Summer 2006

Juice e-mail: Pacers@LincolnParkPacers.org

 We wanted summer; we got it in spades!! For my tastes, this is the best summer we've had in years. It has made outdoor sports a challenge, but 90 degree days beat out icy running paths, cold temperatures and winter winds any day!! In June, Kate Fitzgerald and Marshall Craig graced Chicagoland with their presence. When they come back to Chicago to visit, it's like they never left…it feels like old times!!…Urs and Lori Weber paid us a visit in July, and bunked in with Joanne Kaeding. The favor will be returned in October, as Joanne and Denise DeBo plan to visit New York City and stay at their place!!….Debora Bear returned to Chicago for 10 days before relocating from Guatemala City to her new Peace Corps assignment as a Medical Officer in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She relates that it is hot and tropical, with lots of traffic consisting of varied and unusual methods of transportation, and most importantly – so far no bomb activity- that Deb is aware of anyway. The majority of the women wear saris and burkas, but fortunately for Debora, she doesn't have to cover up her face!!!!. In Deb's spare time?? away from her demanding job, she plans to look for a local running and book club to join, and in addition take French lessons.. She is very excited about her NEW assignment and her NEW life with NEW husband, Pacer Co-President, Jim DesJardins. He will be joining Debora in Bangladesh in October. We will miss them both for the next two years, and come 4th of July of 2006, the Pacers will have to find a new place to celebrate that holiday. This summer Jim threw a very festive 4th of July party complete with outdoor cook out and local fireworks in the park….

The Pacers strutted their stuff by volunteering with a hydration station for Fleet Feet on several occasions, passing out water and Gatorade to the hundreds and hundreds of runners training for a fall marathon. The Pacer signs were displayed prominently in hopes of attracting some new blood in the club. There was no rest for the weary for the volunteers, just lots of HARD work….Thank you Debbie Vickers from Fleet Feet for suggesting this idea, and to Jennifer Leslie, our club Co-President, for organizing the Pacer volunteers…Congratulations to John Alexander on his recent marriage. He was seen recently running on the path, and looking very lean, happy and fit.….It will be nice to See Ron Weber running again. He's been seen out on the path lately walking rather than running, while recovering from a recent surgery, and clocking 12 minute miles—not an easy task!…A contingent of elderly Pacer gentlemen and a few Pacer youngsters have been competing with the high school and college kids at the University of Chicago track this summer. For several weeks in a row, the University Track Club held track and field events, and our guys proved to hold their own with the kids. Good job Pacers!! Check out the Pacer race results for the track and field events as well as other races run by Pacers throughout the summer. The challenge for us all has been getting used to running in the extreme heat and humidity. By the time autumn and cooler temps arrive, we will be so in shape, that we'll find ourselves flying out there on the path!!….. 

On Sunday mornings a group of Pacers have been biking to and from Hyde Park. The reward for their hard work is breakfast at a local Hyde Park eatery…. Cary Adams also organized a weekend bike trip to the Mississippi River on the last weekend in July. They left on a Friday after work, stayed in a bed and breakfast in Savanna, and then biked about 75 miles in 2 days..Enjoying the sights at Pacific Palisades and hanging out in a "motor-bikers" bar were part of the weekend festivities. The word was that Jennifer Leslie attracted some interest from the "bikers", all of them curious in how fast she could ride her road bike!!..Fun was had by all who went, Cary Adams, Jennifer Leslie, Janet Omer, Debbie Hoegemeyer, Denise DeBo, Mary Kay Blaschke, Steve Helfrich, Gordon McIntosh, and last but not least, the new Pacer lovebirds, Carol Tebbe and Karl Fife. Anyone who has been around the Pacers lately can see these two are a match made in heaven, thanks in part to Hal Olin, who orchestrated the whole hook-up…..Mary Kay Blaschke completed a super triathlon this summer, finishing the Danskin Women's Triathlon in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin in 2:42.. Helping her get the fast time was her new road bike: now she is clocking super fast times in the bike portion. She doesn't do badly in the swim and run either!!!! ….Jennifer Leslie also got a new fast road bike. She was fast before, so now there isn't anyone who can keep up with her..(Hey, guys, this is a challenge for you---I DARE you!!!)……

