FRUITPORT (5/29/04) - The world will little note nor long remember Ed Berghuis's final Fruitport Old-Fashioned Days 5K. But his friends - fellow runners - will.

Berghuis, 86, doesn't really run anymore. His walk is more like a shuffle. He was still going out on the 5K course while most 10K runners were coming back.

But he is revered like an institution. So when Ed appeared at the edge of the football-field home stretch long after everyone else had finished, sponsors took time out from giving out medals (to just about everyone) and said, "Come on, let's cheer Ed in."

"Kick it in, Ed!"

"I'm trying," he said. "Darn grass is too high."

Berghuis finished in 1:30-something, accepted pats on the back, then sat a spell, ringed by family, looking back on a course where he'd been the senior contestant each of the last 10 years. "That's the last one for me," he said.

This redundantly-named event (some would say every Fruitport day is old-fashioned) breathes nostalgia. Starting with sign-up fees ($8 without t-shirt if you pre-register, $10 on race day), you'll be reminded of old- time road runs. No chip timing, live bands, expo or chance to be mugged by P. Diddy's bodyguards; just a run beside orchards and inlets near Lake Michigan, Popsicle sticks at the finish - and 18-page handout describing each of the races' 22 prior runnings.

Bob Lewis, who ran the 1982 10K in 29:31.6, is in there. So is Fruitport alum Tom Chorny, who became national steeplechase champion and a U.S. Olympic team alternate. So is eight-time race winner Randy Johnson, 20-time age-group champ Joe Wolters, and Berghuis. Fruitport loves its history, and the people who make it up.

This year's 5K winners were Darin Grant (17:38.67) and Alecia Dillon (20:07.02). Claiming 10K titles were Benjie Walker (38:27.76) and Linda Fleeger-Borck, whose 44:56.50 broke the women's 50-59 record she set last year.

They give lots of medals here, and why not? Life's a celebration.

"Runners petitioned us to give medals for five-year, instead of 10-year, age groups," race director Don Wood said afterward.

"You gave medals to all nine guys in my 10K age group," we said.

"What's the difference?"

"We'll do five-year age groups so everyone's happy," Wood said.

"But we're going to miss Ed next year." MR