Top: These kids aren’t ready for the marathon, but give them a few years. The kids’ run at the Ham Run event is enjoyed by runners and spectators alike. Above (L-R): Doug Rivard, No. 737, of Thunder Bay, was the men’s winner of the Ham Run Half Marathon while Ely’s Debra Hultman, No. 244, was the women’s winner of the 13.1- mile race. Jackie Nelson, No. 730, of Grand Marais was the second women across the line in the half marathon while local runner Karl Olson, wearing the cool shades and bandanna, bested the 5K field by a large margin.
Runners who compete in the Cook County Community YMCA Ham Run half marathon are used to running in cold, wet, windy and sometimes snowy conditions, but this year they experienced something rarely seen in the last few years in early May on the Gunflint Trail: sunshine and warmth.
Doug Rivard, 36, Thunder Bay, took advantage of the beautiful weather on May 2 and placed first in the 13.1-mile run in 1:27:24. Rivard was about one minute and a half faster than second place finisher Jace Lindquist, 27, of Cohasset, Minnesota who was in at 1:29:07. Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux, 32, Grand Marais, led all local finishers by placing third in 1:33:17.
Other top local men’s finishers include: Jonathan Rova, 41, Grand Marais, who placed 6th in 1:42:40; Jesse Baldwin, 24, Grand Marais, placed 9th in 1:48:32; Adam Nelson, 32, Grand Marais, placed 14th in 1:57:04; Chris Skildum, 30, placed 16th in 2:07:19; and Mark Abrahamson, 60, placed 18th in 2:09:46.
Proving age isn’t always a barrier, Debra Hultman, 53, Ely, ran away from the women’s field and finished with an excellent time of 1:42:49.
Jackie Nelson, 30, Grand Marais, placed second a minute back in 1:43:50.
Other local finishers included Maddy Cochrane, 27, who placed 11th in 2:08:11 and Ada Igoe, 30, who placed 26th in 2:34:03.
All told there were 37 women and 28 men finishers in the half marathon, which is down from past years. However, with the nice weather runners experienced this year it might entice former entrants to come back and toe the line next year.
5K results
Karl Olson, 36, Grand Marais, has been training hard to get ready to compete in triathlons this summer and his fitness showed as he ran away from his competitors in the 5K race, finishing the 3.1-mile race in 23:17.
Second place went to Peter Igoe, 66, of Grand Marais who came across the line in 25:35.9. Igoe, who walks and runs as part of his daily fitness, rarely races. Back in the day—way, way back in the day—Peter was a 9:37 two-miler at York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois and was coached by the great Joe Newton.
Denny Fitzpatrick, 69, finished in fourth in a fine time of 36:39.
Julie Collman, 47, of Grand Marais was the women’s winner and second finisher overall. The former Cromwell High School track star finished with a fine time of 25:35, using her (former) hurdling sprinter speed to outkick Igoe.
Other local finishers included Emily Lien, 28, Lutsen, who placed third in 31:05; Kelly Twiest, 44, Grand Marais, placed 6th in 32:18; Jean Cochrane, 58, Grand Marais, placed 8th in 40:15; Charlet Waver, 11, Grand Marais, placed 9th at 40:18 and her mother, Gederah Waver, 36, Grand Marais, placed 10th in 40:19.
After the race Cook County Community YMCA director Emily Marshall said the Ham Run made almost $10,000. These funds, she said, will be put towards scholarships for people who can’t afford to pay the full membership fees at the Y.
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