Father's Day
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist

My father, Ted Kurtis, had a significant impact on my running career. There are many others whose running was enhanced by the support of their fathers.

More often than not, kids who excel have parents that are willing to give them plenty of attention and are shown genuine interest. My dad loved sports and participated with me in some form while I was growing up.   He wasn't a runner, yet he still reveled in watching my brother Dennis and I excel at it.

During my first high school track season he impressed upon me how incentives would help motivate me to reach a goal. My dad offered to buy some fancy spikes if I broke 10 minutes for the two mile run.   It gave me something difficult to shoot for and I didn't make it until the last meet of the season.

While running for Michigan State, my dad often drove up to watch my cross country meets. He witnessed all of my Detroit Free Press Marathon victories. I was fortunate that he was still alive to see me reinvigorate our hometown marathon as its race director. It was a thrill for both of us to watch runners finish in Tiger Stadium for the 1999 race.

He passed away five years ago this week. I miss retelling new successes he would have been proud to share with his friends.

Bob Sly is a father that I have noticed at all the Dexter Ann Arbor races. His daughter Cheri McLean was a top competitor in Michigan. " My running career and my dad's support go hand in hand", said Mclean. " He volunteered for every cross country and track meet, every workout I needed timed, and every road race he could work.  My dad was as enthusiastic about the sport as I was."

"He is the face I'd look for at each mile marker during my races.  As my running career blossomed, many years ago, so did his love for the sport.  He helped organize road races for many years during and after my running career.  When I reflect back, I remember my dad's smiling face, full of pride, cheering for me and every other runner to do their best."

You'll find Maggie Zidar at a race or two almost every weekend. When she competes, especially in the marathon, there seems to be a spiritual connection with her dad. John Patrick Higgins passed away eighteen years ago on Father's Day. When Zidar had her doubts about qualifying for Boston after running her first Detroit Marathon in 1982, her dad pronounced, "Of course you will, your John Higgins daughter!"

In 1983, Zidar fractured her pelvis. While recuperating, her dad delivered a New York City Marathon medal to her and guaranteed that she would one day run it. Higgins enjoyed the, "I told you so", attitude after she did.  

Ten months after his death, Zidar ran an inspired race at the Boston Marathon. People yelled out "you're John Higgin's daughter", which was emblazoned on her singlet. It was a fitting tribute to a to a father that lived in four different countries and was incredibly supportive to an eternally grateful daughter.

Contact Doug Kurtis at Detroit Free Press, 600 W. Fort St. Detroit, 48226