LV Marathon — the long and Shorter versions

By Ron Kantowski

Thursday, June 11, 2009 | 5:38 p.m.

NOW

It's a long way from start to finish in a marathon -- 26.2 miles.

To measure the distance the Las Vegas Marathon has traveled from 1967 to 2009, when it will operate under the tried and true Rock 'n' Roll Marathon brand, you'd have to go a lot farther than that says Frank Shorter, at 61 still our country's eminent and most esteemed Marathon Man (along with Bill Rodgers).

Shorter, who spoke on behalf of the marathon's new owners during an announcement on Wednesday, recalled running in one of the early Las Vegas Marathons. He said it was about as organized as Oscar Madison's sock drawer.

"They painted a line on the asphalt and said 'OK, you go that way.' Then they shot off the gun."

THEN

In my Wednesday column in the Sun you can hold in your hand about fiscally sound North Dakota being an attractive place to live, I posed the questions "Minot? Why Not?"

A former North Dakotan named Jerry "Tip" Lysne e-mailed with the answer.

"Freezin' the reason."