FOOTPRINT Lake Grapevine Runners & Walkers
May - June 2010
www.runnersandwalkers.com
RAW’s Marathon Century Man By Kathryn Gleghorn
A
t the 2010 Ft. Worth Cowtown Marathon, Thomas “T.O.” Okazaki achieved a milestone running goal that many marathon runners never even imagine, let alone achieve. T.O. completed his 100th marathon / ultramarathon this past February and he did so in impressive style with a new personal record (PR) and his second Boston Qualifying (BQ) time of 2010. T.O.’s 2010 Marathon Times Houston Chevron Marathon 3:32:20 (BQ/PR) Ft. Worth Cowtown Marathon 3:30:55 (BQ/PR) Arbuckles to Ardmore A2A Marathon 3:24:22 (BQ/PR)
T.O. has been running since 1972. Well, not non-stop, but he has been a runner for the last 38 years. While T.O. is not new to running, he is somewhat new to the marathon distance, having run his first marathon at the 2002 Dallas White Rock Marathon. At his inaugural marathon, he ran a 5:16:17 and has been steadily improving and lowering his marathon time.
time frame (www.marathonmaniacs.com). He also joined the 50 States Marathon Club, where the members’ goal is to complete a marathon in all 50 states. Runners must have a minimum of 10 states completed to join, (www.50statesmarathonclub.com). With 20 states completed to date, if T.O. can average 6 states per year, he will reach the 50-state goal by 2015. There is definitely wisdom in this Socrates quote and it is a favorite of T.O.’s: “There is no possession more valuable than a good and faithful friend.” T.O. is truly a “friend’s friend.” When word got out that Cowtown would be his 100th marathon, many RAW friends, led by Kelly “K2” Richards, swung into action planning a post-race celebration to honor T.O. and his accomplishment. K2 and fellow club members planned a postCowtown celebration and encouraged club members to attend race day festivities. Elizabeth and Jeff Lawrence graciously hosted 40-plus RAW friends who turned out to celebrate with T.O. RAW has benefitted greatly from T.O.’s generosity and dedication to the club and the running community at large. T.O. has served multiple terms on the RAW board and served a term as RAW President.
100 marathons in just over seven years averages out to 14 marathons a year, every year. That number in itself is impressive, but when you look at the results, you see not only has T.O. been out there logging the miles, he’s also been getting faster, which makes the 100th marathon/new BQ PR achievement more awesome. During the last eight years of running these 100 marathons, T.O. has improved his marathon time by more than 30%, trimming nearly two hours off his time! On his journey to 100 marathons, T.O. joined several running groups which helped support his quest to log the marathon miles. He is a member of Marathon Maniacs™, where qualifiers must complete a minimum number of marathons within a specified
T.O. runs through a celebratory tunnel by his RAW friends.
This post-race celebration was a great way for the RAW community to give back to one of its own who has given so much to
the club. I think it is because T.O. has done so much for RAW and has been an encouraging friend to so many members that many club members, even those who weren’t running Cowtown, were excited to share in T.O.’s accomplishment. Always a humble man, T.O. commented about the postrace celebration T.O. waves to saying, “It was a his fans at his 100th very magical and marathon. exhilarating day and I’m glad so many in our wonderful running club were able to share in the thrill and excitement of the occasion.” RAW member Christine Bassano had this to say about our Marathon Century Man, “T.O. is always so kind to recognize others in their athletic triumphs…no matter how small they may be in the scheme of things. T.O. makes us all feel successful no matter what the end result.” So what’s the next challenge for our Marathon Maniac T.O.? This summer he plans to head back to Colorado for the Pike’s Peak Marathon and to Wyoming for the Big Horn Mountain 50K Trail Run. He’d like to pick up a couple of more “Doublers” en route to completing his 50 States quest. A “Doubler” is running a marathon in two different states on consecutive weekend days. T.O. likes the challenge of the “Doubler” and the fact that it’s a great way to save money on travel expenses. Oh yeah, there’s the other goal of running a marathon on all seven continents. I have no doubt T.O. will achieve all his running goals – one step at a time.
P.O. Box 2982 Grapevine, TX 76099
RAW Board and Committees PResidenT | Ray Harris RayH@RunnersAndWalkers.com ViCe PResidenT | Bridget Smith BridgetS@RunnersAndWalkers.com seCReTARy | Doug Noell DougN@RunnersAndWalkers.com TReAsuReR | Brad Liles BradL@RunnersAndWalkers.com diReCTORs Susan Barnett SusanB@RunnersAndWalkers.com Mike Bassano Jersey@RunnersAndWalkers.com Scott Decker ScottD@RunnersAndWalkers.com Tony Flesch TonyF@RunnersAndWalkers.com Emily Johnston EmilyJ@RunnersAndWalkers.com Cindy Lee CindyL@RunnersAndWalkers.com Terry Marcott TerrryM@RunnersAndWalkers.com
FOOTPRinT ediTOR-in-ChieF | Kevin Wessels ediTORiAl COORdinATOR | Tony Flesch AssOCiATe ediTORs Susan Barnett Kathryn Gleghorn CReATiVe diReCTOR | Lorraine Wessels design & PROduCTiOn | Reneé McConnell
Membership data Emily Johnston MembershipData@RunnersAndWalkers.com
FOOTPRinT submissions Send articles to lgrawfootprint@verizon.net Footnotes to KathrynG@RunnersAndWalkers.com Race results to tokaz007@hotmail.com
2 FOOTPRINT | May - June 2010
FOOTNOTes•FOOTNOTes•FOOTNOTes•FOOTNOTes
lake grapevine Runners & Walkers Club
Congr atulations • To all the RAW members who participated in fall and winter events locally and around the country. We had many new PR (personal record) times and distances. Check the race results for further details. good Bye/good luCk • To Steve and Abby Cox who relocated to the San Antonio area. • To Tim Jacobs and family who will move to Phoenix at the end of the school year. speedy reCovery • To Gabe Pugliese, Jim Rubalcaba and George Rivero, who are recovering from injuries. thank you • To ALL the RAW members who volunteered for the Keep Grapevine Beautiful Clean-up Days in March and April. • To all of the members who volunteered at the Hound Dog Hustle. • To all our volunteers who put out water and sports drink for the weekend runs. We appreciate each and every one of you. • To Thomas Okazaki, Kelly Richards, Tony Flesch and Susan Barnett for their work on the 2009 RRCA Annual award nominations on RAW’s behalf. lost & Found • Items in the Lost & Found are piling up! If you left something at the clubhouse, please check to see if we found it. All unclaimed items are in the clear tote along the north wall of the clubhouse (just outside the bathroom). Change oF address • To change of Address, please notify Emily Johnston at MembershipData@RunnersAndWalkers.com help Wanted Looking for a Race Director for the 2011 Bold in the Cold club run. For more information contact Ray Harris at RayH@ RunnersAndWalkers.com. announCements Salon Roca welcomes all of Cindy Lee’s customers to continue to come in. See Robert or April at the salon. New RAWear now on sale. New short and long sleeve dri-weave, moisture wicking technical shirts. The short sleeve shirts are available in men's and women's cut in white, silver or yellow (men's only). The long sleeve shirts are unisex and available in white or silver. Long-sleeve shirts are priced at $15 and short-sleeve at $10. We also have regular crew neck sweatshirts available in black or ash gray and hooded sweatshirts available in black, white or ash gray. Both styles are $40. Available only while supplies last. Deadline for the next FOOTPRINT is June 1st. Send your articles to lgrawfootprint @verizon.net. Send your Footnotes to KathrynG@RunnersAndWalkers.com.
RAW Around Town Social Calendar & Events Check the RAWforum for information on all club events: www.runnersandwalkers.com RAW Walk/Runs
Board Meetings
Walk/Run every saturday & sunday 7 a.m.
2nd Monday of the month, 7:00 p.m. at the clubhouse
Starting from the clubhouse
May 10 June 14
Trail Runs Trail Run every Wednesday & Friday 7 a.m. (year round) Starting from the clubhouse
Track Workouts
All members are welcome to attend.
sNL Dinners saturday Night Live Dinners
1st Saturday of every month, 5 p.m.
Grapevine Middle School
May 1– Amores, Grapevine June 5 - Asian Top, Grapevine July 3 - Palios, Grapevine (Texan Trail & NW Hwy between the 9/11 Memorial and Starbucks)
Hill Workouts
National Running Day
Trackies meet every Tuesday 5 p.m.
Hillbillies meet Thursday nights 5:45 p.m. Starting at the clubhouse
BRAw Cycling BRAw Cycling
Mondays at 6:30 p.m. Parking lot 1/2 mile east of the clubhouse, by the new restrooms at the north end of Trawick Trail near Mesquite Bend
Celebrate with RAW and RunOn in Coppell on Wednesday June 2. Free social runs, food and prizes, throughout the day.
Wounded Warriors Aid station & Run Wounded Warriors Half Marathon & 10K Sunday June 13, Las Colinas RAW Aid Station - Contact Joe Luccioni or John Bush to volunteer.
Open Water swim Workouts
4th of July BBQ & Annual Board Meeting
Weekly April – November
Sunday, July 4, RAW BBQ, Annual Meeting, Elections and Awards. See ad on page 12.
Meet along the shore 8/10 mile east of the clubhouse. Contact marty@ metzgerconsulting.net for more details
RAW Luau Saturday Evening, August 28, RAW Luau Details will be featured in the July Footprint.
