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Forget The Large Group That Begins The Race. if Once On The Course... The Long-Distance Runner Runs Alone What makes distance runners run? What made seventy-three runners of ail shapes and sizes tackle the grueling seven-mile McHenry Road race Tuesday evening while the temperature (Mi the bank clock hovered at N-I-N-E-T-Y T-H-R-E- E degrees? To experience the exhilaration of victory? It's possible--but except for a very few "upper echelon" runners, victory in any long distance<race is only a fleeting hope. For example, in Tuesday's race, the ultimate winner led by the length of a football field after just one mile, and continued to expand his lead, never to be contested. If winning the race is the only reason for running, the sight of a pair of heels fading in the distance in front certainly must get very discouraging very quickly. So, winning obviously isn't the sole motivating force behind a distance runner. Then what is? During Tuesday's race, a man who turned out to be an assistant cross-country coach at a Lake county high school gave his thoughts on the sport of distance running, while his son was on the course and finishing first among high school runners entered. "Distance running is an individual sport," he said, all the while clutching the stop watch which dangled around his neck. "In basketball or football, whether you perform good or bad, it's how the team does that counts. You can play two quarters, do terribly, and if the team wins, everything is alright. In distance running, you run for yourself, trying to beat the clock." Beating the clock...lowering the time it takes to run the distance...the CLOCK is the opposition in distance running. It really isn't important whether one or seventy runners beaHTgiveR-runner across the finish line. What IS important is that an individual's time is lower this race than the last one. The coach also said that it takes a great amount of discipline to be a distance runner. "My kid has run every day since school let out for the summer, about twelve miles every day. "I wish our city would hold an event like this," he said. "Running is terrific for the kids. My son was so uncoordinated when he was in eighth grade that we had him walking on boards at home to improve his balance. Then he took up distance running, and now, he's going to be a junior in high school, he's fine. "Another nice thing about running is that size isn't important. My kid isn't big enough to play basketball or football, but in running, it doesn't make any difference what size he is." . Size certainly wasn't a prerequisite in Tuesday's race. The participants came in all shapes and sizes and sexes. Another nice feature about distance running is that there isn't a great amount of expense involved. The standard attire appears to be as follows: 1) an oversized tee-shirt, denoting either a running club, (Fox Valley Striders, Lakers Running club, etc.) a previous event in which the runner participated, (First Chicago Distance Classic, IHSA Track & Field State tournament, etc.) a brand name for sporting equipment, (Adidas, Converse All-stars, etc.), or a favorite high school or college. 2) A pair of P.E. shorts which must be faded from too many washings, and which carries the logo of a high school or college that the runner did not attend. 3) A pair of track shoes of whatever color is desirable. Optional equipmenfc^rcludes a pair of sox and a visor or headband, iftflRtyength of hair requires it. That's about it--except for a big heart and a wealth of determination. Die organizers for the foyjrth annual McHenry race had everything planned out to the final detail. Most running events find the running taking one hour and the paperwork to determine results taking five hours. Such was not the case Tuesday night. With the assistance of the local police department, which assured that no runners were struck by cars, and the local rescue squad, which assured that no runners were struck by exhaustion, the race came off without a hitch. Almost. ' Nothing is perfect, and several of the younger runners in the race found fault with, the awards : given out--which was really too bad because everyone who participated in'fihe race, regardless of ' place of finish, was awarded a participation ribbon. Several runners expressed displeasure with receiving a ribbon for a fifty-third place finish. Apparently, they wanted something more. Those runners haven't yet learned what we more experienced runners learned long ago--that the end result isn't what is important, but that the running is an end in itself. They'll learn. STAFF PHOTOS BY WAYNE GAYLORD The organizers of the fourth annual McHenry Road race had everything planned out right down to the last detail. Even when temperatures soared into the 90s, the meet officials were prepared. At approximately the halfway point in the race, volunteers used a fire hose to spray down and cool off the runners as they passed the Johnsburg Fire station. Persons along the way also stood by to hand glasses of water to drained racers as they passed by. The McHenry Police department served as the race "marshal", escorting the lead runner throughout the race. The McHenry Rescue squad followed the last runner on the course, picking up a few participants who succumbed to the heat In photo at left, Dick Kloepfer of Crystal Lake, who finished fourth, to squirted as he passes by the fire station. Kloepfer will soon leave for Sweden, where he will run in a Master division race (40-up) there. There to no time in a race to stop for a drink. So, Tom Hutchinson of McHenry, above center, and Jim. Heil of Crystal Lake, above, try for a small drink of water while maintaining a steady pace. Runner above at left, seems to relish his moments under the water hose. :* 85: PAGE 18 - PLAINDEALER - FRIDAY, JULY 22. It77