SUMMER 2020
Remember when?
www.runmdra.org
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THIS ISSUE President’s Letter
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Running Briefs News and Notes
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Member Spotlight Meet Jena Schwake
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Profile
The story of Billy Mills
Essay
8 craig hagensick of st. paul nears the finish of the twin cities 10 mile in 2019.
Running during COVID-19
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Race spotlight Brave Like Gabe
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RACES
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Races go virtual in 2020 18
In memory of
Remembering three great faces
Minutes
See your story here RunMinnesota is looking for writers. If you have a story idea you’d like to pursue, or if you are a writer in need of an idea, please let us know. Email MDRA operations manager Sarah Ahlers McInerney at runminnesota@ gmail.com to learn more about this fun opportunity.
ON THE COVER The finish line of the 2019 Twin Cities 10 mile is pictured on this issue’s cover. Photo by Chad Richardson
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CONTRIBUTORS GARY PORTER
G
ary has completed 11 marathons over 40 plus years of
running. These include Boston and the Marine Corps marathon, where he and his wife Melissa were twice recognized as the top fund raisers for Billy Mill’s Running Strong for American Indian Youth team. Gary is a retired professor of accounting and has authored numerous textbooks. He has also written a book about the couple’s first adopted dog and another about growing up in a small Midwestern town.
CREDITS Editor: Sarah Ahlers McInerney
Senior Editor: Gloria Jansen
Art Director: Chad Richardson
Advertising Coordinator/Sales: Sarah Ahlers McInerney
Photographer: Wayne Kryduba
NATHAN CAMPEAU
N
atHAN Nathanbegan running in 1997 as a way toexplore
his new surroundings in Washington, DC. He fell in love with running and ran the first of his 30+ marathons/ ultras in 2000. In 2003 Nathan discovered the beauty of the Minneapolis trail system while running the Twin Cities Marathon. A few months later he moved to Minnesota and immediately joined MDRA.
ALLIE JOHNSON
a
llie Johnson is a writer and runner born and raised in
Minnesota. She currently lives in Minneapolis and loves running with her dog around the Chain of Lakes. If she’s not doing that, she’s most likely hiking, biking or playing soccer or ultimate Frisbee. She just might by addicted to marathon running, but she won’t admit it. You can find her posting about running and dogs on Twitter @alliemjohnson21.
Results: Jack Moran
MDRA Officers: Rochelle Christensen, President Steve Hennessy, Vice President Diana Jacks, Treasurer Chad Austin, Secretary
MDRA Board Members: Mark Annett, Geogg Englehart, Tom Goudreault, Jill Jewell, Lou Ann Kycek, Perry McGahan, Damon Rothstein, Christopher Turoski, Mishka Vertin and Vema Volker.
Contact RunMinnesota! RunMinnesota P.O. Box 6419 Minneapolis, MN 55406-0419 runminnesota@gmail.com
MOLLY MCLAIN
M
olly began running in 2011 after her first child was
born as a way to get back into shape. Several races later, she now considers herself a dedicated leisure runner and enjoys running the chain of lakes near her home in Minneapolis. In January 2020, she joined MDRA and began volunteering as social media/communication support. She is currently training for her first marathon.
SHEILA MULROONEY ELDRED
S
HEILA Mulrooney Eldred said that most of her friends are
runners (she even married one of them) and she still gets together with five members of her college cross country team, more than 20 years later). She’s written for The New York Times, the Washington Post, Nature, STAT News, FiveThirtyEight and, of course, Runner’s World.
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RunMinnesota magazine is published four times a year and is produced by the Minnesota Distance Running Association. RunMinnesota is available through a member subscription or at select retail locations. To get RunMinnesota mailed to you, join online at runmdra.org.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
STEVE MAUPIN, PICTURED ON THE left, PASSED AWAY THIS YEAR. A MEMORIAL TO HIM IS LOCATED ON PAGE 17 OF THIS ISSUE. Submitted photo
BY ROCHELLE CHRISTENSEN
H
ello runners,
2020 has been a challenging year so far! We have a global pandemic, a struggling economy, the death of George Floyd and social unrest. There are so many emotions: sadness, uncertainty and fear. Our physical and emotional well-being is being put to a test this year. COVID-19 shut down all MDRA spring races and most training programs. We had to ask for your financial help. You generously responded and, unless something unforeseen happens, MDRA will celebrate its 60th year in 2021. It has been remarkable to see the generosity and support of our running community. To protect our communities, runners and volunteers, we have canceled our fall in person events. We are transitioning these races, City of Lakes half marathon and Victory 5K/10K, to virtual events. In addition, our fall training programs are also virtual. MDRA events, programs, resources must make all runners feel welcome and safe. To do this, we will be listening and evaluating. We will then take meaningful action to be an inclusive organization.
I am excited for how MDRA will be giving back to the running community this year. Some examples are: The City of Lakes Virtual Run benefiting Mile in My Shoes, Grand Rounds Challenge that will benefit four running and wellness organizations that encourage running, strengthen community connection and who serve diverse or marginalized communities. The MDRA Foundation recently opened their annual grant cycle and will award grants to organizations that promote youth participation, provide training and education to runners and to support the running community. Finally, when you are out for a run, smile, say hello, be kind, have a conversation, talk about running - just be a warm, kind and inviting person. Thank you for your continued support, stay safe, and keep running.
Rochelle Christensen President, MDRA Board of Directors
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RUNNING BRIEFS Announcing the Minneapolis Grand Rounds Challenge! Members of the Minnesota Distance Running Association asked if we would host a virtual event to benefit organizations in our communities that make an impact on equality and representation in our sport. We are excited to announce the Minneapolis Grand Rounds Challenge, a 50 Mile Running Challenge to raise funds for Twin Cities running and wellness organizations that encourage running, strengthen community connection and who serve diverse or marginalized communities. Organizations to benefit from this challenge are Mile in My Shoes and Native Women Running with more to be announced. The cost of the challenge is $50 and includes a running hat. Register at https://www. mplsgrchallenge.com
Training with MDRA goes virtual! MDRA is excited to announce that it has developed two new virtual training programs! Fall Virtual Training is targeting those with some running experience looking to train for a half marathon, full marathon or to stay “race ready”. Beginning Running is a virtual class for those that are completely new to running or who are running two to three miles and want to go further. Both classes are led by certified coaches, meet online once a week and include a training plan. Offering virtual programming allows us to reach more runners across Minnesota and continue our work toward our mission - supporting the Minnesota running community and helping runners of all abilities reach their goals! More information can be found at https://runmdra.org/virtual-training-programs/
MDRA Community Giving Grant The MDRA Foundation Community Giving Grant is awarded each year to help Minnesota organizations promote youth participation, provide training and education to runners and to support the running community. During this uncertain, unsettled time, the MDRA Foundation is looking to support entities that: have a need based on recent health crises related to Covid-19 and/or societal unrest following the killing of George Floyd; or encourage running in diverse or margin-
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News and Notes from the Roads, Trails and Track
alized communities; or foster health, healing and coming together through running. The MDRA Foundation will be awarding multiple grants in 2020 in amounts between $500 to $1,000. More information can be found at https://runmdra.org/mdra-community-giving-grant/ The 4th annual grant cycle is in the selection phase with notification of grant awards to be made by August 21, 2020.
