Grand Slam Club member number 16?

Although not expressly noted above, Bob is one of those people that bonds and brings people together with his fun loving attitude, personality, and his ability to have a game to play at a moments notice. With a quick wit and extroverted social ability he is able to relate to virtually all including the quiet and shy, loud and gregarious, the serious, and the silly. This has allowed Bob to establish relationships around the world and bring those that love to run, travel, and see the world closer together.

Bob's generosity doesn't stop with his adult peers. He has taken many of his experiences to kids of all ages. In the last couple of years, he has taken photos of Antarctica and wildlife to 7 kindergarten classes to help them learn about other parts of the world from someone who has actually been there helping to foster their knowledge and expanding their horizons. Additionally, Bob has taken his marathon and travel experience to a 7th and 8th grade life education class to discuss setting goals, hard work, training, and how the rest of the world is different and similar to us in the states. One noted example is that the rest of the world uses metric and having to convert for various events and activities as well as having to negotiate through various currency.

Having traveled with and been a great friend of his for over 12 years, you may find others with such great experiences that may come with a greater running prowess than Bob, but you would be hard press to find many that measure up to his ability as a person.

I met Bob in college in St. Louis, and have stayed in touch for more than 15 years. As a member of the media (newspapers and magazines) in Las Vegas, Bob's story always intrigues people when I talk about his feats. The chance to run in the North Pole Marathon would be a tremendous opportunity for him. He has knocked off all 7 continents — now give him a chance to check off Santa's stopping grounds from his to-do list. I recently told his story to a class of 3rd-5th graders who were preparing to write class assignment "stories" on runners at the recent Las Vegas Marathon. They were fascinated at the chances he's had to travel to globe as a runner. Please give him this chance to compete at the North Pole -- he deserves it.

WOW! What an awesome feat it would for Bob to complete the North Pole marathon. I know this is something he has had on his to do wish list for a number of years. Now that he has completed a marathon on all 7 continents I know this has moved to the top of the list. What an inspiration Bob has been in my life in so many ways. A one man support team to me and my running life. Bob is my younger brother and talked me into doing a 1/2 marathon 4 years ago and then into doing a marathon in Buenos Aires 1 1/2 years ago. No matter how many times I called him and said, I can't I can't, its too hard, my feet hurt, I have blisters, I can't walk, i'm tired any excuse I could find to quit, he wouldn't let me. He was on the other end of the phone (we live in different cities) telling me that yes I could, this is normal, everyone feels that,your doing great! he was right there cheering me on everystep of the way. Now time for my first marathon in Buenos Aires, and who was with me every step of the way, of course BOB. 1/3 of the way in I pulled my already injured IT band and had to walk alot to finish the marathon, I kept telling Bob to go on, I was fine, but he insisted on pulling me along --literally i think at some points. Without Bob's strong encouragement during my training and especially during race day I would have dropped out along the way, but I didn't! Instead with his encouragement I kept training and made the trek to S. Africa last year to complete my 2nd marathon and to cheer Bob on as he finished a marathon on all 7 continents, so what now - he'll run them all again, to make sure I don't quit along the way! Right after he completes the North Pole marathon!

I've known Bob since the Antarctica marathon in 2003. A group of us on the trip formed a great bond and have met up several times since then for other marathon runs around the world. I always look forward to seeing Bob on these trips (as well as receiving his witty emails). He is easily one of the most personable, funny people I know. I think this Bob story sums up his personality: On our boat ride across the Drake Passage coming back from Antarctica I happened to be up on the bridge when what did I see? Bob, climbing up the flagpole with the Kansas City Chief's flag. He hung the flag with the Russian captain watching and laughing along with all of us. As well as having a great sense of humor, Bob is a very solid runner with a passion for the sport. He would be a great addition to your trip!

Bob was the life of our group of international marathoners this summer in South Africa. He had a lot of great practical advice for me, a novice, about everything from pre-race jitters to a post-race ice bath. He supported all of the runners before, during, and after the race with his positive energy and his great sense of humor. We held the same pace together from mile six all the way across the finish line. Bob encouraged me through loose sand, tough boulders, huge ascents, and especially when I hit the wall near mile 22. He even let me finish ahead of him by a second, so that I could be the first American to finish the race. When I think back to this summer's marathon, Bob is a big part of the reason why I continue so smitten with marathons. His stories of races he'd been on and the people he'd befriended from all over the world have pushed me to finish my second training season and head to Rome this March for a marathon there. He is a good friend to have on and off the course, and is a perfect candidate for the North Pole Marathon.

Bob has been a member of my marathon/half marathon training program for 7 years. Although I have coached over a thousand runners and currently have 350 participants, Bob is easily one of the most memorable. In fact, it's been a privilege to watch him achieve his goal of running a marathon on all 7 continents. Half the fun is that he gets to share his experiences with the life long friends he has made in his pace group. Bob is a core member whom everyone knows, respects and finds endearing with his wit and lightheartedness to balance out the intensity and obsessiveness that runners are apt to possess.

