National Running Awards

Ritzenhein won the U.S. Cross Country Championships in the 12K for his first senior national title. He made his marathon debut in the 2006 ING New York City Marathon, finishing 11th place with a time of 2:14:01. Ritzenhein finished 2nd with a time of 2:11:07 in the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials, which placed him on Team USA for the Beijing Olympics. At the 2008 Olympic Marathon, Ritzenhein was the first American Runner to cross the finish line, finishing 9th with a time of 2:11:59. In January 2009, Ritzenhein placed 2nd at the U.S. Half Marathon Championship. Three months later, he set a personal best at the 2009 London Marathon, finishing 11th in 2:10:00. In the January 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials, Ritzenhein ran a personal best 2:09:55, but placed 4th, narrowly missing a spot on the US Marathon Team behind third-place finisher, Abdi Abdirahman. On the evening of June 22, 2012, Ritzenhein placed third in the US Olympic Trials in the 10K and successfully achieved the Olympic 'A' standard of 27:45.00. On August 4, 2012, at the 2012 London Olympics, Ritzenhein finished 13th in the 10,000 meter finals with a time of 27:45:89.

National Running Award Recipients

Browning Ross Spirit of the RRCA - Chuck George

Chuck George has been a leader in the production of running events in the greater New Orleans metro area for close to 40 years. Through his organization, RRCA member the New Orleans Running System (NORSI) Chuck has put on over 1,000 races, including the annual Jazz Half Marathon, Armadillo Dash Trail Run, and Laketown Distance Festival. In doing so, he has become an industry leader in event production and his knowledge and experience have made him a valuable resource. This is a role Chuck embraces enthusiastically, making himself available regularly to provide ideas, assistance and recommendations to other running event organizers. Throughout his time in the sport, Chuck has also been a staunch supporter of the Road Runners Club of America, serving on the Board of Directors in the early 2000s, advocating for programs like the Championship Event Series and Race Director Certification, and donating countless race entries to the silent auction.

Outstanding Club President - Hans Wong

Elected in February, Hans initially set about asking board members past and present to meet for a SWOT analysis to shape the agenda for the Houston Striders moving forward. However, with the onset of COVID-19 not long after, Hans deftly pivoted to helping the club not only survive but thrive in these challenging conditions. When COVID-19 spread, Hans was the first club president in Houston to institute safety precautions, eventually ceasing in-person activities, with clear guidance communicated to the membership over email and on social media. Hans directed volunteers to host virtual workouts, encouraged virtual engagements and created team-based virtual challenges with online tools later replicated by other organizations due to their success. Amazingly, Hans also found time to focus on other important club items unrelated to the pandemic, drafting and overseeing the deployment of a club volunteer appreciation program and improving the impact of the club’s scholarship program. Hans’s focus on maintaining a

social atmosphere, training, and member benefits, while providing clear communication and calm leadership for a largely new board was critical. One measurable impact: membership numbers remained steady in 2020 for the Houston Striders despite of renewals starting in July, during the pandemic.

Outstanding State Rep - Alex Morrow

Since taking over as Alabama State Rep in 2015, Alex has been an active and engaged ambassador and leader. A specialty running store owner, Alex has used his deep ties to the local running community to grow RRCA membership and the RRCA State Championship Event Series. Alex is a constant presence on race day at finish lines. A Level II Certified RRCA Coach, Alex has also drawn on his work coaching elite athletes to help the RRCA, serving on the Roads Scholar grant selection panel and serving as an advisor to the program. His presence on social media is always positive and refreshing, and Alex works hard to feature runners from a broad demographic spectrum in a way that his spotlights can serve as role models for others.

Road Runners of the Year

Aliphine Tuliamuk – Open Female

At the February 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Atlanta, Aliphine shook off chilly, windy conditions and a challenging, hilly course to win the race, finishing first in a time of 2:27:23, and securing her spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Aliphine had foreshadowed her virtuoso performance in Atlanta a month earlier, kicking off 2020 by running a 1:09:49 at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in January.

Nathan Martin – Open Male

At December’s The Marathon Project race in Chandler, AZ, Nathan Martin ran a 2:11:05, the fastest marathon ever clocked by a Black man born in the United States. Martin’s time eclipsed the previous best of 2:11:52, held by Herman Atkins, a mark that had stood since 1979. Impressively, Martin’s performance at The Marathon Project also improved on his own personal record finish in a marathon by more than three minutes. A twotime U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, Nathan Martin ran the 2020 race in Atlanta, finishing 69th under tough conditions.

