Finish Line

Thank God for Daylights Savings. Because of the annual one-hour falling back clock re-adjustment, runners who participated in the Oct. 29 Metro Silicon Valley Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K races, got an extra hour of sleep. The bonus hour helped us get up in the wee hours before sunrise to tackle the three races. I, along with several South Valley runners, ran the half marathon. Race organizers Elite Racing and Evolve Sports created the new 2006 Silicon Valley Double for anyone willing to compete in two half marathons in October for a special memento. Three weeks ago, I ran another 13.1-mile race in San Jose. Whereas the musically talented inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon was jammed elbow to elbow with roughly 12,000 athletes in downtown San Jose on Oct. 8, the Metro Silicon Valley race had roughly 3,000-plus runners.

South Valley athletes traveled to downtown San Jose at 6am to gear up for the 7am start. The climate early Sunday morning was frigid at the starting line near Almaden Boulevard and Park Avenue in downtown San Jose. Most participants bundled up in long track pants; fleece jackets or wore a variety of winter apparel. Some stalwarts jogged lightly in shorts and t-shirts despite the chilly, overcast sky. As usual, it was a contest to get a shot at the bright green Porta-Potties before the race began, as lines were long. Ten minutes before 7am, athletes stood shivering in the cold with hands over their right breast for the National Anthem blaring on huge outdoor speakers nearby. Finally, the announcer simply shouted enthusiastically, “Go!” And we complied, a cacophony of tiny high-pitched beeps echoed in the air as thousands of runners with smart chips strapped to their shoes stepped onto the mauve mats spread out underneath the start line.

Racers compressed together followed the serpentine paths along downtown streets that gave runners a closer look of the quaint Willow Glen neighborhoods, famous Lincoln Avenue in the heart of San Jose, and eventually thinned out as the miles progressed in an orderly manner thanks to the presence of several police officers from the San Jose Police Department. Spectator participation was barely present and there wasn’t much fanfare, except for a few Willow Glen residents offering champagne to the runners. The race was more laid back and peaceful than the Rock ‘n’ Roll race, which made the experience refreshing. This race provided a more bucolic view of the South Bay instead of a smorgasbord of buildings, buildings and more buildings along the course. We sprinted or walked our way through three cities - San Jose, Campbell and Los Gatos - and inhaled the musky scent along the Los Gatos Creek Trail. The high cloud ceiling gave runners a respite from the Indian summer conditions we’ve been dealing with lately, and the sun burnt off the fog layer towards the end. Then the temperatures soared and I was glad to cross the finish line in 2:25:57.

Members from the South Valley Running Club were present at the races and included Steve Lane, of Morgan Hill, who ran the full 26.2 miles. In addition for this being his debut marathon, Lane also participated in a medical study offered by Stanford University’s physician Dr. Suzanne Miller on the impact of long distance running on the human heart of elite versus recreational athletes. Lane sailed across three cities and back in 4:07:35. “I found the 4:00 pace runner and started with her and a small group. I told her I wanted to finish in about 3:50 and one young lady, Jenny, who is a Stanford ME grad student said she did too.  We decided to stay with the 4:00 pacer for 10K and then pick it up a bit until 20 miles and see what we had left . . . I came through the half marathon mark at 1:53ish and was happy to see Kim, Gar, Gretchen and Bob cheering me on behind LG High School . . . I was feeling fine, but I started getting a little tired in the 17th mile. At about 24 miles I caught a glimpse of the tall buildings in downtown San Jose and that motivated me to push to the finish line,” Lane said. He plans to run another marathon next year.

Gilroy’s Dr. Gar Chan D.D.S, Doug Meier, and Gretchen Yoder-Schrock conquered the half marathon distance along with Robert Miller. Meier was the first among them to finish the 13.1-mile race in 1:31:39; subsequently the others came 11 minutes later. “The last miles were hard because of the hills at the end,” Miller said about his 1:42:39 time. Both Dr. Chan and Yoder-Schrock agreed, “The weather was great and the course was nice.” Dr. Chan finished in 1:44:14, Yoder-Schrock followed in 1:44:43.

Morgan Hill Times Editor Sheila Sanchez, who’s been running consistently for about eight years, ran the Metro Silicon Valley Marathon last year, but this year she did the half. “I like running on the Los Gatos Creek Trail. The organizers had plenty of water stations along the beautiful course. The weather was perfect, not too cold or too hot. I’m grateful that I got to run in it,” Sanchez said, happy to finish in 2:24:34. For more information on race results on all three distances, please go to www.siliconvalleymarathon.com.

Running a 13.1-mile race can be a real bear unless of course there’s lots of music and serious revelry happening on the sidelines. I waited for the San Jose Inaugural Rock ‘N Roll Half Marathon on October 8th for months, anticipating the party atmosphere and physical duress of this first time gig. I got up before the crack of dawn and got dressed in my pink and red outfit and affixed a bright pink pageboy wig to my head. Everything had to match because I’m a fashion freak with artistic flair and besides nobody will recognize me if I stagger to the finish puking my guts out. After downing a bowl of grits, I complete my prepping ritual and dash out the door. The drive to San Jose from Morgan Hill was peaceful unlike weekday mornings.

At the VIP booth, the elite runners were decked out in warm tracksuits were waiting pensively for the Elite Racing staff to lead them to the Start. Jen Rhines, 2004 US Olympic Trials winner walked among the Kenyans and displayed a cheery smile. She is a friend of Gilroy physician Kari Bertrand. I told her Bertrand says hi and she replied with a similar greeting. Kenyan William Chebon was there and we chatted briefly. He, like the others, was concentrating on the 13.1-mile challenge. $8K was at steak here and he needed everything he can muster to win the prize. At the Expo on Friday, Chebon told me this was his first time in California and he was looking forward to Sunday. Everyone was talking about him as one of the favorites in the race.

After departing the VIP booth, I then joined the throngs of runners at corral 9 and waited for the sound of the gun. We were packed like Sardines talking excitedly about the huge musical spectacle. Rock music blared from speakers everywhere and the mood festive and friendly. This is my kind of race. As 8a.m approached I could hear the crowds roar with excitement and suddenly we’re moving towards the Start. The Emcee announces our corral number and we give San Jose a mighty shout with our collective arms in the air like riding in an enormous rollercoaster. The power of the people, rock bands, and enthusiasm surges throughout the thousands of racers, the ebb and flow of pure, raw energy pulled us through each mile.

The organizers had water and Amino Vital (an energy drink) at every other mile and of course there was a band too. People called out to me, “Way to go Pink!” “I love your pink hair!” and “Go Pink!” I danced and ran along the wounding course through San Jose and I had a blast despite feeling tired at times. At Mile 11, my glycogen stores were depleting, but I was determined to fly across the finish in fuchsia fury. I couldn’t gulp down another cup of Amino Vital because it tasted icky and I got a tummy ache from drinking too much of it. (Coincidentally, US Olympic silver medalist Meb KefIezighi bonked an hour earlier at the 11th mile due to a hamstring cramp and had to drop out of the race.) After passing the 12th mile I was jubilant and increased my pace so that I could zip pass the next one. The finish line shined forth with golden splendor as I went full throttle and leaped across the end with a grin. I completed the half marathon in 2:25:26 not bad for a party animal.

Morgan Hill’s Michele Lajeunesse, 43 is the top placer at the San Jose Rock ‘N Roll Half Marathon from out of 104 south valley female runners with her finish of 1:47:35. “I consider this race as my training run. I was going between 1:45 and 1:50. I’m running the California International Marathon in Sacramento in December. I hope to qualify for Boston,” Lajeunesse said. “I did the Rock ‘N Roll San Diego Marathon last June. It was my first marathon.”  She liked the professional quality of the race.

