Dr. Woodhall Alumni Update (Mid July 09)
Tuesday, July 21 2009BADWATER 135 (Death Valley to Mt. Whitney 135 mile ultra-ultra marathon)
Normally, I try to send out “stuff” once each month, but I was excited to get several items out to you...not the least of which was the news that Perry Edinger (84) not only achieved his goal of completing the 135 mile run (Badwater 135...from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney (California) in less than 30 hours...29 hours and 16 minutes, but he also placed 9th of the 88 specially invited endurance athletes and former champions from all around the world. At age 48, he was one of the older competitors. Many of you followed his progress on the website www.badwater.com (you can check it out now and see video, results etc) and saw how he was doing at the different check points (17, 41, 72, 90 122, 131 and 135 miles). He started out 7th, moved up to as high as 5th and then varied between 10th and 12th before finishing 9th.
I’ve not talked to him since the race, but I’m sure he’ll have lots of stories to tell....when he get energy enough to tell them. The pre race information said he had 5 different pairs of shoes (some larger than others to accommodate the anticipated swelling of his feet etc)
He claims this will be his last competitive race (he has run a couple of dozen marathons, numerous 50 and 100 mile races and this has to be the ultimate of physical and mental endurance/discipline tests. Very few of us will ever attempt such an event, but just considering the achievement makes us more aware of what the human spirit can endure. CONGRATS PERRY
ANOTHER PERSON OF ENDURANCE
Angie Clark Bryan Combs (94) ran at Anderson College (Indiana) and came to EIU to complete her MS degree. Though she still does some running, the stimulus is not trophies or rewards, it is just keeping up with her growing family. Her husband Dan, is a physician...just about to get out of the Navy...they are stationed in San Diego, CA and hoping to relocate back to the mid-west. Here is the gang...minus the dog (Hoosier). Those of you who know Angie can easily spot her features in the oldest....daughter Micah (age 11). Luke is 7, Hannah is 3 and baby John/Jack is now 4 months. Let Angie tell you about “stress tests” Ha
MISCELLANEOUS
Mike Hatfield (79) and Billy Reimer (80) ran the July 4th 5k in Champaign. Bill ran 20:30 and Hat was in at 22:38.
Not bad for some guys who are five decades old. Kelley McClannahan Bock (92) married Bruce...an avid bike racer. They have three sons and family night at the Velodrome is on Monday...and they all race. The oldest, Peter age 11, has done a few criteriums...the youngest child is Anne (age 2) and she rides with training wheels. Maybe Kelley will send us a picture some day. Prior to the family commitments, Kelly worked many long hours in Cardiac Rehabilitation...now it is down to one weekend per month, but she still enjoys serving people in the Milwaukee area. They are anxious to return to Charleston so as to get some of that good Pagliai’s pizza she remembers from her EIU days.
As of July 1st, Sharon Jackson (84) is still undefeated in regular USTA (non-senior) tennis and is playing on a team that will probably win state! Ken Whitten (72), Pastor of the largest Baptist Church in Florida (Idlewild..Tampa) will be returning to Charleston on September 26th as EIU is honoring the highly successful 1976 Baseball Team of which Ken was a member. Allyson Gough (9?) is still working at the Bonutti Orthopedic Clinic in Effingham and ran the 1/2 Marathon in Nashville, TN last April.
Some of you remember Craig Kruse (95)...an All-American Shot-Putter from Augustana College (Rock Island). Following his EIU MS graduation, he went on to Physical Therapy School and after several practices and administrative stints in and around Chicago, he now is the Director at the Midwest Physical Therapy Center which has 9 clinics in the northwest Chicago suburbs. He and wife Kristen (also a PT..works part time, but basically is now a stay a home mom) have three youngsters Cassie (9), Ron (8), and Zach (3). Perhaps the unique thing about Criag’s life now, is that since 2005, he has been successfully competing in “strong man” competitions.(you’ve no doubt seen them on TV). He was named the Illinois Amateur Lightweight Champ for 2007 and still competes 2-3 competitions each year.
Karen Bower Smith is the daughter of “Bud” and Gail Bower (long time faithful EIU Adult Fitness Members who continue to be active in spite of approaching their 8th decade). Karen lives in Austin, TX and coaches a large group of distance runners. She has run 27 marathons already and hopes to finish number 29 before Christmas. She’ll give an “Ironman” Triathlon a shot next June in Coeur d’ Lene, Idaho. Joe Vida (94) will do his 6th Ironman at Lake Placid, NY on July 26th.