To see what’s happening, log on to www.runnersandwalkers.com
May - June 2010 |
FOOTPRINT 3
LAKE GRAPEVINE RUNNERSANDWALKERS
President’s Message A perspective to the members from RAW President Ray Harris Ray Harris
LGRAW needs you! I considered getting a picture of me in an Uncle Sam beard and costume, but I thought that might be a little too much. (But this issue’s picture is better than the last one, isn’t it?) But the club does need you. We’re looking for a couple of people to assume the role of Race Director for “Double Trouble” in October and “Bold in the Cold” in January. Don’t let the fact that the past several years have been hugely successful scare you. The recent Race Directors will be willing to help you along. And you always have the world class group of volunteers that reside within RAW. What a great thing to add to your résumé: directed the successful (fill in the blank) LGRAW race which accommodated tens of thousands of runners. OK, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But in the current economy, any positive item on a résumé can be valuable. Seriously, we are looking for someone to manage these races and you wouldn’t be on your own. Talk to any board member if you are interested. Speaking of the Board, get ready for the campaign speeches, signs and endless television commercials containing
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outlandish promises. LGRAW elections are scheduled for July 4th at the Annual Meeting and Picnic. The Board is the decision-making body for the club and it is always looking for fresh faces and new ideas. We made some changes to the election process last year so not every position on the board will be up for election. This way, there is some continuity guaranteed from one year to the next. This year, the positions of Vice President and Treasurer, as well as four Members-at-Large slots, will be on the ballot. All terms will be for two years except one at-large member position which needs to be filled because of a resignation. The Board meets monthly and each member usually has some assigned responsibility (social director, PR, membership, etc.), so the commitment of time isn’t exhaustive. Terry Marcott is leading the candidate search. If you are interested, talk to him or drop him an e-mail at TerryM@ RunnersAndWalkers.com One other thing to consider is our annual “Best Foot Forward” award. This is an award that recognizes someone in the club for duty above and beyond. If there is someone that you feel has done outstanding work promoting the club or just being
there all the time making the club better, please consider nominating her or him for this year’s award. There will be a committee for this and more information will be publicized in the coming weeks. As mentioned above, the Annual Meeting and Picnic will be July 4th at the clubhouse. Festivities start at 4:00 pm with games and general socializing. Dinner will be at 6:00 pm. Bring something to share. Suggested items will be posted on the RAWforum as we get closer to the event. The Meeting will start somewhere around 7:00 pm with the election of officers and an awards ceremony. After that, we’ve arranged for an outstanding fireworks display. It’s always been a great way to complete our day. Oh yeah, and bring a chair to sit in or blanket to lie on. I’m looking forward to a great spring and summer. Take advantage of the comfortable temperatures before they rise and the “Caution: slippery when wet” signs adorn the clubhouse floor. See you at the clubhouse next weekend.
Ray
RAW in the Kitchen By Bridget Smith
Planning a trip and need a running route?
Gretchen Green’s Blueberry Bake* 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 12 oz can buttermilk biscuits 1 cup oatmeal 1 1/2 cup blueberries 1/2 cup sugar 1 stick butter melted Grease a 9 in. square dish. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in pie plate. Cut biscuits in 4 pieces. Dip the biscuit pieces in butter then roll in brown sugar cinnamon mix. Layer in dish. Cover with 1/2 cup oatmeal. Combine blueberries and sugar. Spoon over biscuits and oatmeal. Cover with remaining oatmeal. Drizzle the remaining butter over all. Bake for 20 minutes. *The source for this recipe is Paula Deen via The Food Network. Please send recipe ideas and comments on this column to Bridget Smith at BridgetS@RunnersAndWalkers.com.
Map out and measure a route from the largest database of running routes in the country. Log on to www.usatf.org/routes to map out a route anywhere in the USA.
What Are You Training For? By Stephanie Cullum
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f you are like me, you get asked this question a lot. Funny how these five simple words can have different meanings depending on who’s asking the question. If a fellow runner is asking the question, there is an instant bond – a shared common thread that requires no explanation. Chances are they have the upcoming race calendar committed to memory and are curious which races you may be doing. They may even go on to compare some training techniques or perhaps share a story of the last time they ran that same race. (That story will surely contain everything from the awesome swag in the goodie bag, to the killer hill at Mile 6, to the amazing pizza place you should hit up postrace.) Perhaps they have noticed that you’ve been running faster and assume that you are getting in tip-top shape for a race. If your answer to the question is that you are not training for anything specific right now – a fellow runner does not look at you with a puzzled look. They completely understand that you will (that you must) run at least three times a week and that it may have absolutely nothing to do with preparing for a race. If a non-runner, but fellow athlete is asking the question, there is a mutual respect. They may not love your sport,
but they love their sport and so there is an understanding. They know it requires discipline and dedication. They know that results can be devastating or thrilling. They know the irreplaceable feeling of reaching your goal. They know the frustration of injuries that place you on the injured reserve list. They know how your sport clears your head and keeps you sane. If you answer that you are not training for a particular race, they don’t wonder why you are out running anyway. Now, if a non-runner, non-athlete is asking the question; they certainly assume you must be training for something because why else would you be out at 7:00 am on a Saturday running? They think running five miles is a first cousin to torture. They would only consider running if being chased by a large dog. They don’t understand why you need Nike Dri-FIT® anything and would surely be appalled if they knew a good pair of running socks costs $13. (Let’s not even mention that runners pay over $100 for many marathons.) Don’t expect understanding from these folks – just leave them baffled with that sense of ease that surrounds you, that noticeable confidence, the lack of stress on your face and that indescribable feeling that you know something they don’t.
May - June 2010 |
FOOTPRINT 5
A Cautionary Tale By Dennis Novak
I
was standing in front of a mirror and there was dark purple bruising that sank down into places where bruises should never ever go. It was time to pop a few pills to slow down my heart, keep the blood from clotting and getting rid of the schmutz. How did it all come to this?
By Wednesday, it was getting clear that my customary indigestion was getting worse. The pain, most like discomfort, went down the front of my chest – the esophagus. It came and went throughout the day. I passed on the trip to the gym at lunch and decided to look up “acid reflux” on the internet.
Scroll back to the Monday before Christmas. I was a few weeks off a really encouraging Turkey Trot. My miles were up and I was doing speedwork once or twice a week on the treadmill. After a warm-up 15K at Bold in the Cold, I had the Cowtown Half Marathon in my sights. Racing was going to be back on the menu.
Here and there, scattered among the descriptions were little warnings. “Recurring chest pain could signal…. ” “No, it can’t be THAT?” I thought. No, the symptoms were all consistent with reflux. I’ve had indigestion problems for years. That afternoon, after not having a primary care physician since my last one left town nine or ten years ago, I made an appointment to see a local doctor. Since I was a new patient, it would be three weeks before I could get an appointment. On Wednesday night, the indigestion got a lot worse. My wife asked if I was OK. “Yeah, just a little heartburn.”
After going twelve miles on Saturday, I was kind of tired on Sunday morning and slept in. On Monday, I had the day off and I went out for a mid-morning nine-miler. About ¾ of a mile into it, there was a pain in my shoulder blades. “That’s odd,” I thought. As I ran, the pain spread into my shoulders. I slowed to a walk and things subsided. “Could that have possibly been…? Nah, it must have been the pizza I ate last night. Should have skipped the pepperoni.” After a couple hundred yards of walking, I felt a lot better. I started running again – slowly. In a couple of minutes, the pain was back. Damn, back to walking. It was soon clear that the nine-miler was out the window. I walked / ran for four miles and figured I’d make the mileage up later in the week, but it wouldn’t be easy with Christmas coming up. On Tuesday, I was up, pain-free and ready to go. At lunchtime, I went to the gym for my customary workout. At first, everything was fine. Then, as I headed for the bench press, there was that screwy pain again. This time, it was more to the front and right behind the breastbone. “OK, I’m coming down with something.” I hit the showers early and felt OK, just a little tired.
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Thursday was Christmas Eve. I went into the office, but didn’t feel all that hot. Fortunately, the boss let us out around noon. On the way home, I stopped at Wal-Mart and picked up a bottle of Mylanta® and a box of Pepcid® AC. That night, I popped the Pepcid AC and took a few swigs of the Mylanta. If you remember, we had a snow storm that day and we were iced in. Things got a lot worse. My wife could tell that I was feeling pretty bad. She wanted to take me to the hospital, but I didn’t want her driving in that weather. I promised that if I wasn’t any better, she could drive me to the hospital Christmas morning. The pains continued through the night and into the morning. They were going into my arms and, at this point, and I was starting to think that the impossible might just be possible. It was a sunny Christmas morning. After we all opened our presents, I finally agreed to be driven to the ER.
For those of you who think that the medical profession only moves at the pace of a glacier, just go to an ER some time and utter the two magic words: “chest pain.” Things start happening real fast. I was still clinging to my “acid reflux” story, but it wasn’t selling. They gave me an aspirin, connected a lot of electrodes and wires to my chest, and took some blood. It only took them ten minutes to tell me that I’d had a heart attack. In some ways, it was a relief to learn what was wrong and have people taking care of me. On the other hand, it was puzzling. I felt pretty good and even the pain I’d been feeling the last couple days hadn’t been THAT bad. “A heart attack? How am I going to be able to run Cowtown?” The rest of the story is about the miracles of modern medicine. Over Christmas, while I was mainlining antacids, a piece of my heart muscle was dying. On the plus side, I’m up and around and actually running (albeit very slowly). I’m current on the Push-up Challenge, but I’m on drugs that make things like speedwork pure fantasy. The moral of this story? Go back to the beginning and read over how I spent my week that was full of warnings. The hospital personnel were all scrupulous in not blaming me for ignoring all the signs. “Perfectly natural” is what I kept hearing. What I said to myself was “cosmically stupid.” We’re all used to listening to our bodies — at least our feet and knees and legs and ITBs and what have you. Well, listen to all of it. Pay attention out there. It just might do you some good.
see you Cindy! By Alan Engisch
Hard to believe that you are going, Where the mountain streams are flowing off for a walk on the Appalachian trail Far and away from all that junk mail. Hope your trek goes safe and well no mice or snakes where you choose to dwell Enjoy the smells, the light, and quiet. And all that dried stuff that’s your diet.
Cindy Lee
editors note: Cindy Lee is hiking the Appalachian Trail. This poem was written by Alan Engisch in a farewell card to Cindy. Catch updates of her adventure on the RAWforum.
