Last June, after completing the 5-kilometer run of the 2008 Governor's Cup, Gretchen Olheiser had big plans for this year's race. In celebration of her 30th year partaking in the Governor's Cup, Olheiser intended to walk the marathon in the 2009 event.

But then a couple things happened which caused her to change her plans.

First, the 26.2 mile Blue Cross/Blue Shield sponsored race was relocated to Billings. Then her husband, Joe, underwent heart surgery.

So the marathon was out, and Gretchen even had to miss a couple of her daily walks because of Joe's medical situation. But it was only a slight detour, and today Olheiser will be among the contestants in the 5-K run.

"I won't get to walk the marathon, but my cousin from Idaho is coming up again, and we're going to run the 5-K together like we did last year," said the 72-year old Olheiser.

"I think my story is not that of greatness, but of a father who taught his daughter to be active n whether it was running, swimming, biking, hiking or just climbing Mount Helena," Olheiser offered.

She ran in her first Governor's Cup in 1979, at 42 years of age, having never competed in a race before.

"I entered because of Bill Schneider," she said, referring to one of the Capital City's distance and trail running icons. "He and I worked together at the Fish and Game, and every lunch hour we'd run laps at the Seventh Avenue Gym. He talked me into entering the Governor's Cup, and it's lasted now for 30 years."

Olheiser placed fourth in the 5-K in her age group in that first race. The next year, she came in third, clocking a time of 18 minutes, 18 seconds, which is her lifetime best. "I finished behind Joanne Eschler and Marge Crennen in the 1980 race, with my highest placing ever," she said.

She explained that back then, the 5-K route went south up Grizzly Gulch, with the turn-around point being a big rock by the side of the road.

"There were about 500 runners in the race, and we were tripping all over each other. There was a race official at the rock, and they yelled out your number when you made the turnaround," Olheiser related.

Since then, she has competed in every Governor's Cup except three. Olheiser missed one year when she took a trip overseas to Wales.

She has run in four 20-Ks, and split the rest between the 10-K and 5-K. Her husband, Joe Olheiser, also ran most of the races with Gretchen.

Joe related how he was never able to beat his wife, although he did have a good lead on her once n until he cramped up and she passed him up while he was sitting on the curb.

"We always ran in the same race, whether it was the 5, 10 or 20-K, but we never ran together like most couples do. It was always every man for himself," Gretchen explained. "If he cramped up and was sitting on the curb, I just ran right by."

Gretchen Huber graduated from Helena High in 1954. She enjoyed athletics, but because Title IX was still almost 20 years away, was relegated to the GAA sports in high school, which consisted of basketball, volleyball, softball and tennis.

"Girls basketball was terrible back then, because they wouldn't let you run. It was only half court, and you could only dribble the ball twice before you had to pass it off," she said.

But Olheiser described how her dad would not let her get discouraged. Shorty Huber, who once bicycled across the United States, encouraged his energetic daughter to keep busy.

"My dad inspired me to keep moving, to stay active by hiking, running and swimming," Olheiser said. One of her earlier activities included riding horses and competing in the local O-Mok-Sees.

In the 1970s, Gretchen became involved with the Helena Senators and Helena Phillies baseball teams. Since then, the Olhesiers have been an institution at Kindrick Legion Field, whether watching the Senators, the Gold Sox or the Brewers.

Over the past six years, it's a rare sight at Kindrick if the couple is not occupying seats 22-23, row 7, Section G.

Prior to his heart issues, Joe had started slowing down somewhat because of knee problems, dating back to his fastpitch softball days.

But before that, the Olheisers covered a lot of ground together. They competed in the Great Falls Icebreaker run, the Missoula Oggs race, and the Spokane Bloomsday Run.

For the fun of it, the couple once stashed a water bottle near Lakeside and drove back to town. Gretchen and Joe then ran back out to Lakeside, recovered the water bottle, took a few drinks and then ran back to town.

In the early 1980s, Gretchen took part in the first -- and last -- "Whoo Hah and Snivel" team triathlon at Canyon Ferry Lake. Her father, Shorty Huber, rode the bicycle leg from Kim's Marina to the dam; Gretchen ran from the dam to Yacht Basin; and Bob Cooney paddled a canoe back across the lake to Kim's Marina.

She said her funniest running story was the time she fell so far behind in the Oggs race, that she got lost and had to ask directions from a couple who were painting their house. Her fondest memory of the Governors Cup was competing in the 20-K, running over the Birdseye Road and "enjoying the beautiful scenery near Fireshop hill."

In her heyday, Gretchen ran about 20-25 miles per week. Nowadays, she has cut her workouts back to daily early morning walks, covering about 15 miles a week.

Olhesier, who has finished in the top 10 in her age-group of every one of her 26 Governor Cup races, said she's going to keep running in the event as long as she's able.

"The Governors Cup is a big part of my life. It's something I do every June, and I'm going to keep on running it until I can't do it anymore," she said.

Curt Synness: 449-2150 or curt52s@bresnan.net