CHECKERS CHATTER ATHLETIC CLUB APRIL 2006 READY, SET, BEGIN THE SEASON!

It was a cold beginning to the 2006 running season that took off at the annual Shamrock Run. While it was partly sunny, the 27 degrees felt more like 10 with a gusty wind. As usual, club members took home a fair share of the trophies.

Results and lots more pictures are at the web site.

New SOCIAL/EVENTS CALENDAR

Members Sat. 4/1 10:00 AM Nancy Price Power Run 5K, Youngstown, NY 745.3606 Sat. 4/1 11:00 AM Young Life 5K Run and Fun Walk, Hamburg, NY Sat. 4/1 10:00 AM Friends of the Night 5K, Buffalo, NY 881.7786 Tammy Carter Sat. 4/8 10:00 AM PowerBar 8K & 5K, High Park, Toronto 416.944.2765 x 502 Eric Cornavaca Sat. 4/8 10:00 AM Subaru Jordan 5K, Jordon, ON, 905.562.8669 Jack Matheson Sun. 4/9 11:00 AM 2nd Annual Great Kate 5K, Starpoint Central School, Pendleton Sat. 4/15 9 :30 AM East Aurora Bunny Hop 5K, East Aurora American Legion Post 572-1777 Michael and Sara Sun. 4/16 8:00 AM 26th Annual BPAC 6 Hour Distance Classic and , Delaware Park Cole Mon. 4/17 12:00 PM 110th Marathon, Boston, MA Colleen and Tim Sat. 4/22 10:30 AM 16th Annual Envirun 5K , Niagara Falls, NY 851.7130 Sat. 4/22 11:00 AM Town of Tonawanda 5K Run, Aquatic Center 876.7424 McCoy

Lydia Samuelson ALWAYS VERIFY DATES ON RACE APPLICATIONS

2006 Tuesday night track workouts Tuesday April 4th, 6:00PM University at Buffalo Main Stadium

Tuesday night track practices begin on April 4th, 6:00PM at the UB main stadium. This is the large stadium where the Bulls football team plays. Parking is available at the lot on the west end of the stadium, and members can enter the track through the gate at the west end. Tables will be set up in the tunnel for registration and collection of track Nothing is too much for Coach Bob fees. You can save time by sending in your dues ahead of time and avoid the long lines at registration. Carroll and his Coaching Team!

IMPORTANT NOTICE Please stay off the track until 6:00PM. If you arrive early and would like to do a warm up, run around the campus or over to the bike path. Remember no one is allowed on the track before 6:00PM, even if it the track appears empty, there may be a UB track athlete finish- ing his or her workout. In addition, remember we are UB’s guest; please pick up water bottles or any other trash left from practice. Checkers and UB have had a great relationship in the past, and it is something we hope to maintain. The new Checkers line of clothing will be available for pur- chase along with last year’s singlets.

Green Bay has Races, Not just the Packers

My name is Sarah Neal, a Checkers member and long- time Green Bay resident. I would like to introduce you to a couple unique running events our Com- munity offers this year. They are the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon (cellcomgreenbaymarathon.com) on May 21st and Bellin Run (bellinrun.com) on June 10th. The Green Bay marathon was ranked one of the top ten most enjoy- able this year by Runner’s World. Some of the attractions in- clude a jaunt through Lambeau Field the, last mile, and a beer and brats tailgate party at the finish line. This year they will have a timing chip mat at every mile along the course. The Bellin Run, ranked the 6th largest 10 K in the country, is celebrat- ing its 30th anniversary this year. In addition to great community support, it features a host of running legends and elite runners. These runners are available to interact with at the spaghetti dinner the night before the race and after the race. Last year I had the opportunity to congratulate Vanderlei Finish photo from Lima on his heroic finish in the 2004 Olympic marathon. last year's Green Bay I plan on participating in both events and would welcome any Checkers Half Marathon at Lambeau Field. members to join me. I may be contacted at [email protected]. Oh Yes, you can tour the Packers Hall of Fame, too! GETTING TO KNOW YOU, by Paul Wandel Checkers Interview with Jennifer Hulme

BIO: Age Group: 35- 39 Checkers member: 3 years Running: 15 years Residence: Buffalo, NY Professional: Registered Dietitian (MRD) United Health and Wellness Personal Nutritional Coach and Public Relation Co Chair for WNY Dietetic Assoc. Personal: Single Interests: Starbucks Patron (reading &drinking great coffee) Cross Training: Pilates and Yoga and Weight training Quality time with friends and family Pace Group: 24