MDRA Polar Bears on Facebook Are you looking for an online running community? Need suggestions on a new route? Want to post your miles on Facebook but your friends are getting annoyed? You can find encouragement and support with the MDRA Polar Bear group on Facebook! We want to see your miles at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ mdrapolarbears.
MDRA COVID Race and Program Cancelations To protect our communities and runners’ safety, the following races and programs have been canceled: The 47th annual Como Relays; The 38th annual MDRA 15K; and The MDRA Trail Running Class. While we are truly disappointed to have to make this decision, we are looking forward to the future when we can run together.
City of Lakes Half Marathon and the Victory Labor Day Races to be held virtually! To protect our communities and runners’ safety, the City of Lakes Half Marathon and the Victory Labor Day Races will be held virtually in 2020. Our decision is based on current Minnesota Department of Health restrictions that do not allow for public gatherings large enough to host a race of our size. These restrictions on size are not expected to significantly change within the timeline that would allow for us to adequately prepare a successful COVID safe event. The race has changed but the cause remains. Register to run our virtual events and support the Minnesota Distance Running Association and our Charity Partners. City of Lakes registration is
$55 ($10 off for MDRA members) and includes a limited edition t-shirt! Register at www.cityoflakeshalfmarathon.com. Victory registration is $30 ($5 off for MDRA Members) and includes a running buff. Register at www.victoryraces.com.
MDRA and City of Lakes Half Marathon partner with Mile in My Shoes in 2020 Supporting Social Transformation through Fitness and Fundraising Can your running change a life? Want a free entry to the City of Lakes Half Marathon plus a chance to make a difference in the lives of those who are homeless and displaced? The Minnesota Distance Running Association and the City of Lakes Half Marathon are excited to announce an official charity partnership with Mile in My Shoes! Partnership with this Twin Cities based nonprofit brings the transformative power of running to people experiencing homelessness and finishing sentences of incarceration. The Minnesota Distance Running Association and Mile in My Shoes are teaming up to raise funds and help even more people to the City of Lakes finish line through their FundRacer program. FundRacers provide a huge boost to MiMS’s annual revenue by committing to raise money for the organization while they train for and participate in a variety of races. In return, runners receive a free race entry, lots of exclusive incentives and the opportunity to connect with the local running community in a new and profound way. Sign up as a FundRacer, pledge money to a FundRacer, or volunteer to be a Run Mentor to Mile in My Shoes Resident Members. To learn more about becoming a FundRacer, visit www. cityoflakeshalfmarathon.com/fundracer
MEMBER
SPOTLIGHT Jena schwake When did you start running and why?
I’ve had an on again, off again relationship with running since college, when I was attempting to lose the dreaded freshman 15 (about 10 years ago now). It wasn’t until I ran my first half marathon (City of Lakes) in 2017 that I started to run more consistently as a way to test my limits, see what my body is capable of and stay healthy, mentally and physically.
Why do you run or what keeps you motivated?
Pre-pandemic, my motivation for running was largely fueled by the excitement and energy of race days! Now that races aren’t happening, my motivations for running are to escape the house, get fresh air and sunshine and keep my stress level at bay.
What do you consider to be your favorite distance/race? Half marathon or 10 mile.
What does a typical week of training look like for you?
Monday - Yoga/foam roll/recovery Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday - run in the early a.m. before work Friday - rest Saturday - something active to cross train (hike, kayak, long walk) Sunday - long run
What are your interests outside of running?
Kayaking, cooking, craft breweries and college football
What are your interests outside of running?
I like good music of all kinds, writing and reading.
What are your favorite pre- and post-race meals?
Pre-race - oatmeal with peanut butter and banana Post-race - for some reason I always want pizza after a race!
What’s your bucket list/running goals?
Train for and complete a marathon! My top two choices would be either Grandma’s Marathon or Chicago.
What advice would you give to someone new to running?
Give yourself grace - no one wakes up one day and is awesome at something new! And also - don’t put a lid on yourself - your mind will give up before your body does!
What is your best memory from a race?
Grandma’s half marathon 2019 - I think I could run that race for the next 30 years and not have a more perfect weather day. The weather, coupled with the beautiful lake views, made for an incredible first Grandma’s race experience!
Jena schwake got back into running after racing in her first half-marathon, the 2017 city of lakes half. Contributed photo
Written by Molly McLain
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PROFILE
TOKYO 2020
FOR BILLY MILLS, IT’S A DREAM ON HOLD
billy mills is pictured during training exercises at camp pendleton. Mills was born in 1938 in pine ridge, south dakota. mills went on to win the 10,000 meter gold medal in the 1964 tokyo olympics with a time of 28 minutes, 24.4 seconds. Submitted photo
BY GARY PORTER
M
innesota runners of a certain
age recall two of the state’s all time best, both running legends of the 1960s. In 1963 Buddy Edelen, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, set both an American and World record in the marathon with a time of 2:14:28. The following year he finished sixth in the marathon at the Tokyo Olympics. Ron Daws, who has an MDRA race named after him, qualified for the 1968 Mexico City games with a third place finish in
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the first ever USA marathon trials in Alamosa, Colo. He finished 22nd in Mexico City. The next American after Buddy Edelen in Tokyo finished in 14th place. That same runner was in Alamosa four years later and shouted encouragement to Ron Daws. “Just keep this pace, no way he can catch you,” referring to the runner in the 4th position. Buddy’s teammate and the one shouting encouragement to Ron achieved fame not in the marathon, but in the 10,000 at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics………. “Look at Mills, look at Mills!” Those words uttered by NBC analyst Dick Bank rank right up there with Al Michaels’ “Do you believe in miracles?” call of the USA hockey
gold medal in 1980. After all, Billy Mills was barely on anyone’s radar to be in contention for a medal in the 10,000, let alone the gold. Had he miscounted and still had a lap to go? One of the race officials reassured him, no he did not still have a lap to go, that he was in fact the new Olympic champion in the 10K. His time that day was a new Olympic record, 28.24.4. To this day, he remains the only American to win the Men’s Olympic Gold in the 10,000 meters. Tokyo 2020 was to be a dream trip for Billy Mills and his wife, Pat, an accomplished visual artist. Along with their four daughters, two sons-in-law and a close friend, they planned to return to the city where he made history 56
