The Free Press Marathon – The Beginning Photo by John Collier / Detroit Free Press, courtesy of Ed Kozloff The first Detroit Free Press <strong>In</strong>ternational Marathon starts in Windsor, 1978 14 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 0 7
By Dr. Edward H. Kozloff Frank Shorter’s marathon victory at the 1972 Olympic Games began an increased interest in marathoning throughout the United States. The 1976 Olympic Marathon caused even more enthusiasm and by 1977 over one hundred recognized marathons were held in the United States. That year, Detroit Free Press Sports Editor Joe Falls wrote what was perhaps at that time the most comprehensive and interesting book on the Boston Marathon. Two Motor City Strider members, Jerry Coyle and Bob Kiess, had each run over twenty marathons and were friends of Falls. They were instrumental in his becoming interested in the sport and are featured in one of the chapters of the book. At about this time, Neal Photo courtesy of Ed Kozloff Shine, Managing Editor of the Free Press, was visiting his brother in Cape Cod. During the visit, they watched the Falmouth Road Race and Shine returned home inspired with the idea that Detroit could host and support such an event. Early in 1978, Joe Falls was lured away to the Detroit News. Shine and Ladd Neumann, new sports editor, decided that Detroit was ready for a major marathon race. They were also aware that the city already held a marathon which was nationally respected by the running community and enjoyed a long history of success. The Motor City Marathon, first held in 1963, was the nation’s tenth oldest. <strong>In</strong> the 1966 race, Mike Hazilla, a student at Western <strong>Michigan</strong> University, became only the third American to break 2:20 when he set a course record of 2:18:47. Three years later, in 1969, Jerome Drayton, of Toronto, set a North American record of 2:12:00 on the Belle Isle course. <strong>In</strong> 1975, Ella Willis, a senior at Detroit’s Pershing High School, won the women’s race in 3:13:15 – one of the fastest times ever for a high school female. One year later, the race was awarded the Road <strong>Runner</strong> Club of America North Region Championship. <strong>In</strong> its fifteenth year, in 1977, the field nearly doubled to 428 entrants, making it one of the ten largest in the country. On a windy day with steady, mid-40°temperatures, Bob McOmber, of Bowling Green, Ohio, ran his first marathon and was first to the tape in 2:23:37. Ann Forshee, of Wyandotte, set a women’s state record with a time of 2:55:59, placing her in the all-time top twenty-five performances for women in the country. There had never been a sponsor for the Motor City Marathon. All contacts, work, 1997 Motor City Marathon, #343 John Gault, 32, Flushing, 3:13:18. Striped shirt behind him - Ann Forshee, 21,Wyandott, 2:55:59, 1st women, women's race & state record. and expenses had been handled by the Striders. The closest the club had ever come to receiving outside support was in the first years of the race, in 1963 and 1964 when club officials made contact with Marathon Oil of Ohio. However, after initial promises and several positive letters of correspondence, the deal fell through . . . All for a $50 sponsorship! The leaders of the club at that time were quite disappointed and resented the oil company for several years thereafter. Early in 1978, the Striders were contacted by the Free Press and a meeting was held with Neal Shine, Ladd Neumann, and Strider club president Ed Kozloff. The Free Press representatives stated that they wanted to put a marathon race on the streets of Detroit and wanted it to be international in scope. The reputation of the Motor City Striders as well as that of the club’s Motor City Marathon assured them that the Striders would be the perfect partners for this venture. Kozloff would remain the race director (which would be his fourth year in that position) and Molly Anderson of the Free Press would be the race coordinator. The original plan was to start the race on Belle Isle, run to downtown Detroit, and then through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. The race would continue in Windsor to the Ambassador Bridge, which would be about seventeen miles into the race and would be Detroit’s version of “Heartbreak Hill.” The route would then return to the finish on Belle Isle. Authorities at both the tunnel and “Run the inland sea” Grosse Pointe Run Saturday, September 15, 2007 Grosse Pointe Farms Municipal Pier at Moross and Lake Shore Road 5K & 10K runs • 5K competitive walk • 5K wheelchair- 9:00 am 1 Mile fun run - 8:30 am Registration is from 7:00-8:30 am ** 5 & 10K runs - USATF Certified ** Organized by Grosse Pointe Rotary Sunrise Club Register online: active.com 800-299-5007 M I C H I G A N R U N N E R 15 1
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