APRIL 2003 WWW.RUNNERSANDWALKERS.COM

Upcoming Events New Year’s Eve Fun Run, 4 pm, Clubhouse January 17, Bold In the Cold Saturday Night Live 5:00 pm (First Saturday of the month) Check the bulletin board on our website for last minute changes. January—Thai Chili, Southlake Town Square February—Joe’s Pizza & Pasta, 114 & Carroll March—Macaroni Grill, Grapevine Renewals Your membership expiration date is shown on your Footprint mailing label. When it’s time to renew, fill out the membership application in the newsletter and mail it back to RAW along with your check.

A group of area runners gathered at the Clubhouse on November 15th to experience a new twist on RAW’s annual Double Trouble race. Instead of the traditional 5k/10k format, this year’s double whammy came in the form of a 5-mile combination road and cross-country race. It was harder than many expected, but the results were terrific. The overall female winner was Yolanda Hopping, with a time of 34:40. Masters female winner was Marisa Quinones, finishing in 39:57. Juan Rodriguez took overall male honors, with a blistering 26:48, and Bob Kolbaba was the male masters winner, with a time of 28:53.

The Double Trouble benefits Camp I-Thonka-Chi, Parkland Hospital’s burn camp for children. The camp provides a place where severely burned children can find acceptance and experience the joys of summer camp among others who share a common bond. Several RAW members volunteer their time in support of this worthy cause. A special thank you goes to our sponsors: Just for Feet, Saltgrass Steak House, Clif Bar, FastFrame, Brooks, Rainforest Cafe and Breadhaus. Thanks to our great volunteers and to race director Terry Marcott, the race went off without a hitch.

Double trouble 2003

December 2003 www.runnersandwalkers.com

Off they go! Kathy Mac, Major Mike and the crowd

Cross country course popular with runners

Lake Grapevine Runners

and Walkers Club

P.O. Box 2982 Grapevine, Texas 76099

RAW Board and Committees

President Kelly Richards

President@RunnersAndWalkers.com

First Vice President Terry Marcott

VP1x@RunnersAndWalkers.com

Second Vice President Rick Sanford

VP2x@RunnersAndWalkers.com

Chief Information Officer Jack Hase

CIOx@RunnersAndWalkers.com

Treasurer Craig Minyard

Treasurerx@RunnersAndWalkers.com

Officers At Large Rick Fogle

MAL1x@RunnersAndWalkers.com

J.W. Keeling MAL2x@RunnersAndWalkers.com

Tia Metzger

MAL3x@RunnersAndWalkers.com

Stacie Sauber MAL4x@RunnersAndWalkers.com

Curtis Woodard

MAL5x@RunnersAndWalkers.com

Courtney Noell MAL6x@RunnersAndWalkers.com

Footprint Editor Susan Barnett

Editorx@RunnersAndWalkers.com

Our club was given one free entry to the inaugural Arizona Rock N Roll Marathon, to be held January 11 in Tempe/Phoenix/Scottsdale. To win the race entry (sorry, airfaire and hotel are not included), please write an essay (300 words or less) on why you should be selected. Send your essay by December 27 to President@RunnersAndWalkers.com. The RAW Board will make the final decision on who will be awarded the entry. The decision will be announced by January 1, 2004. The official race website is http://www.rnraz.com/.

Relay For Life 2004 Coming April 30 Make plans now to join the RAW team at the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. Not only will we raise money for a great cause, we’ll have a blast doing it. We’ll be camping overnight on the Colleyville Heritage High School football field, and making sure we have at least one team member walking on the track from 7pm to 7am. Watch for more info! Contact: Debbie Bryant, stevendebbie2@comcast.net

MISSING OUT ON THE RAW NEWS? SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO KELLY: PRESIDENT@ RUNNERSANDWALKERS.COM. WE’LL ADD YOU TO OUR DISTRIBUTION LIST. DON’T MISS OUT ON ANY OF THE FUN!

Win a free entry

Arizona rock n roll marathon

December 31 4:00 pm RAW Clubhouse BYOB and a snack to share

This is a great family event, and the perfect time to get in a quick run, so you won’t feel so guilty when you’re lying around watching football the next day. You’ll be in the party mood nice and early as you snack on chips and hot chocolate (spiked with peppermint schnapps, of course). Afterwards, a group of RAW members are going to Grapevine’s Runway Theatre’s New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery Gala and Dinner. This semi-formal event features plenty of food and dancing, and was a big hit with those who went last year. You can learn more about the event at www.runwaytheatre.com. Tickets are $75 before December 15, and $85 after. For more info about the fun run, contact Ray Harris at rayharris00@yahoo.com. Major Mike can tell you more about the New Year’s Eve bash, and can be reached at Mike.W.Eccleston@fritolay.com.

New year’s eve fun run

2

From Kelly Richards, RAW President

From baby steps to national recognition, RAW reached new heights of achievement in 2003. No awards are given for these accomplishments, but I think they speak volumes about who we are: • Increased membership • Increased number of volunteers • Increased social attendance

(man does not live by running alone—nor does this woman)

• RAWear is everywhere

As we head into a new year, I look forward to the opportunities for RAW to reach the next level. In 2004, our goal to adopt a road through the park will come to fruition. We plan to grow the attendance at each race, which will allow us to increase our charitable donations to record highs. What it will take to accomplish these goals is involvement by every one of us. Even a few hours once or twice a year, if contributed by each member, would make a tremendous impact in our community. It’s been gratifying this year to see the number of people who have been introduced to our sport, or who have reached levels of achievement they never dreamed they could. It’s that spirit that we want to keep intact as we continue to grow. As Richard Craft says in his article this month, “It’s charisma...competition...drama...camaraderie...heroism...dreams.” Those are the attributes that our club was foundedon, they are what make us special, and they are what we need to keep close to heart. Here’s to more in 2004….

