Grandma's Marathon Names Hall of Fame Class of 2010

This from Grandma's Marathon, which is run June 19 and has selected its 2010 class for the Grandma's Marathon Hall of Fame.

Grandma's Marathon has announced its 2010 Hall of Fame class. The nonprofit organization has selected the following into its hall:

*Kevin Pates
Duluth News Tribune sports writer and racecourse radio commentator
*John Leppi (Deceased)
One of the marathon's founding fathers and former water station captain
*477th Medical Company
Providing on-course First Aid since 1980
*Bill and Nancy Olsen
Mile 5 aid station captains since 1985
*Chuck and Sally Hegg
Mile 5 aid station captains since 1985

"We are pleased to recognize the contributions of these individuals and groups, who are all very deserving of a place in our hall of fame. The success and development of our organization is based on dedicated people like these," said Scott Keenan, executive director of Grandma's Marathon.

The 2010 Hall of Fame inductees will receive their awards at the June 19 post-race award ceremony which begins at 4 p.m. at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC).

Grandma's Marathon weekend kicks off with the SMDC Health System Health and Fitness Expo which begins at 5 p.m. June 17 and continues all day on Friday, June 18. Other Friday events include the Michelina's All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner, the Whipper Snapper Races for Kids, guest speaking presentations, the William A. Irvin 5K and live entertainment.

Obviously, I know Kevin really well. He and I have been travel buddies through a chunk of the last five winters, gallivanting around the upper Midwest chasing the UMD Bulldogs around.

He's covered UMD hockey for some time, but his other claim to fame is top-notch coverage of this annual marathon, which is easily Duluth's biggest summer event. You can read his work in the Duluth News Tribune next week, and he'll be on the radio during the call of the race, providing the kind of insight that only experience can provide.

Pates does great work covering and helping promote running in the area, and I couldn't think of anyone more deserving of this honor.

Congrats, Kevin!

KARA GOUCHER THIRD IN BOSTON

With all due respect to our wonderful local event, they don't get much bigger than the Boston Marathon.

Every April, the city comes to a standstill for this great race, which has been run over 100 times. It's been over 20 years since an American woman won this event, and the track record (no pun intended) of success for Americans is simply not very good.

Enter Duluth's own Kara Goucher.

The former Duluth East Greyhound ran in the Olympics last year in the middle distances, then began the transition to marathons. I'd say that transition has gone quite well.

Goucher has run two competitive marathons, and she's finished in the top three of both of them. Despite leading for a time Monday in Boston, she had to "settle" for a third-place finish.

Goucher's voice cracked repeatedly in the postrace news conference.

"I just wanted it for everybody that wanted it for me," she said. "I'm proud of how I did. I just wanted to be the one that won for everybody."

An emotional Goucher does have a good understanding of the significance involved with having Americans in the top three of both the men's and women's races.

"People were so proud to see an American up front, and there was a lot of 'U.S.A.!' cheering," Goucher said. "Two Americans in the top three is fantastic. I think once things settle in a bit, it'll be a really great day. We'll be really proud of this."

No need to apologize for this accomplishment. It was a great day for Goucher, and the area she grew up in couldn't be more proud of her.