Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 21, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press monday june 21, 2004 b2 Manitoba Marathon ailing Robbie sorely missed marathons godfather unhappy to be Home after minor stroke i t was a celebratory no. 26 and yet the honorary chairman was missing. John Robertson and his wife Betty weren to at the finish line yesterday morning handing out medals to those Hardy souls who completed the 26.2?mile Manitoba Marathon. And while race chairman Richard Huybers made it Clear that John will always be with us in spirit it want the same. Robbie with his self deprecating Humour and witty observations ? observations that can brighten up the Rai Niest of Days ? want at the University of Manitoba stadium yester Day and that left a big Hole in the festivities. Of course in fairness Betty made sure Robbie kept his butt at Home. As much As he wanted to be there Betty just did to need that pan Load of aggravation. I a disappointed that i can to be there he said sadly. But i know Why. I had a Little scare a couple of weeks ago and its still floating around up in my head. A Little stress or too much excitement and bang i could be Back in a Manitoba Hospital and the Prospect of that would make my Teeth it has to been an easy year for the founder of Manitoba a most popular Day of fitness and fund raising. Back in March he did get to celebrate his 70th birthday and hell be the first one to admit that there have been times when he never thought he a get there. After All his Nasty Battle with rheumatoid arthritis has been a big pain in the joints but the real bad news did to arrive until a couple of weeks ago when a minor stroke one of Many tiny strokes that he a suffered during the past two decades knocked him on his Keester. The it floating around up there that he was referring to was an annoying blood clot that could do some permanent damage if it does to Settle Down. As a result Robbie stayed put up at Winnipeg Beach yesterday while his beloved Road race went on without him. Of it never goes on without him said a smiling Dale Kendel the executive director of the association of Community living Manitoba the marathons prime Charity. Hell be there. Just not in no kidding. If spirit is All it takes there was plenty of that yesterday. While most people would take a woe is me attitude Robbie battled it the same Way he a battled All the others ? with plenty of laughter. This is about wretched excess he said. I a a hypochondriac and there is nothing worse than a hypochondriac who is really sick. If i sneeze a couple of times i have to go on the do. For Ball play ers the disabled list is Day to Day. For me its Back in 1978, Robertson Sam Fabro Terry Hind Jim Daly Helen Steinkopf mayor Bob Steen and a Host of others sat Down and tried to come up with a Way to raise funds and get in a Good run All at the same time. After a few meetings and plenty of Good natured shouting the Marathon was born. Today Robbie a baby is 26 years old and doing just Fine on its own thank you very much. Yesterday despite Robbie a Hopes that it would All be different his baby left the nest and went on cunningly without him. That a the Way it should be he said. The people who run it today ? and have run it every year ? Are out standing people. They Don to need me hanging Well not really. Yesterday Robbie want out there talking about his feats of daring Over 26 Miles of per Sonal torture and without him it was like Siegfried without Roy Mantle without Maris or Abbott without costello. You remember a few years ago after id just recovered from a bout of those Little strokes that i decided to walk the Marathon Robbie said mischievously. We he and his group of friends were out there five or six hours and the cops were trailing us. I turned and yelled into the cruisers window that i was thrilled they were giving us a police escort to the finish line and the cop yelled Back police escort sir we re from missing yesterday morning Robbie was really missing. The godfather of the Marathon was not where he was sup posed to be and it did to make him very Happy. Not being there was a pain in the ass he said. I thought about going. Heck paralysis is something i can handle but when i was told that if this thing blew up id probably be unable to speak Well that i could to handle. And i Don to want any More hospitals. They say these problems Are brought on by unreasonable enthusiasm and if id been there id have been unreasonably Well Robbie you and 11,000 other people. families make it a fun Day together twin Sisters bring their Young uns along by Julie Horbal for soon-to-be-40-year-old twins Donna Bell and Deb Pfrimmer running a Marathon is about More than just Cross ing the finish line. Yesterday the Sisters made a family affair of the 26th annual Manitoba Marathon bringing a team of nine fam ily members to run the half Marathon and relay events. I think its really great to get the fam ily involved said Bell who headed the Crew from la Salle. Especially when the kids Are the age our kids