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RUNNING Run for Todd Friends, family celebrate runner Todd Ragsdale's life with race By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt MailTribune.com By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt Posted Jul. 2, 2016 @ 6:58 pm Updated Jul 2, 2016 at 7:01 PM By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt Posted Jul. 2, 2016 @ 6:58 pm Updated Jul 2, 2016 at 7:01 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> ASHLAND — There were tutus, bubble blowing, trophies made of duct tape and a man in a Sasquatch costume. Forty-four participants, many dressed in playful costumes, ran in the inaugural Tutu Todd's 10-Miler at Lithia Park on Saturday, an event as colorful as the man it celebrated. Popular Talent runner Todd Ragsdale's body was found Jan. 30 at the park, two days after he set out for a light jog. His friends, including race director Peter Wickliffe, and family wanted to honor him in a way that Ragsdale would appreciate. Everyone is still grieving, Wickliffe adds, but, well — you'd just have to know Todd. "He would have loved to have run in something like this," said Wickliffe. "Either that or hide in the bushes and jump out to scare people as they ran past in various costumes." Phoenix High junior Robby Vos won the race in 1 hour, 12 minutes, 46 seconds. He edged Robert Julian by four seconds in the 10-miler, which moved up Granite Street, onto 2060 Road and then Hitt Road, down Strawberry Lane and onto Nutley Street before ending at the park. The first 6 miles of the run were uphill, the last 4 downhill. The money raised from the race will go to the Phoenix High track team. "I just wanted to keep a good, steady pace going up the hill to have myself set up pretty good for the downhill," said Vos, a 16-year-old who took seventh place last fall in state cross country and seventh in the 3,000 meters at the state track meet. “... I started pulling away going up the hill, and then coming down the road I looked back and I saw Bob and said, 'Oh no, I gotta go.'" Vos said he did it for Ragsdale. "I didn't know him really well, but we ran together in a few races and he was a really cool guy," he said. Klamath Falls' Amber Singh was the female winner in 1:22:04. She and Vos received duct tape awards. "I know a lot of runners in the community and that was the main reason we came out," said Singh, who is a member of the Linkville Lopers running club. "We wanted to support all the local runners and Todd's family." Wickliffe and others started talking in February about organizing a run for Ragsdale, who was 46. Ragsdale's wife Nancy approved, and the idea took off on social media. Ragsdale's three daughters sported festive outfits as they soaked up the day with the community and recalled their dad, whose resume runs long. He was born in San Mateo, Calif., and grew up in Boulder, Colo., before moving to the Rogue Valley as a teenager. Ragsdale, who has three siblings and four children, graduated from Phoenix High. He worked at Fred Meyer, was a member of a local church and helped coach running for the Pirates. But those things only scratch the surface of who Ragsdale was, said his 19-year-old daughter Holly. "His inspiration was somewhere between insanity and genius," she said. "And that is all I know about that. But, he had an amazingly wide range of mediums that people usually underestimate. “He can make visual art out of duct tape, board games, he writes books, he pressed flowers for a couple of years because that is what he was into. He tried to open his own organic produce shop and then he got distracted and started writing books, or videos games, or something. He made every day a holiday. And he tried to make everybody else's day a little more special by pushing them." On Saturday, Cynthia Ragsdale, Todd’s mom, looked on with a smile at Holly (who is an actor) and her two sisters, 23-year-old Jenelle (theatrical lighting technician) and 21-year-old Alisa (percussion player). "Todd was an ongoing story," said Cynthia. "He made duct-tape art, wrote a book called “Saved by Sasquatch,” he dressed up. Everything he did was fun and funny. He was artistic and loving. He's crawled over finish lines and he even did 112 miles barefoot." Wickliffe recalled a time when Ragsdale wore his Sasquatch costume in a baking-hot race. "He said, 'I don't want anyone to know who's behind the mask,' and I said, 'I think everyone knows who you are,'" said Wickliffe. "He thought he was fooling everybody until a guy at the aid station was like, 'Yeah, Todd!'" Saturday’s Results Men’s Top 5 — 1, Robby Vos, Phoenix, 1:12:46; 2, Robert Julian, Phoenix, 1:12:50; 3, JC Callans, Ashland, 1:19:21; 4, David Morgan, Eugene, 1:19:40; 5, Drew Mebane, Ashland, 1:20:54. Women’s Top 5 — 1, Amber Singh, Klamath Falls, 1:22:04; 2, Janelle Ralph, Same Valley, 1:26:14; 3, Sarah Strickler, Central Point, 1:41:08; 4, Mahlea Rasmussen, Talent, 1:42:04; 5, Richelle Entenmann, Talent, 1:42:04. Reach reporter Dan Jones at 541-776-4449, or email [email protected]. Find him online at twitter.com/danjonesmt By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt MailTribune.com By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt Posted Jul. 2, 2016 @ 6:58 pm Updated Jul 2, 2016 at 7:01 PM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Top Fantasy Football RB Handcuffs for This Season Jul. 1, 2016 at 7:00 am Identifying Potential NFL Fantasy Sleepers Jun. 19, 2016 at 7:00 am calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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