Volume 8 • Issue 2 • August 2009 PAID PAID STANDARD STANDARD PRESORTED PRESORTED U.S. POSTAGE U.S. POSTAGE CUSTOM HOUSE CUSTOM PUBLISHERS, INC. PUBLISHERS,

Big 5 , South Africa ...... Pg. 4 Landry Survey Results ...... Pg. 13 Member Profiles...... Pg. 5 Big Island Marathon...... Pg. 14 Finishers & Milestones...... Pg. 6 Volcano Marathon ...... Pg. 15 Marathon ...... Pg. 8 Doubles & Deals...... Pg. 18 Deadwood Mickelson Trail Reunion . Pg. 12 Member Events & Merchandise. . . . Pg. 19 Custom House Publishers, 6797 N. High St., #213, Worthington, OH 43085 Custom House Publishers, 6797 N. High St., #213, Worthington, NEWSLETTER 50 States Marathon Club • PO Box 15638, , TX 77220 • www.50statesmarathonclub.com Board of Directors President Tom Adair [email protected] Vice President/Reunions Charles Sayles [email protected] Secretary Susan Sinclair [email protected]

Treasurer Back L-R: Mike Brooks, Paula & Steve Boone, Aki Kaneda, Cheryl Cook-McCoy, Steve & Paula Boone, and Wayne Wright Steve Boone Cheryl Cook-McCoy, Wayne Wright at the finish line of the Big 5 Marathon Front: David Rikki before the Big 5 Marathon [email protected] Membership After hearing two male lions roaring while we rocks for a good part of the marathon. During the run Paula Boone sat in the game drive vehicle in Entabeni, South the rangers were out in their vehicles with big guns [email protected] Africa, I decided that I could not run this marathon making sure that we were safe. As we ran by one, alone. Fortunately, Paula said, “It puts a whole new meaning to the term Newsletter Paula Boone felt the traffic control, doesn’t it?” All in all this marathon is Lois Berkowitz same way so we decid- a must do. [email protected] ed to run together. This Cheryl Cook-McCoy Board Member was a wise decision on Dave Bell my part as Paula is very [email protected] good company and kept my spirits up. This is Table of contents the hardest marathon that I have ever run out of my Stats, New Members, Demographics. . . 3 80 plus .The big hill that we had to go up Big 5 Marathon-World Tour…………... 4 and down had a 45-degree slope in some places. Going down I thought that my knees were going to Member Profiles………………………. 5 break off. Going back up I know I maxed out my Finishers & Milestones…………..……. 6 heart rate. We ran in soft sand, rocks, and rocks on Antarctica……………………………….7 ……………………….. 8 Call of the Wild…………………………9 Capon Springs 50K……………………10 My Mom the Marathoner…………….. 11 Deadwood Mickelson Trail Reunion.... 12 Mark Landry Survey Results…....…… 13 Big Island Marathon….……………….14 Volcano Marathon Dormant…………. 15 Ladany Review………………………...16 Marathon Man & Run to Remember.... 17 Doubles & Deals for Members………. 18 Member Events & Merchandise.....….. 19 Reunions ..…………..….……….……. 20 Traffic control on the course Cheryl & Paula with a South African running club at the high point of the course 2 Stats, New Members, Demographics Membership - 1,891 Female - 685 Male - 1,206 Our members have a combined total of more than 114,623 marathons and counting… If everyone updates their statistics, our count will be even higher! E-mail updates to your schedule, state count and marathon total count to [email protected]. Help us out by including your first and last name! Thanks! Keep your e-mail and address current.

Jerry Coash-AZ Ron Hartle-PA Robert Mann-NJ Don Scott-WI Welcome to Marygay Cross-MD Agha Hasnain-VA Tim Marquardt-IL Clyde Shank-TX our New Thomas Coleman-NJ Ted Hobart-VA Jason Marschner-MI Adam Silber-VA David Daer-AZ Jeffrey Huish-IL Troy Mathers Nathan Skipper-GA Members: Jack Dahlstrom-CA Mark Ivie-NJ Tara McKittrick-NC Craig Smith-IL Richard Dingman-WY Matt Jenkins-NC Steve Miller-OH George Southgate-GA Don Allen-GA Marek Dubiel-IL Charlotte Johnson-NC Gabriella Mirollo-MA Jane Strait-KS Glen Anderson-VA LizNoel Duncan-MD John Keehan-TX Marguerite Mogul-FL Theresa Sullivan-FL Stephanie Arango-OH Amie Durden-CO Thomas Kimball-OH Phil Nomura-MN George Tchakanakis-IL Kenneth Blahut-NJ -CO Steven Kipisz-TX Janette Oca-CA Douglas Thompson-NC Kelly Blalock-GA Carol Earles-AR Chris Knaff-MA Mary Papreck-IL Mary Tolland-MA Diana Boehm-TX Earl English-MI Marjorie Kuzminski-VA Chris Paretti-PA Jeffrey Tong-CO Jeff Bollman-MT Alicia Marie Eno-AR Steven Laine-GA Missy Peters-MO Lesley Toops-TX Diane Bolton-TN Mary Beth Fournier-IL Rachel Lakin-NH David Poglitsch-WI Luci Vaden-SC Lauren Bramble-IA Robin Gialanella-IL Michael Larkin-CA Larry Porter, Jr.-IL Christopher Warren-WA Jan Broyles-TX Louise Hancock-VA John Leighton-OH Jim Reeve-TX Lisa Welbourne-IL Kathy Burkey-OH Rod Hanson-OR June Leland-FL Tom Riggenbach-AZ Vernon Wells-TX Patrick Cash-GA Roger Harris-SC Jeff Liu-CA Mike Rogers-NC James Welter-WI Hazel Chase-WA Joseph Hart Kenneth LoCicero Timothy Sandor-WI Ron Westbury-GA Wei Chen-NY Brigitt Hartin-TX Richard LoCicero Karen Schapira-AZ Steve White-LA Bev Church-VA Clint Hartle-PA Michelle Lybarger-VA Sheryl Leonard-Schneck-WI Yvonne Wisse-NJ Demographics:

AL-24 HI-4 MI-48 NC-44 UT-10 AROUND AK-7 ID-11 MN-64 ND-2 VT-6 THE WORLD AZ-19 IL-109 MS-8 OH-90 VA-59 Australia-1 Sweden-1 AR-17 IN-52 MO-55 OK-15 WA-45 Austria-2 Thailand-1 CA-139 IA-22 MT-6 OR-23 WV-14 Bermuda-1 UK-5 CO-57 KS-26 NE-19 PA-66 WI-44 Canada-22 CT-28 KY-27 NV-8 RI-2 WY-8 China-1 DE-2 LA-28 NH-12 SC-21 Germany-3 DC-5 ME-8 NJ-53 SD-3 Iceland-1 FL-114 MD-40 NM-8 TN-28 -1 GA-83 MA-25 NY-74 TX-170

Where Our Members Chose to Finish the States

AL-5 CO-13 HI-88 KS-15 MA-12 MT-11 NM-5 OK-5 SD-16 VA-6 AK-41 CT-20 ID-9 KY-10 MI-5 NE-2 NY-6 OR-2 TN-3 WA-9 AZ-5 DE-14 IL-7 LA-10 MN-9 NV-3 NC-3 PA-8 TX-4 WV-12 AR-6 FL-1 IN-8 ME-17 MS-6 NH-16 ND-3 RI-27 UT-2 WI-8 CA-4 GA-3 IA-13 MD-3 MO-5 NJ-5 OH-1 SC-13 VT-14 WY-14 3 Big 5 Marathon & Half Marathon great. We saw all of this, drove the marathon course, and ran the water bottle was empty and Paul was in need of a drink. We sent Entabeni Game Reserve, marathon all in the four-night package. someone ahead to bring water from the finish area. About 10 On marathon day we drove 45 minutes to arrive about a half minutes later water arrived in small bags, because the water stops South Africa – 6/20/09 hour before the 8:00 a.m. marathon start. The half marathon serve the water in bags that you bite open. It was a long slow by Mike Brooks, TX starts at 8:15 a.m. and goes up and down the infamous concrete walk up the steep rocky hill where the three of us were greeted hill that I will talk about later. It was sunny and about 50 degrees with cheers and congratulations at the finish line. My brother Walt and I met in and flew directly to as the race started downhill on a dirt road, then turned onto a Paul is well known by South African runners and race offi- Johannesburg. It was a 15-hour, 8,500-mile-long flight. As part steep uphill about a half mile long. This was the highest point in cials, and we were the last runners to finish (they could now take of our travel package we were picked up the next morning for the the race at about 5,200 feet, and the lowest point was 3,600 feet. down the finish line). Those might be the reasons for all the three-hour drive to Wildside Safari Camp in the Entabeni Game The upper part of the course is the easiest with a rocky out-and- cheering. After congratulating Paul for finishing and thanking Reserve. We stayed in one of the 20 or so tents here. All the tents Barry for the pleasure of his company, it was a quick snack and have wooden floors, bathrooms with showers, and regular beds a trip back to Wildside. with electric blankets and phones. Meals are buffet style in a nice The day after the race there was another morning game drive dining area with a bar nearby. I think Wildside is the lodging to followed by a few hours of free time. The weather continued to pick. The animals are all around the camp during the day and be excellent; there was not a drop of rain and it was sunny. About sometimes wander into camp at night. After dark you must be 3:00 p.m. we headed up to Lakeside Lodge, where the race start- with an armed ranger when moving about. The most common ed and finished, for the awards ceremony and dinner. On the way animals in camp are baboons, monkeys and impalas. Walt did see there we did a game drive and then had snacks and drinks by a a giraffe during the day, and next to our tent at night we could huge bonfire with other runners who stayed at Lakeside. Then hear a lion growling. We saw elephant tracks about 100 yards the sky darkened and you could see the Entabeni Monolith next behind our tent. to the setting sun, which set the cameras clicking. We went on more game drives than were scheduled in the itin- There were African dances and music to enjoy before the brief erary. The drives were two or more hours long and were early in awards. The dinner was excellent with lamb, beef, impala and the morning and late afternoon until after dark. It was winter here plenty of fruits and veggies. I sat with Walt and Paul. Paul with temperatures anywhere from 40 to the low 70s. I wore thanked me for staying with him during the race and invited me gloves, a stocking hat and coat, and still felt cold in the open to one of his two homes just outside Krueger Park. He said ele- Land Rover vehicles during game drives. We got to watch chee- phants are not uncommon in his yard, along with other wildlife. tahs stalking impalas that came within feet of our vehicle; one Doing this marathon with Paul and Barry was a great experience. cheetah made a kill 100 feet from us! We also got to see a moth- Even if I ran alone on this tough and scenic course I would have er rhino and baby no more than 20 feet from our vehicle. The Mike Brooks, ME, and his brother, Walt, enjoy South Africa enjoyed it, but making two more friends really made the race mother would chase a male rhino off whenever he got close to worthwhile. After exchanging e-mails with Paul it was back to the baby. The baby also chased off a bothersome jackal that had back about two miles long; this was the only place with poor Wildside. It was quite a hairy ride in the dark down that concrete gotten too close once too often. A male lion started to growl from footing. Now comes the fun part. When I ran a 10-day race in about 200 feet away then slowly walked within a few feet of our NYC, Brian, a runner from South Africa, told me about this very vehicle on his way to where a lioness and her two cubs were. steep hill on the Big 5 course—and what a killer hill it was. Well, Another time we looked for elephants for about two hours with I was now starting down this hill with two South Africans. All no success until we headed back to camp and came across about three of us mostly walked down due to the steepness. We also “skipped” a bit, which makes for less impact. The hill is about 1.5 miles long with 1,200 feet of elevation change and is 40 degrees steep in many places, making the road up Mt. Washington seem like a slight incline. This is the only part of the course that is on concrete. It would wash away if it were anything else. After reaching the bottom of the hill you are in what they call lion country. The park rangers try to keep all the dangerous ani- mals away from the course. We did not see any large animals. The course here is fairly flat but has areas of soft sand that is hard to run in. After lion country, it’s time to go back up that hill. Walking up was all we could manage to do. Paul and Barry were my two running mates from South Africa. They are both ultra runners, Paul having done races up to 1,000 km. Paul had broken his ankle some months ago and this race was a test to see how it would do. Having not been able to run much because of the Elephants spotted on one of the game drives. ankle, Paul was having a tough time. Shortly after reaching the top, Paul became very dizzy and felt like he was going to pass hill in our Land Rover. This is probably the only vehicle that out. After stopping for a short time Paul felt a little better and we could make the trip. started walking with short periods of running. This part of the The next day there was an early game drive and we said good- South African dancers entertained the marathoners. course is fairly easy, on nice dirt roads with a slight incline and bye to the friends we made at camp. Paula and Steve Boone were an occasional hill. The water stops on the course are every 2.5 with us at Wildside. We flew out that night and made it home a dozen headed for a waterhole. Watching three adult hippos with miles. It was sunny and about 70 degrees, making those stops with no delays. If you are thinking of making this trip, I can be one baby munching away on water plants was another highlight more important. With just a few miles to go, the road became of assistance, so please let me know. of the game drives. We saw zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, wart rockier and had some steep hills. Less than a mile from the fin- Please go to www.big-five-marathon.com for more informa- hogs, kudos and impalas every day. All of the game drives were ish, Paul was in trouble again, feeling worse than before. My tion or e-mail me at [email protected]..

