2010 RRCA Annual Report

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The mission and vision of the RRCA is to promote the development and growth of running clubs, running events, and supporting the common interests of recreational runners throughout the country at all stages in life. Through the RRCA, we provide a national infrastructure for the development of recreational adult and youth running clubs and events that have boomed into a robust sporting activity. The RRCA actively promotes running as a healthy lifestyle and positive social activity. We strive to provide quality programming that can be replicated throughout the country, such as our highly successful Start a Running Club program has been the cornerstone of our organization for over fifty years.

RRCA Mission and Vision

Founded in 1958, the RRCA is the oldest and largest distance running organization in the United States with over 1500 running club and event members representing 200,000 individual runners active in their running communities. The RRCA is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization with the IRS, and a nine-person volunteer board of directors that is elected by our membership governs the organization.

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President’s Report

While the rest of the nation struggled to come out of recession, steady growth and fiscal discipline characterized the progress made by the Road Runners Club of America over the last year. As you will read in the membership report, the organization continues to grow.

The organization once again maintained a profit at the conclusion of the year and received a clean Audit Report. The profit will be invested into ongoing program development efforts.

Existing programs chugged along, highlighted by increased support of the Kids Run the Nation effort and the launch of the RRCA Runner Friendly Community Program. The RRCA received the Guidestar Charity Seal in recognition of best practices in reporting information for donors.

There was no increase for dues and insurance fees for the members in 2010, and the RRCA offered a new $2,000,000 insurance option with the launch of the 2011 annual renewal cycle.

During 2010, the organization also launched liability coverage for volunteer medical professionals working at events.

Our print publication, Club Running, published by the Running Network, hit the mail three times. A promising new class of Roads Scholars received our support. The Coaching Certification program continued to grow with classes filling up within days of their announcement. However, further progress with the popular offering suffered a setback with the passing of Mike Broderick.

In addition to existing programs, the Board designated the following objectives as top priorities for 2011: 1) completion of the race director certification program; 2) completion of new coaching certification textbook; 3) Kids Run the Nation program expansion to include two annual grant cycles; 4) Weight Watchers Walk-It Day 5K events expansion; 5) fundraising, partnerships and sponsorship development; and 6) marketing and communications improvements. These objectives were approved by consensus of the Board.

The Board would like to thank the staff of the national office for all the hard work involved in implementing these efforts. Jean Knaack, Eve Mills, Jessica Benney and Dorothy Commock have been keeping all of these initiatives “in the air” while responding to hundreds and hundreds of inquiries from an ever-growing organization.

BRENT AYER, President on behalf of the RRCA Board of Directors

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DAVID COTTER, Vice President DENNIS NOVAK, Treasurer DAN EDWARDS, Secretary LENA HOLLMANN, Southern Region Director MITCH GARNER, Central Region Director DAVID EPSTEIN, Western Region Director MARK GRANDONICO, Eastern Region Director KELLY RICHARDS, At-Large Director

YEAR 2008 2009 2010

ASSETS $1,159,144 $1,210,791 $1,553,463

LIABILITIES NET WORTH $629,415 $529,729 $489,570 $721,221 $669,182 $884,281*

REVENUE $1,107,042 $1,487,661 $1,567,874

EXPENSES $1,090,429 $1,296,169 $1,405,513

NET PROFIT $16,613 $191,492 $162,361**

* $363,983 in net worth out of $884,281 is temporarily restricted for program use in future years. **Net profit includes income restricted to future use for programs.

REVENUE Membership Dues & Insurance Program Sponsorships Coaching Program Income Investment Income Contributions & Other Income

2010 ACTUAL 2011 BUDGET $1,126,069 $1,241,440 $74,005 $64,000 $171,410 $135,000 $67,404 $45,000 $128,986 $145,900 TOTAL INCOME $1,567,874 $1,631,340

EXPENSES – PROGRAMS Annual Convention & Awards State Reps Program Championship Event Series Coaching Program Roads Scholar Program Kids Run the Nation Program Membership Services & Insurance Program Other Program Expenses SUBTOTAL

$24,917 $27,082 $32,650 $131,088 $20,111 $18,504 $707,276 $20,859 $982,487

$25,200 $36,500 $43,720 $100,000 $30,000 $30,000 $798,490 $121,530 $1,185,440

SUBTOTAL TOTAL EXPENSES Net Profit/(Loss)

$35,013 $36,189 $17,960 $206,645 $39,624 $23,054 $358,485 $1,405,513 $162,361

$46,855 $36,815 $22,500 $248,030 $40,000 $31,700 $425,900 $1,611,340 $20,000

EXPENSES - ADMINISTRATIVE National Office Management Office Rent Audit, Legal & Taxes Payroll BOARD & COMMITTEES EXPENSES DIRECT FUNDRAISING EXPENSES

Treasurer’s Report

At the time of submitting this report, the annual independent audit is nearly complete. This report reflects the final audited financial information for the RRCA at the end of 2010. The National Office staff continues to do an outstanding job controlling costs for the organization while generating new sources of income for the RRCA. The following outlines the financial performance of the RRCA over a three-year period:

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Report from the National Office 6

Throughout 2010 the RRCA continued to develop new programs and services in support of the RRCA Strategic Plan adopted by the Board of Directors in 2009. The RRCA Strategic plan can be found on our website at www.

RRCA.org/about/governance/. This plan serves as a guiding document for decision making for the RRCA Board of Directors and National OďŹƒce sta.

RRCA Liability Insurance included enhanced coverage for 2010. This enhanced coverage included liability insurance for sexual abuse and molestation claims. Due to the fact that so many members host youth programs and events, we believe this is an important policy addition. We were also able to include a rider to the policy to cover volunteer medical personnel for a small fee.

Club Running magazine, made possible through our partnership with Running Network LLC, continued to grow in 2010 with three issues (Spring, Summer, Fall) circulated during the year and the Winter 2010/2011 mailed in early January 2011. We are very thankful for the support we are receiving from our advertisers and members in the form of quality content submissions.

Join a Club campaign, funded through the generous McLeod-Tyler gift is a multi-year promotional initiative started in 2009 designed to increase awareness about running clubs and to encourage runners and walkers to join their local RRCA-affiliated running club.

Our goal with the Join a Club campaign is to serve as a national advertising campaign for the benefit of our member running clubs. The campaign includes placement of advertisements in print and online and through editorial content. This year our campaign efforts focused on promoting the RRCA and our Join a Club message through our partners noted in the Program section of this report. Promoting the Join a Club message with our partners has helped us reach audiences outside of the traditional running community. Our partnership with Weight Watchers International, Inc. allowed us to extensively circulate our Join a Club message in 2010. We saw an 80% increase in new visitors to our website after our partnership launched.

We also focused heavily on web advertising using the popular Google and Facebook ad services. Our Google ad resulted in 2,387,882 impressions and our Facebook ad resulted in 2,885,196 impressions in 2010.

88% of our membership includes nonprofit running clubs and events. The remaining 12% of our membership represent for-profit training programs (primarily RRCA certified coaches), for-profit events, and specialty running stores.

Towards the end of 2009, the RRCA launched a new website and new membership management system that was developed with the Matrix Group International, a leading interactive agency in the Washington D.C. metro area. We were pleased to announce in 2010 that the RRCA and Matrix Group International received an Interactive Media Award (IMA) presented by the Interactive Media Council, Inc. The IMA’s recognize

the highest standards of excellence in website design and development. The RRCA and Matrix Group received the award for Outstanding Achievement for Redesigned Website in the Health and Nutrition Category.

The administrative overhead of the RRCA still remains lean with four employees at the conclusion of 2010. Jessica Benney joined the RRCA as membership coordinator in August as Eve Mills transitioned to take on more program responsibilities in her new role as Program Director. Dorothy Commock celebrated her tenth year of service as the Office Manager.

The RRCA State Representatives continue to be an integral part of the success of the RRCA. We have an incredibly dedicated group of State Reps that champion the RRCA in their state on a regular basis. In addition, many State Reps also volunteer to serve the RRCA by sitting on the National Awards Selection Panels and other task forces and committees. We are thankful for their ideas, feedback, hard work, and dedication.

Report from the National Office

RRCA Membership Growth over Six Years Year Member Clubs & Events 2005 693 2006 744 2007 863 2008 988 2009 1,122 2010 1,267

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2010 Program Report

The RRCA strives to provide quality programming that can be replicated throughout the country by member clubs from small towns to large cities. Our programs promote and support running and runners at all stages in life. The RRCA is dedicated to providing the running community with educational information and programs that will keep them safe, healthy, and informed.

Kids Run the Nation® Program In 2008, we introduced the Kids Run the Nation Program. This program is a turnkey, multiweek, gender neutral, youth running program designed for children in grades kindergarten through sixth grade. The program can also be modified to better serve older grades.

Through this program, the RRCA’s vision is to help establish locally managed, youth running programs in every grade school in America.

Between 2008 and 2010, we circulated 10,000 copies of the Kids Run the Nation: A Running Guide for Kids and 2,000 Kids Run the Nation Program Guide. The Kids Run the Nation: A Running Guide for Kids is a 5” x 7” booklet, designed specifically for children and it is designed to encourage children to start their own running routine at home. The Kids Run the Nation Program Guide is designed to help teachers, coaches, or program directors develop youth running programs that can be implemented as a physical education or classroom wellness curriculum, as a before or after-school program, or as a community-based youth running program. The emphasis of this program is on participation and developing a healthy lifestyle as opposed to being a competitive running program. The Program Guide is a full-color, 40-page educational curriculum divided into eight lesson plans, with a bonus ninth lesson on competitive running.

RRCA: KIDS RUN THE NATION FUND GIVES $15,000 IN GRANTS TO YOUTH RUNNING PROGRAMS IN 2010 Starting in 2007, the RRCA has granted $5,000 annually to deserving youth running programs around the country through the Kids Run the Nation Fund. The Kids Run the Nation Fund is designed to provide needed resources to launch and support youth running programs around the country as an opportunity to address the on-going inactivity and obesity crisis facing today’s youth.

After significant financial support in 2010 for the Kids Run the Nation Fund by RRCA members and individual donors, the organization was able to increase the overall Kids Run the Nation grant funding to $15,000 for the year.

The Kids Run the Nation grant applications were reviewed by the grant selection panel which included David Cotter (RRCA Vice President), Dan Kesterson (Youth Runner Magazine), David Epstein (RRCA Western Region Director), Brent Ayer (RRCA President), Kelly Richards (RRCA Board Member), and Jean Arthur (Montgomery County Road Runners Club President).

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The panel reviewed 77 applications for programs that collectively served more than 20,000 youth around the country. While all applicants were deserving of funding, the following programs received a Kids Run the Nation grant in 2010:

The Boston Center for Youth and Families is Boston’s largest youth and human service agency, impacting the lives of over 90,000 residents each year through programs and services at 38 community facilities. The BCYF Youth Running Club is a program that will be located at four community centers and adjoining parks in neighborhoods where distance running is not a typical sport. The program will target areas of Boston where children tend to have greater limitation of movement due to typical urban safety concerns, and as a result the children lead more sedentary lifestyles. The BCYF Youth Running Clubs are designed to be a developmental program that utilizes a child-centered curriculum that emphasizes the joy of running as outlined in the Kids Run the Nation Guide.

BLACK HILLS RUNNERS CLUB - Rapid City, South Dakota The Black Hills Runners Club is a regional club that promotes running, walking, and healthy lifestyle activities for all ages in the western South Dakota. The BHRC will implement the Kids Run the Nation program to complement their current efforts to support youth running in their community. The program will serve the financially disadvantaged population of children in the Black Hills. The Black Hills has a high proportion of Native American - Lakota Sioux youth with a high incidence of Diabetes in their population. The goal of the program is to provide educational opportunities about nutrition and healthy fitness habits such as running to help break the cycle of ongoing health issues within the area’s youth population.

BASSET GRADE SCHOOL – ROCK SOLID PROGRAM - Basset, Nebraska Basset Grade School is located in rural Nebraska where 18% of families live below poverty level.

The school will develop a program for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. The students will sign-up for clubs including the One Mile Club, the Two Mile Club, and the Three Mile Club. Group runs will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and the school will work with the Rock County Hospital Solid Rock walking program to provide incentives for miles walked or run.

The program will conclude with a 5K walk/run.

2010 Program Report

BOSTON CENTER FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES RUNNING CLUB - Boston, Massachusetts

ENDEAVOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - Cocoa, Florida At Endeavour Elementary School, 94% of the student population is eligible for free and reduced lunches and 84% of the student population includes minority students. The school is located in an area of declining socioeconomic status in Cocoa, Florida where exercise, eating right, and other fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle are inadequately met for children. Endeavour Elementary School will implement the Kids Run the Nation program as a school based running program for students.

PENGUIN PACERS AT WILLIAM TYLER PAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - Silver Spring, Maryland The Penguin Pacers program will provide running opportunities to male and female students in grades 3rd through 5th. The program will serve a diverse student population within a suburb of Washington, DC. The 1-day a week, 8-week program will provide students with structured activities that promote health and fitness and emphasize the development of aerobic fitness through age appropriate running activities. The program will culminate with a 1-mile fun run for students and their families.

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2010 Program Report

ERIN DUDLEY FORBES CHARTER SCHOOL KIDS RUN FOR FUN PROGRAM - Lincoln University, Pennsylvania The school, founded on the campus of Lincoln University, almost had to close its doors due to the Pennsylvania State budget crisis. The result had an impact on the school’s ability to provide extracurricular activities for all students. In response, TNT International Racing Club, a nonprofit running club for athletes of all levels, will work with Erin Dudley Forbes Charter School to develop a gender-neutral, youth running program. The goal is to develop a program where all students can participate in an affordable youth running program to increase physical activity. The program will serve children in grades K-6.

HAMPDEN: KIDS RUN THE NATION PROGRAM - Hampden, Maine The Hampden Recreation Department and the Sub 5 Club have partnered to develop a youth running program for children in grades 3rd through 8th. The goal of the program is to expose children to the benefits and rewards of running and to provide this age range a program that promotes a healthy lifestyle in addition to an athletic endeavor. The Hampden Recreation Department will provide promotional support for the program and the members of the Sub 5 Club will provide voluntary coaching services for the program. The program will conclude with a community fun run.

RAIDER’S RUNNING CLUB - Indiatlantic, Florida The program is open to boys and girls from 2nd to 8th grade, and the students meet twice a week after school. It is designed for students who would like to participate in an organized physical activity but may not have the athletic skills to play organized sports. The running club is a yearlong program designed to introduce the benefits of running and walking along with individual goal setting objectives. The school participates in a Coastal Catholic League track meet every May and many of the program participants use the program to improve their running skills for this event.

BANNER RUNNING CLUB - Peoria, Illinois The Banner Running Club is a youth running club started by Banner Elementary School PTO in 2009. The school-based running club started with 15 members and has grown to over 50 members in one year with over 30% of the participants being minority students. The club meets after school for an educational clinic on topics such as goal setting, nutrition, running, sportsmanship, and more. Students in grades 3rd through 5th are encouraged to participate, and the program culminates in running in a local 5k race.

YMCA AFTERSCHOOL RUNNING PROGRAM - Boca Raton, Florida The YMCA Afterschool running program will be run after school from 3-4pm twice a week and will be a 16-week, free program for kids. The program will culminate with a Kids Run the Nation 1 mile fun run and the YMCA 5K run, which will be open to the public. The local YMCA and the Runner’s Edge Foundation volunteers will coach the program that will serve children ages 6-14.

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The program is an after school program where inner city children from Oakridge Elementary School, a Title I school in Sacramento, are taught the fundamentals of running. The program serves students in grades 3rd through 8th, and 100% of the children in the program live below the poverty level. The program is a 16-week running program that focuses on Cross Country running in the fall and Track running in the spring. Many of the children show-up at he start of the program in flip-flops or old discarded shoes. The program strives to provide new, free running shoes to all participants in the program.

CALLAHAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RUN/WALK CLUB - Callahan, Florida The Run Club is now in its third year. It is going strong and has grown to over 200 students.

Callahan Elementary School is a kindergarten through second grade, Title I school, that serves a very rural, low-income population with over 60% of students on free or reduced lunch. The club meets once a week for an hour for the duration of the school year. This program has brought the community and families together in supporting a healthy activity for area children. This year the club expanded to their feeder school, Callahan Intermediate, which serves grades 3rd through 5th.

MCDOWELL WELLNESS CENTER’S FIT KIDS PROGRAM - Danville, Kentucky The Ephraim McDowell Health Care Foundation has a goal to operate five Fit Kids sessions during fiscal year 2011. The Fit Kids groups will meet three times a week in 1-hour sessions with each session engaging children in a blend of wellness education, running and other activities.

Childhood obesity is a particular problem in Kentucky, and Fit Kids is designed to help children in grades K through 5th develop optimal wellness, exercise and running attitudes.

2010 Program Report

BE CHANGE RUNNING GROUP - Sacramento, California

RUNNING IS ELEMENTARY - Paducah, Kentucky “Running Is Elementary” was born out of the passion that is growing in Paducah, KY along with the communities desire to fight obesity and promote a healthy lifestyle. Kentucky is 3rd in obesity in the nation with 1 in 3 children either overweight or obese and 5th in poverty. Many local elementary schools are struggling to put together after-school programs. The Rehab Associates Foundation is working to implement an 8-week after school running program for elementary schools. There is a target goal to start free, Kids Run the Nation programs in 10 elementary schools in Western Kentucky for the first season.

DENNIS CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RUNNER’S CLUB - Albuquerque, New Mexico This program serves the entire Dennis Chavez Elementary School community, grades K through 5th. The program meets twice a week before school throughout the school year and uses the New Mexico BioPark Run for the Zoo as a culminating race. Runners can choose to enter a 1-mile run or a 5K run depending on their age and/or ability. Runners receive a t-shirt with the school name and logo on it to run the race in. There is an informal competition with other elementary schools to see who has the most runners. Dennis Chavez has always been one of the top schools regarding number of runners. The running club is designed to start the kids on a lifelong pursuit of physical fitness and therefore promote a healthy lifestyle free from obesity.

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2010 Program Report

HIDDEN HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RUNNING CLUB - Laguna Niguel, California The Hidden Hills Elementary School Running Club is a pre-existing program established by the PTA with the goal of developing students’ life-long interest in physical activity and helping to halt the rise in childhood obesity. Hidden Hills has students from a wide variety of demographics and income levels, with nearly 25% of students receiving free or reduced lunches.