Not longer ago, I received an email from Greg Grazen (85). He was in Kenya and working to help the lives of Glaxco, Smith, Kline Pharmaceutical employees in that part of the world. He has been on six (6) continents this year. He expressed thanks for the EIU Stuff Newsletters and wished he could remain in better touch with former EIU students and friends. Why not surprise him with an email note? Who knows where he will be when he receives it. Here is his address: greg.r.grazen@gsk.com
Jackie Gallagher Fairweather (91) continues to be the dominant force in International Women’s Long Distance Running. Now that she is 40 years old, very few records in that age bracket are safe. She travels around the world, competing and training...most recently in New Zealand. Her last event was a 96K Relay, in which she and 3 other women ran to raise fund for the Kokoda Kids (a group of “at risk’ young people in southeastern Australia.
TAKE YOUR CHOICE TENNIS OR BASKETBALL John Ross (94) was a very good tennis player. We all knew that when he was a graduate student with us. It wasn’t surprising that he went to work at the John Newcombe Tennis Academy in Texas. Lleyton Hewitt was then a 12 year old at the academy and later he became the #1 player in the world. From there, John became the Head Tennis Pro and General Manager at a tennis club in Appleton, WI. Then it was on to Earlham College (Indiana) as tennis coach and assistant basketball coach for men. He now coaches the tennis teams and is the highly successful coach of the Women’s basketball team at Calvin College (DIII) (Grand Rapids, MI) and and they have been nationally ranked ever since his arrival 4 years ago. It’s good to know that John is back on the EIU radar.
LOOKING FOR SOME EXCITEMENT?
Just try following Kris Lawson (84) around for a while. Kris is originally from Charleston, but some 25 years ago after completing her EIU schooling, she went on to Physical Therapy School and has been working in Wisconsin for most all of those years. Currently, she is in an Occupational Health Clinic at Winona Health, where she consults with physicians, PA-C and NP regarding their patients. Workman’s compensation workers are just part of her duties. But her real love , for many years, has been kayaking. We’d be rich if we had a dollar for every hour she has spent on the water in recreation or in teaching. Recently, she has gotten into hiking. Check out this view during her Rim to Rim hike of the Grand Canyon. .
Joe Sheeran (81) is without doubt, the most successful EIU Distance Runner in our history (10+ NCAA All-American Awards in Cross Country and Track. Now at age 50, he is coming back with some fine races (runs for the Eastside Seattle Running Club). Recently, he has won his age group at 10K=34:17 ad 5 K = 16:20. He plans a marathon this fall and has already run under 2:40 in his “comeback” His wife is an anthropologist and will spend August in China, but 13 year old Nika (7th grader daughter) will be training with dad. Joe is at the left in the recent picture....don’t know the others.
Normally, I try to send out “stuff” once each month, but I was excited to get several items out to you...not the least of which was the news that Perry Edinger (84) not only achieved his goal of completing the 135 mile run (Badwater 135...from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney (California) in less than 30 hours...29 hours and 16 minutes, but he also placed 9th of the 88 specially invited endurance athletes and former champions from all around the world. At age 48, he was one of the older competitors. Many of you followed his progress on the website www.badwater.com (you can check it out now and see video, results etc) and saw how he was doing at the different check points (17, 41, 72, 90 122, 131 and 135 miles). He started out 7th, moved up to as high as 5th and then varied between 10th and 12th before finishing 9th.
I’ve not talked to him since the race, but I’m sure he’ll have lots of stories to tell....when he get energy enough to tell them. The pre race information said he had 5 different pairs of shoes (some larger than others to accommodate the anticipated swelling of his feet etc)
He claims this will be his last competitive race (he has run a couple of dozen marathons, numerous 50 and 100 mile races and this has to be the ultimate of physical and mental endurance/discipline tests. Very few of us will ever attempt such an event, but just considering the achievement makes us more aware of what the human spirit can endure. CONGRATS PERRY
ANOTHER PERSON OF ENDURANCE
Angie Clark Bryan Combs (94) ran at Anderson College (Indiana) and came to EIU to complete her MS degree. Though she still does some running, the stimulus is not trophies or rewards, it is just keeping up with her growing family. Her husband Dan, is a physician...just about to get out of the Navy...they are stationed in San Diego, CA and hoping to relocate back to the mid-west. Here is the gang...minus the dog (Hoosier). Those of you who know Angie can easily spot her features in the oldest....daughter Micah (age 11). Luke is 7, Hannah is 3 and baby John/Jack is now 4 months. Let Angie tell you about “stress tests” Ha
MISCELLANEOUS
Mike Hatfield (79) and Billy Reimer (80) ran the July 4th 5k in Champaign. Bill ran 20:30 and Hat was in at 22:38.
