50th Anniversary Report Pt 1 - Road Runners Club of America

Transcription

Road Runners Club of America
50th Anniversary Report
RUNNING THE NATION FOR 50 YEARS!
Dedicated to the men and women who have grown the sport of running over the last 50 years.
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Table of Contents
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6
7
8
9
9
14
30
42
43
51
53
60
62
88
91
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Introductory Letter
RRCA’s Mission, Vision, and Values
Fun Trivia
Congressional Record: A Brief History of the RRCA
Timeline of the RRCA & Running
RRCA Officers & Board 1958-2008
Past RRCA Presidents
National Grassroots Award Winners Past & Present
51 Years of RRCA Annual Conventions
2007 Reports of the Board
From the National Office
Program Reports - RRCA Roads Scholars®, National
Championship Events, Kids Run the Nation®, Run@
Work Day®, RRCA Coaching Program
RRCA Nominating Committee’s Slate for 2008
Directors & Officers
State Representatives’ Program Reports
FOOTNOTES: A Fifty-Year History
2007 RRCA Donors & Sponsors
In 1957, H. Browning Ross circulated his invitation to
the running community, via his publication the Long
Distance Log, inviting runners to develop a national
road running club in the United States similar to the one
founded in England in 1952.
His original vision for the organization was the
“encouragement of running (particularly road running).
In furtherance of this object the association may hold
championships, races on the road and track, time
trials, social runs, lectures, demonstrations, social
events, print and publish books, magazines, gazettes,
and newsletters, and do all such other things as may
be incidental to or conducive of the encouragement of
running.”
Fifty years later, the RRCA has grown to be the largest
long distance running organization in the country,
serving over 865 clubs and events from Maine to Guam
that represent hundreds of thousands of running club
members and millions of road race participants. On
page X you will find the current mission, vision and
values statement for the RRCA. After fifty years, we have
stayed true to the founding mission of the organization.
Throughout the years, the RRCA and our members have
played a tremendous role in the development of road
racing in the United States. In the late 50’s, the number
of road races and their results could fit on one piece of
paper; today there are a plethora of websites from the
RRCA Calendar, Active.com, Cool Running, Marathon
Guide and local websites that list hundreds of running
events around the country. On any given weekend, there
is a road race hosted by an RRCA member somewhere in
the United States. We have been Running the Nation for
50 Years® and we truly do Run the Nation®!
We invite you to take pleasure in this 50th Anniversary
Report of the Road Runners Club of America.
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MISSION
The Road Runners Club of America is the national association of running clubs, running events,
and runners dedicated to promoting long distance running as a competitive sport and as healthful
exercise. RRCA’s mission is to represent and promote the common interest of its member clubs,
events, and individual runners through education, leadership, programs and other services.
VISION
The Road Runners Club of America is the premier national organization dedicated to promoting
the development and growth of running clubs, running events, and supporting the interests of
recreational runners throughout the country including those that walk because they are unable
to run. The RRCA strives to provide quality programming that can be replicated throughout the
country by member clubs from small towns to large cities that promote and support running,
runners, and supporters of the sport at all stages in life. The RRCA is dedicated to providing
the running community with educational information and programs that will keep them safe,
healthy, and informed. Furthermore, the RRCA strives to promote excellence in nonprofit
management for the National Office as well as member clubs by providing services, benefits,
and regular communication that support this vision.
VALUES
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Running, runners, and the promotion of running as a healthy lifestyle choice
Strength and support of its network of grassroots members and volunteers, and as
such, we strive to maintain positive relations will all of our members
Diversity in its member clubs and encourages all clubs to maintain an enjoyable
atmosphere for all members
Promotion of safety for all runners and the enforcement and development of laws and
infrastructure that protects runners’ safety
Running as a competitive sport and we support the Zero Tolerance Policy for the use of
performance enhancing drugs in the sport.
Participation of people who support the sport of running but are unable to run due to
various circumstances
Financial contributions and support of members, sponsors, volunteers, and donors to
the organization
Good communication with its members and the running community as a whole
Prudent financial management that enables the organization to achieve its mission
while ensuring adequate cash reserves
Strong relationships with national and local media that cover the sport of running and
running as a healthy lifestyle choice
ENJOY THE
FOLLOWING
RRCA TRIVIA.
THE ANSWERS
ARE AT THE
BACK OF THIS
REPORT.
1. What year
was the name
Road Runners
Club of America
originally
trademarked?
a. 1959
b. 1969
c. 1979
d. 1989
2. When was
the RRCA
granted tax
exempt status
under the IRS
code 501(c)3
a. 1958
b. 1967
c. 1976
d. 1983
3. What were
the individual
member dues
in 1959?
a. $0.50
b. $1.00
c. $1.50
d. $2.00
4. Who was
the first female
board member
to the RRCA?
a. Henley
Gabeau
b. Sara Mae
Berman
c. Marge
Rosasco
d. Bee
McLeod
5. What shoe
company
was the first
to advertise
in RRCA
Footnotes?
a. Nike
b. New
Balance
c. Tiger
d. Asics
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House of Representatives
THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008
HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE ROAD RUNNERS CLUB OF AMERICA
MR. GORDON OF TENNESSEE. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Road Runners
Club of America. The initial organizational meeting took place on February 22, 1958, in a small hotel room in New York
City. Five running clubs emerged from that meeting. Today, the RRCA has more than 860 member clubs, representing over
180,000 distance runners nationwide. Included among these are 18 clubs from Tennessee with a total of 5,600 members. The
Murfreesboro Pacers and the Murfreesboro Half Marathon are among them.
In the late 1950’s jogging for heath and fitness was practically unheard of and there were very few distance racing events in the
United States. The Long Distance Log, publication with a circulation of 126 readers, was the chief means of communication
with distance runners. In the August 1957 issue of the Long Distance Long an editorial by Olympian Browning Ross proposed
developing an organization for American distance runners. The concept was modeled after the Road Runners Club of the UK,
which was founded in 1952. He suggested that membership include not only runners, but also officials, race sponsors, coaches
and more. Ross envisioned the group would encourage running, meet regularly, raise funds, coordinate schedules, recruit
sponsors and promote competition in long-distance races.
Response to the concept was positive; meetings were held in December 1957 and shortly thereafter, the Middle Atlantic Road
Runners Club was established. And on February 22, 1958, the Road Runners Club of America was born.
Meeting at the Paramount Hotel in New York City, Ross and nine others discussed the general direction for the organization and
developed the basic operating structure. Ross was named acting provisional president. The first RRCA National Championship
races were awarded, and events were held in Chicago, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
Interest in the RRCA increased and by April 1958, the New York Road Runners Club (now the New York Road Runners) was
established with 29 members. In February 1959, the Michigan Road Runners Club was established in Detroit by Hugh Jascourt
and Frank McBride. Several months later, the RRCA held an annual meeting at the Paramount Hotel in New York City. The
group elected president Dick Donohue, treasurer Steve Thomas, and co-secretaries Tom Osler and Browning Ross. They
served as the first officially elected officers of the RRCA.
At the 1960 annual meeting Ted Corbitt was elected president. “Those were tough days, days of survival [for the RRCA]”, Corbitt
wrote. “Instead of recognizing the good work the RRCA was doing to promote distance running, the Amateur Athletic Union
(AAU) refused to admit the RRCA as a member club and took the position that the RRCA was illegal.” In those days, the AAU
was the ruling body of sport; they advised the RRCA to function solely as a social or fraternal group and not conduct races.
The early 1960s saw the development of new running clubs around the country. By the end of the RRCA’s third year, its
members had hosted over 600 races around the country compared to the previous handful of races.
Over the years, the RRCA has been credited with developing course certification programs, establishing the first events for
recreational joggers, removing age requirements for racing, encouraging competitive opportunities for women, creating a Hall
of Fame for distance runners, and obtaining insurance and IRS tax-exempt status for member clubs.
Many important publications have been developed by the RRCA including fact sheets on cold and hot weather running, safety
for runners, guidelines for buying a pair of running shoes, tips for helping children start running and many more.
By 1980s, RRCA membership included 400 clubs and elected its first woman president, Henley (Gibble) Gabeau. The first
edition of the RRCA Children’s Running Booklet and the Parent & Teacher’s Curriculum authored by Don Kardong, an Olympic
Marathoner and future RRCA President, and Jim Ferstle were circulated to thousands for clubs, teachers, schools and more.
More recently the RRCA has developed a coaching certification program, as well as the Roads Scholar Program to support aspiring
international caliber American distance runners. In 1997, the RRCA gave a grant through the new Roads Scholar Program to
Deena Drossin (Kastor), a young distance runner who went on to win the bronze medal in the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon.
Over the last 50 years, the RRCA has stayed true to its mission. The future of long distance running and the RRCA’s impact on
the sport will continue to be written for years to come.
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Complete List of National Officers
The Years 1958-1970
1958-59
President- Browning Ross
1964-65
President – Hugh Jascourt
Vice President – Joe Arrazola
Secretary – Bill Marot
Treasurer – Terry Turner
1959-60
President – Dick Donohue
Treasurer – Steve Thomas
Co-Secretaries – Tom Osler & Browning Ross
1960-61
President – Ted Corbitt
Vice President – Joe Kleinerman
Secretary/Treasurer – John Sterner
1962-63
Vice President – Larry Grace
Secretary/Treasurer – Bill Marot
1963-64
Vice President – Joe Kleinerman
Treasurer – Dick Clapp
1967-68
President – John O’Neil
Vice President East – Bill Taylor
Vice President North – Norm Brand
Vice President West – John Brennand
Vice President South – Ed O’Connell
Fifth Vice President for Women – Marilyn Carman
Secretary – Alden Bryant
Treasurer – Hal Canfield
1965-66
Vice President – Jim Ferris
Treasurer – Scott Hamilton
1966-67
President – Scott Hamilton
First Vice President – Jim Ferris
Second Vice President – John O’Neil
Third Vice President – Bill Tropia
Forth Vice President – Nat Cirulnick
Fifth Vice President – Sara Mae Berman
(first woman officer to RRCA)
Treasurer – Don Stockard
1968-69
President – Aldo Scandurra
Vice President East – Stan Fuselier
Vice President North – Norm Brand
Vice President South – Ed O’Connell
Secretary – Arne Richards
Treasurer – Hal Canfield
1969-70
President – Ed O’Connell
Vice President East – Kurt Steiner
Vice President North – Tom Coyne
Vice President South – Hal Canfield
Vice President Central – John Leppi
Secretary – Arne Richards
Treasurer – Norm Brand
American Running History
RRCA
AAU refused
is born
RRCA
Feb. 22
membership
B. Ross 1958
First RRCA
proposes
National
RRCA
Championship
concept
1957
1958
1959
1960
RRCA
sponsors
first elite
athlete
1961
1962
First RRCA
book on
course
measurement
~
First ‘Fun Run’
established
1963
1964
1965
Runner’s
World
launches
first issue
1966
Women and
youth are
allowed to
run RRCA
events longer
than 2 miles
1967
1968
1969
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The Years 1970-1980
1970-71
President – Ed O’Connell
Vice President East – Kurt Steiner
Vice President North – Pat Lanin
Vice President West – Ed Romary
Vice President Central – John Leppi
Secretary – Wayne van Dellen
1975-76
President – Gar Williams
Vice President East – Jeff Darman
Vice President North – Wulf Koehlert
Vice President West – Tom Ferguson
Vice President South – Nick Costes
Vice President Central – John Clark
Secretary – Dave Peel
Treasurer – Bill Hoss, Jr
1971-73
President – Vince Chiapetta
Vice President East – Neil Weygandt
Vice President North – Pat Lanin
Vice President West – Ed Romary
Vice President Central – Arne Richards
Secretary – Paul Fisher
1976-77
Co-Presidents – Stu Brahs and Jeff Darman
Vice President East – Chuck Lesher
Vice President North – Jerry Kokesh
Vice President Central – Neil Gillette
Secretary – Les Kinion
1973-75
President – Gar Williams
Vice President East – Norm Lee, Jr
Vice President North – Bill Bredenbeck
Vice President West – Joe Henderson
Vice President South – Ray Russell
Vice President Central – John Clark
Secretary – Dave Peel
1977-78
President – Jeff Darman
Vice President Administration – Ed Murray
Vice President East – Chuck Lesher
Vice President West – Don Chaffee
Vice President Central – Neil Gillette
Secretary – Les Kinion
Treasurer – Marge Rosasco
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1971
1979-80
President – Jerry Kokesh
Vice President Administration – Fred Gafner
Vice President East – Ellen Wessel
Vice President North – Robert Fitts
Vice President South – Harold Tinsley
Vice President Central – Kerstin Williams
Secretary – Chuck Lesher
Treasurer – Jerry Adams
At-Large – Jeff Darman
Running
Times
launches
first issue
~
RRCA logo
redesigned
to include
both male
RRCA
and female
launches
images
Amateur Women’s
~
Sports Distance
First
Festival
road race Act of
1978
events
lawsuit
RRCA Long
Distance
Running
Hall of
Fame
established
1970
1978-79
President – Jeff Darman
Vice President Administration – Phil Stewart
Vice President East – Rick Bayko
Vice President Central – Kerstin Williams
Secretary – Chuck Lesher
Treasurer – Ed Murray
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
The Years 1980-1990
1980-82
Vice President Administration – Fred Gafner
Vice President East – Ellen Wessel
Vice President North – Robert Fitts
Vice President West – Len Wallach
Vice President Central – Buzz Yancey
Secretary – Damien Howell
1984-85
1987-88
President – Harold Tinsley
President – Henley Gibble (Gabeau)
Vice President Administration – Jerry Kokesh Vice President Administration – Harold Tinsley
Vice President East – Henley Roughton (Gabeau)
Vice President East – Jane Dolley
Vice President North – Steve Shostrum
Vice President North – Joan Laird
Vice President West – Sylvia Quinn
Vice President South – Charlie Christmas
Vice President South – Al Becken
Vice President Central – Rich Ayers
Vice President Central – Peter Richards
Secretary – John Tenbroeck
Secretary – Allan Steinfeld
Treasurer – Fred Gafner
Treasurer – Brent Ayer
1982-83
1985-86
President – Harold Tinsley
Vice President Administration – Fred Gafner Vice President Administration – Jerry Kokesh
Vice President East – Henley Roughton (Gabeau) Vice President East – Henley Roughton (Gabeau)
Vice President South – Larry Graves
Vice President South – John Marshall
Secretary – John Tenbroeck
Treasurer – Jane Sisco
At-Large – Harold Tinsley
1983-84
1986-87
Vice President Administration – Jerry Kokesh Vice President Administration – Harold Tinsley
Vice President East – Henley Roughton (Gabeau)
Vice President East – Allan Field
Vice President North – Joan Laird
Vice President South – Larry Graves
Vice President South – Al Becken
Vice President Central – Peter Richards
Secretary – Jim Ferstle
Treasurer – Fred Gafner
Treasurer – Jane Sisco
At-Large – Jeff Darmam
1988-89
Vice President – Julia Emmons
Eastern Director – Jane Dolley
Western Director – Sylvia Quinn
Southern Director – Al Becken
Central Director – Joan Laird
Secretary/Treasurer – Brent Ayer
Marketing Director – Jeff Darman
Legal Director – James Burns
Programs Director – Jerry Kokesch
Public Relations – Katy Williams
1989-90
President – Jane Dolley
Vice President – Chuck Galford
Eastern Director – John Sissala
Western Director – Sylvia Quinn
Southern Director – Michael Hughes
Secretary/Treasurer – Marie Baumann
Marketing Director – Jeff Darman
At-Large – Carl Sniffen
Executive Director - Henley Gibble (Gabeau)
Joan
Benoit
of Maine
wins first
Women’s
Olympic
Marathon
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
RRCA
regains
liability
insurance
for clubs
and events
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
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The Years 1990-2000
1990-91
President – Jane Dolley
Vice President –
Western Director – Nancy Hobbs
Southern Director – Carl Johnson
Secretary/Treasurer – Steve Darr, CPA
Marketing Director – Michael Hughes
1993-94
President – Carl Sniffen
Vice President – Michael Hughes
Eastern Director – Joyce Rankin
Southern Director – Bill Marable
Central Director – Judy Tillapaugh
At-Large – Elizabeth Philips
At-Large – Jerry Kokesch
At-Large – Karen Jacobson
At-Large – Mike Cook
1997-99
President – Don Kardong
Vice President – Carl Sniffen
Secretary/Treasurer – Jeff Hollister
Eastern Director – Freddi Carlip
Western Director – Laura Kulsik
Southern Director – Beverly Coville
Central Director – Mark Lidman
At-Large – Jeff Decker
At-Large – Raleigh Mayer
At-Large – John William Thomas
At-Large – Jane Serues
Executive Director – Henley Gabeau
1991-92
Vice President – Chuck Galford
Southern Director – Carl Johnson
Marketing Director – Michael Hughes
1994-96
Executive Director – Henley Gibble (Gabeau)
1999-2000
Vice President – Freddi Carlip
Eastern Director – Everett Moulton
Western Director – Tom Moore
Southern Director – Beverly Coville
At-Large – Nancy Hobbs
At-Large – Larry Rawson
1992-93
Eastern Director – Joyce Rankin
1996-97
Vice President – Carl Sniffen
Western Director – Laura Kulsik
Southern Director – David Samuel
Central Director – Michael Puckett
At-Large – Raleigh Mayer
At-Large – Nancy Hobbs
Executive Director – Henley Gibble (Gabeau)
RRCA launches
Roads Scholar
program
1990
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1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