The running club is a weekly program offered throughout the school year whereby students in 1st through 5th grades run laps around the school field during their Tuesday lunch period. The running club is open for both boys and girls, the only requirement being that students have parental permission to participate in the program. Last year, 300 children participated, and the goal is to expand the program to attract more students. Parent volunteers who have been subject to fingerprinting and criminal background checks in accordance with the Capistrano Unified School District operate the running club.

COURTLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUGAR CUB FITNESS CLUB - Spotsylvania, Virginia The club will meet once a week for a full hour during the school year. The program will include any Courtland Elementary student in grades K through 5th who would like to participate. In addition, high school and middle school students may attend as volunteer mentors to encourage the elementary school students. The program will include three activity stations per session.

The first is a Cross Country or Track run where participants’ will run laps and have their distances logged. The second will be a fun station that includes running games including core and physical strength training activities. The third will be a nutrition station where kids will have the opportunity to learn about, assemble, and sample healthy recipes that they can make at home, too. The mission of the club is to give all the students; especially the children whose families cannot afford to participate in other after school fitness programs, the opportunity to be physically active.

LONGFELLOW BLAZING LIONS - Eau Claire, Wisconsin Longfellow Elementary is located in Eau Claire, WI where 80% of the students live below the national poverty level and qualify for free or reduced lunch. Most of the students do not have the opportunity to participate in team sports. Longfellow, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire (UWEC), has created a morning running program to foster a love of running for students and to encourage students to be active. Over 90% of the students participate in the running program. The program meets twice a week before school for a run.

UWEC students in the Health and Physical education class for grades K-8 facilitate the program at Longfellow. UWEC students motivate and run with Longfellow students. For very lap of the playground run by a student, they earn a Popsicle stick and the sticks are turned in at the end of the morning runs so numbers can be logged. UWEC students provide incentives throughout the semester to encourage and reward participation for students for achieving milestones.

Longfellow also hosts a 5k run in the spring, which students are encouraged to participate in, and there is normally a 98% participation rate in the mile run events.

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The program is an after school program at the YMCA in Lakeland, FL. The running group is for both boys and girls in grades 3rd through 5th. The program was launched at the request of two 5th grade girls wanting a running club at their after school program. The program is now in its third year, and children meet weekly for an hour to run. The program also teaches participants about stretching, proper running form, pacing, good nutrition, and many other things to help them live a healthy lifestyle. The children are encouraged to run in local races if they show an interest.

MEMPHIS RUNNERS TRACK CLUB KIDS - Memphis, Tennessee Unfortunately, Memphis ranks as one of the top three cities with obesity problems and the largest population of inactive people. The Memphis Runners Track Club would like to try to change those statistics starting with the children in their community. The MRTC-KIDS!™ is a program designed to teach children ages 3 through 13 the fun of running. The program includes a 4-week training in the fall and 2-week training in the spring. The program finishes with an all kid’s race. The program is based on the children’s ages and abilities and is held at a local park. In the training program the kids learn about: proper form, running safety, proper warm-up and cool down, proper stretching, good nutrition, running etiquette, proper hydration, and how to have fun while exercising.

RUN PORTLAND - Portland, Oregon Run Portland creates and sustains running programs in local schools and as part of after school care programs. Run Portland supports both Track and Cross Country programs in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in metropolitan Portland, OR. The organization often provides a first time running experience for middle school aged children. Members of Run Portland’s ambassador program volunteer as coaches, and they have undergone the RRCA coaching certification. By providing this experience Run Portland is addressing lifestyle choices in the fight against childhood obesity.

2010 Program Report

LAKELAND RUNNING CLUB - Y RUNNING GROUP - Lakeland, Florida

YMCA KID’S CLUB AFTER SCHOOL FIT AND HEALTHY PROGRAM - Salisbury, North Carolina The Rowan County Health Department notes that approximately 30% of children receiving care at Salisbury Pediatric Associates, the largest pediatric office in Rowan County, are overweight or obese. The Trust for America’s Health 2010 report ranks North Carolina with the 11th highest rate of overweight children (ages 10-17) in the nation at 18.6%. In a proactive response to the growing need to educate children on the benefits of being active and eating healthy, the YMCA in partnership with the Salisbury-Rowan Runners Club kicked off the YMCA Kid’s Club – After School Fit and Healthy Program during the 2005-2006 school year. The main objective of the program is to have 100% participation by the children in the after school program. Completing its fifth year, the “Kid’s Club” program has proven to be a valuable addition to the community’s Activate America programming. By teaming up with volunteers from the Salisbury-Rowan Runners Club and personnel from Rowan Regional Medical Center, the organizations involved have been able to introduce over 360 kids in the after school programs at the Y to an organized physical activity and nutrition program.

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2010 Program Report

Roads Scholars® Program Since 1996, the Road Runners Club of America has awarded grants totaling over $330,000 through the Roads Scholar® program. The goal of the program is to assist American post collegiate runners who show great promise to develop into national and world-class road running athletes.

The RRCA Roads Scholar® selection Committee for 2010 included Carl Sniffen (Chair), Mike Morgan (former Roads Scholar), Joan Benoit Samuelson (Olympian), Keith Brantley (Olympian), Don Kardong (Olympian), Phil Stewart, Bee McLeod, Brent Ayer, and Jean Knaack. The RRCA is pleased to congratulate the 2010 Class of Roads Scholars: STEPHAN SHAY: is the youngest of eight children. He graduated from Central Lake High School in Michigan where he was four-time all-state selection, four-time conference champion and three-time regional champion. He captured the state Division IV individual title as a senior and broke the state Division IV Cross Country record with a time of 15:35. He set twelve meet or course records and was named academic all state on three occasions. He won every meet during his senior season. Shay ran for two years at Michigan State, coached by Walt Drenth. He transferred to Brigham Young University for his last two years of college under the coaching tutelage of Ed Eyestone. Shay was all-region in track and Cross Country at Michigan State and BYU. He was conference champion at BYU in outdoor track for the 10k, was a four-time qualifier for cross-country nationals, and qualified his senior year of college for the outdoor track nationals. In his first year out of college, Shay has proven his abilities in distance racing. He was 10th overall at the Gate River Run, the USA 15K Championship, and 5th overall at the USA Half Marathon Championship hosted by the Aramco Houston Half Marathon with a time of 1:02:26.

Shay is currently being coached by Magdalena Lewy-Boulet and advised by coach Joe Vigil.

LINDSAY ALLEN: competed in high school Cross Country and track and field at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, California. She then went on to run for Stanford University. She was a member of four Cross Country Pac-10 Championship title teams and Stanford’s 2007 Cross Country National Championship. She currently holds the Stanford school record in the 3,000m Steeplechase and is a two-time NCAA DI National Championship qualifier and All-American in that event. Since her 2008 graduation, Allen has been a member of McMillan Elite, a postcollegiate running team based in Flagstaff, AZ and coached by Greg McMillan. Allen competed in the 2008 Olympic Trials as wells as the 2009 and 2010 USA Track and Field Championships in the Steeplechase. New to the roads, Allen finished 10th in the US 5k Road Championships in 2009 and had her 10k debut at the US 10k Road Championships that same year. Also in 2009, she represented the United States in the Chiba Ekiden Relay in Japan, helping the US earn 5th place.

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JILL (STEFFENS) SWOPE: was born and raised in Illinois where she was an All-State runner for Moline High School. Her senior year she was the starting point guard of an Elite Eight MHS basketball team. But at 5’3 a basketball career was out of the question, and she accepted a track scholarship to the University of Georgia after being charmed by the south. At UGA Jill was a four-year team captain, 10k school record holder, 3-time SEC Champion and 10k All-American. It wasn’t until racing the 10k at Stanford her senior year with a 67 second PR in a time of 33:21 that she decided to train post-collegiately. Jill signed with New Balance and raced the 10k in the 2008 Olympic trials and decided while in Track Town USA that her new dream had found her.

She hesitantly entered the 2008 20k National Championship as it was scheduled just five days prior to her wedding day. In her first race over 10k, Jill stole the 20k National Championship in a 3-way battle to the finish in 1:08:47. This qualified her to represent the United States in Brazil at the 2008 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships where she finished 30th in her debut Half Marathon. In 2009 she finished 12th in the 10k at the USA Track and Field Championships and went on that summer to place 6th, 8th, 8th and 11th in four US National Championship races ranging from 10k-20k. Jill intends to hit the roads this summer and travel the country chasing faster times and her dreams simultaneously.

JEFFREY EGGLESTON: was born in Greece, NY and graduated from the University of Virginia in 2007. He ran four seasons for the Cavaliers. In his first race after college, he finished an encouraging 10th at the US 20K Championship in New Haven. He followed this performance up by running 1:04:58 for his first half-marathon at the 2008 US Championship in Houston.

During a brief stint with a training group in Michigan, he finished 3rd at the Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago. For his performances on the roads that fall, he was named New England Runner magazine’s 2008 New York Runner of the Year. In January 2009, he returned to Houston and qualified for the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials by running a personal best of 1:03:58. In the summer, he moved to Flagstaff, AZ to prepare for his first marathon under the tutelage of coach Jack Daniels. His Fall racing highlights included: winning his third consecutive title at the Rochester Run for Hospice, 3rd overall and top American at the B.A.A. ½ Marathon in 1:04:16 and setting a 5K road best of 14:11 at the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot. In January, he made a strong marathon debut of 2:14:32 at the P.F. Chang’s Rock’n’Roll AZ Marathon in Phoenix. He continues to train autonomously in Flagstaff and represents Team MarathonGuide.com and Brooks.

2010 Program Report

PATRICK SMYTH: was a Cross Country and track standout at Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, UT where he was eight-time varsity letter winner in the two sports.

In 2005 he was the Utah Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year and Utah High School Athletic Association Track Athlete of the Year. He was nationally ranked in Cross Country and track during his senior season. At Notre Dame University, he was a seven-time All-American - three times in cross country, three in outdoor, and one indoor. During his collegiate career, he was the two time NCAA Great Lakes Regional Champion in Cross Country, the Big East 5000m Champion, and the two-time Big East Outdoor 10,000m Champion. He was a three-time qualifier for the NCAA Cross Country Championships finishing as high as 11th in 2008. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2009, he finished fourth in the 10,000 meters. Patrick holds the Notre Dame record for the most sub-14 minute 5000m races (10), including five sub-13:50 performances.

He is also the school record holder in the 10,000 with a time of 28:25.85. At the 2009 USA Outdoor Championships, he finished seventh. In his road debut, Patrick finished fifth at the USA 10k Championships. At the USA Men’s 10 Mile Championship he was third. He placed second at the 2010 USA Half Marathon Championships and then second at the USA Cross Country Championships to become a member of the World Cross Country team. Patrick joined Team USA Minnesota in July 2009.

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2010 Program Report

RRCA Coaching Program The RRCA Coaching Certification program continues to grow and at the conclusion of 2010, the RRCA has certified over 1500 coaches nationwide and provided eighteen courses in 2010. The RRCA has maintained two teaching teams of Patti and Warren Finke and Janet Hamilton and Mike Broderick. Sadly, Mike Broderick passed away this year at the far too young of 54 in the early hours of November 5, 2010 from complications arising from a brief battle with lung cancer.

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“Mike was a coach, a teacher, a runner and a friend to hundreds of men and women across the country. But to those who knew him well - and there were many - he was much more than that. If a

While Mike has been missed by the program staff, they have honored his legacy by continuing to grow the coaching program.

The courses sell-out almost as soon as they are posted on the RRCA website. Clubs are encourage to host coaching courses and details about hosting a course can be found on the RRCA website at http://www.rrca.org/ programs/coaching-program-overview/

Runner Friendly Community In 2010, the RRCA launched their newest program, the Runner Friendly Community and Runner Friendly business designations.

The goal of this program is to shine a national spotlight on communities that standout as runner friendly and to provide incentive and ideas for communities to work towards becoming runner friendly communities.

2010 Program Report

person could be the heart and soul of a running community, that was Mike Broderick. Known as the “coach’s coach,” Mike dedicate his life to the community of runners he loved so much, sharing his inspired form of coaching, not only by training runners himself, but also by teaching others to become coaches.” – Eve Mills, RRCA Program Director

The RRCA will review three primary segments: (1) community infrastructure, (2) community support, and (3) local government support.

Each segment includes important criteria as part of the designation process. The goal is for applicants to prove that their community works together to promote running as healthy exercise for their community while ensuring runners safety. All applications will be reviewed and scored by a selection panel, and the panel will determine the number of communities that will receive the designation throughout the year. One top city will be selected annually by the review panel and awarded as the Outstanding Runner Friendly Community for the year.

As part of the Runner Friendly Community Program, the RRCA has defined what is a Runner Friendly Business. Runner friendly businesses support the running community and are safe places for runners in times of need. Businesses are encouraged to purchase the RRCA Runner Friendly Business static window decals to hang in their places of business.

There are many benefits for communities that earn the Runner Friendly Community designation.

Learn more about the Runner Friendly Community designation program at http://www.RRCA. org/programs/runner-friendly-community .

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2010 Program Report

RRCA Education & Advocacy The RRCA works in partnership with several organizations in addition to our running club and event members to help promote running as a sport and healthy, physical activity. We are proud to call the following organizations our strategic partners and associate members for 2010.

THE U.S. NATIONAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PLAN has a vision one day, all Americans will be physically active and they will live, work, and play in environments that facilitate regular physical activity. The Plan is a comprehensive set of policies, programs, and initiatives that aim to increase physical activity in all segments of the American population. The Plan is the product of a privatepublic sector collaborative. Hundreds of organizations are working together to change our communities in ways that will enable every American to be sufficiently physically active. The Plan aims to create a national culture that supports physically active lifestyles. Its ultimate purpose is to improve health, prevent disease and disability, and enhance quality of life.

NATIONAL COALITION FOR PROMOTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY is a leading force in the country promoting physical activity and fitness initiatives. The organization is a diverse blend of associations, health organizations, and private corporations, advocating for policies that encourage Americans of all ages to become more physically active. The RRCA is working with NCPPA to help implement strategies outlined in the National Physical Activity Plan and more specifically working with the Parks, Recreation, Fitness, and Sports sector to promote strategy one, which promotes programs and facilities where people work, learn, live, play and worship (i.e., workplace, public, private, and non-profit recreational sites) to provide easy access to safe and affordable physical activity opportunities.

THE HEALTHY WEIGHT COMMITMENT FOUNDATION is a CEO-led organization, is a national, multi-year effort designed to help reduce obesity–especially childhood obesity–by 2015. It’s a first-of-its kind coalition that brings together more than 140 retailers, food and beverage manufacturers, restaurants, sporting goods and insurance companies, trade associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and professional sports organizations. The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation promotes ways to help people achieve a healthy weight through energy balance–calories in and calories out. It focuses on three critical areas–the marketplace, the workplace and schools. The RRCA is an “energy-out” partner with the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation.

Learn more about our partners at http://www.rrca.org/about/associates-partners/ At the 52nd Annual RRCA Convention, the RRCA sponsored two training sessions designed to help clubs develop local advocacy efforts. The first training session focused on Lobbying for Nonprofit Running Clubs and was presented by Jeannie Fox, a training fellow from Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest. Attendees learned about the laws that govern grassroots advocacy and lobbying activities for nonprofit organizations. The session covered the differences between direct and grassroots lobbying and other important concepts for nonprofit lobbying activities. The second session, also presented by Jeannie Fox, focused on Developing Grassroots Advocacy Campaigns. Attendees learned how to develop grassroots advocacy campaigns for local implementation.

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As part of our Join a Club promotional efforts, the organization partnered with Weight Watchers International, Inc. to be a part of the Weight Watchers® Walk-It Challenge. Through the partnership, Weight Watchers became the Official Weight Management Sponsor of the RRCA. The RRCA has long advocated the health benefits of walking and running, and has provided, through its member clubs, the opportunity for individuals to participate in these activities and incorporate them into a healthy lifestyle. It has been in the spirit of encouraging all Americans to become more active, that the RRCA has partnered with Weight Watchers to present the Weight Watchers Walk-It Day 5K events around the country.

Thousands of participants took part in the nationwide initiative which was the culmination of the Weight Watchers Walk-It Challenge.

Sixteen Weight Watchers Walk-It Day 5K events were hosted RRCA members on June 6, 2010 in the following cities:

x x x x

St.Paul, MN Arlington, VA Boca Raton, FL Leander, TX

x x x x

Tidewater, VA Berwick, LA Highland, IN Oakdale, NY

x x x x

Cincinnati, OH Canfield, OH Pearland, TX Folsom, CA

x x x x

Pleasant Hill, CA Melbourne, FL Port Charlotte, FL Fernandina Beach, FL

The RRCA would like to thank our members who hosted the Weight Watchers Walk-It Day 5K events, as well as the events’ national sponsors for their support: Weight Watchers International, Britten Banners, Rainbow Racing and RunSignUp.com.

2010 Program Report

Weight Watchers® Walk-It Day

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2010 Program Report

RRCA National Championship Event Results Presented by Sports Authority

RRCA NATIONAL 5K CHAMPIONSHIP RACE THE LAKES – Lakeland, FL Open Male: Aubrey Aldy, age 29, from Naples with a time of 16:00 Open Female: Kristin Tripoli, age 31, from Lakeland, FL with a time of 21:55 Male Master: Jon Williams, age 41, from Miami, FL with a time of 17:30 Female Master: Karen Fishwild-Andrews, age 50, from San Ramon, CA with a time of 23:00 Male Grand Master: Jim Shields, age 51, from Jacksonville, FL with a time of 17:53.

Female Grand Master: Mary Beth Freeman, age 52, from Winter Haven, FL with a time of 24:48

RRCA NATIONAL 10K CHAMPIONSHIP KALAMAZOO KLASSIC – Kalamazoo, MI Open Male: Jason Drudge, age 20, from Grayling, MI with a time of 33:03 Open Female: Hannah Norton, age 28 from Union City, MI with a time of 38:18 Male Master: J.C. Collins, age 53, from Livonia, MI with a time of 36:49 Female Master: Peggy Zeeb, age 52, from Colon, MI with a time of 43:37 Male Grand Master: Lou Hoekstra, age 53, from Kalamazoo, MI with a time of 39:50 Female Grand Master: Julie Rupp, age 50, from Kalamazoo, MI with a time of 49:22

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Open Male: Stephen Tum, age 24, from Kenya with a time of 45:43 Open Female: Lineth Chepkurui, age 23 from Kenya with a time of 51:51 Male Master: Ray Pugsley, age 41, from Potomac Falls, VA with a time of 52:08 Female Master: Joan Samuelson, age 52, from Freeport, ME with a time of 1:00:52 setting an American female for 50-59 age group record.

