Photo: Dot McMahan, bib number 926, set a new course record in the 5K.

Holly, MI (12/9/2006)-- The cold, biting 20-degree air, could take your breath away, but it didn't seem to scare off anyone at Run Like The Dickens. A record turnout of 726 hardy souls donned Gortex, stocking caps, reindeer antlers and other Yuletide apparel and raced through the streets of Holly this year.

"This was actually the best weather we've had during our four-year history," said Rob Basydlo, race director for Run Like The Dickens. "It was cold, but the sun was out. And the streets didn't any have ice or snow on them."

The 726 participants easily beat last year's record of 450. And thanks to a group of runners affiliated with the Rochester-based Hansons- Brooks Distance Project, other records fell as well.

Leading the way, 31-year-old Clint Verran won the men's 8K with a course record of 24:14. He finished more than three minutes ahead of the second person to cross the finish line-- his Hansons-Brooks teammate, 25-year-old Melissa White, who set a course record in winning the women's 8K at 27:43.

"If Clint hadn't been here," explained White, "this would have been the first time that I had beaten all the women and all the men in a race."

Though Verran was out of sight almost from the gun, White, who is originally from Rochester, New York and now lives in Rochester, Michigan, had a pretty good race for the second position. "I was with two guys at the four mile mark and then I put in a surge and broke away from them," White said.

Behind Verran and White, Kenny Wall, 17, of Flushing took second in men's race (27:49) and Kenneth Burgess, 25, of Ann Arbor was third (27:56). Gary Brimmer, 41, of Fenton was fourth overall and first among the masters (28:42).

For the women, Rebecca Lovenheim, 25, of Canton finished second (30:05), followed by Sara Gerhardt, 18, of Macomb (31:45) and masters champ, Gayle Kuipers, 41, of Holland (31:58).

In the 5K, Richie Brinker, 30, a former Hansons-Brooks runner who now lives in Clarkston, won the men's race for the third year in row. His 15:16 time was just shy of his 15:12 course record set last year. Brinker finished ahead of Brian Godar, 19, of Clarkston (17:16) who took second and Roman Krzyzanowski, 35, of Plymouth (17:26) who was third.

Meanwhile, Dot McMahan, another Hansons-Brooks star, broke Suzanne Larsen's course record of 18:12 in 5K. Originally from Wisconsin now living in Rochester, McMahan ran 17:37.

"It was a little hard to breath in the cold weather," McMahan said. "My lungs took a beating."

Keith Hanson, the coach of Dot McMahan and Melissa White, praised their efforts. "Dot had a solid performance, and Melissa had real good effort," Hanson said, "but they both are capable of running a lot faster."

Behind McMahan, Donna Palisca, 29, of Fenton was second (18:28), and 14-year-old Katie Jayne Vondette of Clarkston came in third (19:52).

The defending 5K champ, Larsen was a spectator at this year's Run Like The Dickens. "I wish I could have run, but I have stress fracture in my foot," she said. Eric Larsen, Suzanne's husband, who is coming off knee surgery, did run the 5K, finishing fourth (17:32).

"(Race Director) Rob Basydlo puts his heart and soul into this race," Larsen said. "He also puts a lot of thought into it."

Run Like The Dickens raises money for the Holly High School Track Team, along with other programs for Holly Area Schools. (Basydlo is head coach of the high school track team.)

Basydlo also competed in the 5K finishing second among masters runners (18:36) behind masters champ, Terry Castor, 42, of Goodrich (18:24).

Teresa Wright, 46, of Linden was the top female masters runner (25:16).

In the 5K Walk, John Thomas, 51, of Linden was the overall champ (30:25) and Susan Mora Fassett, 43, of Fenton finished first among the women (31:20).

Run like the Dickens also included a Tiny Tim Trot for kids. For complete race results, go to www.raceservices.com.