President Coutu Bids You Adieu

Posted by: Preztc

May has been a month of merriment! Actually the hard work had to be put in before the revelry around the Maypole. Just ask Leah Thorvilson and all our members who participated in the Fargo Marathon Saturday May 15 ^{about the pain and glory. Leah has tried and worked hard the past couple of years to qualify for the Olympic Trials and she succeeded at Fargo. Anyone who knows Leah can attest that she cares about everyone else’s goals and accomplishments as well as her own and is so much fun to be around, but this quote from www. Arkansas360sports.com 05/25/2010 states just how serious this woman is:}

We all are so proud of her and appreciate her contribution to our club and team. I am proud of all our members and their accomplishments. There are many members who have had notable things in their lives this month. Paul Ward is mentioning some and so is Jenny Weatter, but let me make mention of long time member and contributor to the running community and this club, as well as an amazing athlete. David Williams was honored by the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association as a co-recipient of the Henry Woods Lifetime Achievement Award. (The Little Rock Roadrunners club receives valuable gratis advice from Mr. Williams) David put a lot of work in the beginning of my term writing the By Laws we now have in place. Thank you, David.

Members who attended our May meeting benefitted from knowledgeable and gratis advice from Mike DuPriest. Mike gave an interesting and fact-filled talk with some opinion thrown in (although he tried to refrain from offering opinion) on shin splints. Mike speaks through his medical background as a chiropractor here in town as well as an athlete; he runs 100 milers, bikes or runs to work daily. Thank you, Mike.

May began as predicted with the hot, wet, humid conditions to make everyone’s efforts at Toad Suck and Rexfest more challenging. Toad Suck was a little drier this year as thankfully we did not receive the deluge of rain as predicted. The following weekend Go! Running sponsored the MacArthur Park 5K, a Friday evening fundraiser for the downtown military museum. This was so much fun because when we were through slogging through the steamy and breezy downtown streets we were rewarded with pizza, beer, live music, and a medal awarding ceremony by 42 NCAA championships coach John McDonnell. As well as “rubbing elbows” with a bunch great people-Bill Hoffman, Steve Preston, Michael Harmon, Steve Yanoviak and Eileen Turan, Rob Wistrand, Chuck Spohn, Bill/ Carole Torrey, new member and winner of the female division Tracey Johanning, the S-skis’ entourage, Erin/Gary Taylor (sponsors), Ashley and Jon Honeywell, and many more - if I did not mention you, I’m sorry but I was glad to see you all there enjoying the lawn party!

Running and family joys continued with the Dino Dash held Saturday, May 22. Adult and child athletes abounded in the Rivermarket along with happy vendors and cheerleaders. Member Patrick Mathieu, aka Skippy Peanut Butter Potentate, created more happiness in the crowd by giving away jars of the good stuff. It was a pleasure to witness the excitement of the children and family runners like the Spohns, Barrons, Olneys, Taylors (Go Running), Wistrands, Hildebrands, and Dellimores (The Dino Dash featured family) come across the finish as part of a fabulous finish line crew-Polly and John Russell, Paul Ward, B. Torrey, Harold Hays, Craig Lair, Bryan Jones, Eileen Turan forgive me, I know I left many out. Second time Race Director Jeff Maher did a nice job handling the record registrants. As a part of the finish line team I got to stand in the onset of finishers and tell the “men” where to go. This job in the past was Karen Call’s and those are tough running shoes to fill! Again I had to leave the visiting of many fine folks and enjoying cheering of the tots to go sell those running shoes at Gary Smith’s Easy Runner :).

This was a bittersweet column for me to write as it is my last President’s message. The June 17th LRRC monthly meeting will be elections where members will formally vote in the new slate of officers and Brian S-ski will be your next president-Good Luck Brian and officers up for election (Leah, Steve P and Jenny)! I will still be on “board” to help accomplish some things to continue the growth and development of our wonderful club. Members please keep doing what you’re doing and enjoy your running. As I wrote in June of 2009 it was/is an honor to serve the club and it certainly has been a wonderful year and I have loved every minute of it.

Happy Fathers Day!

Tina

Spring Arrives, We’re Alive, And We Thrive!

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As the trees are budding, flowers blooming, longer, warmer days arriving, it seems like spring has finally arrived-Welcome! And welcome to any new members and old members joining a new.

