TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan — Andy Weddle of Holly was first out of 87 Flint-area finishers Saturday in the Bayshore Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 51 minutes and 55 seconds.
Weddle, 31, was 21st overall. Larry Gutierrez of Fenton also cracked the top 25 in a field of 1,263 finishers, taking 25th in 2:53:41.
Post a comment | View comments (0)HARTLAND TWP., Michigan -- Saturday is a big day for many area runners with the latest edition of the Bayshore Marathon in picturesque Traverse City.
The marathon -- which has steadily grown in popularity -- has limited spots and already is full, but anyone making a last-minute decision can still get into a 10K also held (A half marathon that's on the schedule is full, too).
Why so popular? The out-and-back course winds mostly along the scenic shoreline of the East Grand Traverse Bay. Besides the breathtaking views, the course is relatively fast, although it's not as flat as its Web site claims. The other big negative is the angle of the road -- or camber -- in many places is steep and can have an impact, especially when running a marathon.
Still, if you're looking for a small-town, getaway place for a marathon, think about Bayshore and Traverse City for next year.
HARTLAND TWP., Michigan -- Gas prices are nearly $4 a gallon and it almost makes me want to rethink the two hour drive I'm planning Friday to Grand Rapids for one of the state's biggest races -- the Fifth Third River Bank Run.
HARTLAND TWP., Michigan -- I'm in. I've picked my next big race, and oh, dear, it's 26.2 miles.
I just signed up for the 2008 Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. Affectionately known as the "People's Race," the Oct. 26 marathon has a limited number of entries and usually fills up quickly.
I've wanted to run this race -- known for its course that hugs monuments and memorials and ends with a climb up a steep hill to the Marine Iwo Jima statue -- for a while. There's just something special about our nation's capital that captivates me, gives me the chills and inspires me all at once. In the handful of times I've visited, I've gone out for jogs a couple of times, and just marveled at everything. I'm sure D.C. will be abuzz too, since the race is not far from election day.
Lance Armstrong (center) seven-time Tour de France cycling winner and cancer survivor, crosses the start line of the 112th Boston Marathon on April 21, in Hopkinton, Mass. Area runner Gary Brimmer ran Boston to follow in the footsteps of his childhood running heroes. Little did he know, he'd run stride for stride with another legend later in the race.I ran my first road race (a 10,000-meter race in my hometown of Hart) at the age of 13 and my first marathon (the San Diego Marathon) at the age of 27. Throughout the years I've lost count of how many road races I've run, but I knew this: The 112th Boston Marathon would be my 21st marathon. I was as excited to run this race as I've been for any race I've run in the 30 years I've been a runner. My training had gone very well, my training partner Mike Scannell made sure of that. Mike has served as my personal pace setter on numerous tempo runs and speed work sessions. There was no reason that my own Boston experience would not be a positive one.
Lance Armstrong crosses the finish line during the Boston Marathon in Boston on Monday. One area man and a recent Grand Blanc graduate who now lives out of state beat the 7-time Tour de France champ.The Tour de France legend clocked a 2:50:58 while Dickie finished in 2:44:48.
I wanted that feather for my cap last fall when we both ran in the New York Marathon. And while we both ran a similar 2:50-ish pace through 16 miles (I never saw Armstrong), that's where I faded to a 3:04 as he sped up to a 2:46. So, that's why I feel for Gary Brimmer of Swartz Creek. Whether he realized it, he was awfully close with his 2:51:20.
Nick Arciniaga, who runs for the Rochester-based Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, was the first American in the Boston Marathon Monday. He took 10th in 2:16:13.
Jason SchoenerHere he was mixing it up with a pack of elite runners whose reputations earned them appearance money just for showing up at the 112th Boston Marathon on Monday. Schoener, like the vast majority of 25,283 entrants, paid his own entry fee and was given bib No. 1,364, not a low number reserved for invited runners.
Make no mistake about it, though - Schoener belonged with the big boys.
Schoener, a 2002 Grand Blanc High graduate, had the highest Boston finish ever by a Flint-area native.
He was 14th overall and took second among Americans with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes and 22 seconds.
HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Want another reason to procrastinate about finishing your taxes? This weekend's Tax Trot is in Flushing. The event features a 5K, 10K, and 15K races. The course is flat and fast (I ran my fastest 10K at this event in 2004).
All three races begin at 10 a.m., and late registration is based at Flushing High School, 522 N. McKinley Road.
DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Michigan -- Erin O'Mara of Goodrich was the first overall woman in the Martian Half Marathon today with a time of 1:25:05, highlighting a group of high finishes among area runners during the two days of racing.