K2 to you

K2

How long have you been a RAW member? I think about 2 years. I was an official member for awhile before I was an active member (Scott and I had a family membership). It took me a little while to come out and run with the group because I was afraid that everyone would expect me to be a great runner like Scott. I'm not; I'm a social runner. I run only as far as I have someone to visit with while running. I've found that RAW is a perfect running group for both the fast, elite and the slow, social runner. How long have you been running? I started running in 1993. I worked for Boeing, who had a running team. It sounded like fun, so I joined. By the way, another club member, Mary Simon, was the driving force behind that Boeing running team. We ran 5 & 10Ks. My first marathon was White Rock in 1997. I understand biking used to be "your thing.” Why the switch to running? I thought running would be easier on my body! Just kidding. I used to race USCF road and NORBA mountain bike races. I had a bad crash in a road bike race and broke my arm, skinned my face, and got a concussion. I lost my nerve after that. I met Scott a couple of weeks later and had a fluorescent green cast on my arm - I think it might have helped me by getting his attention! Complete this sentence: My most embarrassing running moment was...

It took me awhile to remember this because mostly anything goes in running, so why be embarrassed? I was running a 50K point to point race in Niagara Falls, Canada and the only other 50K I'd done was SunMart, so I just expected that there would be bathrooms along the course. There weren't, and it was all pretty urban and residential - no bushes or trees and I didn't have toilet paper. I was dying. I spotted a house that was having a garage sale, and begged to use their bathroom. They were very gracious and allowed me to use it, but I was very embarrassed.

What has been your fondest running memory? The day after I ran my first 50K, SunMart, I ran my second White Rock Marathon with Scott. I knew Scott was planning on running the 50 mile one day and White Rock the next and I had it in the back of my mind that if I felt okay after SunMart, I'd try the marathon. I only had one pair of running shoes and they were covered in mud from SunMart, so I washed them as soon as we got home and stuffed them with newspaper, so they'd dry by morning. I didn't tell Scott until we got up that morning that I was doing the marathon too. We got to the marathon and I went and registered both of us. When I got back, Scott was wearing a huge Afro wig and ridiculous sunglasses, which he wore the whole marathon. We ran White Rock together and it was so much fun.

(Continued on page 12)

In step with … Kelly Eppelman

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Marathon madness and more

Ironman Hawaii October 19, 2003 Kona, Hawaii By Alan Walker Hélène and I were very excited when we found out we’d both been selected in the lottery for Ironman Hawaii. We both started training for this race and actually blew off other races to prepare. I’d had a few foot problems over the summer, but things were coming together until we had a lightning strike and fire at our house in August. It is amazing how much conditioning you can lose in two months of dealing with the insurance company, chasing builders, feeling depressed and not getting in the long workouts that you need for this type of race. Still, there was never any question about going to Hawaii; this was a once in a lifetime chance for both of us to do the race. We were in Hawaii a few days before the race and got to swim a few mornings, and we also drove the bike course in its entirety. This is the world championship of triathlon, so all the elite athletes you’ve seen on TV and in magazines were there. Since I was under-trained and facing a hard day, I took the drastic and hitherto unprecedented measure of giving up beer for the week before the race. The swim start is really interesting – the start line is over 100m out in the water, so you swim out to it and tread water while you wait for the starting cannon to go off. The Pacific is warm and clear, and for the first few hundred meters you can see small coral reefs and tropical fish, but the water gets deeper as you get to the turn-around. I had decided to stay to the left and avoid the crowds, so even though my swim felt slow, I finished it in 1:10, which was pretty reasonable.

The first few miles of the bike course are around town, with some big hills. Fortunately, it started out very calm. Once we were up on the Queen K highway, the ride started to feel good. The road is hot-rolled asphalt, very smooth, wide and has virtually no traffic. It’s mostly rolling hills, with almost no flat sections, bordered by vast expanses of black lava. About 40-50 miles into the ride, approaching the turnaround at Hawi, I was getting dehydrated and my quads started cramping. The bike turnaround at Hawi is always windy, with all the trees leaning towards you as you climb the hill into town, gaining nearly 600 feet. I stopped for a few minutes after the turn, took a salt tablet and worked the cramps out a little. Coming back, the wind had picked up and the last 40 miles or so was into a headwind the whole way. The locals call the winds, “ho’o mumuku” – now, I don’t speak Hawaiian, but I’m convinced it’s a swear word. I stopped again near the 90 mile mark, but started feeling better around mile 100. I finished the bike with a (slow) 6:47 split. When I got into T2, the fluids and salt tablets seemed to be kicking in and I actually felt like running. The sky was

just starting to be a little overcast, so we’d avoid the blazing sunshine. I took it fairly easy in the transition, made sure I was hydrated and stretched a little, then started out on the run. The first section is a hilly part through town, and about two miles into the run my stomach was knotted up and I thought I was going to be sick. I did some quick calculations and figured I could walk 20 minute miles and finish before the cutoff, so I started walking and actually made 15 minute miles.

Most of this section is a long out-and-back along Ali’i drive. I couldn’t face Gatorade at all and drank mostly Coca-Cola. There was a beautiful sunset over the ocean by the time I was back up on the Queen K highway and it rapidly got dark. Once you’re in the dark, they also hand out hot chicken-broth, which was infinitely better than Gatorade or Coca-Cola. At mile 16, coming into the Natural Energy Lab, I was feeling a lot better, so I ran from there to the finish. My marathon time was 5:38 and my overall time was 13:54. Overall, the race was a great experience. I’d really like to do it again and be able to prepare properly. For a triathlete, this is “the” race and it didn’t disappoint. There were certainly challenges to deal with on the course, but the hordes of enthusiastic volunteers, the other competitors and the general energy level make it really special. In retrospect, maybe giving up beer was my problem….

