OGDEN — The 2011 Zions Bank Ogden Marathon gave Eddie Jordan a real buzz. The South Ogden resident ran the entire 26.2 miles dressed as a bee, including antennae and yellow sunglasses.
“Isn’t that a perfect Utah costume? ‘Busy as a bee,’ ” Jordan said. “You know, when you run in a costume, it’s amazing the response you get from a crowd. It’s great that the crowd is out here already, but it gives them a little something back in terms of entertainment.”
Jordan has been running in a costume since 2006, when he first used a rubber butt to get a reaction from the crowd. Since then he has run as Pippi Longstocking, a clown and a ballerina. Jordan flitted through the course Saturday, and said he enjoyed the race.
“Overall it’s just a beautiful day,” said Jordan. “I was glad it (the race) was today, not yesterday or tomorrow. The last couple days, it’s been a monsoon. You almost felt like building an ark and collecting the animals two by two. It’s nice that we had this little respite in between.”
While Jordan was certainly unusual, he wasn’t the only participant among the more than 5,000 runners who enjoyed the gorgeous day and celebrated the marathon, half-marathon, marathon relay and 5K races in unique style.
“I’m Crazy Tom,” said Tom McCabe, dressed in a shoulder-length bright green wig, fluorescent biker shorts and bright shoes. McCabe, a marathon finisher, said he likes to dress up for each race.
He hopes to be recognized at local races and to add to the race atmosphere.
“I got a pink wig, this green wig, different colored shoes,” McCabe said. “I just get out there and have fun. That’s what it’s about. If you want to run a (personal record), go ahead, but go out and have fun. When you go by and people along the sides see you and they start cheering, that gets you energy, so you run faster.”
Another crowd favorite was Bart Kendrick, pushed in his bright blue Bartmobile (a race-adapted wheelchair) by Manuel Cyprus.
Kendrick whooped and laughed through the first miles and finished in dramatic style.
“He was just almost overwhelmed. We had him walk across how we always do. That was really something,” said Cyprus, who has pushed Kendrick through three full marathons now.
While Kendrick, McCabe and Jordan added to the day’s events, most runners agreed that there wasn’t much to add and were grateful for one sunny day in a sea of rainy ones.
“It was gorgeous,” said Jeni Buist, team captain of the Cache Valley Hotties, who won the women’s relay division. “The weather was perfect. It was cold for the start, but once the clouds cleared, it was absolutely beautiful. I’ve done the full marathon twice, and I just love it. It’s a beautiful course, and it’s something to get ready for in the spring.”
The running expo guest speakers, authors Dimity McDowell Davis and Sarah Bowen Shea, rained compliments on the course after completing the half-marathon.
“It was such a beautiful course,” said Davis. “Such an epic, epic course.”
“It’s so gorgeous and people are so friendly,” said Shea. “This race is incredibly well-organized. We can’t stop talking about that. Every detail.
“It’s like they’ve been to every race and seen what doesn’t work, seen what does work, and then taken the best practices and brought them to Ogden.”
NOTE: See full results at https://www.onestoprace.com/results/default.aspx?event=4925&r=558
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