Almost Heaven Near Hell
Photo by Carter Sherline, Frog Prince Studios: Dense morning fog is "perfect" weather for the Running Fit Trail Marathon and Half Marathon.

PINCKNEY (4/28) - Some camped out overnight in the rain at the Pinckney Recreation Area, south of Hell. Others drove to the race through dense morning fog. Just about everyone who entered the Running Fit Trail Marathon & Half-Marathon finished with about 10 inches of mud caked up the backs of their calves.

"It was lovely," said marathon winner James Kasurak, 41, of Windsor, Ont. "It was misty - a little damp - but basically perfect weather. And the park is beautiful. I loved it."

Kasurak ran with others through half-marathon split. "We were trading the lead back and forth," he said. "I broke it open near 15 miles."

Kasurak finished in 3:18:36, ahead of Barry Valko, 36, of Troy (3:20:51), and Ohioan Jeffrey Ardo, who is in the process of running a marathon in each state. "This is the hardest one I've done," said Ardo, 33. "It was rolling hills all the way."

Just behind Ardo, in fourth overall, was women's winner Sarah Plaxton, 33, of Highland. Plaxton has run the Trail Marathon the last three years and improved each time. In 2000 she finished second overall. Last year she won in 3:37:40. This spring, she whittled her winning time to 3:30:30. "I'd like to go even faster next year," she said.

Ann Arbor residents Jodi Mullet, 30, and Julie Froud, 25, finished second and third respectively. Masters queen Jane Macleod, 44, of Windsor, Ont., placed fourth in 4:08:31.

In the half-marathon, Michigan State University harrier Jared Aldrich, 21, grabbed first in 1:21:51. Next came Andrew Schupp, 21, of Caledonia (1:23:23), and Grant Woodman of East Lansing (1:25:14). Rick Murray, 44, of Highland, was the first masters finisher (1:36:02).

For the women, Shelly Willemse, 29, of London, Ont., claimed first in 1:42:18, followed by Amy Wolfgang, 34, of Saline (1:44:12) and masters champ Wanda Gunderson, 43, of Whitmore Lake (1:45:11).

Willemse stayed overnight at the campground before racing in the morning. "I will run it again next year," she said. "And I'll bring a bunch of people to camp out too."

For complete results, go to www.trailmarathon.com