March - Calumet Region Striders

March 2016
Volume 38, Issue 3
GREETINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT
Hola!
I hope everyone had an enjoyable evening at the Gold Cup Banquet. It was great to see all runners in dress attire and enjoying
themselves. It was a pleasure to finally meet Jim Cox's family,
daughters Linda Jakresky, Pam Robinson, and grandson Jesse.
Jim Cox was very active with the Striders, and we were pleased
to see his family present the Jim Cox Award to Dennis Rotz, "The
Lone Ranger." The family was also instrumental in starting the
Jim Cox Scholarship. It would be an honor for them to join us
every year at the Gold Cup Banquet.
Runnin’ with the Irish 5K
March 12
9:00 a.m.
Chesterton, Indiana
LaPorte YMCA 10K/5K
March 19
9:00 a.m.
LaPorte, Indiana
Ringing in Spring 10K/5K
April 2
9:00 a.m.
Valparaiso, Indiana
Hub Run 5K
April 9
10:00 a.m.
Crown Point, Indiana
Spring Fling Ramp Run 5K
April 16
9:00 a.m.
Hammond, Indiana
Spirit Run 5K
April 30
9:00 a.m.
Valparaiso, Indiana
County Line Orchard 10 Miler
May 1
8:00 a.m.
Hobart, Indiana
Gallery Gallop 8/5K
May 14
6:30 p.m.
Gary, Indiana
Jose F Lopez
President
Congratulations to our newly elected board members:
Dan Koch, Treasurer
Carri Massau-Ables, Membership & Volunteers
Lisa Beecher, Secretary
Barb Hamner, Gold Cup & Sponsored Races
Mary Moreno, Social & Sponsorship
Lorie McComas Arnold, By Laws & Disabled Runner Fund
It is going to be a pleasure to work with all of them this year. As we welcome two new
board members, we would like to say thank you to Tim Brown for his term as the By
Laws & Disabled Runner Fund chairperson and give a big THANK YOU to Pete
Klaeser for returning to fill the position as Secretary and for his many years of service
to the Strider board.
On a sad note, the local running area was hit with a tragedy. Elizabeth Scott lost her life
doing what we all love to do and that is running. I attended the memorial fun run along
with many other runners and Calumet Region Striders. As I mentioned at the Banquet I
would like to start a collection of plastic lids to donate a bench in her honor. The family requested no monetary donations, and I believe this would keep her memory alive.
We are working on collection points, but I will be happy to collect them at all the Gold
Cup races. More details to come. The Jakresky family made a monetary donation toward the bench at the banquet. Thank You Very Much!
If you did not see the Olympic Marathon trials, you missed out on some great running.
Anna Weber, who was a guest at the banquet, ran and represented the region. She was
not one of the top three qualifier; however, she was a qualifier and finisher!! That is
crazy awesome!!
If you have not renewed your membership this will be your last newsletter. So please
send in your membership dues or pay online at RunSignUp. Where else can you read
my silly, short stories for $15.00.
Well, I lost my thoughts again. So it’s time to sign off. See everyone at Runnin’ with
the Irish on March 12 or sooner at the Ice Skating Party March 2.
Remember, Run to have Fun!
Jose F. Lopez
“Gunny"
Semper Fi
Barb Hamner
Gold Cup Chairman
GOLD CUP CORNER
RACE DESCRIPTIONS
Spirit Run 5K
Date: (Sat.) April 30
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Valparaiso
Description: Challenging course. Hills throughout. Entirely on pavement..
County Line Orchard 10 Miler/1 Mile
Note: 15+ must run 10 Miler, 14 and under must
run 1 Mile
Date: (Sun.) May 1
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Location: Hobart
Description:
Moderately challenging, flat
course. First seven miles are on pavement. Last
three miles are in the Orchard (dirt, loose gravel,
grass).
Gallery Gallop 8.5K
Date: (Sat.) May 14
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Gary (Miller Beach)
Description: Challenging course. Beach, road,
dunes.
CLYDESDALE/ATHENA
Runners in these categories must weight in
three times during the season. Failure to do so
will result in removal from the category. You
will be placed in age group and prior races will
not be rescored.
Here are the weigh in time frames:
1. March - April
2. June - July
3. Sept - Oct
A NOTE WORTH SHARING
The banquet was fantastic. I never realized what a tight knit group
this really is. Of course, I’ve enjoyed pizza and Christmas parties
with the club, but the banquet really says it all. What a hard working, great group of people you all are to have this club for us
runners. Making us feel so welcome. A place to belong, no matter
how quick or slow we run. I sat with Barb and a few other folks
from the group, and I talked with them all as if we were lifelong
friends. I felt very welcomed by all!!!!
Vicky Kurowski
2016 GOLD CUP DISCOUNT CODE
WHAT ARE MY BENEFITS
FOR JOINING STRIDERS?
