Why the Flying Dutchman must flap even harder to fly in 2001...

You may have noticed that Berrie Straatman's times have been getting faster over the past year. Well, he may have to work even harder in this New Year. For Berrie is a marked man! And Mick Flynn will be the least of his concerns this year.

The Dutch have a reputation for direct discourse, resulting from the innocent habit of letting you know exactly what is on their mind at any particular time of day. It's an admirable quality, which assures that you never have to guess what they really think. But you must possess a thick skin and an ample sense of humor. (My wife and her clan, being Dutch Canadian, have given me sufficient experience to speak with authority on this matter.)

Well, at the most recent running of the Alley Oop 6.7 miler, Berrie was in great form, conversationally and otherwise. So was Lou Klitzke. Berrie's strategy involved walking some of the hills but recouping at a blistering pace on the level and down-hill stretches of the course. Lou Klitizke, on the other hand, powered through hills, level patches, and descents alike. No one, however, could have predicted the drama that was to fully unfold only after the finish line.

Berrie blazed by Lou toward the last stretch and entered the finishers' chute a mere 9 seconds ahead of her. Good race!

After the cooldown and some refreshments, Lou casually remarked to Berrie that he was running really well and that he had certainly pulled off an admirable race. Berrie, with equal candor and tact remarked, "Yeah, well I just told myself I wasn't going to let any 60+ year old lady beat me."

....Silence.... deep sucking sound....barely audible at first but building in primal power, Lou returned to consciousness and uttered in the presence of several bystanders, "Aw-w-w-w! well! if I'd known he was thinking like that I would've buried him! I just thought, 'Oh well, it's Berrie, I'll let him go by." Never again! hoooo-o-o-o-o boy! not after that crack."

Now it is probably true that Berrie will be invincible in the 5k and flatter courses, but he will definitely have something to look forward to in anything 10k and above with hills. And so will we!

In it for the Long Run,

Neil Culbertson, GRC Prez
01-03-2001 (c)