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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