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6 Michigan Runner - January / February 2012 | michiganrunner.tv

January / February 2012 Vol. 33, No. 6

Cover: Michigan Runner of the Year, Lisa Veneziano. Photo by Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios

January - February 2012 p. 43

Featured Future Events p. 46

Editor’s Notes: The Running Dog By Scott Sullivan p. 8

Michigan Runner of the Year: Lisa Veneziano By Bill Kahn p. 10

Men’s Co-Runner of the Year: Kris Koster By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 12

Contributor of the Year: Don Kern By Art McCafferty p. 14

Michigan Man Sets 7-Continent Marathon Mark p. 14

Michigan Qualifiers: U.S. Olympic Team Trials- Men’s & Women’s Marathon p. 16Men’s Co-Runner of the Year: Boaz Cheboiywo By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 18

Female Runner of the Year: Dot McMahan By Tracey Cohen p. 19

Male Senior Runner of the Year: Brian Olsen By Ron Marinucci p. 20

Male Masters Runner of the Year: Eric Green By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 21

Running Shorts with Scott Hubbard p. 22

Female Senior Runner of the Year: Laura Cooper By Laura Cooper p. 23

Beyond the Chip: Number 9 By Ian Forsyth p. 25

Benton Reflects on 35-Year Daily Running Streak By Ron Marinucci p. 30

Gary Morgan Receives USATF Jackie Joyner Kersee Award p. 31

‘Great Comebacks’ Winner Survives – and Thrives By Ron Marinucci p. 34

Unfulfilled Goals; Gains Realized Nonetheless By Amanda Weaver p. 38

50-State Marathon Quest: The Agony and the Ecstasy By Anthony Targan p. 39

Running with Tom Henderson p. 48

Ann Arbor Turkey Trot By Tracey Cohen p. 18

Footlocker Cross Country Regionals p. 24

Headless Horseman p. 24

‘Flying Finn,’ ‘Scream’ and ZZ Tops at State Cross Meet By Scott Sullivan p. 26

GR Marathon Serves Up Spectrum of Speed and Quirks By Scott Sullivan p. 28

Run Thru the Rapids By Scott Sullivan p. 29

NCAA Division I Cross Country p. 29

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon p. 31

Nakluski, Kryza Survive Winds for Detroit Wins By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 32

Big House, Big Heart Draws Close to 15K By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 33

1,375 Santas Take On Flint By Bill Kahn p. 35

Fifth Third, Parade Co. Turkey Trot Sets Turnout Mark By Charles Douglas McEwen p. 36

Big Bird Flies for 33rd Year By Ron Marinucci p. 37

Run Scream Run By Tracey Cohen p. 38

Kensington Challenges Runners with New Course By Anthony Targan p. 40

Rain Wreaks Run Woodstock Havoc, Fun By Tracey Cohen p. 40

Wicked Halloween p. 41

Cold as Dickens Run Draws Festive Crowd By Tracey Cohen p. 41

Teens Win 5K, Veterans Dominate 10K at Jingle Bell Run By C.D. McEwen p. 42Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis p. 42

Calendar

Features and Departments

At the Races

Michigan Runner © is published six times yearly for $17.00 per year byGreat Lakes Sports Publications, Inc., 4007 Carpenter Rd., #366, Ypsilanti, MI48197. Third Class Postage paid at Dearborn, MI and additional mailing offices.Postmaster: Send Address changes to Michigan Runner,4007 CarpenterRd., #366, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. All contents of this publication are copyrightedall rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorialor graphic content in any manner is prohibited. All unsolicited manuscripts, pho-tographs, and illustrations will not be returned unless accompanied by a properlyaddressed envelope, bearing sufficient postage; publisher assumes no responsi-bility for return of unsolicited materials. The views and opinions of the writersare their own and do not necessarily reflect endorsement and/or views of theMichigan Runner. Address all editorial correspondence, subscriptions, and raceinformation to: Michigan Runner, 4007 Carpenter Rd., #366, Ypsilanti, MI48197, (734) 507-0241, FAX (734) 434-4765, [email protected], 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 yourmagazine label and your new address to Michigan Runner, 4007 CarpenterRd., #366, Ypsilanti, MI 48197.

Publisher and Chief Executive OfficerArt McCafferty

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EditorScott [email protected]

Associate PublisherJennie [email protected]

Editors EmeritusDave FoleyMike Duff

Senior PhotographerCarter Sherline

ColumnistsPaul AufdembergeDesiree DavilaIan Forsyth

Tom HendersonScott HubbardDaniel G. KelseyHerb LindsayLaurel Park

Robin Sarris Hallop

ContributorsTracey CohenCynthia CookPeter DerbyHeather DycLarry EderGale Fisher

Michael HeberlingJeff HollobaughDean JohnsonTyrin JohnsonBill Kahn

William Kalmar

Dr. Edward H. KozloffGrant LofdahlSheryl Lozicki Richard MaginRon MarinucciRiley McLincha

Charles D. McEwenGary MorganJim Neff

Rachael SteilTamara SteilNick Stanko

Anthony TarganCregg WeinmannAmanda Weaver

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a member of


Marriage brings consistency. I can come home andcount on things, like:

• There’s some crisis with the house and/or my wife’s lifeand it is my fault.

• Why have I made this happen?

• How can I not know about it? Don’t I listen?

At this point I do listen, through the screen that protectsmen’s sanity, to learn a litany of woes have amassed that re-duce to just one thing: me.

Solving this isn’t easy. Luckily, my wife helped re-cently without meaning to by adopting a bounding hound Ican take for runs.

The incumbent dogs — an Old Boy who’s game buttires quickly, and a Yapper who’s too short-legged to do more

The Running Dog

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Editor’s Notes

than poop, turn and bail for home — weren’t cutting it.

The bounding hound does — with vengeance. My wifenamed him “Lev” (from lyv, or lion, an ancient symbol ofBulgaria) and he is part Lab, part locomotive.

Lev is so full of energy and exuberance — Oh boy! Asquirrel! Another dog! — that towing him on a leash is anarm amputation about to happen.

He is so fast (or I’m so slow) that he zigzags in front ofme to amuse himself, stopping when the mood strikes. Scott,meet asphalt.

No runner worth his assault lets a few abrasions cutshort his workout. But try washing bloodstains out of Gore-Tex or explaining, “Your Bulgarian lion tripped me.”

“Well, if you weren’t so clumsy …”

The worst problem with Lev is I can’t get mad at him. Peelakes on the porch? He chewed up my running shoes? Won’t letme write because he keeps plunking a drool-soaked squeak toyon my keyboard (Let’s play fetch!)? How can I be angry?

I played wishbone for Thanksgiving when the Old Boy,seeing I was dressing to take Lev running, made it clear hewanted to go too. Let’s see: two arms, two leashes, one poopscoop and two plastic bags “in case.”

The wishbone part came when Lev (on the leash in myright hand) bounded off while the Old Boy (left) stopped tosniff every post, pole, leaf and grass blade.

When the Old Boy delivered a solid waste product, Ineeded both hands to scoop and bag it. Not about to let dogsoutsmart me, I stood on both leashes while …

Incoming cat! Off went Lev and out went my feet.

I would have preferred a less-fragrant landing.

Any delusions I’d had about coming home a hero for run-ning both dogs vanished quickly.

What did I do to myself? And why didn’t I take the Yapper?

Why do guys like sports? Because shutouts are rarer inthem than marriage. With Lev I at least have a fellow scape-goat. Running removes us both from the house, allowing fordomesticity that is feminine bliss or at least like an echochamber.

The bounding hound, as my cohort in chaos, assures thatsuch situations are short-lived. He provides a service there are nowords for.

Plus, now that I’ve hid his squeak toy, I can … Yuk! Hejust plunked his slobbered-up leash on my keyboard.

Sorry, gotta run …

- MR -

i ii i


Lisa Veneziano went to a tiny high schoolin central Pennsylvania that didn’t offercross country or track and field.

The closest thing she had to competitionwas being on the sidelines as a cheerleader forthe football and basketball teams at WestBranch High School in Alport, Pa.

At times, she wonders how good she couldhave been had she run during those so-calledprime years. She doesn’t dwell on it, though,because she has been redefining what is consid-ered a runner’s prime for more than 20 years.

The Fenton resident was still winning roadraces as a 47-year-old in 2011, running timesthat would easily make her a state qualifier inhigh school cross country. Never content withmerely being the top masters runner, she wascompetitive enough in the open division to winthe overall 2011 Michigan Runner of the Yearaward.

Veneziano racked up 145 total mastersand open points, outdistancing co-open men’swinners Boaz Cheboiywo and Kris Koster by45 points. She was the Michigan Female Mas-ters Runner of the Year last year.

She was the first Michigan masters runnerin the two most prestigious races in the state,the Fifth Third River Bank 25K Run and theCrim 10-mile. She was the first overall womanin the Milford Labor Day 30K, first master inthe Mackinac Island 8-mile race and secondMichigan master in the Dexter-Ann Arbor halfmarathon.

“I feel that I always have a chance of win-ning,” Veneziano said. “I’m really competitive,so whenever I go out, I lay it on the line and tryto do the best I can. I feel I can still compete well,except for in the really big races with major elitecompetition. I never count myself out.”

Veneziano, who started running when shewas 25, isn’t sure if she’d still be this competi-tive had she gone for broke during her highschool and college years.

“It would be neat to see where I would’vebeen if I’d had the coaching,” she said. “Everynow and then, I think it would be neat to get acoach now, someone who could tell me exactlywhat I should be doing for training; I’ve neverhad that.

“On the other hand, I’m also grateful, be-cause if I’d run in high school and college, Iprobably wouldn’t be able to run as long as an

adult. I’m not burnt out. I don’t have anymajor injuries. I think it’s a trade-off.”

Veneziano said her best race of 2011 was theCrim, where she covered the hilly 10-mile Flintcourse in 1:02:23. By taking second overallamong masters to Romanian Natu Olaru,Veneziano won $1,000 for the biggest of herseven paydays there. She’s won $3,375 in Crimdollars, placing in the money the last three years.

“The Crim is usually a really good race forme,” she said. “As a runner, you can have agood race or a bad race; it’s just a matter ofwhat body shows up that day. For some rea-son, I’m usually right on for the Crim. I thinkit’s because we gear towards it, because it’s thelocal big-time race.”

Veneziano said she doesn’t do MichiganRunner series events to chase points. She gen-uinely likes each of the races on their own merit.

“Each one of them has a character of itsown,” she said. “Jay (Owens, her husband) and Ireally like all of those runs. It’s something we puton our calendar every year and do.

“There was one this year, Corktown (in

Detroit), that we’d never done before. We al-ways like to do St. Patty’s Day races and endedup doing one that was different. I didn’t realizeit was part of the series until after the fact.That’s another really nice race we’re looking toput on our calendar.

“There’s just a lot of great races in that se-ries. It sounds like the points just added up.”

Veneziano ran two marathons, three weeksapart, this year. She was the 15th woman inthe Detroit Free Press Marathon Oct. 16 in3:06:07, and the second masters woman at theIndianapolis Monumental Marathon Nov. 5 in3:08:52.1.

She is registered for the 2012 BostonMarathon, an event she hasn’t run since start-ing with the elite women’s field in 2009.

“I’m happy I haven’t slowed down a wholelot,” she said. “I’m very fortunate there, butmost important is that I’m still able to run. Iwant to be able to continue that for as long as Ilive, because I really love running. I just likeworking out and the benefits you get from it.”

- MR -

Lisa Veneziano poses with her familynear the shores of Lake Fenton. Fromleft are: Lisa, son Connor, age 7, sonCarter, age 10, and husband Jay Owens.

Lisa approaches the finish line of the2011 Crim 10 Mile.

By Bill Khan

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Michigan Runner - January / February 2012 | michiganrunner.tv12

By Charles Douglas McEwen

Kristopher Koster, married near Christ-mastime 2010, not only captured theheart of his wife, Sarah, but won races

and picked up points in the 2011 MichiganRunner of the Year Series.

Koster, 30, excelled especially at racesclose to the 10-mile distance. He won theStriders Saturday Classic 10-mile, timing53:18, and the Meijer’s National Cherry Festi-val 15K (9.3 miles) with a PR of 48:55. At theCrim 10-mile, a race with more than 9,000runners in it, he finished fourth among Michi-gan men in 51:03.

In other MR Series races, Koster finishedthird among state men at the Fifth Third RiverBank 25K Run (1:23:40), Diemer Amerikam5K (15:06) and Detroit Free Press/Talmer BankMarathon (2:35:49).

Altogether, Koster scored 100 points in theseries, which tied him with Boaz Cheboiywo inthe open men’s category.

“My best race of 2011 was probably thefirst serious one I ran: the Irish Jig 5K inGrand Rapids,” Koster said. “I ran quite a bitfaster (14:44) than I had run there before andfinished ahead of guys I’m more used to read-ing about in your magazine (after their ownwins) than beating myself.”

Of the series races, Koster liked runningthe Striders event in Grandville, in part be-cause his parents recently moved into a houseon the course.

“The Cherry Festival is another beautifulcourse,” he said. “There’s nothing like runningon the peninsula, over ‘Mount McKinley’ andspending time in Traverse City in early July. It’sa good tune-up for the Great Lakes Relay thenext week, too.

“I like to race pretty often. It’s easier to staymotivated to train when there’s always anotherrace coming up soon. If you plan them out prop-erly, you can use smaller races to build up to theones you’re really pointing towards.

“The two races I care most about doingwell in each year are the River Bank Run andCrim,” he continued. “Although I placedhigher (15th and 13th, respectively) in bothraces this year than ever before, I don’t thinkthe fields were as deep and I wasn’t pleasedwith the way I closed at the end of either. I’veraced tougher at both in the past, despite plac-ing lower than I did this year.”

As a Calvin College graduate, Koster hadBrian Diemer, Al Hoekstra and Rob Hyde ascoaches, and he competes in the Diemer 5Kevery June.

“It must be the aura of Brian’s hometown ofCutlerville that gives me extra strength,” Kostersaid. “This year was almost a disaster, though. Ilocked my keys, flats and singlet in my car beforethe race, and sprinted around the starting areafrantically looking for my wife (who had comelater in her car to watch the race).

“I found her and got a spare key about 10minutes before the start,” he remembered. “Iran about a mile round-trip from there to mycar, put my stuff on and got back to the startwith maybe a minute to spare.

“Ian Forsyth just shook his head when hesaw me dash to the starting area. When I toldhim after the race what had happened, he chas-tised me for locking my car in the first place.‘You’re at a race; just leave it open,’ Ian said.

“Whatever the case, I was just glad I didn’tmiss it. The Diemer Run is fun every year —the course is blazing fast, the prize money goes10 deep (which always lures a competitivefield) and by early June I’m usually chompingat the bit to get the summer racing season offto a good start. Having Ian there gets me evenmore fired up.”

Forsyth, of Ann Arbor, always expects achallenge when he faces off against Koster.

“I’ve raced Kris head-to-head at 5K, 10K, 10miles and 25K,” Forsyth said. “He’s always ex-ceptionally hard to drop. I call him ‘Bulldog’ be-cause he won’t let go, no matter the pace. He’sone of the toughest racers I’ve ever run against.”

Koster calls himself a late bloomer. “I fin-ished 167th as a high school junior and 86thas a senior in the state cross country meet,” heremembered. He bloomed as a runner atCalvin, where he was a three-time Division IIIAll-American.

“I’d say my strong suit is hanging in thereand grinding out a hard pace,” he said. “Kick-ing is probably my greatest liability.”

Forsyth begs to differ. “Kris will tell youhe has a weak kick, but when he starts to ham-mer for home from way out there, he’ll takeyour kick out of you,” Forsyth said.

Koster often runs cross country races forthe Playmakers Racing Team and its coach,Jim Robinson. He is also an assistant crosscountry and track coach at Grand RapidsChristian High School, where he helped coachhis younger sister, Jessica. She went on to be-come an all-American runner at Calvin too.His father and brother also run road races.

“My entire family is into running,” Kostersaid. “My mom doesn’t run herself, but she’s apassionate spectator. I can always figure outhow close the guy behind me is in the home-stretch by listening to the pitch of her cheers;the higher her voice gets, the closer I am to get-ting kicked down.

“Being named Runner of the Year by yourmagazine is a special honor for me,” he contin-ued. “I’ve read every copy of Michigan RunnerI’ve been able to get my hands on since I beganrunning competitively in high school, and Iprobably still have most of those issues filedaway somewhere.

“It’s always been a highlight to read aboutpast runners of the year like Paul Aufdem-berge, Kyle Baker, Nick Stanko and otherswho I’ve looked up to and dreamed of one daybeing able to race with.

“It seems ridiculous to consider myself tiedwith Boaz for this award, seeing as he beat mehandily every time we raced this year. But Iguess the points system has a bit of a tortoise-and-hare element to it.” - MR -

Kris Koster won the Striders SaturdayClassic 10 Mile.

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Contributor of theYear is the oneMichigan Run-

ner award that requiresstaff decisions. Ourother MR honors areearned through successon the roads, trails ortrack during the yearand based on a pre-an-nounced points scale.

Normally, suchdecisions are made byeditor Scott Sullivanor associate publisherJennie McCafferty. Butfrom time to time Iventure an opinion onthe subject — and thisis one of them.

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon race director Don Kern is oneof my clients and, as such, I must give full disclosure here. I have workedwith him in promoting his marathon and related events since they started.He has grown them with care and class.

Don’s most recent “cool adventure” (see http://www.cooladven-tures.net) resulted in a new Guinness World Record for running amarathon on each continent in the shortest amount of time. MichiganRunner and The Running Network helped sponsor the odyssey andhave chronicled it on our Internet TV channels. This was Don’s third at-tempt at the record; as he finished his last race in Antarctica, we canonly guess at how fulfilling the moment was for him.

The positive impact of Don’s adventures on the running public hasbeen immense. His zest for our sport is contagious. One only has to notethe growth of the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon in eight years.Those of you who have run it have likely hugged Don or shaken hishand as you crossed the finish line. By then, you’ve become familiarwith his thoughtful and friendly pre-race emails and the quiet confi-dence they imbue.

