Photo: Kids take off for the Tiny Tim Trot at the Run Like the Dickens in Holly.

HOLLY (12/10/05) - The blustery morning could have chilled Scrooge's blood, but a record turnout of more than 450 stalwarts still ran like the Dickens through Holly this year.

Most came bundled in sweats, Gortex, ski masks and scarfs. But a few said "Bah Humbug!" to the 18-degree weather and ran bare-legged.

"Once your legs are completely numb, you don't have to worry about the cold," said Amanda August, 17, of Fraser, after running the 5K in 23:34. Her legs appeared beet-red from the chill.

Women's winner Suzanne Larsen, 28, of Fenton, didn't dare to run bare-legged.

"I don't like running in the cold," said Larsen. "This is my last race of the year. Now I'm going to hibernate until March."

Larsen (18:12) finished far ahead of runner-up Sara Schultze, 15, of Holly (21:18).

Richie Brinker, 29, of Clarkston, claimed the men's 5K in 15:12, followed by Kyle Smith, 17, of Linden, in 15:42. Brinker ran eight seconds faster than his winning time here last year.

"The quicker you run, the quicker you get done and get warm," said Brinker, a Holly High School assistant track coach who helped coordinate the race. Head coach Rob Basydlo directs Run Like the Dickens, which raises money for the team.

The top masters finishers were James Carlton, 62, of White Lake (19:27) and Rosie Marano, 42, of Grand Blanc (23:04). In the first-ever Run Like The Dickens 8K, Tom Preiss, 36, of Whitmore Lake, won the men's race in 27:57. Next came Matthew Scerbak, 16, of Ypsilanti, in 29:48.

"It's nice that they added the 8K this year," said Preiss. "It's well organized, well advertised and the course is well-marked."

Teens dominated the women's 8K. Amy Kolin, 17, of Ypsilanti triumphed in 32:57, followed by Sara Gerhardt, also 17, of Macomb, in 33:39.

"I liked going through the neighborhoods," said Kolin, an Ypsilanti High School senior. "People were out on their porches cheering for us. I heard a lot of Christmas music on the course."

Gerhardt, a senior at Lutheran North High School, was among competitors who ran bare-legged. "The cold wasn't bad," she said. "But the salt on the roads burned my legs."

Masters winners were John Niven, 41, of Swartz Creek (30:08) and Kathleen Moss, 40, of Chesterfield (37:46).

First in the 5K race walk were David Pichey, 60, of Flint (30:14) and Peggy Soth, 61, of Swartz Creek (34:23). There was also a Tiny Tim Trot for kids.

For complete race results, go to http://www.michiganrunner.net/MR-Archive/results/ searchable.html. MR