Last month’s column noted things that have never been done before and the then upcoming Little Rock Marathon, congratulations to all members participating and, kudos to all involved as this was an outstanding event and I can now say that from a personal level. This was my first Little Rock Marathon. Yes, I did many training runs, volunteered, and worked the expo, but for some reason resisted the whole marathon mostly due to the last 6 miles of Riverfront Drive. My friend/hero John Woodruff was a big supporter and fan of this race and I decided to run it for him-the third anniversary of his death was Saturday, March 27th. Although not fully prepared for this as I worked for Easy Runner the weekend of the marathon,- but I threw myself into the energy of the event as another motivator came with everyone’s favorite runner/triathlete Kirsten Davis (now of New York), who arrived to run this marathon for the first time as well. Also, I decided to push myself to get out on this course officially by using it as a training run for Hog Eye Marathon (another first-we shall see). My longest before LR was maybe an exaggerated 16. The weather was mild and actually perfect for this long training run with a couple of thousand fellow runners on race day. This was exciting to run the course passing many famous sights of LR with so many out-of-towners and locals running, walking, and cheering, the crowd support was both amazing and amusing. Many fun groups were out there on the sidelines. Governor Beebe was greeting runners as they passed his house. I was amazed at the crowd offering support, hospitality, and shouts, especially going up Kavanaugh. I was dreading the downhill on North Lookout by Allsopp Park due to a bum knee since mile 8.5, but I really wanted to get to John Woodruff’s Memorial water stop at mile 25 and yes, after all this I wanted that HUGE medal. A few things assisted me along the way to my destination. Yes it hurt going down N. Lookout, but at one point I looked up and was able to greet and hear Gary and Libby Smith of Easy Runner fame encouraging the marchers from the balcony of their home. Running backwards (took some pressure off knee) at the risk of looking foolish but it sure helped, and Allison Acott (aka marathon angel) came up alongside when it seemed like I needed it most, and encouraged and pushed me on. She had just finished the Mardi Gras Marathon in New Orleans a week or two before and really offered uplifting words that worked until mile 20. At mile 24 while taking a walk break another angel, Melanie Baden, appeared. Although she did not have any shots for my knee, her bright manner got me back running enough to get me up to Dillard’s and the “had to see” John Woodruff Mile 25 memorial and the finish. This was a good experience in spite of me and I will do this race again and hope you will too.

Speaking of marathons, motivation, and inspiration, Randy Oates spoke to a fairly well attended monthly club meeting (considering all the competition) on Mar 18th at Whole Hog Café., Good food, fellowship, and strength of spirit was experienced as Randy updated us on his very hard road of learning to walk and ride a recumbent bike. Once an avid athlete (runner, triathlete, boater), Randy had to face the situation of possibly never being able to walk about three years ago and has made miraculous progress. Listening to Randy’s personal account of working very hard to accomplish tasks we take for granted makes a person stop to think what we would do if faced with something that took away our ability to train-where we would we find the discipline and desire to make us move and not wallow in self pity. Thank you Randy for sharing and helping us to remember we have to continually be in training for a marathon or any event we set our sights on. Not just give it a half hearted try but to be vigiligant and constantly be on it. Randy is an excellent example of what we can accomplish when we train and purposefully go after our goals.

Posted by: Preztc

Reminding all members our potluck meetings are resuming for the Spring and Summer at Murray Park Pavilion #2 at the same time-starting at 6:00 pm on April 15th. Since most will be have gotten their taxes done by then, you can come and celebrate. Not sure on theme yet-wanted members to speak on their Boston experience to prepare those about to run the Boston on the 19th , so please bring medals, jackets, and stories and contact me at tcoutu@att.net if you would like to speak. And if no one wants to speak, we will just fellowship. Our May 20th speaker will be Mike Dupriest and June 17th is elections.

The board positions that are open for nominations this year are President-Elect, Secretary, and Membership Chair. You may send the nominations to the above address or give them to me at the April meeting. Here’s the actual wording from the by-laws: (View them at www.littlerockroadunners.com)

.Go! Running has opened a new store in the Heights and present Prez-Elect Brian S-ski reports that owners Gary and Erin Taylor want to join the LRRC and Gary wants to run for us (yeah us-he is very fast)! Brian also reports that Gary will offer LRRC members 10% off.

April is a busy month for fund raising for our club-more than one way to give back and rest and recover from the Boston Marathon…..The club is of course sponsoring the Capital City Classic on April 3rd and many have signed on to run and assist this Grand Prix championship 10k.

The club is doing the finish line and timing for funds for the club at two races: -April 17th is the Miles for Missions 5K at Pulaski Heights Methodist church and on April 24th is the Catholic High Rocket 5K at the school. Please help if you can on these dates.

Thanks for your support of running, community, and the club!

