Dave Zimmerman and I were just 17-years-old when I told Dave on a bus headed to a high school cross country meet that I was going to start a magazine about running.  Dave worked with me for one year before we both went off to college.  I went to Kansas States and Dave to Missouri.  I got busy with the magazine and 40 years went by.  We sat down on Saturday and Dave talked about Distance Running News. (lead photo...Dave and I when we were 17...we look pretty young to be starting a running magazine don't you think?)

Dave and I are both 64 now.  Even through we had not seen each other for over forty years we still have that bond that brought us together in the first place.  We were both runners in high school.  Our cross country team coached by Coach McGuire was first at regionals and second at state.  The team that beat us at team we had beaten at regional.  Dave and I were second and third at state on our team.  In track Dave ran a 1:51 half mile.  My parents moved to England my senior year and Dave's family had me stay with them to finish high school.  I will never forget this.  If I had gone to England I am sure I would not have started my magazine...

It is only fitting to be in front of Redwoods when Catherine is setting him up for the intereview.  Dave majored in forestry in College and is still currently working in that field.

Director Michael setting up the shot.  Waitman was on the second camera.  Catherine took still images.

Dave and I have so many good memories when we were in high school.  Dave's running ability got him a full college scholarship.  And my love of running got me into the magazine business.

I just had to take Dave to my Burger place after the interview.

Dave and I hung out at a similar place in Overland Park.

We could have talked for days.  So many great stories for our film.

After lunch Catherine, Dave and I drove to Santa Cruz, then the beach and finally to the Moutain House for dinner.  What a great day.  Dave and I agreed that we are going to stay in closer contact.  Forty years was just too long... photos by Catherine Cross

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Looks like you had a great weekend! You're almost there!! On a side note, I am thinking you should buy Burger Town ;)
Jodi Labossiere 11/8/12 3:49 pm

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Catherine and I drove up Friday afternoon to Benbow which is about thirty minutes from the starting line of the Humbolt Redwoods Half Marathon.  It is about five hours north of Los Altos.  This gave us the time to relax and focus.  This course is beautiful and we drove it again on Saturday.

The entire course runs through Redwoods like these.  An interesting aspect of the course is that it seems we are running slightly downhill most of the route on an out and back course.  Of course, that is not the case but it feels that way.  There is one short hill at about 12 miles.  The weather was perfect...about 42 degrees at the start.  It warmed up to about 55 degrees at the finish.  The field was strong and I was ready to run race number 40.  My goal was to run 1:32.

I started off a little slower than normal.  I hit the first mile in 6:49 and it felt pretty comfortable.  Right before the three mile mark (20:29) I latched onto a woman runner.  We had never met before but ran together for a few miles.  She got a few yards on me at the turn around and I let her go.  I should have dug a little deeper but she was just a better runner.  I looked her up in the results and Pamela Kennedy (age 34) ran 1:30:14.  I was not ready to run that fast.  Thanks Pamela for letting me run with you for awhile.   At the turn I saw 72-year-old Hans Schmidt.  I was about a quarter mile ahead of him and he was looking strong.

In the end Hans was just nine seconds back.  He set a new 70 plus course record.  He ran 1:32:48.  My official chip time was 1:32:39 and I was second 60 plus.  This is 7:04 per mile.  This cost me 58 seconds but I can make it up on the 10k's and 5k's I have coming up.  BTW, I finally got the sore on the top of my right foot squared away the night before.  That had me worried...and it did cost me some good workouts!

Michael and Waitman were sick this weekend and could not make the trip.  However, Catherine got it all covered.

It was great to see Rich Benyo.  We talked after the race as his wife Rhonda ran the full marathon.  Photos by Catherine Cross

Awesome job, Bob--great report.
Bruce Gilbert 10/22/12 6:14 am

Great race, Bob and thanks for the shout-out! I was struggling a little in the first few miles to hit my groove so thanks for pushing me. :) Hope to see you at the next one!
Pam Kennedy 10/24/12 2:06 pm

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