The Years 2000-2008
2000-2001
President – Freddi Carlip
Vice President – Beverly Coville
Western Director – Po Adams
Southern Director – Scott Christopher
At-Large – Patrick T. Henry
At-Large – Susan Harmeling
2003-2004
Secretary/Treasurer – Tom Fort
Eastern Director – Mike Slonaker
Western Director – Lisa Paige
Southern Director – Tom Downing
Central Director – Joe Seeley
At-Large – John Farrow
At-Large – Bee Andrews
At-Large – David Epstein
At-Large – Rich Kenah
Executive Director –Ed Demoney
2005-2006
President – Bee McLeod
Vice President – Tom Downing
Secretary/Treasurer – Dennis Novak
Eastern Director – Brent Ayer
Southern Director – Chuck George, Ken Bendy
Central Director – Beth Onines
At-Large – David Williams
At-Large – Bob Holmes
Executive Dir. – Becky Lambros, Jean Knaack
2001-2002
Western Director – Po Adams
Southern Dir. – Scott Christopher, Kim Ottaviani
At-Large – Jim Stasaitis
At-Large – John Calotta
At-Large – Susan Harmeling
Executive Dir. – Henley Gabeau, David Dobrzynski
2004-2005
President – Bee Andrews
Secretary/Treasurer – Todd Neville
Southern Director – David Samuel
At-Large – David Williams
Executive Dir. –Ed Demoney, Becky Lambros
2006-2007
Southern Director –Ken Bendy
Executive Director – Jean Knaack
2007-2008
Western Director – David Epstein
Southern Director –Ken Bendy
At-Large – Lisa Paige
Executive Director – Jean Knaack
2002-2003
Eastern Director – Mike Slonaker
Southern Director – Tom Downing
Central Director – Joe Seeley
At-Large – Bee Andrews
At-Large – Rich Kenah
Executive Dir. –David Dobrzynski, Ed Demoney
U.S. runners Deena Kastor
and Meb Kefleziighi win
medals at Athens Olympics
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Participation in the
sports of running
exceeds 10 million
2006
2007
RRCA
Runs the
Nation for
50 Years!
2008
2009
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Past Presidents
ROSS BROWNING (1924–1998)
from http://www.runtheplanet.com/resources/historical/
whoswhoinrunning.asp
Founder of the Road Runner Club of America, “Brownie” was a prominent
figure in the building the road racing scene in the Mid-Atlantic and New
Jersey, and Metropolitan area from New York to Philadelphia. He also
started a road race statistical compilation of race times publication called
the “Long Distance Log”. Later on the magazine “Runner’s World” took over
this area of expertise.
Browning was born and raised in Woodbury, NJ. He was an Olympian in
the 1948 and 1952 Olympics in the 3000 meter steeplechase placing fourth
in 1952 to Horace Ashenfelter from Glen Ridge, NJ. He was 1951 1500
meter Pan American Games Champion. He also won an NCAA title in the
steeplechase.
Browning won road races all over the country and traveled all around the
world running races in a time when many runners retired after leaving
college running. He ran at Villanova University under the famous coach
“Jumbo” Elliot. He was one of the most versatile distance runners of his
or any time, being able to run a 50 second quarter mile on a relay team
or a 30 kilometers race winner at the famous “Around the Bay Road
Race” in Hamilton (Ontario, Canada), the oldest race in North America. He
won the famous “Run for Diamonds” 9-mile race in Berwick, PA 8 times.
He won National Championships at road races and at Cross Country
Championships. He ran a 2:31 marathon in the 1950’s when he was in his
prime after running the steeplechase in previous seasons.
He trained on minimal training of 35-45 miles per week most of his career
and still performed at National Class level at all distances. Browning was a great runner but maybe more famous for
those he positively influenced with his love of the sport. He put on hundreds of races in his career. They might be cross
country events, road races, track events, or trail races, but they were always fun and he would literally give one of his
many many trophies away to the youngster or local area runner who would place in them. It is said that Browning
might have had more trophies won in road running than any human being on Earth.
He would charge 50 cents or whatever for the race and sometimes have 23 runners in the early days and then give out
merchandise worth ten times the cost of the entry fee. His bright smile and his friendly demeanor was so contagious
that everyone wanted to show up at Browning’s race if not to just say “Hi”. He impeccably measured each and every
course and always welcomed everyone to come and join in. He coached and influenced thousands of high school
runners in his life. His sense of humor and his devotion to the sport spanned over seven decades. If there were ever a
hero of this sport, it was Harris Browning Ross, for his dedication to the sport of distance running in the United States
at a time when running was not very popular, he literally made it popular. He was truly the grass roots developer of
long distance running and escorted the sport into the Running Boom of the 70’s.
RRCA MOURNS THE LOSS OF TED CORBITT, RUNNING PIONEER, IN 2007
Ted Corbitt, one of the greatest leaders in long distance running, passed away on December 12, 2007 at the age of 88
from cancer.
Theodore Corbitt was born Jan. 31, 1919, in Dunbarton, SC. “On the farm, I ran to the store, to the mailbox and to
school,” he told Trishul Cherns in a 1988 interview that appears on the web site UltraRunning Online.
After moving to Cincinnati, he ran competitively in high school and at the University of Cincinnati in half-mile, onemile, and two-mile events. As a young black athlete, he also encountered racial barriers.
“The color line was drawn even in some of the meets in Cincinnati, so I could not participate in them,” he said in the
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1988 interview. “In the Midwest, places like Illinois and Indiana, there were track meets, but I was a little reluctant to
take part in them because I did not know what type of reception I would get and what problems I would have getting
a place to stay and getting something to eat.”
After graduating from Cincinnati with a bachelor’s degree in education and serving in the Army in World War II, Corbitt
moved to New York, where, as a night student, he earned a master’s in physical therapy at New York University in 1950.
He ran his first marathon, in Boston, in 1951.
Corbitt is celebrated for his 1952 Olympic performance, his successful ultra running career, and his dedication to
building the sport of long distance running in the US.
In 1958, Corbitt helped found the Road Runners Club of America. He was elected president in 1960. He established
guidelines to measure courses accurately for the thousands of nationally certified races. In 1958, he was a co-founder
and the first president of the New York Road Runners Club.
“Those were tough days, days of survival [for the RRCA],” Corbitt once wrote. “Instead of recognizing the good work
the RRCA was doing to promote distance running, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) refused to admit the RRCA as a
member club and took the position that the RRCA was illegal.” In those days, the AAU was the ruling body of sport;
they advised the RRCA to function solely as a social or fraternal group and not conduct races.
Also in 1960, there was very little for runners to read. Under Corbitt’s leadership, the RRCA published The World’s
Fastest Marathons by Nat Cirulnich. It was a one page dietary review of the pre-race meal. In addition, under the
leadership of Corbitt, the RRCA began work on a booklet about accurately measuring road running courses. The
booklet was officially published by the RRCA in 1964 and laid the foundation for modern day course measurement.
In 1962 the RRCA began its long history of supporting the development of US elite distance athletes. At the RRCA Annual
Meeting that year, the members discussed the possibility of sending a runner to the 52 mile London-Brighton race. Small
donations were collected and in the fall of 1962, the RRCA sent Ted Corbitt to England to compete in the race.
By his own count, Corbitt ran 199 marathons and ultramarathons, which are typically races of 50 or 100 miles or 24
hours. (Marathons are 26 miles, 385 yards.) He won 30 of those races and never dropped out of one until he was 75, he
said. He trained by running as many as 200 miles a week. In his heyday, Corbitt — shy and slight at 5 feet 7 inches and
130 pounds — was a United States marathon champion and a member of the United States team at the 1952 Olympics
in Helsinki, Finland, where he finished a disappointing 44th in the marathon.
At various times, Corbitt held American records in the marathon, the 100mile run and the 25-, 40-, and 50-kilometer events. He also won national
American Athletic Union championships in several distance running
events. His fastest time in a marathon was 2 hours 26 minutes 44 seconds.
His training regimens were legendary. For a time, he ran 200 miles or
more a week, often in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx and Prospect Park
in Brooklyn. He once ran the marathon distance every day for a month. He
often ran a 31-mile loop around Manhattan in about 3:45. Sometimes he
did two loops. He also trained with weights.
Corbitt was the chief physical therapist at the International Center for
the Disabled on East 24th Street in Manhattan. Until 1973, he ran to
work every day, sometimes making a 20- to 30-mile detour through
Westchester. He also taught physical therapy at Columbia and N.Y.U.,
wrote widely on athletics and physical therapy, and officiated at races. On
at least one occasion, he ran connected to electrodes to study the effects
of running on the body. He retired from his job in 1993 but remained a
full-time physical therapist into his 80’s. His wife of 42 years, the former
Ruth Butler, died in 1989. His son, Gary, of Jacksonville, FL, is his only
immediate survivor.
Ted Corbitt heading to England race in 1962
Throughout his life, Corbitt remained an active member of the New York
Road Runners and a dedicated advocate for the sport of distance running.
He was inducted in the RRCA Long Distance Running Hall of Fame in 1972.
He received the Browning Ross Spirit of the RRCA Award in 2000. He was
honored as a Hero of Running in 2007 by Runner’s World, and the list of
accomplishments goes on.
On behalf of the RRCA, we express our deepest sympathies to the Corbitt family for their loss, and we celebrate the life
of one of our greatest running pioneers and RRCA founders.
***
Compiled from the tribute written by Frank Litsky, December 13, 2007 and from information in the RRCA Handbook.
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HUGH JASCOURT DIES;
LAWYER AND RUNNER
By Joe Holley, Washington Post Staff Writer
Hugh D. Jascourt, 70, a Washington lawyer whose passion
for running lasted a lifetime, died July 27 after he returned
from an extended speed walk around Greenbelt Lake on
one of the hottest days of the summer. He was found on
the back patio of his Greenbelt home, which borders the
lake park.
Mr. Jascourt, a cross-country star at the University of
Pennsylvania in the 1950’s, became a running advocate
and a race promoter at a time when it was something of
an anomaly to see men and women of all ages, shapes,
and sizes, clad in skimpy running shorts and lightweight
running shoes, jogging on city streets or in such places
as Rock Creek Park or on the Mall. Organized races were
almost nonexistent.
“I know of no better way to take care of your body,
especially your heart, than running regularly,” he told
The Washington Post in 1962, when he was 27. “Studies have shown that the hearts of old men who ran regularly
throughout their lives were strong hearts, just like those of young men.”
He organized the first Road Runners clubs in Philadelphia in 1956 and in Detroit in 1958, while he was studying law
at Wayne State University. He moved to Washington in 1959, organized the D.C. Road Runners Club in 1961 and
immediately began promoting local races year-round.
Thirty-seven people showed up at Hains Point on June 21, 1961, for the first event put on by the D.C. Road Runners
Club. By 1980, according to the National Running Data Center, Washington had the most race finishers per capita in the
nation.
Today, the Road Runners Club of America boasts more than 670 running clubs across the nation, with 160,000
members. An estimated 37,310,000 Americans run.
Mr. Jascourt competed in the races he organized, and he helped coach the U.S. track and field team at the 1964
Southern Games in Trinidad and at the 1966 International Cross Country Championship in Morocco.
Hugh Donald Jascourt was born in Philadelphia and started running in junior high school. He received his bachelor’s
degree, with honors, in political science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1956 and his law degree from the
Wayne State University Law School in 1960. He was editor in chief of the Wayne Law Journal.
He was an attorney and adviser with the U.S. Department of Labor from 1960 to 1964, an assistant director of
employee-management relations for the American Federation of Government Employees in 1964 and 1965 and an
attorney and adviser with the National Labor Relations Board in 1965 and 1966.
Among other positions, he was executive director of the Federal Bar Association in 1966 and 1967; house counsel
for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees from 1967 to 1969; assistant solicitor for the
Department of the Interior from 1974 to 1982; and senior labor law counsel for the Department of Commerce from
1982 to 1990.
A labor lawyer who represented both unions and management, his real love was arbitration, mediation, and dispute
resolution.
When he retired from government service in 1991, he became founder and president of the Agency for Dispute
Resolutions and Synergistic Relations, a nonprofit mediation service based in Greenbelt. He was still active in the
organization when he died.
He investigated equal employment opportunity complaints and mediated labor relations disputes at the Department
of Agriculture, the Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior and other agencies.
He was a member of the mediation committee of the American Bar Association section on dispute resolution.
He was named to the Road Runners Club America Hall of Fame in 1986 and was a master official honoree of the Penn
Relays in 2000. He was a Penn Relays official for more than 30 years.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Resa Jascourt of Greenbelt, MD; two sons, Stephen Jascourt of College Park, MD
and Leigh Jascourt of Gilbert, AZ; and a grandson.
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SCOTT HAMILTON, (1928-2005)
One of the senior members of Mid-Pacific road Runners Club passed away
on July 30th, 2005 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Scott joined the club in 1965 and
was an active runner for about 35 years until a hip injury he received when he
tripped on a curb in Waikiki put an end to his competitive running. He still
holds several age-group records.
Scott was the President of RRCA in 1966, and he was the National ViceChairman of the AAU Long Distance Running Committee from 1970 to 1980.
Apart from running, Scott was an avid hiker and mountaineer. While at
Oxford University, on a Fulbright Scholarship in 1957, he was a member of the
Oxford University Himalayan Expedition to Mount Haramosh.
Scott wrote a history of the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club, which was
brought up to date in 1984, based on his memories of how the club evolved.
Scott moved back to Little Rock in 2003 in declining health, to be close to his family. He is survived by his sister, Joanne
Hamilton Riddick and her husband, Walter G. Jr. of Little Rock and six nieces and nephews and their children. He will be
missed as one of the most amiable characters in the running community.
ALDO SCANDURRA, (1916–1999)
Aldo Scandurra finishes
the 1954 Boston Marathon
Aldo Scandurra ’48, entrepreneur, university professor and
founding member of the New York Road Runners Club, died
December 31, 1999, at his home in Greenlawn, Long Island.
He was 83.
A celebrated long-distance runner, he was junior national
marathon champion in 1955 and completed the LondonBrighton 52.5-mile ultra-distance run in 1965. Scandurra is
credited with orchestrating the rise of road running in New
York, wrote the first rule book for distance running, and
helped forge a distinct identity for the sport, separate from
track and field.
Scadurra served as the RRCA president from 1968-69. He
also founded the Long Island Road Runners, which was
incorporated in 1979. He participated in the first meeting
of the Association of International Marathons (AIMS) (and
Distance Races) in 1982. The following year he served as the
chairman of the road racing committee of the International
Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF).
“He was one of the most important members to ever join the
New York Road Runners Club,” said Ted Corbitt, the club’s founding president. “Aldo was the spark that made us successful.”
Scandurra graduated from City College of New York and earned a master’s in electrical engineering from Polytechnic.
In 1950, he founded Applied Research Inc., an electronics research firm on Long Island. He retired in 1985 and
embarked on a new career at age 68 and became a professor at the University of Nevada’s School of Engineering. He
returned to New York three years later. In 1999, he was survived by his wife, Betty, and their five children.
From a 1978 Sports Illustrated article by Kenny Moore titled Ready to Run a Long Way,
Aldo Scandurra, the IAAF representative in Atlanta observing the Avon race, has been a sympathetic listener for years.
Scandurra looks and sounds startlingly like Henry Kissinger, and he thinks like him too.
“I’m a realist,” he said. “I think you have to go step by step.” By that he means forming an international union of
women road runners and hoping the IAAF will be impressed into taking over. “That’s exactly what the International
Cross Country Union did,” Scandurra said, “although I admit it took them 50 years.”
Scandurra pointed out that to get justice the women had to await social change on an international scale. “The Moroccans
voted against longer races because they said women running distance is blasphemous, it ruins their femininity.”
“Didn’t we settle that one years ago?” asked one runner. Scandurra’s answer was that we did in the U.S. and a few other
countries, but the voting blocs of Africa and the Latin and Arab countries have yet to be convinced. “The feeling is not enough
countries are interested,” said Scandurra.