Online discount code is: 2016GC
Strider members receive our monthly newsletter, which contains Gold Cup and Sponsored race registration forms along
with information for Junior Striders, race evaluations, race
descriptions, pictures from GCS and other running events,
information on social events, articles from our president, etc.
2016 GOLD CUP REGISTRATION
♦Runners must sign up for the series no later than the date of
their first Gold Cup Series race.
♦You must be a current Strider to enter the Gold Cup Series.
♦Strider membership is $15 per family each year.
♦Gold Cup Series membership is an additional $25 per person
each year.
WHAT ARE MY BENEFITS
FOR JOINING GOLD CUP?
1.
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
2.
Strider and Gold Cup fees may be renewed in three ways.
1.
2.
3.
3.
4.
RunSignUp.com - search for: Calumet Region Striders.
Download, print, complete, and mail membership form
from Strider website www.calstrider.org.
Sign up at any Gold Cup Series race by visiting the
Strider table.
2
Complimentary banquet at the end of season, which
includes: dinner, awards ceremony, and musical entertainment.
Guaranteed award at banquet for completing ten Gold
Cup Series races.
At least $1 discount for Gold Cup Series races.
Opportunities to win Strider bucks for wearing Strider
wear and completing race evaluations.
STRIDER
PRESIDENTJOSE
LOPEZ
AND
EZ
DEL PRADO
1ST
PLACE
AGE
GROUP
WINNER
AGE GROUP AWARDS
JAMES
AND
MICHELLE
MASTERSON
JUNIOR
STRIDER
EMILY
GAYLORD
GCS
JACKETS
3
MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT
Thank you members of the club for voting me as the Strider
Wear Queen for 2015. I take much pride in wearing all my
Strider clothes. I especially like my hot pink long sleeve and
my sublimated singlet. I've even had people stop me and
ask,"What are the Striders?" I never pass up an opportunity to
talk to someone about our awesome club. It makes me very
happy to see everyone proudly wearing their Strider wear at
races.
There is one thing I would like to mention: If you are out
and about wearing your Strider clothing, please keep in mind
that in many ways you are a reflection of the Striders. Please
continue to be kind and thoughtful of others.
In other news, I am very excited to announce the Striders will
be starting a weekly walk group in both Lake and Porter Counties. Stay tuned for further details!
BARB HAMNER, PAT RHODES VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 2015
I had the honor of presenting Barb Hamner with the
2015 Pat Rhodes Volunteer of the Year Award at the Gold Cup
Series Banquet on January 30. All of the nominations received this year were for Barb, citing her recognized dedication
to the Gold Cup Series.
would be serving on the board together. Barb has dedicated
countless hours to making the Gold Cup Series a continued
success. She has worked closely with race directors and runners to create a Series that benefits all levels of running.
The next time you see Barb at the Gold Cup table, please
congratulate her on her award.
Pat Rhodes, a past president of the CRS and an avid volunteer, was quoted as saying, "People have to make time to
exercise. It's something you do all of your life." I had the
pleasure of first meeting Barb when she taught my spin class
back in 2008. I remember we had a conversation about our
mutual love of running. Never did I think that years later we
She is truly an example of the spirit of volunteerism.
ATTENTION MOVIE-GOING STRIDERS!
There's been a full-length major documentary film made about a Tennessee footrace that I have been involved with for over 16 years. It's a
strange race, run in the mountains, woods, and thorns that just so happen to surround the very prison that convicted assassin, James Earl
Ray, once escaped from.
Or even just this much will get you there:
It's a horrible race, but a marvelous movie!
AND SO if there is any interest in having this movie shown specially
for our club (and as a fundraiser) could I ask you to respond?
http://barkleymovie.com
[There are two movie trailers you can watch for free!]
So what I'm asking is: If there's any interest among the Striders to see
this film in perhaps a one-time special showing (wherever good movies are shown :) that can also be utilized as a fundraiser for the club (or
for a charity).
Simply
send
an
email
to
me,
Rich
Limacher,
at TheTroubadour@sbcglobal.net (watch the spelling: there are two
o's and two u's in my "handle"); OR you could use a stamp and let me
know your thoughts in care of my P.O. Box 963, Matteson, IL 60443.
If you can type the following web address into your internet browser,
you can see what I mean:
Thanks very much! And, yes, yours truly is in the movie (briefly ).
https://www.tugg.com/titles/the-barkley-marathons
LIDS FOR LIZ
The Calumet Region Striders are collecting caps and lids to have an eco friendly bench built in honor of
Elizabeth Scott, who passed away as the result of an accident while running. Please save your clean
caps and lids. See below for what is acceptable and what is not.
ATTENTION !
