The 72nd running of the Cardiac Pacer occurred today on UCSC's campus, making it the oldest running race in Santa Cruz county. This was the 46th time Skippy Jammer, 56, Intramural and clubs director at UCSC and former pro disc golfer, has directed the race since fall of 1988, when he took over the race from his predecessor, Terry Warner.
“The race has seen an incredible amount of variety over the years. Sometimes there are as few as two entries, to as many as 60. The race today has 34 entrants,” said Jammer, nodding towards a line of bananas, each intended for a race finisher.
“The race has a very unique, bare-bones style which references back to an older era of how races used to be,” said Jammer. “We mark a course, bring a stopwatch and say 'go,'”
The race is about half road and half trail running, with incidental obstacles which give the race character. “The race has a kind of cult following, because it has a pure old fashioned style, and has a $5 entry fee. Many who run once come back to run again.
Race Winners-
Steve Perry @ 28:30
Stephano Profumo @ 28:56
Jose Morales @ 29:45
