MARIN ATHLETIC CLUB

This piece by Barry Spitz first appeared in the Marin Independent Journal in 2008

Are there secret tunnels under the Dipsea Trail? The Marin Athletic Club, from its founding in 1958 until its demise in 1976, was so dominant in the Dipsea Race that competitors accused members of possessing maps showing hidden shortcut tunnels.

More than three dozen Marin AC members, most now in their 60's, swapped many such stories during a magical, nostalgia-filled reunion at Fairfax' Deer Park Villa last Saturday. And there was no need to exaggerate. Of the 40 fastest times ever run in the 100-year history of the Dipsea Race, at least half were achieved by Marin AC members, 15 by attendees.

The Marin AC was founded by Mill Valley policeman and coach Jim Imperiale in 1958. The following year, Imperiale won the Dipsea. With teammates Tim Kelly, Bob Hope, Jesse Ochoa, and Wes Hildreth all in the top ten, Marin AC claimed its first of 12 consecutive team titles. More high schoolers and open runners joined. All were males: women were not yet allowed in distance races. And all were young, running not then a sport for old men. Success was widespread. For example, Tom Dooley, at the reunion, made the 1968 Olympic team in race walking.

Marin AC spanned the era between when racing was the province of only a few, at a handful of races, to the running boom when tens of millions took up the sport. And just at the dawn of that boom, the club simply faded, many of its members off at college, Humboldt State in particular. Now there is talk of a Marin AC team entry at the 100th Dipsea in 2010. And the memories remain vivid.

Carl Jensen, 1966 Dipsea winner, spoke of when the Dipsea was held in late August, permitting a whole summer of practice, and of grazing cows cutting paths and softening the hard terrain.

Don Makela, who owns the #3 and #4 fastest Dipsea crossings ever, told of how Marin AC members explored and tested every possible course variation. He rejected the Panoramic Highway route later made famous by Ron Rahmer because he could achieve a time of "only" 49 minutes in practice.

Stuart Sparling, second in the 1961 Dipsea, related how Bill Scobey, one of the nation's top distance runners, vowed to break the Dipsea course record in 1970. Scobey ran brilliantly, 48:21, but two Marin AC runners ran faster.

Byron Lowry, a triple Best Time winner, said he didn't even know he was a Marin AC member when first listed on their winning Team Trophy. Lowry famously leaped completely over the ladder on the Steep Ravine Trail on his first training run there.

Jim McGowan, who coached the College of Marin cross-country program that seven attendees passed through, told of staging a dual meet over a course that included the full climb of brutal Shaver Grade. When one of the opposing Laney College runners finally staggered in, he vowed, "I'm never coming back here."

Mark Byers talked of how legendary Dipsea course record holder Norman Bright, then 60, asked to join club members on a run. A Marin AC trio of self-described "young studs" agreed, figuring Bright could tag along for an opening five-mile loop, after which they would hammer out another five miles on their own. But Bright kept running, and no matter how much the trio picked up the pace, never let go. Finally, Byers turned around, exasperated, and shouted, "He's still there!"

Bob Bunnell recalled how Kees Tuinzing approached him as the first recruit into the new Tamalpa Runners after winning the Best Time trophy at the 1976 Dipsea. Bob's son Reed wore his old Marin AC singlet while finishing 25th at this year's Dipsea.

Steve Stephens, who displayed his huge Dipsea black shirt (top-35) collection and wore an old Marin AC shirt, recalled his first Dipsea in 1960. He is one of the few club members still competing. In fact, most no longer run, victims of overuse injuries from an era when shoes with cardboard inserts offered scant protection.

Wes Hildreth, inspiration for the lead character Wes Holman in Rob Nilsson's movie "On the Edge," spoke emotionally about life lessons learned while running for the club.

Ron Elijah, whose astounding 44:49 in the 1974 Dipsea stands as the Marin AC's signature effort and a teammate of Makela's at Novato High, offered an explanation for the club's success. "We were tougher. Without today's distractions, such as video games, we worked harder," he said. "The tunnels are still there. You just have to know where to find them."