WELCOME KALAMAZOO AREA RUNNERS, BATTLE CREEK ROAD RUNNERS and RUNNING FRIENDS! 

The USA struck Olympic Silver in the Men’s Marathon!  Meb Keflezighi put the United States in the spotlight by capturing the silver medal.  The Gold medal was won by Italy’s Stefano Baldini and the Bronze was well earned by Brazil’s Vanderlei de Lima, who held on for  3^rd place after fending off an assailant  in the last few miles.  This marks the first time in Olympic history that Americans have won a medal in the men’s and women’s marathon at the same Olympics.  American Alan Culpepper had a strong showing with 12^th place finish while Dan Browne took 65^th.

Rain, thunder and lightening delayed the Crim 10-mile start, but it didn’t prevent local runner Betsy Frens from becoming the first American female finisher across the finish line.  Betsy finished the hilly 10-mile course in under an hour with a time of 58:58 and placed 7^th overall!  Although her name is not new in running circles, she now resides in Kalamazoo with her family and coaches cross- country at Kalamazoo Christian High School.   The men’s overall winner was Linus Maiyo of Kenya with a time of 48:06 and the women’s overall winner was Leah Malot from Kenya with a tie of 54:34.  Top Men’s American finisher was Brian Sell with a 48:38, only 32 seconds behind the winner!  See the LOCAL RUNNER HAPPENINGS section below to see how our local runners fared.  See www.crim.org for all the results.

Sometimes we will organize informal group runs at Al Sabo Preserve or Kal-Haven.  The times of these runs are often determined on a week- by- week basis based on schedules, seasons, etc, and we don’t send them to the group E-mail to keep you all from getting bombarded!!!  If you would like to be included on the E-mails on these runs though, please let Bonnie know at besrun2003@yahoo.com and we will make sure you are copied.  For those of you who haven’t run at Al Sabo yet, we would love to lead you through and introduce you to the joy of trail running!  Also, we will be bringing back our KAR/BCRR Gull Lake Runs soon… we will keep you posted!

This is a special message from Gazelle Sports.....
Want to be immortalized in the 2005 edition of Gazelle Sports' Events Calendar?  We want to include YOU in the design. This next year, as we celebrate 20 years of operation, we invite you - our friends - to submit pictures or personal memories of events that have impacted you in West Michigan over the past 20 years.   The photos and essays we choose from submissions will be part of our 2005 Events Calendar. If we use your submission, we will reward you with a $50 Gazelle Sports gift certificate!   Deadline for submissions is October 15, 2004.  Please label your submission with your name and address, and indicate if you would like your submission returned to you. Send submissions to:

 Tessa Emenheiser

 Gazelle Sports

 214 S. Kalamazoo Mall

 Kalamazoo, MI 49007

 Or e.mail: temenheiser@gazellesports.com

 Questions? E.mail Tessa or call her at 269/342-5996.   Thank you!

Don't forget to check out the LOCAL RUNNER HAPPENINGS below to see if your name is there!

There will be a WMU Track Workout on Tuesday, September 7 at 6:00 pm.  See you there.  Group Contacts will be Dave Walch and/or Steve Hicks.  Please be forwarned, rumor has it that WMU will begin ticketing this week.  Park on the side street or at the meters to be on the safe side.

Missed the deadline for Chicago?  Didn't win the New York Lottery?  Don't despair.  There are still plenty of fall marathons to choose from.  See our list below for other great options!

Visit our website, www.kalamazooarearunners.com for more news and information!

Here's what's coming up...

SPECIAL EVENTS AND RACES

Saturday, September 11, 2004

The infamous Dances with Dirt 100K Relay, 50K Ultra or 50 Mile Ultra takes place today in Hell, MI with lots of local teams among the 320 in the running.  It is too late to sign up for this years relay (if you are thinking about securing a spot for next year, make sure you send a representative from your team, check in hand, to the registration run held next February!)  Intrigued?   See www.danceswithdirt.com for more details!

