OG Race Directors (The Swartsleys)

“Running and racing is the only sport where it doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, or how much you have, how big a house you live in or how much you make. In shorts and running shoes, everyone is the same.“ – Zellah & Jerry

Back in the day, nothing happened in this sport without the race director. Usually, the same person who had the dumb idea in the first place.

You can’t spell ‘originators’ without OG.

Big races were small once. Especially that first year. But do it right and word spreads. Big crowd the next year. Exactly the story in Medford, Oregon. Actually, this race was BIG from the start.

Zellah and Jerry Swartsley made it happen. Together. They gave it birth and they kept it alive. Together.

Guessing it was not always easy.

How does this happen? These people – with a little help from a lot of friends – started the biggest race around. The best running club. They did it for forty years and they are still together. How did they do that?

Zellah:  I’ve always been interested in fitness; I use to teach fitness classes at our local YMCA.  Jerry has always run and would run with me, so it was a natural progression when we ran a few races.  He’s always been competitive, while I really didn’t care about my time or place.  Just being out there was good enough for me.

What sticks out, recollection-wise? When a person actually died at PEAR (last half mile) and they brought him back to life with the “clappers.” He survived and led a healthy life.

There was the race where one of the timers didn’t work and we didn’t have results, until our backup tape came in. Whew!

Funniest thing?   We always started our races on time.  One fellow was in the restroom when the gun went off.  He sprinted with a string of toilet paper dangling from his shorts trying to catch everyone.  Be on time next time.

Changes over the years? That first year we cut each and every bib number by hand on our living room floor, using a yardstick to measure and a pair of scissors to cut them.

In the thirty-five years we directed the race, we’ve seen and used every Finish means there is, from tick sheets, tag in a bag, surveyors tape for age groups, Chronomix timers, computer programs we developed, returnable chip, non-returnable chip, to the chip in the bib in the thirty-five years we directed the race.

We had multiple chutes, four for males and two for females.  Fewer women ran in those days and they finished in better condition than males.

Running was not fashionable when we started: zero running information, no wick-away material, everything was cotton, no computers, fifteen-minute sweep-hand stop watches, shoes had to be broke in.

We never got paid for directing a race, not even gas money.  

Lifetime memento? “The people we met.” Said in unison.

Jerry Swartsley calls himself a Pack Filler. I should note, our PRs are essentially the same and I called myself The World’s Slowest Professional Runner. Should tell you something right there.

Here’s his best times.

5 k. 17:35. 5:35 average.

10 k 35:45. 5:47 ave.

9-mi 52:41. 5:51 ave.

1/2 mar. 1:18.04 5:57 ave.

29 Marathons: five in 2:40’s, fifteen in 2:50’s.

I’m not going with this “in 2:40’s” stuff, I told him. What’s your PR?

And now I wished I hadn’t asked.

2:44:58.

Darn you!  2:46:07. But I was hurt going in. Ha! Admire anybody who can get under 2:45 by a couple of ticks. Good on you.

Know I could’ve run AT LEAST that fast. 2:44:58. That would’ve been my next goal.

“Sub-2:45.”

Can almost hear myself now.

When Jerry ran in Oregon’s first marathon, 1970, a physician’s physical was required. Apparently, he passed. He’s competed another 569 times, covering over 76,000 miles.

Zellah has run many races, 5k, 10k, the longest race was a half-marathon. The two ran the PEAR 10M together, twice, while directing it. Time or place are low on her priority list.

J & Z founded the Southern Oregon Sizzlers in 1969, a claimant to ‘Oregon’s first running club.’ The daring – not to mention intrepid – duo founded many of the valley’s events. They directed over one hundred (100) races including thirty-five (35) Pear Blossoms, Rogue Valley’s 1st Marathon, a National Championship Marathon, Ashland July 4th Run. Brought “the Chip” to Southern Oregon.

Me, I quit racing when they brought in the chip but that’s another story.

Honors

*Inducted as Charter Members, Medford Sports Hall Fame 1985.

*Medford Parks & Recreation Appreciation Award.

*Proclamation by Medford City Council – Zellah & Jerry Swartsley Day, April 5, 2012.

