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No. 1: Wear it with pride

For Joe Burgasser, this year's top spot is both a challenge and an honor.

There was something curious about the Gasparilla confirmation card he received in the mail last week.

He squinted at it through his glasses.

What did that say in the left-hand corner?

1 Sex=M Age=65 15K

Joe Burgasser

The curious part was the first number, which he knew after more than 20 years of running in the Gasparilla Distance Classic, is given to the defending champion.

Last year's winner was Ronnie Holassie.

Hmmmm.

As Burgasser would find out, Holassie decided not to defend, and Burgasser was being honored by race officials in one of the best ways he could ever imagine.

Suddenly that little No. 1 was huge.

"And I," Burgasser said, "was humbled.

"To think of all the incredible runners who have worn that No. 1. I mean we're talking about the best runners in the world: Rob De Castella, Grete Waitz and others like Phillimon Hanneck, Keith Brantly.

"And here I am, old Joe, wearing No. 1. It really means a lot."

Race director Susan Harmeling said she didn't look far when Holassie said he wasn't coming.

"Joe has been one of the best runners in this race for years and years," Harmeling said. "And he's not only a great runner, but he's a great coach and leader for the area's running community. He has done so much it's hard to even imagine."

As a runner Burgasser has: had 27 consecutive years of sub 2-hour, 50-minute marathons; finished second three times and won his age-group (60-69) the past four years at the Boston Marathon; set the American record for all ages in 1975 for a 50-mile race (5 hours, 39 minutes, average 6:46 a mile); won the five-year age group bracket at Gasparilla at least once since he turned 40; and averaged a 95 mile a week training schedule last year.

As a coach Burgasser has: been president of the Forerunners Club since 1982, maintaining approximately 150 active paying members every year; recently trained the first- and second-place women's finishers at 2004 Disney marathon (Kim Donaldson, 42, and Mary Ann Protz, 47); guided the women's Forerunners members to four team titles in past seven years at the Boston Marathon; and trained the Hops Marathon women's champion in three of the event's four years.

Protz, for one, knows all this and enjoys revelling in it.

"Whatever he says you listen to because you respect him so much, and you know what an amazing runner he is," said Protz, who started with Burgasser in 1999 and recently ran a 2:56 marathon in Chicago. "He gives out workout schedules and tailors them to each individual.

"We all send him e-mails with these questions and he responds to all of them. I know he spends tons of time on the computer. He has to. ...

"He has absolutely taken me to another level. I don't know if I ever would have run a marathon if I hadn't started training with Joe. I also wouldn't have had personal bests at several distances last year (at age 46) if it wasn't for Joe.

"You feel like he's there for you every day, and he is."

Wednesday on a dark track at Tampa's Coleman Middle School, there he was again, coaching dozens of runners of all shapes, sizes and abilities, calling to them as they went round and round, puffing cold air into the night.

All of them, at one time or another, coming up to the 5-foot-11, 130-pound man with the clipboard.

No. 1. That would be Joe Burgasser.

WHEN: Saturday, 15K starts at 7:30 a.m. (7:25 for wheelchairs); 5K starts at 9:30.

WHERE: Downtown Tampa.

REGISTRATION: Late registration will be available at Race Headquarters, the Tampa Convention Center - East Hall from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. today and beginning 6 a.m. Saturday. The 15K costs $30 and the 5K $25.

INFORMATION: Check www.tampabayrun.com

WHEN: Sunday, 6 a.m. start (wheelchairs start at 5:55).

WHERE: Downtown Tampa.

REGISTRATION: Late registration will be available at Race Headquarters, the Tampa Convention Center - East Hall from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. today and beginning 6 a.m. Saturday. The marathon costs $75 and the half-marathon $45.

INFORMATION: Checkwww.tampabayrun.com

The entire span of Bayshore Boulevard will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday. Bayshore Boulevard will reopen south of Rome Avenue at about 9:30 a.m. Bayshore Boulevard north of Rome Avenue will reopen at about 11:30 a.m.

The closing schedule Saturday:

3:30 a.m. - Bayshore Boulevard from Swann to Channelside Drive; streets surrounding the Tampa Convention Center, including Franklin, Brorein, Ice Palace Drive and Florida Avenue; 5:30 a.m. - Davis Islands; Meridian Street between Channelside Drive and Twiggs Street; Twiggs Street between Meridian Street and Morgan Street; Morgan Street between Twiggs Street and Channelside Drive; Bayshore Boulevard north of Gandy Boulevard; Nuccio Parkway from Nebraska Avenue to Palm Avenue; Palm Avenue from Nuccio Parkway to 20th Street; 7 a.m. - Bayshore Boulevard south of Gandy Boulevard to Northpointe Lane, including Interbay Boulevard and Ballast Point.

Streets will reopen:

6:30 a.m. - Ingress and egress off of Davis Islands for general traffic permitted; 8:30 a.m. - all of Davis Islands; 10 a.m. - Channelside Drive, Meridian Street, Twiggs Street, Nebraska Avenue, Nuccio Parkway, Palm Avenue, Morgan Street and Brorein Street; 11:30 a.m. - Southbound lanes of Bayshore Boulevard north of Gandy Boulevard; Noon - Northbound lanes of Bayshore Boulevard from Northpointe Lane through finish line.

- Gasparilla Distance Classic Association, Inc.