Dr. Woodhall Alumni Update (EIU STUFF ... IN THE WORKS)

Former EIU Runners, Students and other Friends:

The old expression says “PLAN AHEAD”.   Please do that.   I’m asking you to circle your calendars for Friday/Saturday (October 2nd and 3rd).   We are planning one of the finest EIU weekends ever.

1)  First of all, it is Family Weekend and that will probably bring some of you to campus.  I can think of at least 10 former EIU students, who now have “their own” children attending with us.   But that is just for openers.

2)  We’ll be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the EIU National Cross Country Championship (1969) and we hope to  honor members of that team over the weekend.

3)  Then there is the  EIU Walter Crawford Memorial Open Run (Cross Country...open to anyone)  to be held following the home football game on that Saturday afternoon.



If you watch the TV infomercials, the guy always says “BUT WAIT....IF YOU ORDER RIGHT NOW...”   Well, I have saved what may be the most interesting for last...

4)  Perry Edinger (1984) has agreed to return to the campus for the weekend.   He is excited to come back, to visit the campus, old area friends (he grew up in Mattoon) and spend time with EIU alumni runners and student friends.   In case you don’t know, here are some of his experiences:
    
    -  Head Football Trainer (Arizona State University) with stints at West Virginia and Syracuse prior to his 12 year stint with the “Sun Devils”
    
    -  Coached Pat Tilman (the ASU football great who refused an NFL pro contract so as to represent our country in the Middle East war.) to a 3:45 marathon.
    
    -  After Pat was killed in action, Perry decided to start a memorial run in his honor.  The first event drew more than 5,000 people and Perry has recently been the race director
        for numerous Pat Tilman Foundation Events....run around the country...at least one of them was held over seas.

    -  An excellent EIU College Runner (CC, Steeplechaser etc) Perry became focused on longer events following his EIU graduation.  Who knows how many marathons he has run?
        He has several Boston races under his belt (probably the most notable, but not his fastest, was when he was selected to be the Running Guide for Lance Armstrong when
        Armstrong decided to try to run Boston a few years ago.  Lots of interesting stories about that one.

    -  Twenty-six miles really wasn’t long enough for Perry (or so he says)  so soon it was 50 and 100 mile races   Last summer, he won what is described as the Ultra Grand Slam.        
        Runners must complete four  x 100 mile races (with three months) at pre-desigsteeplewebd sites around the country (all mountain and trail runs with elevation and rugged terrain).
        His total time for the four races was faster than anyone else....therefore he was crowned...THE CHAMP

    -  With a mind and body that knew all about discipline and persevering for many years,  he was selected to compete in the “fast heat” (strange terminology??) of the Badwater 135
        Race.  On June 13th, he started the adventure at 10 AM on the floor of Death Valley (road temperatures often reach over 150 degrees) .  Some 29 hours later at 8500 feet
        above sea level, he crossed the finish line at Mt. Whitney in 9th place
 

You don’t have to do anything right now, I’m just sending you this NOTICE....LONG in ADVANCE (more than two months).   WE WANT YOU HERE WITH US...IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.   Other than your time, the cost of travel and food, I see not costs...unless you should want to stay in a motel overnight (Friday and/or Saturday)



DETAILS ARE STILL SKETCHY, BUT HERE ARE A FEW PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS/HOPES

Friday  October 2nd
10 AM   Perry talk with appropriate class(es) in the morning.... Physiology of Exercise and perhaps Athletic Training?

4  PM   Meet EIU Cross Country Team

7 PM   Presentation to the EIU and Charleston/Mattoon Communities...everyone welcomed...hopefully power point with pictures etc.   We’ll try to find a good size lecture hall on campus.   If not, or if parking appears to be an issue, we may have it at my church...next to Lynch Hill....expect a couple of hundred people.

8:15 PM  Reception and visit...someplace.. To Be Announced Later





Saturday  October 3rd

8 AM   Possible breakfast for alumni runners at What’s Cookin’ Restaurant??

1:30 PM   EIU vs  Eastern Kentucky  (perhaps the 1969 team ...and Perry could be introduced to the crowd

5:30 PM   EIU Walter Crawford Memorial Alumni and Open Cross Country Run (grass south of O’Brien Field)

7:00 PM   Picnic...campus pond.