On Memorial Day, I found myself reflecting on fellow runners who have passed away.  Races have been named for a few of them or plaques displayed on their favorite running paths.   A few of Michigan's favorite runners remembered:

MICHAEL RUTKA: Rutka made you feel special.  He gave you his attention and empathy. You smiled when you saw him because he was happy and cheerful, especially when running in some of the crummiest weather. To many, like Kathleen Gina, he was their hero. "He had a way of making you feel like he was your best friend,'' she said. His biggest goal was to qualify for the Boston Marathon. But in August 1999, while out training for the marathon, he looked the wrong way while crossing a street and was killed by a car. Michael's enthusiasm for life came through in his award-winning advertising commercials. He celebrated family and friends and knew how to throw great parties. The Rutka 5K on Sept.1 in Ann Arbor is Gina's way of continuing that celebration through the event's great food and medal designs.

HERB MELL:  It has been barely a year since Mell collapsed and died of heart failure while running on his favorite bike path in Monroe.  He was one of the founding members of the Monroe Milers and a longtime member of the Island Road Runners.  Herb began running in 1978 with Sandy, his wife of 31 years. He also volunteered his time at track meets where his son James, competed. A four-mile race in his honor was initiated in April, and a bench has been installed in his honor on the banks of the Raison River in Monroe.

JOHN ROGUCKI:  Rogucki courageously battled brain cancer until April 1997. The Ann Arbor Track Club renamed the Kensington Challenge in John's name to memorialize his spirit in the park where he spent much of his time. John supported the Ann Arbor Track Club and the Brighton Area Road Striders. He served on the Michigan USA Track and Field Association board of directors and the Kensington Challenge race committee. After his passing, the Ann Arbor club founded the John Rogucki Memorial Fund to assist with community running programs.  In January 2000, a kiosk in John's memory was built by Matt Miller, a Boy Scout, and designed by metroparks architects.

JEFF DRENTH:  Drenth's life was cut short in 1986 when he was training for the 1988 Olympic trials. He collapsed and died, apparently because of what doctors call ``athlete's heart.''  An All-America at Central Michigan, Drenth also was a three-time member of the world cross-country team. Several events have been named for him, including a cross-country meet in Eugene, Ore.

ED WIBERG:  At age 70, Wiberg was told to start exercising to help him continue his recovery from alcoholism.  He started running around his trailer park and soon graduated to running the Crim in Flint.  He almost didn't make it because his white leather shoe-boots gave him huge blisters. In his late 70s, Wiberg set three national age-group records and was voted Michigan runner of the year.  In his 80s, he suffered a stroke while running the River Bank Run in Grand Rapids but still worked the Crim finish line.  He was buried in a Crim T-shirt and running suit per his request.

 RACE OF THE WEEK:  Sunday, 8:20 a.m., Dexter-Ann Arbor Run, 5K and half-marathon.  For more information, go to www.dexterannarborrun.com