Wednesday, November 18, 2009

KEY LARGO -- With the sun rising over their shoulders, 793 runners from all over the globe kicked off the first Jewfish Creek Bridge Run last Saturday morning with a half marathon and 5K run/walk.

Two Texans won the 13.1-mile run and a Coconut Grove resident, running his 99th race of the year, and a Tavernier resident crossed the finish line first in the 3.1-mile run.

Jeff Burrows, a Dallas flight dispatcher for American Airlines, celebrated his 38th birthday two days early as the men's division winner in the half marathon with a time of 1 hour, 26 minutes and 12 seconds.

His wife, Jill Burrows, won her age group -- 20 to 29 -- with a time of 1:41:25 .

"I started running when I was in the United States Marines," Jeff Burrows said. "That hill [the 65-foot-high Jewfish Creek Bridge] was a challenge. I've run in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe this autumn and this compares favorably with all the other races.

"When the sun came up, you could feel the heat. I'm glad they started early," he added.

Alison Dunn, 29, a chemical engineer for Exxon-Mobile in Houston, won the women's division in the half marathon with a time of 1:34:41.

Like many of the others, from Germany, England, Canada and towns throughout the United States, Dunn said she heard of the race through the Internet and came to Key Largo.

"I just wanted to vacation here," she said. "This is my first time in the Keys and I'll be back next year."

Earning top honors in the 5K men's division was Jon Williams, 40, of Coconut Grove with a time of 18 minutes, 10 seconds. Tavernier resident Joan Scholz, 48, earned the women's title with a time of 22:01.

Running is a passion for Williams, an IT technician for the city of North Miami Beach who ran 112 races in 2007.

"I'm on a pace to break that this year," he said. "I'll run another race tomorrow."

He was impressed with the aesthetics offered by the Lake Surprise Causeway and Jewfish Creek Bridge.

"The course was beautiful. When you turn around you see the sun rising. It's just gorgeous," he said.

Stacy Osner and daughter Jamie flew in from Kansas on Friday night in order to compete.

"We came in too late last night to catch the shuttle so we took a cab from the Miami airport to Key Largo," said their friend Donna Townsdon from Salinas, Kans. "The cab cost us $165."

Many local runners and walkers finished the 5K, including Monroe County Sheriff Upper Keys Commander Lou Caputo, former Islamorada Mayor Chris Sante, Clear Channel Radio's Joe "Big Daddy" Marcum and Pam Godfrey, as well as groups representing local businesses and organizations.

A relieved race organizer, Candy Basilius, said more than 100 runners signed up Friday evening.

"We're hoping for 1,200 or more next year," she said.

sgibbs@keysnews.com