April/May 2008
News Bits
e-Newsletter (posted 4/29/2008)
The running season is in full swing this year, with some of the great front range races coming up soon -- the Cherry Creek Sneak, the Colfax Marathon, the Bolder Boulder. But don't forget about the Rocky Mountain Road Runner Trophy Series races! For those of you who are running in interesting places or who have stories to tell, let me know -- I'm hoping to begin posting race reports on the web site shortly. We want to hear from you.
Kevin Downing
RMRR Newsletter editor
rmrrnewsletter@ yahoo.com
APRIL NOTE FROM PRESIDENT DEB. The April message from club president Deb Cunningham will soon be on the website. http://www.rmrr. org. I've also included the message at the bottom of the email.
MAY TROPHY SERIES RACE. The May Trophy Series Race is at a NEW venue -- the Stapleton Central Park in the Stapleton neighborhood. This will be a 5 mile race that begins at the pavilion just off Beeler St. - look for the NEW yellow RMRR banners. Note that this race will start at 8:00 A.M. Check out the website for directions and further information.
RMRR SPONSORED TEAMS. This year, RMRR will sponsor teams of member to compete in some of the more popular races in the Denver metro area, such as the Colfax marathon, the Bolder Boulder, and other races. You don't have to be fast to be on a team, so keep an eye on this space and the website to see what races we'll be sponsoring and how you can participate.
TRACK PRACTICE. Ready to get faster? The RMRR track workouts have begun. Workouts are held at the very nice all-weather track at Heritage High School, 1401 West Geddes Ave in Littleton. Workouts start at 6:30, but be sure to arrive about 15 minutes early to warm up. The RMRR website has the schedule for the track workouts -- click on the link under Track Workouts in the right hand column.
BOSTON MARATHON. Today, Monday, April 21st is Patriots Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. That means it's time for the Boston Marathon! Several Road Runners members are running this year, including Bonnie Keefe, Tim Gentry, Laurie Phenix, Ken Soule, Bill O'Dell, and Larry Mudron. (If I missed anyone, let me know.) Good luck to all. (And if any other members have races coming up soon, let me know. I'll be running the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati on May 4.)
RUNNING WELL® SEMINARS. RMRR members Peter Szymanski and Karen Voss Szymanski of Catalyst Therapies are offering their Running Well® seminars that help runners improve their form and prevent injuries. Road Runner members get a 15% discount! Get information and register at www.CatalystTherapi es.com or contact Karen or Peter directly at office (303) 458-9660 or cell (720) 838-8963.
SPONSORS. As always, visit the local running stores who are good at supporting the local running community. And remember, they give RMRR members a 15% discount and provide gift certificates for our raffles.
Boulder Running Company
Running Wild
Runners Roost
We also receive tremendous support from companies providing sample products at our races. April's race featured Joint Juice, a beverage formulated to strengthen the joints (and which was tasty enough that my 7-year-old gulped it down). Go here to find out more and to get a $1 coupon: http://www.jointjui ce.com/
GET TO KNOW THE MEMBERS OF THE AIR FOUNDATION:
By: Karen Voss
The Colfax Marathon is set to run on May 18th with a new course and a new group from the AIR Foundation. Along with the new members of the AIR foundation running group are members who have stayed with the group for the second year. They have stayed because of what running has done for them in overcoming addiction. Here’s what a four members of the team had to say about their running & their readiness for the Colfax event:
“It doesn’t matter what they do to the course, I feel ready for it”, said Ranier. My husband and I met Ranier at the Denver Rescue Mission Legacy Dinner, a fundraiser for the mission. We happened to get seated at the same table and at one point the topic of running came up at our table of guests. I don’t remember the exact words but Ranier just looked at us and commented that running was not his thing and we wouldn’t be seeing him running anywhere or anytime. Like a lot of people, something about the running, running for himself because he can, because he can overcome whatever he needs to get to the finish, to be a part of something bigger than the self.
Taylor Sterner, son of Nick Sterner is set to run further than he has ever gone so far. He is running the half marathon and wants to go fast. Taylor is training and testing his will at distances close to 13 miles and distances beyond 13 miles in preparation for the Colfax Half. The Horsetooth Half Marathon went well for him he stated and at the time of this conversation, was the furthest he had gone so far. He was set to run 16 miles at a training run on the 20th.
Steve Scannapieco stated, “I’m ready for Colfax!”. Steve told a bit about himself and his journey to the Denver Rescue Mission and finally on the road to the Colfax Marathon with the AIR foundation. His story:
“I was wearing a long trench coat, long hair, tattoos, smoking, the whole bit. When I saw the video Nick shows (last year’s Colfax Marathon training and event) it got to me. It spoke to the athlete in me. I used to be an athlete. I was an exceptional soccer player as a freshman in high school, went right to the varsity team, University of Massachusetts was interested in me. I was scholarship potential.”