PROFILE years earlier. But we all know why that dream has been put on hold, one of the many casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic. Naturally, Billy was devastated, but he has made a lifetime of facing challenges and overcoming obstacles. To understand his true character requires going back to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Oglala Lakota tribe of Sioux Indians…… William Mervin Mills was born there on June 30, 1938. By many measures, the county in which the reservation is located is ranked among the poorest in the United States, with alcoholism and suicide rates far above national averages. Billy’s parents divorced and his mother died when he was eight years old. Struggling to cope with her loss, Billy’s father told him “Son, you have broken wings. If you follow your dreams, then someday you will have the wings of an eagle.” Those wings had not healed when his father died four years later, leaving him an orphan at 12 years old. Billy was sent to one of the well known Indian boarding schools, the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kan. He was a three time state champion in cross country and also won the Kansas Relays high school mile three times. At the University of Kansas Billy was a three time All American in cross country. But all that success didn’t stop the discrimination and prejudice he experienced. Once after a meet he was asked to step aside when a group photo was being taken. Understandably, those wings still hadn’t healed. Once during his junior year of college he contemplated jumping from a window. But he heard his dad’s voice telling him “Don’t, Don’t.” So he moved away from the window, gathered himself, and wrote down “Gold medal, 10,000 meter run.” It was a dream that he hoped would help mend the wings of a broken soul. In 1962 Billy graduated from Kansas, married his college sweetheart Pat and joined the Marine Corps. He was a first lieutenant when he qualified for the Olympics in both the 10,000 and the marathon. The race for the gold medal in the 10,000 at the 1964 Olympics has been well documented. A YouTube video of the final lap shows three men in contention: Ron Clarke, the world record holder from Australia, Mohamed Gammoudi from Tunisia and Billy Mills (Gerry Lindgren, first in the USA trials, had fallen off the pace and would finish in 9th place). As they entered the final straightaway the three men jockeyed for position while struggling to avoid runners they were lapping. Twice Billy was thrown off balance. With about 100 meters to go he could feel the presence of his wife Pat, sitting 32
the Author of this article, gary porter, is pictured on the right with his wife, melissa, and billy mills. Submitted photo
rows up in the stands. At one point he looked over to see an eagle on the singlet of a German runner who had moved over to an outside lane. In one final surge Billy broke the tape, followed by Gammoudi for the silver and Clarke for the bronze. After the race Billy sought out the German runner to thank him for the inspiration he provided. There was no eagle on his singlet. The number four is sacred in the Lakota culture. Each of the four directions is associated with a color: West-Black, North-Red, East-Yellow and South-White. The Lakota also hold sacred four virtues: Bravery, Fortitude, Generosity and Wisdom. In not only the race in Tokyo but throughout his life, Billy Mills has been the embodiment of a Lakota warrior, living by these four virtues. The movie Running Brave, starring Robby Benson as Billy Mills, is a testament to his courage to face all the obstacles in his path. During his college career Billy struggled at times to finish races, bewildered by what was causing him to crash. Eventually he was diagnosed as hypoglycemic and borderline type 2 diabetic. Low blood sugar was the culprit. Imagine the forti-
tude it took, the emotional and mental strength to deal with this condition and not give into the temptation to offer it as an excuse. And the grit to circle 25 laps around a track faster than anyone ever had in the history of the Olympics. All the while possessing the wisdom to know when to hold back and when to make that final surge. Generosity in the Lakota culture is exemplified in a tradition called “the giveaway.” In most societies, one who achieves success or receives some honor is showered with gifts. Certainly winning an Olympic Gold Medal would qualify. But in the Lakota culture you recognize good fortune by giving both your possessions and your time to help others. As soon as Billy won the gold medal he knew what the trajectory of his life would be from that day forward. He would devote his life to helping those less fortunate. In 1986, Billy Mills and Gene Krizek cofounded Running Strong for American Indian Youth®. Since then the organization has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those on some of the most impoverished reservations SUMMER 2020
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PROFILE
Billy mills celebrates at the finish line and receives his medal during the 1964 olympics in Tokyo. Submitted photos in the country. Digging water wells, providing kids with backpacks for school and growing organic gardens are just a few of the organization’s projects. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Billy’s gold medal, Running Strong initiated a program to award $10,000 grants to deserving Native American youth. No surprise the name chosen for the program: Dreamstarters. Billy Mills wanted native youth to dream big, just like he has done his entire life. For a number of years Running Strong sponsored a team for the Marine Corps Marathon. This author and his wife were thrilled to be part of that team for three years and in the process raise
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money for the organization. In 2012 President Obama awarded Billy the Presidential Citizens Medal for his efforts on behalf of Native American youth. Sadly, both Buddy Edelen and Ron Daws died relatively young, Buddy from cancer at age 59 and Ron of a heart attack at 55. Although Billy deals daily with the challenges associated with hypoglycemia, he is still going strong and continuing his “giveaway” 56 years after his gold medal. He looks forward to returning to where his dream came true and helped mend a broken wing.
In an interview for this article Billy expressed his hope that the Tokyo Olympics can serve to bring about global unity and diversity. After all, with the wisdom of an elder, he points to another of those sacred Lakota virtues… “We Are All Related.”
You can learn more about Running Strong for American Indian Youth at www.indianyouth.org Photos for this article courtesy of Billy Mills and the author.
PROFILE
Above: Billy mills is pictured in training. Far left: mills and his wife, pat, are pictured with his gold medal. Left: Mills ran track at the University of Kansas. Submitted photos
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ESSAY
Nathan and Kari Campeau pose for a photo with their daughter, addy
COVID-19 RUNNING STORIES Tracking what has changed, and what hasn’t BY NATHAN CAMPEAU It has been about a year since I last wrote for this magazine, and it’s probably a cliché to mention that it feels like years have gone by. Our two ongoing pandemics (COVID-19 and racism) have impacted every aspect of our lives, including running. So, I wondered, how has your running changed in 2020? At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, many of us were still flocking to trails in packs, running with the MDRA Polar Bear group and starting to train for spring and summer races. But then life completely changed, seemingly, in a week. Social distancing and stay at home orders have made running and racing very different for many of us, especially the most social of us.
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My COVID-19 Running Story My running changed suddenly. We live just a few blocks from Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis and have access to dozens of miles of trails just out our front door. When Minnesota’s stay at home order went into place, and many of us were working from home, the parks and trails were now full of people and no one was entirely sure how far away we needed to be from others to stay safe. By mid-March, I had given up running on trails and had begun running the streets in and around our Uptown neighborhood. One day I decided to run every street in my neighborhood in as short a distance as I could (7.5 miles). The next week, I ran every alley in my neighborhood. To keep things fresh (and to keep my toddler and myself entertained), I started running stroller routes with my GPS that spelled various words. That got to be a little exhausting (and nerve wracking.
ESSAY What if I misspelled a word and my Strava followers saw that!!?), so I eventually settled on a goal to run every mile and block of every street within a couple miles of my house. I tackled the challenge, neighborhood by neighborhood, and after a few months, hundreds of miles, I had achieved my goal of running every street between I-94, 35W, 50th Street, and France Avenue. I called it good at that point because if I venture much beyond those limits, I need to drive, which defeats the purpose of the game. Also, my schedule has changed and I’m back to mostly running trails early in the morning when there are fewer runners. I wondered how other people were adjusting their running during the pandemic. I could see on the MDRA Polar Bear Facebook group that people were now running solo or in very small groups, some running far out in the countryside on little used trails and even some people running at home on treadmills. So we asked around, and got some interesting responses!
How has Running Changed in COVID-19?
