SPORTS

Not for the faint of heart

Almaden’s 67-year-old iron man runs 135-mile Badwater Ultra Marathon

By Jeanne C. Lewis
Staff Writer

Some people watch exercise videos while eating potato chips and hot fudge sundaes. Others walk their dogs every day. There are those who work out the suggested three to five times a week at the local gym. And then there’s Marvin Snowbarger who just completed the Badwater Ultra Marathon, a 135-mile race that takes aninternational invitation-only group of the world’s best runners through Death Valley at below sea level and culminates with an 8,300-foot climb up Mount Whitney in 120-degree heat.

And he’s 67 years old, has asthma and doesn’t even like running.

“Running is not my passion,” Snowbarger said about the amazing feat. “I don’t like running. I do it for the health benefits and the challenge. It’s there and do I think I can do it? It’s like Tiger Woods said ‘I grind at it.’”

Snowbarger has always been athletic, though “nothing exceptional,” he claims. Enjoying sports throughout his youth, he turned to handball, paddleball and racquetball in the mid 1960s while teaching economics at San Jose State University. In 1973 he became involved in Ride and Tie, events with two contestants on one horse taking turns running and riding, learning more about conditioning for marathon events. A member of the Quicksilver Endurance Riders since the 1980s, he has competed in many 50- and 100-mile equine events. There he met marathon runners and began competing in ultra runs. In 2001 and 2002 he entered the Western States 100-mile run from Squaw Valley to Auburn and was awarded oldest runner honors at the age of 64.

The Badwater Marathon is billed as the world’s most difficult ultra running event. It’s difficult to argue as the athletes encompass the 135-mile running race from Badwater in Death Valley with an elevation of 280 feet below sea level to Whitney Portals on Mt. Whitney with an elevation of 8,360 feet with temperatures of 120 degrees.

Entrants must supply their own crews for life saving, water, ice, food and medical aid. The 72 entrants who ran non-stop included seven women and 65 men completing in the 60-hour race. Snowbarger’s time was 43:08:28 and he was one of 42 awarded the coveted Badwater belt buckle in under 48 hours.

“For anyone to complete the world’s toughest foot race is a major accomplishment,” Chris Kostman, race director for Badwater said. “For Marvin to do it at age 67, when 99.9 percent of his peers are on the couch, is one of the more remarkable achievements in endurance sports. As for the age record, a 68-year-old completed the race in 1999 and another 67-year-old completed the race in 2002, but neither of them were nearly as quick as Marvin.”

Running in hot weather can pose many dangers to ultra runners: heat cramps, exhaustion and heatstroke. There is also dehydration and hyponatremia [water intoxication]. Of equal concern to all runners is that there are no aid stations as in many other races. Snowbarger attributes his successful run to his crew of three who provided pacing and the rolling aid station.

“Marvin has sheer determination along with a genetically correct and compact body,” said Patrick McDonald, Snowbarger’s pacer who ran 50 miles with him mostly at night and kept his mind off the run by talking about how presidents always have good hair. “He didn’t even have one blister after the run. I attribute it to being in excellent condition and his impressive training routine.”

Snowbarger began training for the ultra marathon four months before the event. Increasing his running to 100 hours a week and acclimating to high heat by sauna use, wearing more clothes in the heat and driving with the windows up and the car heater on. And speaking of blisters, that’s the ongoing joke with the crew: “When is the million dollar endorsement with Nike coming?” One of the tight team members pointed out that Snowbarger prefers wearing New Balance [the 800 series] and maybe that was the problem.

“He is extremely focused to accomplish the event and to condition his mind and body for such a run at his age.” Jan Jeffers, another crew member and driver of the cargo van. “It’s phenomenal. He’s like an iron man.”

“It’s a pretty impressive accomplishment,” said Joyce Snowbarger, wife, registered nurse and crewmember. “He’s a unique person both mentally and physically.”

And Snowbarger is equally impressed with his crew who drove no further than a third of mile from him during the run, supplying him with peanut butter cookies, GU [gel caps], watermelon with salt, water and ice. “There’s no way I could have completed Badwater without them. They executed their part flawlessly. It’s like a mini-expedition.”

So what does an ultra marathoner do when he’s not running? Staying in peak physical condition is important.

Joyce, his wife of 19 years, and he run in Quicksilver Park. He lifts weights and stretches 20 minutes a day. And he is a proponent of healthy eating and lifestyle choices.

Recently the couple flew out to Orlando, Fla. and took a train trip back to Los Angeles where they enjoyed the scenery and reading: Joyce with romance novels and Snowbarger biographies and anything to do with sports and training, what he calls “reality reading.”

