May - June 2005 Event Calendar - Michigan Runner

St. Patrick’s Parade Corktown Races
New Course,
Host Please
Corktown Throngs
Martian Marathon Shrugs
off Michigan W i n t e r
By Charles
Douglas
McEwen
DETROIT (3/13/05)
— After the Motor
City Striders chose to
stop hosting them last
year, it looked like the
St. Patrick’s Parade
Corktown Races
might vanish like a
pot of gold at the
rainbow’s end. But
with the swiftness and
ingenuity of a leprechaun,
the
Downtown Runners
and Walkers stepped
in and rescued the
event.
“We have a new
course,” said new race
director Rebecka
Knox of the 23rdannual
event. “After
starting in front of
Tiger Stadium, it goes
down Michigan
Avenue to Campus
Martius (a skating
rink), then up
Woodward (and
32 M A Y / J U N E 2 0 0 5
Brian Goodwin of Allen Park won
the 4 Mile Corktown race in 19:18.
Witherell Street) past the Fox Theatre and Comerica Park, then it comes back.
It’s basically out-and-back.”
On a brisk but not blustery 30-degree afternoon, more than 1,000 runners,
walkers and at least one green dog showed up for the four-mile run, 1.5-
mile walk, and 1/4-mile kids run.
Brian Goodwin of Allen Park and Linda Ewing of Grosse Pointe were
men’s and women’s four-mile champs.
“It was cold out there,” said Goodwin. “But when you’ve been training
every day through January and February, then get a nice, sunny day like
today, you’re ready to go.”
Goodwin motored through four miles in 19:18, well ahead of runnerup
Ryan Molloy of Dearborn Heights (19:51) and Matt O’Wehrman of
Corktown (20:09). Brian Olson of Jackson was the masters champ (20:37).
“ Ryan and I were 1-2 from the start and it stayed that way, ”
Goodwin said.
“I was right behind him for the first two miles,” said Molloy. “Then
Brian dropped the hammer and that was that.”
Ewing didn’t drop any hammers, but she did nail a PR with her 24:34
winning time. (Her previous four-mile best was 27:45.)
“I was hoping to break 28 minutes and maybe win my age group” Ewing
said. “I’ve won only one other race in my life, and it was a lot smaller than
this one.”
Kelly Harris of Detroit (25:00) was the second-place woman. Masters
queen Jackie Blair of Detroit placed third overall in 25:31.
The Striders hosted the Corktown races for more than two decades.
This year, with the Downtown Runners and Walkers taking the reins, the
event picked up Fifth Third Bank as a major sponsor. The United Irish
Societies and the Fraternal Order of United Irishmen also sponsor the
Corktown races.
Gault Race Management timed the four-mile using its ChampionChip.
“Runners were very complimentary about the chip timing,” Knox declared.
Detroit’s St. Patrick’s Parade followed the races, as usual.
For complete results, visit michiganru n n e r. n e t /
re s u l t s / s e a rchable.html. M R
“You gotta love a marathon that doesn’t take itself too
seriously.”
By Greg Janicki
NORTHVILLE (3/19/05) — The Martian Marathon and Half
Marathon were everything you would expect from a March race in
Michigan: cool, overcast and bre e z y, with occasional snow-covered paths.
But these were all overcome with shrugs and good humor common in
Midwest runners. The Mars theme (Latin for “March”) also added levity: Any
marathon that plugs itself as being held when the eart h ’s gravitation pull is at its
lowest is worth a try. You gotta love a marathon that doesn’t take itself too serio
u s l y.
The twisting, rolling out-and-back course offered a marathon, half
marathon and a 20-mile Boston-bound training run. A late-winter snow created
some icy conditions but these were infrequent.
Hamshivraj Dhamrat of Pittsfield Township won the men’s marathon for the
second straight year. His 2:49:53 put him nine minutes ahead of ru n n e rup Craig
R e d f e rn of Granger, Ind. Rich Power was the top masters runner and third overall,
finishing in 3:01:16.
In the women’s event, Peggy Zeeb of Colon took top honors in 3:18:44.
Second-place finisher Abbie Hawkes of Provo, Utah, finished five minutes
later. The top master and third overall was Nancy Schubring of Novi in
3:28:51.
Brian Goodwin of Allen Park claimed the half marathon in 1:12:15. The
first masters finisher was John Springer of South Lyon with a 1:19:04.
Amy Coughlin of Waterford took first in the women’s half, posting a
1:28:40. The top women’s master was Krys Brish of Milford in 1:30:51.
Overall more than 1,200 runners from 30 states completed the three
events: 168 marathoners, 682 half marathoners (including Michigan’s first
gentleman and runner, Dan Mulhern) and 350-or-so training runners. It was
the largest Martian race ever, sponsors said.
In addition, the event raised $1,500 for Schoolcraft College’s women's
cross country program, $2,500 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and
$1,500 for Wayne County Parks.
For complete results see michiganrunner.net/ results/searchable.html.
Writer Greg Janicki can be reached by e-mail at
ru n run262@hotmail.com. M R