Dr. Woodhall Report on Illinois Marathon

Dear Former EIU Students, Runners and Other EIU Friends:

Though foot races (road races) have become a popular thing in the last 20 years, most of them have been small town productions  5K and 10K distances.....with relative small fields and sometimes less than adequate officiating.  Other than the Chicago Marathon, which has more than a 30 year tradition, very few “marathons” have stood the test of time. 

The Illinois Marathon (and shorter events) was contested last Saturday, and it remains to be seen what will happen in future years.  However, the first one appeared to be a great success....in many ways.   Nearly 10,000 persons took part in one event or the other and the officiating, route(s) etc seem to be very well done.   No one could claim it was too hot.....the temperatures were great for running, though the winds made the wind chill a factor...especially for those who lined the streets to witness the event.   Finishing all events in the new Illini Football Stadium was a perfect idea.

There is no way to correctly identify all the participants who had direct or indirect connections to EIU, but with a camera, a great spotter (John McInerney) and what appears to be an accurate web site of results (www.illinoismarathon.com) here is a little summary that you might enjoy.  

Please note, that some performed at very high levels and actually “won” their event or their “age/gender” Sub-section.   Others were able to celebrate a fine level of fitness and enjoy the thrill of setting a goal and then achieving it.   If you ever need to be encouraged, go watch an endurance event.  You’ll see the striving of the “human spirit” at it’s best.   The old, the young, the fat, the skinny, the fit and unfit all have a goal...THE FINISH LINE.   In my book, they were all winners.

Here are some photos and comments.....not particularly well organized.

Tom Woodall

IN THE BEGINNING
Pre-race strategy meeting in the office of Mike Hatfield (79) long time successful Development (Fund Raising..PR) Officer in the U of ILL Athletic Department.  (L to R)  John McInerney (79) to runners: Bill Reimer (80),  Drew VanVorren (former EIU student and Dave’s son) Dave Van Vorren (78  )...that’s his “game face” and confident Mike (note the All-American Certificate on his wall.




Originally, I thought there would be  a great deal of historical significance in the following picture but I goofed.  I was thinking that both Dr. Pat O’Brien ...EIU Coaching Icon (2nd marriage) and Dike /Roxie Stirrett were married at this church so many years ago.   Actually, it was a Methodist Church about 3 blocks to the east.  Nonetheless, I’ll include the picture because it provided a   good parking place along Green Street (a major running route for all races).  Mac and I were nibbling on some “red licorice” (never eat it but what I think about smuggling the stuff into Dike Stirrett’s hospital room (1969) while he lay on an ice blanket trying to recover from a 105 degree heat stroke situation following his Panther Pant finish.  All he wanted to eat was red licorice and of course that was not on the doctor’s list.  He still likes the stuff.




We walked to what was about the 1.5 mile mark in the opening portion of the Marathon, 1/2 Marathon and 5K races.  Ironically, it was just across the street from a restaurant which is now called Legends (30 years ago it was called “the Deluxe).  In 1979,  John McInerney sat inside eating while teammate Mike Hatfield was setting a new EIU Steeplechase record (8:52)...which held up until 3 years ago)  on the track about 3 miles away.   Mac misread the time schedule and Hat has never let him forget it.



MARATHON
We’ll start with the longest distance first.   Andy Derks (02?) has had a great runner career (State of Illinois HS Mile Champ...from Rochester) and many great races as a Panther.  Following graduation, he gets better....many great races..lots of marathons from Boston to Chicago.  Here (about mile 12) he is running with the eventual Marathon winner.


Maybe his #6 bib number was prophetic, because digestive problems caused him to fade to 6th place. overall..he still ran 2:35:07 (5:55 per mile).  He wasn’t feeling too good after the race, but his wife was there to comfort him.

It was COLD (at least the wind chill on Green Street froze my fingers and toes).

But then, along comes a guy (who eventually finished 4th in the marathon) with no shirt.  I actually saw him dump cold water on his “head”.  Something is wrong with one of us.....

 

MARATHON CONTINUED

In recent years, Rob Ulm (former teacher/coach and now a public school administrator in Charleston) has run as many miles as anyone I know personally.  Training before most people even think of getting up in the morning, he has completed so many marathons and other endurance events, it would be hard to count them.   Though he had hoped for sub 3 hours, his 3:18:16 (7:34) was very respectable and made him the 22nd finisher of the 147 men in his age group. 


