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NO TMBC - Celebrate the Season

Fellow Endorphin Junkies:

This week there will be NO Thursday Morning Track this week, on December 25, 2025!

Tomorrow is Christmas Day, and we all celebrate, each in our own way – almost all with family, some at church (some even singing at church, like Nate and Carl), some with presents around the tree, others with Chinese food and a Movie, but almost nobody – except those keeping a streak alive – will be running.

Instead, let us all count our blessings – for Coach Big Guy that means being healthy enough to keep running, even racing occasionally, a large, loving family, cute Teddy Bears, but most of all, the fun and fellowship I've found in the DC Roadrunners for over 40 years. Each of you is a present to me – a reason to smile and count my blessings.

Here is the Coach Big Guy Club News this week:

Last week many of us enjoyed the DC Roadrunners Holiday Relays at the Washington-Lee Track. Coach Ed split everyone into two-person teams, and the Thursday Morning Breakfast Crew was well represented – Assistant Coach Andrew led his teammate Xia and he to victory in 28:22 – averaging 5:41 a mile – WOW!. Adam and Hope – and All-TMBC Team – finished Fourth – way to go! Gary Morgan's team finished Sixth, and Yves gamely finished strong as our final runner. Congrats to all!

Following the relays, there was a Happy Hour and fellowship for Club Members at Chez Big Guy – where all aid goodbye to Coach and Mrs. Big Guy – great food, drink, but most important – fabulous fellowship – thanks to all for a wonderful time!

Meanwhile, the Admiral, Paul Ryan, pulled a double race weekend this past weekend – winning his age at another Park Run in 25:18 I believe (an All-American qualifying time!), and the next day ran a Mile in 7:38 I believe for his other Club, the Potomac Valley Track Club (yet another All-American Qualifying time!)

Speaking of TREMENDOUSLY fun races, January 1st is not only the first day of a New Year, but it's also the annual Resolutions & Predictions 5k. The race is even at a civilized time – noon on New Year's Day! We would LOVE to see you and have some help. Register to run at https://www.dcroadrunners.org/, or our Race Director could REALLY use some help, so to volunteer please go to https://www.dcroadrunners.org/volunteer/pr5k. Since the race falls on Thursday next week, we again will have no TMBC, as we should be racing or volunteering, but we will return to the Track January 8th!

Happy running!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and the Best of any Holiday you Celebrate this time of Year!

4 to 5 x 1000m in 5k, slow 400 jogs

Fellow Endorphin Junkies –

The Yorktown track artificial turf resurfacing continues, and they have blocked parts of the track, so we will have to move TMBC to the W&L track this Thursday and for the rest of December. Washington-Liberty High School is located at 1301 N. Stafford Street, Arlington VA 22201, just a couple of blocks away from the Ballston Metro. This morning the Stafford gate was open by 5:30, but you never know – remember that you can hop the fence on the Quincy street side gate VERY easily and get your warm up laps in – hopefully we will have one gate open by 5:40.

Please arrive at W&L Stadium Track early so you can warm up prior to our 6 AM start of speed intervals. The weather will be cold – under freezing, but lower humidity, low wind, and no chance of rain. When conditions are like this, still bring plenty of fluids to hydrate! I expect heart rates in the mid-80 percent range, and if they get higher, slow down! Accordingly, the Thursday Morning DCRRC Track Practice in Arlington hopefully will begin at the Washington Liberty High School track at 6:00 AM sharp - so please get there early to warm up – say by 5:40 AM. Workout as follows:

December 11, 2025 - 4 to 5 x 1000m in 10k Pace with 400m jog recovery in between

· Stallions: 5:30 to 6:30 Pace, 5 Intervals

· Wolf Pack: 6:15 to 7:00 Pace, 5 Intervals

· Gazelles: 6:45 to 7:45 Pace, 4 - 5 Intervals

· Coyotes/MTP Trainees: 7:30 to 10:00 Pace, 4 - 5 Intervals

If you are running the Club's Founder's Half Marathon on Sunday, sharpen with only 3 to 4 to intervals and run the final 200m of each in 5k pace. For the rest, this is another speed workout guaranteed to build both strength and stamina for your winter races! These are tougher than they look, so try to finish strong - push that last 200 as you come to the final turn, and make sure you focus on your running form, so you run efficiently, effectively, and injury-free. Up on your toes, knees lifting higher, Arms at your sides, not crossing over.

... and the Coach Big Guy Club Report –

Greeting TMBC faithful. There are some race results to report, and these were the ones I saw or received by email:

Club Bread Run 10k

Ken S finished as 2d M45-49 in 42:20

David M finished as 1st M60-64 in 44:07

Elise M finished as 1st F30-35 in 44:34

Chris W finished as 4th M35-39

Yuko T finished as 1st F55-59 in 53:24

Gary M finished 1st M70-74 in the exact same time of 53:24

Coach Eunja finished as 4th F50-54 in 59:28

Donna L finished as 4th F60-64 in 66:17

Anne C finished as 5th in F60-64 in 66:22

Liz Ozeki won for women in the Jingle Bell Jog 8k with a time of 30:34

Congratulations to all the TMBC runners!

The Snowball Series dates are on the website with some details and links to race, including the Bread Run this Sunday morning December 7th. You can register or volunteer on the Club website: www.dcroadrunners.org. Just a quick reminder – NO TMBC NEXT WEEK – Holiday Relays instead - the Holiday Relays are for the entire Club including the TMBC on Wednesday Night, December 17th, at Washington Liberty, followed by a Club Holiday party hosted by Coach and Mrs. Big Guy at Chez Big Guy, 4725 Rock Spring Road, Arlington, VA 22207. This is a good bye for the Big Guy, who is moving full time to Austin in January – please come say good bye!

Happy running!

Coach Big Guy will see you tomorrow morning at W&L Track!