Photograph by Clint Thayer Selected for Exhibition at the National Art Museum of Sport

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WORK BY WISCONSIN ARTIST SELECTED BY THE NATIONAL ART MUSEUM OF SPORT

Madison, WI – October 24, 2011 – A fine art photograph entitled “Driving Rain” (2010) by Madison, WI artist Clint Thayer has been selected for exhibition placement in the 2nd Annual International Fine Arts Competition: Commitment to Excellence in Art & Sport. The juried competition was conducted by the National Art Museum of Sport (NAMOS) in Indianapolis, IN. The exhibit will run at NAMOS from October 27, 2011-February 29, 2012.

Over 300 entries were submitted by artists from 44 states and 9 countries. Thayer is the only artist in the state of Wisconsin whose work was selected.

“Driving Rain” depicts Arrietta Walker Clauss of Madison, WI during the Mid-America Time Trial Series Finale in September 2010. Clauss holds the 2010 and 2011 USA Cycling National Time Trial championship titles for her age division. “To me, ‘Driving Rain’ represents complete and utter determination,” said Thayer. “In seeking to bridge the worlds of art and sport I focus on composition and on finding the emotional element where sport and the human experience overlap, and both were aligned within this image,” said Thayer.

Founded in 1959, NAMOS maintains one of the largest collections of fine art depicting sport in the United States. The museum is dedicated to encouraging artists engaged in the genre, and also to collect, preserve, and share the best examples of sport art NAMOS can acquire. “The founder of NAMOS, Germain G. Glidden, was a portrait artist and champion squash player,” said NAMOS Executive Director Elizabeth C. Varner. “Glidden believed that sport art is like the Olympics: it has the power to bring together people from all over the world in peace,” said Varner.

Over 40 sports are represented in the over 900 paintings, sculptures, and photographs at NAMOS. Artists whose works are included in the permanent collection include George Bellows, Ogden Pliessner, Winslow Homer, Ray Ellis, James Fiorentino, Joe Brown, and Alfred Boucher.

The museum’s first home was in Madison Square Garden in New York. It has been in Indianapolis since 1990, and will present events related to Indianapolis’ hosting of Superbowl XLVI on February 12, 2012.

The National Art Museum of Sport at 850 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN is open free to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. For group tours and weekend hours call 317.274.3627 or e-mail ecvarner@iupui.edu; for more information see http://www.namos.iupui.edu. A free opening reception for the 2nd Annual International Fine Arts Competition will be held from 5-7 pm on Thursday, October 27, 2011. 

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Madison Police Department Service Team: IronMan Wisconsin Athletes Honor 9/11

For Lori Anderson, known to her friends as Lori Lu, the decision to train for the 2011 Ford IronMan Wisconsin rested on one simple fact: race day would occur on 9/11/2011, the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. "I have the privilege of being part of a team of athletes that will honor this day and the lives lost," wrote Anderson. As a Detective with 11.5 years of service for the Madison Police Department, Anderson decided to participate in the service team. A seasoned triathlete, she had completed other half-IronMan distance events, but this would be her first attempt at the full IronMan. 

For several other members of the Madison Police Department, 9/11/2011 was an occasion to mark as well. "There are 13 Madison Police Department officers (Patrol, Detectives, Investigators, Lieutenants, and Captain) on the service team," said Anderson. As colleagues juggling demanding schedules, some trained for the race together, but most trained independently. Although preparing for such an intense race throughout the season requires countless hours spent in solitude and sweat, Police Officer Linda Baehmann felt deeply positive about her training regime. Baehmann wrote, "My favorite things about training for an Ironman are being outside and enjoying our beautiful state, appreciating the opportunity to be physically active, meeting new athletes, and adhering to a motto I try to throughout my life is being better today than yesterday." 

The World Triathlon Corporation reserved 150 registration slots for police, fire, and EMS  athletes who will be participating in the 2011 Ford IronMan Wisconsin. Athletes in this category were offered priority during registration, low bib numbers (45-199), a specially designated transition area located next to the pro triathlete transition, and will wear specially designated royal blue bib numbers.

