Apr 11, 2000

This country needs teams of top runners who are out of college and wanting individual and group support, but has too few beyond The Farm Team in northern California and The Enclave in DC. Twice in the past week, though, I've heard about such teams springing up in Michigan.

One group is the positive outcome of a sad situation. John and Francie Goodridge came to Ann Arbor after leaving their coaching jobs in protest at Wake Forest University.

"I thought it was bittersweet when David Morris set the new American marathon record," says John Goodridge. "He has been getting corporate support from a training
center with a full-time coach, athlete support, etc.

"But he has to live in Japan and be supported by a Japanese corporation. It is our hope that an American corporation or corporate partners will step forward and help us 'do the right thing' for our athletes."

John adds, "We are trying to create such a club/training center here in Ann Arbor. We could double our size easily next year as we have been approached by an enthusiastic group of athletes. It's the 'build it and they will come' syndrome, which is exciting."

Tom Henderson tells of another Detroit-area team. "Keith Hanson owns three running stores in the area," writes Henderson (who's unrelated to the guy who mails this newsletter). "Tired of the lack of support by shoe companies and others, he and his brothers recently bought a house and turned it over to five recent college grads -- including a couple of Michigan State All-Americans -- who make up the Hanson's Running Team."

Besides having a place to live, the runners work flexible hours in a Hanson store, and receive health insurance and travel expenses to some national meets.

###