MICHIGAN RUNNING NEWS - February 6, 2003 - v.2, no.14

Sponsored by:

The Great Race, Elkhart, Indiana http://www.thegreatrace.net

The Crim Festival of Races http://crim.org

2003 Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon http://www.detroitfreepressmarathon.com

Dundee Internet Services http://dundee.net

__/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/

__/ MICHIGAN "RISING STARS" TO RUN USA MEN'S MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS FEBRUARY 8.

__/ WINTER SPORTS GALORE AT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT

__/ MICHIGAN RUNNER RACE SERIES 2003

__/ NEW RUNNING STORES IN MIDLAND, TRAVERSE CITY

__/ CORRECTION: RYAN SHAY IS MICHIGAN RESIDENT

__/ RACE CALENDAR Jennie McCafferty-Editor

__/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/

__/ MICHIGAN "RISING STARS" TO RUN USA MEN'S MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS FEBRUARY 8.

This weekend's Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham, Alabama is serving as the 2003 USA Men's Marathon Championship. The race also serves as a practice run for 2004's Olympic Marathon Trials which the Mercedes Marathon will host next year.

Entered in the Saturday, Feb. 8 race are former American marathon record holders David Morris and Jerry Lawson, and rising stars Clint Verran, Kyle Baker and Ryan Shay. Michiganders Baker, Verran (Hanson's Team USA Michigan) and Shay (Team USA California) were the 2nd, 3rd and 4th American finishers at the 2002 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Jeff Campbell of Hansons Team is also expected to be among the elite athletes running Saturday.

A $10,000 prize goes to the U.S. Champion and the top ten finishers will share the $30,000 guaranteed prize purse. In addition, sub:2:20:01 finishers are eligible for a $500 incentive. Anyone finishing under 2:12:01 is eligible for a $5,000 incentive. The top three finishers will also receive automatic spots on the U.S. marathon team for the World Championships in Paris, France on August 30, 2003.

__/ WINTER SPORTS GALORE AT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN RESORT, THOMPSONVILLE

Earlier this week we were out for an early evening run in Crystal Mountain Resort's winter wonderland when we encountered Joan O'Neil, just in from Crystal's cross country ski trails. Joan, the Resort's Communication Director, is training for the Crystal Mountain Highlander, a 25K classical and freestyle Cross Country Ski Race February 15. Susan Brian, the Resort's Nordic Manager (and marathoner), and Steve "Iceman" Brown designed a scenic and challenging course on Crystal's trails and the DNR Betsie River pathway. The race with its $2,000 purse will finish at Kinlochen, the elegant Scottish-style lodge where we stayed. The Highlander also features a "Crystal Cruiser" division for skiers who have never competed before and would like to try a marked tour with aid stations. The following day, February 16, Crystal hosts the Crystal X-C Relay Race, the Michigan Cup's only relay race.

Among Crystal's 40 kilometers of cross country trails are two lighted trails (6.8K) which are open until 11:00 pm each evening. Crystal has a 2.5K snowshoe trail, too. If you don't own snowshoes yet, you can rent them by the hour or by the day. We had left our ice skates at home, but we were able to rent a pair to take a turn under the lights. You can also rent skis, snowboards and sleds for the kids. We needed another couple of days to do justice to all the winter sports Crystal Mountain Resort offers. http://crystalmountain.com

__/ MICHIGAN RUNNER RACE SERIES 2003

Michigan Runner Race Series has made a few changes for 2003. We will count ten of the eleven events in this year's series for each competitor. If someone does run all eleven, we'll drop the one with the fewest points involved for that runner. Also, with the help of Anne Gault, we will try an age-graded approach for age groups 50 and up for the senior runners of the year.

5K - John Rogucki Memorial Kensington Challenge - September 20 - Milford

25K - Fifth T%hird River Bank Run - May 10 - Grand Rapids

1/2 Marathon - Borgess Run - April 26 - Kalamazoo

10K (1 of 2) - Rose Run - June 7 - Jackson

15K - Chronicle Seaway - June 29 - Muskegon

20K - Volkslaufe - July 4 - Frankenmuth

8K - Allen Park - August 2 - Allen Park

10 Mile - Crim Festival of Races - August 23 - Flint

10K (2 of 2) - Cadillac Labor Day - September 1 - Cadillac

Wild Card - Capital City River Run 10 Mile - September 28 - Lansing

Marathon - Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon - October 5 (tentative date) - Detroit

For open, masters and senior points possible for each race see http:// www.michiganrunner.net/news/raceseries03.html.