Kate Landau – Masters Female

At age 43, Kate Landau turned in the best performance by a female master runner at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, finishing an impressive 14th in 2:34:07. The finish in Atlanta was part of a string of impressive performances after Landau returned to the sport following a long hiatus, including wins at the Portland Marathon in 2016, Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon in 2018, the Miami Marathon in 2019, and dropping her PR to 2:31:56 in Boston in 2019.

Abdi Abdirahman – Masters Male

At the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta, Abdi finished third in 2:10:03, one second behind runner-up Jacob Riley. At 43, this performance made Abdirahman the oldest runner ever to make a U.S. Olympic team. The finish also marked Abdirahman’s fifth time making the U.S. Olympic team, having previously done so for the marathon in 2012 and the 10,000 meters in 2000, 2004, and 2008.

Outstanding Volunteer - Jack Hase

In 2020, Jack Hase did the same thing for the Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers (LGRAW) that he has done for many years: contribute in multiple ways big and small that allow the club to function. Jack is currently the club secretary, a position he’s held for three and a half years, stepping up to fill this important role following past service on the board. Jack has also been LGRAW’s webmaster since the club has had a website (more than 20 years), and more recently became the club's race timer. In that role, Jack has timed every race and timed fun run that LGRAW has produced since buying the timing equipment more than a decade ago (often on courses he certifies and designs). Jack is also an indispensable member of LGRAW on a personal level, frequently promoting the club at expos and other Dallas area events. Perhaps most tellingly, Jack is known by club members as Jack “Any Pace” Hase because he makes it a point to run the pace of any first-time club member to ensure they feel welcomed and included.

Outstanding Beginning Running Program – Front Runners New York

Every spring, Front Runners New York hosts a 10-week Beginners Running Clinic. The goal of the clinic is to train all of the participants to run the FRNY LGBT Pride Run in late June. The run is a 5-mile race and many of the beginners have never run before. The club has a committee that works on collaborating with the club’s coach to create a 10-week training program. Each Saturday, the group meets at the club’s Saturday morning Fun Run in Central Park. They learn proper warm-ups, stretching techniques, and running form. Most importantly, they also learn that running also includes camaraderie, connections, and friendships.

Outstanding Youth Running Program - Runner's Edge Youth Running

The program is coordinated by South Florida's largest run specialty retail store, Runner's Edge, located in Boca Raton. Coached by avid runners, teachers, and community leaders, 80 young runners from multiple elementary schools meet at a local park over the course of several weeks to learn and run, working toward a 1-mile or 5k event. Coaches incorporate academics into each running activity to reinforce concepts learned in the classroom, such as addition relays and "Race to the Word." Members of the Florida Atlantic University track team also serve as volunteers and role models for the young runners, 30-40% of whom receive special services from their schools.

Excellence in Running Journalism - Alison Mariella Désir

Since re-connecting with running almost a decade ago, Alison Desir has been a passionate and tireless advocate to improve the sport’s diversity and inclusion. Alison has created multiple organizations dedicated to welcoming and empowering BIPOC and women runners, while also drawing on her formal training to bring the mental health benefits of the sport to a broader group.

In 2020, Alison’s writing, both in traditional outlets and on social media, powerfully and insightfully connected the broader national reckoning about race and racism in America to the sport of running. Her article in “Outside Online” responding to the death of Ahmaud Arbery spurred overdue and necessary conversations and actions about the racial divides in the sport at all levels. Throughout the year, Desir’s Instagram feed also became an important voice where she shared her personal reflections and broader commentary on efforts within running to combat systemic racism.

Communications Excellence - Alpine Runners

With in-person group activities impossible for much of 2020, the Alpine Runners’ newsletter and club communications, managed by Beth McCloskey, served as a connector to members starved for running information. Beth serves primarily as newsletter editor, which she keeps relevant with a variety of content that members look forward to each new issue. In addition to her editorial role, Beth proofs all the articles and assists in writing the articles profiling a different member in each issue. The club also maintains an active, informative, user-friendly website, and posts regular updates on its social media accounts with club pictures, news, and general running-related information.

Road Race of the Year - Publix Atlanta Marathon

Held the day after the 2020 Olympic Trials Marathon, the Publix Atlanta Marathon capped an exciting and invigorating weekend long celebration of running. Held for the second time on a new course, the race took participants past some of Atlanta’s most important monuments, and showed off some of the city’s more unique and beautiful neighborhoods. Hosting an event of this quality open to the general public a day after organizing a top-notch Olympic Trials race for the country’s top athletes is a testament to the hard work and determination of the Atlanta Track Club and their commitment to supporting running at all levels.