Race director Bryan Burns, a teacher in the Traverse City Public School system, welcomed hundreds of runners, walkers, baby strollers, dogs and others to the 2023 version of this venerable event. The race started and finished at Eastern Elementary School on Eastern Avenue, Traverse City.
We welcomed the new executive director of the TCTC Carie Wille, three-year member of the TCTC and former resident of Minneapolis, who replaced the retiring, long-time executive director, Lisa Taylor. Congratulations to Lisa for a job well done and a well-deserved rest. Carie and I traded stories of my fraternity brother at the University of Minnesota, in the same house I lived, on campus, next to Williams Arena, the former Bobby Zimmerman. You’ve probably heard of Bobby from his stage name. Bobby is the writer and performer of the largest number of songs in the USA and a Nobel Prize winner. Bobby Zimmerman, of Hibbing, MN, is better known as Bob Dylan. Look him up on the web.
The Frozen Foot Race is a 5 Mile Run/Walk and Kids 1 Mile Fun Run through paved neighborhoods at the base of the Old Mission Peninsula, my former training runs. This event, founded in 1987, kicks off the “marathon training season”. This January event has been one of Northern Michigan’s staple running events since the mid-1980’s and is a favorite of the area’s year-round running community. Current members (2023) of the Traverse City Track Club can participate in the event FREE of charge!
The 5-mile footrace began at 9:30 AM. The race started and finished at Eastern Elementary School in Traverse City. Just prior to the 5-mile event, a 1-mile fun run (not timed) for runners 12 and under started at 9:00 a.m. Awards went to the overall male and female runners in open and masters categories. Awards were given to the top 3 in 15 age-group divisions including 0-12, 13-15, 16-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75+. Registration for 2023 Traverse City Track Club members was FREE! The race was competently timed by Jeff Peterson, of Classic Race Management. Results were available as soon as runners crossed the finish line.
Since 1962, the Traverse City Track Club has presented the area’s premier running events and programs, provided grant funding and running/walking program support for the 5 surrounding counties of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Kalkaska. The club’s annual Bayshore Events are known nationwide and attract thousands to the Traverse City area each Memorial Day Weekend. Sponsored by presenting partner Fleet Feet, formerly Running Fit. Fleet Feet manager, Corey Birchmeier, presented many prizes from Fleet Feet. Cory appreciates the value brought to the area by the TCTC. The race was also sponsored by the Traverse City Track Club (TCTC) and Michigan Fitness Foundation.
Donations Support the Golden Shoe Fund. Running shoes are the most important equipment for a student-athlete involved in cross-country and track. Area schools offer these programs as early as the third grade, during a formative time when children are learning about healthy lifestyle behavior. Many times, a student’s family can’t afford a proper pair of shoes to help enhance the running experience, and good shoes can make a difference. Created in 2003, The Traverse City Track Club’s Golden Shoe Fund partners with area running coaches and the local running shoe store to help area running athletes in grades three through 12 in need of new running shoes to receive them with dignity, so they are better prepared to thrive. Consider that one pair of shoes is typically $150. This program has been carefully designed to ensure students in need will not lose eligibility or future scholarship opportunity and relies on the discretion of the young runner’s coach.
Now we meet some of the runners. I could not talk to every runner, but most of us have a story to tell of how we got here, why we take time from a busy schedule to train. What are the benefits of exercise? Some of the runners have unique stories of survival and healing aided by exercise. Most of these “stories” are never known by race organizers. Here are some of those stories and some unique “winners”, not necessarily the fastest runners, but “winners” who have won the race for life. Anastasia Hrykach, 17, an exchange student from Northern Ukraine, and a senior at Traverse City Central High School is a “winner”. Anastasia suffered from a heart condition as a young child. The condition, discovered at age three, Patent Ductus, caused an irregular heartbeat. Doctors told Anastasia she could not exercise. She was forced to be sedentary. The condition is hereditary. Her mom and grandmother suffered from the same illness. Fortunately for all, the condition cleared up as they aged. Today, Anastasia completed the five mile race, and felt great. Her host “step dad”, Dean Bowles, age 49, of Traverse City, runs as a preventative health condition. Dean was a varsity runner at Cornell University. Anastasia, who came to Traverse city before the war in Ukraine, is not allowed to return to Ukraine because of the fighting. As a result, she has extended her stay in the USA by one year. Thank you to Dean Bowles. Anastasia’s message to you follows; “you never know what is next”. Best of luck to Anastasia and congratulations on being a “winner”.