“Richard and I were both pleasantly surprised with the course - we ran through some beautiful neighborhoods.  The bands and cheerleaders were definitely motivational and the spectator support was great as well!  The event was very well organized, with water and Amino every 2 miles, GU at 9.6 miles, and plenty of volunteers at the water stations, plenty of porta potties!  Every mile was well marked and the time displayed.

“This was a first 1/2 marathon for both Richard and I - and we would both do it again!  Richard finished in 1:54:20, as he was not able to train much before the race.  I finished in 2:17:15.  I am very happy with my results - as I had never run more than 6 miles before training for this event!” Kathy Scepura, 42 of Morgan Hill said.

Luanne Giacalone, 43 of San Martin brought her friends to the race. She and Libby Michelini of Gilroy did 18 miles the day before. “I ran with my friends, Libbey Michelini (2:30:22), Misha Vereyken (2:23:12), and first time racer Pamela Courtney (2:22:24), and had an absolute blast. Having been born and raised in San Jose, it was a nostalgic race for me . . . “ Giacalone said. She ran it in 2:30:22.

San Martin resident Craig Lore, 53 shared his experiences about the race, “The inaugural San Jose RNR Half Marathon was, by all that I could see, a tremendous success. The race was extremely well organized: it started on time, the streets were fully blocked off, well marked, and wide enough for everyone to run comfortably right from the beginning. I enjoyed having a dedicated half marathon in our area. The bands along the course add a tremendous boost as you go by; you feel like picking it up a little. The crowds were a little thin, but they were enthusiastic. I got the impression that there were lots of first-time half marathoners out there. But I noticed many grizzled veterans in the running crowd as well.

I expected the course to be a little boring since it circled in and out of downtown San Jose, but it was a pretty nice course . . . I would definitely do it again if it falls right on my running calendar, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to others,” Lore said.

Robert Miller, 55 of Gilroy who finished in 1:41:43 said,” It is a fast course, the race was well organized, the music was a nice touch and the crowds were

small for a big city race.”

Thousands of participants rocked with the bands, cheerleaders and spectators along the fun-filled course in the city to the north of the south valley. Many plan to do this race again next year. As for the elite runners my favorite pick, William Chabon of Kenya took second place out of the massive field of runners and walkers in an impressive 1:01:07 and his friend, Duncan Kibet took first and covered 13.1 miles in a sizzling hour and 22 seconds. Mesuri San (Very good!) as they say in Kiswahili, native tongue of Kenya.  For the super lady athletes, Russia’s Sylvia Skvortsova grabbed the top spot in 1:09:17. Our Jen Rhines finished 6th overall with 1:12:09. For complete coverage and race results please visit WWW.RNRSJ.Com.

Four days from now I’ll be clogging the streets of San Jose along with 15, 000 other runners in the debut Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon on Sunday, October 8th.  I’ve been training with South Valley Runners Club and on my own in Morgan Hill and Gilroy area for weeks now. So what’s the big deal about the upcoming 13.1-miler? Well, to non-runners it’s a long, long, long distance to pound the pavement, and you’re most likely sweating, craving water, and possibly feeling some sort of pain during the run. But the endorphin rush is worth the discomfort. Isn’t it? Well to most endurance athletes, including me it is! Sure beats drugs, alcohol, and that weird green stuff with the pointy leaves.

Many from the south valley are gearing up for this Sunday’s race. Besides the satisfaction of completing a half marathon (a full is 26.2 miles) and receiving the nifty finisher’s medal and bragging rights, I get to experience this race with my compatriots for the first time ever. We get to listen to a variety of music on the course with a different band per mile plus cheerleaders and a rowdy crowd all the way to the finish. It’s a huge non-stop musical party with lots of hyperactivity and being wild. I plan to wear a red and pink ensemble along with other crazy folks in costume. 

Elite Racing, Inc., the race organizers, hosts Rock N’ Roll marathons and halves throughout our illustrious country; thanks to US Olympic marathon gold medalist Frank Shorter, 49ner triple Super bowl Champ Roger Craig, Goo Goo Dolls drummer Mike Malinin, San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales spurred Elite Racing to host one of their famous races in the capital of Silicon Valley. This year’s race features an elite field among them US Olympic marathon silver medalist Meb Keflesighi and football player Craig.

For you pre registered folks, the Health and Fitness Expo is open from 11a.m to 7p.m on Friday, October 6 and Saturday. The event is free, offers fun seminars including a talk by John The Penguin Bingham, a Runner’s World Magazine columnist. And those of you who didn’t pay for the race yet, you may want to go their website (www.rnrsj.com) and register before it’s too late or show up at the expo and do it there. The Expo is located at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center on 150 West San Carlos Street near Market.

What does a brain surgeon, a mother of twins, UCLA graduate, an Oscar-winning actor, or runner has in common?  You got it. Commitment. Of course this isn’t restricted to those disciplines, but you get the idea. It takes time; patience, pain, joy and good old fashion mile-by-mile rain or shine commitment to succeed in any distance running. I found this by trial and error and by training with seasoned athletes who learned this a long time ago. When I first joined a group of runners back in the summer 2001, our coach, Deona Willie showed everyone in the South Valley Track Club what it took to meet our prospective goals. She laid out a simple plan for folks to meet at different days for workouts at the track, on trails or streets within the south valley area. Willie gained valuable knowledge under the auspices of two-time Olympic Marathoner Ed Eyestone from Brigham Young University in Utah before she moved to Morgan Hill.

I remember Willie telling me there were times when she came to the track workouts she hosted after work, and sometimes nobody showed up. After waiting a while, she would do the speed work session by herself instead of climbing into her car and driving home in frustration. That made an impression with me on how committed Willie is to the sport and sticking it out even if things don’t worked out the way she planned. I know others who run no matter what. Some like Gretchen Yoder-Schrock, Kim Moyano, Dr. Kari Bertrand, Craig Lore, Kat Powell, Dr. Gar Chan, Andy Froumis, Deona Willie, Steve Lane, and countless others who are willing to get up at the crack of dawn and grab that 8-miler before most people are out of bed. Most of these guys work full-time and manage to squeeze in a morning jog despite coordinating an entire household with kids.

For those of us who don’t get up before the rooster crows, don’t feel bad. I see plenty of joggers pounding the pavement in the hot afternoon hours or evening when the sun is still blazing in the sky. Whatever time slot you pick to run, it still requires commitment to lace your shoes and fly out the door. I like the morning hours around 8 or 9 because I’m awake and it’s still crisp outside.

Another facet of training is the amount of time it takes to accomplish training goals. Some run seven days per week, others need five and still others may spend less time. For instance, Steve Sokol, from San Jose, told me after winning the 6K at the Mt. Madonna Challenge in August, that his family only trains once per week. Yet they win at races and these events are usually brutal and hilly. The Sokol family is an exception than the rule.

Whether you’re an elite runner or recreational one like me, you know it takes practice and hard work to become faster and more physically fit. Sometimes life will slow me down with illness, injuries, emergencies or work-related stuff and I can’t run on the days I choose. I also fight laziness, burnout and depression. All excuses aside, my friend often tells me, “If you really want to do something, you’ll do it.” The only way I can run a marathon or half marathon, 10K or 5K is to build up mileage by putting one foot in front of the other. If you’re concerned about running alone out in the wild and getting eaten by a ravenous mountain lion or bitten on the calf by a stray mongrel (those are two of my fears) then perhaps joining a running club will help?

