NOTEBOOK \ Peace Race

Oops: Boardman’s Rick Lape won the 2-mile run/walk in 9:39 on what was a route inadvertently shortened. A more average winning time would have been around 10:40. The 19-year-old Lape ran with brothers Jake, 19, and Bob, 24. Jake actually crossed the finish line first, but wasn’t registered. “He didn’t want to sign up, but just get a workout,” Rick said of his twin who is 13 minutes older. The younger Lapes are YSU cross country runners. Bob won his 20-29 age group in 10:27.
Family: Molly Burdette of Hubbard had three children in the 2-mile run/walk: Brendan, 13; Katie, 12 and Colin, 9. Burdette ran in the past — pushing her fourth child, daughter Brigid, in a stroller — but decided to keep Brigid company on the sidelines Sunday. Burdette’s initiation to the Peace Race came in the late ’70s when her father, Att. Richard McLaughlin, and sister, Kelly Gruscinski of Cleveland, participated.
Father-son: Bill Maust of Canfield ran in the 10K while pushing his son, Joshua, ahead of him. Maust, running in his fourth Peace Race, had special incentive because race proceeds were benefiting the Rich Center for Autism. Joshua, 9, is a full-time student at the Rich Center at YSU. “It’s a great school, one of the best in the country,” said Bill, a supervisor with UPS in Girard.
Doc: Steven King of Howland was running in his third Peace Race. His last participation was 2002. “I like the race. It’s a great civic event and I’m just trying to be a part of it.” The 52-year-old psychiatrist who practices in Howland and Boardman, is a member of the YMCA in both communities.
DJ: Jim Loboy had the tunes cranked up in front of the downtown YMCA. “I play music to get them fired up and I also make announcements,” said Loboy, a Campbell native who set up at 8 a.m. and stayed until after 11 a.m. The 37-year-old Loboy said he’s a runner and has intentions of running in the Peace Race. But when requested to work it, he couldn’t turn down the offer. “I keep telling myself I’m going to run, although I don’t think I’d set any records.”
Goodies: Hot chocolate and coffee vendor Greg Valent, owner of French Street Cafe in Howland, had a table set up beyond the finish-line chute. Valent, a 1990 graduate of Warren JFK, said he played high school football and basketball with Rep. Tim Ryan, a 1991 JFK graduate.
Volunteer: Mike Baker of Liberty, an Ursuline High sophomore, was helping distribute 10K awards, which were designed as Christmas tree ornaments. Earlier in the day, Baker ran in the 2-mile event. His best 3.1-mile run with Ursuline’s cross country team this season was 21:57 during a meet in Canfield. His best 5K time (21:19) came last year during an out-of-season Penguin Run at YSU.
Pace car: The lead car guiding the field of 10K runners included race director Ted Rupe, driver Dale Masenheimer and Gary Camp and Guy Pizzoferrato, both of whom rode in the bed of the Hummer. “It was our best in 15 years,” Rupe said of the 33rd Peace Race, which drew nearly 1,100 entrants and excellent weather.

Oops: Boardman’s Rick Lape won the 2-mile run/walk in 9:39 on what was a route inadvertently shortened. A more average winning time would have been around 10:40. The 19-year-old Lape ran with brothers Jake, 19, and Bob, 24. Jake actually crossed the finish line first, but wasn’t registered. “He didn’t want to sign up, but just get a workout,” Rick said of his twin who is 13 minutes older. The younger Lapes are YSU cross country runners. Bob won his 20-29 age group in 10:27.
Family: Molly Burdette of Hubbard had three children in the 2-mile run/walk: Brendan, 13; Katie, 12 and Colin, 9. Burdette ran in the past — pushing her fourth child, daughter Brigid, in a stroller — but decided to keep Brigid company on the sidelines Sunday. Burdette’s initiation to the Peace Race came in the late ’70s when her father, Att. Richard McLaughlin, and sister, Kelly Gruscinski of Cleveland, participated.
Father-son: Bill Maust of Canfield ran in the 10K while pushing his son, Joshua, ahead of him. Maust, running in his fourth Peace Race, had special incentive because race proceeds were benefiting the Rich Center for Autism. Joshua, 9, is a full-time student at the Rich Center at YSU. “It’s a great school, one of the best in the country,” said Bill, a supervisor with UPS in Girard.
Doc: Steven King of Howland was running in his third Peace Race. His last participation was 2002. “I like the race. It’s a great civic event and I’m just trying to be a part of it.” The 52-year-old psychiatrist who practices in Howland and Boardman, is a member of the YMCA in both communities.
DJ: Jim Loboy had the tunes cranked up in front of the downtown YMCA. “I play music to get them fired up and I also make announcements,” said Loboy, a Campbell native who set up at 8 a.m. and stayed until after 11 a.m. The 37-year-old Loboy said he’s a runner and has intentions of running in the Peace Race. But when requested to work it, he couldn’t turn down the offer. “I keep telling myself I’m going to run, although I don’t think I’d set any records.”
Goodies: Hot chocolate and coffee vendor Greg Valent, owner of French Street Cafe in Howland, had a table set up beyond the finish-line chute. Valent, a 1990 graduate of Warren JFK, said he played high school football and basketball with Rep. Tim Ryan, a 1991 JFK graduate.
Volunteer: Mike Baker of Liberty, an Ursuline High sophomore, was helping distribute 10K awards, which were designed as Christmas tree ornaments. Earlier in the day, Baker ran in the 2-mile event. His best 3.1-mile run with Ursuline’s cross country team this season was 21:57 during a meet in Canfield. His best 5K time (21:19) came last year during an out-of-season Penguin Run at YSU.
Pace car: The lead car guiding the field of 10K runners included race director Ted Rupe, driver Dale Masenheimer and Gary Camp and Guy Pizzoferrato, both of whom rode in the bed of the Hummer. “It was our best in 15 years,” Rupe said of the 33rd Peace Race, which drew nearly 1,100 entrants and excellent weather.