The biggest change people seem to be making is where they run. I learned that I am far from alone in setting out to run all of the streets in my surrounding neighborhoods. To continue running while practicing social distancing, Andy Morgan of Saint Paul says, “I started running #everysinglestreet in Saint Paul. It is a project to run all the streets in your town. I’m also doing the alleys.” Run streaker (1,700 plus days!) Charlie Potts of St. Peter is running every street in his community during the pandemic, although he admits he had probably already incidentally accomplished that feat over the previous years. Many runners we heard from said that what they’re missing most are races and running events. To stay motivated, Caleb Haynes of Chaska is running virtual races (in addition to running every street of Chaska and neighboring communities). My wife and I have enjoyed a few virtual races as well, and while it’s not the same as the real thing, we organized and ran a Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon event around Lake of the Isles complete with spectators and a water stop! Our gym (Performance Running Gym) hosted a fun virtual race series that benefited local charities and motivated me to log a few track miles. People are adjusting their running in other ways, too. Many people are running earlier to avoid the crowds on the trails. I’ve seen a lot of people heading out to trails to get away from the big city trails, although I’ve heard that can
Brook Lemm-Tabor says her love of running hasn’t changed at all during the pandemic. Submitted photo backfire when too many people have the same idea and the trailheads are jammed full!
What HASN’T Changed about Running? We heard clearly that people’s love of running hasn’t waned. In fact, running has served as a much needed outlet for stress for so many of us during these difficult times. Brook Lemm-Tabor says that “what hasn’t changed is my desire/need to get out there and put in some miles and maintain my fitness.” In fact,
for so many of you, we heard that people’s mileage has actually INCREASED during the pandemic, even without the motivation of races. And I believe it. Even while raising a toddler and working in jobs that only got crazier and more demanding in the pandemic, my wife and I increased our mileage, mostly unintentionally. When I reflected on it, I realized that my daily run has become one of my only touchpoints to the world before SUMMER 2020
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ESSAY COVID-19. At the same time, I’ve also come to look forward to running as a way to explore a new neighborhood; discovering new parts of Minneapolis has been especially important now that my days look mostly the same. Finally, running lends structure to my new working from home life, where work, family life, community commitments and time with friends all blend together in our dining room. For these reasons, I’ve definitely come to depend on a great run and that post-run coffee!
What We Miss
By far, the biggest thing that people have missed is running with
‘I’ve always been a runner who appreciates solitude, and that hasn’t changed. But I miss events.’ Charlie Potts
friends and training groups. Running may be a solitary sport, but many of us are missing the friendships and communities that running brings into our lives. Andy said that he misses running with his Mile in My Shoes friends and Brook is sad to be without her MDRA runs. As someone who used to run with friends four to five days a week, I can certainly relate, even as I’ve started running with a couple people scattered throughout the week. Even the solitary runners miss community, too, with all running races canceled. Charlie says, “I’ve always been a runner who appreciates solitude, and that hasn’t changed. But I miss events.” Virtual races can be fun, but they’re just not a substitute for the excitement of seeing all your friends and “rivals” at a big race.
Silver Linings The pandemic has changed our way of life (at least temporarily), and we’ve all had to look for the silver linings in this new world we’re living through, whether that’s a slower pace of life or more time to spend with family. MDRA runners have mentioned that they’ve enjoyed running quieter streets with less traffic and getting to explore their communities. I’ve also seen people rise to the occasion and use running to help others. On the suggestion from some MDRA Polar Bear members, we spent the first few months of the pandemic using the weekly Polar Bear emails to promote local running stores that were struggling to stay afloat with the stay at home order and to organize weekly donations to organizations that were actively working to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic such as food shelves. Charlie took that a step further and used his running to raise over $3,000 to support graduating seniors in his community. For me, one unexpected outcome of my streets running has been to gain a better understanding of how our communities are both connected and divided. My runs have taken me down the wealthiest streets in Minneapolis and through some of the most neglected streets. It was eye opening to run single streets that travel uninterrupted from some of the most marginalized and underinvested in parts of the city directly to the richest, all within a couple miles. For example, just days before George Floyd’s murder, I completed running the Lyndale and Whittier neighborhoods, just a mile from my
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Nathan Campeau set a goal to run on every street in his minneapolis neighborhood. the map above is proof that he’s accomplished that goal! Submitted photos
home; days after I checked these neighborhoods off on my map, the city streets were transformed. Our post office and bank would be burned to the ground and the daily protests demanding justice would take over the streets. As I ran the streets east to west, from the I-35W soundwalls (that form a deep racial scar in our community) to the pristine lakes, the divisions and segregation in our community were apparent, as was the lack of city investment in the public realm and parks (with some exceptions). As I ran the entire length of 27th Street, just a couple miles from the soundwall to Lake of the Isles, the chasm seemed like 20 miles. And while that observation depressed me and renewed my commitment to fighting for justice and equity, I also observed commonalities across these neighborhoods: yard signs celebrating graduating seniors (albeit different high schools) and beautiful and inviting gardens. I hope that you have been able to find running a solace during COVID19, and I hope that you’ve been able to spend some time getting to know your neighborhoods and neighbors better. There’s a lot of community we miss when we stick to the well-worn path.
RACE SPOTLIGHT
GET TO KNOW Brave Like Gabe
BY SHEILA MULROONEY ELDRED Editor’s note: The demise of some of our favorite hometown races combined with the proliferation of national corporate races inspired us to highlight some of the best, most local races in the state. Have a race you would like to nominate? Email mdrasarah@gmail.com.
G
abriele Grunewald, the local elite
runner who captured hearts and attention worldwide for competing through a rare metastatic cancer, must have had some prescience about what racing would be like during a pandemic. Two years ago, a year before her death last June, she organized a virtual component to her first Brave Like Gabe 5K. Her foundation had such a large following around the world that many people wanted to participate without making a trip to Minnesota. So about 500 people raced in person in the Twin Cities, and about 800 raced virtually. Last year, the foundation had to close registration because they ran out of bibs after the first 1,500 registrants. So pivoting to an all online event once the pandemic hit wasn’t too tricky, says Justin Grunewald, Gabriele’s husband and race director. The changes in plan have resulted in a two race format: Participants can race at both the beginning and end of summer. “So you can set a goal for June and then break it in September,” Grunewald says, giving novices a perfect shot at a personal record. “I don’t see races happening in person anytime soon, but you can still race yourself. And I think there’s beauty in that.” PANDEMIC VERSION: The race directors added a few other enticements for the 2020 races: a Strava challenge and leaderboard, fun prizes for running a course with the most elevation gain, or posting the most improvement between June and September. They will host a live online happy hour
Gabriele Grunewald’s legacy lives on with the Brave Like Gabe 5K. on July 1 to celebrate the June races. And runners are encouraged to race on June 25, Gabe’s birthday. THE PARTICIPANTS: Runners typically race in Minnesota, London, Australia, Canada, Germany. And they include elites, such as Carrie Tollefson, Lauren Fleshman and Kara Goucher. COURSE RECORDS: It’ll be challenging to break this one: Justin Grunewald raced the course in 15:41. BEYOND THE RACE: Without the costs associated with an in person race, which can tally $15,000, a much bigger percentage of registration fees will go to support the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation (ACCRF), Grunewald says.
