RUNNINGCOLUMN,ROBROSE

Running future and running past flashed before my eyes last

month. In the span of eight days in December, the circumstances

revolving around two running events may have indicated what

direction the running movement is going. Tradition versus

technology, urban versus rural, marketing versus word of mouth,

new wave versus old school were the contrasting forces involved.

Can we infer significance into why a race in isolated Vermont

has become an essential on the running calendar, whereas a

venerable Woonsocket event has faded away? Is it a developing

trend or just the vagaries of human nature in play?

Mansfield's Mike Touloumtzis and his wife Paula Foresman ran

the Covered Bridges Half Marathon in Quichee, Vt. many years ago

and greatly enjoyed the June race. About four years ago, they

decided it was time to return but in the intervening years, the

rules of engagement had changed. "What we didn't know was that

over the years getting into the CBHM has become as easy as, say,

getting into the House of Lords", said Touloumtzis. "The first

year we tried to sign up in January, RACE FULL! The second year

we tried signing up late in December. RACE FULL! The following

year we tried signing up late in the week after the race opened!

RACE FULL! The next year we tried signing up the day after the

race opened. RACE FULL!"

The 2006 race filled its 2300 runner field in only ten hours,

so Touloumtzis and Foreman were perched in front of their

computers when the 2007 registration opened at 9 a.m. on

December 11. This year the field closed in a swift two and a

half hours, six months before the race but the couple's

vigilance was rewarded. They're in. At the same time, another

running event was going in the opposite direction.

The first Sunday of December, the urban center of Woonsocket

and the YMCA had been the destination point for scores of

runners coursing their way through eastern Rhode Island. But not

in 2006 as the Charlie Lagor Milk Fund Run was not held for the

first time in 34 years.

The Milk Fund Run was perhaps the most unique running event

held in our area. It was not a race but three distinct

non-competitive runs of varying distances, starting in three

different locations and finishing at the Woonsocket YMCA.

Runners could start either at the Providence train station for

17 miles, CCRI for 11 miles or Lincoln High School for seven

miles.

The event was organized as a fund raiser by Rhode Island

running icon, Charlie Lagor and for many years, it was the

signature event of the Woonsocket Harriers. But the confluence

of time and curtailed interest has eroded it's pillars of

support. Lagor is now 80 years old and blind. The Harriers

folded as a club several years ago. With these integral

resources gone, the burden for maintaining the event fell on

Lagor's wife, Lois. She was unable to convince local

organizations to come to her aid and the event was canceled.

That hasn't deterred her because she is determined to hold it

this December and will begin soliciting support this summer.

It's expected that it will be Charlie Lagor's last year

participating in the event due to his age and infirmity. The

Milk Run used to be popular with local running clubs a decade

ago which can be attributed to some very pro-active Harriers,

who were prodigious recruiters. Those Harriers live in Florida

now.

Many running events rely on the internet not only for

publicity but for registration. The CBHM has been in the

vanguard of the all electronic, no paper movement. They began

on-line registration in 2000. The Lagor is still old school,

dependent on the traditional race applications and pledge

sheets.

For Toulmoutzis, the experience brought into focus the stark

differences that exist in the running world. "I'm glad we got in

again; we love the race," he said. "But this is a disturbing

development. A handful of races seem to drive folks away with

cattle prods while lots of worthy events go begging for

runners." Alas, his egalitarian sentiment couldn't overcome the

allure of running in bucolic Vermont in early summer. "I'm not

all that fond of mega events ....but then there are all those

beautiful bridges."

The trend is unmistakable. As more races gravitate to the

internet, runners will follow. Events like the Lagor will need

to adapt or carve out a niche in the local community or both.

The ultimate goal is to become an essential; to hear the two

words that confirm an event's status as an overwhelming success

.... RACE FULL!

Footnotes - The Wampanoag Road Runners have announced their

six race Grand Prix series for 2007. The races are the New

Bedford Half Marathon, the Attleboro Y 10K, the Mansfield High

School Boosters 5K, The Blessing of the Fleet 10 Mile, a Rome

Blvd. race and the Billy Kelly 5 Mile .... the Runners of the

Year Banquet will be on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. at Tom's

Tavern in Wrentham; this year's inductees are Attleboro's Dave

Binns, North Attleboro's Sandy Sheehy, Lynne Peirce and Lynn

Johnson, Mansfield's Kevin Fitzgibbon and Ryan Collins,

Plainville's Meghan O'Brien and Wrentham's Patti Mullen and

Trish Moore; call (508-643-9168) or e-mail (LSXPLRER@comcast) if

you want to attend .... race director Dave Breedan says that

next Sunday's Boston Prep 16 Mile in Derry, NH has reached its

750 runner limit .... RACE FULL!