Asha Detroit 5K Run, Milford, June 22, 2014

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Sanjana Ramakrishna, 1st, 25:51

Sahisnu Malapati, 1st, 18:48

A runner in a traditional sari runs with Sandeep Upadhyaya, bib 378, Bhavana Pabbati, bib 309, and Prudhvi Pabbathi, bib 354. 6

Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

Whitmore Lake Races, Whitmore Lake, June 28, 2104

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Jet Francis, age 9, of Huntersville, North Carolina, finished the Splash -N- Dash in 12:50.

Lindsay Berger, bib 408, of Charlotte, Kelly Bartlett, bib 404, and Matt Hambright, bib 419, both of Ann Arbor make an Independence Day statement as they run the 10K.

Livonia 64 Spree Run, Livonia, June 29, 2013

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Alissa Pomicter, age 10, and Brian Guzdial, of Tucker, Georgia, finish the 5K in 41:29 and 41:28. 14

Brad Everingham, of Livonia, bib 48, leads a pack during the 5K Run.

Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

Pickerel Run, Algonac, July 5, 2014

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Rick Straughan, bib 133, Joe Lasher, 161, and Eric Rzeppa, bib 197, lead at the start of the Pickerel Run.

Ann Arbor Mile - Dart for Art, Ann Arbor, July 14, 2014

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Elite men start the Ann Arbor Mile. University of Michigan alumnus Nate Brannen, bib 16, won in 3:54. Lex Williams, in yellow, was runner-up in 3:58.8.

Sarah Boyle of Brighton won the Women’s Eilte Mile in 4:42. Samantha Walkow of West Lafaytte IN was runner-up in 4:43.

Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

Crosstown Kids Triathlon, Howell, July 10, 2014

Aiden Lally, bib 421, age 7, of South Lyon, an unknown cyclist, and Sarah Orilvie, bib 431, of Saline, age 7 ride their bikes in competition.

Abbey Hodder, bib 19, age 7, of Oxford and Elise Janda, bib 23, of Brighton, age 8 near the finish line of the run leg.

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Benjamin Nelson of Howell, age 13, competes in the swim leg of the triathlon. Distances vary with each age group. 16

Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

IAAF World Junior Championships, Eugene, Oregon, July 22 - 27, 2014

ÂŠ Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Photos by Victah Sailer

Kendall Baisden World Junior Champion 400 meter dash

IAAF World Junior Championships, Eugene, Oregon, July 22 - 27, 2014

Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net

Photos by Victah Sailer / photorun.net

Kendall Baisden put her 400 meter speed to work as anchor of the 4 x 400m relay, winning her second gold medal.

Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net

Kendall Baisden, Detroit Country Day/ University of Texas, reacts after winning the 400 meter dash in 51.85.

TThe victorious 4 x 400 meter relay team celebrates with U.S. flags: Shamier Little, Shakima Wimbley, Olivia Baker and Kendall Baisden. 18

Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net

Tyler Brown, Findlay, Ohio/ Eastern Michigan University, reached the final of the 400 meter dash.

Photo by Victah Sailer / photorun.net

Tyler Brown, Findlay, Ohio/ Eastern Michigan University, competes in the heats of the 400 meter dash.

Tyler Brown, a member of the victorious 4 x 400 meter relay team, celebrates with the winning menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teams. Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

Electric Bolt 5K, Ann Arbor, July 27, 2014

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prinde Studios

Paige McGahan, 1st, 5K Run, 20:05

Cameron Meier, 1st, 5K Run, 19:18

Annie-Norah Beveridge, 1st, 8K Run, 32:34 20

Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

Mike Zuehlke pushes a stroller in the 5K; Jennalin Raitz (in pink) follows.

The Experience Triathlon, Frankenmuth, August 2, 2014

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prinde Studios

Swimmers on the Bavarian Belle get ready for the start.

Swimmers are underway.

Kevin Ryan, 1st, Olympic Triathlon. Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

Michigan Track Classic, Saline, August 10, 2014

Photo by Pete Draugalis / draugalisphotography.com

Photos by Pete Draugalis / draugalisphotography.com and Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Photo by Pete Draugalis / draugalisphotography.com

Men’s start: from left, Jake Edwards, Luke Pawlaczyk, Garret Heath, Dorian Ulrey (behind Heath), Kyle Merber, Jack Bolas, Riley Masters ( broke Kevin Sullivan’s record for the fastest mile in Michigan.

Agee Wilson wins women’s 800 meter run. 22

Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

Morgan Uceny gets fans to do the wave.

Photo by Pete Draugalis / draugalisphotography.com

(behind Bolas), Cory Leslie, Mac Fleet, Craig Huffer, Liam Boylan Pett, Josh McAlary, Ian Boyle, winner Nick Willis. Willis’s time of 3:53.50

Dexter’s Lex Williams greets fans.

Nick Willis signs autographs for fans.

Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

Photo by Gabe Zylstra

Michigan Runner TV Guide Summer/Fall Show Schedule

Waugoshance Marathon â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Half Marathon Start, 2014

USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Sacramento, CA Waugoshance Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay, Mackinaw City

UA Plumbers and Pipefitters 5K & Pub Crawl, Ann Arbor Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Chicago, IL

40 Years of Steve's Run with Ron Gunn & Dave Briegel Preview of Sandhill Crane All Trail Half Marathon with Ron Gunn

Helen DeVos Children's Marathon, Grand Rapids Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon, Grand Rapids Kona Wicked Halloween Run, Plymouth,

Zero Cancer Challenge 5K. Belle Isle Playmakers Spartan Invitational - East Lansing Run Wild For the Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak Brooksie Way Half Marathon, Rochester Sandhill Crane All Trail Half Marathon, 10K & 5K, Vandalia Crim Festival of Races 10 Mile, Flint 24

Michigan Runner Photo Gallery - September / October 2014

Sam Adams Mighty Mac Bridge Race, St. Ignace Sault International Marathon, Sault Ste. Marie, MI New York City Marathon, New York, NY LP MHSAA Cross Country Finals, Brooklyn Dan Jilek Memorial 5K Run, Ann Arbor Kona Chocolate Run, Plymouth

T-Rex 10 Mile Trail Run and Wimpy 8K, Lowell

Sun Shines on T-Rex 10 Miler, Wimpy 8K Trail Runs By Tracey Cohen LOWELL (7/4/14) – More than 200 runners brave enough to take on the T-Rex 10-Mile Trail Run and Wimpy 8K enjoyed blue skies, sun and temperatures in the low 50s on a picture-perfect day.

runners a unique experience, taking them off the regular roads onto beautiful trails where they can enjoy the fresh country air.” The seventh annual races offered lots of awards and swag while keeping entry costs down, “including our famous post-race 3-second speed raffle with so many prizes that everyone has been winner in the last four years,” Droski said.

“I loved the course,” said 8K winner Patrick Lawrence after starting at Fallasburg Park, then rambling on the North Country Trail and gravel roads, hills, roots, rocks and fallen trees. “The mix of singletrack trail, wide-open road and fun, dorky atmosphere was infectious.”

Race director Dan Droski said he enjoys “giving

Photo by Tracey Cohen

“The signage was beautiful,” said 10-mile finisher Renee Obert. “Really well-marked and cute.” She referred in particular to the dinosaur-themed signs on the course, one of which encouraged those who “manned up” and ran the 10 miles to “haggle the wimps” who headed back to the finish at the 2.5-mile mark, long before taking on the Big T-Rex Climb.

Rachel Cudrey led the wimpy 8K women in 37:41, while William Trice III (1:07:15) and Alyssa McElheny (1:12:12) roared to victory in the 10-Miler. For complete results and information on next year’s races, visit http://trextenmiler.8k.com. - MR -

Photo left: T-Rex 8K winner, Patrick Lawrence

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Run Thru Hell, Pinckney

Run Thru Hell Runs True to Legendary Form By Tracey Cohen

14th Annual

Labor Day 30K Race 30-10 Challenge 30K Run 30K Bike 10K Run 6K Fun Run Kids Run

Something for Everyone Register Today at LaborDay30K.com (248) 735-7000 26

Among this pack early in the 10 mile race is Taylor Knoll, bib 241, who finished in third place. was true to form. “There weren’t enough people,” he grumbled. “No one gives as many awards.”

PINCKNEY (8/9/14) — “The hills are still there,” surmised Joe Lasher, having finished his 20th Run Thru Hell. “They and the competition bring me back.”

For complete results, to appease him and be part of history in 2015, visit http://gaultracemanagement.com.

Nearly 600 athletes joined him at the 33rd running of this classic under sunny skies, temperatures in the 60s.

- MR Justin Waraniak dominated the 10-mile field, winning his very first “hellish” experience in 55:20. Kelsie Schwartz led the women in 1:03:47. Claiming the 4.8-mile run were Brian Hankins in 25:32 and Stephanie Sherman in 30:03. “I’d heard about this race for a while,” said Waraniak. “There were a lot of rolling hills, but it was lot of fun. What a great course and beautiful day!” Dubbed by race announcer and 4.8-mile finisher Ed O’Reilly “one of the toughest 10- and 4.8mile races in America with the world’s oldest race director,” Run Thru Hell 2014 did not disappoint. “(Race director) Harrison Hensley does a great job,” said Hell veteran Sheila Allen. “It’s my favorite race. Everyone always looks happy, and it’s good tribute to his wife (Dolores Hensley, 1930-2011). They gave so much, we can give something back.”

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Hensley, soon to celebrate his 82nd birthday,

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Photo by Tracey Cohen

Saturday, August 30, 2014 Milford, Michigan

10K & 30K

Hell Creek Ranch founder Tom Davis (left), who sold the ranch ~ 10 years ago, comes back to support RD, Harrison Hensley and his race.

Letting Go: A Daddy-Daughter Moment at Dexter-Ann Arbor By Anthony Targan

he Dexter-Ann Arbor Run holds special memories for me, including my own first half-marathon in 2002 and my older daughter Becca’s first half-marathon in 2011.

Like the DX-A2 course itself, it’s been an up-anddown year for me. While life is good and I can’t complain, this is a transitional time for our family. Becca graduated from law school, is getting married and will soon move to New York to start her law career. Lexi, 23, will be starting medical school in Detroit. My wife and I are proud of them both. From the time they were Daddy’s little girls, we’ve done everything in our power to raise intelligent, independent, self-sufficient young women. By succeeding in this, our girls don’t really depend on us anymore. The prospect of them flying away on their own makes the empty nest feel even lonelier. On race day, I met Lexi and her friend Eric Peist in Ann Arbor and we took the bus together to the start. I wasn’t sure if Lexi wanted me to run with her (she did) and while not wanting to embarrass her, I couldn’t help asking if she’d trained for the race (she didn’t).

About 100 yards from the finish, I looked down to see her hand extended to reach mine.

Photo b courtesy of Anthony Targan

Whether you’re running the half, 10K or 5K, it’s always a hot, humid day on a challenging course that ends with a long, steep uphill. When my younger daughter Lexi told me she wanted to run the 5K this year, her first race of any distance, I gladly offered to join her. I warned her about the hills and encouraged her to train.

plaint. I pointed out the finish line three traffic lights away.

When Lexi was 11, that same hand took mine when I admitted to being afraid of heights as we walked down the stairs of the Eiffel Tower together. Now, I took her hand again and we ran together to the finish.

Anthony & Lexi Targan the bell. I was watching from afar, and later complimented her on her perseverance, saying, “If that was me, I would have given up.” To which she replied, “No, you wouldn’t.”

As Lexi said later, “I reached both my goals with the help of my dad, who held my hand in the final stretch. There were many firsts that day: the first time I had to drink on the run, the first time I felt the rush of passing other runners, the first time I saw the clock counting up towards 30:00 and later realizing that was the total time for the race rather than my net time. I don’t think I will ever run as many races as him, but I can see the thrill that my dad gets in crossing the finish line.” This time, the thrill was not just crossing the finish line, but being able to hold on to my little girl’s hand, just a little while longer.