Deadline for submissions for
April 2016 INSTEP
Friday, March 11, 2016
Email them to Cecilia M. Bernal
Instep Editor to
instep@calstrider.org
Never Acceptable
Metal. . . . . . . . . . Any
drink bottles
plastic Ziplock bags
trigger sprayers
fast food drink lids
Trash. . . . . . . . . . Any
food containers
soap pumps
lotion pumps
grocery bags
Acceptable Caps
medicine bottle caps
milk jug caps
detergent caps
hair spray caps
toothpaste cube caps
deodorant caps
drink bottle caps
flip-top caps (ketchup, mustard)
spout caps (mustard)
spray paint caps
ointment tube caps
caps w/recycle numbers of
(2) (4) (5)
JacobCanSing
4
Acceptable Lids
cottage cheese container lids
mayonnaise jar lids
yogurt lids
peanut butter jar lids
ice cream bucket lids
cool whip container lids
coffee con lids
cream cheese container lids
butter container lids
JUNIOR STRIDER NEWS
Attention all of our high school
seniors.
If you have been involved
with the Striders, helped volunteer for
Beth Boyer, Youth Runner Programs & Scholarships
Jefferson Middle School
Courses
als – 11th Place – Lexington,
USATF 4K State Cross Country
the Junior Striders, and/or completed
Champion – Columbus, Indi-
the Gold Cup Series, you should defi-
ana – November 14
nitely consider applying for the Jim
USATF 4K Regional Cross Coun-
Cox Memorial Scholarship. The ap-
try Champion – Seymour,
plication is online and can be found
Indiana – November 28
under the Jim Cox Memorial Award
Coaches Cross Country Nation-
on the Strider website. The deadline
als – 5th Place – Lexington,
is April 1. So please get your applica-
Kentucky – November 21
tions in soon.
Two of our Junior Striders were
recognized at the Gold Cup Banquet
for their outstanding achievements in
track and cross country during 2015
by Joe Mis of the Hammond Track
Club. Ava Gilliana was the 2015 Female Athlete of the Year. Among her
accomplishments are:
USATF Athlete of the Year for
13/14 Year Old Girls Cross
Country
1600M Record Holder and
The other winner was Hunter
July 11 and 12
Middle School Cross Country
Conference Champion –
October 15
Undefeated XC Season – Ben
Franklin Middle School –
Fall 2015
3K Record Holder at Rogers
Gold Cup Age Division Winner
2015
One other Junior Strider who was
recognized in the overall awards was
Jordyn Boyer. She was the Overall
Female Gold Cup winner despite being in high school cross country and
tween mid-August through late Nothree athletes as well as the other
his accomplishments include:
Junior Striders who completed the
High School Cross Country IndiLemon Lake – October 17
High School State Cross Country
Terre Haute – October 31
and Participant – Lisle, IL –
– December 5
the Year for 2015 . A list of
May 15
USATF Regional Track Qualifier
5th Place – Danville, Alabama
vember.
All American - 23rd Place –
Champion – May 15
AAU Cross Country Nationals –
Boyer as the Male Athlete of
Conference Champion –
Middle School 400M Conference
Kentucky – November 21
unable to compete in any races be-
vidual Sectional Champion –
Ben Franklin Middle School
Coaches Cross Country Nation-
USATF Junior Olympics – 4th
Place 2000M Steeplechase –
Jacksonville, Florida – July
30t
USATF Junior Olympics – 6th
Place 3000 Meter – Jacksonville, Florida – July 31
Indiana USATF 15/16 Male Track
and Field Athletic of the Year
Hershey National Steeplechase
5th Place Finisher – Lisle, IL –
June 30
Lakewood Park and Thomas
5
Congratulations to these
required five races for a Gold Cup
Age Group Award. Hope to see more
of you completing the series in 2016.
We are starting to plan for the upcoming track season and will be holding a coaches meeting in the next few
weeks. Anyone interested in being a
Junior Strider coach should contact
me at youthprograms@calstrider.org.
All our coaches are volunteers. Being a coach is a very rewarding experience, especially as you see the kids
grow over the years and continue to
enjoy running and become responsible, young adults.
Please look for
further details in the coming months
as practices typically start in early
May.
NON PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
GRIFFITH, IN
PERMIT NO. 225
B OA RD M E MBE R E M AI L A DD RE SSE S
OFFICERS:
COMMITTEE CHAIRS:
President
Jose F Lopez
president@calstrider.org
Social & Sponsorship Chair
Mary Moreno
social@calstrider.org
Youth Runner Programs
& Scholarships
Beth Boyer
youthprograms@calstrider.org
Vice President
Lisa Moreno
vp@calstrider.org
Public Relations
Deanna Grimes
pr@calstrider.org
Bylaws & Disabled Runner Fund
Lorie McComas Arnold
bylaws@calstrider.org
Gold Cup & Sponsored Race Series
Barb Hamner
goldcup@calstrider.org
Adult Running Programs
Rosie Garcia
adultprograms@calstrider.org
Treasurer
Dan Koch
treasurer@calstrider.org
Secretary
Lisa Beecher
secretary@calstrider.org
Membership & Volunteers
Carri Massau-Ables
membership@calstrider.org
Check out our website: www.calstrider.org
Webmaster, Mike Wilson, webmaster@calstrider.org
6
An RRCA member
running club serving
Northwest Indiana and
Northeast Illinois
for over 35 years.