Glass City Marathon - It's Back
by Don Davis reprinted from Ohio Runner June 1990.
After a seven-year absence, nearly 500 runners from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Canada and beyond were eager to participate in the rejuvenated Glass City Marathon. "This race is a celebration of Sy Mah," said pre-race speaker Joe Henderson, of Runner's World. "When you're out there tomorrow, think about Sy and what he represented."
The next morning a thick fog drifted in off Lake Erie, enveloping the city and the course. The scenic loop starts downtown, crosses the High Level Bridge (the highest elevation), follows the eastern bank of the Maumee River to Perrysburg, crosses back and returns to the western side of the river.
In the absense of a starting gun, veteran marathoner Lorna Richie-Michael offered a moment of silence for the famed Toledo road runner who completed 524 marathons in his lifetime. The marathon succeeded in exemplifying Mah's ideal--a good course, good organization, and a fun time.
The 48-degree temperature provided chill for the spectators, but optimal conditions for those running. From the onset, Gary Bryan, whose credentials include a 2:22 PR and 1981 Glass City win, sent a message to his competitors: he was willing and ready to hold the 5:40 pace necessary to finish under 2:30. "I was thinking 5:30 to 5:35 (in the early miles), and then settle into a rhythm and see where it goes. I didn't want to hang back in the race with (the pack)."
By six miles, his lead and the fog kept him from view of his pursuers. A small chase goup had formed that included 1979 winner Bob McOmber; masters ace Dennis Scott; Hillsdale, Michigan's Ron Scholl; and Tyagambar Ramos from Connecticut. By nine, Bryan had begun to calculate the cushion he had created. After hearing he had a 1:45 lead, he told those on the press truck, "They'll have to run 5:25 miles to catch me now."
Back in the women's race, local standout Ronda Massey and Sarah Davis, of Newark, ran through the first mile in a brisk 6:38. Davis, who chose to run 6:40 pace, because "20 minutes every three miles was easy to calculate," took the lead after hearing that Massey was planning to run seven-minute pace.
By the 19-mile point, the fog was burning off and the question seemed to be not who would win, but by what margin. Bryan, who with the exception of a slightly increased forward lean, held his same methodical ground-covering stride. When he slowed slightly to near six-minute pace in the last two miles, no one gained on him.
Jim heebsh, of nearby Temperance, Mich., who had lurked in the rear of the chase group in the early going, started picking off stragglers in the middle miles. By 21, he had moved into second.
In bright sunlight at the finish, Bryan saw a 2:29:31, with Heebsh (2:33:43) four minutes back and McOmber (2:34:13) in third. Scott (2:40:33) led an impressive masters field to finish a strong fourth overall.
After the race McOmber, of Bowling Green, shared his positive and negative reactions about the outcome. "I came here expecting to run 2:35 and ran 2:34, and I thought that would win today. I didn't think Gary could run that kind of time. He must be doing some real good training."
Davis clipped off the last miles, still at 6:40 pace. Her 2:54:50 was the fastest women's time in the race's punctuated history. Massey (3:14:40) cruised on to second and prolific marathoner Wes-Shi Yu (3:17:28), from New York, was third. "The course is fantastic and the weather couldn't have been better," said Davis.
The underlying success of this race for the common marathoner could be seen in the standing-room-only crowds at both the pre-race clinic and awards ceremony. The Toledo Roadrunners should be congratulated on reviving one of Ohio's classic marathons in great style. Sy would be pleased.
1990 Glass City Marathon - Individual Results
April, 1990
Top 10 Male Overall
1 2:29:31 Gary Bryan
2 2:33:43 James Heebsh, Jr.
3 2:34:13 Robert McOmber
4 2:40:33 Dennis Scott
5 2:40:43 Bruley Ellsworth
6 2:43:09 Tyagambar Ramos
7 2:43:26 David Bruning
8 2:45:24 John Flahie
9 2:45:35 Ed Miller
10 2:45:50 Richard Vorick
Top Male Masters
1 2:40:33 Dennis Scott
Top 10 Female Overall
1 2:54:50 Sarah Davis
2 3:14:40 Ronda Massey
3 3:17:28 Wes-Shi Yu
4 3:24:08 Jane Marsh
5 3:27:41 Diane Himebaugh
6 3:28:00 Louise Miklovic
7 3:28:22 Whayong Semer
8 3:29:12 Elizabeth Micham
9 3:32:23 Vicki Hughes
10 3:35:35 Joan Mathews
Modified last on
January 1, 1999 by Steve Darmofal. Please send any comments to darmo@glasscity.net