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Yes, there was a doctor in the house The 46-year-old male runner had passed out not too far in front of Myers, a Modesto physician who was also running the midnight half-marathon. When she happened upon him, she stopped to give medical aid. Shortly afterward, his heart and breathing stopped. Myers started CPR, but yelled for assistance, since she had a broken wrist and knew she couldn't continue for much longer. Root, who was running with her, stepped up and took over CPR until the ambulance arrived. Emergency medical technicians had to shock the runner to get his heart beating again. Myers visited him in the hospital later that night, and he asked, "Does this mean I probably can't do the triathlon I had planned," she said, recounting the visit. Read more about it in the Modesto Bee. To view the story on TV, visit KOVR Channel 13.
'Doug's Rock' is dedicated
The rock is located just off the bike path near the children's playground in East La Loma Park. The memorial rock is a team effort between the Modesto ShadowChase Running Club, to which the late Doug Braasch belonged, and the Illinois Valley Striders of Peoria, to which Doug also belonged. The Striders donated the rock from a nearby quarry. ShadowChase members transported the rock back from Ilinois. Doug Braasch, 69, a transplanted Illinoisan, passed away Nov. 2, doing what he loved doing, running in the park. Age doesn't slow Gale Crossman down
You wouldn't know it by the way he ran, though. Crossman, who will turn 68 on Aug. 1, ran 4:00:15 at the San Francisco Marathon, July 25. He also qualified for Boston, since he had to run less than 4:15:59. In addition, he won the men's 65-69 age division. (An early birthday present) Crossman first qualified for Boston at the California International Marathon in 2006 with 4:00:28. He qualified the next year with a PR of 3:53:14. Other Central Valley Runners finishing the full San Francisco Marathon included: Three Central Valley runners beat Third time was a charm for Modesto's Jon Olsen, as he finally completed the 100-mile Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run, July 17-18. And he didn't just finish it but came in eighth overall with a time of 23:55:07. Also finishing were Linda McFadden in 32:13:21 and Vance Roget with 33:09:33. The race started at 7,000 feet, climbed to an altitude of 9.214 feet, includeed several ascents and descents, and coversed alpine and sub-alpine landscape. It's billed as "a glimpse of heafven, a taste of hell." There were 60 runners altogether who finished before the 35-hour cutoff.
Doug Braasch memorial rock
Eventually, the rock will feature a "read-y thingy." For those of you who don't know Doug speak, that's an informational plaque or inscription, such as those contained on historical markers. The rock is expected to be engraved in time for a brief dedication at the ShadowChase Running Club's annual barbecue in the park, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 2. The rock is ringed by concrete and sits under a shady tree near the children's playground. It's only fitting that the memorial be placed in East LaLoma Park, since Doug and his wife, Barbara Miller, were fixtures in the park, running nearly every morning along the paths. And it was along one of the paths that Doug died last November while doing one of his favorite things—running. The project is being underwritten by the Modesto ShadowChase Running Club and the Peoria Illinois Valley Striders, Doug was a member of both running clubs. The Striders donated the rock, which was from a nearby quarry. Doug, a transplanted Illinoisan, was always quick to tell tales about his former life in Peoria. Modesto's Mike Mason is
Mason will go to the Chicago Marathon, Oct.10. Contestants had to submit an inspirational story about why they were deserving. Winners have to blog about their training to other employees. Mason works for Frito Lay, a part of Pepsico. He also is vice president of the ShadowChase Running Club and a mentor for Team In Training. The records keep falling Barbara Miller set another pending age-group record July 2, this time in the 10K Miller ran 48:04 at the Elk Grove Run 4 Independence, breaking the record for women age 70-74 of 49:13. That record was set back in 2002 by Myra Rhodes at a Paso Robles road race. Miller's record is considered pending until USA Track and Field ratifies it. Her time also was good enough for first in the women 70-79 year age group at the Run 4 Independence. Janice Kesterson of Oakdale ran a fast race, clocking 43:49, which was good enough for first in the women 50-59 year age group. Two Central Valley runners conquer Western States Congratulations are in store for Modesto's John Souza and Turlock's Tim Quinn, both of whom completed the Western States 100 Endurance Run, June 27. The 41-year-old Souza was making his first attempt at the ultra, which many consider the Super Bowl of endurance runs. He completed the course in 22:25.33 and earned the coveted silver belt buckle for finishers under 24 hours. The 63-year-old Quinn, a two-time finisher, added number three to his accomplishments. He finished the course in 26:42.22 and earned a bronze belt buckle for finishers under 30 hours. For all of the finishers, visit the Western States Web site. Lee Zambrano goes the distance You could consider Modesto runner Lee Zambrano a short distance specialist—he regularly wins his age group in the 1-mile, 2-mile and 5K distances. But the 40-year-old Zambrano joined the ranks of true distance runners, June 26, by completing his first half-marathon. He didn't just finish the tough and hilly Bear Creek Trail Half-marathon in Briones Regional Park. He took first in his age group and seventh overall with a Chip time of 2:03:16. Also completing the race was Mark Everett, with a time of 3:07:53. View a short video of the race on YouTube. Barbara