www.50statesmarathonclub.com PO Box 15638, Houston, TX 77220

4 Member Profiles

Portland, ME in 2008 with a 7:30 (he was injured and had to never knows if she can finish. Her training plan until recently Profile for Laurie Adam, CA walk the whole race). has been to run five to six days a week, six to 10 miles a day Laurie Adam just joined the 50 States Marathon Club last Jim’s favorite marathon is Erie, Pennsylvania since it’s along with some cycling on a couple of days. Recently she’s been August, in 2008. She is up to 14 states and 20 marathons, hav- the water, is in a park, and is pretty. In the future he would like unable to keep that up due to health issues unrelated to running. ing started running when she was 53, seven years ago. Her PR, to schedule Bar Harbor, Maine or Big Sur, in California, for the She says that no matter where she goes, she always runs into at Tri-Cities Marathon in 2007, was 5:08:22 and her PW at San beauty of the scenery. He particularly enjoyed a one-mile race other 50 Staters. She finds it inspirational that there are others Diego in 2003 was 6:24:40. Although she normally runs three in Springfield, Illinois because he was able to pass a lot of peo- sharing the same experiences and attempting the same goals. marathons a year, her current goals are to run two marathons in ple on the track. He has been lucky, having no injuries except Angela works as an environmental protection specialist. October 2009, Chicago and Des Moines. for an IT band injury during his first marathon due to under Laurie set a running record when she was 12, in the 50-yard training. He says, “I’ve had no injuries since then because I run dash. “I have no idea what my time was, but I remember my PE a lot of shorter races, which keep my legs in shape.” During a Profile for Richard Holmes, NC teacher telling me that it was a record, and the next year, no one marathon, his mantra is perseverance, perseverance, persever- Richard has been marathoning for 31 years, having started had broken that record.” Laurie began marathoning in July ance. when he was 29. Currently he has 205 marathons and five ultras 2001, when she was over 50. “I went straight from couch pota- Running stories: Jim got lost three times at Little Rock. The to his credit, running from nine to 14 a year for the last 13 to to marathon running.” Her RD said he marked the course by pouring flour in the street. years. He says, “Expect about 40 more in the next 15 months, father used to run, and her Jim was following someone to where there were a few white most of which have already been entered and the tickets brother has been running since lines at a corner. Since the other person went straight, so did bought!” He has 20 states on his third time around; four high school. She is a back-of- Jim. Then he came to a corner with orange cones going left and provinces of the second time around Canada; and hopes to fin- the-pack runner who enjoys right, and with no humans available, he made the wrong choice ish the second time around the continents early in 2010. the run and chatting with peo- again. The third time he followed a guy making a right turn. He started running due to a poor running performance in the ple she meets on the run. She The guy stopped to walk, and when Jim caught up with him, he Army Airborne. He entered the army after leaving a job at is a member of three running found that he was just a jogger out for a spin, and not part of McDonald’s. “I was easily the oldest, slowest, least-fit member clubs—In Motion Fit, Bonita the race! in basic. I finished last of those who pass the physical training Road Runner, and the 50 In his spare time, Jim works as a psychologist. His wife and test at the end of basic. Three years later, I repeated the scenario States Marathon Club. sons travel with him when they can. His son is a captain in the at Officer Candidate School.” Laurie completed her 10th army. They ran one marathon together at Calloway Gardens Richard went on to Airborne school, where fitness standards state, the one that enabled her near Ft. Benning, Georgia. were higher, and he was membership, at the Leading dropped. The morning run, Ladies Marathon in Spearfish, Laurie Adam, CA, finisher! two to five miles in duration, SD on her 60th birthday last Profile for Angela Ivory, TN was the problem. With the aid year. She says that it was a Angela is one of those people that makes you shake your of Jeanne, who later became privilege to meet Jan Seeley, , Elaine Doll- head! She does 40 marathons a year, and she does not choose his wife, he followed a training Dunn, and all of the others at the Women on the Move Retreat the flat and fast ones very often. She has been running with this regimen that allowed them to there. consistency for about five years. She has been marathoning complete their first marathon Laurie is a social worker for a private foster care agency. In since she was 33 and has com- eight months later. And yes, he May of this year, she became a race director, putting on a 5K pleted 152 marathons and 83 went back to Airborne school with an accompanying one-mile run as a fundraiser for the ultramarathons, for a total of and passed. At that point in the agency where she works. 235 in eight years. She com- ‘70s, he was a smoker and pleted her states the first time drinker. It has been decades at Newport Beach, California since he had either a cigarette Profile for Jim Alexander, IL in 2006. She needs five more or a drink. Richard with his daughter Jim Alexander did not start running until he was 58, and did states to complete her second Running Stories: Richard Kathleen at her recent wedding not run a marathon until he round. Her marathon PR was and Jack Brooks, UK, compet- was 59, but he’s making up at the Andrew Jackson in 2007 ed with each other over fundraising for a charity in Nashville for lost time by scheduling 10 with a 4:20:02, and her PW this year. For both, it was their 200th marathon using UK marathons a year. He started was at the Rockin’ K Trail in counting methods (no ultras included). Richard raised more running to better his health. the same year, with an ($7,000) but Jack won in effort and style by running as a To date he has completed 43 8:14:02. Her ultra PR was at Roman centurion, “with his loyal serf running in front of him marathons and 42 states. He the Mother Road 100 Miler in to protect him from the masses!” says, “In July I did Portland, Angela Ivory, TN, super 2008, 28:13:21, and her ultra Richard has had 17 (!) injuries in 2009, mostly overuse Oregon and Missoula, runner! PW was at the Chattanooga issues with his feet. He has been told that he needs a fourth foot Montana. I took my wife with River 50K in 2008, with 12:24:38. Her goal for this year was to surgery. me and saw Yellowstone complete a sub-five-hour marathon, but she has not been meet- Richard is retired from the military. He has a PhD in health National Park, where the buf- ing that so far. policy and administration from the University of North falo and bear roam free and When people ask her if she’s crazy for doing so many Carolina, specializing in finance. His jobs primarily taught mil- use the highways.” His PR marathons, she just says, “I don’t have a life.” She says that her itary health care personnel how to use and analyze data to run was at Erie, PA in 2006 with a Jim Alexander, IL, most exciting race is the one at a new distance, because she their clinics and hospitals more effectively. 4:53, and his PW was in finishing a race.

www.50statesmarathonclub.com PO Box 15638, Houston, TX 77220

5 Finishers

Congratulations Finishers *Certified Finisher David Ingram New York City, NY 11/02/08 Craig Watson 2nd time Richmond Richmond, VA 11/15/08 FINISHER Sharon Kerson 4th time Seashore Rehoboth, DE 11/22/08 Vernon Wells Honolulu Honolulu, HI 12/14/08 *Certified Finishers have provided * Gwen Payne Big Island Hilo, HI 03/22/09 hard copies of at least one item of Robert Lopez Illinois Champaign, IL 04/11/09 proof for each of the 50 states: Win Apel Boston, MA 04/20/09 * Bill Morton Boston Boston, MA 04/20/09 * Certificate * Jack Brooks Country Music Nashville, TN 04/25/09 * Betty Wong Flying Pig Cincinnati, OH 05/03/09 * Results * Larry Macon 8th time Providence Providence, RI 05/03/09 * Bib AND Medal * Tim Corcoran Colorado Fort Collins, CO 05/03/09 Ray Scharenbrock 10th time Greenbelt Trail 50K Plainview, NY 05/09/09 Frank Livaudais Vermont City Burlington, VT 05/24/09 Female Member * Fiona Wright Vermont City Burlington, VT 05/24/09 Finishers – 127 * Nick Karem Ridge Runner Cairo, WV 06/06/09 * Becky Estrin Casper Casper, WY 06/07/09 Male Member * Dorothy Frank Casper Casper, WY 06/07/09 Finishers – 316 Lisa Vodin Casper Casper, WY 06/07/09 29 Members finished in 2001 * Denis McCarthy Deadwood-Mickelson Deadwood, SD 06/07/09 * Steve Sawyer Marathon-to-Marathon Marathon, IA 06/13/09 24 Members finished in 2002 * Kathleen Jensen Hatfield & McCoy Williamson, WV 06/13/09 37 Members finished in 2003 * Don Conradi Grandma’s Duluth, MN 06/20/09 41 Members finished in 2004 * Carla Hoffman Mayor’s Anchorage, AK 06/20/09 70 Members finished in 2005 * Carol Goslin Run Charlevoix Charlevoix, MI 06/27/09 * Dan Lutes Kona Kona, HI 06/28/09 55 Members finished in 2006 * Mary Croft Psycho Psummer 50K Kansas City, KS 07/11/09 68 Members finished in 2007 Elaine Roberge King Salmon Cordova, AK 07/11/09 91 Members finished in 2008 Mark Stodghill Grizzly Choteau, MT 08/01/09 So far 31 members have 100 Milestones finished in 2009 Roxana Lewis 100th Baton Rouge Beach Baton Rouge, LA 12/06/08 150 Rich Holmes 200th Umstead Trail Raleigh, NC 03/07/09 Robert Lopez 200th Little Rock Little Rock, AR 03/15/09 Beth Davenport 100th Yakima River Canyon Yakima, WA 04/04/09 200 Parvaneh Moayedi 150th Boston Boston, MA 04/20/09 300 Jack Brooks 200th Country Music Nashville, TN 04/25/09 Lois Berkowitz 300th Glass City Toledo, OH 04/26/09 Gregg Walchli 200th Tacoma City Tacoma, WA 05/03/09 Lou Wilson 100th Brookings Brookings, SD 05/16/09 Tom Adair 300th Darkside Peachtree City, GA 05/25/09 Kevin Brosi 100th Newport Newport, OR 05/30/09 Ron Knecht 100th Newport Newport, OR 05/30/09 Darwin Weimer 100th Deadwood-Mickelson Deadwood, SD 06/07/09 Don Landry 200th Casper Casper, WY 06/07/09 Don Conradi 100th Grandma’s Duluth, MN 06/20/09 Frank Bartocci 300th Deseret News Salt Lake City, UT 07/24/09

