Those who have a genetic predisposition for running : well, they aren’t like you and me.

And in essence it’s probably a good thing runners are in the minority. Otherwise, to regulate the flow of runners around town we would have to install roundabouts on sidewalks.

Those who do love to cover long distances by foot can be found at events like the annual Raintree Run. Last Sunday, more than 1,500 showed up before 8 a.m. to participate in either a half-marathon or a 5K.

Who ARE these people?

They’re your neighbors. They’re your friends. They’re people you’ve heard of. They’re folks you’ve never heard of.

Over the years, I’ve covered several Raintree Runs and found that I really enjoy watching the runners streak toward the finish line. No matter that some of them have run more than 13 miles, nearly all of them try to finish in a sprint.

Most amazing are the early finishers, the ones who look like they’ve barely broken a sweat and could run another 13 miles with no problem.

The others come in all shapes and sizes, all ages and with all kinds of gaits. Some of them remind me of that old Monty Python shtick – The Department of Funny Walks.

Every now and then, you see somebody you know. David Johnston, a former Lawrence High and Kansas University standout, cruised in among the half-marathon leaders looking far more fit than many 34-year-olds. Johnston is one of those people born to run.

I have to admit I was surprised to spot Brett Ballard among the rubberneckers along the finish line. Ballard, a former KU basketball player who is now on Bill Self’s staff, was indeed a spectator. He was waiting for his wife Kelly, and he didn’t have to wait long.

Kelly Ballard finished second in the women’s ages 25-29 category of the half-marathon. The only runner in that age group with a better time was overall women’s winner Michelle Hein of Topeka.

Asked if he, too, was a distance runner, Brett Ballard smiled and said: “I can do sprints over 94 feet, but that’s it.”

I wasn’t surprised, however, to see Brian Daldorph. If there is a distance running event anywhere in Lawrence or vicinity, you can count on seeing Daldorph, a KU assistant professor of English. Daldorph, a noted poet, may not run in iambic pentameter, but he usually finishes in the top 10.

Good to see Earl Richardson taking photographs. Richardson and I were roommates for many years during KU football and men’s basketball road trips while he was a Journal-World photographer. Richardson deserves a lot of the credit, incidentally, for instigating the Crosstown Unity Run that benefits the cross country teams at Free State and Lawrence highs.

Other familiar faces included Lance Flachsbarth, Marty Moore, Connie Rhodes, John and Julie Tollefson, Dave Toplikar, Mike Miller, Joe Oberzan, John Oberzan and, of course, meet organizers Steve and Marcia Riley.

Then there was Susie Fagan. She’s a J-W copy editor. Approximately six hours after finishing the half-marathon – she won the women’s 35-39 division – Fagan was at the News Center for her scheduled 10-hour stint on the copy desk.

Running. You gotta love it.