Write it down what you are thinking, remember to bring small bottles for drinking. it’s been fun to run the woods on Wednesday mornings when i could.
Interested in running trails? Join us for a trail run on Wednesday and Friday mornings. The trail runs start from the clubhouse.
Wednesday & Friday
7 a.m.
And then you’re gone to Arkansas Ain’t gonna run with you no more.
BRAw Monday night ‘slow & social Tour d’ Park’ rides have begun! The group meets at 6:30 p.m., 1/2 mile east of the clubhouse.
May - June 2010 |
FOOTPRINT 7
RAWear
On sale Now! New short and Long sleeve Dri-weave, Moisture Wicking Technical shirts
$10
men's short sleeve shirts in white, silver or yellow or women's short sleeve shirts in white or silver
$15
unisex long sleeve in white or silver Available only while supplies last.
Be a star‌ and receive accolades from your fellow club members
We are always looking for people like you to be a water duty volunteer. Unsure of what to do? Ask another member to explain the process or to help. The sign-up calendar is located on the back door of the clubhouse. Sign up for just one day; it is not required that you sign up for both Saturday and Sunday. You can also work in tandem, where one member puts out the water and the other takes care of the pick up
Achilles Tendonitis or is it Bursitis? Does it Matter? By Dr. Marybeth Crane
D
id you know that there are more than 250,000 Achilles tendon injuries in the United States each year? Of these injuries, almost 25% require some kind of medical intervention to heal. A fully ruptured tendon requires surgery. Most other injuries can be treated conservatively and will resolve without surgery. The most poorly understood Achilles tendon injury is actually not an injury of the tendon, but an inflammation of the bursa sac that separates the tendon insertion on the heel bone from the back of your ankle. The fluid in the bursa actually allows the tendon to move smoothly over the bone. When the bursa sac becomes irritated from frequent or abnormal movement, it becomes inflamed and bursitis can set in. Achilles bursitis, also known as retrocalcaneal bursitis, is a common overuse injury in runners, hockey players, football players and many other athletes. Improper shoe gear and too much-too soon-too fast syndrome are usually the cause of this pain in the heel. It can also be seen in non-athletes who wear poor shoe gear or low-cut shoes. Often it is seen in people with rigid, high-arched feet. Bursitis is a painful swelling that occurs in the back of the heel just below the Achilles tendon insertion on the heel bone. This inflammation makes it painful to squat, lunge or
run uphill. Many shoes press on this area and make the pain worse. Even running on uneven or soft surfaces can increase the inflammation. First line therapy for Achilles bursitis is rest, ice, heel lifts or heel cups and gentle stretching. Many patients require physical therapy and functional foot orthotics for complete relief of symptoms. Severe cases my even require a period of non-weight-bearing casting or bracing prior to physical therapy in order to decrease the inflammation of the bursa. Chronic cases may even require more invasive therapy with extra corporeal shock wave therapy or injection of plateletrich plasma to jump start the healing process. Surgery is rarely needed unless bursitis is ignored for a significant period of time. Long standing Achilles bursitis can cause significant difficulty in ankle movement and often a spur will form within the insertion of the tendon. Left untreated, this can eventually cause a rupture of the Achilles tendon at the insertion and lead to lifelong disability. If you are experiencing painful swelling in the back of your ankle, seek the help of your podiatrist early so you can get back to running quickly and avoid any long-term effects of this chronic inflammatory syndrome. So Run Happy! And Injury Free!
Dr. Marybeth Crane is a life-long runner and a sports medicine podiatrist. For more information on foot related topics, visit www.myrundoc.com or read her blog at http://www.myrundoc.blogspot.com or call (817)416-6155.
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Keep Grapevine Beautiful Park Clean-up Days Gary Howsam
RAW club members hauled away more than just trash and debris at this year's Keep Grapevine Beautiful Clean-up days.
I
n recent months, RAW members volunteered in two park clean-up events. In March, 22 volunteers worked for a combined 53 hours. They collected 54 bags of trash which included bottles, cans, plastic bags, tires, paper, wooden 2 x 4s, other lumber, and two plastic chairs. They even recovered a large recliner out of the lake, a large plastic tarp, shoes, large Styrofoam chunks, an arrow, and two large steel structures. Ray Harris and Gary Howsam surmised that the steel structures may have been parts of old lake docks, but couldn’t be sure. To remove them, the steel had to be cut into smaller pieces and hauled out of the woods. Volunteers spanned out across the entire park and collected garbage along the Horseshoe Trail roads, cul-desacs, Boathouse Road, and the Dove Road parking lot. Then, in April, there was another clean-up effort with 13 RAW volunteers who did a heck of a lot of work. They collected 35 bags of trash, plus a couch, a wheelchair, a plastic chair, and a 5-gallon water cooler jug.
The Grapevine Parks and Recreation Department is appreciative of our club’s efforts. They awarded RAW with a framed Certificate of Appreciation. It was presented to Gary Howsam
as thanks to all the club members who have helped with park and community clean-ups in recent years. Thank you to all of the RAW volunteers who help “Keep Grapevine Beautiful.”
May - June 2010 |
FOOTPRINT 9
“Just Do It” at Rocky Racoon – My First 50 Miler By Michelle Putze
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hadn’t totally committed to running a 50 miler, but the opportunity continued to present itself. With an upcoming wedding and a few pounds seemingly creeping on as I age, I thought, “What better time to run a 50 miler?” Since Rocky Raccoon was three weeks after my marathon in Phoenix, and I had done a number of 20-mile training runs, two marathons, and about 18 miles at Palo Duro on the trails, I figured I was ready. Two years ago, I ran with Jack Hase as a “pacer” for 40 miles and really enjoyed myself in beautiful Huntsville State Park. I found the ultra marathoners and volunteers friendly, positive and interesting, so, I thought – what the heck! The awesome thing about trail running – is that “running” is pretty loosely used. Unless you’re really fast – the likes of Scott Eppelman – you actually run / jog until you feel tired or come to a hill. I found it was like spending a day in a beautiful park with friends. I was lucky that my equipment / nutrition worked pretty well without a lot of previous testing. I think I learned a lot while gabbing with my RAW friends, and believe it or not, sometimes I really am listening! I half-heartedly entered the race when I heard there were other RAW members going – I find that being with RAW friends is often just the motivation I need to do something crazy / take another adventure trip. I was looking forward to sharing my running and the outdoors with my kids and fellow-RAW member and fiance, Brad Liles. race morning – Brad, Nicole and I got to the start line. Jack Hase, Kevin Boudreaux, Rick Sanford and Kelly “K2” Richards were there supporting the RAW members. Jack agreed to take Nicole to the Dam Road aid station so that she could volunteer. Thomas “T.O” Okazaki, Stacie Boudreaux, and Debi Evans were there at the start and I spotted them throughout the day. Brad ran with me for the first loop. The 50 milers ran three 16.6-mile loops. At the Dam Road Aid Station run by NTTR, I saw many friends: Tia and Marty Metzger, Jack, Letha Cruthirds, Kevin and my daughter Nicole. I saw them twice each loop at this out-andback portion of the race. On this first loop, I was leapfrogging with Debi and I managed to get ahead of both Stacie and Debi at the end of the first loop, but that would change. At the end of the first loop, Brad helped by getting stuff from my bag as I sat for a few minutes. I couldn’t have done it without his help.
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at the beginning of the second loop, Rick and K2 were cheering and ran with me to the first aid station. After the Dam Road station, I took my first fall right in front of Stacie. It happened to be an easy fall on the soft sand, so it was no big deal. In Huntsville, there are lots of roots, so you must pick up your feet. I pride myself on being a marathon runner who conserves energy by keeping my feet low – therefore, I had to work hard to keep from falling. At end of the second loop, Brad was there again to help me, and this time my boys were there too. on the third loop, I came upon the Dam Road Aid Station. Again, Tia was by the stove cooking – she was always working. Marty, Kevin and Letha were all there helping the runners. Jack volunteered there as well, and then went on to run 50 miles later that evening. T.O. and Debi went back to volunteer after their 50 milers! After some quiet running and suffering, it was nice to come upon the friendly and helpful aid station workers. At this point I was almost at Mile 40 – the furthest I had ever “run.” Nicole had been working at the aid station all day and agreed to run with me for that 3-mile out-and-back. I really enjoyed “rolling the odometer past 40” with her. Nicole seemed to be enjoying herself, and told me a few funny stories about her day
at the aid station. She said that many of the runners would tell her, “See that guy back there, it is my buddy (fill in the name). Don’t talk to them – they are crazy.” She figured we are all a bit crazy, but found it funny that we would all call our buddies crazier than ourselves. When I left the Dam Road aid station for the last time, I had about seven miles left and it was getting close to dark. Brad offered to walk with me and Rick and K2 offered to look after the kids. The last seven miles took over two hours and it was dark and getting cold. We picked up Debi at the last aid station and that was a good thing. I had slowed considerably. She motivated me to pick it up to a brisk crawl and we finished together. At the finish line, I saw my kids, Rick and K2. K2 even let me wear her prized Vikings blanket home since I was freezing. I am not usually over-prepared for anything with my busy life, three kids and a sometimes-demanding job, but as the saying goes, I sometimes “Just Do It!” I certainly wasn’t fast, but I had an unforgettable time. When I returned home, I checked out a 50 mile training program for the first time, and saw some things I had done right and some things I hadn’t, but I had a great time…and started thinking about my next 50 miler!
