Meet Rich Cater! Rich is a Master Grower for Treehouse AG, something he learned how to do back in the 80s and never really knew it would come in handy later in life. Many also know Rich as the Volunteer of the Year for Run Muskegon as he is one of our most avid and active volunteers for both the Run Muskegon Race Committee as well as the Outreach Committee. Rich joined Run Muskegon as a paid member back in 2018 and can be seen at almost every Wednesday night run as well as most weekend long runs. 

As a part of our Runner Spotlight, we also asked Rich to answer a few fun questions:

 1. How long have you been running? 
Since 2017
2. Do you race? If so, what is your most memorable race experience?
I do love to race. I’m very competitive so it’s right up my alley.  Last year I was on two Ragnar Trail teams and my last two loops were back to back totaling 15 miles in the heat of the day and when I finished, Heather Art and Colin Eden, were waiting for me and sat me down and dumped water on my head and rehydrated me with electrolytes. As they were doing that, somebody from Ragnar presented me with an Ultra medal.  It was very emotional.
3. Ever run in a costume? If so, what?
No but I did win Hippiest Dude at Run Woodstock, but no way I could run in a costume; I would overheat!
4. Only running shoes for me are…
Saucony Speed for the road and Saucony Peregrine for the trail, but I did just get a pair of Saucony Edge; looking forward to giving them a try.
5. What is your worst running-related injury?  
I ran the year in 2019 which means you run 2019 miles. In 2019 my total ended up being 2067 miles, but it totally beat me down from head to toe. 
6. Hot or cold weather runner? 
40 degrees is perfect, some might think that is cold though.
7. What is your motivation for running? 
I am a very addictive person so I need it to stay on the right path
8. If I didn't run I... 
I don’t even want to think of the place I would be without running.
9. I can't run without…
Rubber for my chopped off big toe. It was a game-changer thanks to my best bud, Becki Mueller 
10. What's the farthest you have run at one time? 
I did a full at North Country Trail Run and when I was on two Ragnar Trail teams my total was around 32 miles. 

Meet Shanna Alderink! Shanna is a Speech-Language Pathologist who was born and raised right here in Muskegon. She moved back in 2016 after living in Oklahoma and Metro Detroit because nothing beats West Michigan. She found Run Muskegon in 2017 and loves the friends and sense of community that the run club has provided her. In her free time, she loves being out and about, experiencing all that Muskegon has to offer.
Thanks to the push from Run Muskegon friends, Shanna is training for her first full marathon, the Chicago Marathon in October. As a part of our Runner Spotlight, we also asked Shanna to answer a few fun questions:
1. How long have you been running?
I started running in 2012.
2. Do you race? If so, what is your most memorable race experience?
I am starting to get the "race itch" more. My most memorable race experience was the 2022 Bayshore Half Marathon. It is a great race with an incredible course. I surprised myself with my first sub 2 half marathon in 2022.
3. Ever run in a costume? If so, what?
I've never run in a full-out costume but I never turn down some lights and a tutu depending on the occasion.
4. Only running shoes for me are…
Saucony Guide. It's actually the ONLY shoe I have ever run in.
5. What is your worst running-related injury?
My dog, Tucker, and I got in a pretty bad tussle with a loose dog that sent me to the emergency room and prevented me from running most of the 2019 summer.
6. Hot or cold weather runner?
Cold weather!
7. What is your motivation for running?
Endorphins. There's nothing like the feeling you get after finishing a long run on the weekend
8. If I didn't run I...
would still need to find some other kind of cardio, which is way less fun than running with friends!
9. I can't run without…
either a friend to talk to or headphones to listen to a podcast. People who are able to run with nothing to listen to fascinate me!
10. What's the farthest you have run at one time?
A half marathon. Planning to change that this year with my first full marathon!