Los Gatos Weekly-Times Main Street Mary Ann Cook Saratogan says he owes a lot to Los Gatos trainers IRONMAN: Jim Magill met his mid-life crisis head on by beginning to run competitively. That was eight years, 30 ultra runs (over 26.2 miles) and 14 runs of 100 miles. Every year since then he's sought a new challenge, and this year it was the Canadian Ironman Triathlon followed by the Eagle 100 run five days later. Though he's a Saratogan, he credits much of his success to his training in Los Gatos. He runs regularly on the Los Gatos High School track with a group of runners from Athletic Performance. And he's a member of the Los Gatos DART (Disaster Aid Response Team), under the auspices of the town of Los Gatos. He took swimming lessons from Robin Cannon of the Los Gatos Athletic Club and regularly swam 2,500-3,000 meters, since the Ironman Triathlon includes a 2.4-mile swim. Also included is a 112-mile cycle and a 26.2-mile run. He completed the entire event in 12 hours, 56 minutes, four hours less than the maximum time allowed. He completed the swim section in 1 hour, 27 minutes, the bike portion in seven hours and the run in 4.30. The swim and cycle events were the real challenges for him, since he was already groomed in running. So he cycled 50 100-mile stints in preparation. All this training paid off, because five days after the triathlon, he completed the 100-mile Eagle run in British Columbia in 29 hours, 45 minutes, including crossing a river 13 different times. Though he considers the triathlon a better test of athleticism, the 100-miler is tougher. Consider: it's two or three times longer, it's run partly in the dark, and there are long stretches of being alone. Now 51, Magill maintains anyone can accomplish such arduous athleticism, given the right attitude--and proper training, of course. GASH AND DASH: You wouldn't think a book sale would produce an emergency dash to the hospital, but that was the case at the Friends of the Library's book sale on a recent Saturday on the library patio. Lesley Dinette tripped over a hard-to-see spigot that jutted out of the cement of the patio. On her descent, she hit the metal edge of one of the tables being set up. She sustained three gashes--above the eye, on the cheek and under the lid. Thanks to a hasty trip to the hospital with husband Tom, who was helping nearby, and the experienced skill of her cosmetic surgeon, her only reminder should be fading scars. Meanwhile, she's sporting a black eye that doesn't quit. This may put the Sizzling Senior off the dance floor for a few weeks, but she can take solace in being part of the Friends' action that netted close to $3,000 for library needs. The accident also didn't stop her from attending the Burlingame High School Reunion that very night. The high school was celebrating its 75th year. That's its 75th, not her 75th. PRESIDENT'S AWARD: Teacher/ playwright Judith Lyn Sutton won the 1998 President's Award for Literary Excellence from the Iliad Press and the National Authors Registry in Michigan for her poem "Eclipse." Now Sutton's poetry will be presented in concert Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Lucy's Catholic Church, 2350 Winchester Blvd., Campbell. Also on the program is original music by Saratoga High School colleague Paul Page, performed by Allis Druffel. "From Darkness, Light" is the concert's title, and the poetry is autobiographical, tracing Sutton's fight to face and overcome serious illness, a journey to wholeness, as she puts it. Page is a composer and performer who teaches English at Saratoga High School and has been music director of St. Lucy's Church in Campbell for 30 years. He holds a masters of liturgical music from Santa Clara University and is an organist, vocal soloist and workshop presenter. Druffel is a voice teacher at Santa Clara University. Also appearing in the poetry/song/dramatic reading are Bill Peck and John Swartz, both veterans of Valley Institute of Theater Arts (VITA), which Peck and Sutton founded in 1975 and which produced summer Shakespeare festivals at the Mountain Winery for 15 years. Tickets are $8 adults; $5 students and seniors. The number is 866-1635. LOCAL HERO: Ken Caminiti's homers help the San Diego Padres in the playoffs for the series. A graduate of Leigh High School, Caminiti is definitely a hometown hero. His skills were evidenced early at Leigh, where he lettered in football and basketball, as well as baseball. CYCLIST: Who's that familiar figure bicycling through town and picking up trash in nearly every block? Town Manager Dave Knapp can be spotted doing daily cleanup. Doesn't speak well for the carelessness of the rest of us, but it does show that this town employee doesn't think his work begins and ends at the office. WORDS, MUSIC: Storyteller/author Holly Bea will present "Where does God Live?" at 11 a.m. Oct. 24 at Borders Bookstore, Old Town. And the Berenstein Bears appear Oct. 24 and 25 at 1 p.m., starting with a storytime. Tony Sheppard and bassist will perform jazz, rock and bluegrass 8-10 p.m. Oct. 24. And Los Gatos High School poetry readings are held 7-8 p.m. the last Sunday of the month, except December. [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, October 21, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.