Fun in the Dark at Rocky Raccoon By Jack Hase
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re you looking for a fun and different running experience? Well I have a race for you. One aspect of long trail races is that as distances get over 50 miles and times get over 12 hours, some part of the race is in the dark. This is usually at the end of the race when it can be difficult to enjoy the experience. As Michelle Putze says in her Rocky Raccoon article, she paced me for the last 40 miles in the Rocky 100 a couple of years ago. That meant she started as it got dark and we finished about 4 am, in the dark. During that run, it seemed like she was having a lot more fun than I was. Well, it turns out that the 50 milers at Rocky get the same cutoff time as the 100 milers, meaning the 50 milers can start at sunset and run all night if they want. This year, I waited until it got dark to start the 50 in order to discover just how fun running on a trail all night could be. Well, it was really, really fun; really. The only thing missing was a few people to run with. The only runners left on the course after dark this year were people who had been running all day, and they tended to be going a slightly different pace than I was. So all of you runners looking for a fun and different running experience, go look at your calendar and see if you can fit in a trail race next February. Then, as the first green leaves of spring emerge and the memories turn rosy, you too can talk about how much fun you had.
RRCA Runnings Road Runners Club of America By Kelly “K2” Richards, RRCA Director-At-Large Safety and access to the sport of running for individual runners has been a cornerstone of the RRCA since 1958. To help educate runners, the RRCA has developed a variety of guidelines and safety tips on various topics related to runners’ safety. General running safety tips include 1. Don’t wear headphones. Use your ears to be aware of your surroundings. Always stay alert and aware of what’s going on around you. The more aware you are, the less vulnerable you are. 2. Run against traffic so you can observe approaching automobiles. By facing oncoming traffic, you may be able to react quicker than if it is behind you. 3. Look both ways before crossing. Be sure the driver of a car acknowledges your right-of-way before crossing in front of a vehicle. Obey traffic signals. 4. Carry identification or write your name, phone number of a friend/ relative, and blood type on the inside sole of your running shoe. Include any important medical information.
The “ w ” in RAW is for WALKING! Saturday Mornings Year Round 6 a.m. and 7 a.m.
5. Carry a cell phone or change for a phone call. Know the locations of public phones along your regular route. 6. Trust your intuition about a person or an area. React on your intuition and avoid a person or situation if you’re unsure. If something tells you a situation is not “right,” it isn’t. 7. Alter or vary your running route; run in familiar areas if possible. In unfamiliar areas, such as while traveling, contact a local RRCA club or running store. Know where open businesses or stores are located in case of emergency. Write down or leave word of the route or direction of your run. 8. Run with a partner. Run with a dog. Coordinate weekday runs or early weekend starts with a RAW
member through the RAW forum at RunnersAndWalkers.com but never post that you’ll be out running alone. 9. Avoid unpopulated areas, deserted streets, and overgrown trails. Avoid unlit areas, especially at night. Run clear of parked cars or bushes. Wear reflective material if you must run before dawn or after dark. Avoid running in the street when it is dark. 10. Call police immediately if something happens to you or someone else, or you notice anyone out of the ordinary. It is important to report incidents immediately. Remember there is a fire station, where you can report any kind of safety issue, at the corner of Dove and Silvercrest just past the 1.5 mile mark on RAW’s west loop course.
HELP WANTED Race Director
Contact chris@reyher.com for more information.
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Mark your calendars for a RAWsome Independence Day Celebration! Sunday, July 4th Volleyball, Horseshoes and more starting at 4 p.m. BBQ 6 p.m. Annual Meeting & Elections 7 p.m. Best Foot Forward and Club Awards Presentations 7:30 p.m. Fireworks at dusk Bring your beverage of choice, a side dish to share and lawn chairs or blankets. The club will provide the meats for grilling, plates, utensils and the best spot in Grapevine for watching fireworks. Please check the RAW website for additional details as they develop.
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Go Green
RAW Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Tips I’m sure you’ve always been told to “eat your vegetables,” but just where should you buy those vegetables? If right about now you’re wondering what this has to do with running and walking, it has a lot to do with it…from the diet you choose (healthier bodies are necessary for running), to the air that you breathe (reducing transportation reduces emissions in the air, which we breathe in a lot during those long runs), so buying in a greener way helps us all around. Is there a way to buy those greens in a greener way? Here are a few tips on how to buy greener: Look for Local. Buying items made or grown locally reduces the transportation costs it took to get to that store and into your kitchen. Many of our grocery stores will now carry a label indicating if it’s from Texas and some will go so far as to tell you what city the produce was grown in. Or if it’s a packaged food, in addition to reading the nutritional content, look for the location where it was made. The closer, the better! Farmers Markets. Supporting a local Farmers Market can be a great way to get locally- and organicallygrown produce. Often you’ll even be able to speak with the farmers themselves. At the Grapevine Farmers Market, you can even buy more than those veggies. They often sell meat and cheese too. Read the labels carefully. I’ve stopped by some fruit stands and farmers markets and realize the produce is not locally grown. During the Farmers Market seasons, you’ll often find me at the Grapevine market after a Saturday morning run. Grow to Green. Yes, I said it…grow it! Nothing like having a small backyard or patio garden to get some wonderful vegetables or herbs in the summer time. This takes more work, but the results are often well worth it. Send your “green” tips to Michelle Williams at shelwilli@gmail.com.
RAW’s Mac Stipe, pictured on the right, completed his very 1st marathon distance event, along side his proud father, Carl at the 21st Annual Bataan Memorial Death March that took place at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on March 21st.
Both father and son completed the tough and challenging course thru the desert, mountains and sand pits in a time of 7:39:32
The Bataan Memorial Death March honors a special group of World War II heroes who were responsible for the defense of the islands of the Phillippines. Many lost their lives after they surrendered to Japanese forces and were marched for days through the scorching heat of the Phillipine jungle.
Did you know photos from many RAW races and social events can be found on the RAW website? Go to Runnersandwalkers.com and click on “gallery.”
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Running in Grapevine Reminded Me Why I Started to Run in the First Place – but Then I Forgot! By Bojana Jeknick
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became a RAW member in October 2009 after my coworker and friend, Marci Sims, said “You NEED to join, here is the link, we’re running on Sunday.” I was a runner before, though not a very good one, but I decided to listen to Marci and joined anyway. My goal at the time was to prepare for the 2010 Cowtown Half Marathon. Running in Grapevine reminded me why I started to run in the first place – the course was beautiful, it gave me a chance clear my mind while enjoying the company of other runners, and improving my speed and distance was just an added bonus. But more importantly, I got to meet a number of people who have motivated me to keep going, who have provided very helpful advice, and who have become my friends. One of those people, Suann Lundsberg, also inspired me to sign up for the Austin Half Marathon, the McKinney Stonebridge Half Marathon, and the Dallas Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon. In addition to the four half marathons, I also ran the Bold in the Cold
15K, the Fillie Trot 10K and the Boopa’s Family 5K. I squeezed those seven races into eight weeks, and the goal was always to do better, to go a little bit faster. Each race taught me a different lesson. After the Austin Half Marathon, I realized the importance of hill training. After running through rain and a hail storm in McKinney, I questioned my sanity. Suann ended up with a sprained ankle and, after that race, I realized that at some point one just needs to know when to stop. By the time I ran the Cowtown Half, my goal was to finish the race in 1:45, though I had not really had a chance to recover from the previous four weeks of racing. I finished it in 1:50:50, and instead of being happy about the new PR (personal record), I was already planning for my next race. Because I set these unrealistic expectations, Dallas Rock ‘n’ Roll wasn’t fun for me. It felt like I had something to prove, though I did not know why. I was too tired to
smile or wave back at all the wonderful volunteers. The course was beautiful, the weather was nice, but all I could think about was the finish line and how far behind my self-imposed schedule I was. I finished the race in 1:54:07, after almost quitting at Mile 11, and it was my slowest half marathon. However, I walked away with a very important lesson: running doesn’t have to be competitive. What I liked about running at RAW was exactly what I forgot about during my races and the Dallas Rock ‘n’ Roll race reminded me of that. I placed third once, second twice and first once, but the races I enjoyed the most were those that I ran with people I knew. I am currently registered for the Chicago Marathon in October, and plan to register for two more half marathons before then. But running at RAW with Suann, Marci and Danyah is just as much, if not more, fun.
Book Review
I Run, Therefore I Am- NUTS!
Why we carbo load, fartlek train, hit the wall...and love every minute of it Bob Schwartz By Amy Matasso
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started reading this book while volunteering for the 2010 Grasslands trail runs. It was thirty-five degrees, raining and there I was in my folding chair, umbrella in one hand, book in the other, waiting for runners at an aid station in the middle of nowhere outside of Decatur, Texas. Needless to say, this book made me feel like these runners were of complete sound mind and body… Bob Schwartz shares his comical outlook on the sport we love in this ten-part book. He goes on to explain our obsessions with energy potions, PRs (personal records), and the next racing opportunity. Runners of
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every level will be able to relate to this book and be amused by the illustrations in every chapter. The book mocks a variety of topics including, but not limited too, motivation, cross training, and the denial everyone goes through when they hear that dreaded six-letter word ― injury ― in a way that is laugh-out-loud funny. I highly recommend this book for anyone who would like a lighthearted outlook on running and can laugh at how we go out running for hours, only to end up in the same place. Non-runners will also enjoy this quirky insight into runner’s thoughts and explanation of actions.
In a Flash!
Beginning Running – RAW Stats By Tony “Flash” Flesch
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s we approach our annual 4th of July meeting and elections, let’s take a look back at some RAW history and then move forward to where we are today. In 2007, RAW celebrated its 10year anniversary, but a recent look at some RAW stats show that 60% of our current membership has joined since then. Therefore, let’s take a brief look at our history and then we will come back to the current membership statistic.
hound dog hustle and double trouble premiering in 2000. And the longeststanding annual race that NEVER happens did NOT make its first appearance on Thanksgiving morning in 2000 and has NOT been running strong ever since, with a record attendance in 2009. All of our races continue to grow and evolve, with the 2010 Bold in the Cold setting a record attendance of over 800 participants and debuting our new IPICO timing system!
RAW was founded in May 1997 by a small group often referred to as our Charter Members. Most are still active in the club. The members originally met in the parking lot and secured our first (in a string of many) six-month lease on the current clubhouse in December of 1997. By June of 1998, our membership had reached 150. The first issue of the FOOTPRINT made its debut in the fall of 1997. RAW began the tradition of supporting the White Rock Marathon with an Aid Station in 1999.