On a deeply emotionally significant anniversary of 9/11, Anderson summed up her thoughts: "I will be thinking of ALL of the families who lost loved ones, that day.  They are still suffering, still coping, still surviving!"

For Baehmann, the dedication to fellow police officers serves as inspiration through the most difficult moments in training and competition. "The thing that keeps me going during an event, especially when things aren't going as planned, is the thought of my fellow police officers that I am responsible for training," wrote Baehmann. "I try to lead by example.  I tell them to never quit, especially when we are talking about fighting for their lives, so how can I possibly quit something so 'easy' as a triathlon.  They are my motivation."

On the Thursday prior to the race, the 13 members of the Madison Police Department IronMan Service Team gathered for group photos. Focal Flame Photographer Clint Thayer photographed them as the early evening sun reflected off the the Wisconsin State Capitol building. "It was such a pleasure and an honor to work with these athletes," said Thayer. "My stepfather was a police officer, so I have a lot of memories of the camaraderie and fellowship that develops among fellow cops."

An impromptu humorous moment developed during the photo session when a police officer on patrol who was not part of the team or the photo shoot happened to drive by the group. "I asked the Service Team athletes if there was any way we could ask the officer to bring the cruiser up so it could be included in the photo," said Thayer. The officers laughed, quickly motioned to their colleague, and explained the situation. "I saw her smile, nod, and then the next thing I knew she put the car into gear and popped the curb. Having the cruiser as a backdrop was utterly perfect. There were also a few laughs and Blues Brother movie references to 'cop shocks,'" said Thayer. 

Anderson has kept a blog describing her IronMan Wisconsin training and is raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of her husband, a cancer survivor. In the last days before the race, her mind is filled with the encouragement of friends and family, many of whom have written testimonials on her blog. "I’m not terribly confident that I will finish, but I’m proud of what I have accomplished already and I’m looking forward to the event," wrote Anderson. 

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Cyclocross Mag and Focal Flame Profile Cyclocross Champion Logan Owen

Some days start out in an ordinary fashion. And some days, the ordinary moment changes in an instant when an email or phone call comes through. Which is why a photographer always needs to have gear ready and batteries charged, right?

Right.

And that’s exactly what happened on a summer day in July when Clint Thayer of Focal Flame Photography was contacted by Josh Liberles, editor of Cyclocross Magazine, with an assignment to cover junior cycling phenom Logan Owen, 16 years old, from Bremertown, WA.

Winner of an unprecedented six national cyclocross titles, Owen was in Wisconsin for the Tour of America’s Dairyland road cycling series, racing in the pro/1/2 category with the Hagens Berman cycling team from Washington State.

“Logan Owen made a splash early on - he took second place in the first National Championship he ever competed in. That was also the first 'cross RACE he'd ever done, so pretty impressive stuff,” wrote Liberles. “So I became aware of him, as well as some of the other really talented Junior and Masters racer just over the past few years, I'd say.”

It would be impossible not to take notice of Owen, considering that he started racing BMX…at age 4. A multi-talented athlete, he holds multiple National Championship titles in not just cyclocross, but also BMX and outdoor and indoor inline skating. He's been invited to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for both road cycling and inline skating.

Thayer had a chance to catch up with Owen at the Greenbush Road Race to shoot some off-bike portraits as well as pre-race coverage. “We had arranged the shoot in advance, and as I pulled up to the team I said, ‘Coach, how long do I have with him?’ The coach barked out, ‘Fifteen minutes, tops.’”

With a shy smile and red hair styled into a slight spike, Owen warmed to the camera. “It was so much fun to work with him,” said Thayer. “He’s just beginning to grab the attention of the press, and it was a real honor to be among the first photographers to profile him.”

Liberles, author of the article, echoed Thayer’s sentiments. When asked what drew him to Owen’s story, Liberles wrote, “…his self awareness and his approach. He's also just a cool kid, and he has tons of potential; it was a treat to get to know him and his family.”