Miller smokes the course To say that Barbara Miller is running well is an understatement. The 70-year-old runner from Modesto set an age-group record last week at the No Excuses 5K, then turned around and broke her own record this week at the Nike Women's Festival 5K in Sacramento, June 6. Miller ran a Chip time of 22:53, marking the first time she's broken 23 in several months. The record is considered pending until it is ratified by USA Track & Field. The old record for women age 70-74 was 24:02, set by Margaret Betz in Syracuse, N.Y., in 2007. Before the race, Miller was optimistic, saying the course is fast and she ran well on it last year. Afterward the elated Miller said sometimes less is more. She was putting in fewer miles during training, but making every mile count as far as quality. Janice Kesterson from Oakdale ran 20:18, good enough for first in the women 55-59 age class. ShadowChase women were a force A cadre of ShadowChase women headed north to Sacramento, May 31, for the No Excuses 5K, and took the capital city by storm. That perennial powerhouse Barbara Miller was first overall in the race, which uses a formula that takes into account your age and race pace to figure overall places. Miller's chip time was 23:17, which age-grades to 13:19 for the 70-year-old. Janice Kesterson was second overall, with 20:31, or 14:28 age graded. Leslie Antonis was 25th overall, with 20:30, or 16:00 age graded. D'dee Vargas ran 23:22, good enough for 19:11 age graded. Mike Mason, the odd man out—and only male in the group—ran 23:32, or an age-graded 21:15. To read more about age grading and the No Excuses race, visit the Sacramento Bee. ShadowChasers bring home Modesto ShadowChase members were a force to be reckoned with April 17 as they raced the 50K, 50-mile and 100K events in the Ruth Anderson ultras in San Francisco. And they didn't leave empty handed. Jon Olsen set a p.r. along the way to winning the 100K event with 7:32:29. John Souza and Charles Wickersham also set p.r.'s in the 50-mile, with 6:38:41 and 5:56:41, respectively. They placed third and four overall and took home age-group awards. In addition, Leslie Antonis set a p.r. in the 50K with 4:50:51 and took home an age-group award. The perennial ultra-marathoner Barbara Elia ran 6:13:21, good enough for tops in her age group too. Ali Klikna's on fire
At the Modesto Marathon, March 21, Klikna won the women's half-marathon with 1:28:00. That's despite fighting a cold that at times caused her nose to run faster than she did. Then on April 11, the 32-year-old Klikna ran a 1:31:11, good enough for third female overall, in the Santa Cruz Half Marathon. The race ws marred by stormy day that was better suited to ducks than runners. Like fine wine, Miller just The award was based on her stellar 2009 racing year. She set four pending W70-74 age group records: the Susan B. Anthony 5K in Sacramento with 23:53; the Heritage Oaks 10K in Paso Robles with 48:29; the 10-mile Buffalo Stampede in Sacramento with 1:19:01; and the Humboldt Half Marathon with 1:47:12. Miller became the oldest athlete—male or female—to receive the PA USATF's top annual road award. In December she received the national USATF award for Female 70-74. From one marathon into another Hot off the marathon job of directing volunteers for the Modesto Marathon, March 21, Modesto's Leslie Antonis took first in the 45-49 women's age group at the inaugural Oakland Marathon, March 28. Some veteran marathoners ranked the Oakland course as more difficult than even the hilly San Francisco Marathon course. Antonis ran a chip time of 3:36:26, which was also good enough for 14th woman overall. Also running the marathon were Danielle Myers and Mark Everett, who ran 5:25:56 and 5:53:05, respectively. Walking the half-marathon was Antonis' better half, Roos, who clocked a 2:46:14.
Modesto's own Jon Olsen Jon Olsen, a teacher at Prescott Elementary School in Modesto and an accomplished ultra-marathoner, won the debut Modesto Marathon, March 21, with a time of 2:43:44. As soon as he caught his breath, he hopped on a bicycle and headed out to the course to help usher in his group of students, which trained under the Teens Run Modesto program. Stockton resident Samantha Shultz won the women's portion of the marathon. In the half marathon, Salvador Garcia of Los Banos and Turlock's Ali Klickna won their respective races. And in the 5K, Riverbank's Ruben Esparza and Ramona Sanchez of Reno won their respective events. Click here to view all of the results, including those from the half-marathon and 5K. View a video clip of the event on Channel 13. The luck o' the Irish A group from Modesto's ShadowChase Running Club must have kissed the lucky Blarney stone before they raced because several of them set new p.r.'s in the Shamrock'n Half Marathon, March 14. The race was held in and around West Sacramento and Old Sacramento, finishing inside Raley's Field. Janice Kesterson took first in the women's 55-59 age group with 1:36:43. Other club finishers were Betty Topping, 1:35:32; Leslie Antonis, 1:35:36; Robert Berbena, 1:45:56; Raul Lopez, 1:48:14; Mark Everett, 2:08:25; Danielle Myers, 2:14:16; and Armando Leon, 2:15:18. To view all of the results, click here.
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The ShadowChase Running Club dedicated Doug's Rock in East LaLoma Park, Sept 2. 
Shhh. Don't tell Gale Crossman that he may have a few years on him from the time he first qualified for Boston and July 25, when he qualified again.
Crews were hard at work installing a rock in Modesto's East LaLoma Park recently in memory of Modesto runner Doug Braasch.
Congratulation's to Modesto's Mike Mason for being chosen one of six lucky Pepsico employees worldwide to receive an all-expense paid trip to one of the majors — either the Chicago or New York Marathon. 
Turlock residentAli Klikna has started off the racing season on high notes. 