The motivation from like-minded athletes makes training a lot easier and more fun. What better way to swap war stories about surviving the fun, but hilly Big Sur International Marathon or getting your feet wet for the first time at the local 5K? Athletic clubs are a great resource for entering the thrilling ride of running. Not everyone in a running society is a Jack Rabbit or Speedy Gonzales. There are a variety of fitness levels and paces within these organizations and runners are a gracious lot. They welcome newcomers with arms wide open. And yes, they’re one of the most dedicated groups of human beings I know.

For information on joining the South Valley Running Club go online at www.svrchome.org.

Gilroy—The summer heat didn’t deter me and the other hardy souls to the pristine mountain paths for the 31st Annual Mt. Madonna Challenge on Sunday, August 27th. The soothing coastal fog that shrouded the higher elevations gave us 105 runners a respite from sizzling temperatures in the valley floor. Registered athletes as far away as Merced came to test their mettle on the serpentine courses of the 12K and 6K.  This was the last race of the Triple Crown Championship series. 

I picked the 6K because I wasn’t conditioned as most of the other stalwarts. Before Sunday, I kept repeating to others and myself about Mt. Madonna’s pleasantly rolling hills because I didn’t remember it being grueling when I ran it two years ago. I honestly thought the seven hundred-foot elevation gain along the way was merely a speed bump.

Race Director Dean Raymond gave directions to the racers and talked a little about the footraces benefiting the South Valley Symphony. I stood in the middle of the pack next to South Valley Running Club’s Kathy Scepura, 41 from Morgan Hill and Kim Moyano, 41 and daughter Jennifer, 19 of Gilroy. I was wired and ready to take on the speed bump, which loomed beyond the starting line.

At the blast of the air horn, forty-one brave runners bolted uphill, the leaf-strewn pathway crunching softly underneath our collective feet. I inhaled the aromatic fragrance of Manzanita and Oak trees, feeling the moist air enveloping me as I ascended. Things were going well and I maintained my pace with Scepura and Moyano and then it happened. The so-called speed bump morphed into this monstrous one-mile climb into the stratosphere and my wimpy calves suddenly became granite much like the mountainside. What happened to the pleasantly rolling hills? Up and up we climbed and I slowed down to a fitness crawl while commanding my legs to run like the wind. I watched most of the pack disappear around a bend above me.

At the summit I gained my momentum. I passed three walkers feeling like an athlete again and bolted on level ground. More bumpy terrain waited for me around shady corners and I treaded it with newfound respect. Then the path descended gracefully into more wooded area and I was flying toward the finish because I really thought the end was near. However, pleasantly rolling hills greeted me instead—when will this thing be over? I eventually finished in 43:50. Now for name and stats:

The top award-winners of the 6K are: Steven Sokol of San Jose who shut out the rest with 26:04; Daniel Beckwith followed in 28:12 and Greg Burke capped it at 28:29.

Sokol, 51 overall Winner of the 3.6-miler ran this race with his wife Leslie, and son Alex, 7. Mr. Sokol turned to his son and asked, “Alex, do you remember what you told me this morning at 6?” The youngest Sokol responded shyly, “Yeah . . . the Mt. Madonna Challenge is my favorite race.” He came in third (32:19) because there wasn’t a category for kids his age and so they lumped him with the older teenage boys.

The top three ruling female champs are Lisa Franklyn, 36 who grabbed the overall prize with 30:23; subsequently, Morgan Hill teen Olivia Duran, 15 flew past the finish with 31:41, and Pauline Olson followed in 31:56.

The 12K (7.46 miles of torturous terrain) runners survived this race and the top three male survivors are: Ryan Reed of San Jose, 27 won the event with 50:07; Fremont resident, Nick Fill, 24 took second with 50:17, and Morgan Hill’s Jorn Jensen, 37 nabbed third in 53:41.

Reed who works at the Gilroy outlets and is a manager of Pearl 12 Umi Factory said. “My heels were on fire jogging the downhill . . . I did this race last year.”

Fill gave his thoughts on the 12K: “This was the hardest race I ran with hills. I didn’t see the leader (Reed) until a mile and half into the race. I kept trying to catch up to him,” he said.

“The Mt. Madonna Challenge is a good title for this,” Jensen said. “This is my first time racing Mt. Madonna, Dean Raymond told me about it and I tested the course last week. This is my first time racing it.”

The reigning female winners are Danielle Zelinski of San Jose, 23 who outran the others in 65:04; Amy Burton also of San Jose, 32 snagged second in 65:14; and Ellen Washburn won third in 67:47. Zelinski ran this race several times before and came back to win the women’s title. “The first twenty minutes was bad . . . but I picked up speed.” She said.

Burton said, ”It went smooth, the course was well marked. I like the local field of runners; they have a good spirit.” Burton and her husband John felt the 12K was too short. They do ultra-marathons.

The Triple Crown Championship winners are those who competed and placed in all three trail events: The Dammit 5-Miler, Run Through The Redwoods 10K, and Mt. Madonna. Patrick Buzbee of San Jose, 54 received the first place trophy; Santa Cruz residents Daniel Ruiz, 46 took second and Jose O. Echeverri, 47 got third. Only two female winners emerged: San Joseans Jean Suyenaga, 39 won first, and Kat Powell, 55 came in second.

Gilroy’s sizzling July climate wasn’t the only thing broiling on Saturday at the Reek Run hosted by the Theater Angels Art League’s (TAAL). It received mixed reviews from participants and spectators alike. Roughly 150 athletes ran into unexpected surprises with the ever-changing course. Unbeknownst to everyone, a grounds keeper at Bonfante Gardens locked one of the gates on the 5K route before the start. Several people mentioned they preferred the old location of the Reek Run around Gavilan College, which may explain the low turn out at Saturday’s race.

Race organizers kept their cool, kindly fielding questions to frustrated runners and were busy putting out small fires that erupted throughout the morning. With the absence of Bill Flodberg, who normally spearheads the Reek Run, the weight of responsibility fell on TAAL and South Valley Symphony. Mr. Garlic (Gerry Foisy) kept peoples’ spirits up with his boundless enthusiasm and support of Gilroy’s tradition of hosting a footrace weeks prior to the internationally acclaimed Garlic Festival.

 The top three spots in the 5K men’s division were Gilroy residents Arnulfo Velasquez, 17 who zipped past the finish followed by Jaime Reyes, 15. Juan Velasquez, 13, whose Arnulfo’s younger brother, came in third. Their official times are unavailable due to the locked gate incident; at one point the racers were told to run in the wrong direction, creating a false finish at only 1.5 miles. Everyone ran the loop again and re-crossed the finish despite the warmth.

In the women’s division, Tanya Ferreira, 17 from Royal Oaks, CA grabbed the first place finish in the 5K and recalled her experience. “I saw the boys in front of me . . . where did they go?” She said referring to the Velasquez brothers and Reyes. Ferreira is a member of Hollister’s Tri-County Running Club and is visiting the south valley for summer vacation.

European Hanneke De Groot of the Netherlands (now residing in Gilroy) fell behind Ferreira, taking second place. “It’s Unfortunate that we had to stop at the middle of the race. I had to make the best of it,” De Groot said. Diane Phariss of Watsonville sprinted to third place. “It (the Reek Run) was better last year. I’ll do it again next year,” Phariss said.

