What a wonderful story! In the late 70’s- early 80’s I was running 10k races with my Davis friends, all for the glory of a T-shirt. I was always at the end of the pack but I loved it. So much fun! I’m so glad you had that great experience in Alaska.
Great story, Bob…and a relatable great memory/experience for any one ever to run a 10K (albeit not necessarily in The Midnight Sun).😎
Similarly, yet different…I paced my running mate, Roger, for a PR in an early ‘80’s Bay Area 10K…where 2-time Olympian Rod Dixon (fairly fresh off his Bronze in the World XCs) was celeb guest-host…he started at the back, and worked his way up throughout the run…somewhere around the 5K mark, Rod cruised up from behind…and for a shinning few moments, we ran shoulder-to-shoulder with an Olympian…he bid us “cheers,” and continued on ahead.
If only he’d stayed to cross the finish line with us…would have made Roger’s PR all the more sweet. (I guess we needed a plane ride bond, for that)🤷🏻♂️
beautiful story, didn’t know all those details. alaska is so cool (and sometimes hot) i loved visiting there also on the solstice, never got dark. i came home exhausted but loved the adventure and would go back in a heartbeat 🐻
Absolutely love Alaska. So many parts to it. Brett Stone and I played the Alaska Open Tennis Tournament and we loved when they assigned our matches to outdoor courts. But all the Alaskans wanted to play indoors where weather wouldn't be a factor.
I used to run in the Midnight Sun run when I lived in Fairbanks. Once I was really feeling good about myself, and I looked behind- I was right ahead of the strollers 😆
Shaq wore size 21 when he left LSU to join the NBA and signed an endorsement deal with Reebok. I was in the athletic shoe business at the time and saw a sample in a Reebok showroom. Biggest shoe I've ever held in my hands. Yes, both hands.
Great story, Bob. It goes to show that all runners share a bond that goes beyond skill level. And shoe size.
Yes, running is a universal fix for just about everyone. You don't have to have world class speed to lace up your shoes and go for a jog. I've always liked being in a strange town - say, Winnemucca - and step out of the motel room door and jogging downtown and then into a neighborhood and then through a casino and finally out onto the desert to smell the sagebrush.
Your store, J.D., probably did more for the fitness of Davis than anyone else. Not just providing folks with great shoes to run in, but sponsoring all sorts of things to actually put those shoes to use.
So thank you from so many of us.
You know, I once had the chance to be in the Boston Marathon. Turns out there was a group of UC Davis docs who were part of some medical assistance group and they would actually run with the runners to be immediately available to anyone in need.
They called me thinking it might make an interesting column and then could slip me into their group with scrubs and a stethoscope and nobody would be the wiser.
It was an attractive offer, to be sure.
But 26.2 miles? I wouldn't drive that far without stopping two or three times to get something to eat.
What a memorable event. I was born on December 21st a day that’s undesirable as a birthday for more reasons than one: you don’t get the whole class to sing happy birthday to you at school because you’re on vacation, people forget to buy you a gift and then they say, “oh this is your Christmas AND birthday gift”, but the worst is when you’re told, as I was around age 7, that it’s the “shortest day of the year.” Golly people, it’s already a crummy day and now it’s the shortest one? Of course I didn’t realize it’s still 24 hours and they’re just talking about the part of that that’s in sunlight, but still . . .
And yet, Diane, despite all those handicaps, look at how great your life became.
Something seems wrong with the days already getting shorter starting on June 22. I already feel a chill in the air. Can't wait for your birthday to come around so the days will start getting longer.
Please check it out, Lynn. It's more fun than you can imagine and the people are so friendly. Plus the outdoor salmon barbecues for tourists are truly special. Alaska Airlines flies direct out of Sacramento. It's a special event in a special place.
I hear you. I think it took me until the end of HS to reach 12s, end of college 13. About 15 or 20 years ago, I went into a specialty shoe store in Austin; they measured my feet and that's when I switched to a 15B. Even in a big city and big store like that they usually only have one or two pair of one or two styles in 15B. Anything else has to be ordered from the factory.
Our family is a bit partial to runners and we love this story!!!
The race still exists, Carolee. You should make it a family event.
More fun even than the Bay to Breakers, and what a place to visit.
By the way, the men's record is 29:14 and the women's record is 33:57.
I may be related to some runners who could challenge those records on a good day!
I kind of thought that might be the case.
Yet another delightful story, Bob -- thank you for sharing it.
Was a fun and meaningful day in my life, Jan.
What a wonderful story! In the late 70’s- early 80’s I was running 10k races with my Davis friends, all for the glory of a T-shirt. I was always at the end of the pack but I loved it. So much fun! I’m so glad you had that great experience in Alaska.
The view is always better at the back of the pack, Marjorie.
