This is the 25th year Michigan Runner magazine has covered running in Michigan and surrounding states. More than 48,000 runners a year search Michigan Runner pages for upcoming events, facts, history and results of the hundreds of races organized by its readership.

Art McCafferty began his writing and publishing career in 1979 when he couldn't find a publication that catered to local runners. McCafferty's running mentor, Mike Duff, joined him to get the magazine off the ground during a time when running was witnessing a boom in racing and participation.

Circulation hit 5,000 in Michigan Runner's inaugural year. It was a small outfit then, and it still relies on a humble group of freelance writers and photographers. The magazine ultimately reached 15,000 readers.

Michigan Runner, the magazine, is now complemented by www.michiganrunner.net, published in conjunction with the Running Network; www.michiganrunner.com, which includes archives going back to 1995, and www.michiganrunner.tv, an Internet video of events and interviews that reaches 1,200 readers a day. And finally there is Michigan Running News, a weekly e-mail newsletter. Michigan Runner was the first running magazine on the Web and the first to introduce an Internet TV show.

In the past 25 years, four editors have scrambled to meet deadlines and find space for many fascinating stories on races. Duff pioneered the early years, followed by Dave Foley, Jennie McCafferty and current publisher Scott Sullivan.

In addition to the editors, some of the prime contributors have included Scott Hubbard, Tom Henderson and Charles Douglas McEwen and countless photos by Carter Sherline.

Art's wife, Jennie, came on board in 1995 after they got married. Both have a passion to cover and promote running. Art has a marathon best of 3:26 in Toronto.

"I'm pre-Title IX," Jennie said. "Didn't know running was something ordinary people could do until Art tricked me into running. He signed me up for a 5K walk and now I'm a back-of-the-packer with a 2:22 half-marathon from Port Huron's Scotty Hanton run."

Both roam Michigan and the country, observing running. Among Art's favorite races are Mackinac Island, Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Crim in Flint, Dexter-Ann Arbor, Volkslaufe in Frankenmuth,Ludington half-marathon and Steve's Run in Dowagiac.

Many of Jennie's favorites are on Art's list, plus Pictured Rocks in Munising, Michigan Trail half-marathon in Pinckney and the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot in Detroit. Outside of Michigan, the New York City Basalt, the Big Sur Marathon in California and the Columbus Marathon have stood out. Overseas, the Davos Swiss Alpine Marathon as well as the Millennium Marathon in New Zealand were standouts.

Looking for a great training venue? The McCaffertys have run all over Michigan. Highly recommended places are Kensington and Lower Huron metroparks; Ann Arbor's Gallup Park and the Arb; Mackinac Island trails; Petoskey's waterfront; and Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City.

Favorite interviews? Art enjoyed Amby Burfoot and George Hirsch of Runner's World, Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit and former New York City Marathon director Fred Lebow. Jennie found Michiganders Laurie Decker and Keith and Kevin Hanson to be fascinating subjects. So were New York City Marathon director Allan Steinfeld and world-class marathoner Dick Beardsley.

Running has changed for the better since the McCaffertys joined the sport. They find runners putting less emphasis on personal bests and more on having fun. They see more people running marathons and more women running everything.

Creativity has been a driving force behind Michigan Runner's 25-year run. The McCaffertys expect to be on the leading edge for the next 25 years.

COMING UP: Friday, 28th annual Volkslaufe 5, 10 and 20K runs, 8 a.m.,Frankenmuth. Contact Ed Foltz at 989-652-6104 or go to www.volkslaufe.org.