T

February Featured Founders, March Offers Inspiration

Posted by: Preztc

Since last newsletter something happened that had never been done before-The Saints won the XLIV Super Bowl, this was a good game where the “underdog” won. Also at February 18th’s LRRC’s “presidential” meeting we almost got 30 years’ worth of past presidents together at one time. All but a few came to share the running lore with a large crowd of old and new members. For those who could not make it, we missed you! I wish this meeting and some moments in life were like a football game where we could make an approx. 1 ½ hour event into typical three. If we could stop the “clock” every so often or take time outs we could have listened to more stories and heard more advice and history on how good clubs are made. The LRRC started in 1977 with eight members and today there are over 200.
Lou (Ole Gristle) and Charley (Harley) Peyton were part of the founding group and they graciously sat on a panel along with Bob Hilts, Paul (Galloomphing Gourmand)and Bill(Ole Runner)Hoffman. They answered questions and told stories of beginnings of the LRRC. Bob Hilts offered the comment of how things have changed with all the gadgets and technology to improve running, where in the “old” days they relied on running groups and training partners to improve. They also shared that there were a lot of splinter groups at the beginning and yet I find that is the case now. They focused on creating and organizing races and training groups, like primarily focusing on marathons and certain time goals, particularly for example the White Rock Marathon. T-shirts and photos were brought out as evidence; Lou and Charley had t-shirts from the first LR marathon and women’s run and 3:20 training group. Bill Hoffman had some neat photos of the existing Sunday morning run and the first Arkansas Running Hall of fame inductees. Paul Johnson and Bob Hilts recounted humourous events. There was fierce competition its seems, but also camaraderie and encouragement were evident. I hope we can foster this and when the next generation takes over the club we tell the same kind of lore. Three past presidents received a much deserved award for the years of repeat service and they continue to promote and encourage and support this club. Tom Barron, Steve Hollowell, and Bill Harrell received the coveted plaques. While the president’s were recognized as they are due, this was also member appreciation dinner for we could not have the best club without the best people bringing it all together for volunteering, cheering, racing etc. Thank you all members and presidents.
Running offers many opportunities for people to try something they have never done before, and having a network from joining LRRC will help. You will find many training groups and people available to assist you in a first time 5K up to a marathon, as such as the LR marathon training group (Tom and Hobbit offer an encouraging environment to lead people into new territory.) Running offers things that will change your life for the better. As the Little Rock Marathon event is next weekend,-good luck participants and all those supporting the race!
I hope you will attend this month’s meeting for motivation and a reminder about the important things and not letting excuses get in the way of having and living a full life by listening to Randy Oates recount his progress since last year’s meeting.
Another positive force out there is the splash we are making with our new hoodies with the LRRC logo. While in Texarkana for the Run the Line half marathon, most of us wore them, showing team and club pride. I had someone ask me how many we had attend this event. So there was good publicity for the best club in the state!

President’s Day-February Meeting

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Happy New Year!

Posted by: Preztc

Happy New Year! Hope all members enjoyed the 2009 holiday season and the beginning of 2010 as much as I did. If you have made resolutions I hope that you have kept them and continue to do so., If not, as my sister says, every minute starts another 24 hours. Keep trekking especially for those who have made the commitment to spring marathons and the Grand Prix racing season. For all runners for whatever reason, the bottom line is running makes you better. So here’s to a better you and a “best” year of running.

Looking back at December, the weather not rainy like October but cold (and won’t go away) did not keep the club from experiencing opportunities to fellowship together. The Christmas Party held on the 19^th at the Capitol Hill Building was very nice indeed-hats off to past President/current Treasurer Steve Hollowell for securing this location; it was well attended with lots of food, wine, laughs, and most important, good company! Thank you all for attending.

From that evening plans were made to celebrate the longest night of year (Winter Solstice) on the following Monday. Glen Mays hosted a run from his home on Kavanaugh to the Capitol grounds where we gathered to view the Nativity and saw some box with writing on it. From there the fast guys continued their evening jaunt to the River Market before returning back. The rest of us trooped back to the Mays’s warm kitchen, replenished and rehydrated with leftover libations and goodies from Saturday’s gig. Once Glen arrived back with Brian Scieskwosi. and Steve Preston, we pounced on the fresh baked gingerbread men cookies Glen had baked. This was a great run and hope this tradition continues. Thanks Glen!

Christmas Day gave us clear and bright skies with very cold temperatures. A few of us got out and showed spirit. Laura Naill and I ran later that morning, Joel Perez, Becky Humes, Joel’s brother and sister-in-law, and their wonder dog joined us for a very nice (?) hilly and chilly six plus miles through the Heights where we caught a glimpse of Santa (a fast and thin one who oddly enough resembled David Williams).