SWAG: In addition to tshirts and race numbers, various donations will go toward prizes. Brooks donated shoes. COROS donated watches; Goodr, glasses. Local sponsors include running stores such as TCRC and Run N Fun. SIGN UP: $40, https://raceroster.com/ events/2020/29419/brave-like-gabe-5k-september-6-2020-st-paul-mn NEXT YEAR: While the race will continue to offer a virtual option, Grunewald hopes that an in person race will eventually realize some of the plans they had in place for 2020 before the coronavirus, including a collaboration with local brewery Barrel Theory Beer Company. SUMMER 2020
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MEMORIALS
IN MEMORY OF ... Remembering Lalatendu Bag, 1978-2020 BY LINDSAY FERRIS MARTIN “Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest. “ When I read of Cincinnati’s passing, I was in disbelief. I’m sure when I write this, and if you knew Lal, you too would agree. He was taken from us all too soon. There is no way I’ll ever write anything that will truly reflect the kindness in his soul. Long distance running was a farfetched idea to me when I first started running with MDRA and met Lal, but with him and the rest of the MDRA family, I realized that with friends (also known as my running family) long distance running wasn’t just a crazy notion but a reality, an escape from stress and a place to find lifelong friends and inspiration. Lal (or as many of us called him “Cincinnati”) and I got a chance to run together often. Being far more experienced (and faster) than I, he often would slow his pace down for me, just so we could engage in long run convos (a form of communication you can really only understand if you’re a part of a long distance running group like MDRA). Hours of running felt like minutes. When pain took over my feet, legs or tried to mentally get me to quit, Cincinnati made for a great distraction and inspiration. We talked about family, especially our daughters. Our daughters are about the same age. We were excited to see them start to catch that run bug as they watched us train, supported our water stops and attended races and MDRA meetings. It was wonderful to see Lal cross the finish line with pride and, most importantly, watch him beam with joy when he’d
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meet up with his family at the end of the race. I adored seeing the races he and his daughter would do together. His life finish line came up too quickly for most of us. For his family and closest friends, thank you for sharing Cincinnati with our running family a few hours a week. I’m humbled
to not only have the opportunity to know him but to learn from him and to be inspired by him.
MEMORIALS
Remembering Steve Maupin, 1951-2020 BY KATHY LARSEN You have probably seen Steve at every MDRA race you’ve ever raced. Steve loved to run. He was an accomplished runner and participated in many marathons including Grandma’s, Twin Cities and the Boston Marathon, and many other running events. As an active member of the MDRA, he competed in all the Grand Prix races year after year. His love for running started when he was a kid and he told his mom that he just liked to run. Steve grew up in Deephaven, Minn. and graduated from Minnetonka High in 1969, where he ran cross country and track. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from St. Thomas University. Steve struggled with frontotemporal degeneration for a number of years and passed away on April 19, 2020. He is survived by his wife, two children, two brothers and one sister and many nieces and nephews; and the many friends he made over his lifetime.
STEVE MAUPIN IS PICTURED during a cross country run with friends.
Remembering Dwight Pierson, 1935-2020 BY DAVE MAREK Dwight Pierson is a name that may not be familiar with most MDRA members. Dwight was a long distance runner for 40 years and he completed 25 marathons and numerous other races. However, Dwight is remembered for his long, rich history with the Minnesota running community and his legacy is incredible. Dwight was the founder of the Rochester Track Club in 1969. His influence combined with RTC leadership provided training and competition opportunities for all track and field events. The RTC initially began by focusing on competitive high school and college aged athletes. Today, now known as the Rochester Running Club, it is comprised mainly of adults who are looking for the comradery and
fun that come with the benefits of being a member of a large running club. The RRC’s mission “To promote and encourage running and fitness in Rochester and the surrounding communities by providing support, information, and events for people of all ages, abilities, and levels of fitness” is reflected in the number of events they put on each year including the Hal Martin All Comers Track Meet which is celebrating its 50th year. In 1979 at the inaugural RTC annual banquet, Dwight was recognized as the first recipient of the “Dwight Pierson Service Award”. A lifetime achievement award for outstanding, over and above sustained service to the RRC has been awarded annually ever since. Pioneers like Dwight paved the way for what we enjoy today as runners and may take for granted. We are forever grateful for his vision, passion and service. Thank you Dwight!
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RACES
RACES GO VIRTUAL
Eric Kile is pictured running with friends during his “grandma’s Marathon.”
BY ALLIE JOHNSON
T
hanks to the coronavirus pandemic, most races this spring
and summer have been canceled, leaving many runners disappointed. Most races, however, are giving runners the chance to run the distance virtually—on their own time and their own course—and still receive their race medal, finisher shirt and any other swag if they submit their results by a certain date. Some runners, like me, might throw in the towel on their training and wait until next year to run their races. But many others are taking to the streets of their own neighborhoods to finish what they started.
Eric Kile
Age: 39 Virtual race: Grandma’s Marathon Date run: Saturday, May 23
Eric Kile wasn’t going to let another cancelation keep him from finally running his first marathon.
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After nearly a decade of running half marathons, last spring he signed up with a friend for the Green Bay Marathon to finally tackle 26.2 miles. But the morning of the race, it was canceled because part of the course was flooded. He ended up running the half marathon that day instead. Eric decided to give the marathon another shot and signed up for MDRA’s spring training class this year, setting his sights on running Grandma’s Marathon on Saturday, June 20. He said his thoughts at the time were, “Maybe I’ll train for Grandma’s...Grandma’s can’t get canceled, right?” When Grandma’s was canceled, Eric realized that if he was ever going to actually run a marathon, this was the time to do it because he didn’t know if he would sign up for a third race. So, he decided to run Grandma’s virtually. “I was going for it because I wasn’t going zero for two,” he said. “I was here. I was trained. It was time for me to possibly keep it going.” Since he could choose the date of his virtual marathon himself, Eric moved up the race to avoid the summer heat. He said he continued to follow the MDRA training plan, shortening it a little bit. On Saturday, May 23, Eric ran his first ever marathon. He started at 5:30 a.m., running from the front steps of his house in St. Louis Park, around the Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis and back. The finish line was in his own driveway.
RACES
Eric kile at the start of his marathon. Eric said he had a great support group cheering him on that day without which he wouldn’t have made it through the race. His wife, Amy, and his dad biked alongside him, handing him water and gels. Amy also jumped in to run a few miles as did some friends from her running group. Between his wife and the friends, someone was running with him the entire time. “I probably had it better than an actual marathon. It was like I had my own little team the whole time,” he said. Eric couldn’t say for sure yet whether he’ll run another marathon in the future. He said he felt like running the race virtually “doesn’t completely count” and that while he had a positive experience overall, he felt like he was missing out on the race day experience. “You miss that whole race day experience of getting up, getting there early, being on the line
Eric kile finishing in his driveway. and running with a group of people and having people cheer you on,” he said. Eric did have some words of advice for other runners planning on a virtual race. Don’t go at it alone. “That would be my only advice because that was the only reason why I got through the 26 miles like I did,” he said.