The Michigan running community is fortunate to have Don in sucha leadership role. While many of our event directors are amazingly tal-ented, few have done the job with such passion and panache. During the30-plus years I have been MR publisher, there have been others I wouldput in that category. Ed Kozloff, who is still creating and managingevents for the Motor City Striders, is one. Ron Gunn, our first MichiganRunner of the Year who now creates running and walking adventuresfor hundreds of people each year, is another. Yet another is Randy Step,who with co-owner Steve Angerman has built Running Fit into anaward-winning fitness company.

One wonders what goals are left for a man who has just aboutlogged enough miles to circumnavigate the earth, and run more than200 marathons which have taken him to 20-plus countries, all 50 statesand all seven continents three times. Instead of wondering, click on hiswebsite to find out what’s next.

Don Kern, an amazing person and a very cool individual, is ourContributor of the Year. - MR -

By Art McCafferty

Don Kern at the start of the MetroHealth Grand Rapids Marathon

Contributor of the Year:

The third time was charmed for Don Kern’s bid to set a GuinnessWorld Record for running marathons on all seven continents inthe shortest time.

The Grand Rapids resident completed the Antarctic Ice MarathonDec. 1, capping his world-spanning effort in 25 days, 18 hours and 10minutes. The previous record, set by Richard Takata of Canada in 2007,was 29 days, 16 hours and 17 minutes.

Kern, founder and race director of the Metro Health Grand RapidsMarathon, twice fell shy of his goal in 2007. He ran seven continents in 35days in February-March that year, only to learn afterward that Takata haddone so more quickly during an overlapping same time span.

Later that year, in another effort to run all seven continents in 25days, Kern had to wait eight days until weather cleared to run the eventin Antarctica. Still, he finished the cycle twice within 307 days and thesame calendar year, both thought to be world records.

Kern’s successful bid this time included the Soweto Marathon inSouth Africa Nov. 6; Maratona Ticino in Switzerland Nov. 13; Mara-tona CAIXA de Curitiba in Brazil Nov. 20; Fukuchiyama Marathon inJapan Nov. 23; Speight’s West Coaster in Bethel’s Beach, New Zealand,Nov. 26; Space Coast Marathon in Cocoa, Fla., Nov. 27; and the IceMarathon at Union Glacier Camp, Antarctica, Dec. 1.

For a firsthand account of Kern’s quest and record, go online tomichiganrunner.tv.

- MR -

Michigan Man Sets 7-Continent Marathon

Mark

Don Kern competed in the Antarctic Ice Marathon, UnionGlacier Camp, Antarctica

Michigan Runner TVhttp://michiganrunner.tv/2011seven_continents/

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Men's Qualifying TimesAll are expenses paid A Standard:2:19 marathon1:05 half marathon28:30 10,000

Best Qualifying Time Name Race City

2:10:00 Dathan Ritzenhein (OR) London

2:11:06 Jason Hartmann (CO) Chicago

2:14:39 Luke Humphrey (MI) San Diego

2:14:55 Mike Morgan (MI) Chicago

2:16:31 Brian Sell (PA) Boston

2:16:36 Drew Polley (MI) Boston

2:16:52 Sage Canaday (MI) San Diego

2:16:54 Zach Hine (MI) Boston

2:17:41 Chad Johnson (MI) Boston

2:18:52 Matthew Fecht (MI) Duluth

2:18:56 Clint Verran (MI) Sacramento

1:02:26 Stephan Shay (CA) Houston

1:04:21 Tim Young (MI) New Orleans

1:04:28 Jeremy Criscione (MI) New York

1:04:38 Ryan Sheehan (MI) Ann Arbor

1:04:43 Nick Stanko (MI) Houston

1:04:52 Robert Scribner (MI) Traverse City

1:04:54 Paul Hefferon (MI) Philadelphia

1:04:56 Brian Medivogich (MI) San Jose

Women's Qualifying TimesExpenses Paid A Standard: 2:39 marathonB Standard:2:46 marathon1:15 half33:00 10,000

Best Qualifying Time Name Race City

2:22:38 Desiree Davila (MI) Boston

2:31:01 Katie McGregor (MN) New York

2:31:48 Dot McMahan (MI) Duluth

2:31:52 Molly Pritz (MI) New York

2:33:09 Melissa White (MI) San Diego

2:35:23 Kathy Newberry (MI) New York

2:37:44 Andrea Pomaranski (MI) Phoenix

2:41:28 Sharon Thompson (TN) Chicago

2:43:35 Michele Suszek (CO) Virginia Beach

2:43:55 Erin O'Mara (MI) Sacramento

2:44:06 Ashley Carroll (CA) Sacramento

2:44:38 Erin Richard (MI) Houston

2:44:49 Jacklyn Rzepecki (MI) Chicago

2:44:55 Serena Kessler (MI) Detroit

2:45:01 Katie Jazwinski (MI) Grand Rapids

2:45:12 Lavenna Mullenbach (MI) Minneapolis

2:45:58 Amy Hauswirth (MI) Detroit

Michigan Qualifiers: U.S. Olympic Team Trials -Men’s & Women’s Marathon

U.S. Olympic Team TrialsHoustonJanuary 14, 2011

Dathan Ritzenhein Desiree Davila

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Male Co-Runner of the Year:

He stands 5 feet4 inches talland weighs

114 pounds, but hepresents a formidableforce when he toes thestarting line of a race.

Boaz Cheboiywo,33, of Ypsilanti, cameto the United Statesfrom Kenya to attendEastern Michigan Uni-versity just over adecade ago and foundquick success as a run-ner.

Cheboiywo wonthe 2001 NCAA Divi-sion I cross countrychampionship, thefirst EMU runner toachieve that feat. Thenext year, he won theNCAA Division I out-door 10,000-meterchampionship.

Since his collegedays, our Male Co-Runner of the Yearhas dominated many state races. His more re-cent accomplishments include winning theoften cold and blustery Spectrum Health IrishJig 5K in East Grand Rapids six of the lastseven years. (He holds the course record thereat 14:14.)

At the hot and hilly Solstice Run inNorthville, he has won the 10-mile the lasttwo years and owns the course record of50:49, which he set in 2010.

And at the super-competitive Crim 10-mile in Flint, Cheboiywo has finished as highas third overall and been the top state finisherfor the last five years.

In 2011, he finished second overall in theING Miami Half Marathon Jan. 30 in 1:07:33.He ran fast in long races such as the PittsburghMarathon (2:27:17) and short ones like theFirecracker Mile in Clawson (4:13).

He ran well in MR Race Series races too.

Along with his 49:21 finish at Crim,Cheboiywo finished second overall in theDexter-Ann Arbor half-marathon (1:08:14).He was third overall (first among state run-

ners) in the Brian DiemerAmerikam 5K in Cutlerville(14:28). All of this gave him 100points, tying him with KrisKoster for open men’s runner ofthe year.

Cheboiywo also has mind-boggling PRs of 3:52 for themile, 13:19 for 5K, 27:44 for10K, 47:36 for 10 miles and2:21:40 for the marathon.

Growing up near the city of El-doret, western Kenya, Cheboiywohad to run or walk everywhere hewanted to go, including to schooleach day. “Getting from place toplace, it was your only trans-portation,” he said.

Though he had that solid base,Cheboiywo hesitated at first to getinvolved in competitive running,preferring to concentrate on hisstudies. His brother, DavidKisang, a talented runner himself,encouraged him to do a few races.Then he did a few more. And soon ...

Nowadays, running con-sumes a lot of his waking hours. When hetrains for a marathon, Cheboiywo often aver-ages 120 miles a week. He also coaches andpersonally trains 16 clients. “I’m jam-packed,” he said of his busy schedule.

His wife, Stacy, recently gave birth totheir first child. “She’s a beautiful girl,”Cheboiywo said. Being a parent “is the bestfeeling you can imagine, by a mile.”

In the not too distant future, Cheboiywowould like to have another child — maybe aboy, he said.

He still believes he can win the Crim.“I’ve come close two times,” saidCheboiywo, who finished third in 2008 a fewseconds behind the winner, and again in 2009when he ran his 47:36 PR. “I want to win sobad!”

He also believes he can still chase downsome of his PRs, particularly the 2:21:40 heran in the 2008 ING New York CityMarathon.

“I’m always wanting to improve — everyrace,” he said. - MR -

Boaz Cheboiywo competesin the Dexter Ann Arbor Half Marathon.


ANN ARBOR (11/24/11) – “A nice touch,”police said.

“Quite the coincidence,” race director RonSuffolk added as he and officers worked to ca-jole the wild turkey who laid claim to thecourse just moments before winner Brian Her-nandez finished in 16:11, edging Kaleb Keyser-ling by two seconds.

“It’s like running up north,” said Suffolkof the venue for his sixth annual Turkey Trot5K, held on the University of Michigan’sNorth Campus. “Where else would you see alive turkey on Thanksgiving morning?”

Nearly 1,700 runners and walkers, threedeer and one bird enjoyed this growing tradi-tion for runners near and far.

Ann Arbor natives and Burns Park race di-rectors Joel and Jackie Dalton trot here eachThanksgiving. “It’s always fun and well organ-ized,” said Joel, adding of this year’s t-shirt de-sign, “I like the feathers on the butt!”

“Our whole family came,” said MichelleRitter, now living in Chicago. “It’s a reallygood time!”

Suffolk reversed course direction this yearto accommodate the record turnout. “Wewanted to allow for more distance between therunners,” he explained.

“The last hill was rough, but it was a goodchallenge,” Ritter said.

“I enjoyed seeing all the people in cos-tumes,” said her cousin, Brad Langland ofMonroe. He vowed to be back next year.

For complete results and information onnext year’s event, visithttp://www.theturkeytrot.com.

Tracey Cohen can be reached at

[email protected].

- MR -

Ann Arbor Turkey Trot

Ann ArborTurkey Trot: 6-Year Tradition

GrowsBy Tracey Cohen

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19michiganrunner.net | Michigan Runner - January / February 2012

19

CelebrateSt. Patrick’s Day

Shillelagh 4 MileNoon

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Register online atwww.riverbendstriders.com

Contact

Riverbend Striders(810) 487-0954PO Box 233

Flushing, MI 48433

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sixth vertical template_sixth vertical 12/5/11 7:51 PM Page 1

Female Runner of the Year:

“It was a greatsurprise,”said Dot

McMahan, MichiganRunner’s 2011 FemaleRunner of the Year.

“I didn’t set outto do it,” said McMa-han, 35, a Hansons-Brooks DistanceProject member since2005. “I would like toactually do moreraces in the seriesafter I retire. At thispoint in my career, wefocus more on train-ing than racing.”

McMahan earnedwomen’s high-pointhonors finishing sec-ond woman overall atthe Fifth Third RiverBank 25K Run(1:28:38) and firstMichigan woman atthe Crim 10-mile(55:52), which shecalled a “rust buster”after running a per-sonal record 2:31:48at Grandma’sMarathon.

She seeks a spoton the 2012 U.S.Olympic women’s marathon team and isgearing up for the trials in Houston Jan. 14.McMahan calls her bid a long shot, but assis-tant coach Corey Kubatzky has faith in her.“Dot is one of the toughest athletes I’ve evermet. She knows how to get the most out ofherself,” he said.

For all her success as a runner, McMahansaid her best moments in life surround herdaughter, Elizabeth Brooke, age 2.

“She’s made me a better person and keepsme in check,” said McMahan. “Everything Iteach her I must follow myself, including enjoy-ing life day by day and not sweating the smallstuff. I’m way more ‘chill’ than I used to be.

“Since having my daughter, I’ve allowedmyself to dream big because I’ve already ac-complished a lot of my running goals.”

Though she “cannot imagine a life withoutrunning,” McMahan plans to go back to

school once her daugh-ter is ready for thesame.

“I want to dosomething in health-care,” she said. “I’dlike to promotehealthy living as achosen lifestyle.”

When not trainingor racing, McMahan“spends every free mo-ment” with her daugh-ter and Tim, herhusband of 11 years.

The Wisconsin na-tive enjoys spendingtime with Tim, Eliza-beth and “our extendedMichigan family,” play-ing outside, cookingand baking.

McMahan at firstresisted when Tim wasoffered a job in Michi-gan, but she found therunning communityhere as strong as itwas in her home stateand maintains our“dirt roads and trailsystems are hard tobeat.”

She is gratefulto Keith and Kevin Hanson for taking “ahuge risk by adding a self-proclaimed middle-distance runner that had just started dabblingin half marathons” to their program.

“Dot’s awesome,” said teammate ErinRichard. “She’s fun to train with - so encour-aging and she works hard.

“We’re really proud of her,” said Richardof McMahan winning MR honors. “She de-serves it.”

McMahan’s own advice: Train like a ma-chine, race, take a break, repeat.

“We have some mighty fine runners inMichigan,” she said. “I’m honored to be con-sidered Michigan Runner of the Year.”

Tracey Cohen can be reached at run-

[email protected].

- MR -

Dot McMahan finishes the 2011Crim 10 mile.

By Tracey Cohen©

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Male Senior Runner of the Year:

When Brian Olsen turned 50 last Janu-ary, he set goals for 2011. Havingwon Michigan Runner’s Male Mas-

ters Runner of the Year award in 2004, “I set agoal to win the award again as a senior,” hedeclared.

This goal, among other ambitious ones, wasmet. Olsen amassed 78 points in the MR Series.Runner-up Chris Glowacki tallied 33, whilethird-place finisher Bob Horan scored 27.

“My progress went smoothly,” Olsen said.

He’s no stranger to running, havingpounded the track, trails and roads for almost35 years.

“I started running when I was 16 as amember of the Grand Haven High Schooltrack team,” he remembered. “As a sopho-more, I was recruited and encouraged to runby my physical education teacher, Mr. Root,who also coached cross country.”

Olsen moved to Jackson High School,where he ran for coach Charlie Janke duringhis senior year. “What a great program andcoach I had!” he exclaimed. Olsen won thestate Class A two-mile run and was a three-time all-stater.

He was an all-American runner at JacksonCommunity College, then transferred to Okla-homa State University. “Other than a fewminor setbacks with injuries, I have neverstopped running since graduating,” Olsen said.

He continues to run for a variety of rea-sons. “I love the competition,” he enthused. “Ilike the social aspect of meeting new people,catching up with old friends and traveling withmy wife to road races. I like the feeling ofbeing in shape and seeing how long I can runwith the younger guys.”

Olsen is keeping up with the youth justfine. At the Alma Highland Festival 8-Mile, anMR Series race, he was not only the first mas-ters and senior runner, but also first overall in47:44, age-graded to 41:46. He consistentlyplaced among the top masters runners in otherraces too.

In other Series races, Olsen was the firstsenior at the St. Patrick’s 8K (28:16, age-graded to 25:21), Striders 10-Mile (59:08,53:21) and Cherry Festival 15K (56:01,50:30).

At the Fifth Third River Bank 25K, he wasthe second senior (1:35:26, 1:26:31). Olsen

was third among seniors at the Crim 10-mile(59:41, 53:30).

“I have to give credit to my wife, Martha,who is a great motivator and good mastersrunner herself,” said Olsen. “Thanks also goesto our chiropractor, Dr. Michael Hughes, whoI see on a regular basis so I can keep in tuneand be ready for my next competition.”

Martha had good racing season too. In theLansing area Playmaker Series of Races, sheplaced first, outscoring the runner-up 87 pointsto 38.

As if his goal of winning the MR Serieswasn’t enough, Brian Olsen added an extrachallenge: to win the Playmaker Series in Lans-ing and Citizen Patriot Series in Jackson as agrand masters runner.

He did that, finishing as the first senior innine of the 10 Playmakers races he entered; his87 points more than doubled those of the run-ner-up. In the Citizen Patriot Series, he wonnot only the senior division but the masters di-vision.

Olsen ran 23 races in 2011. “I usuallycompete in about 10 or 12,” he said. “I feltworn out in my last few races and couldn’twait to take a break.”

Still, he ran his last race of the season, theDinosaur Dash, in 16:42, his fastest 5K of theyear. “I was pleased,” he said, “especially sinceI hadn’t specifically trained for that event.”

Olsen is the head men’s and women’s crosscountry coach at Jackson Community College,where Martha is an assistant. Before then, hewas the Jackson High School track and crosscountry coach.

“JCC decided to start sports again after a25-year hiatus,” he explained. “I ran there in1980-81, the last season before they eliminatedthe program.”

Olsen was hired at JCC in June 2006. “Iwas approached, or you could say recruited,by the new athletic director, Steve Bloomfield,”he remembered. “I put men’s and women’steams together in about six weeks.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to leave coach-ing at the high school because my daughter,Hanna, was still running there,” he continued.But there was an upside to that familydilemma. “She decided to run for JCC twoyears later,” Olsen said.

Olsen’s JCC teams have fared well, espe-cially considering they started from scratch.Both the men and women have finished sixthor higher in Region XII of the National JuniorCollege Athletic Association every year since2006. In 2011, the women’s team placed 10that the national junior college meet in NewMexico.

“Due to my work schedule, most of myruns are on my own,” Olsen said. “I do runwith the teams during the cross country sea-son, just the distance runs. As a coach, I typi-cally don’t do the harder workouts with thembecause I like to observe how they are han-dling the workouts.”

For himself, “I race better than I train,”Olsen said. “I’m not saying that I don’t trainhard. It’s just that some people race better thanthey train. I am one of them.

“With all the racing this year, I did not doa lot of workouts,” he continued. “When I de-cide to do one, I prefer the track; it’s easilymeasurable and flat.

“Most people consider pace workouts bor-

Brian Olsen runs the Dexter AnnArbor Half Marathon.

By Ron Marinucci

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great to train with and brought out the best inme ... as well as the worst. I did well in the se-ries during the first half of the year, but asDave got in better shape he really came on.”

Green finished first state or overall masterat the Fifth Third River Bank 25K (1:31:09),Dexter-Ann Arbor half marathon (1:15:51)and Steve’s Run 10K (36:00). He finished be-hind Chomet in the Crim 10-mile and MilfordLabor Day 30K. (Green finished fifth amongMichigan masters at Crim in 57:56 and secondamong all masters at Mildford in 1:59:54.)

