Trivia: How many Kenyan men broke 2:20 in the marathon in '02?

GOTR ROCKS!

Amid the clutter on my bedroom dresser is a framed picture of 19 girls and five women on the Bach Elementary playground in Ann Arbor. The girls, in grades 3-5, and adults are making funny faces at me, being silly. As I go from face to face I recall games, snatches of conversation, snacks, lessons and questions, antics, answers and discussion. Twice a week last fall, this group met for 75 minutes devoted to promoting self-respect, healthy living and, oh yes, do a little running. These were Girls on the Run, one of five such groups in Ann Arbor and part of a mushrooming national program.

Driven by curiosity and envy, I met the Bach gang in mid-September and quickly got hooked by their activities and mission. I decided to return regularly and soon Wednesday afternoons became a weekly highlight. Each visit reminded me more and more of a summer day camp with kids, counselors, fun, song and cooperation. Nine of the best summers of my life have been spent in camps where I learned as much as I had a good time. Camp is cool like that.

So, it was Bach girls like Kimberly, Alli, Natascha, Jane and Marissa who also enjoyed themselves and learned a lot without realizing it. The program consisted of 20 lessons over 10 weeks and concluded with a celebratory 5K run/walk. Each class included a warm-up stretch with a discussion topic related to good health.

It was instructive listening to Sarah, Alia, Tori, Isabel and Kate, and I couldn't help but think their lessons would also be fitting for adults. Learning didn't stop when the running started. Typically each run was disguised in games covering 1-2 miles total. Each girl was encouraged to go at her own rate, be comfortable with her body and not compare herself to others.

Among the positive health lessons I missed was one designed to defuse conflicts. With so many girls in the program, this lesson was put to practice a time or two. On the Run girls Irene, Sara, Katie, Rachel, Mira and Josie were asked to tell one another how "I feel" instead of reacting in anger or frustration. It's a beautiful concept in its simplicity and one of many excellent lessons learned.

GOTR is like a cross between Girl Scouts, girls' clubs and school gym class: fun, instructional with peer relationships and athletics. There is an enrollment fee and scholarships are available for those needing it. For adults who would like to help as coaches, I'd say there are few better ways to enhance the lives of girls such as Lydia, Polina, Michaela and Melanie.

I did my best to remain a neutral observer because of my respect for the all-girl format. This was hard for me as I enjoy interacting with kids. But, I thought, this is their time and with so many positive things taking place, I'm gonna stay out of the way.

Program coordinators Lisa Hesse and Ruthann Nichols were kind enough to ask if I might help with the season-ending 5K. The pleasure was mine and I'm happy to report all kids finished in respectable times on a cold mid-November day.

Lisa and I corresponded after and both of us felt GOTR withdrawal. She added, "We had a parent tell us that she and her daughter weren't talking until she did GOTR. Then they not only had something to do together, her daughter opened up and talked with her more. There's also a trickle-down effect which goes from the girls to parents, brothers and sisters, to their family at large, their teachers and then the community."

Lucky for Lisa, spring classes start soon. I'll remain a devoted fan. For further info go to: www.girlsontherunsemi.org or call (734) 883-5397.

LOOKINBACK, MI.

Readers have helped me compile a list of events, people, places and products with a Michigan connection (for the most part) from 15 years and more ago. The list is limited only by space as many will recall these things and lots more.

Jeff Gaft: Ultimate Runner (Jackson), NJCAA Marathon (Dowagiac), when Run Through Hell was a marathon, Saginaw Bay Marathon, Seney Stretch Marathon, Grand Valley Marathon, Grand Rapids 50- Miler, Emily & Pooh events, resoling shoes was big business.

Don Richmond: Back to Birmingham 10K, Detroit Blue Cross/Blue Shield 5/10K (20K), Beat the Streets Run for Andy C., I-696 run the day before it opened, adidas Oregon, Nike Terra series.

Dick Miles: Dexter-Ann Arbor Run finished at AA Huron High, East Lansing State Bank 10K, Frank Shorter Sports store in East Lansing, Duckathon (Haslett).

Tom Cameron: Windsor 10K in conjunction w/Detroit Marathon. Dave Peterson: Lifa polypro tops.

Bill Scott: wrong turn at the '81 Diet Pepsi Challenge on Belle Isle.

Laurel Park: introduction of "women's" shoes (not just smaller men's shoes), PowerBars, Lycra tights, Gore-Tex, waffle soles, cardboard numbers, Jogbras.

Riley McLincha: I-475 run in Flint before it opened.

Ed McLaughlin: Mothers and Others 5K in Flint.

Walter Hill: track and field on television regularly.

Tom Wrobel: when cotton was king, cinder tracks, salt tablets, when jogging was viewed with suspicion, buying adidas at Salamanders Shoes in Detroit.

Robin Sarris Hallop and Peter Hallop: Sauk Valley Sports, Blackburns, Vandervoorts, Blue Ribbon Sports, Bonne Bell Women's 10K series; Pat Davey, Mike McGuire and Doug Brown as young stars, Hayes Jones, Henry Carr, Dick Sharkey, Lou Scott, original Sub-4 running apparel, Big 10 Run finishing in Michigan Stadium, Williamston Half-Marathon & 5K, Nike Elites & LD 1000's, Tiger Obori, Marathon & Runner magazines, counterclockwise Mackinac Island eight-mile race, Detroit News track listings, Belle Isle road races on Thursday evenings. There's not enough room for me. Next time!

ANSWER: 224 Kenyan men broke 2:20 in the marathon last year. Thirty-two American men did the same. MR