(Continued on page 5)

Hélène and Alan (right) with the 25th Anniversary Ironman Hawaii champion Peter Reid

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By Hélène (LN) Walker We got up at 5 am so that we would have plenty of time to get body-marked and do the last check-ups. Or so we thought! When we got to the pier, it was covered with the athletic crowd. Apparently, everybody had had the same thought. The pre-swim wait was filled with Tahitian music and the songs were so powerful that it gave me goose bumps. We stood in the water until the 5-minute flag was raised. Then Alan kissed me good luck, and swam towards the starting line. I waited a little longer, then slowly breaststroked towards the starting line. The cannon finally sounded, and off we went! The swim was nice, with lots of coral and tropical fish—blue, yellow, silver. I felt strong and good, there was no one around me, and I kept up a good pace until after the turnaround. I remember thinking that they must keep moving the buoys further and further, because it felt longer every time I had to reach the next buoy.

I finally made it back to the pier, and although I felt strong, I swam the distance in 1:44, which was disappointing.

Once out of the ocean, we ran towards the transition area (T1), grabbed our bike bag, and changed in the tent. Coming out of the tent, I was literally assaulted by 5 volunteers who slapped sunscreen all over me. Another volunteer accompanied me to my bike, helped me strap on my helmet, and off I went for an easy 112 miles in full sun, amid black lava and gusty headwinds rising to 20 mph. A calm day, by Hawaiian standards. The bike was uneventful. There were lots of rolling hills, 10 of which were pretty tough. I knew about the hills, so they did not bother me, but the wind …. The winds were so powerful in some areas that I couldn’t go faster than 10 mph downhill! I kept computing the remaining distance and time, and I knew that it was going to be close to make the cutoff (5:30 pm).

(A sad note: The father/son Hoyt team did not make it. Dad competes in triathlons pushing / pulling his 30+ year old son who has cerebral palsy and is unable to move. They flipped over somewhere around 85 miles when Dad tried to put his bottle back in the bottle holder. They both ended up in the hospital with some stitches, but nothing major. It reminded me of something I saw hanging from a tree: “Love Suffers Much.”) After the bike, it was back to the transition area (T2) to change into running gear. Boy, was I glad to leave my bike! My left pinky, ring finger and part of my palm stayed numb for 4 days after the race!

The run is my favorite event, and after 112 miles of biking, a marathon actually appealed to me. At the 14-mile

turnaround, located at the Energy Lab, I started counting the people behind me—there were 12. I passed another 8 people, which made me pretty happy. Every mile, I checked my watch to make

sure I was under the cutoff. At mile 25, I finally picked up the pace, and ran a 9:05 mile! Going downhill towards the pier, you can hear the spectators and the Ironman announcer, and you can feel the adrenaline rush through your body! All along the pier, people are giving you the high five or running with you—it’s a wonderful feeling. And then: the lights, the bleachers with the delirious crowd, the finish line, the announcer talkng about you, the camera flashes, the TV crews, the volunteers rushing towards you, the doctor, and then Alan … What a glorious ending! After hugging Alan, I spotted two teenaged volunteers carrying pizza, and I rushed towards them, feeling like a vulture circling a carcass. And I don’t even like pizza! On Sunday night, we went to the awards banquet. On the big screen, they showed some athletes going through the Finish line. One of these athletes was … me!

Ecstatic Finisher Hélène Walker

Great job by Alan Walker!

5

Wichita Marathon October 19, 2003 Wichita, Kansas By Kelly Richards On October 19th, a RAW contingent emerged onto the blazing plains of Kansas for the Wichita Marathon. We clearly didn’t see the forecast that called for a high around 90. Or perhaps we did, but were in denial. Regardless, you know you’re not in Boston when... … you’re 100 yards from the start and you have to ask a traffic cop where the marathon is. … there’s no race expo, chip timing, or any other sign of civilization. … the whole town gives you a blank stare when you ask where you can go “carbo-load.” … you pass the signs on the Air Force base that say, “Danger! Do Not Enter! Firing Range” – and it seems like a good alternative to finishing the race. … the buzzards circling the dead dog start to follow you.

… you see three spectators taking IVs. … the finish line announcer stops calling out finishers to announce that the course is closing in 15 minutes and would you all please pick up your bags so that Mrs. Johnson can go home.

… the only reason you finish is because you can’t find the “sag-wagon.” Hats off to David Ball, Mel Crafton, Steve Grady, Brian Griffin, and JW Keeling for gutsy efforts under difficult circumstances. By David Ball October 19, 2003. Wichita, Kansas is usually quite chilly by mid October, but not on this marathon day. At start time the temp was warmer than you'd hope the finishing temp to be, mid 50 degrees. No wind, thank goodness. Sun was blinding. No clouds. You ran under shade wherever you could find it. The 9-mile Air Force base segment was completely exposed to the sun. Finish temp was close to 90 degrees. In past years, their water station placement of every 2 miles may have been adequate, but for this weekend, it spelled disaster for many runners. Still, LGRAW performed well and even came home with hardware, (K-2 placed 4th in the female 30-34 age group; D Ball almost placed, but finished 47th overall). Of course, there’s some touching stories that go with this race like all races. Steve and Brian were at mile 16 when they passed a young woman who was crying.

