Prescott Running Legend Dies

I had the pleasure of meeting and conversing with Gheral over the past few years at the Man Vs. Horse race near Prescott. Although I only saw him a few times, he was extremely enthusiastic about the race and seeing all of the runners participating. Although he was unable to run this year, he was out there all day near the start/finish line to cheer everyone on. He even was excited for me to come back next year to enter the 50 mile race again.

Gheral was the co-founder of the Whiskey Row Marathon and the Man Vs. Horse race. Both of these events have become major running events for Prescott over their rich history. I have had the opportunity to finish both of these races and can say that they are truly unique. Gheral was above all a community man and a running advocate. He blended his love for running and the community together to enrich the lives of those around him. I'm glad that I had the chance to meet Gheral and hope his legacy lives on in those he has inspired.

Here is an article from the Prescott newspaper:

Brownlow, longtime community leader, dies at 76
By Joanna Dodder Nellans, The Daily Courier

A good man gone

Gheral Brownlow, a four-term county supervisor and avid runner who used his seemingly boundless energy to organize a host of community events, crossed his final finish line on Monday.

Almost a year after doctors told him he had only weeks to live, Brownlow, 76, succumbed to cancer at his Prescott home in the company of his family and wife Carol. Funeral services are pending.

"It was interesting and it was exciting and most of the time, it was spontaneous," Carol said of their 56 years together.

As recently as Wednesday, even though he no longer could eat food, he talked his family into driving him to Skull Valley so he could deliver items for an upcoming foot race.

Brownlow served as a Yavapai County supervisor for 16 years through 2004.

"He was a gem to work with despite the differences the two of us had," former Yavapai County supervisor Bill Feldmeier said. "His heart was always in the right place, and he cared about people he worked with and worked for a great deal. And I'm a better person having worked with him, no doubt."

Feldmeier spent a lot of time reminiscing with Brownlow the past few months about their adventures, including a rafting trip on the Verde River and a bushwhacking backpack trip along a rugged stretch of the Verde from Beasley Flats to the Childs power plant.

Former county finance director Mike Danowski, who ran with Brownlow hundreds of times, was on that hike and thinks of it often. He worked for both the supervisors at the time.

"The politics were left behind," Danowski said. "It was just three guys out hiking."

Despite all his accomplishments while an elected leader, Brownlow said he was most proud of his legacy to sports and children.

He roused volunteers to help him create Pioneer Park's ball fields that now teem with hundreds of children, and he single-handedly built the Pioneer Park trail system that bears his name.

He helped organize several unique annual foot races including the 30-year-old Whiskey Row Marathon and 10K, and the 50-mile Man vs. Horse Race.

He headed up a host of volunteers who raised money and hung Christmas lights on the county courthouse plaza each year.

Brownlow was a masterful organizer, his friend of 35 years Tony Humphrey said.

"Everyone knew they could count on him," Humphrey said.

Brownlow encouraged countless people to get out and run with him every morning. On his 75th birthday, numerous friends joined him on a 50-mile run.

Local attorney Alex Vakula remembers Brownlow talking him into joining the informal annual "Rim to Rim" run from one edge of the Grand Canyon to the other.

"It was not something I thought I could ever do, but when a 70-year-old guy is out there egging you on and saying you can do it..." Vakula did it. After all, he was only about 40.

Vakula and other Brownlow friends were amazed at how easy it was to raise more than $10,000 this past week for a college scholarship in Brownlow's name. It will go to a high school student involved in track and the community.

"Gheral had a unique ability to make everyone believe he was their very best friend, and in a sense, I think they were," Humphrey said. They both started running for exercise shortly after they met 35 years ago.

"He was always the guy who was in the back, encouraging others," Danowski said.

That is, unless it was a competition. Danowski specifically remembers the last leg of the 1989 Whiskey Row Marathon.

"I'm talking to him and all of a sudden, he's gone," Danowski recalled. "I think he said something like, 'Well, one of us has to win, and it might as well be me.'"

For those who ever wondered whether Brownlow really kept up his legendary positive and energetic attitude day in and day out, former Yavapai County Administrator Jim Holst can confirm it after working in the same office with Brownlow for 16 years.

"He was always enthusiastic and upbeat," Holst said. "Always. And always ready to go. It was hard to keep up with him."

Brownlow and two downtown businessmen organized the annual courthouse Christmas lighting for "Arizona's Christmas City" for a decade through 2005.

Arizona Rep. Andy Tobin of Paulden remembers how he and his two sons were on the downtown rooftops helping hang Christmas lights one year when nearby residents called the cops on them. He called Brownlow to come over and explain they were just volunteers.

"He looked at each one of us, grinned from ear to ear, looked the officer right square in the eye and said, 'I've never seen these folks before in my life,'" Tobin recalled. "With a straight face he walked about 10 feet away and just began laughing so hard. We all did. So did the policeman."

Tobin apparently didn't hold a grudge, because he was Brownlow's campaign manager for Brownlow's last two successful elections before Brownlow encouraged Tobin to run for office himself.

Brownlow spent 62 years of his life in Arizona, most of them in Prescott.

After working as a newspaper circulation manager and encouraging all the young paper carriers with fun competitions and prizes, Brownlow opened his own business downtown called the Holiday Shop. It carried gifts as well as sporting goods for the kids.

