News for July 21, 2004

Weekly Rundown for July 21

GREETINGS KALAMAZOO AREA RUNNERS!

The Gazelle Sports/Downtown Sidewalk Sales are this Thursday, Friday&Saturday July 22, 23, 24, See you there for some great deals!  Also, after the sidewalk sales are over, Gazelle will be taking on the monumental task of temporarily moving across the street to the old Walgreen's space to speed up the renovation.  The move is Sunday and the plan is to reopen Monday. The more stuff they sell, the less they have to move!  Who knows, they may even be willing to accept our muscle power Sunday if anyone has a few spare hours-many hands make light work for sure.

Congratulations to all those who participated in the Great Lakes Relay this Saturday and to those who survived a very waterlogged run at the Dances with Dirt Pre-dirt run Thursday.  A few KAR members were even warped enough to participate in both.  See the local runner happenings section below for more!

We are in the process of 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).  Also, please note there is no longer a link to the online renewal so applications need to be mailed in.  We apologize for the inconvenience.

 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.  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.

Our next WMU track workout will be Tuesday, July 27.  Steve Hicks will be the group contact.

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 traversed hilly terrain this past Saturday.  Some giraffes, hippos, alligators and tigers were nestled among the hills, for those who could find them during the 12, 14 and 16- mile tours.  This coming Saturday, the safari guides will be the Kalamazoo Area Runners Pit Crew again: Dave Walch, Steve Hicks, Charlie  Crouch and Bonnie Sexton. The Impala's and Gnus and Gazelles will be embarking on 13, 15, & 18-mile safari adventures this time around. Meeting time is 7:00 am at Gazelle Sports.  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.

Sunday, July 25
The weather is supposed to be perfect!  For anyone out there seeking a summer marathon, 20k, 10k or 5k, the Carrollton Charity Road Races are this Sunday in Carrollton, MI (Saginaw).  The course is certified on a 5k loop. The marathon and 20k start at 6:00 am and the 5k and 10k at 8:15.  For more info, E-mail Craig Douglas at cdouglas@carrollton.k12.mi.us  or see www.runmichigan.com or signup online at www.signmeupsports.com/23131

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 Mayo 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 24
The Gazelle Sports/KAR Marathon Training Program meets today at 7:00 am and begin at Gazelle Sports.  This time the herds will be freed to explore the west side of town. 

LOCAL RUNNER HAPPENINGS
The Impalas, Gnus and Gazelles were back out on the roads for a Saturday morning stampede again.  It was encouraging to see Ralph Meyer, Todd Raab and Tim Bredahl back from the wild animal veterinary infirmary and feeling good!  Todd decided to tack on a little extra mileage creating a group of his very own - the Cheetah's.    We don't know if she is a Gazelle, Impala or Gnu, but LeAnn Hobbs is now LeAnn Fried after a whirlwind 2 week long engagement to Carl Fried.   Congratulations to the happy couple who were engaged at a the finish line of a Half Marathon in Ludington and two weeks later were married at Mission Point!   Thanks to Annie, Chip and Stephanie for course support.  Thanks to Eric for a KAR history lesson and some great ideas!

No six- minute miles here!  How about more like 30- minute miles!  There was plenty of mud and water at last Thursday's Pre Dances with Dirt Run!  "Big" Charlie Crouch and "Little" Charlie Broberg claimed they finished a muddy mess after traversing through 5 overflowing creeks.  Charlie Broberg definitely re-earned his nickname "swampy."   Dave Walch, Matt Babbitt, Allison Wolf and Steve Hicks didn't fare much better.  Dave brought back a garbage bag full of muddy shoes and proudly displayed them at Tuesday night's track workout to prove it!  Lindsay Steinberg not only got mud, but she earned a few battle wounds on top of it.  Tough as nails.

As if the pre-dirt run weren't enough, Dave, Matt, Allison and Steve then headed to Tawas to run the three-day Great Lakes Relay!  We don't have results yet, but they will be posted at www.greatlakesrelay.com.  The relay was run on a single track trail, rail trail, paved bike paths, dirt roads, you name it!  Only two team members were lost during the entire journey - one of them our own talented trail navigator, Dave Walch!

Scorching!  That is the best way to describe the Tuesday night track workouts lately.  Despite the flaming conditions which produced temps close to 90 degrees at this week's session, dozens still dragged themselves out to the WMU track.  Puzzling - is it the running or the great company?  Carolyn Wyllie showed up definitely not dressed to run, which leads us to believe it is the latter. 

Tammy Mills, Kristen Rayner and Jennifer Goodwill are getting pumped about the Chicago Marathon, but Tammy really got excited when we mentioned our next Hash Run!  She, Carolyn Wyllie and Mostyn Lombard are in the running for our Hash Run Triple Crown.   According to Dale Turton, we may have exaggerated the percentage increase in participation at Kindleberger a tad.  Dale has forgiven us though and may still be convinced to run with the Kalamazoo Area Runners.   It was great meeting Dan Wolf and Jenny Lacy for the first time-hope you got this E-mail-you made it to the list!

HAPPY RUNNING THIS WEEKEND!
The KALAMAZOO AREA RUNNERS