DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE AS TEAM GAUNTLET IS SIMPLY SPECTACULAR AT DISNEY MARATHON WEEKEND: SIX RACES, FIVE PRS AS

CHRISTINE DONOVAN TAKES HOME THE CLAMSHELL GAUNTLET SOUTH TROPHY

ROSS HAUSER BREAKS 1:30 IN HALF MARATHON

SCOTT HALL SETS PR IN PHOENIX MARATHON

When entering Walt Disney World on route 192 their slogan in large bold letters let ’s everyone know that Walt Disney World is Where Dreams Come True. During the weekend of January 12th and 13th Team Gauntlet members Ross Hauser, Marion Hauser, Christine Donovan and Evette Zurbriggen went to Disney to fulfill some dreams, and those dreams did indeed come true.

Christine Donovan went to Disney in the best shape of her life. “This is the most ready I have felt for any event” she told this Gauntlet AP News reporter. She proceeded under mid 60, high humid conditions to set a 20 plus PR in the half marathon with a time of 2:14.25. “I wanted to break 2:15. On my one shoulder I had speaking to me the good angel, saying “slow down don’t ruin your chances in the marathon tomorrow.” On my other shoulder was the devil screaming, “go faster and you can break 2:15!”, Well the devil won that discussion! Ross Hauser also went to Disney with a dream. To break 1:30 in the half marathon. Despite falling behind his goal pace because of grid lock (too many runners, not enough to room to run) for the first three miles, the 45 year, was just spectacular miles 3 to 11, being at mile 11 in 1:16.20. “I couldn’t believe at mile 11 I still had a chance to break 1:30. I just went crazy after that. Ran as hard and as fast I could. When I saw 1:29.52 on my watch I was ectastic,” he said. What surprised him the most was that he placed 80th in a field of 13,000 and won a 5th place award for the men’s age group 45 to 49.

On Sunday, the weather conditions were similar to the day before. Mid 60’s but high humidity, made all the athletes earn their times. All four Team Gauntlet Members started together and ran the first 13 miles together. All four were hoping to break 5 hours. Evette doing her first marathon had dreams of finishing. As Christine fell off the pace because of severe quadriceps muscle spasms her teammate Evette went with her. Both finished in 5:17. Evette completing her first marathon and Christine again lowering a PR by over 20 minutes. Evette after the race appeared fresh. She commented, “The last six miles were no more hard then the first six. The event was not harder than any of my long training runs.” Both of these comments give credence to the notion that Evette could have run much faster but she would never tell you that.

Also in the best shape of her life was Marion Hauser. Marion , whose marathon PR was 5:35, thought under 5 was a possibility. She was on course until mile 16. She noted, “Something wasn’t right. I was very nauseated. There were times, especially at mile 18, where I didn’t think I could go on. Ross really helped me through some rough spots.” This writer was covering the event and nothing but strong will got Marion through this race. (I am sure Christine was the same). Marion and Ross crossed the finish line at 5:11. Marion took about three steps after crossing the line and then proceeded to have projectile vomiting. Catherine Svototska who was waiting for her husband Jacque saw the whole proceedings “I saw this nice couple cross the line. The woman stopped and then vomited up about 8 ounces of fluid. I felt queasy myself at first. Then she did it too more times. I mean the yellow liquid vomitus was going everywhere. People trying to cross finish line where having to move over to the right. The woman then took a couple of steps and repeated it. Projectile yellow liquid, then again, then again. She took a few more steps and did it once more maybe twice. I estimate that she had at least let’s see 8 ounces x 12. Yes she had 100 ounces of fluid in her belly. I don’t know how that woman ran with that in there!” Other onlookers thought they saw her husband going for the camera and then put it back in his pocket, but this could not be verified. Marion commented, “I knew something was wrong. Once I vomited all that stuff out I felt great. I was then ready to run!” Despite all this, Marion set a 24 minute PR in the marathon.

The evening after the marathon, Team Gauntlet went to the awards ceremony where they heard the announcer say, “In the men’s half marathon ages 45 to 49, the fifth place award goes to Ross Hauser of Oak Park Illiniois for a time of 1:29.53.” The gang then went to Wolfgang Puck’s for a ‘foo foo’ dinner which was quite delicious. Ross then treated himself after dinner to an apple covered in chocolate and coconut. The rest of the gang had Giradelle’s chocolate ice cream and other treats. Throughout the evening a discussion about who should win the Clamshell Gauntlet ensued.

At breakfast the following morning, Christine Donovan was awarded the Clamshell
Gauntlet South trophy. Ross Hauser on behalf of the executive committee told the group of honored guests, “All participants of this competition were worthy of getting the Clamshell Gauntlet Trophy. For various reasons they all showed honor, valor and tenacity in the heat of battle. Evette for finishing her first marathon and helping Christine finish. Marion for completing the last 13 miles of her marathon while accumulating fluid in her stomach. Ross for setting a half marathon PR and finishing 80th overall in one of the largest half marathon fields in the country. But clearly the person who deserves the Clamshell Gauntlet South trophy is Christine Donovan for setting PRs by over 20 minutes in both the half marathon and marathon. Congratulations Christine.” Christine being the shy, demure type declined to comment.

While most of Team Gauntlet was at the Disney Marathon weekend, Scott Hall was setting PR’s himself. The one time ironman finisher, completed his first marathon at the Phoenix Marathon. He ran a remarkable 3:45 marathon, apparently doing this after cycling 90 miles and running 10 miles just two days before the event. Scott was not able to be interviewed before the Gauntlet AP news deadline.

The next Team Gaunlet Training Camp will be February 29-March 2nd on Sanibel Island . So far signed up for the camp are: Ross and Marion Hauser, Chris Ferrigno, Bill Sawyer, Evette and Rick Zurbriggen and Flynn and Christine Donovan.

Next events: Ross Hauser and Chris Ferrigno have the California Half Ironman March 29th. Rick Zurbriggen, Christine Donovan, Scott Hall and Bill Sawyer will compete for the Clamshell Gauntlet South Trophy May 22nd at the Florida Half Ironman.

Current Holders of Gauntlet Trophies:

2008 Team Gauntlet Athlete of the Year point leader: Christine Donovan
2007 Team Gauntlet Athlete of the Year: Chris Ferrigno
Clamshell Gauntlet Trophy South: Christine Donovan
Clamshell Gauntlet Trophy North: Marion Hauser
The Gauntlet Staminathlon Trophy: Ross Hauser