Marlene Sundberg -- Bay City's St. Pat's Race History -- Part #2
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Special to MyBayCity: by Marlene Christoff Sundberg
(If you didn't read (Part #1) last week's article Click Here for the entire article . . .)
(Including Part #1)
(Including Part #1)
Marlene Sundberg shows great form in this 1980s finish-line montage. Marlene had a great running career but would only say, "I did OK," (smiling broadly) when asked about her personal accomplishments.
(MyBayCity Photo)
As BARC changed so did St Pat's. The race went from one distance to several. With the race starting at noon and being point to point we already had the course secured so it made sense to see what other distances we could add to accommodate those who did not want to participate in the 8K.
Throughout the years St Pat's included an 8K run, 8K walk, 5k run, 5K walk, and 2-mile open with a ½-mile and ¼-mile Leprechaun run being the last event allowing parents to run with their children. ALL of the little Leprechauns wore #1 on their shirts, an idea taken from the Crim Teddy Bear Trot and created by my dear friend Lois Craig. It was absolutely awesome watching those little kids run down Center Avenue to the finish with the biggest smiles on their faces!
Marlene Sundberg
BARC Historian
OPEN dialog was a requirement with no BS allowed!
The only real "rule", (and those of you who know me also know that I do no like rules), I had in place was that the BARC officers could not run St Pat's. I felt, even though we had the courses more than covered with volunteers, WE had to be available to REACT, the Bay City and Essexville Police, in the event of a tragedy. The officers fully understood and accepted this.
MyBayCity Coverage of the 2011 St. Patrick's Day Race
Sponsored by Catholic Federal Credit Union.
With the growth also came a change in scoring methods. Gone were the stop watches, tic sheets, Popsicle sticks, and index cards. Computer scoring and overhead clocks emerged in the early 80s and sophisticated scoring and tabulations of results have become the norm. And through all of this the people who remained most constant were Peg and Elliott Deyo. For years, they were at registrations, finish lines (in EVERY weather condition imaginable), working faithfully and diligently all the while giving words of encouragement to finishers at BARC and other events all over Michigan. They became like family to many and remain my closest friends to this day and I still believe Peggy can think faster, foresee and solve any problem quicker than any computer. And, yes, Elliott just shakes his head!
Again, as the race grew, changes didn't occur just in the offering of distances or scoring.
We changed the entire dynamics of the finish line! What a sight it was to stand on the corner of Center Avenue and as far away as Trumbull and look at the scaffolding and banners! Volunteers constructed the scaffolding in the early morning hours,(sometimes in less than ideal conditions) and placed the finish line/distance, and sponsor banners for all to see. ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING! Adding to that, we hired Scott Hubbard, another very good friend of mine, the Michigan running trivia guru to announce at the finish. We set him up with a computer and a microphone and he presented color commentary for all to hear!
Although BARC sponsored this race, what needs to be told here is we had so much help from the Saginaw Track Club, Riverbend Striders in Flint and Detroit Motor City Striders! We worked together as growing clubs to offer the best we could to those who participated!
Eventually, we established what became known as the "Elite Runner's List" -- These were top male and female runners throughout Michigan whose talents, as a whole, amazed many. We invited them to participate and provided them with comp entries and special shirts. They responded in full! There wasn't a race anywhere in the State on that weekend and perhaps any weekend, that garnered so much talent in one spot!
In its infancy, no one imagined what would happen over time. So many changes and soooooooooooooooooo many wonderful and heartwarming memories. And along with that came many close and long lasting friendships!
Perhaps one of my most memorable moments was the year we started the women separately from the men. The race started on Borton in Essexville and because of the number of participants and the narrow road, the women definitely didn't get a good position. To the BEST of my recollection, we took the differences between the finish times of the first male and female finisher from the previous year, which was 4-minutes, and established the early start time for the women. Their start line was on St Mary's Court and the men's remained on Borton.
As I stood at the finish line, I could not believe what I was witnessing! Melanie Weaver was in the lead and Jeff Drenth was closing in! I could hardly breathe and people on the sidelines were screaming! Jeff passed Melanie just moments before she crossed the finish line and all I remember her saying, was "I never even heard him breathing". To my knowledge, nothing has usurped that moment! That, my friends, was truly an OMG finish!
Not long after the race, Runner's World Magazine called requesting I write an article detailing the reason for the women starting first, the outcome and how it was received. They published what I had written, but along last, the copies I held near and dear went up in flames. But to me that doesn't matter. The memories are there, never to be forgotten and thinking about it still gives me the same rush and sense of pride!
But remember, these accomplishments could not have been possible without the support of MANY, MANY people! Now, it's time to get back to Al Kayner for whom this race is named and rightfully so! Trust me when I tell you, that if Al was alive today, he would not want his name on the race. That's just the kind of guy he was.