Male Grand Master: John Tuttle, age 51, from Villa Rica, GA with a time of 56:39 Female Grand Master: Nina Caron, age 50, of N. Andover, MA with a time of 1:01:51

RRCA NATIONAL HALF MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIP PARKERSBURG NEWS & SENTINEL HALF MARATHON – Parkersburg, WV Open Male: Julius Kogo, age 25, of Kenya, with a time of 1:02:08 (course record) Open Female: Mare Dibaba, age, 20, of Etheopia, with a time of 1:10:19 (course record) Master Male: Gideon Mutisya, age 43, of Kenya, with a time of 1:11:33 Masters Female: Ramilia Burangulova, age 49, of Russia, with a time of 1:18:59 Grand Master Male: John Brockenbrough, age 52, of Murrysville, with a time of 1:19:51 Grand Master Female: Lee Dipietro, age 52, of Ruxton, MD with a time of 1:32:27

2010 Program Report

RRCA NATIONAL 10 MILE CHAMPIONSHIP CREDIT UNION CHERRY BLOSSOM 10 MILE – Washington, DC

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2010 Program Report

RRCA NATIONAL MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIP MILWAUKEE LAKEFRONT MARATHON Milwaukee, WI Open Male: Scott Jansky, age 37, of Two Rivers, WI with a time of 2:31:41 Open Female: Nacole Fredrickson, age 31, of Milwaukee, WI with a time of 3:01:42 Master Male: Dan Held, age 44, of Pewaukee, WI with a time of 2:34:27 Masters Female: J. Elizabeth Terveer, age 47, of Whitefish Bay, WI, with a time of 3:04:45 Grand Master Male: George Ogutu, age 53, of Milwaukee, WI with a time of 3:00:29 Grand Master Female: Kathy Waldron, age 51, of Manitowoc, WI with a time of 3:24:51 RRCA NATIONAL ULTRA CHAMPIONSHIP TAHOE RIM TRAIL RUN 100 MILE – Spooner Lake, NV Open Male: Thomas Crawford with a time of 17:47:09. New course record by 28 minutes breaking the previous record held by Jasper Halekas set in 2007.

Open Female: Roxanne Woodhouse with a time of 22:46:19; a 90 Masters Male: Mark Moran, age 43 from Oregon, with a time of 22:42:04 Masters Female: Lisa Nicholl, age 43 from New Zealand Grand Master Male: Joseph Swenson, age 54, from California Grand Master Female: Kathy Ingelse, age 51, from California.

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Ron Macksoud

A total of eight RRCA Championships were held in Alabama: three Southern Region Championships and five Alabama State Championships. I attended and participated in the 1-Mile State Championship and presented the overall awards; attended and participated in the 5K Regional; and attended and participated in the 8K Regional and presented the overall awards. I attended the 2010 52nd Annual RRCA National Convention held in Lakeland, FL, April 21-25. I solicited two donations for the RRCA Convention Silent Auction and assisted with the collection of money from winning bidders. Dave Purinton, Huntsville, AL Track Club president, received the RRCA Scott Hamilton Outstanding Club President of the Year Award. Alabama won the first-ever RRCA National Race Shirt Contest. The T-shirt was from the 2009 Swampers 5K, last year’s Alabama RRCA 5K State Championship held in Muscle Shoals. An unprecedented two RRCA National Championships were announced for Alabama in 2011 at the convention: Azalea Run 10K-Mobile and Woodstock 5K-Anniston.

I sent out via email Alabama State Representative Newsletters in the spring, summer and fall to numerous Alabama RRCA club contacts covering topics including the following: 2010 RRCA Convention highlights; 2011 RRCA Convention in Fredericksburg, Virginia; RRCA/Weight Watcher’s Walk-It Day 5K Challenge; RRCA’s partnership with Disney’s Endurance Series; revised RRCA Logo; RRCA Championships and RRCA Championship bidding; RRCA National Run @ Work Day; and RRCA Club Membership renewal.

ARKANSAS STATE REP:

Andrea Sieczkowski

The Arkansas RRCA kicked off the 2010 Grand Prix series in January. This was the 29th running of our year long racing series and we had a record number of participants. AR hosted 9

RRCA state championships in 2010 including 2M, 5K, 4 mile, 8K, 10K, hour track run, 15K, half marathon and marathon. We also hosted the Southern Regional XC championship. As a fundraiser for the AR RRCA, we directed the state championship 15K. We had a record number of participants and were able to raise over $3000 for the AR RRCA. We hosted the 2009 Grand Prix awards in February of 2010. An estimated 200 runners from across the state attended and thousands of dollars worth of door prizes were given away in addition to the overall and age group awards. In May, we directed the state championship 8K which was the AR spotlight race of the year. This was a fundraiser for Easter Seals of Arkansas. Over $6000 was raised for this amazing and inspiring charity. To keep our runners abreast of local, state and national RRCA news, I published 16 entries in the AR State Rep Blog which serves as our AR RRCA newsletter. Finally, in November we hosted the AR RRCA awards and state meeting. Over 100 runners from RRCA clubs throughout the state attended. The AR Long Distance Running Committee met after the awards ceremony and meeting, and cemented the 2011 Grand Prix schedule. The AR Grand Prix will celebrate its 30th running in 2011. We have new races and events planned. It should be the best Grand Prix series AR has ever seen.

ALASKA STATE REP:

Steve Bainbridge

ARIZONA STATE REP:

Randy Acetta

All is well in the state of Arizona, at least in terms of running and fitness. Strong and growing RRCA clubs in the state include the RC3 club in the Phoenix suburb of Cave Creek (otherwise known as the Running Chicks of Cave Creek), the Yuma Desert Runners and the Thunder Mountain Running Club out of Sierra Vista. The busiest event-based club is Fleet Feet Tucson, ranked as one of the nation’s top 50 stores. The flagship club in Arizona is the Southern Arizona Roadrunners, with about 800 household memberships and 1200 overall

State Representatives Report

ALABAMA STATE REP:

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members. Upcoming state championship races include the Tucson 5000. The state rep learned a lot at the recent Running USA conference and is very excited about catching up with RRCA in Virginia.

CALIFORNIA (COASTAL) STATE REP: George Rehmet For 2010, I assisted with the following championships: REGIONAL - Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon and Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon; STATE Presidio 10 Mile and 10K, Oakland Marathon.

I continued to work with RRCA Eastern California State Representative Simone Adair and assisted her with RRCA State meeting at the Oakland Marathon which had 31 participants. In January, 2011, I assisted Simone with the banquet for the Pacific Association of the USA Track & Field. I gave advice to Jackie Britton who was appointed State Rep. for Southern California. It has been a pleasure to collaborate with both Simone and Jackie.

In addition to quarterly email communications with my clubs, I have had several opportunities to meet with my clubs. The San Francisco Half Marathon, the Oakland Marathon, and Christmas Relays were venues to meet with other clubs. I made personal visits to about a dozen clubs/events.

I assisted the Kids Strong Amazing Race which expressed an interest in joining the RRCA. I honored the 40th edition of the Avenue of the Giants Marathon and local club presidents Bill Dake of Ohana and Len Goldman of Lake Merritt Joggers and Striders.

I worked with the Pacific Association for the USA Track & Field (PAUSATF) along with Simone and Geoff Turner of Challenged Athletes Foundation to obtain a grant to promote PC and wheelchair categories in the PAUSATF road racing circuit for 2011. At the time of this writing, I am now working with the visual impaired community to be involved as well.

In April, 2010, it was fun to work with the companion race of the 2009 RRCA Convention again. RRCA Executive Director Jean Knaack came out along with Executive Director Nancy Hobbs of the All American Trail Running Association. The day before, a RRCA State meeting was held.

It was a great honor to select as RRCA State Representative of the Year and to be the first state representative to be awarded twice.

I am grateful for the support of my clubs and key RRCA folks such as fellow CA State Representative Simone Adair and RRCA Western Regional Director David Epstein.

CALIFORNIA (EASTERN) STATE REP: Simone Adair I’m happy to report that Eastern California RRCA running clubs are running strong. The 40 running clubs in our area had an amazing year.

Clubs continue to support a myriad of races such as the ShadowChase Running Club and the Modesto Marathon, as well as the Merced Running Club and the Merced Gateway Triathlon. The Western States Endurance Run will be celebrating its 38th running this year, and the Lake Tahoe Marathon Weekend will be celebrating its 16th Anniversary. Lake Merritt Joggers & Striders continue to successful produce their Fourth Sunday Runs, as well as the Tilden Tough Ten. Many of our clubs produce top-notch newsletters such as the Sierra TrailBlazers and the East Bay Front Runners. Our clubs continue to support community efforts, such as ShadowChase Running Club’s partnership with Teens Run Modesto. As a State Rep, it has been my pleasure to visit many of my clubs and present plaques and certificates of appreciation, as well as enjoy numerous annual dinners. I have even received a plaque or two.

Thanks everyone.

In 2010, the California State Reps also worked together to put on the State Reps Convention at the inaugural Oakland Running Festival,

This year is already getting off to a great start with RRCA Coaching Certification Class being hosted by the Coast Guard Running Club at Coast Guard Island, in Alameda, CA. Overall, we see strong growth in the California running community, whether it be 5Ks, trail running, or ultra marathons. This is one of the best places in the world to run, and I’m proud to say that we have some of the best runners in the world.

I hope you all can come join us one day - Run California.

CALIFORNIA (SOUTHERN) STATE REP: Jackie Britton I attended the 52nd Annual RRCA Convention in Lakeland, FL as one of the representatives for the LA Leggers in April 2010. It was a wonderful experience. I met a lot of people who were excited about RRCA and that really impacted me.

I became state representative for Southern California in May. My first task was to send out an official introduction letter to member clubs.

In June I called member clubs to personally introduce myself. I also sent out my first quarterly newsletter called Happy Feet. Later in the month, I met Alan Culver the president of Los Angeles Running Club.

In July I went to Washington, D.C. to help race director, Bertha Cross, with her 5K/10K Caribbean Sound Race. I was also asked to speak as RRCA Representative to the registered participants at Caribbean Sound packet pickup and carbo-load dinner. It was an honor to be asked to represent the RRCA as the newly appointed state representative for Southern California.

In November I joined Rodney Bassett and Dan Mann, founders of the Twentysixers, and one of our member clubs for their annual Thanksgiving stair run in Santa Monica. The stair run is a great Thanksgiving run with lots of stairs in some of the more affluent areas of Santa Monica. There were 25 to 30 runners who showed up for a fun but challenging stair run. After the run, we felt good about our workout and we knew we could enjoy our Thanksgiving feast without remorse.

In December I drove to San Diego to volunteer at San Diego Track Club Mainly Master 10K Regional Champion race. Two of at San Diego Track Club members, Richard and Kitt Williams picked me up Friday and took me to dinner.

After a nice dinner with Richard and Kitt, we drove to Fiesta Island to see the Mainly Masters course.

Saturday morning I arrived early. I had the opportunity to meet the president of San Diego Track Club, Nancy Morris, and various officers of the club. The morning was very cold and the volunteers were plentiful so there wasn’t anything for me to do but support and watch San Diego Track Club run their race.

The race was a success. They had a lot of volunteer support from the club members and many of them ran the race as well. The award ceremony was nice. The plaques that RRCA sent were very nice and the national office also sent $50 gift cards and discount cards from Sports Authority. We were impressed and appreciative, so thank you RRCA.

State Representatives Report

which was also a Regional Championship.

Other joint efforts included working expo booths at various races such as the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon, and presenting a workshop at the RRCA National Convention. We also created a popular Facebook page with nearly 100 people visiting the page regularly.

San Diego Track Club is one of our largest clubs in Southern California. I was touched by their acceptance and kindness. Congratulations to members of their 70+ track team that flew to Charlotte, NC to compete and place first in the USATF National Team Cross Country Championship 10K December 11, 2010.

Southern California has 40 member clubs.

The LA Leggers and San Diego Track Club both have membership that exceeds 1100+

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State Representatives Report

members. I wish all of our member clubs continual growth and I’m looking forward to meeting more of them in 2011.

The last 10 months have been an experience. I have learned a lot and I still have a lot to learn, however, I’m enjoying the journey.

Come run with us in sunny California.

COLORADO STATE REP:

Tim Steffens

Greetings from colorful Colorado! 2010 was a busy year for me not only professionally but also with all of the running volunteer duties I maintain for RRCA and our local running club, The Pikes Peak Road Runners. I’m happy to report, that being affiliated and close to the local running club here has helped me keep not only our local community up to date on RRCA events and news but also the state of Colorado.

Colorado hosted two state championship races this year. The American Discovery Trail ½ Marathon and Marathon are two great events held in Colorado Springs, CO and both were very pleased and honored to hold the title, RRCA State Championship. The race went off without any problems and once again it was a successful event.

I was not able to attend as many RRCA member races as I would have liked to, but I did attend at least 10 to 15 throughout the year. I thoroughly enjoy the race atmosphere and this is the “candy” of being the Colorado State Representative.

I promote any and all RRCA events and programs mainly though The Pikes Peak Road Runners social media (facebook). I have also written a few RRCA “news” articles for our newsletter.

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The running community here in Colorado has not only flourished but it has literally “blown up”! The numbers of runners participating in running events in Colorado has increased substantially and continues to do so. It is truly

amazing to witness this firsthand and be a part of the process.

I want to thank you all for letting me represent RRCA at the state level. It is truly an honor to hold this position and I plan to become more active in 2011.

CONNECTICUT STATE REP: Art Byram 2010 marked the continuation of growth for Connecticut running. This year I found myself more involved with the trail running community, and the issues facing them. The most popular running venue in Northern Connecticut, (MDC) was nearly shut down this summer, following a $2.9 million liability award from a mountain bike accident. This lawsuit has brought focus to legal loopholes and has resulted in a widespread grassroots effort to restore recreational liability protection for municipalities. The first effort was mobilizing RRCA clubs and other citizens to turn out at a public hearing in late July and sign petitions to keep the MDC lands open. As a result, over 850 people showed up at the public hearing to support this movement. However, this was just the first step.

Joined by folks from the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association, as well as numerous, hiking, mountain biking, local businesses and government leaders, we are working together to enact legislation that will ensure that landowners receive the legal protection they need to keep our favorite trails open. As a core member of this working group, I will continue to meet and interact with this diverse clan until our goals are met. More information can be found at www.saveourcttrails.org One of the more enjoyable activities this year was getting out to meet and run with the RRCA local clubs, and RRCA event training groups. This included a few evening runs with Hartford Track Club, countless runs with Glastonbury River Runners, a brunch run with Silk City Striders, a 24 mile trail run with

In promoting RRCA programs, I have worked with the Glastonbury River Runners who have committed to support a Kids Run the Nation Program in the Glastonbury, CT School system.

In addition, I am working with an elementary School running club with their application for an RRCA Grant.

Currently at least two (2) Connecticut communities are applying for the new Runner Friendly Community designation. I am extremely excited about this program and expect other communities to follow suit. I also look forward to attending the 2011 RRCA National Convention.

We continued our growth in State Championships with three events being awarded State Championships, including ING Hartford Marathon, Amica Iron Horse Half Marathon, and The Pequot Runners 5 mile Thanksgiving Day Race, which had almost 4,000 finishers. We are hoping to continue this trend in 2011.

DELAWARE STATE REP:

Barbara Brown Kursh

DISTRICT OF COLUMBA STATE REP: Paul Thompson Like everything in Washington, the recent times have witnessed a lot of transition in the running community. There are some new races which have been added such, as the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Run from Mt. Vernon to National Harbor, crossing different jurisdictions, and supporting additional social causes. More small races have sprung up with thematic origins, especially to

support illness research or to organize running programs along those lines.

A major progression in the transition has been the increased use of technology. The DCRRC for example now has a complete in-house tag/ chip capability and is developing a commercial arm similar to many other clubs.

Another major aspect is the big emphasis on Training—all types for all ages.

Smaller, more focused clubs have taken root with a strong training orientation such as the EZ8 Runners of Washington, D.C., and the DC Running Club who have joined Fleet Feet as neighborhood centric clubs.

The trend seems to be more decentralized running though localized organizations and even individuals who like the information base and insurance of RRCA but do not necessarily wish to join a club, or get involved in large organized running or racing!

The newly elected mayor and the D.C. Council have not shown much interest in addressing the ever rising costs of police and other logistical issues—due to tight budgets everywhere.

FLORIDA (NORTH) STATE REP: Michael Bowen (outgoing) Todd Neville (incoming) North Florida saw a year of transition as Michael Bowen turned the RRCA State Representative position over to me after a successful six year tenure. As a new State Representative, I’ll use this annual report to look forward to 2011. There are three overarching goals I have for North Florida in 2011 that will help the running clubs that I serve and help the RRCA achieve its goals.

Follow Michael’s path and continue to communicate and be responsive with club presidents and officers, thereby increasing awareness of the tools and programs the RRCA has to offer its member clubs.

State Representatives Report

Shenipsit Striders, and I led a beginners open house fun run and Iron Horse Half Marathon Training group with the Hartford Marathon Foundation. I served on race committees, and attended the board/ steering committee meetings of 4 clubs. I also traveled out of state this year to run 102.3 miles with Massachusetts RRCA club, Somerville Road Runners in their “24 Hour Around the Lake” race.

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State Representatives Report

Hone the State Championship system to be more beneficial to the host races and RRCA. Attend the Annual Convention to get a better understanding of my duties as a State Rep, and how to achieve my other goals.

These three goals seem simple, but will achieve a great deal for both the RRCA and its member clubs that I represent. As the year goes on, I am sure these goals will be refined and expanded.

FLORIDA (SOUTH) STATE REP: Don Nelson Greetings from the Conch Republic. Another good summer yielded more participants in South Florida events than ever. With clubs and event membership we are now up to 55 RRCA clubs in South Florida. I continue to communicate with all of these clubs, and ask them to communicate with each other. I rely mostly on e-mail and phone, and continue to search for the perfect RRCA club contact list.

Our Southern Region Director Lena Hollmann continues to keep in regular communication with all of the Southern State Reps, and I feel this helps us to connect better with each other.

It was wonderful to see so many clubs from across the country at the Convention in Lakeland this year. I am glad that you all had a chance to see what running our lakes and hills can be like, thanks to the Lakeland runners Club. This National exposure seems to grow the number of clubs across the country, as it has in South Florida.

Getting our Runners and Clubs together from both Florida’s East and West coasts continues to be difficult, but this year we had four RRCA State Championship Races, on both coasts and in between.

The first RRCA Florida State Championship was the Heritage Harbor 10K, put on by the Bradenton Runners Club on April 11.

