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Running business - a story of inspirations
By JOE SHAFRAN
It hurts me everytime I run in my Nikes and tromp down on a fading picture of Bill Bowerman in the instep. A runner and track and fielder in Oregon, he was the inspiration for Nike. In the current issue of Marathon and Beyond, there’s a story on Bowerman, not only the inspiration for Nike, but actually the father of the running craze which they say he started in 1963. I’m reminded that his writings were all there was when I started running back then. Until Nike and then Adidas got going, we wore tennis shoes. And how well Nike is going now. There was a story in the business sections earlier this month that with the introduction of a new running shoe, The Air Max 300, Nike exceeded Wall Street estimates of their earnings. They made something like 365 million dollars in 3Q, 05. But sometimes we borrow the old expression, that Alexander Graham Bell may have asked “what hath god wrought” in this case in this running shoe business? Did you also read the story in the Capital earlier in the month about the reported theft of shoes, or sneakers, as was mentioned in the article? All the exotic new running or signature shoes are into the two hundred dollar range or more and become commerce in the theft business. There was the story of a burglary at the area home of a man who keeps an inventory of high priced “sneaker” shoes from around the world. His theft loss was in the thousands. By signature shoes, I refer to the recent Kobe Bryant release that eclipses even the old Air Jordans of recent years. So, if nothing else, you now know who Bill Bowerman is, the dour looking guy in the grey fedora whose face you tromp on thousands of times as you run a marathon in your older Nikes.
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And now we add another marathon to the list. It’s the revival of the D.C. marathon now called the National, which was run, March the 25th with close to 2500 registrants and close to 1800 finishers. This is the third or fourth renewal. I remember the D.C Marathon in the late 1980’s that was run in the four quadrants of the District. Set up by the D.C. Department of Recreation, it shut down after about 5 years. Someone tried to revive it five years ago, but September 11th came along and security became an issue. This time, the planners got smart. They headquartered at RFK stadium and did part of the race eastward into Prince George’s County, turned it and came back East Capital Street and to 19th Street on Constitution Avenue in the District, averting the Pentagon, the Department of State and the whole Homeland Security bit. Among the 731 finishers in the marathon, the only Annapolis entry I could see was Nathan Nudelman, 30, who did it in 3 and a half hours, coming in 164th. The first female in the Marathon was Susan Graham-Gray of Greencaste Pennsylvania of did it in 2:58 coming in 16th overall. The Washington Post reports that Graham-Gray is legally blind and runs a race with a biker behind calling out the splits and water stops. Another legally blind runner from Oregon who wins honors at the New York, describes the condition of only being able to see ten feet ahead of you. In the half marathon, there was an Annapolis entrant, 18 year old Alexander Navia who ran it in 1:37, coming in 76 out of 954 finishers. The first female in the half was Milligan Grinston of Charlottesville, Virginia in 1:26, 19th overall.
Sunday there is the Cherry Pit 10 miler for the striders. It’s 8 oclock at Central Middle School at Edgewater. You can still register on race day starting at 6:30. Remember, that’s the switch day for Daylight Saving. You will be running the reverse course from last year. This is the second leg of the Championship Series. This is the run, the same day as the Cherry Blossom in Washington. This is the alternative to doing the Metro into downtown D.C. The Striders moto is. “They have the blossoms, we have the Pits." George Swartzbaugh, somewhat of a new name for me anyway, is the director. Go to the Striders website. No one is left out in this race. On Saturday before, there’s a race for the worker bees those who must miss the Sunday race to work. That’ s at the shool at 10 A.M., Saturday.
And let’s not forget that there will be a lot more running on Kent Island. Those in the Team in Training groups can now stay right on the island to get in their walking and running. In years past you had to come west over the Bridge or head to the Easton area. Now, Diane Littlepage and Patrick Raymond will do the training on the Island. They have an informational meeting set for Thursday, April 27th at 6 P.M. at the Kent Island public library on Rte. 18. Reach Diane at 410-787-7009.
Interesting that many people from this area are running the San Diego Marathon and related races in June. I’m told there are great bands playing all along the route, loud enough that you never run out of music nor do you have to wear head sets. When people ask me how they train for it, I refer them to the area Team In Training system of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society which will hosts a Team at the San Diego. Call 1-800 -242-4572. And of course if you just want to start to run, anywhere, I recommend the Striders’ Beginning Running Program that kicks off a ten week course at Bates School in Annapolis the morning of Sat. April 29th. This is the one that Evan and Penny and others run. That’ s Evan Thomas at 410-451-4155. but please give him a call before 9 P.M.
Running Calendar:
Sunday, May 7th. Stevensville to Sandy Point State Park over the Bay Bridge.
The 10K. You can still register. See the Strider Website.The Race Director Melissa Currence says there are still some openings. You must be on a bus by 6:45 A.M at Sandy Point Park to be transported to the start line.
Race Results:
B&A Half and Full Marathon
Preliminary numbers from the Strider’s Web Site. Gun place and times.
B&A Marathon Men.. 1. Paul Rades, 33, Wheaton, MD 2:29. 2. Bryan Smith, 43, Thibodaux,LA 2:41. 3. Erik Bates, 20, Annapolis, 2:50. 4. Jeffrey Meyer, 28, New York, NY. 2:53. 5. Chong-Hwan Son, 40, Ridgefield Park, NJ, 2:55.09. 6. Jon Line, 31, Annapolis, 2:55:51. 7. Patrick Gahan, 19, Annapolis, 2:56. 8. Craig Sheckler, 37 Macungie, PA. 3:03. 9. Paul Judge, 30, Hineville, GA, 3:04. 10. Brian Kim, 44, Bethesda ,MD 3:05.
B&A Marathon. Women. Overall finish.
15. Allison Jeffs, 40 Chester,NJ. 3:10 32. Jennifer Sullivan, 41, Annapolis 3:25. 38. Marian Zobler, 42, Bethesda, 3:27. 39. Shirley Pratt, 44, Orlando, FL, 3:28. 54. Karen Koffler, 46, Severna Park, 3:32. 60. Cynthia Socie, 40, Mohnton, PA., 3:41. 62. Mary Lang, 42, Pasadena, 3:44. 66. Ellen Mannion, 44, So.Riding, VA. 3:45. 73. Mel Sirois, 27, Bethesda, 3:48. 78. Andrea Levine, 41, Washington, DC, 3:51.
Half Marathon. 1st Place Men Wallace Miller, 21, Annapolis, 1:13:
1st Woman, 30th overall. Dr. Chris Morganti, 41, Severna Park 1:26
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