The 10K had its own challenges, including not having anyone handing out water during the competition. The distance was mapped out to 6.2 miles, but because of missing personnel, everyone ran roughly 5.5 miles. The results: Tri County ‘s Jonathan Rivera beat the rest of the pack with 32:27; the 19-year old from Hollister is taking the summer off from Cal Poly in San Louis Obispo. “I started running the Reek Run in 2003, first the 5k and since then the 10K.”

Rob Zimmerman, 37 also from Hollister and Tri County, snatched second place with 32:54. “It’s a beautiful course . . . The volunteers didn’t know how to direct the way, <but>I got a good workout. I got to run with Jonnie—he’s the man.” Zimmerman said of Rivera. Third place winner Peter Hsia of San Francisco, 46 came in at 33:25. This was his first Reek Run.

South Valley Running Club’s (SVRC) Kelly Ramirez, 44 of Gilroy shut out the female competition in the women’s field with 40:24. “I’m here to support the Reek Run,” Ramirez said. Kim Moyano, 41, also from Gilroy and SVRC, closed in with 41:13.

Elia Wu, 46 of Mountain View captured third with 41:35. “It’s a wonderful time Elijah and I spent together at the race. I’ll do this race again with my son and dance partner Bill Frankebe,” Wu said cheerfully. Elijah Guo, 16, seized a silver medal in his age division with 39:12.

Many weren’t impressed with the route that looped outside the park near the chained linked fence. Orange cones blocked off a section of the course near the only water station in the 10K, and not a volunteer was in sight to dish out the much needed sustenance to the thirsty participants, according to several anonymous runners.

Hollister’s Jess Rodriguez summed up the general sentiment on the Reek Run: “There were no T-shirts and the runners could only redeem tickets to the park on the day of the race. That’s not good. People have plans. They changed the course—it’s not a great idea,” Rodriguez said. “T-shirts are a good source of advertising. Kids like to wear them. As a business, you don’t cut your advertising.”

On Morgan Hill’s centennial year, hundreds of athletes trekked to P.A. Walsh Elementary School on Main Street to register or pick up their race packets before the start of the Freedom 5K and Kevin Kemp One-Mile Children’s Run. The balmy weather didn’t deter anyone from showing up and celebrating our country’s birthday. Runners and walkers from the south valley and as far away as southern California migrate to this race annually because of Morgan Hill’s charming idyllic backdrop. Not only is this race a favorite among participants, but also the subsequent fourth of July festivities scheduled like the parade (one of the bay area’s oldest), the street celebration along Monterey Street, and the much-anticipated fireworks display at Community Park.

The 5K attracted the fastest among runners every year and this time was no different. Carlos Siqueiros, 25 of San Jose won the race overall with 15:12:30. The veteran racer tackled the sport at the tender age of five, but didn’t compete until he turned seven. “The running aspect <of the race> went well. I’m not much for the limelight,” Siqueiros said as he shunned the idea of being in the parade. “I’ve done this race two times before. The course was a little different, strange. It’s interesting every year . . . we’ll see what it is next year.” Siqueiros has his eyes on the upcoming 2008 U.S Olympic Trials for either the 10K or marathon distance. “You’ll never do well in long distance unless you love it.” He said.  Lance Wolfsmith of Morgan Hill sprinted behind Siqueiros with 15:36, and Ryan Reed grabbed third place overall with 15:49.

The women’s top three winners were Michele Gerber, 19 finishing at 16:18; S. Hu, 42 followed with 19:07, and Morgan Hill’s Irene Ramirez, 35 flew past the finish line in 20:15. “I felt very good. This is my first time running in a race. I’m excited and I’ll be doing more,” Ramirez said. She normally trains alone logging 5 or 6 milers four times per week.

The Kevin Kemp One-Mile Children’s Run started at the same time as the 5K; youngsters of all ages bolted from the start, their tiny legs pumping fiercely like pistons as they tackled the challenge of beating their schoolmates, friends or family members in the short distance event.

“This race is a little bit different from last year. Instead of going straight <the course>, it curved. I liked it because it wasn’t long. At the end of the race I felt like I was going to die,” Andrew Wilcox, 10 of Morgan Hill said about his race. He zipped past most of his competitors with an impressive 7:30. He likes running other local races such as Wildflower, the Reek Run, and Mushroom Mardi Gras annually.

Many came decked out in clever red, white and blue attire or in more elaborate outfits. One award is given to an adult with the best patriotic duds and one child. Carol Kemnitz, 59 traveled from Palmdale, California to compete in this race. Her birthday cake garb delighted the judges and kids alike. Kemnitz ran this race five times before with a photo of her son festooned on the front of her patriotic outfit. “My son Rob is stationed in Afghanistan this year. Last year he was in Iraq.”

The other costume winner is JohnE Boursier, 9 of Morgan Hill. He dressed as Uncle Sam and held a picture frame up to his face, depicting the theme of this year’s race “A Portrait of America.” As custom, the top winners, including the costumed participants got to ride in the historical parade.

For a complete list of finishing times please contact Charles Westin, Race Director, at 408-779-6686 or email him via charles@wmarchitects.com.

Long-time runner and author Bill Flodberg’s illness left many of us in shock in Out & About Land. Many of you who are fond of Flodberg’s tales of pounding the pavement as a veteran runner don’t give up hope. He’ll be back someday with pen in hand ready to regale us once more with his insights into the mysteries of the sport.  My goal is tell the story of running and let me start with this one:

Five years ago, Flodberg held a meeting at his house in San Martin for recruiting relay teams for the upcoming International Big Sur Marathon in April. He was in charge of the Gavilan Joggers and Striders running club and everyone planned to arrive at his residence around 6 or 7p.m. I got directions, thinking it would be a cinch finding Flodberg’s place because I’ve been living in the south valley for three years. Everything looked the same to me and I couldn’t find his street because all the signs were hidden or missing.

After a frustrating hour, I realized it was late and I turned the car toward home. I remember the sun setting behind the golden foothills across the furrowed fields, the sky a powdery blue accented with one or two cirrus clouds. The scenery was breathtaking, but I was fuming about how life was unfair because I didn’t get to meet Flodberg and the other runners and become part of the Big Sur Relay team. I consoled myself knowing that I’d be running with my coach, Deona Willie, of the South Valley Track Club at Mt. Madonna tomorrow morning at 8. I drove up the narrow country road on that warm Monday night in the fall, eager to get back on my training schedule.

And the next day was September 11, 2001.

Speaking of memories, two July races pop out to me. I heard about the Freedom 5000 hosted by the Independence Day Inc. in Morgan Hill on July 4, 2000. At the 5K, I met these sleek athletes decked out in the latest jogging apparel and looking the part. I was intimidated by their speed and power on the road and felt much like a snail compared to them. I didn’t even wear the right clothes (Tied-dyed sweatshirt, long pants with ill-fitting shoes) and I hardly trained for it. I thought, I like running and I’ll try a race. Why not? Big mistake. My sore limbs and sluggish finish didn’t impress me. One bright moment came when I discovered that this 5K footrace featured a costume contest with most patriotic theme. I figured if I can’t beat the fleet-footed by physical speed then I should change my victory conditions and go for the creative challenge instead.

In 2001, I designed this patriotic American Flag one-piece suit like a superhero, flaming red hair (my own not a wig), the right shoes, arm bands, hand-held flag, red, white and blue metallic crown and cape and I took first prize and rode in the parade. Hopefully, in 2002 there will be more competition. The costumes then became more complex because I like to raise the bar every time I do a stunt.  I’ve been doing this race every year and I like to see how far I can go with my artistic ability in running an outfit that won’t kill me and still look fantastic after I cross the finish line. I’ve seen other athletes shoot for the impossible and sprint in cool costumes too. I can’t wait to see what people will wear on this centennial year of Morgan Hill. Don’t miss this historic race; it’ll be fun for sure.