Fenton's Larry Gutierrez won the male masters division (ages 40 and over) in the marathon today with a 2:58:10 while Lois Ann Fulton of Fenton won the female masters division with a 3:39:46.
In Saturday's 10K, Mike Scannell, 45, of Grand Blanc took second in male masters with a 32:39.
HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Some area runners are heading out of this world this weekend for the Martian Marathon (actually it's just to metro Detroit).
But the otherworldly theme, in which organizers joke about actually being on Mars and includes lots of space alien references, fuels a campy and fun atmosphere that's helped the event grow by leaps and bounds (especially given the less powerful gravity on the Red Planet -- OK, I don't have to follow their lead --unless I can't resist their powerful mind control ray).
HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Fellow Flint Journal running blogger Bill Khan and area runner Tim Brooks say in their postings earlier this week they'll be out at Flushing Township's Half-Marathon this Saturday, but it won't be me.
I have to agree with those who find the course quite miserable. The open lengthy straight-a-ways along a cambered road, the not-so-friendly drivers who speed past at more than 50 mph, the usually brutally cold wind ... I've never really liked this course.
The former Riverfront Character Inn, built as a Hyatt Regency in 1981, has been for sale since 2005.HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- So, the Crim Fitness Foundation wants to buy the currently empty Riverfront Character Inn? From a purely runner's perspective, I would think if the sale went through that would almost certainly mean the Crim expo would return downtown to the hotel instead of last year's location in southern Flint at the Genesee Business Center.
Would that be a good thing? Do runners want to come back downtown for the expo? There are larger questions too. Should a nonprofit most known for an annual 10-mile race in downtown Flint buy Genesee County's largest hotel? The organization has in recent years expanded its mission to a focus on year-round health and helping children avoid obesity, and its leaders say the purchase would help them with their new goals. But the group will face millions of dollars in renovations. What do you think?
Feel free to get a discussion started in the comment section below.
HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Feelin' lucky? This weekend there are three St. Patrick's Day races that many area runners trek to both near and far.
Editor's note: As promised in Thursday's Weekly Jog, here's a reader submission from Tim Brooks of Flushing. If you'd like to share an experience about running, feel free to comment below or contact Christofer Machniak, especially if it's more in-depth and you have photos you'd like to share.
Tim Brooks on his trusty basement treadmill.That's right. I ran 20 miles ON THE TREADMILL at home! (3 hours 2 minutes
total time running).
And who says treadmill running is boring? Consider this:
HARTLAND TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Welcome to the second edition of the "Weekly Jog," an offshoot of my "Mac's Blog on the Run" that's devoted to running in the Flint, Michigan, area.
Write early and often: While I hope to list items each Thursday at noon such as upcoming races, training runs and links to running stories from around the globe (see last week's), I also plan to use this space to encourage readers to share your running tales and news. In fact, we have a submission already from Tim Brooks of Flushing that we'll be posting on Runners' Finish Line in the coming days about his impromptu 20-mile run on a treadmill, photos included. So, if you have something to say, please comment below or e-mail me.
Hartland Township, Michigan -- Starting this week, I'm planning to include notes about the Flint area running community every Thursday at noon. I'm going to call it the "Weekly Jog." My goal is to compile my notes whether I'm at home in my easy chair (like I am now) or I'm at my desk in the newsroom (when I'm done with all my other work first, of course). Please let me know what you think or if have items to add either by commenting or e-mailing me at cmachniak@flintjournal.com.
The "Spirit of the Marathon," a documentary that focuses on what it's like to train and run in the 26.2-mile race, is back for a 7:30 p.m. encore showing Thursday at Showcase Cinemas Flint West in Flint Township.
The "Spirit of the Marathon," a documentary that focuses on what it's like to train and run in the 26.2-mile race, will be shown 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Showcase Cinemas Flint West in Flint Township.
The one-night event is part of a limited viewing across the country, and one of 11 in Michigan, according to the Web site for NCM Fathom, one of three partners on the project. The showing might be the only local viewing, although an encore is now scheduled for undetermined select theaters on Feb. 21, the site said.
The movie was filmed on four continents, and tells the story of six runners as each prepares for the Chicago Marathon, according to the site. The cast ranges from amateur runners to marathon pros.
The film, which is one hour and 40 minutes long, was put together by three-time Academy Award winner Mark Jonathon Harris, Telly Award winner and marathon runner Jon Dunham and producer/marathoner Gwendolen Twist, the site said.
Other extras part of the showing include "deleted scenes, dramatic race footage and previews the upcoming 2008 Olympics with a Q&A; session with Olympians Deena Kastor and Ryan Hall," the site said.