www.50statesmarathonclub.com PO Box 15638, Houston, TX 77220

6 Antarctica – the Trip of a Lifetime by Kevin Brosi, TX photos and chugged beers. Lucy was constantly blowing a whis- so we were amused by the whole thing. tle she brought along to encourage the runners. I heard lots of On one of our last excursions we passed by Cape Horn and Lucy and I had a great trip to Antarctica. It was late summer runners talking about the crazy Chinese lady with the whistle! I made a symbolic “rounding the Horn.” We then pulled into the in the southern hemisphere, so we experienced mild tempera- reached the China base before she got there and turned around Beagle Channel and up to Ushuaia the next morning. We had tures. We met many nice people, mostly crazy runners from all to head back to the start again. I reached the half at 2:30 and quite a bit of time again in Ushuaia so Lucy and I took a taxi to over the globe, several from Texas and one guy from Iowa. I headed toward the Collins Glacier again. It was not as slick and the ski resort, rode a chairlift part way up the mountain and believe 14 people completed their seventh continent in this I didn’t use the Yaktrax I brought along. I took lots of photos as hiked as far as we could toward the glacier over Ushuaia. We marathon. I went along and even found a chinstrap penguin on the route made it back in time to eat at the only Chinese restaurant in Our trip began on Monday, March 2 when we flew from running with us. Everyone stopped to take photos. Ushuaia and found out it was run by the only Chinese person in Dallas to Miami, then to Buenos Aires where we stayed for The mud on the course was a big obstacle, especially on the town. I took a photo of Lucy with Mr. Xu. I found empanadas, three days. Immediately we walked Florida Street, a mile-long approach to the glacier. The ground was tundra, so it was very ravioli and a variety of grilled meats on the menu—not very pedestrian mall. Lucy began to scope out the Inca rose soft and squishy. In a few spots it was “pull the shoe off your Chinese. We made it to the bus with four minutes to spare, flew Argentinean stone jewelry (rhodochrosite). After competitive foot” kind of mud. The best way across was to step on as many to Buenos Aires and caught the red eye to Miami. We arrived comparisons and negotiating, she eventually bought a necklace stones as you could reach with each stride. It made for a zigzag Tuesday, March 17th and rushed across the Miami airport to and earrings. route and sometimes the rocks sank and other times there was catch the next flight home to Dallas. It’s nice to be home too. The second day we took a tour in the rain and went to all the no rock to step on. I kept thinking, “How deep will my foot sink must-see spots we could. We visited La Recoleta (and the ceme- this time?” tery where Evita Peron is buried), the Palermo Italian section, Runners cheered each other at every pass with high fives and SHORSHORTS:TS: La Boca (the birthplace of the tango) and drove past Casa encouraging words. With only 162 marathoners we got spread From John Dietrich, KS: Rosada (the pink residence made famous by Evita), and the 9th out, but the double loop meant there was usually someone in Tom Detore’s, KS, wife, Donna, passed away April 2. of July Street, a broad parkway celebrating Argentina’s inde- sight. On my last pass by the Russia base I found Lucy walking Our condolences are with Tom and his family. pendence. The next day we attempted to make a side trip to the three miles back to the start. She didn’t want to get left Colonia de Sacramento, Uruguay, but the travel agent failed to behind. I could hear her blowing the whistle a mile away. She get the tickets so instead we went back to La Boca and watched had her camera on multi-shot and was taking four photos per some tango demonstrations. We also walked through the plaza second. She caught each long penguin stride I made. I finished around Casa Rosada and saw protestors shouting, police on in 5:23 in 70th place. By the time I changed clothes and got on standby and many TV news crews set up ready for something. my wet weather gear for the Zodiac I was really freezing. Later we found out that a demonstrator had started shooting a Running is good, stopping is bad. Lucy had to help me zip my gun and made big news in Buenos Aires. We missed that, fortu- coat because I couldn’t grab hold of the zipper. I shivered on the nately. Zodiac boat ride back to the Ioffe and rushed to the room for a Argentina is all about eating meat so Lucy and I went out and hot shower. It was a successful 96th marathon on my third con- had steak at Las Nazarenas (near San Martin Plaza) and Steepus tinent. (in Puerto Madero near the Puente de la Mujer pedestrian The next day we had a huge barbecue on the aft deck of the bridge). We also found a display of eight-foot polar bears in the Ioffe (the Vavalonians came over to join us) as it snowed on us San Martin Plaza representing almost every country. in Wilhelmina Bay. I ate a hamburger with my gloves on. In the On Friday, March 6 we flew on to Ushuaia, Argentina (Tierra remaining days we traveled to the Antarctic peninsula (yes, we Auburn Firefighters L to R: Jon Woodhead, William del Fuego). After spending some time shopping and exploring stood on the Antarctic continent) and visited penguin colonies Flanders, Mike Brooks’ granddaughters McKenzie and Ushuaia (including the prison museum) we boarded a small and walked amongst them. Lucy had one come up to her and Madison Brooks, and Thomas Printup display the check cruise ship called the Akademik Ioffe. Another group would chew on her fingers. You can’t help but say, “They are so cute!” the firefighters presented to Camp Sunshine. Mike Brooks, join us a day later with a similar ship, the Akademik Vavilov. We We saw gentoo, adelie and chinstrap penguins. ME, is a retired firefighter. set sail across the Drake Passage to Antarctica in a two-and-a- We got back in the boats and saw leopard seals in the water. half day trip to the marathon. While the staff landed to make They tried to chew on our Zodiac, but were mostly From Mike Brooks, ME: arrangements for the race with all the research bases (China, hunting/waiting offshore for penguins and lounging on ice I would like to thank everyone who helped make my 10- Russia, Chile and Uruguay), we cruised Maxwell Bay in the flows. We tracked humpback and minke whales and have many day run for Camp Sunshine a success. Thanks to the gen- Zodiacs (12-person rubber rafts with aluminum floors and pow- great photos. The birds are plentiful in Antarctica: gulls, alba- erosity of many people, including the Auburn Firefighters’ erful motors). trosses, terns and the famous attacking skua. I did not get Local 797 that donated $600 from their Children’s Fund and The next day we ran the marathon in 32-degree weather. Not attacked, but they were flying close by many times. On the Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli that donated $500, I exceeded my too bad—it had been almost that cold in Fort Worth when I ran Zodiac trips to the shore or just cruising the bays, we pushed goal of $10,000. These were two of the largest donations to the Cowtown Marathon on Saturday. People from Wisconsin through brash ice that looked impassable, circled icebergs and Camp Sunshine, but all donations, no matter how much they thought it was downright balmy in Antarctica. It did get quite a saw glaciers calving new ice into the water. We hauled glacier were, will help seven families attend Camp Sunshine. I hope bit colder shortly after we started so I swapped my Maniacs hat ice back to the boat for drinks. We constantly heard ice crack- that everyone who donated realizes that they are helping for a stocking cap to stay warm, and my fingers got cold so I had ing and crashing—it always got our attention. entire families get through a very tough time in their lives. to swap gloves later. The biggest challenges were the steep hills, The ride back across the Drake Passage turned rough and Knowing that some people were donating by the mile made mud, water hazards and the slick glacier. Every step had to be Lucy has a video of the winds and waves. She went on deck and me try all the harder to reach my goal of 500 miles. I started having some minor back pain around day seven of the race, well placed. We ran two loops on the course starting at the captured the video from the railing, which was a crazy thing to which slowly became more painful. A slight lean to the left Russia base, past the Uruguay base and up Collins Glacier. Then do. She was the only one out there and the waves were splash- we turned around and ran past the Uruguay base again, back side became a major one by day 10. Just a few hours into ing high up the boat. Most people wore Dramamine patches day 10 I would have to stop walking every few hundred feet past the start and through the Russia and Chile bases and out to behind their ear to ward off seasickness. Only a few were sick, China base. Lucy had made arrangements and rode an ATV to in order to bend over and relieve the back pain. I did 491 but it was humorous to see someone show up for dinner, take a miles, missing my goal by nine miles. Exceeding my mone- the China base where she met the staff and helped at a water, look at the food and then leave hurriedly. It was a rough two coke and beer (Reeb brand!) aid station. Many stopped, took tary goal by about $1,000 more than made up for my nine- days for some. Lucy and I did not use any seasickness medicine mile shortfall.

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7 Tokyo Marathon by Martha Corazzini, NV From there, David, Jeanne and their friend, Luis from LA, went made a stop at Subway for a familiar sandwich. off to a park to see street performers and shop. Jen and I opted The following day Jen and I did a whirlwind sightseeing tour Konnichiwa! The Tokyo Marathon has become so popular in to visit the Imperial Palace Garden via the . Later of Tokyo. Our first stop was Shibuya, to see the busiest inter- recent years that they now use a lottery system to determine that night, we dined at an Italian restaurant in Akasaka on a side section in the world, Tokyo’s major department stores and the who will participate in the race. The application process begins street near our hotel, which was home to about 200 restaurants. famous statue of Hachiko, Japan’s most loyal dog. The story in July, with entries closing at the end of August. If you are Sunday, marathon morning, I was up at 5 a.m. but we didn’t goes that Hachiko, an Akita, came to the subway station to accepted you are notified in October and then asked to pay your leave for the race until about 7:30 a.m. Last-minute analysis of meet his master every day, even after his death. After that we registration fee in December. Last year they received more than the weather and wardrobe took probably an hour! I finally went to the “electronics street” at Akihabara and then on to 200,000 applications for 35,000 slots. What would seem like decided that there was a good chance of rain and the tempera- Ueno Park to see the cherry blossoms. Cherry blossom viewing impossible odds apparently does not apply to foreigners. Out of ture would be in the 50s, so I’d wear pants, a short sleeve shirt is something similar to our fall foliage: people will plan picnics our group, everyone was accepted. and a jacket I could take off and tie around my waist if neces- I decided that this would be a great time to redeem my fre- sary. This worked out fine, in fact most of the female runners and special trips to see them at various points throughout the quent flyer miles. Luckily, due to the current situation with the were dressed the same only with the addition of a running skirt country. We were probably about a week too early to see them economy, it seems easier to confirm award space on the air- over the pants—must be the running fashion in Tokyo! Finally, in full bloom, but the few early blooming trees were gorgeous. lines; I had no trouble at all in booking a business class ticket. we were off on a quick subway ride and walk through the The next day we bid Japan “sayonara” and returned home. The Grand Prince Akasaka turned out to be very well situated underground tunnels, which got us to the starting area with just (just across the street from a subway station) and moderately enough time to check our bags. The race didn’t begin until 9:15 priced (our room was approximately $136 per night). It’s a.m., but because this is a point-to-point race, bags were stored SHORSHORTS:TS: important to note that international credit or debit cards are not in trucks and left for the finish line at 8:30 a.m. From there, we About Charlie Gregory, GA: widely accepted in Japan. Only certain ATMs, located at post walked/ran to our corrals. Each person’s number began with a A big woo-hoo to Charlie, who completed his 75th offices and 7-11s, a big chain in Japan, will dispense cash. In letter signifying his or her starting corral—mine was F and marathon on his 75th birthday at the Snickers Marathon in fact, many shops and restaurants do not even accept credit David’s was J. Albany, GA on March 7. You go, Charlie! cards. Unlike the United States, this is a cash-based society; The race started under cloudy skies with no rain except for credit cards are not used for daily expenses. a few sprinkles until I crossed the finish line. As we inched up From K.D. Wells, KY: I arrived in Tokyo on Thursday afternoon. There is a 16-hour to the starting line and crossed the mats, I couldn’t help but Ran Hatfield McCoy yesterday. I finished slow but hydrat- time difference between Las Vegas and Tokyo, plus we crossed think of the NYC Marathon. After living in NYC and having ed with electrolytes. How is it that for $45 you get more sup- the International dateline, making it a day ahead. From the air- run NYC as my first marathon, I usually compare all my other port, friendly people, and a beautiful course that puts the big port we took the Airport Limousine, a luxury bus, to the hotel. marathons to it. The crowd of runners and spectators on the The airport is quite far from the city; because it was rush hour, sideline never let up. The course was crowded from start to fin- races to shame? David Hatfield does a wonderful job—this is the ride took us nearly two hours. The cost for this ride is about ish—even as the 5,000 10K runners veered off at their finish a possible site for a reunion. $30; other options such as a train would be less expensive. line, I was constantly surrounded by other runners. The only The next day David, Jeanne, Jen and I met our Japanese major difference was how clean the streets were and how polite From Tom Adair, GA: friend, Takahashi-san, for lunch. He’s the Japanese runner who the runners were. At each aid station, volunteers were divided I achieved my lifetime career goal of finishing 300 organizes the Canadian/Japanese relay fun run that we do at the into two tables—one for water and one for Amino Value, the marathons this May! We ran the Darkside Memorial Day Honolulu Marathon each year. He has run Honolulu 22 times, marathon’s sports drink. Each group actually wore a different Marathon on Monday, May 25, 2009 at Luther Glass Park in however this was his first Tokyo Marathon. He hadn’t made the colored jacket! “Dust boxes,” large boxes and tarps for garbage, Peachtree City, GA. It was 80 degrees and a humid day with lottery for the earlier races. We got an early start on carbo-load- caught the discarded cups. The runners themselves were all no rain. Everyone enjoyed an awesome run in the park. Out ing at a Japanese/Italian fusion-style restaurant, Spaghetti-Ya, very courteous—especially at the crowded water stops—each of my 300 marathons, 60 were ultras. Last year, I finished a near Takahashi-san’s office. After lunch we headed over to the took their turn and moved on quickly. marathon in all 50 states for the third time. My next goal is Expo at the Tokyo Big Sight, a huge new convention center The course itself could be run very fast. The first 10K is to finish a marathon in Antarctica. I’m particularly happy located across the river. The Expo was amazing—almost as big downhill, then it’s flat until the last three miles where you cross about my trip to Antarctica because my wife, Jean, will be as the LA Marathon or NYC! There were hundreds of vendors, two bridges on the way to the finish at the Big Sight. Not to traveling with me. representatives from other marathons, as well as lectures and have any major hills to contend with was a blessing for those, entertainment. like me, who hadn’t trained enough! Strong winds toward the Getting around in Tokyo was very easy once you got the last few miles over the water and long lines at the port-a-potties hang of it. The subway goes everywhere, most of the signs are were the only deterrents to a fast time, if you had trained prop- written in both English and Japanese and the stations are num- erly. bered, so there is no chance for confusing the names. There are I finally got to the finish line at Big Sight way past my goal several different lines: the Metro, the JR line, and some other time, but I was still happy. Tokyo has to be one of the most well private lines; the monorail we took to the Big Sight was one. organized marathons I’ve run. I completely enjoyed the sights About Denis Tickets are not interchangeable between the lines and the along the course—particularly the Tokyo Tower, a mini version McCarthy, MO: Denis completed his monorail ticket was about $4 each way, where the day pass for of the Eiffel Tower, only in red! The people watching was pret- 50th state at the Metro was only about $7. The Metro shuts down at mid- ty interesting too. We saw some very unusual costumes and Deadwood and also night. running gear out there! Once you crossed the finish line, a just turned 50! Saturday morning we had a rehearsal run to get to the start- gauntlet began: chip removal, medal, goodie bag, two or three Go Denis! ing line. The start was in Shinjuko at the Tokyo Metropolitan different fruits, drinks, and finishing towels! Yes, you get a Government Buildings, about five subway stops from our hotel. commemorative beach-type towel, another custom, I suppose. It only took about 15 minutes to get there. Once we were there There was a trip through the baggage claim. An enormous we took photos outside where they were assembling bleachers dressing room led to a long line of what looked like a commu- for spectators to watch the start, then went upstairs to the 40th nal pedicure chair, where runners soaked their feet in a type of floor observation deck and enjoyed a view of the entire city. yellow sludge. We took the Metro back to our hotel, but first