Are right now. They can either hang out at the 7-eleven or go for a run with Bell completed the half Marathon with her husband Don 38, her two daughters 12-year-old Jen and 10-year-old Nikki her Nephew Bryce Pfrimmer and her brother in Law Paul Pfrimmer 39. Com ing in shortly behind them were Deb Pfrimmer and her two younger children Amanda 9, and seven year old Evan. Jen Bell credits having her family run Ning with her the whole Way As a great motivator to finish the race and not give in to the recurring urge to quit. Running with my family really pushes me so i can finish said Jen who had a Tough go at the half Marathon but completed it because she had some help and a special incentive. I was hurting in mile 4, but they were encouraging me. Plus my mom said if i ran the whole thing i did to have to go to school today the Marathon marked the third out ing for the entire Bell Pfrimmer clan ? and they weren to the Only ones using the Day As a Chance to get the whole family involved in physical activity. Sofia Kolodziej 29, crossed the finish line of the Winnipeg free press 10k walk with a Friend a stroller and her two year old son Peter in Tow. Kolodziej has participated in the walk for three years and her husband de has taken part in the running events. I think its important to get the family out Here and do it As a family thing said Kolodziej. Every year i try to get More members of our family out Here and every year i succeed a Little bit in convincing Marathon executive director Shirley Lumb said the 10k walk is an increasingly popular Way of getting everyone in the family involved. Marathon continued from Page b1 this is my second one half Marathon so far. I ran one a month ago but i think i might run something Shorter during the rest of the the winning men a Marathon relay team was a Kew elite also Manitoba bosons track team members comprising Loutitt Bradley Keefe Jeremy Walker Mike Booth and Kristjan Hunter with a time of 2 53 49. Winning the female Marathon relay was the Quick Chicks team also Manitoba bosons track team members of Jen Nifer Krywiak Janelle Vincent tyra Dickson Lynne Laporte and Roxie Trembath in a time of 2 57 21. The win Ning mixed Marathon relay team was optimal 2, comprising Jamie Fox Stephanie Romanson Kailee Young Dahl Lyle Motluk and Greg Miller with a time of 2 53 49. Mountbatten a school spirit shines on race Day by Ashley Prest Mountbatten school will close forever 10 Days from now but the indomitable Spir it of the 56-year-old educational institutes students was openly displayed yesterday at the 2004 Manitoba Marathon. Its a school of just 59 students but 40 of them participated in the Marathon club run by teacher Terry Happy Chuk. A Crew of 60 students parents and teachers ran 2.6 Miles in the great West life super run or the Marathon relay starting out at the University of Manitoba stadium. Clad in special Turquoise shirts saying Farewell 2004? on the front the school song was emblazoned on the Back and the slogan the biggest Little school in Louis Riel school division its a pretty special Day ? we know we re out Here doing a Good thing raising Money for the Marathon and its the last time Well be All together said 11-year-old Cara Molly Joseph a Grade 5 student. We be had so much fun with the Marathon club with mrs. Happy Chuk wed be nowhere without Joseph and her nine year old brother Tanner will go next year to Samuel Bur land school along with most of the mount Batten kids while Happy Chuk will teach at Shamrock school. Poignant experience its been a very poignant experience preparing for this Marathon ? most of us Are past our grief and understand its time to move on said Happy Chuk who started the Marathon club four years ago when she came to the school. This year the children began twice a week training sessions in Early april at 7 30 . Considering it snowed in May this year they persevered through some harsh weather thanks in part to Hardy souls Hap Sychuk a innovative training ideas like dress up Day and some great snacks sup plied by Parent volunteers. Everyone Here has just been soaking up there year its very powerful said Hap Sychuk whose Multi age class of Kinder Garten and grades 1 and 2 made time capsules to open when they Are in Grade 12. I be been in education a Long time and this by far has been my richest experience. This is the Little Gem in my when word came Down in june 2003 that the provincial government refused to fund an estimated $400,000 in structural repairs needed for Mountbatten a Hardy group of parents took up the Challenge of trying to save the school. Their bid was unsuccessful but their Community spirit was an exam ple to other areas. Located at 3191 St. Mary sri. South of the perimeter Highway in a Community known As St. Germain the school will close its doors for Good on june 30. Its been really fun training for the Marathon ? we know Well see each other again at Samuel Burland said Mac Wood Mackenzie a Grade 5 student who ran the relay with Riley Campbell Taylor Habicht Naomi Happy Chuk and Adam Borton. ;