by Phil Cornish, M.D.
Anesthesia Department faculty and staff members have been making serious shows at local and national races this year. Recently, at the Columbus Marathon in Ohio (title) Steve Loney earned the department's best race time of three hours and twenty-eight minutes. Dr. Jeff Murray, who followed up in three hours and thirty-seven minutes, had me right on his heels, finishing just one second later. The actual aim of such folly was to qualify for the Boston Marathon in April1995, which we have all done.
Loney is now like a production line- total of 25 marathons to his credit. That's three return trips to Chicago and a sizeable stake in Nike. His last run this year was in Detroit as a 'Looney Bird' in the Thanksgiving Day 10K Turkey Trot.
Dr. Murray has been proving himself a man of steel- three marathons in as many months, all in good times. He said he was astonished to discover someone at mile 17 in Columbus who had not only run the New York City Marathon the week before, but followed up with a vasectomy two days before Columbus just for good measure! Is that steel, or nuts? (The chap wasn't feeling too good, I might add.)
I am adding to my American experience by pounding the pavements- New York last year, Columbus this year, and Boston next year. It provides a unique perspective, particularly in New York with its course through all five boroughs, the 26,999 other runners and the enormous crowds.
This represents the thin edge of the wedge as far as the departmental running exploits are concerned. M-Fit beware, this is serious stuff! Dr. Hailu Ebba is the departmental running coach. With his background of sub-:04:00 miles, sub-:30:00 10K runs, sub-2:15:00 marathons, and two Olympics, he has the qualifications if you can catch him!!!
Also keeping up the departmental presence are Drs. Brian Woodcock, Paul Kazanjian, Jim Szocik, Doug McLaren, Ed Washington, Mike Potter and Don Fancher, who all ran in the Dexter-Ann Arbor Annual Run last summer. Pat Benedict, M.D. has been competing with distinction around the state this past summer at distances ranging from three to10 miles. We are working on him to run a real distance and look forward to more great results from him next year.
So as you can see, you are surrounded. All it takes is a pair of running shoes and the will to get out the door. In the meantime, Boston here we come!!