Expect some new an exciting things to be announced soon regarding this year's 25^th addition of the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon present by Greektown Casino to be held on October 6th. This is my third in a series of articles regarding the history of the event.

After reaching its peek in 1981 the Freep Marathon watched a steady decline in participation though the 80's. The running boom began changing direction.  More cities began creating their own marathons when they discovered the economic and social benefits.  Runners stayed closer to home. Those that traveled flocked to the big marathons that offered large sums of prize money.  Like Boston, Detroit tried to hang on to its amateur roots but eventually realized the importance of attracting good competition.

1982: The race continued to attract over 4,000 runners. High 70's hampered some of the runners but not Dave Hinz. He won by over 4 minutes over one of his training partners Tim Fox. His 2:17:41 was just a precursor for things to come. Two years later Dave would run a 2:12 and also place twelfth at the Men's Olympic Trials in Buffalo. It took Karen Hubbard three years to repeat her first victory and she blew away the field. Her 2:44:29 was over eleven minutes ahead of the next women.

1983: Cranbrook English teacher Dave Olds used his Princeton graduate mind to overcome strong winds from the East. He tried to break away from the pack of eight runners as they made their way to Kerby in Grosse Pointe Farms. He soon realized he had to sit back and wait for the wind to be at his back. Still local star Bill Weidenbach kept him honest for much of the race. Old's 2:16:10 gave him just a one minute margin of victory.  Cindy Barber, a future multiple winner of the Detroit Free Press and also a several time Olympic Trial qualifier, was more than four minutes ahead of her pursuers. Her 2:45:05 victory came just one month after winning the Port Huron Marathon and produced a 13 minute personal best.

1984: Fog shrouded the TV coverage and the runners in this year's addition. Karen Hubbard continued to dominate with her third Freep victory. Her 2:43:00 was almost five minutes ahead of future Freep Marathon star Ella Willis. The humble Loren Bandt was thrilled to come away with a victory over one of the marathons weakest men's fields.  Most impressive was Marty Ball's new course record in the wheel chair division.  His 2:02:09 smashed the course record by more than 7 minutes.

1985: The eighth running proved to have a few stumbling blocks. Marathon organizers and East side ministers worked a compromise to modify the course and help parishioners get to Church on time. Local favorite Tim Fox was over three minutes behind another weak field at mile 8 but comfortably took the lead at the half way point. A collision with a volunteer forced him to stop and stretch out. It enabled second place finisher Vince Sheehan to close the gap before losing ground again. Fox's 2:23:58 was the slowest of all victories. Liz Watch's conservative approach helped her beat Ellis Willis who at one point was almost two minutes ahead of her. Watch's 2:51:49 was just one minute off her personal best. Wheeler Jennifer Smith won for the third time.

RACES Coming Up: 

Saturday, June 15, 8:00 a.m., Strawberry Run 10km, Belleville, call 734 434-6593

Saturday, June 15, 7:00 p.m., Moon In June Run, Windsor,  call The Running Factory 519 945-3786