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Next were the Space Coast Marathon and Half Marathon, hosted by the Space Coast Runners

Club, on November 28. This race is a top quality event that has been growing yearly, and with good reason. The numbers topped out over 2000 for both races. Space Coast Runners club will once again be hosting this Florida State Championship event in 2011.

Finally, the 10th Annual Manatee River Run 5 Miler, December 26, was the Bradenton Runners Club’s second RRCA Florida State Championship event last year. This race continues to be one of the best-organized events in South Florida.

Once again Mary Ann Nelson’s Sugarloaf Sharks Running Club, a program of the Key West Southernmost Runners Club, continues to grow. More South Florida clubs are following suit by starting to introduce 10 to 14 year old middle school boys and girls to running, thereby offering an activity to youth that do not qualify for other sports teams. This is the way to insure the growth of our sport in the future.

I am still working to update my Web site and work with the State Reps Newsletter Template.

Thanks to all the Directors and Staff for the support that you give us all. You make it easier for us to operate.

GEORGIA STATE REP:

Mark Ward

Since I submitted my last Annual report a year ago, I spent most of my time assisting new clubs, answering their questions regarding insurance and signing up for State and Regional Championships. I participated in several events and handed out the RRCA awards. The South Fulton Running Partners again had the Sickle Cell Road race to support the mission and goals of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia Inc. With over a thousand participants, this event has become a community institution, and is widely anticipated in the spring of each year. The race includes a 7K road race, a 4K walk, and team competitions.

I intend to work with the Georgia clubs to spread the State Championship races over the state. The increase in the number of Georgia State Championships bids this year was overwhelming, but I hope to see this trend continue.

I currently have the Publix Georgia Marathon, the PTC Classic 5K, the SweetH20 Sweetheart Half Marathon, the Carpet Capital 10 Miler, and the Sickle Cell Road Race 7K lined up as 2011 Georgia State Championships. I plan to attend each of these, and also to secure a few more Championships during the rest of the year.

The new RRCA Championship Banner was on display on a frequent basis in Georgia, and my goal is to increase this even more. I also spoke by phone with various club contacts. I only sent out a couple of newsletters during 2010, so it is a goal of mine to increase this to a bimonthly newsletter in 2011. I have signed up with Constant Contact to help facilitate this.

series of sporting events that put HAWAII on the map and in the spotlight with an array of National and Individual Titles leading up to the Honolulu Marathon, and I will describe the news of the Marathon later in this report.

The UOH Wahine Softball team had a banner year; Hawaii Pacific University won the Division II Women’s College World Series; Amber Kaufman of UOH captured NCAA Gold in the High Jump; UOH Women’s Volleyball Coach Dave Shoji finally got picked for the AVCA Hall of Fame; Waipio won the United States Championship at the Little League World Series and the UOH Football team earned a share of the WAC Championship.

Johnny Faerber 10K (Kapiolani Park) 1/31/10 Finishers: 212 3/8/09 Finishers: 258 Pearl Harbor Bikepath 10K (Aiea) 5/9/10 Finishers: 149 5/10/09 Finishers: 106 Aloha State Games 10K (Kapiolani Park) 6/20/10 Finishers: 180 6/21/09 Finishers: 179

I sent communications via e-mail to clubs regarding RRCA issues that warranted immediate attention, such as assisting clubs with getting awards and inquiries with the National Office.

Marathon Readiness Series: 15K 8/15/10 Finishers: 556 8/16/09 Finishers: 709 20K 9/4/10 Finishers: 471 9/6/09 Finishers: 538 25K 9/25/10 Finishers: 427 9/26/09 Finishers: 680 30K 10/24/10 Finishers: 398 10/25/09 Finishers: 924 Val Nolasco ½ Marathon 11/07/10 Finishers: 401 11/08/09 Finishers: 992 Hawaii Senior Olympics 5K & 10K (Kapiolani Park) 11/21/10 Finishers: 18/39 11/15/09 10K Finishers: 56

Along with several members of Georgia’s clubs, I attended the 2010 RRCA National Convention in Lakeland, FL.

It should be noted that I have been the Race Director for the Aloha State Games 10K and the Hawaii Senior Olympics 10K.

HAWAII STATE REP:

In September, The Kauai Marathon was held again, and it is growing in popularity, although it still has a small field of participants. Lee

Some topics to be covered in these newsletters are RRCA Championships, the RRCA Convention, Membership Renewals, the RRCA Calendar, and Run@Work Day.

Joan Davis

This year was a wonderful and interesting

State Representatives Report

The Peachtree City Classic hosted the RRCA 15K State Championship again this year. The race is really three in one, with the 15K and the Men’s and Women’s 5K on different routes, but all going through the wonderful trails of Peachtree City.

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Saltonstall (Female: 63) won her age group at the XTERRA Trail Run National Championship on September 18, 2010 and next to Hawaii, Bend has the friendliest people you could ever meet. She is the first Hawaiian runner to win in an age-group title in the four-year history of the trail run national championship.

In October, the Great Aloha Run began its operational meetings for the event on Presidents’ Day 2011 (2/21/11). I am now the Volunteer Coordinator.

At the Honolulu Marathon on 12/12/10, Gladys Burrell (“GLADY” or “GLADYATOR”) now holds the World Record for being the oldest female (age: 92) finishing a Marathon.

IDAHO STATE REP:

Vacant

IOWA STATE REP:

Chris Burch

Greetings from Iowa! I am proud to serve as the Road Runners Club of America State Representative for Iowa. The member clubs in the state of Iowa have experienced another year of growth. As a result, running club membership and running events are also on the rise. Iowa currently has 11 RRCA member clubs/events with more than 2,000 members.

I am a member of the Capital Striders, RRCA member club in Des Moines, IA. The club is in the process of converting their paper newsletter to online distribution through Constant Contact and recently launched a Facebook page. I help to coordinate training programs and weekly long runs with the Capital Striders.

The IMT Des Moines Marathon was awarded the RRCA State Championship in the 5K, Half Marathon and Marathon distance in 2010.

More than 7,800 athletes competed in the various divisions on race day.

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I enjoy connecting with the RRCA clubs in our state to determine if they have any needs or

questions regarding their membership. I often receive calls requesting information on club membership and insurance. I send articles I have written for member clubs to include in their newsletters on such topics as the importance of membership to RRCA, tips for running in the summer months and National Run@Work Day. There is always something to talk about whether it is an RRCA State Championship bid, insurance coverage questions, available discounts on vendor services, and even the sharing of information regarding RRCA programs such as Run@Work Day. Highlights this past year have included: Volunteering at the finish line at many Des Moines area 5K races.

Assisting 2 new RRCA clubs establish membership.

Participating in Dam to Dam, one of the largest 20K races in the United States.

Promoting National Run@Work Day across the state and partnering with the Downtown Des Moines YMCA Working with the media in Des Moines to promote the RRCA Championship and Run@ Work Day Watching more than 7,800 athletes at the start of the IMT Des Moines Marathon on October 17 I look forward to another year of state representation for Iowa and the member clubs of the RRCA. My goal is work with each member club to further their awareness of the benefits available to them through RRCA. ILLINOIS STATE REP:

Beth Onines

Greetings again from the Windy City of Chicago! I am so proud to say that the RRCA has 39 Illinois running organizations. I love the Illinois running scene, it’s great! The Chicago area has at least 1 race per weekend and many times up to 8 per weekend or more. Again,

This year I designated the Illinois RRCA State Half Marathon Championship to the Alpine Half Marathon on September 25th in Lake Zurich and the Illinois RRCA State 10K Championship to the Route 66 10K on June 11th in Edwardsville.

I continue to participate in many Illinois races from 5K’s in the Chicago suburbs, the Illinois Marathon in Champaign to the Howl at the Moon 8 Hour Ultra Race in Danville, IL. By doing these races, I am able to visit with many other RRCA running club presidents from Illinois and all over the Central Region. Many of the races I was involved in I volunteered in many capacities. Most of which were as one of their volunteer coordinators recruiting volunteers for other running club’s races.

This year I also met with many Illinois running clubs by helping them to conduct their own training programs to help the novice runner which in turn helps their running club grow. I had the pleasure of visiting a few running clubs and informed them about joining the RRCA and the great benefits the RRCA has to offer.

I will continue to promote running and the RRCA in Illinois and the surrounding area for years to come. Look for more RRCA visibility in Illinois in 2011!

INDIANA STATE REP:

Sue Brown-Nickerson

Greetings from the Hoosier State and the Central Region and Indiana’s 20 RRCA running clubs.

These RRCA championships were recognized in 2010: 5K Rotary Ramble, Demotte, IN (RRCA Central Regional Championship) 10M Taltree 10, Valparaiso, IN (RRCA State Championship) 13.1 Sam Costa Half Marathon, Carmel, IN

(RRCA State Championship) 26.2 Indianapolis Marathon (RRCA Central Regional Championship) I attended the 2010 RRCA Convention in Lakeland, FL and brought Indiana delegates. A convention report was prepared by myself and emailed to all Indiana events members and clubs. I still find that after four years as state rep that the most challenging part of this job is convincing state clubs and events to attend the convention. If they attended just once they would see how educational and motivational the experience is.

2010 welcomed the inaugural Indiana Distance Running Series bringing together five RRCA championship event venues throughout the State of Indiana to provide runners new and competitive options.

I spent many weekends traveling throughout the state presenting awards at championship events, and visiting venues for future Indiana RRCA championship events. I seem to be handling more event insurance requests. I project a strong future for RRCA growth within my state as I continue to journey around the state meeting new club and event directors and sharing information. I am an absolute believer in building relationships through networking.

The Calumet Region Striders of NW Indiana, was one of the clubs selected to host an RRCA sponsored Weight Watcher 5K Walk-It event. It was a huge success drawing 400+ participants.

I was glad to be involved in this event working as liaison between the running club event chair and the Weight Watcher territory manager while representing RRCA on event day.

I received the RRCA Volunteer Award for having over 2000 lifetime volunteer service hours presented by the Calumet Region Striders. I also received the 2010 Calumet Region Striders Outstanding Club Volunteer of the year award in my capacity as youth program chair and board director.

State Representatives Report

Illinois has had another great year of running and racing!

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Our Central Regional Director, Mitch Garner, held several telephonic conferences through the year and is great at keeping the Midwest working towards their RRCA goals and sets a great example for the central region. We are so lucky to have email, conferencing options, and smart phones to allow us to complete what is expected of us.

I have been asked to again serve on the 2011 RRCA Nominating Committee in preparation for this year’s RRCA National Convention and Election. See you in Fredericksburg!

KANSAS STATE REP:

Janice Woolery

Kansas was host to four State Championship events this year: The Run for Life 10 Mile race in Topeka, KS on April 3 Johnston’s Wichita Half Marathon in Wichita, KS on April 25 The Prairie Fire Marathon in Wichita, KS on October 10 The Miracle on Kansas Avenue 5K Rescue Run in Topeka, KS on November 27 The Washburn University Running Club held the Run for Life 10 Mile race on April 3 in Topeka. The Run for Life benefits the Topeka Organ Transplant Organization (TOTO), a nonprofit support group for transplant recipients, transplant recipient candidates, living organ donors, and organ donor family members. The race was flat and fast, and the morning was cool and sunny. Students from the university assisted at the aid stations, and the ceramics department made one-of-a-kind awards for the event. This coming spring will again feature this fine race as a State Championship event.

Run Wichita held the Johnston’s Half Marathon in Wichita, KS on April 25. This race has always been a popular annual event in Wichita. In previous years the event was held in the fall.

This year the race was held in the spring since

the Prairie Fire Marathon and Half Marathon would now be the big fall race in Wichita. There were 731 participants in the race and RRCA awards were handed out to the top finishers.

Run Wichita helped launch the inaugural Prairie Fire Marathon in Wichita on October 10.

There were 551 participants in the Marathon and a total of 3,398 participants in all events.

The overall winner of the marathon, Tim Marshall, made news when he handily won while running his first marathon.

November 27 was the date for the final RRCA State Championship for Kansas. The Rescue Run 5K was held in Topeka, KS on a beautiful fall evening. The course was flat and fast and many PRs were set. Tony Estes, the race director and member of the Sunflower Striders has big plans for the future of the event.

This year, the second year for the 5K, saw the race nearly double in size. Kansas looks forward to having this fine event on our State Championship calendar for 2011.

In 2010 I had the opportunity to meet with seven of the ten Kansas RRCA Clubs. I met many of the clubs during my attendance at the State Championship events around the state.

On April 10 I met with members of the Lawrence Trail Hawks for one of their Saturday long runs. Gary Henry, the Club President, is an enthusiastic runner and supporter of the sport of running. (He’s also a pretty impressive ultra trail runner!) Gary and his club were friendly and supportive of this novice trail runner. They have a great group and Lawrence is lucky to have them.

On April 17 and during the summer I had the opportunity to talk to KC Track Club members at two different events. In April they were providing their professional finish line services at the Steps to the Cure 5K. During the summer I attended the popular Wednesday Night Run. Each week they meet at a different location, go for a run, and finish with dinner and conversation. During this evening I spoke

On April 21 I flew to Florida to attend my first RRCA Convention. I was thrilled to have to opportunity to meet the faces behind the name and begin to get ideas from other State Reps. I returned early from the convention to hand out RRCA awards at the Johnston’s Wichita Half Marathon. During my visit I had the opportunity to talk to members of Run Wichita.

On May 15, runLawrence invited me to speak at their club picnic. I was honored to have the opportunity. It was a cool and rainy spring day but a good number of members came out for the event. I handed out information about the RRCA at the event and spoke to all attendees about the opportunities the RRCA provides for their club.

The Sunflower Striders held Labor Your Legs 5K and 10K on September 6 in Topeka. This is an annual community event they provide for anyone who would like to participate. It’s a fun run, with your choice of the longer or shorter route, followed by a big breakfast. The event was very well attended. The Sunflower Striders are an active and enthusiastic running club with much to offer the greater Topeka area.

The Manhattan Cross Country Club sponsored the 6th Annual Cross Country Festival on October 2, at Warner Park in Manhattan, KS. There were nearly 900 children from K-8th grades participating in the festival.

Club President Pat Melgares developed the Manhattan Cross Country Festival in 2005 to encourage youth and adults to get out and run. In 2008, he added the Body First School Fitness Challenge as a way to raise money for local schools. In its first three years the Challenge has had 1,940 youth participants and has distributed $8,500 for schools to use in their physical education programs. In 2011, the Club is shooting for 1000/10,000 – 1,000 youth participating in the School Fitness Challenge, and $10,000 awarded to local schools.

On December 12 the first meeting of the Kansas RRCA Clubs was held in Topeka, KS. 17 were in attendance and 8 clubs were represented.

Everyone had an opportunity to talk about their clubs and the programs they offered in their communities. Clubs were encouraged to submit nominations for running awards and to work toward getting their events on the championship calendar in the future. The second annual meeting was discussed but no date has been set as of yet. All the attendees expressed their appreciation for having the opportunity to meet.

KENTUCKY STATE REP:

Donna England

Since being appointed as the Kentucky State Rep, it has been a busy year. I have met with several of the clubs in our state that are current RRCA members and event coordinators.

I have attended some local Weight Watchers meetings to promote the Walk It Day Challenge, and to promote the RRCA and what it has to offer walkers as well as runners.

I visited with clubs to promote the Disney Challenge, the micro finance loans available to clubs, and the championship race series, and handed out some running etiquette brochures.

We had one State Championship race this year.

It was the Medical Center 10K Classic, held in Bowling Green, KY. The 10K Classic hosted an expo the night before the race, in which I set up a booth for the RRCA. I had displays of Club Running magazine, pens with the RRCA logo to hand out and brochures. I hope to get more clubs involved in the championship races.

State Representatives Report

at length with Sue Robinette, President of the KC Track Club. I’m excited to see what they have planned for 2011.

Throughout the 2010 season I participated in several RRCA club events in Kentucky as well as in the state of Tennessee. If I was not running at these events I was working them. It is nice to see what goes on behind the scene at the races also.

I participated in my first phone conference with the Southern Region State Reps. I also

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attended my first RRCA convention held in Lakeland, FL, where I had a great time and learned a lot about the RRCA. I plan to attend the 2011 convention in Fredericksburg, VA. To top it all off I would love to get around to some of the other clubs, be more diligent in my newsletters , and to help any way I can in this next year as a State Rep. LOUISIANA STATE REP:

Betsy Boudreaux

Several of our clubs hosted State Championship races this year including the following: Run For Excellence 5K hosted by Bayou Runners Association in Houma Cajun Cup 10K hosted by Cajun Road Runners Club in Lafayette Middendorf’s 10 Miler hosted by New Orleans Track Club in Manchac Monroe Half Marathon hosted by Ouachita Valley Road Runners Club in Monroe Aaron & I were able to run or work numerous races throughout the state hosted by various RRCA member clubs including: Bayou Runners Association Bestbank Track Club Cajun Road Runners Club Chalmette Track Club Club South Runners Crescent City Fitness Foundation Gulf Coast Event Group New Orleans Track Club TriCity Track Club 15th Street Flyers We were also able to attend the RRCA National Convention last April in Lakeland, attending numerous seminars, meeting several vendors

representing race related products from across the country and took part in the Race the Lakes 15K Challenge Run. The RRCA Convention is an excellent opportunity to network with other race directors & running club representatives and see the latest technology being introduced into the sport of road racing. I was able to contribute many donated items from several of our running clubs towards the Silent Auction that benefits the State Rep program including a one week stay at a condo in Mammoth Lakes which was donated by Doug Thurston of Competitor Group, Inc. Our schedule for 2011 will take us to many more races, group runs and running expos around the state again this year. I’m pleased to say that two of our clubs have been awarded RRCA Regional Championships for 2011. The Bayou Runners Association will host the Run for Excellence 5K in May and the Cajun Road Runners Club will be hosting the Cajun Cup 10K in November. Both races have been recognized for their excellence and will serve as the RRCA Regional Championships for 2011.

There are currently several slots available for State Championship in various distances with a number of clubs expressing interest in hosting events.

MAINE STATE REP: Sandy Walton (outgoing) Blaine Moore (incoming) Running in Maine is as strong as ever, with many new races coming onto the calendar and quite a few approaching or even reaching their cap for the number of runners allowed.

Trail and ultra running continue to grow in popularity as well, including the addition of one of the nation’s first barefoot 5K races to the Pineland Farms event.

Blaine Moore was appointed the new state representative late in the year, taking over the position from Sandy Walton. The Maine Track Club has continued to donate to the Kids Run the Nation Fund and to the State Rep Fund.