With cyclocross season just around the corner and the sport becoming seriously big in the Midwest, the locals in Madison are looking forward to welcoming Owen back for Nationals, which will be hosted in Madison, WI on January 4-8, 2012.

Cyclocross Magazine can’t wait, either. “Nationals is always a big focus for our publication,” wrote Liberles. “We combine online coverage before, during and after [the races] with really cool comprehensive looks at the event in our print magazine. We've celebrated each and every winner, from the 9 to 10-year-old Juniors, to Elites, to 70+ year-old Masters, with a profile for the past 4 editions of Nationals. This year we may shake things up a bit, but you can count on our Nats coverage being something you won't want to miss!”

Interested in Cyclocross Magazine Issue 13, dubbed by CX fans as ‘Lucky 13’? Subscribe or order online, or visit your local bookstore or cyclocross-friendly bike shops nationwide.

And be sure to follow Focal Flame Photography for some sweet coverage of the local races this season. But bring your cowbell. And prepare to get muddy.

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- Post authored by Focal Flame Photography writer Robyn M. Perrin

Tri-ing for Children: Dual Triathlons with Heart

You’re never too young to be a triathlete. That was the message at the 2011 Tri-ing for Children Kid’s Triathlon on July 23, when children as young as 3 – not far removed from toddlerhood – swam, biked, and ran a beautiful triathlon course in Southern Kettle Moraine State Park in Wisconsin.

The next day, 422 adult triathletes joined in the fun, competing as individuals or teams on sprint and Olympic-distance triathlon courses.

“The race began six years ago in Menominee Park,” said Ryan Griessmeyer, Race Director and owner of Race Day Events, LLC. “There was a one-year hiatus and the RDE took it over and moved it to Ottawa Lake,” said Griessmeyer.

The spring-fed lake provided a beautiful venue for the event, and the swim route for the youngest athletes featured water levels deep enough to accommodate swim strokes but shallow enough for the kids to touch the bottom of the lake if needed. “Because of the lake swim, we wanted to make sure the kids were kept very safe,” said Greissmeyer. “Allowing parents in the water with them helped. We also have a very experienced open water safety team.” Greissmeyer and the Race Day Events staff chose the location based on its accessibility to both Madison and Milwaukee, as well as the close proximity of excellent roads for the bike course. Another unique aspect? “The support of the local DNR, Police, Fire and EMS,” said Greissmeyer.

Support from volunteers was key as well. Highly experienced triathlete Brenda Knighton-Slatter of Janesville, WI decided to support the kids’ race through a gift of her time and energy. “I need to start giving back to the sport I enjoy so much, and the best way for me to do that is to volunteer when I am not racing,” said Knighton-Slatter. “It is very rewarding, especially when one of the racers you cheered for came back with a big grin on his face and showed me his medal with excitement!”

But the kids on the triathlon course weren’t the only winners. A portion of the race proceeds plus additional funds raised by the event were donated to American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. “The Children’s Hospitals were very excited to receive our donation,” said Greissmeyer.

As it turns out, some healthy outdoor competition for kids and adults of all ages has the power to lift spirits…while also supporting the healing work of hospitals serving pediatric patients. Knighton-Slatter summed it up: “The smiles on the faces of the kids racing in the triathlon really made my day and made me think about my own races – and the importance of smiling and having a good time!”

To view more photos from the 2011 Tri-ing for Children’s Triathlon, see the Kids’ Race Gallery or the Adult Race Gallery on the Focal Flame online store. Prints, digitals, and more are available for purchase. 

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Focal Flame Shoots Ad Campaign for Bike Fed: Reasons to Commute by Bike

Some of the best days in photography happen when the phone rings, and after the call ends, you think, "Wow, we HAVE to be a part of that." 

That was the situation when the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin asked Focal Flame Photography to be part of their ad campaign to help promote cycling in the Madison, Wisconsin area. A series of advertisements rolled out in newspapers, magazines, and billboards around the region to help spread a simple idea: bikes are a great form of transportation. 

All of the ads featured photographs taken by Madison photographer Clint Thayer, and all will feature local Madisonians - often in iconic locations. The campaign was produced in partnership with 20BY2020, a Bikes Belong advocacy effort that envisions 20% of all transportation occurring in the Madison region by bicycle by the year 2020.

