Shields remembers first Crater Lake races
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
August 16, 2004
By STEVE MATTHIES
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK – What started out as a family outing has become one of this country’s toughest marathons, and Frank Shields remembers the first race well.
He won it.
“I was the pastor at the Methodist church in Chiloquin at the time (1976) and, with my family, came to look at the lake in March, there was still a lot of snow on the ground and saw this guy running without a shirt on,” Shields said Saturday after he served as starter for this year’s 29th annual Rim Runs and Marathon.
The guy running was park ranger Dan Shawley.
“I told him he must be one serious runner,” Shields said. “I had just run the Boston Marathon and told him: ‘Wouldn’t this be a great place to hold a marathon.'”
Shields then talked to members of the Linkville Lopers.
“Before you knew it, we had a marathon,” Shields said. “Frank Betts, who was the (park) superintendent said that if we got the race going, he would try to run it.”
The Lopers, mainly Bob Freirich and Alden Glidden, agreed.
Betts said the only week the group could be guaranteed the roads would be open was the second Saturday in August, and the Rim Runs and Marathon have held that date since.
If the race were earlier, the superintendent said, there would be a chance the rim road still might be closed. Any later, there would be the chance of a snow storm.
With basically word of mouth, the 1976 race drew 35 marathoners.
“I organized the race and made the first T-shirts,” Shields said, noting he had 200 shirts printed. “I was pretty amateur at doing stuff like that. You guys are doing a much better job now.
“This is a great marathon. It is a beautiful marathon.”
Shields won the first race in three hours, 28 minutes and 21 seconds, a time that would have allowed the current Oregon state senator, whose district covers the Portland area from I-205 east to Gresham, to have finished fourth in this year’s race.
Other pages in this section
- Editorial: Rim Village to get new look, and it’s about time – November 26, 2004
- Pendleton creates online blanket special for Crater Lake Trust – November 23, 2004
- Crater Lake to get funds – November 22, 2004
- Falling trees do damage at Crater Lake – November 19, 2004
- Lost at the lake – November 17, 2004
- Crews find lost snowboarders – November 16, 2004
- Missing snowboarders found – November 16, 2004
- Vesta Lee Fulton – November 15, 2004
- Obituary: Kevin Palmer – November 4, 2004
- Officials hold dedication for 500-mile scenic byway – October 15, 2004
- Byway hits milestone: celebration of Volcanic Legacy All American Road planned for Thursday – October 12, 2004
- Conference to celebrate frontier poet – September 24, 2004
- Two hikes, two views – September 20, 2004
- Science, learning center part of park renovation – September 14, 2004
- Crater Lake holds status as area’s primary tourist draw – September 13, 2004
- Obituary: Rex Laverne Ash – September 07, 2004
- Hike of the week: Mt. Scott gives bird’s-eye view of Crater Lake – September 3, 2004
- Geologist’s talk rebuilds a mountain – August 25, 2004
- Lindgren, Hanlin repeat as Crater Lake Rim Run winners – August 16, 2004
- Ten small fires burn in Crater Lake park area – August 16, 2004
- Oh Crater Lake – poetry about the lake – August 9, 2004
- Friends of Crater Lake to repair Annie Creek – August 03, 2004
- Park publications on sale at Great Basin Visitor Center – August 02, 2004
- Astronomy programs set for this weekend – July 29, 2004
- Pied Piper of Astronomy’s to present program: John Dobson – July 15, 2004
- Crater Lake to reduce fire hazards – July 02, 2004
- Editorial: Should this be a first ‘view’ of Crater Lake? – July 1, 2004
- Crater Lake’s summer program cut – June 29, 2004
- Crater Lake road ready for drivers Wednesday – June 15, 2004
- Governor OKs Crater Lake for state’s quarter – May 25, 2004
- Chamber has big ideas for new quarter, promotions – May 18, 2004
- Postcards from the Rim – April 26, 2004
- Guidebooks help reveal new ways to explore Oregon – April 25, 2004
- Cycle Oregon to tour Crater Lake – February 29, 2004
- Crater Lake tops list of specialty plates, raises $1.1 million – February 26, 2004
- Ole Norman Lunde – February 24, 2004
- Crater ski patrol launches effort for new ski signs – February 20, 2004
- It’s plow it out, lit snow, plow it out at Crater Lake – February 19, 2004
- Ski races at Crater Lake on Saturday – February 4, 2004
- What’s in a name? Chatting with Lewis L. McArthur – February 4, 2004
- Using cross country skis or snowshoes, one can experience Crater Lake’s winter wilderness – February 02, 2004
- Crater Lake license plates raise more than money – January 27, 2004
