SRC Run Report, February 28, 2009

We had a huge turn out today! People were coming out of the woodwork and it's not even spring yet! It seemed like every time I looked around there was someone else to add to the list, so I hope I got everyone. Before I list the attendees for this week, I have a couple of other announcements.

1) The Frostbite 5-Miler had 928 finishers last week. From the race results posted on the AARC web site, these are the SRC folks I could find and their times:

Quietman Tom 32:56
Seito 33:29
NC Tom 33:34
Ram 34:15
Snake MacWilliams 33:13
BB Betsy 38:13
Prof Sandy 41:56

I'm pretty sure all of these folks at least placed in their age division, if not won their age division. Nice job everyone and congratulations AARC on having very successful race!

2) We had a special member of SRC return to run with the group this morning, Rabbi Jon! He's back from serving out country in Iraq. This is not a leave from duty, he's home for good! Glad to have you back safe and sound, Rabbi Jon!

As for the rest of us, this was who's who on Saturday morning:

1. Alan G: 10 on-the-trail
2. BB Betsy: Shawmont-Manor
3. Bill C: Shawmont-Wises Mill
4. Chris P: Shawmont unspecified (Manor maybe?)
5. Coach Carl: 8 on-the-trail
6. Dan T: 11 on-the-trail
   
7. Derek (a newbie to SRC): Shawmont-Manor
8. Gazella: Shawmont-Manor
9. Hoby Dick: an easy paced 5
10. Iron Arthur: Shawmont unspecified
11. Joleen: 10 on-the-trail, maybe Andorra too
12. Joe H: Shawmont-Wises Mill
13. Just Gene: a tapering 10 on-the-trail
14. Kenny Baby: Shawmont-Manor
15. Matt: 14 on-the-trail
16. Maverick: Shawmont-Manor
17. Michael W: 8 on-the-trail
18. Milesman Hal: Shawmont-Spring Mill, plus 2 for 22
19. Prof Sandy: 10 on-the-trail
20. Quietman Tom: Shawmont-Manor
21. Rabbi Jon: To-the-Inn and BACK 5...Welcome Home!
22. Ram: Shawmont-Manor
23. Sandor: Shawmont-Wises Mill, plus a few for 18
24. Seito: (met us at the top of Shawmont) 30
25. Teacher Craig: Walnut Lane 10
26. Teddio: 10 on-the-trail
27. Terminator Tony: Tony Manor
    
28. Thierry: To-the-Inn-and-back 5
29. Tommy O: Shawmont-Wises Mill, plus a few for 17
30. Tri-Marni: Shawmont-Wises Mill
31. Waterbottle: Shawmont-Spring Mill

Also seen: Lakshmi, Bonnie B, and Lisa B out for 20, and Tony D.

Pretty impressive, huh?

SRC Run Report, February 21, 2009

I think we had a record small crowd today. It wasn't that cold compared to other Saturdays this winter, but it seems quite a few folks were in the mood for a little racing, as in the Frostbite 5-Miler. Rumor has it that as of Friday there were about 1000 people registered for the not-so-little race in Ambler. Congratulations, AARC! I hope the event was a huge success! Back at Northwest Ave at 8am, there were 9 runners who are obviously creatures of habit.

1. Doylestown Pete: Shawmont-Wises Mill
   
2. Gazella: Shawmont-Wises Mill
3. Hoby Dick: an easy paced 5
   
4. Joleen: Shawmont-Wises Mill
5. Michael W: 7 or so miles on the trail
6. Rugby: 7 or so miles on the trail, up the trail, down the trail, and in the creek!
7. Milesman Hal: Shawmont-Wises Mill plus 13 for 27 miles
8. Teddio: a short run with a twist...of the ankle. Hope everything is OK!
   
9. Waterbottle: Shawmont-Wises Mill

Also seen: Biker Bill finishing a To-the-Inn-and-Back 5

SRC Valentine's Day Report, February 14, 2009

What a day we had today! Was it due to the karma of Valentine's Day or was it just a coincidence? The trail was just about clear of ice, slush, and puddles although there were plenty of frozen ruts that made for some technical running. Several people joined us again who were either traveling, recovering from a marathon, or just caught up with life outside of running. Some additional long lost Shawmonters were spotted on the trail as the Shawmont-Wises Mill contingency were finishing their run. Betsy ran so hard she lost her voice by the end of the run, and there were a few new nicknames given today; Gene who had no nickname is now "Just Gene" and the runner formerly known as "TooHot Tom" is not "NC Tom" short for "National Champion Tom" at least for the next year!

Incidentally, NC Tom will be featured in the Ambler Gazette next week as the "Person of the Week." If you receive any of the Montgomery County Newspapers, I believe you may see the article in any of those newspapers as well. There may be tie-in to the Frostbite 5-Miler, which will be held next weekend on February 21.

Anyway I digress, there were 25 folks who showed up and ran their hearts out for the Valentine's Day Saturday morning run.