Another local event is the Reek Run in the Garlic City usually one or two weeks after the Freedom 5K hosted by Flodberg and the Theater Angels Art League. The 5K and 10K races are a benefit to the arts community in Gilroy and the location moved from Gavilan College to Bonfante Gardens. These are great local events for walkers and runners of all types.

For more information please contact www.mhidi.com or call 408-779-3387. For Reek Run contact TAAL at 408-847-1441.

Obstetrician Kari Anne Bertrand’s typical day begins with an early morning 8-mile run at 6a.m. That is if she isn’t at the hospital already delivering babies or responding to an emergency from one of her patients.  The 35-year old from Syracuse New York is slowing down on mileage because she’s expecting her second baby. No more races for a while. Her last one was the Wildflower Run in April, which she won overall female in the 10K with 37:37, despite her being 15 weeks pregnant.

“If I don’t run I feel worse,” she said regarding her hectic schedule juggling career and raising her family. Her husband, Andrew Matthews M.D. (AJ), helps with their toddler son Shay while Bertrand takes a spin outdoors before work. “Running is me time, “ she added.

Bertrand began running back east while in middle school when her gym teacher asked her to participate in a race. She was playing softball at the time, but ran in the competition anyway. She ended up winning the entire event. When Bertrand was a freshman, the high school cross country and track coach recognized her talent and urged her to join the team. Her success in high school got her recruited by Georgetown University on a track scholarship. She won All American in 1991-92. Later, she trained with a post collegiate team sponsored by Reebok in hopes for them to qualify for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Trials in the 1500 meters. She made the first rounds at the trials but didn’t make the semi-finals. Although Bertrand was satisfied with her performance, she still wanted to experience what it would be like to compete at an extremely high level, and would try again.

By the time 2003 rolled around, Bertrand already lived on the west coast for several years, had her medical practice and married to plastic surgeon Matthews. She ran the New York City Marathon that fall, shooting for a coveted spot in the 2004 U.S Olympic Team Trials Women's marathon in St. Louis, Missouri, which was slated for the following year. She missed her mark and tried again in January 2004 at the Las Vegas International Marathon. Bertrand sprinted through 26.2 miles of desert in an impressive finish of 2:45, despite cold weather and headwind trouble. Her Las Vegas victory catapulted her into the spring St. Louis Olympic trials where she could compete with the likes of Jen Rhines (her friend), Deena Kastor, Colleen De Reuck, Blake Russell and the others who comprised the best 125 female marathoners the US had to offer.

On that sunny April 3rd morning in St. Louis, Bertrand toed the line along with the rest of the Trial qualifiers. Each female marathoner had a single goal: to beat everyone else and make the trip to the Athens Games in the summer. Only the first three runners to cross the finish line at the end of 26 -plus miles would win top prize money and prestige of competing in the Olympics. The temperature remained at a cool 40 degrees with a light breeze. Thousands of fans lined up along the track at Washington University, waving flags and cheering the athletes. The course looped around the track four times and stretched out along a park nearby the campus. As the race commenced, the winds increased in strength and the sun heated up the field to 65 degrees.  Pleasant weather for a stroll, but to an elite competitor flying across the asphalt for marathon distance at a sustained speed of 5-minute miles or less, such conditions seem suicidal.

De Reuck took first place in 2:28:23 followed by Kastor and Rhines. Bertrand completed her race in 2:54:39. Despite not making the US Olympic team, she had run with the best in the country and made a good showing, considering she ran while pregnant with her first child, who must have gotten the ride of his life.

The Gilroy physician didn’t quit training after St. Louis. “I still enjoy the sport . . . track isn’t a huge money-making sport. Running is a mood stabilizer and I did the trials for the experience.” Top-level athletes who try to earn a living on running depend on sponsors for financial support.

Today, Bertrand is happy spending time with her family and focusing on the pending arrival of her daughter in September. On occasion, she and hubby Matthews would visit Bonfante Gardens with their son or engage in other family-friendly excursions. Her sabbatical from racing will last a few months longer and she’ll begin training for the next US Women’s Olympic Trials scheduled for 2008. Meanwhile, the physically fit doctor is teaching her patients how to maintain a healthy lifestyle through exercise and proper nutrition. And who knows? She may even be delivering the next generation of potential elite runners into the world, who may represent our country at Olympic games in the future.

With summer in the air signifying the upcoming season filled with vacation plans, relocating to college, and reliving the past glories of spring sports, the high school campus celebrated the merits of their best athletes both young and old. Grilled Tri-tip, onions, green peppers wafted throughout the quad, people stood in line to get their hands on the tasty sandwiches catered by San Martin Meats while listening to the live band Dadz. Students and adults alike crowded around the prize-give-away table where gobs of tickets were sold to the hopeful vying for a large TV, an overnight stay at Corde Valle Golf Country Club, an IPOD with nano-screen, and the Live Oak signature black sweatshirt with gold and green logo, hat and booster chair. The Live Oak Athletic Boosters presented the Hall of Fame ceremony with 250 attending the inaugural event.

Duane Asplund and John Manning left an indelible mark in history as far as many from Morgan Hill and the outside world are concerned. Another celebrity present was Live Oak graduate of 1995—Jeff Ulbrich, starting linebacker for the San Francisco 49ners. Aquatics coach Mack Haines introduced the first inductee into the hall of fame, Duane Asplund. “If I could be half the coach Duane is, I could be two inches taller . . . “ Haines said with admiration. Asplund moved to Morgan Hill in 1962 and became the boys’ varsity basketball that year and won league titles consistently from ’62 to ’67. In addition to coaching on court, he led the Acorn football team in victory grabbing league titles during that time too. His leadership shined as his track and field team took home 16 league wins from 1977-1994.

The next Hall of Famer John Manning impressed Varsity Football Coach, Rick Booth with his unselfishness. “When our current athletic trainer couldn’t go on our trip for the upcoming football game in Truckee <CA>, I called John if he could be our trainer for the day. John asked, ‘when and where?’” Booth said. “He never complained during the October 1st game on Saturday, it was 40 degrees and he was there taping the players’ feet. He liked to talk to the kids while training them or treating them for injuries.”

Manning’s contributions are memorable. He was the head athletic trainer at Cal State Sacramento from 1967-68 and from there he developed a sports medicine program for Santa Clara ROP. In 1969 he arrived at Live Oak teaching biology, anatomy, physiology, ecology and sports medicine. Outside the classroom, he coached football, track and baseball and employed a sports medicine training curriculum. Subsequently in 1975, Manning became a certified athletic trainer, and created a sports medicine clinic, the first kind for high school in California.

49ner Jeff Ulbrich took the mike and without hesitation remarked, “Ton of memories here . . . I never played football before coming to Live Oak, Mark Cummins was my coach, Glen Webb and Norm Dow. The winners <student winners> have all my respect. I’m honored to do this. John Manning taught me how to be tough . . . “ Ulbrich then called up the four athletic winners of the year. Justin Short received his plaque for Water Polo All American and MVP successes, shook Ulbrich’s hand and quickly exited the stage. Cobbie Jones captured the award for her legacy she gave to Live Oak’s Track and Field. She plans to attend UCLA in the fall and resume her running career down there.

“I didn’t know I was going to get this award,” Jones said cheerily. She mentioned her stress fracture in her left tibia that sidelined her during the spring track season. Jones added, “Eight weeks I didn’t run but I did train to maintain health and fitness. Now I’m training and I’m so excited to be running. My dad always supported me and my mom was at every race—she’s my biggest supporter.”