To learn more about the message of the campaign, writer Robyn Perrin interviewed Amanda White, Associate Director of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.

Focal Flame Photography: What inspired the ad campaign?

Amanda White/Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin: We are so fortunate to live in Madison - one of the best cities in the country for biking. We have incredible bike paths, over 50 miles of bike lanes, and new bike boulevards that will prioritize bicyclists. 

However, when we compare Madison to the world's best bicycling cities, we are far behind. Currently, in Madison about 4% of all the commute trips are made by bike. While in cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen, over 50% of trips are made by bike. There are cities in Germany that support 20% of trips made by bike. Not only are these amazing bicycling cities, but they are also healthy, vibrant communities that have very strong economies.

By trying to achieve 20% of the commute trips made by bike by 2020, we are not only improving our bicycling, we are also improving our community. By biking and walking more, we save money on expensive gas, we provide exercise opportunities needed by both children and adults, and we support healthier air quality.

We are using the ad campaign to promote the benefits of bicycling, in addition to promoting our 20by2020 goal. Bicycling is good for individuals, it's good for families, and it's good for Madison. We hope our light-hearted, fun ad campaign will generate buzz around the joy of bicycling.

FFP: The sites for the images were carefully chosen. How did BFW and 20 by 2020 pick these particular locations?

AW: We had a brainstorming session with two excellent marketing volunteers. The message concepts came from these ideas. I then picked the locations based on the messages we were trying to portray.

FFP: Why did you decide to use commissioned photographic imagery in the campaign rather than stock photography or graphics-only?

AW: Using a skilled, professional photographer to shoot local, Madison sites was vital to the campaign. The images are central to the campaign and the most powerful aspect of the ads. We wanted folks to connect with the people in the images and imagine how they themselves may bike. In order to achieve this important connection, it was vital we use real Madisonians and images of popular Madison locations that people would recognize.

We were so fortunate that we had an amazing photographer! The images are exactly what I had envisioned!

Focal Flame Photography is honored to have been part of this important effort to spread awareness about cycling in Wisconsin. Give bike commuting a try! It's simple, fun, and a great way to get around!

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Ride the Drive in Madison, WI: Bikers take to the streets

On Sunday, June 5, 2011, tens of thousands of cyclists are expected to take over the streets of downtown Madison, WI.

It’s not a conspiracy, or a Critical Mass ride, or a competitive event. It is simply a Sunday on which major thoroughfares are traveled by many, many vehicles…all of them having two wheels, and powered by lungs and legs.

The Madison Ride the Drive event has been held since 2009 and is modeled after similar rides held in cities around the world, from the Ciclova in Bogota, Columbia to Bike the Drive in Chicago.

In each case, municipalities coordinate closing streets to motorized traffic and invite cyclists to pedal with gusto.

And pedal they do.

On new bikes, old bikes, fast bikes, rusty bikes, tandems, unicycles, in costumes, and carrying boom boxes. The allure of being able to ride in large groups on roads that are free of car exhaust beckons to many bikers on a nice Sunday in June. The atmosphere is festive, with traffic noises amounting only to the click of gears, kids giggling, and the occasional spontaneous melody from street musicians.

Last year, Focal Flame Photography captured memories for one family participating in a City of Madison Ride the Drive event in August 2010. Parents Jo Ann and Doug rode with their young son, Cooper, who enjoyed a front-row seat of the Ride the Drive in a Burley trailer. Over 20,000 riders participated, many hoping to catch a glimpse of celebrity guest Lance Armstrong.

Cooper, however, was simply enjoying the ride. “Our goal was to get to the kid's bike decorating area,” said Jo Ann, describing one of the community activity areas. “I thought we'd avoid the Lance Armstrong crowd. Funny part was that 10 minutes after we got there, we find out that he's headed there to lead the kid's bike parade,” she laughed. “Everyone was looking for him - we all thought he'd be in yellow - he ends up being this guy in red in front of me who just got off his bike and started writing his name in chalk on ‘the drive.’”