1. Alan G: Shawmont-Wises Mill
2. BB Betsy: Shawmont-Wises Mill
3. Dan T: 10 on-the-trail
4. Doylestown Pete: Shawmont-Eva
   
5. Eric S: Shawmont-Wises Mill
6. Gazella: Shawmont-Wises Mill
7. Hoby Dick: an easy paced 5
8. Joe H: Shawmont-Eva
9. Joleen: Shawmont-Manor
10. Just Gene: Shawmont-Wises Mill
11. Just Gene's friend, Julie: Shawmont-Wises Mill (welcome to the group!)
12. Lakshmi: Shawmont-Eva
13. Lima Bean: Shawmont-Wises Mill
14. Lisa B: early start for 22
15. Milesman Hal: Shawmont-Spring Mill, plus 2
16. NC Tom: Shawmont-Manor
17. Rahm: Shawmont-Manor
18. Sandor: Shawmont-Wises Mill, plus 2 (Welcome back!)
19. Tall Dave: Home-Canoe Club-Home
20. Teddio: 10 on-the-trail
21. Terminatory Tony: Tony Manor
22. Thierry: To the Inn-and-back 5
23. Tommy O: 15 on-the-trail (Welcome back!)
    
24. Tri-Marni: Shawmont-Eva
25. Waterbottle: Shawmont-Spring Mill, plus 2

Also seen: John H. on the mountain bike while nursing a leg injury, Pretzel Rod and Tennis Michele training for the Cape May Marathon, J "Runnin' with the King" and Roger, and Julio (Jeremy) and his wife.

To the Ambler Area Running Club, may the 10th Annual Frostbite 5 miler be a huge success, and to those running in the Frostbite 5 miler, have a great race!

A National Champion

February 7, 2009
Derwood, Maryland - Two-time male masters, 60-64, winner of the Philadelphia Distance Run, Tom Jennings, has once again raised the bar by winning the National Cross Country Title for male masters 65-69 at the USA National Cross Country Championships. Tom's 8 km time of 34:36 was a hands-down victory by more than 2 minutes over second place by William Hagman of Morris Plains, New Jersey who finished in 36:39! Congratulations, Tom! You are awesome!

Highlights of the National Cross Country Championship will be televised on February 15th on ESPN.

SRC Run Report, February 7, 2009

To trail or not to trail? That was the question of the day Saturday morning. It appears that despite these hard economic times the city of Philadelphia still had enough money left in their coffers to plow the trail at some point this week. I'm not complaining! It was a welcome surprise that had a lot of folks wondering if the trail was in adequate condition for running, or if the roads were still the better option. Consequently, trying to get a definitive answer from most people about which route they were taking and how far they were going was a challenge. Some folks opted to repeat the School Route 2009, and the rest took the great unknown adventure on the trail. This week I'm just listing the 22 who were there. You're on the honor system if asked directly, but I think it's safe to say that for the most part everyone ran between 10 and 20 miles. Well done, everyone!

1. Alan G
2. BB Besty
3. Biker Bill
4. Dan T
5. Eric S
6. Gazella
7. Hoby Dick
8. Iron Arthur
9. Joe H
10. Joleen
11. Kenny Baby
12. Lakshmi
13. Lima Bean
14. Lisa B
15. Michael W (Welcome back!)
16. Milesman Hal
17. Navy Scott
18. Quietman Tom
19. Teddio
20. Terminator Tony
21. Tri-Marni
22. Waterbottle

SRC Run Report, January 31, 2009

The trail wasn't this bad Saturday morning, but you get the idea. The trail was pretty much impassable on foot, that is if you wanted to stay upright, so the 14 faithful who showed up opted for the road. We all did "School Route 2009" which was pretty neat, because we all stayed together. There were quite a few places where it was single-file, but no one got lost or dropped, and thanks to the Garmin-armed we know that the distance was 12.15 miles. Here's the list of the baker's dozen plus 1:

1. Alan G - Garmin-armed
   
2. BB Betsy
3. Eric S.
4. Gazella
5. John H.
6. Joleen
7. Lakshmi - Garmin-armed
8. Lima Bean
   
9. Lisa B
10. Prof Sandy
    
11. Teddio
12. Terminator Tony
13. Tri-Marni - Garmin-armed
14. Waterbottle

Also noted, Hoby Dick did a couple of lengths of Andorra Road.

On the other side of the trail, field reporter Biker Bill filed this report:

"(I) Ran around the drives for eight and a half miles with Dr. Ned. Also ran into Seito who was working on four times around the drive. Also J. King, who did one time around the drive."

From the early shift, I received this report from Kenny Baby:

"HeeHaw and I started at 5:45 this morning. (HeeHaw had things to do/places to go.) We ran Shawmont (via Ridge Rd, Main Street Manyunk and Umbria), then back up to the start via Ridge and then a Chestnut Hill loop for 21+."

Thanks, Biker Bill and Kenny Baby!

I hate to say it, but based on the weather forecast for this coming week and the time of year I think Forbidden Drive may be forbidden territory for for running for the next couple of weeks. So, see ya next weekend when as the Willie Nelson song goes, "On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again.........."