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VINCE CHIAPPETTA
Vince Chiappetta co-founded the New York City Marathon along with Fred Lebow in 1970. 127 runners paid a $1 entry
fee to race the 26.2 miles through Central Park with no water stops. Only about one hundred spectators watched Gary
Muhrcke win the race in 2:31:38. A total of only 55 runners crossed the finish line that year. Chiappetta served as the
RRCA President from 1971-1973. He was also the fifth president of the New York Road Runners (Club).
GAR WILLIAMS - RRCA PRESIDENT (1973-76)
How did you begin running? After one week of “training,” I ran the one-mile race in the annual intramural track
meet during my junior year (1953) at Augustana College (IL). The following year, during the outdoor season, I ran the
mile and two-mile (those being the longest events held in those days) as a member of the college track team. A few
months after graduation I was drafted into the U.S. Army, where I continued to train and compete sporadically for
two years. In the late 1950’s I gradually phased into full time running, briefly in San Jose, CA (Santa Clara Valley Youth
Center) and then in the fall of 1957 at the University of Chicago.
Who provided “inspiration” for your running? I certainly received help and encouragement from several
individuals, such as Mike Ryan in San Jose and Ted Haydon in Chicago. Pure inspiration I got from a book: “Zatopek
the Marathon Victor.”
How did you become involved in the RRCA? The Midwest RRC began operating in Chicago in 1958, so many of
us track distance runners began doing occasional road races. I took part in these and other road races over the next
few years, at varying distances. Moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 1963, and my interest in club administration
gradually increased to the point that, in 1969, I became president of the DC RRC. As a club president, I was more and
more exposed to the RRCA until, in 1973, I finished as DC RRC president and became RRCA president.
What were the biggest challenges facing American running & the RRCA then, particularly “grass roots”
running? The biggest challenge by far, in my opinion, was the do-nothing AAU (Amateur Athletics Union, the self-
declared governing body in the 1950’s and later). The AAU proclaimed themselves promoters of the sport of distance
running (and many other sports) but put on very few races. Their main activities were (a) making rules, (b) extorting
money from runners via a required annual membership fee, and (c) banning or threatening to ban any runner whom
they deemed to be straying from their rules. In spite of the efforts of a few well-meaning individuals within its ranks,
the AAU’s overall contribution was in my opinion a negative one, i.e. inhibiting the growth of distance running as a
sport and healthful activity.
How big (# of clubs/members) was the RRCA when you were President? In April of 1973, when I became president,
the RRCA had 15 member clubs (ca. 2,000-2,500 individuals). When I finished my years as president (1976), we had 60
clubs (I believe ca. 6,000 individuals).
Who provided guidance to your Presidency? I began with many firm ideas of what I wanted to accomplish.
Regarding changes I wanted to make, I was probably a bit headstrong and did not seek any guidance from anyone. I
went ahead with changes as fast as I could make them, and these generally seemed to be well received. (The main
exceptions came from several members of one particular member club, all of whom opposed the changes.) On the
other hand, I was incredibly naïve politically; in this area I truly needed real guidance and was very fortunate to receive
it—from my fellow DCRRC member Jeff Darman. During my three years as RRCA president, Jeff continually provided
advice and bailed me out of tight spots in regard to passing legislation, conducting the annual meetings, and dealing
with people in general. I owe him a lot.
What do you believe were the biggest accomplishments during your tenure? The founders had created a terrific
constitution and bylaws, with a sound system of elected officers, etc. Some early presidents had added important
features. I believe my main accomplishments were (a) bolstering features that had been started by earlier presidents
and subsequently allowed to lapse (e.g. the newsletter Footnotes) and (b) starting some new programs that I believed
filled in voids in what the RRCA could and should do. Examples, some of which overlap both of these groups:
1. Installation of an extensive communications network throughout the entire organization. This included:
a. Revival of our newsletter Footnotes, on a regularly quarterly schedule. (Tom Coyne was the editor and is one
of the unsung heroes of RRCA history.)
b. Regional newsletters in several of the RRCA regions. Particularly important here was the “Southern Report” of
Nick Costes, RRCA Regional VP (South).
c. A composite race schedule for each RRCA region, published by Regional Communications Directors.
d. A great deal of personal communication (letters, phone calls, and an occasional newsletter—email not being
on the scene in those days) between me and other RRCA officers, club officials, etc. (This happened only rarely
in earlier years. And we had no Executive Director in those days.)
2. Creation and dissemination of literature to help people start new clubs. Examples:
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
a. The “RRC Kit,” an explanation of how to start a running club from scratch, including a “Race Director’s
Checklist” (do’s and don’ts of putting on a race).
b. The RRCA Handbook, a more detailed compendium of basic information on club- and race administration and
explanation of the RRCA.
Expansion or origination of RRCA running programs, such as a national personal fitness program (under DCRRC
member Joe Fleig), a postal age group meet of miles (chaired by Gabe Mirkin), a 4 x 880 yd postal relay, a 4 x 1 mile
postal relay, and an RRCA national cross-country championship (hosted and run by the New York RRC).
Exploration of new and different funding sources for the RRCA. We began a marketing program in cooperation
with Track & Field News, started selling booths at the RRCA annual meeting, and financed Footnotes by selling
advertising (with yours truly soliciting and procuring the ads).
Establishment of several RRCA annual awards, such as Road Runners of the Year (male and female), Rod Steele
Memorial Award for the outstanding member-club worker, Journalistic Excellence Award, and the Scott Hamilton
Award for the outstanding member-club leader.
Tax-exemption, including (a) reviving the (lapsed) tax-exemption for the RRCA and (b) procurement of tax-exempt
status for RRCA member clubs.
Revisions of RRCA bylaws to reflect new conditions of the times.
Creation of the RRCA State Representative system.
Annual Meeting improvements: (a) member agreement (at the 1976 meeting) to henceforth have the annual
meeting in a different city each year (during formative years it was in New York City, and from 1968-1976 it was held
in Boston in conjunction with the Boston Marathon); (b) setting up a bidding procedure for hosting the meeting,
and (c) making clinics and exhibits a standard feature.
Do you have any “words of wisdom” for its current leadership? The following may not apply to the current
leadership. Rather, it is for those who are “on the fence” in regard to taking on some club work and also for those who
find themselves newly elected to the presidency of a club.
1. Taking on a club job. Members often hold back from running for an elected position (or from volunteering for a
job) in their club for fear that the work load will be too time-consuming, they may not be sufficiently qualified, this
is not a good time in their life to get involved, or other reasons. Now, the time commitment usually is adjustable.
Furthermore, you can learn the job while doing it.
Regarding whether this is the right time in your life to get involved: the perfect time will never appear! The right
combination of your qualifications, prior experience, need to make a living, family responsibilities, level of interest
and enthusiasm, etc. almost never comes about. Hardly ever are all the personal factors exactly right for anyone
to take on a job to help his/her club. But chances are you can fit a club job into your schedule. And by helping,
you will render a valuable service to your club (a bit of payback to the club for what it has done for you). Moreover,
you’ll get tons of satisfaction, administrative experience, and diplomatic skills. The years fly by, and your window
of opportunity to take on such work will be short. Seize the opportunity; make the time!
2.
For new presidents. Firstly, identify at the outset, stay focused on, and pursue incessantly a few key goals. Aim for
early attainment of these, because they will
probably take longer than you might expect,
and your days as president will go very quickly.
Secondly, be continuously alert for—and guard
against—the temptation to do jobs that others
could do. True, if you do it, the job gets done
the way you want it and when you want it
(probably). But delegating to others has four
important advantages:
(1) Liberating you for other items;
(2) Adding different viewpoints and styles to
the overall club administration;
(3) Preventing early burnout on your part; and
(4) Helping find and develop people who
have officer- and leadership potential (and,
on the other hand, revealing people who
may talk a great ball game but who do not
deliver).
Summary: delegate, delegate, delegate!
Best wishes on a great adventure!
In retrospect, any final comments on your RRCA presidency? A very welcome and unexpected benefit to me
from being a member-club president (four years) and later RRCA president (three years) was personal development, in
terms of social skills, administrative abilities and self-confidence. My seven years as a president molded me into quite a
different person (for the better, I believe) than when I first stepped into those jobs.
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STU BRAHS – RRCA CO-PRESIDENT (1976-1977)
How did you begin running? I began running primarily to lose weight and to try to get a grip on my physical well-being
- especially after having quit smoking and coming off a particularly grueling political campaign in New York in 1970.
Who provided “inspiration” for your running? My physician “prescribed” Ken Cooper’s book on the virtues of
running, aerobics, etc. So I guess Cooper was my original inspiration. This was soon followed by the likes of George
Sheehan, Jim Fixx, Ted Corbett, et. al.
How did you become involved in the RRCA? After completing my first marathon (of 12) in the early 1970’s, I became
involved in the Washington Road Runners and met fellows such as Gar Williams, Jeff Darman, Phil Stewart, Rick Bayko,
Jerry Kokesh. This then segued into the RRCA, and in 1978, Jeff and I were the first (and perhaps only) RRCA co-presidents.
What do you believe were the biggest accomplishments during your tenure? I defer to Jeff on the specifics,
but some of the major accomplishments were (1) ensuring the continued viability of RRCA, from both fiscally and
politically, given the contempt which seemed to arise at the time with the AAU and (2) the boycott of the Olympic
Moscow Games, which was controversial among some RRCA members. Also, I would like to think Jeff and I helped
to continue the efforts to break down barriers against women participating in road races throughout the US and,
eventually, leading to athletes such as Joan Benoit participating in the Olympic Marathon.
Do you have any “words of wisdom” for its current leadership? Probably one significant challenge for today’s
RRCA leadership is to maintain the level of enthusiasm and amateurism in road running, especially in view of the
growing popularity of other leisure time pursuits. I would encourage the RRCA leadership to continue to be innovative
in ensuring that youngsters participate in running, particularly in light of the epidemic of juvenile obesity in America.
JEFF DARMAN - RRCA PRESIDENT (1976-1979)
How did you begin running? I had run cross-country in prep school since it was obvious I was not going to make my
mark in football. Our school required all students to participate in some way in sports (a good idea) so I chose cross
country as it also seemed like a good way to get in better shape for wrestling, my winter sport.
Who provided “inspiration” for your running? After graduation, I stopped running, became a three pack a day
smoker until I neared 30 and decided a lifestyle change was needed. Since I had enjoyed running that seemed like
the logical way to go to lose weight, etc. I found out about the DC Road Runners, watched some races and joined. The
Run for Your Life was a good start for me (2 mile low key run with prizes for completing a certain number). The then
president, Gar Williams, became an inspiration and mentor to me as well as to so many others.
How did you become involved in the RRCA? Gar got me involved in RRCA when he ran for president in 1973. He
realized the organization, which I
knew little about, was in dire need of
rejuvenation.
What were the biggest challenges
facing American running & the
RRCA then, particularly “grass
roots” running? The challenges
facing the RRCA then were finances
(lack of), getting more members
and putting together a package
of programs to attract and retain
members, the battles with the AAU
over athletes’ rights and the need to
educate the public about the benefits
of running.
How big (# of clubs/members) was
the RRCA when you were President?
I believe membership grew from
around 8,000 to close to 50,000 during
my term.
Who provided guidance to your
Presidency? Gar was a great help,
but I also had outstanding Board
Members and others who helped
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including, Harold Tinsley, Jerry Kokesh, Phil Stewart, Jim Burns, Don Kardong, Henley Gabeau, and Les Kinion to risk
naming but a few.
What do you believe were the biggest accomplishments during your tenure? I believe my biggest
accomplishments were in the area of athletes’ rights (I testified before Congress on The Amateur Sport Act) elevating
the RRCA profile, sponsorship and getting the RRCA on better financial footing.
Do you have any “words of wisdom” for its current & future leadership? The RRCA biggest challenges are keeping
its profile high so its positive influence on the sport remains. A challenge is how to represent a diverse constituency of
large and small clubs, and how to attract sponsorship and other funds without losing sight of our mission. In addition,
for most of the RRCA’s history, internal politics were almost nil, but that has changed a bit. When we focused on a
common enemy “the AAU”, it was easier to remain focused and centered. As we became more successful and the size of
the organization increased geometrically, we attracted a broader range of egos and personalities.
We have a marvelous history, and we were so instrumental in the growth of the sport. In large measure the RRCA
does not get the credit it deserves for spurring growth when distance running and runners were few in number and
considered an oddity.
Today’s leaders should study our history, be clear on the mission, and not try to be all things to all people. They need
to understand that leaders must be just that, leading not following the pack while at the same time being sensitive to
the wants and needs of the members.
The Board should focus on the “big picture” and let staff take care of day to day activities. The days of the Board
having to be “the staff” are over, thankfully.
JERRY KOKESH – RRCA PRESIDENT (1979-1984)
How did you begin running? I began running in 9th grade for
freshman track.
Who provided “inspiration” for your running? I am not sure
anyone provided inspiration for running, but I can remember
when I was in grade school my parents were actively involved
in the American Legion. They had many functions on Saturday
nights, and while my parents were socializing, friends and I
would have races around the outside of the building, with no
purpose, but it was great fun (long before “kiddie” track) and
the memory of that always stuck with me.
How did you become involved in the RRCA? I received a call
from the “RRAC Office” a.k.a. the Darman apartment, asking
me to be a regional director. Since I was a club president, race
director, running store owner, it seemed like a perfect extension
of what I was doing.
running? I think the biggest challenge for the RRCA at that point was to become financially stable, and build the sport.
I really do not think we truly anticipated the big running boom—even though there were inklings of it in race sizes and
events like NYC marathon coming into being.
How big (# of clubs/members) was the RRCA when you were President? I think this is in the RRCA handbook
history, but during my term, we did have unprecedented growth.
Who provided guidance to your Presidency? No question—Jeff Darman. As I look back on my involvement in the
RRCA—from 1976-1995, it is very evident that Jeff was always looking much farther into the future than any of us on
the Board. He saw the need for a more professional organization, marketing potential, and countless other things. He
made me a much more savvy and astute President.
What do you believe were the biggest accomplishments during your tenure? I look on two things as important.
Number one is the creation of the RRCA race insurance program at a flat affordable rate. It has stood the test of time
and is still keeping many grass root clubs in “business”. Without this, many of our clubs and races would not exist in
today’s litigious society. Secondly, I formulated, along with help, the concept we have of the RRCA convention on a
large scale with all of the workshops, banquet, awards all in one package that would provide a service and a point of
communication for clubs of all sizes. This was well before the Road Race Management gatherings.
Are there any humorous stories from your RRCA involvement that you would like to share? Humorous stories—
probably more than I remember. Two stand out—and they both involve Jeff Darman. My daughter was recently
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married—that is scary—and Jeff reminded me of one of his many spoon hanging on the nose exhibitions at the
convention in Michigan City, where he taught to my daughter this remarkable skill. She can still do it and remembers
“Uncle Jeff.”
The other is the famous Jimmy Carter 10K race. My wife Karen was 7 months pregnant and passed Carter on the
“downhill” just before his collapse—Phil Stewart captured this momentous event. Besides the fact that Jeff got lost going
out to Maryland the day before which made the drive pretty hilarious—5 miles out of DC and he was like Stanly looking
for Livingstone in the uncharted Congo! Besides that, his negotiations with Sports Illustrated for the sale of Phil’s famous
snaps of a collapsing Carter were amazing—it went on for hours; an intermediary had the film for safe keeping in NYC,
while Jeff negotiated. Every few minutes, he would come off the phone and ask Phil something like, “Is that enough to
buy a couch, or do you need a couple of chairs too? Or maybe a bedroom suite? It was an amazing process—and besides
being a bit like a movie comedy, also showed just how tough of a negotiator that Darman could be.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges for the RRCA today? Challenges for the RRCA obviously still
involve survival and providing necessary services to keep the club system running, while benefiting from the mega
events and the popularity of the sport. Getting more 20-30 year old’s involved in both the sport itself and in the
management side is crucial for the RRCA and its clubs. I look at my own club, and the most involved people are now
45-55, so the need for a more diverse ACTIVE membership is critical.
Do you have any “words of wisdom” for its current & future leadership? Keep the faith. There will always be a
need for volunteers and clubs that keep running going in the times between the mega-events and in the off-season
(winter in the Midwest). The sport is not all about money—it is about the sport.
Many of the lessons that I learned in my long involvement in the RRCA have served me well in my current life as Media
and Marketing Manager, as well as international Team leader for the US Biathlon Association. I am very good at multitasking and looking far down the road in my planning — skills that came working in a growing sport like running.
HAROLD TINSLEY – RRCA PRESIDENT
(1984 – 1986)
How did you begin running? I ran track and cross
country in college 1956-58. I began jogging again in 1970
with my six-year-old son at the YMCA track.
Who provided “inspiration” for your running? When I
would come home from work my six-year-old son would
say, “Let’s go to the track and jog daddy.” Why? Because
it was not only the first time in his life he could beat the
old man at something, but he could make him hurt while
doing it. Think what motivation that was for a six-year-old
and it created my motivation to lose weight and get back
in shape.
