More than 6,000 runners took to the streets in the Lincoln Marathon on Sunday. In the end, Levi Ashley won the men's full marathon title and Valerie Gortmaker won on the women's side.
MICAH MERTES / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Sunday, May 4, 2008 7:00 pm
Daybreak conquered the chilled, Sunday morning air, and 6,000 Lincoln Marathon runners let out a collective sigh.
No precipitation like for last year’s race. No trash bag ponchos.
Just dry, warm, good ol’ fashioned pain and suffering for 13 to 26 miles.
“It’s a beautiful, perfect day,” said Steve Thompson, 49, a Lincoln native turned Loveland, Colo., resident. This was Thompson’s first marathon. “Perfect conditions, no wind. It’s really ideal.”
The tide of runners surged, flowed and drifted through the city’s streets as the 31st Lincoln Marathon kicked off at 7 a.m.
At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, some of the thundering herd stopped for water, bathroom breaks or to high-five a wildly supportive Elvis impersonator at the corner of 16th and O streets.
“Thank you, Thank you very much,” Elvis chanted.
For a rare few, the Lincoln Marathon is about placing or qualifying. For most, it’s about finishing.
It’s about the huge chunk of humanity coming out to encourage those battling through to the last mile. It’s about family members jogging alongside sons, daughters, mothers and fathers, holding up huge signs that say, “We love you Beth! You can do it!!”
“The people along the way that support you, they’re all just so wonderful,” said Lincolnite Anne Widga, 64. “They’re what make it such a great experience.”
This was half-marathon No. 3 for Widga, who didn’t become a runner until she was 39.
“My daughters were in high school track at the time, and I felt like I needed to be more fit,” she said. “We were out on a farm, and I started running around the sections. And I’m still running.”
What time are you looking to get today?
“Oh,” she laughed. “I’m not a very fast runner. I’m just wanting to finish and to be part of this.”
For 22-year-old Dave Thoman, finishing with any particular time isn’t the point. He runs to run.
This was the fourth consecutive year Thoman came up from Topeka, Kan., to run the Lincoln Marathon, but just because he travels far doesn’t mean he takes the race or himself too seriously.
Wearing shorts and running shoes, Thoman covered his torso with a button-down shirt under a rustic leather vest. On the vest, a big button said “Broomstick Cowboy.”
“Like I said,” Thoman said, “not too serious.”
Larry and Carol Janssen didn’t think their son, Craig Wagner, 44, was serious when he told them he would be running.
“He just called us up one day and said he was gonna do it,” Larry said. “So we drove down from Norfolk to come see him. But I don’t know what possessed him to do it.”
The Janssens said this would be Craig’s longest run ever. His previous longest was 11 miles.
“Oh I think he can handle it,” Larry said with a chuckle. “But I don’t know, we may be walking out there to help him up.”
At 10th and Q streets, the half-marathon runners and full-marathon runners parted ways. The halfers hooked right to sweet, motionless salvation. The fullers headed up 10th, calling upon second and third waves of energy.
Back at the finish line, those who completed walked around proudly, sorely, carrying medals. They did it. They’re done.
And afterward:
“I’m going to go eat something,” said UNL student Alissa Gyhra, 21.
“I’m going to go study for finals,” said UNL grad student James Cole, 24.
Really? You just ran a half-marathon. You don’t want to go sit on a plush couch for the rest of day?
“Well,” Cole said, “that’s probably what I’ll end up doing.”
Reach Micah Mertes at 473-7395 or mmertes@journalstar.com.