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8 Call of the Wild Marathon Vermont Adventure by Bob and Lenore Dolphin, WA Keybank Vermont City Marathon The inaugural Call of the Wild Marathon was offered by Marathon Maniac Adrian Call on by Lois Berkowitz, MI Saturday, May 23, 2009. I was pleased to run the marathon with 22 others in addition to the three who ran a 50K, 20 participants who did a half marathon and one who ran a 20-miler. Vermont’s KeyBank Vermont City Marathon expo had quite a varying display of products with The race was similar to Adrian’s First Call to Run Marathon on January 1, 2009. My report on some good sales. One of my favorite booths was the Ben & Jerry’s—I had two samples of cook- that marathon is available on www.marathonmaniacs.com at “Team Dolphin.” ie ice cream! I stayed with friends and found a number of people to visit, so my shopping was At 6:00 a.m. on May 23, there were nine of us who took an early start at the Bothell Landing kept to a minimum. I did, however, pay a $6 donation to have a foot soak, a scrub with scented Park from an area that served as the start/finish line, a mid-race aid station and post-race break- ointments, and then a nice massage on my feet and legs from the knees down. What a glorious fast bar. experience! Within a minute of the start we crossed an attractive arched footbridge over the Sammamish I remembered the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon as having one major hill. I was incorrect. River to its south bank. As the bridge trail reached the Sammamish River Trail, we turned right I ran it in 1994 and my experience of hills in marathons has broadened considerably since then, and ran north on the paved trail. Initially, we ran in riverside woods going downstream in a west- but there were quite a few hills on this pretty course. We started on a main street in Burlington erly direction, and then we crossed a footbridge to the north riverside. As the route became the and ran out in one direction, returning to the start, then out in the other direction to finish paral- lel to the street we started on. There were many beautiful views of Lake Champlain. The aid sta- Burke-Gilman Trail, we ran through a tunnel under a road and then by a golf course and subur- tions were well stocked and the volunteers were enthusiastic and helpful. I heard a couple of neg- ban housing on our way to the town of Kenmore. ative comments about the layout of the finishing area and it could have been arranged better; you The trail through Kenmore is an engineering marvel. Two cross-street underpasses and con- had to walk most of the way through it to get to some of the runner food items and runners were crete barricades by Bothell Way, a busy six-lane highway, keep trail users segregated from vehi- not divided from spectators. But the food was plentiful and interesting, especially the white cles in a populated area. Vermont cheddar chunks. There were large numbers of enthusiastic spectators at the finish. Soon after leaving Kenmore the trail ran by the small lakeside park, Tracey Owen Station, with I stayed with John and Mary Ann Lent. John and Mary Ann have climbed the highest peak in a striking view of Lake Washington. Continuing on the Burke-Gilman Trail, we turned back at all 50 states together. They have a beautiful home about 40 minutes from Burlington. The home four miles to give us a total of eight miles by the time we reached Bothell Landing again to log is designed so that you can look out any window and see a glorious Vermont-style view with in and replenish our water bottles. mountains, wild flowers and the occasional critter. They invited 50 Staters to a wonderful supper As we left The Landing this time, we turned left onto the Sammamish River Trail and went the night after the marathon. John is a 50 State Marathon Club member with over 100 marathons upstream for less than a mile to a footbridge crossing to the east side of the river. We stayed on to his credit. Mary Ann is remarkable for a number of things. As a cancer survivor, she is a mem- this side for the next seven miles to Redmond. Along the way we ran under the I-405 overhead ber of the Vermont Dragon Boat team and has raced with them all over the world. Some of the cloverleaf, near the city of Woodinville, the Red Hook Brewery, St. Michelle and Columbia platters and dishes that she served us were creations that she had made herself. I will always wineries, Sixty Acres Park and the city of Redmond. There we crossed to the west bank trail for remember the fresh picked asparagus brushed with olive oil and herbs, grilled to perfection. a half-mile. At mile 17 we turned back at the Highway 520 elevated bridge. Four street under- The story wouldn’t be complete without describing the street where the Lents live. It is a pic- passes and several footbridges protected the trail users from vehicular traffic between Bothell and ture postcard street with farmhouse dwellings and large pastures full of black and white Holstein cows. There was one notable pasture with a large herd of sheep supervised by Ollie, a shaggy Redmond. camel that had been purchased on the Internet by his owners. Ollie looked pretty strange in the The race went well. There was good weather with clear skies. The temperature was about 50 middle of the sheep herd, but he seemed to be getting along well with his short friends. degrees at the 6:00 a.m. start and 70 degrees at the finish. A cooling, light breeze in the last miles The excitement did not end with the race and a great dinner. It was Memorial Day weekend was a welcome relief. and John and his 1954 Chevy were invited to ride in the Vergennes Memorial Day Parade sup- At first, I walked the few hills on the course, then midway into the race I took short walks for porting the Vergennes Opera House. Vergennes is a pretty, respite and finally had to walk the last 10K briskly to the finish. small town very close to Waltham, where the Lents live. As On the course I appreciated the foresight of the farmers of yesteryear who planted the a guest, my job was to ride in the Chevy and give lots of Lombardy Poplar windbreaks. The shade they cast was a relief on this grassy, open trail. smiles and the Princess Di wave to all spectators. This A covey of Canadian geese caught my interest. Apparently, there were four mated pairs that parade is the largest Memorial Day parade in Vermont and had more than 20 goslings of various sizes. They walked between the paved trail on grass by the was quite a production. There were homemade floats, riverbank and ignored the bikers, runners and walkers going by. Shriners with their miniature cars, vintage tractors, classic The many bikers who passed said nothing, or warned “on your left,” or said something encour- cars (including John’s Chevy), high school bands, politi- aging. The one who said, “Hi, Bob, you’re looking good” surprised me. I had no idea who it was cians, and (my personal favorite) a Blues Brothers band until he came by later and slowed down to visit. It was Paul Emmet, 63, of Redmond, an “Evil from that comes down every year. They dress in Triplet” marathoner. He’s training for STP (Seattle to Portland), the long-distance bicycle tour, costume, complete down to the dark glasses. They were 100-mile century races and other shorter races. He hopes to get back to doing marathons again in right in front of us in the line up and they were fine! They added to the excitement by occasionally marching off the the fall of this year and run another Yakima River Canyon Marathon on March 27, 2010. road to serenade various spectators. People chose their I finished my marathon at Bothell Landing with a time of 6:07:39. I enjoyed the pancake spots and lined up early for this parade. When we finished, breakfast and talked to the many runners and volunteers who were still in the area. Jim Boyd, Rich we parked on a crowded, narrow street and walked to the Menzel, Ray Shaw and I (all Marathon Maniacs) compared marathon itineraries to determine park near the opera house where Bernie Sanders from the The Las Vegas Track Club present- when our paths would cross again. House of Representatives was addressing a crowd. ed Martha Corazzini, NV, with this cool camel lifetime achievement A treat for me was to run the legs from Redmond to Kenmore. In years past I had run that 13- This is a beautiful, enjoyable run. It’s hard to find ugly award. mile stretch as part of the Falls to Gasworks Ultramarathon and the Seattle Marathon course that in Vermont. Check out the race for 2010, to be held on pre-dated the current course. It was nice to re-visit a course that I ran years ago. Sunday, May 30, at runvermont.org/marathon. I had a good time, and I’m looking forward to running the First Call to Run Marathon on New Year’s Day in 2010. Many thanks to race director Adrian Call, his wife Marty and the volunteers who put on this well-organized marathon, 50K and half marathon.

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9 Capon Springs WV 50K Trip Report by Diana Burton, NJ Course Description seeking rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. Nature’s gifts of wood- The course is situated on wonderful woodland trails filled lands, water and food provide the perfect setting to experience I Came, I Ran, I Conquered with natural beauty. There is breathtaking scenery and quiet, the bounty of resources here. When Lou and Virginia Austin Last year I met these lovely runners who convinced me to try country atmosphere. The course is hilly and the footing would acquired the property in 1932 with the sole intention of distribut- a 50K, but they couldn’t get me over the finish line. With their generally be very manageable. There are always a number of ing the water, they had no idea they would slowly resurrect the continued encouragement, I went again, and with their help I fin- stream crossings but this year there were 42, plus a few rocky resort with the help of over 100 loyal coworkers. ished this 50K (31 miles) technical trail run over hill and dale, areas. Almost the entire course is on lovely dirt paths in the Facts through mud and pastures, a few miscues and added mileage, woods. It is a remote course, but it’s well marked with pink sur- • Capacity: 200 adults, 50-75 children super high mountains, over dozens of stream crossings, in the veyor’s tape hanging from tree branches. You’ve got to remem- • Property size: Approximately 4,700 scenic acres heat and humidity, and finished in 8:38. I was thrilled. ber to quit looking at your feet long enough to find the signs to • Dress: Strictly casual—no neckties, please! Conditions weren’t much better than last year due to lots of turn. Lots of folks got off course. For further information, check out www.runcapon50k.com. rain and swollen rivers. Because of this, the organizers decided Capon Springs to give us more than the eight-hour cutoff time. Yet still, of 200 Canon Springs is an unincorporated hamlet in Hampshire who entered, 126 of us finished. I didn’t mind being at the back County, West Virginia. According to the 2000 census, the Capon of the pack and was just grateful to finish. For the first seven or Springs community has a population of 95. It is located on so hours of the run, I was certain that I had to return no matter Capon Springs Road (West Virginia Secondary Route 16) along whether I finished or not. It was that gorgeous. The stream cross- Capon Springs Run. Originally known as Frye’s Springs (after its ings at times were upwards to the knees but I’d taken trekking discoverer Henry Frye), it was later established as the Town of poles and felt more secure. This way I didn’t have to wait for Watson on December 12, 1787. The town was renamed for its someone to hold my hand to cross the waters. But in the last cou- medicinal spring. The springs were believed to carry such heal- ple of hours, I was doubtful of finishing, let alone wanting to ing power that half an acre sold for $900 in gold in the late 18th return! Still, here I am now, looking forward to next year! Is this century. After West Virginia seceded from Virginia in 1863, it had something like childbirth where you forget the discomfort? to pay Virginia for the loss of the springs during Reconstruction. Before I left Capon Valley Farms I reserved for next year, and The historic Capon Springs & Farms resort is located here and is followed up with asking the organizers if they were OK with me listed on the National Register of Historic Places. returning knowing that an eight-hour cut off probably wasn’t in Capon Springs & Farms the cards. Since the 1840s, guests have journeyed to Capon Springs Left to right: Keith Hosman, Debbie Daughtry, Stehanie Danahy, Monica Nop, VA, Diana Burton, NJ, Janice Burford. Finishing the Appalachian Trail by Don Taylor, WV weather running. This meant no hornets, I’d noticed Denny limping on and off for several weeks and no gnats in the eyes and no rattlers on the eventually he had to quit. His orthopedic doctor confirmed Walt Prescott’s Appalachian trail hike trail (we’d had a couple of close calls what we’d most feared—his knee cartilage was shot! He’d been (March ‘09 Newsletter) has rekindled my inter- with timber rattlers in Pennsylvania). We a great racquetball player (an impact sport), and unlike me he est to finish what two of us started several years ran in running gear with a fanny pack, was forever fighting his weight. He goes in for knee replace- ago—running the Appalachian Trail from clip-on water bottle and one of us would ment at the end of this year and hopefully we can have a crack Maine to Georgia. carry the Appalachian Trail pocket guide at the remaining states between Maine and Georgia in 2010; Almost every weekend when there was not so we could check on history as we but like his surgeon said, “I’m not promising you anything.” a race in our schedules we ran the Appalachian passed through it and could redirect our- I can’t wait to get started. Anyone want to join me as we pass Trail. It’s scenic, undisturbed, invigorating, selves in places where navigation through the remaining states? with lots of challenging climbs, so it’s great for became a problem. We skipped mid-day Earlier I mentioned the Appalachian Trail guidebooks, race training. We came up with the idea after meals and, like Walt, we’d snack on which not only describe the condition of the trail with maps to we met the runner who then held the record for berries in season with the occasional boot but they also relate its history along the way. Pre- running its entire 2,176-mile length at the JFK mushroom, recharge our water bottles Columbian sites, ghost towns from the 1700s, remnants of a 50-miler, but we had no plans to run it in one from creeks (some of which were murky railway from the 1800s, an overgrown WWII prison camp, and shot. We’d take off in two vehicles for three to and very suspect), but both of us were four days, seldom longer because that would happy to be alive and kicking. At day’s so on. It made me regret sometimes that we ran past all this his- interfere with marathons and other weekend end we’d pig out, assuming we could tory without time to investigate, not to mention the flora and races and—oops—not to mention family! find a country store or any place where wildlife one encounters. We’d run 18-25 miles a day depending upon provender could be put to use as fuel. The current unofficial speed record for running the trail in Art Stanger, FL, poses in a terrain. As Walt points out in his fascinating I forget how long it took us to get this one shot is held by Andrew Thompson, who completed the commentary, there are rivers to ford, fast-flow- fashionable running outfit far, but we completed the trail north- entire 2,176 miles in 47.5 days in 2005. An average of 45 run- ing creeks, steep and precarious climbs requir- along the road at Big Sur. bound in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and ning miles per day may not seem that extreme to an elite ultra ing hands-on help in some places and heights in New York, up to where it crosses the runner but when one considers the rock climbs, the injurious approaching 5,000 feet, although it all can be tackled in run- Hudson River’s Bear Mountain Bridge, leaving us with just falls that go with a rocky trail, fast-flowing creeks, and the high ning shoes. We’d stay in a cabin or nearby country motel or over a day’s run to the Connecticut line. altitudes—what an amazing performance! The same goes for store, and if we couldn’t find one we’d sleep in a vehicle or Southbound we wrapped up the trail in Maryland and West Walt Prescott’s 141-day hike, which included illness along the wherever we could sack out safely. After a day on the trail sleep Virginia. While in Virginia, we ran and climbed the trail way. comes easily! through the magnificence of the Shenandoah National Park If anyone is considering running the Appalachian Trail, I’d We ran in all seasons. Snowstorms actually caught us in along the Blue Ridge towards Tennessee, and that’s where it all like to hear from you. One way or another, I have every inten- Pennsylvania and Virginia but our preference was cool/cold ended. tion of running its entire length while I’m still able.

