|
The Best and Worst of 2005
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist
01/05/06
The best running stories of 2005 dwarfed the worst things that happened last year. Here a few of the more interesting news happenings.
The Best:
City of Detroit's Department of Human Services launched a new race last February. Heat the Streets 5km/10km helped needy Detroiters pay their heating bills.
Three time Michigan Runner of the Year, Paul Aufdemberge set an American Master's record for 10,000 Meters on the track. It was set at his alma mater Hillsdale College last April in 30:04.
Michigan's Greg Meyer was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in Utica, New York.
With numerous Michigan friends on hand, Ann Arbor's Nina Bovio celebrated her 50 th state marathon at the Ridge Runners Races Marathon in Cairo, WV. A few months earlier, good friend Maggy Zidar from Pontiac ran her 100 th Marathon in London, England.
Hanson's Distance Running Project continued its string of excellent performances. At the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, Brian Sell was 9 th overall and the 1st American in 2:13:27. Clint Verran captured 22 nd place in 2:17:42, 2nd American overall.
Katie McGregor (Three time NCAA champion at U of Michigan) won the USA Outdoor Championships and ran a personal best time of 31:21.20 to finish 14th at World Outdoor Championships.
Congratulations go to Pat Ball and her team for continuing the amazing climb to national prominence with the Detroit Free Press Flagstar Bank Marathon. After a 40 percent jump in participation in 2004 the team saw another 30 percent increase to push attendance over 13,000 runners.
Running Fit launched Half2Run.com in early November in 2004. It now has more than 500 members representing 45 states and Canada. The on-line running club prides itself on "Not going all the way". Their goal is to complete half marathons in half the states.
Michigan Runner Magazine has been promoting its video webcasts for several years. Now runners can watch Podcasts on their iPods. A review of MR's road racing calendar show that May is the busiest month with 137 events.
It was suggested that races begin to open its five-year age groups to all ages. Roseville's Big Bird Run did just that and awarded legendary runners Joe Thornburg, 89, and Jim Lovat, 81 with victories.
After health issues sidelined Delores Hensley in 2004, she was back in the finish chutes hugging runners while celebrating her 75 th birthday.
The Worst:
Nine Time New York City Marathon Champion, Grete Waitz from Norway was diagnosed with cancer and has been receiving treatment. Over 50,000 women run a race in her honor every year in Oslo, Norway.
Due to lack of attendance and waning community support the West Bloomfield Half Marathon and Detroit Jazz Fest runs were canceled this year.
Rarely has a major marathon stopped its race in progress. The Fox Cities Marathon in Appleton, Wisconsin had to close the course after severe weather rolled into the area about 2½ hours into the event. Race organizers offered participants who couldn't complete the race a complimentary entry to their marathon and a running shirt that reads, "I took the Fox Cities Marathon by storm."
Contact Doug Kurtis at Detroit Free Press, 600 W. Fort St.
Detroit, 48226
or [email protected]
|
