This month our spotlight is on Renee Barr. Renee has completed full marathons, a couple of 50k races and a 27 mile event, but then decided to really go for it with her eyes set on the Tunnel Hill 50-mile event in Vienna, IL held in November. I asked Renee the obvious question, why??? Why would you decide to sign up for a 50 mile race? Who does such crazy things? Or in the words of distance runner author Dean Karnazes, "If you want to talk to God, run an ultra."

What a surprise to hear Renee reply, "Because I wanted the belt buckle medal given to all finishers." She admitted that probably sounded odd, but said most races that hand out belt buckle medals are 100 mile distances and this one rewards belt buckles for 50 miles. She had previously signed up for this event but then Covid cancelled it, and then was injured after deferring to the next year. This past year she decided to do it, saying she was not getting any younger. She was able to talk a good friend into also participating. 

The course was nice and "woodsy," along a gentle state trail. The 50 mile route is an out and back in one direction, and then another out and back in the opposite direction. There is a also a 26.2 mile and 100 mile option. Renee walked more of these miles then she wanted to. It truly humbled her; at times she felt like her accomplishment was diminished because of how long it took her to complete it. But looking back she is very proud of completing this. The event started at 7 am, she didn't reach the finish line until after 10 pm. There were faster participants, but were also many with DNF's (did not finish). How impressive that she was able to keep herself going for that amount of time! 

Renee credits her father Ron for her determination. There were many times she felt like stopping.... she was nauseous with stomach issues by mile 18, had to lay on a bench to stretch out her painful back, had her leg taped up to reduce chronic knee pain that resurfaced, and had to run through rain towards the end. With 10 miles remaining she realized she should call her parents. They would be expecting to hear from her and would be getting concerned as their bedtime hour was nearing, so she assured them she was doing ok and would make it to the finish. She basically hurt everywhere. Although she did not see many others out on the course for most of the later miles, and at one point alone by herself believes she heard a coyote in the darkness, she was bound and determined to just keep moving forward and complete this. 

When Renee crossed the 50-mile finish line at 15:10, she was disappointed and confused to find no one there. She looked further ahead in the darkness and saw people there at the 100-mile finish line mats. So she had to continue further before she could stop. Ughhh! It was there she just cried with emotion because she was so spent and happy with what she did. 

Any advice or lessons learned? What about coming into the race with a plan? No, Renee does not follow this practice, instead saying she just "wings it." She believes that too many people try to give too much advice. Although they are just trying to be helpful, advice doesn't work for everyone. Everyone is different. She wanted to lace up and get back out on a run in the days that followed, but her body took quite a beating and she needed to give herself an extended break from running. She had only been out running a handful of times since then. 

Renee learned a lot about herself that day, and what she was capable of. She says, "Anyone who puts their mind to it, can do it. Whether it's 1 mile, 5k, or a longer distance, it doesn't matter. Don't let others tell you you can't do something." When she finished she told her parents she would never do this again. They just laughed because she said the same thing after she finished her first marathon. Then she thought, "Maybe I could do it faster the next time...."

If anyone is interested in attempting a run of this distance, Renee highly recommends this one. The friendly volunteers were top notch, "very upbeat and there for you," and the mashed potatoes at the aid station were wonderful!

Clay Weiss, age 65, of Omro, Wisconsin passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, March 29 in Berlin, Wisconsin.  He was surrounded by family and friends. Clay fought a long battle with heart and kidney disease.

He was humble person and requested to not have a funeral service for him. There will be a Celebration of Life, on Sunday, April 6 at 5 p.m. at 4800 West Scotch Pine Court, in Appleton.

Clay Weiss was born in Lake Bluff, Illinois on March 16, 1960. He graduated from Berlin High School.

Clay cleaned at Seneca in the maintenance department as well as other businesses. He loved his tools and never compromised on getting the best tools as he took pride in his cleaning.  More than his love of cleaning, was his passion for running.  He did track and cross country in high school and after that graduated into doing many marathons and local running events.  Clay Weiss was an avid member of our club and a gatekeeper of the Pacesetters Training Runs volunteering every Saturday at the summer training runs to do a water station for three years. He also helped every year with the St. Joe’s Run and Rethink Addiction Run where he received the “Best Volunteer of the Year” Award in 2023.

Being proud of his Native American Heritage, Clay exemplified his courageousness, loyalty, hard-working and tenacity. Immediately after his death and keeping in the spirit of his Native American tradition, the window in Clay’s room was opened to release his spirit. We will not forget you, Clay. 

Enough is enough! Or is it? The legendary Eliud Kipchoge, the king of marathons, has officially announced his retirement from Olympic marathon running. Or has he? This comment came after what he called his worst performance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris this past August, when he DNF. With an astounding record of winning 16 out of the 21 marathons he participated in, Kipchoge redefined what it means to be a champion in the world of athletics. His remarkable achievements and relentless pursuit of excellence have inspired millions around the globe.

Although his future running plans are unclear, the 40 year old said he likely will still participate in other marathons. And even though he stated that he was done competing in marathons, he said he still “will go to big city marathons and run with a big group of a thousand people to enjoy running together and inspire every young generation.” He continued by saying, “During the race, just enjoy it. Don’t actually put your mind to something called time – just finish that marathon. You know, it’s not about competing. It’s about finishing. The moment you finish, you will realize that you have done good work. It’s about accomplishment. You have accomplished what you have been training for. So just start. Go to the start line. Run the way you want to run. Make sure you treat yourself. Make sure you go through the finish line. That’s the important thing.”

In a recent interview, Kipchoge shared his desire to shift gears and focus on farming – a passion that reflects his commitment to nurturing not just crops but also future generations. This decision would mark a significant transition in his life, one that we should all respect and celebrate!