Great story, Bob…and a relatable great memory/experience for any one ever to run a 10K (albeit not necessarily in The Midnight Sun).😎
Similarly, yet different…I paced my running mate, Roger, for a PR in an early ‘80’s Bay Area 10K…where 2-time Olympian Rod Dixon (fairly fresh off his Bronze in the World XCs) was celeb guest-host…he started at the back, and worked his way up throughout the run…somewhere around the 5K mark, Rod cruised up from behind…and for a shinning few moments, we ran shoulder-to-shoulder with an Olympian…he bid us “cheers,” and continued on ahead.
If only he’d stayed to cross the finish line with us…would have made Roger’s PR all the more sweet. (I guess we needed a plane ride bond, for that)🤷🏻♂️
I got to know the great Olympian Peter Snell when he was a student at UC Davis. He was from New Zealand. Middle Distance. Won three Gold Medals.
Yes, Peter Snell was an early favorite of mine…(when first starting middle distance running)…how cool you got to know him.
He was so kind and humble. You would never have known about all those gold medals. Kind of like Davis' own Cathy Carr West and Denise Curry.
That’s awesome 👍🏼
beautiful story, didn’t know all those details. alaska is so cool (and sometimes hot) i loved visiting there also on the solstice, never got dark. i came home exhausted but loved the adventure and would go back in a heartbeat 🐻
Absolutely love Alaska. So many parts to it. Brett Stone and I played the Alaska Open Tennis Tournament and we loved when they assigned our matches to outdoor courts. But all the Alaskans wanted to play indoors where weather wouldn't be a factor.
I used to run in the Midnight Sun run when I lived in Fairbanks. Once I was really feeling good about myself, and I looked behind- I was right ahead of the strollers 😆
I can relate, Patricia. I almost tripped while trying to pass a stroller with triplets.
Great story!
Size 16 here
Pretty sure I’m not legally allowed to run
But I do occasionally sleep in or near the shower
Only Shaq has bigger feet than you, Ted.
Shaq wore size 21 when he left LSU to join the NBA and signed an endorsement deal with Reebok. I was in the athletic shoe business at the time and saw a sample in a Reebok showroom. Biggest shoe I've ever held in my hands. Yes, both hands.
Great story, Bob. It goes to show that all runners share a bond that goes beyond skill level. And shoe size.
Yes, running is a universal fix for just about everyone. You don't have to have world class speed to lace up your shoes and go for a jog. I've always liked being in a strange town - say, Winnemucca - and step out of the motel room door and jogging downtown and then into a neighborhood and then through a casino and finally out onto the desert to smell the sagebrush.
Your store, J.D., probably did more for the fitness of Davis than anyone else. Not just providing folks with great shoes to run in, but sponsoring all sorts of things to actually put those shoes to use.
So thank you from so many of us.
You know, I once had the chance to be in the Boston Marathon. Turns out there was a group of UC Davis docs who were part of some medical assistance group and they would actually run with the runners to be immediately available to anyone in need.
They called me thinking it might make an interesting column and then could slip me into their group with scrubs and a stethoscope and nobody would be the wiser.
It was an attractive offer, to be sure.
But 26.2 miles? I wouldn't drive that far without stopping two or three times to get something to eat.
What a memorable event. I was born on December 21st a day that’s undesirable as a birthday for more reasons than one: you don’t get the whole class to sing happy birthday to you at school because you’re on vacation, people forget to buy you a gift and then they say, “oh this is your Christmas AND birthday gift”, but the worst is when you’re told, as I was around age 7, that it’s the “shortest day of the year.” Golly people, it’s already a crummy day and now it’s the shortest one? Of course I didn’t realize it’s still 24 hours and they’re just talking about the part of that that’s in sunlight, but still . . .
And yet, Diane, despite all those handicaps, look at how great your life became.
Something seems wrong with the days already getting shorter starting on June 22. I already feel a chill in the air. Can't wait for your birthday to come around so the days will start getting longer.
Wonderful story, Bob. Thank you for sharing it!
Thanks, Ann. It's a special memory for me.
Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing. I might just have to put this run on next year’s race calendar. 😊
Please check it out, Lynn. It's more fun than you can imagine and the people are so friendly. Plus the outdoor salmon barbecues for tourists are truly special. Alaska Airlines flies direct out of Sacramento. It's a special event in a special place.
Great story Bob.
Ingenious way to beat the heat, at least so you could sleep. And help at the end from your flight seat mate. Veteran runners seem to stick together.
By the way, if you think size 14 running shoes are big, try finding 15Bs in stock...
I was a Size 12 in seventh grade and things went downhill from there.
Shoes that look nice on the rack are generally a six or seven and then they bring out the 14 - if they even have one - and it's just plain ugly.
But not as ugly as wearing a shoe box...
I hear you. I think it took me until the end of HS to reach 12s, end of college 13. About 15 or 20 years ago, I went into a specialty shoe store in Austin; they measured my feet and that's when I switched to a 15B. Even in a big city and big store like that they usually only have one or two pair of one or two styles in 15B. Anything else has to be ordered from the factory.
Go to the Paul Bunyan store, John