European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 23, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Marathon toughest test for runners by Ron Jensen staff writer or part of its journey toward a quiet Union with the main River West of Frankfurt the Nidd River meanders about the Vogelsburg mountains slips through quiet German villages and shaded forests and eases past farms and Fields. So did the runners in Nio Alauf 89, a face so grand that it was advertised Only in capital letters. A Lew Hundred of the runners traced roughly 80 Kilometres of the River s path Northeast of Frankfurt it was a Tough course it changed a said sgt. Samuel Velasquez the first of six americans to finish ii changed from gravel to tractor paths to Asphalt to Concrete. I remember every step of it although he had run in Lour marathons saturday s even was the first Ultra Marathon Lor Velasquez a personnel administration specialist with he co. V corps in Frankfurt i like to Lake on a Challenge from time to time he said a Marathon is 42.2 Kilometres which is 26 Miles 385 Yards the nid Alauf 89 Ultra Marathon lived up to its capital letters by nearly doubling that distance falling just Short of 50 Miles Velasquez was on the course for 8 hours 42 minutes it s the first Ultra Marathon in Germany said Helmut Warmrodt an official with Tus Nieder Eschbach. The sports club that has directed the even annually since 1986 the race was first proposed by the club president Warmrodt said we said stupid impossible " thai the club members were wrong was proven As the Day s Fust rays of sunlight sliced through the Trees of the Vogelsberg. More than 400 runners gathered in the morning coolness loosening Muscles for the Long Day ahead thai would see the temperature Strelch into the mid 80s among them was sgt Jack Vincent of the 54lh engr in in Wil Flecken. West Germany. A major i work for found the registration form and told me i was probably crazy enough to do he said before his first Ultra Marathon i m confident. I know my after the bark of the Starling gun Al 7 30 a.m., Tho runners men and women teen agers to senior citizens representing 13 countries galloped deeper Inlo the Forest and turned right disappearing from the View of observers not Allol hem were Ultra marathoners. Ten teams of american soldiers ran the course As a relay. Each of Tho eight team members ran 10 Kilometres. One of them was chief warrant officer 2 Wayne Niehus of he co 18th my brigade in Frankfurt who has run iwo marathons would he like to run the Ultra Marathon maybe next year you really have to Tram for fourteen Kilometres Down Iho Trail from Tho Start was the first pit Slop. More than 200 soldiers irom the t8th my brigade manned the 15 slops along the Roule a task thai had belonged to the 3rd div the first three years. The division declined to help this year because of Field exorcise commitments. This year it s said Cap Bob Jones of the brigade. The soldiers gave out Lea water and a Mineral drink to passing runners Al each Point. We could t do it without the said Warmrodt Al the first Pil Slop the leaders breezed through 47 minutes after the Start some reached Lor the drink others declined the offers. A runner irom the soviet Union asked Vodka Vodka As he wont by Wilh a smile. In the Lown of Nieder Flors Ladt about 47 Kilometres into the race the first runner passed Al 10.28am. Hosts photos by Gus Schuettler was Hans Peter Roos a 28-year-old Swiss computer specialist who would eventually win the race. He accepted no dunks but grabbed a Damp sponge thai he squeezed Over his head at this Point the runners were stretched out Over several Kilometres some losing strength As the Day began to warm. They still came two hours alter Roos had passed. Some stopped to refresh under a Shower of cold water along the path As the water cooled the body of one German runner he sighed wonderful. Splendid it is hero that Pam Lavigno prepared to join the race not As a competitor but As a running partner. She and Velasquez were teammates on the Frankfurt roadrunners although they had never met. Like others in the club she ran with Velasquez to Pace and encourage him. It s like a family said Lavigne an Eye specialist at Frankfurt regional medical Center. Your lags an carrying All Iho Hopes of others " she eventually ran the last 20 Miles with Velasquez. They were a great help Velasquez said later. I think would have run poorly and would t have done As Well without their help they were a Good support Al the finish. Roos whizzed across the finish Lino like a Man completing a sprint and was greeted by applause a handshake from Kar Rodl and a Mug of Beer which he downed in three gulps he completed the race in 5 hours 23 minutes and 23 seconds. Kar Rodl said last year we had much better Page 14 the stars and stripes wednesday at
