Still Running FALL PREVIEW DAYS Friday, Sept. 10 After All thru Sunday, Sept .19 These Years UNPRECEDENTED SAVINGS! BY MARY S. GILBERT If it’s true that “90% of life is just showing up,” Fifth Avenue Black Calf, Walnut Calf and Brown Burnished Calf then these three local runners are 100% winners. Retail $325 Sale $229 Savings $96 Dick Monheim of Edgewood in training on Beechwood Boulevard, near the starting point of the Great Race. s thousands of runners gathered for athletes lace up their sneakers at the start line the start of last year’s Great Race, a on Beechwood Boulevard at Frick Park in Rob Ruck of Squirrel Hill and John George of Shadyside, just before undertaking last year’s race. heavy rain changed to a light drizzle, Squirrel Hill and head toward the finish at Cambridge and then to a blowing mist. That’s Point State Park. who participate. Some 20 students have gone ing to stay within the sub-50- to 60-minute Walnut Calf and Brogue Suede Experience the Casual Luxury of Awhen Rob Ruck noted, “It’s never really For Ruck, who began running while a stu- $ $ the distance. range this year. Retail $325 Sale 249 Savings 76 rained on the Great Race in 32 years.” dent at Yale University, entering the very first “In many ways, the Great Race is sport at Fear also drives Ruck, George, and ’ He would know. He’s run it every year. Great Race was the right thing to do at the Available in its best,” Ruck says. “Thousands are inspired Monheim to keep highlighting the last Sunday many sizes DOONE S INN Ruck, who lives in Squirrel Hill, is one of right time. to get in shape and in better shape and lead in September on their racing calendars. None an elite group of 26 men who have participat- “Lots of my friends were running, and healthier lives and run in this race. The wants to be the next one to break the streak. and widths at Oakmont ed in—and finished—all 32 Great Races since running was starting to pick up momentum resources that go into the Great Race are Plus there are perks to being Perfect, like A Bed & Breakfast the iconic event’s inception on September 25, around the country,” he recalls. “I think I was important things for a society to be doing.” special dinners and other events recognizing 1977. Collectively, they have logged 5,158.4 pretty confident I could do the distance, but I Race director Mike Radley says the Perfect their achievement. The runners (among them miles on race days—tantamount to running a was unsure of my time. The sense of empow- Great Racers have a unique perspective on the former Pittsburgh mayor Tom Murphy) are Sanibel relay from Pittsburgh to Seattle and back. erment to take over the streets and be with this race’s history and growth, including when the also allowed to line up at the start line at the Chili Grain Calf and Black Grain Calf Individually, each has run 198.4 miles. Race mass of people was exciting.” official event was cancelled in 2003 due to the front of the pack next to those who are seeded Retail $225 Sale $189 Savings $36 organizers call the men the Perfect Great Edgewood’s Dick Monheim began run- city’s financial woes (the group was among based on their fast times. Racers, a name that makes John George smile. ning the year prior to the first Great Race at those who kept the tradition alive that year by “It’s ironic that, back when I was younger “I wouldn’t characterize myself as per- the suggestion of his doctor as a way to allevi- staging the “Great Replacement Race” in and really running for time, I had to start in fect,” laughs George, a Shadyside resident. ate minor headaches. Schenley Park). the back and jockey for a good position,” “I’d call myself a habitual Great Racer. I’ve “I started to run for health reasons and to “They’ve been with us since way back, notes George. “Now I get to take off right changed my schedule and not gone on trips be in shape, and I just kept doing it and have when we used numbered Popsicle sticks to from the starting line, and all I care about is just to be here for it. One of us was extreme- become addicted to it,” Monheim explains. determine the order of finish, up through the making it to the finish.” The Perfect Place for ly ill after surgery and ran it. My flirting with “The Great Race was the first race I ever ran. I introduction of an electronic timing device, a Bad knees notwithstanding, George says Winnetka my schedule is nothing like what some oth- just wanted the experience of taking part in an running clinic, and a health and fitness expo,” his goal for this year’s race is to finish in one Out-of-town Visitors & Guests Brown Outland Leather and Black Outland Leather ers have done. The race is part of the city’s event like that. Back then there weren’t many Radley observes. piece. “The Great Race is part of the fiber of $ $ Romantic Getaways • Bridal/Baby Showers Retail $245 Sale 189 Savings 56 vitality. I expect it to happen the last Sunday races. This one starts about a mile from my A more personal change these Perfect the city, and I want to be there for the long Retreats • Small Business Meetings in September and I carve out time for it.” house, so I can run to it.” Great Racers have experienced over the years is run, if you will,” he says. “It would be nice to TRUNK SHOW Special Occasions • Luncheons Officially known as the Richard S. Ruck is a historian and senior lecturer at the inevitable onset of the aches and pains of do the race into my 90s. My knees will be at Friday September 17th Noon-8PM Dinners • Teas Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race, the the University of Pittsburgh, where he teaches middle age. the race this year because they have no choice.” Saturday September 18th 10-4PM Located near Oakmont Country Club fall fitness classic presented by Highmark Blue a sports history class. He understands the pow- But sore knees, the occasional injury, and Factory Rep Adam Sitzmann On Coxcomb Hill, Route 909, Oakmont, PA Cross Blue Shield is Pennsylvania’s largest 10K erful role athletics can play in helping people the need to reduce their training mileage have For more information about the 2010 Richard S. At the Waterfront (next to Barnes & Noble) Phone:412.828.0410 •Fax:412.828.1358 road race, with up to 14,000 runners compet- establish their sense of self, and views running done nothing to temper their enthusiasm for Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race, taking 108 West Bridge Street www.doonesinnatoakmont.com ing in both the 10K and 5K distances. The tra- as a central part of his own identity. He even the race. Even though their days of setting per- place Sunday, September 26, visit www.run- Homestead, PA 15120 dition will continue this year on September uses the Great Race as an incentive for his stu- sonal records are over, their competitive juices greatrace.com or call 412-255-2493. Ph: 412-464-1007 26, when runners, walkers, and wheelchair dents, granting extra course credit for those still flow—and they still run for time, all hop- www.gordonshoes.com Gift certificates are available. Mon - Sat Sunday Store Hours 10 am - 9 pm 12 pm - 6 pm 8 4 S H A D Y AV E F A L L 2 0 1 0 8 5.