The number of RRCA clubs and events has held

MASSACHUSETTS STATE REP: John Childs

State Championship status has been awarded to 3 events for 2011. The first is the ultra championship at the Great Cranberry Island Ultramarathon on July 16, followed by the half marathon championship at the Maine Marathon on October 2 and the marathon championship at the Mount Desert Island Marathon on October 16.

I was appointed to the position of State Representative for RRCA in 2010. Early in my first year I made efforts to contact all of the current member clubs via e-mail to introduce myself and engage with them. I received responses from less than half of them.

Subsequent e-mails were also sent announcing new programs such as Run @ Work Day and the Weightwatchers promotional event. I continue to attempt face to face contact with those that didn’t respond during my frequent visits to road races. My efforts have been in eastern part of the state where most of the clubs and my home are located because they are within manageable driving distance.

MARYLAND STATE REP:

Phil Lang

Maryland started 2011 with their largest 10 Mile Club Challenge Race ever and then the Club Presidents had their annual meeting.

With the National Convention so close to Maryland this year we are proud to have a large contingent here!

The RRCA clubs in Maryland have worked well together for years and Maryland is small enough that members from all the clubs take advantage of opportunities to participate in other clubs races and activities.

At this meeting the Club Presidents work together to organize the Women’s Distance Festival (WDF) Series schedule and the Grand Prix Series (GPS) schedule. A majority of the clubs are involved by hosting a race in either one or both of these series or by hosting a RRCA State Championship event. The WDF Series consists of 12 RRCA club sponsored events in Maryland and Northern Virginia. The GPS Series consists of ten RRCA club sponsored events that vary in distance from the mile to the marathon. Individual standings are tracked as well as club team standings. The GPS Series and the RRCA 10 Mile Club Challenge Race help encourage runners throughout the state to become members of their local running club and represent their clubs as the run.

I again want to thank the RRCA and the Club Presidents and Clubs in Maryland for having me serve as the Maryland RRCA State Rep.

During the year I have attended four club BOD meetings. We did not hold a state meeting simply because I do not believe it would be well attended due to the lack of recognition of RRCA in Massachusetts. This is an issue I’m working to change. I established a local nonprofit organization affiliated with RRCA and hosted a runners’ expo in June. Three RRCA member clubs participated and we were able to utilize the RRCA banner in our attempt to increase name recognition. The event raised $500 for a local youth running club and was a success for a first time event.

I attended five RRCA events in 2010. I’ve attempted to bring new clubs and events into RRCA membership by volunteering at a handful of non-member races as an opportunity to network with race directors and educate them about RRCA. I am currently working with the RRCA Program Director to bring a large club on Cape Cod into membership. I have also recently joined USATF NE in an effort to network with them. I’ll be attending their next meeting.

For 2011 we’ve established two state championships in Massachusetts. We are also attempting to a running expo branded with the RRCA name in partnership with a

State Representatives Report

even at 11, and the number of certified coaches has increased from 7 to 10.

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nationally recognized race promoter which I believe will greatly improve our visibility here. The chance to partner with this well known promoter would be a tremendous opportunity for RRCA here but will require a small financial commitment from the RRCA national organization. I also intend to reach out to additional member and non-member clubs and events. In addition, I have one club which has submitted its newsletter and website for consideration in the RRCA contests. I am also working with the programs director of a local community (Salem) to submit a bid as a “Runner Friendly Community”. They host six annual events and may be a good choice for a future RRCA convention. I intend to travel to the RRCA national convention for the first time in 2011. I’d like to continue in the role of state representative for 2011 unless the Regional Director has a more qualified candidate.

MICHIGAN STATE REP:

Gary Morgan

It’s been an awesome year in Michigan for RRCA event and running as a whole. There were eight championship events in this state, a record number for Michigan. There was one National Championship, the Kalamazoo Classic 10K which was put on by the Kalamazoo Runners. It was a real thrill to have a National championship race back in Michigan. It’s been almost 20 years since we had a National race here and we were honored to have Jean Knack the executive Director come and be a part of this event.

There were three regional championship races; the Kal Haven ultra trail race put on by the Kalamazoo runners, the Dexter to Ann Arbor 10K race put on by the Ann Arbor Track Club, and the Milford Labor Day 30K put on by the Huron Valley runners.

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There were four state championship races; the Dexter to Ann Arbor half marathon put on by the Ann Arbor Track Club, the Kalamazoo Klassic 5K put on by the Kalamazoo runners, the Kayle O’Mara 10K Memorial put on by the Kayle O’Mara 10K Memorial runners, and the

John Roguki Kensington challenge 15K put on by the Ann Arbor Track Club.

The great race directors and wonderful volunteers made these races a fantastic experience for all the runners. All of these races bid to be championship races at a state or regional level again for 2011.

The youth program at the Ann Arbor Track Club is going strong with kids competing at national track meets. The Kalamazoo runners have a great program for adults who want to participate in running events. The Downtown runners have some great races going on in Detroit. The Brooks Hanson training group is turning out some great runners as some of them have been Rhodes scholars. Masters runners are out in record numbers and some are running great races such as Doug Goodhue who is setting age group records.

It’s been an exciting year here in Michigan for running and all the clubs are looking to make 2011 even better so Michigan can keep on running.

MINNESOTA STATE REP:

Kim Maxwell

MISSISSIPPI STATE REP:

Brian Lagg

Having just completed my first few months as State Representative, I am excited to report that the growth of running events and overall participation in the Magnolia State have both grown over the past year. Our key clubs throughout Mississippi are more committed than ever to promote and sustain stronger, healthier and more supportive running communities as we promote our sport while also addressing health risks in our state such as obesity.

Mississippi again started off the year with the annual Steam Whistle 12K on New Year’s Day along the Longleaf Trace Rails-to-Trails pathway, sponsored by the Pine Belt Pacers

2010 State Championship Winners in the Marathon were: Dale Griffin (M), Darian Lunne (F), George Faulk (Masters – M), Francine Nosser (Masters – F), Jerry Keywood (Grand Masters – M), and Diane Dukes (Grand Masters – F). 2010 State Championship Winners in the Half-marathon were: Matthew Manning (M), Courtney Dauwalter (F), Andy Till (Masters – M), Marion Geissinger (Masters – F), Jim George (Grand Masters – M), and Zena Keen (Grand Masters – F).

2010 concluded with the 2nd Annual Have a Blues Christmas 2 and 4-Miler in Ridgeland, MS. For 2010, the number of races held across our state and overall participation were both at record levels. The total number of races increased 6% from over 150 in 2009 to over 160 in 2010, and total participation increased in the largest running club in the state, the Mississippi Track Club, by over 17% from 16,874 in 2009 to 19,860 in 2010. Over the course of 2010, I ran in 53 races, 52 of which were across the state of Mississippi, and assisted as a volunteer in 30 events.

2011 kicked off with the Southern Region Marathon Championship and Mississippi Halfmarathon State Championship, both as part of the 4th Annual Mississippi Blues Marathon weekend. Record registration of 2,246 brought runners from 44 states, the District of Columbia and 6 foreign countries, and with ideal conditions on race day, we saw an increase in marathon finishers of 19% over 2010.

2011 Southern Region Marathon Championship Winners were: Peter Kemboi (M), Truphena J. Tarus (F), Malcolm Campbell (Masters – M), Heather May (Masters – F), Richard Christensen (Grand Masters – M), Carolyn Corgel (Grand Masters – F), Marvin Hemphill (Senior Grand Masters – M) and Jo May (Senior Grand Masters – F).

2011 Mississippi State Half Marathon Championship Winners were: Avery Ainsworth (M), Darian Lunne (F), Jody Ogletree (Masters – M), Shannon Carson (Masters – F), Leonard Vergunst (Grand Masters – M), Debbie Minor (Grand Masters – F).

In 2011 we will begin periodic conference calls among the running clubs across our state in an effort to brainstorm around promotional opportunities, including the development of new races and efforts to improve existing events, and club and community competitions and to increase interest through the forming of the Magnolia Cup competition. After attending the Annual RRCA Convention, my focus in Mississippi for 2011 will be to foster greater growth in RRCA club participation, promote the expansion of “Runner Friendly Communities” across our state and encourage participation in fun-runs leading up to an annual “Kids-only” One-mile State Championship in the Fall.

MISSOURI STATE REP:

Vacant

MONTANA STATE REP:

John Devitt

State Representatives Report

of Hattiesburg. During the second weekend of 2010, the RRCA State Championships for Mississippi in both the Marathon and Halfmarathon kicked off in the capitol city of Jackson. Despite record low temperatures with the wind-chill factor in the single-digits, over 2,000 registered for the Third Annual Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-marathon on January 9, 2010. As a Committee Chairman for the events, it was a pleasure to host runners from 46 states, the District of Columbia and 5 foreign countries to the Magnolia State.

The RRCA presence continues to grow in Montana. As the State Rep I have continued to provide information about the RRCA to both the clubs and potential new clubs throughout the State. When I started we had two clubs, of which one quit when the dues structure changed. Now we have a RRCA club in nearly every larger community in the State.

At the RRCA National convention in Lakeland,

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FL, four additional Montanans accompanied me, the most to date. Debbie Magilke, who I nominated for the Ross Browning “Spirit of the RRCA”, was present to receive her award.

Chris Cook, the race Director for the Heart and Sole Run, who I talked into attending not only attended the convention but also was one of the presenters. I look forward to attending the convention this year too.

The Heart & Sole Run was selected as the regional RRCA 5K Championship, the first for Montana. I attended the race committee meetings and make recommendations to improve the race which were adopted, one of which was to put the RRCA Championship logo on the front of the shirt to go along with the RRCA Regional Championship that was printed on the back across the shoulders. David Epstein attended the race and we, together presented the awards.

RRCA State Championships, this year, were the Montana Women’s Run 2 mile and 5 mile races. I worked these races and handed out the RRCA awards at the awards ceremony. The Montana Women’s Run continues to be my best supporter of the State Rep Silent Auction.

The RRCA 5K Championship was the Big Sky State Games, which I ran and then handed out the RRCA awards. The RRCA 10K Championship was the First Bank Bozeman Classic which I also ran and handed out the RRCA awards.

At all of these events, I brought the RRCA banner to make sure that it was prominently displayed and then made sure that I had it in my possession after the event. For the regional event, I covered up the State Championship part of the banner, so that along with the regional banner, the RRCA would have a greater presence at the event.

In the fall, I helped time the elementary school Cross Country race. I helped the organizers with the event providing the resources of the RRCA. They purchased the RRCA books for the kids and used an after-school training program that culminated with the race. It was very successful.

I promoted the Run at Work Day, the RRCA awards programs, and the RRCA Championship series to the clubs through several emails, both mass and individual. I have added a lot of new clubs, but the newer clubs seem to be reluctant to use the RRCA programs available to them. I am working on that. I’m excited that my brand new club (2011) from Great Falls is embracing the Weight Watchers program. I have been doing my best to help them with that.

For 2011, I hope to convert one of our popular races into a RRCA State Championship event.

The Montana Cup Cross Country race is a traveling race where regions of the State race against each other for a traveling trophy.

Each region now has a RRCA club in it. I proposed this to their committee and have gotten a positive response. I believe that this successful series could be duplicated in other States and eventually lead to a RRCA National Championship. I hope to present this idea to the other State Reps at the convention. I have already located the first ‘RRCA Runner Friendly Business’ designation with more to follow.

So far this year, we have five RRCA State Championships and, for the first time, a half marathon. Hopefully, we will have a few more. As in the past, I will continue to contact the clubs and potential clubs through emails and phone contact promoting the RRCA programs and make myself available to those who need answers.

NEBRASKA STATE REP:

Tom Whitaker

Greetings from America’s Heartland, home of the Cornhuskers and a lot of good running.

This has been a very active and productive year for running in Nebraska. Our five RRCA groups, the Lincoln Track Club, the Omaha Running Club, Admiral Jenny’s Fun Runners (the local Girls on the Run chapter), the Homestead Running Club and the Wellness Council of the Midlands, have been very active and productive in presenting events and supporting their respective running communities. All are looking forward to continuing their support

Specific RRCA activities undertaken for 2010 include: Contact directly with the Omaha Running Club and by phone and e-mail with the Lincoln Track Club to promote RRCA programs and activities.

Maintenance of RRCA sections on Lincoln and Omaha websites for posting RRCA Footnotes and other items.

Run at Work programs promoted at several companies in Omaha. Several companies have fitness centers and active exercise and running opportunities for employees.

Establishing the Lincoln Half Marathon, the NE5 5-mile race, the Ted E. Bear Hollow 10K, the Peak 2 Peak 10-mile race and the Omaha Marathon as State RRCA Championship races. Also providing reports to RRCA headquarters and Gatorade.

Approval has already been given to designate the Lincoln Marathon as the RRCA State Championship, the NE5 as the 5-mile State Championship, the Ted E. Bear Hollow 10K as the 10K State Championship, the Peak 2 Peak 10-miler as the State 10-mile Championship and the Omaha Half Marathon as State Marathon Championship for 2011.

If you are planning a visit to the Midwest during the year, check out the race calendar at www.lincolnrun.org or www.omaharun. org. There is always a good race any time of the year and we would be pleased to show you what we have to offer.

NEVADA STATE REP:

Steve Thornock

Our RRCA Vice President, David Cotter, continues to Race Direct the Tahoe Rim Trail 50K/50M/100M Endurance Races each July.

These races include The RRCA’s 2011 National Ultra Championship AND The RRCA’s 2011 Nevada State 50 Mile Championship once again this year to sold out capacity!

Although large in square miles, Nevada and Idaho are small in relative population. I called for RRCA State Meetings twice in 2010 (once in each state) without success. I will continue to call them but communication via email or telephone is always welcome and encouraged.

I continue writing our quarterly Nevada/Idaho State Rep Email Newsletter each month.

Our 1,077 member Las Vegas Track Club, of which I am the President, host roughly 30 RRCA Races each year. Our Non-Profit RRCA Club increased its annual Scholarships given to $12,000 in 2010 ($70,000 since 2001 inception) with another $17,000 given to local school’s cross country teams. We have also increased our donations to other Charities such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Little People of America and Spirit Therapies. I was also the Race Director once again for 2010’s National RUN A MILE Day Race at Hyde Park Middle School (home to our Las Vegas Jr. Track Club).

This 35 week long after school running club based on the Kids Run the Nation idea AND the National RUN A MILE Day Race are FREE to all kids thanks to our Las Vegas Track Club.

I struggle to get nominations from all our Nevada and Idaho RRCA Clubs for our RRCA State Level Awards each year. I keep nominations open until our RRCA State Meeting in December with RRCA State Level Certificates to be given away at the following year’s RRCA National Convention when we break up into our Regional Meetings hosted by our Western Director, David Epstein. Those who are not in attendance will receive their Certificates in the mail with the

State Representatives Report

in 2011 with such events as the State Farm 10-miler in Lincoln in March, the 33rd Annual Lincoln National Guard Marathon and Half Marathon in May, the Boys and Girls Town 5-mile race in Omaha on Memorial Day, the NE5 RRCA State 5-mile Championship in Omaha in June, and the Omaha Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K in September. The Lincoln and Omaha clubs support a number of charity events and provide much useful running information through their websites and newsletters.

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State Representatives Report

Fredericksburg, Virginia postmark. This year will be my fourth consecutive RRCA National Convention. With so much NEW information learned each year to take back to my Las Vegas Track Club as well as all our Nevada/Idaho Clubs now that I’ve been State Rep these past couple of years, I can’t imagine myself ever missing one!

We continue to see more For-Profit running clubs which is fine since they give runners more choices and get more new people out to try the sport of running which we all work to promote. Lastly, if you haven’t taken advantage of the all FREE social media out there, it’s time to start. Facebook, Twitter, Meetup Group and others get your club’s name out there to friends of friends. Our Las Vegas Track Club has continued growing in numbers of members/races/donations in large part due to these outlets.

NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE REP: Vacant NEW JERSEY STATE REP:

Dave DeMonico

NEW MEXICO STATE REP: John Farrow Since being appointed in the middle of last year to my second term as New Mexico State Rep, I have been getting reacquainted with the process and reintroducing myself to the New Mexico clubs. We had three State Championship races in 2010, the Women’s Distance Festival 5K and the Duke City Marathon and Half-Marathon.

I have continued to write my Half-Fast Lane column for the newsletter of the Albuquerque Road Runners Club, and plan on attending the 2011 National RRCA Convention in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It will be good to get back to the Convention as I have missed the past three.

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NEW YORK STATE REP:

Bob Beattie

NORTH CAROLINA STATE REP: Mike Walsh (outgoing) Elaine Bixby (incoming) 2010 has been another successful year for RRCA in North Carolina!

My newsletter continued to go out about every other month, and covered the key RRCA initiatives including membership renewal, national running awards, convention and state reps auction, Run at Work day, championships, Walk-it Day, women’s distance festival, insurance, branding, microfinance fund, Kids Run the Nation, and Roads Scholar fund.

I take great pleasure in reading the many club newsletters from my state and was able to attend most of the state championships as well. Once again North Carolina was represented in the National Running Awards, this time Large Club Newsletter: “The Running Account” by Editor Esther Dill from the North Carolina Roadrunners Club in Raleigh.

During the year North Carolina hosted six state championships in distances of 5K, 8K, 10K, 10mile, half-marathon and marathon. We placed special emphasis on the championships being first and foremost a competitive athletic event, support of the no-headphones rule, and contribution to RRCA special programs.

North Carolina championships were one of the leading contributors to the Kids Run the Nation fund in 2010 with IOS Half Marathon alone contributing over $1,000!

For 2011 we already have 6 championships lined up in distances of 5K, 8K, 10K, 10 mile, half-marathon and 50K/ultramarathon with bids for a XC race and the marathon distance anticipated shortly to complete the slate.

Except for the 8K and 10 mile races, all the other races are new selections for this year showing the outstanding selection of quality races in NC. Based on their outstanding performance as an RRCA championship last year, the Inside Out Half Marathon has been promoted to Regional Championship for the

I also had the opportunity to contribute an article to Inside Track showed that banning headphones at their races could be successfully done without major controversy while their events continue to grow in popularity and attendance!

I have enjoyed my 2 years as RRCA representative immensely, and had the pleasure of announcing that Elaine Bixby of Mebane Running Club will be taking over in 2011. Elaine brings wonderful experience in starting and leading many aspects of the Mebane club, and she will do a wonderful job for NC and RRCA. North Carolina continues to have a healthy and vibrant running scene – come visit us for a run!