Cooper was enchanted all the while. “The best part was riding the streets and having the whole road to cruise on and not be worried about traffic,” said Jo Ann. “It was a little crazy at times because of so many riders. But a good crazy.”

Cooper and his parents visited the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, made arts and crafts at booths staffed by Madison Sports and Recreation (MSCR) members, and adorned their bikes with streamers.

When asked about the highlights of the day, Jo Ann responded, “How cool it was to see SO many people on bikes and hanging out with friends on the Square. Plus the big grin on Cooper’s face while he was watching his pinwheel fly with him in his bike trailer. And thanks to Clint we have shots of it!!!”

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Thunderbird Bolt: Thoreau Elementary Students Take Wing and Fly

Any adult who has ever been around elementary school-aged children for more than 5 minutes (or who is within spitting distance of their own childhood) can attest to the amazing capacity that kids have for movement – jumping, fidgeting, playing, and chasing each other on the playground.

And anyone who has been involved with public schools in recent years is aware that the need for financial support is great due to declines in funding and increases in student enrollment, as well as increases in demand for student services of all kinds.

So pairing together a 5K race and 1-mile run/walk event to benefit a neighborhood elementary school seemed like a natural fit to Audra Smanski, Kindergarten Teacher at Thoreau Elementary School in Madison, Wisconsin.

“My inspiration for the run came from my personal love of running as well as my involvement over the years in a 5k fundraiser for my husband's old elementary,” said Smanksi. And with the help of dedicated volunteers, parents, staff, and students, the dream became a reality on Saturday, May 14, 2011 – the Inaugural Thunderbird Bolt.

Despite overcast skies, sporadic rain, and low temperatures in the upper 40 degrees F, about 100 families or individuals participated in the event. “It is super neat to see so many families out running together, enjoying each other's company as well as participating in a healthy activity- all while helping their neighborhood school,” said Smanski.

In some cases siblings ran together; in others, teachers encouraged students and vice versa. The Thunderbird Bolt served as a neighborhood-wide accompaniment to the longstanding tradition of the Thoreau Fun Run, a school-wide run for students that has been held on a Friday in May for the last 21 years.

The confidence that the students gained from participating was apparent in their enthusiasm, and for the Thunderbird Bolt, the fact that parents and children could join together during the race made for some wonderful memories. “The best part for me was to see families walking and running together!,” said Smanski. “It is super neat to see so many families out together, enjoying each other's company as well as participating in a healthy activity- all while helping their neighborhood school.”

Funds raised from the event will be spent to buy portable playground equipment for each classroom such as balls, jump ropes, and hula hoops. “Our [Thunderbird Bolt] committee really wants to promote a healthy and active lifestyle among our students through movement,” said Smanksi.

And of course, to continue making the Thunderbird Bolt a neighborhood tradition, help will be needed in the future. Smanksi suggests contacting the school to let them know about your interest in volunteering and donating a gift of time on the day of the event. “We really could have utilized many more volunteers on the race route, directing runners/walkers, biking ahead and behind runners/walkers, and keeping time,” she said.

Photos from the 2011 Thunderbird Bolt are available for purchase. All proceeds from the sales will benefit Thoreau Elementary School.

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2011 Spring Madison Mud Run: Here's Mud in Your Eye

Mud. It’s not fancy. It’s not pretty. But it’s pure magic. Need proof? Take a bunch of adults, add a metric ton or two of mud and some general silliness, say “On your mark, get set, GO!” - and you turn them into kids again. Kids that love to jump, run, dress up, and leap over tall obstacles in a single bound.

The Madison Mud Run by Race Day Events debuted in 2010 and quickly became one of the most popular races in the area. Offered in both spring and fall, it’s a race that requires a sense of humor and a strategic approach to post-event laundry. And for the Spring 2011 Mud Run, superhero costumes were optional.

Yes, superhero costumes.

