Back when my dad started running a lot, he encouraged me to enter in a race. I was having some problems with my blood pressure at the time and was trying to get cardiovascular exercise in. I was running a lot at the YMCA and the Great Lakes Athletic Club. So my first race was the Hidden Forest Trail Run at Independence Oaks. I was nervous about it - not knowing what to expect from my first race. I knew that I enjoyed when there was someone else on the track at the gym because it motivated me more.

This was also my co-worker Olaf Schmidt's first race. My dad had talked him into it too. He showed up wearing cleated shoes (meant for golfing). He thought they would help him with traction since it was a trail run. This has to be the only race where I heard an announcer mention that he didn't want any "show-offs" wearing boots or any other type of shoe. Olaf had to go talk to the guy and . . . Read More..