NORTH DAKOTA STATE REP: Tom Whitaker North Dakota is one of the most sparsely populated states in the country, but in spite of this and the brutal winters, the power of running has led to some great events in the state. The 11th Annual Trestle Valley Marathon and Half Marathon in Minot and the 7th Annual Scheels Fargo Marathon and Half Marathon are just two examples. The Fargo Marathon races, which attracted over 20,000 runners in 2010, is the outgrowth of the Run for the Children Half Marathon that had developed a good following.

Although there are no RRCA clubs in the state, I will be working toward obtaining at least one RRCA club during 2011.

OHIO STATE REP:

Dan shields (outgoing) Matt Folk (incoming)

OKLAHOMA STATE REP:

Vacant

OREGON STATE REP:

Mark Barret

PENNSYLVANIA STATE REP: Rick Moyer The long distance running scene continued to grow in Pennsylvania in 2010. Once again the Oil Creek 100 mile race served as the state RRCA Ultramarathon Championship event. In only its second year, this race (which includes a 100K and 50K) series is already garnering national attention. Overall winners in 2010 were Glen Redpath and Rachel Nypaver.

Masters winners were Joe Kulak and Donna Utakis. Taking Grandmaster honors were Daniel Young and Terri Lemke. In 2011 Oil Creek will be the Eastern Regional RRCA Championship Ultramarathon event, and plans to compete for the National RRCA Championship nomination in 2012. The races are directed by Tom Jennings and strongly supported by the entire community of Titusville, PA. I’ve attended the event both years. In 2009 I assisted at the finish line and handed out the RRCA awards. In 2010 I actually ran the 100K and found a great trail and wonderful support along the way.

Another ultramarathon in PA that is having great success is the Blues Cruise 50K, held at Blue Marsh Lake near Reading. This event was in its sixth year and had a record 230 entries and 204 finishers. These numbers place it firmly in the top 10 largest 50Ks in the country.

The Blues Cruise is a very runner friendly race and is used by many as a first ultramarathon.

In 2011 the Blues Cruise will serve as the RRCA State Championship Ultramarathon.

State Representatives Report

Southern Region.

There are currently 55 RRCA clubs and events in Pennsylvania. The largest is the Lehigh Valley Road Runners with over 500 members.

Next is the Pagoda Pacers of Reading, with over 400 members. This is my home club.

In 2011 look for increased emphasis on the shorter races and getting new runners involved in the sport.

RHODE ISLAND STATE REP: Vacant

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State Representatives Report

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE REP: Ken Sturm (outgoing) Tim Arthurs (incoming) In the fall of 2010, I was appointed the new South Carolina State Representative for Road Runners Club of America, replacing Ken Sturm.

I moved to Myrtle Beach from the Washington, D.C. area less than a year ago, and am a new member of the Grand Strand Running Club. I look forward to attending the RRCA Convention in Fredericksburg in May, and to serving the South Carolina RRCA Clubs.

Some of my goals for 2011 are: Attend the currently scheduled South Carolina State Championships (Carolina First Reedy River Run and Earth Day Half Marathon, both in Greenville), and schedule at least one more State Championship.

Get to know the South Carolina running clubs and their meeting schedules, and attend several of their meetings.

Communicate regularly with the clubs via newsletters.

Promote Children’s Running Programs among the South Carolina Clubs, and encourage them to incorporate the Kids Run the Nation model and apply for Kids Run the Nation grants.

Start a dialogue with the clubs and find out what their projects, interests and concerns are, and find out how I can be of help.

Attend the 53rd Annual RRCA Convention in Fredericksburg, VA, and report back to the clubs.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE REP: Tom Whitaker

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Our three RRCA Clubs in South Dakota, the Sioux Falls Area Running Club, the Black Hills Runners Club and the Pierre Area Running Club, provide a good deal of useful information on running in the western and southeastern South Dakota, northwestern Iowa and

southwestern Minnesota areas. The calendars on their web sites reveal a very active race schedule and their many club activities serve their running communities well.

Although South Dakota covers a large area with a widely scattered population, it hosts a very active running program and some great races. The Longest Day Marathon and Half Marathon in Brookings, the Mickelson Trail Marathon and Half Marathon in historic Deadwood, the Crazy Horse Marathon and Half Marathon in Hill City and the Leading Ladies Women’s Marathon and Half Marathon in Spearfish are good examples. These great events along with the many small, local races, especially in the summer in connection with community days celebrations, provide plentiful running opportunities in the State.

I was in contact with the three clubs in South Dakota during the year and established the Mickelson Train Marathon and Half Marathon as RRCA State Championships. I have already approved those races to be the State Championships in 2011 and have contacted the clubs to set up championships at other distances.

A running vacation in South Dakota would be a great way to see some prominent historic and geographic sites, and take in a great race at the same time. How many folks have a South Dakota race number? This year would be a great time to “run one down”.

TENNESSEE STATE REP: Melody Thompson (outgoing) Sherilyn Johnson (incoming) We have a lot of great races and events occurring in Tennessee. For the past year we had two State Championship Races: The Scenic City 1/2 Marathon was held on February 27 in Chattanooga with over 1300 participants. I volunteered the night before the race and before the race and worked packet pick up. It was very cold, but a beautiful

The Run for Haiti 4 Mile Run in Oak Ridge, TN was held on May 8th. I was unable to attend this race, but they had an excellent write up from the local paper about the race with approximately 400 participants.

Memphis had a RRCA Regional Race for the half marathon distance, the Germantown ½ Marathon in March 2010 with over 1,500 participants. This year, they will host the Tennessee State Championship for the ½ Marathon Distance and in March 2012 they will host the National RRCA Convention and be the National RRCA ½ Marathon Race. They are doing a wonderful job and I know everyone has a lot to look forward to in Memphis.

E-newsletters were sent out in January, February, April, September, November, and January 2011 to all the clubs and registered RRCA regular event race directors.

The designated RRCA State Championship Races at this time for 2011 are the following: Germantown Half Marathon in Germantown, TN on March 20, 2011 UPS Ultimate 10K in Bartlett, TN hosted by the Memphis Runners on June 25, 2011 Pigeon Forge Midnight 8K in Pigeon Forge, TN put on by the Knoxville Track Club on August 6, 2011 Sherilyn Johnson will be stepping in to replace me as the RRCA State Representative. I know she will do a great job representing the RRCA and I will be assisting her with this transition.

In the future I hope to be able to be active in the RRCA again.

TEXAS (NORTH) STATE REP: Libby Jones In 2010, North Texas RRCA membership increased by 10, with the addition of 3 new club members and 7 new event members.

Texas had 5 state championships as well as one regional championship. I was able to attend the Fort Worth Runners Club Labor Day 15K (Southern Region 15K Championship) and help present the RRCA awards.

I was able to attend about half of the RRCA National Convention in April in Lakeland, FL. While there, I presented a seminar about Growing Your Club to an audience of running club officers.

Every few months, I publish a North Texas RRCA E-Newsletter which reaches an audience of 450 local club officers, running media figures, prominent local running figures, and various local runners looking to find out more about the RRCA. The newsletter contains a sponsor section which helped raise funds in 2010 for the North Texas State Rep Fund. The Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers helped me out by manning a booth for the RRCA at the Dallas White Rock Marathon expo, with an attendance of over 20,000 runners – that weekend I was in the hospital with my brand new baby!

My own running in 2010 was interesting as I spent most of the year pregnant with my daughter Sophie, born December 1st. I completed 7 half marathons and then ran my first 25K in Texas summer heat at midnight in July while 5 ½ months pregnant!

State Representatives Report

day. I had a RRCA table at race and gave out RRCA awards at the race. This was the last race of the year I was able to assist or run with due to unfortunate circumstances.

TEXAS (SOUTH) STATE REP: Lee Greb Greetings from South Texas!!! I am the RRCA State Representative for the clubs and events in Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, Brownsville and the surrounding South Texas communities. We have experienced rapid growth in the clubs and

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State Representatives Report 44

events in our area from just last year growing from 35 to 44 members in 2010 (with 32 clubs and 12 events).

Working with Libby Jones, the North Texas RRCA State Rep, we selected and promoted five RRCA Texas State Championship races for 2010. South Texas had two of the events with the Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon in March and the Houston Half Marathon in October. I attended, ran or volunteered, hung the banner and presented the awards at the two South Texas events. The Seabrook Marathon has a special meaning to me as I am only one of only three runners who have completed all seven Seabrook Marathons. The Houston Half Marathon, which is managed by my running club the Houston Striders, secured their first one loop course in the Memorial Park area and experienced increased participation and exposure in Houston. My wife and I made a road trip to San Angelo, TX (over 400 miles one way) to attend, run and present the awards at the Run in the Sun 8K in June. What made the trip more fun was that my wife and I both secured age group awards.

Libby Jones and I worked to secure six RRCA State Championship Races in Texas for 2011 with four of them in South Texas. These selected events are the Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon in March, the Beneezy Purple Monkey 5K (Alvin) in September, and the Houston Half Marathon and Run for the Water 10-Miler (Austin) in October. My goal is to run a couple of new races each year in my area and approach the race director and encourage them to make a bid for the next year’s state championship event. This happened in 2010 when I ran the Beneezy Purple Monkey Run in Alvin for the first time. I really enjoyed the event and encouraged the race director to make a bid and become the Texas RRCA State Championship Event for the 5K distance.

My new wife Cheryl (we married in September, 2009) and I attended the 2010 RRCA Convention in Lakeland, FL in April. This was my fifth RRCA Convention in a row which started in 2006

when my running club, the Houston Striders, hosted the 49th RRCA Convention. My first RRCA Convention as a State Representative was very rewarding in my education as a new State Rep and I was able to get more training for my RRCA coaching certificate.

Promotion of the RRCA programs in South Texas is important. I send quarterly newsletters to all my clubs and events and try to keep them informed about new and ongoing RRCA programs and events. I promoted and managed two events in Houston that promote walking and running and combine them with the appreciation of the arts. There was the Tour de Art Walk on May 2, 2010 and the Tour de Art Run on September 17, 2010 which coincided with the RRCA National Run @ Work Day. This walk in the spring and run in the fall is a tour of the artwork and sculptures around downtown Houston. Roger Boak, the vice president of HARRA (Houston Area Road Runners) is an art historian and presents the tour of 15-20 sculptures/artworks and gives the history behind the creator and significance of each work. I secured the support of the Houston Striders for equipment, drinks and snacks. We plan to hold these events each year to promote walking and running and appreciation of the arts. I was the HARRA Liaison for the Houston Striders and tried to attend as many HARRA (Houston Area Road Runners) Board Meetings as possible. HARRA is the umbrella organization for most of the RRCA Clubs in the Houston area and this allowed me to meet several of the members of our RRCA running clubs and promote the RRCA. I was selected the Houston Strider “Volunteer of the Year” for 2010 and was recognized at the Annual Banquet with a plaque and gift certificate.

UTAH STATE REP:

Dave Moore

The Road Runners Club of America is well represented in Utah with clubs and event members in the Salt Lake City and Park City

Most of the RRCA memberships in Utah are event members with races of various distances held on a single day or weekend. Efforts have been made at converting some of these event memberships over to club memberships in order to provide increased insurance coverage for training runs and enhance the community by adding additional running clubs.

Efforts to increase RRCA membership in Utah continues with new event memberships added in 2010. Interest holding State Championship Events continues to be high.

Unfortunately, we were unable to hold a state RRCA meeting in Utah in 2010 due to scheduling conflicts with the various member organizations.

VERMONT STATE REP:

Michael Lannon

During 2010, Vermont grew its RRCA membership. We now have four runner’s clubs and four race event only clubs.

The Key Bank Vermont City Marathon, held for the twenty-second time, in Burlington was won

by John Crews from Raleigh, NC in a time of 2:17:51, which is a nice 5:16 mile per hour clip.

On the women’s side, Heidi Westover, from Acworth, New Hampshire crunched the opposition with a decent 6:07 mile per hour pace and finished her race in 2:40:04. Both runners were defending their titles and scooted underneath the USATF age group open guideline times.

As an aside Glastonbury, CT’s RRCA State Representative, Art Byram ran a solid 3:29.39.

It’s always nice to see forty-six year olds slugging out consistent 8:00 minute miles.

The 2011’s VCM is a RRCA Vermont state championship race and will be hosted in Burlington on Memorial Day Weekend.

In the 4th annual, 5K road race, seventeen year old, Nick Book, from West Haven was the overall winner in 20:31. At twenty-two years old, the overall female winner was Maggie Klein from Castleton with a winning time of 22:44. Rutland’s nine year old, Conner Ladabouche, crossed the finish line with 7th place overall performance of 23:51. There were 173 5K runners.

In the 34th annual 10K road race, the overall winner was Middlebury’s Nicole Wilkerson with a winning time of 39:48.Ms. Wilkerson was the first woman to ever win the overall Crowley Brother’s winner’s plaque. First place male finisher was first race ever, 34 year old Matt Horne from Middlebury with a time of 40:48.

There were 122 runners who toed the 10K start line. The race included the famous marathoner and running promoter –Bill Rodgers who sped past the finish line in a time of 45:31. At sixtyone years old, Bill is still able to crank out a respectable 7:20 per mile pace.

There were over 150 children to explode from their state line and finishing the 10th annual Kid’s Downtown Mile. This program continues to feed youth runners to the CRR 5K and 10K races.

State Representatives Report

areas providing high quality races and running club benefits to the local populations. Time was spent with officers from each member organization and a great deal of effort put forth to inform the general membership of clubs the advantages and benefits to them as individual members of the RRCA. Representatives from member clubs attended the 2010 national convention in Lakeland, FL and successful bids were submitted for State Championship Races at the 5K and 10K distances.

The 5K walking component topped 200 participants. We include this information to notify avid RRCA report readers to the fact that many of our walkers are converting from walking to jogging and running. Who would ever guess?

The 2011’s Crowley Brother’s Memorial Road Race, 5K, 10K Masters, and Half-Marathon are RRCA Vermont state championship races.

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State Representatives Report

The 5K road race is the 2011 RRCA Regional Championship. All events for the Crowley are scheduled for Sunday, June 11, 2011 In 2010, the Rutland City Public Schools promoted the RRCA - KRN program. Children from the first grade through the 6th grade were allowed to participate in supervised running activities, which used the RRCA national program materials and criteria.

More than 1500 children participated. 15% of those participating in the 8-week program voluntarily ran the last day’s event mile, which was held on the Rutland High School track.

VIRGINIA STATE REP:

Bob Platt

It has been an honor to serve another year as Virginia State Rep. I have continued to visit with Virginia based RRCA Clubs around the state. I also had the honor of welcoming the RRCA National Board at their meeting in Fredericksburg, VA. Virginia RRCA clubs call me when concerns develop that may affect more than one club.

For example, I became involved in working with the National Park Service over restrictive permit conditions at race venues in the National Capital Region. I have also done some legal research regarding club election meetings and the extent of notice required under Virginia and District of Columbia law, where most of our clubs are incorporated.

In general, check the state of incorporation to see what notice requirements apply to your club. In DC, a notice must be mailed between 50 and 30 days before the vote. In Virginia, the notice must be given between 60 and 10 days before the vote, except that the club can print a notice in the local newspaper. Virginia does not specify notice by US Mail. Some clubs were confused because all the RRCA requires is an elected Board, but state law requirements are actually more detailed and should be checked.

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I continue to explore ways of working with

the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame to get them to honor road runners along with other sports. I have also attended the Maryland State Meeting and work closely with the Maryland State Rep on matters of mutual concern. I also continue to stay in touch with the long distance running chairs of the local USATF associations covering the Commonwealth of Virginia.

I want to encourage clubs to apply for our Virginia State Championships and to attend our State Meeting held in conjunction with the Convention in Fredericksburg.

WASHINGTON STATE REP: Scott Krell The state of Washington has 21 active clubs, four of which I recruited to join RRCA (up from 19). I have contacted all of my clubs via email and talked with a majority on the phone. In 2010 I ran with or visited seven of the WA RRCA clubs. For 2011 I am trying to visit more clubs and inviting all of them to enter one of my many events.

In 2010 I supported the RRCA activities such as Run@Work Day and now the 2011 Weight Watchers Walk with links emailed to each club encouraging participation.

My big RRCA effort for 2011 is to promote “RUN WITH PROTECTION” (not approved by RRCA). I have asked the Marathon Maniacs and their 3700+ worldwide members based in the Seattle area to put a special organizing an event link on their main page. I would promote RRCA as the primary path for insurance with easy to use links. I see too many people putting on events without permission or insurance. If it is done due to ignorance this should help. I am interested in any examples of similar RRCA promotions.

I am an active Facebook member and plan to test more social networking in 2010 to promote some of the RRCA events and a Facebook running club. I want to see how

For 2011 I sent out a reminder that the clubs have not been well represented in Sate Championships except for Bloomsday. I am encouraging they petition now for next year because the bids go out early and my clubs can be slow to respond.

The state championship for the past 8 years has been the Lilac Bloomsday Run in Spokane, WA. It truly is a unique event for Washington with 51,259 participants last year. They pay nearly $50K in prize money (including a $20K to US only athletes) they get elite participation from all over the world including Kenya, Morocco, Tanzania and of course the USA and Canada. Don Kardong a past president of RRCA is still associated with the event. They have a who’s who of past champions including Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, Henry Rono and many others. But, we need championships for other distances.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE REP: Tom Kramer In 2010 West Virginia hosted one RRCA National Championship Race (Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon) and two RRCA State Championship Races (Chick-Fil-A 10K in Parkersburg and Freedom’s Run Marathon in Shepardstown). It was, again, our pleasure to have Jean Knaack in Parkersburg to help present the RRCA awards to the National Champions.

We have one club, River City Runners and Walkers Club, that has developed a great kids running program that not only promotes kids participation in their road runs, but has spread out to include elementary and middle school track and cross country. The cross country, “Iron Kids” is managed by Sharon Marks, the newly elected RCRW club president.

Four years ago we started the Willis Ridenour

Award. This award is open to any WV RRCA club member who has promoted running in WV in an exceptional way. The 2010 recipient is Amy Eddy, a member of the River City Runners and Walkers Club. Amy is the chair for the kid’s running program.

This will be my 16th Convention.

WISCONSIN STATE REP:

Barbara Jewell

There are 11 RRCA member clubs in Wisconsin, with a total of over 2,400 members.

The clubs hosted a total of more than 60 races during 2010, with many of the races enjoying a long life of 25+ years. Running is alive and well in Wisconsin.

The Badgerland Striders Ice Age Trail 50 held on May 8th, 2010 was the WI championship race in the ultra category for the second straight year. This 50 miler is run mostly on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in the Kettle Moraine State Forest in southern Wisconsin.

The course takes you on a tour of the unique geological features left by the last Ice Age 10,000 years ago, offering beautiful scenery and plenty of hills. The overall male champion was Todd Braje in a time of 6:20:30 and the women were led by Meghan Arbogast with a time of 7:17:07.