Steve’s soccer days didn’t last long. He told me he started to drink too much and was kicked off the soccer team by the end of that freshman year. Steve talked about how “that game”, drinking, went on for 20 years.
Since joining the DRM and the AIR team, Steve has taken on “a new game”. He has been sober since August of 2007. He stated, “The first two weeks of the running I was dying in pain. I am getting used to it now and can go up to 20 miles”. He originally signed up for the half marathon but has since changed to doing the full marathon. Steve talked about how “it was so cool to get Gatorade and power bars and stuff at races”. He talked about how much he has changed. He was “dying running the ‘zoo hill’ at City Park” and now “I am able to run the Horsetooth Half Marathon hills and the bleachers at Red Rocks”. Okay, are any of you thinking ‘zoo hill’? “Are there hills at City Park”? For Steve, there was a hill but I am betting he may not even notice it any more. Steve reports he likes the variety of runs and keeps it fun. He is ready for Colfax. Ready to run it for himself, for his family, a sister and mom in Denver and his father in Massachusetts who have all stayed with him supporting him all those years. As Steve stays focused on the Colfax Marathon, he is allowing his dreams to reach beyond to the 195 mile relay in August, the Denver Marathon in the fall and to an ultra marathon in 2009.
Harold is running the Colfax Half Marathon for the second time this year. His goal is familiar to most runners, “to beat my previous time”. He wants to not only beat his previous time but do so by a ½ hour. His long tern distance is to continue to train and condition himself to be able to complete the ½ marathon in 2 hours. Harold is using the Jeff Galloway program to help him get his goal. It was fun to hear Harold talk of the challenges so many or all of us face; to balance running, work, and keep injury away while increasing training and/or mileage.
The RMRR club supports the AIR Foundation with its mission in providing individuals from the Denver Rescue Mission another way to overcome addictions and regain their lives. Be sure to give an extra smile and word of encouragement to the AIR foundation team at the trophy series runs.
Note to members ... from Club Prez Deb (posted 4/29/008)
Hi Road Runners,
How about this April weather? It’s getting warmer now and I really, really, really want to go out for a run. You’ve got to love getting out there in shorts and a t-shirt.
Now that running season has arrived, we’ve got four events for you to participate in right now. Come on out run with us. You’ll help yourself race better this summer and you’ll help the club achieve our goal to increase participation during 2008.
Our first event, track practice, is held every Wednesday at 6:30pm at Heritage High School. Heritage is located at 1401 West Geddes Ave. in Littleton. You can look on the website for directions and for the workout schedule.
Second, the trophy series continues on with a 5 mile race on Sunday, May 4 at 8am. We’re running a brand new course in Central Park at Stapleton. The race starts at the pavilion off Beeler Street. You should be able to find us by looking for our new advertising banners. The club purchased three bowflags – free-standing banners that will let everyone know who we are. Our marketing VP, Kevin Downing, designed and ordered this nifty new addition to our promotional items.
Continuing on with the trophy series, I’m happy to report that our April race was a big success with 129 participants racing in City Park. The weather was nice, so we had no trouble topping the 49 person turnout for the March blizzard race. We had 91 members and 38 non-members racing, including the AIR Foundation team. We also got to sample Joint Juice, a new product demoed for the club. We’re working on other product demos for the coming months. Come on out and see what we’ll have at the next race.
Third, the training runs at Wash Park on Tuesday nights and at deKoevend on Saturday mornings are drawing more participants. Join us for company through 2 laps at Wash Park or on varying distances on the Highline.
Last, as you plan for a fall marathon, keep RMRR’s Marathon Training Series is the back of your mind. We plan races of 10-20 miles in the July – September timeframe. Again, the website has more details.
I mentioned above how I’m really, really itching to run. It’s wishful thinking as I write this because I’m injured at the moment. I’m staying involved by volunteering at the finish line. If you’re like me and temporarily out of commission, I invite you to stay in touch with the club by joining a our usual dedicated group of non-running volunteers. Stephanie Struble is our volunteer coordinator and co-director of the May race. She has lots of jobs for you, whether you’re able bodied or a bit gimpy. Email Stephanie at volunteer@rmrr.org to let her know you can help.
Finally, I continue to be happy with our club’s direction. With our new banners and new faces, I can feel the energy all of you are bringing to our events. This energy is helping us gain momentum as we get ready to Celebrate 50.
Deb