Outside the series, Green finished eighthoverall (2:47:40) at the Glass City Marathonin Toledo, Ohio. He ran his fastest and maybebest race of the year at the Run for the Hills10K in Farmington in August; timing 34:04, heedged Chomet by five seconds. They placedsecond and third overall behind Kevin Smith.

“Dave was basically stride for stride withme the whole way,” Green remembered. “Assoon I saw that last downhill to the finish, Igot all my energy together and went for it.”

On the downside, Green fell to 31st over-all (2:51:38) in the Detroit Free Press/TalmarBank Marathon after capturing fifth overall(2:38:54) last year.

“This year’s Free Press was the worst everfor me,” Green said. “The time was secondworst in the 11 years I have run it. My trainingfor the race deteriorated in September when Ihad to report for federal jury duty for fourweeks. This interfered with my last month oftraining (before the marathon), since mymileage went down and I was too tired to getin the long runs. My other races during thattime suffered too.” (Green was top master inthe Kensington Challenge 15K for a fourthstraight year, but his time was much slowerthan in past years.)

In the Free Press, Green finished right be-hind Paul Aufdemberge, last year’s Male Mas-ters Runner of the Year. “Paul’s longevity inthe sport is one of the things that motivatesme,” Green said.

Overall, he views 2011 positively. “Lastyear, I think I won $1,800 in race prizemoney,” Green said. “This year, the total was$2,300, so that goal was met.”

Green gets help from his friends whentraining.

“I would like to thank Kevin Kaspzyk,who ran with me every Sunday for my longrun during spring and summer. Dave Chomettrained with me and pushed me in series races.

“I especially thank Leo Foley and ShaneLogan, who worked around my schedule torun with me and took me to the Glass CityMarathon,” he continued. “Those two wereon last year’s Michigan Runner cover with meand are the best training partners an older mancould have.”

Green, an Oakland Community Collegephysical education building manager and assis-tant cross country coach, also receives supportfrom his wife, Julia, his 14-year-old son and16-year-old twin daughters.

“The girls drove with me all the way outto Dowagiac (150 miles from their home) forSteve’s Run just to support their daddy,” Greensaid.

He also appreciates his Runner of the Yearawards and can occasionally be seen warmingup in a Michigan Runner t-shirt before races.During races, he wears t-shirts of Front LineRacing, a team he has belonged to for morethan a decade.

- MR -


21

ing, but I thrive on them. They’ll range any-where from repeat 200s all the way up to re-peat miles. My pace is dependent on what mynext race is … a short 5K or a 10-miler to ahalf marathon.

“I’m not a high-mileage runner. I neverwas when I was younger. If I run 2,000 miles ayear, it’s a good year. That’s only averagingabout 40 miles a week.”

Although Olsen was taking a “break” aswe spoke, he was already setting goals for2012.

“It’s not too early to tell,” he said. “I ex-plain to my athletes that it’s important to setgoals, keep a running log and verbalize goalsto others. By telling others about your goals, itmakes you accountable and you have to workharder toward those goals.

“Hmm … I’m sticking my neck out a little.How about a sub-16:00 5K for a 51-year-old?I have a plan!” he said.

- MR -

Brian Olsen, continued.


Eric Green, 44, of Pontiac keeps adding tohis collection of Michigan Runner of theYear awards.

In 2009, Green won his first Masters Run-ner of the Year title. Last year, he graced thecover of this magazine as the open Runner ofthe Year. This year he claimed the Male Mas-ters crown again.

“I have a streak of running competitivelyfor 25 years without a running-related injury,”Green said. “It’s more important than any win-ning streak.

“The law of averages says it will have toend sooner or later,” he went on. “The streakof winning Runner of the Year awards hasbeen fun, but every year it gets tougher. Thenew masters coming up in 2012 — especiallyIan Forsyth and a couple other studs who areturning 40 — will make it even tougher.”

Green had stiff competition this year too.He earned 80 points in the series, just 10ahead of David Chomet. Hank Risley and Es-teban Vanegas were also in the mix with 55points each.

Green said of his friend Chomet, “He is

Eric Green was top master at the Dexter Ann Arbor Half Marathon.

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Trivia: What are the dates for the 30th

Olympic Summer Games in London?

25 Things To Be Happy About:

1. Getting your registration in before a racecloses entries due to field limits. The BostonMarathon is the only race with a dual registrationprocess; qualify by time and wait your turn toenter via a newly-revised entry set-up.

The first big race, outside Boston, I recall witha size limit was Grandma’s Marathon in the1980s. Perhaps the first Michigan race with anentry cap was the 1978 Mackinac Island 8-mile.

The Mid-Michigan Track Club and St. IgnaceKiwanis had been holding separate races on the is-land a week apart around Labor Day for six orseven years prior to ‘78. Only the Kiwanis weregiven a race permit that year, and with concernsabout how to manage and time the “burgeoning”race field, entries were limited to 600.

I didn’t make the cut, but a friend who didget in was unable to go and urged me to use hisnumber. Fine by me! I went up north with an-other friend who had family in St. Ignace. Therace started at Windermere Point in the down-town area and went counterclockwise.

The Mid-Michigan TC was the first to holda race around the Island in ‘71 and several clubmembers wore t-shirts that had “7th annual”crossed out (in reference to the Kiwanis year)with an “8th annual” next to or under it. Inter-estingly, the Kiwanis white race t-shirt wasfairly generic with “Mackinac Island RoadRace” on the front —nothing about the distanceor year.

As the race got underway, Herb Lindsay, anacquaintance and recent MSU grad at the time,bolted to the lead. I settled in with a coupleMid-Michigan TC runners who ran withoutrace numbers (they hadn’t got in either).

Herb pulled away and was out of sight bysix miles, coming around the west side of the is-land. I wrestled with racing the Mid-Michiganguys because I knew they didn’t count, but mycompetitive fire kept me near them.

Herb won in about 39:00 and continued hisgreat running into the early ‘80s, twice beingvoted World Male Road Racer of the Year byRunner magazine in ‘79 and ‘80.

I gradually lost ground to my competitionbut finished in a happy 40:28. Then I had tonervously explain to officials I ran under an as-sumed name. Luckily, there was only mildprotest and I was awarded second place.

2. Marathon & Beyond magazine; go tohttp://www.marathonandbeyond.com for sub-scription info.

3. Being inspired by others.

4. Listening to your coach tell stories.

5. For the cyclists out there, knowing how tofix a flat out on the open road or trail.

6. Pizza, Rice Krispies Treats, chocolate milk.

7. The 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon formen and women in Houston in mid-January.

8. Dogs behind invisible fences.

9. Humming a song that puts you in a happy,calm place.

10. Letter jackets or sweaters.

11. The Michigan High School Athletic Associ-ation Lower Peninsula Cross Country Finalsheld at Michigan International Speedway everyyear since 1996.

12. Community college cross country pro-grams.

13. Reading running and training books pub-lished before World War II.

14. The abundance of good weekend racingweather from late summer through fall 2011.

15. The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Associ-ation calls its outdoor track and field champi-onships “Field Day,” a throwback to an earlierera of the sport. The MIAA, founded in 1888, isAmerica’s oldest collegiate conference.

16. Winter races that give gloves or caps in-stead of tees or sweatshirts.17. On an out/back run, going around onemore curve or over one more hill to see whatlies beyond.18. Running into an old high school teammate.I bumped into Ken Herman outside Horn’s on

Mackinac Island before the Great Turtle races inOctober. We were Ann Arbor Huron mates in‘69-‘70. In the ‘69 team photo, Ken is right be-hind me and next to me is Kent Overbey, stillcoaching through fall 2011.

19. Races where you enter early enough to getyour name printed in bold above the number onyour bib.

20. Running with your eyes closed for severalminutes with a hand on a friend’s elbow forguidance.

21. Marshall Ulrich’s new book “Running onEmpty,” the story of an accomplished ultrama-rathoner’s 2008 run across America at age 57.From west to east, Ulrich covered 3,063 miles in52 days. The book touches on his introductionto running and what drove him to pursue theedges of endurance. It’s a gritty tale of persever-ance and encounters along the long road.

22. Running your age in minutes for 10K.

23. The Detroit Free Press/Talmer Bank halfmarathon.

24. The scourges of winter running are highlyoverrated. Put on some clothes and get outthere!

25. Sports banquets. Nov. 12 was a long, busy,special day for me that started 90 miles fromhome at the NCAA Division 1 Great Lakes re-gional cross-country meet, hosted by the Univer-sity of Toledo. Top teams and individualsqualified for the national championships inTerre Haute, Ind., nine days later. It was a re-turn to my roots in running and I got to call theaction as announcer on a pretty afternoon atOttawa Park. I enjoyed my “job,” being part ofsuch an important event and talking withfriends.

That evening, the Eastern Michigan Univer-sity men held their cross-country banquet and Iwas honored with the Eastern Man award,given to those who have made valuable contri-butions to the program. In my case, I ran for theHurons from 1970 to ’74 and have announcedhome meets since 2000. Among other things, Iwas on the first EMU sports team to win a Mid-American Conference championship when our‘73 cross-country team won in Athens, Ohio. Asa junior and senior I was a team co-captain withfuture EMU Hall of Famer Gordon Minty.

The long tradition of EMU cross-countrysuccess, which stretches back to the 1940s, wasfurther enhanced with another MAC champi-onship team win in 2011.

I spoke with athletic director Dr. DerrickGragg before the banquet and said about theaward, “Thinking about it makes you stop andremember all that’s happened, all the peopleyou’ve encountered along the way and the work

Running Shorts with Scott Hubbard

Scott Hubbard

first masters and sec-ond overall.

She ran a 1:44:54PR (age-graded1:32:09) for the RiverBank 25K, where shewas the first Michigansenior woman andthird masters woman.“It was really a goodrace,” she said.

“I was shockedat Diemer to getunder 19 minutes,”Cooper added. Her18:57 (16:33) led thesenior women andwas the third fastestamong masters.

A non-seriesrace, the Bayshore10K, “was anotherPR for me. I was thefirst-place woman for

the first five miles,” she recalled. “Then someyoung girl (Andrea Ripley) in her 20s zippedby me.” Cooper finished as the overallwomen’s runner-up in 39:12 (34:24), only 16seconds back.

There was one downside to Cooper’s sea-son: an injury to her toe. “I snagged it on abox of kitty litter waiting to go downstairs,”she said. “I was off a couple weeks.” The in-jury caused her to miss running a 5K in Frank-fort, where she was born.

Cooper set a Frankfort High School recordin the mile, then ran little for the next 17

years. “Just on and off when the kids weregrowing up,” she said.

She began running “full-fledged in 1996. Ireally don’t know how I started. I guess I justfinally had the time.”

She ran the Sparta Apple Run 5K soonafter that. “I did well. Which fueled my desireto race more,” Cooper said.

“My favorite distance is probably the 5K,then the 25K. I know that’s a gap,” shelaughed. She ran a marathon and “didn’t carefor it. It takes a lot out of you. It isn’t worththe fatigue and chance of injury.”

“Chance of injury” also directs her train-ing. “I seem to do about 40 miles a week,” shesaid. “Fifty is my upper limit. I try to be con-sistent and listen to my body.

“I don’t do track or speed work,” she con-tinued. “It brings on injuries. I do all my run-ning on the roads early, at about 4:30 or 5 inthe morning — before I have a chance to thinkabout it. I can do 10- or 13-mile runs and notsee more than one or two cars.”

To help stave off injuries, she sees a chiro-practor who gives active release massage.

Cooper still gets a lot from running andracing. “I guess it’s my thing, something I canexcel at,” she said. “It’s nice to have a passion– sewing, knitting or something.”

She doesn’t plan to rest on her 2011 laurels.Besides trying new races in 2012, Cooper hasgeneral goals for the year. “I would like morePRs,” she said. “I don’t know if I’m up to it, butI’d like to get under 18:00 in the 5K.”

- MR -


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By Ron Marinucci

Female Senior Runner of the Year:

“Iwas excited about it, a newage group,” said LauraCooper about turning 50

last year. “It softens the blow aboutgetting older.”

Older but not slower. The KentCity resident set PRs at differentdistances en route to winningMichigan Runner’s Female SeniorRunner of the Year award.

It wasn’t Cooper’s first MRaward. She was 2008 Female Mas-ters Runner of the Year.

Cooper “wasn’t really sur-prised. I’d been following it, keep-ing track of points,” she said. “Butit’s very nice.” She accumulated 62series points, more than tripling tal-lies scored by her nearest competi-tors Donna Olson and LauraMaslar.

And she did so in only three MRSeries races: the Striders Classic, Fifth ThirdRiver Bank 25K Run and Brian Diemer 5K.

“I’m not real good about traveling,” saidCooper of those events, all near her home-town. “I should try some new races. I ran a 5Kin Comstock Park for the first time a fewweeks ago and really liked it.”

At the Striders 10-mile, Cooper finished in1:07:08 (age-graded 59:28. It was not onlygood enough for first senior woman, but also

Laura Cooper

involved. I’m happy with how everything’sgone and pleased to get an award like thisthat lets you know others appreciate whatyou’ve done.”

In a semi-joking way I’ve also said,“The list of others who have won the East-ern Man award reads like a ‘Who’s who’ inEMU history. I’ll be the first to win as a‘Who’s he?’”

You don’t set out to win awards likethis; it’s the work that’s the most satisfying.I’m happiest when on task or putting in cy-cling or running miles. The glory’s in thedoing.

Answer: The Games will be held

July 27 through Aug. 12. - MR -

Running Shorts, continued.

SaturdayMarch 17, 2012

5:30 pm • Kearsley St. Downtown Flint

with 1/4 mile Little Blarney kids run

31st Annual

For more information contact

Complete Runner(810) 233-8851 • potofgoldrun.com

Best After Party ! Medals to All Finishers

Pot O' Gold 2012_sixth horizontal 12/8/11 6:21 PM Page 1

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Footlocker Cross Country RegionalsKenosha, Wisconsin, November 26, 2011

Five Michigan Runners Compete in Footlocker Championships

LIndsey BurdetteRegionals: 9th) 17:43Nationals:14th) 17:55All American

Evan ChiplockRegionals:6th)

Nationals:

Erin Finn (bib 1)Regionals: 3rd) 17:34Nationals: 2nd) 17:23

All AmericanMolly Seidel of Wisconsin (bib 2) wonthe Footlocker Championship 17:21

Taylor ManettRegionals: 4th) 17:35Nationals:25th) 18:16

Julia BosRegionals: 2nd) 17:14Nationals:10th) 17:39All American

Headless HorsemanHowell, October 22, 2011

Alex Kulick (bib 1075), Jennifer Kulick(bib 1077) and Mara Metler (bib 1072)

Adam Sulkowski (bib 80), AnsonRatke (bib 75)

Nicole Heyboer Gary Morgan

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Number 9Beyond the Chip

I wish that I knew what I know now

When I was younger

I wish that I knew what I know now

When I was stronger

— Ronnie Wood-Faces

Busting from the trees, she pushed ontothe flat, motion suddenly mirroringthose pictures of her mother, now hang-

ing dustily. I watched, mind agape, not alto-gether surprised but silently stunned; she wasgetting it.

Smoothly hammering from the front, shehad popped an unexpected aggression, slicinga bolt of fear through my heightened state. In-nocent of strategy, she had instinctually gonedo-or-die.

The two widespread options given her wereto hang tight as possible through to successfulsummation or fall off in a pool of whimpering,dejected mess; unlikely to go again.

Eleven-year-old girls, wrapped in the glori-ous middle school world of omniscience andspurned parental viability, certainly don’t seekadvice of their fathers. Knowing the inflatedpossibility of my oldest daughter’s nonchalantdismissal of cross country simply because I fa-vored it, when the possibility came up I didn’tpounce. I waited, weakly convincing myself itdidn’t matter if she wasn’t into it, but ofcourse, it did.

Eventually opting to see what she could doon the grass, I was encouraged. Wisely not in-terfering with her coaches’ training doctrine, Isubtly tracked her progress, but I couldn’t helpslipping in unsolicited snippets of guidance;even that raising my wife’s ire as “psycho run-ning dad.”

As meaningless as words become, renderedupon rolling eyes, I was undaunted. Every fewdays I’d lend her gems I had locked in my vaultof self-indulgent running rhetoric, hoping toeffect at least a smidgeon of positive influence. The premier experiential excerpt I tossed mydaughter’s way is something I solemnly believenow, but never would have accepted at herage; all you can expect of yourself is to run ashard as you can.

Until not too long ago, I judged each racepurely by results, not the effort put in. Upon fi-nally understanding this most basic of prem-ises, I’m enjoying racing much more by simplyfocusing on giving what I’ve got, rather thanworrying if I’m going to have enough. I washoping my daughter would stumble this waywell before I did.

Past the initial thrashing thunder, adrenalizedbreathing slowly settled to extended rhythmand the leaders took shape. Gradually engulfedby the older experience of the race, my rookiedaughter far from faltered. She pounded on be-hind the pack, ripping from mere genetic possi-bility to realize true personal power.

Heart swollen, I followed; jacked up be-yond what I could have ever imagined. Sure,there was an element of old man dad retrievinglong-decayed glory through his daughter, but Iprefer to hope there was something more.

Hitting the line with accomplished deter-mination, she grabbed me in an instant of per-fect joy and I knew she had discoveredsomething; something hers alone.

One afternoon later I was pleasantly sur-prised to pull the No. 9 bib from my ColumbusMarathon packet, corresponding exactly withmy daughter’s finish the day before. That cozycoincidence combined with actually making itthere with three crazy girls, one angry, car-seat-bound baby sister and two tension-fired parentsin tow; good aura was certainly afoot.

This was to be my second marathon at-tempt on the chilly streets of Columbus; thefirst ending satisfactorily but without the func-tion of my legs for many hours following. Ilearned well that cruising a couple hours onSunday mornings doesn’t exact the toll of jam-ming the distance in racing flats. Although mylog illuminated some uneven training over thetwo months previous, due to an untimely bar-rage of debilitating back and foot problems, Iwas determined to fulfill my racing commit-ment.