Paul Ward continued his traditional New Year’s Resolution run on the first day of 2010 that was well attended despite below freezing temperatures (again). It was so good to see all the members from both sides of the river come out to run. New member Mark Hagelmeier, who has also joined our Grand Prix team, was there with lots of energy and enthusiasm. He is a positive influence in the running community as he encourages and appreciates other runners and their accomplishments. One of his training partners was there, Joe Cordi. Joe is another positive person who encourages and makes an impact. As Joe and I were running back we reflected on how fortunate we are to be here in Little Rock running and appreciative of our running community and friends. Joe frequently guides Dave Wilkinson, a visually impaired athlete on races and training runs. He has influenced his lovely wife Sandy to quit smoking and take up running-she was out there in the cold that Friday as well. We needed these warm fuzzy moments as Kirk Riley, Mark, Robert Holmes, and Joe tried to stay behind David Williams and Bill Torrey pushing up the hills on the course, and assumed Kirk turned off early due to having to prepare for the even colder Winter Series run the following day. It was great to see Sarah Olney and Mary Wells out there as well as Rosemary Rogers-(Ginea was there too). Thanks to all runners who came out, especially the only one who didn’t run: Paul!

 Returning to a warm house and hot coffee after this cold but “heartening” run, I started cleaning up Christmas decorations and found this fortune cookie saying under my tree: You will soon be surrounded by good friends and laughter. The back had the Chinese spelling and pronunciation for FRIEND. Reflecting back over the past year and especially the past six months as your club president, I can say that this indeed is true. Many events that I have been blessed to experience and enjoy have originated with running. ….here’s to more of that in this new year. As my dad and another good friend passed on to me in holiday greetings, I pass on to you:, “All the Best for 2010″.

*To assist you in reminding you to have the “best” year, please attend our club meetings held on the third Thursday of every month.

 January 21-”Best” times on the books- Randy Taylor will speak about long distance records and perhaps life as a Razorback runner.

February 18th-”Best” Running club leaders- honoring LRRCs past President’s. It has been the tradition in the past few years to honor the past president as the incoming president takes office in the summer, so at this meeting I would like to give all those previous president’s an opportunity to be appreciated during President’s week

March 18th-”Best” recovery/inspiration-Randy Oates returns to give us an update on his healing and life since his devastating “accident”.

November and December

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Just something here to let you know about “what’s happening”…..First we have a meeting on Thursday, November the 19th where we will vote on the drafted by-laws.  We will have a nice slide show of Arkansas photographs from Steve Twaddle. 

 I have to call out our past president (sorry Ginea) she asked via posting on forum if we were to have a Thanksgiving day run.  Now I have had several customers come into Gary Smith’s Easy Runner store asking the same thing and I of course direct them to our newsletter and website to read the info on line.

The Thanksgiving Day fun run will start with Paul Ward being the Head Turkey at the Full Moon parking lot on Kavanaugh Blvd at 7 am.  So far a lot of interest for this run so good way to talk up club and help get new members, please spread the word.

The Christmas Party also is listed in the newsletter and will be held at the Capital City Room,  Capitol and Woodlawn next to State Capitol Bldg.  December 19th.   This will be just LRRC (whereas before we have had a joint party with the bike club and ARK) but please bring a guest to enjoy the company and spirit of our club and Christmas.  Our club provides soft drinks, wine, beer and will supply ham and turkey.  Please bring a side dish (of food) to accompany and of course YOU.

We may organize other fun runs around Christmas and New Years so would like to hear from those interested.  More later

Soaring Wings Half Marathon

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LRRC Team Women did not delay in catching up to LRRC first place male grand prix team.  The 2nd annual Soaring Wings Half Marathon held Saturday, October 24th,  saw 1000 runners start in the crisp, chilly air  but under CLEAR, BLUE skies with SUN.  As the rain has been relentless in the past two months the crowd support and runners were enjoying the bright conditions.   The course was rolling and had some steep inclines with wonderful aid stations every mile and half.  Great goodies at the end too-candy, pizza, granola bars, hamburgers, and more stuff I did not  see as  was enjoying visiting with runners and they seemed very pleased with this race.  The men’s team were second this time, guess they already knew they had the title so they let Conway win (actually Conway had awesome talent there).   LRRC Grand Prix team, the amazing male members who ran the race:   Steven Preston, Kevin Golden, Bill Diamond, Imari Dellimore, David Williams, Joel Perez, Bill Torrey,Kevin Groustra, Brian Watson, Jeff Maher, Keith McCain, Harold Hays, John Russell,Ron Sanders Jr, Dan Belanger, Carl Northcutt. 

On top of this race being very well organized, a somewhat challenging course and a fundraiser for youth camp, it saw the LRRC ladies team capture the Grand Prix team title (for the FOURTH year in a row)! The (Wonder)Women’s team on Saturday:  Jenny Weatter, Tina Coutu, Mary Wells Alison Acott, Mackie Buckelew, Rebecca Humes, Ginea Qualls.   

Thanks Ladies! Proud of both our teams.  This was a great race with wonderful spirit, my favorite part was at the end when the kids’ place the finishers’ medal on you.  So glad to have signed up in time as it was sold out and many of my friends were not able to get in.   Make sure to save the date for next year.