Oct 22, 2007 Bob McOmber - First Male Winner By Doug Kurtis

Bob McOmber won the last Motor City Marathon on Belle Isle in 1977 then returned in 1978 to win the first Detroit Free Press Marathon. The Belle Isle race was his first race longer than a 10 KM.

According to McOmber, “My longest training run before the marathon was 15-16 miles. I was a complete novice. I had no intention of running to win. In fact, when the gun went off, I was standing at the back of the pack of 400 or so runners. I remember running the first couple of miles in 6:00 then gradually began to pick up the pace. At the end of the first loop around Belle Isle (6 miles), I was in about 20th place. I ended up taking the lead with a mile to go and won in a time of 2:23:37. My fastest mile of the entire race was the 26th mile.”

The following spring McOmber ran the Boston Marathon in 2:17:01 finishing 17th. “When the Free Press Marathon came around the next fall, I picked it as my major undertaking. To be truthful, I made a few inquiries the last few days before the race and began to think I might be able to win the race, maybe handily. I remember making my mind up that I would try to run as fast as I could even if I was well in front. I did not want to run a slow time that I might be embarrassed about 30 years later.”

McOmber ran the first Detroit Free Press Marathon almost entirely 26 miles by himself. “I was still a relatively inexperienced long distance runner and had never run with the lead. Being in front from the beginning took a toll on me, and I was pretty much just hanging on the last few miles. He ran 2:17:37 and was about 4 minutes ahead of the second place runner.

“Winning the Free Press Marathon was one of the top five thrills of my running career. It had the "feel" of a big race, unlike the previous year on Belle Isle. I remember some guy trying to interview me on the radio from a car in the middle of the race! (I waved him off.) I've got a neat picture of myself after the race with my arm around my wife and a bunch of microphones in my face as reporters asked me questions. I was never the top runner on my team in high school or college, so I had not won many races at any level. On that day in 1978, I felt special as an athlete for maybe the first time. Everyone should have a picture like that.”

McOmber, now 56 lives in Bowling Green, Ohio with his wife Becky He spent most of his working career as in-house attorney with Owens Corning in Toledo. In 1992, his position was eliminated and he became a stay at home father while Becky worked as Bowling Green State University’s registrar. He served on the board of education for six years, was elected to the city council and is currently teaching classes in Business Law at BGSU. “Particularly in a small town like Bowling Green, I believe it is important that folks try to contribute to the quality of life for the community in whatever way they can.”