The Badgerland Striders Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon was the RRCA National Marathon Championship race in 2010. RRCA Executive Director Jean Knaack made the trip to Milwaukee the first weekend in October to support the race and to help out with the RRCA booth at the expo and to present the RRCA championship awards. Also on hand to be part of the fun and to help out were RRCA Treasurer Dennis Novak and RRCA Illinois state rep Beth Onines. Mark Grandonico, RRCA Eastern Director, came from Portland, ME to see friends in the area and to run the marathon. Scott Jansky won the race in 2:31:41 and the top female finisher was Nacole Fredrickson in 3:01:39.

State Representatives Report

much interest can be generated outside of the direct clubs.

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State Representatives Report

At the RRCA Annual Convention in April, the Badgerland Striders Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon was again honored to be named the RRCA National Marathon Championship for 2011.

I communicated regularly with all of the WI member clubs, both with the club officers and with the club members: I wrote an article for club newsletters on cold weather running, using the tips provided on the RRCA web site.

I wrote an article for club newsletters on the RRCA convention in Lakeland.

I obtained voting proxies from all of the WI clubs not attending the RRCA National Convention .

I spoke at a club meeting of the Racine Area Running Club, to explain and promote the programs and services of the RRCA. I wrote an article for club newsletters to promote the RRCA National Run @ Work Day. I emailed club officers to encourage them to submit nominations for RRCA awards.

I was active in several WI clubs in 2010, as a volunteer and as an event participant: I served as the Treasurer of the Racine Area Running Club.

I volunteered at Racine’s River City 5K, the Lakes Area Running Club’s 8K Snow Fun Run, and the Badgerland Striders SuperRun 5K. I participated in Racine’s River City 5K and in several races sponsored by the Badgerland Striders.

I attended the RRCA National Convention in April in Lakeland, FL. I was a member of the Audit Committee and participated in the telephone meeting to approve the financial statements.

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WYOMING STATE REP:

Dave Moore

The Road Runners Club of America is well represented in the great state of Wyoming with its nearly 100,000 square miles of surface area and just over a half million residents. The 9th largest state in area ranks last in population, trailing even the District of Columbia. Wyoming, however, has RRCA member clubs or events in every corner and population center. The RRCA can be very proud of the high quality events put on by the member organizations in Wyoming, many of which have a long history and far flung reputation for quality, safety, and timing accuracy. The RRCA organizations in Wyoming host a large number of trail and road races as well as events that combine both. These races go the distance from the ubiquitous 5K to 100 mile endurance runs and everything in between.

Although Wyoming is home to only a handful of clubs, everyone one of them is very active and strives to meet the needs of runners in their home community and beyond. In recent years a new club or two has joined the RRCA in Wyoming, and that held true in 2010.

Because of the great distances involved, we were unable to hold a state RRCA meeting in Wyoming during 2010. Efforts are currently underway to improve communication between the individual clubs and the RRCA as well as inter-club information exchange.

Competition is becoming stronger for state championship awards as more and more races bidding for and being awarded state championship status in Wyoming.

RRCA Distance Running Hall of Fame Inductees ROBERT “BOB” OWEN KENNEDY JR., born in 1970 in Westerville, Ohio, held the American record in the 3,000 meters (7:30.84), 2 miles (8:11.59) and the 5000 meters (12:58.21) and is a two time Olympian (1992, 1996). He started running while attending Westerville North High School, where he chose track after having dabbled in baseball, basketball, and soccer.

He finished fifth in the 1987 National Junior Championships as a 16-year-old.

Kennedy attended Indiana University where he was the 1991 NCAA 1,500 meter National Champion in Track and 1991 Indoor NCAA Mile Champion. He also won the NCAA Cross Country championships during his freshman and senior years (1988 & 1992). His senior year he won the USA Track & Field National Cross Country Championships, becoming only the second person in history to win both the NCAA Cross Country Nationals and U.S. National Cross Country Championships in the same year. Kennedy’s second USATF National Cross Country title came in 2004, the twelve year gap between titles (1992 & 2004) being the longest in history of the USATF. The highlight of Kennedy’s career came at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. In the 5000 meter finals, Kennedy surged to the front at the beginning of the penultimate lap where he held the lead for almost a lap but was ultimately passed just before the closing lap to eventually place 6th overall. He had also made it to the finals of the 1992 Olympic 5000 meter race where he placed 12th. Kennedy suffered a back injury in an auto accident before the 2000 Olympic Trials and missed seven weeks

of training so that he was not able to make the Olympic team that year.

Kennedy was a four time USA Track & Field National Champion in the 5,000 - 1995, 1996, 1997, and 2001. After running a personal best of 27:37 in the spring of 2004, Kennedy competed in the 2004 US Olympic Trials in the 10,000 meter race, but had to drop out of the race due to an injury he had suffered in the weeks leading up to the Trials. After recovering from the injury he briefly tried his hand at the marathon, dropping out of the New York City marathon that autumn and since then has retired from competitive distance running.

Kennedy became a father of twins in 2005 when his wife, Melina, gave birth to son, Marcus, and daughter, Sophia.

National Running Award Recipients

Since 1971, the RRCA has honored dedicated individuals for their outstanding service to the RRCA and the sport of distance running. We are delighted to announce the 2010 National Running Award recipients, and we thank the selection panel volunteers for their time.

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National Running Award Recipients

ALAN CULPEPER, born in 1972, is a two time US Olympian qualifying for both the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. He got started running through a summer track program through a local club. Culpepper graduated from Coronado HS in El Paso, Texas where he won five Texas state titles in Cross Country and Track. He attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, where he won the NCAA outdoor 5,000 meter title and placed 10th at the Olympic Trials in that event; the following year he placed 2nd at the USATF Nationals and represented the USA at the 1997 World Championships.

Culpepper graduated with a degree in geography and sociology from Colorado in 1996. Following graduation, Culpepper remained in Boulder to continue training. In 1999 he won his first national title, the USA Cross Country Championships. That spring he also won the 10,000m at the USATF Outdoor Championships and ran that event at the 1999 World Championships. In 2000, he took second in the 10,000m at the U.S. Olympic Trials and represented the US at the 2000 Olympic Games. He also ran the 10,000m at the 2001 World Championships as well. He won another U.S. track championship in 2002 when he took the 5,000m title. That fall, in his debut marathon in Chicago, he ran 2:09:41.

Culpepper ran his second marathon at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2004 in Birmingham, Alabama where he won the event edging out longtime rival Meb Keflezighi in 2:11:42. Culpepper placed 12th at the Athens Olympic Marathon.

In 2005, Culpepper ran a 13:25.75, a personal best, in the 5,000 meter run at the 2005 Norwich Union British Grand Prix in London, England. He ran 2:11:02 to take fifth in the 2006 Boston Marathon.

He married 1500m runner Shayne Wille in November 1997 and they have two sons, Cruz Samuel, born in 2002, and Levi James born in 2006.

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JULIA EMMONS is the former Executive Director of the 10,000-member Atlanta Track Club in Atlanta, GA, and former director of the Peachtree Road Race, the world’s largest and best-known 10K with 55,000 runners. In her 22 years as head of the Atlanta Track Club, she was very active on the national running scene, serving as Chair of Women’s Long Distance Running for USA Track & Field from 1990-1996.

She directed the Olympic Men’s and Women’s Marathons and Race Walks for the 1996 Games in Atlanta, and was on the U.S. Women’s Track and Field team for the 2004 Athens Olympics as Assistant Coach for Endurance Events (marathon, racewalk). In 2005, Emmons served as an Assistant Manager for the U.S. Track and Field Team at the World Championships in Helsinki. She served on the RRCA Board of Directors as Vice President between the years ‘88 and ‘89.

Emmons has is also committed to Atlanta’s civic health, serving on the Atlanta City Council and on a number of nonprofit culturally

Selection Panel: Mitch Garner (Chair), Jim Oaks, Amby Burfoot, Jacqueline Hansen, Joe Henderson, Don Kardong, John Parker, Lisa Rainsberger, Ken Young, Kim Jones, and Bill Rodgers

Outstanding Club President of the Year CHIP ALLMAN River City Runners & Walkers - Parkersburg, VA During Allman’s tenure with the club, membership has grown in part because of his diligent work of incorporating the walking community into the club.

During his presidency, several worthwhile programs were started including a Kids’ Racing Series, which is fully funded by donations to the club. A free kids’ shoe program, which collected approximately 40 pairs of running shoes and 200 running shirts were given to needy area children.

Allman is the director of the Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon (2010 RRCA National Championship Race), and he was responsible for securing a $15,000 donation from the City of Parkersburg to the club and the race. As president and director of the race, he helped organize a ten-week half marathon training clinic with water stops and supervisors; 200 runners and walkers attended this clinic.

Allman also oversees a beginners running and walking clinic that had over 150 participants.

Allman also initiated or oversaw relationships with several charity groups within the community. These include, but are not limited to the YMCA, Good Samaritan Clinic, Toys for Tots, La Leche League, and the Veterans Museum. These activities receive monetary support from local races. He was also responsible for the formation of a new scholarship for a deserving club member pursuing a post-high school degree. Under his tenure as president, the scholarship fund maintained by the club grew to an unprecedented $7,200.

Given in honor of Scott Hamilton. Selection panel: Kelly Richards, David Purinton, Nancy Hobbs, and David Epstein

National Running Award Recipients

oriented boards of directors including MOCAGA, the Atlanta History Center and The Theatrical Outfit. She also served for three years as president of the Alliance Theatre Guild and was a member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Partners in Performance outreach efforts. She is also on the Board of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. A member of Leadership Atlanta’s class of 2001, she remains active with that organization. In 2006, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin presented Julia with the Phoenix Award, the City’s highest honor, for her dedication and service. In 2007, Mayor Franklin appointed Julia to Atlanta’s License Review Board, which she was delighted to discover reviews the awarding of business licenses not only to bars and restaurants, but also tattoo parlors.

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Browning Ross Spirit of the RRCA KEN BENDY Former North Florida State Rep and Southern Region Director Report by David Epstein: I came to know Ken during the period when both of us served as State Representatives and later on the RRCA Board of Directors. I live in Alaska and he hails from Florida and North Carolina. Despite our limited interaction and the vast distance between us, I can say without question that I know of Ken’s tireless, enthusiastic championing of the RRCA and his local club.

Building upon an experience base as a State Rep (for which he was commended as 1999 State Rep of the Year), Ken went on to serve as one of the great Regional Directors our organization has ever had. There are a myriad of data points that support this but the one that really hit home for me occurred at our Lakeland convention, where I witnessed the poignant “going-away” party that the Southern Region State Reps threw for Ken. Beneath the good-natured bantering and ribbing that took place, genuine respect and love were in the room. For Ken, it was hard earned and well deserved.

Ken’s greatest contributions to RRCA and his local clubs came via his leadership and mentoring qualities. For years, Ken headed the State Rep Committee. Every year at the Convention, Ken led a training session for State Reps on how to be more effective in the role. It mattered not if you were a grizzled, battle-tested veteran or a “newbie” State Rep, you always came away from this session with a lot more knowledge, hints, and tips than you possessed when you went in.

Ken also authored the State Rep Handbook, an invaluable compendium of knowledge that State Reps could turn to for the answer to virtually every question that might pop up.

If the answer wasn’t in there, Ken was always available to help out via email or a phone call.

He embraced technology and developed userfriendly, information-packed web sites as both a State Rep and Regional Director. As a peer, when I had a question or needed to bounce an idea off Ken, he was always there to help me out. In the midst of his RRCA duties, Ken found time (and still does) to perform copious amounts of volunteer service for races in his area, such as the Gate River Run, the country’s largest 15-K race, for which he was in charge of registration.

Those who know him realize that Ken has high standards and as Regional Director, expected his State Reps to carry out their duties for the benefit of clubs in their respective states. A lesser person could easily devolve into the role of tyrant, but Ken knows how to communicate with and coach people. During his tenure as RD, Ken built an effective, cohesive team and developed some great State Reps. He nurtured, praised, and encouraged those who did what needed to be done; others were thanked for their service and necessary changes were made. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the State Rep of the Year has hailed from Southern Region three of the last four years.

In my 15 years of involvement with RRCA, I am hard-pressed to think of anyone else who exemplifies the spirit of the RRCA more than Ken Bendy. It is an honor and a privilege to nominate him for the Browning Ross Award.

Selection Committee: Bee McLeod, Gary Corbitt, Dan Edwards, and Brent Ayer

Outstanding State Representative for 2010 GARY MORGAN Michigan State Rep “Morgan has been instrumental in growing the RRCA Championship program in the state of Michigan and beyond. He has also introduced the local running clubs to the many

Morgan has worked tirelessly to promote the RRCA and running activities in the Ann Arbor, Michigan community and throughout the State of Michigan. He is very active in recruiting Michigan running clubs to become RRCA members. Currently, Michigan has 23 RRCA running organizations. His presence as an RRCA State Representative has high visibility through his participation in road races across the United States almost every weekend and his publication of running-related articles in Michigan Runner every month. He is an unselfish volunteer, and in 2010 he officiated at the Amateur Athletic Union’s Junior National Track and Field Championships in Norfolk Virginia. He is also an active member of the United States Track and Field Association (“USATF”) and the United States Olympic Committee, and in 2010 he served as a USATF Event Manager for the United States Track and Field Team that competed at the world track and field championships in Qatar.

Morgan’s enthusiasm, encouragement and follow-up have been instrumental in providing additional resources and contributes to the growth of area clubs as a whole. Morgan has been a strong advocate on behalf of the RRCA in Michigan and throughout the United States and abroad.

Given in honor of Al Becken. Selection panel: Dan Edwards, Kelly Richards, Beth Onines, Tom Kramer, and Heather Marcellis

Outstanding Volunteer of the Year DINK TAYLOR Huntsville Track Club - Huntsville, AL “Calling Dink a “volunteer of the year” is a bit of a misnomer, because Dink has been volunteering for close to two decades. His accomplishments in the course of a single year make him a worthy recipient of this award.

His contributions over close to twenty years would be hard to match and, thus, make him an obvious choice for this award.” – David Purinton, Huntsville Track Club If you have attended a race in Huntsville then you have seen Dink. He is a fixture at races the same way a race clock or an aid station are. A race would just not be the same without Dink’s contributions. There is not a job related to putting on a race that Dink has not done; race set-up, aid station worker, finish line, post-race clean-up. The list is endless. It might sound like a cliché but no job is too big or too small for Dink to willingly take on. Dink has been volunteering ever since he first decided to give something back in 1986. Since the 90’s he has foregone running one our clubs marquee events, the Cotton Row 10K to work the race.

For the last 5 years he and his wife, Suzanne, have served as directors of the event, which now includes a 10K, 5K, and 1 mile fun run for kids – now totaling over 4500 runners.

But Dink has not just helped others to conduct races, Dink has also been instrumental in the founding of the south’s most well know trail run, the Mountain Mist 50K. This race in 17 years has grown from a local race with around a hundred runners to one that attracts trail runners from across the country and maxes out at its limit of 300+ runners in the span of a couple weeks. The work for this race starts well ahead of race day. The weekend before the race Dink coordinates and helps volunteers place over 1200 flags along the course to mark it. The day before the race he runs the entire course checking the markings. On race day the last runners are done after 8 hours, but Dink’s work

National Running Award Recipients

resources available through the RRCA. Morgan introduced the RRCA Championship series to the Kalamazoo Area Runners several years ago, and he encouraged the club to bid for designations for three events, the Kalamazoo Klassic 5K, 10K and Kal-Haven Trail Run. As a result, the Kalamazoo Klassic 10K was named the RRCA Regional Championship for several years and in 2010 was selected as the RRCA 10K National Championship. The Klassic 5K has been the RRCA MI 5K State Championship during the same years.” – Bonnie Sexton, Kalamazoo Area Runners

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National Running Award Recipients 54

began long before the start gun and continues on long after the last runners are done.

This year will mark Dink and his wife Suzanne’s 5th year as directors of the Rocket City Marathon. Under their direction this race has for the first time in many years maxed out with 1500 entrants three years in a row. The race is regarded as one of the best in the southeast and attracts runners from all over the US and abroad.

Given in honor of Rod Steele. Selection Panel: George Rehmet, Tom Downing, Lena Hollmann, and Blaine Moore

Outstanding Youth Program Director SUE BROWN-NICKERSON Calumet Region Striders’ Youth Program Chair, Valparaiso, IN Sue Brown-Nickerson of Valparaiso, Indiana has been the Calumet Region Striders’ Youth Program Chair since 2005. As a USATF & RRCA certified volunteer coach, she leads a large group of volunteer coaches in an effort to promote quality programs and racing experiences that will help kids develop physically, build self-confidence and motivation.

The club’s youth running programs are open for boy and girls ages 7-18 within a geographical area of 50 miles. The most popular programs are spring Track & Field, and fall Cross c=Country. Multiple training sites are offered and staffed with coaches providing training for all levels of abilities from the beginner to the competitive veteran.

Approximately 125 kids participated in the summer Track & Field at the local level with nine athletes advancing to National AAU & Hershey events. Approximately 125 kids participated in the fall Cross Country at the local level with 65 kids advancing to national AAU & Coach XC Championships.

A third program offered for youth club

members is the option to compete in a road racing points series, a schedule of road races ranging in distance from 1mile to 5K. Completion of any five road races on the club’s racing calendar will qualify the athlete to receive a complimentary admission to the annual dinner/awards banquet where the athlete will be recognized and receive an award in front of the entire membership.

Sue annually hosts and directs a local Hershey’s Track & Field Meet with the assistance of the Valparaiso Indiana Parks Department staff.

This event is designed to promote physical fitness and is free to participants.

Sue goes above and beyond with the Jr. Striders program, the future of the club, and continues to motivate NEW runners through the program.

Given in honor of Kurt Steiner. Selection Committee: Dan Kesterson, Eve Mills, Jeff Horowitz, and Mike Dove

Road Runners of the Year ANTONIO VEGA, Open Male 2010 was a standout year for Antonio as he kicked off the year at the USA Half Marathon Championships where he placed first with a time of 1:01:54. This was his first national championship title. His racing performance for the year also included an 8th place finish at the USA Cross Country Championships, 3rd at the USA 15K Championships, 4th at the USA 7 Mile Championships, 2nd at the USA 10 Mile Championship and a personal best of 2:13:47 at the Boston Marathon. Antonio has been a Team USA Minnesota member since 2007. In 2009, he received an RRCA Roads Scholar® grant.

