2005 Freep Marathon
Out of Towners
- By Doug Kurtis
Free Press Columnist

Registration numbers for the 2005 Detroit Free Press Flagstar Bank Marathon have already broken last year's record setting attendance. Almost 12,000 runners have signed up for one of the event distances. Two thousand of those come from out of state. Here are a few of their stories.

Dean Hu, 36, Honolulu, Hawaii: Ran track and cross country at Birmingham Groves High School. He never considered running a marathon until he moved to Hawaii and started training with other endurance athletes.   He has already completed three Honolulu Marathons and some triathlons. Hu finds that it is a great way to see the city at ground level.

He picked Detroit because it's an opportunity for him to visit his family and also recount great memories of running in Michigan. Hu said, " As a high schooler I attended Wolverine cross country camp and learned many lessons about running and life from legendary coach Kermit Ambrose."

Maureen Vreeland, 60, Freeport, Florida: She is running the 5km at her daughter's suggestion. Vreeland ran for eighteen years while living in Michigan and completed the Free Press Marathon when it finished on Belle Isle. "I'll never forget one elderly black lady along Jefferson Avenue yelling, "You can do it Lady" and it helped me get through the last few miles."   Vreeland's son is running the marathon and her daughter, who is six months pregnant, is doing the half.   A combination of receiving a pair of running shoes for Mother's Day and a flier from Hanson's Running Shop with a twenty week training program got her motivated to start running again.   "My son and daughter pretty much outfitted me with everything to go running. We don't have good running stores nearby in the boonies of the Florida panhandle. I love living on the bayou, but I miss the Great Lakes freighters. I am also very proud of my children and most grateful for their encouragement and support."

James Brandell, 37, Washington, DC : His brother from East Jordan, MI has been running the marathon for several years and decided to make it a family affair. Last year he ran the relay but decided to move up to the half marathon. Eight years ago he did a half marathon in Istanbul Turkey. "It was an amazing experience starting in Asia and finishing in Europe", wrote Brandell. He runs three or four times a week around the National Mall and monuments in D.C. to keep in motivated.   His mom is doing the 5km, two relatives are doing the relay and he is running the half marathon with his brother.

Mike Freemont, 83, Cincinnati, Ohio: "I'll run Detroit because I can." emailed Freemont.   He was the oldest finisher at the Boston Marathon the last two years. Freemont has run about forty marathons with a 3:20 best time at age 62.   He's also been racing canoes since 1962 and volunteers full time to protect and restore rivers. He recommends the book, The China Study by T. Colin Campbell to anyone concerned about health and performance in old age.

Terbrack James, 32, Little Rock, Arkansas: The Free Press Marathon is a family tradition. Both of his parents ran the race in 1983 when he was only ten. Sixteen years later he toed the line with his father and continues to run races all over the country with him. "Running is a gift my parents shared with me and I am forever grateful," said James, who is running the half this year.

Sarah Malovey, 24, New York, N.Y.: "I was a jock by nature, but dreaded running any time frame over ten minutes.   Once I looked in the mirror, I realized that taking time off from working out had its unattractive consequences."   Malovey was a fair weather athlete, yet loved running on Michigan State's beautiful campus. She has since discovered that New York's Central Park is one of America's running meccas and now is a member of the New York Road Runner Club. She ran Detroit's marathon last year. "I was amazed by the tour of the city and experienced my own personal journey and struggle through my hometown course. With my family supporting me along the way I realized that I didn't need the glorified New York City Marathon, I had everything I wanted and more in my old backyard."

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