As per usual, race morning found medawdling at the hotel, shy of my proposedschedule. Cranking across the parking lot to

our elite shuttle, in a semi-panicked state to hitthe 6:30 a.m. sharp departure time, I was re-lieved to see everyone still there. Halfmarathoners and marathoners, men andwomen, coaches and agents were all present,ready to roll.

As time gradually disappeared, small talkand niceties slowly ratcheted to stressed phonecalls and anxious searching as the van commis-sioned to take us to the start remained omi-nously absent. Forty-five eternally confusedminutes later transportation arrived and theload of us crunched in, destined for the rear ofthe final starting corral, as traffic dwarfed thevehicle, allowing us no further.

Jumping out, we mercilessly knifedthrough 17,000 people shivering in the dark toarrive in the front and scale the fence to thestart line. Two minutes later, the gun joinedAC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” in starting the pro-ceedings directly at 7:30.

A little doubtful of fitness and even moresuspicious of health, I rationalized my unevenpre-race preparation as excuse to progressivelyease into pace, rather than jumping immedi-ately to form. My standard competition shotaway early, but soon enough I was hitting ithard, mind entranced as the motor hummed.

Twenty-three miles in, my route remainedrelatively unobstructed; right foot feeling on theedge of breaking, calves randomly jolting minispasms, but I had just moved up another spotand was feeling the finish. Moments followingthe marker, unraveling furiously commenced.Wrangling with my final Gu, impossibly pinnedinside my shorts, my right calf suddenly ex-ploded to stone, devoid of forgiveness.

Immediately hobbled to incapacitation,failure loomed. Desperately massaging my calf,I stood prone in the middle of the road, mo-mentum long wasted. One guy blew by, in-stantly shrunken in the distance and my mindturned to my own message given my daughter;just do what you can do.

Tentatively toeing and launching, my bodyshockingly responded, allowing me to barelyattain the line, time elevated but positionmaintained. A rough finish, yes, but it wasgood to be there.

Father, beaten but not broken, we happilyreturned home. Looking at my daughter, herbreakthrough day surging through my mind, Iwas reminded how nothing beats that firstgreat awakening, except the wide-eyed hug that springs from it. – IF

- MR -

By Ian Forsyth

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BROOKLYN (11/5/11) — There was no lackof cultural references during the MichiganHigh School Athletic Association Lower Penin-sula Cross Country Finals on grounds of theMichigan International Speedway car track.

Erin Finn evoked memories of “FlyingFinn” Paavo Nurmi, Zach Zingsheim showedZZ was tops and Julia Bos won while runningfrom start to end with her mouth wide open,reminiscent of Edvard Munch’s painted char-acter in “The Scream.”

It was an amazing day — held in a se-quence of four girls and four boys divisionraces — that saw Michigan showcase its highschool best.

Olling Rolling

Division 4 girlsbolted first from the starting line under clearskies in near-freezing temperatures that bymid-afternoon rose to almost 60.

There were few surprises, with Brecken-ridge sophomore Kirsten Olling, state champas a freshman, rolling to the day’s biggest indi-vidual win in 18:02.7. Next came seniorsNicole Zeinstra of Holland Black River(18:40.3) and Alexa Rumsey (18:45.7) of re-peat team champion Hesperia.

Hesperia, whose top five race places addedup to just 67 points, bested runner-up NorthMuskegon (103) and Saugatuck (159), whichplaced third for the third-straight year.

BC Bashes Competitors

Benzie Central,whose boys and girlshave been claiming di-vision or class titlessince before Christ, itseems, did so again inthe D-3 girls race.

The Huskiesclaimed their 10thMichigan cross coun-try championship (sixboys, four girls) since1982 with 126 teampoints, besting KentCity (146) and two-time defending champHanover-Horton(166).

Manistee senior Kelly Schubert, seventhlast year, pulled away late to claim the individ-ual title in 17:58.6. Next came St. Louis juniorRaquel Serna (18:23.1) and Ida freshman Ash-ley Sorge (18:28.1).

Concord Conquers

Concord con-quered the Division 4boys race paced bysenior Spencer Nou-sain, who placed firstafter back-to-backyears as individualrunner-up.

Nousain went outstrong, then held offSaugatuck junior SeanKelly over the shoe-sucking last quarter-mile on the racetrackinfield,15:55.8 to16:00.3.

Nousain’s Concord teammates joined himclaiming their second team title in three years,tallying 64 points to 99 for runner-up Mt.Pleasant Sacred Heart.

CC’s Clash in D-3

The last race be-fore the lunch breakpitted two powerfulCC’s — Zingsheim’sLansing Catholic Cen-tral and defendingchamp GrandvilleCalvin Christian —for the D-3 boyscrown.

LCC led withZingsheim and fol-lowed with four whocould rival any Divi-sion 1 team. Each ofGCC’s top four had

run under 16 minutes. The team outcomewould hinge upon how far up or back GCC’sfifth man finished.

ZZ beat everyone’s tush in 15:48.2, butGrandville’s top four were close behind him:

MHSAA Lower Peninsula Cross Country Finals, Brooklyn

‘Flying Finn,’ ‘Scream’ and ZZ Tops at State Cross Meet

By Scott Sullivan

Kirsten OilingD4 Champion

Alexa RumseyD4 Hesperia’s No. 1 Runner

Kelly SchubertD3 Champion

Spencer NousainD4 Champion

Zach ZingsheimD3 Champion

D3 Grandville Calvin Christian’s JustusPinckney leads.

D3 Benzie Central’s Theresa Warsecke(2nd from right) takes it out early.

D4 Concord’s Hersha, Saenz and Hallrun in a pack mid-race.

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Josh Kersjes placed second in the team race in15:56.9, Zac Nowicki fourth in 15:59.3,Simon Reidsma sixth in 16:03.8 and JustusPinckney eighth in 16:08.5.

Not to be outdone, Lansing’s Keenan Re-bera, Jimmy Hicks, Joe Marrah and AustinWinter finished seventh, 10th, 18th and 29threspectively. Grandville needed its fifth in in45th place or better.

Not to worry. Fast-closing Squire AndrewRylaardsam churned home 36th in 17:03.6and Logan Jurgens 39th 4.4 seconds later.Calvin finished with 56 points, the day’s lowteam total, and Catholic with 65, which wouldhave won every other meet except D-4 boys.

Bos in Charge

It was hard to blame Bos, a Grand RapidsChristian junior, for her Expressionist oval-mouthed expression. Chasing her in the D-2girls race were two defending state champs:Zeeland West’s Rachele Schulist from that divi-sion and Allendale’s Ali Wiersma, whoseschool stepped up from D-3 the year before.

Bos showed who was boss nonetheless in17:24.7. Cedar Springs freshman KenzieWeiler edged Wiersma for second, 17:35.1 to17:35.6. Schulist led the next wave of runners,placing fourth in 18:14.4.

East Grand Rapids claimed its fifth teamtitle since 2003, tallying 153 points. Weiler’sCedar Springs finished second with 176.

Finn, South Win

Nurmi, who earned the sobriquet “FlyingFinn” after winning nine gold medals for Fin-land during the 1920 through ‘28 Olympics,may be given a run for his money by Erin Finnof West Bloomfield before she’s through.

Finn, the top underclassman at last year’sFoot Locker nationals, did not miss a beat atthe state meet, capping her junior season bywinning the D-1 girls crown in 17:22.6.

She did not run unchallenged. Rockford

senior Taylor Manettand Grosse Pointe South junior Hannah Meierkept the latter-day “Flying Finn” in sight,crossing in 17:24.0 and 17:24.1 respectively.

Meier’s teammates, all-state through theirfirst four, edged Saline when their freshmanfifth girl crossed 73rd in the team race, 40places behind Saline’s fifth but good nonethe-less for a 106 to 111 triumph.

Runners-Up Step Up

Last year’s D-2boys runners-up —Mason in the teamrace and Chelsea’sBryce Bradley amongindividuals — climbeda step on the podiumthis time out.

Mason, which re-turned its top sevenrunners from lastyear, saw Tanner Hin-kle, Alex Whitmerand Joe Cecil finish 4-5-8 in the team race

en route to 92 points. St. Joseph edged Ioniafor second, 129 to 134.

Seniors Bradley and Nicholas Soter ofDearborn Divine Child reprised their 2010battle for runner-up (won by Bradley by 0.8seconds) for this year’s title. Bradley poweredby Soter late to prevail in 15:20.6, the day’sfastest time. Soter crossed in 15:21.6.

Milford, Zuk in Luck

D-1 boys kings Highland-Milford andGarret Zuk can tell you about good timing.The Mavericks flew under the ratings radaruntil the postseason, then peaked perfectly,while Zuk ran in shadow of Evan Chiplockuntil it was time to step up as champ.

Coach Brian Salyers, whose Milford teamswon back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004,primed his squad for a dominating win at theBrighton regional, then saw them hold thatedge at the Speedway. Sophomore Brian Kettle(second in 15:24.3), junior Cody Snavely (fifthin 15:37.1) and senior Paul Ausum (10th in15:51.3) paced the Mavericks to 128 teampoints, well ahead of second-place Hartfordwith 172.

Saginaw Heritage senior Chiplock, un-beaten all year, led the individuals from thestart line until the track infield near the finish,then collapsed two times in the homestretch.

Zuk, a White Lake Lakeland senior, flewby him first to prevail in 15:21.2. Trailing Ket-tle were Saline senior Nick Renberg (15:28.2)and Lake Orion junior T.J. Carey (15:32.3).

Chiplock fought to his feet both times andstaggered home 38th in 16:09.7, an effort thatshowed he has not only speed but moxie. He,like all who trained for and were rewarded byrunning in the state meet, can look forward tomore successes in life ahead.

- MR -

Julia BosD2 Champion

Kassidy Clark, D2E. Grand Rapids,No. 1 Runner

Erin FinnD1 Champion

Hannah Meier,D1 Grosse PointeSouth’s No. 1Runner

Tanner Hinkle (r), D2 Mason’s No. 1Runner edges Ionia’s Connor Mont-gomery and St. Clair’s Cody Smith.

Bryce BradleyD2 Champion

Garret ZukD1 Champion

Brian Kettle, D1Milford’s No. 1Runner.

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GRAND RAPIDS (10/16/11) — This just in:Justin Gillette, 28, of Goshen, Ind., won theeighth annual Metro Health Grand RapidsMarathon in 2:27:44, the second-fastest timein race history.

Only Ryan Greutman, another Hoosierwho won the 2008 race in 2:26:46, has runfaster here.

Gillette, who milks cows on his family’sdairy farm when not running, won his 35th ca-reer marathon (and 11th in 2011) by easilybesting a record field.

More than 4,000 runners and walkersshowed for the marathon and half-marathonon a mid-40s morning which started withsprinkles that vanished quickly.

Matt Logan, 25, of Washington, D.C., fin-ished a mile behind Gillette in 2:33:31. TopMichigan finisher Keith Shoemaker, 34, ofHolland, finished another mile back in2:39:12.

Dani Steinbacher, 26, of Ann Arbor, ranmuch of the way with the race’s Lance Arm-strong Pace Team, surging to win the women’stitle in 2:58:12.

It was the first win in four attempts at thedistance for Steinbacher, a former Ann ArborPioneer High School swimmer told by friendsto stick with that sport, as she wasn’t cut outfor running.

“I was determined to make it happen. Ifyou love it, you can do it,” the winner said.

Nicole Clement,22, of Kalamazooedged Karrie Ham-stra-Wright, 34, ofChicago for second,3:01:03 to 3:01:15.

Marathon mas-ters honors went toAndrew Dalton, 40,of Holt in 2:45:28and Amy Wing, 41, ofGrand Rapids in3:07:15.

“Lance Arm-strong Pace Team”?Among other quirks,the race is known forcelebrity pace teams,the brainchild of Hol-land M.D. and ultrarunner Rick Ganzi.

Ganzi, whoswears by pickle juiceas a cure for cramp-ing, organizes teamsto keep pace witheveryone from Armstrong (who ran 2:59:36 inhis first marathon) to Oprah (4:29:20) to AlGore (4:58:25).

Skeptical? The pace teams worked fine forSteinbacher. And pickles? You could test themyourself at aid stations and finish, where threetypes of beer were served from an Elvis tap.

Jerry Johncock, 83, of Shelbyville(4:48:22) won a men’s 75-plus age group that

included Bobby Crim, father of Flint’s Festivalof Races. Crim, 79, made his marathon debutin 6:37:04 and suggested afterwards the dis-tance was far enough.

Prevailing in the half-marathon were re-peat men’s winner Jesse Kelinjan, 27, ofChicago in 1:12:50 and Julia Viel, 26, of Men-tor, Ohio, in 1:24:19.

Texans Stephen Strasser and Che Morrisfinished far behind them but together in5:29:29, taking time out at 10 miles to getmarried.

For complete results and more informa-tion, visit http://grandrapidsmarathon.com.

- MR -

Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon

GR Marathon Serves Up Spectrum of Speed and QuirksBy Scott Sullivan

Marathon winner:Dani Steinbacher

Marathon winner Justin Gillette (bib5) passes half-marathoner Amy Mick.

The Elvis Tap make a regular appear-ance serving beer at the finish line.

Bobby Crim (r), age 79, made hismarathon debut.

Texans Stephen Strasser and Che Morris took time out to get married.

Michigan Runner TVhttp://michiganrunner.tv/2011grandrapidsmarathon/Includes Run Thru Rapids

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GRAND RAPIDS (10/15/11) — It only seemedlike runners were running through rapids at RunThru the Rapids. Gusts up to 50 mph made it feellike they were battling Grand River waters insteadof winds.

“My agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) reallykicked up when I crossed the bridges,” saidTamara Steil, 57, of Grandville. “The wind hit meharder over the river, too.”

Taking the low road — going under thebridges and literally running through the riverrapids — did not occur to Steil, to her credit. Abath in the downtown Grand stands to make theskin crawl.

Not that stranger things haven’t happened at Michigan’s longest-runningroad race. The Grand Rapids Y’s Men’s Club, which sponsors it as a funderfor summer camp scholarships, started it as the Grand Valley Marathon 41years ago. It has transformed since then into the Run Thru Apple Country10K and 5K, then swapped its reference from apples to river currents.

Dennis Rainear was hit in the head by a stray bullet 10 miles into the1978 marathon, but finished anyway. One year a cyclist led elite runnersdown a dead end, but survived as well. In short, RTR’s been a long, strangetrip — and it’s not done yet.

The Y’s Men this year hooked with a relative newcomer on the runningblock: the eighth annual Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon. Whichmade sense. The new marathon makes its home at the downtown Y. Bothevents take place on October weekends. Why not save on course set-up costsusing barricades Saturday for the RTR and the next day for the marathon?

“It was a good fit for both of us,” said marathon director Don Kern.“We will look for more synergies next year.”

Dan Vanden Akker, 25, of Grand Rapids, paced 174 10K finishers,crossing in 36:10. Next came Alex Salinas, 22, of Dearborn in 36:22 andmen’s masters champ Hank Risley, 43, of Cedar Springs in 37:13.

Women’s champ Biz Van Tiflin, 22, of Saginaw (46:15) was followed byDorothy Davey, 32, of Cedar Springs (47:56), Kristin Haight, 31, of GrandHaven (48:37) and masters queen Steil, who survived her buffeting by bridgebreezes to finish in 49:21.

Matthew Smith, 13, finished first among 129 5K finishers in 18:22, fol-lowed by fellow Wyoming residents Ed Smilde, 21, in 18:29 and Taylor Holt,26, in 18:57. Mike Dykstra, 50, also of Wyoming, was the men’s masterswinner in 20:01.

Eliza Harris, 25, of Mattawan led the women in 21:22. Next came KyleRanthum, 22, of Dearborn (21:36) and Andre Beukema, 22, of Grand Rapids(21:55). The fifth woman, Carla Koretsky, 40, of Kalamazoo, paced the mas-ters in 23:02.

What race is complete without runners who wear superhero costumes?Captain America lugged a star-spangled shield (good for smacking competi-tors and using as a “sail” with the wind behind him) and Green Lanternmade his masked way through downtown too.

For complete results, go to http://www.classicrace.com. - MR -

Run Thru the Rapids, Grand Rapids

Run Thru Rapids Pairs withMarathon, Cuts Thru Wind

By Scott Sullivan

Tamara Steil

NCAA Division I Cross CountryRegionals, Toledo, Nov. 12

Championships, Terre Haute, Nov. 21

Wisconsin’s men finished in a pack at Regionals, then wonthe Championship: #267 Mohammed Ahmed, #273 Maver-ick Darling - 3 time Michigan LP X-C Champion, #271 RyanCollins, #274 Elliot Krause, and #272 Reed Connor

Tecumseh Adams,Central Michigan,4th Regionals,30:33 at Champs

Gabi Anzalone -Michigan LP 3200champion, Wis-consin’s 3rd run-ner at nationals

Craig Forys, ledMichigan toChampionships

Sara Kroll, ledMichigan State toChampionships

Megan Goethals -7 Michigan titles,Washington (2dteam), 18th atChampionships,All-American

Danielle Tauro,1st) Regionals,led Michigan toChampionships

Michigan Runner TVhttp://michiganrunner.tv/2011ncaa_xc/Interviews with Darling & Goethals

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1977. Jimmy Carter was inaugurated asthe 39th President. Gas sold for 65 centsa gallon and postage stamps cost 13

cents. The mini-series “Roots” made its debuton television, setting ratings records, and “StarWars” opened at movie theaters. Elvis Presleydied and Gary Gilmore faced a firing squad inUtah. Apple was incorporated and the Com-modore PET was introduced as the world’sfirst personal computer. Supersonic passengertravel became a reality, with regular Concordeflights between London and New York. Menwore leisure suits, people danced to the discosound and streaking was in its American hey-day, especially for Bill Benton.

No, not that kind of streaking. Benton’s ef-fort involved running on consecutive days,keeping on his clothes.

Yep, Benton, 61, of Farmington Hills hasbeen streaking since 1977, almost 35 yearsago, running on more than 12,600 consecutivedays. He is currently 19th on the United StatesRunning Streak Association’s Active RunningStreak List (http://www.runeveryday.com).

