ON THE RUN: Topeka to Auburn Half Marathon - Jan 19, 2008

photo of a frozen moustache. Photo of Karl Brooks. Photo of Kris Tilford and blind runner Kurt Fiene.
Frozen moustaches - tres chic in Auburn; Karl Brooks (Lawrence) at the top of the Urish Hill; Kris Tilford as the seeing-eye biker for Kurt Fiene (Omaha) who finished 8th overall
(Dick Ross photos)

by BJ “the DJ” Taylor

After staying the night with the race directors Brad and Marla Rhoden, I heard report of the temp registering minus 6 degrees at 7 am.  But the weather did not stop an almost record crowd from showing up for the 26th Annual Topeka To Auburn Half-Marathon, sponsored by the Sunflower Striders Club.  First, I drove to the small town's elementary school to set staging for the awards ceremony, then returned to Topeka at KTKA-TV49 near Fairlawn Plaza to set up the start line sound system.  Over 300 hard-cored runners gathered to take the challenge.  The number of shorts and T’s can estimate the dedication of an assembly of runners worn in such climate, but the thermometer had risen to almost 10 degrees!

I sounded the start and bodies flew down the street, escorted by city police.  The officers were very supportive of the race, which may be difficult when encountering local residents who are not in the same mind-frame.  Kris Tilford, a bicycle club member was going to lead the event, but then was re-assigned to escorting a blind runner on his journey.

After the start, I broke down the equipment and headed south, to follow or parallel the runners until I reached the leader at mile 8.  The police stopped their monitoring at city limits, and runners were then on their own.  Most of the entire course length used clean paved roadway, but the middle four miles lay on rural routes, with gravel and some uneven ground.  Although the start and finish elevation were only 70 feet apart, the Kansas plains rolled up and down some 250 feet, giving way to respectable inclines.

Finishing runners expressed a variety of sentiments over the chill, as bodies may well get warm on a long run.  However, those of us working the finish chute shivered constantly, and my white fingers were challenged to handle the CD’s I played to accompany the event.  I was amazed at Dick Ross, the photographer, who cannot use any sort of gloves while operating a camera, and he took some 250 pictures of the event. 

Results were tabulated by Steve & Marcia Riley of Lawrence and Brad Rhoden presented the awards after the Auburn Elementary PTA served a welcome hot pancake breakfast.  I finally headed back to KC at 4:00 pm.

Overall winner was John Tripp (28-Omaha NE) in 1:16:05.  Brock Ternes (21-Emporia KS) followed closely at 1:16:44.  Third finisher was Clay Schneider (18-Topeka KS) at 1:18:55 on the clock.

Female finishers started with Heidi Bryant (32-Kansas City MO) with a pleasing 1:34:00.  Joanie Dergan (47-Omaha NE) then crossed at 1:41:40, with Leeann Reed (38-Lenexa KS) chasing her with a 1:42:13 time.