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For anyone interested in my running, here is everything; every race ever run, every mile ever run. ... I began running pretty much year 'round in 1975 and for the most part, have never stopped. I have kept a running log from 1975, recording every daily run and every race.

All My Races  My Top 25 Races   All My Miles  Recent Races  Running2Win Log Elkhart Memorial Cross Country  Front Line Racing

                              Elkhart XC Sectional, 1977                                            Track 1978                                                                Track Sectional 1978                                                                St Joe Valley Stampede 1979

                              Chicago Marathon 2003                     Shamrock Shuffle 2004                     Great Race 2005                                                      Bayshore 2007                                                         USATF XC 2007

Full Results

My National Championship Experience

Last January, I made it a goal of mine to be on the 2007 Front Line Racing Team's 'A' team for the cross country nationals. Every race throughout the year was a time trial of sorts. The team was loaded from top to bottom with some of the very best Masters in Michigan, with the top 3 among the best in the country. To break into the top 8 on the 'A' team wouldn't be easy. All of the guys were back from the National Championship team of 2006. My position on the team wasn't certain until just a week before the meet.

The 2007 team was comprised of 2006 National XC Champion and 2007 National Masters Marathon Champ Tracy Lokken, 2004 Michigan Runner of the year, and former open elite runner Mike Scannell, American Masters record holder in the 10000 Paul Aufdembarge, Pat Lencioni another top Michigan runner with PR's of 14:36 5K; 24:39 8K; 50:59 10 mile and 2:24:00 marathon. The rest of the team included Dave Watkins, Brian Alphonso, Dave Peterson, (some of the best Masters runners, and darn nice guys, in Michigan) and myself. (Dave Bussard)

Eric Stuber, a sub 16 5k guy at 43 years old,  withdrew from the meet last week due to his wife having their baby a week early, and Dave Homann, 54:40 at this years Crim 10 miler, had to pull out with a stress fracture. Having these two guys would have certainly made it much tougher to make the 'A' team.

I wasn't real sure what to expect going into the race. I know I've been running well all year long so as long as I ran just as I have I could probably be in the top10 in the 45-49 age group and maybe break into the top 5 on the team. Here's how my weekend went:

Made the 5 hour drive by myself to King's Island Resort on Friday afternoon. Checked in, changed into some running stuff and drove the 6 miles to the course. Friday afternoon, the course was snow covered with about 2 inches of a wet, slushy mix. Not a good sign!! The course wasn't hilly which was good for me, but it certainly wasn't well groomed. Weather reports called for rain all night long. Who knows what it will be like in the morning? I ran an easy 2.5 miles around the first loop of the course. Shoes were soaked....

Friday evening, a bunch of Frontliners met up for dinner. I rode with Nathan & Aaron Usher. Nathan is practicing to be a race car driver and it certainly showed on a thrilling ride to the restaurant!! Small talked about the Olympic marathon trials he ran in, and his hobby of racing cars. After dinner, everyone met up at team organizer/coach Fred VanHala's room, for a short team meeting.  I had the opportunity to meet Paul & Tracy and some of the others I hadn't met previously. It's kind of cool to be in the company of a National Champion and an American record holder. I was thinking, 'Man, what I am doing here with these guys??? I wonder if they were thinking the same thing.... But it turns out they were all very friendly and treated everyone the same. Seemed like a bunch of regular guys....

Race day came and we met up at 9:45 to caravan over to the course. I rode over with Mike Scannell and Gary Brimmer. We had a tent set up near the starting line where we stored our bags. Race time seemed to come fast... I did about a 20 minute easy warm-up jog, came to the tent, spiked up and headed over to our box. I think we were in box 65 way over on the right. Did the usual 5 or so stride outs and we got to the line, I think Tracy suggested we do a little group up, pile the hands up and yell 'Frontline' on three... Kind of high school'ish but it was pretty funny too; nobody really yelled.

