Competitive and Recreational Runners Enjoy 10K Lilac Run
By Jessica Delaney

More than 650 runners take off from Windermere Point for the 2005 Lilac Run/Walk. The race followed a grueling path through the center of the Island and along the lakeshore before finishing at Mackinac Island Public School.

His friends call him “Superman Without a Cape” and Saturday, June 11, he showed Mackinac Island why he earned that name.

Andy Marsh of Okemos was this year’s overall winner at the 10K Lilac Run with a time of 32:18. The 23-year-old is a competitive runner who generally runs between 80 and 90 miles a week.

Mr. Marsh was on Mackinac Island for a company outing. He works for the Playmakers Running Store, which offered two trips for employees this year. The first group came up to play golf for a weekend. The second group arrived for the Lilac Race. Eight runners from the store participated in this year’s race, all placing within the top 10 of their respective age groups.

10K Lilac Run overall winner Andy Marsh rounds the last corner of the race leading to Mackinac Island Public School. Mr. Marsh breezed in one-half minute ahead of the closest competitor.

Mr. Marsh said the hardest part of the run was the first hill, a statement with which many other racers agreed. He claimed that the 10K was one of the more enjoyable races in which he has run.

“It was a hard course, but with great scenery,” said Mr. Marsh.

Laura Ankrum from Crivitz was the female overall winner with a time of 41:48. Robert Duerksen of Ann Arbor was the male masters overall winner with a time of 35:20, and Janice Mackay of Sault Ste. Marie was the female masters winner with a time of 44:57.

Peter Marabell of Mackinac Island and Cheboygan was another winner in this year’s race, taking home first place for the 60-64 age group with a time of 54:32. This is the second year in a row that Mr. Marabell has won his age group. He has been running in the race for the past 10 years and has been amazed with his recent success.

“I was so thunderstruck last year,” said Mr. Marabell. “I used to just run the race, have a good time, greet my friends, and then go home. This year I did take a shower, but then I went back and I was still surprised.”

Outside of the Lilac Race, Mr. Marabell has never won a race before. A recreational runner, he makes an effort to run four or five days a week, 20 to 25 miles, though he joked, “that’s as long as I survive in the humidity.”

Along with the run was a competitive walk. Walkers started on the course one minute after the runners took off, to avoid any accidents. Winners for the walk included John Thomas of Linden, the male overall winner, and Kathryn Gurin of Lapeer, the female overall winner. Masters winners were Mark and Rosie Kerrins of Lansing.

More than 650 people entered this year’s Run and Walk from throughout Michigan. Participants in the run itself ranged in age from nine years old to 88 years old. The race began at Windermere Point and continued along Main Street to Truscott Street. Runners then followed Garrison Road through the center of the Island to British Landing, before finishing the race along M-185. The finish line was just outside of Mackinac Island Public School, where runners were given fruit, cookies, and, most importantly, water.