Kicking off this week with a sad nod to the passing of one of the most reliable and jovial volunteers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.
John Vollmer was a fixture in the Omaha Running Club and the running community at large. His stature mirrored his real gusto for living, his sense of humor infectious. John was a van driver for the 2012 USATF Club T&F National Championships last July. Shuttled athletes from around the United States back and forth between Burke Stadium and our host hotel, made a ton of friends. Non stop for 2 full days, utterly dependable, always with that big grin. Linda & I got to spend a lot of time with John recently at the Chiller Challenge. He recalled the very first time he met us, years ago while working at Brewsky’s, he had a mind like a steel trap. John, we’ll miss you dearly.
On to the news: Ivan Marsh 7-peated the Trek to the Top. Race organizers had added a Superhero theme to this year’s event, how funny it must have looked to see them chasing this mountain man among men. More remarkable is that at 38 years old Ivan eclipsed his own event record, verticalizing in 4:15. No one even remotely close, yawn. Team Nebraska’s Gerald Kubiak was 3rd overall in 5:05. One of the better novelty events of the year though I’ve never had the desire to do it.
The Nebraska Wesleyan Open was this past weekend and only a single Team Nebraska entrant. Cory Logsdon racing himself into shape and that’s it? He’s training up for the Lincoln Full and understands the importance of maintaining foot speed. Cory contested the 3000, finishing in 9:27. Millard West stud Joe Harter took the win in a nice 8:57.40.
Team Nebraska has a long history of success during indoors. Indoor Season is an important step towards success on the roads, let’s hope more of the mates take advantage over the next few weeks. Merely from a run guru perspective of course.
Congratulations to my neighbor Noah Batenhorst on taking 3rd at the Nebraska State Diving Championships. I watched him grow up, usually flipping around on his trampoline. Not for naught.
My old buddy John Conley with Mr.Tanaka-San at this past weekend’s Tokyo Marathon. John is the CEO and RD Conley Sports Productions, LLC (Austin Marathon). He was my original professional race directing mentor taking me under his wing back in 1995. Mr. Tanaka-San is the head of the Japanese Amateur Athletic Federation (JAAF), the most powerful sporting man in his country. I spent an entire evening with Mr. Tanaka-San while in Yokohama in 2006. One of the best meals of my entire life and one of the those tales that I love to share.
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