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BILL SPELTZ: Montana's Natives embrace long race

For the strong of heart willing to push themselves to the point of exhaustion, Saturday's all-class state cross country meet in Missoula was a colorful celebration.

The playing field was refreshingly level. No advantages for the privileged who attend elite camps and compete on travel teams. No tangible evidence one pair of shoes works better than another.

In the words of Hardin runner Fred Alden IV, the annual running showcase favors only those who “can go 'til their guts come out.” It's also a day of diversity, where athletes like Alden embrace their heritage.

For many of Montana's Native Americans, prep cross country is a passion. Families turn out en masse for the state meet with spirit so strong it spills over.

“Even if they're not related, we still follow 'em,” said George Reed, a proud Hardin grandparent and member of the Crow tribe.

With each stride Alden took Saturday, his father's legacy came along for the ride. Frederick Alden III died two years ago at the age of 43 from stroke complications, but his enthusiasm for long-distance running lives on.

“He taught me a lot of stuff,” Alden IV said. “And he inspired me a lot just with what he accomplished.

“My mom likes to show me the pictures of when he was running marathons.”

Without a father, Alden IV follows his own path to competitive success. His sixth-place finish in Saturday's Class A meet was a payoff for the long summer days when he typically runs twice, tackling trails in the Big Horn Mountains and at a place on the Crow reservation called Gas Cap Hill.

“He's really proud of himself right now,” said Cindy Bear Cloud, Alden's mother, after Saturday's race. “He's had a tough time losing his dad, but he really did it today.”

According to Hardin assistant coach Cindy Farmer, long-distance running is a tradition passed down from generation to generation in Hardin.

“It's one of their favorite sports, even ahead of basketball,” the Chippawan said. “The families are very supportive. You wouldn't believe how many followers the kids have had in the past when we've gone to (the state meet in) Helena.”

Actually, Farmer's words are easily believable judging by the Native American support for Saturday's sun-splashed event. Not just parents, brothers and sisters, but aunts, uncles and more than a few grandparents.

Loved ones followed their favorites from the four corners of Montana. From places like Wolf Point and Hardin, Rocky Boy and Browning. Not to mention Billings, Kalispell and Missoula.

It wasn't the least bit surprising for Sancho Ridesatthedoor.

“Pretty much my whole family has been running,” said the Missoula Hellgate junior, a member of the Blackfeet tribe. “It's really a good way to get out there and think, really a free sport for you to do.

“If you give up, everybody knows it. You have to put yourself into it every time.”

Ridesatthedoor has the richest of running legacies. His uncle, Alex Ridesatthedoor, might have run alongside Billy Mills in the 1964 Olympics if not for a knee injury. Mills became only the second Native American to win a gold medal, following in the footsteps of Jim Thorpe.

Sancho Ridesatthedoor didn't fare as well as he hoped Saturday, finishing 26th in the Class AA boys' event. But in the end he enjoyed the same runner's high as everyone else, regardless of skin color or placing.

“When you're in shape you're happy,” insists Reed, who competed in Missoula back in the mid-1950s. “You're winded, but you're happy.”

Sports columnist Bill Speltz can be reached at 523-5255 or bill.speltz@lee.net.
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Keith R. Brown wrote on Oct 27, 2008 6:37 AM:

" I am glad to hear of these young men following in the foot steps of their family members as long distance runners. I, too was a long distance runner after my family members. My mothers little brother, Ellison "Tarzan" Brown from Rhode Island, my uncle, was a great runner. Some of his world records still stand today. My Uncle Tarzan won the prestigious Boston Marathon in world record time in 1936 and also made the Olympic team that year, ranked number one in the world. He won the Boston Marathon again in 1939 and again destroyed the world record and again qualied for the 1940 Olymoics, but did not go because of WWII. My nephew Hiawatha J. Brown and I are very close in age, as we come from a large family, ran together on the same Chariho High School cross-country and track teams together and set school records in the early 1970's. My nephew ran a 4:28 mile and my best time was a 4:32. We also followed in the foot steps of our Uncle Tarzan. My family still continues the trend, as I have a great nephew, Macias Spears who is currently on the same Chariho cross country and track teams. Our family is also big into high school wrestling where we had state champion wrestler from out Tribe, the Narragansetts. Good luck to the fine young runnere and may Creator watch over you on your journey through life. AHO! "

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