PRESS RELEASE – Judy Whitehorse-Hillmer
Youth Services Assistant Director

Six "Ho-Chunk Youth Marathon Runners" were honored by Ho-Chunk Nation President Jacob Lone Tree on December 17, 1999. The six Ho-Chunk youth, ages 13 through 19, completed a grueling 26 mile marathon in Hawaii on December 12, 1999.

To honor each of the youth for this major milestone accomplishment a large audience gathered to bestow upon each of the youth a pendleton blanket and certificate of achievement and an overwhelming applause.

The six youth were accompanied by their parent sin accepting the gifts from the Ho-Chunk Nation.

At 3:00 a.m., on the morning of the race, the annual 26 mile Honolulu marathon, the six youth awoke to prepare for their 5:00 a.m. arrival at the race line. Their coach Irwin Begay stated at the Honor Ceremony that some were already up and that others just barely had to be nudged to be awake. They were ready to go!

The six youth: Rayce Pettibone, 19; Randall Blackdeer, 16; Louella Blackdeer, 15; Cody Murphy, 15; Heather Hillmer, 14; and Quincy Garvin, 13; began their marathon training October 9, 1999, under the watchful eye of Coach Begay.

Their first marathon test was to run six miles at the Fort Mc Coy, Wisconsin, military training grounds. On each Saturday, thereafter, through December 4th, the runners ran progressively higher mileage then they had run the previous Saturday. In between the Saturday marathon tests, Coach Begay put them on a ladder training schedule. On this ladder schedule they would run the greatest number of miles on Saturday and each day after, they would run one mile less than the previous day.

Their highest mile run each week was on Saturdays. On any given day, except Sunday which was their designated day off, they would run one mile less than the previous day. They completed their marathon tests at Fort Mc Coy on December 4th with an eighteen mile run.

In a brief ceremony, upon accomplishing their marathon tests at Fort Mc Coy, Coach Begay presented the youth runners with a mile stake marker commemorating their completion of the marathon test runs. In the weeks prior to December 4th, Coach Begay had been giving the runners an idea of the Hawaii marathon course.

Shortly after they began their training, the youth chose to name their team the "Ho-Chunk Youth Marathon Runners." They are the first Ho-Chunk Nation team to compete in this twenty-six mile marathon. From the beginning of their commitment to the training regiment set by the coach, they knew they were on a historic mission.

Their achievement certificates reads as follows: Certificate of Outstanding Achievement

On behalf of the Ho-Chunk Nation this Outstanding Achievement Certificate is presented for your competing in the 27th Annual Honolulu 26 Mile Marathon on December 12, 1999, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

For that we will forever be grateful. Pinagigi.

Jacob H. Lone Tree,
President Ho-Chunk Nation

All of the Ho-Chunk Youth Marathon Runners are back in school. It is anticipated that the youth will submit their experience, in writing.

They have begun talking about their next team marathon. It could be next year either in San Diego or France.

Wherever it is, they will forever remember their very first marathon run at Honolulu, Hawaii, which was made possible only by Coach Irwin Begay who ran the Honolulu Marathon about four years ago. He will be receiving a certificate soon for his marvelous work with the Ho-Chunk Youth Marathon Runners.

Officials results: