1971 - July 24 - Zellah and Jerry Swartsley; returning home from graduate school at Montana State University,
stopped in Salt Lake City where a marathon was held in conjunction with "Pioneer Day", a festive state holiday
in Utah. Jerry would finish 8th in the race, completing the final yards of the Deseret News Marathon in front of
100,000 spectators. An idea was born! Six years later it would become a reality - Pear Blossom Run.

1977 - Frank Shorter, Olympic Marathon Gold and Silver Medalist, served as Parade Marshal; also winning the
race, beating National One-Hour Champion, Jim Nuccio and Boston Marathon Winner, Jon Anderson. Heather
Tolford became the Women’s Champion. Two days before the race, a farmer whose property the original course
passed through, changed his mind about having runners on his private road! The route was hurriedly changed. A
field of 200 had been expected - 546 finished! Numbers were cut from yellow, vinyl on Zellah & Jerry's living-
room floor using a pair of pinking shears and a yardstick for measuring. All 546 were hand-numbered with a permanent
Sharpie ink pin. Paper lebel-tags used for age-group coding. Approximately 25 volunteers managed the
entire race. Bill Bowerman served as official starter, resplendid in a green Stetson cowboy hat! The Pear Blossom
Run logo and slogan, "Everyone's A Winner" was developed by the Chamber of Commerce/Zellah & Jerry and
has been the trademark of Southern Oregon's premier running event, ever since.

1978 - The running boom was on! Pear Blossom became the first race in Oregon to have a "limited field" - 750.
There was some dissatisfaction with runners and "their sweaty bodies" being on the streets the same time as parade
entries. One unwanted suggestion was to have a "head-tax" of one dollar per runner levied. Surveyors tape was used
on a "new-type" of non-tear number for tabulating results. The finish line was further updated with the use of a machine
called a "Chronomix". Billy Mills, Olympic Gold Medalist at 10,000 meters fired the gun.

1979 - Computers were used for the first time in results. Governor Atiyeh started the race.

1980 - A change from the traditional t-shirt to a tote bag brought heated response from those who considered the
shirt a tradition. A large digital clock was purchased for the finish area. Age group phenomenon, Clive Davies,
set one of his many national records. The race was broadcast on radio for the first time. A freak heat wave made
running conditions dangerous although no one was seriously injured. Entries broke 1,000. A cannon was used to
start the race.

1981 - The race was changed from 13 miles to 20 kilometers. A major prize was awarded to the winner of a coin
flip between the 1st male/female. Major traffic-control problems were solved at the last minute. Computers at
Cape Kennedy failed in a space-shot while the ones at Pear Blossom were late in producing results. The race was
televised for the first time.

1982 - It rained for the first time on the run; it was also the first time the event fell on Easter weekend, bringing a protest
from the Council of Churches. The 1500 limit was reached in three weeks. Ten American age-group records were set
while local runners Ric Sayre, Bill Yoeman and Leonard Hill led a 1-2-3 finish over a trio of elite Athletics West runners, including former World Record Holder, Dick Quax (New Zealand) and Jeff Wells, winner of the prestigious Nike Marathon.

1983 - The race was dedicated in honor of former Medford resident, Olympic Coach, and founder of Nike, Bill Bowerman. |Wearing the same green Stetson as he did in the first Pear Blossom, Bill served as "starter" of the race. Bill McChesney became the first to break the one hour barrier with a 59.17 clocking, the nation’s fastest 20K of the year. A 2K fun-run, spaghetti feed and barbeque were added to the day’s festivities making a true "family affair". The executive committee upheld the ideals of a community race when they refused the request of the 1982 male champion, for pay, in order to run.

1984 - Fred Spiegelberg, an institution among Oregon football coaches, fired the starting gun. Another freak heat wave
occurred. Entries broke 2,000 for the first time.

1985 - Pear Blossom was part of Medford’s 100 Year Centennial Celebration. The starter was appropriate for the
occasion - 100 year old Bert Stancliff of Phoenix. New pear shaped mile marks adorned the streets and roads. A
scholarship endowment was created. Zellah & Jerry Swartsley inducted as charter members to Medford Sports Hall
of Fame.

1986 - Two of the finest running writers to ever pick-up a pen spoke at a seminar: George Sheehan and Joe Henderson.
A wheelchair division was initiated. Former Mr. Universe and local resident, Bill Pearl, started the race. Commemorative
medals went to all finisher’s. Liability problems that plagued races nationwide were solved at the twelfth hour.

1987 - America’s first woman distance runner at every distance from 800 meter to 5000 meters was the featured speaker at a seminar. Mary Decker Slaney, Olympian, and World Record Holder fired the cannon to start the race. Daylight Savings Time was initiated three weeks earlier, nationwide, giving a welcome additional hour of "coolness" to participants. Chad Grimm, an amputee, and Mary Edwards, legally blind, both completed the 20K course for inspirational award.

1988 - A huge trophy and VCR was given to the school with the greatest percentage of participants in the Mayor’s Cup. Mayor Lausmann started the event.

1989 - The 20K run served as the U.S. National Masters Championship. Heather Tolford returned after a twelve year
absence to win her second Pear Blossom at a second distance, the first coming at 13 miles. Mickey Mouse started the
Mayor’s Cup while the Rogue Valley Musket Shooters started the long run.

1990 - The distance was changed for the third time, due to traffic and safety. The new 10 mile distance was overwhelmingly favored by participants.

1991 - Pear Blossom exceeds 3,000 participants. A monument is dedicated at the starting line by Medford City Hall.
Service personnel returning from the Gulf War were honorary "starters". Nationalism ran high as the National Anthem was sung prior to the start. A "Pear Blossom" flag flew from the City Hall Flag Pole and new banners indicating "Pear Blossom Country" were seen in abundance.

1992 - A two mile was added to relieve congestion in the Mayor’s Cup. A computer "scanner" is used for the first time with results. Cash prizes were awarded to school libraries in the Mayor’s Cup.

1993 - Pear Blossom tops 4,000 participants for the first time breaking attendance records for the 17th year in a row.
Leonard Hill, who has finished in the top 10 every year (all 17 years), became the initial member of the Pear Blossom Hall of  Fame.

1994 - The race was dedicated in memory of Becca Harkins who tragically died while training for Pear Blossom.

1995 - A 5K race was added. "Pear" topped 5,000 participants; it snowed for the very first time on Pear Blossom. Deanna O’Neil joins the Pear Blossom Hall of Fame as the second member.

1996 - Pear Blossom celebrates "20" years.

1997 - Tricia Leines, Miss Oregon, started the race. Thirty-four visitors from Alba, Italy – Medford’s sister city, participated in the event receiving an ‘Italian Welcome.’

1998 - Pear Blossom and the Portland marathon were Oregon’s only selections as "One of the Best Runs in the U.S."

1999 - Results were on-line for the first time. Over 60,000 have participated in Pear Blossom Run.

2000 - A website pearblossomrun.com was established.

2001 - Pear Blossom Run celebrated 25 years

2002 - New start and finish banners - cost $2,000+

2003 - Despite A down economy, Pear Blossom still had over 4000 participants.

2004 - A beautiful day for everyone.

2005 - Former scholarship winner, Max King returns home to become the first male 3-time winner while shattering the course record.

2006 - 30 years - Quite A Celebration

2007 - It rained the most of any Pear Blossom Run - .47’’ breaking the old record of .34’’ in 1982. Sixteen of the thirty-one Pear Blossom’s have not had rain. Packet Pick-up was held in the Lausmann Annex next to City Hall. The YMCA took over the Mayor’s Mile/2-mile. New Fencing was purchased for the finish area. Online registration was added.

2008 - The Chip, a state of the art, high-tech timing system utilizing a transponder attached to the shoe was used for the first time in the 10 mile. It was a Chamber of Commerce Day - Beautiful

2009 - Another Chamber of Commerce Day brought a record number of participants.

2010 - A disposable timing chip was used for the first time. Results for the 5K were kept for the first time. The race
unexpectedly increased by 600 entrants causing some last minute scrambling! The economic recession impacts everyone
including sponsors.

2011 - The ultimate in chip timing - the chip in the race number is utilized. The 5K takes on a new name - Rogue Valley Medical Center Heart & Sole 5K.

2012 - The Rogue Valley Family YMCA took over the 5K and 10 mile.