January 21, 2000
Marathon runners Honored
By John Kozlowicz
Hocak Worak
Six "Ho-Chunk Youth Marathon Runners" were honored by Ho-Chunk Nation President, Jacob Lone Tree on December 17,1999. The youths aged 13 through 19, completed in grueling 26 mile marathon in Hawaii on December 12,1999.
The six youth; Rayce Pettibone 19, Randall Blackdeer 16, Louella Blackdeer 15, Cody
Murphy 15, Heather Hillmer 14, and Quincy Garvin 13, began training for the event in
October under the watchful eye of Coach Irwin Begay.
Shortly after beginning training the youth named their team the " Ho-Chunk Youth Marathon Runners". The first Ho-Chunk Nation team to compete in this event, the runners were anxious and prepared for their 5:00 a.m. start in the "27th Annual Honolulu Marathon". Weeks of training and miles of running set the stage for this historic event.
The first marathon run was a six mile event on October 9th at the Fort McCoy, WI, Military Training Grounds. Each Saturday thereafter, through December 4th, the runners increased their mileage from the previous week. In between the Saturday runs, the runners were on a ladder training schedule. On this schedule they would run the greatest number of miles on Saturday and decrease the distance by one mile each day during the week. The longest run each week was on Saturday. Training was completed with an 18 mile run at Fort McCoy on December 4th.
All six participants completed the race, and at the ceremony were presented a pendleton blanket, and a certificate of achievement for a job well done. The achievement certificate reads in part:
"This is to recognize your dedication to your training regiment and eventual completion of the 26 mile marathon. You have served the Ho-Chunk Nation very well and have set a role model for all youth. For that we will forever be grateful. Pinagigi. Jacob H. Lone Tree, President, Ho-Chunk Nation".
Coach Begay and the team are already talking about next year’s marathon to be held in either San Diego or France.
The official times and placement of each runner in their category is listed here below:
| Name | Time | Place |
| Randall Blackdeer Quincy Garvin Heather Hillmer Cody Murphy Rayce Pettibone Louella Blackdeer |
04:49:40 08:40:16 06:29:27 05:21:40 05:09:46 06:29:18 |
72/4357 45/8177 9/4884 120/6361 104/5686 68/4876 |