The best male Scholar-Athlete of the year award went to Dustin Muhn in track and football and for his GPA of 4.17. He will be going to UC Berkeley next school season. “I like to thank my family, coach and teachers,” Muhn said shyly. The best female scholar winner, Ronni Gautschi took the honor for her Water Polo and swimming achievements with All CCS and TCAL plus her 3.9 GPA. She’ll be attending San Diego State on scholarship.

The Mushroom Mardi Gras 10K and 5K began without a hitch on this fine sunny, crisp Saturday morning. Despite the head winds and nippy weather, majority of 163 registered runners enjoyed the paved course along the Coyote Creek Bike Trail in Morgan Hill. The fundraiser is a six-year tradition hosted by the Live Oak Athletic Boosters with co-directors Sue Scigliano and track and country coach Dean Raymond at the helm. Athletes as far away as Chicago, Illinois competed with south valley racers.

The rustic backdrop made sprinting along the trail a refreshing one. At the same time, the Mushroom Mardi Gras food fair was gearing up on Monterey Road and organizers expected record crowds to converge on the main drag through the mushroom city.  What better way to boost one’s appetite than run a race? It came as no surprise that some visited the 27th annual fungus festival afterwards.

Stellar performances by the top winners in both distances started with the 10K overall finisher in the men’s division. Raymond Rodriguez, 44 from Los Banos blazed through the end with 37:26. His bout with an injury didn’t hamper his ability on Saturday and like most runners he worked through it. “I have a sprained ligament on my right knee. I didn’t think I was going to run the race—did rehab during the week. Felt good, was able to run.”

Hollister resident Rob Zimmerman was not too far from Rodriguez with 37:47. “The headwinds were nasty, but it’s a good course.” Zimmerman said. “I ran Boston this year; it was easier than I thought. I did it in 2:51. I’m used to hills, I often train at Pinnacles National Monument. Trail running is the best.” Third place finisher John Mintz arrived in 39:39.

Two Gilroyans dominated the Women’s 10K top spots with Michelle Garber’s impressive time of 41:46. “I picked up running in January and this is my third race this year,” Garber said. The 19-year old student of Notre Dame is on vacation and visiting her family from Illinois.  

“It was a fun race,” Gretchen-Yoder Schrock said. “I’m notorious for starting out too fast, but I was able to keep pace.“ Despite the prevailing windy conditions she shot past the finish line with 46:16. Morgan Hill racer, Marti Menz, 50 closed in on 46:19. “I kept a very even pace. We ran into the wind going out, but with the wind on our backs going in. It was perfect running weather.” Menz, and Yoder-Schrock are members of the South Valley Running Club (SVRC).

The 5K overall winner went to a female, Dina Rosenthal with her speedy time of 17:26. Debbie Leale followed behind with 19:48, and Live Oak High Olivia Duran, 14 ran the race in 21:29. “The course was pretty easy, flat. I’ve been training on my own since track season is over.”

The guys who took the top 3 positions in the men’s division are Ignacio Perez with 18:21; Armando Rodriguez zoomed in at 19:43. SVRC member Kevin Stuart of San Martin shut out the rest of the field with 20:04.

Stuart ran the American River Ultra-50-miler in April along with SVRC President Craig Lore. “I ran as hard as I could. Trying to stay head of Craig during the whole time.” Consequently, Lore finished 4th with 20:05.

Gilroy Dispatch

Morgan Hill Times

San Francisco—The famous 12K footrace birthed from the aftermath of the 1906 Earthquake continues on its grand tradition of getting folks outside to pound to pavement and celebrate life. Roughly 62 thousand people ran the event this year despite the cold, rainy weather that hit the Bay Area this week. Many weren’t daunted by the gloomy forecast and trudged ahead along the City’s streets in a variety of outfits. Disco music blaring from the windows of Victorian Homes along the route with hippies on sidewalks and folks throwing Mardi Gras beads to participants made this run a memorable one.

The Kenyans dominated the sport again, overall winner Gilbert Okari, 27 from Kenya zipped past the finish line in an impressive 34:20; Ukrainian Tetyana Hladyr, 31 took the women’s top spot with 39:09. The other celebrity without costume to complete the 7.46-mile party was Mayor Gavin Newsom in 59:04. Following the Mayor were the zany cast of characters such as the Sharks Centipede, Blue Smurfs, Wonder Women, nude men wearing backpacks, The Harry Potter Family, Da Vinci Code novel people, wild flowers in punk ware and a wide assortment of historic figures.

Darth Vader, storm troopers marched in well-made costumes that would make Star Wars’ creator George Lucas proud. A gaggle of Elvises imbibed on their favorite brew, mingling with the hordes, four guys wearing stuffed Emus weaved around the walkers and runners. Several men dressed in Middle Eastern garb with headdress advertising gasoline prices at $10 a gallon on the sidelines, waved cheerily. It was wall to wall with people so running a decent clip was out of the question. Most walked and those of us who could run did. The challenging part was not to overheat wearing a thick, big costume.

The Hayes Street Hill loomed ahead, the folks dreaded it because of the 11.15% grade, however it wasn’t that bad. San Jose marathoner Kat Powell, 55 ran her first Bay to Breakers this year.  “Running in a costume is an experience for me . . . comparing it with Double Dip Sea race makes the Hayes Street Hill a piece of cake.” The Double Dip Sea is a rigorous trail race for the more rugged of heart. Powell aced the hill despite her heavy costume.

Jeffrey Bedolla of San Jose had many wonderful insights while running Bay to Breakers—his approach to life is more on a philosophical level including races. “I learned the importance of being myself among the mass of people during the run.”

Three-time B2B veteran Jeanmarie Derry of Gilroy survived the Hill and was pleased with her finishing time of 2 hours and 56 minutes. “This time was easier thanks to training with the South Valley Running Club. We ran on Wednesday nights and on Saturday mornings.” Her friend and south valley resident Linda Barnes finished in 1:45. Derry’s focus was to finish the course and have a good time. She plans to return to San Francisco again to run Bay to Breakers in the future.

According to AAUW-MH volunteer Kathy Sass, the first Wildflower race took place in 1983 at Santa Teresa Road in Morgan Hill. Back then only 200 female runners signed up to compete.  Slowly, the idea caught on among the rest of the athletic community.  Last Sunday’s event had 515 entrants. Race proceeds go to scholarship programs geared for high school seniors to enter college or for those wishing to continue their education beyond the two-year stint at a JC.

Thirteen newcomers from San Jose State University Cross Country Team won several top awards in the 10K. Jose Burrola from SJSU won the race overall with a time of 33:45; followed by fellow student Sean Dundon with 35:30; third place finisher was teammate Gordie Throne with a sizzling 36:00. Burrola, 22 says, “This is my first time I ran this race. It was very challenging and I got a PR (personal record).”

The female overall winner was Kari Ann Bertrand, 35 from Gilroy who smoked the competition by zipping past the finish line in 37:37. “I’m happy with the race . . . however, this will be my last one for a while,” says Bertrand, who is ten weeks pregnant with her second child.

Erica Sahli, 19, was at Bertrand’s heels finishing with 37:42; and her schoolmate Tiffany Hall, 20 took the third spot in 38:27. The two SJSU runners ran most of the race in a trio with Bertrand, until she broke away from them. Sahli and Hall noted the lack of a horde of runners at the Wildflower. “I’m used to running in races like the Mercury News 10K where there’s lots of people,” Hall says.