Our highest award, the Best Foot Forward (BFF), which is given annually to the member that most exemplifies the spirit of RAW, was established in 2001. Tom Byno was the original recipient. There is a plaque on the wall by the clock in the clubhouse listing the names of all recipients. There is an ad in this issue requesting nominations for the BFF award that will be presented at this year’s annual meeting and picnic.
Membership dues have NEVER increased, thanks to the efforts of our RAW-esome volunteers that have helped make a string of successful races fund and support the rent and operating expenses of the club, our social events and fun runs. They have also allowed RAW to donate a significant amount to various charities, including the Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange (GRACE), the Parkland Foundation Burn Camp (Camp I-ThonkaChi), and several dog rescue groups.
Our first President was Richard Craft (Founder), followed by Eileen Fontaine (multi-term), Ray Harris, Kelly “K2” Richards (multi-term), Joe Luccioni, Thomas Okazaki, and currently (and yes, again) Ray Harris.
Our current trilogy of races has been around for over ten years. Bold in the Cold made its debut in 1999, with
In addition to the original weekend group runs, the weekday morning trail runs began in 2003. After several attempts to get an evening group started in the mid2000s, the Trackies and Hillbillies took off running in circles in 2009 and are running strong. When our RAW members go off to the races, our “left foot” RAW logo is recognized throughout the Metroplex.
Although we are all celebrities, some notable visitors have come to talk to us and join our weekend runs: Jeff Galloway (2002), Bart Yasso (2006) and Major Rick Nealis (2007). OK, that’s a brief look backwards. You can read much more RAW History by going to our 10-year anniversary FOOTPRINT issue from June 2007 under the RAWnews tab on our website. This has a lot more information and some pictures. That brings us back to the stat the article started with and a look at where are we at today. RAW currently has approximately 400 households and over 600 members! 60% of our current membership joined in / after 2007 and 80% since 2003. Our membership consists of over 40 cities within the DFW Metroplex, with our Top 5 cities being Grapevine, Southlake, Coppell, Flower Mound, and Keller. And to paraphrase The Eagles’ Hotel California, some people check out, but they can never leave – we have current members from coast (Jacksonville, Florida) to coast (Temecula, California). As runners, we always want to remember our history and where we have been. But we also want to continue both our personal, individual and RAW tradition of “RFM”(Relentless Forward Motion)! As someone we all know might say; “RAW rocks, BOOM!”
Tony is a RRCA Road Runners Club of America Certified Running Coach, Certified Personal Trainer, Board of Directors – Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers, Running Coach at RunOn!™ Coppell, and writes a running column for MyCoppellToday.com.
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On Your Mark!
The Education of a Marathoner By Mark Miller
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story is told that, while clearing customs, Gene Wilder was asked if he had anything to declare. The actor replied, “Only my own genius!” Few of us would be so immodest to openly profess such confidence in our mental capacities, yet I have been more (albeit quietly) guilty of a similar pride. After my first five marathons, I thought I had the distance figured out. I was supremely confident in the training schedule I had crafted as if it were my own work of genius. My sixth marathon demonstrated that I have no room for any Wilder-like declarations. The Cowtown Marathon in Ft. Worth is my favorite race. It tours the city of my birth and I have fond memories of running the event’s 10k as a child. So perhaps it is fitting that the most recent rendition showed how much I still have to learn about running. I finished the marathon three and a half minutes off my goal, was deeply disappointed, and began to realize that if I was going to reach my potential, I needed to reevaluate what I thought I knew. As I began the evaluation process, I discovered six observations from my first six marathons that I will apply to my next attempt. 1. Consistency. Oscar Wilde wrote that “consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.” When it comes to marathon training, unimaginative is an asset. Consistentlyeffective trumps sporadically-spectacular. 2. specificity. Specificity refers to preparing the mind and the body for the demands of race day as closely as possible. In the future, I will include more running done at goal pace to familiarize myself with the feel and effort level. 3. marathon training is simultaneously complex and ridiculously simple. Perform consistent high mileage including long runs and tempo runs at goal pace. Recover. Repeat. You’d think anyone could figure it out. Yet the variations within are seemingly inexhaustible.
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4. “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” – Joshua 24:15 (NIV). It is very difficult to simultaneously maximize both marathon and 5K / 10K performance. Be prepared to sacrifice times in shorter distances to maximize marathon potential. Decide which is more important to you (marathons or 5Ks) and focus on it. My 5K and 10K times have varied wildly during build ups for marathons that ended up being remarkably similar. 5. stay flexible. This has nothing to do with touching your toes, which I haven’t been able to do in years. Instead, it refers to adaptability. You see, I am a neurotic planner. Accordingly, when training for a race, I like to map out each detail of my preparation in advance. My most recent training plan simply was not working the way I had written it out. It was frustrating and demoralizing, so I threw the plan away. Instead, I ran by feel, going hard when I felt good and taking it easier when I didn’t. It was difficult to let go of my beloved plan, but also freeing. In the future, I will plan to be less structured (I even have to plan spontaneity), going with it when it is there and not forcing it when it isn’t. 6. the little things aren’t little. the principle of consistency extends beyond training. Diet, rest, and mental preparation are just as important – maybe more so – than a perfectly executed long run. I doubt I’ll ever be able to claim Mr. Wilder’s declaration as my own. Each race I run reveals more about running – and myself – that I didn’t know before. The most important lesson I took away from my most recent marathon is humility. So I’ll keep experimenting as I look forward to whatever lessons the next race has in store.
My Fastest Marathon – According to My Garmin® By Jeff “Barney” Barnhart
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ccording to my Garmin, in March I set a new marathon personal record (PR): 1:12:44. Your first reaction is probably, “Impossible. No way. You have to be kidding!” I am not. According to my Garmin, I ran it and have the proof stored in the Garmin. Now for the story of how it happened.
Best Foot Forward Award
First the location and conditions: Spring Break, March 2010. I was with my family in the beautiful Caribbean, basking in sunny temperatures in the mid-eighties and a 15 mph wind out of the south. The race field was small with only 30 runners, but a crowd of over 700 surrounded the 1/5-mile rubberized track course. The race had a late start of 8:30 am, but with the crowd cheering on the field, the runners were off.
The pace started out lightningfast from the start, with the majority of the runners staying together to help keep the PR pace going. After the first eight miles, I settled into the running zone and paired up with Randy, a fellow participant from Indianapolis. I started feeling the miles around 15, but with the crowd helping push us on, we were able to continue with the incredible pace. At 20 miles, Randy and I ran into the back of the pack of runners, slightly slowing our pace, but soon we were back on track and continuing towards the finish line. My Garmin continued to show us on a PR pace, so we continued to push hard to keep this once-in-alifetime pace and PR. Soon I was down to the last two laps of the race and I
Regarded as RAW’s highest honor, the Best Foot Forward recipient is deemed to be the person who best exhibits the “spirit of RAW.” Past recipients have been recognized for consistently demonstrating leadership, volunteering both publicly and behind the scenes, encouraging and mentoring others and serving as a positive ambassador for our club. Past winners include Chris Rehyer, Susan Barnett, Rick Sanford, Tony Flesch and Gary Howsam. Nominations are now open for the 2009 Best Foot Forward Award. To nominate a RAW member, send an email by June 10th to Doug Noell at DougN@RunnersAndWalkers. com with a paragraph describing why you believe your nominee is deserving. Please note that current RAW Board members are not eligible. The winner will be announced at the Fourth of July Annual Meeting.
picked up the pace again, even though I was really feeling it in my legs. As I crossed the finish line I could not believe the final Garmin time, trying to figure out why I was able to run this incredible pace and continuing to look at the laps on my Garmin. It clearly showed I had not accidently stopped or paused the watch, so I guess my Garmin was correct. So you must still wonder how this was possible. There is one small factor I have not mentioned yet. The track / course was on a cruise ship, the Royal Carribbean® Navigator of the Seas®, which was sailing at 21 knots, or 24 mph. The crowd was the ship’s guests sunning themselves along the track which made for an interesting sight, lap after lap. In looking back, I think they might not have been cheering as much as
looking at us in disbelief of why we would be running instead of relaxing with an umbrella drink. And the total distance I covered on the track was actually around eight miles, with my Garmin showing a total distance of 28.5 miles With all the data provided above, this becomes an interesting math / physics problem. Half the time, I was running in the same direction as the ship and the other half I was running in the opposite direction. Regardless of these factors, I am sticking with what my Garmin said and marking it down as a PR. So despite what Spareribs thinks this really is the ultimate “My Garmin says!”
Vote by Proxy The RAW annual meeting and elections of directors and officers will take place on Sunday, July 4. All members in good standing are entitled to vote. An individual membership is entitled to vote one ballot and a family membership is entitled to vote two ballots. The proxy voting period begins June 5 and ends on June 26, 2010. Voting by proxy is available upon request. To obtain proxy voting instructions and a ballot, please contact Doug Noell at DougN@RunnersAndWalkers.com. Mailed ballots must be signed by the Member casting the vote and then mailed to: Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers Attn: Doug Noell, Secretary P.O. Box 2982 Grapevine, TX 76099 Correctly completed proxy ballots must be received by June 29, 2010.
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Cooper: Before I start running, I block out all distractions, focusing only on running.
Cooper: People enjoy running with wellbehaved dogs. Yes, even Spareribs.
do you have a favorite place to run? Steve: Rockledge Park trails. Cooper: Roads and trails of Grapevine.
do you have a spouse or significant other, any children? Steve: My lovely bride’s name is Sharon. We have no human children. Cooper: I have a brother named Sheldon. He is a blonde, red, and white-colored rough collie.
do you prefer roads or trails? Steve: Asphalt roads. I treat trail running as a “cherry on top” of my running week. Cooper: Roads, as there is no bath required when I get home.
