Posted on Sun, Dec. 19, 2004
	Marathoner, with finisher's shirt in hand, states his goal BY BRUCE BROTHERS Pioneer Press Dave Zeisler got a new T-shirt, just in time for the holidays. "I realize it's only a T-shirt," he wrote in an e-mail, "but it's important to me." Zeisler, 31, a network engineer from Mundelein, Ill., worked for 3 hours, 46 minutes and 34 seconds to get to the finish line of the Twin Cities Marathon in October, but he failed to obtain one of the prized finisher's shirts. He was experiencing shortness of breath after crossing the finish line near the state Capitol, and as a race worker slipped a medal around his neck, Zeisler was asked, "Are you all right?" He insisted he was, but he was whisked to the medical tent, and because of slight chest pains he was immediately transported to Regions Hospital. "It turns out I was having an asthma attack," said Zeisler, who was running his fifth marathon and was shooting for a time of 3:45. "I had never been diagnosed with asthma before. The medical staff was very astute." But he was hauled away from the finish line before he could latch onto one of the T-shirts that go to everyone who completes the 26.2-mile race. After e-mails to the TCM organization apparently hit the wall, Zeisler e-mailed me and I contacted TCM executive director Virginia Brophy Achman. "If he crossed the finish line, he should get a T-shirt," she said, and she immediately made sure the shirt was in the mail. Zeisler, who said he has not had any medical problems in his previous marathons, was delighted with the quick response and said he plans to return to the Twin Cities Marathon someday. But he's got other races on his mind. "I have a lifetime goal of becoming a member of the 50-state Club, which means I'd like to complete one marathon in every state some day. So far, I have Illinois, Indiana and now Minnesota. Only 47 more to go." RUNNING SHORTS • A Web page has been put up by Active.com for people interested in winter races at www.active.com/winter_runderland. It includes entry forms for the Winter Waddle 5-kilometer event Dec. 26 in Edina and the Winter Carnival Half-Marathon Feb. 27 in downtown St. Paul, among other events. • The Minnesota Distance Running Association's annual schedule of area races is out and goes free to members of the MDRA. The MDRA annual party is scheduled for Jan. 15 at the Edina Community Center, with pizza at 12:30 p.m. and awards at 2 p.m. Info: www.runmdra.org, 952-927-0983. • Carrie Tollefson, the local Olympian at 1,500 meters, is featured as the cover story, "A Case Study in Talent, Tenacity and Treatment," in the January/February issue of Running Times magazine. • Kirt Goetzke of Plymouth, who rarely misses a race, finished 34th in the Arena Run 5K on Thanksgiving, according to race founder Bob Pickering, which is exactly where Goetzke finished in the same race in 1990. The difference: Goetzke's time 14 years earlier was 18 minutes, 38 seconds, and this year it was 17:42. "There is still time for our comeback!" Pickering commented. • At the recent USA Track & Field national convention in Portland, Ore., where Joan Benoit Samuelson and Gerry Lindgren were picked for the organization's hall of fame in distance running, three Twin Cities athletes were honored. Picked among the 40-and-over outstanding age group athletes were Janet Robertz of Shorewood for women 45-49, Gloria Jansen of Edina for women 55-59 and Lloyd Young of Pine City for men 80-plus. As well, former Gophers coach Roy Griak received the track and field distinguished service award. • It's time to think about registration if you plan to run in the 29th annual Grandma's Marathon June 18 in Duluth. Forms will be sent to participants from the 2003 and 2004 marathons plus those who request them in late January. Mail your request with a stamped return envelope to Grandma's Marathon, P.O. Box 16234, Duluth, MN 55816. Forms must also be requested for the companion Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon and the William A. Irvin 5K, but they won't be mailed out until later. Info: www.grandmas marathon.com, 1-218-727-0947. Bruce Brothers can be reached at bbrothers@pioneerpress.com.