In the last uphill stretch, Eric surged ahead while Lexi and I ran side-by-side. I admired her determinathird square template_third square 8/12/14 3:13 PM Page 1 tion as she put forth a consistent effort without com-

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

As a veteran of nearly 150 races, I said, “I’ll try not to over-coach you, but do you mind if I offer a few tips during the race?” Eric was receptive, but Lexi — remembering a decade of being the coach’s daughter on our soccer teams — admitted, “That would bother me.” She added, “I have two goals for my first race: to run the entire time and to finish in under 30 minutes.” I agreed to keep them both on pace, but otherwise would try to bite my tongue. The first mile included a long downhill on a dirt road full of potholes and slower runners we had to dodge. I tried to keep us from going out too fast, but the grade was so steep it was hard not to. When we turned onto West Huron River Drive, I pulled back on the reins and we slowed down into a comfortable pace. In the final mile, Eric and Lexi were both working hard. I told them we had a shot at breaking 30:00 if we kept our current pace, but the last hill loomed large before us. Silently, we dug in, each of us deep in our own thoughts. I remembered when Lexi, as a little girl, was high up on a climbing wall, struggling to get to the top. She grappled, slipped and then dangled as she reassessed her approach. After about five minutes of trial and error, she finally reached the top and rang

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Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Independence Aquathlon and Open Water Swim, Howell

Inch, Close Sweep Aquathlon, Open Water Swim By Charles Douglas McEwen HOWELL (7/6/14) — Doing double duty at the 12th annual Howell Independence Aquathlon and Open Water Swim, Matt Inch and Amanda Close won the men’s and women’s one-mile swim and aquathlon.

Inch, 26, of Dallas, who also won the swim and aquathlon last year, did both faster this time. He didn’t feel great, though. “I felt heavy,” Inch said. “I drank a lot of beer this weekend (celebrating the Fourth of July).” Close, 17, a senior member of the Waterford Mott High School swim team, improved dramatically over last year when she also did both races. “It’s good to do it once to get the hang of it,” she said.

The Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority held the event at Howell City Park, with the open-water swim starting at 9 a.m. and aquathlon (which consists of a 2K run, 750-meter swim, then another 2K run) at 10.

the Thompson Lake open water swim DanDuring Jilek 2014_sixth vertical 8/12/14 11:43 AM Page 1

Amanda Close won both the open water swim and the aquathlon.

Dan Jilek 5K Run/Walk

Ann Arbor Gallup Park, Maas Shelter • Free picnic after the run • Awards for - Children under 12 - Fastest Female - Fastest Male • Free cool t-shirt Register: danjilek5k.blogspot.com Contact: Joyce Bayma jbayma@gmail.com 248-709-8417

Close timed 25:51, edging runner-up Susan Ogilvie, 37, of Brighton (26:01) and third-place finisher Karen Rosinski, 52, of Garden City (26:02). Inch, a former Clarkston resident who went to Michigan State University, finished 31 seconds ahead of the 2012 champ and 2013 runnerup Mike Schuldinger, 52, of Waterford Lake. Inch timed 22:10 to Schuldinger’s 22:41. Steven Tarske, 18, of Pinckney took third in 24:08.

Ogilvie finished second again (30:37) and Jennifer Erichsen, 22, of Farmington Hills took third (30:50). Kristin Kachnowski, 43, of Wixom was topped the masters (31:53). For complete race results, visit http://evearlracemgt.com. - MR -

Inch received a strong challenge in the aquathlon from Chris Matulis, 32, of St. Joseph, who was runner-up last year. In a replay of the 2013 race, Matulis led after the 750-meter swim. “During the final run, it took me a half-mile to catch him,” said Inch. “I gritted my teeth and went for the dagger.” He won in 24:57, with Matulis second in 25:13. Masters champ Roman Krzyzanowski, 43, of Plymouth finished third overall in 26:02. “It’s a really cool, low-key event,” said Inch of the aquathlon. “I teach high school in Richardson, Texas, and if I get the opportunity to come back to Michigan, I always try to make this race.” Close won the women’s aquathlon in 30:11. “I felt pretty strong,” she said. “When I did the first mile (1.2 miles, actually), my legs were kind of tired. So when I did the swim, I mostly just used my arms and saved my legs to run the last mile.”

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

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Sunday, October 5, 2014 11:00 am

Martin (left) & Zachary Wooledge have some company near the finish line.

Sore Muscles After Running? Try This By Dave Foley

Dave Foley

t was not hard for me to adhere to a hard-easy training regimen. After doing a sizzling track workout, a series of hill climbs or red-lining a long run, the next day I’d be walking around on stiff legs like the Tin Woodman from the Wizard of Oz. There was no way I was going to go out and hammer on con-

secutive days. And that was when I was in my thirties. Now I’m twice as old, I’m doing the zombie shuffle for about four days after giving my legs a real test. But over 40 years of running I’ve learned some things about recovery, so I might as well share them. First of all, it starts and ends with being hydrated. Our bodies function better when our muscles and tissues are lubricated. Unless you’re going to be breaking a sweat, just drinking water is sufficient. But don’t wait until the workout is done to start. Take in fluids before, during and after exercising. Consuming electrolyte drinks, which contain sodium, potassium and magnesium along with carbohydrates and sweeteners, may be helpful in recovering after hard efforts. But you may — especially if they’re loaded with sugar — drink down more calories than you burned. Be sure to have a snack. To replenish glycogen stores and sodium chloride (salt) depleted by a workout, try to eat a snack in the first hour after exercising.

muscles, reduce injury risk and keep your core temperature down. Easy, gentle movement improves circulation, which promotes nutrient and waste product transport through the body. Studies have shown that post-workout stretching may even im prove performance. The best recovery plan may be to do nothing. Give your tired and stressed muscles time to recover. Take a day off running and go for a bike ride instead. Often in the days after a hard run, I can be found in a kayak or canoe paddling on a lake, giving my upper body a good workout while my legs take a break. Though there are conflicting studies about massage helping recovery, it does seem to loosen tight muscles. In addition, tissue that has been worked on shows less damage and inflammation. Although massage therapists may be most effective, self-massage can be an acceptable alternative. Using a foam roller can be an effective, albeit painful, way to loosen tight muscles. Letting the jets of a hot tub shoot over sore tissue can be another pleasant way to recover after a workout. Then there’s the option of taking an ice bath. Diving into a cold lake, sliding into an bathtub filled with ice cubes or massaging your skin with ice wrapped in a towel will instantly take your mind off whatever exercise you did and may help speed your recovery.

Because I live on a lake, this treatment is a real possibility for me. I may dive in during the summer or even wade around in the shallows in spring or fall when the water’s cold, but I haven’t yet gotten up the nerve to immerse myself in a bath of ice cubes. All studies point out the value of sleep. And I’m a firm believer that a hard workout earns you the right to a good night’s sleep. Not only does that feel good, but while you’re slumbering your body produces growth hormone, which is largely responsible for tissue growth and repair. You can minimize the sore-muscle problem by not overdoing it. That New Year’s resolution to exercise daily needs a gentle roll out. Ease into that marathon-training program. Don’t try to do it all in the first month. Increase the intensity and duration of your workout gradually. Heavy training at every session or a lack of rest days can undermine your fitness plan and stymie your recovery efforts. Succeeding with recovery means listening to your body. Feeling tired, sore or a decrease in performance are indicators that more recovery time is needed. It might be best to take some time off. On the other hand, you might feel energized the day after a hard workout. In that case, go ahead and put in another strong effort. If you pay attention, in most cases, your body will let you know what it needs and when it needs it.

Some prefer to use contrast water therapy in which cold and heat are alternated — two minutes under hot water in a shower, then shifting to 30 secMichigan Runner editor emeritus Dave Foley is a reonds of cold. Repeat this four times, allowing a tired coach and teacher who remains active in the minute of moderate water between extremes. Advowoods and on the streams near his Cadillac home. cates of this theory point to evidence that repeatedly constricting and dilating blood vessels helps remove - MR and flush out waste products in the tissues. sixth horizontal template_sixth horizontal 8/12/14 3:10 PM Page 1

Strenuous activity can suppress appetite. However, recovery will be better if something is eaten. Look for high-quality protein and complex carbohydrates such as cheese and crackers, apples and peanut butter or trail mix. Snacking on salty foods such as pretzels or chips will replenish sodium chloride. Take time to stretch. Yes, I know stretching before exercising has been proven to be not so helpful, but after the workout — that’s the time to do gentle stretching. Go with static stretches, which will relax

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Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Atwood Stadium Races, Flint

Williams, Kasten Sweep Atwood Races By Charles Douglas McEwen FLINT (7/19/14) — Alex Williams, 30, of Caro and Angela Kasten, 28, of Davidson won twice in less than two hours at the Atwood Stadium Races, presented by HealthPlus and held on the Kettering University campus.

Among the men, Williams can thank his formidable kick for his two victories.

With the 5K starting at 7:30 a.m. and the 10K an hour later, this event allowed runners to compete in both races. Kasten ran away with both.

Williams jetted by all four men ahead of him and won in 18:47. Derek Dodge, 36, of Caro and Ian Fox, 16, of Clio both clocked 18:50. Fourthplace overall finisher Jeff Walls, 42, of Grand Blanc topped the masters in 19:00.

Kasten won the women’s 5K in 20:26, followed by teenagers Lily Kelsey, 14, of Flint (21:48), Natalie Purcell, 16, of Grand Blanc (22:03) and Kathy Snyder, 50, of Flushing, the women’s masters winner (22:14). She captured the 10K in 43:22, more than six minutes ahead of runner-up Ashtyn Steward, 15, of Vassar (49:34) and masters champ Colleen Cady, 47, of Grand Blanc (49:36).

Dodge also finished second to Williams in the 10K. “I led the 5K for a while, then he passed at the end,” Dodge said. “I led the 10K for about five miles, and at about six miles he passed me again.” Dodge, who has raced against Williams many times before, came to the Atwood Stadium in the same car as his rival. “I know I’m going to hear about how he beat me twice — all the way home,” Dodge said. “I tried to take the 10K out easy,” Williams said. “But that guy (Dodge), you’ve got to go with him or you’ll lose him.” Williams finished the 10K in 40:22 to Dodge’s 40:25. Next came masters champ Ted Braun, 44, of Flint in 42:40. Both races started in the Atwood Stadium parking lot and finished on its football field. In between, both courses included segments of the Flint River Trail and a lot of hills, said Kasten. “It’s a good way to challenge yourself,” she said. “If I were recommending this race to someone, I’d tell them to pace themselves because the hills will whoop your butt. Don’t push too hard on the hills, because there are a lot of them.”

They are steep too, said Williams. “You get on some of them and it almost feels like you’re walking up them.” The races also included a 5K walk, won by Harry Garrison of Flushing (30:05) and Elaine Sheets of Holly (34:01). The 10K walk went to Pablo Hillier of Saginaw (1:02:26) and Peggy Soth of Swartz Creek (1:13:57). Some 881 people showed up for the Atwood races. Of those, 390 did both, which gave the race a total registration of 1,271. For complete race results, visit http://atwoodraces.com.

Alex Williams can thank his formidable kick for his two victories. 30

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

- MR -

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“It was nerve-racking,” she said, “because I was in front from the beginning. I was running scared the entire time, always thinking someone my heels.”

“With about 400 meters left in the 5K, I was in fifth place,” he said. “I decided it was time to sprint.”

Angela Kasten ran away with both the 5K and 10K races.

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Roseville Big Bird 0914_Roseville Big Bird 8/12/14 12:

36th Annual

Red Carpet Run, West Bloomfield

Runners Pay Homage to Hollywood at Red Carpet Run By Charles Douglas McEwen WEST BLOOMFIELD (8/6/14) — In the musty depths of his closet, Jeff Jackson found the perfect costume for the Red Carpet Run, presented by Running Fit and held on a warm, humid evening. “I found my old high school tuxedo,” said Jackson, 52, of Ann Arbor. “I replaced the pants with running shorts and said, ‘OK, this is my outfit.’”

Many men ran the 5K in suits, ties and running shoes. Women wore long gowns or shorter party dresses and skirts. Elana Berlin, 42, of Southfield, who won Best Dressed Woman, looked like a 1920’s flapper as she crossed the finish line. “I’m wearing a lace dress with satin, plus a diamond necklace with earrings,” said Berlin, who also wore a black beret on her head. The skirt of her dress fell to just below her knees.

Reg. Fees: $25 by 4pm Nov. 5 $30 on race day

Entry form & information: Recreational Authority of Roseville & Eastpointe 18185 Sycamore Roseville, MI 48066 (586) 445-5480 www.rare-mi.gov sixth vertical template_sixth Register online: active.comvertical 8/12/14 12:09 PM Pa

Photo by Tracey Cohen

Thanks to the tuxedo (or at least its top half ), Jackson won the Best Dressed Dude Award, topping many others who dressed as if they were attending a Hollywood premiere. Decked out in their finery, they ran a 5K race, finished on a red carpet in front of the Running Fit store and were given a glass of champagne as they left the finish chute.