*Southern Oregon Sports Commission Sports Advocate of Year 2015.

*Southern Oregon Runners 50-year award in running 2019.

The Swartsleys are most proud that everything they did, including their awards, was all achieved as a couple, something of a rarity.

“Running and racing is the only sport where it doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, or how much you have, how big a house you live in or how much you make. In shorts and running shoes, everyone is the same.”

PEAR BLOSSOM RUN HISTORY

Zellah and Jerry Swartsley, returning home from graduate school at Montana State University, stopped in Salt Lake City where a marathon was held and Jerry finish eighth. An idea was born on July 24, 1971 and six years later it became a reality.

Their caring, giving spirit drew in thousands of runners and volunteers throughout the years. 

1977 – Zellah and Jerry Swartsley hold the first Pear Blossom Run. 

The first Pear Blossom Run was won by Frank Shorter, ’72 Olympic Marathon Gold and ’76 Silver Medalist. Mr. Shorter christened many an inaugural road race. Lighting the fuse wherever he went.

1978 – The running boom was on! Pear Blossom became the first race in Oregon to have a “limited field” – 750 runners compete.

1979 – Computers were used for the first time in results. Governor Atiyeh started the race.

1980 – The race was broadcast on radio for the first time.  Entries broke 1,000.

1981 – The race was changed from 13 miles to 20 kilometers. The race was televised for the first time.

1982 – The 1,500 limit was reached in three weeks.

1983 – The race was dedicated in honor of former Medford resident, Olympic coach, and founder of Nike, Bill Bowerman.

1984 – Fred Spiegelberg, an institution among Oregon football coaches, fired the starting gun. Entries broke 2,000 for the first time.

1985 – Pear Blossom was part of Medford’s 100 Year Centennial Celebration. A scholarship program was created. Zellah & Jerry Swartsley inducted as charter members to Medford Sports Hall of Fame.

1986 – A wheelchair division was initiated.

1988 – A trophy and VCR was given to the school with the greatest percentage of participants in the Mayor’s Cup. Mayor Lausmann started the event.

1989 – Mickey Mouse started the Mayor’s Cup.

1990 – Due to traffic and safety concerns the event is changed to 10 miles.

1991 – Pear Blossom exceeds 3,000 participants. A monument is dedicated at the starting line by Medford City Hall.

1992 – A two mile event was added to the Mayor’s Cup one mile event.  Cash prizes were awarded to school libraries in the Mayor’s Cup.

1993 – Pear Blossom tops 4,000 participants.

1995 – A 5K race was added. Pear Blossom Run topped 5,000 participants.  It snowed for the very first time on Pear Blossom weekend.

1997 – Thirty-four visitors from Medford’s sister city, Alba, Italy participated in the event.

1998 – Pear Blossom and the Portland Marathon were Oregon’s only selections as “One of the Best Runs in the U.S.”

2000 – A website www.pearblossomrun.com was established.

2003 – Deanna Schiedler-O’Neil wins her ninth Pear Blossom race.

2005 – Former scholarship winner, Max King returns home to become the first male  3-time winner while shattering the course record.

2007 – The Rogue Valley Family YMCA took over the Mayor’s Cup 1-mile and 2-mile fun run races. Online registration was added.

2008 – The chip, a state of the art, high-tech timing system utilizing a transponder attached to the shoe, was used for the first time in the 10 mile.

2010 – A disposable timing chip was used for the first time. Results for the 5K were kept for the first time.

2011 – The 5K race is named the Rogue Valley Medical Center Heart & Sole 5K. We began using the “chip in the number” chip for timing the events.

2012 – After thirty-five years, co-founders and race directors, Zellah & Jerry Swartsley, passed the baton to the Rogue Valley Family YMCA under the leadership of Brad Russell.  Rich Stanfield and Steven Buxton become the new race directors.

The Swartsleys’ advice to the YMCA was “when in doubt, give it out.” The Rogue Valley Family YMCA is committed to carrying on their incredible legacy.

And that’s how it’s done.

Thank you, Zellah and Jerry and all the race directors near and far, past and present. We appreciate you.

Mean it. Truly.