The USRSA has standards. Its official defi-nition of streaking is “to run at least one con-tinuous mile within each calendar day underone’s own body power (without using any typeof health or mechanical aid other than pros-thetic devices).” Running can be done on theroads, track, trails or treadmill, but not inpools. To be listed, a streak must reach “atleast one year in duration.”

Benton began his current streak on April23, 1977. He started an earlier one on March9, 1970, while he was a University of Detroitcross country team member. It lasted for 2,005days, just about five and a half years and is51st on the USRSA “Retired List.”

“Back in the ‘60s,” he remembered, “ateammate saw a book I had about Joe DiMag-gio and decided he would run 56 days in a rowin honor of the Yankee Clipper’s 56-game hit-ting streak.”

Benton thought this was “silly, but on alark, I started a running streak too.” He wasalso inspired by British running ace Ron Hill.“I admired his daily dedication to running,”Benton said.

Plantar fasciitis and a left heel injuryended the first streak. Benton ran occasionallyfor the next year and a half, mostly to see if hewas ready to start training again. “I returnedto training and racing,” he said, on that fatefulApril day.

Obsessive? Benton doesn’t think so. “It’snot something I think about every day,” hesaid. “I don’t need it to motivate me to get outand run, but it’s nice to have it there.

“I’ve always valued steadiness and conti-nuity in work and in daily life,” the retired ac-countant said. “So a streak is a perfect fit.”

Benton, who has run since high school, en-tered the Boston Marathon nine times. “My firsttime I wanted to break three hours,” he said. “Idid 3:00:19. Then I broke 2:30 four times.

“I don’t race anymore. I just run for fitnessnow”.

When training for racing, said Benton, heoften became injured. “It all came back again,so I stopped.

“Since I don’t race anymore, the streak ismy only connection to my running past.

Benton runs at least a mile or two everyday, meeting USRSA standards. “My officiallimit is one mile,” he said, “but I’ve only usedthat the day before big races. Two miles hasbeen my minimum while injured or sick.” Heruns four to five miles most days.

In 1980, Benton averaged 12 miles a day.He averaged more than 10 miles daily fourother years. Beginning in ’78, he had a stringof four years with an average of more than300 miles a month, missing out on a fifth byless than five miles in ’82.

He ran more than 4,000 miles two yearsand more than 3,000 miles five other times. He

now averages 30 miles a week, and between1,500 and 1,600 miles a year.

“Most people are surprised and amazed tohear about my streak,” he admitted. “When Itell them that it is only 19th on the (USRSA)list, they are even more surprised.”

For the record, California teacher andcoach Mark Covert holds the longest currentstreak on record, having reached more than15,800 days. Even if Benton had continued hisfirst streak, run through the 18-month downtime and added his present one, he would bemore than a year behind Covert. Still ...

Benton usually runs early in the morning,around 5 a.m. “I don’t feel right if I don’t startmy day with a run,” he said.

“Some people who are stuck in the snowwith their cars are surprised to see someoneshow up to help push them out at that hour.”

He remembered the time a woman haddriven into a three-foot snowdrift. “She rolleddown her window and asked why I was outrunning in this,” he remembered. “‘Why areyou out driving in this?’ I said.

“I’m a sky buff, so the morning runs pro-vide great sunrises, planet sightings, shootingstars and occasional space station sightings.The calm then is a great time for prayer andquiet reflection.”

Weather has chased him indoors on rare oc-casions. “But then I do outdoor runs too,” hesaid. “I wouldn’t feel as happy with a treadmill.

“I like to see what it’s like running in ex-tremes. I might never get a chance to experi-ence that again.”

An injury in November 2007 almost endedthings. While biking to work at Total Runner,Benton was hit by a car whose driver hadn’tseen him. After a hospital visit and returnhome, he pondered the end of the streak. “Iwas ready for that possibility,” Benton said.

But after watching a Detroit Lions footballgame on television that afternoon, “I decidedto give running a try. What the heck!” he said.

Benton grabbed a rolling walker, just in case,and headed out, figuring he would try a 1.1-milecircuit in his neighborhood. “If I couldn’t do it,I’d hobble back with the walker,” he said. “Mywife, Debbie, thought I was nuts!”

He soon realized he didn’t need the walker.

Benton Reflects on 35-Year Daily Running Streak

Bill Benton

By Ron Marinucci

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“I was pushing it like a shopping cart, so Iditched it and went out for more,” he said.

The injury restricted him to two miles aday. There was no pain, just a collapsing kneeif he turned too sharply. “Down I’d go,” hesaid. But he was soon back to five miles a day.

“There was another time I had compoundstress fractures of both knees, but I kept run-ning,” he continued. Actually, he was unawareof the fractures, which only showed up laterafter they had healed. Had he known, he ad-mitted he might have stopped the streak.

Obsessive? Running is still fun for Benton;it’s not a chore. He still finds challenges andtakes time for other pursuits, such as workingwith Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

“The streak is fun,” he said, “but in theoverall scheme of things, it is not important.

“I equate my effort to the journey of thelittle Voyager spacecraft, which, after its usefulexploration of the outer planets, just keepstransmitting as it leaves the solar system.

“How long will it go on? How long will Igo on?” he asked. - MR -

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront MarathonToronto, Ontario, Canada, October 16, 2011

Central Michgan alum Matt Loiselleran a 2:16:00 for an 8th place finish.

Fauja Singh of London, England, age100, set an age group world record of8:11:05. He is the oldest person everto have completed a full marathon.

Ed Whitlock of Milton, Ontario, age80, ran 3:15:54 to shatter his own age-group record by 10 minutes.

Benton, continued.

Gary Morgan Receives USATFJackie Joyner Kersee Award

ST. LOUIS (December 4, 2011) - Gary Morgan (l) with Jackie Joyner Kersee.Morgan received the Jackie Joyner Kersee Service Award from the USATFAlumni association & AAC. Morgan was honored for his dedication to thesport of track and field and his service to the track and field community.

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DETROIT (10/16/11) — Derek Nakluski andWioletta Kryza persevered through rain-spit-ting winds to win the 34th annual DetroitFree Press/Talmer Bank Marathon.

A record 20,940 entrants turned out de-spite the weather for the marathon, marathonrelay, half marathon and 5K. Events awardedclose to $30,000 in prize money.

Nakluski, 29, who drove 150 miles fromKitchener, Ontario, and Kryza, 43, who jour-neyed more than 4,000 miles from Poland,each won $3,000 as the overall champions.Kryza took home another $1,500 as the topmasters woman.

“I am very happy,” said Kryza, who wonthis marathon in 2005 and finished runner-upin 2006 and 2007. “Detroit is my luckytown.”

With the wind gusting up to 30 mph, shefaced tougher conditions than when she wonin 2005. “To run a good time today is notpossible,” she said.

Kryza trailed Serena Kessler, 39, of AnnArbor, before passing her at 22 miles andgoing on to win in 2:44:09. “Serena was verystrong,” Kryza said.

Kessler finished in 2:44:55, followed byAmy Hauswirth, 42, of Hancock in 2:45:48.

Kryza’s time didn’t match the 2:40:46 sheran in 2005, but she felt strong. “If theweather was good, I run in the low 2:40s,”she declared.

Detroit was her 72nd marathon com-pleted and 28th win. For men’s champNakluski, the Freep was his second win in amarathon. He finished in 2:28:22, about thesame time he did in winning the WaterlooMarathon in Ontario May 1.

“I would have liked to have run faster,but I’m glad I won,” he said.

Masters champ Viacheslav Shabunin, 42,of New York City took second in 2:29:36.Next came Mike Anderson, 24, of Milford in2:31:03.

East Lansing-based Playmakers Racingcame loaded with talent to the relay. Its ATeam (Jacob Crowe, Nicholas Katsefaras,Zach Ripley, Jason Bigelow and AlexRusseau) finished first in 2:17:28, its B Teamsecond in 2:21:45 and Coed Team third in2:25:54.

Russeau, who recently graduated from Michi-gan State University, had one basic strategy inrunning the last 4.4-mile leg of the relay: “Gohard the whole time,” he said. “My team-mates did a really good job; I just had to fin-ish for them.”

In ninth place overall, PlaymakersWomen’s Racing topped the distaff teams in2:55:03; in 18th place, Playmakers MastersWomen won the women’s masters title in3:16:31.

David Randall, 37 of Mansfield, Ohio,won the handcycle race with a 1:21:55 clock-ing. Grant Berthiaume, 49, of Tucson, Ariz.,captured his second straight wheelchaircrown in 2:05:13.

Corey Nowitzke, 27, of Dexter andDayna Pidhoresky, 24, of Tecumseh, Ontario,were the men’s and women’s half-marathonwinners.

Nowitzke edged Julius Kiptoo, 34, ofToledo with a strong kick at the end, finishingin 1:10:33 to Kiptoo’s 1:10:46. DonaldMcLaughlin, 35, of Rochester Hills placedthird in 1:10:54.

Detroit Free Press / Talmer Bank Marathon

Nakluski, Kryza Survive Winds for Detroit WinsBy Charles Douglas McEwen

Derek Nakluski Wioletta Kryza Corey Nowitzke Dayna Pidhoresky

Elizabeth Boyle Alex Russeau

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Nowitzke andKiptoo may haveposted muchfaster times, butthey went offcourse betweenmiles 11 and 12.

“We did aneight-minute‘mile’ (on mile12) after averag-ing five-minutemiles,” Nowitzkesaid.

Six-timemarathon champDoug Kurtis, 59,of Livonia, wasthe fastest runnerover age 55 inthe halfmarathon, cross-ing in 1:27:20.

“I’m glad theAmbassadorBridge workedwith themarathon toopen up twolanes,” said Kur-

tis. “Last year the bridge was a littletight; this year there were no problems. Iwould love to have been back to run an-other marathon, but I wasn’t quite ready.(Last year, Kurtis ran his 200th marathonhere.)

Pidhoresky buried the women’s fieldwith a time of 1:14:03. Next came AngelaMatthews, 27, of Westland (1:19:40) andLeah Scharl, 34, of Clarkston (1:25:33).

“I was blown around out there,” saidPidhoresky, who blazed to a women’scourse record 1:13:15 last year. “I knewit wasn’t going to be my best time, so Ijust tried to stay steady.”

Two 22-year-olds dominated the 5K.Alex Ralston of Holly paced the men in15:49, while Hansons-Brooks DistanceProject athlete Elizabeth Boyle led thewomen and was second overall in 16:58.

Masters Jonathan Hoag, 41, of Sylva-nia, Ohio (17:11) and Vincent Jesu-dowich, 44, of Northville (17:35), werethe second and third males. Estefania Re-dondo Escobedo, 26, of Beverly Hills(17:50) and Erin Webster, 25, of Dear-born (17:59) finished 2-3 among thewomen.

For complete results, go tohttp://www.freepmarathon.com.

- MR -

Alex Ralston

ANN ARBOR (10/9/11) — The Big HouseBig Heart 5K, 10K and 1-mile had an enor-mous turnout.

About 15,000 runners cascaded into Michi-gan Stadium and onto the football field’s 50-yard line at this Champions for Charity eventpresented by United Bank & Trust.

“It was awesome to run through the tunnelthat the football players run through everyweekend,” said Kelly Horst, 32, of Indianapo-lis, Ind.

Horst, a medical school graduate doing afellowship in pediatric radiology at the Uni-versity of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’sHospital, won the women’s 10K in 37:39.

Next came Kristi Matuszewski, 39, ofBrighton (39:41) and Natasha Boruszok, 18,of Ann Arbor (39:48). Sharlene Day, 42, of AnnArbor was the fastest masters woman in 42:52.

“Downtown was beautiful,” Horst con-tinued. “The fall leaves were changing. Stu-dents were cheering along the sidelines. Therewas a lot of school spirit and camaraderie.”

The 10K course did two loops through theU-M campus before finishing inside the sta-dium.

“It’s fun to run on University and Statestreets that are normally filled with traffic,but they’re empty for you,” said men’s 10Kwinner Brandon Bethke.

Bethke, 24, an Arizona State Universitygraduate who lives in Ann Arbor, had formerEastern Michigan University stars Jordan De-silets of Pinckney and Joshua Perrin of AnnArbor with him for the first three miles of therace. All three wore blue Michigan Rehabili-tation Specialists singlets.

“We have the same sponsor, so we got outand had some fun up front,” Bethke said.

Perrin dropped off the pace first. “ThenJordan fell back,” Bethke said. “He told me, ‘Ijust don’t have it today; keep up the pace.’ So Idid.”

Bethke won in 30:38, followed by De-silets in 31:24 and Perrin in 32:48. BobHoran paced the masters in 36:14.

The 10K course providedchallenges. “You’ve got the big hill on Divi-sion,” said Bethke. “In the 5K you only hit itonce, but in the 10K the second time gets toyou.”

“Going up a hill, they (Bethke and De-silets) really put the hurt on me,” said Perrin.“Bethke is in phenomenal shape.”

Perrin, who swept the 10K and 5K lastyear, won the 5K again this year timing 15:26.Next came Neil Atzinger, 25 (15:37) and Gar-rett Cullen, 19, of Ann Arbor (15:41). PaulMayer, 44, of Ann Arbor was the top master in17:39.

Angie Sullivan, 39, of Ann Arbor wonthe women’s 5K in 18:59, followed by KatieSamuelson, 19, of Grand Rapids (19:04) andAndrea Pollack, 27, of Ann Arbor(19:27) Rebecca Price, 53, of Ann Arbor ledwomen’s masters in 21:01.

“I’ve won my age category before,” saidan elated Sullivan,“but never the overall.”

Big House Big Heart contributes a por-tion of all entry fees to ALS research at the U-M Program for Neurology Research andDiscovery, the U-M Cardiovascular Center,Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voight-lander Women’s Hospital.

For complete race results, go tohttp://www.thebighousebigheart.com.

- MR -

Big House, Big Heart, Ann Arbor

Big House Big Heart Draws Close to 15K


“It was awesome to run through the tunnel that the football players

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Karen Lewis has run 32 marathons andfour 50K ultras. What’s more impres-sive, the Brighton runner has finished

each of them after being diagnosed with ulcer-ative colitis and colorectal cancer.

Toss in a fractured tibia, add her commit-ment to raise funds and co-found the Feet andFriends Fighting Colon Cancer Race/Walk andyou have someone still more special.

For her accomplishments and dedication,Great Comebacks named Lewis its 2011 Cen-tral Region Award recipient.

Great Comebacks was founded by formerNational Football League placekicker RolfBenirschke. While playing for the San DiegoChargers in the 1970s and ‘80s, the all-pro un-derwent emergency surgery for colitis, but re-turned for several more record-setting seasons.

Benirschke started Great Comebacks “toprovide information and inspiration to peoplefacing the emotional and physical challenges ofliving with serious intestinal diseases and os-tomy surgery.” By raising public awareness ofcolorectal cancer, Crohn’s disease and colitis,“the program also aims to remove the stigmasurrounding ostomy surgery.”

“Karen,” said Benirschke, “is a wonderfulexample of a young woman who has overcomemany serious medical challenges and continuesto push herself to make a positive difference.Her bravery continually inspires many othersin our community who face severe intestinalconditions.”

Lewis was diagnosed at age 23 with ulcera-tive colitis, an inflammatory disease that affectsthe large intestine/colon and rectum. “I sufferedfor about eight years before finding a doctor whostarted me on a new type of drug which finallyput me in remission,” she remembered.

The colitis caused her to lose weight andbecome anemic. “Even trying to exercise wasdifficult,” she said. “Once my disease was inremission, I gained weight, my anemia becamebetter and I started feeling much better. I could

walk around the block without becoming shortof breath.”

Walking was followed by running. “I startedrunning in 1994,” recalled Lewis, “while trainingto walk the Honolulu Marathon. I had startedrace walking two years prior.

“One day I walked past a Running Fitstore and saw a flyer recruiting walkers for theHonolulu Marathon. This was the Leukemiaand Lymphoma Society’s Team in Trainingprogram. Since I had recently completed myfirst Crim 10-mile, I decided this was a greatincentive to take my walking to the next level.

“I think the real reason I started runningwas that while training to walk Honolulu, Ibecame impatient with how much time thelong walks were taking. By jogging some ofthem, I could get done quicker.

“Since I was doing all of the training andmileage by myself, one evening I decided to goto the Brighton Road Striders and see if therewere any walkers. Although there were none, Imet an awesome bunch of women who werefairly new to running.

“In order to keep up with them and social-ize, I realized that my race walking made foran easy transition into running.”

Lewis found finishing her first marathon,Honolulu in ’94, exciting. “I couldn’t believethat I did 26.2 miles when, a few years earlier,I’d never have dreamed I could.”

She also was thrilled by Boston — not nec-essarily running the marathon, but qualifyingfor it. Although Lewis has run Boston twice,she was more excited by her qualifyingmarathons.

“The first time I qualified for Boston, atthe 1997 Glass City Marathon, the ‘high’ I gotfrom doing so was more exciting than Bostonitself,” she said.

The 2004 Bayshore Marathon, her thirdqualifier, was another such high. “It came as a

total surprise, because I didn’t go into it with thenotion of even trying to qualify,” Lewis said.

Her walking and running goals were tokeep her colitis in remission. “I had this wackyidea that the more I exercised, the longer thedisease would stay in remission,” she said. “Iknew that if I could run marathons, I couldbeat cancer.”

Lewis encountered another serious diagnosisin 2005: colorectal cancer. Enduring radiationand chemotherapy treatments, she found thatrunning “was something to look forward to inthe healing process.” With support of her hus-band and running friends, she continued to trainfor her next race by walking laps around hospitalfloors.

“Running has kept me strong for all of thesurgeries I have had: 11 altogether,” Lewis said.

By 2006, she was ready to tackle the NorthCountry Trail Marathon near Manistee. It wasspecial because “it was the first marathon aftermy colorectal cancer diagnosis, surgery andtreatment.” And it almost didn’t happen — butnot due to cancer or its complications.

A little while before North Country, Lewisbought new running shoes and went out on a5-mile run. “My toe blistered and got in-fected,” she said.