“It had to be something I could move in,” Berlin said. “I didn’t want to wear a long gown in the race, but it had to be nice enough for the red carpet.” Many women, including Pinckney residents Emily Lemorie and Kendall Kubinec, did wear floor-length gowns. “These are our $5 dresses from the Salvation Army,” said Lemorie. “We spent that much on dresses and about $120 on jewelry because we wanted to bling it up a bit.” Despite the length of their dresses, Lemorie and Kubinec completed the race in 32:27 and 32:46, respectively. At the head of the pack, Teresa Cook of Dearborn, wearing a green dress with a diaphanous skirt, won the women’s race, beating her sister Kelly Valente, also of Dearborn, who sported a kneelength brown dress. Cook finished in 19:41, Valente 20:08. Kim Sanner of Macomb took third overall and masters honors in 20:28. “I love this race,” Cook said. “I like that it’s not too hilly. I like the food and the champagne afterwards. And I love Running Fit races.” Cook didn’t feel encumbered running in a dress. “My legs could move freely,” she said. “I was thinking I could get 5K PR and did.”

Elana Berlin captivated the crowd as she crossed the finished in a lace and satin dress and running shoes. Men’s winner Donald Alexander of Livonia also set a PR, timing 17:00. “It was my first win ever,” he said. “And my family was here to see it.” Scott Moore of Rochester Hills led the race early. “He (Alexander) came up on me at about the mile mark,” Moore said. “We ran together for a while. He looked down at his watch and I think he realized he was a little off where he wanted to be. He made a big move and I just kind of let him go.” Moore finished in 17:24. Kevin Mills of Novi placed third in 18:23. Kevin Sherwood, 52, of Birmingham, who timed 21:00 and was 10th overall and tops among men over age 50, wore his usual Captain America shorts and bandana, but otherwise didn’t dress up. “Last year, I was fourth or fifth in my age group (50-54), because I dressed up as (rock star) Axl Rose,” he said. “I had on tights and a lot of other clothing. It got hot and I didn’t run well. “Captain America was better,” Sherwood said. For complete results, go to http://redcarpetrun.com. - MR michiganrunner.net

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Gallup Gallop, Ann Arbor

Gallup Gallop Beats Rain, Supports Running Blind

By Tracey Cohen

Adam Richmond, bib no. 231, leads a pack at the start over a Gallup Park footbridge. ANN ARBOR (7/13/14) — Severe storms were predicted, morning showers materialized and 300 entrants gathered for the 34th running of Gallup Gallop 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Fun Run in Gallup Park. “The humidity was ridiculous,” said Adam Richmond, who won in 16:38. “But it was fun.” Richmond was impressed with the “wellmarked, accurate, USATF-certified course, nice path and good competition. The second-place guy (Chris Wendt, 16:45) and I battled it out for most of the way,” he said. Ashley Russo led the women in 20:04, just three seconds faster than Elaine Johnson. Jeff Rothstein (19:44) and Michelle Fields (23:10) claimed the men’s and women’s masters honors.

“The race was very humid,” said Ann Arbor Track Club president Mitch Garner. “But I’m happy the rain subsided and sun came out. “Gallup Gallop is one the club’s oldest races,” he continued. “We’re happy to have (race director) Hal (Wolfe) take it over to and support Running Blind.” The 501c3 charity Wolfe founded in 2001 strives to assist people with visual impairments and other physical or mental disabilities to gain the support, skills and confidence needed to overcome challenges faced. “It’s very gracious of the AATC to donate proceeds to our group,” Wolfe said. Hope Springstead, who became a Running Blind beneficiary in May, was proud to complete her first 5K race. She and her guide Tina Perry began

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

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training together a couple times a week after Springstead long had trained on a treadmill. “I really enjoy running,” Springstead said. “I’m happy to have this wonderful community allowing me to experience this great sport.” “I started running about 16 months ago when looking for something to do and found Running Blind,” Tonya Gore said. “This was my first race, but I’m looking forward to training for more.” Finishers were treated to a full spread of fresh fruit, bagels and Zingerman’s bread. Complete results can be found at www.everalracemgt.com. This story was adapted from the Ann Arbor Track Club newsletter. - MR -

Denver-Based RSG Acquires Running Fit By Tracey Cohen

hirty years ago Running Fit came to be. Under the tutelage of founder Randy Step and partner Steve Angerman, its stores and events have become fixtures throughout Michigan and beyond. Running Fit Inc. was recently acquired by the Running Specialty Group, a Denver, Colo., partnership between Finish Line and Gart Capital Partners which has acquired 58 specialty running stores to date.

He and Angerman weren’t looking to sell their business. “We were called out of the blue,” Step said. “When we were first approached in 2012, we turned them down,” said Angerman. “But when they called again in 2013, we felt it our due diligence to at least listen to what they had to say.” The two spoke with other trusted former run specialty business owners recently acquired by RSG, including Angerman’s mentor Bob Roncker of Bob Roncker’s Running Spot in Ohio. “It was a tough decision to make,” said Angerman. “But we felt it a good opportunity for Running Fit to continue its growth.” Step sees it as “the next step” for the business. “Retail is difficult,” he said. “To do well you have to change and evolve. I see this as securing the future of a successful, stronger Running Fit.” The partners have hardly noticed a difference in their day-to-day activities. “I had moved away from the retail side of the business to focus on the event and timing side,” said Step. “What I’m doing now hasn’t changed much. I continue to do what I love, creating events for clients, that will hopefully go on for eternity, maintaining the synergy between events and retail.”

Photo by Tracey Cohen

“It’s like sending your kid off to college,” Step reflected, “after all the things we did to get Running Fit to where it is today. But what an honor to have someone think it’s so valuable.”

Randy Step (left) and Steve Angerman decided to sell the Running Fit stores. hind us,” said Angerman. The partners affirm Running Fit will continue to support the community. “RSG wants us to keep doing the things that have made us successful,” said Step. That includes offering classes and sponsoring events such as the 2014 Dexter-Ann Arbor Run. “ It’s a unique business model RSG has set up,” said Angerman. “They don’t come in and change everything. We work within different parameters, but the stores they acquire keep their names and identities. We continue to do things the Running Fit way with tweaks of improvement, sharing and gaining best practices with the other RSG entities.”

Running Fit Ann Arbor West Manager Todd Snyder concurred. “At this point, I don’t notice any significant changes,” he said. “We’re the same Running Fit focused on helping our customers.” “Change is constant and inevitable,” said Angerman. “Better to embrace it than work against it.” For more information on Running Fit and its events, visit http://runningfit.com. This story was adapted from the Ann Arbor Track Club newsletter. - MR -

Angerman continues to run Running Fit’s day-to-day retail operations. “I am continuing to work with our vendors deciding what our stores will carry,” he said. “But now I don’t have to spend as much time on the human resource tasks I was doing. “It’s like we’ve been adopted by a huge extended family,” he continued. “Instead of talking to Randy every day, I talk with the folks in Denver.” He sees Running Fit’s future being similar to its last 30 years of growth. “We look to grow our events and improve the customer experience now we have more resources be-

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Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Book Review

‘Runyaker’s Journey’ is Unique Feat, Treat By Ron Marinucci

some harrowing lake experiences with capsizing and being bashed by waves. Such thoughts, though, were fleeting.

“The Runyaker’s Journey” by Riley McLincha. 2014. 217 pp. $16.95, paperback; $3.95 e-book, both available at online bookstores such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Author House.

McLincha has a knack for finding humor, often self-deprecating, in his stories. Finishing one day of paddling, he came across two fishermen in a boat. Conversation turned to where and when he had started. When McLincha told them, he added, “I got a loooong way to go.” One of the anglers quipped, “Keep going; you’ll make Niagara Falls.” “That’s the plan.” The fishermen chuckled, thinking it was a joke. Ha ha!

any runners throughout the Midwest know Riley McLincha as “The Drubbler.” The Clio resident has completed dozens of races, including major marathons, while dribbling three basketballs. But McLincha has accomplished more. He sings, including the national anthem and his own tribute to the Crim at that race’s start, and writes his own songs. He has a degree in biology. And he has kayaked the major rivers of the Saginaw River Valley, paddling hundreds of miles on the Saginaw, Flint, Tittabawassee, Shiawassee and Cass rivers. He memorized the value of pi to 7,500 decimal places and, briefly, held a Guinness Book Record for that achievement.

In telling another inquisitive man of the journey, McLincha noted, “He spoke as if I were foolish or crazy,” adding, “He was on to me.”

Now, among all this — and more — we can add “author.”

Horseshoe-to-Horseshoe. This requires some explanation. Horseshoe-to-Horseshoe refers to Horseshoe In April 2009, McLincha began what he calls Lake, the source of the Flint River near Oxford, “the grandest adventure of my life,” runyaking from and Horseshoe Falls, as in Niagara Falls. RunMRSub0311_Sixth Vertical 2/6/11 9:52 PM Page Mich., 1 yaking is a term coined by McLincha and combines paddling in a kayak and running.

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“The Runyaker’s Journey” is his memoir about this adventure. But it’s two journeys actually. One is his 1,400 miles of runyaking. The other includes autobiographical snippets of his six decades of, well, often mischievous behavior. (Caution — some readers may find some, not much, language a bit coarse.) The journeys are fascinating and well told. McLincha has done a wonderful job of coordinating the two, deftly moving in and out of each. Even those who followed his online chronicle/blog will still find the book entertaining and very much worth reading. In some ways, “Journey” is a travelogue. McLincha cites places, people and nature. Several times he saw golden eagles. Many folks helped along the way, with encouragement or even lunch money. Often interesting local history is tossed in; Pewonigowink is the name the Chippewas gave to what we now call the Flint River and, of course, Flint — “river of fire stones.” There is also Canadian geography and history: nickel foundries, the Welland Canal, the steep 50to 80-foot cliffs of the northern shores of Lake Erie, and even the War of 1812. Of course, “Journey” is mostly about the runyaking from H-to-H, of McLincha and Swiftee, his trusty 9½-foot kayak. The stories are legion, often humorous and always adventurous. He frequently runyaked 20 or 30 miles a day, once covering 39 miles in 24 hours, running 17 and kayaking 22. The weather and Great Lakes didn’t always cooperate. Several times he had thoughts of quitting, after

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

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The runyaking journey took more than four years to complete, 57 days of actual running and paddling from H-to-H. Here is where the only thing is missing from the book, dates that correspond to runyaking days. A van was used to transport Swiftee and travel between ending and starting points. (McLincha explains the entire process at the beginning of the book.) He crossed into Canada 30 times, explaining and re-explaining his adventure to curious customs agents. Only a handful of overnights were spent in that country, a few times with a newly-found friend who he met through his runyaking blog. More often, their — McLincha and Swiftee’s — lodging was their van. Still, there were rules, established from the outset by McLincha. The entire 1,389 miles had to be runyaked, paddled or run. Anything less didn’t count. He admitted he was “anal” about keeping to those rules. (Anal? Concerning karaoke, McLincha holds that, “It’s cheating to sing to recorded music.”) One afternoon the heat index registered more than 100 degrees. He faced a 6-mile run back to the van to pick up Swiftee. A couple miles into the run, “I did a rare thing — I walked … Yes, I had to walk. But, I did a 180 (-degree turn) and walked in the opposite direction a short distance, then turned around, walked back to where I’d stopped running, then resumed running. So far in this journey,” he explained, “I’ve run and never walked.” He had rules. He was “anal” about them, he admitted, “but I have to be true to myself.” The motivation for all of McLincha’s adventures is still mind-boggling. He’s not always certain why, but planning and accomplishing these unique achievements is satisfying to him. He enjoys doing things other people rarely or never attempt. It’s a safe bet nobody else has tried many of them, particularly H-to-H. Regardless, “The Runyaker’s Journey” is great reading and provides a good sense of McLincha’s “grandest adventure.” - MR -

Turning Corners By Kacey Tulley road can be like a Cracker Jack box prize: an awaited surprise just around the bend. © Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

There are unforeseen twists and turns that we all encounter. Time and again my running has led me to intersections. Often I can spot the sign leading up to corners that warns of blind spots, so I hold my breath, turn and inevitably keep going. It’s not in me to turn around or stop. So I run on. I like being able to plan my race schedule, mileage, pace or general direction ... right up until that corner. Then at least some of my control is lost. I am left exposed, vulnerable, at the mercy of elements and the running Gods. I brace myself but push through, having learned I have no real control of anything except how I respond to what the turn reveals. I hope I will do so in a way I would want my friends and daughter to respond to such challenges, and to make those involved in my life be proud.

