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WDF/RATW 5K POSTPONED TO 6/16!

DUE TO SEVERE HEAT AND PREDICTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS, THE WOMEN'S DISTANCE FESTIVAL AND RUN AFTER THE WOMEN 5K RACES, SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY JUNE 10, WILL BE POSTPONED TO MONDAY JUNE 16, 7 PM AT BLUEMONT PARK IN ARLINGTON. THANKS TO RACE DIRECTORS BOB SELIN-WILLIAMS AND ELIZABETH OTTOWAY FROM WASHINGTON RUNHERS FOR MAKING THIS DECISION IN A TIMELY MANNER AND ARRANGING FOR THE NEW DATE.

In making heat-related decisions, the Club uses a temperature-humidity matrix that identifies when it is unsafe to engage in prolonged high-level physical exertion outdoors. Predicted conditions for Tuesday evening were at the "unsafe" threshold; there is also the strong possibility of severe thunderstorms that would, of course, have compelled cancellation or postponement. The best course was to make the prudent decision to postpone the event and re-schedule.

THE NEXT CLUB-SPONSORED RACE IS THE TIM HARMON 5K, SATURDAY MORNING JUNE 14 AT THE FAIRFAX COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER. A COUPLE OF VOLUNTEERS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED; IF YOU LIVE IN THE AREA, PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING US OUT. CONTACT THE CLUB PRESIDENT BY EMAIL IF YOU CAN HELP.

ALSO, THE LAWYERS HAVE HEART 10K IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS, ALSO FOR SATURDAY MORNING JUNE 14. IF YOU ARE TAKING A BREAK FROM SLR, OR OTHERWISE CAN HELP, PLEASE LET THE CLUB PRESIDENT KNOW!

REGISTRATION ON-LINE FOR THE NATIONAL MARATHON, MARCH 2009, WILL OPEN JULY 4, 2008. ENTRY FEES WILL BE HEAVILY DISCOUNTED FOR THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF THIS EARLY REGISTRATION PERIOD. WEBSITE ADDRESS: www.mationalmarathon.com

FOLLOWING IS "REGULAR" CLUB NEWS FOR THE SUMMER:

1. Marathon Training If you have not yet signed up, please do so as soon as possible. Details are below.
2. Saturday Long Run Has Moved to 7:00 a.m. SLR moved to 7:00 am each Saturday morning for the summer months, beginning Saturday May 31, 2008. Don't be late!
3. 20-Miler Registration Open: Registration is now open for the DCRRC National Capital Area 20-Miler, on Sunday, September 28, 2008. Registration forms will be available at Wednesday night workouts, Club races, and in many area running stores and sports clubs. In addition, there will be on-line regsitration through RacePacket at the link below.

Please note that there is a 4-hour time limit for completion of the race. Also, no headphones are permitted. Also, discounted registration will end on August 31, 2008, and there is a 500-person entry limit for this race. Thanks to race director Chuck Evans, and his "technical directors" Bob & Delabian Thurston for all the work they put into this race.

VOLUNTEERS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED FOR THIS EVENT! If you can volunteer, please contact Delabian Thurston at delabian@aol.com

Also, if your school, church group, community group or other organization has "volunteer requirements" for high school students, this is an excellent opportunity to volunteer, get credit for the students, and get publicity for your organization. Please contact the Club President at president@dcroadrunners.org if you can help in this way.

Registration link: https://www.racepacket.com/secure/regmain.php

5. Larry Noel 15K Registration Open: The 50th Annual Larry Noel 15K will be run in Greenbelt Maryland on Sunday, August 31, 2008, starting at 5:00 pm. Registration is available through the same RacePacket address listed above for the 20-Miler.

There is a 2-hour limit for completion of this race. Also, absolutely no headphones permitted in the race, as in all DCRRC-sponsored events.