Through the years as President, I saw Al go through many personal struggles. Struggles no one could help him with. He was a very personal and humble man with no pretense. As time passed during those years of personal turmoil the thing that kept him together was his very strong faith and trust in God. Don't get me wrong, Al Kayner was the original jokester. Although he kept running he didn't participate in events. BUT, he continued coaching track and cross country. After stepping aside at Bay City Central, he had stints at Garber High School, and I believe Bay City Western High School. With him was Kay Chalmers at Garber and Jennifer Meyer at Western. Several years later, he rejoined the coaching staff at Central and asked me to join him. That's where I got to know the Al Kayner I remember today.
First and foremost, Al Kayner was not a fashion icon! He was the original "rag tag" man and when I say "rag tag" I truly mean that. In other words, he was NOT a spender, if you get my drift!
He kept his running gear in his "personal locker room" -- THE TRUNK OF HIS CAR!
One day, I couldn't stand it anymore and I asked him why in the world doesn't he just go out and buy athletic clothes and stop wearing the worn out and smelly ones he kept in his car. He looked me dead square in the face with a very serious look, (I thought he was going to yell at me for being so outspoken), and said, "Because these still fit and they haven't fallen off my body." With that we both burst out laughing!
Add to this, Al was the original pack rat! I kid you not! I believe to this day, he had every BARC newsletter ever written, every race result from not only the races he ran in the early years, BUT every race put on by BARC.
Coaching with Al was an experience in itself and very, very rewarding to me. We shared a lot through those years. Many times going for a run after practice or sharing a beer at the Green Hut. If you needed to talk about something, you could talk to Al. He never judged anyone and kept what you told him to himself. Al was one of the BEST FRIENDS I have ever had.
What I believe Al saw long before many of us was bigger is not always better. As St Pat's grew and events expanded all over the country, you could see the sadness in his eyes. The intimacy of the early years started to disappear never to return!!!..well maybe!
When I stepped down as President, the leadership changed many times. The new people in place came face to face with reality and what was involved in keeping a club and events moving forward in a positive manner.
Eventually, Al got back what he started. He really didn't want to be at the helm again, but his "baby was dying" and he just couldn't let that happen. He did everything to keep it going even if it meant going back to the very beginning. And that's basically where he took it. He scaled back St Pat's, taking it to Hampton Mall, and dropped some events off the schedule. Gone was the runner's expo, the big sponsors and elaborate awards. Overtime, he was able to step aside and a new leadership emerged.
Having said all of this, which took a lot longer to put together than I thought and became somewhat labor intensive, all I ask is that when you step to the start line this St Pat's, please take the spirit of Al Kayner with you as you traverse the course and remember when and by whom this "baby" was born.
In closing, I'll stroll a bit more down memory lane and ask you to test your own memories!
How many of you remember your very first pair of running shoes? I wore the Adidas Lady Dragon! After that, I changed to the Nike Waffle Trainer and then the Saucony Lady Jazz. I have tried others along the way and am now back to Saucony which I have found to be the most durable and long lasting.
In the early years of running attire, there wasn't much available to women. When first introduced, it was more for "style" than comfort. Today, it's overwhelming but the selections are good.
Shoes have changed and over time, shoe companies have become more and more technically competitive with Nike leading the charge. With this technical mumbo jumbo came pricing increases starting mid-range and going to well over the $100 mark.
Finally, when all is said and done, search your soul and be reminded why you started running. Sometimes, going back to the beginning is worth the trip.
In putting all of this together for you I was reminded of many things, but what came to the forefront was that for all the miles, all the friendships, all the hardships, what is most important in life is how you feel about yourself at the end of the day, not at the end of the race. Searching your soul and coming back to the center from time to time sums up how you will move forward in your life. And this, my friends, is also what Al Kayner was about. Not only was he a teacher and a coach, he was a mentor to many. And more importantly, he loved his family and he kept his faith strong. We watched his children grow up and become young adults, marry and have children of their own. His wife Judy, was his rock, who, even through the turmoil in his life, stood by him! I truly miss my friend.
Take care as you run St Pat's this year because AL KAYNER WILL BE WATCHING YOU WITH TIC SHEET AND STOP WATCH IN HAND AND IF HE SEES ANY MIS-BEHAVIN' GOIN' ON HE WILL TRIP YOU!
And yes, my friends, those were the days!... Those were TRULY the days!
God Bless, Everyone
Marlene
P.S. Remember to thank the volunteers at all events, for without them, those same events would not be possible.
Catholic Federal Credit Union is proud to be the 2011 Sponsor
Of the Annual St. Patrick's Day Race in Bay City, Michigan
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Hjharris9 Says:
On August 14, 2015
at 09:37 PM
Hi Marlene
I am at my 55th class reunion talking with Lenny and wanted to know how you are doing. I am in Midland until the 23rd of August Email me Let's get on Facebook Hugs Janet Harris |
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O. J. Cunningham |
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