Running
Over the past couple of years, the Oak-William Runners (OWies) have become a talented bunch of marathoners with about half of their entire membership cranking out some impressive results. Membership in the group is pretty informal, so exact numbers are vague, but maybe 20-25 runners are at least semi-active members (some of us decidedly "semi"). Last year, six OWies runners ran the Boston Marathon, with five finishing between 3:28 and 3:35-excellent times on a course known for its difficulty. And you have to qualify for Boston (time standards vary by age); you can't just register and run. These guys are all over the age of 40 with busy careers, so it was clear that serious marathon fever had infected the group.

This year, OWies' marathoners were more spread out, but also impressive. In April at Boston again, Russell Bartt ran 3:24 and Tom Pasternak ran 3:26, meeting qualifying times for next year's marathon (yes, you can qualify again for Boston at Boston). And on the following weekend, Dirk Eddelbuettel ran 3:24 at the London Marathon.

Into the fall marathon season in late September, Dirk then ran the Berlin Marathon, setting an impressive personal record of 3:13 and qualifying for Boston. Up at the Twin Cities Marathon on Oct. 5, Dave Chen ran 3:29, while Brent Friesen ran 3:26, both Boston qualifiers. And on the same day in Milwaukee, Paul Aeschleman ran 3:26-another Boston qualifier-while Mel Smith finished in a nice 3:42.

A week later at the Chicago Marathon, on a very warm day, Dave Knight posted a commendable 3:48 for his first marathon, while Bob Maxson served as a pace group leader, carrying a 4:30 sign ahead of his group through the course. Unfortunately, Jamie Schmidt suffered severe leg cramps and struggled in at 4:48. But it was his post-knee surgery comeback, so on a bad day his effort was commendable.

Finally, in Philadelphia on Nov. 23, Russell Bartt and Eric Podlasek cranked out impressive times of 3:17 and 3:14, respectively, Bartt's time a Boston qualifier. So, by my count that's 11 OWies members running one or more marathons in 2008, about half of the entire group, and six of them qualifying for Boston next April.

But perhaps most impressive was Eddelbuettel's running of the World Marathon Majors. The five highest profile marathons in the world-Boston, Chicago, New York, London and Berlin-award big prize money to runners with the best overall places in these races spread over a two-year period (top competitors cannot do five in a single year).

"The idea was born after having run Chicago a few times, qualifying for Boston and winning a New York lottery entry," said Eddelbuettel of his experience. "With friends to visit in New York, London and Berlin, it became feasible."

So Eddelbuettel applied for race entries, made travel reservations, and it was him versus the Ethiopians and the Kenyans. He ran good times at Boston, Chicago (in the record heat) and New York in 2007. He did the same at London and Berlin this year, culminating with his personal best of 3:13, noted above, and capping a two-year marathon adventure.

And next April, a half-dozen OWies members will again conquer Boston.

Paul Oppenheim is a member of the OWies and the Oak Park Runners Club.