How did you become involved in the RRCA? I received
a phone call from Nick Costes, RRCA VP-South, requesting
that the Huntsville Track Club join the RRCA in 1974. The
HTC voted to join at the next club meeting. I then became
the recipient of the first RRCA Rod Steele Memorial Award
in 1975. In 1978 I received a phone call from Gar Williams
asking me to run for RRCA VP-South that year, and that
began 10 years of serving on the RRCA Board and many
more years on various committees.
running? This was the period near the end of the so called “running boom”. The RRCA was not that well known and
was an all volunteer organization that was lacking in a structured organization other than the national Board and with
limited communications within and without the organization. Road running was more inhibited than supported by
The Athletes Congress (TAC), the national governing body for athletics at that time. I saw the need for running clubs
across the country to get involved with the administration of their sport at the national level and that would require
communications to bring that message to the clubs and communications outside the RRCA to establish its position
in grass roots running. At the 1986 RRCA Convention in Portland, Maine there were 17 national or regional running
publications represented by their publisher, editor or senior writer. The published list of State Reps had grown to 44.
How big (# of clubs/members) was the RRCA when you were President? 1986 (last year) – 466 clubs, 115,000
members.
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Who provided guidance to your Presidency? It was a lot of people but primarily Gar Williams, Jeff Darman, and Jerry
Kokesh.
What do you believe were the biggest accomplishments during your tenure? I moved the RRCA from the
typewriter and card files to computer word processing and database files for the various club documents and listings.
My main emphasis was on communications and expanding the State Rep program. I assembled the various RRCA
“how to” club information sheets into booklets and published a quarterly President’s Newsletter that ranged from
8 pages to 44 pages. My quarterly article in each issue of RRCA Footnotes was to bring the message of the RRCA to
the members of the RRCA clubs. I was the last RRCA President in which the RRCA National Office was in the home of
the president. With wife Louise serving as the volunteer staff, we prepared the RRCA to move the national office with
no paid staff from the president’s home to a national office in Washington, DC under the outstanding leadership of
Henley Gabeau who served as the next president and followed that as the first RRCA Executive Director.
Are there any humorous stories from your RRCA involvement that you would like to share? All the events
surrounding the Catoctin Park Race in which President Jimmy Carter ran and in which the RRCA Board also
participated.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges for the RRCA today? Move beyond being a source of liability
insurance and non-profit tax-exempt status and back to being the complete grass roots organization it was before the
2002 debacle. The recovery has gone well with some good people, but it is far from being complete and the RRCA
being the organization it once was. That will require excellent leadership, financial sponsorship and communications.
It is imperative that the RRCA bring back a hardcopy RRCA Footnotes as a vehicle to promote the sponsors,
communicate the RRCA message to the individual club members, and publicize the RRCA outside our organization.
Do you have any “words of wisdom” for its current & future leadership? The RRCA Board should avoid
confidentiality, except in the case of executive sessions to discuss personnel issues, with the clubs they were elected
to represent. There is no requirement in the RRCA Bylaws, or the referenced Robert’s Rules of Order, to conduct the
organizations business in secrecy or without full disclosure.
HENLEY GABEAU - RRCA PRESIDENT
(1986 - 1989)
How did you begin running? Who provided
“inspiration” for your running? My daughter,
Robin, who, at the age of 12 beat the entire
school in the PCPF 600 yard run, inspired me.
Subsequently her father started coaching her in
the spring of 1975. I started running in the fall
of 1975.
How did you become involved in the RRCA?
By running in DCRRC meets and races, and then
volunteering with them, which led to attending the
RRCA convention in Baltimore in 1978. Women’s
running issues were also a factor. Jeff Darman
saw my interest in the latter and appointed me
chair of the RRCA’s “Women’s Olympic Distance
Committee.”
running? I got in a fight with the then-AAU when I was putting on a women’s race. They wanted me to make
every “ordinary” (i.e., all the casual women runners which were 99% of the race) woman runner be required to buy an
AAU card. Jeff Darman (then RRCA president) helped me fight them in the controversy. They backed down at the 11th
hour. Back then the issues with the AAU, who were trying to bully the RRCA, were paramount. The RRCA was having
lots of problems with the AAU, which later (‘78 or ‘79, I think) became USA Track & Field.
How big (# of clubs/members) was the RRCA when you were President? Right before I became president, the
RRCA lost its insurance, and lots of clubs dropped out of the RRCA. We were down to about 300 clubs from a high of
over 400. Because of the loss of insurance, I strove to build other programs to retain and attract clubs back to the RRCA
fold. We created children’s and women’s running programs, in particular the ones for women runners’ safety. Clubs
came back. I regained a liability insurance policy for the RRCA in early 1990. By the time I stepped down as President
we were almost back up to 500.
Who provided guidance to your Presidency? Jeff Darman, Harold Tinsley, and Carl Sniffen
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What do you believe were the biggest accomplishments during your tenure? Opening the first-ever RRCA
national office, getting major sponsors for RRCA programs, and starting new programs.
Are there any humorous stories from your RRCA involvement that you would like to share? The biggest funny
thing was that no one wanted the job as RRCA executive director in 1990; the year we created it. It had a pittance of a
salary, no benefits, and no prestige. Because I had been essentially doing the job for the past four years as a volunteer,
I was given the job in desperation by the search committee. I always laugh that they had to do that, but I wanted that
job, and loved it -- and was thrilled with the opportunity.
Do you have any “words of wisdom” for its current & future leadership? Keep your commitment to the grassroots
running constituency.
JANE DOLLEY – RRCA PRESIDENT (1989-1991)
How did you begin running? I had always been a jock and loved sports; but
during my school years, the only organized sports offered to girls were tennis,
field hockey, and that foolish half-court basketball game where only 2 girls were
allowed to run the whole court! We had no training and no coaching. Quite a
difference from all those opportunities the girls have today. And, naturally, living
in Maine, I was what you would call a seasonal athlete: tennis and water skiing in
the warmer months and snow skiing in the winter.
In 1978, when I was 30; I realized I needed to find a sport that was considered
“exercise” and could be done daily. My stepson went to school with a girl named
Joan Benoit and told me about her running. Ok, that seemed easy enough, didn’t
cost anything, and I could do it by myself at any time. I bought my first pair of
sneakers at Zayres and ran around a baseball field in my neighborhood so no one
would see me. I soon developed wicked blisters and had to put Band aids on my
feet every time I ran.
My husband, Ken, introduced me to a girl who was in the Maine Track Club. I
went to a meeting, found friends to run with, discovered races, and learned that
I didn’t have to run with blisters on my feet. I soon graduated from “jogging” to
“running”.
Who provided “inspiration” for your running? The Maine Track Club provided friendships and opportunities; my
husband provided encouragement and support; but my inspiration came from within. As I neared age 40, I set a goal
to qualify for Boston; and hired Andy Palmer as a coach. I achieved that goal; but more importantly, Andy helped me
achieve my true potential as a runner.
How did you become involved in the RRCA? I found the RRCA through the Maine Track Club. In 1986, I became
president of the Maine Track Club. At that time, I didn’t even know what the RRCA was; but I was cajoled into hosting
that year’s convention. Henley, Harold, and Jeff came to Portland; saw me “in action”, and opened up opportunities for
me to become involved in their organization.
What were the biggest challenges facing running and the RRCA? In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges
was inspiring the youth to take up running as a life long sport. The baby boomers were aging and the volunteers
were worn out.
Joanie’s success at the 1984 Olympics and her continued domination of women’s running helped our sport
tremendously. The mega-races like the New York Marathon, Peachtree, Bloomsday, and Boston inspired thousands to
run; and running clubs found a whole new audience when walkers were encouraged to join in the fun runs. Yet, the
average age of runners kept increasing because the clubs weren’t able to attract the young adults fresh out of school.
The RRCA tried to attack the problem from the other end and developed nationwide running programs for school
children, hoping they would enjoy running enough to make it a life long sport.
How many clubs and members did the RRCA have when you were president? I think it was around 400+ clubs
and 100,000+ members. I can’t remember that far back.
Who provided guidance to your presidency? I relied on Jeff, Henley, and Carl Sniffen.
What do you believe were the biggest accomplishments during your tenure? I believe the RRCA’s biggest
accomplishment during my tenure was creating the Executive Director position and hiring Henley as the first one.
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CARL SNIFFEN – RRCA PRESIDENT (1991-1996)
How did you begin running? Junior high track and high school cross-country.
Who provided “inspiration” for your running? My long time friend Mike Chaffee,
and my high school friend and teammate, John Whitney. John loved to run a lot more
than me. He ran at the University of Kansas while I took time off. He would show up
at my dorm room and say, “Let’s go run.” Foolishly, every time he showed up, I would
go, usually meaning that I would struggle to stay with him on an out-and-back, run
out about 4 miles, and die. I would then have to run/walk back to the dorm. John just
kept running. When John died of Cancer in 1977, I was inspired to start running again. I
think of him often, and I haven’t stopped since. As for Mike Chaffee, he and I still like to
meet in the Colorado Mountains every year or so and beat each other up.
How did you become involved in the RRCA? I was serving as president of Mid
America Running Association (formerly Mid America Masters), and we were preparing a bid to host the RRCA
convention. That led to an invitation to fill a vacant at-large spot on the RRCA Board, a two term stint as president, and
a one term stint as Vice President. I still chair the Roads Scholar Committee.
running? It seemed like no one could really get a handle on what “grass roots” really meant. Was it beginners, kids, women,
elites, all, or none? In addition, most running organizations, including the RRCA were our own worst enemies. We grew up
in a volunteer climate with little or no paid professional staff. The transition to a paid executive director and additional staff
was a difficult one for the RRCA, and that probably cost the RRCA and other running clubs some sponsorship opportunities.
On the other hand, many folks see that as one of the greatest strengths of the running community and the RRCA.
Money has always been an issue as well. There was never a shortage of great ideas, and the RRCA has capitalized on
many of them (Coaching education, Roads Scholar, Kids Running programs, Women’s Running Safety, the Handbook,
etc.), but money and the absence of full time professional staff made it difficult to pursue some of these opportunities
with the vigor required.
How big (# of clubs/members) was the RRCA when you were President? Frankly, I don’t recall the number. I believe
that we were fairly close to today’s numbers.
Who provided guidance to your Presidency? I was always blessed with an outstanding board of directors --- folks
with vision who could build consensus. And, if we disagreed, the disagreement ended when a matter was decided. Henley
Gabeau as executive director was the best executive director I could have wanted. Her passion, dedication, and commitment
to the RRCA were unmatched. One of my highlights was the many opportunities I had to attend pre-race expos and social
functions with Henley. Everyone knew her and loved her, and it was a great way for me to meet many of the movers and
shakers in the sport. I also learned a lot from folks like Jeff Darman, Phil Stewart, Jeff Hollister, Jerry Kokesh and others.
What do you believe were the biggest accomplishments during your tenure? I’m going to take some liberties
here and include as my tenure, my entire time on the Board. In part, that is because many ideas were considered over a
long period of time, some of which came into fruition during my presidency, and some came on line later. I am proud
of the coaching program (aided greatly by Don Kardong, Roy Benson, and Bob Williams), the Roads Scholar program
(a Don Kardong idea that I helped champion), our children’s running booklet (authored by Joyce Rankin), and helping
Henley promote and expand the women’s running safety program. I am not sure how many original ideas I had, but I
think I was good at helping move ideas from the idea stage to reality.
Are there any humorous stories from your RRCA involvement that you would like to share? There were so
many times I laughed so hard, it hurt. My time on the RRCA board was some of the greatest times of my life, and the
relationships made still are strong today. Perhaps Brent, you remember body surfing in our underwear at 2 a.m. in
Miami? Dancing the night away at the Road Race Management workshops with Rich Ayers, Jane Dolley, Jane Serues,
and others. Phil Stewart and Jeff Darman auctions at the RRCA conventions. The indoor beach party at the Ritz Carlton.
Running with President Clinton on the day he slipped and fell in the mud. I can go on and on and on.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges for the RRCA today? The RRCA has done a good job emerging
from a serious financial hardship over the last few years and reestablishing itself. Repairing the relationships with AARC
and coming back together is something that I was glad to help achieve. I am concerned about a rift I see amongst
board members --- from my perspective, there seems to be some misunderstanding regarding the role of the board
members and somewhat of a lack of collegiality.
Do you have any “words of wisdom” for its current & future leadership? The RRCA is a jewel. It’s past leaders are
a Who’s Who in distance running who worked hard to bring the RRCA to life and give it the high regard in which it is
held. Being a leader of the RRCA is a privilege and an honor. It is also a significant responsibility --- to respect our proud
past and always keep an eye on an even greater future. You represent the RRCA’s past, present, and its future. Create a
future that will excite and inspire future generations.
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DON KARDONG – RRCA PRESIDENT (1996-2000)
How did you begin running? I started running due to the collusion of my
high school basketball and cross country coaches. Up until my sophomore
year, my sport of choice was basketball. In the fall of 1964, though, I ran a
pretty good two-mile in PE class. The PE instructor, Larry Eason, was also
the cross country coach, and he asked the basketball coach to persuade
me to run cross country — although I didn’t figure out that they had
conspired until about 20 years later. All I knew was that the basketball coach
approached me one day and asked what I was doing to get in shape for
basketball. “I don’t know,” I responded. “What should I be doing?” “How
about turning out for cross county,” he said. The rest is history, and so was
my basketball career.
Who provided “inspiration” for your running? I don’t remember when I
first watched Billy Mills win the Olympic 10,000, but I realized later that the
way he won that race was forever etched in my mind. He was an inspiration
then, and he still is. There were other great runners of that era that I
admired, like Gerry Lindgren, Jim Ryun, Peter Snell, Bob Schul. And for the
marathon, it was Abebe Bikila. When I watched him win in Rome running
barefoot, I was amazed. After I had run the marathon myself, I was simply
incredulous that Bikila had be able to do it barefoot. And his demeanor, too,
was inspiring. His style was smooth, effortless, regal.
How did you become involved in the RRCA? I helped start the Lilac
Bloomsday Run in 1977, and at that time I don’t think I had ever heard of the
RRCA. But the next year we got into a big sanctioning dispute with our local AAU, and I started calling around for help.
Everybody I talked to sent me to the same place—the RRCA, and specifically RRCA president Jeff Darman. Jeff was
a pit bull when it came to fighting the athletic establishment, and he gave us advice that really put the AAU back on
their heels. The AAU had insisted that they sanction our event and that participants all had to buy AAU cards. But they
also had a clause in their bylaws that said that if everyone in an event was a member of the same club, sanctioning
wasn’t required. So Jeff suggested we let all 5,000 runners in the 1978 Lilac Bloomsday Run be members of the new
Bloomsday Road Runners Club. Jeff’s support helped make me a dedicated RRCA person. Jeff and the RRCA continued
to fight for athletes’ rights in the years that followed, and I was glad to join the fray.
running? In those days most of the big challenges facing grass roots running in the U.S. were organizational. Events
were all doubling in size from one year to the next, and no one anywhere had any experience dealing with races with
thousands of runners. How do you register, manage, and time them all? At the same time events were moving into
downtown areas, so the challenge was to provide a safe experience while still doing all the things runners expected.
It was really challenging, but also an extremely exciting time for running, which suddenly moved to the forefront of
popular culture.
How big (# of clubs/members) was the RRCA when you were President? When I started there were just under 600
clubs and 150,000 members. At the end of my four-year tenure, we had 670 clubs and 190,000 individual members.
Who provided guidance to your Presidency? Well, certainly the Board and National Office. In addition, I always
relied on RRCA stalwarts like Jeff Darman and Phil Stewart for advice. And Carl Sniffen, who preceded me as president,
was exceptionally good at the job. I always felt I could get good advice from him.
What do you believe were the biggest accomplishments during your tenure? The accomplishments during
my tenure were due to a lot of hard work by a lot of people, including volunteers and staff. The number of clubs and
individual members grew significantly. Use of the website for both marketing and communications increased, and
the coaching certification program was introduced. We launched National Run to Work Day, redesigned FootNotes,
updated and reprinted the RRCA Handbook, reinstituted the children’s running grants for member clubs, and
expanded the Roads Scholar Program. We also developed partnerships with Avon Running, Active.com and Frank
Shorter Sports. I also think we responded well to budgetary challenges due to loss of funding from USATF and the
substantial increase in the premium we paid for liability insurance.
Do you have any “words of wisdom” for its current leadership? The RRCA went through a rough period a few years
ago, but I think the current leadership has made great strides in re-organizing and re-invigorating the organization. My
advice is to continue that effort, and continue to try to position the RRCA as the spokesperson (if an organization can be
a “person”) for grass roots running in the United States. The other thing I’d encourage is that leaders always try to keep
things fun. That’s not easy, because the RRCA has to operate as a business and handle sometimes contentious issues.
