No more spare time for Modesto Marathon co-director

When Vickie Chu-Hermis launched her running career 15 years ago, she dove in at the deep end – with triathlons.

She eventually pruned away the bicycling and swimming for what she enjoys the most.

“Running is so much easier. There’s less gear, and you don’t have to train for three disciplines,” she said. “I did one Iron Man and it took all of my free time to train. In running, all you have to do is step outside your door and run.”

Today, virtually all of Chu-Hermis’ free time is spent on the sixth annual Modesto Marathon, coming Sunday. She shares the meet-director responsibilities with Karen Lozano, and the two have reached the feverish final week of preparations for one of the city’s fastest-growing sports events.

Last year, 780 stepped down the city streets in the full marathon, a dramatic increase over the 227 in the 2010 inaugural.

Chu-Hermis, a Modesto native and a graduate of Central Catholic High School, has taken part in about 50 marathons from here to Florida. But organizing a tour de force like the Modesto Marathon with its 700 volunteers – catering to the needs of about 3,000 runners – requires another kind of commitment.

Between the marathon and her desk job, her schedule brims with activities these days. In fact, she’s already planning for the 2016 marathon.

But first things first. Sunday’s 7 a.m. starting time looms.

Q: How is the field shaping up for this year’s marathon?

A: Anna Bretan (last year’s overall champion and winner of the last two women’s races) is coming back. She is our first overall female champion. She went on after our race to win the women’s San Francisco Marathon. Miguel Nuci (the Turlock runner who won the 2014 men’s half-marathon) is also coming back, but we don’t know if he’s running the half or the full marathon. I know we have entries this year from Costa Rica, India and Brazil. We won’t have Jon Olsen (Modesto’s two-time champion) this year. We were hoping he could be our 3:05 pacer.

Q: The marathon is growing year by year. Is everyone on board with an event expanding in size?

A: Every year, it does grow, but it’s not at a pace that we can’t keep up with. It’s growing at a rate that we can sustain. Last year, we ran the course after the race and picked up garbage along the route. It wasn’t a fast run. We just don’t want the farmers and property owners along the race route mad at us. We do have sweepers who follow up right after the race is over, but it felt good to go out there and get all of it. We just want to make sure people are happy. We get a few complaints, but the majority are happy. Wood Colony was very supportive last year. They were cheering the runners on. We welcome any groups to come out. I’m a member of the Soroptimists of Modesto-North, and we’ll have a cheer station on the 5-kilometer course this year. I understand the East Modesto Rotary will have an aid station, as well as Phast Group. I’m also a mentor for Downey High’s Teens Run Modesto. They’ll be running, too.

Q: The upbeat mood and spirit each year at the marathon can do nothing but good for Modesto’s image, right?

A: We really want to highlight Modesto. This is a great way to showcase the city. Everyone talks down about Modesto, but people who come out to support the marathon know how exciting it is. Every year, we get feedback on how nice our volunteers, spectators and runners are. That’s good feedback.

Q: What got you hooked on the sport?

A: I was just looking for a challenge. I was in modern dance in high school, but that wasn’t too strenuous. I eventually joined the ShadowChase Running Club and fell into that family. I volunteered in the first Modesto Marathon, and in the second, third and fourth year, I was the pace-team coordinator. We have runners, called pacers, who carry a sign the whole way. If you want a certain time, you follow them. Last year, I shadowed Heidi Ryan, the race director. I really think it’s the people who make it so enjoyable. When you cross the finish line, the feeling you have is so satisfying. You go through highs and lows in a marathon. You have to be physically trained, but the mental side takes over, especially toward the end. I’ve been told there are always highs and lows, and they’ll always pass.

Q: Has your husband, Andrew, tried running?

A: We’ve been married 19 years, longer than I’ve been running. I got him to run a 5K about five years ago. Everyone in the (ShadowChase) club said he’ll get hooked on it, but he was done. He’s good with me dedicating so much time to it. He’s used to it by now.

This story was originally published March 22, 2015 at 9:12 PM with the headline "No more spare time for Modesto Marathon co-director."