They couldn't stand it, and actually went back to help her. It was her first marathon and she was sobbing her heart out. They stayed with her all the way to the finish! ‘Best Race Supporter’ goes to Susan Barnett for her timely and much needed water and cheering along the course. She drove two hours from Stillwater, Oklahoma the night before just to get to the race to help. She saved some RAW that day fer sure! David Ball 3:29:11 Kelly Richards 3:49:17 Mel Crafton 4:05:09

JW Keeling 4:47:50 Brian Griffin 5:15:14 Steve Grady 5:15:14 New York City Marathon November 2, 2003 By Marybeth Crane New York, New York.—what a weekend! 34,000 runners, and it felt like all of them were squished into a one lane road. Heather Wallace and I were off to NYC—no kids, no husbands, just a girls’ weekend out (and a marathon, of course). Heather and I started the weekend on Friday night by going to a Broadway show and then having dessert in Times Square while people watching (yes, it was Halloween....and yes, the freaks were out!). Christine Carman caught up with us on Saturday. We were off to the expo at 9am. Thank God our internal Mom clocks get us up early, because we were able to get our numbers in less than 20 minutes and by the time we left, the line was out the door and down the street . We bought one of everything (or maybe it only seemed that way) and then it was off to 5th Avenue. Lots of window shopping

(Continued on page 7)

Marathon madness and more

4th place age group: K2

Ready to race: David Ball, JW Keeling (sporting the latest in RAWear), K2, Mel Crafton, Steve Grady, Brian Griffin

6

(Continued from page 6)

(and one really cool pair of shoes) later, we were in the biggest Macy's in the world. I have never seen that many pairs of shoes in one place! And as a podiatrist, I love shoes. Saturday night we had a great pasta meal with all the gang. War stories of other marathons are always fun the night before. Sunday morning was 55 degrees and sunny. We went to the start by limo (much better than the bus!) It was way too crowded and had the longest bathroom line I have ever seen. It took us only about 3 minutes to get over the starting line, but we were bunched up tight for almost 8 miles. Heather and I were weaving in and out of traffic and were on pace for a 3:40 by 3 miles. We passed P. Ditty at 8 miles and took his picture—what a funny story that was. Heather and I were on pace and feeling good until the Queensboro bridge. It was 1:49 at the halfway mark and we were psyched for a PR! The crowd was awesome and loud. The bridge seemed to go on forever and I was talking nonstop all the way up...unfortunately, I got to the crest of the bridge and turned to say to Heather it was all downhill from here, and found the person I had been talking to wasn't Heather (She did thank me for the words of encouragement.) I was on my own from there, but was feeling pretty good and had only lost about 30 seconds in the hilly mile. I was just starting to get into a good groove and feeling optimistic about a PR when I fell on the grated bridge at about 19.5 miles. They had covered the bridge with a carpet and I caught my toe on a carpet lump. Very gracefully, I fell on my right knee, rolled onto my right shoulder, and smashed my left kneecap into the grate. I got up and walked for a while, knee stiff and bleeding, but still working. I realized I could still run, so I slowly progressed my way to the finish. So much for a PR, but I still beat the rapper!

I must have looked pretty pathetic in the last few miles, because at least 3 people asked me if I wanted to drop out. At the finish, a large black man actually picked me up and carried me to the medical tent. No permanent damage, but I was definitely out for a few weeks. Heather and Christine fared much better. Christine relates a fun filled race through the NYC scenery and Heather did manage a PR!

By Duncan Stewart Well, the 2003 New York City Marathon is in the books. The weather was great for watching a marathon, but not so great for running one. But hey – if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. My wife and I flew up on Friday, and a buddy met us at the airport and took us to our hotel. That sure was nice! After checking in, we strolled over to Times Square and got a couple half-price theatre tickets for Cabaret (not a show for kids!), then walked over to the expo. I was disappointed – here I was, ready to load up on NYC merchandise, and most of the stuff they had was of mediocre quality. Oh, and they were very proud of their stuff. The jacket, which was only a windbreaker, was $160!! I ended up only

buying a pair of shorts. When we

were out and about in Times Square that Halloween night, I figured it would be a WILD scene, but it wasn’t. That is, not much wilder than usual. The next day we bought souvenirs, saw a matinee (Chicago), and generally took it easy. For the big pasta dinner, we went to a very interesting diner – complete with

singing wait staff. I hit the hay early and tossed and turned most of the night. Marathon morning came early, as the last bus leaves at 7am. This leaves plenty of time to mill around, because the race doesn’t start until 10:10. The race organizers did a good job of clearing the first corral (seeding is based on your recent marathon time), making all of us show our number, then checking anyone else who wanted to get in. As the start time drew near, we began a slow march to the start line. The sun was blazing high in the sky and I was perspiring slightly before

the race even began. Not a good omen! The announcer, obviously a non-runner, said “Don’t drink

unless you’re thirsty” (?!?!) Finally the gun boomed and we were off, sort of. There was a bit of chaos for the first mile or so due to a large group of slower runners between us and the starting line – some logistical mix-up, I guess. Mile 1 went by with me “only” behind schedule by a minute. Not that it was to matter in the end. Despite this being my 21st marathon, I made a few mistakes. The first was trying to squeeze more miles out of my flats, which were a year old. The second was in trying to make up ground on a lousy day. The third was in allowing myself to get dehydrated, which led to cramping and some slight dizziness and nausea later. Lastly, I underestimated the toughness of the course. It didn’t look so hard on the

(Continued on page 8)

Congratulations Tom Ruyle!

Tom finished 3rd in the 50-54

age group at the AARP

National Triathlon

Championship!

7

Two Texas girls in the big city: Marybeth Crane and Heather Wallace

(Continued from page 7) elevation map! By the halfway point I knew I was in for a bad day, and by 18 I was struggling. If it weren’t for the crowd support, I would have finished 5-10 minutes slower. Even so, I lost 12 minutes on the back half and finished with a 3:05. I could barely walk afterwards, but managed to hobble the 30 blocks back to the hotel. On Monday we went to Ground Zero, which is a big construction pit now. I didn’t feel solemn like I did at the USS Arizona Memorial (Pearl Harbor), probably because there isn’t a special area set aside for remembrance yet. Visits to Central Park and the Empire State Building rounded out our day. Next time, we’d like to check out the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim.

