Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Los Gatos distance star Shirley Church (right) raced to an age-group victory in the Western States Endurance Run. Church is pictured with other age-group winners (left to right) Gene Weddell, Fameteh Weddell, Jim McGill and Emphraim Rolmsberg.

25th running of Dammit Run

Church romps to win in 100-miler

By Dick Sparrer

It's rough, it's dusty, it's competitive.

But it's also become one of the most popular running events in the Santa Clara Valley.

It's the Los Gatos Dammit Run, and it will return to town for its 25th running on Aug. 22.

Another competitive field is expected this year for the traditional event. But one thing's for sure-- it's certainly no walk in the park. And anyone who has made the dusty climb to the face of Lexington Dam and back knows it.

Jason Balkman of Saratoga sure knows it. He covered the five miles in just over 28 minutes last year to win the Dammit title.

Marc Beauchemin, Javier Naranjo, Martin Brenner, Kevin Brodie, Oscar Gonzalez, Tempo Trail Tiger, Adam Boothe, Ray Russell and Edward Burns all finished in the top 10.

Shaluinn Fullove was the female winner with Elizabeth Nast second, followed by Chrissy Duryea-Ferguson, Del Hunter, Shelia Tobin, Judi Shade, Ashley Holt, Katie Scott and Lisa Renteria of Saratoga.

Among the age-group winners in '97 were Andrew Read (men's 40-44), Greg Burke (men's 50-54), Carlos Saldivar (men's 55-59), Shirley Church (women's 55-59), Dick Yaeger (men's 65-69) and Joy Johnson (women's 70-and-over).

As races go, this is a tough one. And race organizers caution Dammit entrants about the extreme conditions they may face on the trail with a warning printed right on the race flier.

"This course is rough, rocky, dusty, with very steep uphill terrain and narrow trails," the race flier warns. "Don't underestimate its difficulty--this is not a race for the faint of heart or the timid."

The race will start tamely enough on the track at Los Gatos High School, and it will finish in the same location. But in between, runners had best be prepared for the rocky, dusty trip into the foothills to Lexington.

Runners will race down the trail next to Los Gatos High School's lower field, past the Old Mill and across Main Street to make the climb up to Lexington Reservoir. Runners will cross the face of the dam and head back down the hill to College Avenue, and race back to the finish line on the Los Gatos track.

Race-day registration will begin at 6:30 a.m., and the starting gun will blast at 8:30 a.m.

Awards will be given to the top 10 male and female finishers in the following divisions: open, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44 and 45-49. The top five male and female finishers in the 13-and-under, high school (ages 14-17), 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-and-over and heavyweight divisions will receive awards.

All finishers will receive ribbons, and the West Valley Track Club will provide computerized results.

The preregistration entry fee is $8 ($20 with a T-shirt), and the fee is $15 on race day ($30 with a T-shirt). T-shirts alone are priced at $15 and will be sold at the track on race day or in advance at Athletic Performance, 55 W. Main St., or at the Runners Factory, 51 University Ave. There are also special running hats on sale for $10.

Proceeds from the Dammit go to benefit the Los Gatos High School Track Repair Fund.

For information, call 354-7365 or 395-4311.

The Dammit Run is not for everyone, but you'll find serious runners looking for a challenge in the Dammit field on Aug. 22.

Church wins again

Shirley Church, a defending age-group winner in the Dammit Run, spent the last weekend of June racing through the hills and valleys of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the annual running of the Western States Endurance Run.

Church covered the 100-mile course from Squaw Valley to Auburn in 29 hours and two minutes to win her age division (women's 50-59). It was her second win in the Western States Endurance Run. She was a race winner in 1993, her first attempt in the rugged event.

Church won the tough race despite getting off to a late start in her training schedule. She underwent foot surgery, then suffered broken ribs after falling in a parking lot at another race. She was not able to begin training until May.

"I was amazed that Shirley was able to finish at all this year," said her husband, Robert. "She ran through much pain."

Less than 250 of the 450 runners who started the Western States Run were able to finish the event. Heavy snowpack conditions made the course extremely difficult.

Linda Hayes was Church's head pacer and crew chief, and Joe Holmberg ran with Church from Michigan Bluff to Green Gate during the grueling night hours.

Church was not alone for the final stretch to the finish line. She was accompanied by her husband, Robert, who once ran the final 6.7-mile leg from Highway 49 to Placer High School in Auburn.

By winning her age group, Church earned an automatic berth in the 1999 Western States Endurance Run. That's important to the veteran runner as she continues her quest to reach 1,000 miles. She has now completed 600 miles in the tough event, and will earn her 1,000-mile belt buckle in 2002 if she maintains her current pace.

Shirley Church will turn 60 years old that year.

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