Five days before the marathon, she visited apodiatrist who told her, “I don’t think you’llbe able to run.” Lewis remembered thinking,“I‘ve been through everything and now this isgoing to take my dream?” She decided shewasn’t going to let this stop her.

Her podiatrist suggested “cutting the toe outof my shoe and I did.” Easing the pressure, shecompleted North Country. She was on her way.

The next year, Lewis ran another of her fa-vorites, the Mount Desert Island Marathon inMaine. “I love Maine,” she said. “It is such abeautiful course and nothing is better than afall day there.”

By Ron Marinucci

She also was thrilled by Boston — not necessarilyrunning the marathon, but qualifying for it.


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June 2010 brought another setback; Lewisfractured her tibia in a lawnmower accident.The mower “shot a big rock out of the backand it hit my leg,” she said. “They had to putin a metal rod, then another temporary oneuntil January 2011.

“I got the go-ahead to run again in April.The leg is fine now,” Lewis said.

So fine that she completed the ChicagoMarathon in October with her sisters, anotherhighlight. “After all these years, they finallydecided to give the marathon a try,” she said.

Lewis tries to run five to seven miles twoor three times during the week, after work.“On the weekends,” she said, “I like to do along run of eight to 10 miles, perhaps more, onone day and a 5-mile run the other. I also makesure I do yoga three to four times a week.”

In the spring and summer, she tries to getin one session a week of eight miles of repeats.“But I’m not real serious about my training,”she said. “I don’t use a watch. I run dependingon how I feel.

“I know when I’m pushing it. I want torun to enjoy it, not have it become a chore,”she said.

“Karen is dedicated to raising awareness forcolorectal cancer, especially among younger peo-ple,” Great Comebacks spokeswoman AndreaCoan said. In 2008, Lewis raised funds whilerunning the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ RollMarathon, contributing $10,000 for the Crohn’sand Colitis Foundation’s Team Challenge.

In 2010, Lewis teamed with a friend,Susan Snyder (also a colorectal cancer sur-vivor), to approach the American Cancer Soci-ety with an idea to create a run/walk event forcolon cancer awareness. Thus, Feet & FriendsFighting Colon Cancer was born.

The inaugural event was held last spring inAnn Arbor. With 564 participants, Feet &Friends raised more than $60,000 to donate toresearch seeking a cure for colon cancer.

To accommodate an expected largerturnout, the April 21, 2012 event will bemoved to Hudson Mills Metropark near AnnArbor. Lewis and Snyder plan for two events, a5K and 8K, for both runners and walkers.They hope another successful race will lead toits expansion to other parts of the country. Infact, they’ve had such inquiries already.

Lewis is aiming to add to her list ofmarathons in 2012. Targets include New Or-leans in March and St. George in October. “Imight sneak in another one,” she admitted.

After everything she’s conquered, don’t besurprised if she does just that.

- MR -

FLINT (12/3/11) — The inaugural FlintYMCA Santa Run was big, but a certain writerpredicted even bigger things in the future aftertaking part in the 2010 race.

“I would not be surprised to see this eventtop 1,000 entrants next year,” I wrote in theFlint Journal. “It’s hard for a first-time race togenerate this kind of turnout. I am sure that itwill experience tremendous growth, as those650 Santas spread the word about what anawesome time was had by all.”

There is no greater public relations cam-paign than positive word of mouth, as wasshown when the 2011 Santa Run more thandoubled its predecessor’s numbers with 1,375entrants who ran, walked and frolicked on athree-mile course through city streets deckedout in full Santa attire.

“I would have been happy to get 800,900,” said Janet Tweddle, chief operating offi-cer for the YMCA of Greater Flint.

“Part of it was word of mouth. It seemedlike after last year’s event, everybody there saidnext year they were bringing a friend or familyor so-and-so. The excitement of last yearhelped it grow. Also, we had a great sponsor,Al Serra, who really helped promote the event,and other sponsors who helped to drive morepeople into the event.”

Heading into the first Santa Run, manyfolks didn’t know what to make of a road racein which people would sign up to run aroundin a Santa suit with no timing or results. For

those who were at least curious about theirtime, a clock was positioned at the finish line.

Most people couldn’t have cared less.

A middle-of-the-pack finisher in this racewas coming in around the 40-minute mark,quite possibly walking a dog, pushing astroller, snapping pictures with their camera oraccompanying a gleeful small child.

“It helps having one year under our beltsand having the photos from last year,” Twed-dle said. “When you tell people that a bunchof people will be running around in Santasuits, they think one thing. When they actuallysee all those people running in Santa suits, theyrealize how festive it is and how much fun itcan be.”

Proceeds from the event benefited theYMCA of Greater Flint’s Partner With YouthCampaign.

The Santa Run culminated a year of hugenumbers in Flint-area races.

The area’s signature event, the Crim 10-mile road race, had a record total of 10,371for its 35th anniversary. The inaugural Michi-gan Warrior Dash in Genesee Township was amassive success, with a field of 24,912 thatranked second in the extreme running event’snational series. The Atwood Stadium Race,which replaced the Tuuri in 2011, was thelargest first-time Flint-area race since 1990with 1,132 entrants.

- MR -

YMCA Santa Run, Flint

1,375 Santas Take On FlintBy Bill Khan

Michigan Runner TVhttp://michiganrunner.tv/2011santa/

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DETROIT (11/24/11) — The 29th annualTurkey Trot, presented by Fifth Third Bankand The Parade Co., stuffed downtown streetswith a record turnout.

“Our finisher numbers (in the 5K and10K) were 17,339 and that doesn’t include themile,” race director Doug Kurtis said. “Our 60captains did an incredible job of orchestratingall the events. I’m looking forward to the 30thnext year.”

Ian Boyle, 24, of Brighton timed 15:28 inthe Stocking Stuffer 5K, breaking Max Sadler’s16:05 event record set in 2008. ShannonOsika, 18, of Waterford, shattered DenisaCostescu’s 2010 record of 17:59 by winningthe women’s 5K in 17:01.

“My friend Aaron (Bachman) was with meall the way,” Boyle said. “It came down to akick finish and I just nipped him at the line.”

Bachman, 24, of Grosse Pointe finished in15:31. Kevin Cataldo, 24, of Williamstonplaced third in 15:47.

Like Boyle, Osika won by three seconds.She said Ian’s wife, Sarah Boyle, 25, snuck upon her going into the final mile.

“I hadn’t noticed her in the crowd ofmen,” said Osika. “I looked to my left andsuddenly she was there.”

Boyle made the first move to the finishline. “She grabbed the lead with 800 meters togo,” said Osika. “In the last 100, I kicked and

got by her.”

Boyle timed 17:04. Tammy Nowik, 37, ofClarkston took third in 19:15.

The top Stocking Stuffer masters were DavidHamway, 40, of Birmingham (18:10) and TinaKremer, 44, of Hudson, Iowa (21:38).

Winning the 10K were Patrick Duntzer,27, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Angela Matthews,25, of Westland.

Duntzer, wearing Bib No. 20000, finishedin 31:56. Next came Nathan Peters, 22, of SaltLake City (32:54) and Max Hock, 23, ofMason, Ohio (33:00).

Matthews won the women’s 10K for thesecond year in a row. Her 35:58 clocking wassix seconds faster than her time last year.

Rebecca Walter, 27, of Bloomington, Ind.(36:19) and Erin O’Mara, 27, of Ypsilanti(36:51) finished second and third.

Walter battled Matthews early. “I tried topull away from her three times,” Walter said.“But she kept coming back. I guess she psy-ched me out.

“She (Matthews) took off at about 5K andput 10 seconds on me,” continued Walter. “Inever got those seconds back. I just looked ather back the rest of the way.”

Vincent Jesudowich, 44, of Northville(35:44) and Julianne Wiggins, 49, (37:23)topped the masters.

Turkey Trot charities included The ParadeCo., Special Olympics-Michigan and GleanersFood Bank.

For complete results, visithttp://www.gaultracemanagement.com.

- MR -

Fifth Third Bank Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, Detroit

Fifth Third, Parade Co. Turkey Trot Sets Turnout MarkBy Charles Douglas McEwen

Shannon Laurie of Howell gets intothe Turkey Trot costume spirit.

Aaron Bachman (bib 152) and IanBoyle (bib 1377) lead the 5K.

Shannon Osika’s 17:01 set the 5Kcourse record.

10K winner Angela Matthews speedsby parade spectators.

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ROSEVILLE (11/13/11) – Darrell McKee, wear-ing Bib No. 33 for having completed all 33 BigBird Runs, reminisced about race directors.

“(Russ) LaBarge might have been the firstone,” said McKee, 77. “Then there was LarrySnelling, Kevin (Wasilewski) and now Tony(Lipinski). The first Big Bird Run started upthe road, at the high school.”

McKee ran with a cracked rib this year. “Itripped over a curb during the Brooksie Wayrun Oct. 2 with about a mile to go,” he re-membered. “The EMTs wanted to (transport)me, but I said ‘no’ and made it to the finish.”

McKee finished the Big Bird 10K again aswell, sore rib and all, taking home hardwarefor his second-place age-group finish.

Until 2010, LaBarge had also run everyBig Bird. Surgery ended that streak last year,

said McKee, adding this year LaBarge under-went a triple-bypass operation.

Other Big Bird veterans have come to ex-pect all kinds of race-day weather. This yearwas overcast with temperatures in the mid-50sand winds gusts up to 20 mph.

“I struggled some running into the wind, butcould relax with it at our backs,” said Mike Rol-lason, who won his 60-64 age group in 41:57.

Bud Seguin, 60, another Big Bird veteran,celebrated his “20-month comeback.” He re-

called having prostate cancer a few years ago,losing 20 pounds via diet and training, thencoming back to racing.

“Now I’m running times I was runningeight and 10 years ago,” Seguin said, noting heand friend Richie Powers had just “run threemarathons in 29 days — Chicago, the FreePress and New York.” Seguin ran the Big Bird10K in 42:30.

Longtime Michigan runners will rememberEd Munoz, who moved to upstate New Yorkabout 12 years ago. “I came back for a sur-prise birthday party for my sister, went onlineand saw Big Bird was this weekend,” Munozsaid. “I used to run this race all the time —and it’s still the same.”

The course has changed little over the past30 years since moving from the high school.Now the start and finish are at the RosevilleRecreation Center, where runners are still sere-naded by the Roseville High School marchingband.

The course is mostly flat; its only “hill” isthe pedestrian overpass crossing Int. 696,which runners encounter twice (giving thankson windy days for the cyclone fence that en-closes it). There are many twists and turns asthe course winds through residential streets ofRoseville.

Brendan Martin, 22, ran Big Bird for thefirst time this year and won it, beating lastyear’s champion Matt Fecht (32:01) by morethan a minute. Martin’s 30:50 was “the fastesttime in quite a while,” said Lipinski, but didnot eclipse Brian Sell’s 29:59 course record.

Martin, a Hansons-Brooks Distance Proj-ect team member from Long Island, said he en-joyed the race. “It had a lot of character,” saidMartin. “I’ve never run a race with a pedes-trian bridge before.”

The many turns “slowed me down a bit,”he went on, “but the course was extremelywell-marked and the volunteers were helpful. Ialways knew where I was going.”

Martin also appreciated the “Big Bird” – aturkey — given to winners. “I’ll probably share itwith my teammates. It’s the best prize I’ve everwon,” he said.

Kelsie Schwartz,15, repeated aswomen’s champion,improving from 38:46to 38:30 this year.

Next came master’s winner Laura Shamblin(42:48).

“I ran with a lot of men,” Schwartz said.“They helped block the wind. I like the courseand plan to be back next year.”

Other 10K winners were male masterschamp Scott Fiske, 47, in 36:38, plus seniors JeffMartin, 54, in 37:03 and Kathleen Clark, 54, in51:34. The oldest finishers were Bill Olsen, 79, in1:04:01 and Cleo Pawlyn, 76, in 1:14:25.

Noah Fiehn, 12, won the boys 14-and-under mile in 5:23; next came Nicholas Mur-ray, 12, in 6:13. Nicholas’s sister, EmmaMurray, 11, was the girls’ champ in 6:58. Theover-14 mile runners were paced by KevinSherwood (5:57), who also ran the 10K, andNikki Franchy (8:09).

Claiming the 4K run were Vince Cracchi-olo, 16 (14:39) and Samantha Allmacher, 14(15:30), winning by 90 seconds.

As usual, two dozen turkeys were raffled,along with other nice prizes. Overall winnersreceived big trophies and age-group aces tookhome plaques. All runners received runninggloves, courtesy of Hansons Running Shops.

Complete results can be found athttp://www.runmichigan.com.

- MR -

Big Bird Run, Roseville

By Ron Marinucci

Brendan Martin leads 10K runnersover the Interstate 696 pedestrianoverpass.

Michigan Runner TVhttp://michiganrunner.tv/2011bigbird/

Brendan Martin (l.) and KelsieSchwartz won “Big Bird” turkeysalong with their first place trophies.

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Amanda Weaver is captain of the Albion College

women’s cross country and track teams. This is an

excerpt from her November blog.

To give it your all, and then …

People are always striving to achieve theirgoals. Sometimes they are easy, sometimes ab-surdly difficult. However, “The greatest dangerfor most of us is not that we aim too high andmiss it, but that we aim too low and reach it,”said Michelangelo.

Cross country is based on setting goals.No good runner runs with no goals in mind;they need purpose.

All last summer I kept my goal in mind. Iwanted to qualify for the NCAA Division 3cross country national championships. I knewwhat I had to do: finish in the top 15 at the re-gional meet. No girl in Albion history had evermade it to the cross country national meet.

Every time I felt discouraged or didn’twant to run in the heat, I did — because Iwanted to go to nationals.

UnfulfilledGoals;

Gains RealizedNonetheless

By Amanda Weaver

YPSILANTI (10/22/11) – Weather was goldenfor Running Fit’s first-ever Run Scream Run10K, 5K and one-mile races on grounds ofWiard’s Orchard, home to “Michigan’s pre-mier haunted thrill park.”

Race director/head zombie Randy Stepwas thrilled. “What a day we got!” he said.

After prolonged rain, wind and fog, sunnyskies and temperatures in the 40s greetednearly 1,200 runners and walkers who took onwhimsical courses littered with zombies,ghouls and “a chilling camouflaged cornstalker guy,” entrant Karen Wilson said.

“I can’t believe I haven’t been out here be-fore,” said 10K finisher Tara Taulbee. “Thecourse was beautiful with rolling hills on thepaths, and I loved the part through the woods.I can’t wait to come back!”

Erin O’Mara, clad in pirate garb, agreedon all fronts.

“The weather was perfect,” said O’Mara,the overall 5K winner in 19:05. “I enjoyed thenice wooded section and scary-themed finish.”

Laura Mullins appreciated the hot ciderand doughnuts offered finishers. “Doughnutsare key!” she exclaimed. “Just smelling themmade me run faster!”

A Kids Cider Mill Mile and costume con-

test for men, womenand children roundedout the morning.

Adam Hauser, 6,proudly wearing hisfinisher’s medal,claimed third in themile and described itas “good because itwasn’t that scary.”The candy receivedalong the way wasn’tbad either.

“I think we’ll sep-arate the 5K and 10Knext year,” Step said,“and maybe offer aniron pumpkin forthose who choose todo both.”

For results andinformation aboutnext year’s RunScream Run, visithttp://rftiming.net andhttp://www.runscreamrun.com.


[email protected]

- MR -

Run Scream Run, Ypsilanti

Golden Morn for Run Scream Run Debut

By Tracey Cohen

Erin O’MaraLisa Hagan

Linsdey LaLonde5K winner16:39

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39

With pride, determination and help frommy parents, I ran 673 miles in three months —because I wanted to go to nationals.

I ran in 93-degree heat, rain and as late as11:30 at night — because I wanted to go to na-tionals.

Once summer ended, the regular seasoncame and went, clustered with some greatraces and some I would rather not remember.

Nov. 12 came more quickly than I ex-pected. It was time for regionals. “I know I cando it,” I tried to convince myself that morning,despite the butterflies in my stomach.

My dad sensed my nervousness and sentme a text: “Embrace it. You are prepared. Letthe others who didn’t work as hard as you beconcerned and nervous.”

I was suddenly flooded with positivethoughts and my legs felt great. I was ready.

The gun went off and things looked prom-ising. I was toward the front of the field withmy teammate, Lauren, next to me. We weavedand turned corners, huffing and puffing ourway through the 6-kilometer race. I wentthrough mile splits faster than I had ever gonethrough them before.

“I’m going to make it,” I started to be-lieve. Just to be sure, I pushed it extra hard thelast half mile. I left all my energy on thecourse, passing six people in that span.

When I found my coach, he said he wasn’tsure I had made it. We would have to wait forresults to come out.

An extraordinarily long half-hour later,white sheets of paper were taped to the side ofa white van near the finish line. “There I am,”I thought. I traced my finger from my nameover to the place: 22. I had missed nationals by10 seconds.

I had run my fastest time on the course by33 seconds, but it wasn’t enough. I wascrushed. All that work for nothing.

Goals are meant to be attained, but some-times things don’t go our way. The key is tohone in on the good things that happened dur-ing the season. For example, Lauren and I be-came the first two girls in Albion history togain all-region recognition for finishing in thetop 35 at the regional meet.

I’ve moved on to focusing on my goals fortrack season. But my question is, should I al-ready be moving on? Or should I try to figureout what happened: why I wasn’t able to ac-complish my goal despite my readiness andample preparation last weekend?

- MR -

Iwrote here in 2006 about my lawschool buddy Jack Strausman, whohad run his first marathon when he

was 40 and now wanted to run marathonsin all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., be-fore he turned 50.

Running at least one marathon amonth, Jack made quick progress on hisgoal. By early 2008, he had finished 43states and planned to complete his 50thstate that fall.

Jack tried to run the Wyomingmarathon that June and got screwed.More specifically, he suffered a stress frac-

ture that prevented him from finishing,then had three 3-inch screws surgicallyimplanted in his hip.