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10 My Mom the Marathoner SHORSHORTS:TS: by Jane Reneau, Daughter of Erin McGuire, TN Picking up where Mom left off, he showed me new strategies From Carol Goslin, MO: and approaches to running and I have continued to improve in I made the front page of our newspaper by finishing all of October 11, 2008 was the perfect day to be in Hartford, not only my marathon, but in shorter races as well. Last year I my 50 states. Go to www.kansascity.com (7/15/09), to the Connecticut. The weather was cool and crisp, there was a married this man and we have begun filling our life together bottom of the page and hit “Neighborhood” then hit bright blue sky and brightly colored trees in all shades of gold, with our own running adventures and excursions. Mom and I “Northland” and it should come up. The pictures they took red, and orange. What made this day special was that my mom don’t run together as often as we used to, but we still make time were great and I had my 50 State shirt on. The writer also and I spent it running a marathon together. On this lovely for it almost every week. She only lives an hour away and so it talked about the 50 States Marathon Club. October day my mom, Erin McGuire, obtained her goal of run- is easy to fit in a run or two when I am there or she is here. We From Eddie Hahn, CA: ning a marathon in all 50 states of the United States of still talk about everything from marriage, to politics, to work, Eddie was featured in Marathon & Beyond’s e-letter for America. to friends, to God and life. April/May as Subscriber of the Month. Congratulations, After running a few 5Ks, a few 10Ks and a few half- When we ran together in Connecticut, I couldn’t help but Eddie! marathons, she decided that the next logical step was to try a remember how far we’d both come in our journeys as runners. marathon. In January of 1994, she ran the inaugural Disney In preparation for the race, Mom made two lists. One was of 26 From Tom Adair, GA: World Marathon and upon her completion, she decided she people and one was of 26 scriptures. As we ran each mile, she The Buncombe Trail 34M run on Sunday, May 3, 2009 in the Sumter National Forest was a fun event. The heavy would never run another one. A runner sitting nearby assured pulled out her lists and talked of the person for whom she was foliage and the 85-degree temperature made a few miles my mom that she would in fact run another marathon. Mom running that mile and she quoted the scripture that went along sluggish. The aid stations were loaded with good stuff. Terri looked at him as if he were insane and stated once again that with that mile as well. Mom would say the name that went with Hayes, you and your staff did a great job! Thank you for she would never run another marathon. After arguing this point the mile we were running and then tell me a little about each your graciousness and for working so hard. The South for a few minutes she finally asked this man when, exactly, she person. Most of the stories I already knew. I knew Aunt Donna Carolina Ultra Trail Runs is an awesome series of four ultras. would decide to run another one. His response was, had gotten Mom to run her first 5K. I knew Renee Whitton had I enjoyed the Buncombe Trail 34M run, and the support and the friendship of everyone. More information on the South “Tomorrow.” Sure enough, as we were walking around Disney talked Mom into running her first marathon. I knew several of Carolina Ultra Trail Runs can be found here: World the next day, she looked to Dad and said, “You know, I’d the running buddies Mom has had over the years and the ultrasontrails.com. like to try and see if I can run a marathon without getting so impact they’ve had on her own running career. She ran for many blisters on my feet.” Dad reminded her of her conversa- Granny whose memory will always remain dear. She ran for tion the previous day… and it began. Uncle Al who encouraged her along the way. She ran for her Anyone who knows my mom knows she doesn’t do any- grandchildren, Caroline and Caleb, and for her precious first thing halfway. She doesn’t quit what she starts—ever. My sis- born, my sister Julie. Toward the end of the marathon I carried ter and I were not allowed to make excuses for our behavior. the lists and would prompt Mom with the name and the scrip- And so when Mom decided to run a marathon in every state, I ture. had no doubt that it would come to fruition, and I am so very Around mile 24, the scripture was one that Mom and Julie glad it did. After standing at a few finish lines waiting for Mom had found in Proverbs that reads, “Go to the ant, you sluggard. and watching the runners complete what was an unfathomable Consider its ways and be wise.” So as we passed mile 24, I was distance to me, I wondered if I could do it too. slightly ahead and I looked back at Mom and yelled, “GO TO And so my own journey began. At the age of 15 I was run- THE ANT…” and she quoted the rest. I’m sure the other run- ning 10 miles, and at the age of 16 I tried my first half- ners around us wondered about that, but by mile 24 neither one marathon. It was misery, but I did another one anyway. I trav- of us really cared. When she got to mile 26, she ran for me. As Left to right: Marcia Godwin, TX, Joye McElroy GA, eled with Mom all over the place running the half when she ran she told me what I meant to her and how much she loved me, Winston Davis, GA Susan “Socks” Kolbinsky, GA, Tom the whole, until one day I decided to try the whole myself. I looked up and saw that we were about to go for a climb. I told Adair GA, Terri Hayes, Diana Boehm, TX, Bill Cox and Anne Rentz, GA. Mom helped me get there and in 2003 she and I ran our first Mom to tap into that love because she was going to need it. marathon together in Los Angeles. My first marathon was not She, of course, ran up the hill with gusto and before we knew From Yolanda “Walking Diva” Holder, CA: as bad as Mom’s first marathon, but it certainly wasn’t what I’d it we could see the big arches that stood above the finish line. Congratulations, Yolanda, on finishing call fun. Mom encouraged countless runners that day—and on In our usual fashion, we grabbed hands and threw our arms in your 100th marathon so many other days. A few years and a few marathons later, I the air as we crossed that 50th state finish line. at the Red Rock began to pay attention to my marathon time. What started Mom will continue to run races of all distances even though Canyon Marathon! somewhere in the 5:20s made its way to under five hours and this goal has been completed. She will continue to inspire Way to go! Yolanda then under 4:45. Mom paced me for most of these, helping me countless other runners and non-runners just by being who she was also a cover girl hold my course for the goals I’d set. is. I will continue to run as well, and I will always be grateful on Walking About We have so many wonderful memories. I remember laugh- that this amazing woman is my mom and that I got to be a part magazine’s July/August issue. ing on airplanes and getting lost in downtown areas while look- of the adventure as she ran across the United States of America. You look really good ing for post-marathon ice cream. I remember all the interesting for a marathoner! people we met along the way, and all the training runs where CORRECTION: In our March 2009 issue, Chester we talked and talked and talked so that our tongues were just as “Southernmost “We Run As One” was incorrectly attrib- tired as our legs. When running, I had Mom all to myself and I Walker” Kalb, Fl, was knew I could talk to her about anything. We talked about men uted to Tony Blair, NE. The quote is from also featured in the magazine. and jobs and friends and money and God and life. Two years Jerry Dunn, SD, member and director of ago I met a man named Jason Reneau who is also a runner. the Deadwood-Mickelson Trail Marathon.

11 2nd Quarter Reunion Deadwood-Mickelson Trail, June 7, 2009

We had a great meeting June 7 before the Deadwood-Mickelson Trail Marathon outside of Rapid City, South Dakota. Board members Charles Sayles and Dave Bell organized our sec- ond-quarter reunion, and made presentations along with guest speaker and 50 States Marathon Club-member Elaine Doll-Dunn. Representatives of the South Dakota State Senate and House of Elaine Doll-Dunn presents a special award from Leanhorse Darwin Weimer, CN, receives his special award from Elaine Productions to Roger Biggs—500 marathons! Representatives also spoke, along with race direc- Doll-Dunn—140 marathons! tor Jerry Dunn. Roughly 60 to 70 members and guests were present to participate in the meeting. Our award recipients were Roger Biggs, GB, who completed his 500th marathon; Darwin Weimer, CN, who completed his 100th marathon; and Denis McCarthy, MO, who completed the 50 states at Deadwood-Mickelson the next day. Fiona “Fifi” Wright, FL, Frank Livavdias, and Jack Brooks, GB, all received their finishers’ awards. We had a great run and a great reunion. Thanks to Jerry and Elaine Doll-Dunn for their fine host- ing and support.

Thanks to Martha Corazzini and Denis McCarty displays his award while Elaine Doll-Dunn Fiona “Fifi” Wright, FL, explains how she completed to and Charles Sayles observe. Meta Minton for taking pictures! Charles Sayles, CA.

Dave Bell, CO, Jack Brooks, GB, and Charles Sayles, CA. Frank Livaudias, TX, displays his award for Dave Bell, CO, Dave Reid and Joanne Meier, both CA, in a nice “before” Jack finished the 50 states. and Charles Sayles, CA. shot at Deadwood-Mickelson.

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12 Survey of 50 States SHORSHORTS:TS: Marathon Club Members by Mark Landry, TN sure I could begin this journey in today’s economy.” Frequent flyer miles, “no kids” and retirement also played a role. Steve As a partial requirement for my Anthropology 499 class, I Fuller, MO, one of the early completers of 50 states, said air- generated a survey of 20 questions for members of the 50 fares from Kansas City were cheaper, it was not a hub airport, States Marathon Club (printed in the last newsletter). I obtained and it was centrally located. Retired Gene Bruckert, IL, who initial responses from 36 males and 19 females. The predomi- nant male responders were in the 50-59 age group (n=14), and 60-69 (n=10). The females numbered greater in the 40-49 (n=7) and in the 50-59 (n=6) age groups (see Figure 1). In April of this year there were 1,169 male and 654 female members in the club. Thirty seven percent of the women had completed the Standing, left to right: Bob Gregg, Norm Frank, NY, Michael Sklar, GA, Karl Nystrom, SW, and Dick Herman, CN. Kneeling, left to right: Wally Herman, CN, Tom Adair, GA, and Don McNelly, NY. Photo was taken before the Disney Marathon on 1/11/98.

