Marathoners come from just about every profession.  Attorneys, teachers and accountants are three of the largest groups to compete.  For some reason, I've crossed paths with more dentists, all U of M graduates, than any other occupation.  Here's a glimpse of why they chose running rather than other sports.

Jon Cross: He graduated from Belleville High and is now the race director of the Honolulu Marathon. Jon discovered early that he had some talent for running and it was a way to stop kids from making fun of him when he played baseball. He was one of the top runners in the state in the early 70's but had trouble staying injury free.  Right now he is training for the Diamond Head duet and alumni mile.  According to Jon, "dentists tend to internalize stress at work and running helps puts you in a different place."

Earl Bogrow: Has been running since 1974 through the urging of a college roommate. Has run 7 marathons and now plans to run one each new decade of his life. The Boston and Honolulu Marathons have been the highlights of his racing. He credits running as a psychological and physical benefit to his profession.  "In order to balance the contortions our bodies go through running stretches out the body. More importantly it gets you out of the myopic world of working in such a small area as the mouth. The fresh air and freedom are great therapy for the mental anguish of dealing with patients who for the most part don't want to be there."

Jim Betz: Running is something that he looks forward to.  According to Jim "It was nice to lace them up and run trails with my buds.  No one ever talks much about work; only pleasant, fun things. He's been running for over 30 of his 52 years.  The highlight of my career was when I got to ride in the elite runners van at Grandma's Marathon several years ago.  He joined Redford Road Runners in 1988 and was one of the commanding officers of a spin off group called The Rocket Dogs.   " We all got lots of satisfaction from running and participating in races all over the country.  We wanted to return the favor, so we created some events of our own for others to enjoy.  The Rocket Dog Ankle Biter was a lot of fun for us to stage, and it seems to be well received by local trail runners. Jim recently retired from dentistry and has found the ultimate stress reliever, running and living in Costa Rica!

Ralph Fortson: Has been a dentist for 21 years and now practices in Tampa, Florida. He ran junior varsity (never varsity) for Milford High School.  Ralph quit running for 10 years and then at age 29, started again to control his weight.  Now at 48 his current goal is to run a marathon in every state.  "I've run 38 marathons, but in only 14 states. My most memorable moments are the training runs with my friends.  I really enjoy the camaraderie."

Bill Kloote: Has been running for 35 years but is equally competitive as a swimmer. The father of four non-athletic kids savors the highlight of his running career. He won a college intramural mile in 4:55. Thanks to running, he now weighs less than he did in High School. He likes the convenience of getting out for a run. "It's not as easy to find a pool as it is to put on a pair of shoes and step outside your house."

Upcoming event: February 3, 2002, Super Bowl 5km, Novi Town Center, Running Fit, 10am CONTACT: Chuck Block [email protected] or 248 347-4949