Family Fun on a Roll: 4th Annual Crazy Creek Beer & Bratwurst Run

The Fourth Annual Crazy Creek Beer & Bratwurst Run, held at Crazy Creek Glider Port just north of Middletown on Sunday, Sept. 25, proved once again that the Mighty Milers know how to put on a successful event. (For a list of top winners and times for each division, please click here.) Despite threatening skies and an occasional shower, we pulled off a great race, with more than 120 participants, many of them families attracted by our brand of fun fitness. Where to start the praise parade? Under the tutelage of club Prez Jeanine “EverReady Bunny” Burnett, race organizers Pat-in-the-Hat Bright (who also serves as club treasurer on her days off) and Slacker Sully (resplendent in their race-day finery of St. Pauli Girl Gone Giddy and Bratman in a Bun; see photo, below) marshaled the efforts of a fine group of volunteers to pull off a well-organized and well-attended event on this weather-iffy Sunday. But the clouds held and the race happened and everyone went home satisfied. Who could ask for anything more? The organizers were, as always, aided and assisted by Bill “Voice of the Milers” Burnett, who led not only the crack timing team (ably assisted at the finish line by longtime Milers Rene and Hilde DeFeminis as well as Jackie Jordan) but also the course crew (with Tyler “In a Class by Himself” Burnett offering his services for a multitude of tasks). Then, Milers Activity Director Ginny “Dynamite” Cholez (fresh from her triumph leading the Milers in their first-ever participation at the Pear Festival Parade the day before) headed up a fine phalanx at the registration table, including Miler Veep Tanya Michel as well as Becky Whitt and Jeanette and Mike Addis. Special thanks need be paid here to club member Steve Whitt, whose handyman know-how came in handy for posting signs and banners and generally applying his skills to a myriad of details. And let’s not forget Don “Beermeister” Fournier for manning the brewski station, as well as Randy Brown for arranging a special donation of soda pop and ice from Clearlake Oaks Red and White Market. Also, big thanks to Paula Bryant for preparing and setting up the pre-race coffee/juice/pastry table. And, for their jump-in-and-get-things done assistance, a big debt of gratitude is owed Deb Eggers, Joy Astley, and Tina Scott. And a big pat on the back to the Lake Committee for providing a bevvy of bustling bodies to help us with barbecuing the brats, staffing the finish-line timing, and providing logistics support. Finally, we can’t forget our sponsors, Jim and Connie Indrebo for graciously letting us run amok at their Crazy Creek Glider Port, and Mike Mullin, of Whispering Pines Mountain Pure Spring Water, who donated what everyone needs most at a run. To these folks and anyone else we may have forgotten, a colossal, from-the-heart thank-you.