Steve “Dog Dude” Rush and Cooper
In step With
Steve Rush and Cooper are you a native texans? Steve: No. My family moved from central Ohio to North Richland Hills, when I was in elementary school. Cooper: Yes. how long have you been running? Steve: Nine years. Cooper: Eight years; ever since I was a pup. how long have you been a raW member? Steve: 2002. Kelly “K2” Richards just kept after the “Dog Dude” until I joined. steve, are you a “trackie,” “hillbilly,” “kayaker” or “BraW rider?” Kayaker. I am a co-founder and Admiral of the now five-year old RAW Navy. steve, who did you first meet at raW? I met were Byron Benoit, Craig Minyard, and the other shirtless guys as they swiftly passed by me during their morning runs. Byron would pass me saying, “Morning, Dog Dude.” Hélène Walker was the first person who took me in. She convinced me that if I could run eight miles with the club, then I could easily run a half or full marathon with a little more effort. Why running? Steve: Started running to improve my endurance. Later, I came to enjoy the social aspects and friendly competition. Also, every morning Cooper waits at the door, ready to go for a run. How can I refuse? Cooper: It is what I have always loved to do. do you do anything special before or after running, or do you have any pre/post-race ritual? Steve: Take out and then put away the dog leash(es).
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What has been your fondest running memory? Steve: This is a tough question to answer as I have so many. One just plain fun memory is the day after the 2005 Boulder Backroads Marathon trail running with friends down a hill so steep that we were basically falling down it. I highly recommend it as a recovery run. Another more sensible, yet comical memory, is of me during the Marine Corps Mud Run holding one of Staci’s “Tini” legs for balance, while she was doing a handstand to let trapped mud and water drain from her pants. Cooper: Chasing down and passing runners, especially Kevin Wessels. Where is the most unique or unusual place you have ever run? Steve: The heavily-forested and ocean coastal trails of Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, Canada. Cooper: Running by myself across the Plano Senior High School campus. What do you consider your biggest running achievement? Steve: My personal record (PR) at the Austin Half. I ran well from start to finish. Cooper: Completing the Grasslands Marathon. The race director gave me a finisher’s medal as the race’s top dog. My second biggest would be the year I won the LGRAW Hound Dog Hustle 1-mile fun run. What running gear would you never travel without? Steve: A running watch. Cooper: My dad insists I bring my leash and gentle leader.
are you a professional runner? if not, what is your occupation? Steve: I am an information and technology analyst. Currently, I am attending school for a master’s degree in Information Technology. Cooper: I am a personal running trainer. My clients pay me with room, board, petting, and with occasional treats. Besides running, what other fitness activities do you enjoy? Steve: Weight lifting, lake kayaking, and the 2010 LGRAW Push-up Challenge. Cooper: Playing tug of war and chase with my brother Sheldon and others. What would the members be surprised to learn about you? Steve: I have five cats. Cooper: I avoid running through water puddles. I prefer to go around or over them. anything else you would like to add? Steve: I really enjoyed the three years I spent on the LGRAW board as a memberat-large, secretary, and vice president. I highly recommend it to any RAW members that are interested in playing a larger role in keeping LGRAW the outstanding running and walking club it is today. Cooper, what’s the longest distance you have run? 26.2-plus miles, I had no choice but follow my running partner when he got lost at Grasslands. I also have run multiple 20-milers as I trained dad for several of his other marathon races. Cooper, do you eat “people food?” I regularly beg for carrots, celery, squash, cucumbers and other vegetables.
do you gu, gel, gatorade®, or other? Steve: Gatorade. Cooper: Water and peanut butter crackers.
Cooper, do you prefer a belly rub or a scratch behind the ears? A scratch behind my ears.
What has running taught you about yourself or what have you learned about life through running? Steve: You can surprise yourself with what you can accomplish in life regardless of age or natural ability when you work hard toward specific goals.
Cooper, do you run with anyone besides your human, steve? On weekends, I can regularly be found running in among a pack of LGRAW runners. I ran my fastest mile with Matt Loewen. He paced me to my one-mile PR of 5:35. Sharon, my mom, also takes my brother Sheldon and me for long walks.
Giving Back to the sport Mudlands 3 Volunteers: The Cold One (a.k.a., Grasslands 2010) By Marty Metzger
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t 5 am, the rain was blowing sideways and pushing the wind chill factor down into the 20s. Lots of runners and volunteers checked the weather and decided to stay home. It’s one matter to show up at an event that you paid to participate in, knowing that you’ll be working hard and stoking your internal furnace, but totally another matter to be standing still for hours for the benefit of others. Most of the volunteers who showed up at Grasslands were forced to take breaks in their cars, warming up and getting away from the merciless wind. I set up Drover as a self-service aid station around 5:30 am in driving rain and sleet, wondering if any runners would
be able to make it far enough to benefit from the effort. After getting another station set up and confirming that all three races actually started, the rain stopped, and I swung back to Drover around 8:30 am to see how it was faring. To my surprise, as I got out of the truck and looked toward Drover, I could see a bright red umbrella out there! I found Amy Matasso sitting all alone, wearing a thick scarf around her neck and face, reading a book, I Run, Therefore I Am NUTS. For this, Amy Matasso receives this month’s Giving Back to the Sport winner. Jon Korte wins the runner-up spot for all of his efforts. Jon would not get out of the cold. He was simply having too
NTTR Thank You “On behalf of North Texas Trail Runners (NTTR) and the Grasslands Trail Run, we would like to express our appreciation for the fantastic job done by these RAW volunteers, without whom we would not have had an event. Several made multiple weekend trips to prepare for the event, some spent the entire weekend out there preparing and cleaning up afterward, and most spent several hours in unusually adverse weather (strong winds, deep mud and a wind chill in the 20s). As a small token of our gratitude for y’all’s exceptional contribution, we have donated a new pop-up shelter and table to LGRAW. “ Kevin & Stacie Boudreaux Co-race Directors Grasslands trail run
Thank you to all of the 2010 Grassland Volunteers: Amy Matasso
much fun, and after all, his nickname is – Polar Bear. A big shout out to all of the Mudlands 3 volunteers. Thank you to all of you for battling the elements and contributing to another successful Grasslands run.
Mike Bassano Reba Becker Byron Benoit John Bush Debbie Carpenter Colleen Casey Scott Eppelman Gary Howsam Joe & Evelyn Luccioni Nick Kannady Jon Korte Amy Matasso Tia & Marty Metzger Chris McConnell Courtney & Doug Noell Kelly Richards Rick Sanford
send your nominations for “Giving Back to the sport” to KathrynG@RunnersAndWalkers.com
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Run for the RAW Board By Terry Marcott
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t takes more than just paid memberships to make the Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers Club the outstanding club it is. It takes members who want to be actively involved in the development of the club and who take the time to do so. By utilizing each member’s individual talents there are countless ways to be an integral part of your club community through your participation in club events and by volunteering to serve the club through our various activities. Here are a few suggestions on how to get involved: coming out for the weekly runs, signing up for weekend water duty, volunteering for one of our three annual races, going to a RAW Off to the Races event, attending a Saturday Night Live monthly dinner, submitting There are countless ways to be an integral part of your club community through your participation in club events and by volunteering to serve the club through our various activities.
an article for our award-winning club newsletter, FOOTPRINT, volunteering for the bi-annual Keep Grapevine Beautiful trail cleanup and serving on the RAW Board. The annual elections are coming up on July 4th, and now is the time to consider running for a board position. Serving on the board is a great way to become more familiar and more involved with what the club has going on. The 11 positions on the RAW Board are President, Vice-president, Treasurer, Secretary and Director (seven positions). The president leads the group and meetings, and is assisted by the vice-president. The treasurer is responsible for maintaining all financial records for the club which includes the following: • collecting deposits and disburse funds • maintains financial records in a complete and accurate method • prepares periodic financial reports The secretary is responsible for publishing the agenda for each monthly meeting and posting the meeting notice and agenda on the RAWforum. At each meeting the secretary also records the minutes, and once they are approved sends them to the webmaster to be posted on the RAWforum. The By-laws also require that each month’s agenda and minutes are kept in the club notebook maintained in the clubhouse.
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The responsibilities of the seven director positions are determined by each individual board. Some of the areas of responsibilities of the current board are: • FOOTPRINT mailing (Oversees the bi-monthly FOOTPRINT mailing by coordinating with the editors, printer and post office) • Membership Database maintenance (Update and track new membership, renewals and past-due memberships) • Social Coordinator (Christmas party, Luau, New Year’s Day Breakfast, Saturday Night Live, etc…) • Fun Runs Coordinator (2-3 Club Runs, ie; Hang Ten Recovery Run, Red Dress Run, etc…) • RRCA Liaison (Point of contact with the RRCA/North Texas Rep. to disseminate information to the club membership, submit annual club nominations, etc…) • Clubhouse maintenance, RAWear, Club Librarian, Year Book Coordinator and Brochures In an effort to preserve continuity on the board, the board positions now have staggered terms with all positions serving a two (2) year term. In July, the positions of Vice-President, Treasurer and 3 Director positions are up for election. Due to the resignation of a two-year director position from the 2009 elections, we are also seeking a director to serve out the remaining year. Because of this vacancy, we will also have a one year director position up for election. If you would like an opportunity to serve your club and to be more involved in the club, running for a board position is an excellent way to accomplish this. Serving on the board has a monthly time commitment of approximately 1½ - 2 hours on a date and time determined by each individual board. We are currently meeting on the 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the clubhouse. It is understandable that you may need to miss a meeting now and then due to work or family obligations. I hope you will consider giving your time to serve on the RAW Board. Volunteering your time in this way shows your commitment to the club and your willingness to help steer the club in a positive direction. As always, there is an open invitation to attend your board meetings. Your next meeting will occur on May 10, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. If you would want to catch a glimpse come and join the meeting. If you would like to have your name listed on the ballot contact Terry Marcott at the club, or at TerryM@RunnersAndWalkers. com. It is your club and your future, come join the board.