Will he run another marathon? First he will continue his early retirement program this fall, teaching at SJSU four months out of the year. He will not totally commit to running Badwater again, but the thought has entered his mind to run in 2006 so he would be the oldest finisher at age 69.

“The body can do damn near anything if you just give it a chance,” Snowbarger said about his fitness regime.

“You can maintain health. The physical system is not that fragile, not everything is a problem. Life is given to us by a higher power and we have the responsibility to take care of ourselves.”

DRIVING SPIRIT

Annual Almaden Golf Tournament continues beloved coach’s legacy

By Steve Dini
Staff Writer

If you’re not looking, the tree and plaque might be hard to find. But, once you see them, overlooking the ninth green at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, you realize they are a perfect tribute to the late Michael Gard, the former coach whose life touched so many.

The tree was planted in his honor on the first birthday after Gard’s death of colorectal cancer in July, 2000. The plaque was placed to remind everyone who reads it that Michael Gard was no ordinary man. He changed things, and people, for the better and his death came way too soon.

“He had a positive energy,” says his daughter Shana. “Everyone liked my dad. He was just that kind of person.”

Now, over four years after Michael Gard’s death, his family and friends come together every September to host a golf tournament in his honor at the beautiful Cinnabar Hills Golf Club just off McKean Road in the Almaden Valley.

The 4th annual Michael A. Gard Memorial Golf Tournament this year is scheduled for Sept. 16, and the popular tourney continues to attract golfers who love the game and love what Michael Gard stood for—helping and inspiring others to do their best in everything.

“Our first tournament in 2001 had 90 golfers,” said Michael’s son Jason, a sales manager for Tamco, a local rep firm. “Last year we jumped to 135 and this year, we are hoping for over 200.”

Besides being a great day of fun on the links, the annual tournament is the Michael A. Gard Memorial foundation’s source of income for the past three years, with funding coming through hole sponsorships, auction items and personal donations. At the end of the one-day tourney participating golfers are invited to attend a banquet to enjoy good food, awards and a recap of the day’s events.

The foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to coordinate and support research aimed at finding a cure for cancer as well as non-intrusive techniques for detection. Early detection is crucial to treating cancer and this year, the Los Colinas Clinic in San Jose will receive tournament proceeds so people with no insurance can afford screening and other cancer tests that could save their lives.

“We started the Michael A. Gard Memorial Foundation as a tribute to our father,” said Jason. “We’re trying to make a difference because that’s what dad did. And, if we can prolong one person’s life, it’s worth it.”

Making a difference could have been Michael Gard’s life story. After a 20-year career coaching Little League baseball and Bobby Sox softball, Michael spent a number of years working with softball players at Almaden’s Leland High School. He also served as Leland’s Booster Club president and was always ready to help anyone who could “use a hand.”

“He loved working with kids,” said his wife Diane, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker. “He could really communicate with them. I don’t know how, but he did!”

Michael Gard was the kind of man all of us would like to call “friend.” He smiled and laughed often, was very supportive of the kids he coached and helped raise and looked at his personal glass as always “half full.” Many a chat with Michael ended with his favorite phrase, “it is what it is, and you just have to deal with it.” But, his philosophy didn’t stop there. “However,” he usually went on with a grin. “Together, we can make a difference.”

And, everyone around him was different because of his influence.

“He was always there with positive energy and lots of advice,” said daughter Shana, an escrow officer for North American Title. “Even if, sometimes, I didn’t want to hear it.”

“Mike always thought he could make a difference,” Diane continued. “And, he did.” Then, she paused. “It was a great ride,” she said. “It just didn’t last long enough.”

And, that tree at Cinnabar Hills? Just like Michael Gard’s legacy, it’s growing stronger every day.

For more information, to join Silicon Valley Capital Funding as a corporate sponsor or to register for the 4th Annual Michael A. Gard Memorial Golf Tournament Sept. 16 at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, call Jason Gard at (408) 997-2238. Online, visit www.magfoundation.com.

Pioneer High initiates new field with Mustang Football Camp

By Kevin Jones
Special to the Times

If it’s August, it’s time for football! The Almaden Pop Warner football league got into full swing on Aug. 1, with conditioning and games that will run through October.

Thanks to the Pioneer High School varsity football coaching staff, nearly 70 kids, ages 8-13 kicked off a great start to their season at the second Annual Mustang Football Camp July 28-30, with the help of Head Coach and camp director Mark Krail, his staff, and several Mustang players.

Living up to the motto on their T-shirts that proudly pronounced, “Attitude is Everything,” the kids participated in a variety of fun drills, and daily acknowledgements for their efforts in the form of K-Swiss hats and Jamba Juice certificates. The camp ended with games among the different age groups.

