EAST GRAND RAPIDS (1/1/03) - Runners have never been slaves to logic. So when director Joe O'Brien hyped the reverse course for 19th annual Wolverine Resolution Run as near-sure to produce PRs, few asked how a loop that starts and ends at the same elevation could be called "faster."

Yes, going counterclockwise this year would haul runners' asterisks down the hell known as Hall Street Hill. But wouldn't they make up the difference climbing elsewhere?

"Since it's a new course, they'll all set course records," parried O'Brien, shifting a PR to a CR before our ears.

CPR is what some of the 900 entrants, up 250 from last year, needed. But most bottomed out on Hall, then climbed the rest of the four miles fine.

They included winners Jonathan Langworthy of Central Michigan University (22:08) and Jenny Millis of Aquinas College (24:47).

Also joining West Michigan's largest participatory New Year's Day event were an Old Man and New Year's Baby (wearing bibs 2002 and 2003), the usual horn-tooting zanies and four women decked out in superhero panties.

"That does it," said one bleary viewer as The Incredible Hulk rolled in.

"No more drinks for me."

Complete results available online at www.classicrace.com. MR