Kacey Tulley

, like other runners, often lace up leaving watch and maps behind. My curiosity for new routes often leads me to turning a lot of corners during these sole-scuffing excursions. I like leaning into the angle and letting it pull me through. The change in pace, form and stride a corner brings feels exciting and even dangerous. A turn on the

Sometimes turning a corner gives me the downhill reprieve I’ve been yearning for. Sometimes I’m faced with a hill I want to charge up or the wind at my back. Sometimes, though, the wind pushes me back or I’m faced with a never-ending straightaway. Sometimes there’s a cooling sprinkler and I get to run like a kid again. Regardless, I press on.

So I take on the corners, both on the road and in life. Sometimes I turn and bump smack dab into something, fall and have to get back up. Sometimes my falls are no big deals, other times big deals. They might not even really hurt, but when I’m flat on my tush I cry until I can’t anymore. The tears end, though, and I get up because that’s what runners do. Sometimes turning a corner gets me exactly where I wanted. Other times — no surprise to people who know me — I get lost. Here’s where I find what running form I’ve got, because there is no choice except keep going until I’m found or I find myself. There are runs where I hate the corners. I don’t always like change. Sometimes I want to run hard, fast and straight. Sometimes running with the wind is easier. But flat, straight and fast don’t last. Sometimes getting lost is scary, even if it’s the only way to get found. Still, in the end, there are corners. To avoid them is to avoid the potential best part of the run and life. So I lean in, take a breath and turn ...

sixth vertical template_sixth - MR - vertical 6/5/14 9:37 PM Page

Boston-Qualifying Hopefuls Get 2 for Price of 1 By Scott Sullivan

arpe opportunitas. Sponsors of the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon are joining friends from Chicagoland’s Fox Valley Marathon offering runners eager to qualify for the Boston Marathon two for the price of one. Their Last Chance BQ.2 Marathons will be Saturday, Sept. 13: the last day of early 2015 Boston registration week and first day of Boston’s 2016 qualifying window. The Grand Rapids event, sponsored by Orthopedic Associates of Michigan, will be: • On a flat, fast, shady course at Millennium Park. • Start at 7 a.m. to keep morning temperatures low. • Feature elite runner perks such as tables for your own drink mix, plus multiple aid stations offering water, Gatorade, gel, bananas, oranges and ice. • Ready-made pace teams. The first three digits of runners’ race bib numbers will be their 2015 BQ qualifying time, allowing entrants to line up with peers and work together.

• A registration kiosk at the finish party that day at noon, for those 5 minutes or more under their qualifying time who become eligible for Boston’s early registration. No need to wait until Monday or even until runners get home. “Everything about the race,” said BQ.2 director “Marathon” Don Kern, “is designed to get you into 2015 Boston with a time far enough below your qualifying time to make the final cut.” The field will be limited to 330 runners who meet qualifying standards of having run a prior marathon within 10 minutes of their Boston standard or a half-marathon at a mile pace that meets the standard. Specifics may be viewed at the BQ.2 Marathon race site, lastchancebqgr.com. Fox Valley’s event will be the same day at Fabyan Forest Preserve West in Geneva, Ill. For more information, visit fv26.com/LCBQ. - MR -

michiganrunner.net

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

National Cherry Festival, Meijer Festival of Races, July 12, 2014

Cherry Festival Adds Half Marathon and 10K to Traditional 15K and 5K Races.

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

David Mart - Half Marathon winner 36

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

The Stone Steppers traveled from Southfield to run Cherry Festival races. Coach Mike Stone is on the left.

Danielle Tauro - 5K winner |

michiganrunner.tv

Clark Ruiz - 5K winner

running fit template_running fit template 8/12/14 3:32 PM Page 1

September / October 2014 Event Calendar Mon, 9/1/14 Mon, 9/1/14 Mon, 9/1/14 Mon, 9/1/14

Mon, 9/1/14 Mon, 9/1/14

Mon, 9/1/14

Belding Lions Labor Day Run En Gedi Labor Day 5K Trail Run/Walk Jordan Valley’s George Hawley Memorial Run Labor Day Run & Potluck

Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Run Mackinac Bridge Walk Run for CHUM Half Marathon and 5K

5KR, 1MW 5KR/W, 1.5MW 10KR, 5K/W, kids run 10KR, 5KR/W, kids run

5MFR 5MW

Belding Leonidas Elmira

(616) 794-0384 (269) 689-7490 (231) 536-1546

wjyoungs@yahoo.com engediresort.comMon, active.com

Midland

(989) 274--9495

www.barc-mi.com

Dansville

(517) 589-5252

runningfoundation.com

Mackinaw City (517) 347-7891 michiganfitness.org/labor-day-run-walks St. Ignace (906) 643-7600 michiganfitness.org/labor-day-run-walks

13.1MR, 5KR, kids run

Mon, 9/1/14 Tue, 9/2/14

USA 20K Championships Downtown Detroit Run / Walk - Vivios

20KR 4-6M training runs

New Haven, CT Detroit

Tue, 9/2/14 Wed, 9/3/14 Wed, 9/3/14

Hanson Speed Session -Tuesdays Hansons Group Run - Wednesdays Hansons Youth Team

training

Sterling Heights Grosse Pointe Rochester

(586) 323-9683 (248) 693-9900 (248) 616-9665

hansons-running.com hansons-running.com hansons-running.com

Thu, 9/4/14 Thu, 9/4/14 Fri, 9/5/14

Hansons Group Run - Thursdays Hansons Youth Team Run Woodstock - Day 1

camp

Royal Oak Royal Oak Pinckney

camp 100MR, 100KR

usatf.org (313) 393-1711 downtownrunners@hotmail.com

(248) 616-9665 (586) 323-9683 (734) 929-9027

hansons-running.com hansons-running.com runwoodstock.com

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

3 Disciplines Triathlon Festival of Races Triathlon, Aquabike 9-11 Memorial 5K 5KR/W Adam Rader Kaleidoscope of Hope Memorial Color 5K Run

East Tawas Brighton Ludington

(231) 546-2229 (810) 333-5289 (231) 631-7435

3disciplines.com isupportbrighton.com regonline.com/adamsrun/

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

Alive and Running VA 5K Fun Run/Walk Allegan Torch Run Allegiance Health Race to Health

5KR/W 5KR/W 5MR, 5KR/W, kids run

Battle Creek Allegan Jackson

(269) 419-9134 (616) 218-2596 (517) 841-7455

aliveandrunningva.com allegantorchrun.com allegiancehealth.org/race

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

Chippewa Mountain Bike Race Cupcake Run Friends of Aaron Martinuzzi Fun Run/Walk

various 5KR/W, 1MR/W 8.5MR, 5MR, 3MR, 1MR

Hubbard Lake Cheboygan Milford

(989) 727-3702 jgentry@first-federal.com (231) 818-5919 ashleymorgandonahu.wix.com (313) 520-9013 mtmartinuzzi@gmail.com

Sat, 9/6/14

Gilda’s Family 5K Walk & Run

Gladiator Rock’n Run Grape Lake 5K Run/Walk

6K Obstacle R 5K R/W

Shelby Twp michelle@gladiatorrocknrun.com gladiatorrocknrun.com Paw Paw (269) 657-1326 wineandharvestfestival.com

Royal Oak

(248) 577-0800

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

Grass Lake Heritage Day 5K Happy Heart Run Harvest Stompede

5KR/W 5KR/W, 1MFR 7MR, 5KR/W

Grass Lake Coldwater Suttons Bay

(517) 262-3032 heritageday5k.webs.com mashauns@chcbc.com runningfoundation.com (231) 421-1172 lpwines.com/harvest/

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

Hawk Island Fall Kids Triathlon Head for the Cure 5K Holland Haven Marathon

Kids Triathlon 5KR/W 26.2MR, 13.1MR

Lansing Detroit Holland

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

Hornet Triathlon & Kids Tri Jackson Walk & 5K Run to Cure Lupus Komen Grand Rapids Race for the Cure® Live Life Nspired 5K

tri: sprint, min sprint, 5KR/W 5KR/W 5KR/W, 1.5MW

Saline Jackson Grandville Charlotte

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

3MW, 2MW, 1MW

michiganrunner.net

gildaswalkandrun.org

(517) 374-5700 www.hawk-i-tri.com (313) 638-2831 headforthecure.org/detroit/ reddiefit@gmail.com hollandhavenmarathon.com (734) 678-5045 (800) 705-6677 (616) 752-8262 (517) 543-9575

epicraces.com milupus.org komenwestmichigan.org livelifeinspired.org

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Sat, 9/6/14

Mackinac Island 8 Mile Road Race

Michigan Remembers 9-11 5K - Detroit Area Michigan Remembers 9-11 5K - Lansing Area

5KR/W 5KR/W

Lansing Lansing

Mackinac Island

(810) 659-6493

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

Mt. Baldhead Challenge Mud Creek Crawl Muskegon Big Red Invitational Open

15KR, 5KR/W, kids run 10KR, 5KR/W 5KR

Douglas Sanford Muskegon

(269) 857-8241 (989) 493-9041 (231) 750-1661

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

Muskrat Classic Run Ramblin’ Rock Invitational Rhoades McKee Reeds Lake Triathlon

5KR HS X-C 5KR 1/2MS/ 17MB/ 4.9MR

Algonac Belleville East Grand Rapids

(810) 794-4911 (734) 765-1621 (616) 949-1750

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

Run 4 Hope Run and Play for Ariana Mae Run for Life

5KR/W 5KR/W, kids run 5KR/W

Monroe Grand Ledge Sterling Heights

(734) 240-8866 raceracerace.com (517) 242-1327 arianasrun.com runforlife.mi@gmail.com goracego.com

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

Run for the Arb Run for the Impact 5K

5KR/W 5KR/W, kids run

Ann Arbor Fowlerville

(734) 647-0150 lsa.umich.edu erik.frazier@mac.com

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

Sat, 9/6/14

Run for Your Heart

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

Running 4 Hunger Running with the Soldier

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

8 MR/W, kids run

runmackinac.com

michiganremembers.org michiganremembers.org

mtbaldheadchallenge.com race-mrm.com runnersedgeracetiming.com algonac.k12.mi.us salemcrosscountry.org rhoadesmckee.com

Saginaw

(989) 754-7283

5KR/W, 1MR/W 5KR, 1MW

Flint Manistee

dwisner@bfem.org running4hunger.com (231) 250-4734 nicoleseaborn@hotmail.com

SOTL Storm Runners Race St. Mary Fall Festival 5K Prediction Run Summer Fest 5K

5KR/W, 1MFR 5KR, 2KFR 5KR/W

Brighton Morrice Paw Paw

(734) 231-2792 sotlschool.com (517) 625-4260 stmarymorrice.catholicweb.com (269) 655-1111 wineandharvestfestival.com

Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14 Sat, 9/6/14

The Super Run - Ann Arbor Traverse City Youth Triathlon Walk/ Run To Remember

5KR, 1/2MR kids tri 5KR/W

Ann Arbor Traverse City Sandusky

(734) 277-2670 (231) 360-6846 (810) 987-9337

Sat, 9/6/14

Zero Prostate Cancer Run

Witch's Hat Run

10KR, 5KR/W, 1 MFR

South Lyon

9/11 Heroes Run

5KR/W, 1M kids run

5KR, 1MR/W

Rochester Hills

Sat, 9/6/14

13.1M, 10K, 5K, kids run

(517) 333-6984 (517) 333-6984

Run Woodstock - Day 2

Sat, 9/6/14

Sun, 9/7/14 Sun, 9/7/14

50M, 50K, 26.2M, 13.1M, 5M

Fall 16 Mile Marathon Training Run

(734) 929-9027

Detroit

(313) 610-3239

runwoodstock.com

thesuperrun.com upnmedia.com sanilaccounty.org

zeroprostatecancerrun.org/detroit

(248) 207-5135

www.slxc.com/witch

rochesterhills@911heroesrun.org travismanion.org

Sun, 9/7/14 Sun, 9/7/14

Fowlerville Football Fun Run Harrier Cross Country Classic

5KR/W,1MR/W 5KR/W

Fowlerville New Boston

Royal Oak

(248) 616-9665

hansons-running.com

Sun, 9/7/14 Sun, 9/7/14 Sun, 9/7/14

Hartman Creek Trail Run Hawk Island Olympic Triathlon Island Lake Triathlon - Fall

25KR, 10KR, kids run Triathlon Tri: Olympic, Sprint

Waupaca, WI Lansing Brighton

(715) 701-0360 (517) 374-5700 (734) 845-7559

greatlakesendurance.com www.hawk-i-tri.com elementevents.com

Sun, 9/7/14 Sun, 9/7/14

Kellie Sebrell DeWitt 5K Trail Run St. Mary Mercy Hospital 5K Run/Walk for Cancer