But at the end of the day, those helping keep the RRCA going have to feel that, no matter how hard they’re working,
that the underlying mission is important and that it’s fun and rewarding advancing that mission.
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FREDDI CARLIP - RRCA PRESIDENT (2000-2004)
How did you begin running? I began running in the spring of 1978 to
have some “me time” when my kids were small.
Who provided “inspiration” for your running? A group of women,
who lived on my cul-de-sac in Lewisburg, PA, ran every morning at 6:30. I
thought they were amazing, to run two miles every day, on a hilly course,
and also enjoy themselves, talking and laughing, while running. I joined
the group and by October of 1978 ran my first 10K (having only ever run
two miles).
How did you become involved in the RRCA? I received a call from
RRCA board member, Harold Tinsley, in 1983 asking if I would like to be PA
State Rep. I was honored to be asked and agreed right away. I was State
Rep for PA until I was elected Eastern Director in 1994.
What were the biggest challenges facing American running &
the RRCA then? Women still weren’t running the marathon at the
Olympics, and other distances, too. Clubs were growing rapidly and
needed direction. Insurance became a big issue as did the issue of the
AAU. Promoting the RRCA and its grass roots programs was top priority. Women were joining the running ranks and
races needed to change to accommodate them, with equal age groups. All-women’s races were popular as a way to
encourage women of all abilities and ages to take that first step. And it all began with the clubs. Our mission was to
help our clubs, encourage non-RRCA and newly formed clubs to join. Also the Women’s Distance Festivals took hold
as a way to call attention to the need to get the 5K, 10K, and marathon for women in the Olympics. The RRCA was
working hard to get women runners the attention they deserved.
How big (# of clubs/members) was the RRCA when you were President? We had about 630 clubs.
Who provided guidance to your Presidency? I was fortunate to have a lot of wonderful mentors: Don Kardong, Carl
Sniffen, Jeff Darman, Phil Stewart, Tom Fort, Henley Gabeau, among them.
What do you believe were the biggest accomplishments during your tenure? The RRCA was in a financial crisis
during my tenure. The crisis began before I was elected as president and was a challenge we needed to face. We
reached a critical point soon after hiring a new executive director in September 2001. It was a very tough time. The
climate for the board and the National Office during this time was very difficult. Some of the decisions made caused a
huge rift, and I spent a great deal of time “putting out fires” both on the Board and within the organization. We were
close to being out of business, which would have been a terrible loss to the running community. We made some
tough decisions, and, although a competing organization was formed, by the end of my tenure, the RRCA was getting
back on its feet financially, the other organization merged back with the RRCA, we continued to hold conventions, and
the executive director we had hired in 2001 was replaced on an interim basis, by Ed DeMoney who worked tirelessly to
get the RRCA back on track and moving in the right direction. Tom Fort, the RRCA treasurer during most of my tenure,
put in countless hours to help this happen. I am proud of my contributions to the RRCA, grateful to all the people who
helped me along the way, and thankful for having the chance to meet so many wonderful people.
Are there any humorous stories from your RRCA involvement that you would like to share? There are so many…
I’ll just mention a few of them. When then President Don Kardong found out I had been on “Bandstand” in my teens
(being from Philly) he would introduce me this way, “Meet Freddi Carlip, RRCA board member and did you know Freddi
used to dance on Bandstand?” Don and I would spend a lot of time during board meeting weekends talking about
music and trying to stump each other with “who sang this song or when was it popular?”
In the evenings, after our board meeting was over, the board would get together to unwind. One time, a board
member who fancied himself a bit of a wine expert asked to choose the wine for the evening’s get-together. When
he tried to open this “good” bottle of wine, the cork crumbled and he couldn’t even pry it out. When another board
member got the pieces of cork out with a knife, and took the ritual sniff, he made a face and announced that this
‘excellent” wine was vinegar. The “wine-expert” board member never lived it down.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges for the RRCA today? Keeping volunteers from the club level and
on up. And getting people interested in volunteering for club events, races, and for other positions within the RRCA. A
lot of clubs depend on a handful of people to do the work. When those people can’t do it anymore, there needs to be
a pool of other club members from which to draw. This would also provide a pipeline, so to speak, for future leaders of
the RRCA. Expanding and changing our programs as our sport changes is also a challenge. Running is different today
than it was when I began. We need to figure out what is working, what isn’t, and make the necessary changes.
Do you have any “words of wisdom” for its current & future leadership? Don’t forget the RRCA’s history,
especially as we enter a milestone anniversary year. Make sure that all board members, staff members, and clubs know
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our roots and the people who came before. And honor all of those who have gone before; each president, board
member, committee member gave of their time and energy to serve the RRCA. Despite the difficulties some have
faced, never forget that they believed in the RRCA and did their best, whatever the circumstances.
BEE MCLEOD – RRCA PRESIDENT (2004 – 2008)
How did you begin running? I started running at the age of 12 thanks to
my older brother, Ross. Although 2 years older then me, he headed off to
high school one year ahead of me and took up the sport of Cross Country.
Not to be bested by my older brother when I entered high school the
following year, I signed up for Cross Country never really giving it a second
thought. And, as there was no Girls Cross Country team, I was running on
the Boys team; I did have good reason to have second thoughts! Cross
Country led to Winter Track and then Spring Track and the rest is, as they
say, history.
Who provided “inspiration” for your running? My inspiration to try the
sport of running clearly came from my brother, Ross. Without his foray into
the sport a year ahead of me, I could easily have taken up another sport or
none at all. But, he was a runner so naturally, I was going to be a runner. I
credit Ross for getting me “started.” Once I became involved in the sport
as a high school freshman, the drive to continue running, to improve my
running, and to most importantly have fun running came from my team
members and coach. Three seasons of running for four years was time
enough to cement in my heart and soul these three things: you can keep
on running (and running, and running, and running….), you can work to improve your running and enjoy the benefits
of those improvements, and you can have fun doing it thanks to the camaraderie of fellow runners. I would be remiss
if I failed to list one other major inspiration for my running, Dr. Mel Williams. If it weren’t for him, I would never have
dreamed of and accomplished an Olympic marathon qualifying time. Thank you, Mel, for being that inspiration for
me. You helped me realize I could do it. And you were out there for so many, many miles with me while I worked on
getting to Pittsburgh in 1988.
How did you become involved in the RRCA? I first became involved with the RRCA when my running club decided
to bid on hosting the RRCA’s 2002 convention. As the president of my club, the Tidewater Striders, I traveled with a
fellow board member to Spokane to present our bid. Soon after the Norfolk Convention I was approached by the
leaders of the AARC and asked to join their interim board. From there, pursuing a position on the RRCA board became
the logical step in my efforts to bring the organizations back together. I was elected to an At-Large position on the
RRCA board in 2003 and became its President in 2004.
running? When I was elected to the RRCA’s board of directors, our challenges were very clear. For all intents and
purposes, we were a bankrupt organization that was losing members to the newly formed American Association
of Running Clubs. We had no formal staff to support our daily operational requirements. Communication to
membership had nearly ceased. And nearly all our programs and services were either stopped permanently or put on
hold due to lack of funding and staff support. Thanks to patient and supportive members, a strong board of directors
skilled at prudent decision making, and a newly staffed office team led by a very qualified new Executive Director, we
were able to overcome those challenges and today, the RRCA is thriving and healthier then ever before.
The biggest challenge facing grass roots running at this time, at least from my perspective, was trying to figure out
how to “co-exist” with the growing introduction of larger for-profit organizations and the growing number of charity
running programs. Grass roots running always had a good footprint (no pun intended) in both the race and training
program arenas but during this period of time (late 1990’s - early 2000’s) there were new entities in both. It didn’t take
long to determine that running is such a popular sport that engages such a diverse group of people that indeed we all
could survive. And, thrive.
How big (# of clubs/members) was the RRCA when you were President? When I began my tenure as President in
2004, our club membership level was in the mid-600’s. We finished 2007 with over 860 member clubs, an all time high
membership for the RRCA.
Who provided guidance to your Presidency? I have had several key “mentors” during my presidency, most of whom
are no strangers to the RRCA. Jeff Darman has provided me with guidance, advice, and humor perhaps the longest
of any of my mentors. While Jeff and I have not always seen eye to eye, we have always had the ability to speak and
listen to each other in an open and honest manner. His tenured association with the RRCA and the sport has proven
invaluable to me. Phil Stewart, with his finger on the pulse of the sport from a view slightly different then Jeff’s, has
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been a well regarded confidant as well. And more recently, I have had the pleasure of Gar Williams’ sage perspective
and advice. There are numerous other RRCA advocates that have provided support and guidance throughout my
tenure and to all I have mentioned and those I have not (but who know I am speaking of them!), thank you! Without
your support – personally and professionally in regards to the RRCA – my service to the organization could not have
been as rewarding and successful as it has been.
What do you believe were the biggest accomplishments during your tenure? I believe perhaps the biggest
accomplishment of all was successfully returning the RRCA to its rightful position of being a vital leader supporting the
sport of running. This accomplishment includes a rebuild of finances, membership, operations, and reputation. It is
important to note that none of these accomplishments would have been possible had it not been for our supportive
membership, a dedicated and strong Board of Directors, and an exceptionally skilled Executive Director and National
Staff.
Are there any humorous stories from your RRCA involvement that you would like to share? To preserve the
names of the innocent, I will refrain from sharing the humorous happenings during my 4 years as RRCA President.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges for the RRCA today? I believe that the sport of running in terms
of the needs and desires of individual runners, running clubs, and events continues to change. It is a challenge for
us to stay on top of what those changes are and what they mean in terms of our organization. We have to ensure
we continue to add value to our members and runners in general. The challenge: stay on top of or ahead of those
changes so we can provide value.
Do you have any “words of wisdom” for its current leadership? Keep your eye on the overall mission of the
organization: that we are “dedicated to promoting long distance running as a competitive sport and as healthful
exercise” ...and that we are to “represent and promote the common interest of (our) member clubs, events, and
individual runners through education, leadership, programs and other services.” Always ensure that key initiatives and
decisions align clearly with our mission. And, have fun doing it!
Aldo Scandurra, Ted Corbitt, Hal Higdon, Jeff Darman, Henley Gabeau, Jane Dolley,
Alan Steinfeld, and Carl Sniffen at the 40th Anniversary Convention
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THE NATIONAL GRASSROOTS AWARD WINNERS
Since 1971, the RRCA has honored dedicated individuals for their outstanding service to the RRCA and the sport of
long distance running. Between September and November of 2007, the RRCA collected nominations for the various
award categories. Each award category has selection criteria, a selection committee that reviews nominations and
determines the final winner, and the RRCA Board of Directors ratifies the final winners.
We are delighted to announce the 2007 National Grassroots Running Award Winners.
RRCA AMERICAN LONG DISTANCE RUNNING HALL OF FAME
Developed in 1970, the RRCA American Long Distance Running Hall of Fame inducts individuals who have made
significant contributions to the sport of long distance running either through excellence in the sport or significant
contributions to the sport.
BETH BONNER
The RRCA Hall of Fame consists of American citizens who have shown long-term excellence in long distance running
and/or have made outstanding contributions to the sport. This year, two runners from different eras, Beth Bonner
(1970s) and Todd Williams (1990s), are added to the long list of outstanding runners who have met these criteria.
Bonner was born on June 9, 1952, in Preston County, West Virginia. She was involved in equestrian sports from an
early age through junior high, but discovered running in the eighth grade. Her mother recalls taking her to nearby
Morgantown where a Mr. Zann was a running coach. With few running opportunities for girls in high school in the late
1960s, Bonner convinced her parents to let her attend high school in Morgantown to work with Zann.
At that time there were few distance opportunities in track for women, with the 1,500 meters their longest Olympic
event. However, women were beginning to be recognized for finishing some of the major marathons in the East, and
during the four years of high school Bonner and her coach recognized her outstanding endurance as a runner.
She graduated from high school in 1971 and enrolled at a Junior College in Brandywine, Maryland, where she could
continue distance training. During 1971 she is credited with two world record setting marathon performances, first a
3:01:41 in Philadelphia and later she became the first woman to finish a marathon in less than three hours when she
won the New York Marathon in 2:55:22. These performances were at the age of 19. In 1971, and again in 1972, she
was selected to run for the US in the World Cross Country Championships where she became friends with two-time
Olympian and five-time World Cross Country Champion, Doris Brown Heritage. Heritage had run for Seattle Pacific
University and was still coached by Ken Foreman at the college. Bonner decided to complete her undergraduate
studies at Seattle Pacific and enrolled in 1973.
“Beth came to Seattle Pacific for school because of our cross country program as well as her major area of study,” said
Heritage. “Ken Foreman, my coach and professor, was also Beth’s mentor in college.
“I ran with Beth for several years before she came to SPU. She was very competitive and focused. She loved to run and
loved the outdoors, so cross country and road running were a natural.
“Beth was way ahead of her time, as a runner and in other areas of life as well. Perhaps West Virginia life, including
taxidermy and a love of animals and nature, allowed Beth to live ‘outside the box’ even before she became one of
those few and far between gals who somehow hung in there as a female who not only ran, but raced.
“She would hang on like a shadow to the front runner and seize the lead if it was physically possible, never giving up if
there was any life left in those ‘human zipper’ bones and muscles. She was the living embodiment of tough.
“Because there were so few teams, runners, races, etc., Beth came to Seattle to be with our club at Seattle Pacific U.
There were no college teams for women, just clubs, at that time. She then focused on cross country and track during
her collegiate years. She had a bike accident and other physical difficulties while here and did not improve after that,
but got her degree and enjoyed running with like-minded, very serious but fun loving friends.”
After graduating from Settle Pacific, Bonner returned home where she taught English in Preston County schools and
coached there for several years. Later she received her PHD from Auburn University in Alabama. She was teaching and
coaching at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, when she had a second bike accident that was fatal. She died on
October 9, 1998 as a result of the accident.
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TODD WILLIAMS
Williams is a native of Michigan who came south to run for the University of Tennessee and through hard work and
determination became America’s best 10,000 meter runner during most of the 1990s. He was born on March 7, 1969, in
Detroit. As a junior and senior in high school he was Michigan Class A XC champion and took the 3200 state indoor and
outdoor titles both years with a best of 9:01.8 as a senior. Also as a high school senior he finished 2nd in the USA Junior
XC Trials and was 23rd at the World Championships.
By 1991, his senior year at Tennessee, his 5K time had improved to 13:41.50 and he had run 28:18.4 for the 10K finishing
2nd in 10,000 and 3rd in 5000 at NCAA Nationals. The fall after graduating from college, he won USA XC Championships
and was ranked fifth in the U.S. at 10,000 by Track & Field News. In 1992 Williams finished 19th in World XC
Championships, won the 10,000 (28:19.82) at the U.S. Olympic Trials and finished 10th in 10,000 at Olympic Games that
Fall. At the end of the year Track and Field News ranked him as the top U.S. runner at the 10,000 and eighth at the 5000.
Williams, still living and training in Knoxville, Tennessee, continued to improve in 1993. His 5K best that year was
13:20.13 and his 10K time dropped to 27:40.37. He won his second USA XC title and was 20th at the World XC
Championships. He again won the USA 10,000 and finished 7th in 10,000 (28:30.49) at the World Championships.
After being injured for much of 1994, but still running well enough at the end of that year to qualify for the US XC team for
the next year, Williams came back in 1995 to run what he described as one of the best races of his life when he was 9th at
the World XC Championships. He also was the US 10,000 champion and took 9th at the World Championships that year.
In 1996 he again was the top finisher in the 10,000 Olympic Trials race, but had a disappointing DNF in his heat at the
Games in Atlanta. In 1997, he made his marathon debut in Chicago where he ran 2:11:17, finishing 10th. That year he
also recorded best of 13:20.39 for 5K, 27:58.13 for 10K and won the US indoor 3000 in 7:50.49. He was also the US 10M
Road Champion, running 47:46.
In summery, during his career Williams won four US 10,000 meter titles, including two Olympic Trial victories; was the
top ranked US runner in the 10,000m for four years; finished 10th at the 1992 Olympics 10,000, 7th at the 1993 World
Championship 10,000 and in 1995 was 9th at the World 10,000m and 9th at the World XC Championships. On the roads
he set a US 15K record at the Gate River Run in 1995 at 42:22, one of the five years he won that race and had a 2:11:17
marathon debut at Chicago in 1997.
Todd and his wife Stephanie stayed in Knoxville through his active running career, but now live in Jacksonville, Florida,
with their two daughters. Williams is still a spokesman for his long time sponsor Adidis, conducts clinics and serves as a
television analyst at races.
