Milwaukee’s running community is booming.
The Lakefront Marathon sells out earlier every year, new community races are constantly being added, and now comes the launch of RunMilwaukee.com.
The new blog was started by Chris Ponteri, part owner of InStep Running & Walking Centers. Ponteri has a background in journalism, which makes him the perfect man for the job. He intends to recruit five or six core contributors and target serious runners who enter a half-dozen races, or more, a year.
I’m excited because I haven’t seen many existing local running blogs. There’s plenty of triathlon and cycling blogs to go around, and even local running message boards and email lists, but I haven’t seen a centralized spot for, say, a comprehensive, critical and authoritative review of the new Wisconsin Marathon course in Kenosha. Ponteri is filling the void.
In an interview the man behind the blog offered a few of his thoughts about why Milwaukee needs a downtown marathon, the best kept secret race in the area and what amazes out-of-town runners at the finish lines of local races (Hint: It’s not the Gatorade).
Why do you think Milwaukee’s running community has grown?
I think it’s a national trend, not just Milwaukee. There is a running boom across the country. In Milwaukee, the Badgerland Striders do a great job of promoting running and racing in the community and they are the backbone of the Milwaukee running scene. I think this has helped the Milwaukee running community evolve quicker than some of the others.
What’s the running background of the RunMilwaukee bloggers?
My claims to fame are finishing in 11,165th place in last year’s Boston Marathon, winning the Race for Cakes 5K in 2007, and drinking 17 beers after last year’s Lakefront Discovery Run (okay, that last one may be a bit of an exaggeration). As of now, I have enlisted Robin Treder to help out with the posting. She and I are both going to recruit some of the other top runners in the area to write posts on races they are doing.
What would you like to see next for the running community in Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin?
Milwaukee desperately needs a “calling card” running event with a marathon and half-marathon starting and finishing downtown. The Striders and Kris Hinrichs do an outstanding job with the Lakefront Marathon, but it is and always will be a second-tier race for several reasons (no downtown route, no half-marathon, midsize field limit). We need to have a major running festival in Milwaukee, and I do know that there is a group working on that as we speak. When it will happen, I’m not sure. Maybe 2010, maybe 2011, maybe later than that. But it will happen.
What is Milwaukee’s best-kept running secret?
The Full Moon Four Miler in Waterford (August 1). It’s a well-organized race on a great course in a great community. And the post-race party is the best in the area.
What are your own running goals for this racing season?
To go under 3:10 in either the Wisconsin Marathon in May and Lakefront in October, to do a half-marathon in under 1:25, to get automatic qualification NYC Marathon, to run 100 miles in one week, and to get my wife to understand and embrace my running obsession.
Anything else to add?
The runners in the Milwaukee area are a great reflection of our culture. They are hard-working, good people, and like to have fun. And out-of-town runners are always amazed at how many races here have beer at the finish line.