5KRW 5KR/W

DeWitt Livonia

Tue, 9/9/14

Tue, 9/9/14 Wed, 9/10/14

Hanson Speed Session -Tuesdays Hansons Group Run - Wednesdays

Downtown Detroit Run / Walk - 24 Seconds

4-6M training runs

training

Berkley

Thu, 9/11/14 Thu, 9/11/14

5K Trail Run for 2-1-1 9-11 Hero Run

5KR 5KR/W

Ionia Holt

Fri, 9/12/14

Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational college and high school x-c

Infiterra Sports Adventure Rage - 3 days Big Mac Shoreline Scenic Bike Tour

24 hour adventure race 25MB, 50MB, 75MB, 100MB

Sat, 9/13/14 Sat, 9/13/14 Sat, 9/13/14

Central Thumb K of C 5K Run & Walk Christy’s Dance in the Park Community Colors 5K Fun Run

Sat, 9/13/14 Sat, 9/13/14 Sat, 9/13/14 Sat, 9/13/14 Sat, 9/13/14

Mon, 9/8/14

Thu, 9/11/14

Fri, 9/12/14 Sat, 9/13/14

Sat, 9/13/14

4-16 MR

Pinckney

runforyourheart.org

Hansons Youth Team

camp

Hansons Group Run - Thursdays

(517) 223-6481 (313) 382-2300

Sterling Heights Sterling Heights Grosse Pointe

(517) 669.3418 alec@playmakers.com (734) 655-1593 stmarymercy.org/embracelife5k (586) 323-9683

hansons-running.com

(586) 323-9683 (248) 693-9900

hansons-running.com hansons-running.com

(248) 336-0024 downtownrunners@hotmail.com

(616) 794-9840 liveunitedm-i.org john.bush@edwardsjones.com runningfoundation.com (248) 616-9665

hansons-running.com

Northern Michigan Mackinaw City

(231) 233-4736 (888) 455-8100

infiterrasports.com mackinawchamber.com

5KR/W 5KR/W, 1MR 5KR/W

Cass City Taylor Lapeer

(989) 872-4429 (313) 291-0352 (810) 667-2912

runsignup.com christyslegacyofhope.com unitedwaylapeer.org

COVE Benefit Beach Walk and Run Danae’s Race Dash for Dogs 5K

10KR, 5KR/W 5KR 5KR/W

Pentwater Lansing Spring Lake

(231) 869-5939 (517) 896-5257 (231) 773-8689

pentwater.org danaesrace.com muskegonhumanesociety.org

Dirty Dash Detroit Iron Mountain Road and Trail Half Marathon

3MR 13.1MR, 2MR/W, kids run

Mt. Morris Iron Mountain

Kinde Polka Fest Run

5KR/W,1MR

Kinde

John Rogucki Memorial Kensington Challenge

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

15KR, 5KR/W

michiganrunner.tv

Royal Oak

runningfoundation.com active.com

East Lansing

Milford

(517) 432-5510

(248) 685-0043

(906) 396-3184

marshand@msu.edu

thedirtydash.com imrthalfmarathon.org

www.aatrackclub.org

kindepolkafest.com

September / October 2014 Event Calendar Sat, 9/13/14

Laughing Gull Half Marathon

13.1MR

Hickory Corners

(269) 978-2437

laughinggullrun.com

Sat, 9/13/14 Sat, 9/13/14 Sat, 9/13/14

Live Centred Half Marathon Max Broock Realtors’ Run on the Town 5K Mercy Run

13.1MR 5KR/W 10KR, 5KR

Adrian Birmingham Greenville

(517) 403-7687 (248) 330-3401 (616) 225-8055

thecentre.info acarollo@maxbroock.com havemercymi.org

Sat, 9/13/14 Sat, 9/13/14 Sat, 9/13/14

Nike/Holly/Duane Raffin Cross Country Invitational X-C meet, 5KR, 2MR Patriots 5K 5KR/W Rockin’ Marathon Relay 26.2M relay

Davisburg Hillsdale Detroit

(248) 390-4489 matt.weisdorfer@has-k12.org (517) 398-3056 runsignup.com (904) 687-5939 donsfriend.com

Sat, 9/13/14 Sat, 9/13/14 Sat, 9/13/14

Run for River House Salmon Run 5K Splatter 5K Run/Walk

5KR/W, 1MFR 5KR/W 5KR/W

Grayling Grand Haven Lapeer

(989) 370-3636 (616) 402-7778 (810) 245-2245

Sat, 9/13/14 Sat, 9/13/14 9/13/14

Tara Grant Walk/Run XTERRA Marquette Off-Road Triathlon Yankee Springs Off-Road Triathlon and Duathlon

5KR/W Triathlon Triathlon, Duathlon

Mt. Clemens (586) 463-4430 turningpointmacomb.org Marquette (906) 235-6861 superiortiming.comSat, Middleville kim@switchbackendurance.com switchbackendurance.com

Sun, 9/14/14

Big Mac Shoreline Scenic Bike Tour

Ride across the “Mighty Mac”

Cooper’s Mini 5K

Duathlon: 5KR/ 10MB/ 5KR

Mackinaw City

Sun, 9/14/14

Come Clean Duathlon

Sun, 9/14/14 Sun, 9/14/14

riverhouseinc.org grandhavenyp.com lapeercounty.younglife.org

5KR/W, 1MR/W

Lansing

Auburn Hills

jfedewa@cata.org

ComeCleanDuathlon.org

Daze thru the Daze Driathlon

5KR/W, kids run 5K canoe/ 15KB/ 5KR

Troy Bay City

(248) 703-4959 j@shankool.com

troyyouthassistance.org baycitymorningrotary.com

Sun, 9/14/14 Sun, 9/14/14 Sun, 9/14/14

Fall Holly Recreation Triathlon Flaming Pickle 5K Growler Gallop

tri: olympic, sprint; du, relays 5KR/W, 1MR 10MR, 5KR

Holly Highland Detroit

(877) 300-1392 tritofinish.com (248) 676-9080 flamingpickle5k.com rmswor@gmail.com triviumracing.com

Sun, 9/14/14 Sun, 9/14/14 Sun, 9/14/14

Hero for a Day 5K Lake Michigan Credit Union Bridge Run Michigan’s Triathlon & Duathlon Championship

5KR/W, kids runs 10MR, 5KR/W triathlon, duathlon

Grand Blanc Grand Rapids Detroit

(810) 964-5960 (616) 262-4124 (231) 546-2229

heroforaday5k.com thebridgerun.com 3disciplines.com

Sun, 9/14/14 Sun, 9/14/14

Race Judicata Romeo 2 Richmond Half Marathon

10KR, 5KR, 1MFW 13.1MR, 5KR/W

Bloomfield Hills Richmond Royal Oak

(248) 334-3400 (586) 212-1673

(248) 336-5735

ocba.org romeo2richmondrace.com

detroitzoo.org/runwild/

Sun, 9/14/14 Sun, 9/14/14 Sun, 9/14/14

Sparrow Women Working Wonders Timber Trail Races Trail for the Troops Run/Walk

8KR, 5KR/W 13.1MR, 8MR, 5KR/W 5KR/W

Lansing Harrison St. Johns

(517) 899-5211 (989) 386-6662

sparrowfoundation.org midmich.edu runningfoundation.com

Tue, 9/16/14 Wed, 9/17/14

Tue, 9/16/14

Hanson Speed Session -Tuesdays Hansons Group Run - Wednesdays

Downtown Detroit Run / Walk - McShane’s Irish Pub 4-6M training runs

training

Detroit

(586) 323-9683 (248) 693-9900

hansons-running.com hansons-running.com

Thu, 9/18/14 Fri, 9/19/14

Hansons Group Run - Thursdays Festival of the Forks Run

5KR/W, 1/2MR

Grand Rapids

Royal Oak Albion

(248) 616-9665 517-629-8110

hansons-running.com festivaloftheforks.org

Sat, 9/20/14

Baker’s Dozen Beer Run

Albion 5K

5KR/W

Albion

Butterfly Walk to Support Turners Syndrome

13.1MR/W, 13.1MB

5KR

Marshall

Grand Rapids

(877) 228-4881 bakersdozenbeerrun.com

Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14

Sat, 9/20/14

Capital City 5K Chasing the Cure for Ovarian Cancer

Dances with Dirt - Hell

5KR, kids run 10K, 5K, 5K pump & run, 1M 50MR, 50KR, 100 K Relay

Lansing Sturgis

Pinckney/Hell

(517) 332.2681 (269) 651-5581

(734) 929-9027

dwdhell.com

Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14

Dirty Apple Run Heroes for Hospice 5K I Gave My Sole for Parkinson’s

5KR/W, 1MR 5KR/W

Sparta Bay City Okemos

(616) 887-2454 (989) 667-3440 (248) 433-1011

spartachamber.com heartlandhospicefund.org parkinsonsmi.org

Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14

Sat, 9/20/14

Perryfest Rambler Porcupine Mountains Trail Marathon

Monroe

Perry Silver City, MI

(517) 974-1969 (715) 701-0360

playmakers.com greatlakesendurance.com

Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14

Rock & Root Ramble 5KR/W Roy O’Brien Made in Michigan Festival Miles for Meals 5KR/W, 1MR Run by the River 5KR/W, 1MR

Goodells St. Clair Shores Battle Creek

(810) 364-5477 sccresa.org megan.highfiveraces@gmail.com (269) 719-2274 brighterdaysahead.us

Sun, 9/14/14

Thu, 9/18/14

Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14

Fall 16 Mile Marathon Training Run

Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo

Eastgate 5K Run/Walk

Jefferson Cross Country Invitational

4-16 MR

Grosse Pointe

10KR, 5KR, FW

Sterling Heights Grosse Pointe

5KR/W

5KR/W, kids run 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 5KR

HS, MS XC meet

michiganrunner.net

(888) 455.8100

(248) 721-6698

(313) 882-1325

(313) 961-1960

mackinawchamber.com

coopersmini5k.com

hansons-running.com

downtownrunners@hotmail.com

(616) 245-9179

(517) 914-3181

beaconhillgr.org

albion5k.com

cransh02@yahoo.com turnersyndrome.org

(734) 289-5590

www.ccriverrun.org chasingthecure.net

www.jeffinvite.org

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14

Run Down Human Trafficking Run for the Hills Run on the Rez 5K Save the Wildlife 5K Run/Walk

5KR/W 5KR/W 5KR/W, 1MR/W 5KR/W, 1MFR

Spring Lake Tipton Mt. Pleasant Howell

(231) 747-8555 hopeprojectusa.org (517) 403-5358 otih.org (989) 772-0323 facebook.com/Mt.Pleasant.Striders (517) 376-9403 howellnaturecenter.org

Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14

Soles for Cardio 5K Run & Walk South Beach Triathlons Turn the Village Teal

5KR/W Tri: Olympic, Sprint 5KR/W

West Branch South Haven Rochester

(989) 343-3694 tolfreefoundation.org (231) 546-2229 3disciplines.com (248) 217-8373 turnthevillageteal.weebly.com

Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14 Sat, 9/20/14

Urologic Consultants Prostate Cancer 5K USA 24 Hour Championships - 2 days Walk or Run for Health

5KR/W 24 hour run 5KR, 3KW

Grand Rapids Cleveland, OH Farmington Hills

(616) 855-1982

Sat, 9/20/14 Sun, 9/21/14 Sun, 9/21/14

Warrior Dash Michigan II Capital City River Run Detroit Area Marines DAM Moto 5K Run

15.4 MR obstacle race 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 26.2M relay 5KR

Sun, 9/21/14 Sun, 9/21/14 Sun, 9/21/14

Detroit’s Women’s Half Marathon & 5K Hart Healthy Labor Day 5K & Bridge Walk Hemlock Sawdusts Days Dash 5K Trail Run

Sun, 9/21/14 Sun, 9/21/14 Sun, 9/21/14

Honor Guard 5K Midnight’s Wish K9 5K Fun Run South Beach Fall Fitness Festival

Sun, 9/21/14 Sun, 9/21/14 Tue, 9/23/14

(248) 943-3739

prostatecancerrun.com usatf.org inhomeservices.org

Walker Lansing

(773) 687-4595 (517) 332.2681 (586) 239-5317

warriordash.com www.ccriverrun.org detroitareamarines.org

13.1MR, 5KR 5KR/W, 2M/W 5KR/W

Detroit Hart Hemlock

(734) 277-5022 (231) 730-0545 (989) 798-6369

womenrunthed.com goracego.com hemlocksawdustday.com

5KR/W 5KR, 1MW 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR, 800mR

Holt Clarkston South Haven

so_hoeksema@ingham.org runsignup.com (586) 206-9201 rftiming.webconnex.com (231) 546-2229 3disciplines.com