6. Marathon Training Program to Start in June: Our popular Marathon Training Program will be starting in early June. There will be a light track workout, followed by an orientation meeting on Wednesday June 4, 2008, starting at 7:00 pm at the Washington-Lee HS track. (This is in conjunction with the Club's regular Wednesday night workout). the first long run will be Saturday, June 7, starting 7:00 am at the Iwo Jima Memorial.

Please note that SLR starts at 7:00 am during the summer months, and will do so on June 7. SLR meets at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington. On-street parking is available, but participants are encouraged to arrive early to secure a spot.

In addition to the Saturday Long Run, the program includes a regular Wednesday Night Track Workout, conducted at Washington-Lee HS in Arlington. Warm-ups start at 7:00 pm.

Kristin Dahling and Ben Richter will be coordinating the Program. They invite those interested in being trainees or coaches to sign up NOW. Trainees should, by early June, already have a solid running base (about 25 miles a week) and be able to run 10 miles without difficulty. Coaches should have completed at least one marathon, and plan to regularly attend track and SLR during the program.

If you think you would like to join the Marathon Training Program, but also want the option of a "safety valve" in case you decide mid-way that you want to race a shorter distance, you will be able (and welcome) to transfer into the DCRRC 10-Mile Training Program, starting in July. (See details below).

For further information or applications for the program, please contact Kristin and Ben at:
dcrrc.mtp@gmail.com

7. 10-Mile and 10K Training Programs: The annual 10-Mile Training Program will commence on Saturday morning, July 12, 2008, at 8:00 am. The program will meet for the first 3 weeks (July 12, 19, and 26) at the Gotta Run store on So. Joyce Street in Arlington (Pentagon Row shopping center). After that, locations will vary. The "goal race" for this program is the Army 10-Miler.

This year, we will run a 10K training program in conjunction with the 10-Mile program. The "goal race" for this program is the Rediscovery 10K, run in mid-October in West Potomac Park.

Peter Lamberton, the Club's VP for Training Programs, is the director of both programs. He can be contacted at: plamberton@ftc.gov

8. Bunion Derby 2008: This 8-race series, a mainstay on the Club, begins Monday, June 16, 2008, at Bluemont Park, with the Women's Distance Festival and "Run After the Women" 5Ks.

This should be a great start to our summer racing season. Due to relocation of our starting line and meeting point to the "south" pavilion (actually "east" on the W&OD and 4-Mile Run Trails from Wilson Boulevard), the newly-measured 5K course should be even faster than the former one.

The remaining races in the series will be:

Saturday June 21: Hugh Jascourt 4-Mile (Fletcher's Cove)
Friday, July 4: Age-Handicapped 4-Miler (Carderock)
Monday, July 14: Bastille Day 4-Miler (Fletcher's Cove)
Wednesday July 23: Belle Haven 8K (Belle Haven Park)
Tuesday August 5: Bluemont 5K (Bluemont Park again)
Sunday August 10: Club Picnic 3M (Bethesda, MD)
Tuesday August 19: P.Thurston 4.5M (Burke Lake, VA)

Details on all of these events are available under the "Race Calendar" page on this website.

Races are open to all. Free to DCRRC members; $5.00 to non-members. NO HEADPHONES at any Bunion Derby event! Registration opens an hour before each event; no pre-registration.

Doe to the nature of these races, most of which are run on trails which we share with the general public, we regret that we cannot offer the option of allowing competitors to race with baby joggers or strollers.

The Bunion Derby is scored for 5-year age groups. A minimum of three and a maximum of five races will be scored for each competitor. Age is fixed as of the date of the first Bunion Derby race on June 10th. In order to qualify for a Bunion Derby award (and as a measure of good Club citizenship!), you must volunteer in one of the following ways:

1. Volunteer (non-competitor) at the Bunion Derby Race. (We expect competitors to lend a hand with such matters as registration, moving equipment, bringing refreshments, etc.)
2. Volunteer (non-competitor) for the 20-miler or Larry Noel 15K.
3. Coach in either the Marathon, 10-Mile, or 10-K training programs.

Thanks for taking the time to catch up with all this information, and we will see you no the road, the track, and at the races!

Ed