Running Partners Make Race Fun

By lauragates on Monday, May 19, 2008
Filed Under: Local News, Local People

Beam Reach residents Mike and Susan Kisker have run a half marathon together every year they’ve been married (the last 12 years).

“We planned our children around the Mini Marathon,” said Susan, an athletic mother of two.

So when the Kiskers heard about the first Geist Half Marathon, they quickly added it to their calendar. Like many others who ran Saturday’s big race, the Geist couple were proud members of the “May Marathon Club,” meaning they participated in two half marathons during the month. (The 500 Festival Mini Marathon took place two weeks before the Geist Half).

The Kiskers always run the Mini Marathon (although Susan adds that she walked the two years her children were born). The Geist Half was her 20th half-marathon.

A neighbor and training partner, Dan Bellovary, also ran the Geist Half with the Kiskers, logging a personal best time of 1 hour, 45 minutes. Dan said he runs in Cambridge “all the time,” so the hilly course was a familiar circuit for him. He loved running right past his neighborhood during this first race around the reservoir.

All three of these seasoned marathoners said they were impressed with the organization of the race and will participate again next year.

“They did a really good job for being the first year,” Mike Kisker said.

Chicago resident John Clements and his son, Tom, agreed. They consider it a father-son bonding experience to run a mini marathon together each year, and this year they chose the Geist Half. John logged his personal best time at 2 hours, 8 minutes. (“He ran much faster!” John says of Tom).

While many runners participated with family members, there were a few who brought along more unusual race-day partners.

DeeAnn Mulvey packed her chihuahua Jaeda in a front carrier as she speed-walked the 5K. Fully dressed for the occasion in a lacy, turquoise outfit, Jaeda seemed to enjoy the change of “pace.”

“She loved it,” Mulvey reported after the race, adding that Jaeda “helped me keep going” after her 14-year-old son, Evan, had left them far behind.

Melissa Pitcher also ended up packing some extra weight for the 5K. After unexpectedly being told she couldn’t use a stroller, Melissa decided to strap her 9-month-old daughter, Maelin, into a front carrier.

“We threw on the pack and said, ‘We’re going anyway,’” Melissa said, adding after the race, “I’m a little more exhausted than I thought I’d be!” A social worker at McCordsville Elementary, Pitcher signed up for the 5K as a way to support the local schools.

Finishing the race feels great — especially when you can share it with someone you love!

Check out more photos of runners with their training partners and race-day support teams!

Popularity: 2% [?]

About the Author

As Managing Editor of at.Geist.com, it's probably no suprise that I have loved writing ever since I was old enough to make up a story and write it down on paper. In high school, I discovered journalism and began writing "true stories" for my school paper. My favorite type of story then (and now) was a good feature article on an interesting person. I was editor-in-chief my senior year and loved the opportunity to be "in-the-know" and to be "known" (since I was always considered "shy" by my peers). I decided early on to pursue journalism during my college years at Ball State, where I worked on the Ball State Daily News, interned at the Kokomo Tribune, and then went to work for The Muncie Star (now the Star-Press). Since I've always enjoyed capturing candid moments, I decided to get a minor in photojournalism, as well. I graduated in 1996 and married my college sweetheart, William. We moved to Castleton, and I worked as a reporter for the Noblesville Daily Ledger (out of the Fishers office on Ind. 37) until my first child was born in June of 1999. Since then, I have enjoyed staying home with my three children, ages 3-9. Through the years, I have done freelance journalism, wedding and family photography and corporate public relations. Being a Mom is the best job of all! To accommodate our growing family, we moved to the Highlands at Geist in October 2005. I started writing for atGeist in early 2006 and was excited to be getting involved with the community while using my journalism skills. I became Managing Editor in early 2007 and have enjoyed meeting many of my "neighbors" who are doing fascinating things. There are so many great people and great stories to be told "at Geist!"