I highly recommend Bob to make the trek to the North Pole and have no doubt that he is physically and intelligently capable of running a low risk marathon. You won't have to worry about him. He excels at the criteria that you've set up and should be seen as one of your top choices. A strong runner with cold marathon experience (The Topeka to Auburn half marathon is mostly run on hilly country roads that are often iced or snowed over with howling wind chills in mid-January - I've personally experienced it a few times as well), who can write and communicate well with the media - Bob can do it all!

Good luck with your decision!

Like Nancy before me, I also met Bob during the 2003 Antarctica Marathon and have enjoyed his mails or better yet getting together with him for a marathon somewhere ever since. I have no doubt that Bob would be your best pick and that he would make the 2007 North Pole Marathon all the more memorable for the participants and interesting for those who have to stay home and await his reports and photos. To sum it up:

If you want sincere yet witty and funny blogs - Bob is your best choice. If you want somebody who is an excellent runner and who will no doubt have what it takes to get to the start and the finish of the North Pole marathon- no question, Bob is your man. If you want a dedicated advocate for running - you have to pick Bob. If you want a reliable, personable and humorous person to join the North Pole Marathon group - Bob is your only choice. If you want somebody who would wear an over-sized fuzzy hat with polar bears printed on it - Bob would wear it (you should have seen the over-sized fuzzy hat with penguin prints he wore for the Antarctica03 marathon - makes great pictures for the media) If you want somebody with his own cheering squad - choose Bob, the Antarctica 03 marathon group would have to be the loudest and most spirited cheering squad if e-mail groups were audible. If you want somebody who can inspire a lot of other runners to run in cold and icy conditions and think it is fun - SEND BOB TO THE NORTH POLE.

I would like to start with the last words of Sarah's comment: SEND BOB TO THE NORTH POLE! I met Bob last Summer in South Africa at the Big Five Marathon. We stayed in an African Bush tented camp and for 10 days it was just us, a group of international marathoners and the wildlife. As Colin says he was the life of our group. His humor was great, even though I didn't always understood everything it was still funny and enjoyable to see how he was able to make sure everyone had a great time. I'm sure that all of the marathoners and all of the staff do remember Bob, he is not a person you forget easily, and by thinking of him no doubt there will be a big smile on their faces. That is actually what I liked about him most, he is not being funny to bring himself in the middle of attention, but to bring people together. He does not only relate to the extrovert but he shares his attention with all. I have no doubt he is capable of running this marathon and to contribute in many ways to the success of this expedition. I will end my comment with the following words: DON'T GO WITHOUT BOB!

I also met Bob on the Antartica 03 marathon adventure. I had come all the way from Ireland to take part in the marathon and was unsure what to expect in the terms of the personalities I would meet.
Fortunately I got to know Bob early in the trip which put any anxieties I had to bed. Bob is a tremendously amiable, gregarious and above all humourous person. He is the sort of character every group trip needs - the guy who can keep everyones spirits up when others are feeling down or demotivated. He can get comedy value out of any situation and always has a funny story to tell if its needed.

By completing the 7 continents he has also displayed that there is a tough, determined interior to his jovial, easy-going exterior and I have no doubt that this mix of characteristics would see him complete the North Pole marathon.

He has also used his marathoning experiences in many positives ways evidenced by his discussions with young kids at schools and motivated and inspired many people through a marathon or indeed to take up running in the first instance.

If Bob where to go on the North Pole trip, I can say with certainty that at the end of the trip everyone in the group would agree that the trip was more enjoyable and more fun because Bob was there - I know this because that is the experience of myself and the others who took part in the Antarctica 03 marathon.

Send him to the North Pole - he is a great advert for what marathon running for the average person is all about.

As senior citizen you should all listen to me! I went to Africa to run on a lark, it seemed like a great adventure (and it was) I had no goals beyond the immediate. I met eight great people there and among them there were inspirations. Bob thereafter called BOBUSA, inspired us all. He is the one you want there because he inspires. He is a social leader, he is an athletic leader. He got me to want to run on all continents, Because of Bobusa I went to Australia to run and went to Amsterdam to run and will, next week go to Tokyo to run. Yes, because of Bobusa I want to run marathons on all seven continents and if I have time, the North Pole too. -- Bobusa- befor the Big Five Marathon sister Sue printed BOB down Bob's left leg and USA (country of origin) down his right leg. Non English speaking runners read it and called him BOBUSA.
By the way - if he runs up north I'll bring him some Everclear to warm him from the inside.