New York Marathon Results: Duncan Stewart 3:05:26 Clay Cox 3:31 Marybeth Crane 3:52:26 Heather Wallace 3:53:38 (PR) Andrea Lorden 4:53:49 Christine Carman 5:14:54 Tony Dominiec 5:21:19

Palo Duro Trail Run October 18, 2003 Palo Duro State Park, Texas 20k distance: Tia Metzger 2:49:27 PR Distance Courtney Noell 2:48:19 John Bush 2:48:22 50k distance: Mustafa Varol 7:16:34 PR Distance Doug Noell 6:48:06 PR Distance Marty Metzger 7:29:25 White Rock Half Marathon November 1, 2003 Dallas, Texas

Bob Kolbaba 1:22:01 1st Age Group Jon Korte 1:26:52 5th Age Group Dana Bullard 1:30:05 5th Overall Yolana Hopping 1:34:01 3rd Masters Mike Eccleston 1:43:25 Lee Miller 1:47:56 Ryan Burns 1:58:28 Mel Crafton 1:58:55 Lesley Bruce 2:00:15 Noreen Henry 2:00:38 Jack Green 2:01:28 Tina Covington 2:05:46 Mustafa Varol 2:12:15 Roy Lange 2:31:00 Susan Barnett 2:36:38 Rick Fogle 2:36:37 Amy Hopkins 2:40:45

Rockledge Rumble November 8, 2003 Grapevine, Texas 10k distance: Tom Zack 1:07:33

25k distance: Yolanda Hopping 2:16:24 Steve Bryant 2:23:38 Tom Ruyle 2:23:39 Rick Sanford 2:39:05 Scott Decker 2:39:28 Lee Miller 2:41:21 Jay Teinert 2:58:06 Rick Fogle 3:23:02 Deborah Evans 3:23:40 50k distance: Scott Eppelman 4:18:15 Mustafa Varol 7:14:09 Marty Metzger 7:36:07 Toronto Marathon October 19, 2003 Toronto, Canada Liz Shanks 3:51:12 4th Age Group Marine Corps Marathon October 26, 2003 Washington, DC Lee Rebodos 3:16:46 Dan Cole 3:34:30 Shelley Minnis 5:38:30 Chris McConnell 3:54:42 First marathon for Shelley and Chris! Big D 30K November 16, 2003 Dallas, Texas Julie Sheridan 2:41:05 2nd Age Group Lee Miller 2:22:02 Terry Marcott 1:53:43 Ryan Burns 3:14:52 Diana Hager 2:40:57

Marathon madness and more

8

Duncan Stewart chases down the competition at the New York City Marathon

Joe and Tony- Thanks for taking the time to come to our office and personally deliver the trophy and your contribution. I really enjoyed visiting with you, and we are very touched that our scholarship fund was chosen to receive a good portion of your fundraising efforts. I meant to offer a TSAFF golf shirt to each of you while you were here, but it slipped my mind. Please let me know your sizes and an address that we can send it to. I will send you a copy of our newsletter with the article featuring the event as well. Thanks again and God bless. Mike

Thank you for the POF race RAW goes to Austin to present checks

Joe Luccioni and Tony Dominiec recently made a trip to Austin to present the proceeds from the Protectors of Freedom 5k. They presented checks for $3350.00 each to the Peace Officers Memorial Foundation and the Texas State Association of Firefighters. A donation of $1800 went to the Michael Lynch Foundation. Joe and Tony are shown above with Rebecca Harkrider of the POMF, and a thank you letter from Mike Higgins, Chief of Staff of the TSAFF, is shown to the left. The Protectors of Freedom race honors those who serve us every day, and was established in memory of Michael Lynch, a firefighter who lost his life in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

RAW celebrates the holiday season

We lost count

at 85 people!

Gary Howsam, Joe &Evelyn Luccioni

Alan & Lisa Noell

Susan & Mike Eccleston

9

Those of you new to RAW may not know Richard Craft, the founder of our club. Richard has graciously agreed to write a series of articles about the beginnings of RAW. In the next few issues of the Footprint, he has promised to share some of the more memorable and humorous moments in RAW history. CHAPTER ONE: DINNER WITH FRED This is the story of how I was touched by the late Fred Lebow, Founder of the New York City Marathon and President and Chairman of the New York Road Runners Club. I met Fred by chance, but it changed the way I looked at running and contributed to the foundations of RAW.

The Seinfeld Factor For much of the 80’s and 90’s, I was a marketing exec for a company just outside New York City. During that time, my family lived in Dallas, Southern California and New Jersey, but I spent about half of my time in the Big Apple, home of the show “Seinfeld”! I mention this because my friends and accomplices in this tale could have come directly from the show. Let me introduce you to the cast. First of all,

there’s my friend Jack who not only looks like Kramer (hair and all) but also has the knack for getting himself into “situations.” Then there’s Gene, my dentist and a dead ringer for George Castanza in appearance and mannerism as well. While my friend Jenna bears no physical resemblance (6 foot blonde triathlete) to the Seinfeld character Elaine, she embodies her spirit perfectly (she used to flash the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden). So….I guess that leaves me… as Jerry…ugh! The Big Tent For several years, Jack, Gene, Jenna and I met in Central Park for Road Runner events and to train for the New York City Marathon. The marathon was an annual celebration of our friendship, and we had many Seinfeld-like rituals, phobias and stories. But there was one event we avoided after our first year: The Pasta Party sponsored by the official NYCM pasta company. NYC marathon literature made the pasta party sound like a big deal—Central Park, Tavern on the Green, celebrities, carbo-loading. But in reality it was not in Tavern on the Green, but next to it and resembled a military chow line. A giant tent…long tables of tin-foil containers of noodles and bread…ladled onto disposable plates….served with paper cups of Gatorade to be consumed quickly in the cold at one of the dozens of long tables and benches. Efficient? Yes. An Event? No. Tavern on the Green Next to the big tent was Tavern on the Green, an elegant restaurant, brightly lit, and nestled in the heart of Central Park. While the runners were herded through the chow lines, the Tavern hosted dignitaries, world class runners,

