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Bunion Awards Event; Also Honor MTP and 10-Milers

Members and Guests:

1. Bunion Derby Banquet Monday 10/28; Marathon Training and 10-Mile Training Groups Also to be Honored: The Bunion Derby Awards get-together will be held Monday, October 29, at 7:00 pm at Cactus Cantina, 3300 Wisconsin Avenue (corner of Macomb, just north of the Cathedral) in Washington DC. We look forward to seeing the winners, their guests, and other Club members at this fun event.

Please note that we will also be honoring and recognizing the participants in the Marathon Training Program, the 10-Mile Training Program, and especially their coaches. So, if you participated in one of these programs, please also join us!

2. 10-mile Training Program Participants -- Congratulations! Under the able tutelage of program director Peter Lamberton, and assisted by coaches Kristin Blanchat, Linda Haines, Jeanne McCann, Matthew Pyle, and Jeannie Salo, our 10-Mile Training Program participants sucessfully completed the Army 10-Miler on Saturday October 7th. Here's the list of finishers:

Bonners, Danielle
Braden, John
Brooks, Karen
Clement, Renee
Cole, Becky
Coletta, Nikki
Cudworth, Christal
Eucker, Scott
Flynn, Mary
Gillett, Avery
Goulston, Beth
Graham, JoAnna
Haines, Linda
Harrigan-Farrelly, Joan
House, Deryle
Jacobs, Jeff
James, Alisen
Kroehler, Karen
Landwehr-Brown, Derrick
Lovett, Kara
McCann, Jeanne
McCarthy, Sheila
McCray, Deborah
Ponce, Alberta
Reddick, Eunice
Salo, Jeannie
Tagle, Alexandra
Tunstall, Kristi
Wilson, Ellen

Please join us on Monday night at the Cactus Cantina if you can!

3. Marathon Training Program: We will post a list next time of MTP participants who have so far completed their fall marathons -- many ran today in Marine Corps, others ran Chicago and other earlier races, some are in NYC and Philadelphia. Congrats to all, and thanks to the coaches, led by Kerry O'Brien and Joe Racine!

4. Winter Training Programs: Our training programs will continue this winter. In addition to the 10K traiinng program that traditionally starts in February, our Club will likely offer programs designed to prepare runners specifically for the National Marathon and National Half-Marathon - which will include preparation for our own GW Birthday Marathon or the GWB Marathon Relay. Details will be announced shortly -- we will be asking for coaches, and the programs would start in December. Please consider whether you would like to help the Club, and the area running community, in this fashion.

5. 2007 Proposed Race Schedule: Please check the website later this week. The draft 2008 Schedule will be posted. No major changes from 2007: the Belle Haven 8K will return to Belle Haven from its tryout year at Fort Hunt. Also, there will be a year-long "Club Championship Series." Schedule will be voted on at the November 12 Board Meeting.

6. Turkey Trot 5-Miler, November 22nd, Alexandria, VA: Please join us for the Club's biggest race of the year on Thanksgiving morning, starting at 10 AM.
Register online, at a $5 discount, through midnight November 19th at www.pwba.org/events . Please note the following reminders: NO HEADPHONES PERMITTED. Baby-joggers and strollers are strongly discouraged, and participants with such devices may be asked to start at the back of the pack. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: This is our biggest and most complicated finish line of the year. PLEASE help if you can! All participants are asked to bring canned goods to support the food bank operated by ALIVE!

7. Plans for 2008: While our race calendar slows a bit in October and November, the work of the Club goes on -- in this case, preparing for an exciting 2008 racing and training year. Here's a few highlights:

a. Race Directors Needed: Directors are needed for the following events:

(i) Belle Haven 25K, typically run in late February. After many years at the helm, John Haubert is stepping aside to a consultant's role. The race is a challenging one for the runners, and John has figured out over the years what makes it work. Please let me know if you can step up to take charge of this event.

(ii) Fort Hunt 10K, March 2008. Fairly easy race to direct, with criterion course requiring just one water stop. Good opportunity for someone who wants to break into race directing!

(iii) Bunion Derby #1: WDF 5K and RATW 5K. Early June. These "split races," the firts one being part of the are Women's Distance Festival, kick off the Bunion Derby. Also a relatively easy race to direct; out and back course mostly on W&OD Trail.

b. Club Championship Series: We will add a new series, consisting of all races in calendar 2008 that are designated as Club Championships. This entails all distances from 1-Mile (Track, late July) to the Marathon (Greenbelt, in February). In between: 5K, 4-Mile, 10K, 12K, 15K, 10-Mile, 20K, 25K, 20-Mile. Prizes will be good! 5-year age groups. Look for further news.

c. Race Calendar: A draft calendar will be posted on this website by October 31st; the Board will meet to amend and approve the schedule at its meeting on November 12th, 7:00, Clarendon Grill. PLEASE let us know as soon as possible if you have suggestions and ideas. Priority at the November 12 meeting will be given to those suggestions that we have received before the meeting. If you have general questions about the philosophy of our race schedule, and events that might be added, now also is the time to speak -- the November 12 meeting is not the time for a open-ended discussion (although appropriate time will be given to ideas we receive in advance).

d. National Marathon, March 29, 2008 -- New Partnership: After serving as a "cooperating club" at the 2007 running of the National Marathon, DCRRC will step up its role and its involvement for the 2008 race. Details will be announced in this space as soon as they are available. PLEASE enter early for the race (Marathon or Half) if you plan to run, and PLEASE designate that you are a member of DCRRC on your entry form.

8. More Upcoming Events:

December 1st: Gar Williams Belle Haven Half Marathon. Contact RD Gene Fox or the club president if you can volunteer. Many street crossings, and 2 water stops, so we need the help.

December 9th: Bread Run: Contact RD Bob Thurston at thurret@aol. com if you can help.

January 5, 2008: Al Lewis 10-Miler and Club Championship. RD Aaron Cheskis will need help with street crossings and a water stop. Please help if oyu can. aaron.cheskis@gmail.com

January 19, 2008: MLK/JFK 5K/20K: The MLK 5K is an official qualifying event for the National Half-Marathon. Race will be run on the Capital Crescent Trail, starting in Georgetown.

February 2008: 10K Training Program: Anyone interested in directing/coaching in this program should contact the Club President as soon as possible.

February 17, 2008: 47th Annual George Washington Birthday Marathon and 3-Person Marathon Relay. Please join for this marathon, one of the oldest continually held marathons in the country, if not the world. And you do not have to run 26 miles to do it! Form your teams now and set your goal. Volunteers always needed for this event. Please contact RD Pat Brown at 703-476-5765.

Run well!

Ed