The Drew Crew Walk Run Roll 10KR, 5KR/W USA 50 km Trail Championships 50KR Downtown Detroit Run / Walk - Motor City Brewery Works 4-6M training runs

Novi Bend, OR Detroit

(248) 761-5000

Tue, 9/23/14 Wed, 9/24/14 Thu, 9/25/14

Hanson Speed Session -Tuesdays Hansons Group Run - Wednesdays Hansons Group Run - Thursdays

training

Sterling Heights Grosse Pointe Royal Oak

Thu, 9/25/14 Fri, 9/26/14 Fri, 9/26/14

Run4Reading 5K Anchor Run & 1 Mile Fun Run Firefly 5K’ish Fun Run/Walk

5KR/W 5KR/W, 1MR 5KR/W

Grand Rapids nicolevanzo1@gmail.com run4reading.com Portage (269) 321-0976 lcepto.weebly.com Saginaw Pam@SaginawYMCA.org saginawymca.org

Fri, 9/26/14 Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14

Run for Justice All Feet No Hands 5K Cedarville 5 Mile Run/Walk

10KR, 5KR, 1MR/W, kids run 5KR, kids run 5MR/W

Howell Williamston Cedarville

(517) 546-4700 runningfoundation.com info@manyhandsmi.org manyhandsmi.org (906) 484-1003 cedarvillejerseymudrun.com

Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14

Crusader 5K and Madonna Mile Cupcake Run Deerfield Park Trail Half / 10K / 5K

5KR,1MR 5KR/W 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR

Livonia Auburn Mt. Pleasant

734-432-5426 (989) 450-5533 (989) 317-5889

madonna.edu/crusader5k auburnjaycees.com michiganhalfseries.com

Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14

Diehl’s Ciderfest Run Falcon Cross Country Invitational First Choice Fall Color Run

4 MR, 1MR 5KR, 2MR 5KR/W, 1MR

Holly Dearborn East Jordan

(248) 310-9375 (313) 333-9213 (231) 536-2168

diehlsorchard.com divinechildhighschool.org firstchoicept.com

Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14

Glo for Haiti Fun Run/Walk 5KR/W, 1MR/W Grand Rapids Urban Adventure Race - ArtPrize Edition 4 hour adventure race Grand River Run 8KR, 5KR, 1.5MR

Yale Grand Rapids Ada

(810) 304-0879 (616) 460-9331 (616) 975-0945

lauriemcivor77@yahoo.com grUrbanAdventureRace.com grandriver-run.com

Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14

Hansons Cross-Country Invitational XC Holland Hospital Park 2 Park 1/2 Marathon & 5K13.1MR, 5KR

Sterling Heights Holland

(586) 822-8606 (616) 399-9190

hansons-running.com park2parkrace.com

Sat, 9/27/14

Kellogg’s Dig ‘em Dash

Little Traverse Half Marathon and 10K Nickel Pickle 5K & 10K

13.1MR, 10KR/W 10KR, 5KR/W

Harbor Springs Westland

Battle Creek

(269) 961-2411

david.tanis@kellogg.com

Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14

OCC Raider Run Oktoberfest Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K Pumpkinfest Run 5K and 10K

8KR, 5KR 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 5kR/W 5KR

Farmington Hills Spring Lake South Lyon

(248) 804-2660 (231) 638-0730 (248) 207-5135

dkuderka@gmail.com oktoberfestmarathon.com slxc.com

Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14

Raise Hope and Foster Dreams Red Flannel Festival 5K Run/Walk Run for the Rouge

5KR/W 5KR/W, kids run 4MR, 2MW

Ypsilanti Cedar Springs Canton

(517) 914-3181 (616) 634-0171 (313) 792-9621

fosterhope5k.com redflannelfestival.org www.therouge.org

Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14

Run the Pointe Safe Center 5K

10KR, 5KR, 2MW 5KR/W

Grosse Pointe Farms Owosso

(248) 709-8816 (810) 232-3141

gpsathleticboosters.com runningfoundation.com

Sat, 9/27/14

Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14

Sat, 9/27/14

Hungerford Games

50MR, 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 5KR/W

Sam Adams Mighty Mac Bridge Race

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

11KR

michiganrunner.tv

thedrewcrew.org usatf.org (313) 832-2700 downtownrunners@hotmail.com

Big Rapids

St. Ignace

(586) 323-9683 (248) 693-9900 (248) 616-9665

(231) 250-9531

hansons-running.com hansons-running.com hansons-running.com

hungerfordgames.com

(231) 526-2621 outfitterharborsprings.com info@highfiveraces.com runsignup.com

(906) 643-6950

stignace.com

September / October 2014 Event Calendar

Sat, 9/27/14

Sault International Marathon

The Super Run

Vasa Trail Run

5KR, 1/2MR

26.2MR, 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KFR Sault Ste. Marie, MI (906) 632-3301 25KR, 10KR, 5KR

Lansing

Williamsburg

(734) 377-2670

www.saultstemarie.org

Sat, 9/27/14 Sat, 9/27/14 Sun, 9/28/14

Wild Goose Chase XTERRA Lake Superior Shore Run A2Y-5K Run / Walk to end Alzheimer’s Disease

5KR/W 13.1 MR, 5KR, Relay, Kids Run 5KR/W

Saginaw Marquette Ann Arbor

(989) 759-1669 (734) 904-3746

fws.gov/midwest/shiawassee superiorlandskiclub.com act.alz.org

Sun, 9/28/14 Sun, 9/28/14

Bronson Children’s Hospital Walk & Run Everybody Run

5KR/W 5KR

Kalamazoo Dorr

(269) 341-8100 (616) 681-2342

bronsonhealth.com/ witchesofnewsalem.com

Sun, 9/28/14 Sun, 9/28/14 Sun, 9/28/14

Kreps Apple Barn 5K Run/Walk Live United 5K Lupus Run

5KR/W, 1MR 5KR 5KR/W

La Salle gracestotz@hotmail.com krepsapplebarn.com Grand Rapids eferin@steelcase.com hwmuw.org/liveunited5K Harrison Twp. (800) 705-6677 milupus.org

Sat, 9/27/14

Sun, 9/28/14

Hansons Group Run

Playmakers Autumn Classic 8K

training

(734) 929-9027

Lake Orion

8KR/W, 1MFR, 1/2 M FR

(248) 693-9900

runvasa.com

Service@TheSuperRun.com

hansons-running.com

Haslett

(517) 349.3803

playmakers.com

Rochester Hills

(248) 266-6291

thebrooksieway.com

Sterling Heights Grosse Pointe Royal Oak

(586) 323-9683 (248) 693-9900 (248) 616-9665

hansons-running.com hansons-running.com hansons-running.com

Frankenmuth

(989) 295-5853

bruckelaufe.org

Sun, 9/28/14 Sun, 9/28/14

Road to the Broad 5K Run for a Reason 5K Run / Walk

5KR/W 5KR/W, 1MR

East Lansing Grosse Pointe Shores

Sun, 9/28/14

Stayin’ Alive 5K Run/Walk

5KR/W

13.1M, 10K, 5K, kids run

Farmington

Tue, 9/30/14

The HealthPlus Brooksie Way

Downtown Detroit Run / Walk - Foran’s Grand Trunk 4-6M training runs

Detroit

Tue, 9/30/14 Wed, 10/1/14 Thu, 10/2/14

Hanson Speed Session -Tuesdays Hansons Group Run - Wednesdays Hansons Group Run - Thursdays

training

Sat, 10/4/14

Bruckelaufe - The Bridge Race

Lung Force Run/Walk - Detroit

5KR/W, 1MW

Detroit

Earleen Fox/Tanger Style Pink Memorial

13.1MR, 5KR

5KR/W

West Branch

Sat, 10/4/14 Sat, 10/4/14 Sat, 10/4/14

Fit 4 Fall 5K Goah! Noah! Island Boodle 5K Run/Walk

5KR/W 5KR/W 5KR/W

Saint Joseph Shelby Twp. Beaver Island

info@fit4fall5k.com fit4fall5k.com (586) 321-6004 mhc-detroit.org (231) 448-2505 www.beaverisland.org

Sat, 10/4/14 Sat, 10/4/14

Lansing Christian School 5K Michigan State Police Fall Color 5K

5KR/W, kids run 5KR/W

Lansing Northville Township

(517) 719-0603 (313) 720-5249

Oakwood Red October Run

10KR, 5KR/W, 1M kid’s run

Wayne

Fri, 10/3/14

Sat, 10/4/14

Mt. Bohemia Trail Running Festival

Sat, 10/4/14 Sat, 10/4/14

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School Oktoberfest 5K 5KR/W, kids run Park It and Run 5KR/W, kids run

Sat, 10/4/14

5KR, 10KR

Houghton

Beverly Hills Whitmore Lake

(248) 613-3274 (313) 343-3674 (952) 946-7998

runningfoundation.com stjohnguild.org stayinalive5k.com

(313) 961-3043 downtownrunners@hotmail.com

(248) 784-2000

(989) 685-2552

FightForAirDetroit.org

earleenfoxmemorial5kwalkrun.com

lansingchristianschool.org www.tblofmi.com

bdurocher@hline.org mtbohemia.com

(313) 586-5486

oakwood.org/redoctoberrun/

(248) 790-6250 (734) 449-4437

runsignup.com parkitandrun.weebly.com

Sat, 10/4/14 Sat, 10/4/14 Sat, 10/4/14

Portage Invitational Powerman USA Michigan Remembrance Run

x-c meet, open 5K duathlon 5KR/W, 1MR/W

Portage Kalamazoo Traverse City

(269) 323-5233 (231) 546-2229 (231) 941.8118

www.portageinvite.com 3disciplines.com remembrancerun.com

Sat, 10/4/14 Sat, 10/4/14 Sat, 10/4/14

Run in the Name of Love Salmon Run/Walk Scary Halloween Hallow

10KR, 5KR/W 5KR, 1.5MFR

Walker Baldwin Port Huron

(616) 328-4208 (231) 745-8804 (810) 984-4847

ourpinkpurpose.com salmonrunbaldwin.com speedyraces.net

Sat, 10/4/14 Sat, 10/4/14 Sat, 10/4/14 wined/ Sat, 10/4/14 Sat, 10/4/14 Sat, 10/4/14

SOS Animal Rescue Dirty Dog Trail Run Steppin’ Up for Kids Vine Wine’d

10KR, 5KR/W, 1MR 5KR/W 5KR, 1MR/W

Midland Shelby Twp. Fennville

(989) 492-0042 (248) 353-0921 (269) 561-2396

sosanimalrescue.org/ childsafemichigan.org fennvalley.com/vine-

Wayne County Cross Country Championships HS X-C 5KR Wayne County Heroes on Hines Half Marathon & 5K 13.1MR, 5KR/W Zonta Breast Cancer Awareness Run/Walk 5KR/W

Belleville Plymouth Alpena

(734) 416-7774 (734) 261-1990 (989) 358-7297

salemcrosscountry.org heroesonhines.com alpenazonta.org

Sun, 10/5/14 Sun, 10/5/14

Betsie Valley Run Dan Jilek 5K

Thompsonville Ann Arbor

(231) 378-4578 (248) 709-8417

Houghton

13.1M, 10K, 5K, kids run 5KR/W

Sun, 10/5/14

Gazelle Sports Kids Adventure Challenge

2hour kids adventure race

Grand Rapids

Sun, 10/5/14

MSU Federal Credit Union Dinosaur Dash

5KR/W, 1MR

(517) 355-2370

Pistons Fit 5K & Fun Run

13.1MR

East Lansing

Sun, 10/5/14

Mt. Bohemia Trail Running Festival

5KR/W, 1MR

Sun, 10/5/14

Red, White & Blue 26.2 Marathon

26.2 MR, 13.1MR, 6.2MR

michiganrunner.net

(616) 940-9888

betsievalleyrun.com danjilek5k.blogspot.com

gazellesports.com

Clarkston

(906) 289-4105

mtbohemia.com

(248) 375-4065 nba.com/pistons/pistons-fit-5k

Findlay, OH

(419) 422-4424

redwhiteandblue26-2.com

museum.msu.edu

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Sun, 10/5/14

Sun, 10/5/14 Sun, 10/5/14

Sleeping Bear Marathon & Half Marathon St.John’s Waltz Applefest 5K

26.2MR, 13.1MR 5KR/W, 1MR

Empire New Boston

Flushing

(734) 929-9027

runscrumpy.com

Sun, 10/5/14 Sun, 10/5/14 Sun, 10/5/14

Trick or Feet Kidney Run Troy HIgh School 5K and Fun Run USA Marathon Championships

