News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sue Tank hands off to teammate Kim Addison.
A passel of Sisters athletes walked and ran for miles, did without sleep, dodged cars and worked till their feet were sore -- all for fun at the Hood-to-Coast relay last weekend.
Rod Moorehead, Tom Haynes, Jack Walsh and Mike Obymako of Sisters ran in the 197-mile event as part of a 12-man team. Haynes was the team captain.
Each runner turns in three legs during the race, some at unreasonable hours such as 4 a.m. Those early legs had their advantages -- it was cool.
Moorehead said that his afternoon leg on Saturday, August 25, got a little warm. Fortunately, roadside spectators obligingly sprayed water on the runners.
Moorehead starts training in March -- "it's one way to force myself to get the winter fat off," he said -- and he runs regularly when he gets off work.
During the race, the competitive urge comes out as the runners push themselves to do their best.
That's true for the walkers, too.
They walk a 127-mile course from Portland to the Coast and, though their pace is slower than that of the runners, their determination is no less fierce.
The Bookin' Babes of Sisters turned in a fine performance, finishing 68th out of 386 walking teams -- 31st out of 200 women's teams.
The team took its name from sponsorship by Paulina Springs Book Company, where team captain Sue Tank is employed. Bookstore owner Diane Campbell was also a member of the team, which was co-sponsored by Sisters Athletic Club.
Other team members were: Nadean Murray, Beth Boswell, Betty Carlsmith, Kathy Cardwell, Mary Smith, Marcia Plows, Ali Mayea, Michele Sims, Carol Moorhead, and Kim Addison.
Marlene Schneider was scheduled to participate, but had to pull out due to an injury.
According to Tank, the race was fun, but many of the highlights of the event took place in the training. Tank said she really enjoyed getting to know her teammates and building the camaraderie of working toward a goal.
The team members exceeded their own projections by an hour and a half, finishing at 26 hours and 49 minutes.
"I was so proud of everyone," Tank said. "They really went out there and went for it. They just ... booked."
Tank made special note of shuttle drivers David Smith and Larry Brewer, who made sure the walkers got to the jump-off points for their segments of the trek on time and in good condition.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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