The RRCA Hall of Fame Committee consists of 12 individuals representing a wide range of views, running interests and
abilities. The committee members vary in age and come from well-disbursed geographic regions. The Committee includes
Amby Burfoot (PA), Alvin Guttag (MD), Jacqueline Hansen (CA), Joe Henderson (OR), Doris Brown Heritage (WA), Don Kardong
(WA), Jim Oaks (AL), Tom Osler (NJ), John Parker (FL), Lisa Weidenbach Rainsberger (CO), Steve Shostrom (IL) and Ken Young
(CA). Eight of the 12 committee members are themselves members of the RRCA Hall of Fame.
2007 - Jenny Spangler, Judi St. Hilaire
2006 - Deena Kastor, Mebrahtom Keflezighi
2005 - Keith Brantly, Steve Spence
2004 - Helen Klein, Lisa Rainsberger
2003 - Bob Kempainen, Kathy O’Brien
2002 - Patti Dillon, Herb Lindsay
2001 - Miki Gorman, Greg Meyer
2000 - Mark Curp, John Tuttle
1999 - Gerry Lindgren, Tony Sandoval
1998 - Benji Durden, Doug Kurtis
1997 - Kim Jones, Jon Sinclair
1996 - Ed Eyestone, Jerry Kokesh, Pete Pfitzinger
1995 - Ann Trason, George Young
1994 - Julie Brown, Amby Burfoot, Marion Irvine
1993 - Jack Bacheler, Norm Green, Mary Decker Slaney
1992 - Jeff Darman, Jeff Galloway, Ted Haydon
1991 - Barry Brown, Lynn Jennings, Fred Lebow
1990 - Pat Porter, Alberto Salazar, Max Truex
1989 - Dick Beardsley, Herb Lorenz, Sy Mah, Harold Tinsley
1988 - Garry Bjorklund, Cheryl Flanagan, Thomas Hicks,
Kenny Moore
1987 - Bill Bowerman, Hugh Jascourt, Don Kardong,
Francie Larrieu Smith
1986 - Nick Costes, Ron Daws, Doris Brown Heritage
1985 - Henley Roughton Gabeau, Gordon McKenzie, Alex
Ratelle, John “Jock” Semple, Louis White
1984 - Clive Davies, Jacqueline Hansen, Joan Benoit
Samuelson, Kathrine Switzer, Bob Schul, Craig
Virgin
1983 - Ed Benham, Paul de Bruyn, Gabe Mirkin
1982 - William Agee, William “Billy” Mills, Roberta GibbWelch
1981 - Hal Higdon, Steve Prefontaine, Ken Young
1980 - Ruth Anderson, Nina Kuscsik, Thomas Osler, William
Steiner
1979 - Joe Henderson, Ray Sears, Gar Williams
1978 - John Hayes, Bill Rodgers, Aldo Scandurra
1977 - Eino Pentti, Greg Rice, Frank Shorter
1976 - R. E. Johnson, George Sheehan, Curtis Stone
1975 - Horace Ashenfelter, Don Lash, Joseph McCluskey
1974 - Pat Dengis, Leslie Pawson, Mel Porter, Charles
Robbins, Fred Wilt
1973 - Tarzan Brown, Victor Dyrgall, James Hinky Henigan,
Peter McArdle, Paul Jerry Nason
1972 - Ted Corbitt, Fred Faller, Louis Gregory, John A.
Kelley, Joseph Kleinerman
1971 - Bob Campbell, Clarence DeMar, Leonard “Buddy”
Edelen, John J. Kelley, Browning Ross
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RRCA SCOTT HAMILTON OUTSTANDING CLUB PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award honors an outstanding RRCA Club President and is selected by the current RRCA National President. On
July 30, 2005, Scott D. Hamilton passed away at the age of 77. Scott joined the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club in 1965
and was an active runner for over 35 years. He served as the National President for the RRCA from 1966-67. In addition
to running, he was an avid hiker and mountaineer.
BROOKE NELSON – ANNISTON RUNNERS CLUB – ANNISTON, AL
Brooke Nelson of the Anniston Runners Club (ARC) is our very deserving winner of the 2007 RRCA national
Outstanding Club President Award. She became involved in her club’s administration in 2005 when she served as Vice
President and by 2006, Brooke became the club’s President, a position she continues to hold. Under her leadership
role, the club has enjoyed an amazing revitalization that includes: tremendous growth in membership (from 40 active
runners to over 400 runners in 2 short years), marked improvements in events (reinvigorating their Grand Prix Series
and growing club event participation by double and even triple figures), growing sponsorship levels and community
awareness, and expanding the club’s positive impact on important areas such as youth.
Communication amongst club members has improved from basically no communication to electronic communication
sometimes multiple times per week with the entire membership. Brooke has applied the same energy to the club’s
annual Woodstock 5K. This run has occurred in Anniston for more than 25 years. Again, a small local run consisting of
approximately 70 to 100 runners has been transformed into the Alabama State Championship race with almost 600
runners (from 12 states!). “Kidstock” was added and had more than 100 children running—some for the first time.
Brooke was also instrumental in getting the Southern Region Championship designation for the Woodstock 5K in 2008.
Brooke designed a very attractive sponsor-benefit program for the club that provided excellent revenue to support
club operations throughout the year. The sponsor package was very attractive and professional and secured some
of the most prominent businesses in our community as sponsors of the Anniston Runners Club and all of the club’s
events. Under Brooke’s direction, the club even managed to donate funds to several local charities.
“In short, Brooke has taken the Anniston Runners Club from the Flintstones to the Jetsons in only one year. Her
face and name are synonymous with running, fitness, and family in our community. Her leadership, marketing, and
organizational skills—combined with her energy, enthusiasm, and positive attitude have created the perfect storm in
our community for running, family fitness, and outdoor recreation.” Mike Poe, Noble Street Festival.
Alabama State Representative, Ron Macksoud, states, she is “the most…energetic and charismatic club president (he
has) known.”
A great testament to Brooke’s style and resulting success in developing the Anniston Runners club comes from
Major William Holstine who was stationed in Anniston for a year. He highlights her leadership, generosity, constant
communication and genuine caring as key in making him want to help with the club and sport in any way he could.
Major Holstine states, “It was an honor to support her efforts as she led our club.”
Perhaps the best way to sum up Brooke’s amazing efforts is to borrow a quote from her nomination complementing
the team Brooke leads because “they made the $15 membership fee mean something.” Creating value for
membership is no easy task but its one that Brooks has certainly accomplished.
Selection Committee: Bee McLeod, Len Goldman, Sue Brown, Irv Newman, and Trish Portuese
2006 - Len Goldman, Lake Merritt Joggers & Striders,
Oakland, CA
2005 - Alan Meyer, Bradenton Runners Club, Bradenton, IL
2004 - Sue Brown, Calumet Region Striders, Griffith, IN
2003 - Patricia A. “Trish” Portuese, Birmingham Track Club, AL
2002 - Dawn McEnery, Port City Pacers, AL
2001 - David Oja, Syracuse Chargers Track Club, NY
2000 - Victor Nemudrov, Albuquerque Road Runners, NM
1999 - Ellie Norwitch, Miami Runners Club, FL
1998 - Irv Newman, Montgomery County Road Runners
Club, MD
1997 - Dori Robertson, Bloomsday Road Runners Club, WA
1996 - Paul Blaum, Peachtree City Running Club, GA
1995 - Sue Wurl, Northern Lights Running Club, MN
1994 - Jim Stasaitis, Utica Roadrunners, Utica, NY
1993 - Nancy Kapheim, Cornbelt Running Club, IA
1992 - Mary Anne Wehrum, Memphis Runners Track Club, TN
1991 - Ed Kozloff, Motor City Striders, MI
1990 - Nate White, Syracuse Chargers Track Club, NY
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1989 - Paul Butzen, Fond Du Lac Running Club, WI
1988 - Dennis Steinauer, Montgomery County Road
Runners Club, MD
1987 - Bob Carlson, Utica Roadrunners, NY
1986 - Jane Dolley, Maine Track Club, ME
1985 - Tom Aderhold, Atlanta Track Club, GA
1984 - Norman Harris, Huntsville Track Club, AL
1983 - Steve Shostrom, Illinois Valley Striders, IL
1982 - Bill Glauz, Mid America Masters Track and Field
Association, MO
1981 - Dick Sutton, Pikes Peak Road Runners Club, CO
1980 - Dan Caffery, Taconic Road Runners Club, NY
1979 - John Pendergrass, Hattiesburg Track Club, MS
1978 - Stu Levy, Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners Club, PA
1977 - Fred Lebow, New York Road Runners, NY
1976 - Nick Costes, Troy Track Club, NY
1975 - Ray Russell, Greater Fort Lauderdale Runners Club, FL
1974 - Don Balsamo, Greater Rochester Track Club, NY
BROWNING ROSS SPIRIT OF THE RRCA AWARD
The Browning Ross Spirit of the RRCA Award was created to honor the memory of one of the RRCA’s founding
members, Browning Ross, who died unexpectedly in April 1998. The award honors a club member who is an unsung
hero. These are the people who champion the RRCA “tirelessly and with enthusiasm,” but prefer to stay in the
background, letting others bask in the spotlight, just as Browning did.
MARLENE ATWOOD – PEACHTREE CITY RUNNING CLUB – PEACHTREE CITY, GA
Marlene, on more than one occasion has sacrificed her time for the RRCA. An example of this was her countless hours
during the RRCA Convention in Houston making sure that the State Rep Silent Auction items were accounted for and
ensuring the auction was a success for the State Reps program.
Here are a few examples of the tireless contributions Marlene has given to running and the RRCA:
• Previously served as the newsletter editor for the Chattahoochee Road Runners, the RRCA State Reps, the RRCA
and the GA Association of USATF
• During her tenure as the GA State Rep she was instrumental in developing the running clubs in Georgia
• Serves as an RRCA Certified Coach, American Sports Education Program (ASEP) and USATF Level 1
• Developed and coaches “Women’s Running 101”, a women’s long distance running program
• Served as the RRCA Georgia State Rep
• Served as the chair of the RRCA State Rep Working Group
• Served as chair of the RRCA Journalism Awards Selection Panel
• Serves as race director for several of her running club races
• Served in a key role organizing a run for the military in Iraq in coordination with the St Simon Island Running Club
• Selected as the 2000 RRCA State Rep of the Year
• Serves as a Track and Field Certified Official for the Georgia Association of USA Track & Field
• Developed the Long Distance USA Track & Field Grand Prix of 8 races in Georgia
• Is a Certified USA Track & Field official and officiate at high school and collegiate levels
• Serves as a member of USATF Masters Committee, the USA Track & Field in Georgia
• In 2002 she was selected for the RRCA Women's Developmental Award
• Selected as the 2003 Southern Region State Rep of the Year
• Selected as the 2006 Browning Ross Spirit of the RRCA Award of Merit - Southern Region
• Has been awarded several journalism awards including the 1998 RRCA Medium Size Club
• She served as the managing editor for the RRCA Annual report for several years. She was instrumental in
changing the format by combining the Board reports and the State Reps reports into one cohesive report
starting with the 2005 RRCA Annual Report.
Selection Committee: Freddi Carlip, Tom Olser, Jerry Nolan, Joe Henderson, and Jack Heath
2006 - Harold Tinsley, Huntsville Track Club, Huntsville, AL
2005 - Phil Stewart, Cherry Blossom, Bethesda, MD
2004 - Ken Peterson, Toledo Road Runners Club, Toledo, OH
2003 - Dominic Ortiz
2002 - Bob Holmes
2001 - Nina Kuscsik
2000 - Ted Corbitt
1999 - Larry Noel
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RRCA OUTSTANDING STATE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD
State representatives provide assistance, guidance and information to clubs in their state. They are the local
representation of the RRCA. This award was developed in 1984 to recognize the outstanding and superior service of
our state representatives.
LENA HOLLMAN – NORTH CAROLINA – NORTH CAROLINA ROADRUNNERS – RALEIGH, NC
Our Outstanding State Representative of the Year for 2007 is North Carolina’s Lena Hollmann. Although Lena has only
served in this leadership role since 2005, her accomplishments mirror those expected of a much more tenured State
Rep. Her familiarity with the RRCA and advocacy of the organization combined with her strong communication skills
and enthusiastic personality have brought great synergy and strength to the running clubs in this state.
Lena’s accomplishments and accolades are seen in many important areas. She is a believer in solid communication
with her clubs as is evidenced by her quarterly state newsletters, personal club and member contact via email phone
or in person visits, and promotion of the RRCA website and other RRCA communication tools. She consistently and
successfully promotes RRCA programs which resulted in Run@Work events, 6 state and 2 regional championships,
and the start of a new RRCA club. In addition to her role supporting the RRCA’s mission, Lena is heavily involved in
our sport serving on two club boards (Godiva Track Club and North Carolina Roadrunners Club), serving as USATF’s
Women’s LDR Chair, volunteering at numerous races and racing at an age group winning level that includes securing
the title of the 2007 Grand Masters’ Southern Region 5K winner.
In addition to receiving her Regional Director, Ken Bendy’s, strongest possible endorsement, Lena received high
endorsements from several fellow North Carolina clubs. By all accounts, she is cited as “simply the best” and “a tireless
advocate of the RRCA…(who) makes a special effort to have a strong relationship with (her) clubs.”
Selection Committee: Bee McLeod, David Cotter, Ron Macksoud, Dan Shields, Tom Fort
2006 - Ron Macksoud, Alabama, Southern Region
2005 - Joan Davis, Hawaii, Western Region
2004 - John Devitt, Montana, Western Region
2003 - David Cotter, Northern California/Nevada, Western
Region
2002 - Lisa Paige, Colorado, Western Region
2001 - George Rehmet, California, Western Region
2000 - Marlene Atwood, Georgia, Southern Region
1999 - Ken Bendy, Florida, Southern Region
1998 - Scott Christopher, Louisiana, Southern Region
1997 - Don Still, Arkansas, Southern Region
1996 - Joanne Smith, Pennsylvania, Eastern Region
1995 - Beverly Coville, Georgia, Southern Region
1994 - Laura Kulsik, California, Western Region
1993 - Yvonne Lee, Louisiana, Southern Region
1992 - David Harrison, Virginia, Eastern Region
1991 - David Samuel, Arkansas, Southern Region
1990 - Judy Tillapaugh, Indiana, Central Region
1989 - Freddi Carlip, Pennsylvania, Eastern Region
1988 - Stan Rosenfeld, California, Western Region
1987 - Bill Marable, South Carolina, Southern Region
1986 - Carl Johnson, North Carolina, Southern Region
1985 - John Sissala, Maryland, Eastern Region
1984 - Al Becken, Texas, Southern Region
RRCA ROAD RUNNER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Developed in the 1975, the Road Runner of the Year Award was given to the runners with the most outstanding record
of racing performances during the past year for Male and Female runners. In 1984, RRCA added the categories, Male
Masters and Female Masters. These awards are an opportunity to recognize the local male and female open and
masters runners in your club who excel at all of their races.
MALE OPEN: MATT FOLK – YOUNGSTOWN ROAD RUNNERS CLUB – YOUNGSTOWN, OH
It would be an understatement to say that Matt is the pride of Youngtown’s running community. His training takes
him daily into the Mill Creek Metro Parks, one of the finest urban park districts in the country. In the park setting, Matt
is well known and always waves to people as he passes (literally) during his training runs and will often offer words
of encouragement to those less gifted. Matt’s training is legendary, and he is out in good weather and bad. He is
employed at, Second Sole, a running store where his expert advice is welcomed by novice and veteran runners alike.
Matt’s accomplishments include:
One Mile – 4:13
5K – 14:19
Four Mile: 19:12
10K – 29:33
Half Marathon – 1:08:34
Marathon – 2:19:47 (2007 Olympic Marathon Trials)
Placed 39th at the 2007 Men’s Olympic Marathon Trials
RRCA Male Road Runner of the Year in 2004 & 2005
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2006 - Jon Williams, Davie, FL
2005 - Matt Folk, Youngstown, OH
2004 - Matt Folk, Youngstown, OH
2003 - No awards
2002 - No awards
2001 - No awards
2000 - Mike Melfi
1999 - David Morris
1998 - Keith Brantly
1997 - Jerry Lawson
1996 - Bob Kempanien, Minnetonka, MN
1994 - Bob Kempanien, Minnetonka, MN
1993 - Mark Plaatje
1992 - Steve Spence
1991 - Steve Spence
1990 - Steve Spence
1989 - Steve Spence
1988 - Mark Curp
1987 - Mark Curp
1985 - Phillip Coppess
1984 - Pete Pfitzinger
1983 - Greg Meyer
1982 - Alberto Salazar
1981 - Craig Virgin
1980 - Bill Rodgers
1979 - Bill Rodgers
1978 - Bill Rodgers
1977 - Don Kardong
1976 - Bill Rodgers
1975 - Phil Davis
FEMALE OPEN: MICHELLE DIDION – CALUMET REGION STRIDERS – GRIFFITH, IN
Michelle Didion began running in 2002, originally to “get her through the winter and help take off some weight”.
