RunMichigan.com - Race for the Cure '99

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RACE FOR THE CURE '99

Rochester Residents Sweep 5K Titles
As Over 25,000 Race for the Cure

By Dave McCauley - RunMichigan.com!

Royal Oak, MI 4/24/99

After two days of rain prior to this year's event, participants were welcomed with sunny skies to the grounds of the Detroit Zoo for the 8th Annual running of the Detroit Race for the Cure. In all, over 25,000 people attended this year's event. Three races make up the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure with proceeds from the event benefiting the Babara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute; separate 5K competitive runs for both men and women and a 4K non-competitive walk.

The first race of the day was the men's race, with upwards of 2500 participants getting first crack at the 5k course which tours the outside portions of the Detroit Zoo and surrounding neighborhoods. In the 1998 race, Rich Stark of Ann Arbor used a late kick to edge Rochester's Scott Collins by just two seconds, 14:59 to 15:01. This year, the race was decided early as Collins put away the field at just under a mile into the race, going on to win comfortably in a time of 15:17. Collins, a former All-American cross country runner from Oakland University, came through the first mile in 4:42 and was 9:42 at the two mile mark. For Collins, just being able to race this event was rewarding after struggling with an injury over the past few weeks which has hampered his training. "It's nice to win it. Because of my tendonitis, I didn't even think I was going to be able to run this race." Fortunately, the injury didn't seem to bother him during or after the race. Collins will now concentrate his efforts on getting ready for the upcoming Old Kent 25K in Grand Rapids on May 8th.

Runner-up honors on the day went to Mike Holik of Grass Lake in a time of 16:04. Dave Peterson of Farmington Hills finished third in 16:08, and one of the more impressive performances on the day was turned in by 50 year old Peter Hallop of Ann Arbor who finished fourth in 17:00 and took home the Masters Crown. David Watkins of Birmingham finished fifth in 17:02.

In the women's 5K, another resident of Rochester was victorious as Laura Murphy used a come from behind strategy to overtake 4 time winner Laurel Park of Ann Arbor in the last half mile and move away for a 5 second victory. Murphy, whose training has been focused on getting her prepared for June's Grandma's Marathon in Minnesota, showed the Detroit running community that she still has retained a lot of her natural speed. Murphy took advantage of that speed with a late race surge and finished with a time of 17:36. Park settled for second in 17:41. Third place went to Kathy Rink of Bloomfield Hills in 18:03 and Robin Sarris-Hallop of Ann Arbor, voted the 1998 RunMichigan.com! Female Masters Runner of the Year, took fourth in a time of 18:09. Sterling Heights Stevenson athlete Marne Smiley rounded out the top five with a time of 18:12.

For runner up Laurel Park, a fifth Cure victory in a row would have been nice. However, losing to someone of Laura Murphy's quality and just being a part of the Race for the Cure experience were enough. "Laura and I have had a couple of good races here. She deserved it." She commented, noting also the importance of the day. "It's a fun race and everyone has a good time. I always say that it really doesn't matter who wins this race. It's the event that matters."

It truly is the event that matters at the Race for the Cure and a record number of participants will agree. One noted individual present at this year's race who has been a big part in advancing women's health issues for a number of years was Michelle Engler, wife of Michigan's Governor, John Engler. Engler, attending her sixth Race for the Cure, participated in this year's 4K event and understands completely what a great cause this is. "Breast cancer is one issue that I think is so important, because we are so close to being able to find a cure, but also knowing that early detection means a very good prognosis. And that's what women need to learn about." The growth of this race and the support from Detroit area residents has also excited Mrs. Engler. "In a few short years, Detroit has surpassed numerous other cities and that's fabulous, and it's a true testament to the people of this state."

One very important group of people that shouldn't be overlooked is the group of over 1000 breast cancer survivors who were present. The leading breast cancer survivor in the women's 5K was 40 year old Janis Puscar of Canton. Puscar finished with a time of 25:39.

The main reason of this event was not lost on anyone. "We are all affected, in one way or another, by breast cancer, " said William Peters, M.D., Ph.D., Director and CEO of the Karmanos Cancer Institute in a pre-race statement. "This event is intended to educate women about breast cancer, and celebrate the fact that so many women will survive cancer in this day and age."