Hundreds run to remember

The seventh annual Jill Behrman Run for the End Zone brought out about 1,300 runners, many of whom had a connection to the family, on Saturday's brisk and sunny morning. \nMany in attendance were quick to bring up the ongoing trial, which provided an extra incentive and desire to remember Jill.\nThe event, which began and ended in the John Mellencamp Pavilion Saturday, included a 5-kilometer run and walk and a 1-mile walk, as well as a number of informative booths. The high turnout and diverse group of runners -- the youngest was four, the oldest was 85, made race planners proud. \n"It's like that first year with the community coming together for the family to show their support," said Chris Geary, director of programming and research for Recreational Sports. \nProceeds for this year's run will be donated to the Jill Behrman Emerging Leader Scholarship and Jill's House, the recently approved temporary home for families of patients receiving care at the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute in Bloomington.\nThe run was even more special for Jill Behrman's mother, Marilyn Behrman, who attended the event with her son, Brian Behrman. She was also supported by numerous friends and family members as she attended the event without her husband for the first time. Eric Behrman was in Martinsville for the trial, which is slated to run six days a week. \n"It was different this year," she said. "We had to make a decision to be here or in Martinsville. I'm here. Eric's in Martinsville. He's never missed it before. I'll bring him a shirt."\nSenior Laura Buonanno ran in the IU Mini Marathon, which was 13.1 miles, so she was ready for the 3.1-mile race but noted the importance of the day. \n"It's different because the case is going on now," Buonanno said while stretching. "It feels special to be part of history."\nDelta Upsilon fraternity members came out to show their support and were laughing during their ritual warm up game of Duck Duck Goose. Senior Kyle Murphy said the fraternity had a special connection to the Behrmans.\n"This race has a little more significance to our house," he said. "Brian Behrman was in our house when all the craziness was going on."\nThe race is about raising money and remember Jill Behrman, but runners still took the race seriously.\nJimmy Grimes, who graduated in May, finished the 5-kilometer race in first place with a time of 16:32. Grimes shaved 20 seconds off his winning time from last year and took home back-to-back titles. He won a plaque and a $100 gift certificate to Athletic Annex in Indianapolis for his effort. Grimes said he ran the race because he worked for Recreational Sports last year and helped plan the event. He wanted to come back this year to support the cause.\nAfter the race, Buonanno was breathless and a little nauseated but pleased with how she ran.\n"It was four minutes faster than I expected," she said. "I feel like I'm gonna barf."\nMichael Staton did. The 13-year-old threw his body across the finish line with a pained expression on his face. Je held his stomach after being told he ran the fastest youth time. After taking a few minutes to catch his breath, Staton described what held him back from winning the race.\n"I tried to come in first in all ages, but I puked twice during the race," Staton said. "My stomach hurts."\nLots of attendees had a personal connection to the Behrmans in one way another. Ted Deppe, 85, came to the race with Meadowood Retirement Community and has known the Behrmans since the 1960s. \n"Eric (Behrman) was a former student of mine," he said. "I know both parents very well. I'm here to support a good cause."\nTom Herbert, who works with Marilyn Behrman at the IU Foundation, brought his tow tow-headed sons, aged four and seven, to the race.\n"Whatever we can do to help, we're happy to do," he said.\nMarilyn Behrman was excited to see the big turnout and said she is proud of all the good things being done in remembrance of Jill Behrman. But she said at times she wondered what Jill would think of it all.\n"There was a time that I thought Jill would be embarrassed at all the attention," Marilyn Behrman said. "But now I think she'd be proud knowing that a lot of people really care and are doing something in her name"