MACKINAC ISLAND (9/7) - People come to Mackinac for its ambience and nostalgia. The island's Victorian gingerbread cottages, early- American fort, footpath roads, bikes for transportation, old-fashioned fudge, even the authentic aroma from horses that draw the carriages make you feel you are living out memories right now.

Mackinac's beauty is at its best during crisp fall weather after Labor Day, when a one-lap, eight-mile run around the island is held each year. Many participants in this 32-year road race are perennial. They return despite busy schedules, complexities of getting to the island and the lure of competing races. For some, it's a chance to measure their fitness on a flat, scenic course. For others, an island fling is a last opportunity to relax before summer's over.

For a few, the Mackinac run recalls a time when road racing was much- simpler affair.

In 1971, seven Mid-Michigan Track Club members ran the first island race at the suggestion of Bill Keller. It took place on Saturday of Labor Day weekend at four in the afternoon.

Among them were names you might still recognize: Keller (42:20), Julies Alieo (44:44), Steve Koso (45:13), Jim Carter (47:47), Dennis Williams (51:30), Evert Wirgau (52:51) and Dan Sveller (53:21). On the next day or weekend (depending on whom you ask), a group of St. Ignace Kiwanis Club members ran the same circuit. Clancy Kalmer, Jan Smith, Dick Madison and Chico Balonga were in this group. Races were held on consecutive weekends the next six years. Dale Arbor became director in 1973 and remained so for several years. The two races consolidated and moved to the later weekend in '78. Later, John and Ann Gault of the River Bend Striders joined the St. Ignace Kiwanis helping put on the race.

Carter (who finished this year in 53:39) directed the race in the mid- 1980s, during which entries ranged from 400 to 600 runners.

A 1996 Runner's World magazine story about the race helped boost numbers to more than 2,000, according to Scott Hubbard, columnist for this magazine. Sponsors started runners in waves to reduce congestion on narrow streets. The introduction of chip timing eased start-line stress as well.

Winning times, like the size of the fields, have fluctuated from year to year. Though records are spotty, veterans agree that Great Britain's Steve Kenyon, a former Crim winner, holds the eight-mile men's standard, somewhere in the 37-minute range.

The women's mark is less certain, but there is strong belief Carol Shank set it during the early days in the 46-minute range.

Peter Hallop is believed to be the only masters runner to win the race overall, in just under 41 minutes. If anyone knows more details, John Gault and I would love to hear them.

Races originally started near Windermere Point and finished downtown. Some were run counter-clockwise, others clockwise. One year the course was run out and back due to a fire in the midst of town. The course starts and ends now at Mission Point resort, which serves as race headquarters, and goes clockwise.

This year's run furnished more future memories. Overall winner Aaron Litzner (41:54) comes from St. Ignace, but attends school in Sault Ste. Marie. This was Aaron's fourth visit to the race, but he takes home the memory of his first victory. He recalls leading most of the way and "feeling great" until the last mile and a half, when the heat and headwind made things difficult. He believes an increase in summer mileage helped him prevail.

Although runnerup Kurt Walrath (43:07) was forced to concede the race when the wind got strong, he turned out a winner too. He and his wife Timianne (second in her age group) celebrated their first anniversary on the island and plan to make running the race a tradition.

Talk about memories ... women's champ Lisa Veneziano has claimed more overall wins here than anyone: "somewhere between eight and nine," she said, of the 14 years she has run it. She led start to stern in 2002, with her 48:19, more than three minutes faster than runnerup Kathy Snyder (51:58).

Lisa traditionally uses her weekend on the island to train for fall marathons. This year was special for her and her husband, Jay Owens, as they shared it with their son Carter (seven weeks old when they brought him last year) and Jay's mother. Carter fell in love with the horses. The family is moving to Cincinnati this winter and Lisa's not sure how easy the trip will be in the future, so this weekend meant a lot.

Women's masters champ Laurie Decker finished third overall in 52:03, proving herself to be one of toughest competitors around. She maintained her masters lead all race, despite fatigue from her strong performances at the Crim 10-mile and Milford 30K races the weeks before.

Laurie, running her first eight-miler here, was impressed by the island's beauty. "It has a calmness about it," she said. "Out over the water I could see the mighty Mackinac Bridge with boats passing underneath it. It's worthwhile to run where vehicles never go. I felt refreshed and energized."

Male masters winner Tom Yates (44:43) was also a race first timer. "I was satisfied with my efforts and the results," he said. "I wasn't expecting to run much faster considering I had completed a hard 21-mile run on Thursday and my legs/body still felt lethargic. I appreciated the fact that the course is flat." Tom, who found the scenery relaxing and the race organization impressive, plans to return.

Scott Hubbard and Michelle Dvorak took home memories of a different sort: they were thankful to make it to Mackinac at all. Scott's car caught fire on the expressway to the island. Thanks to truckers who squelched the flames with extinguishers, quick-arriving firefighters and friends who turned around at the Zilwaukee Bridge to give them a lift, Michelle and Scott got to the race safely and saved most of their belongings. Not a memory they hope to make a tradition, but a great story nonetheless.