From Tom Adair, GA: The occasion for these pictures was the news that Norm Frank, NY had suffered a series of three strokes in the past year. He is recovering in Rochester, NY with family.

has completed the 50 four times, usually drives to marathon locations listening to audio books. The frequency of marathons per year varied from three to 30. Four weeks of recovery was the most frequent response for recovery time. You can save money rounding the states by com- Barb Wnek, pleting New Hampshire on Saturday and Maine on Sunday. MO, poses at Experienced runners like Gene Bruckert, IL, have done as Disney World 50 states at least once, with the older two categories having fin- many as 33 doubles. Bill Whipp, OH did a triple over a Labor after the Goofy ished this endeavor. Fifty percent of the men had completed the Day weekend. Triples are not uncommon among 50 Staters. Challenge, with Donald. 50 states at least once. The surveyed group of 55 had complet- Health was generally a very important goal for most run- ed 3,354 marathons, 84.8 per respondent. This average was greater than that of membership of the club at large (1,823), which has completed 110,030 marathons, or 60.36 per member (50 States Marathon Club Newsletter, April 2009). The first question focused on the marathoners’ past athletics in high school or college. The men were found to be more active. A third participated in sports, but not necessarily run- ning or track. Women were significantly less involved in high Frances and Joe Wasicka, IL: school or college sports. One female respondent mentioned: Frances and Joe have organized their medals from their “Title IX wasn’t around when I went to school.” The year of first go-round of the states. These are in state order from their marathon start varied from 1973 in the 60-69 age catego- the top, left to right, and each sticker below the medals has ry to as recently as 2005. Five of the males started running the date run, initials of the state, what number the state was for them, and each sticker is also color coded! Beat that, marathons in the 1970s, two of the 14 in the 50-59 male age you A-personality types! group started in the 1970s. One female in the 50-59 age group ners, but a few were indifferent to the benefit: “I try to keep had completed a marathon in 1978. The level of education from being injured.” However, a number ran to relieve stress completed was overwhelmingly college, and post graduate was and anxiety and to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system. of higher frequency in the older age groups. Regarding body Tom Zugger, OH, writes, “No male with my last name has types, 11 percent of the males admitted to being “heavily built.” reached 60 as far back as my mother could find.” Kara Kelly, Five percent of the females admitted to the larger category. OH, is a coach of a local running group and an exercise physi- Questions 11 and 16 were similar: what kept them running, ologist. She writes: “Health maintenance is who I am, what I and what facilitated completion of the 50 states. More obvious teach, what I research, and what I promote.” answers were good health, supportive family and friends, the I’m grateful for the great response received from members. adventure of travel, available time and money. Elaine Roberge, Over 100 have responded to date. SC, who was one state from finishing the 50 wrote, “I’m not 13 Big Island My Boston Story by Mark Rudnicki, IL

International Marathon I didn’t qualify for Boston, so I ran as a charity runner (i.e. I bought my than enough recovery food items and drinks at the finish. way in, rather than run a race quick enough to qualify). The Roads Hilo, Hawaii – 3/22/09 Each finisher received a short-sleeved cotton T-shirt, Scholars, (www.active.com/donate/CARA2009/markruns262) is a youth running program designed to challenge students to experience the benefits by Kamiar Kouzekanani, TX medallion, and a bag of coffee. The run was not chip- timed, but individualized race time reports were available of goal-setting, character development, adult mentoring and improved health by providing them with a truly life-changing experience: training for The Hawaiian Islands consist of Ni’ihau (Forbidden a few minutes after crossing the finish line. High humid- ity made this a very challenging marathon. and completing the Rock-N-Roll Chicago Half Marathon. Island), Kaua’i (Garden Isle), O’ahu (known for Waikiki After several flight delays, we came back to the gate—although three of beaches), Moloka’i (known for Moloka’s bread), Lana’i There were 192 marathon finishers (120 males, 72 females) with an average time of 4:38:28. The winning us transferred to another flight. As we exited the plane we were told we had (known for Manele Bay), Maui (Valley Isle), Kaho’olawe four minutes to make the other flight, which was a good distance away. (used to be a Navy firing range), and Hawai’i (the Big times were 2:50:21 (overall male), 3:23:56 (overall female), 3:00:08 (masters male), and 3:38:39 (masters Bridgette led the way. Island). Hawai’i became the 50th state on March 19, I found BJ, my race roommate, through the 50 States Club Yahoo list. 1959. Hilo, the second-largest city in the state (Honolulu female). There was also a half marathon and a 5K. My good friends, Al and Sandy Cumming, TX, com- One of his friends posted a message that he was looking for a roommate. is the largest), is located beneath Mauna Kea, the tallest After I arrived at the hotel, I did a quick check of my things before we head- peak on the Big Island. Its population is about 42,000. It pleted their quests to run marathons in all 50 states and D.C. My goal was to run with Sandy. We ran the half in ed to the expo. After returning from the expo, which seemed smaller than is the southernmost as well as the wettest city (average New York’s or Chicago’s, we headed out to find an Italian restaurant to annual rainfall is approximately 128 inches at the airport) 2:03:38 (9:26 pace), talked a lot, and had a good time. By mile 17, I didn’t think we could have done better than carbo-load. I asked a lady who was getting on her bike if she knew of any in the United States. It is also vulnerable to tsunamis. Italian restaurants in the area. She directed us to Camello’s, which was Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park, 29 miles west of Hilo, 4:10. I began to fade between miles 18 and 19. I asked Sandy not to slow down for me. Up to mile 22, I was fair- about one half mile away. With limited options, we decided to make the and Waipio Valley, about 40 miles north of Hilo, are must- walk. As it turns out, the food was very good and reasonably priced. It was see places. I flew into Hilo on Thursday afternoon and ly close to her. By mile 23, I had run out of fuel. I refused to walk and jogged to the finish. Sandy had finished in good to sit in the restaurant as my legs were starting to get tired. My last stayed in the host hotel, Hilo Hawaiian. two weeks of runs had been very difficult. After we returned to the room, I At 4:30 a.m. buses began transporting the runners to 4:11:11 (9:35 pace) and won her age group. I crossed the finish line in 4:16:54 (9:48 pace). Al finished in 4:31:34 was on my rollaway by 9 p.m. Unfortunately, the noise from the bar area the start line. The temperature was in the 70s. We had kept me up until almost 10 p.m. access to a community center, and then the race started at (10:21 pace). All three of us were exhausted, yet happy, marathoners and agreed that humidity was the overall We woke up at 4:15. After eating my oatmeal, we headed out the door at 6:00 a.m. Although there was a net drop of 500 feet 5 a.m. to catch the subway to the buses. As luck would have it, the direc- between miles zero and 10, there were several hills with- winner! I felt dizzy for several hours after the run. For me, it started as a pleasant running experience and ended as tions I received didn’t account for the designated stop being closed for in the first 8 miles, which was also the most scenic part of Marathon Monday. Luckily, for me, it only required walking a couple extra the route (waterfalls, exotic trees/plants, narrow bridges). something quite humbling indeed! This was my 45th state. blocks. I had hooked up with Boston Bound and had a seat on a coach bus My friend and fellow runner, Rich Martucci, wrote the to the start. BJ took a school bus. following poem upon my return from Hilo: After listening to other runners on the bus discuss what they were going to run in and since I typically overdress, I decided to run in shorts. I had a Hello Hilo tyvek jacket, a summer long sleeve Under Armour shirt along with a tech- Here we go nical t-shirt and my $1 Walgreen mittens. It took five minutes to walk to the Hope I don’t fall start from gear check. After the start of wave two, it took about 15 minutes Into a volcano to get to the start line. My entire body was cold for the first three to four miles. I then removed the tyvek jacket and wrapped it around my waist. I’m OK so there’s no lava glad I didn’t dump it. It was comfortable with some sun and almost no wind But there are several hills at that point. Spectators lined the streets in every town. Nearly the entire But nothing too tough course was flanked with spectators. They offered water, oranges, pretzels as For a man of my skills well as candy along the course. If you didn’t accept something, they almost seemed offended. The course was scenic at times, and I noticed a house The scenery is pretty with a “Circa 1865” sign on it. As I approached Wellesley, a din could be Exotic trees and plants heard a half-mile away. It was noisier than the going onto First Avenue in I wish I could take a picture New York during the marathon I ran this past November. I had heard about But obviously I can’t the “girls at Wellesley.” Traditionally, girls hold signs asking for kisses Ann “Granny Annie” Singer, NY, advertises for the 50 (…because I’m blonde; …because I’m cute; …because I’m horny; States Marathon Club by wearing her hat at the Mini 10K …because I’m Mexican. There was a sign offering “lesbian kisses”) and in Central Park June 7th. I guess the Big Island Doesn’t have high regards for streets high fives are given. I did peck a few on the cheek as I went by. My legs started to tighten as I approached the half. The wind came and went. I had But what they do have really high From mile 10 to the finish was basically flat. We ran a planned on “starting slow” so I was on target, but I didn’t plan on tapering Is the humidity and the heat large number of miles on slanted-road shoulders that after that. My hamstring at the butt tightened. Basically, I shuffled to the made the footing less than desirable. From shortly after end (not much different than other runs, I guess). I did shuffle up the three They gave me a bag of coffee mile 17 to just after mile 24, we had to run with our backs hills that lead to Heartbreak Hill. I only stopped to take pictures on In my goodie bag which was nice to the traffic, and I am one of those people who doesn’t Heartbreak. But if you run a marathon in Hawaii like to run with his back to traffic! Fortunately, there were At the finish, I got a Mylar blanket and headed to gear check. I picked I’ll give you some advice not too many cars on the road. There were ample up my medal and asked Arturo, a race official, to take my picture. As I water/sports drinks stations, and wet sponges after mile walked into the hotel, BJ and everyone in the lobby started to clap and say Make different travel arrangements 18 were very much appreciated. There was hardly any congratulations. After my shower, we headed back to the bar area for the That’s what I would do crowd support but race volunteers were cheerful. There much needed beer and burger. Was I happy with my 5:25:35? Of course, were on and off rain showers, followed by in and out sun- And run that other Hawaiian Marathon anytime I complete a marathon I’m happy, but I thought it would have been shine, which made it immensely humid. There were more You know, the one that’s on Oahu :-) faster. Maybe next year…

www.50statesmarathonclub.com PO Box 15638, Houston, TX 77220

14 Volcano Marathon Lays Dormant by Vince Charbonneau, Ont./Canada After checking in at the race headquarters and fuelling up at zigzag back towards the trail. Aid station volunteers along this the carbo-load dinner buffet (featuring several types of pastas, section had hiked in and camped in the desert (no rain there, Although the Kilauea Volcano, the world’s most active vol- meats, salads, mahi-mahi fish and desserts), we retired to our just lots of wind they said) the night before. cano, continues to spill lava from its cones of Pu`u `O`o onto studio cottage bed & breakfast for some much needed sleep. We had now dropped over 1,000 feet, although it really did Hawaiian soil and into the Pacific Ocean (as it has continually Unfortunately, heavy rains pounded the metal roof of our cot- not feel like were going downhill. At the mid-way mark, we since 1983), the marathon that runs in and around its park has tage all night and not much sleep was had. The marathon start- were finally out of the desert, but we had to climb back up to been cancelled. A recent press release on the Volcano Arts the top of the volcano. The next five miles ran along paved park Center Web site (www.volcanoartcenter.org) cites that “Sulfur roads (Chain of Craters Road) and basically all of it was uphill, dioxide gas and ash from the ongoing eruption continues to but very scenic. We were surrounded by hardened lava from inundate several miles of the former race routes” and “concern past eruptions. and desire to protect the environment and cultural resources of At mile 18 we entered another trail, this one an unpaved, the park” as factors for the cancellation and therefore deemed grassy road called the Escape Road, in a humid rainforest. Only that the race was no longer feasible. on the Big Island of Hawaii can you find yourself in the desert In 2006, I had the pleasure of competing in this event. and then the rainforest, separated by only a few miles. Climate Following my vacation, I had submitted the following race and vegetation vary greatly in this corner of the world. Four report to my running club’s newsletter. I hope this article will miles and roughly 800 feet later, we began the last leg of the allow former finishers from the past 26 years of the Kilauea race. Since I had walked a lot during the previous uphill sec- Volcano Marathon to reminisce about this gem, and I also hope tion, I was ready to do a bit of running. The Crater Rim Trail is to encourage those who have not run this marathon to seek out narrow and steep and circles the crater whose floor is 300 feet and support other obscure and low-key race events. below the rim and two and a half miles across. We ran past sev- “Ultra-esque” Volcano Marathon eral natural steam vents, through the military camp and finally Having completed over 30 ultra marathons, I decided it was to the finish where runners received their finishers t-shirts and time to attempt my first standard 26.2-mile marathon. An medals. Minutes after my finish, the skies clouded over and the important question remained: Which marathon would be my heavy rains hammered the island for the remainder of the day inaugural one? and night. The rest of the week however, we were treated to I was drawn to ultras in 2000 when a friend suggested that I clear skies and temperatures in the mid 80s. run the Sulphur Springs 50K race in Dundas, Ontario instead of My time of 5 hours 17 minutes and 30 seconds is not that a marathon. Although it was an epic struggle, I was hooked! flattering but placed me once again in the middle-of-the-pack After running that first ultra, the thought of running a crowded at 65th out of 121 finishers. This time resembles several of my marathon along city streets did not appeal to me. recent 50K trail times, such as The Ground Hog Fall 50K in In April, my wife Joanne and I booked our summer vacation: Punxatawney, Pennsylvania and the Run for the Toad 50K in a trip to Hawaii. A Google search revealed that during our stay, Vince Charbonneau, Ont., runs along Kilauea’s trails. Paris, Ontario. Several factors contributed to the difficulty of a marathon was being held approximately two hours away from this race. The elevation change, the heat radiating from the lava our resort. The Kilauea Volcano Marathon’s Web site billed this ed at 6 a.m., so we were up early for breakfast and other pre- rocks, the humidity in the rain forest and the varied terrain event as “one of the World’s toughest measured marathons.” race rituals. make this marathon unlike any. The Kilauea Volcano Marathon The race has a strict limit of 225 runners, suggests entrants The day began cold, gray, wet and miserable. A light drizzle is not ultra-long, but certainly ultra-tough. Aloha and mahalo! have significant trail running experience and even recommends fell upon the 135 starters. Then at 6 a.m. sharp, the starter gun About the author: Having successfully completed a handful that runners wear protective clothing to reduce the chance of was fired and the runners left the starting line. A couple of min- of half marathons, a friend introduced me to the world of ultra- injury. I certainly was not going to qualify for Boston, but it utes later, the sun slowly found its way through the clouds and marathons in 2000. I was inspired and motivated by the feats appeared that I had found my marathon. it did not take long to warm up. (and feet!) of these runners and I was immediately hooked! In We arrived on Hawaii’s Big Island on Monday, July 24th, The start of the race at Volcano Park Visitors Center sits at May 2000, I entered the Sulphur Springs 50K race in Dundas, five days before the race. Tuesday’s front-page headline in the 4,078 feet above sea level. The first mile of the race follows the Ontario and completed my first ever race beyond the 30K Honolulu Advertiser read: “Hurricane Daniel Heads Towards park roads before entering the Ka’u Desert trail. That’s right, mark. Less than a decade later, and countless miles on the trails Hawaii.” The storm was some 800 miles off the coast and was desert! Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano, is surrounded and roads, I recently completed my 50th race of marathon dis- expected to hit the Big Island sometime late Friday or early by desert and for the first 13 miles runners must circle the vol- tance or greater (5 marathons, 5 100-milers, 13 50-milers, 27 Saturday morning … just in time for the race! Great! I had cano through the desert—and there is no trail! This section was 50Ks) at the Disney Goofy Challenge in Orlando, Florida. I am already run 11-plus hours in the pouring rain earlier in the year somewhat surreal. I felt as though I could be running on the proud of this accomplishment and I am now taking aim on at the Bull Run Run 50-miler, but I was not willing to tackle moon (minus the weightlessness of course) on a combination number 100. A member of the 50 States Marathon Club, I have any distance in a hurricane! Much to our delight, Daniel was of hardened lava rocks, deep and soft black sand, and crunchy completed races in two different Canadian provinces along downgraded to a tropical storm, then a tropical depression, and charcoal. I was expecting the lava to crack open and swallow with 12 U.S. states. A classic “of-the-pack” runner, I have man- eventually forecasters announced that remnants of Daniel me up at any moment. Since there is noticeable trail, runners aged to collect some hardware, notably at the Ultra would only bring isolated showers to the island late in the navigated their way from one tiny yellow flag to the next 50K in 2005 where I earned the third place honors, having run week. Relieved, we spent the next couple of days enjoying the through this barren land. Soon runners disappeared on the hori- a PR of 4:09:21. sites of the Kona Coast before loading up our rental car and zon and the sun’s glare made it difficult to spot the flags. On When not running, I am a teacher and guidance counselor at heading to Hawaii’s Volcano National Park. several occasions I was 20 or 30 feet off course and had to a French High School in Hamilton, Ontario.