Dr. Jake Emmett (EIU Faculty member since 1990) is shown (far right) with two other EIU faculty associates at about the 10 mile mark.  Jake has at least 2 dozen marathons under his belt, and here he is pacing/helping two friends in route to 4:26:49 (10:11) ..83rd of 125 in his 50 – 54 age bracket.  From L to R (Dr. Cal Smith 73 yrs...EIU retired Speech and multi-marathon participant.  He ran the 1/2 marathon with Dr. Tony Oliver (current EIU teacher ..35+ yrs.)
in Kinesiology/Sport Studies). They averaged about 10:50 per mile for the 13.1 mile distance.








THE HALF MARATHON
Jeff Jonaitis (03?) continues his road running successes.  J.J. has been under 2:20 for the marathon, ran in the Olympic Trials, recently won the Memphis Marathon and last Saturday, beat 1,664 1/2 marathoners with the winning time of 1:11:27 (5:28)  Even before two miles, J.J. and one other runner have broken away from the field.


Randy Stearns is a Charleston native.  At age 13, he averaged 6:30 per mile for the 12.5 mile hilly Panther Pant course south of Charleston.....beating half the field of older runners.   He completed his MS degree from EIU and then worked in hospitals, fitness centers and is now a foot specialist with Body and Sole Sporting Goods (Champaign)...one of the primary supporters of the effort to make the Illinois Marathon a reality.  Sporting a beard, he slipped by the camera, but they caught him at the finish line in 1:24:45 (6:29)...good enough for 1st place among the 148 men in his 50 – 54 age bracket.

Kristin Chandler (04?) and Amanda Schutte (04?) were both teammates on the EIU Track and Cross Country Teams.  Here they pose following their half-marathon efforts.  Kristin’s 1:34:54 (7:15) was good enough for 6th of 433 in her age group.  Amanda is now coaching and completed the course in 2:01:47



Colleen Vandever Kattenbraker (01)  was a good high school runner.  An outstanding student, she completed both BS and MS degrees (01) at EIU and currently it teaching...with her husband...in the Kinesiology – Sport Studies Dept.
She is not a big woman, but she showed her backside to nearly 300 other ladies in the 30 – 34 age group by running 1:45:55 (8:06).  Colleen and Mark have two children...ages 4 and 2 years.


Getting serious about his weight and fitness a couple of years ago, Mike Hatfield ran a fine 1:52.48 (8:31) to beat more than 70% of the 148 men in his 50 –54 age group.  He always has a smile....well, almost always.  Only two miles to go for him to hit the finish line.



One of the unsung heroes of “distance running” in downstate Illinois, is Jed Bunyan.  He is still unsung, because we didn’t get a picture of him running.   The owner of Body and Sole (arguably the finest place to buy sport apparel ....especially shoes) has been running and promoting the sport for nearly 40 years.  He ran in the early Panther Pant races and employs several former runners who really understand the sport.  No doubt he has had a very “busy” last four months, but he still found time to jump in and complete the half marathon in 2:07...not bad for a busy 50 –54 year old.

One other notable in the half marathon, finished last with a time of 3:26.  We have no picture, but Vera Whiteside is the 78 year old mother of Nick Whiteside (84) who ran so well for EIU.  Her persevering spirit has seen her on the roads, in senior track events for nearly 5 decades.  Most all the EIU runners know Vera....and are inspired by her courage.
 

FIVE KILOMETERS
Several former EIU folks took part and ran well in the 5 K.

Jim Acklin (79)  (now Superintendent of Schools at St. Joe-Ogden) finished 3rd overall and beat 52 men in his 50 –54 age group, running a fine 17:46 (5:43)  Here Jim is easily “out front” at 1.5 miles.


John Dickey (80) was always a quiet person as a member of the EIU Cross Country team nearly 30 years ago.  Last Saturday, he let his feet do the talking, winning his 55 – 59 age group with a 21:17 (6:51)
He had that same red hat 3 decades ago...

Bill Reimer (80) is a long time Champaign native.   He decided to train fairly hard for this event and the results document his efforts.  He ran 21:42 (6:59) and finished 2nd of 51 in his 50-54 age group.  Here he is giving “papal” blessings to the crowd at mile 1.5


Though we have no photo of Dave Van Vooren (78) and his son Drew, they both did a nice job, finishing in 25:03 and 27:48 respectively.   Of course dad Dave has 25+ years on his son.

MISCELLANEOUS SHOTS
A beautiful sight, the top four wheel chair racers drafting through at a great pace.


Playboy Bunnies...with clothes on


“Old Glory” got quite a reception when these men brought her across the finish line in the football stadium


This is what the Marathon winner saw as he crossed the finish line in 2:26


A Family Affair   Post event with the Hatfield’s (daughter – Angie, Mike, and wife Carol)  They ALL ran



THE END