Milers Don’t Melt, and Ninth Annual Spring Has Sprung Proves It

The Lake County Milers have a saying when the skies threaten rain: “Milers don’t melt.” That means we don’t use the weather as an excuse to cancel our regularly scheduled runs–or our special events, either.

A sudden shower didn't dampen the spirits of runners and walkers in the ninth annual Spring Has Sprung.

In that spirit, almost 140 Milers, their kids, friends, guests, and other runners and walkers showed up on a rainy, blustery Sunday, May 15, for the ninth annual Spring Has Sprung, the Milers’ signature event of the year. The 2011 version of SHS was a winner in all respects–an entirely respectable turnout (including folks who traveled from throughout Northern California), great times (click here for results), terrific awards and prizes, sizable donations to both the Upper Lake High School cross-country and Middletown High School track teams ($900 to each), and cooperation and camaraderie across the board–especially from our star sponsor, the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District, which has stood behind the Milers in this event for years. (Thanks as well to Gold Sponsor Twin Pine Casino and Hotel along with the other sponsors for their ongoing support of our fitness events.)

From left, Milers Megan Casey-Buffalo, Annie Tyrell and Sarah Carlisle take off under light rain -- and a rainbow.

Among the runners with noteworthy times were Alex Wolf-Root (president of the Empire Runners), who came from Santa Rosa to take first overall in the 10K with a time of 35 minutes 20 seconds (followed by Miler Steve Whitt in second place at 45:57 and Miler Member-at-Large Joy Astley in third at 47:56). In the 5K, Clint Stevens of Calistoga was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 18:22; he was followed in second by Ian Hoff of Kelseyville at 18:24 and Steven Pitsenbarger of Sausalito at 19:30. Among the winning women joining Joy in the 10K were Elizabeth Meza of Windsor, sprinting across the finish line in second at 47:58, and Alisha Bazzano of Hidden Valley Lake in third at 48:10. Katie Mansell of Lakeport led the women in the 5K, with a time of 23:39, followed by Julie Jensen of Kelseyville in second at 23:48 and Bailey Couey (also of Kelseyville) in third at 23:59. (It should be noted that Ms. Couey is only 10 years old.)

Bailey Couey, a 10-year-old from Kelseyville, took third in the 5K female division.

Thanks to all the Milers who gave their time and effort, including Event Majordomo Jeanine “EverReady Bunny” Burnett; her husband, Bill “I’ll Never Say No To You” Burnett (if there were ever a candidate for Mr. Calm & Collected, he’s it); Tyler “In a Class By Himself” Burnett (the “all-in-the-family” volunteer who gave new meaning to “guy on the go”); Chiyako Ito (club secretary who nailed the pre-registration entries and post-race medal handout); Timing Crew Leaders Michael and Jetta Meadows (Jetta also uploaded the winners to our Active webpage), superbly assisted by Rene and Hilde DeFeminis; Milers Activity Director Ginny Cholez (who found no task too menial) and her husband, Dennis Cholez (who provided logistical support galore); jack-of-all-trades Steve Whitt and his jill-par-excellence, Becky Whitt; Miler Veep Tanya Michel; registration-desk wizards Jeanette Addis, Georgeann Tintorri, Jackie Jordan, and Debbie Eggers; coffee-and-hot cocoa kahuna Paula Bryant; traffic-control mavens Barry Bratt and Don Fournier; Tom and Merci Hoskins for their help smoothing our entry into the Coyote Valley Elementary School auditorium and other valuable assistance; Member-at-Large Joy Astley (who whipped the whippersnappers into shape for the under-8 race); and former Veep Heather Johnson (who kept the award ceremony running on time). And to everyone and anyone we’ve forgotten or neglected to mention who contributed time, cash, prizes, or goods, a BIG MILER THANKS. We look forward to your continued support for the Tenth SHS in 2012.

Below are a few photographs from SHS No. 9 (click on the image to enlarge the picture). For more photos, see our Facebook album.