While running the 50 mile Voyageur Trail Endurance Run in Duluth, Minnesota, David Farley was reported as to have a "blast", tripping, falling, knocking into trees, and generally "blasting" through the 50 mile course. In contrast, Mike Ward, showed very few war scars from his efforts that day!! No story however compares to "THE SNAKE BITE" incurred by the same David. He received not one, not two, but three bites trying to remove a snake from the path out at Palos this summer. David proudly displayed his bites to us on the 4th of July at Jim's party. Well, there wasn't a whole lot to see unless you had a magnifying glass!!!!….(Editor's Note: Not true - it was horrifying and several ladies swooned.) Stuart Schulman and girlfriend Diane made several hiking/back-packing trips this summer, including the Boundary Waters in upper Michigan and Colorado. In addition, the two attended the wedding of ex-Pacer Howard Karloff and his new wife, Michelle in New York City. Over the same weekend, Stuart and Diane met up with Urs and Lori Weber, who also live in NYC and the 4 walked all over the city for 5 hours, having a grand time!! It's obvious that Stuart has ants in his pants lately, and can't seem to sit still in the city of Chicago for more than a few days at a time!!! His successful back surgery certainly plays a big part in Stuart's new found energy!….Another Pacer, Lora ine Morgan, has had knee surgery now on both knees, and is in recovery mode. It would be like old times to see Lorraine out there on the path once again..The same goes for Barbara Scheckman, who recently had back surgery. Those two used to be a prominent fixture at the CARA Circuit races. Hope you are both doing well and that we see you soon!!!… Barbara Burgraff  once again attended the Elvis is Alive 5K held on Saturday, August 13th, thanks to Colleen Fahey and Kathy Schubert who pushed her from the Imperial Nursing Home. Barbara didn't enter the race this year, but as usual enjoyed all the kisses she got from the Elvis impersonators….

Ted McClelland has been working on his 2nd novel and touring all over the Great Lakes this summer, and he invited Jennifer Leslie to join him for a weekend near Niagara Falls. The weekend included seeing the famous falls of course and going to a George Bernard Shaw Festival. For kicks they visited a Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum, which turned out to be a hoot according to Jennifer!…… Ex-Pacer, John Parisi, who now lives in Denver, Colorado, just published a 2nd novel, Girl in the Mirror. Check the details out or order it online at http://www.girlinthemirrornovel.com/ ……Bob and Marianne Gould have been in their home in Cape Cod for a good part of the summer. Supposedly Bob is training for a fall marathon; we shall see the results of his solo efforts when they return in August!!……..Steve Helfrich, Jim Otto, and some of their volleyball friends spent an evening at Ravinia in Highland Park, enjoying the music of Aretha Franklin. It was kind of a hassle getting to and from Ravinia by train due to the crowds of people attending, but the great concert was worth their efforts…..A group of 10 Pacers went to the Museum of Science and Industry on Sunday, August 21st to take in the Body Worlds exhibit. Thanks to Kate Handley who organized the event and purchased the tickets ahead of time…… The warm "dry" summer has kept everyone busy and active outdoors, enjoying every single minute of every single day, whether running or just playing….We still have some summer and early fall races to look forward to, including Park Forest Scenic 10 on Labor Day, the AIDS 5K on Saturday, September 17th. , and of course, the LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon on October 9th. Good luck to all Pacers running this year, and to the volunteers who work every bit as hard at the Pacer hydration station at mile 10. There will be a post-party after the marathon at Bachino's for all Pacer runners and volunteers from 3-6pm, pending restaurant construction. Check Pacer emails for further information on this event….Do you want to be part of a Pacer team? Sign up to run (or walk) this year's annual Aids 5K Run and Walk on Saturday, September 17th. All kinds of fun will be had with your fellow club members, running while supporting a good cause!!! Contact Cary Adams for applications or for more info ………….. Happy running!!!!

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