10KR/W, 5KR/W, kids run 5KR, 1KFR 26.2 MR, 10 MR, 5KR

Northville Troy Minneapolis, MN

(734) 222-9800 (248) 637-7052 (763) 287-3888

nkfm.org troyhighorchestra.org twincitiesmarathon.org

Tue, 10/7/14 Tue, 10/7/14 Wed, 10/8/14

Hanson Speed Session -Tuesdays Hansons Group Run - Tuesdays Hansons Group Run - Wednesdays

training

Sterling Heights Grosse Pointe Grosse Pointe

Run 4 Wine Jayhawk Cross Country Invitational

4MR/W 8KR, 5KR

Grand Blanc Muskegon

(248) 616-9665

hansons-running.com hansons-running.com hansons-running.com

Thu, 10/9/14 Fri, 10/10/14

Royal Oak

(586) 323-9683 (248) 693-9900 (248) 693-9900

Sat, 10/11/14 Sat, 10/11/14 Sat, 10/11/14

AlumniRun Fall Classic Bark in the Dark - tentative date Drummond Island’s Fall on the Island Festival

5KR 5KR/W 5KR/W

Brooklyn Grand Rapids Drummond Island

(269) 615-3732 itsyourrace.com (616) 791-8089 hswestmi.org (800) 737-8666 drummondislandfallfestival.com

Sat, 10/11/14 Sat, 10/11/14 Sat, 10/11/14

Faith Community Church 5K Green Space 5K Lane Walker Foundation 5K Run

5KR/W 5KR/W 5KR/W

Mount Pleasant Mason Alma

brittany@faithcommunity.tv runsignup.com (517) 589-8159 inghamconservation.com (989) 621-7332 thelanewalkerfoundation.org

Sat, 10/11/14 Sat, 10/11/14

Sat, 10/11/14

Run Scream Run Sandhill Crane All Trail Half Marathon

Run for Health

10KR/W, 5KR/W

10KR, 5KR,1MR 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR

Ypsilanti Vandalia

Sat, 10/11/14 Sat, 10/11/14 Sat, 10/11/14

Touching Souls 5K Walk/ Run and Remember Trail Run of Terror Whistlestop Marathon and Half Marathon

5KR/W Potterville 5KR Powers 26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, 10KR, 5KR Ashland, WI

(517) 881-2658 touchingsoulsfoundation.com (906) 399-8775 ssanville@ncajets.org (800) 284-9484 whistlestopmarathon.com

Sun, 10/12/14 Sun, 10/12/14 Sun, 10/12/14

Dome Roam Halloween Hustle 5K Hidden Forest Trail Run

5KR/W/Roll 5KR/W 8.5 MR, 5.5 MR, 2.5 MR/W

East Lansing Lansing Clarkston

(517) 927-2447 (517) 483-6354 (810) 487-0954

sgp.msu.edu/home/race.php runningfoundation.com gaultracemanagement.com

Sun, 10/12/14 Sun, 10/12/14 Sun, 10/12/14

KDB Melanoma 5K Run/Walk 5KR/W, 1MR/W Portland St. Patrick Fall Festival Half Marathon & 5K 13.1MR, 5KR/W Race for Radmoor 5KR/W, 1MR/W, kids run

MIlford Portland Okemos

(313) 505-2445 (517) 647-1709 (517) 290-1436

melanomawalk.org runningfoundation.com montessoriradmoor.org

Sun, 10/12/14 Sun, 10/12/14 Sun, 10/12/14

Race for Ralya Run2payitforward Half Marathon TCTC Lighthouse Half Marathon

5KR, Kids Run 13.1MR, 5KR 13.1MR

Haslett White Lake Twp. Traverse City

runningfoundation.com (248) 321-9813 run2payitforward.com info@lighthousehalf.com lighthousehalf.com

Sun, 10/12/14 Tue, 10/14/14 Tue, 10/14/14

Wild Life Marathon Hanson Speed Session -Tuesdays Hansons Group Run - Tuesdays

26.2M, 13.1M, 5K, kids run training

Concord Sterling Heights Grosse Pointe

(517) 392-8250 (586) 323-9683 (248) 693-9900

Fri, 10/17/14 10/18/14 Sat, 10/18/14

Boo 5K Trail Run Bailey’s Doggie Dash CASA Superhero Run

5KR/W 5KR/W, 1MR 5KR/W, kids run

Holt Rockford Hastings

(517) 827-9670 ymcaoflansing.org Sat, (517) 719-1195 kentcountyparksfoundation.org (517) 543-7500 runningfoundation.com

Sat, 10/18/14 Sat, 10/18/14 Sat, 10/18/14

Dragons in the Woods Farmer Dash Cropstacle Run Heritage Run 5K

5KR/W 2MR 5KR/W

Holt Midland Lansing

(517) 922-0089 dragonsinthewoods.weebly.com (989) 513-5222 grandmaspumpkinpatch.com guities@lcc.edu runningfoundation.com

Sat, 10/18/14

Michigan HS Cross Country U.P. State Finals 5KR

Panther Prowl 5K Race to Restore

5KR/W 5KR/W

Ionia Lansing

Marquette

(517) 332-5046

www.mhsaa.com

Sat, 10/18/14 Sat, 10/18/14 Sat, 10/18/14

St. Mary 5K SVSU 5K Run and Walk USA Half Marathon Trail Championships

5KR/W, kids run 5KR/W 13.1MR

Williamston Saginaw Bellingham, WA

(517) 803-5558 (989) 964-4215

stmary5krun@gmail.com race-mrm.com usatf.org

Sun, 10/19/14 Sun, 10/19/14

Detroit Free Press / Talmer Bank Marathon Great Pumpkin Run

26.2M, Wheels,, 13.1M, relay,, 5K Detroit, MI, Windsor, ON (313) 222-6676 freepmarathon.com 5KR/W Grand Rapids (937) 901-1380 thegreatpumpkinrun.com

Thu, 10/9/14

Tue, 10/14/14 Wed, 10/15/14 Thu, 10/16/14

Sat, 10/18/14 Sat, 10/18/14

Sun, 10/19/14

Scrumpy Skedaddle

10KR, 5KR

Hansons Group Run - Thursdays

Shadywoods/Youngsters Cross-Country Invitational Hansons Group Run - Wednesdays Hansons Group Run - Thursdays

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

X-C Meet

26.2 MR, 13.1 MR

michiganrunner.tv

Hillsdale

(231) 715-1406 enduranceevolution.com stjohnsapplefestrun.weebly.com

(810) 233-8851 (231) 740-1071

run4winerace.com athletic.net

(734) 929-9027 runscreamrun.com (574) 215-4779 cairnstoneadventuretours.com

Sterling Heights Grosse Pointe Royal Oak

Grand Rapids

hansons-running.com

(517) 437-5270

(586) 822-8606 (248) 693-9900 (248) 616-9665

runningfoundation.com

wildlifemarathon.org hansons-running.com hansons-running.com hansons-running.com hansons-running.com hansons-running.com

(616) 527-3561 runsignup.com lanscemfriends@aol.com runsignup.com

(616) 293-3145 grandrapidsmarathon.com

September / October 2014 Event Calendar Sun, 10/19/14 Sun, 10/19/14 Sun, 10/19/14

Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon Racing for Recovery Run Saginaw County Zombie Survival 5K

26.2 M, 13.1 M,, wheels,, kids run Columbus, OH 10KR, 5KR/W, 1/4 MFR Sylvania, OH 5KR Saginaw

(614) 421.7866 (419) 824-8462 (989) 790-5500

columbusmarathon.com 3disciplines.com saginawpublichealth.org

Tue, 10/21/14 Tue, 10/21/14

Hanson Speed Session -Tuesdays Hansons Group Run - Tuesdays

26.2 M, 13.1M, 5K, kids run

training

Toronto, ON

(416) 944-2765 torontowaterfrontmarathon.com

Run 4 Your Life 5K

5KR/W, kids run

Holland

(248) 693-9900 (248) 616-9665

hansons-running.com hansons-running.com

Thu, 10/23/14

Grosse Pointe Royal Oak

(586) 323-9683 (248) 693-9900

Sat, 10/25/14

3 Discipliones Last Try Triathlon Bad Apple Ultra

Cross-Country Classic

triathlon 3,6, or 12 hour relay or solo R

Gaylord Greenville

Ann Arbor

info@3disciplines.com 3disciplines.com (616) 835-4364 badappleultra.com

(734) 330-7931

www.aatrackclub.org

Sat, 10/25/14 Sat, 10/25/14 Sat, 10/25/14

Emily Schmidt Memorial Trunk or Treat Trot Escape the Terror Xtreme Run Frightening 5K and Haunted Hilly Half Marathon

5KR/W, 1MFR 5KR, kids run 13.1MR, 5KR

Clarkston Gaylord Bristol, IN

(248) 625-1611 (231) 546-2229 (574) 293-1683

clarkstonumc.org 3disciplines.com stonesouppromotions.com

Sat, 10/25/14

Headless Horseman 5K

Great Turtle Half Marathon

13.1 MR, 5.7 MR/W

Mackinac Island

The Zombie Dash

10KR, 5KR

5KR

Howell

Grand Rapids

(517) 546-0693

howellrecreation.org

Sat, 10/25/14 Sat, 10/25/14

Hansons Group Run

5KR/W 50MR

Flint Green Bay, WI

(810) 659-6493

Sun, 10/26/14

U of M/MSU Tailgate Challenge USA 50 Mile Road Championships

Lake Orion

(248) 693-9900

gaultracemanagement.com usatf.org

hansons-running.com

Sun, 10/26/14 Sun, 10/26/14 Sun, 10/26/14

Kesler for Kids at NPH 5K Walk/Run Race to Make A Difference Run Thru Hell Halloween

5KR/W 8KR, 5KR/W,1MR

Bath Twp. East Lansing Pinckney

(312) 386-7471 (616) 201-7281 (517) 702-0226

friendsoftheorphans.org runsignup.com runningfoundation.com

Sun, 10/26/14 Sun, 10/26/14 Sun, 10/26/14

Scare Away Hunger 5K Run /Walk Tim Gordon - Quad A 10 Miler Twin Rivers 5K

5KR/W 10MR, 5KR 5KR/W, kids run

Rochester (248) 651-5836 scareawayhungerrun.org Grand Ledge kevn.r.jones26.mil@mail.mil runningfoundation.com Muir (989) 855-2646 ioniaschools.org

Sun, 10/26/14 Tue, 10/28/14 Tue, 10/28/14

Wicked Halloween Run Hanson Speed Session -Tuesdays Hansons Group Run - Tuesdays

10KR, 5KR/W, 1MFR training

Plymouth Sterling Heights Grosse Pointe

Sun, 10/19/14

Wed, 10/22/14 Thu, 10/23/14

Sat, 10/25/14 Sat, 10/25/14

Sat, 10/25/14

Wed, 10/29/14 Thu, 10/30/14

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Hansons Group Run - Wednesdays Hansons Group Run - Thursdays

Sterling Heights Grosse Pointe

5KR, 4KR, 3KR

training

Hansons Group Run - Wednesdays Hansons Group Run - Thursdays

Grosse Pointe Royal Oak

(616) 392-3610

(810) 487-0954

(248) 345-6168 (586) 323-9683 (248) 693-9900 (248) 693-9900 (248) 616-9665

hansons-running.com hansons-running.com

hfhclinic.org

runmackinac.com

zombiedash.com

wickedhalloweenrun.com hansons-running.com hansons-running.com hansons-running.com hansons-running.com

Featured Future Events Sat, 11/8/14 Sat, 11/8/14 Sun, 11/9/14

Road Hawg Classic Turkey Trot Big Bird Run

10KR, 5KR/W 10K, 5K, Iron Turkey, 1M 10KR, 4KR, 1MR/W

Battle Creek Dexter Roseville

(269) 969-3441 (734) 213-1033 (586) 445-5480

Sun, 11/9/14 Sun, 11/16/14 Sat, 11/22/14

Clarkston State Bank Backroads Half Marathon and 10K Kona Chocolate Run 10KR, 5KR/W,1MR Grand Blanc Chocolate 5K 5KR/W

Clarkston Plymouth Grand Blanc

clarkstonbackroadshalf.com (248) 345-6168 konachocolaterun.com (810) 238-5981 werunthistown.com

Thu, 11/27/14 Fifth Third Bank Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 10KR, 5KR/W, 1MR/W Thu, 11/27/14 Gobbler Gallop Trail Run 5KR/W, 1MR Sat, 12/6/14 YMCA Santa Run 5KR/W, 1MW

