Nicci Lycan sets new course record at Steve's Raider Stomp 10k!
Here is this week’s Safari Email
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It is human to err....did we ever tell you we sometimes make mistakes....this note arrived from Terri Kunkel this week and due to our blunder, we gave her the headline!
"Not that it's any big deal but I just read the blog for this past week and my name was eliminated from the Lindsey's Run! I really did get 2nd place in my age group!! Thanks! Terri" Yes, it is true, Terri finished an awesome 2nd place in her age division in the Lindsey’s Run 10k! Congratulations Terri!
It has never happened before in Safari history, but there is a always a first time for everything! Nine Safari participated in Steve’s Raider Stomp 10k and 5k, and every single one brought home an overall or age group award. Not only that, several rounded up family members, each also placing in their respective age group.
Safari Ladies continue to dominate local racing action with overall wins at most recent events. Jen Shaffer wasn’t present at "The Raider Stomp," but her back-up Safari team came through to take both the women’s 10k and 5k runs! Nicci Lycan easily won the women’s 10k, and not only that, she earned professional status by shattering the course record with a 42:13. The event provided a cash incentive for this astounding feat. Bonnie Sexton won the 5k race, but just missed out on breaking her own record (and the cash) set at the inaugural event the year before.
The 5k run was a run full of family fun! In the 5k 35-39 division, Track Coach Steve Downard and his wife Trish took 1st place in the 35-39 age division before scooting off to a little league All-Star game starring Kyle Downard. Kyle did not run this race as he was resting up for the big game. Track Coach Joe Hulsebus took 1st place in his age division, while wife Lana took 3rd in hers. Brenda Stoddard won her age group, and eleven year old son Trevor Stoddard finished 3rd place overall.
In the 10k Run, Erica McCulley and Travis McCulley shared 2nd place honors in their age groups. Erin Kucera, encouraged in her running by friend Nicci Lycan took 1st in her age group. Ron Reid took 3rd in his age division, and Nancy Vendeville placed 2nd in hers!
Congratulations all Safari "Raider Stomp" Participants! And kudos to Race Director Bob Smola who once again put on a first class act, not to mention putting all the winners on a podium!
The July 14 Kindleberger 5k drew a record crowd and provided the perfect forum for Jen Shaffer’s final of many local race victories. That’s right! Kalamazoo’s elite, Jen Shaffer is moving to Wisconsin at the end of this week to get settled before starting her new job as a middle school teacher this fall. Jen has promised, however, to drive the 5 hours to Kalamazoo to share some of her long runs with the Safari...the Kalamazoo running community is one of a kind! Speaking of Jen, it took Jen, Bonnie Sexton and Jon Williard 3 hours to complete a 13 mile run. The trio managed to sandwich a 5k race, post race social, cool down, awards ceremony, and a "parade" run into the morning. That’s right, the trio found themselves caught in the middle of the Kindleberger Summerfest parade!
Cristi Dedoes made a 5k appearance as a tune up for the Crim. Joel Shaffer arrived with daughter Kailey while mom Amy stayed in Safari school. Lisa and Jeff Cavanaugh both took 3rd in their age divisions, as did Sheila Clothier. Carl Fried took 3rd in his competitive age division. Joe Hulsebus is coming back strong after breaking 19 minutes and placing 2nd in his. Stephanie Sabin set a new 5k PR and won her age division. Kailey Shaffer and Jon Willard both placed 1st in theirs. Congratulations all Safari Kindlerberger 5k finishers!
Oops, we almost erred again, team Leader Brian Dobbie also won his age division at Kindleberger. Actually, the reason we listed Brian separately is because his son Will, who worked at Gazelle Sports, is involved with the Blue Plant Run. This excerpt is taken from their website, http://www.blueplanetrun.org/
The Blue Planet Run will cover 15,200 miles, across 16 countries and 4 continents, 24 hours a day for 95 days to deliver an extremely urgent and important message: we can and must begin today to alleviate the catastrophic burden placed on over a billion people who, every day, must drink unsafe local water, or travel long distances on foot to search for safe water for themselves and their families.
Starting in New York City on June 1, 2007, a team of "20 ordinary male and female athletes doing extraordinary things" will run around the clock along a route that includes the U.S., Ireland, the U.K., France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Mongolia, China, Japan and Canada. Each runner will sprint 10 miles a day. Batons will be passed at over 1,500 exchange points. The Run will end back in New York City, on September 4, 2007. Each exchange point and heartfelt moment will be captured in the media, fueled by well-organized events in major cities and an international PR campaign.
The event will spare no expense to be Earth- and people -friendly. We imagine an event that comes to be known as "The Race without a Trace." We are committed to partnering with corporations that have similar beliefs and goals.