It helped if they were insulated, considering that the temperature at starting time was about 49 degrees F.  Of course, with time and exertion, things warmed up. Many racers altered their costumes accordingly as they went along, which for racer Kimberly Olney was one of the funniest memories of the day. “Pieces of [costumes] ended up on the race course as racers stripped them,” Olney said.

Focal Flame Photographer Clint Thayer took photographs of the 1,263 mud-soaked participants. “I love this race,” he said. “The smile ratio is so high. You have to be ready for some splatters on the photography equipment, though,” he joked.

Many runners participated as teams. Racers could also compete in special categories such as Military, EMT, Firefighters, Police, or Fraternity/Sorority, with military and police/fire/EMS racers required to wear full work boots and uniforms or other work-related clothing while racing.

Focal Flame Photography caught up with several members of the Fleet Feet running store team and asked them to share their experiences.

“I always wanted to do a mud run since I've heard they were fun,” said Cheryl Weiss. “So when I found out about one being held here in Madison I signed up to see what it was all about.  I wasn't disappointed at all.”

More than a running race, the Mud Run involved 16 obstacles such as climbing walls, teeter-totters, a slip-and-slide, and (of course!) a knee-deep mud pit. Olney said that the most challenging one was a sheer-faced wall near the finish. “[It was difficult] mostly because I was cold,” she said. “But being short, [I] could not get a grip to pull myself over, so I had to go around.” Olney suggested the addition of a hay bale or rope on one side of the obstacle to help the vertically challenged.

Weiss had a memorable encounter with the waist-deep water crossing at the start of the course. “I was caught off guard by hearing my name being called as I was about to take my first step into the water.  Since I was caught off guard I pretty much slid into the water up to my neck [and] at the same time, I figured out it was one of the firefighters watching that obstacle who happened to know me [and called my name].”

The monkey bars also proved tough for Weiss. “I had a problem reaching the bars just to start, but once I got a little boost it was fine only made it halfway, so next year's goal is to get all the way across.”

Kelly Engle said, “How many times does a mom get to jump in a creek, fly down a slip-n-slide and get disgustingly dirty?” With joyful enthusiasm, she added, “I would do it again in a heartbeat!”

First place overall male was Will Smith of Mt. Horeb, WI, finishing in 26:42. The overall first place female was Tiffany Virag of Middleton, WI with a time of 35:04, and the top team was Madison Multisport, with a combined team time (four participants: Tom Zuhlke, Daniel Hearn, Troy Blodgett, and Erin Blodgett) of 2:32:08.

At the finish line, racers warmed themselves up and enjoyed laughing over their experiments. Refreshments including chicken wings from sponsor Quaker Steak & Lube and beer from Capital Brewery were on hand. “[I loved] running into other people I knew and hearing their stories from the race,” said Weiss.

But make no mistake, although the race may have been pure whimsy, the athletic acheivement was serious. “This was one of the neatest things that I have ever done in my life, as far as inner feeling of accomplishment,” said Terri Tessman.

So could plain old mud be the fountain of youth? Take a look at the photos, the grins, and the hugs – you be the judge.

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And if you’re ready to join in with “Madison’s Dirtiest Race,” the Fall Halloween Challenge version of the Madison Mud Run will be held on October 29, 2011. Registration is open! 

2011 Lake Monona 20K and 5K: Runners Chase Away Rainclouds

Photo by Focal Flame Photographer Josh Zytkiewicz

It seemed like spring would never come this year. Even the weather experts agreed - 2011 has marked one of the coldest springs on record for south-central Wisconsin, complete with April snow and a somewhat maddening one-step-forward, two-steps-back trickle of sunlight and warmth.

Even the night before the Lake Monona 20K running race, it seemed as if it would be a cold and damp affair. But instead, the forecasts were wrong, the rain held off, and runners enjoyed a beautiful race alongside the shores of Lake Monona. "This makes three years of good weather following two years of not-so-good weather," said Ryan Griessmeyer, owner of Race Day Events, LLC.

