Special Sections

16 WHARF TO WHARF SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2017 SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL b y C A L v I N M E N a hEaLthY PartNErShIP rUNS DEEP T he Wharf to Wharf needs more than runners and race directors to make it work. sponsors partner with the race for funding, logistics and volunteers. For the 45th annual Wharf to Wharf, no partner is more prominent than sutter Health, the presenting sponsor. While that means the health juggernaut contributes a significant amount of capital to the race, the partnership runs deeper than that. but organizers emphasized a common goal between the two entities: building and maintain the wellness of schools, children and the community. The countdown is on for the 45th Wharf to Wharf. The run begins at 8:30 a.m. July 23 near the santa Cruz Wharf at beach and Cliff streets. sutter is more than a name on the banner. Doctors, nurses and many other employees have deep ties to the race, from volunteering at health stations to running it themselves. On race day, sutter employees can be seen sporting the company's colors — a teal that's the same shade as the company's logo. stephan Gray is the chief administrative officer of the sutter Maternity and surgery Center and has run the race each year since moving to santa Cruz County in 2012. He and his wife, Ariel, have picked up running when they first met. since then, the two have checked off several half marathons together. but no race can compete with the energy of Wharf to Wharf. To him, the race is simply a fun community event. The more than 50 bands along the route are things that aren't common in many races. "you just forget you're running. you're on a 6-mile long block party," he said. Another runner from the sutter family is Dr. Doug Hetzler, an ear, nose and throat doctor. A 30-year resident of the county, Hetzler has run the race 15 times since moving to the area. He's enjoyed the music and meeting patients along the way. but he's also met many of the elite runners. Hetzler served as a presenter to the pro team runners for years. "I jumped at the opportunity to meet some of those people and it's been interesting to interact with these world class athletes," he said. The first thing to know about them? "They're very lean," he said with a hearty laugh. "And they're very fast." Dr. DoUG hEtZLEr DAN COyRO - sANTA CRuz sENTINEL CoNtINUES oN 17

• Cover