Chris Brozynski
Age: 42 Virtual race: Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon Date run: Saturday, May 9
This was supposed to be the year Chris Brozynski would finally run the Boston Marathon.
He had qualified for the race at Grandma’s Marathon last summer with a time of 3:05:28. This year, he was hoping to run a sub-3:00 marathon, either at Boston or at the Chicago Marathon in the fall. When the coronavirus pandemic postponed the Boston Marathon until September (before outright canceling it and making it virtual), Chris looked around for another spring marathon to run in the meantime. “I couldn’t bear to waste all the [training] time,” he said. “So, I decided to sign up for the Lake Wobegon [Trail] Marathon. It has less of a crowd so I figured there was more likely a chance that it would go on.” But even the Lake Wobegon Marathon fell victim to the global pandemic. With his goal of running a sub-3:00 still on his mind, he SUMMER 2020
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RACES
Chris Brozynski decided to run the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon virtually to see how close he was to accomplishing it. “I figured I still had some time to recover” before Boston, which had not yet been canceled, he said. “I wanted to see where I was at in training, how close was I to that sub-3-hour marathon.” On the day he should have been lining up at the start line in Holdingford, Minnesota, Brozynski instead lined up on the path at Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis. He ran around the lake over and over until he hit 26.2 miles—about eight loops in all. Chris wasn’t the only one completing a virtual race that day. His 13 year old daughter, Katie, had signed up to run the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in Duluth which was also canceled and went virtual. “She said, ‘When I turn 13, I want to do 13 miles’,” Chris said. So, Katie ran her virtual race alongside her dad. “It was supposed to be her training run, but she decided to finish it, Chris said. His wife and kids coordinated the water stops. Some MDRA members, including longtime coach Kurt Jewell and his wife, Jill, came out to support them as well. Kurt ran a few of the later miles with him and Jill helped push both him and his daughter on. He knew some of his other MDRA friends were tracking his race online, too. Chris said he was grateful for that. “[The virtual race] was a little different without people there—the crowd, the other people there to keep you going,” he said, but added that for once, he didn’t start out the race too fast because there was no one to try to chase. Chris just missed his sub-3:00 goal, coming in at 3:01:57. “I think if there were other runners out there, it might have happened,” he said. Now, Chris is gunning for that sub-3:00 at the Chicago Marathon in October, which is still on as of this writing. He plans to run the virtual Boston Marathon as part of his training.
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RACES
Jenny owens “[Boston] happens to fall along my 20 mile long run for Chicago, so what’s an extra six miles?” he said. If Chicago gets canceled, too, he says he’ll run that race virtually as well.
Jenny Owens Age: 40 Virtual race(s): Get Lucky Half (March 14), Hot Dash 10 Mile (March 21), Wicked Marathon (March 28), Hot Chocolate 15K (April 11 & 12— ran it twice due to weather), Garmin Marathon (April 18), Earth Day 10K (April 22), Get in Gear Half Marathon (April 25), New Prague Half Marathon (May 2), Ragnar (May 8-9), Maple Grove Half Marathon (May 16), Ultra Ragnar (May 15-18), Grandma’s Marathon (May 30), Niagara Falls Ragnar (May 29-30), Stillwater Half Marathon (June 6) Fourteen. That’s how many virtual races Jenny Owens has already run this season, with several more still on the calendar. Jenny first started running when she moved to Minnesota 10 years ago after seeing her husband come home with medals from his races. Since then, she’s run dozens of races of her own and now paces many of them as well. She was supposed to be a pacer for a number of the half marathons she had signed up for this year, so there was no question in her mind
that she was still going to run them virtually once they were canceled. “I felt, for me, that it was still important to show up and show that I was still committed,” Jenny said. However, virtual races haven’t felt the same for her as regular races. Jenny said that while she likes not standing around waiting for the race to start anymore, she still misses the people she helps pace. “I enjoy pacing so much,” she said. “I miss helping people get to the finish line at the time they want to be at. So, that part’s hard.” Jenny was taking part in the MDRA spring training class, training for Grandma’s Marathon. She was also signed up for two other spring marathons, the Wicked Marathon and the Garmin Marathon—both in Kansas, where she’s from. All three were canceled and moved to virtual races. Jenny said she thought hard about whether she still wanted to run 26.2 miles if she had to do it alone. But she decided to still go for all three, since she already had the base for a marathon and had just completed a 20 mile long run for one of them. First up was the Wicked Marathon, which she ran on Saturday, March 28—the originally scheduled date of the race. “I was pretty excited to try [the virtual race],” she said. “I knew I had time, that if I didn’t
make it that weekend, I knew I had time to submit my results. I knew I could try again if it didn’t work.” It did work. Jenny set a new marathon PR of 4:32:40 while running her virtual race. For all three of the virtual marathons she’s now run, Jenny ran through the city of Belle Plaine where she lives, using part of the course from a half marathon she had paced last fall. She said she likes it because she can stop at home for water and bathroom breaks. “I like the virtual races because I get to determine where I go and where I run at,” Jenny said. “And it’s kind of peaceful.” Jenny’s husband has run some of the virtual races with her and other times brings her water on whatever course she chooses. Jenny said running virtual races is what keeps her going and helps her stay positive during this time of uncertainty. “I hear a lot of people say they’re down and they don’t have motivation,” she said. “I think having a list of races right now or a list of goals, it keeps you motivated to keep going. Then, you have something to be happy about instead of worrying about all the negativity in the world.” Jenny still has three virtual races left on her calendar this summer. After that, she says, “I have to find something else to do.” SUMMER 2020
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MEETING MINUTES Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting - March 16, 2020 Minnesota Distance Running Association Foundation (MDRA Foundation) Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting - March 16, 2020
Members Present: Rochelle Christensen, Steve Hennessy, Chad Austin, Tom Goudreault, Jill Jewell, Chris Turoski, Mark Annett, Perry McGahan, Lou Ann Kycek, Geoff Engelhart, Mishka Vertin, Verna Volker, Diana Jacks (”Majority” quorum met for each of MDRA and MDRA Foundation). Members Absent: Damon Rothstein Guests: Kurt Jewell, Dave Marek President’s Report With the spread of Covid-19, these are fast-changing times. In order to do our part as individuals and an organization we’re holding our firstever virtual meeting. Friday March 13th we had a meeting to discuss upcoming MDRA events and programs. Based on safety we’ve decided to cancel Lake Johanna 4 Mile and to suspend the Polar Bears training runs and the Spring Half and Marathon training programs. Again, things are changing rapidly and we will continue to monitor this situation and make decisions based on what’s right for MDRA and the community. Admin/Governance Proposal: Chris Turoski informed the board that our bylaws are outdated in the sense that they do not allow for virtual quorums or conducting meetings electronically. We also don’t allow proxy or email voting. Bylaws will be revisited holistically during the year, however, due to the immediate impact of Covid-19, Chris Turoski made the motion to allow for virtual quorums via online meetings. Tom Goudreault seconded the motion. The motion passed. Secretary’s Report: Minutes of the Board of Directors’ Meeting for February 17, 2020 were approved by Steve Hennessy and accepted by and seconded by Jill Jewell. Treasurer’s Report: The handoff of this role from Steve Hennessy to Diana Jacks is still in process. Nothing to report at this time. Operations Manager’s Report:
· Memberships are holding steady · Program and Race registrations are all on track · Half and Marathon training program is our largest spring class ever · Grandma’s Marathon Run Club is very popular · Social followers continue to grow Of course, all of this is prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. Since then, we’ve suspended the spring Half and Marathon training program until at least May 12. Kurt Jewell will continue coaching virtually through emails, social sites and the Heylo app. No refunds are being given for this program. The Women’s Running and Couch to 5K programs were cancelled prior to their start date and refunds were provided. As of February 29 Membership Total
2020 2,114
2019 1,938
Committee Reports Admin/Governance: No report. Finance: Committee will be meeting soon to discuss the budget im-
pacts of Covid-19. Concerns regarding registrations for the Victory races and City of Lakes. Foundation: Reaching out to former board members to see if they’re willing to chair the Foundation committee.