To someone who had never taken asick day in 17 years, this hiatus from run-ning was a shock. Jack’s doctor warnedhim not to run any more marathons, say-ing, “You might want to find a differentsport.”

To most people, this would havemeant abandoning their 50-state dream.But Jack is not most people.

After months of false starts and set-backs, repeatedly climbing the mountainof recovery only to have his hopes dashed

like Sisyphus, Jack ran the CharlotteMarathon in late 2009.

In 2010, he finished Wyoming andMontana, then suffered a stress fracture inhis other leg. This one did not require sur-gery, but it ended his running that year.

After another 10 months of recoveryand training, Jack resumed his quest in2011, completing Idaho, Alaska andMaine. Finally, on Oct. 16, he crossed the

finish line in Newport, R.I., his 50th stateplus D.C.

To understand how remarkable thisaccomplishment is, compare it to otherfeats of endurance: more than 41,000 ath-letes finished a full Ironman triathlon inthe last 12 months alone, over 4,000 run-ners have finished the Leadville 100-milerun since its inception, 3,142 climbershave summited Mount Everest and 1,229swimmers have made solo crossings of theEnglish Channel.

By comparison, only about 625 peo-ple have finished marathons in all 50

states. Jack ran 46 of those states in underfour hours, which is even more rare.

As Tom Petty sang, Jack’s been “run-nin’ down a dream … and goin’ whereverit leads.” Now he’s achieved his goal, hecan reflect on this accomplishment.

“It was very emotional to finally fin-ish something I’ve been working on for solong,” Jack told me. “It’s an incrediblefeeling to know I’ve completed somethingthat so few people have done.”

Some of his personal highlights: fa-vorite race – The Marathon to Marathon(Iowa); toughest race – GrandfatherMountain, N.C.; strangest race – Zoom!Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon at St. OlafCollege, Minn.; most fun – BostonMarathon (which we ran together in2008); most inspirational – Marine CorpsMarathon (his first, which included run-ning past the Pentagon just one monthafter 9-11, 2001); and most beautiful –Newport, R.I.

Anthony Targan is a regular contributor to Michigan Runner magazine.

- MR -

50-State Marathon Quest: The Agony and the Ecstasy

“. . . only about 625 people have finished marathons in all 50 states.”

By Anthony Targan


40

MILFORD (9/17/11) — One of my least fa-vorite sayings is, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fixit.” Settling for the status quo is contrary tothe goal of continuous improvement. Fortunately for runners of the 28th annualJohn Rogucki Memorial Kensington Chal-lenge, race director Doug Goodhue never set-tles for good enough. This year’s race featureda new course that reversed direction aroundKent Lake and added other features to enhancethe overall race experience.

“My reasons for changing the 15Kcourse,” said Goodhue, “were to create afaster, smoother single-loop of KensingtonPark without having to use the original out-and-back loop on the Turtle Head Peninsula.With the added downhill start and downhillfinish, this year’s finishing times seemed to re-flect my planned goal to offer a faster, certified15K course in one of the most beautiful venuesin the state.”

Goodhue credited Hal Wolfe as course ar-chitect and certifier, which enabled the race toserve as the Road Runners Club of America’s15K state championship.

The attention to detail was noticeable. Thefirst mile of both the 5K and 15K courses wason Maple Beach Drive, which allowed thecrowds to spread out before picking up thebike trail at the one-mile marker.

The halfway turnaround for the 5K in-cluded a gradual turn in a parking lot, ratherthan the abrupt stop-and-spin at a cone, whichis typical of most out-and-back races.

Most runners seemed to appreciate thenew course. Male 15K masters winner EricGreen of Pontiac (54:50) said he “loved it. Itwas nice going the opposite direction. We wereon the road a little bit more than we have beenin the past.”

Female 15K winner Serena Kessler of AnnArbor (56:07) echoed that sentiment: “It wasgreat. I loved it. The weather was perfect. Lotsof downhills. Really enjoyable.”

Overall 15K winner Michael Andersen(48:03) had not run the Challenge before, butas a Milford resident he was familiar with thesetting. “I really enjoyed the course as it wasthis year, although that downhill start was abit fast,” he said. “Kensington is a great placeto run and the course did a great job showingoff the beauty of the park. I never felt that‘How far do I still have to go?’ feeling that canplague boring courses. Doug did a great jobcreating a fast and runnable course.”

Andersen stuck tohis race strategy. “Iwanted to make sure Igot out in control, es-

pecially with that downhill start,” he said. “Iknew that Matt Fecht was a formidable runnerand I wouldn’t just run away from him early.

“As we started getting into the rolling partof the course, I made an effort to push a bit onthe uphills and let it roll on the downs,” An-derson went on. “At about 3.5 miles, a gapformed. I just surged every hill and corner andthe gap grew.

“I was able to negative split, somethingthat’s usually tough for me. Running even ornegative was the pre-race plan, so it was niceto execute it the way I imagined it.”

The 5K winners were Jesse Sweeney ofSouthfield (18:00) and Tammy Nowik ofClarkston (19:20).

For complete results, go to the Ann ArborTrack Club Website at http://www.aatrack-club.org.

Anthony Targan is a regular contributor to

Michigan Runner magazine.

- MR -

John Rogucki Memorial Kensington Challenge, Milford

Kensington Challenges Runners with New CourseBy Anthony Targan

Michigan Runner TVhttp://michiganrunner.tv/2011kensington/

PINCKNEY (9/9-11/11) — While drenchingrains all but annihilated trails at the third an-nual Run Woodstock series of races, event reg-istration reached an all-time high.

“We doubled our numbers,” event stafferBruce Purdy said. “It was wet but fun-lovingmud on the trails: good for everyone!”

Jonathan Hastings, the 100-mile winner in19:01, agreed.

“The course was muddy as could be, but ablast!” he said. “I really liked running at night.It was different — so peaceful, so quiet.

”The victory proved extra sweet for Hast-ings, who sought redemption after not finish-ing last year’s event.

Rick Slifkin, who came from Boca Raton,

Fla., to pace a friendin the 100-mile, calledthe course “fun andextremely challenging.

“The fog at nightmade it hard to see thetrail, but it was a blast.I’m thinking aboutcoming to run the 100-mile myself next year.”

First-year Wood-stock half-marathonfinisher Andrea Goochalso plans to return.

“The half was slip-pery but fun,” she said.“I’d like to experienceit when it’s dry.”

Adrian Berkeley, a “Canadian from Wind-sor,” disagreed. “I plan to come back espe-cially if it’s raining!” Berkeley said.

All in all, the event went as race directorRandy Step intended: “a special, fun timewhere running is the focus and we get to playall weekend long.

“It excites me that the race has grown by50 percent each year,” Step said. “It restoresmy faith in the running community. They thinklike me — that Run Woodstock is cool.”

For complete results and information onnext year’s event, visit http://www.runwood-stock.com.

Tracey Cohen can be reached at [email protected]. - MR -

Run Woodstock, Pinckney

Rain Wreaks Run Woodstock Havoc, FunBy Tracey Cohen

5 Mile winnerLemon Jamessports Woodstock-eratie-dye gear.

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HOLLY (12/10/11) — As cold as it was, every-one looked happy at the ninth annual RunLike the Dickens 10K, 5K and Tiny Tim TrotKids races.

A record number of runners, walkers andspectators braved 20-degree temperatures toenjoy sunshine and a jolly scene.

“It was a beautiful day,” remarked 10Kage-group winner John Tarkowski, a Dickensveteran or, as he put it, repeat offender.

“The first mile was a little slick,” he saidof the course, “but the rest was good. I justlike this race; it’s so festive!”

Eight-year veteran Jennifer O’Guinnagreed.

“It’s fun to see all the dogs and peopledressed up,” she said. “There were a lot more

unofficial entertainers on the course this year;the community really stepped it up.”

“This is a race put on by runners for run-ners,” said race director Rob Basydlo. Acourse wheeled for accuracy, free babysittingand homemade baked goods all add to theDickens’ draw.

Lori Guthrie, back for her third year, mostenjoyed “the family-friendly atmosphere whilestill maintaining a competitive field of run-ners.”

For complete results and information onnext year’s event, visit www.runlikethedick-ens.com.


[email protected].

- MR -


41

Wicked HalloweenPlymouth, October 30, 2011

Sarah Aittama

Michigan Runner TVhttp://michiganrunner.tv/2011wicked_halloween/

The Domino Family

Darlene and Matthew Riemann

Run Like the Dickens, Holly

Cold as Dickens Run Draws Festive CrowdBy Tracey Cohen

10K WinnerJenny Scherer

37:47

10K WinnerMike Andersen

31:51

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42


BIRMINGHAM(11/19/11) — The Jin-gle Bell Run/Walk forArthritis attracted741 entrants to Cov-ington School on acold, breezy morningand featured strongperformances fromtwo Birmingham Sea-holm High Schoolteens.

Bloomfield Hillsresidents StephenYoung, 16, and Au-drey Belf, 14, dashedto victory in the 5K,timing 17:49 and19:55 respectively.

‘I took the leadthe last 800 meters,”Young said. “Therewere some fast guysout there. The two be-hind me ran a heck ofa race.” They wereJohn Dolan, 17, of Troy, runner-up in 18:00,and Jeffrey Martin, 53, of Bloomfield Hills,

third overall and top master in 18:22.

Belf also had strong competition. Trailingher in the women’s race were Marissa Dobry,13, of Franklin with a PR of 20:10 and Veron-ica Alatorre, 43, of Grosse Pointe, mastersqueen in 21:20.

“I liked the course,” Belf said. “It’s prettyfast. I liked the rolling hills.”

Matt Fecht, 28, of Warren made quickwork of the 10K, perhaps because he had for-gotten his hat and gloves. Fecht came in fromthe cold after finishing two loops of the 5Kcourse in 32:32. Andrew Porinsky, 26, of Dex-ter was a distant second in 36:00.

Dorsey Dobrey, 43, of Franklin (5K win-ner Marissa Dobry’s mother) claimed thewomen’s 10K in 43:01, well ahead of runner-up Kristy Korth, 35, of Bloomfield Hills, whofinished in 45:47.

John Tarkowski, 58, topped the men’smasters and was third overall in 40:45, whileChristina Moran, 41, of Bloomfield Hillstopped the over-40 women in 49:41.

Michigan Runner writer Anthony Targan,

50, of West Bloomfield, won a close battle forthe men’s 50-54 age group title.

“I was jockeying back and forth up thelast hill with two other guys,” he remembered.“We kept passing each other. Finally one guypulled ahead, but he coasted the last few yardsas I kicked hard. He beat me by two seconds,but as it turned out my chip time was one sec-ond faster, which was the difference in winningmy age group.”

Targan timed 42:40 with David Fisher, 50,of Bloomfield Hills second in 42:41.

“I really enjoyed the race,” Targan said.“The course was challenging but not toohilly. The biggest obstacle was dodging the 5Kwalkers, many of whom were oblivious to the10K runners weaving around them.”

John Utley, 47, of Bloomfield, who won the45-49 age group in the 10K, told Targan he hada hard time telling the 10K runners from 5K run-ners. “I was chasing these guys up the hill andthought ‘they’re going so fast’ when they peeledoff to the 5K finish line,” he said.

For complete race results, visithttp://www.everalracemgt.com. - MR -

Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis, Birmingham/Bloomfield

Teens Win 5K, Veterans Dominate 10K at Jingle Bell Run By Charles Douglas McEwen

Tom Liebelt ofWest Bloomfield,age 8, finishedthe 5K in 34:13.

Jingle Bell Run/Walk for ArthritisNorthville, December3, 2011

Megan Eiswerth & Ryan Simmons

Doug Kurtis,Grand MastersWinner, 18:48.

Jennifer Smith,Masters Winner,19:39

Mike Andersen,Winner, 15:12

Katie Jazwinski,Winner, 16:18.

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Sun, 1/1/12 John Daley Memorial One One Run 4.4MR/W, 2.2MR/W Kalamazoo (269) 342-5996

Sun, 1/1/12 New Year’s Resolution Run 5KR/W, 1MR/W Lake Orion (248) 693-9742

Sun, 1/1/12 Sergeant Preston, Yukon King Run 6MR, 5KR/FW Muskegon (231) 206-5571

Tue, 1/3/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Mt. Pleasant (616) 895-3042

Thu, 1/5/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Ann Arbor (616) 895-3042

Sat, 1/7/12 Cross Countery Winter Trail Days XC Ski Cinic Thompsonville (800) 968-7686, x 4000

Sat, 1/7/12 IDADARUN 8MR, 8M relay Linden (810) 701-8625

Sat, 1/7/12 Lansing for Haiti 5K 5KR Lansing (517) 290-0769

Sat, 1/7/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Mt. Pleasant (616) 895-3042

Sat, 1/7/12 Pontiac Lake Trail Run 10MR White Lake (248) 320-9102

Sat, 1/7/12 Reese Winter Road Race Series 10KR, 5KR/W Reese (989) 529-7904

Sat, 1/7/12 Snowflake Run and Walk 10KR, 5K R/W, Flushing (810) 659-6493

Sat, 1/7/12 USA 50 km Race Walk Championships 50KW, 20KW, 5KW Houston (281) 498-0027

Sat, 1/7/12 Walt Disney World Half Marathon 13.1MR Orlando runDisney.com See Ad Sep/Oct ‘11Sat, 1/7/12 Winter Series Resolution Run 5KR/W Mt. Pleasant (989) 772-0323

Sat, 1/7/12 Yankee Springs Winter Challenge 250KR, 6.2MR, 13.1MR, 10KR Middleville (616) 706-6308

Sun, 1/8/12 Boyne Highlands Classic 12K, 6K classic XC ski Harbor Springs (231) 526-3029

Sun, 1/8/12 Dave’s 10 Mile Shoe Run 10 MR Delta (419) 704-8164

Sun, 1/8/12 Walt Disney World® Marathon 26.2MR Orlando runDisney.com See Ad Sep/Oct ‘11Thu, 1/12/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Ann Arbor (616) 895-3042

Sat, 1/14/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series track & field, Hillsdale (616) 895-3042

Sat, 1/14/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Saginaw (616) 895-3042

Sat, 1/14/12 Montrose Frozen Blueberry 5K 5KR/W Montrose (810) 449-8340

Sat, 1/14/12 PoHo Hot Cocoa 8K Run/ 5K Walk 8KR/W, 5KW, 1MFR Port Huron (810) 824-3272

Sat, 1/14/12 REI Frosty Freestyle Cross Country Ski Race 15K X-C Ski; 5K X-C Ski Brighton (248) 535-9351

Sat, 1/14/12 SISU Ski Festival 42K/ 21K/ 10K XC ski Ironwood (715) 254-4104

January - February 2012 Event Calendar

calendar sponsor template_calendar sponsor 12/6/11 12:12 PM Page 1

See past issues of Michigan Runner online: http://issuu.com/michiganrunner/docs/

Date Event Distance City Phone/Web Ad Reference

43

michiganrunner.net | Michigan Runner - January / February 2012 43

44





Sat, 1/14/12 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Men’s Marathon 26.2 MR Houston houston2012.com See Ad page 17Sat, 1/14/12 US Olympic Team Trials, Women’s Marathon26.2 MR Houston houston2012.com See Ad page 17Sun, 1/15/12 Chevron Houston Marathon 26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, 5K, kids run Houston (713) 957.3453 See Ad page 17

Mon, 1/16/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field East Lansing (616) 895-3042

Mon, 1/16/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series track & field Ypsilanti (616) 895-3042

Thu, 1/19/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series track & field, Hillsdale (616) 895-3042

Fri, 1/20/12 Cote Dame Marie Loppet Kids Race kids XC races Grayling (989) 348-9266

Fri, 1/20/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Ann Arbor (616) 895-3042

Fri, 1/20/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series - tentative hs track & field Warren (616) 895-3042

Sat, 1/21/12 Bling in the New Year Fun Run 5KR Royal Oak (248) 577-0800

Sat, 1/21/12 Cote Dame Marie Loppet 30K XC Ski, 15K XC Ski Grayling (888) 876-2196

Sat, 1/21/12 Freeze Your Fanny 5K Run/Walk 5KR, 1MR Bay City (989) 832.2267

Sat, 1/21/12 Frozen Foot Race 5 MR Traverse City (231) 933-9242Sat, 1/21/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Albion (616) 895-3042


Sat, 1/21/12 OPC Indoor Triathlon tri: 20minS/ 20minB/ 20minR Rochester (248) 608-0295

Sat, 1/21/12 Paint Creek 50K 50KR Rochester (248) 391-1559

Sat, 1/21/12 Portland Winter Run 5KR/W Portland (517) 526-2210

Sat, 1/21/12 Tip Up Town 5K Run/Walk 5KR Houghton Lake (989) 366-5644

Sat, 1/21/12 Winter Wolf Run 25KR, 2person relay Omer (989) 529-2906

Sun, 1/22/12 Dirty Herd Winter Classic FR/W Lowell (616) 940-9888

Sun, 1/22/12 Epic Triathlon Clinic Series, #1 triathlon clinic Ann Arbor (734) 678-5045


Sat, 1/28/12 Bigfoot Snowshoe Race 10K, 5K snowshoe races Traverse City (231) 933-9242

Sat, 1/28/12 Freeze Your Fanny 5K Run/Walk 5KR/W Shelby Twp. (586) 850-6611

Sat, 1/28/12 Freeze Your Franny 5KR/W Shelby Twp. (584) 850-7711

Sat, 1/28/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Albion (616) 895-3042

Sat, 1/28/12 Noquemanon Ski Marathon 51K, 25K XC Ski Marquette (888) 370-RACE

Sat, 1/28/12 Richmond Park Winter Rush 2MFR Grand Rapids (616) 990-1402

Sat, 1/28/12 Snowmans Half Marathon 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR Mt. Pleasant (989) 317-5889

Sat, 1/28/12 The Barren Dash 5KR/W, 1MR/Q Sidney (616) 754-9315

Sun, 1/29/12 Meridian Twp Parks & Rec Polar Bear 5K 5KR/W Okemos (517) 853-4616


Fri, 2/3/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Albion (616) 895-3042

