A publisher is a little like a sausage maker. You combine all the ingredients - photos, copy, distribution, revenue, writers, editors, clients, readers, viewers - and hopefully end up with a successful product and profit.

As our 25th anniversary celebration for Michigan Runner comes to a close, I'd like to reminisce about writers who have contributed to it over a quarter-century.

A good start would be to mention our past editors: Mike Duff, Dave Foley, Jennie McCafferty and present one, Scott Sullivan.

Mike, our founding editor, gave our publication its base. He was in unchartered waters and did a terrific job.

Dave Foley was a writer before we brought him into the fold. His prose has graced many outdoor publications and we were fortunate to have him spend 14 years with us. Dave was a no-nonsense editor who had writers address our core market of readers. His relentless pursuit of quality writers helped MR continue to succeed.

When Dave got injured and decided to retire as editor, he recruited my wife, Jennie McCafferty, to replace him. Jennie took over during tough economic times for MR and injected new life by taking the magazine more into collegiate and high-school running. She brought in new writers who worked this beat.

As we began to move more seriously into internet television, she turned over the MR print reins to Scott Sullivan. Scott has continued our reputation for excellent writing. Having only four editors over 25 years has helped us with editorial continuity.

When I think about writers, Scott Hubbard tops the list. He has contributed to MR, it seems, forever. He is among the most knowledgeable people in the sport, and his columns and articles have appeared in local and national publications.

Scott excelled as a runner at Eastern Michigan University for coach Bob Parks and continued to run aggressively for years after. In addition to his writing, Scott measures courses and, in the past decade, has established himself as a first-rate race announcer. He is color analyst (with Jim Garver of WFUM) for the Crim Festival of Races telecast, and is announcer for both the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon and state high school cross country finals.

Scott Hubbard is one of the most recognizable writers' names in the sport. His columns continue to be fresh, thoughtful and a must-read for MR readers.

Tom Henderson is a writer's writer. He has been a stringer for the Detroit News for years, was a Detroit business magazine editor, and received a real salary and benefits for a couple years writing for a technology publication in Ann Arbor before returning to the life of a free-lance writer.

Tom still writes about running, but his mystery novels are paying the bills. His stories - sometimes accompanied by Carter Sherline's photographs - have graced pages of Runner's World and other national magazines. Tom continues to race everywhere: the more obscure the event, the better. He has introduced new runs to our readers, and his descriptions are such that participation soars at the next year's races.

The man pops up everywhere. I remember lining up for the Big Sur Marathon during the early 1990s, and there was Tom - with Mike O'Hara of the Detroit News - prepared to start. Tom Henderson, one of the best writers around.

Our health contributors have included Dr. Joe Arends and Nancy Clark. Joe began writing about nutrition way before it was in vogue. J.P. McCarthy, famed Detroit radio personality, used to have Joe on his program often. He sounded alarms about the harm fast foods can cause your body, and went after the quality of school lunches. Joe's columns were provocative.

Nancy, now one of America's most admired and read nutritionists, has been with us for almost two decades. She has supplemented her columns with best-selling nutrition and cook books. Her husband, John McGrath, founded the New England Runner magazine. I crashed on their couch after a get-together about 15 years ago, and woke up to clicking computer keys as Nancy began her work day.

Other "old-timers" include Bob Schwartz, celebrated author of a running book; book reviewer and all-around writer Ron Marinucci; Doug Kurtis, one of the best-known names in state running; Dr. Ed Kozloff, who brings a sense of history to his articles; Chris Danielson, who lets us know what's up in the Upper Peninsula; Charles McEwen, who seems to be everywhere covering stories; Jim Neff, who touched on the lighter side of running; Sara and Terry Moore, a father and daughter who knew how to put pen to paper; Gary Reffitt, who graced our pages for years; former EMU professor Bob Delcampo, who now writes academic books; the late Phil Loomis, who created such an impression that a series of races in Jackson has been named for him; and Ann Forshee Crane, who won races, then wrote about them.

Other contributors? Charlie Blanchard, Jack Berry, Ron Gunn, John Goodridge, Peggy Steig, Lew Kidder, Mike Wendland, Buzz Wynbeek, Jackie Holland Decker, Herb Lindsay, Greg Meyer, Stormi Ann Guntsch, Mary Beth Dillion, Bill Smith, Bob Siegel, Al Owens, Kathy Harrison, Dave Meyer, Charles McKelvy, Dr. Timothy Maggs, Paul Daniel, Gordon Schafer, Bob Maybouer, Robin Sarris Hallop, Tom McMahon, Laurel Park, Mark Smith, Dennis McCafferty, Mike Beckman, Bob Seif, Jeanne Jeffrey, Donald Richmond, Paul Aufdemberge, Brian Charlton, Sara Deuling, Lorraine Evans, Jim Gaver, Bill Johncock, Bill Khan, Daniel Kelsey, Don Kern, Joe Spurgeon, Anthony Targan, Mike Terrell and Graham Wellman are but a few.

Nationally-known writers gracing our masthead have included Amby Burfoot, Larry Eder, Marc Bloom, David Monti, Chris Lear, Joe Henderson and Hal Higdon.

My role may be publisher, but writing was my first love. I remember the thrill I had when legendary Detroit newspaper columnists Bob Talbert and Mark Beltaire published pieces I had written and submitted. I also remember the check I got for my first paid article: it was a thrill of the first order. To all our contributors, Mike Duff thanks you, Dave Foley thanks you, Jennie McCafferty thanks you, Scott Sullivan thanks you, and most assuredly, for the past 25 years of great writing, I thank you. MR