Please note the correction in the date of the Grape Lake 5k Run/Walk from the Gazelle Calendar.  This takes place September 11, 2004, not September 4.  This is a fast, flat 5k run in the heart of Paw Paw.  Visit www.lakeviewcares.com for more information.  

A third option for something a little different is the Kazoo Area Foot Chase held in Portage.  See www.kazoofootchase.com for more information.

Saturday, September 18, 2004 This is it, folks, the final event in our Club Championship Series, the Peacock Strut 10k and 5k Races are today at Celery Flats in Portage.  Here's a hint: You can gain about twice the points by running both of these events!  See www.classicrace.com to register online and for more information. 

Saturday, September 25, 2004 The Run for the Son 5k will also be held at the Celery Flats in Portage.  For online registration and details check out www.classicrace.com. This is a great one for the kids and raises funds for the Kalamazoo Deacons Conference. 

The first annual Run for the Hounds 10k kicks off at 8:30 today at the Fort Custer Recreation Area.   For more information, contact Sue DeHollander at 269-665-9633 or visit www.scfg.org for more information. 

Saturday, October 2, 2004 The Lawton Blue Devil Benefit 5k Run/Walk will be held Oct. 2, beginning at the cemetery on 2^nd Street.   The run begins at 8:30, the walk at 8:40 and the fun run at 9:00 am.  For more information, contact Dave Stephayn at 269-624-3101.  

GROUP RUNS

at the Kal-Haven Trailhead.    The Gazelles, Gnus and Impalas will be embarking on 16, 18 and 20-mile jungle runs, but things have been scrambled up a bit!  The Gazelles will be dropping down to 16 miles, the Impala’s will be tackling 18 and the Gnus will be attempting their first 20-miler! 

The SHufflers will be meeting at the Milham road entrance of Bicentennial Trail at 7:00 am Saturday for any distance you would like to run.  The SHufflers will begin their formal marathon training program in January.

See our website, www.kalamazooarearunners.com for a complete listing of group runs!

LOCAL RUNNER HAPPENINGS

Running machine Fred Colbert had a great showing by taking 24^th place in his age group and automatically seeding for next year’s event with a 1:09:53.    Julie Delbridge and Lori Ross of the Gazelle Sports/KAR Marathon Training Group were also live on the scene to conquer the rolling hills.   Great run ladies!  

The “Crim Crew” of Charlie Crouch, Charlie Broberg and Jim Bronson were also present, but the only one of them identifiable in the final 10-mile results was Jim!   Reports indicate that a box of donuts magically disappeared during the event.  

New member Bruce Watson also managed to get hooked up with the Crim Crew!  KAR’s Colleen Moran, Ron and Laurie Doering and Francine Bangs also finished this grueling event.  Francine finished an awesome 5^th place in her age division.  

Other local runners who had amazing performances were Felix Brooks who won his age division with a 59:21 and Paul Barrons who took 4^th in his age division with a fast 52:32.  Several of our friends from the SHufflers also experienced the Crim including Karen Fuhrman and Amal Mansour,.  Awesome runs all!  

By the way, we didn’t download the results from the 5k run and walk or the 8k, but congratulations to any of you all out there who completed these events! 

The Human Race in Battle Creek kicked off its inaugural event Saturday.  Special recognition goes to the members of the Battle Creek Road Runners who helped make this event possible including Wayne Young, Jeff Saint, Toni Galligan and Pat Galligan!  It’s great to see folks out there giving back to the sport that has given so much to us!  We encourage everyone to get involved, even if time allows for only one event a year!   Let us know and we will help find something for you to do!    

The Hastings Summerfest 5k and 10k Races were also held this past Saturday.  KAR’s Judy Way recovered from her marathon training group water stop duties the week prior to take third place in her 10k age group.   Local running friend Peggy Zeeb won the Women’s 10k overall with a 43:25.  Great runs ladies! Is everyone dried out yet? 