At the start of the 5K, children lined up at the front much to the dismay of some runners. “They shouldn’t be standing in the front,” one guy commented before the race. “They’re going to get bowled over.” The same runner ate his words when some of those kids dusted him in the end. One such speedster was Ruben James Collins (RJ), 10, from Hollister with his first place win in 20:25 and sixth overall. “I like to see how many people would pass me. Not that many did and I passed a lot of people,” Collins says. His sister, Angelica Collins, 8 did her family proud with a first place time of 22:44.

High school students from the south valley dominated the 5K overall winners’ circle with male leaders such as Live Oak alumni Jesus Atanacio in 17:56, Andrew Taylor in second with 18:50, and Daniel Beckwith finishing third in 19:33. Female champions Ann Mari Rich with 20:39, Suzanne Hancock’s second place with 21:01, and Olivia Duran’s time of 22:07 overshadowed the rest of the pack. “It was a hardcore race . . . so I kept within my pace.” Duran was pleased with her results.

The 2K Run had its young competitors toeing the line, including some tiny tots with ages ranging from 5 through 12. Joel Hall from Morgan Hill won the event overall with 7:42. It was his first race outside of his school and he plans to do the Wildflower again next year. Rich Thomas was close behind Hall with 8:06, and Alexander Richardson came in third with 8:57. The top girls were: Sarah Gilbert with 8:37; Katie Machado took second with 8:52, and Alissa Pham followed suit with 10:34.

The Wildflower is not only for the fleet-footed, but also for those who love to run ultra-marathons such as Jean Suyenaga, 39 from San Jose. She just did a 50-miler last week and plans to do another on April 22nd. “The race was relaxed, although you get the adrenaline rush at the end towards the finish. The energy from the volunteers and other runners pulled me through to the end,” she says. This is coming from a woman who ran 26 marathons and four ultra-marathons.

For detailed information on the 2K, 5K and 10K results please go to www.aauw-morganhill.org.

San Juan Bautista—threat of inclement weather on this chilly February 4th morning didn’t deter runners from several counties to grace the historic landmark city for the 23rd Annual Mission 10 foot races. This event is a favorite among the south valley athletic community due to the bucolic backdrop and small town charm of San Juan Bautista. The Hollister Rotary’s competition is divided up into three distinct events: the one-mile fun run, the run/walk 5K, and the mid-distance 10-miler. The gloomy, dark grey skies with light rain normally foils most outdoor activities, however to the runner it’s a blessing.

Minutes before the start, the wait for the port-a-potties was challenging for the enthusiastic crowd, especially for those who tanked up on coffee, tea or water. Beverly Hamby and her friend stood in front of me. They talked about the upcoming 10-miler and their expectations of the race; Hamby didn’t sound too confident. The 52-year old from Salinas told me, “I don’t know how to run, I just survive these things.” I gave her a sympathetic smile, thinking she was new to running until I saw her yellow Portland Marathon jersey. Hamby explained she was overweight years ago and wanted to lose pounds by tackling a marathon. “My friend told me I could never run a marathon. Never tell me I can’t do something. I joined Team in Training.” Since then she ran ten.

At the start, the racers stood shivering in the nippy, misty air listening to the pre-race instructions given by Race Director Bill Tiffany. Athletic groups stood out among the racers ready to sprint at the onset of the siren; members from the South Valley Running Club, Tri-County Athletic Association, and the Wednesday Night Laundry Runners toed the line.

At the 5K, an older blind woman stood in front of the line with her companion. They had no clue about becoming road kill once the siren goes off from being trampled over by zealous runners on caffeine. “Should I stand over to one side?” She asked innocently. A race volunteer lead her toward the back where the walkers were.

Carlos siqueiros-25 from San Jose zipped past the finish to complete 10 miles in an impressive 54:10 enabling him to win overall. “Last year I ran it <Mission 10> slower. I liked this race but it got wet out there on the road,” he said. “I treated the race as a tempo training run.” Prior to Mission 10, Siqueiros competed in his first 26.2-miler last December at the Sacramento International Marathon. He finished in 2:40:40. “I’d like to compete on a more elite level—run with the fastest people. I’m enjoying this while it lasts.”

Marina resident, Carmella Heinz-35 crosses the finish in 1:08 taking the women’s title this year. “I enjoyed the small town race atmosphere. I’m training for the Big Sur International Marathon.” She previously ran 6 and placed within her age group. She trains with Stella Gibbs and with the Wednesday Night Laundry Runners in the Monterey area. 

Stella Gibbs-47 took second in the women’s division with a respectable 1:09. The vice president of Pacific Metrics enjoyed her time in San Juan Bautista. “This is a good race,” she said. “I started racing at Mission 10 over three years ago. I’m running Boston this year.” Like Heinz, she ran several marathons.

The 5K winners made their mark in Mission 10 history with the sizzling performance of Gilroy High’s Arnulfo Velasquez-18 triumphing over the men’s division overall with a stunning 15:58. “It was a good race. This is the first time I ran it.” The soft-spoken Velasquez took his 1st place trophy and joined the throng of teens in the crowd. Rico Vaquez-18 followed closely behind Velasquez in 16:07. Third place finisher Mauricio Maia completed the 3.1-miler in 16:27.

Hollister’s Amanda Boyd-17 won the women’s title in the 5K with 18:21; Jamila Saqqa took 2nd in 19:44, and Dana Basley finished 3rd in 20:11. (13 to 18 age group).

Morgan Hill’s Ken Oliver-50 placed 3rd in the 10-miler with 1:05:27 and was happy with the day’s events. “Great race. I like the nice misty rain in the hills. The race is well run and I love coming to the mission every year.”

Due to the race chronometer malfunction the times for the 10-mile race weren’t recorded.

San Martin, CA—“In a race everyone runs, but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win. To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best . . . so I run straight to the finish line with purpose in every step. I fight to win. ” These ancient words penned by a Roman scholar named Saul to Grecian athletes.

San Martin’s accomplished Tri-Athlete Sue Robinson is racing against the most challenging opponent of her life: Stage Four Ovarian cancer. This is not a story of defeat but one of victory. Here’s why: Robinson’s ordeal has knitted the athletic communities together from different parts of the country. Their efforts raised ten thousand dollars, which they’ve donated to ovarian cancer research, hoping that soon the silent killer will be detected through screening. This is Robinson’s desire for future generations of women.   

In November 2004, Robinson accomplished an impressive 10:44 PR in the Ironman, unbeknownst to her, the stealth-like cancer was growing inside her ovaries. Doctors suspected about five months’ worth. The Ironman race comprises of three segments: swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles, then running 26.2 miles, in the roughest conditions against the clock. One notable event is the Hawaiian Ironman World Championships in Kona this month. Robinson competed in eight Ironmans, including the World Championships in 2002 and 2003.

Scott Robinson recounts his wife’s progress before diagnosis in June 2005. “Just four-weeks prior, Sue won her age group at the South Bay Triathlon, her time slower and she wasn’t feeling well, but she never guessed that what was making her sick was an advanced stage of cancer,” he says. “A month prior we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary by both racing in the Ironman New Zealand.”

Despite her struggle, Robinson imparts encouraging words. “Get out and live your dreams. Never, never, never give up. Deep in my soul I believe I will race Ironman again, I try to see it in my head everyday. I see my husband and kids at the finish line, my chemo nurse there and my surgeon too.”

“Her amazing attitude, will to win, and love of others helps her through the rough times,” her husband says. “She simply amazes me.”

