Columbus runner grabs first place in Peace Race

Jim Jurcevich wanted to gauge himself for an upcoming marathon.
& lt;a href=mailto:richesson@vindy.com & gt;By BRIAN RICHESSON & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- There are days when Jim Jurcevich questions his decision to become a professional runner.
"I enjoy what I do," said Jurcevich, 27, of Columbus. "But it's like any other job. There are days when you don't want to do it."
Sunday wasn't one of those days.
Jurcevich ran through Mill Creek Park and the streets of downtown Youngstown in 29 minutes, 15 seconds to win the 29th annual Peace Race.
He conquered the 10K (6.2-mile) course -- and a field of 488 finishers -- ahead of runner-up Fred Kieser of Cleveland (29:51) and Matt Folk of Youngstown (30:22).
"I was pretty pleased," said Jurcevich, who was awarded the $500 first-place prize money on a clear, cool day. "I was hoping to go for sub-29, but low 29s, I'm definitely happy with."
Marathon training
The victory also improved his confidence. Jurcevich ran the Peace Race as part of his preparation for the Columbus Marathon on Oct. 19.
"It lets me know where I need to be to get ready for my marathon," said Jurcevich, who finished second in last year's marathon. "I used this race as a gauge, to see where I'm at."
Before Sunday, Jurcevich wasn't sure. He failed to break 30 minutes in a 10K in Toledo two weeks ago, and he started to question himself.
"I was a little bit tired from the marathon training," said Jurcevich, who runs 140 miles per week. "We went out pretty hard [Sunday], and I wasn't sure how long I'd be able to hold on."
Jurcevich and Kieser ran together for the first four miles before they started to separate.
"My plan was to let him go because he traditionally goes out fast," said Kieser, 32. "This time he held back a little, and I thought I'd go with him as long as I can. He did all the work and I just hung on."
Jurcevich completed the fifth mile in 4:28 to take the lead and eventually win the race.
"At four miles, I tried to draw even with him," Kieser said, "but that just got him going."
Career decision
Until two years ago, Jurcevich, a five-time All-American at Michigan State, was selling shoes at a Detroit running shop. But he made a decision.
"I figured I'd make just as much money running full-time as I could working part-time and still trying to run," said Jurcevich, who's sponsored by Reebok. "It gives me a lot more flexibility in my training."
Jurcevich's best 10K time is 28:39, which he ran in the 2000 U.S. Olympic trials, narrowly missing a qualifying position for the team.
Folk's finish
Folk, 27, an assistant track and cross country coach at Youngstown State, was the runner-up last year in 31:02. He dropped to third this year despite an improved time because of better competition, he said.
"People who have run through the park over the years are some of the best runners in the world," Folk said.
Rounding out the top five finishers Sunday were Rick Wilson, 39, of Canfield (31:55.3) and Kevin Machalski, 29, of Westlake (31:59.8)
Last year's Peace Race champion, Henry Dennis, was expected to run Sunday, but he failed to show for the race.
2-mile
Bob Daniluk could have been happier after crossing the finish line first in the two-mile race, but he had a problem.
"I locked my keys in my truck, and my racing shoes were in there," said Daniluk, 20, of Girard.
No matter, Daniluk made do with the training shoes he was wearing, running in 10:51.8 to outdistance a field of 247 finishers.
Boardman's Bob Lape (11:17.6) was the runner-up.
"I went out and told this dude [Lape] that I'd run with him," Daniluk said. "I said to just go with it and see where it takes us."
Lape took advantage of the advice.
"Other kids went out fast," he said, "but I knew [Daniluk] would pace himself."
Daniluk and Lape finished 1-2 in last year's race, but Daniluk wasn't registered. Because of that, his name comes up as "Unknown" in last year's results.
This year, he has an identity.
& lt;a href=mailto:richesson@vindy.com & gt;richesson@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;