The Gazelle, Gnu and Impala counts were down a little this week as Saturday morning was ushered in by thunder, lightening and rain!  Good morning to roll over and go back to sleep!  It was pouring cats and dogs as the herds embarked on runs of up to 20 miles!  Within an hour the skies cleared, but the humidity kept even the highest quality technical apparel drenched!  

Hope the dripping wet crew that gathered after the run in front of Gazelles didn’t scare off the shoppers!  Missy Behnke and Tim Bredahl easily conquered 16 miles in the soaking wet, humid conditions.   Lindsay Steinberg (she somehow managed to get her name in print again) and Rick Schau almost lost running partner Mike Nock to a drowned sewer rat.  

Kelli Trail may have seen the drowned sewer rat too as she wrapped up her 16 mile run.  We would like to say she changed her mind, but since Chicago closed weeks ago, we have to admit the fact we erred!  Lori Snyder is not running Detroit, but Chicago!  Could it have been a figment of the imagination caused by the delusional confusion suffered during the glycogen depletion of the last few miles of a humidity-ridden 20-mile run, or was that Phyllis Florian who ran by us on Bicentennial Trail? 

The four SHufflers who ran by, including Dan Sarkipato and Phil Ni weren’t visions, but reality.  So was Mike Northius, who was out running Bicentennial trail for the sheer joy of it!   Gordon Hare, we got your name straight, now – no name-tag necessary for you.  Great, consistent running!  Patty Montilla, we think we know who you are now!    Thank you to all who provided course support including Annie Stearns.     

 It was great to see Mostyn Lombard, Erin Bauer, Matt Babbitt and Jamie out at the WMU Track.  Chip Hanson once again experienced the joy of fast running during some 200’s.  It appears as though, based on the number of times they pass by, that Molly and Mike Sherrard keep getting faster and faster.   Dave Walch was attacked by 3 little Tigers running loose among the Gazelles, Impalas and Gnus at the track.  He didn’t seem to mind though.  Finally, farewell to Michelle Post, who went back to Michigan State this week – it was great to see you again!   HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND KEEP RUNNING!The KALAMAZOO AREA RUNNERSThe BATTLE CREEK ROAD RUNNERS

UPCOMING MARATHONS

 September 11, 2004
North Country Trail Run 26.2 & 50 Mi Trail Runs in Manistee, MI www.stridersrun.com

 September 12, 2004
Mile High City Marathon, Denver, CO www.milehighcitymarathon.com 

September 18, 2004
Air Force Marathon, Wright Patterson AFB, OH www.Afmarathon.wpafb.af.mil/ 

September 26, 2004
Boulder Backroads Marathon, Boulder, CO www.boulderbackroads.com

 September 28, 2004
Fox Cities Marathon, Fox Cities, WI www.foxcitiesmarathon.org 

October 2, 2004
Road Runner Akron Marathon, Akron, OH www.akronmarathon.org 

October 3, 2004
Lakefront Marathon, Milwaukee, WI www.badgerlandstriders.org/marathon

 October 9, 2004
Whistlestop Marathon, Ashland, WI www.whistlestopmarathon.com

 October 10, 2004
LaSalle Chicago Marathon, Chicago, IL www.chicagomarathon.com*** Now Closed to New Entrants

 October 17, 2004
Des Moines Marathon, Des Moines, IA www.desmoinesmarathon.com 

October 24, 2004
Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon and Half Marathon, Detroit, MI www.detriotfreepressmarathon.comPlease note the correction in the Date on this one!

 October 31, 2004
Grand Rapids Marathon, Grand Rapids, MI www.cooladventures.net 

October 31, 2004
Marine Corps Marathon, Washington DC www.marinemarathon.com 

November 7, 2004
New York City Marathon (by lottery or qualifier), New York, NY ***Now Closed to New Entrants  

November 25, 2004
Atlanta Marathon, Atlanta, GA www.atlantatrackclub.org 

November 28, 2004
Seattle Marathon, Seattle, WA www.seattlemarathon.org