shoe reps and pasta company execs, all being served the newest in noodle creations from silver platters on fine crystal with an open bar and soft music. It was 1992, the night before the marathon. Jack, Gene, Jenna and I were in The City, on our way to enjoy our own pasta party in Little Italy, and then it happened. Jack (Kramer) decided that this would be the year that we went to the Pasta Party—but not in the tent. No! We were going to the Tavern on the Green—all we had to do was follow his lead. Thank You, Carl Lewis! Our cab arrived at the Tavern at the same time as several limos. As the four of us tumbled from our dented yellow monster, a crowd gathered to see the contents of the newly arrived, smooth, shiny stretch. “Carl Lewis! Carl Lewis is here!” As we headed for the door to the Tavern, throngs of people passed us—going the opposite direction—to meet Carl’s car. We entered the now deserted lobby of the restaurant and found it plastered with marathon posters and pasta promotional items. “Official Pasta of the New York City Marathon.” (Huh?) Boxes of pasta had been stacked like Legos to form clever sculptures. To our left was an unguarded door to our objective, The Tavern on the Green. With a few confident steps, Jack was inside. Gene, Jenna and I watched with amazement as no alarms or sirens sounded. Jack plucked a long stemmed glass of champagne from a table and stuck his tongue out at us. We shrugged and followed. Pasta People Stealthily we slipped into the milling sea of the marathon elite. There were tuxedos (lots of black tuxedos), there

Baby steps...the early days of RAW By Richard Craft

RAW Founder Richard Craft

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were thin people in shiny running suits emblazoned with foreign flags, hip looking former jocks with colorful jackets, and more black tuxedos. Name badges revealed that these were the “Pasta People.” And there we were, plucking exotic carbo-laden creations from passing attendants, sipping sparkling water and living large. While Carl Lewis had provided the cover for our entrance, we were easily exposed once inside. First, we had no name badges and second, our attire stood in stark contrast to the polished look of the Pasta People. Jack sported the layered look—a Yankees t-shirt, an orange hooded sweatshirt and an acid washed jean jacket. Gene looked like a squat, green Michelin man in his quilted JETS jacket and hat. Jenna was sporting the latest in Grunge flannel ala Pearl Jam…and I was wrapped in black leather and denim (hey, I lived in LA). The black-clad Pasta People were everywhere…. watching us…staring…whispering…pointing…first in small groups, then in a large huddle. More stares…whispers…and then they sent forth the King of the Pasta People. He marched straight towards us with a fixed stare and a determined stride. The alpha male was going to protect His territory from the interlopers. F.O.F. Jack and Gene were busy snarfing snacks and schmoozing with people who had no idea who they were. Jack even conned a young watch company rep to give him a freebie. But Jenna and I knew the “jig was up” from the minute we entered. We sensed the glares of the Pasta People and saw the approach of their leader. “Dude, we are sooo busted,” whined Jenna. It didn’t take long for Jack to grasp the situation.

His head swiveled. His eyes darted. There, next to us in the crowd was a thin, frail man in a tattered beanie, dressed in sweats. Like us, he seemed out of place amongst the finery and tuxedos. But this was Fred Lebow, Founder of the Marathon and Chairman of the NYRRC. He was dying of brain cancer, but still working

the crowd. In a blink, Jack had one arm around Fred and the other arm gathering the three of us to his side. In his best Brooklyn accent, he boomed, “Fred, there you are. We’ve been looking all over for you!” Fred lit up. “Hey,

Hey! Good to see you!” And you know, he made us believe it. In an instant, Jack and Fred had completely transformed us from four scraggly interlopers to Friends of Fred (F.O.F.), protected by some invisible bubble. The Pasta King halted his attack, stood staring in disbelief, and returned to his tribe defeated. Dinner with Fred Soon it was time for dinner to be served. Fred, obviously weak from standing, grabbed the closest chair. His aide sat on one side, Jack on the other. Whether Jack meant to continue the ruse or just make small talk, his next question elicited an answer that changed everything for me. “So Fred, who’s your favorite in tomorrow’s race?” With calmness and clarity, and with the tone of a college professor imparting a grain of truth, Fred replied, “I don’t care who wins. Those guys can take care of themselves. But somewhere out there tomorrow will be a 60-year-old grandmother running her first marathon. This is all for her. That’s what I care about.”

Foundations of RAW This thing Fred had created—this marathon, this running club—wasn’t about winning or tuxedos or celebrities. It was about giving everyday people like Jack, Gene, Jenna and me—and the 60-year-old grandma—a dream we all could share. Our friendship was centered on Fred’s gift and we will forever be grateful. Years later, after Fred had passed away, I read an article that quoted him: “The marathon is a charismatic event. It has everything. It has drama. It has competition. It has camaraderie. It has heroism. Every jogger can’t dream of being an Olympic champion, but he can dream of finishing a marathon.” Charisma…Competition…Drama…Camaraderie…Heroism…Dreams! These are Fred’s elements of a marathon, and the foundations of RAW.

I moved back to Texas in 1996. I missed the City and Jack, Gene and Jenna, but I immediately started working on something to replace them. And while Lake Grapevine is not Central Park (where Fred’s statue now overlooks the runners) his spirit lives in RAW, and in the many new friends it has brought to me. Thanks, Fred...for everything!

“Every jogger can’t dream of being an Olympic champion, but he can dream

of finishing a marathon.”