In all, 692 runners completed the 20 km course and 152 runners enjoyed the 5 km event, which was new for 2011. "The response about the 5K course was that it really was GREAT," said Griessmeyer. "We heard from a number of spouses that the addition of the 5k was a good idea so they could participate while the spouse was doing the 20k, and we also had about 40 kids ages 8-12 from the Cambridge Activities Program that participated and loved it," he added. Focal Flame photographer Clint Thayer agreed. "The kids all looked like they had fun - giving high fives to each other as they crossed the finish line, and hamming it up for the camera." As always, Thayer was honored to photograph the runners. "I really enjoy seeing everyone rejoice in finishing their own race for their own reasons," he said.

The Lake Monona 20K is the only race in the area that uses age/sex graded scoring, which is a way of tabulating race results that takes participant age into account so performance can be compared across different age groups. More information on age graded scoring is available here.

Winners of the men's division of the 20 km route and 5 km route were both Madison residents and both employees of Movin' Shoes, a running shoe store. Corey Hayden ran the 20 km race in 1:05:59 and Matthew Giesfeldt sped through the 5 km in 16:18. Top female racers were Wendy Miller, finishing the 20 km course in 1:22:02, and Zoe Knops, who sped through the 5 km in 22:43. Full race results provided by Sports Management Associates, Inc. are available here. 

When asked about improvements planned for next year's Lake Monona 20 km race, Griessmeyer mentioned an increase in the 5 km field, cash purse for the overall winners, and increased local sponsorship and event awareness. Lauren Waterson of Race Day Events was also keen on increasing the popularity of the race. "I talked to a few people who had suggestions....but I'd like to hear more about what people liked and didn't like about the race." Have feedback? Make sure you tell Race Day Events staff at ryan@racedayevents.com or lauren@racedayevents.com. 

The event wrapped up with food provided by Quaker Steak and Lube, award-winning beer from Capital Brewery, and live music from Madison's own Mighty Short Bus. And the rain even held off for the entire post-race party, as well.

Feel free to view all the photos in the Focal Flame Online Store

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Shamrock Shuffle 2011: Serious fun, serious fundraising

Story by Robyn M. Perrin

Photos by Clint Thayer

Editor's note: A version of this story was published in the Off the Couch blog of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

Sunday, March 13, 2011 brought clear skies, brilliant sunshine, and a few thousand little green men, women, and children to Madison. Nearly 3,000 Irish-themed runners and walkers filled State Street in the downtown area for the 5K, 10K, and 2-mile walk courses of the Shamrock Shuffle. The races began just a few blocks from the Wisconsin State Capitol - the scene of historic labor protests over the preceding four weeks.

Despite the proximity to the Capitiol, aside from one or two politically-inspired costumes sheer whimsy was the order of the day. Runners donned everything from green fishnet stockings to green wigs, leprechaun costumes, feather boas, tutus, stovepipe hats, and at least one full-length superhero cape. Music provided by Marc Lovicott, race DJ and news anchor at WISC-TV3, echoed throughout the downtown area. Teams, friends and families hugged each other at the start line and high-fived at the finish. 

First-place finisher of the 5K race was Ryan Novak, 34, of Madison, WI, completing the course in 17:58. The 5K women’s race was won in 21:33 by Ainsley Cray, 25, of Fitchberg, WI. For the 10K distance, Timothy Willcox, 32, of Madison took the men’s award in 33:48 and Shannon Ring, 28, of Belvidere, IL won the women’s race. 

Given the festive atmosphere, it’s hard to imagine that the event was borne out of tragedy a few years ago.

In October, 2003, Middleton runner Jim Beyer was hit and killed by a drug-impaired driver while on a training run. “He left his wife and children and his kids were very young. It was pretty tragic for the running community, so people were looking for a way to help out,” said Steve Donovan, Vice-Chair of the 2011 Shamrock Shuffle organizational board.

Donovan teamed up with several other Madison-area runners including former collegiate runner Julia Voss, Megan Sisson, and Jessie Bathe to organize a St. Patrick’s Day-themed race to benefit the Beyer family. Voss said, “We all enjoy running and became good friends, [and thought] – ‘Why not organize a Madison race together?’”