Antonio is a graduate of Tartan High School in Oakdale, MN, where he competed in track and was all-state his senior year. He also earned five letters in soccer and two letters in football as the place kicker. At the University of Minnesota, he was an All-American in

Compiled from Antonio Vega’s bio found at TeamUSAMinnesota.org SHALANE FLANAGAN, Open Female 2010 marked a successful year on the roads and in distance events for Shalane who is well know for her success on the track, which includes her bronze medal finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 10,000m where she set a new American record with a time 30:22.22, shattering her own American record set earlier that year. Shalane kicked off 2010 with a win at the US Half Marathon Championships in Houston, TX, running a course record with a time of 69:41 in her debut at this distance. She followed that performance with a stunning second place finish at the ING New York City Marathon. This performance resulted in her becoming the 2010 US Marathon Champion where she ran her debut marathon with a time of 2:28:40. Shalane went on to win the USA women’s Cross Country Championship title, and in international competition, she led Team USA to the bronze medal at the 2010 World Cross Country Championships by finishing 12th in the individual competition.

Flanagan grew up in Marblehead, MA where she attended Marblehead High School and excelled in Cross Country and track. Her Marblehead HS accomplishments included three-time All-State Cross Country performances, a first-place All-State finish in the mile, and a two-mile win whose record still stands. She attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where she won national Cross Country titles in 2002 and 2003 — becoming the first individual champion in the sport in Tar Heel history.

Compiled from information at shalaneflanagan. com

DOUG GOODHUE, Male Master “Doug Goodhue is one of the premier masters runners in the United States. As time passes, he is coming to be recognized as one of the greatest American masters runners of all time” – Mitchell Garner, Ann Arbor Track Club (AATC) member Doug is a multiple USA Track & Field national champion at various distances and he currently holds the American 20K record for males 6569, having set this record in 2010 at the New Haven Road Race on September 6, 2010. His finish time, 1:20:05, eclipsed the prior American record by an astounding one minute and forty seconds. He set the age record at age 68, three years older than the previous record holder for the age group.

Doug’s 2010 race calendar consisted of 25 races in which he won his age group for all 25 races. In addition, he won five USATF National Championships. In 2010, at age 68, he was named USATF Runner of the Year for male runners 65-69. Running Times has ranked him the #1 runner in the United States among male runners 65-69 for four consecutive years, including 2010.

Beyond his running achievements, Doug is an unselfish volunteer that gives back to the sport of running through his involvement with AATC races. In 2010, Doug served as the race director for the Kensington Challenge 15K, a 2010 RRCA State Championship event, and he also served as race coordinator for the 2010 USATF National Masters 10K Road Championship held in conjunction with the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run. He also serves on several other local race committees.

STEPHANIE HERBST-LUCKE, Female Master Stephanie’s running career has spanned the better part of three decades. In 2010, she had another impressive year where she was the top female master at the USA 10 Mile Championship hosted by the Medtronic Twin City 10 Mile. Almost more impressive at the

National Running Award Recipients

Cross Country and competed in three NCAA Cross Country Championships. He was a fourtime All-Midwest Region harrier and was the Midwest Regional Cross Country Champion in 2005. In 2006, he was named the Midwest Runner of the Year.

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race was her 8th place overall finish for all females, beating much of the competition that were 15 to 20 years younger than her.

Stephanie was the top female master finisher at the 2010 Peachtree Road Race, and the 18th overall female finisher including being the top US female finisher overall. At the 2010 Philadelphia Half Marathon Stephanie qualified for the 2012 US Olympic Marathon Trials where she ran a time of 72:15 placing 8th overall, 3rd American behind Shalane Flannagan and Katie McGregor, and 1st place master.

Stephanie grew up in Chaska, MN where she ran Cross Country and track in high school.

She went on to be a member of the University of Wisconsin’s National Champion Cross Country team and went on to win the Big Ten 10,000 meter title in the spring of 1985. In her sophomore year, she set the indoor NCAA record in the 3000 meters, another in the outdoor 10,000 meters, and was the national champion in a third race, the 5000 meters. All told, Stephanie earned 6 All-American Awards, 7 Big Ten titles, 5 NCAA Championships, 4 consecutive Academic All-American awards, and Big Ten Athlete of the Year honors in 1985-86.

Despite her accomplishments Stephanie is a mother first with a priority on maintaining a healthy family life with her husband Jim and their children. When planning her return to competitive running in 2006-2007 after taking time to build a successful career in marketing, Stephanie managed to fit in 100 miles of training each week, but not on the weekends, which she reserved for family time. Since returning to the sport in the past three years, Stephanie has won the Masters division at the 5K, 15K, 20K and 25K US Championships, finished as the 3rd Master at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Boston, and as the 2nd Master in the Chicago Marathon. She was named the 2009 RRCA Master Runner of the Year, and in 2010 she was inducted into the Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Selection panel: Bill Roe, Larry Eder, and Jean Knaack

Excellence In Journalism Awards Small Club Newsletter - ON YOUR MARK Editors Bruce Davis & Steve Amarillo Peninsula Track Club – Yorktown, VA Large Club Newsletter -THE LONG RUN – Editor Lori Hawkins Pikes Peak Road Runners - Colorado Spring, CO E-Newsletter - THE FOOTPRINT – Editors Lorraine and Kevin Wessels Lake Grapevine Runners & Wallkers – Grapevine, TX Club Writer of the Year- MARK MILLER Lake Grapevine Runners & Walkers Grapevine, TX “Mark Miller is not only a talented runner; he is a gifted writer and an inspiration to the hundreds of athletes who read his articles in the Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers’ Footprint. Mark has been writing “On Your Mark!” since July 2006, when he began his series as a way to give back to the running club for being nominated as Runner of the Year. Mark never runs out of running-related topics that motivate and inspire his readers.

Based on his personal experiences drawn from a prestigious running career, Mark relates to runners of all abilities, bringing the running community together by focusing on the challenges and victories that we all share. He writes in a fashion and about topics that EVERY runner can relate to.” - Staci Rivero Journalism Excellence - TITO MORALES “Tito has consistently written long, incisive profiles of American distance runners, from Deena to Meb--and beyond. His most recent contribution is an extended feature on Shalane Flanagan (Sep/Oct issue of Marathon & Beyond), tracing her rise to the peak of performance by extensively interviewing both of her parents, outstanding marathoners in their day. Tito’s profiles are always intimate

Given in honor of Jerry Little. Selection Panel: Marlene Atwood, Mark Lucas, Ester Dill and Maryliss Bird

Outstanding Beginning Running Program Award for making important changes in their lives. Bea was elected to the Omaha Running Club Hall of Fame last year to recognize her significant standing in the local running community.

Selection Panel: Mark Grandonico, Len Goldman, Lisa Dahl, Janice Woolery

Outstanding Beginning Running Program

Outstanding Club Website Awards

STEP INTO RUNNING Bea Sides Program Director, Omaha Running Club – Omaha, NE

Small Club & Overall - RUN USCG RunUSCG.org

Bea Sides has been, and continues to be, the personification of women’s running in Omaha.

She has conducted a women’s training program on Wednesday nights for many years that is open to all women from the slowest walkers to elite runners. She has trained and encouraged many women to adopt a healthier lifestyle and appreciate that exercise and taking care of one’s self are an important part of a fulfilling life. Bea’s low-key support has been an integral part of the success and attraction of the program and has been a key element in the development and fulfillment of participants.

Bea has also for over ten years directed a women’s 5K on Labor Day each year that is the focus of the training programs. The race started out as an Avon Series race and continued as Go Girl Run at the conclusion of the Avon Series. The 5K for women and the several runs for children, from a diaper dash to one and two-mile runs for older children, are always very successful and well attended.

The joy on the face of a woman who has just crossed the finish line after a three-mile run, something she never thought she could do in a lifetime, is a pleasure to behold.

There are literally thousands of women in our community who would attest without reservation that Bea richly deserves the RRCA

Large Club - WICKED RUNNING CLUB WickedRunningClub.com Selection Panel: Chuck Bartlett, Chris Burch, Staci Rivero, and Charles Cline

RRCA Road Race Of The Year 12th ANNUAL INSIDE OUT SPORTS CLASSIC HALF MARATHON Race Director, Aaron Quick – North Carolina Road Runners Club – Raleigh, NC The 12th Annual IOS Classic Half Marathon is presented by the North Carolina Roadrunners Club, a 501(c)3 nonprofit club with the RRCA. The race was also named the RRCA 2010 NC State Championship event and subsequently named the RRCA 2011 Southern Regional Championship.

The RRCA was fully branded including on the website, finisher’s medal, and technical tee, along with having large banners prominently displayed for both the RRCA and the “Kids Run The Nation” campaign.

National Running Award Recipients

and moving and present the runners as three-dimensional, complex individuals. His interviewing skills are outstanding and his dedication to getting the story “right” has become legendary.” – Rich Benyo

$1 per participant in each race (the Half and 10K) was donated to the RRCA’s Kids Run The Nation Fund totaling $1000.

A $5700 cash purse was offered along with special RRCA plaques and Inside Out Sports

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gift cards. Beneficiaries beyond the KRN fund included the Cary Teen Council, the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities, the local American Red Cross chapter, and the Franklin Academy Middle School Girls Soccer Team.

Carolina agriculture by featuring fresh strawberries at the finish. Participants came from near and far including New York City, Florida, and west from North Carolina through Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, and Texas and even to Arizona, to enjoy the race offerings.

This challenging course highlights the natural treasures of the local state park and greenway system along with the bounty of local North

Selection Panel: Simone Adair, Gary Henry, Kathryn Gleghorn, and Tony Flesch

Compiled from Mitch Garner’s Blogs: from the Convention The first convention speaker on Friday was Jeannie Fox, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, who discussed Lobbying for Nonprofit Running Clubs. Grassroots lobbying is defined as the communication of a group’s position on particular legislation to the general public, and then an appeal to the general public to contact their elected representatives to request the representatives’ support of the group’s position.

Jeannie stressed that grassroots lobbying is a democratic tradition of people coming together to solve a public problem. She provided the conventioneers with an overview of the legal restrictions on lobbying under the Internal Revenue Code.

Our luncheon speaker was Pat Williams, senior vice president of the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association. Pat is an inspirational speaker who has authored over 50 books.

He and his wife Ruth are the parents of 19 children, including 14 that they adopted from four different countries. The children range in age from 23 to 36. During a recent year, 16 of his children were all teenagers at the same time. Never again will I complain about having to be the father of one teenage daughter! In his presentation, Pat outlined for the conventioneers his concept of good leadership and his eight qualities of a great leader: vision, energy, effective communication, good people skills, character, competence, boldness, and a serving heart. Good leaders must be lifelong teachers and lifelong learners. To be a lifelong learner, a leader must be a lifelong reader. Not all readers will be leaders, but all leaders will be readers. 85% of the new books sold in the United States each year are sold to women. Men need to start reading more!

Pat exhorted the conventioneers to read at least one hour per day. Good leaders also have a humble spirit. In Pat’s words, “Humility is like underwear. Everybody needs it, but don’t let it show.” Pat endorses the concept of TEAMS, an acronym which stands for, “Together everybody achieves more successfully.”

The keynote speaker for Saturday’s luncheon was Keith Brantly, a member of the 1996 United States Olympic Track and Field team. Keith competed in the marathon in Atlanta. He was also an American Olympic trials participant at various distances (5K, 10K, and marathon) in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000, competing in a total of seven trials events.

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Keith’s talk focused on perseverance. He started his career in an unusual way. At age 11, he fell off a motorboat, and sliced his heel badly. Two years later, he was running in his yard when the radiologist who had helped him after the accident asked him if he wanted to take up running.

In high school, he ran 9:09.74 for two miles and then pursued running as a varsity athlete at

Mitch Garner’s task at the awards dinner was to introduce Bill Rodgers. In preparing for his introduction, he did some research and came upon a plethora of anecdotes and vignettes about Bill. There is a line in the movie Zorba the Greek in which Zorba is asked about life. Whimsically Zorba observes, “A man needs a little madness or else he never cuts the rope and is free.” Bill is a free man.

Bill’s keynote address was a sincere and heartfelt account of his running journey. He noted that our sport, unlike any other sport, is participatory. Nowhere in the world is there a sport in which elite athletes and back-of-the-pack athletes can participate in an event with tens of thousands other athletes of varying abilities and ages and backgrounds. Running is truly an inclusive sport.

He acknowledged the great contribution that the RRCA is making toward the promotion of running in the United States.

Following Bill’s address, the 2009 RRCA National Running Awards were presented to the award winners. There was a great turn-out of award recipients including Roger Robinson who was there to accept the award for Outstanding Excellence in Journalism.

The RRCA extends a big thank you to the Lakeland Runners Club and the Central Florida Sports Marketing for hosting the 52nd Annual RRCA National Convention

THANK YOU TO OUR 2010 RRCA CONVENTION SPONSORS

Running Network Leslie Jordan Lakeland Runners Club Central Florida Sports Marketing Britten Banners K&K and Star Insurance MidFlorida Bank Brooks MyLaps Fit Niche Fredericksburg Area Runners Club Active.com Race It

52nd Annual RRCA Convention

the University of Florida (a four-time All-American in cross country and track), from which he graduated in 1983 with a degree in athletic administration. He initially thought that he would make the United States Olympic team in 1984, but the running gods were unkind. In 1988 and 1992, the running gods continued to work their voodoo, and he missed making the team by the narrowest of margins. Finally, in 1996, the running gods were appeased and the stars aligned themselves, and Keith made the American team, placing third at the Olympic marathon trials. He enjoyed his Olympic experience at Atlanta, finishing 28th after fading a bit down the stretch.

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Generous Donors

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

STATE REPS FUND

Gatorade Running Network Sports Authority RunDisney Weight Watchers Sigvaris

Annapolis Striders Orlando Runners Club East Bay Front Runners & Walkers Frederick Steeplechasers Patricia Coleman Foundation Forget the PR Mohican 50K Pensacola Race Management Club Northwest Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Maine Running Co DPD NE Volunteer Board Inc Prairie Du Chien Half Marathon Montana Marathon Melodie E Thompson Heather’s Hope Foundation Oregon Road Runners Yellowstone Rim Runners Run Like a Cheetah Hawkeye 50K Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers Dan Edwards Diane Hutchison Mellew Productions, Inc. North Carolina Ultra Running Janice Woolery Calumet Region Striders South Florida Racewalkers North Coast Road Runners Club Lawrence Trail Hawks Blue Springs Runners Lena Hollmann Kelly Richards G. Thomas Jennings

GOLD LEVEL CORPORATE MEMBERS ($1,000 AND UP)

Image One Star Insurance K&K Insurance Road Race Management Ashworth Awards Sports Science RunSignUp Britten Banners Rainbow Racing Leslie Jordan Hood to Coast the movie SILVER & BRONZE LEVEL CORPORATE MEMBERS

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Icespike La Foot, Inc Louis Garneau Pacifica Racewear Promo Partners Drink More Water Running Times magazine Fitness Magazine Watertown Family YMCA Lilac Bloomsday Run Marathon & Beyond

GRASSROOTS SUPPORTERS FUND - $25 and over

Annapolis Striders Atlanta Track Club ** Hawaii Ultra Running Team Alta Vista Runners Club Anniston Runners Club Atomic City Roadrunners Cedar Valley Running Association Big Lake Half Marathon Frederick Steeplechasers Blue Springs Runners Chicago United Runners Brent Ayer Track Shack Foundation Carl Sniffen Running Zone Foundation Central Mass Striders Tough Cookie Running Cherry Blossom Inc. *** Maine Running Co. Club Northwest David Epstein Cumberland Valley Athletic Club * Run Like a Cheetah Dan Edwards Hawkeye 50K East Bay Front Runners & Walkers G. Thomas Jennings Frederick Steeplechasers Milestone Race Authority Fulmont Road Runners Club Calumet Region Striders G. Thomas Jennings Nashville Striders Glenn W. Stewart N. Coast Road Runners Club Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Annapolis Striders Henley Fant Gabeau Living Trust Blue Springs Runners John G. Tyler and Bee McLeod * Atomic City Roadrunners Jon Hughes Mitchell Garner Jersey Shore Running Club * Alta Vista Sports Keith Brantley Tidewater Striders Lake Merritt Joggers & Striders Club Loco Leonard M. Goldman Southern Arizona Roadrunners Lilac Bloomsday Assn * Gary Corbitt Maine Running Co Washington Post Matching Gift Fund Montgomery County Road* Runners BNY Mellon Napa Valley Marathon * Altria Client Services Nashville Striders Aon Foundation New Orleans Track Club * MEP Associates LLC North Coast Road Runners Walmart Store, Inc. Pensacola Race Management Thomas Whittaker Pensacola Runners Association Ashworth Associates River City Runners Club Colorado Masters Running Run Like a Cheetah Marc Grandonico San Diego Track & Field Assn David Epstein St John Land Sharks Running Times Magazine Syracuse Chargers Track Club Team Footworks * The Boilermaker Road Race Inc Travis Eliot Landreth Memorial Scholarship Fund * Utica Roadruners, Inc. *$1000 donors and above **$5000 and above ***$10,000 and above

Generous Donors

ROADS SCHOLAR FUND

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Generous Donors 62

KIDS RUN THE NATION FUND Alta Vista Sports Anchorage Running Club Ann Arbor Track Club Annapolis Striders Anniston Runners Club Atomic City Roadrunners Badgerland Striders Blue Springs Runners Club Northwest David and Sharlee Cotter David Epstein Desmond Hooper Diane Hutchison FL Hosp Watermanteam’s Rock N Run Frederick Steeplechasers Germantown Half Marathon G. Thomas Jennings Mayor’s Cup 5K Hawkeye 50K KR Bridges Lake Burton Road Runners Club Lake Grapevine Runners & Walkers Lakes Area Running Club Lancaster Road Runners Club Lawrence Trail Hawks Lena Hollmann Maine Running Co. Maine Track Club Marian Taylor Micheal Bowen Michael Montagna Murfreesboro Half Marathon Nancy Howard Napa Valley Marathon Nashville Striders NC Roadrunners Club New England 65+ Runners Club North Coast Road Runners Club Orlando Runners Club Patricia Coleman Foundation Pensacola Race Management Rebecca Nathan Run Like A Cheetah Runner’s High Club Running Club North Shamrocker USA

Southeast Road Runners Southern Arizona Roadrunners St. John Land Sharks Star Insurance Agency Tahoe Mountain Milers The Guam Running Club Tidewater Striders Toledo Roadrunners Club Tough Cookie Running Virgin Island Pace Runners Willamette Valley Road Runners Kelly Richards Vicki Keasey in memory of John Yothers