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Fred Lebow

(Continued from page 3) Volunteers were throwing themselves at "AfroMan" and we'd run into an aid station and the volunteers would yell "Water, Gatorade, Vaseline" and Scott would yell back "Where's the AfroSheen?" It is one of the few times ever that I was able to run with Scott without feeling like I was really slowing him down. I think that was the first and last time that we comfortably ran the same pace—slow. Where is the most unique or unusual place you've run? Through the drainage/sewer access system under Fort Worth - it was a Hash House Harriers run. What do you consider your biggest running achievement? Finishing MiWok 100K, my first 100K, after falling at mile 55 and severely dislocating my little finger. It was at a 90 degree angle. I had to walk the last 6 miles, but I still finished 1 hour and 20 minutes ahead of the cutoff time, which I think was 16 hours. What about your non-running life would most surprise club members? I don't know. Maybe the quantity of habaneros and garlic cloves that I put in my green bean stir fry. No running after eating that dish! I'll have to bring it to the next RAW party, but not for the faint of heart and stomach! Anything else you'd like to add? Yes, what a great and friendly club RAW is. I was so proud of this club for all the hard work and support of one another in putting on the first Protector's of Freedom. That's when I really decided that this group is wonderful and special. I had to become more involved because I wanted to be an active part of it.

Anti-turkey trot 2003

There is a nearly famous running club named RAW Who’s logo looks a lot like a paw. On weekends they do meet It’s often considered a treat Then they gather and discuss what they saw. On Turkey day every year Before opening the beer At Rockledge they do gather To run up a big lather Then eat non-stop without fear. The benefits of the run having been sold Gathered 30 runners ages young, medium and old Slow, in-between and the fast From amazingly varying pasts They planned to be Bold in the Cold. There were doctors and others and kids with their mothers Who’s goal was not to race but visit with each other Ray did the Hound Dog Hustle with his best pet Along the trail was there no need to fret Then everyone ran back to the start to take cover. Someone might consider a Duct-Tape Duet Next time it might be a good bet Saves doing the trail over After watering the clover For a man with his keys in a set. Flashing off down the trail, trying not to look stupid On Donner, on Blitzen, on Comet and Cupid (Oops, sorry, wrong holiday). A Protector of Freedom is in charge of the annual race A humorous article he must produce in order to save face Next year we will see more Hard runner to the core And a better article to keep up the pace.

By Fireman Ken MacInnes

RAW LOGO SWEATSHIRTS ARE IN!

SEE K2 FOR MORE INFO

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Giving back to the sport This is the second installment of a new feature in The Footprint, which highlights someone who has done something above and beyond the call of duty for our sport, or for a fellow athlete. There were several good candidates this month, including Rick Fogle for sticking with Susan at the White Rock Half when she cratered at mile 8, Major Mike for coming back to find them, and Lee Miller and David Ball for pulling each other through a tough race at Sunmart (more to come on this next issue). But this month’s winners are the volunteers at the White Rock Marathon Aid Station. First of all, thanks to JW Keeling and his cohort in crime Tom Byno, for agreeing to be the organizers of the station. It’s a thankless job that’s a lot of work, and they came through like the champs they are. Nearly 60 RAW members volunteered, and many of the

runners commented about what a lift it gave them to see and hear their club cheering them on. As the lead runners approached the aid station, there was a mishap between the media truck and the RAW banner which was spanning the road. Alan Engisch took the brunt of the accident and got a trip to the hospital in the bargain. It was great to see the way the club responded, staying calm, recovering quickly, and making sure Alan was cared for. (He’s fine, except for some lost sunglasses.) It’s wonderful to see how our club members support each other. Congratulations to all the volunteers— you are our “Giving Back to the Sport” award winners! To nominate someone for the “Giving Back to the Sport” award, send an email to Marty Metzger at mmetz@ix.netcom.com..

Turkey trots and jingle bell runs

The other holiday races

While the anti-turkeys were busy anti-running at Rockledge Park, a few other RAW members ran the more traditional events. Fort Worth Turkey Trot: Terry Marcott: 1st Masters Overall Dallas Turkey Trot: Noel Widdowson Eileen Fontaine Richard Fontaine Susan Barnett Fort Worth Jingle Bell Run: Craig Minyard: 4th overall, 2nd age group Jeanne Minyard Terry Marcott Doug Noell Courtney Noell Pat Noell Richard Fontaine: 2nd age group Eileen Fontaine: 2nd age group Susan Barnett: 3rd age group

Dallas Jingle Bell Run: Lee Rebodos: 1st age group

A family affair: Sam Barnett, Eileen & Richard Fontaine, Susan Barnett, Craig Fontaine, Carlon Doyle

Guess which one is taking this WAY too seriously?

Send your race stories to Editorx@RunnersAndWalkers.com

We want to hear about your race, regardless of

distance or time!

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Presented by:

The Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers Club

Saturday, January 17, 2004

Oak Grove Park, Grapevine, TX

Start 8:00 am (5K & 15K)

“Bold in the Cold” Entry Form - Saturday, January 17th, 2004

NAME_______________________________________________ 15K ___ 5K ___ ADDRESS ___________________________________________ PHONE __________ CITY _____________________________STATE ____________ ZIP ______________ AGE ________ SEX _______ E-mail ______________________ Race entry fees: ____ $13 adults (received by 1/12/04) _____ $15 adults (late& race day registration) _____ $10 students & LGRAW members _____ $12 group (minimum of 5, received by 1/12/04) I will pick my packet up at: _____ Grapevine Community Center – Jan 15th and 16th from 3-7 p.m. _____ Race Day Morning at LGRAW Make check payable to “LGRAW” (Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers Club) Mail your check and entry form to: LGRAW, P.O. Box 2982, Grapevine, TX 76099 WAIVER STATEMENT: In consideration of the acceptance of this entry, I assume full and complete responsibility for any injury or illness which may directly or indirectly result from my participation in the January 17, 2004 Bold in the Cold 15K and 5K runs and I hereby release and hold harmless the directors, sponsors, promoters, officials, and all persons and entities associated with this event form any and all in-jury and damage. I state that I will run or walk at my own risk. Signature: ________________________________________________________ Date: ____________ Signature of participant or parent, if participant is under 18 years old

COURSE Both courses are on park roads along the southern shore of Lake Grapevine. LOCATION Oak Grove Park, at the north end of Dove Loop Road. Take Highway 121, 114 or 26 to Main Street, Grapevine. Drive

North through historic downtown. Turn Left on Northwest Highway @ Elliot’s Hardware. Drive ½ mile. Turn right at PDQ at Dove Road. Drive North 2 miles (no other turns) to the softball field’s parking lot. The RAW Clubhouse is across the street. Start/Finish Line is in front of the RAW clubhouse.