Fenton's Larry Gutierrez was the lone area runner to break three hours in Sunday's Las Vegas Marathon. Gutierrez, 47, was 66th overall and third in his age group in a race with a 2:58:24. Christopher Cheboibich won the race in 2:16:49.
Lula Byrd of Flint finished fasted among area women with a 3:42:02. Sylvia Skvortsova won the women's race in 2:29:01.
Overall, there were 14 area runners among the race's 4,276 finishers. Other area runners' chip times were:
Dave Wolbert, Flint, 3:01:20
Timothy Vankirk, Davison, 3:45:46
Patrick Byrd, Flint, 3:48:25
Mark Egner, Burton, 3:50:49
Paul Zieske, Linden, 3:58:36
Greg Pfeiffer, Durand, 4:18:19
Richard Filar, Lapeer, 4:39:46
George Prout, Flint, 4:40:56
Cathy Detman, Flint, 4:47:55
Darren Klein, Holly, 4:39:43
Michele Olney, Flushing, 5:01:59
Andrea Catalina, Grand Blanc, 5:15:39
The medal I earned in finishing the 2007 New York Marathon.I don't need a reminder that a just ran the New York Marathon on Sunday: My legs hurt, I have pain when I walk down stairs and, most surprising of all, my shoulders are sore.
You know when you've run a marathon when you discover new areas of your body that you didn't think could ever hurt from running.
But the unexpected was the norm in my marathon trip to New York. There were so many little problems I don't know where to begin, including two painful blisters and a persistent sore throat, but at the same time, I found the course, the crowds and the atmosphere just wonderful.
NEW YORK -- Well, I gave it my best shot at beating Lance Armstrong in the New York Marathon, but he was so fast I never even saw him on the course.
Armstrong said he was shooting for just under three hours similar to his time in 2006, but he ended up around 2:46. I held a 2:50 pace for about two-thirds of the marathon before my wheels came off at about the 18-mile mark, ultimately finishing in a still respectable 3:04.
There were many factors for my undoing. Maybe it was the sore throat, maybe it was getting up at 5 a.m. and surviving a five-hour marathon before the marathon just to get to the start, or maybe it was the two blisters on my right foot.
But the fact remains, I got dusted. But the fact that I could lace it up in the same race as Lance shows one of the marathon's strengths -- a chance for the everyday runner to compete against the world's best and famous in the same event.
(For a more in-depth blog on my New York experience, check back Tuesday -- I've gotta plane to catch and a meal to eat).
Lance Armstrong running during the 2006 New York Marathon.It's not often you get a chance to beat Lance Armstrong, but I have one. Lucky for me, the seven-time Tour de France winner is not on a bike. He's running. And while he's a world class athlete and he ran last year's New York Marathon in just under three hours, I know since I've eclipsed that time barrier before and I am well-trained to do so again on Sunday, I can beat him at this year's race.
Now, while I wish it were "mano e mano," there will be more than 35,000 other runners and likely a large pack eager to run near him, so this probably means I'll be racing against his time. And I don't want to be the guy that I saw on the highlight show from last year trailing Armstrong at every turn with a big smile on his face. That's not me. I just want to be able to say when people asked me how I did in the race, "I dusted Lance."
Besides, when you decide to run 26.2 miles, having all the extra motivation helps. While I love to run, training for and running a marathon is something that isn't easy, and I wonder if this jaunt to New York should be my last hurrah, at least for a while.
Ever thought about running a marathon?
PBS' Nova is giving a glimpse about what it's like in "Marathon Challenge," a documentary that focuses on about a dozen novice runners who train for the 2007 Boston Marathon.
The show airs tonight on Michigan Television (WFUM) at 8 p.m. on Channel 28 and WFUM's digital station. Other upcoming airdates are:
• 11 p.m., tonight, WFUM-Digital
• 1 a.m., 3 a.m., Thursday, WFUM-Channel 28
• 9 p.m., Thursday, WFUM-Digital
• 12 a.m. Friday, WFUM-Digital
• 5 p.m. Saturday, WFUM-Channel 28
• 11 a.m., Sunday, WFUM-Digital
• 3 a.m. Nov. 8, WFUM-Channel 28
Tim Donnan of Burton was first out of 27 Flint-area finishers by only two seconds Sunday in the Grand Rapids Marathon.
Donnan, 30, was 66th overall among 1,394 finishers in the 26.2-mile race with a time of 3 hours, 8 and 25 seconds. Matthew Smiarowski of Lapeer finished in 3:08:27.
The first area woman was Valerie Fontan of Flushing, who finished in 3:35:38.
