Michelob Ultra Runners get in gear for local marathon
The Michelob Ultra Runners are a St. Louis, Mo.-based group of runners that will be competing in the 2010 Seashore Marathon in Rehoboth Saturday, Dec. 11. They are sponsored by Anheuser-Busch’s Michelob Ultra Brand, a brand that promotes an active lifestyle.
“We are a group of men, women and wheelers that range from the Olympic caliber to the ‘just want to finish’ runner. Running is our passion, and our team mission says it all.. ‘Live Life to the Ultra’,” said team captain Jeff Bockhorn.
Bockhorn is registered in the marathon. “I’m bringing a couple of special runners; one of them is the Glassman (Bryan Glass).”
Glass is the 2008 Governor’s Cup Marathon champion and 2009 Lake Erie Half Marathon champion, and he posts an impressive 2:28 marathon personal record. “I think Bryan is in the best shape of his life right now. I think he’ll be well under the 2:30 mark. It would be nice if he could qualify for the Olympic Trials at this event,” said Bockhorn.
“The other two elite members are Jackson Johnson and Chris Gregory. Johnson hasn’t won a marathon yet, but he has placed second and third in several marathon attempts, and Chris is always right there.” The team has front runners, mid-pack runners and back of the pack runners. “You can’t miss us. We will be wearing Michelob Ultra branded uniforms. One of our guys is a giant in the running community - literally - he’s 6-foot-4 - we call him Big John.”
When asked why Rehoboth drew the team, Bockhorn replied that his team looks for courses that offer something different and challenging. This group of runners has participated in large and small marathons across the United States including Mount Desert Island, Crater Lake, Pikes Peak, Mardi Gras, Marine Corps, Manchester City, Boston, New York, Route 66, and more.
“Yeah, we travel across the United States. My wife Joanne and I have run in over 40 marathons in the past four years,” Bockhorn said. “We mainly travel and participate in the Michelob Ultra Series; usually the race picks us, but every now and then we get to pick one – we picked this one – the Seashore Marathon.
Living in the middle of the country, we seldom get to see the ocean. Everyone on the team is talking about this trip. Yes, we plan on taking the polar plunge after the marathon!”
Joanne Bockhorn, team captain, has run more than 40 marathons in four years and works at Anheuser-Busch Inc. as a database designer.
Bryan Glass, a schoolteacher near Springfield, Ill., is one of Michelob Ultra’s top runners in the St. Louis, Mo. area. His nickname is the Glassman.
John Brenner, nicknamed “Big John,” works at Wells Fargo as an information technology project manager. Brenner is on a quest to complete 50 marathons in 50 states. He stands 6-foot-4 and runs consistently below 3:30 for a marathon - not bad for a Clydesdale.
Mary Naeger is an age-group contender for half marathons; she works as a recruiter for Monsanto.
Joanne Bockhorn, Jeff’s wife, has run all 40 marathons with him and while away from St. Louis she leaves her dog, Nike, to take care of the house.
Jackson Johnson is on a quest to win his first marathon. Jackson has been in the top three finishers for the past four marathons in which he has competed. While not running, Johnson works on a farm in Springfield, Ill.
Pam Campbell is a masters contender and has taken several titles. She recently retired from being a prison guard in the state of Illinois; she is in charge of any team conflicts. Campbell is injured and will not be running in the Seashore Marathon in Rehoboth.
