News for July 15, 2004

Why has no American won a middle distance medal at the Olympics since 1972? Read New York Times article

Hydrate with Protein? The latest Michigan Runner describes a study with cyclists riding to exhaustion. Those who took a sports drink with protein lasted 29% longer. Then they returned 15 hours later and rode to exhaustion again, they laster 40% longer than the riders who took a drink without protein.

In a separate note, it has been reported that non-fat milk with a little honey provides the same effect as an expensive protein hydration drink. Try it!

Weekly Rundown for July 14

We would like to extend a warm welcome to our 56 brand new members, the Impalas, Gnus, and Gazelles from the Gazelle Sports/KAR Marathon Training Program! Our new members through the program as well as the results of the Kindleberger Summerfest 5k have been added to the Club Championship Series Results and the standings have shifted! There are now 138 KAR members in the running! Check out the revised results.

Please Note: We will be E-mailing renewal notices to KAR members whose membership has or will be expiring through August. Please watch your E-mail and take the time to send in your annual renewal so that you keep your club championship series eligibility (and continue to enjoy all the other benefits of club membership).

There have been lots of Happenings in the US Track and Field Olympic Trials this week (how about that Shayne Culpepper in the 5000 meters), but far too many to list here. Wondering how Michigan Runners are faring – check out the July 13 issue of Michigan Running News forwarded under separate E-mail-Michigan runner results are listed. By the way, we will be forwarding Michigan Running News to you as we get them to keep you informed on what’s going on in our state. Read or delete away!

Kalamazoo Area Runners is expanding its apparel line! This fall, we will be rolling out our own custom Defeet socks with the Kalamazoo Area Runners logo. Stay turned for more details and how to purchase your very own pair!

Our next newsletter, The Rundown, is in progress. Stay tuned. Once our next issue is complete, we will be sending out an E-mail with the link electronically, but for those who would like a hardcopy, we will also be placing them in key locations around town.

It may have been the diligent marketing efforts of Race Director Dale Turton, the introduction of the chip or just simply word of mouth, but a record number of participants turned out for the Kindleberger Summerfest 5k Saturday. The 165 runners/walkers represented approximately a 50% increase over last year’s turnout. Those who stuck around even got to see the start of the antique car show and the parade. By the way, this race wins the award for the quickest results posting and awards ceremony-the race began at 8:00 am and everything was done by 9:30 am! The winner of the men’s race this year was none other than Dan Higgason of Portage with a time of 16.01 while the winner of the women’s race was Jenna Matthews of Otsego with a time of 19:27. See all the results at www.greatlakeschampionchip.com.

Please note the correction below to the dates of the Gazelle Sports/Downtown Sidewalk Sales - They are scheduled for July 22, 23, 24, not July 15, 16, 17 as indicated earlier See you there for some great deals!

Our next WMU track workout will be Tuesday, July 20. Steve Hicks will be the group leader.

A Clinic for Men and Women Coaches and Distance Runners is being held Saturday, August 28, 2004 at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Ron Gunn and his staff will present a total program for coaching and training scholastic and intercollegiate teams and runners. Ron is the winningest coach in NJCAA history and established an outstanding program that generated 8 national team titles and 130 Al l Americans. Contact rgunn@swmich.edu for more information on this unique program.

The Gazelle Sports/Kalamazoo Area Runners Marathon Training Group program is taking the Impala's and Gnus and Gazelles on 12, 14, & 16-mile safari adventures this Saturday. The jungle trips are lengthening and endurance is building! Meeting time is 7:00 am. Course map will be sent to participants under separate cover.

Here's what's coming up...

SPECIAL EVENTS AND RACES

Thursday,July 22 - Saturday, July 24
Start saving your pennies - the Gazelle Sports/Kalamazoo Store Sidewalk Sales are back again. Don't miss this opportunity to stock up on your favorite running apparel!

Saturday, July 24
The Making Tracks for the Kalamazoo Humane Society 5k is today in Plainwell! See www.geocities.com/bsybil2003/makingtracks for all the details on this event! Sorry, we goofed on the date for this one last week, but we’re back on track now.

Saturday, July 31
Travel to Southwest Michigan College for the 30th Anniversary of the Steve's Run 10k and 5k run. This race is held in memory of Steven Briegel and proceeds go to the Maya Clinic Cancer Research and/or the Steven Briegel Scholarship Fund. The 10k provides a unique challenge with part of its course running along trails while those who want to stick to the roads can select the 5k. This is a huge event with great prizes and a great awards presentation. "Fire-Up" Signs may be purchased in honor of those who are fighting or in memory of those who have lost the battle with cancer. There are also team competitions For more information contact Ron Gunn at 269-782-1209 or rgunn@swmich.edu or visit www.swmich.edu or www.greatlakeschampsionship.com.

Saturday, August 14
The Otsego Running Club is sponsoring the 4th annual Ready or Not 5k which includes a 5k race, unofficiated walk and one-mile fun run. For more information visit www.runotsego.com. All proceeds go to support the ORC and the Otsego High School Cross Country Teams.

GROUP RUNS
Saturday, July 17
The Gazelle Sports/KAR Marathon Training Program meets today at 7:00 am. Course map will be forthcoming from Gazelle staff to program participants.

LOCAL RUNNER HAPPENINGS

Several of the Fleet Ones will be traveling to Tawas to participate in the Great Lakes Relay this weekend. The event is a three day summer weekend featuring the country’s longest and most challenging relay race run through the upper half of the lower peninsula of Michigan. The course is about 270 miles long and teams have 10 runners, each of whom must log at least 24 miles during the weekend. KAR members running on relays include KAR President Dave Walch, VP Special Events Steve Hicks, Matt Babbitt and former KAR President Allison Wolf. (all on the same team) KAR running buddy, Anne Flynn is also competing on a team as well. See www.greatlakesrelay.com for more info on this one.

Lots of you turned out for the annual Kindleberger Summerfest 5k this past Saturday – only to find out we were running a different big hill this year! Does anyone who ran it last year have an opinion on which hill was worse? For the Houtrows, this event has always been a family affair, but this year 11-year old Daniel and 8-year old Grace brought with them a surprise – new baby sister Abigail! Won’t be long before she’s sporting running shoes! Kalamazoo Area Runners once again produced a number of age group award winners including Elizabeth Tecca, Stuart Crowell (who was edged out by dad, Chris, by a second! It was all the chip’s fault-we are sure of it!), Nicholas Tecca, Jessica Tecca, Steve Long, Carrie Long, Shawn Messinger, Matt Babbitt, Bonnie Sexton, Cindy Comer, Donald Vandermeer, Charlie Broberg, Tina Hayward and Donna Oas. Great runs Steve Brown, George Granger and Chris Crowell. Congratulations all!

Welcome to new member Don Vandermeer! Don has been a long time running buddy of the Kalamazoo Area Runners, but has finally decided to become official. We are glad to have him aboard! Any other running buddies out there who want to become official KAR members? You can join online at www.kalamazooarearunners.com or download an application and mail it in if you prefer.

Kindleberger 5K Results
Club Championship Standings w Kindleberger 5K