If you asked me before this event to name twenty or so people I wanted to spend the night with, I think I would have struggled for an answer.

Now ask me, and I won't hesitate to name the members of the two great teams that came out for the Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society.

Our two teams, the A.N.T. (All Night Team) Runners and the One Track Minds, spent the night and the early morning hours at East Rochester High School Track running more than 260 combined miles and raising approximately $3,000 for the American Cancer Society. We all had our own personal reasons for the Relay for Life, and when we choose the team tag line "running for a reason," we had this in mind. There was a bit of speculation from the other teams exactly what our reason was (especially when the late night "beer" lap rule was instituted...).

The A.N.T. Runners and the One Track Minds challenged each other to see who could log the most miles. The outcome of the friendly competition, however, was a bit vague. The rain blurred our mile tally sheet, which was literally a sheet: we used a bedsheet with our team "logos" drawn on it and the tally was written on it in kids' non-toxic markers (in a variety of fruit scents - the blueberry smelled great!), and there was some talk of disqualification when a member of the One Track Minds was seen riding a few laps on a golf cart!

Highlights:

• We not only didn't incur any running injuries, but I think we cured a few: Tony Farraro recovered from his hernia surgery while running a six minute pace and Mort Nace made a progressive move from walker back to runner.
• New runners were born: My husband, Stephen, ran his first hour (that's not even counting those golf cart laps!) and Mort Nace's co-worker from MedVed, Christine, discovered that she's a natural runner. Many of our children took to the track that night and set their own distance PRs.
• John "the machine" VanKerkhove showed up at 2:00 a.m., ran 12 miles at what we all speculated was sub-six minute pace, stopped, pounded a beer, changed his shoes, and then cranked out four more.
• I proved my theory that beer, corn nuts, and chocolate covered espresso beans can be just as effective as Gatoraid, Powerbars and water during "endurance" events (and a hell of a lot more fun...)
• Joy Valvano earned a new nickname Joy "the stick" Valvano. We'll leave you wondering about that one!
• The 7:00 a.m. appearance of the "Oven Door Runners" gave us all a much-needed lift!

Other memorable moments:

Our dining canopy nearly wiped out the entire "Relay Village" when it was lifted and carried across the field by a strong wind (fortunately no personal injuries sustained). Hey, who was in charge of staking that thing down???

The high school acid/grunge rock band that played a slightly out-of-tune psychedelic set after sundown. (Duuuude, at least they had a real drummer, unlike the opening R&B "band" that consisted of keyboard, guitar and drum machine.)

Thanks to:

Team Sponsors: Merrill Lynch and Acro Industries
Team Captains: Joy Valvano and Patty Guinan
T-Shirt and Banner Designer: Wayne Bulling
Web Master and Photographer: Mark Roberts
Musician (and cheater!): Stephen Bland
Pete VanPeurson: volunteer

Door Prize and In-Kind Donations:

Genesee Brewery
Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters
Willopus T-Shirts
Eric and Carl Grimm and Suburban Disposal: recycling and refuse services to the "Relay for Life."

Team Members:

One Track Minds:
Patty Guinan
Mary Guinan
Eric Stevens, Sandy Rubsam and Justin
Bill Hearne
Sharon Grossman
John "the machine" VanKerkhove
Tony Farraro
Ben Yagoda
Audra Knapp
Carolyn Smith Hanna
Stephen Bland

The A.N.T. Runners:
Mike Twohig
Mark Roberts
Jay Reeder
Leo Austin
Dennis VanKerkhove
Mort and Abby Nace
Christine Barry
Joy "The Stick" Valvano
Doug Jones & Family
Matt Caton
Linda Grossman

Guest Appearances:
Mike and Sandy Reif - saved the day with the rain flaps
Mike (Ivan) DeMay
The Oven Door Runners