“The turnout was great again this year,” says Coach Greg Bernarding. “The kids really enjoy spending the time with the staff and players learning new skills. It is especially gratifying to see the kids listen and take instruction so enthusiastically.”

Just as exciting as the camp itself was the added treat of playing in the newly installed “turf” field, made possible by bond measure funding earmarked to repair fields throughout the San Jose Unified School District. Pioneer was one of the first schools to be completed, and proudly displays the Mustang logo on the 50-yard line.

According to Krail, the artificial field is designed to look and feel as though you are playing on natural grass. “We are really excited about playing on it and having a first-class facility,” he says.

The field will never need water, fertilizer, or mowing—saving the district thousands of dollars in maintenance costs over years past.

While Leland High School, Almaden Pop Warner’s home field, is currently under construction, the league will play home games at Pioneer until the field is completed in early October or sooner.

“We had a wonderful time with the kids again this year and are already planning new and different things for next year’s campers,” adds Krail.

For more information about the second Annual Mustang Football Camp visit www.almadenpopwarner.com.

Almaden Reds fall short in vie for Palomino World Series birth
Palomino league breeding ground for college bound talent

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

First T-ball, farm, live pitching, the curve, it’s all part of baseball assimilation, Little League and Pony, preparing kids for competition in high school, college and beyond. And for what appears to be a disproportionate number of Almaden youth—currently former Almaden or Leland High standouts Bobby Hill, Adam Shorsher, Brandon and Justin Gemoll all hold professional roster spots—baseball is going just that far, traveling to high places in short time, directly through the culminating Palomino Baseball League.

The Palomino League is youth baseball’s crowning achievement—it’s a full summer season of all-star caliber competition for 17- and18-year-olds—giving players an opportunity to participate in high-level competition before many go on to compete in college.

This year Manager Tom Galante with his assistants, brother John Galante and David Ordonez, assembled an array of stars to compete for the Almaden Reds, the most localized Palomino baseball club.

“We go out and pick the team during high school season,” said Manager Galante. “Every kid is handpicked. Coaching at Leland, I know who most of them are.” After an evaluation of skill, Galante personally contacted the players’ high school coaches, conducting an informal background check. “We get an evaluation to make sure the kids will all get along,” he continued. “You want to make sure the kids are as good as players as they are people.”

Most recently, Almaden’s namesake Reds went out with a fight Aug. 2, ending their season after dropping the elimination game versus the Wildcats of Renton, Wash. The victor moves on to the World Series in Santa Clara, held Aug. 6-9, where the best 17- or18-year-old Palomino teams will vie for a national championship within the age group.

The Reds, who compiled a 25-4-1 record on their way to the qualifying tournament, lost momentum they’d mounted all season long after several questionable calls late in the game Monday. With no outs in the top of the seventh inning, the teams remained tied at two runs apiece. Then, on what appeared to be an obvious out on a second base force play was ruled just the opposite, yielding a run and gateway to four more for the Wildcats. Ultimately, the reds were eliminated, losing 7-2.

“It hurts,” said Assistant Coach Galante. “The kids work so hard but their chance at the World Series gets decided by the umpire.”

The Reds, consisting of 16 players, hailing from various high schools and junior colleges including West Valley, Bellarmine, Leland, Pioneer, Oak Grove and Mount Pleasant, lost just two games outside tournament play.

“It’s always fun to take 16 different kids and personalities without any practices and to win 24 games,” said Galante. “It says a lot about the kids and how the parents raised them at home. We had a great summer.”

Branham High School’s Josh Kepler led the Reds in batting, hitting .558 in 21 games. Eric Thames (.460) of Bellarmine, along with Adam Lara (.457), Teddy Seines (.426), and Sean Connors (.456), all former Leland Chargers, round out Reds’ batting leaders.

Kyle Woodruff, Juan Gamboa and Steve Miller paced the Reds on the mound, combining for 15 wins and zero losses.

Woodruff, who was drafted in the 35th round by the Houston Astros this past spring, was called up by the Santa Clara Red Sox to further participate in the Palomino World Series.

“He’s a good kid,” said John Galante of Woodruff. “He’s got great speed, an unbelievable change-up and his curve ball falls off the table.”

Said player Woodruff of the Galantes and Ordonez as coaches: “They are the best coaches to be around for summer ball. They are very into the players and the team.”

For more information regarding the Almaden Reds, visit http://eteamz.active.com/almadenreds. To learn more about Palomino baseball and the Palomino World Series, visit http://www.pony.org.