Michelle’s original membership to the local RRCA Running Club, Calumet Region Striders, was a Christmas gift from
her family. They recognized her talent and respect for the sport. After losing seventy pounds in the first two years of
training, running became a lifestyle for her and the entire Didion family.
In 2007, Michelle logged over 3,000 miles, completed six marathons, and one ultra. She has won six overall race titles,
voluminous age group titles, and has achieved nine personal bests in various distances. On one notable race occasion,
she even beat all the men.
Valentine’s Run 5K
Spirit Run 5K
Runnin’ with the Irish 5K
LaPorte YMCA 10K Run
Knoxville Marathon
Ringing in Spring 5K
Sunburst Marathon
Run Under the Stars 10 Hour Run
Running Wild 5K
Buckley 5 Miler
Rotary Ramble 5K
Hometown Run 5K
Chicago Half Marathon
Tower Run 8K
Quad Cities Marathon
Detroit Marathon
02/11/07
02/24/07
03/10/07
03/17/07
04/01/07
04/07/07
06/02/07
06/09/07
07/07/07
07/28/07
08/11/07
08/18/07
09/09/07
09/16/07
09/22/07
10/21/07
19:33
19:34
18:55
40:45
3:11:57
19:36
3:19:35
63 Miles
21:30
34:16
19:30
19:21
1:29:25
36:32
3:08:12
3:05:29
1st Age Group
1st Female Overall
1st Female Overall
1st Female Overall
1st Female Overall
1st Age Group
2nd Female Overall
1st Overall
2nd Female Overall
1st Age Group
1st Age Group
1st Female Overall
1st Age Group
2nd Female Overall
4th Female Overall
9th Female Overall/ 1st Age Group
Michelle is married with four children, ages 7,10,12,13, and she thrives on the support she receives from her husband
and children.
2006 - Mindi Rice, Grapevine, TX
2005 - Mary Coordt, Sacramento, CA
2004 - Laura Kaulen, Youngstown, OH
2003 - No awards
2002 - No awards
2001 - No awards
2000 - Kristen White
1999 - Libbie Hickman
1996 - Anne Marie Lauck, Atlanta, GA
1995 - Olga Appell
1994 - Anne Marie Lauck, Atlanta, GA
1993 - Lynn Jennings
1989 - Lisa Weidenbach
1986 - Joan Samuelson
1983 - Joan Benoit
1982 - Joan Benoit
1981 - Patti Catalano
1980 - Ellison Goodall
1979 - Marty Cooksey
1978 - Kim Merritt
1977 - Micki Gorman
1976 - Kathrine Switzer
1975 - Marlene Harewicz
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MALE MASTERS: JOHN STEINBERG – FLORIDA STRIDERS TRACK CLUB – ORANGE PARK, FL
John Steinberg is outstanding in both his running speed, and his contribution to the running community. In 2006
and 2007, John was not only one of the fastest masters runners; he often placed in the top three within the overall
classification. At 48 years old, he challenges runners of all ages and at all distances. He dominates the age-graded
performances for all Jacksonville, FL competitors. During the 2007 USATF National 15K Road Race Championships
(Gate River Run), John rose to the challenge and placed 2nd in the master’s category, an awesome accomplishment on
the national stage. He was also named as Jacksonville’s Masters Runner of the Year 2006-2007.
His great running performances are only part of what makes John a valued member of the Jacksonville running
community. Relocating to Northeast Florida just recently, he and wife Mary Ann were quickly nominated and selected
to serve on the Board for the Florida Striders Track Club. He commits numerous hours supporting running events and
training efforts. John has become a figure and a force to be reckoned with on the Jacksonville road racing circuit.
Some of John’s outstanding times for 2006-2007 are as follows:
Outback Half Marathon
Matanzas 5K
Ortega River Run (5mi)
Gate River Run
Run for the Sun 8K
Memorial Day 5K
11/23/06
01/27/07
02/24/07
03/10/07
04/14/07
05/28/07
2006 - Sean Wade, Houston, TX
2005 - John Metzger, Orange Park, FL
2004 - Len Goldman, Oakland, CA
2003 - Ken Brewer, Anniston, AL
2002 - Michael Strickland, Chattahoochee, GA
2001 - No awards
2000 - David Jeffrey
1999 - John Tuttle
1998 - Craig Young
1997 - Steve Plascencia
1996 - Lloyd Stephenson
1995 - Charlie Gray
1:12:51
15:59
25:58
50:38
26:55
16:36
1st Master
1st Master
2nd Overall
2nd Master
1st Master
1st Age Group
1994 - Doug Kurtis, Northville, MI
1993 - Doug Kurtis
1992 - Doug Kurtis
1991 - Bill Rodgers
1990 - Bill Rodgers
1989 - Bob Schlau
1988 - Bill Rodgers
1987 - Tracy Smith
1986 - Barry Brown
1985 - Barry Brown
1984 - Barry Brown
FEMALE MASTERS: SABRA HARVEY – HOUSTON STRIDERS – HOUSTON, TX
Sabra took the Houston Running Community by storm in 2007! She’s always been oriented to athletics and the
outdoors, but only became interested in truly testing her road racing ability in the last year. Through hard training and
ever-improving race results, she has become Houston’s highest ranked age-graded masters runner since the Houston
Area Road Runners Association started tracking results. She consistently scores 90% and above in her races. She often
wins 1st overall masters in the races she enters, and occasionally wins 1st overall female.
Highlights from her incredible year include a 33:24 in the Park to Park 5 Miler, a 90.75% race and likely the highest agegraded race result in HARRA history. She capped that with a 19:46 at the Friends for Scleroderma 5k, the RRCA South
Texas State Championship, which has been confirmed as the all time US single age record. Running Times Magazine
listed her at the top of her age group in 2007.
Sabra excels in a variety of events. In addition to road races she’s at the top of the list in cross-country, track races, and
relay races. She actively participates in club runs and training, and if you’re the only 10-minute miler at a club training
run she’ll drop her plans and join you for that, too.
Selection Committee: Phil Lang, Kim Howard, Steve Meinelt, Zika Rea, Joe Henderson, and Jim Hage
2006 - Sarah Keller, Billings, MT
2005 - Patti Stewart-Garbrecth, Orange Park, FL
2004 - Kathryn Martin, Northport, NY
2003 - Melody Anne Schultz
2002 - Maggie Miller, Bradenton, FL
2001 - No awards
2000 - Margo Braud
1999 - Kim Jones
1997 - Ruth Wysocki
1996 - Jane Welzel
1995 - Nancy Grayson
36
1994 - Suzanne Ray, Anchorage, AK
1993 - Carol McLatchie
1992 - Carol McLatchie
1991 - Laurie Binder
1987 - Gabriele Anderson
1984 - Marion Irvine
RRCA JERRY LITTLE JOURNALISM AWARDS
Jerry W. Little, Jr., who was president of the Electric City Printing Company, Anderson, SC, from 1969-1986, died of lung
cancer in 1986.
A graduate of Auburn University, Jerry was a Navy veteran and was prominent in business and political circles in the
Anderson area. He had been an athlete all his life but took up running in the 1970’s, becoming a devotee and advocate
of the sport until his death.
Selection Committee: Marlene Atwood, Penny Kaiser, Gail Kislevitz, Amby Burfoot, and Sandy Walton
JOURNALISTIC EXCELLENCE AWARD
This award, created in 1974, is given to a professional writer who has made the most notable contribution to the
literature of distance running.
TOM HELD
Tom Held is a staff writer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which is distributed throughout Wisconsin, and areas in
Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan.
Tom joined the Journal staff in 2006 and completely filled the need for a writer focused on the outdoor scene, and
specifically the running scene. Tom has written many feature articles on running, many that have made the front
pages of the Journal. His stories cover topics ranging from on-the-run close encounters with a moose, the Boston
Marathon, and adventure runs on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. He also manages a daily blog called “off the couch”,
also related to running and the outdoors.
2006 - Jonathon Beverly – Running Times
2005 - Gail Kislevitz
2004 - Weldon and Robert Johnson, letsrun.com
2003 - Joe Henderson
2002 - John Brant
2001 - George Hirsch, Runner’s World
2000 - John Bingham – Runner’s World
1999 - Ryan Lamppa
1998 - Richard Benyo – Marathon & Beyond
1997 - Joe Concannon
1995 - Tom Derderian, Boston Marathon
1994 - Jim Ferstle, St. Paul, MN
1993 - Toni Reavis
1992 - Owen Anderson
1991 - Jeff Galloway
1990 - Paul Christman
1989 - Dr. Kenneth Cooper
1988 - John Parker
1987 - Phil Stewart – Road Race Management
1986 - Marlene Cimons
1985 - Ed Ayers and Don Kardong
1984 - Bert and Cordner Nelson
1983 - Mark Bloom
1982 - Eric Olsen
1981 - Amby Burfoot
1980 - Hal Higdon
1979 - Kenny Moore
1977 - James Fixx
1976 - Joan Ullyot
1975 - George Sheehan
1974 - John Chodes
RRCA JERRY LITTLE MEMORIAL CLUB WRITER AWARD
This award recognizes top club writers. The articles should be about running and should be memorable, creative and
evocative.
JEFF RECKER - MESA MONUMENT STRIDERS – GRAND JUNCTION, CO
Jeff runs and writes in his hometown of Grand Junction, Colorado. He was also the recipient of the Road Runner Club
of America’s 2002 Jerry Little Memorial Journalism Award. For more information on The Mesa-Monument Striders, visit
www.mmstriders.org.
2006 - Michael Shafai - Pikes Peak Road Runners Colorado Springs, CO
2005 - Wilma DePiore, Youngstown Road Runners, OH
2004 - Laura Kulsik Yasso, Lehigh Valley Road Runners, PA
2003 - Michael Selman, Chattahoochee Road Runners, GA
2002 - Jeff Recker, Mesa-Monument Striders, Grand
Junction, CO
2001 - Mike Doyle, Maine Track Club, ME
2000 - Michael Musca, Maine Track Club, ME
1999 - Dave O’Brien, Badgerland Striders, WI
1998 - John Farrow, Albuquerque Road Runners, NM
1997 - Bob Kopac, Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club, NY
1996 - Bernie Greene, writing in The Rundown,
Montgomery County Road Runners Club, MD
1995 - Timothy Martin, writing in Six Rivers Newsletter, Six
Rivers Running Club, Arcata, CA
1994 - Michael deLisle, writing in FootNotes, Knoxville
Track Club, Knoxville, TN
1993 - Don Herres, Finger Lakes Runners Club, NY
1992 - Sam Pizzigatti, Montgomery County Road Runners
Club, MD
1991 - Reid Champagne, Atlanta Track Club, GA
37
RRCA JERRY LITTLE JOURNALISM AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CLUB NEWSLETTERS
This award recognizes the outstanding club newsletter of the year. The award recognizes small clubs (fewer than 200),
medium clubs (200-499), and large clubs (500 or more). The award is given to the club newsletter which demonstrates
a variety of content, good physical presentation, informative and creative, and inclusive of the RRCA logo.
OUTSTANDING ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER AWARD
“ STRIDELINES” – STEVE SHEPARD, EDITOR, HOUSTON STRIDERS – HOUSTON, TX
www.HoustonStriders.org
2006 - News*Run, Maine Track Club, Sandy Walton - Portland, ME - Inaugural Year
LARGE CLUB NEWSLETTER
“THE LONG RUN” – JIM KELLEHER, EDITOR, PIKES PEAK RUNNING CLUB – COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
www.PPRRun.org/Newsletters/2007October/LongRun10-07web.pdf
2006 - On the Fly, New York Flyers - New York, NY
2005 - Footnotes, Knoxville Track Club, TN
2004 - Footprints, Toledo Road Runners Club, OH
2003 - Buffalo Enquirer, Buffalo Chips Running Club, CA
2002 - San Diego Running, San Diego Track Club, CA
2001 - Footnotes, Knoxville Track Club, TN
2000 - The Buffalo Enquirer, Buffalo Chips Running Club,
David Creek, CA
1999 - Oregon Distance Runner, Oregon Road Runners
Club, Lani Johnson, OR
1998 - Footprints, Houston Area Road Runners
Association, Jerry Smith, TX
Cynci Calvin, CA
1996 - The Rundown, Montgomery County Road Runners
Club, Kari Keaton (Managing Editor), MD
Cynci Calvin (Editor), Sacramento, CA
1994 - FootNotes, Knoxville Track Club, Michael deLisle
(Editor), Knoxville, TN
1993 - The Oregon Distance Runner, Oregon Road
Runners Club, Mary Smith, OR
Laura Kulsik/Carol Parise, CA
1991 - The Wingfoot, Atlanta Track Club, Penny Kaiser, GA
Club, Bob Dilorio, MD
1989 - The Track Time News, St. Louis Track Club, Dawn
Mayer, MO
1988 - FootNotes, Knoxville Track Club, Patti Smith, TN
Club, Mark Ciamarra, MD
1986 - Master Pieces, Mid-America Masters, Russ Niemi, KS
1985 - Arizona Road Racer, Arizona Road Racers, Amos
Childers, AZ
1984 - Baltimore RRC Newsletter, Baltimore Road Runners
Club, Allan Field, MD
1983 - Minnesota Distance Runner, Minnesota Distance
Running Association, Jim Ferstle, MN
1982 - The Pace Setter, Hudson Mohawk Road Runners
Club, Donald Wilken, NY
1981 - HTC News, Huntsville Track Club, Harold & Louise
Tinsley, AL
1981 - New York Road Running News, New York Road
Runners, Merle Myerson, NY
1981 - Tracking, Kansas City Track Club, Judy Scammon, KS
MEDIUM CLUB
“RTC NEWS” – RENEE SAXMAN, EDITOR, ROCHESTER TRACK CLUB – ROCHESTER, MN
www.RochesterTrackClub.com
2006 - Houston Stridelines, Houston Striders - Houston, TX
2005 - News Run, Maine Track Club, Sandy Walton, ME
2004 - RTC News, Rochester Track Club, MN
2003 - Stridelines, Houston Striders, TX
2002 - The Fooprint, Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers, TX
2001 - Albuquerque Road Runners, NM
2000 - Inside Track, Fort Wayne Track Club, Linda Ianucilli, IN
1999 - Florida Track Club Newsletter, Florida Track Club,
Laura Howard, FL
1998 - The Road Runner, Chattahoochee Road Runners
Club, Marlene Atwood, GA
38
1997 - Starting Lines, Greater Lowell Road Runners, Laura
Lapierre, MA
1996 - Second Wind, Montgomery Track and Running
Club, Ron Macksoud and Alesa Ryals (Editors), AL
1995 - Running Briefs, Bloomsday Road Runners Club,
Joan Pribnow (Editor), Spokane, WA
1994 - Footprints, Houston Area Road Runners
Association, Jerry Smith (Editor), Houston, TX
1993 - Starting Lines, Greater Lowell Road Runners, Dave
Camire, MA
SMALL CLUB
2005 - Legacy, Peachtree Road Runners Club, GA
2004 - The Road Runners, Chattahoochee Road Runners, GA
2003 - Soonar Soundings, Pamakid Running Club, CA
2002 - Footprints, Southern Colorado Runners Club,
Pueblo, CO
2001 - In Passing, Second Wind Running Club, IL
2000 - Stridelines, Houston Striders, Kristin Bucher, TX
1999 - In Passing, Second Wind Running Club, Dave Scott, IL
1998 - After The Run, High Desert Wind Runners,
Jean Gallegos, NM
Gary Franchi (Editor), Pueblo, CO
1996 - Arkansas Runner, Saline County Striders, Gary
Ballard and Pete Ireland (Editors), AR
Gary Franchi (Editor), Pueblo, CO
1994 - Runnin’ On, Asheville Track Club, Jim Curwen
(Editor), Asheville, NC
1993 - White Mountain Milers Newsletter, White Mountain
Milers, Roger Marcoux, NH
1992 - Newsmakers, Bradenton Runners Club, Owen
Heatwole, FL
1991 - Coastal Runner, Wilmington Roadrunners Club,
David Stubbs, NC
1990 - Willimantic Athletic Club, Willamantic, CT
1989 - In Passing, Second Wind Running Club, Lezli
Austen, IL
1988 - The Pacesetter, Greater Fort Lauderdale Runners
Club, FL
1987 - Stride Right, Florida Striders Track Club, Glen
Becker, FL
1986 - Soonar Soundings, Pamakid Running Club, John
Medinger, CA
RRCA OUTSTANDING WEB SITE AWARDS
This award honors and recognizes those who have brought technology into their clubs as a means of communication
and done so in an organized, efficient and technological manner. The websites are judged by the first impression,
layout and graphic design, ease of navigation, use of technology, depth of content, up-to-date information, uniqueness,
personality and contribution to the RRCA. Awards are given to small (500 and fewer) and large (over 500) club websites.
