Posted: October 18, 2004

Athletics: Aish Duo Win Big Sur Half Marathon with Course Records

By Mark Winitz, Running USA wire

MONTEREY, Calif. - (Oct. 17, 2004) - Sometimes, if you believe the old saying, it takes two to tango. The second annual Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay, with about 4,000 participants this year, certainly qualifies in that category. In fact, two runners from the same household not only tangoed, but also waltzed, to victories along the shores of one of California's most breathtaking vistas.

Michael and Nicole Aish from Gunnison, Colo., ran separately, but in mirror fashion topped their respective fields in a rare husband-wife sweep. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers would have been envious. Michael Aish, 28, glided to a solo men's victory in one hour, five minutes, and 12 seconds in an impressive tune-up for the Nov. 7th ING New York City Marathon. Nicole Aish, also 28, trounced the female field in a 1:15:13 debut at the 13.1-mile half-marathon distance.

The finishing times earned each Aish new course records on the scenic out-and-back course that tours the coastal towns of Monterey and Pacific Grove. Both Aishes are assistant cross country coaches at Western State College in Gunnison where they met several years ago as track athletes.

Under overcast, drizzly skies and periodic headwinds, it soon became apparent in the men's race that Aish's competitors were in for a long day. Aish, a two-time Olympian at 5000 ('04) and 10,000 ('00) meters for New Zealand, injected a 4:48 third mile, hitting 5K in a conservative 15:20. Even that pace was too swift for Morro Bay, Calif.'s Christian Hesch and Kenyan John Weru, who initially accompanied Aish at the front but soon fell off the pace.

Soon, it was all Aish, whose goal was simply to run marathon pace for the half-marathon distance as a checkpoint going into New York City's Marathon. By 8 miles, Aish had a 1 minute, 28 second margin over second place Hesch and 2-1/2 minutes over Weru. Aish extended his lead to almost five minutes by the finish. Hesch concluded in 1:09:58, again finishing in second. Weru was third at 1:10:04.

"We came here just to have a bit of fun, and have a good blow out," conceded Aish, who was recruited for the race by his new coach, Team USA Monterey Bay's Bob Sevene, "If it works out, it works out. Nicole is ending her season and I'm in the middle of mine. Honestly, I didn't care if I finished first or fifteenth today, as long as I put in a good effort."

For Nicole Aish, the women's race posed uncharted territory. Aish (formerly Nicole Jefferson) is known for her performances on the track where she has run 32:12 for 10,000 meters, and upon which she competed at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Track Trials.

"I didn't really train for this," Aish admitted. "I think I did two long runs in the past four weeks, which isn't enough. I was kind of okay for eight miles. Luckily, I had a good group of men to run with because it was windy from miles five to eight. I kind of tucked in."

The race behind Aish was spirited as professional triathlete Alexis Waddell (Carmel) and Molly Friel (Fresno) exchanged the lead with 43-year-old Maria Trujillo de Rios (Los Gatos) over the first four miles. Waddell then exerted a strong move around six miles and proceeded to a 1:21:44 runner-up performance, over six minutes behind Aish. Friel was third in 1:22:40.

Trujillo de Rios captured the female masters (age 40 and over) victory with a fourth place overall 1:23:53. Jeff Magallanes (Seaside) was the first male master in 1:15:52.

This year, the race organizers have partnered with Team USA Monterey Bay and the local Wednesday Night Laundry Runners club to incorporate a training program, the Big Sur Training Club, to prepare participants to run Big Sur's half-marathon and/or marathon. Runners receive expert training advice and a training program from Coach Sevene and Jon Russell (husband of marathoner Blake Russell) while training in groups composed of runners of similar abilities. Proceeds from the training program are donated to Team USA Monterey Bay, a training center for top U.S. distance runners.

2nd Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay - Monterey, CA, Sunday, Oct 17, 2004

MEN
1. Michael Aish, NZL/Gunnison, CO 1:05:12 $2000
2. Christian Hesch, Morro Bay, CA 1:09:58 $800
3. John Weru, KEN/Mt. View, CA 1:10:04 $600
4. Alan Rozendaal, Boulder, CO 1:15:35 $400
5. Stephen Donahue, San Francisco, CA 1:15:50 $200

MASTERS MEN (40+)
1. Jeff Magallanes, Seaside, CA 1:15:52

WOMEN
1. Nicole Aish, Gunnison, CO 1:15:13 $2000
2. Alexis Waddell, Carmel, CA 1:21:44 $800
3. Molly Friel, Fresno, CA 1:22:40 $600
4. Maria Trujillo de Rios, Los Gatos, CA 1:23:53 $400
5. Melissa Marsted, Santa Barbara, CA 1:26:43 $200

MASTERS WOMEN (40+)
1. Trujillo de Rios (see above)

For complete results, go to: www.bigsurhalfmarathon.org .

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.