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15 The North Carolina Marathon SHORSHORTS:TS: by Mary Steinhauser, MI were offered at each rest stop. Traffic cones kept us safe from From Alexis Davidson, NY: autos, and the scenery was like a spring walk in the garden. There is a picture of Mama Jean (Evansmore), MD, The Second of May North Carolina Marathon was a Occasionally sunshine lit our way. Biking and driving para- spreading her wings on page 24 (Missoula Events) of the “rolling up and down” fun. It began at 7:00 a.m. near the fur- medics inquired about our welfare all along the course. One of niture showcase stadiums in High Point, North Carolina. the bikers rode me in at mile 26; his encouragement gave me 2008-2009 Missoula Area Visitor and Relocation Guide. This Three hundred sixty-three runners finished this 26.2-mile race a better time. was in the goody bag handed out at the expo. What a fun at what Cy called a non-hilly race. He and I were at different Samuelson, an Olympic medalist, won the half marathon! We lucked out on the weather and it stayed cool venues, it seemed. I ran up and down hills throughout the marathon. David Duggan, a native of Ireland, a graduate of entire race, although there weren’t any of Toledo’s High Level High Point University, and an assistant coach of Wake Forest’s and even started to sprinkle during the fifth hour. You could Bridge or Cincinnati Mini-Marathon death-hills. cross country/track team, won the marathon with a 2:45:30. hardly tell that the course was a constant upslope with 300- This qualifier is a run for The Foster Cy and I weren’t quite that good, but we are improving again foot net elevation gain! Thanks to all 50 Staters and Maniacs Friends of North Carolina. The other 550 people ran the half and made it under six hours. Twenty-four states, Japan, UK, marathon or 5K, and all of us had a collectable chip start and Canada, and Mexico were represented among the runners. for being there. It’s so much easier to do a small marathon finish. The overcast day with an occasional light sprinkle I flew out after school Friday and arrived at 7 p.m. in when you see people you know and get lots of support! boasted flowers in bright pink, fuchsia, yellow, white, and Charlotte, 60 miles north of town. Cy said that the pick-up was more. I was comfortable in shorts and top in 62-degree weath- at a fancy location and similar to Glass City’s set up. Our hotel From Tom Perri, MN: er with 80 percent humidity. We ran through the new campus came off Priceline, and it was an inexpensive suite in a resi- of High Point University on their freshly paved streets. We ran dential hotel four miles from the race. Coupons were given for I had actually read about the Grand Island Marathon (off through neighborhoods patrolled by residents, and policemen some meals. Best of all, ask one of us to see our race finishers the coast of Munising, MI) in Runners World magazine, were on the busy corners. We ran out in the country surround- medal—a classic running chair. And the autographed coffee when it was described as a beautiful scenic course that is ing High Point. Everyone was polite and cheerful in encourag- table book that I won for being first in my age division was out ing us to do our best. of this world. The North Carolina Marathon is now my moderately challenging. However, if you plan on doing this Water, sport drink, crackers, candies, gel packs, and portas favorite marathon until next time. marathon you must register soon after the marathon opens because they only take 300 marathoners. We took a shuttle to the ferryboat area and then took a six- Book Review: minute boat ride to the island. Once on the island we were provided a tent to place our items, with only the honor sys- King of the Road tem guarding our gear. The bathroom lines weren’t that bad. The marathon started right on time at 7 a.m. and the by Michael Sklar, GA course is run on mainly a dirt trail, although at least a half- A few excel in one area. Precious few rise to excellence in mile of the course is run on the beach in the sand. They did multiple areas. have an early start, which is good, because the marathon had Meet Professor Shaul Ladany, a world-class athlete, a a six-hour cutoff time. The race is chip timed, and there were world-class academic, and the epitome of self-discipline and dedication. Ladany is a survivor of a concentration camp and spotters out on the course in various areas writing down your a survivor of the 1992 Munich Olympic massacre of Israeli race number for proof that you came by that spot. The course athletes, but his intriguing and inspirational story goes far does have some slow parts due to the hills and the terrain, beyond merely surviving. but it also had some good down hills. It had rained fairly Representing Israel in two Olympic games (it should have been three, as you will see in this fascinating retelling) in his steadily on Friday so the course had some muddy areas, sport of race-walking, he has held numerous records over the which made for slippery paths when going up and down hills years, including the world record and when running on the rocks. for 50-mile race-walking. As a Jason Tung, ON, poses after a race. respected researcher and academic, The scenery on this course is very beautiful and we were he is also the holder of numerous treated to water views for at least a third of the marathon. At engineering patents. No one will fail each of the four stops, marathoners were given water, Heed, to be inspired, motivated, and chal- and Hammer gel to stay hydrated and fueled. But it’s impor- lenged by Professor Ladany’s life example. tant to bring your own bottle because there are no cups at the This story is manna for sports water stops. If you need anything while running this enthusiasts, surely. But it is fascinat- marathon, you need to bring it with you. Post-race refresh- ing reading for those less interested in sports as well. At 73, he continues ments were bananas and a tasty trail mix. Michael Sklar, GA, is to compete in his sport and remains There was a pasta dinner at Sydney’s in Munising where I an active member of the dedicated, disciplined and focused United States Running had dinner with other 50 State members for a reasonable in both his continuing athletic career Streak Association. He $12, and the food was excellent. The tech shirt was nice but is ranked No. 63 in the and his academic endeavors. An only had the race mentioned with no year/date. Also, if you United States with the inspirational life, an inspirational longest running streak. man! need a medal after finishing a marathon, then is not the He has run about 150 His impressive ongoing story is marathon for you, because there weren’t any! However, if marathons with a described in his book “King of the streak of approximately Road” (published by Gefen and you are lucky enough for an age group award, they have 127 months. available from Amazon and from some awesome glass-blown medals. www.gefenpublishing.com). Ron Knecht, OR, runs Big Sur.