Kelly Ramirez trained with Robinson and is indebted to her for her inspiration in helping Ramirez become a better athlete and person. “A few years ago I found myself floundering in terms of training . . . I was about ready to give up on competing. However, Sue would not hear of it. She took me under her wing,” she says.

And now Ramirez wants to give back to Robinson for all that she did for her. “Now as Sue faces her biggest challenge, I want to support her . . . I want to bring her to as many training sessions and competitions as I can.” She came up with the idea of Team Sue with Barbara Voss and Luanne Giacalone.

Denise Tuminaro and family spent nights creating the “TEAM SUE” embroidery with the date of diagnosis and colored emblem of Ovarian Cancer on jerseys, which the athletes wore in triathlons and marathons in California, Washington and Hawaii.

Zoot Clothing, one of the Triathlon sport’s top international clothiers, manufactured the jerseys. They are designing a line of active apparel with the purpose of giving the proceeds to ovarian cancer research.

Team Sue’s fifty-one members are spread throughout the south valley and some as far as the east coast. You’ll see them in the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco on October 23rd and the New York City Marathon in November.

Warm autumn temperatures and Azure, cloudless skies didn’t hinder the performance of Live Oak’s senior Cobbie Jones and Sobrato’s freshman Lance Wolfsmith in the varsity section of the race. Jones broke her own record by five seconds and won the event with a time of 19:00; Wolfsmith flew past the finish line with the best overall time of 17:11. This young athlete made quite a debut competing against the upper division runners and left all of them behind on the trails around Lake Anderson. Despite this achievement by both Morgan Hill schools, Salinas pretty much dominated the meet as a unifying force.

Salinas’s aggressive teammates Clark McLennan (17:24) and Casey Ricketts (17:36) were at Wolfsmith’s heels throughout the event. Live Oak’s Kenny Benner (17:54), Eric Matsumoto (18:00), and Andrew Taylor (18:05) followed behind their rivals in their second cross-country event of the season.

The girls’ varsity event was a triumph for both Morgan Hill and Salinas. Alexandria Bell (19:25) and Shannon McVannel (19:27) from Salinas took second and third place while Lisa Herrera (20:11) and Olivia Duran (21:40) did Live Oak proud as they took the forth and fifth spots in the race despite the hot weather.

The boy’s junior varsity team fared well for Live Oak too. Mando Medina won the event over Salinas with a time of 18:08. Salinas’s Ryan Shimizv relentlessly pursued Medina all the way to the end with a finish of 18:40. Live Oak’s Tim Kotyuk chased Shimizv during the race and took third at 18:52. Other Live Oak cross-country runners Brent Hatakeyama (19:19) and Anthony Macadaeg (19:56) took sixth and tenth place in the meet.

As for the girls’ junior varsity, Salinas butchered the competition. They dominated most of the division.  However, something has to be said about the indomitable spirit of Live Oak’s junior female racers; one such girl, Christina Shriver, twisted her ankle during the first part of the grueling course and kept running despite the pain until she limped past the finish line. Notwithstanding their loss, the girls from Live Oak are looking forward to racing again at the next meet at the Chieftain Classic in Salinas on Saturday, September 17.

Live Oak Coaches Dean Raymond and Norm Dow felt their teams should’ve been more competitive but were impressed by their teams’ unity. The kids’ times were close together and thus they ran as a tight knit team rather than competing against one another. Both coaches know their cross-country team will do better in the future and honestly, they can’t really make an assessment of things right now since it’s still early in the season. They have nine more weeks before they can do that.

Sobrato High coach James Feldman was pleased with Wolfsmith and also the fact that most kids on his teams are made up of freshmen, sophomores and juniors. His stint as coach for the second year at this new high school paid off. More students joined the cross-country team this season than from the last one and they’re out there eagerly tackling the tough races and competitors. Even though the team is comprised of younger runners, Feldman appreciates their enthusiasm and hard work. Looks like more promising track stars in the future from this high if they keep that attitude up.

Every late August in Gilroy’s Mt. Madonna Park at Sprig Lake, brave runners from Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Jose, Los Gatos and even as far as San Luis Obispo, hit the dirt trails to torture themselves on two rigorous courses: up steep inclines, in the midst of hot weather, gobs of bugs, dust, and sweat. The 12K and 6K races are geared not for the fainthearted or for couch potato wimps; these long and winding roads are pretty tough. The Mt. Madonna Challenge, aptly named, is a benefit for the South Valley Symphony. Veteran runner, Bill Flodberg and Live Oak High School’s Cross Country coach Dean Raymond are the driving force behind the 30-year-old athletic event.

The first segment of the race is the 6K Salamander Walk, which sounds safe enough until you actually run the thing. It’s no cakewalk. It will build up the calf muscles and get those lungs pumping pine-scented air.

Steve Sokol and his son Alex, father and son team from San Jose drove up early Sunday morning to test their mettle on the shorter distance of the race. Never mind that Alex is six years old; he knows he can tackle the hills without any problems. The older Sokol is constantly at his side feeding him racing strategy. The other runners and walkers mentally perk up and toe the line before the sound of the air horn signifying the start.  Some have no idea of the sharp hill greeting them at the beginning of the route; others are prepared since they’ve done it before.

In the 12K Mt. Madonna Challenge race, the eager, hardy souls are talking about their past races and expectations regarding the upcoming trial. Veteran competitor, Dave Boulen, 74, from Los Gatos has defied the mountains since the inception of the race thirty years ago. Despite an unfortunate encounter with a swarm of hornets at a previous Mt. Madonna Challenge two years ago, he still confronts the precipitous course with enthusiasm.

Newcomers to the scene, Tom and Leesa King patiently stretched and warmed up as they contemplated the physical demands of the competitive event. These Morgan Hill residents have trained with the South Valley Running Club and also on their own near Uvas Reservoir. They planned to keep an even pace throughout their journey. After they finished the race, they received awards within their age divisions.

The racers cross the finish line; weary, happy, relieved and much wiser when it comes to hill running. Morgan Hill’s 14 year-old Olivia Duran completed the rugged 6K under 34 minutes and was thrilled to take first place overall in the women’s field. “Uphill was my favorite part because it makes my legs stronger,” Duran said with satisfaction. San Martin resident Rich Benner finished second in the men’s division for the same distance with a time of 26:57. This was his first time competing in the race.

The men’s division winners in the 12K were first timers, Michael Matthews from Los Gatos and Cupertino’s Andrew Murray. Matthew’s impressive 51:32 finish clearly made him the lead in the race. (His wife, Kimberly, placed second overall in the women’s division in the 6K.) Murray’s time of completing the demanding route in 56:18 wasn’t shabby either.

Morgan Hill’s Lisa Herrera, a freshman from Live Oak High School, won the women’s division in the 12K with 69:38. The 63-year-old Sally Adam, from San Luis Obispo, placed second overall with 74:31.

Third place finisher, Gretchen Yoder-Schrock sums it up best regarding everyone’s feelings toward the challenge: “I finished tired, but I did well . . . I hope I can say the same for the upcoming school year!” They’ll be back again.

Here’s the lowdown of the top three male and female winners of the 6K: Daniel Bechwith, 17, 26:04; Rich Benner, 50, 26:57; Andrew Taylor, 17, 27:09; Olivia Duran,14, 33:35; Kimberly Matthews, 38, 34:12; and Jo Buderus, 44, 36:27.

The winners in the 12K are as follows: Michael Matthews, 39, 51:32; Ryan Reed, 26, 53:59; and Andrew Murray, 38, 56:18; Lisa Herrera, 17, 69:38; Sally Adam, 63, 74:31; and Gretchen Yoder-Schrock, 39, 75:35.