SLTC Home Who Are We? Join Us! Merchandise Contact Us Events Calendar Results Records Running in St. Louis Partner Search Area Paths Marathon Training Other Links Members New Grapevine Tidbits Profiles Professional Services Volunteer I’d Like to Volunteer	St. Louis Track Club Grapevine by Donna Springer
	The morning of February 24th brought an unexpected several inches of SNOW for the Third Olympiad Memorial 10k/Half-Marathon. “It was a little wet and slushy, but we got through it.” said Marathon Sports’ Greg Reecht. “I was “a little worried at 4:30 when I was out on the course.” Forty-seven runners braved the 10K course, which included “the hill” which rises from the flats of the Missouri Bottoms. First overall male was defending champion Charles Beiseman, time 34:06; first male master was Horacio Malve, 47, time 40:08. First overall female was Sherri Schultz, time 46:51; first female master was Carolyn Kopsky, time 59:35. The half- marathon included a long climb up Olive Boulevard from Creve Coeur Mill road to Marathon Sports, after the 12-mile mark. First and second overall males were Jesse McDaniel, 22, and Kevin Gale, 23, Washington University teammates who had run the course together and clocked times of 1:13:23 and 1:13:24 despite the weather conditions. First male master was Louis Diguiseppe, time 1:23:35. First overall female was Missouri cross champion Natalie Todd, 16, with her 1:29:26 time. First female master was Carol Wright, time 1:39:14. “Our other big news is that we now have a Web site,” Greg said. The web address is www.marathonsports- stlouis.com. The complete 10K and half-marathon results are available, as well as product information and store history. Karen Kokesh designed the website and manages it. What were more than 900 robust women and men with running clothes and race numbers doing lining up in the lobby of the Metropolitan Square Building, Broadway and Pine Street, Saturday morning, March 1? They were waiting to “Master the Met,” a 42-story stair climb sponsored by The American Lung Association. A Fleet Feet overhead race clock at the door to the stairwell made the start of the step climbing course resemble a road race start. A “runner” took off every 15 seconds. “I’d do it again,” said Jackie Dowell, 44, looking (still) robust after her ascent, which took eight minutes and 31 seconds. “I enjoy a challenge.” Jackie placed third among 69 women in her 40-49 age group. “The only glitch was that about 2/3 of the way through the race, the 42nd floor got too crowded, and we changed the race to a 40-story climb after a brief intermission,” said Jake Goldsborough, Fleet Feet’s race timing manager. “We did another set of results for about 300 people.” Kelly Carter, development manager at the The American Lung Association, reported that as of March 3, $200,000 had been raised. The funds will be used to support lung disease research and education. “The American Lung Association does stair climbs all over the U.S. This was our first in St. Louis,” she said. “A group of Saint Louis runners traveled to Texas for the Austin Marathon, February 17,” reported Arnie Mueller. “The course was interesting with a lot of hills, and with good weather, starting at 42 degrees on a clear sunny day.” Congratulations to Arnie who finished first in the 75-plus men’s age group. Congratulations also to Kate Dewey, Debbie Kerber-Rehr and Chris Williams-Mrotek who finished 4th, 6th and 10th, respectively, in the 40-44 women’s age group, and to Kathy Williams-Hesse for finishing 8th in her age group. In the half- marathon, SLTC board member Pam Mosca took 4th in her age group. She described the finish line as “well organized, with volunteers handing out mylar blankets, finisher medals, water, and a finisher’s T-shirt.” She noted that there were many bands along the route. “I was impressed and would recommend this run to others,” she said. Pam enjoyed a sightseeing run on a path around one of the lakes near downtown Austin as a Friday warmup, and saw the state capitol and other famous structures. “We trekked to Jacksonville, Fla., for the inaugural running of the National Breast Cancer Marathon,” said Betty O’Dea. Betty paced the six-hour group for the running of the full marathon. Her husband, Robert Hazel, his daughter, Elizabeth, niece Lecia Marie Stucky, and nephew Jonathan ran the half-marathon. “The race was very well organized. Residents were out with their garden hoses misting the racers, playing their boom boxes and cheering us on. We ran along the beach for two miles, and enjoyed an utterly beautiful course. I would highly recommend this race to anyone looking for a late-winter run in the sun,” Betty said. Betty reported that entry fees yielded $800,000 for cancer research. Another winter traveler was Pat Britt. He did the Black Mountain Marathon/Mount Mitchell 40-mile challenge in Black Mountain, N.C., February 23. The course was a 20-miler up Mount Mitchell, from an elevation of 2300 feet to 6800 feet, and then 20 miles to return. Runners who wished to do the 40-mile challenge were required to make the 13.1 half-marathon mile point within 3.5 hours to be allowed to continue onto the “challenge” course up the mountain. Ten of the 154 people who registered turned back at the 13.1 mile point (hopefully satisfied with a marathon?). “If the course had one rock, it had 3 million,” Pat said. “Sometimes there were leaves that were cap-high, and you couldn’t see where you were stepping. I had a fear of tripping over a root. Some places had ice, near the top of the mountain. The brochure made a point that there were possibilities of bear and mountain lion, but I didn’t see any. They also pointed out the dangers of hypothermia.” Pat, who turns 71 this April, was the oldest competitor in either race. He reported that he was feeling “pretty decent” by the beginning of March, although he had fallen about three times and had had swollen wrists and palms from landing on the rocks. Best wishes to Big River Running Company, in the opening of their second store. It is in the heart of the “Macklind Avenue Business District,” in South Saint Louis. “We chose South Saint Louis because of the wonderful running and walking community that exists there, and we saw a need for a running store in the city. Plus, I grew up in the city, so I am unbelievably excited about coming home, and opening up a business less than 2 miles from where I grew up,” said Ben Rosario, co-owner. Plans include weekly Monday evening group runs (rain or shine), monthly South City runs on Sunday, and handing out Gatorade to thirsty runners and walkers in Francis Park on hot weekends. The address is 5352 Devonshire; Devonshire parallels Chippewa five blocks to the south. Tom and Gwen Eckelman welcomed a new grandbaby, Samantha Rose Eckelman, born February 18. They enjoyed a trip to Cleveland to see her, and returned to Track Club action the first week in March. She is their seventh grandchild and third granddaughter. Saint Louis Track Clubbers are rating national news coverage. The February 18 issue of Time noted the passing of longtime SLTC member Walter Bauer. Dr. Bauer studied the effects of nuclear fallout on children’s teeth; findings led to an early 60's ban on above ground A-bomb testing. The March/April issue of Masters Athlete lists Dottie Gray in the first group of nominees for “The 2008 Geezer Jock of the Year Award” in the Women’s 80-plus category. Winners will be announced in the January 2009 issue. Forest Park is greening and awaiting the Saint Louis Track Club’s Road Racing Series this month. Lucie Springmeyer, director of Forest Park Forever, said the group is transitioning to a “maintenance focus.” They are introducing a new theme “Destination Forest Park,” and inviting the year-round enjoyment of the park through many venues. Enjoy iPod walking tours, as well as SLTC road running events, in the park!
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	Last Modified: April 20, 2008