This year’s competition featured 26 strong entries. Judging was done in 2 rounds. Each club entered is required to
provide a reviewer who would evaluate web sites of 10 other clubs. Results of this review are used to select the top 6
large and top 6 small club web sites for final judging. Finally, each club’s reviewer whose club made it through the first
round was asked to review all the other clubs to determine “top sites”, the top three large and top three small clubs. The
winner was selected from these top three websites.
BEST LARGE CLUB WEB SITE
OREGON ROAD RUNNERS CLUB, OR
2007 - Capital Striders www.capitalstriders.org
- Des Moines, IA
2006 - Capital Striders, IA; Runner’s Club of Greater
Cincinnati, OH; Oregon Road Runners Club, OR
2005 - New York Flyers, NY; Oregon Road Runners Club,
OR; Twin City Track Club, NC
2004 - Birmingham Track Club, AL; New York Flyers, NY;
Twin City Track Club, NC
2003 - Badgerland Striders, WI; Birmingham Track Club,
AL; Mid Pacific Road Runners Club, HI
2002 - Cross Country Club of Dallas, TX; Knoxville Track
Club, TN; Rocky Mountain Road Runners, CO
2001 - Badgerland Striders, WI; Cross Country Club of
Dallas, TX; West Florida ‘Y’ Runner’s Club, FL
2000 - Northeast Running Club, OH; Second Wind Running
Club, IL; Southern Arizona Roadrunners, AZ
BEST SMALL CLUB WEB SITE
LAKE MERRITT JOGGERS & STRIDERS, CA
2007 - Lake Merritt Joggers & Striders - www.LMJS.org
- Oakland, CA
2006 - Lake Ridge “Ridge Runners” Running Club; Melrose
Running Club, MA; Tuscaloosa Track Club, AL
2005 - Daytona Beachcombers, FL; Kalamazoo Area
Runners, MI; Lake Ridge Runners, VA
2004 - Anderson Road Runners, SC; BG Road Runners, KY;
Lake Ridge Runners, VA
2003 - Conway Running Club, AR; Lake Monroe Roadkillers,
FL; Virginia Happy Trails Running Club, VA
2002 - Melrose Running Club, MA; Mesa Monument
Striders, CO; Trail Runners Club, CA
2001 - Trail Runners Club, CA; Batten Kill Valley Runners,
VT; Virginia Happy Trails Running Club, VA
2000 - Batten Kill Valley Runners, VT; Greater Derry Track
Club, NH; RidgeRunners Club, VA
39
RRCA ROD STEELE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award is named in memory of Rod Steele who was killed in a plane crash. Rod Steele was a well-known, dedicated
volunteer of the DC Road Runners Club and a long time supporter of the RRCA.
To be a nominee for this award is the ultimate reward a member can receive from his or her club. All those who have been
nominated for this award have made a great contribution to their club and the sport. Being one who devotes the time,
work and dedication required to be the most outstanding volunteer in their club is a greater achievement than will ever
occur at the finish line of a race. A person who contributes over and over with such intensity for others is the real winner.
We hope that, in time, every RRCA club will nominate its outstanding volunteer for this award. We hope this award will
become a symbol that will influence members in each club to become their club’s outstanding volunteer. We again issue
a challenge to all club leaders to select their outstanding volunteers and submit their name next year as a nominee for
the RRCA Rod Steele National Volunteer of the Year Award. We believe that placing an emphasis on this program will do
more to improve the number and quality of club volunteers than any reward system and with little cost or effort.
TIM BUTLER – SPRINGFIELD ROAD RUNNERS CLUB – SPRINGFIELD, IL
Tim Butler of the Springfield Road Runners Club (SSRC) is the recipient of the Rod Steele Award as the RRCA’s
Outstanding Volunteer of the Year for 2007. As Co-Director of Abe’s Amble, long the premier road race in Springfield,
Tim increased participation from 500 to over 1,100 runners. He also founded Abe’s Army, a training program for
people who had never run much, if at all, and wanted to run the race they had heard so much about. The Army
had over 200 recruits the first year and eventually grew to over 500. It has become so popular the SRRC had to limit
registrations and split it into two groups, incredible considering the Springfield metro area is only about 150,000.
Tim has also created a training group for the Lincoln Memorial Half Marathon, the Half Wits, who have T-shirts and
move in packs of 100 or more to other half marathons and marathons around the Midwest. Tim has also helped SRRC
double in size by including membership in the SRRC as part of participating in Abe’s Army. Lots of those members
lapse each year but many also stay and become active members. Running in Springfield much more about friends, fun
and fitness now as a result of Tim’s contributions.
Selection Committee: Steve Shepard, Heather Marcellis, Len Goldman, and Janet Nissenson
2006 - Janet Nissenson - San Francisco DSE - San Francisco, CA
2005 - Ric Robinetter, Rocky Mountain Road Runners,
Denver, CO
2004 - Steve Shepard, Houston Striders, Houston, TX
2003 - Iilonga Thandive, South Fulton Running Partners, GA
2002 - Harold Canfield, Knoxville Track Club, Knoxville, TN
2001 - Beth Edwards, Huntsville Track Club, Huntsville, AL
2000 - Evelyn White, Syracuse Chargers Track Club, NY
1999 - Jim Oaks, Huntsville Track Club, Huntsville, AL
1998 - Robert Platt, DC Road Runners Club, Washington, DC
1997 - Beth Benefield, Huntsville Track Club, Huntsville, AL
1996 - Ted Petrillo, Utica Road Runners, Utica,NY
1995 - Jim Duguay, Chattahoochee Road Runners Club, GA
1994 - Lawrence Hills, Huntsville Track Club, Huntsville, AL
1993 - Dan Edwards, Tidewater Striders Running Club, VA
1992 - Dennis Steinauer, Montgomery County Road
Runners Club, MD
1991 - John Hort, Penisula Track Club
1990 - George Heagy, Starved Rock Runners, IL
1989 - Rick Melanson, Birmingham Track Club, AL
1988 - John Sissala, Montgomery County Road Runners
Club, MD
1987 - Charles Scribner, Maine Track Club, ME
1986 - Louise Tinsley, Huntsville Track Club, Huntsville, AL
1985 - Clark Emmons, Gateway Athletics
1984 - John Hickey, Huntsville Track Club, Huntsville, AL
1983 - Karl Ungurean, Cornbelt Running Club, IA
1982 - Don Lindley, Fort Wayne Track Club, IN
1981 - Sylvia Quinn, Bloomsday Road Runners Club
1980 - Alexander Saltmarsh, Turtletown AC
1979 - Jim Hartshorne, Finger Lakes Runners Club, NY
1978 - Joe Kleinerman, New York Road Runners, NY
1977 - Mel Walton, Baltimore Road Runners Club, MD
1976 - Doris Ferguson, Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club
1975 - Harold Tinsley, Huntsville Track Club, Huntsville, AL
RRCA KURT STEINER CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENTAL AWARD
Kurt Steiner was born in Austria in 1921. He came to the US in 1945. He, along with Joe Kleinerman, of the NYRRC
pioneered age group scoring and awards. His passion for running was surpassed by his passion for children. Steiner
helped to organize many running events for children and established the first RRCA Cross Country Championship in
NYC which hosted between 3,000 and 4,000 kids. The Kurt Steiner Children’s Developmental Award is to recognize
a local club member who is dedicated to either promoting children’s running and/or coordinating an outstanding
children’s running program.
JIM BARODTE – SAN LUIS DISTANCE CLUB – SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA
The Kurt Steiner Children’s Development Award recognizes the contributions of an individual in developing children’s
running events or programs in his or her club or community. The committee reviewed six excellent nominations
this year, and selected Jim Barodte of the San Luis Distance Club as the award winner. Jim helped launch a youth
running team in 1997 through the Youth Activities Program (YAP) in Los Osos. When YAP lost its funding in 2000, he
encouraged the San Luis Distance Club to adopt the program. Local middle schools do not offer middle distance
40
running to students, so the youth running team helps introduce the sport to kids from 3rd-8th grade. The team trains
almost year-round, with twice a week practices and frequent competitions in track, cross-country and road races. Jim
also serves as meet director for the team’s own youth cross-country meet, the Fairbanks Invitational. Over the past
10 years, Jim has spent countless hours developing workouts, orchestrating practices, traveling to meets, and doing
all the other things necessary to keep the program vibrant and successful. As once measure of the program’s impact,
kids who have graduated from the program have gone on to great success in local high school cross-country and track
programs. In recognition of Jim’s efforts, the RRCA is pleased to award him the Kurt Steiner Children’s Development
Award.
Selection Committee: Don Kardong, George Martin, Dan Kesterson, David Cotter, and Sharlee Cotter
2006 - Mary Klaff, Reston Runners - Reston, VA
2005 - George Martin, Peachtree Road Runners Club,
Peachtree City, GA
2004 - Marilyn Witko Rosinski, Toledo Road Runners Club,
Toledo, OH
2003 - Kim Tracanna, Florida Striders Track Club, Orange
Park, FL
2002 - Nancy Kapheim, Cornbelt Running Club, IA
2001 - Len Goldman, Lake Merritt Joggers & Striders,
Oakland, CA
2000 - Lenis Tucker, Syracuse Chargers Track Club, NY
1999 - Jeff Tribole, Irvine Youth Track Club, CA
1998 - No Nominations
1997 - Ron Creasy, Chattahoochee Road Runners Club, GA
1996 - Anna Berdahl, Montgomery County Road Runners, MD
1995 - John MacGillivray, Raritan Valley Road Runners, NJ
1994 - Judy Tollner, Illinois Valley Striders, East Peoria, IL
RRCA - NYRR NINA KUSCSIK WOMEN’S RUNNING AWARD
In 1972, the Women’s Mini Marathon 10K was founded by Fred Lebow with help from Nina Kuscsik and Kathrine
Switzer. It was the first “women only” road race in the world. Fred, Nina & Kathrine continued impacting the sport of
running and women’s involvement in the sport. The RRCA Women’s Running Award is to honor someone who has
promoted women’s running on a national scale or through a significant community based program.
ANN DESCHAMPS – RESTON RUNNERS – RESTON, VA
Ann Deschamps, member of the Reston Runners, has directed the Women’s Training Program (WTP) for the past
eight years. The WTP, an eight-week fitness program, has significantly impacted runners in the community. Each year
Ann brings the program to new levels of accomplishment as measured by community interest, number and quality
of volunteer coaches, and the enthusiasm seen on the faces of the women. The WTP has grown significantly from
the 1999 program of 75 women and 9 coaches to a total of 295 participants and 27 coaches in 2007. The program is
successful due to the leadership of Ann. She respects each individual and is quietly competent and overwhelmingly
supportive of each participant. Many return year after year and many of the volunteer coaches started as program
participants and later were recruited to help teach. Ann’s positive, even-tempered personality and organization skills
allow the coaches to provide the weekly “on the ground” support, while Ann handles all of the logistical matters. Ann
goes far above the usual activities to ensure that women are safe as they train.
Recognizing the effect that the WTP had under Ann’s guidance and leadership, the Reston Runners’ Board of
Directors has decided to institute a Men’s Training Program patterned very much on Ann’s WTP. The WTP program
has significantly impacted women’s fitness in the Reston community because of Ann’s experienced leadership,
organization skills and dedication.
Selection Committee: Chris Vanoni, Evan Thomas, and Georgia Hagen
2006 - Georgia Hagen, North Carolina Roadrunners Club,
Raleigh, NC
2005 - Carolin Dick, Ann Arbor Track Club, Ann Arbor, MI
2004 - No nominations
2003 - John MacGillivray
2002 - Marlene Atwood
2001 - Jane Serues, Lehigh Valley Road Runners, PA
2000 - No nominations
1999 - Kathrine Switzer
1998 - Diane Palmason
1997 - Ellen Wessel
1996 - Julia Emmons, Atlanta Track Club, GA
1995 - Henley Gibble (Gabeau), Washington RunHers
Unlimited, DC
1994 - Nina Kuscsik, NYRRC, Huntington, NY
PRESIDENT’S SPECIAL AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2005 - Brent Ayer, Eastern Region Director and Lisa Paige, Western Region Director
2004 - Jeff Darman
41
RRCA ROAD RACE OF THE YEAR
In 2006, the RRCA launched the Road Race of the Year to acknowledge RRCA nonprofit member races that provide
safe, well designed and enjoyable races which promote grassroots running and the mission of the RRCA. Send a
nomination form along with an outline describing how the race achieves the general criteria. Also include a copy of
related race materials such as a registration form. General Criteria: must be an RRCA member, any size road race, must
be organized as a nonprofit event or nonprofit club race, must be volunteer run, race attests to follow best practices as
outlined in the RRCA Handbook, no insurance claims for the year, volunteer involvement, RRCA logo included on race
materials & website. Additional Criteria: age group recognition beyond 50+, RRCA Championship or WDF events, uses
RRCA preferred on-line provider, utilizes RRCA sponsors.
WOODSTOCK 5K - ANNISTON RUNNERS - ANNISTON, AL
The 2007 Road Race of the Year was a very close contest, yet the Road Race of the Year Selection Panel unanimously
selected the Woodstock 5K, Alabama RRCA State 5K Championship, as the winner. The race met the minimum criteria
(for scoring) as well as many other scoring opportunities such as use of RRCA sponsors Gatorade and Fuel Belt, use of
RRCA preferred on-line provider Active.com, and recognition of Open, Masters, Grandmasters, categories as well as
age group recognition in five-year increments for both genders.
The event was heavily marketed as an RRCA race and State Championship. All race ads, flyers, shirts, trophies, etc.
included the RRCA logo. The race brochures, bibs and advertisements included the words Alabama RRCA State 5K
Championship. The race received a lot of local media attention. All pre and post event articles noted the event as an
RRCA State Championship.
It was made clear to the committee that the race appealed to runners of all ages and abilities. It is easy to see
why when you consider there was a “Packet Pickup Pasta Pigout” the night before the race and a Kid’s Coral with
babysitters so mom and dad could both race. The course had multiple water stations, a post-race party with a live
band and breakfast, and many more race amenities.
It was also evident that the community supports the race through participation and volunteerism. Over 200
volunteers helped with the race. Flyers were distributed to neighborhoods informing residents about the race and
inviting them to participate in any number of ways. The YMCA offered free showers to race participants.
The Woodstock 5K Alabama RRCA State 5K Championship provided a safe, well-designed and enjoyable race, while
promoting grassroots running and the mission of the RRCA.
Selection Committee: Kelly Richards, John Devitt, Dan Dugan, Chris Burch, and Dave Moore
2006 - Vulcan 10K Run - Birmingham Track Club - Birmingham, AL - Inaugural Year
51 Years of RRCA Annual Conventions
2008 - Cincinnati, Ohio (Flying Pig Marathon)
2007 - Chicago, Illinois (Alpine Runners of Lake Zurich)
2006 - Houston, Texas (Houston Striders)
2005 - New Orleans, Louisiana (New Orleans Track Club)
2004 - Lake Tahoe, Nevada (Tahoe Mountain Milers &
Sagebrush Stompers Running Clubs)
2003 - Arlington, Virginia (Montgomery County Road
Runners Club)
2002 - Norfolk, Virginia (Tidewater Striders Running Club)
2001 - Albuquerque, New Mexico (Albuquerque Road
Runners)
2000 - Peachtree City, Georgia (Peachtree City Running
Club)
1999 - Spokane, Washington (Bloomsday Road Runners
Club)
1998 - Peoria, Illinois (Illinois Valley Striders)
1997 - Colorado Springs, Colorado (Pikes Peak Road
Runners Club)
1996 - Knoxville, Tennessee (Knoxville Track Club)
1995 - Allentown, Pennsylvania (Lehigh Valley Road
Runners)
1994 - Washington, D.C. / Pentagon City, Virginia (RRCA)
1993 - Portland, Oregon (Oregon Road Runners Club)
42
1992 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Badgerland Striders)
1991 - Kansas City, Missouri (Mid-America Running
Association)
1990 - Miami, Florida
1989 - Colorado Springs, Colorado (Pikes Peak Road
Runners Club)
1988 - Indianapolis, Indiana
1987 - Arlington, Virginia / Rockville, Maryland
(Montgomery County Road Runners Club)
1986 - Portland, Maine (Maine Track Club)
1985 - Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta Track Club)
1984 - Michigan City, Indiana
1983 - San Francisco, California
1982 - Jacksonville, Florida
1981 - Cleveland, Ohio
1980 - Spokane, Washington (Bloomsday Road Runners
Club)
1979 - New Orleans, Louisiana
1978 - Baltimore, Maryland (Baltimore Road Runners Club)
1977 - St. Louis, Missouri (St. Louis Track Club)
1966-1976 - Boston, Massachusetts in conjunction with
the Boston Marathon
1957-1965 - New York City, New York

50th Anniversary Report Pt 1 - Road Runners Club of America

Transcription

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