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Programs: Committee met last month with Women’s Running coach Kristen Kinnear-Ohlmann to get a better idea of everything that goes into that program and to let her know we’re there to help. It was very apparent that Kristen is passionate about this program and we feel very fortunate to have her leadership. Promotions/Advocacy: We have hired an outside contractor to update or brand guidelines, infrastructure, website and more. On March 6 we kicked things off with a rebranding exercise and talked about objectives. More to come in May. Publications: No report. Race:
· We are considering postponing the Daws 25K & 12K races until the fall · Como Park fees will be the same rates as last year · Looking at new routes for Victory 10K (due to construction) and the City of Lakes half marathon – potentially following the Rose Garden loop to help spread out runners · Potentially adding a Black Friday 5K around Lake Phalen, as well as hosting an outdoor Meet of Miles USATF: No report. We are seeking a new representative in 2020. New Business: Request was made to review our strategic plan with our new board members. Old Business: None. The meeting was adjourned by Steve Hennessy and seconded by Jill Jewell. The next MDRA and MDRA Foundation Board meeting will be April 20, 2020.
MEETING MINUTES Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting - April 20, 2020 Minnesota Distance Running Association Foundation (MDRA Foundation) Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting - April 20, 2020 Members Present: Rochelle Christensen, Steve Hennessy, Chad Austin, Tom Goudreault, Jill Jewell, Chris Turoski, Mark Annett, Perry McGahan, Lou Ann Kycek, Geoff Engelhart, Damon Rothstein, Verna Volker, Diana Jacks (”Majority” quorum met for each of MDRA and MDRA Foundation). Members Absent: Mishka Vertin Guests:None President’s Report: No report. Secretary’s Report: Minutes of the Board of Directors’ Meeting for March 16, 2020 were approved by Jill Jewell and accepted by and seconded by Steve Hennessy. Treasurer’s Report: MDRA’s operations have been directly impacted by the pandemic and the board is closely monitoring the organization’s cash position. YTD Revenues · Advertising revenue is down $1,600 from YTD budget due to uncertainty surrounding the pandemic · Membership revenue is down $3,800 from YTD budget due to the cancelation of the spring MDRA races · Race receipt revenue is down $5,200 from YTD budget · Program revenue is down $1,300 from YTD budget YTD Expenses · Annual Race Calendar expense is down $1,900 from YTD budget · Insurance expense is down $2,500 from YTD budget · Magazine expense is down $1,400 from YTD budget · Miscellaneous expense is down $3,300 from YTD budget · Program expenses are down $2,800 from YTD budget · Race expenses are down $800 from YTD budget
2020 Mar
10,151
2,034
1,797
68
Committee Reports Admin/Governance: A request for donations was emailed to MDRA
members on April 15th and the response has been great. So far 165 people have donated over $18,000. We also heard very positive replies from our members saying “MDRA has been an important and joyful part of my life” and “I want MDRA to continue into the future.” Our next step is to send a follow-up thank you letter to the members that donated. Our goal is to be transparent with the amount of money we were able to raise and detail how we plan to use these donations. We are also planning a similar email to non-MDRA members. The board would like to thank Amy Lake for providing her expertise in this matter. The Emergency Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) has been placed on hold. EIDL needs more funding before opening back up.
Finance: No report. Foundation: Kathy Larson submitted an application for a grant
through the Minnesota disaster recovery corona virus fund with the idea that we would use it support other organizations in the running community. However, we did not receive the grant. Programs: No report.
Promotions/Advocacy:
· Committee is still working with an outside agency on potential brand issues. More to come in the near future. · New member drive in progress. We are asking each board member to create a 1-minute video that highlights 1 thing they love about MDRA. These videos will then be used in an on-going basis to promote MDRA. Publications: Our next magazine will be published digitally. It’ll be more web-centric and less magazine-like. The digital format will allow for more frequent updates. Race: Working on virtual extension for City of Lakes and Victory races in case the actual events end up being canceled as well. USATF: No report. New Business: The board has been brainstorming some new revenue generating ideas. The next steps are to assign a high-level cost/benefit of each idea, along with fit to the MDRA mission. From there we will prioritize the list and assign responsibility. Old Business: None. The meeting was adjourned by Steve Hennessy and seconded by Jill Jewell.
Net Operating Income · YTD revenues are $11,500 below budget · YTD expenditures are $11,900 below budget · YTD net revenue is $1,000 below budget
The next MDRA and MDRA Foundation Board meeting will be May 18, 2020.
The Treasurer’s report was approved and accepted by Tom Goudreault and seconded by Jill Jewell.
Operations Manager’s Report:
· Memberships down slightly · It’s no surprise that Program and Race registrations are down from last year. · Added store sales to reporting As of March 31 Membership Total
2020 1,985
Social Media Metrics Social Media Facebook 2020 Feb 10,138
2019 2,423
Twitter Instagram 2,032 1,760
Linkedin 67
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MEETING MINUTES Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting - May 18, 2020 Minnesota Distance Running Association Foundation (MDRA Foundation) Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting - May 18, 2020 Members Present: Rochelle Christensen, Steve Hennessy, Diana Jacks, Mark Annett, Perry McGahan, Lou Ann Kycek, Mishka Vertin, Jill Jewell, Geoff Engelhart, Verna Volker, Tom Goudreault, Christopher Turoski (“majority” quorum met for each of MDRA and MDRA Foundation). Members Absent: Chad Austin, Damon Rothstein Guests: Dave Marek, Sarah Ahlers McInerney President’s Report: President Rochelle Christensen brought the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Ms. Christensen welcomed the board members and guests. Ms. Christensen made a report on recent fundraising with the assistance Operations Director Sarah Ahlers McInerney. The President’s ask of April 15 (directed to members) raised est. $22,000 in revenues, which is significant and will offset some revenue loss due to the delay and cancellation of some MDRA programs and events. The President’s ask postApril 15 (directed to non-members) resulted in increased memberships and merchandise sales. Secretary’s Report: The Board reviewed and discussed the Minutes of the Board of Directors’ Special Meeting of April 10, 2020. Jill Jewell made a motion to accept and approve the minutes as corrected. Steve Hennessy seconded the motion. The motion passed. The Board reviewed and discussed the Minutes of the Board of Directors’ Regular Meeting of April 20, 2020. Christopher Turoski made a motion to accept and approve the minutes as corrected. Steve Hennessy seconded the motion. The motion passed. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Diana Jacks provided a financial update. Ms. Jacks reported the pandemic directly impacted MDRA’s operations. The Board is closely monitoring the organization’s cash position. Ms. Jacks reported as of April 30, 2020, the organization was ahead of projected YTD budget and held $44,000 cash on hand. This positive position resulted in part from larger than budgeted receipt of donation revenues and cost-cutting measures such as moving the magazine online. Ms. Jacks projected MDRA would have est. $8,000 cash on as of December 31, 2020, which is generally on budget. This forward-looking projection is based on many variables and unknowns, including projected expense reductions and decreased revenues. The Treasurer’s Report for the Board of Directors’ Meeting for May 18, 2020, is summarized below, which was reviewed and discussed. Steve Hennessy made a motion to accept and approve the Report as distributed, which motion was seconded by Mark Annett. The motion passed. NET OPERATING INCOME • Year to date revenues for the organization are $700 below budget • Year to date expenditures for the organization are $17,000 below budget • Year to date net revenue for the organization is $15,000 above budget YTD REVENUES • Ad revenue is down $1,500 from YTD budget, a 16% budget variance.