The first year of the event included a few hundred participants and raised money for a college scholarship fund for the Beyer children. Having accomplished their goal of helping to support the Beyer family in wake of James Beyer’s death, Shuffle organizers began to think about ways to benefit children throughout the entire community. “At that time, the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County was looking for capital funding for their Allied Drive location,” said Donovan. “There was a huge spirit behind it and they were very ambitious, and we thought [The Boys & Girls Club of Dane County] was something that was not only going to be around but was always going to be an ambitious organization.”

Ambitious doesn’t even begin to describe the scope of services that the Boys & Girls Club has launched for area youth in recent years. Currently led by Executive Director Michael Johnson, himself a participant in Boys & Girls Club programs while growing up in the public housing development of Cabrini-Green in Chicago, BGCDC offers dozens of programs in education, leadership and character, arts, sports, and fitness at two Club centers, serving 2,177 youth in Dane County during 2010.

With a comprehensive approach to support the educational, emotional, and career-readiness needs of at-risk youth, BGCDC and its partners have had a tangible impact on the community. “One hundred per cent of the kids in our College Prep program graduated from high school, and more than 90% of them are in college this semester,” said Executive Director Michael Johnson. “We were able to do that because of the support of the Shamrock Shuffle and their runners. We’re able to keep our doors open six days a week because of that support. We’re able to provide certified teachers to support the academic needs of our kids in our clubs because of their support,” he said.

Indeed, the 2010 Shamrock Shuffle was the single-biggest outside fundraiser to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County that year. Having recently joined as Executive Director at the time the 2010 race was being planned, Johnson recalled, “I heard from [BGCDC] staff about the unbelievable support from nearly 2000 people that either run or walk doing the race, and so I met [Donovan], and I ran the race last year. I really didn’t know how much financial support that they were going to provide for our clubs. So we had a meeting in April, and they surprised us with a $30,000 contribution…it made an unbelievable difference in our work for our kids.”

Board Members of the Shamrock Shuffle are as strongly committed to leaving use of the Shuffle funds to the discretion of Boys & Girls Clubs leadership as they are to raising the money. “We like the direction [BGCDC is] going in and we believe in their vision, so [when] we give them capital we want them to decide where it goes.” This allows Johnson and his team the flexibility to focus immediately on areas of greatest need.

“I don’t want people to look at the Boys & Girls Club as a charity case,” said Johnson. “I want folks to see BGCDC as an investment vehicle to support young people in our community and to improve the quality of life for young people in our community.”

The energy of doing good while having fun was palpable on Sunday. Given a long winter of short days, the crowd was clearly ready to step forth in style. One of the most meaningful moments of the race occurred when DJ Marc Lovicott played the song “Jump Around,” turning State Street into a vibrating mass of hopping green humanity. The tradition sparked spontaneously at the 2009 Shamrock Shuffle, said Lovicott. “We thought, you know, it works at Camp Randall, why don’t we just try it here. And so we threw it on a couple years ago, and the folks loved it.”

“To see 3,000 people jumping up and down to the song, and they’re all wearing green at the race we organized all by ourselves – was just amazing. It just tells you everybody’s ready to have fun and is really excited,” said Donovan. 

The grassroots success of the Shamrock Shuffle serves as a case study in how community-organized endurance sports events can build a better world, putting a new spin on the phrase “Serious fun.”

Could its success be replicated elsewhere? Yes, says Johnson, who urges race directors and nonprofit leaders to work closely with one another. “One of my advice to my peers is… to focus on partnership, to partner with other groups and to build awareness about what [nonprofits] do in the community,” said Johnson. Working together is critical, he says. “If we had to organize an event like this, it would just take so much of my time, of our development director’s time. And so to have a group out there advocating and raising funds to support the programs that we provide to young people in this community makes a world of difference.”

The satisfaction involved in getting the job done is a two-way street. “I have to tell you what is even better than the event itself - it's the day we get to attend the annual Boys & Girls Club of Dane County's April luncheon and present our donation check,” said Voss. “Think you got enough smiles from the race day? Come and see these kids and BGCDC Board Members when they see their educational and program goals can be accomplished that year. That's what this is really about.”

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