As archivist and president of North Coast Striders, avid runner and collector, Rodger Swartz reports that this is the 40th running of the Willits’ 10-mile footrace (and 5K run). Former Willits teacher and runner extraordinaire, Jim Gibbons hatched the race in 1981 when Bill Fanning of Cloverdale set a blistering 5:33 per mile pace for the 10 mile to finish first in 55 minutes and 33 seconds. Tim Wallen, a UHS student finished in 58:08, Andy Jensen was third and Howie Hawkes (20-29 age group) was 4th in 1:01.12. There were 150 runners that year. There have been as many as 200 competitors some years.
This year, the festivities begin at 9 a.m. (registration), 10 a.m. (first race) Sunday, Feb. 16 at Willits Recreation Grove for the 5K and 10 mile foot races. Doing the heavy lifting through the years has always been your reliable North Coast Striders, with sponsorship of Adventist Hospitals.
Jim Gibbons and Steve Bates finished first in 1982 in 57:54 and were unaffected by a herd of cattle held up the lead runners for over a minute on East Side Road. The bravest of runners could not navigate past the persistent herd.
A member of the Reebok Racing Team, Tom Borschel led a field of 50 runners through the Little Lake Valley in 1985 setting a record of 50:47 for the ten mile, a 5:05 minute per mile pace. Awesome!
In 1988, UHS cross country coach, Jerry Drew smashed his own 5K mark in the Willits race with a 14:57 mark.
Here’s a salty Bruce Anderson’s entry from the Anderson Valley Advertiser after one 1980’s race: “I got to jog 3.1 miles for the pure heck of it this past wintry Sunday. Though we couldn’t wait for official results, my brother may have won the 40-49 age group, while I nosed out Vic Crosetti who was walking. I tried valiantly to catch the villainous County Director of Social Service, Dennis Denny, who beat me by about 300 yards.The humiliation of it all, my friends! Never again! I’ll smoke his ass this Sunday in Fort Bragg over a two mile course. Bet on it!” I believe that Bruce is on the north side of 80 now; he may yet show up here again!
“The Thirsty Boys” from Santa Rosa (elite runners who have a deep thirst for the frothy brew) represented in 1990, taking four of the first five places. Dan Preston was 1st in 56:45, Dennis Garcia, Jr. was second; another thirsty teammate, Bob MacPherson was third, and Alec Isabeau (thirsty boy) was 5th. Nearly a sweep by the zany tribe. Rumors were circulating about their retreat to Al’s post-race; but they were not substantiated.
Here are the all-time top women ten-mile winners in a posting in 1992: 1. Lura Damiano, Fort Bragg in 60:02, 2. Sarah Tabbutt, Berkeley in 63:03, 3. Flossie Horgan, of Arcata in 65:34, 4. Toni Meredith, Santa Rosa in 67:08, 5. Kathy Dalton, of Sonoma in 67:11.
In 2002, Dan Shafer won the 5K in 17:56 (he was 49 years old), Victor Ornelas, 16, of Ft. Bragg was second in 17:58, and Chris Lozano, 22 of Ukiah was third in 19:14. Chad Raugewitz won the 10 mile in 61:07 in 2003, with Ashley Watkins (1st lady) sixth overall in 72:24; Shafer won again in 2004 in 18:43; Tim Quiroga, 17 won the 10 mile in 60:17, with 45 year old hot-rod, Jerry Drew second in 60:37.
In 2010, Rodger Swartz ran a 1:20.09 for 6th overall in the ten mile, while current Ukiah Valley Athletic Club owner, Deni Lee was 7th in 1:20.30. Gail Leland, 59, was 14th in 1:33.59. Leland’s daughter, Shelby, 24, was 15th in 1:33.59. Raugewitz won again in 2011 with a 61:24 in the ten mile, with Deni Lee (1st female) in 3rd- 75:21, and Vince Madison, 68, finished 6th in 79:29. In 2012, Alexander Kramer, 32, won the ten mile in 1:00.45 with Paul Holden (UHS Wildcat) second in 1:01.18; Deni Lee, again was the first lady finisher that year (11th overall) in 1:18.46.
In the 2014 Willits Classic, Nate England, 16 won the 5K in 19:22; 10 year old Joey Passalaeque was second in 20:56. These women were 1-3 in the 2016 ten mile: Ann Thrupp, 58 in 1:17.24; Chandra Blencowe, 36 in 1:26.07, and Jessica Howlett, 34 in 1:27.04. In 2017, Robert Swoboda, 18, the UHS premier runner won the 10 mile in 1:00.16 followed by Alexander Kramer, 37 of Calpella in 1:01.19, and Mark Mulholland, 35 of Ukiah in 1:06.08.
Kramer won the 2018 edition in 59:23.47 (Kramer is a regular); first female that year was Michelle Kluskiewicz in 1:17.10. Ukiah High’s Kianna Ruffin, then 13, won the 5K in 21:54.97. Anthony Fleming, 70, was 8th in 25:20. This race is always run, hell or high water; so don’t be deterred by a little Mendocino weather. (One year, rain fell at such a rate that competitors were able to enter Willits, but by 12 noon; all roads out of Willits were closed due to flooding. Out-of-town runners and their supporters were not marooned overnight, however.)
There is still space for participants, but don’t tarry: register at the North Coast Striders Facebook page.
If you don’t pre-register; not to worry. Just show up at Recreation Grove Park in Willits about 9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16 with $20; $10 for kids. You’ll receive a t-shirt, race number, social engagement, great exercise and refreshments. Get healthy this year!