RAW RACE RESULTS
send your race results to Thomas “T.O.” Okazaki at tokaz007@hotmail.com
From 5Ks to ulTRAs Feb. 6, Madill, OK danMan Challenge ultra
Steve Grady: 8:00 (35 miles)
Feb. 6, Dallas, TX dRC Tal Morrison Classic 15K Henry Galpin: 1:09:42, 2nd AG Mike Ahearn: 1:17:04 Priscilla Reese: 1:19:40, 1st AG Stephanie Cullum: 1:20:02
Feb. 6, Huntsville, TX Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile Trail Run Scott Eppelman: 18:36:18
Rocky Raccoon 50 Mile Trail Run Thomas Okazaki: 9:04:24, PR Alberto Battaglino: 10:41:06 Stacie Boudreaux: 11:22:01, PR Jack Hase: 11:31:36 Debi Evans: 13:23:52, 1st 50 Miler Michelle Putze: 13:23:52, 1st 50 Miler
Feb. 6, San Diego, CA super Run 2010 10K Tim Oberholzer: 39:22
Feb. 13, Arlington, TX haltom stampede 5K
Blade Norman: 19:37, 2nd AG Mitch Kent: 21:48 Priscilla Reese: 25:05, 1st AG Elizabeth Lawrence: 25:45, 1st AG
Feb. 13, Surfside Beach, TX surfside Beach Marathon Thomas Okazaki: 3:59:35
surfside Beach half Marathon Cynthia Maas: 3:45 Barbara Tanner: 3:45:06 Cynthia Doty: 3:47:52
Feb. 14, Austin, TX Austin Marathon
Thomas Okazaki: 4:03:43
Austin half Marathon
Laurie Lukanich: 1:42:54, 1st AG Bojana Jeknich: 1:53:53 Suann Lundsberg: 2:05:40, PR Melissa Schlenker: 2:10:42 Danyah Arafat-Johnson: 2:06:09, PR Rick Schlenker: 3:11:55
Feb. 14, Dallas, TX Mardi gras Run 5K
Julie Burns: 21:27, 2nd AG
Feb. 20, Lake Texoma, TX Cross Timbers Marathon Alberto Battaglino: 14:27:22
Cross Timbers half Marathon Beth Hyland: 3:18:23 Diana Hill: 3:22:34 Michelle Blackard: 3:24:23
Feb. 21, McKinney, TX stonebridge half Marathon
Bojana Jeknich: 1:52:56, 3rd AG Suann Lundsberg: 1:59:49, PR
Feb. 27, Ft. Worth, TX Cowtown 50K ultramarathon Blade Norman: 3:58:41, 2nd AG Ross Darrow: 5:51:08 Ann McCarley: 5:53:52, 1st Ultra Steve Grady: 6:08:36
unT health science Center Cowtown Marathon
Mark Miller: 2:43:27, 1st AG Ken Hall: 2:45:42, 1st AG Richard Evans: 3:26:56 Thomas Okazaki: 3:30:51, PR, BQ, 100th Marathon/Ultra Frank Agius: 3:41:14 Kristine Hall: 4:30:41 Kim Danahy: 5:04:43, 50th Marathon Mike Pope: 6:02:21
Cowtown half Marathon
Lee Rebodos: 1:26:39 Byron Benoit: 1:28:43 Tim Yatko: 1:39:57 Laurie Lukanich: 1:41:25, 1st AG Julie Burns: 1:43:28 Ros Dalrymple: 1:44:36 Doug Keeffe: 1:47:12 Jay Jones: 1:49:01, 1st Half Yolanda Hopping: 1:50:25 Bojana Jeknich: 1:50:50, PR Carole Dillard: 1:55:59 Melissa McKibben: 1:57:02 Stephanie Cullum: 1:57:37 Elizabeth Lawrence: 1:57:37, PR Mary Keeffe: 1:59 Danya Arafat-Johnson: 2:01:04, PR Reggie Hicks: 2:00:55 Jeff Barnhart: 2:07:51 Vern Lumbert: 2:10 Pam Neven: 2:24:02 Alan Engisch: 2:29:19 Tory Warner: 2:39:52, PR Belynda Warner: 2:39:53, PR Liz Tinch: 2:41:10, 1st Half Traci Rodney: 2:46:30 Carol Ezell: 2:46:37 Devin Warner: 3:12:13 Megan Warner: 3:12:13
The shack Cowtown 10K
Randy Bobe: 37:29, 3rd AG Jake McConnell: 37:36 Colleen Casey: 38:48, 1st AG, PR Michael Brown: 41:48, 3rd AG Alma Darensburg: 43:18 Angela Eusery: 44:03 Kristine Hinojos: 45:07 Mitch Kent: 45:07 Brad Liles: 46:32 Michelle Putze: 53:31 Suann Lundsberg: 53:58, PR Neil Sobol: 54:33 Bridget Smith: 58:19 Emily Johnston: 1:02:57, PR Debi Cox: 1:07:11 Marci Sims: 1:12:02
Cowtown 5K
Travis Batchelder: 26:43 Cliff Burns: 34:45 Tom Zach: 42:48 Anne Woods: 46:03
Feb. 28, Carrollton, TX Carrollton Runner’s Club 1 Mile Run Nathan Eppelman: 18:25, 1st AG Scott Eppelman: 18:26, 1st AG Nicholas Eppelman: 18:28, 2nd AG
Feb. 28, New Orleans, LA new Orleans Mardi gras Marathon Leslie Toops: 5:57:53
Feb. 28, Tulsa, OK TRC Post Oak 50K Trail Run Thomas Okazaki: 8:37:50
Mar. 6, Ft. Worth, TX Boopa’s Family 10K
Anne Woods: 53:39, 3rd AG, PR
Boopa’s Family 5K
Bojana Jeknich: 24:28, 1st AG Suann Lundsberg: 26:06, 2nd AG Marci Sims: 35:36
Mar. 6, Dallas, TX dRC Trinity River levee Run 10K Ryan Burns: 54:50
Mar. 6, Dallas, TX lady of the lake Relay (18 Miles) (Female Masters 4 Person Division) Lakeside Masters: 2:13:09, 1st Place Laura Nelson* Cathy Buchanan Fiona Green Priscilla Reese* * Member of RAW
Mar. 7, McKinney, TX leaping leprechauns 10K Julie Burns: 47:27
Mar. 13, Ft. Worth, TX impossible Possibilities st. Patrick’s day 5K Laura Nelson: 21:36, FMW Dale Mauger: 23:28, 3rd AG
Mar. 13, Dallas, TX st. Paddy’s day dash down greenville 5K Tim Yatko: 20:38 Mike Ahearn: 24:19 MaryAnn Cavio: 25:37 Mary Lessor: 27:26
Mar. 13, Waco, TX Toughest n’ Texas 50K
Scott Eppelman: 5:20:40, 1st AG, 3rd Overall
Toughest n’ Texas 10 Miler Todd Roper: 1:52:43, 1st AG
Mar. 14, Dallas, TX dallas Rock ‘n’ Roll half Marathon Robert Fowler: 1:26:41 Mike Brown: 1:30:35 Thomas Okazaki: 1:32:24, PR Ed Oleksiak: 1:35:03
May - June 2010 |
FOOTPRINT 21
RAW RACE RESULTS continued Angela Eusery: 1:36:27 Ros Dalrymple: 1:37:48 Alma Darensburg: 1:38:18 Mitch Kent: 1:40:02 Heather Wallace: 1:41:44 Julie Burns: 1:42:06 Yolanda Hopping: 1:42:14 Jennifer Bates: 1:44:03 Bill Atwell: 1:45:31, PR Randy Powers: 1:45:43 Brad Liles: 1:48:28 Dottie Whitson: 1:49:55 Margaret Powers: 1:50:57 Bojana Jeknich: 1:54:08 Lisa Hyne: 1:55:28 Mary Ann Calvio: 1:55:36 David Moyer: 1:56:03 Kathy Calkins: 1:56:40 Kevin Snyder: 1:58:01 Lori Cerami: 1:58:39 Ryan Foster: 1:58:49 Suann Lundsberg: 2:01:13 Kevin Skillern: 2:06:38 Amanda Waring: 2:06:51 Su Landis: 2:07:23, PR Veda Miner: 2:09:15 Amanda Younts: 2:09:28 Michelle Putze: 2:10:31 Shannon Allen: 2:11:06 Maggie Rodriguez: 2:11:06 Amy Matasso: 2:12:42 Randa Foster: 2:12:42 Jeannie Sheffield: 2:12:47 Stephanie Lindgren: 2:13:52 Hal Hardister: 2:15:43, 1st Half Mike Schellen: 2:16:59, Louise LaMothe: 2:17:52 Charlyn Maloy: 2:21:18 Sherie Skillern: 2:21:26 Lesley Toops: 2:26:11 Traci Rodney: 2:29:52 Marci Sims: 2:48:30, 1st Half Tracey Atwell: 2:54:01 Amy Berryhill: 3:02:31 Vern Lumbert: 3:06:41 Devin Warner: 3:12 Belynda Warner: 3:12:01 Tory Warner: 3:12:01 Cynthia Maas: 3:23:01 Barbara Tanner: 3:24:48
Mar. 20, Ft. Worth, TX get your Rear in gear 10K Julie Burns: 43:43, OFW
Mar. 20, Decatur, TX grassland Trails Marathon Frankie Agius: 5:57
grassland Trail half Marathon Brad Liles: 2:20 Kristi Wynne: 2:39 Beth Hyland: 2:51 Michelle Blackard: 2:52 Diana Hill: 2:59 Michelle Putze: 3:18 Mike Cope: 4:57 Mike Bassano: 5:30
22 FOOTPRINT | May - June 2010
Mar. 21, White Sands Missile Base, NM Bataan death March Marathon Civilian Light Division: Thomas Okazaki: 3:57:48 Adrienne Stipe: 5:16:40 Carl Stipe: 7:39:32 Mac Stipe: 7:39:32, 1st Marathon
Mar. 27, Dallas, TX Butterfly Boogie 10K
Ken Hall: 34:42, 1st AG Robert Fowler: 39:29, 2nd AG Butterfly Boogie 5K Leana Sloan: 21:56, 1st AG
Mar. 27, Ft. Worth, TX Joe’s Run 10K
Chuck Kennard: 45:42, 3rd AG Elizabeth Lawrence: 51:46, 2nd AG Kim Danahy: 1:00:42
Joe’s Run 5K
Thomas Okazaki: 19:59, 2nd AG
Mar. 28, Arbuckles to Ardmore, OK A2A Marathon**
Thomas Okazaki: 3:24:22, 1st AG, PR, BQ Kristine Hinojos: 3:39:11, 2nd AG David Chase: 3:55:19 Alberto Battaglino: 4:23:54 Spareribs LaMothe: 4:33:18
duathlons & Triathlons Feb. 21, Ft. Worth, TX 6th Annual Texas Motor speedway duathlon
(2 mile run/15 mile bike/2 mile run) Lee Rebodos: 1:13:04, 3rd AG Karen Robertson: 1:19:07, 1st AG Julie Burns: 1:25:11, 2nd AG Melissa McKibben: 1:37:52
Mar. 6, Athens, TX Athens yMCA Triathlon
(300 meter swim/13.8 mile mtb/3.1 trail run) Tim Oberholzer: 1:14:27 Kimberly Davis: 1:49: 12, 1st AG
Mar. 14, Keller, TX st. Patty’s day Triathlon
(300 meter swim/12 mile bike/3.1 mile run) Mike Doud: 1:13:01, 1st AG Noel Widdowson: 1:15:15 Michelle Blackard: 1:15:18 Marybeth Crane: 1:21:15 Melissa McKibben: 1:33:06
E-mail your race details to Thomas “T.O.” Okazaki at tokaz007@hotmail.com
A2A half Marathon**
Rick Hanson: 1:18:51, 1st AG, 3rd Overall Troy Pruett: 1:27:01, 3rd AG Terry Marcott: 1:37:16 Stacie Sauber: 1:38:03, 1st AG Stephanie Lindgren: 1:39:51, 3rd AG Jessica Hanson: 1:39:57 Doug Noell: 1:43:16 Staci Rivero: 1:52:05, 2nd AG Kelly Richards: 1:55:19 Marty Metzger: 1:57:41, PR Rick Sanford: 1:59:26 Nick Kannady: 1:59:29, PR Amanda Younts: 2:04:25, PR George Rivero: 2:12:02 Tia Metzger: 2:17:41, PR Bridget Smith: 2:20:44