Sat, 2/4/12 Borgess Run Camp Training Kalamazoo (269) 345-1913

Sat, 2/4/12 Hot Chocolate Hustle 5KR/ 1MW Adrian (517) 263-2911

Sat, 2/4/12 Maple Syrup Stampede 20K XC Ski, 7K XC Ski St. Joseph Isl, ON (705) 759-0626

Sat, 2/4/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field - distance fest Saginaw 616-895-3042

Sat, 2/4/12 Reese Winter Road Race Series 10KR, 5KR/W Reese (989) 529-7904




Sat, 2/4/12 Tackle the Tower Stair Climb 38 flight R/W Cleveland (216) 623-9933

Sat, 2/4/12 The Frostbite 10KR, 5KR/W Fremont www.fremontxc.com

Sat, 2/4/12 White Pine Stampede 40K, 20K, 10K XC Ski Mancelona (231) 587-8812

Sat, 2/4/12 Winter Series Sweet Heart Run 5KR/W Mt. Pleasant (989) 772-0323

Sat, 2/4/12 Winterlaufe 8KR/W Frankenmuth (989) 860-3388 or (800) fun-town

Sat, 2/4/12 YMCA Snowshoe Shuffle 5K snowshoe Middleville (616) 855-1982

Sun, 2/5/12 Copper Island Classic 10K, 5K, 2K XC Ski classic Houghton (906) 523-4884

Sun, 2/5/12 Michigan Cup Sprints 1K junior xc ski Traverse City (989)348-9266

Sun, 2/5/12 Super 5K 5KR Novi (734) 929-9027 See Ad page 43

Sun, 2/5/12 Super Bowl 5K 5KR/W Okemos (517) 702-0226

Tue, 2/7/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series track & field Ypsilanti (616) 895-3042

Thu, 2/9/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series track and field Hillsdale (616) 895-3042

Fri, 2/10/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Saginaw (616) 895-3042

Fri, 2/10/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Warren (616) 895-3042

Fri, 2/10/12 Midwest Telefest XC ski clinic, races Ontonagon (906) 226-7112

Sat, 2/11/12 Frosty Five Trail Run 5MR Adrian (517) 266-6344

Sat, 2/11/12 Grand Rapids Urban Adventure Race - Winter 4-6MR, orienteering, tubing Belmont grUrbanAdventureRace.com


Sat, 2/11/12 North American VASA 50K, 27K, 12K, 3K XC Ski Traverse City (231) 938-4400

Sat, 2/11/12 Sweetheart Run & Team Competition 10KR, 5KR/W, Couple Teams Flushing (810) 487-0954

Sat, 2/11/12 USA Cross Country Championships 6KR, 8KR, 12KR Saint Louis, MO usatf.org

Sat, 2/11/12 Valentine’s Training Run 20MR, 10MR Ann Arbor (734) 623-9640

Sun, 2/12/12 Bon Soo Lantern Ski ski tour Sault St. Marie (705) 759-0626

Sun, 2/12/12 Borgess Health & Fitness Indoor Triathlon Tri: 20 minutes each S/B/R Kalamazoo (269) 552-2251

Sun, 2/12/12 Hagerty Insurance Gran Travers XC Classic 12K / 6K XC Ski Traverse City (231) 938-4400

Sun, 2/12/12 Heart Throb 5K 5KR/W East Lansing (248) 660-7390

Sun, 2/12/12 Riverview Winterfest Breakfast & 4 Mile Run 4 MR, 4x1M relay Riverview (734) 658-7792

Tue, 2/14/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Mt. Pleasant (616) 895-3042


Sat, 2/18/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Albion (616) 895-3042

Sat, 2/18/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series hs track & field Allendale (616) 895-3042

Sat, 2/18/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series track and field Hillsdale (616) 895-3042

Sat, 2/18/12 MSU College of Law Frosty 5K 5K/W Lansing (616) 895-3042

Sat, 2/18/12 Soup’r Chili 5K Run 5KR Acme (616) 895-3042

Sat, 2/18/12 Spirit of Winter 5K Run/Walk 5KR/W Bay City (989) 832-2267

Sat, 2/18/12 Tahquamenon Snowshoe Race 20K, 10K, 5K, kids snowshoe Paradise (715) 460-0426

Sat, 2/18/12 Winter Blast 5K 5KR/W Grandville (616) 293-1862

Sun, 2/19/12 Hanson Hills Classic 12K, 6K XC Ski Grayling (989) 348-9266

Sun, 2/19/12 Howell Splash n’ Dash Indoor Tri tri: 20 each S/ B/ R Howell (517) 546-0693

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46





Fri, 2/24/12 Mid American Conference Indoor Championships track & field meet Akron, OH

Sat, 2/25/12 Big Ten Indoor Championships - Men track & field meet Lincoln, Neb. bigten.cstv.com

Sat, 2/25/12 Big Ten Indoor Championships - Women track & field meet Lincoln, Neb. bigten.cstv.com

Sat, 2/25/12 Dash Down Division 5KR/W Grand Rapids (616) 588-7200, x 2006

Sat, 2/25/12 IceCube Half Marathon 13.1MR, 10KR. 5KR Mt. Pleasant (989) 289-2361

Sat, 2/25/12 Michigan Indoor Track Series - Championship hs track & field Ypsilanti (616) 895-3042

Sat, 2/25/12 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships track & field meet Albuquerque, NM usatf.org

Sun, 2/26/12 Disney’s Princess Half Marathon 13.1MR, 5KR, kids runs Lake Buena Vista, FL runDisney.com See Ad Nov/Dec’11Sun, 2/26/12 Junior Muffin Race Skiathlon 8K xc ski, kids 6-12 races Higgins Lake nordicskiracer.com

Sun, 2/26/12 Last Chance for Boston Marathon 26.2MR, 13.1MR, 10KR, 5KR Dublin (614) 431-9134

Sun, 2/26/12 Tortoise and Hare Training Run 11M training run Ann Arbor (734) 623-9640


Date Event Distance City Phone Ad Reference

Sat, 3/10/12 Shillelagh Four Mile 4 MR/W, kids run Flushing (810) 487-0954 See Ad page 19Sun, 3/11/12 Shamrocks and Shenanigans 5KR/W, kids’ run Ann Arbor (734) 969-9027Sun, 3/11/12 St. Patrick’s Parade Corktown Race 5KR/W Detroit (248) 354-1177 See Ad back cover

Sat, 3/17/12 Fitness Expo Expo Bay City (989) 274-9495 See Ad page 8Sat, 3/17/12 St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Races kids runs Bay City (989) 415-5593 See Ad page 8Sat, 3/17/12 St. Patrick’s Day Pot O’ Gold Shuffle 4 MR/W, kids run Flint (810) 233-8851 See Ad page 23

Sun, 3/18/12 ShamRock ‘n’ Roll Run 10KR, 5KR/W, 1MFR Plymouth (248) 345-6168 See Ad page 13Sun, 3/18/12 St. Patrick’s Day Races 8KR, 5KR/W Bay City (989) 415-5593 See Ad page 8Sat, 3/24/12 Dances with Dirt - Green Swamp 50M, 50K, 26.2M, 13.1M+ Dade City, FL (734) 929-9027

Sat, 4/14/12 Martian Invasion of Races 26.2M, 13.1M, 10K, 5K, kids Dearborn (734) 929-9027 See Ad page 43Sun, 4/15/12 Big House / Big Heart 5K 10KR, 5KR, 1MFR Ann Arbor (734) 213-1033Sat, 4/28/12 Let’s Move Festival of Races 13.1MR/ Relay, 5K, 1M Mount Clemens (586) 295-1532 See Ad page 3

Sat, 4/28/12 Running Fit Trail Half Marathon 13.1 MR Pinckney (734) 929-9027Sun, 4/29/12 Running Fit Trail Marathon 50KR, 26.1MR, 5MR Pinckney (734) 929-9027Sun, 5/6/12 Kalamazoo Marathon / Borgess Run 26.2 M, 13.1M, 5K, kids+ Kalamazoo (877) 255-2447 See Ad inside front

Sun, 5/6/12 Mississauga Marathon 26.2 M, 13.1 M, 5K, 1M Mississauga, ON (905) 949-2931Sat, 5/12/12 Dances with Dirt - Gnaw Bone 50M, 50K, 26.2M, 13.1M+ Nashville, IN (734) 929-9027Sat, 5/12/12 Fifth Third River Bank Run 25KR, 10KR, 5KR/W, teams Grand Rapids (616) 771-1590 See Ad inside back

Sat, 5/19/12 Midland Cmty Center’s Dow Run 10KR, 5KR/W, 1MR, kids Midland (989) 832-7937 See Ad page 9Sun, 5/20/12 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon & 10K 26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, 10KR Cleveland, OH (800) 467-3826 See Ad page 15Sun, 5/20/12 The Qualifier 26.2MR, 13.1MR Midland (989) 415-3120 See Ad page 9


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Event Directors 0311_Third Square 2/6/11 10:39 PM Page 1

Most of November was fabulous,shirtsleeves-and-shorts running. Iwas out picking apples and autumn

berries the Saturday after Thanksgiving in sun-shine and 55 degrees north of Traverse City.But December is going to be here in two daysas I write this, and they’re predicting three tofive inches of snow in Detroit tonight.

So here’s a column to match the weather:some gloom, no sunshine, a little bit ofbitchin.’ It’s all about what I don’t get.

• For example, I don’t get why in this dayand age of GPS everything, why do race direc-tors keep putting on races that are such awfulapproximations of the correct distance?

The Thanksgiving Day Traverse CityTurkey Trot added what was billed as a 5-milerace to go along with the traditional 5K. Theevent website had maps of each route, clearlyshowing the distances for each course: 3.16miles for the supposed 5K and 4.24 miles forthe supposed 5-miler.

At least 3.16 miles is in the ballpark. But4.24 miles?

• I don’t get why hardly anyone runs fastanymore. I know, I have written about this be-fore, and I don’t want to sound like an oldgeezer moaning about the good old days. But areading of the 5K results in the Traverse CityTurkey Trot was still surprising.

Granted the extra distance in the 5Kadded a bit of time — nearly 22 seconds forsomeone running 6-minute pace, for example— but of the 108 male finishers in the 30-39age group, no one broke 20:15. Of the 108 fin-ishers in men’s 40-49 division, no one broke21:18. That means the men’s master’s agegroup winner ran 6:44 a mile on a pancake-flat course with not much wind.

Six freaking 44 pace for 5K and you win?That pace wouldn’t have got you close to thetrophy table in a half marathon 20 years ago.That was the fastest pace out of 108 men aged40-49? Mind-boggling.

• I don’t get why nearly everyone wants flatand fast courses, blacktop instead of trail.(This does not include trail maniac Jeff Gaft.)

I opted to run the Crystal Mountain 5K onThanksgiving instead. This small race involvedroughly 100 people tackling the ski and golfresort southwest of Traverse City. There wasn’tany snow on the ground and I warmed up onthese wonderful wide trails of mowed grasscarved into the sides of the biggest, baddesthills in the Lower Peninsula.

They’ll be groomed cross-country ski trailsonce the season hits, and would have made forgreat cross-country running. But no such luck.No course there is flat, but organizers deliv-ered the flattest one they could, on a blacktoproad that went around the golf course andmostly skirted the hills.

The only dirt was a 30-yard stretch that con-nected to another road. As much as the route dis-appointed me, I know the one I would havepreferred would probably have sent most of therunners off to their turkey dinner in a grumpymood and looking for a faster course next year.

• I don’t get why volunteers at fund-raisingruns often spend so much time on details andso little on mechanics of the race itself.

Yes, I know the real purpose is to raisemoney for the cause, and you volunteers andorganizers are much appreciated for givingyour time and energy. But although fewer peo-ple seem to take racing seriously, there still is acompetition to conduct once the gun goes off,and that means attention to detail there, too.

The summer before last I did a 10K on thesteep, heavily-wooded trails on the southernedge of the Munson Hospital campus in Tra-verse City. The local garden club put it on toraise money to save a historic barn or some-thing. Both the 5K and 10K courses used someof the same trails, and both cut back and forthacross trails that weren’t part of either course.

There were dozens of places in each race totake a wrong turn. There were a ton of volun-teers at the start and finish and none, zilch, outon the course. You were supposed to follow littlecolor bits of fabric tied here and there, but every-one got lost. At the finish, people were coming infrom 18 different directions.

When I politely suggested to one volunteerthat next time they might want to have peopleout at key intersections, she looked at me like Iwas a selfish oaf.

The Tara Grant Memorial 5K cross-coun-try run at Stony Creek Metropark in Washing-ton Township north of Detroit is a must-do forme in September. It’s a fundraiser for TurningPoint, a shelter for abused women. Tara Grantwas killed by her husband, and since I capital-ized on her murder by writing a book, “Bloodin the Snow,” it’s only fair I write a check eachyear to run the race.

Two years in a row, runners went offcourse, last year in the 5K and this year in thenewly-added 10K.

I led a bunch of 10K runners off courseabout half a mile into the race. We had beenwarned at the start that we would split offfrom the 5Kers early on, so when I came to a Tintersection and three volunteers, I holleredout if the 10K went left. I was running in sec-ond place and the leader was far enough aheadto be out of sight.

The volunteers interrupted their conversa-tion long enough to say yes. Another 100yards or so I came to another T intersection ata bike path. I was running on the shoulder ofthe road and a long white arrow painted ongrass went to the left. I ran on the arrow to theleft and everyone behind me followed.

A mile later, we finished a loop thatbrought us back to the same spot where I’dasked the volunteers which way to go. I wentleft again, and this time, at the next T inter-section, one of the volunteers told us to goright.

“You were supposed to go right last time,”she hollered out. “It was marked. You shouldhave followed the arrow.”

Sure enough, there was a second arrowgoing right. The first one was the remnants ofa previous race. It was my bad luck to be run-ning on it and not see the arrow to the right.Too bad a volunteer hadn’t been stationedthere to tell us which arrow to follow.

So, anyway, we were now back on track, amile late. By then a runner had caught up tome and the dog and we ran side by side forhalf a mile or so until we came to another Tintersection, this one marked neither by a vol-unteer nor any arrow. We went left and soonwere about to leave the park.

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Running with Tom HendersonBy Tom Henderson

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We doubled back, returned to the intersec-tion and went right. Came to another deadend. Gave up, jogged around awhile gettingsome miles in and returned to the staging area.

Turned out, soon after we got back ontrack at the first wrong turn, there was eithersupposed to be an arrow or a volunteer to di-rect us off the asphalt bike path and back ontothe dirt trail. No arrow, no volunteer, no 10K.

After the race, a volunteer said it was theHansons’ fault. They had scored the race andwere responsible. Au contraire, I replied. TheHansons might score races, but they can’tbring a busload of folks to man every intersec-tion or turn on a trail 10K. That’s what youneed your volunteers for.

This race might have lacked organization,but it didn’t lack volunteers. The turnout washuge. There were four or five people passingout hot dogs at the finish. Two manned thecardboard box where you turned in your raffletickets. There were volunteers everywhere inand around the start-finish line.

The race setting is perfect, the cause nearand dear. But the cause and the setting ulti-mately don’t mean a thing without makingsure the actual competition goes off OK, too.

OK, some good news, now, involvingan old dog getting hit by a speedingcar and losing an eye, breaking two

ribs and taking a slew of stitches for severalbad lacerations.

Jade is technically my grandson’s dog,but she’s been living at our cabin up northfor three years now. She used to visit onweekends, but would get so depressed whenshe returned home that my grandson andstepdaughter, who had another dog, gener-ously told us if Jade was happier living inthe woods, good for her.

She just turned 15, looks six, has noarthritis nor gray hair — a 40-pound muttwho can keep up with me and Maddie onany 6- or 8-mile run we take.

During deer season, middle of the week,I was back in Detroit while my wife Kath-leen was walking the dogs in the dark aftergetting home from work. Jade and Maddiewere off leash, our big German shepherd onleash and Kathleen wearing one of thoselights that strap on around your head.

On the big long hill that goes past ourold schoolhouse, an SUV came flyingaround the corner at 50 mph, barrelingdownhill right at Kathleen and the dogs.The driver must have been drunk or on acell phone, not seeing the bright beam of

LED light aiming at the car, the dogs or Kath-leen in her reflective gear.

Jade knows enough to stand off to the farside of the road and that’s what she did. But atthe last second, the driver saw Kathleen andthe other two dogs standing on one side of thedirt road, hit the brake and made a panickedveer to the left, right into Jade, still going athigh speed.

The car kept going another 40 to 50 yards,then stopped. The driver looked out, saw Kath-leen bending over the fallen dog, hit the gas andtook off. One of Jade’s eyes was dangling out ofits socket and blood was everywhere.

Kathleen had to scoop her up while holdingonto the shepherd’s leash and carry her the 100yards back to the cabin. She called me from thecar, hysterical, sure Jade wasn’t going to make itto the animal hospital 20 minutes away.

She made it. That was Tuesday night. Twodays later, Thanksgiving afternoon, Jade was re-leased from the hospital. One rib was cracked.Another rib was badly fractured and they had tooperate to cut off a piece of it. A cut on her neckwas stitched, one in her side, another in hermouth. The eye couldn’t be put back in.

Miraculously, no long bones were bro-ken and no organs were irreparably dam-

aged, though Jade’s body was a mess of blueand purple, her head swollen badly, bloodand fluids dripping out of two shunts in theside of her face to release fluids and reduceswelling.

Friday, she was hungry and eating. Shecouldn’t get up on her own, but once lifted toher feet, she demanded a walk and was able totraverse a 200-yard route around the property.

By Sunday, she was ravenous, getting upon her own, jumping on and off the couch,trotting around the yard, eagerly sniffingwhere various critters had been walking, pee-ing or sleeping during the night.

By Sunday, too, she was pissed at me forputting on my running gear in front of her,then having the audacity to take the other twodogs for a walk and leaving her behind,though she didn’t hold it against me and washappy to see me when I got back.

Another week, old girl, maybe two, andyou’ll be back on the roads, running with therest of us.

Nothing like a Thanksgiving to havesomething extra to be thankful for.

- MR -third square template_third square 8/11/11 10:21 AM Page 1

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