Following are the chip times for the Flint-area runners:
Tom Donnan, Burton, 3:08:25
Matthew Smiarowski, Lapeer, 3:08:27
Tres Kline, Fenton, 3:27:17
Valerie Fontan, Flushing, 3:35:38
Leslie Braun, Grand Blanc, 3:41:38
Mike Murphy, Burton, 3:42:53
Richard Wallen, Flushing, 3:45:19
Stu Allen, Davison, 3:49:58
David Pichey, Flint, 3:50:12
Brad Haney, Ortonville, 3:50:13
Thomas Wascha, Burton, 3:50:24
Amy Rabatin, Fenton, 3:57:55
Steven Hoag, Mt. Morris, 4:01:01
Wade Batey, Flint, 4:02:00
Shannon Cameron, Clio, 4:09:11
Kelsey Thurk, Grand Blanc, 4:10:06
Alex Perry, Gaines, 4:12:22
Jim Thane, Fenton, 4:21:32
Bill Kehoe, Grand Blanc, 4:22:11
Jeanne Aufdemberge, Clio, 4:26:50
David Porter, Flushing, 4:29:34
David Dean, Grand Blanc, 4:33:58
Jan Wallen, Flushing, 4:38:18
William Willis, Owosso, 4:40:28
David Rexroth, Grand Blanc, 5:16:01
Lisa Stanley, Grand Blanc, 5:19:39
Beverly Gengler, Flint, 6:44:28
Matthew Holen of Fenton was first out of 141 Flint-area finishers Sunday in the Detroit Free Press International Marathon.
Holen finished in 2 hours, 55 minutes and 43 seconds to place 45th overall out of 3,789 finishers. Holly's Andy Weddle (2:57:49) and Fenton's Larry Gutierrez (2:57:51) were the only other local runners to break the three-hour mark.
Heather Richards of Grand Blanc was the first area woman, placing 24th among all women in 3:15:37.
Joe WhitmanBecause of heat that reached 88 degrees in the middle of the 26.2-mile race, times were much slower than usual and the percentage of runners who didn't finish or didn't even show up was abnormally high.
There were 45 Flint-area finishers, eight who started and didn't finish, four who started and showed up with a finish time but missed some of the splits, and 11 who registered but didn't start.
Only six area runners broke the four-hour mark. Lois Ann Fulton of Fenton was the first Flint-area woman and was fifth among all local runners with a time of 3:45:15.
This running Travel Tale was originally written as an e-mail report to area runners. Have one you'd like to share? E-mail Christofer Machniak.
Dear hill-climbing crusty cats:
I signed up for the first-ever Boyne 2 Boyne Marathon several months ago in the hot weather looking forward to a good training run in the cold northern Michigan temperatures with great tree color and a beautiful course. We got a beautiful course on Sept. 30, but the expectations stopped there.
After finally figuring out where the heck the start, finish, and packet pick-up locations were, we got to the start line at 8 a.m. with 62 degree temperatures that later climbed to 74 degrees -- it was frickin hot.
The first four miles were downhill and Tom Wascha of Burton and I ran together chatting and enjoying the morning. At every mile, there was an aid station with lots of help, water, Gatorade, goo and fruit. It was great support from these two small towns that sponsored the event. It was incredible.
Haile Gebrselassie set a new world record Sunday in the marathon, finishing in a time of 2:04:26, according to www.marathonguide.com.
Gebrselassie, 34, of Ethiopia, knocked 29 seconds off the previous record while capturing the Berlin Marathon, the Web site said.
Gordon Gibson of Flint finished highest among four area runners who completed Saturday's Road Runner Akron Marathon in Ohio.
The 51-year-old's chip time of 3:17:57 was good enough for seventh in his age group and 113th overall. There were 1,164 finishers in the race won by Joshua Koros of Byron Center in a time of 2:28:05.
Other area finishers were: Jeffrey Lewis, 42, of Otisville (4:17:30 chip time), Bill Kehoe, 64, of Grand Blanc (4:36:28 chip time) and Brian Simmerman, 39, of Swartz Creek (5:24:30 chip time).
The kickoff for the Jeff Galloway marathon training program hosted by the Crim Fitness Foundation will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the Crim offices, 452 S. Saginaw St., Flint.
There will be a 2.62-mile "mini marathon" fun run, as well as registration. The program will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15 with a 7.5-mile run.
The entry fee is $99 for Crim training program members and $159 for others. Those in the program will receive a shirt, a Galloway training book, a running journal, training schedules, a subscription to Runner's World magazine, and discounts on Galloway retreats and running schools.
The program is designed to prepare participants to run in the National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer Feb. 17 in Jacksonville, Fla., but those who aren't planning to do that race can still join.
A half-marathon training program will begin at 8 a.m. Oct. 27.
Details are available by calling (810) 235-7131 or at dbarkey@crim.org.