__/ NEW RUNNING STORES IN MIDLAND, TRAVERSE CITY

Pacesetter Sport & Shoe has opened two new running stores: 7013 Eastman Ave., Midland and 215 E. Front St., Traverse City. Contact pacesetterm@hotmail.com for more information.

__/ CORRECTION: RYAN SHAY IS MICHIGAN RESIDENT

Joe Shay wrote us last week to correct our article about Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifiers in which we indicated that qualifier Ryan Shay lived in California. Joe says, "Ryan is a resident of Michigan and intends to stay a resident. He lives in the Central Lake /East Jordan area. He only goes to California to train with his coach, Deana (Drossin), or Meb (Keflelighi)at the olympic training center or in Mammouth, He wouldn't think of paying those taxes in Cal. and he loves Michigan."

__/ RACE CALENDAR

Saturday, February 8

* Subaru North American VASA, Traverse City, 8:30 am, 12K, 27K, 50K XC ski, http://www.vasa.org

Sunday, February 9

* Grand Traverse Classic, Traverse City, 9:00 am, 16K XC Ski, Pete LaPlaca, vanguard@gtii.com

* Mercedes Marathon, Birmingham, AL, 7:00 am, 26.2 MR, 13.1 MR, http://www.mercedesmarathon.com

* Riverview Winterfest, Southgate, 4MR, 1.5 MW, 10:00 am, David Howell, http://www.totalrunner.com

Tuesday, February 11

* Anchor Meet - Lake Superior State University HS Indoor Track, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, 4pm, Drew Ludtke, dludtke@gw.lssu.edu

Wednesday, February 12

* Bumper Run, Stoney Creek Metro Park, 6.4MR, 6:15 pm, Don Richmond, http://runningfit.com/events.cfm

Saturday, February 15

* Belle Isle Winter Series, 5KR/W, Kids Dash, 9:00 am,Detroit, Dan Deyo, channelkats@netzero.net, 810-625-6462

* Brockway Mountain Challenge, 15K XC Ski, 2:00 pm, Copper Harbor, 906.289.4637.

* Crystal Mountain Highlander, 25K X-C Ski, Thompsonville, 9:30 am, Susan Brian, susanbrian@crystalmountain.com.

* Heart & Sole 5KR, 9:00 am, East Grand Rapids, Jeff Peterson, jeff@classicrace.com.

* Sweetheart Run/Walk, 10 KR, 5KR/W, 10K Relay, 10:00, Flushing, http://www.gaultracemanagement.com

Sunday, February 16

* Crazy Run, 9:00 am, Annm Arbor, http://www.geocities.com/aatc- crazyruns/

* Crystal X-C Relay Race, 2 x 7K XC Ski, leg 1=classic, legs 2,3= freestyle, 10:00 am, Thompsonville, Susan Brian, susanbrian@crystalmountain.com.

* Florida Gulf Beaches Marathon, 26.2 MR, Relay, 10KR, Clearwater, FL, http://www.foridamarathon.com

* The Really Chilly Road Races, 10K, 5KW, 1MFR/W, London, Ontario, http://www.rri.on.ca

Thursday, February 20

* Joe Poisson Invitational - Lake Superior State University HS Indoor Track, Sault Ste Marie, MI, 4:00 pm, Drew Ludtke, dludtke@gw.lssu.edu

Saturday, February 22

* American Birkebeiner, Hayward, WI, 50K XC Ski, 8:20 am, http:// www.birkie.com

* Spirit of Winter, Bay City, 5K R/W, 1MR, 10:00, Ted Davenport, 989- 893-1093.

* Winter Wolf Triathlon, Grayling, canoe, snowshoe, XC Ski, Cindy Olson, 517.348.9266, http://hansonhills.org

Michigan Runner family of Websites: Michigan Runner http://michiganrunner.net Michigan Runner Archives http://michiganrunner.com Michigan Runner TV http://michiganrunner.tv Running Network: http://runningnetwork.com