Detroit's 25^th Marathon celebration is now a little more than three weeks away. With its fabulous new course and festivities planned it should be one of the best of the past twenty-five years. Runners should know that this will be the first year with an international crossing that you can still sign up through expo weekend. Remember to bring your passport or birth certificate if you must wait to the last minute to decide to run. Today�s column is my final installment celebrating the 25 year history of the marathon.

1998: It was a tough year for newest sponsor Flagstar Bank to come on board. Participation was down to one of its lowest levels. The course was altered and included several desolate miles down Mack Avenue late in the race. Torrential rains and winds up to 35 mph made it a year you might want to forget. South Africa's Zithulele Sinque came in expecting a fast time and an easy win. Instead he fought off stomach cramps and first time marathoner Fraser Bertram of Toronto. Despite the weather Sinque still managed a 2:18:52 to take home a nice $8,000 paycheck. Russia's Tatiana Maslova used her marathon experience to beat another Canadian first timer. Maslova passed Kitchner's Jackie Mota in the last two miles to take home the gold in a time of 2:45:06. Kreige Schabort of Cedertown, GA also came in expecting a new course record but had to settle for the third best ever after blowing a tire at mile 22. Patricia Bowen was the only women wheeler. Other special notes: 90 year old Detroiter, Jim Ramsey completed the race in 7:52:46.Timing chips were used for the first time to smooth the scoring process.

1999:  The Free Press decided to change management and a whole new staff of local runners brought boundless energy and bold imagination to the event. Using years of experience as a race director and observer of marathons I managed to set a whole course for the marathon, literally. Months of negotiation and much help from publisher Heath Meriweather enabled the marathon to cross the Ambassador Bridge for the first time. As a bonus, the race finished inside of Tiger Stadium during it final year of operation. All the magic upped participation to its highest level since 1984. Relay participation was heavily promoted and age group prize money was added for the first time. In another rare occurrence, American Fred Kieser from Lakewood, Ohio beat Kenyans, Cleopphas Boor and Rueben Chesang. His 2:18:27 qualified him for the upcoming Olympic Trials. On the women's side, another Russian grabbed the laurels. Irina Khrmova broke the tape in 2:43:58. Schabort overcame two flat tires to retain his wheeler championship and Patricia Bowen was again the only female finisher.  Race walker Gary Morgan captured the division title again despite being startled by a dozen deer in the forest portion of the course on Belle Isle.

2000:   The Tiger Stadium finish was no longer feasible so music venue Chene Park was used as a finish line stage. It looked cool but construction surrounding it made family gatherings difficult. The Bridge and Tunnel were still on board. The weather was fine but the winning times were some of the slowest ever. Koseph Maina of Kenya made a pit stop, caught the lead runner who eventually faded to 24^th place and easily beat runner up Paul Aufdemburge of Redford by more than ten minutes. His time was 2:24:47. Lisa Veneziano of Dublin, Ohio didn't expect to win but caught the leader at mile 23 and looked exuberant when she crossed center stage in 2:54:30. Tony Iniguez wheeled to victory in 1:47:27 and no women competed this year.  126 relay teams competed with Windsor's MIAR Industrial Services taking the "A" division prize.

2001: 9/11 forced new race director Patricia Ball to do a lot of last minute scrambling. An all U.S. course was quickly created and the new start and finish areas were executed with relative efficiency. Certainly, the finish at the Free Press Park on Jefferson made it easier for spectators to reach their loved ones.  Mayor Archer ran the 5km. In the Marathon, another Kenyan stepped up to the winner's stand in the closest race ever for men. Jacob Maina pushed ahead of Hanson's runner Chris Wehrman with 100 yards to go giving him a one second win in 2:17:49. Despite a pit stop, Lupe Hegan's 2:52:16 was enough to beat Angela Strange of Toronto. Tony Iniguez repeated as the wheelers champion improving his time to 1:43:23 while Christine Campbell of Kitchener won for the women.