Jan Myrda
Jan Myrda won the notoriously challenging Rockdale Ramblin’ 10K in April, turning in a blazing 35:33, but doesn’t consider running his primary sport. Myrda, an avid cross country skier, uses road racing to help train for skiing in the winter. He won the Wolf Tracks Rendezvous 42K Skate in Minocqua, Wisconsin in January with a 2:16:28 and took 44th in the 51K Birkebeiner Skate at the American Birkebeiner in February in 2:29:39. Myrda has finished in the top 50 at the American Birkebeiner for the past six years and considers the race his main focus each year. He credits his regular training schedule and healthy diet for his success, and counts his 27th-place finish at the 1999 Boston Marathon in 2:25:20 as one of his biggest athletic accomplishments.
Stacy Nigrelli
Twelve years ago, Stacy Nigrelli signed up for her first half marathon and hasn’t looked back since. As time has gone on, Nigrelli has continued to improve, taking more than 44 minutes off her original marathon time and winning her age division at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2014 at 60 years old. Last year, Nigrelli ran a 3:25:37 at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, accomplishing her long-held goal of a 3:25 marathon and taking second in her age division. She hopes to continue improving this year, particularly at the half marathon and marathon distances, and would especially like to take 19 seconds off her 1:35:10 half marathon time from last year’s Naperville Half Marathon to earn a 90 percent age graded score.
