Running News Daily

This year the 39th annual Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K will be transitioning to a virtual event

The Traverse City Track Club recently announced that the 39th annual Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K will be transitioning to a virtual event.

After exhausting alternative formats to the 2021 event and keeping the health and safety of participants, volunteers and partners at the forefront, the Traverse City Track Club is canceling the traditional in-person event and offering its first-ever virtual option.

“To make this determination, TCTC has been monitoring developments in the running event industry, following the guidelines of local, state and national authorities and medical advisors, and listening to feedback from volunteers, participants and community partners,” says Lisa Taylor, executive director of Traverse City Track Club. “We did not take the decision to cancel the traditional in-person event lightly, and we thank everyone for their understanding and support.”

“MDHHS orders serve as our primary guide and after much thought and consideration, we do not suspect COVID-19 restrictions to be lifted until we are post-pandemic, meaning we’ve achieved herd immunity and the state has minimal new coronavirus cases’” says Dr. Jim Zeratsky, event medical director. “Vaccine production, distribution and acceptance could exceed expectations, but we think it is unlikely in time for the spring race.”

Virtual participants will receive a Bayshore Marathon short-sleeve technical T-shirt, a commemorative race bib and a finisher’s medal. Registration opens for the virtual event Monday, Jan. 11.

The cost of the virtual event will be $63 for the marathon, $60 for the half marathon and $30 for the 10K. Please note the Boston Athletic Association does not accept virtual times for Boston Qualification. Proceeds from the event will go to the Traverse City Track Club, which has donated more than $2 million to date in support of mission-related higher learning scholarships, community grants and planned giving.

Participants that had been registered for the 2020 in-person event and deferred to the 2021 in-person event will have the option to transfer registration to the 2021 virtual event or defer to the 2022 in-person event.

Erick Stark 8-year-old plans to run the Bayshore Half Marathon this weekend

Eric Stark’s races begin with a pizza dinner and the Stark family pre-run motto: “We are going to do our best and have fun.”

The Kingsley 8-year-old’s been running — and placing — in fun runs, 5ks and 10ks since he was 3. But his biggest challenge yet comes Saturday — the Bayshore Half-Marathon. The 13.1-mile race kicks off at 7:30 a.m. just south of Bowers Harbor Park, And Eric is ready.

“For training, I’ve ran eight miles and 10 miles so far, and then shorter runs,” said the third-grader, who splits his time between running, schoolwork and practice with his baseball team in the Kingsley Recreational League.

His most recent race, in which he placed second for his age group, was the Interlochen Run for the Arts 5k, and last year he ran the Bayshore 10k. Eric’s age groups tend to be small — he says he competes against “mostly older people” — but that doesn’t mean he’s not competitive.

“He’s a pretty fast 8-year-old,” said Dad Chris Stark. “His times in 5ks usually place him in the top 20 racers.” Chris, a member of the Traverse City Track Club’s racing team and board of directors, started running competitively about seven years ago. Since then he’s run five marathons, including two 26.2-mile jaunts in the Boston Marathon.

“It helps keep me physically fit and helps set an example for my children — which I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job at,” Chris said. “And it helps with my mental health — it helps clear my mind and ease some stress of the day.”

He often runs races at his son’s side, and will for Saturday’s half. Lately, though, Eric’s made it through several 5ks and 10ks on his own. It’s a natural next step — Eric started with 1-mile races as a toddler. He ran his first 5k at 5 years old.

“He was one of those kids who didn’t bother walking — he started running right away,” Chris said. “We figured we should channel that.”

The pair carve out time to train a few times a week, joined by longer runs on the weekends. Both run, too, with the Track Club, It’s a family matter.

“My wife is a pretty avid runner and my 6-year-old daughter has been doing 5ks as well — she’s definitely getting the itch to join us,” Chris said.

Wayne Christopherson was the first Michigan runner to complete a renowned series of grueling 100-mile races

With his induction into the Alpena Sports Hall of Fame, Christopherson will become the first marathoner to be enshrined. He’ll be inducted as part of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018.

“I’m thankful that the sport of running is being recognized in and of itself. I’m not a multi-sport kind of a person; I run and I’m glad that’s being recognized,”Christopherson said. “I’m proud and honored to be recognized by peers and the community for the accomplishments I’ve had.”

Though he prefers to keep a low profile, Christopherson has gained a reputation as one of Alpena’s best distance runners during his long career.

He was the first Alpena (Michigan) runner to compete in the Boston Marathon and was the first Michigander to complete a renowned series of grueling 100-mile races.

Over the course of his career, Christopherson has completed 259 marathons and ultra-marathons.

“Running, to me, has always been personal, and it was only to test myself and what limits I might have,” he said.

While many athletes develop a passion for different sports at an early age, Christopherson’s love of running was born of inspiration. He watched Frank Shorter win the gold medal in the marathon at the 1972 Summer Olympics, a moment that’s credited with igniting the running boom in the U.S.

Christopherson and other Alpena runners also followed the career of marathoner Bill Rogers, who became a Superman-like figure in the running world in the 1970s. Between 1976 and 1980, Rogers won three consecutive Boston Marathons and four straight New York City Marathons.

What stuck out to Christopherson about Rogers and Shorter, aside from their accomplishments, was that they seemed like everyday people who just happened to be good at running.

“They’re not a whole lot different than us. They’re little, skinny guys and they can run,” Wayne said. “I latched on to, ‘Wow, that’s quite a distance. I wonder if I could.’ The next thing I knew, I was running longer distances and finding out what it was all about.”

It’s something that still drives Christopherson today as he continues to compete at age 70.

In 1986, Christopherson became Alpena’s first runner to compete in the Western States 100 in California, finishing in 23 hours, 17 minutes in his first attempt.

He completed the other three legs of the Big 4 in subsequent years–the Wasatch 100 (in Utah), the Old Dominion 100 (in Virginia) and the Leadville 100 (in Colorado). Christopherson was the first Michigander to complete all four.

Christopherson has never been afraid to challenge himself and his resume includes several other ultra-marathons, 33 Detroit Free Press Marathons, and more than 30 Bayshore Marathons in Traverse City. The Bayshore Marathon is a personal favorite, in part because it’s the site of his personal best time in a marathon: 2:45:13.