Tracy & Mike and the lead pack early in the race

And just like that we're off. I'm feeling good, it's feeling easy, but there is a lot of water everywhere. After about 800 you realize there is no point in trying to avoid the water. Feet are already soaked.  There is mud all over the course. This is real cross country!!! I hit the mile in about 5:33. I feel pretty good; I do notice I'm pretty close to the front. The leaders don't seem that far away....The footing is horrible. Around the mile mark, Paul passes me. I thought to myself, 'What is he doing back here?' Paul is easily the best track runner on the course. He ran 30:04 for 10000 on the track last year. I believe he won the Masters at Boston. He'll be upfront soon enough. The next 2-miles were pretty uneventful. I think I went thru two in around 11:15, and three in about 17:30. Not real sure as I didn't hit the split button and maybe didn't even look down at the mile marker because by this time, you knew times didn't matter. Running was getting very difficult. You just can't prepare for running 6 miles in the mud!!! Fred yelled to me I was the #4 man. What? Where was Pat? He reminded me I needed to hold my position. He yelled I was in 46th place. By 4 miles I was starting to struggle. I wasn't holding my position. Guys were passing me. I was getting pissed because the course was kicking my butt. It's getting very frustrating not finding any solid ground to run on. Running in the mud was taking it's toll and I wasn't handling it very well. I was passed by Dave Watkins, and then a short while later Pat Lencioni came by. I kept about 10-15 yards behind Pat for the next 1000 or so. It might have only been 500. Mile 4 to 5 seemed to take forever. I didn't see the 5 mile mark and I knew it had to be coming up. I looked at my watch. It was at 33 minutes so I must have missed it. This is where I gained a little momentum and passed Pat. I thought I was going to be able to hold this to the finish but he got me back again. Then we made a couple of turns and headed towards the finish. Again, I thought I had a couple guys I could catch but didn't; No one passed me on the long straight to the finish line..... Finish time 37:48. Wow. Those last three must have been really slow!!! Passed by 20 guys the last 2.5 miles.....Disappointing to say the least. Started to feel a little better about my efforts after seeing the results. The 45-49 American Record holder for the 5K (14:45) can only run a 34:20 something...The defending national champ 34:29. Only 3 guys under 35, Only 15 under 36? These guys are probably all 31-32+ guys on a normal road course. Paul A runs 35:10. Ok, I don't feel so bad now. 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 minutes slow. That puts me about where I thought I would be. I thought I would place higher in the 45-49 division. I ended up 22nd in the age group and 66th overall. The team placed 3rd. We had our first 3 guys in the top ten but a huge gap between 3 and 4-5 killed us.

Here's me and the winner, Pete Magill (in yellow), battling for the win with only 9950 meters to go.

Video of the finish. I'm around the 3:30 mark

The finish

So that was it. Just like that it's over. We hung around to watch the open women and the open men. Both races were pretty exciting but I was freezing, my feet were soaked and frozen, and was ready for hot shower.....

We all met up back at Coasters Lounge at the Hotel before the awards for some post race beverage's and food.  I talked with our only National Champion, Doug Goodhue, the 65-69 champion with a 42:37.8. Discussed his upcoming Running Times article and his last summers national track championships. A real good guy. I'm hoping I can still run that fast when I'm 50!!... Nathan Usher ordered this huge burger. Nathan ran in last month's Olympic Marathon Trials and he isn't a very big guy. But It's free if he cleans his plate. And he gets a T-Shirt....Not sure if he did it or not. We had to get to the awards....

The awards were short and sweet. Top three teams got medals, top ten individuals got medals. They also broke down age groups. Frontline 40-49 men got 3rd. My first ever championship medal. I'll take it!

Dave Peterson, Tracy Lokken, Bryan Alphonso, Dave Bussard, Mike Scannell, Dave Watkins. (Pat & Paul had to leave for home)

Now the fun begins...We all met up after the awards banquet in Fred's room for some post awards/pre post race party beverages. There were about 10 of us talking running for a few hours. Dave Watkins and his wife, Dave Peterson, Tracy Lokken (It's all about the team!!!), Fred VanHala, Gary Brimmer, Michael Cudlip, MIke Scannell & Alan VanMeter. That was the highlight of my weekend. Mike Scannells story about him beating Bill Rogers in a marathon, in his prime, was classic!! Great stuff. Then it was off to the post race party. A few more hours of talking running. The highlight of the night was Gary Brimmer getting Delilah's autograph. Towards the end of the night he say's to me "You know who that is right next to you?" It's Delilah, the real Delilah from the song. I said 'No way!..." She was the winner in the women's open race. He went over and got her autograph for his daughter... Pretty funny stuff.

Delilah DiCrescenzo, #638 near the finish

Can't wait for Spokane in 2008.....

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Last modified: 01/05/2006