Life on the road
Klondike relay team a constant in lives of local women
For the women of Harriet's Harriers, the Klondike Road Relay is life.
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The team is at once a social circle, motivating force, support group and temporary respite from the everyday grind. And over the past 12 years, for better or worse, the race has been an annual axis around which revolve the team members' ever-changing lives.
"I've seen this group grow as a really supportive team, seeing each other through births and deaths and marriage and divorce," said Margie Thomson, who brought together a group of friends to form the team 12 years ago.
"It's a constant in my life," longtime Harriers runner Marian Clough said. "It's time with women friends, the camaraderie ... it's a rite in the fall."
The 21st annual Klondike Trail of '98 International Road Relay, a fund-raiser for Sport Yukon, begins its 10-stage, 110-mile journey from Skagway to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, on Friday night. About 120 teams - with nearly 50 of those based in Southeast Alaska - will follow the Klondike Highway all night and all morning before finishing around midday Saturday on the banks of the Yukon River.
Related Link:
For more on the Klondike Road
Relay,visit the Sport Yukon Web site at
www.sportyukon.com
The race covers the full spectrum of runners, from elite Olympic athletes who compete for time to teams who run to have a great time along the way. Above all, it's a race of good spirits - from the fastest runner, to the checkpoint volunteers atop White Pass and the spectators at the Skagway starting line.
The nature of the race is reflected in team names. This year's relay will include such illustrious squads as Juneau's own Twisted Blistered Sisters and, summing up the spirit of the race for most teams, Citizens Against Running Seriously from Whitehorse.
And then there will be Harriet's Harriers.
Thomson was looking for a fun, supportive team 12 years ago. She brought together nine friends - many of whom were mothers of young children at the time.
The team's name was a tribute to Thomson's mother, who was battling cancer at the time but was a strong supporter of the team until she died. A photo of her is placed on the dashboard of the team's support vehicle each year.
The first year, the team finished at the back of the pack. Last year, Harriet's Harriers finished the course in 19 hours, 21 minutes, 43 seconds. That was nearly nine hours behind the first-place, all-men's team - but the Harriers didn't mind one bit.
"We get to enjoy the race twice as long as the winning team," Jeannie Monk said. "We get twice as much fun."
Individual runners may try to meet their own goals, but otherwise, the Harriet's Harriers team remains constantly supportive.
"I don't think that in the 11 years I've run with Harriet's Harriers, I've ever heard a negative comment," Thomson said. "There's no pressure for time. It's whatever each runner wants to do."
Keeping happy on the Klondike course
JUNEAU EMPIRE © 2003
How do you keep a Klondike Road Relay runner happy?
Follow a simple rule, said Harriet's Harriers founder Margie Thomson: "The runner is always right."
The women of Harriet's Harriers pair up, so that each runner has a dedicated support person to bring water, food and anything else. When a runner is on the road, she's in charge.
"She's queen," Marian Clough said.
"It's like she's in labor," said Jan Caulfield. "She gets anything she wants."
Sometimes the Harriers will run along with their teammates to break up the monotony. And they joke that while elite runners call out to teammates for split times and pace information, a typical Harriet's Harriers runner's request is for gum and new batteries to power the Walkman.
While most teams run the race purely for fun, several Juneau teams will be in contention to win their divisions. The Smokin' Old Geezers are back to defend their Masters Open title, while the Lady GuDivas return after setting the Masters Women's course record last year. Darwin's Tribe will try to repeat as champions of the Mixed division.
Team Survivor Perseverance, a group of Juneau cancer survivors and supporters, is making its second appearance in the Klondike. Better Late Than Never - a sister team of Harriet's Harriers - also is running.
This year's Harriet's Harriers are, in order of their relay leg, Monk, Ann Gifford, Becky Iverson, Clough, Diane Sly, Carolyn Morehouse, Sally McLaughlin, Jan Caulfield, Jackie Campbell and Sally Ryan. Rosanne Funk will drive the team's support van.
Thomson will not be running this race with the Harriers. She and several other team members reached a milestone last September when they completed the cycle - running all 10 legs in different years' races - so they decided to take a break.
Instead, Thomson and 10 other Harriers alums will gather Friday night for a 10-course dinner - one for each leg - with thoughts of the team in their heads and hearts.
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