Not bad for some guys who are five decades old. Kelley McClannahan Bock (92) married Bruce...an avid bike racer. They have three sons and family night at the Velodrome is on Monday...and they all race. The oldest, Peter age 11, has done a few criteriums...the youngest child is Anne (age 2) and she rides with training wheels. Maybe Kelley will send us a picture some day. Prior to the family commitments, Kelly worked many long hours in Cardiac Rehabilitation...now it is down to one weekend per month, but she still enjoys serving people in the Milwaukee area. They are anxious to return to Charleston so as to get some of that good Pagliai’s pizza she remembers from her EIU days.
As of July 1st, Sharon Jackson (84) is still undefeated in regular USTA (non-senior) tennis and is playing on a team that will probably win state! Ken Whitten (72), Pastor of the largest Baptist Church in Florida (Idlewild..Tampa) will be returning to Charleston on September 26th as EIU is honoring the highly successful 1976 Baseball Team of which Ken was a member. Allyson Gough (9?) is still working at the Bonutti Orthopedic Clinic in Effingham and ran the 1/2 Marathon in Nashville, TN last April.
Some of you remember Craig Kruse (95)...an All-American Shot-Putter from Augustana College (Rock Island). Following his EIU MS graduation, he went on to Physical Therapy School and after several practices and administrative stints in and around Chicago, he now is the Director at the Midwest Physical Therapy Center which has 9 clinics in the northwest Chicago suburbs. He and wife Kristen (also a PT..works part time, but basically is now a stay a home mom) have three youngsters Cassie (9), Ron (8), and Zach (3). Perhaps the unique thing about Criag’s life now, is that since 2005, he has been successfully competing in “strong man” competitions.(you’ve no doubt seen them on TV). He was named the Illinois Amateur Lightweight Champ for 2007 and still competes 2-3 competitions each year.
Karen Bower Smith is the daughter of “Bud” and Gail Bower (long time faithful EIU Adult Fitness Members who continue to be active in spite of approaching their 8th decade). Karen lives in Austin, TX and coaches a large group of distance runners. She has run 27 marathons already and hopes to finish number 29 before Christmas. She’ll give an “Ironman” Triathlon a shot next June in Coeur d’ Lene, Idaho. Joe Vida (94) will do his 6th Ironman at Lake Placid, NY on July 26th.
Not longer ago, I received an email from Greg Grazen (85). He was in Kenya and working to help the lives of Glaxco, Smith, Kline Pharmaceutical employees in that part of the world. He has been on six (6) continents this year. He expressed thanks for the EIU Stuff Newsletters and wished he could remain in better touch with former EIU students and friends. Why not surprise him with an email note? Who knows where he will be when he receives it. Here is his address: greg.r.grazen@gsk.com
Jackie Gallagher Fairweather (91) continues to be the dominant force in International Women’s Long Distance Running. Now that she is 40 years old, very few records in that age bracket are safe. She travels around the world, competing and training...most recently in New Zealand. Her last event was a 96K Relay, in which she and 3 other women ran to raise fund for the Kokoda Kids (a group of “at risk’ young people in southeastern Australia.
TAKE YOUR CHOICE TENNIS OR BASKETBALL John Ross (94) was a very good tennis player. We all knew that when he was a graduate student with us. It wasn’t surprising that he went to work at the John Newcombe Tennis Academy in Texas. Lleyton Hewitt was then a 12 year old at the academy and later he became the #1 player in the world. From there, John became the Head Tennis Pro and General Manager at a tennis club in Appleton, WI. Then it was on to Earlham College (Indiana) as tennis coach and assistant basketball coach for men. He now coaches the tennis teams and is the highly successful coach of the Women’s basketball team at Calvin College (DIII) (Grand Rapids, MI) and and they have been nationally ranked ever since his arrival 4 years ago. It’s good to know that John is back on the EIU radar.
LOOKING FOR SOME EXCITEMENT?
Just try following Kris Lawson (84) around for a while. Kris is originally from Charleston, but some 25 years ago after completing her EIU schooling, she went on to Physical Therapy School and has been working in Wisconsin for most all of those years. Currently, she is in an Occupational Health Clinic at Winona Health, where she consults with physicians, PA-C and NP regarding their patients. Workman’s compensation workers are just part of her duties. But her real love , for many years, has been kayaking. We’d be rich if we had a dollar for every hour she has spent on the water in recreation or in teaching. Recently, she has gotten into hiking. Check out this view during her Rim to Rim hike of the Grand Canyon. .
Joe Sheeran (81) is without doubt, the most successful EIU Distance Runner in our history (10+ NCAA All-American Awards in Cross Country and Track. Now at age 50, he is coming back with some fine races (runs for the Eastside Seattle Running Club). Recently, he has won his age group at 10K=34:17 ad 5 K = 16:20. He plans a marathon this fall and has already run under 2:40 in his “comeback” His wife is an anthropologist and will spend August in China, but 13 year old Nika (7th grader daughter) will be training with dad. Joe is at the left in the recent picture....don’t know the others.