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• Advertising partner activity has ceased in conjunction with unknowns surrounding the pandemic and uncertainty related to future racing activity. • Membership revenue is down $3,100 from YTD budget, a 11% budget variance. • Variance was anticipated in conjunction with cancelation of free MDRA races which drive March membership renewals. • April renewals are up $800 from budget. • Race receipt revenue is down $15,700 from YTD budget, a 56% budget variance. • City of Lakes and Victory registration has decreased due to uncertainties surrounding whether the races would be allowed to proceed as scheduled. • Program revenue is down $2,900 from YTD budget, a 18% budget variance. • Women’s group revenues were refunded and 5k training program was canceled due to stay-at-home-orders. • Miscellaneous revenue is up $21,700 from YTD budget, a 2556% budget variance. • The April donation drive raised $21,000 in revenues. YTD EXPENSES • Annual expense is down $1,400 from YTD budget, a 7% budget variance. YTD expense relates to the 2019 annual which were paid in 2020. • Insurance expense is down $2,500 from YTD budget, a 43% budget variance. • Due to anticipated cash flow needs, the organization’s insurance policies will be paid on a monthly basis. • Overall cost is anticipated to be reduced due to change in policy in light of race cancelations. • Magazine expense is down $7,100 from YTD budget, a 49% budget variance. • Variance relates to Spring 2020 expenses for postage and printing which will not be incurred. • Additional $1,350 timing difference relates to January budgeted layout costs that were paid in December 2019. • Miscellaneous expense is down $3,000 from YTD budget, a 32% budget variance. • Variance relates to January clothing purchase and Q2 equipment management fees, both payments are postponed. • Program expenses are down $2,400 from YTD budget, a 31% budget variance. • Variance relates to cancelation of Spring marathon program coaching and general program expense which will not be incurred due to cancelation of classes. • Race expenses are down $1,500 from YTD budget, a 35% budget variance. • Variance anticipated in conjunction with cancelation of free MDRA races.
Operations Manager’s Report:
Operations Manager Sarah Ahlers McInerney reported on the assignments of Board members to Committees. Non-Board members may also serve on Committees. Please contact Ms. Ahlers McInerney or Rochelle Christensen if you are interested in serving on a Committee. Ms. Ahlers McInerney led a discussion of MDRA Bank Account held at Wells Fargo bank (i.e., MDRA checking, MDRA savings, and MDRA Foundation bank account). Christopher Turoski made a motion to authorize the: (i) addition of Diana Jacks, appointed MDRA treasurer, as signer on all three MDRA Accounts, and (ii) removal of Dave Marek, MDRA Past Presi-
MEETING MINUTES dent, as key executive on all three MDRA. Lou Ann Kycek seconded the motion. The motion passed. Ms. Ahlers McInerney reported total memberships are holding generally steady to slightly down compared to the month of the previous year. As of April 31 Membership Total
2020 2,034
2019 2,170
Ms. Ahlers McInerney reported Program and Race registrations are significantly down compared to the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Ahlers McInerney reported on merchandise and goods sales. Ms. Ahlers McInerney reported on social media statistics (see below). Molly McLain is assisting with social media efforts. Social Media dIn 2020 Mar 2020 April
Twitter Instagram
10151 10160
1797 1844
2034 2039
Linke-
68 70
good health and safety practices. The Committee plans to recommend if and how to hold a physical, virtual, or hybrid Victory race and City of Lakes race. The next Committee meeting is June 1 at 6 p.m. USATF: No report. New Business: None. Old Business: Perry McGahan led an update on the revenue-generating ideas project. Jill Jewell made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Lou Ann Kycek seconded. The motion passed. Rochelle Christensen adjourned the meeting at about 7:45 pm. The next MDRA and MDRA Foundation Board meeting will be Monday, June 15, 2020, 7:00 p.m. - Virtual Meeting. The meeting was adjourned by Tom Goudreault and seconded by Lou Ann Kycek. The next MDRA and MDRA Foundation Board meeting will be March 16, 2020.
Committee Reports Admin/Governance: Rochelle Christensen reported the Admin/
Governance Committee has been meeting weekly since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. A priority for each Committee meeting includes an update on current financial matters and budget forecasting. The Committee recommended a banking resolution to update authorized users on checking/savings accounts. The Committee discussed race events, as well as race insurance, and potential liability waivers. A significant Committee discussion was directed to the Stay Safe MN Executive Order and as a result, MDRA issued the following guidelines: Do go out and run if you are healthy. Don’t travel for a run. Make room for a safe passing. Wear a mask when necessary. Solo runs are safest. Steve Hennessy is investigating a COVID-19 preparedness plan, which contemplates an eventual return to group runs and events. The next meeting Admin/Governance Committee meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 22, at 10:45 a.m. Finance: No report. Foundation: The Board is seeking members for the Foundation Committee. MDRA intends to distribute its annual grants in FY2020. Programs: Perry McGahan reported the Committee discussing the Spring Marathon Training Class survey results and potential adjustments for the Fall Marathon Training Class. The next meeting of the Committee is Thursday, May 21, at 7:00 p.m.
Promotions/Advocacy:
Jill Jewell reported the Committee is working on potential branding issue and is making a social media push with a weekly social media challenge. The Committee meets weekly on Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. Publications: Ms. Ahlers McInerney reported the RunMinnesota magazine went digital this month. A goal will be to direct link to articles in the future. The Committee is planning some great stories for future issues. Race: Dave Marek reported the Committee met last Monday. To date, MDRA has not held any Spring races (contributing to decreased expenses and revenues). Race registration prices are currently frozen for the remainder of the year, and MDRA is communicating and intends to enforce the no refund policy. The Committee is following state guidelines and
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