A2A Marathon 5K**
Colleen Casey: 19:30, OFW, 2nd Overall **Based On Gun Time
legend 1st hM-1st Half Marathon 1st M-1st Marathon 1st Tri-1st Triathlon 1st ultra-1st Ultramarathon PR-Personal Record Ag-Age Group BQ-Boston Qualified OW-Overall Winner OFW-Overall Female Winner OMW-Overall Male Winner MMW-Male Masters Winner FMW-Female Masters Winner MgMW- Male Grand Masters Winner FgMW- Female Grand Masters Winner MsrW- Male Senior Winner FsrW- Female Senior Winner
Mar. 28, Carrollton, TX Carrollton Runners Club 5K Brad Pearson: 19:28, MMW Laura Nelson: 21:28, OFW Julie Burns: 22:27, 1st AG Dennis Maietta: 22:36, 3rd AG Katie Pearson: 26:38, 1st AG
Carrollton Runners Club 1 Miler Dennis Maietta: 6:12, 1st AG Laura Nelson: 6:14, OFW Julie Burns: 7:21, 1st AG Madeline Pearson: 9:26, 1st AG Brad Pearson: 9:29, 3rd AG
Remember to add a push pin to the RAW Around the World map if you race in any Us city or run anywhere outside of the Us.
LAKE GRAPEViNE RUNNERS & WALKERS CLUB
MeMBeRshiP APPliCATiOn New Membership
Male Female DOB___/___/___
Renewal
Name ________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________ City _________________________________________________
Can we publish this information in the club directory? Yes No Participating Family Members Name ___________________ M F DOB___/___/___
State ____________ Zip Code ____________________________
Name ___________________ M F DOB___/___/___
Home Phone ( ) ________________________________________
Name ___________________ M F DOB___/___/___
E-Mail Address ________________________________________
Name ___________________ M F DOB___/___/___
i know that participating and volunteering to work in club events can be potentially hazardous. i assume all risks associated with running, walking, and volunteering to work in club events. Having read this waiver and knowing these facts, and in consideration of your acceptance of my application for membership, i, for myself and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, waive and release the Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers, inc., Road Runners Club of America, and all sponsors, their representatives and successors from all claims of liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in club activities. i grant permission to all of the foregoing to use any photographs, motion pictures, recordings or any other records for any legitimate purpose.
Membership dues $20 Single $30 Family
Do you need 2 membership cards? Yes No
Signature _________________________________ Date___/___/___ Mail completed application and payment to lgRAW, P.O. Box 2982, grapevine, TX 76099 or drop in the mailbox at the LGRAW Clubhouse.
Keep your membership current
RAW now offers online renewals (and new memberships) through Active.com at http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1310038 You can still renew at the clubhouse or through the mail. Simply fill out the membership application and drop it off or send it in.
Lake Grapevine Runners & Walkers
MeMBeRsHIP
UPDATe
New Members Missy Alsobrook Steve Anderson Brenda & David Cinotto Kate & Timothy Clark Melissa Evans Robert Fazzone Glenn Fischer & Family Tresha Glowacki
Hal Hardister Patty Hart Lisa Kendall Suzanne & Ralph Long Christopher Loew Shannon Martin & Claude Tester Joseph Naebers Monica & David Ortigoza
Christee & Les Phipps Allison Richoux Sandra Sullivan Dan Tracy Leana Velez Fredric Wheeler Scott Williams
Stephanie Cullum Janet & Dennis Dixon Eccleston Family Rick Fogle Kristine Hinojos Marty Hughes Daniel & Karen Jones Cindy Lee Luccioni Family Laurie & Jim Lukanich Amy Matasso
Dale Mauger Ann McCarley & Family Greg Nichols Courtney & Doug Noell Don Porter Pugliese Family Chris Reyher Ricardo Roberto & Cynthia Becker John Ruiz Alan & Hélène Walker
Membership Renewals Frankie Agius Joe Allen Danyah Arafat-Johnson Sandy Baker David Ball Jim Baudhuin Reba Becker & Debbie Carpenter Stephen Buksh Julie Burns Kathy Calkins Dr Marybeth Crane
Welcome to all of our New Members May - June 2010 |
FOOTPRINT 23
Lake Grapevine Runners & Walkers P.O. Box 2982 Grapevine, TX 76099
Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAid Grapevine, TX Permit No. 243
shARe WiTh A VisiTOR OR neW MeMBeR After reading this issue, drop it off at the clubhouse for visitors to get to know us.
Ask spareribs Dear spareribs: I am still upset about a column you wrote some time ago suggesting that members of our great Club are either “Somebodies” or “Nobodies.” You probably thought you were being amusing, but in my opinion that column was mean-spirited and elitist. You know perfectly well that all of us who run are Somebodies, people with goals and vision, people who identify themselves as runners. You should be ashamed of yourself for writing what you did. -Upset in Southlake
Dear Upset: After my initial shock at reading your letter, I have taken it to heart and meditated on the excellent points that you made, and thanks to your courageous and honest feedback, I would like to amend what I said in that column. It was wrong of me to call my fellow Club members Somebodies and Nobodies and you are correct that people should never be labeled as such. I apologize.
In reality, the world and our Club are not made up of Somebodies and Nobodies. They’re actually Winners and Losers. As my favorite running guru Terry Marcott once observed, “They don’t put on races to see who is the slowest.” But aside from running there are Winners and Losers in everyday life as well. We just don’t talk about them because we know them when we see them. Suppose you go to a party and you see a guy with a sweater thrown over his shoulders with the sleeves tied in front of his chest. Everyone knows he’s a loser, but it isn’t necessary to tell him so. Same goes for our Club each morning. You greet your fellow members with a wave, a smile, a hello, but you know you’re really thinking, “Oh, that so-and-so is a Winner. Maybe I’ll run with him today,” or “I hope that Loser what’s-his-name doesn’t come over to talk to me.” This is perfectly natural and accepted, and much kinder than labeling people as Somebodies and Nobodies. So why isn’t this ever talked about? Because just like the guy with the loser sweater style, we just assume everyone knows who’s who. It need never be spoken aloud. Here’s another example. You’re in the Clubhouse and you overhear someone say, “I had a great time talking with Alan yesterday. What a winner that guy is.” You would automatically guess he’s talking about
Alan Engisch, as he could not possibly mean Alan Walker. See how easy it is? Now it’s your turn to test your Club member knowledge with another Spareribs quiz. For each of the statements below, only one person can possibly be the right answer. Circle the appropriate surname that follows each quote: 1) “Wow, Jeff practically talked my ear off this morning.” (Barnhart or Garber) 2) “I love seeing a guy with a full head of hair like Mike.” (Ahearn or Bassano) 3) “I can do way more pushups than Michelle.” (Blackard or Putze) 4) “I kicked Ken’s butt on our six-mile run this morning.” (Hall or MacInnes) 5) “Gee, that Ray does a great job as a course marshal.” (Harris or Charles) I could probably have written 20 more of these if people didn’t keep joining the club with names like Heath, Randa, Letha and Bojana, but you get the idea. So from now on, let’s eliminate the unkind remarks about people being Somebodies and Nobodies and start calling people by what they really are: Winners and Losers. -Spareribs
The opinions and recommendations expressed by Spareribs in the “Ask Spareribs” column are solely his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LGRAW members. Give credence to his ideas at your own risk.
Lake Grapevine Runners & Walkers | www.runnersandwalkers.com