And kids who didn't have the money still found themselves with ball gloves, recalled Yavapai County Superior Court Presiding Judge Bob Brutinel, who has known Brownlow since he was in grade school with Brownlow's son Cris.

For the past 12 years, the Brutinel and Brownlow families and friends have decorated the pocket park at the corner of Sheldon and Gurley streets with Christmas lights and décor.

"That was classic Gheral," Brutinel said. "Gheral has always been the Christmas elf."

Brutinel figures Brownlow's friends will be back to decorate the park this year, too.

"I'm confident he would want us to keep doing it," Brutinel said.

Since moving to a larger home with room for a workshop about a decade ago, Brownlow created dozens of wooden cutout figures to display at his home during Christmas and Easter, too. His effort earned him first prize this past year in The Daily Courier's Christmas lighting contest.

Carol said their children promised him they would put up his Christmas décor at his home this year, too.

"I just believe strongly in Christmas, and (the decorations) are just a great way to celebrate," Brownlow told The Daily Courier in December. "And I love the enjoyment little kids get from it.

"Hopefully, they'll pick up the spirit to continue it."

http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=53678

Classic Man Vs. Wild

23rd Birthday Challenge More Pictures and Videos Coming Soon

Birthday Challenge

Final Birthday Challenge Numbers:

103 pullups
12 sets of 23 situps
180 pushups
Won 5/23 games of solitaire
Rode 23 miles on my bicycle
Swam in a 54 degree pool for 23 seconds
1:30 breath hold
Longest streak of free throws in a row: 12
2.3 shots
2.3 beers
2.3 mixed drinks
1 pulled Achilles

Well I am glad that I at least attempted my first birthday challenge although I did not meet all of my initial goals. I had a lot of fun and hopefully next year I can devote at least an entire day to my challenge. It was hard having half the day taken up by a super bowl party at someone else's house.

I want to thank my Dad for participating with me this year. He supported me with his 5.4 mile bike ride, 23 seconds in the freezing pool, several games of solitaire, lots of drinking, 54 pushups, 54 situps and the 54 second breath hold. He also mentioned that he will attempt a challenge later this year on his birthday along with one of his friends.

I should post pictures later today!

1:30pm - I did quite a bit in the past three hours, but suffered a debilitating achillies tendon pull about an hour ago. Believe it or not, I got up from playing solitaire off the floor to go do some pullups out back and when I went to run there, I pulled the achilles right away. All I know is it hurts to bend my ankle so I have it wrapped up. This may put a damper on some of my challenges.

Here is where I stand now:

103/230 pullups
11/23 sets of 23 situps
70/230 pushups
Won 5/25 games of solitaire so far
Finished 23 mile bike ride
1 mixed drink
Top three streaks of free throws: 12, 8, 7
Pool swim: Due to the 54 degree temperature I only lasted 23 seconds

I still have the 2:30 breath hold, the beer, shots, 1.3 more mixed drinks and the remainder of the pullups, situps and pushups. I will have to see how some of these affect my Achilles. If it hurts I will call off that part of the challenge. I will also see if I try to improve my free throw streak and/or win more solitaire games.

10:30am - Wow that was a chilly ride! We have a storm rolling through Phoenix and an overcast sky. I think it was colder at the end of the ride than the start. Once I got to my parent's house in Glendale I ate some food, played some solitaire and did some situps.

My Dad will be riding his bike and then joining me for some free throws, a dip in the pool and we will probably have a bloody mary (1 mixed drink).

Update:

-23 mile bike ride
- Lost 2 games of solitaire
- 2 more sets of situps

7am - I began my challenge this morning at 5:30am with 10 pullups, 23 situps, 23 pushups and a game of solitaire (which I lost).

After 1.5 hours here are my stats:
- 50 pullups
- 5 sets of 23 situps
- 2 sets of 23 pushups
- 7 games of solitaire lost
- 1 game of solitaire won
- Turkey bacon & egg breakfast

Pictures will be posted soon!

I will be setting out on my 23 mile bike ride now from Tempe to Glendale.

Stay tuned for more Super Bowl Sunday Birthday Challenge fun. If you have any ideas for me to add to my challenge post them today!

Birthday Challenge '08

I will be completing my first birthday challenge this year despite ongoing feet injuries from Angeles Crest in September. This will be an "off the couch" challenge with a good mix of physical, mental and of course drinking challenges. I plan on completing these tasks on Super Bowl Sunday, February 3rd in Glendale, AZ.

230 pullups
23 sets of 23 situps
23 mile bike ride
23 free throws in a row
23 games of solitaire won
2:30 breath hold
23 seconds swimming/treading water in a cold pool
2.3 beers
2.3 shots
2.3 mixed drinks

More info at http://www.birthdaychallenge.com/

Update: January 30, 2008

Jamil,
In the spirit of your Birthday Challenge I have decided to join in the spirit of the day...Therefore...on Super Bowl Sunday ..I..Peter Coury 54 years old will attempt the following....

5.4 pull-ups
54 sit-ups
5.4 mile bike ride
5.4 free throws in a row
5.4 games of solitaire won
54 sec breath hold
5.4 secs. in a cold pool
5.4 beers
5.4 shots
5.4 mixed drinks

LET THE GAMES BEGIN......................DAD