Category: President’s Message

Road Runners,

It was a great day to run the April 4 miler at City Park.  Despite predictions of 8 inches of snow on Saturday, we only got a dusting.  It was  a cold morning for race directors Stephanie Struble and Brian Bergevin.  They were out there at 7am and started us off on time. 

The snow we had quickly melted off as 81 road runners took to the course.   The day saw two new course records:  Scott Kukel with a new Men’s course record of 23:11 and Race walker Mike Blanchard in 39:05. 

I think attendance was down today because of the predicted snow and due to the Platte River 1/2.    Although race attendance was down this month, club membership is up.  We have 531 members, 367 families.  That’s a modern day record – thank you to everyone who joined, who renewed their membership and who participated in an event this past month! 

The Bolder Boulder training group from Scott Carpenter Middle School joined us for the race and Kerry Kuck’s wife, Janet Leonard was race photographer.  For those of you who don’t know, Kerry has a stress fracture in his calcaneous.  It happened this past week, ending his hopes of Boston this spring.  That’s tough news so close to the race.

On a brighter note, plans are set for the 50th.  We’ve got lots of great events planned with more features and attendees noted each week.  Check out the 50th page to plan which events you’ll attend.

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Happy March, Road Runners,

We set a modern day record for attendance at the March three mile race with 140 (count ’em) participants. The great weather and short distance was a irresitable combination.  Speaking of great weather, I’m getting in the mood for summer running.  After joining Felix Lopez and our new members on Highline this past weekend wearing only shorts and a t-shirt, I’m ready!

Track practice starts on April 1.  Scott Kukel and Mike Quispe have a set of workouts to prime you for your summer racing season.  One of the highlights of the track season will be our 50th anniversary work out on Wed, June 3.  Led by former RMRR member and local celebrity Maureen Roben, the workout will feature members of most of Denver’s running groups (Masters, Phidippides, Columbines).  I’m looking forward to that one.

We’ve also reserved the griddle for our pancake pacer 2 miler on Sunday, May 31.  Depending on how many of you make it out to Bible Park, we may need that second griddle!

Summer is my favorite time to run.  Although I run year-round, my best RMRR memories are from the summer – hanging out with all of you after the cookout in August, long runs on the Highline with some buddies,  track workouts as the sun sets over the mountains.  

This summer is a time to celebrate those memories and create new ones.  Throughout our club’s 50 years, we have seen so much – newbie runners completing their first 5k, celebrity athletes joining us for a race, members of foundations like Achilles Track and AIR coming out to run with us, school kids training for a marathon mile, and finally some of our older members hanging up their running shoes.  I’m proud of our history.  Throughout the years, we have provided a low cost events for everyone.  Our all ages/abilities message is more than a message.  It’s the way we run RMRR. 

I invite you to be a part of our celebration this year.  No matter how fast or slow your are, we’ve got something for you!

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Road Runners,

I’m encouraged by the excitement and enthusiasm I see at our races.   Winter is the time of year when many runners turn into couch potatoes.  But not all of you.  109 of you came out for the February race.   Unlike most years, it was actually nice – little wind and warm temperatures for February.  We ran a new course, which meant a PR for everyone who ran and three  new club records.   Congratulations to Marcus Corbett, Sarah Szymanski and Mike Blanchard for beating out the competition on their way to victory.

Our club is getting stronger.  Membership has increased to 506 members, our largest total in several years.  

Enthusiasm is also building for the 50th anniversary this year.  We’ve got some great events planned for this summer.  The 50th anniversary week’s worth of events has two purposes:

1.  Celebrate 50 years of running.

2.  Introduce RMRR to a new generatin of runners.

You can help us be successful by talking up the club – take some of our green flyers to your favorite health club or rec center to distribute, talk up the club to your running friends.   Tell them about our little freebie.  It’s not a huge prize, but everyone who comes to a RMRR event this year will get one of our spiffy new club keychains.  They’re useful and a great way to promote the club.  If you didn’t get yours, come out to our March race.

You’ll be hearing more about the 50th as summer approaches.

We’ve also got Track coming up, a new racewalking group, and new member runs – lots of ways to do what we do best.

See you all out there.

Deb

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We had a great turnout at the January 10k race at Twin Lakes. 111 Runners came out on a warm January day for RMRR’s first race of the year. Memorable moments included Tristan Mitchell’s new course record for the men with a time of 35:17, welcoming 23 new members to their first race, and a surprise visit from the paramedics.

Despite a snafu with the bathrooms where the Adams County park department didn’t get the doors unlocked, everyone soldiered through and had a good time.  The year is off to a promising start.

This year is our 50th anniversary year and we’ve got a bunch of activities planned for the first week of June.  Here’s what we’ve planned:

• 2 mile TS on Sunday, May 31 followed by a pancake breakfast
• Monday, June 1:  Reunion event w/ birthday cake at Runner’s Roost on Colorado Blvd.
• Tuesday, June 2:  Wash park fun run 
• Wed, June 3:  Track workout @ Heritage HS (Littleton) led by former RMRR member Maureen Roben.  This event includes Phidippides Track Club and the Colorado Columbines.
• Thurs, June 4:  Trail run with Denver Trail Runners followed by a potluck.
• Friday, June 5:  Predict race from BRC in Littleton.
• Saturday, June 6:  50 mile relay at Heritage HS track.

We hope you can join us – look here for further updates!

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