Bobby Johnson race not for the vertically challenged

August 14th 2:20 am | James Mason    

The hill in the Bobby Johnson Summer's Bay Classic would make a professional bicycle racer weak in the knees. Not only is it steep, but the surface is loose gravel. In some parts staying on the bike is almost out of the question. Even running can be a challenge due to the combination of incline and loose footing.

"The climb was in pretty good shape," said Mandy Anderson, the winner in the adult female bike category. Competitors could ride or run, their choice. "I thought it was going to be a lot looser," she said. On the downhill Anderson took it nice and easy. "There was a lot of big gravel on it. IÕm just a chicken on that stuff."

The first finisher was Jed Smith, a filmmaker for APL. He rode one of his boys' bikes. He decided to win he'd have to beat them on the climb, as he wasn't interested in risking his neck on a wild descent. His son Joppa finished second and won the teen boys bike division.

Most of the racers expressed concern about the descent, with loose gravel on steep hills representing the possibility of crashing.

"It was a lot better than when I rode a month ago," said Jeff Bornjraeber, one of five construction workers from Lakeview General to ride. "It was fast!"

The first runner to finish of the 13-mile race was Mary Krusen, who ran a respectable 1:46:46. That would be a good half-marathon time on a paved flat-course. Mary accomplished it on a course with little pavement and an 1,100 foot hill covered by loose, chunky gravel.

"Running up hill is definitely my strength," said Krusen. "I do like to run up the hill and then just hold on to whatever I've got for the rest of it." No walking was necessary for the nurse who also did well in the Ballyhoo Run two weeks ago. "I ran the whole time."

Seventeen racers started the event, eight cyclists and nine runners. All finished except the cyclist who was the victim of too many flat tires. He had so many flats he ran out of patches.

Zoya Johnson and Holly Holman finished the race together, arms linked, smiling. The race is named for Zoya's husband Bobby, who she described as "very competitive."

"He was one of those who never needed extra attention," she said. "So this would be something he did not expect. He'd be laughing wherever he is."

"Rule number one is always look good at the finish line," said Zoya after being complimented on her appearance after such a long race.

She said the first year of the race was probably 1998 and that in that past they'd had as many as 60 entrants.

Results:

Teen boys bike: Joppa Smith, 1:08:59. Teen boys run: Joseph Henning, 1:43:54 (Joseph started out on a bike, switched to running after a flat tire). Adult male bike: Jed Smith, 59:34, Jeff Bornjraeber, 1:12:58, Buck Garmany, 1:13:22, and Patrick Bliss, 1:19:06. Adult male run: Eric Graham, 2:04.06. Adult female bike: Amanda Anderson, 1:17:50. Adult female run: Mary Krusen, 1:46.46, (new course record), Marcia Wilson, 2:16:19, Zoya Johnson, 2:28:13, Holly Holman, 2:28:13, Pipa Escalante, 2:32:31, Lynda Lybeck-Robinson, 2:42:28, and Lori Gregory, 6:59:17.

 

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James Mason can be reached at jmason@alaskanewspapers.com, or by phone at 907-581-6850