Next, we meet a mother-daughter team, proving the family that runs together, enjoys life together. Diana Visser, age 62, of Traverse City, is the mom. Diana runs to keep her weight in check and to help heal a sore back. Her daughter, Fran Visser, age 31, is our “winner”. Fran runs to relieve a blood clot in her eye. Exercise helps her to control her blood pressure. Without medication, Fran’s blood pressure is over 240/161. With medication and exercise, her blood pressure is 120/80, a remarkable drop, relieving pressure on the blood clot in her eye. Her family doctor encourages Fran to exercise because lower blood pressure is the answer to Fran’s blood clotting issues. Congratulations and good work to Fran. You are a true “winner”. Mark William, age 60, accompanied the Visser’s. Mark is our “big loser’ of the race, dropping over 40# and, I am told, avoiding a serious diabetes issue. What can be said about age group winner, Jim Frixen, a former heart attack victim? Jim, you continue to excel at running, with a doctor’s permission. Your heart condition is a long ago memory. You are a “winner”.
Doctor Trevor Darnell, age 48 and a natural Chiropractor from Rapid City and his 14 year old son completed the race. Both finished at the top of their age groups. Doctor Darnell, uses natural kinesiology to diagnose his patients. Never an x-ray. I hope he opens a Traverse City office.
Other area runners we spoke with are Joe Coleman, husband of TCTC board member, Rose Coleman, and still running with painful Planters Facetious in his heels. Jeremy Treadwell took a winner’s post in the race, as did Dan Lantis, always running with his American flag and always driving a fancy Jeep.
We would be remiss if we do not mention cancer survivor, Liz Paulsen, age 81. Liz and I often competed together in area races. Until her cancer diagnosis, Lia and I traded off victories, she would win one, I would beat her next time out. Good competition. Today, due to her chemotherapy, during which Liz lost all her hair, which is growing back, Liz’s legs felt heavy. She finished the race, but I managed to beat her. Liz is not so far away from beating me. Liz is a true “winner”. Following is another “winner”. Rhonda Workman, age 67, former race director of the Mesick Festival 5K, is a veteran. Rhonda, thank you for your service. Dave Mathews, of Grayling, competed on this cold day, in running shorts. Dave is a veteran of many marathons and has tattooed his marathon history on his arm. How many of us have tattooed our marathon history on our arm? Kyle Keil, age 41, ran successfully, today, as did his son. A father-son team!
And last but not close to least is Kelly Craine, of Davison. Kelly is on the board of the Bobby Crim, 10 mile race held annually in Flint. She runs and trains with the Crim group. The goal of the Crim race is to benefit Special Olympics. I have some history with the Crim Race. I ran the race, several times, about 25-30 years ago. My claim to fame is I started dead even with Olympian, Bill Rodgers. I never saw Bill after the start of the race but I started dead even with Bill. I was friends with race founder, Bobby Crim, and ran Bobby’s political campaigns in the Traverse City area. Kelly’s husband, Troy, did not race, but won the GO BLUE award because he was dressed in the colors of the University of Mich. Did I say, “GO BLUE”? Troy used to spend summers in Elk Rapids. We had several mutual friends including the past-proprietor of the historic Elk Rapids Cinema, Joe Yucaz. Joe recently passed away.
No race could exist without volunteers and the Frozen Foot Race is no exception. The main volunteers were the Traverse City Central Track Team. Joe Muha, 18 year old senior, is the captain of the team. Joe’s grandad, Joe Muha, accompanied my son to Camp Philmont, in New Mexico where my son, Adam, was granted his Eagle Scout designatioin. Joe was Grand Traverse County Board Chair.
Race director, Bryan Burns, hopes you will enter next year’s Frozen Foot Race or one of the many events sponsored by the TCTC. If you decide to start an exercise program, always consult your physician. “Where have all the Flowers gone……. If I had a Hammer….. Don’t Think Twice…….. “; Next time in Hibbing, MN, try the corned beef sandwich at Zim’s Deli. Thank you, Bobby Zimmerman.
Your author, Mickey Fivenson, age 80, (a Traverse City native of Munson Hospital, class of ’42), lost over 100 pounds and has trained over 150,000 miles in 50 years of running. He completed 60 marathons (3:01 PR) and holds a marathon world record with his sons, Zack and Adam. Mickey is the former director of the National Cherry Festival Runs, ranked in the top 25 USA races. Mickey’s doctors credit running toward surviving several strokes. Mickey coordinates his Traverse City Central High School Class of ’60 reunion every 5 years (what fun). He is an ordained rabbi, an Advanced Scuba Diver and credits his running fitness and his scuba skills with surviving a fall through the ice in over 600’ of water in middle of West Grand Traverse Bay,,,,,, and saving his dog! A U of M graduate, like his kids, (GO BLUE!!), he plays a mean blues harmonica globally and with area bands. His bride of 31 years, Dr. Sally Littleton, is a retired psychotherapist, provides private Reiki lessons and is a Tapping and Reiki instructor at Northwestern Michigan College and virtually on the web. If you would like Mickey to cover your race, if you need training tips, email mickey@telecomclassifiedads.com. Today, Mickey took first place in his age group. Yes, he is a fraternity brother of Bobby Zimmerman. Mickey Fivenson: MBA, Ph or Text 1-231-946-2195.
Traverse City Runner 