Runners can thank Boyle for Pier 60 fun, fitness and fellowship

By DAVE THEALL

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 22, 2000

There are runners who excel in races and make news, and there are runners who stage races and don't make news.

Dunedin's Dan Boyle, director of the five-event Sunsets at Pier 60 series at Clearwater Beach this summer, is one of those who often doesn't make the news or get the credit he deserves as a volunteer providing an opportunity for fun, fitness and fellowship in the county.

"My role is so limited in putting on the beach series that I don't consider myself the director," Boyle said modestly. "Putting those events on is a team effort of the West Florida Y Runners Club.

"There are the same 14 or 15 members on those Friday nights who take care of registration, manning a water stop and the turnaround point, timing the finishers, scoring the race, and providing the awards. My role is simply to assure that everything comes together."

Boyle's team includes his wife Becky, club president Paul Franlin, Turkey Trot director Skip Rogers, Mark and Terri Vincent, Charles and Katherine Worischeck and Ric Dorrie.

Boyle said that having served as assistant race director for the series for several years before taking over three years ago makes the job easier for him. Plus, roads don't have to be blocked off and police aren't needed.

"The whole atmosphere of the beach series is more casual," Boyle added. "We only have one water stop, which runners pass twice, and overall it's easy to do. Our motto, within the club with the volunteers, is "keep it simple.' "

At the start of every 5K race, which goes north before U-turning south to the finish line just under the pier, Boyle uses a megaphone to go over some basics.

The main one is that the runners must be mindful of the people, and especially children, using the beach. He tells them to share the area, be courteous and try to avoid holes that have been dug and sand castles that have been built.

He tells them to reconcile themselves to slower times than they would run for the same distance on the roads.

With regard to why he does it, Boyle said he has gotten a lot out of running the past 25 years -- 18 marathons including Boston -- and feels obligated to give something back to the community.

"The club does a lot for the community at large," Boyle said. "I enjoy doing my part to make a contribution."

Rogers, whose duties as director of the Times Turkey Trot are part-time year-round, said Dan and Becky (Boyle) are well-organized.

"They put the beach series together very smoothly, culminating in the end-of-year awards," Rogers said. "They work well with people and create a fun-filled atmosphere."

SERIES NOTES: With most road race entry fees in the $12 to $15 range, the Pier 60 series is comparatively inexpensive, costing $15 for five events for members and $20 for non-members. That's without a T-shirt. It's $5 more with a shirt.

The main event starts at 7 p.m., and there's a kids fun run at 6:45. It's free and the first 100 finishers receive commemorative ribbons.

BEACH RACE NO. 1: On June 9 at the opening race, high school runners dominated the scene.

Largo High teammates Nate Davis and Danny Bauer finished first and third, with David Joyce of St. Petersburg separating them. Matt Mosby of Shorecrest Prep took fourth, followed by Kevin Lyons of Clearwater Central Catholic.

Youth didn't exactly dominate the women's field, however. Judy Maguire, 41, of Clearwater asserted herself, as usual, running away with the win.

Keswick Christian's Christa Benton, who won the 3,200-meter event at last month's state championship track meet, held a tenuous lead over Largo's Donna Nesslar approaching the 2.5-mile mark when she had to make a wide detour to avoid running into a child.

"That enabled me to slip past her and move into second place," Nesslar said. "I expected her to come back up on me as we approached the finish line but she didn't."

The second race in the series is Friday night. Newcomers should be aware that parking on the beach is frequently a problem, so it's important to get there early.

VALENTINES' DAY: With the seven-member Valentine family of Tierra Verde joining the West Florida Y Runners Club last month, the membership rolls surpass 800. The new members are Dwight and Lisa plus children Bradley, Clayton, Rachel, Sophie and Steven. They all run.

Lisa competed in the U.S. Olympic trials marathon in February and clocked 2:55 at the Boston Marathon in April.

ROAD WARRIOR: Steve Wilcox of St. Petersburg improved on his Night Moves 5K time of 16:18 last month in Ybor City with a 16:03 clocking two weeks ago at the Race for the Cure in Columbus, Ohio. Wilcox was on a travel assignment for Raymond James & Associates, where he's a compliance adviser.

Wilcox was a cross country standout at Boca Ciega High. He went on to excel in track at Florida State, graduating in 1993. He has the Midnight Run 10K on his schedule for July 4 in Dunedin.

MIDNIGHT NOTE: St. Petersburg's Michelle Dodson, who won the Midnight Run women's 3K last year, will defend her title. Last year she won in 11:56.

RIGID STANDARDS: The A standard to qualify for the Olympic men's 10K is 28:10. For women, it's 32:30. The A standard for the men's 5K is 13:29 and for women it's 15:35.

Former Arkansas Razorback Deena Drossin set an American 5K road record last month at Carlsbad, Calif., clocking 15:08 to break Vicki Huber's 1992 mark of 15:14. Drossin also won the Gate River Run in Jacksonville on March 4. It served as the 15K national championship.

Hopefully, the United States will qualify three athletes in each event at Sacramento rather than just one, as with both the men's and women's marathon.

SATURDAY: The Hops By the Bay Marathon Kickoff Celebration is set for the Tampa Convention Center's Riverwalk from 4-7 p.m. Course tours will be provided every 15 minutes starting at 4:15. Former Olympian Jeff Galloway will speak at 5:30, a band will play and refreshments will be served.

Approximately 1,000 runners have signed up for the Dec. 10 event in downtown Tampa. For further information, call the Gasparilla Distance Running Association at (813) 229-7866.

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