Detroit Saginaw Flint

(313) 247-4149 (989) 513-5195 (810) 232-9622

detroitturkeytrot.org dfbernar@stcs.org flintymca.org

Tue, 12/9/14 Fri, 12/12/14 Sat, 12/13/14

Ann Arbor Marshall Dexter

(734) 769-9105 (269) 339-9664 (734) 929-9027

aatrackclub.org/races runcalhoun.org runholiday5k.com

Ann Arbor Track Club Winter Mini Track Meet Snow Dash 5KR/W Holiday Hustle 5KR, 1MR

Sat, 12/13/14 Run Like The Dickens and Tiny Tim Trot 10K, 5K, Tiny Tim Trot Wed, 12/31/14 Fifth Third New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Family Fun R/W 5KR/W, 1MR/W Wed, 12/31/14 Midland Resolution Run 5KR/W

michiganrunner.net

Holly Detroit Midland

runcalhoun.org a2turkeytrot.com rare-mi.gov

(248) 328-3200 runlikethedickens.com (313) 886-5560 belleislefunrun.com (989) 205-3813 midlandresolutionrun.com

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Running with Tom Henderson By Tom Henderson

et’s blame the book “Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen,” written by Christopher McDougall and published in 2011. The book was super cool, as were its protagonists: old and new American hippies and barefoot Tarahumara Indians running insane distances in the deserts of Mexico. The book spawned the barefoot running movement and its cousin, the minimalist running shoe movement. The following spring, I got passed at the eightmile mark of the Dexter-Ann Arbor half-marathon by a guy running barefoot. He’d drunk the Kool-Aid on running without shoes. He ran well that day, close to eight minutes a mile, but I’ll bet you he isn’t still running barefoot. No shoes over 13 miles of roadway? Not cool, even if you think you are. It wasn’t long until every other person at a race was wearing Vibram FiveFingers shoes: more like socks, with their individual toes and almost no support. And who could forget Shoe in a Can, where those really wanting lightweight — but not to go barefoot — could spray a nanometer’s worth of rubber on the bottom of their feet just before the starting gun sounded? (OK, I made the last part up. I wish I had thought it up two years ago; I coulda made a fortune.) It seems like just yesterday Vibram was bragging about all the health benefits of its shoes, and every competitor was running ads in Runner’s World or Running Times showing pictures of their ever lighter, ever more minimalist shoes-- shoes even a Tarahumara would be proud to own. Then came all the injuries from people running in Vibrams, lawsuits and, in May this year, word that Vibram had agreed to stop making unfounded claims for its shoes, plus settle a class-action lawsuit. Consumers who bought Vibram FiveFingers shoes up until May 27 can now file a claim as part of the suit the company settled. Claims are being accepted online at http://fivefingerssettlement.com/claim/. 44

The suit was brought in March 2012 by one Valerie Bezdek, who alleged Vibram deceived consumers by advertising the footwear could reduce foot injuries and strengthen foot muscles, without basing those assertions on scientific evidence. Claimants will be reimbursed for up to two pairs of FiveFingers with no proof of purchase necessary to file a claim. Vibram will award up to $94 per pair, although the agreement says the actual settlement likely will be between $20 and $50 per pair. The deadline for submitting a claim is Sept. 24. If you for some reason bought more than two pairs, you’ll need to provide proof of purchase. Not so coincidentally, the latest batch of running shoe ads have gone to the far end of the spectrum. No lightweight flats, these. They look more like big fat pillows attached to a foot. “Faster has never felt easier … Feel more comfort,” reads the ad for the Karhu Fast Fulcrum, “a never-before-felt combination of cushioning and efficiency.” “Rise above the run,” reads an ad for Brooks’ Glycerin 12, “a super plush trainer that intelligently adapts its cushioning to your unique step.” “A new kind of crazy has arrived,” promises the thick-of-sole Hoka One One Clifton. (Now there’s a name for you.”) And the New Balance Fresh Foam MT980 trail shoe “features innovative plush midsoles for the remarkable comfort you dream of.” ~~

“R

unning & Being: The Total Experience” came out in 1978, at the beginning of the first and most consequential running boom. That was when existing marathons were taking to the streets, or marathons that would become huge economic drivers were just starting out, such as the Free Press International Marathon, which two of my bosses at the paper, Neal Shine and Ladd Neuman, created. Dr. George Sheehan, a physician-philosopher who was a longtime Runner’s World columnist, wrote the book, which has been, sadly, out of print. But no more. I met Sheehan at the Total Runner store in Grosse Pointe Woods. No one captured the essence of running better than the doctor: the joy of movement, the exhilaration of exhaustion, the pleasure of a beer as reward. He was a track star at Manhattan College, from which he graduated in 1940. He started running again at age 45, doing laps in his backyard, about 26 to the mile.

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

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Five years later Sheehan ran a 4:47 mile, becoming the first runner 50 or over to break five minutes. He began writing a weekly column for a community newspaper in New Jersey, caught the eye of Joe Henderson at Runner’s World and soon was its medical editor and one of its columnists. In 1986 Sheehan was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but continued to run and write. He died in 1993 and his last book, “Going the Distance,” which was about dying, was published posthumously. Over the Fourth of July weekend, I was filled with the joy of running Sheehan wrote about. The fourth meant being in Beulah, a cute town a little southwest of Traverse City, for the Firecracker 5K. The race is basically a big rectangle in the countryside, the first two legs on blacktop and uphill, the last two downhill on a trail through the woods and rails-to-trails path into town. Beulah is on the eastern shore of Crystal Lake. Our post-race habit is to head to an out-of-the-way boat launch and small beach at the west end of the lake, where me, Kathleen and the dog kayak for an hour or so through that beautiful water, then finish the morning off having Maddie dive off the dock at the boat ramp, flying through the air and crashing into the water in chase of a near-empty Pepsi bottle filled with just enough water in it to fly through the air. On the fifth, it was another super-cool run, the Butterfly 5K, a fundraiser for the Au Sable Institute for Environmental Studies northeast of Kalkaska. The race was on rolling blacktop around Big Twin Lake, finishing at a small beach in front of the nature center’s property on the other side of the road. The lake was still too cold from the late winter for me to get in, but the dog was in need of a cool-off. The $15 entry fee included a free native plant in a pot, post-race goodies and hand-made awards to age-group winners. Followed, of course, by a kayak around the lake. They had 53 entrants this year, up from 20 in their first year last year, and organizers were thrilled. I ran the race on the fourth in the 29s, the second around 30-flat. I can’t decide if I’m having more fun now than when I was doing my 5Ks in the 17s. Yeah, I guess I am. Longer fun, anyway. ~~

pox on me, not realizing I had run out of deer-fly strips until it was time to head out on the Potawatomie Trail in the Pinckney State Recreation Area one day in early July. It had stormed earlier, and with the sun out it was steamy — oppressive with humidity and clouds

More Than Winning By Jason Elmore

have never been the best athlete. Just getting up, putting on my shoes and heading out the door I consider a success. I never starred in basketball, baseball or standard team sports, lacking the needed hand-eye coordination and agility. I fail as a man in three main ways. (There may be more, but I’ll admit publicly to just three.) Relative to the point at hand, I only need mention one: I don’t sit around and talk about college or pro sports. Never ask me who MSU plays this weekend or how many games the Tigers are in or out of first place. I rarely know who is playing in the NBA or NHL finals, or who are their star players. By the way, do Larry Bird and Isaiah Thomas still play?

poon “Vacation” movies, have been waiting for 14 years to share. Recently, I told Zach a running story from 22 years ago. It involved Doug “Spanky” Burchett, who has since passed away. He is No. 93 in the photo and I’m the one in apparent pain wearing No. 95 a couple steps behind. There were some characters on our Hope College cross country team. While we generally got

Henderson, continued: of deer flies. I always have a fresh strip for the back of my baseball cap and finish early-summer runs with it covered with flies that got stuck bopping it before they could bite me. (Why deer flies always hit the back of your head before they bite you on your shoulders, legs or face is a mystery, but they do.) I was dismayed to realize the package was empty and more dismayed at the halfway mark of my eight-mile loop when I was itching from welts on the back of my thighs and upper arms. One evil fly had taken a chunk of my upper lip. Within seconds my face was swollen and numb, like I’d been shot with novocaine. I had an interview later in Ann Arbor for a story for Crain’s Detroit Business and had to explain why my face was lopsided and my speech slurred. Luckily, the interviewee was a runner and could sympathize. Deer-fly strips — the greatest thing since Vibram FiveFingers. Or FreshFoam MT980s. Or George Sheehan. - MR -

That year, my running took a big stride forward. The gap between me and the front guys, of whom Spanky was one, narrowed. I had broken into the varsity level and was seeing their back sides from a closer vantage point. On a cool and clear fall day in 1991, Gordie (the best bus driver ever and decadeslong Hope teams icon) pulled our old blueand-orange 1960s-era bus into the parking lot of the main campus of Grand Valley State University in Allendale. It was damp, but the sun peeked through the clouds brightly. The still-green grounds were surrounded by trees bursting with colors. The temperature and conditions were just right for eight kilometers of running.

What I love are individual sports such as running, cycling and swimming. Not only is there nothing to throw or catch in them, they are about more than winning or losing a game against an opponent. You need no one else to go out and do them, and you measure success for/against yourself. These days, everyone talks about throwback Thursday. Plus just recently, my oldest son Zachary told me he planned to run cross country this fall. Finally! So I find myself, as he and I eke out some runs together, imparting to him (i.e. making him listen to) those small bits of wisdom and philosophy that go so well with running. These are the days that I, like Clark Griswold of the National Lam-

ated and strong character, not to mention a good runner. In the Hope fraternity community, his fraternity was seen as the preppy rich-boy group. Mine was a hodgepodge. Despite that, we were often at odds because we were so alike. We both dated and proposed to girls on the team, his fiancé stood at our wedding and we both became criminal defense attorneys.

Doug “Spanky” Burchett is No. 93 in the photo and the author is wearing No. 95 a couple steps behind.

along, we had differences (most of which seem silly today). Like many 19 and 20 year olds, we had untested and untempered opinions and ideas. There was always a sense of rebellion or coming of age that sharpened our personalities and quickness to judge back then. I didn’t turn to running until my senior year at Cadillac High School. Having played four years of football for a team that won just one game — 7-6 over Chippewa Hills in my junior year — had been like being clubbed on the head. “Move to a different sport, dork,” I thought.

I remember running hard, a few flashes of the course and feeling for the first time ever like a real runner. As we popped out of the woods for the final 400 meters, I gained on Spanky and finished for the first time on his heels. GVSU gave the first 15 men and women finishers black, long-sleeve t-shirts with whiteand-blue lettering to memorialize the invite. I had placed 16th but was happy with my performance. Plus I sat next to that cute girl on the rides to and from the race. The reason this story is so important to me happened after the race. Spanky came up to me, off to the side and away from the others, and handed me his 15th-place t-shirt. “Jason, you deserve this today,” he said. That was it. Nothing gushy. No music began to play. No “ahhhhh” whispered by onlookers. Just a nod and small moment between two young men — two runners. Nothing more was needed. It was a perfect moment, locked in time.

I ran track my senior year, then did so at Hope too. In my sophomore year there, I started to run cross country. Finally, I found a passion at which I was not too bad. After a girl wised up and dumped me, I discovered a girl on the team was the cutest thing I had seen. She was fast, so I needed to get work hard to catch her.

Over my last 25 years as a runner, I have rarely kept any race shirts. I usually bring them home and toss them in the Goodwill box. If and when I win medals, I give them away to kids. But not Spanky’s t-shirt. I kept it because it means something. It stands for the reason I love to run, bike or swim.

I married that girl and now we have three great children. Life began to change for me back then and I focused my energies on training. It was during that third fall season the tale I had waited to share with my son occurred.

I kept it for these moments with my children I knew would come. I have planned for a quarter century to give it to one of my kids as a tangible example of sportsmanship. It’s not just about winning, son. It’s much more.

Spanky, a senior that year, was a smart, opinion-

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- MR -

Michigan Runner - September / October 2014

Kona Run, Northville, June 7, 2014

12th Annual Kona Run Attracts Runners for 10 Mile, 10K, 5K and 1 Mile Runs

Photos by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

Kelsey Bragg 10 mile winner 46

Jordan Desilets 10K winner

Michigan Runner - July / August 2014

Vince Bechard of Dearborn won the 10 mile run in 58:16.

Melissas Johnson-White 10K winner |

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Amy Corby 5K winner

5k winner Conor Naughton led the Northville cross country team to the first 12 places in the Male 15-19 age group.

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