Greenies: First time marathoners
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist

Six years ago, the "Greenies" were created to enhance the experience of first time marathoners at the Detroit Free Press Flagstar Bank Marathon. Each first timer will be emblazoned with a bright green race number so that they will be recognized by their fellow runners and spectators.   First timers especially need to be acknowledged and commended for stepping out of their comfort zone and plunging into an unknown experience.   Here are a few stories behind the hundreds of greenies running this year.

Jessica Bomarito, 28, Farmington Hills. Was inspired a few years ago after watching a friend run the Chicago Marathon.   Her motivations are deeply personal and all of the training has helped to get her life back on track. As a poet, Jessica has found that "the repetitiveness of running fuels my creativity. I notice all the little nuances of life around me as I run and have been able to feed that into my poetry".   Her boyfriend has been her biggest supporter, offering encouraging words after her long runs with " the champion is home".

Kathy Stegbauer, 37, Southgate. The race will have special meaning because she is running for the Parkinson's Foundation after her dad was diagnosed with the disease two years ago.   Stegbauer ran through three pregnancies up until birth then resumed on the treadmill until the kids were ready for a baby jogger.   For inspiration, she registered early and posted the confirmation postcard on her refrigerator.   "My biggest motivator was introducing myself to another runner/mom at my kids school.   We are fortunate that we can run together during the day."   Mort Crim's Second Thoughts column about a runner who accidentally ran a marathon has been her words of encouragement.   Crim said, " Sometimes we don't know how far we can go until we've already gone the distance."

David Kent Lawson, 36, Raleigh, NC. "In high school I was in a band, not on the football field. In college, I was in the bar, not in the weight room. My wife who had run numerous marathons gave me a little kick in the butt for inspiration. Sometimes I wish she just collected stamps."   He graduated from Central Michigan and can't wait to see Detroit again after just six months of training. "Yikes!"

Bree Bowersox, 28, Livonia.    Needed a significant mental and physical challenge after finishing grad school.   She has enjoyed running for sixteen years because it allows her to see different places in slow motion. Her boyfriend is also training for the marathon and it has enabled them to spend many hours together.

Kelly Jost, 27, Plymouth. Was part of a five person relay two years ago. She witnessed the crowd cheering especially loud for the greenies and wanted to share the experience with her first time marathoner, James. After eight years of running exciting races like the Mackinaw Bridge Run she is looking forward to crossing the Ambassador Bridge into Canada.

Michael Caplan, 20, Huntington Woods. Was sick of being out of shape and needed a goal. He has been running since the Oak Apple Run and thinks the marathon distance will go quicker as he absorbs all the wonderful cultural sites of Detroit.   His parents have been supportive (his dad is a former marathoner) but also think he's crazy. As a student he sees this an opportunity to experience something new and challenging.

Matt Taylor, 28, Detroit. Works for an architectural firm downtown and loves living in Detroit. He started running to get in shape then was "suckered" into training for the marathon by friends who are running it. One of them threatened to video tape his training and racing experience like a True Hollywood Story"

Sarah Justian, 30, Whitehall. Is also raising money for the Right to Life of Michigan, to honor a nephew that died last year at eleven days old.   She has been running for five years and training for the marathon the last six months. He two and four year old kids come along with her in a baby jogger. The Free Press Marathon was her choice because it is "beginner friendly" and she thinks it will be fun to run into Canada.

Doyle Rice, 44, Jackson. Knows he can complete the marathon, it's more a question of how fast. After running the Dexter Ann Arbor half marathon in an hour and thirty minutes, he feels confident.   He is fortunate to have friends that are also competing. More importantly, he wants to set an example for his wife and twin seven year old daughters.

Leslie Travis, 51, Livonia. Ran her first race fifteen years ago on Belle Isle.   Her husband, who is also running the marathon, has slowed his pace to help encourage her. "I love running while I'm doing it and love the way I feel afterward. It still surprising that I often need to push myself to get out the door. My family is in awe of my desire, my non-running friends think I'm nuts".

Contact Doug Kurtis at Detroit Free Press, 600 W. Fort St. Detroit, 48226