River to River Relay
    2009 marked the 22nd year for the running of the Illinois River to River Relay Race.  For one Saturday each April, the quiet solitude of the Shawnee National Forests includes the steady patter of running feet (and heavy breathing), as 240 eight-man teams run across a gorgeous stretch of Southern Illinois.  Stretching from the Mississippi River on Illinois' Western shore to the Ohio River on the East, the course traverses some of the hilliest land in the Midwest.

    This was my third consecutive year for competing in the popular event.  (Although limited to only 240 teams, the online registration process received more than 500 applications in the first five minutes!)  My team included my daughter, Emmie, Republican Reporter Dick Rhodes, and good friend, Dr. Timm Gray.  We were joined by the "Georgia Contingent" of my sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Jeff Lacksen, and friends Mark and Deanna Klein.  

There was a prediction of rain for Saturday.  So, as team leader I encouraged all team members to bring a second set of running shoes.  So, here's how Dick showed up.....

 
 
  He's practicing the hand off of a baton, while standing in his muck boots!

And here's a shot of Emmie having just received the baton from Dr. Gray, at one of the interchanges....



The event is a wonder in organization.  There are 24 relay stations, where the teams exchange out the runners.  Each station is manned by approximately 10 volunteers - again, stretched across 80 miles.  To help ease traffic congestion, the 240 teams are divided into six groups that depart every half hour starting at 6:15 am.   Even so, that still means each group includes 40 vans of runners vying for parking space on narrow country roads.  But it works.

    The Republican Reporter would be remiss if we didn't provide some investigative political insight into the event.  So here goes.  I had the opportunity to talk with one of the chief organizers for the relay.  Of course, an easy question that I always like to ask is, "So who is the most famous runner that's ever participated in this race?"  

    He responded, "I'm not sure if he's famous or infamous, but it would clearly have to be former Governor Rod Blagojevich!"  The former Governor, an avid runner, took part in the race in 2005.  In fact, a press release was issued by the Governor's office concerning the event.  It read in part:

Gov. Blagojevich took the eighth position for his team, running the longest total distance (10.95 miles), and covering the 8^th, 16^th and anchor leg of the relay. 

      Now for your Republican Reporter insight.  The unnamed race official gave me the real dirt on the Governor's effort that wasn't covered by the press release.  Prior to the start of the 2005 event, the Governor's security detail came into the area and traveled the entire length of the race course.  The official wasn't sure what value this offered, as the course is lined with hundreds of buildings, wooded areas, crevices and intersecting roads that would have allowed for concealment and easy escape.  It might have been easier if they just monitored Mrs. Blagojevich's whereabouts during the event.  
    
    Gov. Rod completed the first of his three legs with no problems.  However, he was unable to complete his second leg, and didn't even attempt to run his required third leg.  The above press release describes the Governor as running the "anchor" leg of the race.  He was an "anchor" all right.

    Finally, the high level race official revealed that the mid-way through the race, the Governor returned to his vehicle and has his staff cut off the sleeves of his running shirt so that his "guns" (arms) would be more visible to his adoring public.  

    To be fair, the Governor has completed several marathons in the Chicago area.  But, for one week end, at least, the terrain of Southern Illinois was just too much for him to bear.