I met Bob last Summer in South Africa at the Big Five Marathon. We stayed in tents for 10 days, just a group of international marathoners and the wildlife. Bob has a great sense of humor, sense of adventure and mostly the willingness to help every other runner. Because of Bob, the entire group had an amazing time. Bob has also been helping me with my upcoming Antarctica Marathon. He has been sending me regular email updates on the race, the type of clothing to wear as well as the tips on mental preparation.

I have no doubt he is capable of running this marathon and to contribute in many ways to the success of this expedition. Bob is the perfect candidate!

I VOTE FOR BOB TO GO TO THE NORTH POLE.

Add me to the list who first met Bob on the Antarctica 03 trip. Bob never met a stranger and immediately had all of uslaughing. He is the sort of person that puts others at ease right away. He was entertaining to say the least. We have all enjoyed staying in touch and his emails provide us endless laughs.

Bob is the perfect runner to be selected for this trip. He can talk the talk and he walks the walk. He is fast enough to be able to identify with the front runners but humble enough to relate to, and commiserate with, the backof the packers. Being one of those back of the packers, I never felt put down or looked down upon by Bob.

Bob's love of the sport of running is contagious. If he is giving the opportunity to go on this trip, I know he will use his experience in a positive way. He can help inspire others to reach for the stars and go after their goals, no matter how absurd they sound to others (as in non runners who think we all are nuts for doing these crazy races).

So I think you need to pick Bob - he will represent our sport in the best manner. Besides, the other travelers on the trip will never be bored with Bob around!

As much as I love to run, I have learned that the friendships I have made on the trail are a huge part of what keeps me running. One of those significant friendships is the one with Bob. In a running group of 350-400 runners, Bob is known to most. He makes a point of introducing himself to newcomers as well as catching up with the regulars. Bob makes people smile, and he makes people laugh. I have yet to find a situation, whether running related or not, where Bob is uncomfortable. His kind heart, sense of humor and sincere interest in others immediately put people at ease. What a joy he is to know! At 40, it's fun to have a friend that tackles every slide in every park we pass while running. How often as an adult do you get to relive the sheer pleasure of stomping in a rain puddle? On those rainy runs, Bob's right in the middle of the puddle experiencing every bit of the moment. I think most of us have lessons we could learn from Bob in terms of how to enjoy a moment, how to set goals and obtain them, and how to share experiences with others. He also wants to know YOU. Not a week goes by where he doesn't ask me how my kids are doing.

Bob respects the sport of running. He knows the challenges of injuries, the commitment involved in training for a marathon (and not just a marathon in good weather), and the training required to run a marathon at a specific pace. He's juggled all these things while completing his goal of running on all 7 continents and while maintaining a sense of humor. I believe his experiences with running all over the world have only increased his appreciation for the sport and for the people he has met along the way.

I can think of no better candidate for the North Pole Marathon. GO BOB!

IF YOU DON'T SEND BOB YOU WILL BE LETTING DOWN THE OTHER COMPETITORS!

I too met Bob in South Africa, whilst running ( all right surviving) the marathon. Bob was the gel that held us all together, his sense of humour, great advice, inspiration and can do attitiude was of enourmous benefit to us all.

Bob shared not only stories but also his clothing. I am one of the fortunate few who still to this day run in one of his running shirts. He gave it to me because, coming from Australia where it is hot all the bloody time, I didn't anticipate that it could actually get cold. Bob no doubt runs for himself but also trulky puts others first during the experience, see Colins story above for example.

If I was asked to nominate just one person I would like to see running the North Pole marathon I would nominate Bob. He desrves to go and the other competitors deserve to have him there.

Steve Middleton

What about Bob? Bob is a wonderful person, who has a gift to make everyone feel accepted and taken care of. Bob also has a gift for humor and speaking before large groups. I asked Bob to share his experiences with running marathons and traveling the world with my students. He graciously came to our middle school and spoke to two different groups totaling one hundred fifty 13 year old students. With his humorous and confident demeanor, Bob was able to keep all the students engaged in the presentation for approximately forty minutes. Bob knew just the right amount cool, gross and cool, creepy events to throw in to keep their attention. Not only did he know what to incorporate to keep their attention, he also taught the students lessons about the different cultures, embracing diversity, and prevailing through adversity. The students were eager to ask questions and were sad when they realized his time was done. The students loved having him at our school, so much so, I have asked him to come back to present for our upcoming afterschool club lock-in and also to visit with our students for a celebration day. Bob does not do this just for himself; he takes the opportunity to educate and share with those around him. Bob is and was an inspiration for many of my students after his visit to my school. For this reason alone, I am thankful that Bob has had the opportunity to participate in the different marathons around the world. This is why I believe Bob should have the opportunity to run at the North Pole and then share this with everyone in his community. Thank you for your consideration. Bob is the BEST!!!
Stephanie :)