16 Marathon Man A Run to Remember by Lee Bergquist by Johnny Spriggs, OK a horrible act of violence. The Survivor Tree, my favorite tree in the whole world, is While I was researching my book, “Second Wind: The It was 5:30 on Sunday, April 26th. I walked up to the an American elm that bore witness to the violence of April 19, Rise of the Ageless Athlete,” I came across a story that men- Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum for the ninth 1995, and withstood the full force of the attack. Years later, it tioned an elderly gentlemen by the name of Don McNelly. time in the last nine years to run the Memorial Marathon. I continues to stand as a living symbol of resilience. Although The reference to McNelly was dismissive of the type of stopped once again to read these words that have changed my this tree was bent over from the blast, it has continued to grow runners who pay more attention to the number of marathons life. and offer shade for the many visitors to the memorial. After they knock off—not how fast they finish them. The gist of “We come here to remember those who were killed, those the marathon I went to the fence to leave a token from the run. story was that if you weren’t going to run as quickly as you who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave The first fence was installed to protect the site of the Murrah could, why try at all? here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer Building. Almost immediately, people began to leave tokens of This elitist notion ignored the perseverance of men and comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.” love and hope on the fence. Those items now total more than women who keep looking for another marathon to add to The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum was 60,000 and are collected and preserved in museums. Today, their ever-lengthening life list. To go out and run a couple of created to honor those who were killed, those who survived more than 200 feet of the original fence gives people the marathons a month—or more—takes a special kind of and those changed forever by the 1995 bombing of the Alfred opportunity to leave tokens of remembrance and hope. endurance. The members of the 50 States Marathon Club P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The memorial In case you are wondering, I did run and finish the understand better than most the patience, planning and for- and museum are dedicated to educating visitors about the Memorial Marathon for the ninth time but for me the details of titude it requires. It also takes a special ability to recover impact of violence, informing about events surrounding the the run pale in comparison to the reason for the run. The quickly, both physically and mentally, before the next one bombing, and inspiring hope and healing through lessons Memorial Marathon is promoted as “Run to Remember,” for comes around. me this means the “Run to Remember the 168 Who Lost Their What especially intrigued me about McNelly was that he Lives.” I hope to see you there on April 25, 2010. had completed more marathons after the age of 80 than any- one in the world. He’d done 42 marathons after 85 when we met at the Quad Cities Marathon in the fall of 2007. He was SHORTS: nearly 87 years old and was recovering from cancer surgery. SHORTS: Before the marathon, he had driven from his home in From Tom Adair, GA: Rochester, N.Y., to Texas to visit one of his sons, and then Our friend Jim Simpson, CA is covered in an awesome drove north to Illinois for the race before heading back to two-page article in the March, 2009 issue of Runner’s World New York. magazine written by Cameron Morfit. Attached is a photo We corresponded by e-mail a few times and then began and an impressive story on a happy runner who enjoys a true talking on the phone before meeting at Quad Cities in 2005, obsession with running. Jim is a genuinely sincere “running and then again in 2007. His e-mails were terse and to the dude” who has earned honor, admiration and respect from point. But in person I found him to be a reporter’s dream: his fellow runners. He was affable. He had a good story to tell. And he supplied me with news clippings to back up nearly everything he said. Johnny Spriggs, OK, proudly wears his Memorial Marathon number. Johnny is president of the Tulsa Running Club. Among the oldest athletes I interviewed, I found univer- sal agreement that the effects of aging start becoming more noticeable around 80. McNelly, who keeps meticulous learned by those affected. records, had watched his marathon pace jump from about To get to the Reflecting Pool and the Field of Empty 10:30 a mile at 70 to a 20-minute pace at 80. But it hadn’t Chairs, I first walked through the Gates of Time. These deterred him. He loves the marathon. Even when he first monumental twin gates frame the moment of destruction— began running the distance at 48, he knew he wasn’t going 9:02 a.m.—and mark the formal entrances to the memorial. to be fast. Instead, it’s been the joy of the challenge—the The East Gate represents 9:01 a.m. on April 19, and the physical test of starting and finishing a race. It’s helped him innocence of the city before the attack. The West Gate rep- turn back his aging clock. And what I learned after our resents 9:03 a.m., the moment we were changed forever, and many interviews is that he revels in the social aspect of the hope that came from the horror in the moments and days meeting old friends and being recognized for his achieve- following the bombing. The pool occupies what was once ments. N.W. Fifth Street. Here, a shallow depth of gently flowing I walked the course of Quad Cities with McNelly in water helps soothe wounds, with calming sounds providing 2007. We started before dawn so we could finish with the a peaceful setting for quiet thoughts. The placid surface others, and by mid-day the temperature was approaching 90 shows the reflection of someone changed forever by their degrees. I was dog-tired and needed to stop several times visit to the memorial. I believe it is best viewed at night, and stretch my hamstrings and lower back. We were leaving maybe because it is more still and quiet then. Arsenal Island in the middle of the Mississippi River and I always take a walk past the Field of Empty Chairs. The still had about 10 miles to go. Fatigue from his recent trav- 168 chairs represent the lives taken on April 19, 1995. They el and battle with cancer would force him to drop out in a stand in nine rows to represent each floor of the building, From J.R. Nolen, Jr., VA: few more miles. and each chair bears the name of someone killed on that I ran the Little Rock Marathon on March 15th. This race is But he was in good spirits. Lois Berkowitz passed us floor. Nineteen smaller chairs stand for the children. The very well done with lots of associated race activities. It was going the other way and yelled, “Good job!” Another run- field is located on the footprint of the Murrah Building. I also a surprisingly nice city that was fun to be in. I was hop- ner told him he was a legend. He waved back. “I love it,” he always select one of the children to run for and on marathon ing to make it under 4 hours, but ended up with a 4:01.46. shouted to no one in particular. “I love it.” morning I walk out to the chairs to find that person’s chair. The hills just killed me. (I guess I need to start doing some Lee Bergquist is the author of “Second Wind: The Rise of I continue to do this through 25 years of Memorial hill work.) The race course had a huge hill around miles 14 the Ageless Athlete,” which was published in May by Marathons. I hope we will still be willing to take a few min- and 15, and a couple of smaller hills near the end at mile 24 Human Kinetics. For more information, visit www.second- utes or hours to remember those who gave their lives in such and 25. Other than that the race course was relatively flat. windathlete.com. 17 Seeing Double $ Deals for Our Members $ September 9/6/09 New Mexico--Albuquerque, NM www.newmexicomarathon.org 9/7/09 Turtle--Roswell, NM www.dfn.com/runners/index.html Check the Web site regularly for deals 9/7/09 American Discovery Trail--Colorado Springs, CO www.adtmarathon.com/ www.50statesmarathonclub.com 9/6/09 Flatlanders 6/12 Hour--Fenton, MO www.active.com 9/7/09 Heart of America--Columbia, MO http://ctc.coin.org/hoa/ New Mexico Marathon 9/6/09 Albuquerque, NM is offering a 10% 9/12/09 Salmon--Salmon, ID www.salmonmarathon.com 9/13/09 Two Bear--Whitefish, MT www.twobearmarathon.org discount to our members (code: 50STAT09). Make sure that you 9/13/09 Montana--Billings, MT www.montanamarathon.org 5+ hours write “50 States Marathon Club member” on the registration form. 9/19/09 Bismarck--Bismarck, ND www.bismarckmarathon.com www.nmmarathon.com 9/20/09 Governor’s Cup--Billings,MT www.montanagovernorscupmarathon.com 5+ hours 9/26/09 Hamptons--East Hampton,NY www.hamptonsmarathon.com Akron Marathon 9/26/09 Akron, OH is offering a $10 discount to 9/27/09 Clarence Demar--Keene, NH www.clarencedemar.com 5+ hours our members. Use the code: 50-09-43 Discount is available until 9/25-27/09 Lake Tahoe Triple--Lake Tahoe, CA/NV www.laketahoemarathon.comtriple 9/1/09. www.akronmarathon.org October 10/3/09 Leavenworth Oktoberfest--Leavenworth, WA www.leavenworthmarathon.com/ Omaha Marathon 9/26/09 Omaha, NE is offering a $10 discount 10/4/09 Portland--Portland, OR www.portlandmarathon.org to our members. Use code: omafull www.omahamarathon.com 10/3/09 New Hampshire--Bristol, NH www.nhmarathon.com 10/4/09 Maine--Portland, ME www.mainemarathon.com Reunion Run Freedom’s Run 10/3/09 Shepherdstown, WV is offering a 10% dis- 10/10/09 Hartford--Hartford, CT www.hartfordmarathon.com count to our members. Please write “50 States Marathon Club”on 10/11/09 Westchester--White Plains, NY www.genesisadventures.com the application. www.freedomsrun.org 10/11/09 Mohawk Hudson River--Schenectady, NY www.hmrrc.com 10/11/09 Steamtown--Scranton, PA www.steamtownmarathon.com Siouxland Lewis & Clark Marathon 10/17/09 Sioux City, IA is 10/10/09 Baltimore--Baltimore, MD www.baltimoremarathon.com 10/11/09 Steamtown--Scranton, PA www.steamtownmarathon.com offering a $5 discount. www.siouxlandmarathon.com 10/11/09 Westchester--White Plains, NY www.genesisadventures.com 10/11/09 Mohawk Hudson River--Schenectady, NY www.hmrrc.com Frankenthon Monster Marathon 10/24/09 Cedar Park, TX is 10/17/09 Siouxland Lewis & Clark--Sioux City, IA www.siouxlandmarathon.com offering a $5 discount. Use the code: 50states www.frankenthon.com 10/18/09 Des Moines--Des Moines, IA www.desmoinesmarathon.com 10/17/09 Indianapolis--Indianapolis, IN www.indianapolismarathon.com Indianapolis Monumental Marathon 11/7/09 Indianapolis, IN is 10/18/09 Louisville--Louisville, KY www.louisvillemarathon.org offering a $5 discount to our members through 9/1/09. Use the 10/18/09 Columbus--Columbus, OH www.columbusmarathon.com 10/18/09 Grand Rapids--Grand Rapids, MI www.grandrapidsmarathon.com code: FUN50Stater for online registration. www.monumental- 10/18/09 Detroit--Detroit, MI www.detroitmarathon.com marathon.com 10/17/09 Kansas City--Kansas City, MO www.waddellandreedkcmarathon.org 10/18/09 Wichita--Wichita, KS www.wichitamarathon.org Two Cities Marathon 11/8/09 Fresno, CA is offering just for our 10/18/09 Des Moines--Des Moines, IA www.desmoinesmarathon.com 50 States co-members: Free Runner’s Hat and Free all-you-can-eat 10/17/09 Green Mountain--South Hero, VT www.gmaa.net/GMMinfo.html Pasta Dinner! Use Promo code: ALL50 when you register online. 10/18/09 Bay State--Lowell, MA www.baystatemarathon.com www.runfresno.com 10/18/09 Amica--Newport, RI www.amicamarathon.com/ 10/24/09 Columbia River--Umatilla, OR www.columbiarivermarathon.com Rhode Island 6 Hour Run 11/15/09 Warwick, RI is offering $10 10/25/09 Tri Cities--Richland, WA www.3rrr.org/?f=4002&activityID=398 off whatever the current entry fee is at time of registration on paper 10/24/09 Rock Creek 50K--Lawrence, KS www.runlawrence.org form only. Just note the club name on the sheet. www.ri6hour.com 10/25/09 Blue Springs --Blue Springs, MO www.psychowyco.com/id85.html 10/25/09 On the Road for Education--Mason City, IA www.ontheroad4edu.org/ 5+ hours Route 66 Marathon 11/26/09 Tulsa, OK is offering a $5 discount to our members. Use the code: 50Stater5Off Seeing Double www.route66marathon.com Doubles are marathons and/or ultras which can be run on consecutive days with a drive time of 5 hours or so. Charlotte Marathon 12/12/09 Charlotte, NC is offering a $10 dis- Many of our members enjoy running doubles to help cut down on the costs of traveling to two count to our members. Use the code: 50 States states separately. www.runcharlotte.com Please check the individual race Web sites before scheduling your trip. If you find other doubles let us know so we can include the races on our schedule. We now have doubles listed on the club Mississippi Blues Marathon 1/9/10 Jackson, MS is offering Web site under Schedules on the menu bar. a $10 discount to our members. Please enter the code: [email protected] BluesIn50States www.msbluesmarathon.com Please include race name/date/Web site.

www.50statesmarathonclub.com PO Box 15638, Houston, TX 77220

18 Events Directed by Our Members: AUG 2009 – March 2010 Yakima River Canyon-Yakima, WA 4/4/09 [email protected] John Bozung http://jbozung.host.elfon.com/bigfootmas- Lenore & Bob Dolphin www.ontherunevents.com/yrcm ter.htm Indianapolis Monumental-Indianapolis, IN 11/7/09 Kat’cina Mosa 100K-Provo, UT 8/1/09 Carlton Ray & Tom Hathaway www.monumental- Tallahassee-Tallahassee, FL 2/7/10 John Bozung www.squawpeak50.com marathon.com Jack McDermott www.tallahasseemarathon.com

Leading Ladies-Spearfish, SD 8/16/09 Two Cities-Fresno, CA 11/8/09 Ocala-Ocala, FL 1/31/10 Elaine Doll-Dunn www.leadingladiesmarathon.com Nancy Talley & Mike Herman www.runfresno.com Chuck Savage www.ocalamarathon.com

Leanhorse 100/50/50K-Hot Springs, SD 8/22-23/09 Bartram Forest 50K/26.2-Milledgeville, GA 11/28/09 Post Oak-Tulsa, OK 2/27/10 Jerry Dunn www.leanhorse.com Kevin Hatfield http://wintertrailrun.net Johnny Spriggs www.postoakrun.com

Skagit Flats-Burlington, WA 9/13/09 Baton Rouge Beach-Baton Rouge, LA 12/5/09 Post Oak 50K-Tulsa, OK 2/28/10 Terry Sentinella www.skagitflatsmarathon.com Craig Watson www.brbeachmarathon.com Johnny Spriggs www.postoakrun.com

Grand Rapids-Grand Rapids, MI 10/18/09 Texas-Kingwood, TX 1/1/10 Seabrook Lucky Trail-Seabrook, TX 3/21/10 Don Kern www.grandrapidsmarathon.com Steve&Paula Boone Robby Sabban www.seabrookmarathon.org www.50statesmarathonclub.com/texas.html Columbia River-Umatilla, OR 10/24/09 Yakima River Canyon-Yakima, WA 3/27/10 Tony Phillippi www.colombiarivermarathon.com Zoom! Yah! Yah-Northfield, MN 1/10/10 Bob Dolphin www.ontherunevents.com/yrcm Dick Daymont www.geocities.com/zoomyahyah/ Frankenthon Monster-Cedar Park, TX 10/24/09 Frank Livaudais www.frankenthon.com Waco-Waco, TX 1/31/10 Members: If you are a race director or race Nancy Goodnight http://mmm.sw.org organizer and would like to have your race Stone Steps 50K-Cincinnati, OH 10/25/09 David Corfman www.stonesteps50k.com Kahtoola Wasatch Winter 50K/5K–Midway, UT 1/?/10 listed in the next newsletter, please contact [email protected]. Club Merchandise

Track Jackets Shorts Duffle Bags Sweat Pants

www.companycasuals.com/50statesmarathonclub/start.jsp

Members, FINISHER Shirts, jackets, bags, ladies, children, headwear, pants, shorts, blankets, and other merchandise is available. Please check out our custom embroidery. You can have our logo embroidered on many items. You may also add your name. Give your family your wish list. Great items for family mem- bers, too. We now have the logo available in a large size for the back of jackets. It is 7" x 5" with 30,000 stitches.

Spouse Your Name There is a link on our club Web site under “Merchandise” called “Custom Embroidery.”

www.50statesmarathonclub.com PO Box 15638, Houston, TX 77220

19 Join us at one or more of these upcoming reunions. We’ll have a booth and a meeting at each. Plan to stop by our booth to update your stats and meet other members. We’ll have snacks at each meeting! Check the club web site for last minute details.

World Tour Event 2010 Rio de Janeiro Marathon www.maratonadorio.com.br June 25 – 28, 2010 Contact [email protected]

Future possibilities: Do you have any suggestions for future reunions? Please offer your suggestions and help with reunions. Contact Charles Sayles at: [email protected] Previous reunions: AK, AR, CA, CO, DE, FL, HI, IL, IA, KS, LA, MI, MS, MO, MT, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY