Runners near the 25K mark with the "Bay" in the background.

HAMILTON, ONT. (3/26/06) - Sorry Igor Stravinsky, the first "Rite of Spring" was the running of the Around the Bay 30K road race in Hamilton. Your infamous and scandalous ballet score that premiered May 29, 1913, at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris, was 19 years after Around the Bay debuted in 1894. The "Bay Race," that signifies the start of spring running, is three years older than storied Boston Marathon.

Michigan runners have added to the history of the Bay Race, with Paul Aufdemberge winning in 1999 and Doug Kurtis setting the 40-44 age- group record. Ann Boyd (Stewart) was second-place woman in 1995. Many runners use it as a tune up for Boston and have made it an annual trek.

This year, Joanie Rogucki (longtime director of the Kensington Challenge) and husband Bill Hill ran the 30K for the ninth time - this time as a two-person relay. This is their last Bay Race as they are moving to Arizona. They and their relay alias, "Bunch a Running Savages," will be missed.

The weather and some aggressive promotion from race director Mike Zajczenko led to a record turnout of 6,800 people. The crowds and fact that runners stuck around in the warm confines of Copps Coliseum, caused a food shortage, which organizers apologized for on their Web site and vowed to remedy next year by limiting the field.

Gord Dickson, one of two five-time winners of the Bay Race, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his first win in 1956. Contributing to Gord's celebration were his son Craig Dickson (2:36:15) from Vancouver and niece Joanne Elves (2:58:23) from Calgary, who surprised Dickson by showing up to run the 30K. Joanne has run the race several times; this was Craig's first.

Joseph Nderitu, four-time Bay Race winner and 2004 Detroit Free Press Marathon champion, didn't have it this year. He was running fourth at 26K, then dropped out to race another day. Nderitu, a Kenyan now living in Hamilton, holds the course record (1:32:53). Nourddine Betchim's 1:37:58 was good for his first win.

Women's course record-holder Lioudmilla Kortachenga (1:46:18) had just run the Commonwealth Games marathon and was not on hand, leaving the tape-breaking to defending queen Kate MacNamara of Dundas. Kate, coached by Gord Dickson, finished in 1:55:10.

More than 4,000 runners completed the 30K run, 169 the 30K walk, 224 teams ran the three-person 30K relay, and 239 teams ran the two- person 30K relay. The 957 finishers in the 5K included director Zajczenko in 27:37.

It was a great day for a great race, and the new finish in Copps Coliseum, with the large video screens, was a hit with athletes and spectators.

Top Michigan runners included: Steve Menovcik, Lansing, 1:56:39; Dave Peterson, Farmington, 1:57:28; Marybeth Reader, West Bloomfield, 2:06:58; John Niven, Swartz Creek, 2:10:23; Brian Savoie, Ann Arbor, 2:12:20; Heather Dyc, Redford, 2:25:00; Gordon Gibson, Flint, 2:29:03; and Roger Bolton, Albion, 2:29:37. MR