Iron Belle's second annual trail fundraiser goes well

By P.J. GLISSON

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Bessemer - Despite a fall chill in the air, Saturday's Iron Belle Trail Bridges and Bluffs half marathon and 2-mile run/walk drew enthusiastic participants to the starting point on Bessemer's Mary Street.

Race director Phil Strong had to stay home due to illness, but Jonathon Rulseh said, "all the volunteers" joined forces to replace him. "We all pulled it together," he said gamely of the second annual event, which was a fundraiser for the Friends of the Trail group.

The half marathon started at 9 a.m., and Rulseh said 93 runners in that race took the Iron Belle Trail from Bessemer to Ironwood. He said 63 of them signed up to return to Bessemer, which represented a 13.1-mile circuit.

According to Rulseh, the remaining 30 half-marathon runners chose a 2-person relay option, in which starting participants used an ankle chip that they transferred in Ironwood to a partner, who doubled back to Bessemer. Relay partners chose creative names such as Team Ba Ba, Team Kakuk and I Heart Alligators.

In addition, Rulseh said 30 people took part in the 2-mile option, which started a half-hour after the half marathon. Competitive runners took the lead in that division, followed by joy walkers, some with strollers.

First-place winners in each event were: Larry Lapachin, half marathon; Radical Runners, two-person relay; and Uriah Aili, two-mile run.

"It's a little colder than it was last year," said Don Peterson of Ironwood, while warming up to participate in the 2-mile run. He said he liked the competition in itself, but added another incentive is that "it gets me out of the house."

Leanna Nikula of Hurley was there to cheer on her daughter, Claire, in the same division. "She's not done this before," said Nikula of her daughter, but added Claire did participate in other races in the past summer.

Jonathon Rulseh said Mary Ahnen of Bessemer coordinated about 100 volunteers for the event and also created an instruction sheet for runners. Offering high-carbohydrate snacks to returning race participants were Nate Smith, of Ironwood, and his 11-year-old triplets, Zachary, Aubrey and Madelyn. Anna Mooi of Ironwood, known as "Fast Anna" to her cohorts, was in charge of coordinating the food. Morgan Grasso of Ironwood was stationed with chips and medals, and Rulseh's father, Tom Rulseh, came from Three Lakes, Wis., to help as well.

Jonathon Rulseh expressed thanks for all volunteers, explaining they are needed "not just on race day," but also for advance preparations in making awards, setting up timing, and creating relief stations, etc.

Mary Street and parts of Moore Street were closed to traffic for the runs, which featured peppy, piped-in music to keep everyone feeling lively.

Saturday's event took place in partnership with the Gogebic Range Health Foundation and with the help of several area sponsors. Rulseh also thanked the cities of Bessemer and Ironwood for their cooperation.

Full results were posted on White River Sports Timing's website and Facebook.