THE
WICKED
Running Register
March/April 2015 • Priceless
Est. Jan 2010
Presidential Perspective Michael Harvey
It’s May on the North Shore which can only mean one thing running season! Ok, running season never ends, but how about more enjoyable running season? And with running comes races and with races come volunteers. For the third year in a row I had the privilege of volunteering the gel stop at mile 17 of the Boston Marathon. The first year I worked the stop was a sunny, warm day. What an amazing time I had. It was all I talked about for days. The following year, it was a bit colder and overcast, but still a great day to be outside, cheering for all the runners and enjoying the company of good friends at an amazing event. This year, however,
things were a bit different. This year there was no sun to be had, and no warm weather to be found. I suppose it was fitting given the winter we just survived. It was cold, really cold, and wet. As I’m sure all of you know it rained on and off all day. You might think with the cold and the rain it would have been a miserable day. For hours on end a group of wet and cold volunteers stood along the side of the road at mile 17 holding out there arm with gel for passing runners. Did I see miserable faces? Did I hear complaints of being cold and wet? If you know Wicked, then you know the answer is a resounding, “NO!”. I saw quite the opposite. I saw smiling faces and heard cheers of encouragement all day long. I don’t think I heard one complaint. All of this made me realize what amazing
group of people runners are, especially the members of Wicked. We really are a special group and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who volunteered at the gel stop on that cold rainy day, and everyone else who has every volunteered for a race. I know we have all heard it before, but these races truly could not happen without the volunteers, and you come out, rain or shine, with smiles and cheers each and every time. So on behalf of the Wicked Running Club, I thank and salute you, the volunteers. I’m sure you all do this already, but during your next race, as you pass a volunteer out on the course, make eye contact and say, “thank you”. Go Wicked!
Michael
The Member of the Month is... Valerie Mathews!
At the May board meeting, the Wicked board of directors voted to approve a new initiative called “Member of the Month”. At each meeting, the board will vote for one member to receive this accolade for their contributions to the club. Each Member of the Month will receive a $25 gift certificate to New England Running Company. If you would like to nominate a fellow club member, email your Wicked VP Michele at michelejcampbell@yahoo.com. Our first Member of the Month is Valerie Mathews. You may have seen Val running around Lynn Woods, in the pack (and enjoying post-run social activities) at Thursday night’s No Rest for the Wicked group run, or cycling with fellow club members and friends. For many, many years Val has actively contributed to the Wicked Newsletter and this year presented the idea for a newsletter committee at our January General Membership Meeting. Val’s biggest volunteer contribution this year was serving as one of the captains for the Clif Shot volunteer stop at the 2015 Boston Marathon. She helped run a tight ship that day with her fellow Captains Brant and John. Thank you, Val, for your contributions to the club. Enjoy your $25 gift certificate to NERC!