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Spectacle Spectacular draws area runners
Published January 27, 2008
ANGLETON — As he made the last turn and headed down the final stretch of road with no other runners in sight, 70-year old Jay Stabler lifted his head and put his noticeable limp into another gear.
As he neared the finish line in dead last place in the 10K run, perhaps no one exemplified the spirit behind the eighth annual Spectacle Spectacular Run more than the Katy resident. He might have finished last, but he was first in the hearts of the folks who cheered him to the end.
“I want to apologize to you folks for keeping you so long,” Stabler told officials who awaited his arrival at the finish line on the chilly Saturday morning, “But I started cramping early in the race and it has been a struggle. I was determined to finish this thing and I appreciate each of you waiting for me.”
The annual event included a field of 80 participants in the 10K and 5K runs, along with six individuals who participated in the 5K walk, including Angleton attorney Jay Mallard who simply walked out the front door of his office and leisurely joined the 8 a.m. sendoff with his dog.
Stabler closed out the field of runners and walkers with a time of 1:19:13. “I am not in the best of shape,” he said. “I had spent most of my time at home taking care of my wife before she died and went on tobe with the Lord two and one-half months ago. She was a runner also and until she got cancer she was a very healthy person. She never smoked or drank in her life. She was always in great shape. I guess you never know. The good thing is that she did not suffer very much before her death.
“Even though I am not in the shape I need to be,” he said. “I wanted to run today. I was determined to finish this thing. And besides, the proceeds go to a very good cause. I ran in the Houston Marathon and actually did better than I did today. I normally do about 55 minutes in this event, but I am just thankful that I got the chance to run again. Lord willing I will be back next year.”
While the number of runners was down from previous years, Angleton Mayor Patrick Henry was optimistic about the event. “The weather was not all that great throughout the week,” Henry said. “And there were a lot of things going on locally. But the bottom line is this thing is a complete success because when all is said and done, we will have made around $4,000 to go toward supplying eye glasses to local students.”
The fiesty Stabler was not the oldest to run in Saturday’s field, which included participants from ages 7 to 75-year-old Lake Jackson resident Orville Kremmer, who now has participated in all eight of the events sponsored by the Angleton Noon Lions Club.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Kremmer said after he puffed past the finish line in the 5K race. “I really enjoy running and I really enjoy participating in this event. It goes for a great cause and it also helps keep me in decent shape. I plan on being back next year also, but at my age only God knows for sure.”
The retired BASF worker concluded, “I love running this race because of the people involved. It is such a relaxed atmosphere. The weather turned out perfect and I am glad for that.”
While Stabler capped off the festivities, it was Bret Ramsey crossing the finishing line first in the 5K run. The former Angleton cross-country runner who now coaches track at St. Thomas Episcopal High School in Houston, flashed across the tape in 17 minutes, 34 seconds.
“It is great to win this thing,” the 1991 Angleton graduate said. “I have ran here four times, and this is the first time I have ever won the event. It is a great feeling to win, especially right here on my home turf. It is really an honor to get to run in this event.”
Houston’s Juan Vielma carted home the top prize in the 10K event, stomping over the finish line with a crisp time of 34:12. The Venezuela-native, who lives in Houston and is self employed, also enjoyed his trip down to Brazoria County.
“I love the laid-back atmosphere,” he said. “I run for the Houston Tornado Club and have participated in many meets, but I really like this event because the people are so nice. I like coming down here because it is nice to get out of Houston every once in awhile. This is my third trip and I plan on coming back.”
Susie Walters snared the top spot in the women’s division of the 10K race, closing out a respectable fifth overall with a time of 40:39. The Orchard resident was making her third trip to the local event. “I love coming down here,” she said. “We have relatives who live in Angleton, so we enjoy coming down here and running in this event. I love helping the cause by doing something I really love — running.”
In the women’s division of the 5K event, Houston’s Jennifer Brown took first-place honors with a time of 19:34, her first win in three tries. “Actually I ran the 10K last year,” Brown said. “But I enjoy the trip down here to see old friends every year.”
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