ENTRY FEES Adults (early registration, received by Jan 12th) - $13.00

Adults (late and race day registration) - $15.00 Students or LGRAW Member - $10.00 Group Rate (minimum of 5 mailed together and received by Jan 12th) - $12.00

AWARDS Trophies will be presented to the 1st overall male & female winners and 1st masters male & female winners in the 5K &

15K. Top three male and female finishers in each of the following age groups will receive awards: 10 and under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 and Over.

All participants receive a 2004 Bold in the Cold coffee cup. (Guaranteed to the first 250 registered participants.) CONTACT John Bush at 817.545.8183 http://www.runnersandwalkers.com

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Who’s that gorgeous blue-eyed guy we’ve been seeing around the clubhouse? It’s Alek Agoranos, recently arrived from Russia. Paul and Michaelann are the proud (and tired) parents.

By the time you read this, Alan and Hélène Walker will be back in their house, which was struck by lightning last August. Hélène’s mother Fanny is here and has already become an honorary RAW member. The Walkers asked us to express their sincere thanks for the Christmas ornaments, which will put them on their way toward replacing those lost in the fire.

Curtis and Katie Woodard will soon be leaving us for the mountains of Colorado. We will miss them, and wish them the very best. We expect you to stay in close touch with us!

Annette Collins is recovering from foot surgery. Get well soon!

New members Mark Everett Katie and Mike Knowlton Noreen Reese Pat Saunders

Renewals Ted Ray Amyx David and Becky Aungst Richard and Susan Brooker Steve and Debbie Bryant Suzi Cope Marybeth Crane Babette Derendinger The Eccleston Family Richard and Eileen Fontaine Steve Grady Randy Hall Susan and Ray Harris Yolanda Hopping Gary Howsam Chuck Kennard Kandy Kobar Hector Lora Ken Macinnes Mark Miller The Pugliese Family Lee Rebodos Tim and Roxanne Schroeder Duncan Stewart Dixie Terry John Vinings Noel Widdowson

Welcome to LGRAW!

Personal touches

Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers Club Membership Application

Name: ___________________________________________ ____ Male ____ Female DOB:____/____/____ Address: _________________________________________ ____ New Membership ____ Renewal City: ____________________________________________ Is it okay to publish this information in the club directory?____ State: ______________________ Zip Code: _________ Participating Family Members: Name:_______________________ ___M ___F DOB:___/___/___ Home Phone: (____)_______________________________ Name:_______________________ ___M ___F DOB:___/___/___ Name:_______________________ ___M ___F DOB:___/___/___ E-Mail Address: __________________________________ Name:_______________________ ___M ___F DOB:___/___/___ I know that participating and volunteering to work in club events can be potentially hazardous. I assume all risks associated with running, walking, and volunteering to work in club events. Having read this waiver and knowing these facts, and in consideration of your acceptance of my application for membership, I, for myself and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, waive and release the Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers, Inc., United States of America Track and Field, and all sponsors, their representatives and successors from all claims of liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in club activities. I grant permission to all of the foregoing to use any photographs, motion pictures, recordings or any other records for any legitimate purpose. Membership Dues: _____ $20 Single _____ $30 Family Mail to: LGRAW Check here if you need two membership cards: _____ P.O. Box 2982 Grapevine, TX 76099 Signature____________________________________________________ Date:_____/_____/_____

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Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers P.O. Box 2982 Grapevine, TX 76099

PRSRT STD A U.S. Postage Paid Grapevine, TX Permit No. 243

Bold in the cold 5k/15k January 17 8:00 am RAW clubhouse

Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers P.O. Box 2982 Grapevine, TX 76099

PRSRT STD A U.S. Postage Paid Grapevine, TX Permit No. 243

A cartoon in my daughter’s swimming magazine shows a young swimmer on Santa’s lap, asking for 5 seconds off his 100 freestyle. If that’s all we needed to improve our times – there’d be a long line of runners at the malls. But since Santa is probably not dispensing PRs this year, I thought I’d submit some alternate suggestions for filling some RAW stockings (the CoolMax kind - purchased from K2, of course). Byron: A subscription to the witness protection program’s official list of fake names. (I think Joe Valachi was the first to use “Randy Wholeway.”) K-2: A can of spray-on minivan repellant. Dave Aungst: A 9-year training program to prepare him for running those two marathons when he turns 60. Eileen: A sedan chair (with bearers) to carry her over the Rockledge trails.

Tom Byno: A beer that’s brewed for breakfast. Polar Bear: An overdue Boston medal “1st Place – Broken Foot - Male.” Terry Marcott: The lead role as a small-town track coach with a troubled past in the movie, “Hoosiers 2.” The Harley Boys (Tony and Joe): Matching black leather racing singlets. Guy: A Snakey Lane Starbucks. Stacie S: (Santa’s already brought her year-round bathrooms at both ends of the course – what more could a girl ask for?) Lee Miller: Assertiveness training. Susan B. A well-deserved Pulitzer. Major Mike: A long-desired howitzer.

Gabe and Rick F: Matching Boston marathon t-shirts that say, “Hey man, it’s just a training run.” Alan and LN: Poi-flavored Power Bars (for next year). Scott E: A list of all the short-cuts. Fireman Ken: Some anti-pumpkin pie for dessert. For the whole club: A margarita machine at the first water stop. An escalator on that hill just before the 3-mile mark. Our old front porch back. For me – I’ll just take a box of assorted punctuation and wish everyone in RAW a healthy and joyous holiday season.!!!

Hang your stockings and say your prayers By Dennis Novak

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