History of 20th Century Running in Greater Cincinnati: V. 1 #14 Area Marathons that Preceded the Flying Pig (Part 2 of 3)

Here is a continuation of local marathons that took place before the inaugural Flying Pig Marathon in 1999.

Clifton Track Club Boston Marathon Qualifier

1978

Start of Boston

On December 2, 1978 the Clifton Track Club (CTC) hosted its first and only Boston marathon-qualifying race for its members around Lunken. One loop around the airport and playfield was about 5½ miles. The distance was certified in order to make it a true qualifying event.

The race began on Wilmer Avenue under an overcast sky with a temperature in the low 40s. As time progressed, a light rain began to fall and the temperature dipped into the high 30s. 24 individuals finished the full distance while 18 bailed out before completing the entire route.

Each runner was asked to state his or her goal prior to the start. 15 achieved what they wanted. Chris Matey, 2:47:55, Jerry Vitucci, 2:52:01, and Richard Dammel, 2:52:51, were the first three finishers.

Chris Matey

Dick Dammel – without shirt and sunglasses

Breaking three hours was a goal for many people since that is what Open Division individuals (under 40) needed in order to qualify for Boston. Bill McLaughlin and Gary Keuffer placed 4^th and 5^th while Dennis Geiger was the last person to sneak under that desired 3:00:00 mark as he finished in sixth place with a time of 2:59:24.

Dennis Geiger – center of page

The only other available category was the Masters Division. The older crowd needed to break 3:30. Dan Hall, 3:23:54, and Pete Wilton, 3:28:53, made it in the 40 and over category.

Pete Wilton

Boston Qualifiers

Results of finishers

Wade YMCA Pacemaker Marathon

1979-1983

In 1979 the Covington Wade YMCA started hosting marathons under the direction of the dynamic Scott Miller. Miller, who worked for the YMCA in Covington, was also a very fast runner. Along with the Y, Sporting Foot & Things and the Pacemakers Running Club helped sponsor the event. 342 runners were pre-registered that first year. In 1979 it was necessary to run a sub 2:50 marathon if you were in the Open Division (39 and under) and wished to be eligible for Boston. Masters division qualifiers (40 and over) needed to finish within three hours and 10 minutes. You can see that the standards differed quite a bit from what is required now.

The race started and ended at the Wade YMCA branch on Madison and Pike Streets in Covington. It headed west on Route 8, turned around at the 13.1 mark, and came back the same way. The course description for mile 13, by Father Dale Peterka, is as follows, "look for a nice A-frame under construction on your left, another view of the river, a houseboat on blocks, and a howitzer!!"

It was warm that first day and the heat affected the runners. The temperature was in the 70s at race time. The field consisted of 425 people. Gary Rizzo won the first Pacemaker Marathon with a time of 2:39:08. Pat Crowley was runner-up. His time was 2:42:21.

Gary Rizzo

23-year-old Karen Doppes-Cosgrove's time of 2:48:23 led all women as she placed 8th overall. She has been running for only two years. During that time she already had completed a number of marathons.

Karen Cosgrove

Other top 10 finishers were:

3. Barry Erickson, 2:42:52

4. Lee Hildebrandt, 2:43:40

5. Sean Clements, 2:47: 48

6. Chris Matey, 2:47:49

7. John Wright, 2:48:08

8. Cosgrove, 2:48:23

9. Albert Sewell, 2:50: 23

10. Garry Keuffer, 2:51:27

Miller, in his next newsletter for the Pacemakers Running Club following the marathon, expressed an attitude held by many runners that was common at that time (the 70s represented the first running boom), "Let this event serve as a reminder to area politicians that us health–freaks (!) are many in number and our events will continue to grow in number and importance. We runners are here for good (and I mean GOOD)."

Scott Miller

In 1980 the course was altered to begin at Ludlow High School on Route 8. This change of the start’s location eliminated the major hill that confronted runners at mile 24. The course still proceeded westward towards a turnaround point that was located approximately four miles west of Taylorsport and across the Ohio River from Sayler Park. The route consisted of rolling hills along the scenic riverside. The early registration fee was six dollars.

In year two, Gary Rizzo repeated as the winner while lowering his course record to 2:29:38.

Mackie Price, in the second year, placed first for women with a time of 3:16:52.

Mackie Price

By 1982 the field dwindled to 169 finishers. On October 15, 1983 the final year of the Pacemaker Marathon, Bill Hart’s winning time was 2:41:46. Tom Grogan was runner-up as he finished in 2:43:55. Lorna Richey came in first for the women. Her time was 3:37:26. The evergreen Elaine Clapp, 47 years of age, placed second in 3:43:36.