The words continue to ring loud and clear. “Impossible is Nothing.” This was the motto and inspiration for the 2005 . According to local runner and registered dietician, Jennifer Hulme… “It says it all, because you can break past the limits and barriers!” She practices what she preaches. Helping people is just natural to Jennifer. As a corporate wellness representative, her responsibility is to educate people on how to implement a good diet and empower them to live a healthier lifestyle. “I want to empower individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices.” Coupled with her dietician knowledge, is a conta- gious sense of encouragement and inspiration. “Today is a new day, a new beginning. You can transform your life into whatever you want it to be.” Jennifer is relatively new to the field of wellness and nutrition. “I graduated from D’youville College with a Masters Degree as a Registered Dietician. My first position was with the Erie County Home in Alden, working with long-term care patients. The clinical aspect of that work helped prepare me for my cur- rent job as a corporate wellness and nutritional consultant.” Her duties include development of training programs, teaching and consulting with corporate groups and individuals. As a side business, she works as a nutritional coach, helping local athletes. “I work with athletes to achieve nutritional goals. That will enable them to optimize performance. I help them to reach higher levels.” Jennifer is a veteran runner and marathoner. She has completed 12 marathons and numerous local events. “I was inspired by my cousins, Mark and Paul Hulme. Mark was a 4-minute miler, and Paul was the overall Buffalo ROY in 1995.” She had an active fitness program established, but started running when a friend had encouraged her to enter the Shamrock 8K. “I was helped by the support of my family and friends in the running community.” Eventually, she connected with Checkers, becoming a member 3 years ago. It seems to have been the right move for her. “I have so many new friendships. We are extended family. The coaches are so en- couraging and supportive. The drills and stretching have helped me. Coach Tom has helped me to im- prove my form. Coach Bob has helped me with my long training runs. Overall, I’m a stronger, faster and more competent runner.” Improvement has been the payoff for her. She has a current 5K PR of 20:21 and a marathon PR of 3:29:48. The 2003 Chicago Marathon was one to remember. “The day was perfect, 56 degrees and no wind. The streets were clogged with 40,000 runners, so I was forced to hold back. Then at mile 13, things opened up. I had always dreamed of a Boston Qualifier.” That is precisely what she did. She endured the torment of 87-degree heat at the , but managed an impressive 3:38 time. She returned a year later and produced a 3:35. “The was very special to me. I dedicated a mile to everyone who was or is, influential in my life and helped me to be there. People such as coaches, friends and family.” Jen has also competed in the San Diego, NYC, Buffalo and Niagara Marathons, in addition to Boston and Chicago. Complementing the marathon ability has been her overall success as a road runner. Jennifer was awarded the Buffalo News ROY Competition second place in her age group in 2003. “I wasn’t too aware of the com- petition in 2003. In 2004, I had a goal to earn it!” Her hard work and determination paid off, producing a first place award in the 2004 ROY Competition. Something new was discovered in the Fall of 2004. “I started running Checkers cross country races Hulme, con’t. with the team. The trails and the terrain were a wonderful diversification from the road. It was something new, and it made me a stronger runner. There is beauty in diversification.” Challenging people to go to higher levels is Jennifer’s mission. So don’t allow those barriers and restric- tions to stay in the way. As Jenn has said, “You can break past them!” She has been personally chal- lenged, to honor the Hulme running reputation of excellence. “They are very proud and happy for me.” Her family inspires her along the way with… “You are carrying on the Hulme tradition. You go Girl!” She is happy to say, “I’m proud to be a Hulme!”

2006 Board of Directors Election Results. Congratulations are in order for our new Checkers board members. Tom Donnelly and Julie Donnelly both won elections for another term. New to the board are Anne Reif, Re- becca Heuer and John Lintner. All five board members will serve two-year terms.

2006 Checkers A.C. Thanks to our outgoing board Board of Directors. members Patty McManus, Jim Schaffstall, and Diane Sardes President: Roger A. Roll I just wanted to say thanks to our outgoing board Treasurer: Jeff Harvey members for all they have done for Checkers A.C. Secretary: Paul Wandel Jim has been involved with the club for at least 15 Coach: Bob Carroll years from treasurer to board member, and he even New Member Relations: Julie Donnelly served a stint at race director. Patty has served on Graphics Coordinator: Tom Donnelly the board the last 4 years, and Diane has gone from Web-Forum Administrator: Greg Lavis President to a workaholic board member. Good luck New Member Packets: Jeanne to Jim who is proceeding in becoming a Chiropractor and Patty who is getting her Nursing degree. Diane Chiarmonte will still be involved with the newsletter and website Anne Reif and remember to be on your toes, you never know Rebecca Heuer where she will turn up with her camera. Thanks John Lintner again for all you do for Checkers. Roger.

2006 Checkers A.C. General Meeting Chestnut Ridge Park Casino Thanks to all the members who turned out for this year’s general meeting. This was the second year we have had the meeting on a Saturday at the Chestnut Ridge Casino. The turnout was great and a lot of information was shared. The elections for Checkers board members went off with out a hitch. President Roll addressed upcoming events and Coach Carroll went over the 2006 track practices.

A big hit with the membership was special guest Chuck Pelipera, a well-known strength coach and Assistant Pro- fessor, Department of Physical Education, Health and Sport Studies, Canisius College. Chuck went over strength exercises especially for runners. Thanks to all who attended. Checkers Clothing Jen Hulme will be presenting a diet and Check out the new line of Checkers running tops. Checkers nutrition seminar at the Roost in OP, on is now offering long and short sleeve Nike Pro Vent shirts. Saturday April 8 at 10 AM They are green with the club’s logo on front. The long sleeves are $30.00 and available in Small through XXL sizes. The short sleeves are $25.00 with Small, XL and XXL sizes available. Mediums and larges will be available in the near future. In addition, there are still plenty of the white singlets with the Checkers logo on front available in all sizes, which go for $15.00. They will be available for purchase at Tuesday night track practices or through spe- Thank you for your donation. I have about 25 cial arrangements with Roger. Shirts are available for view- back packs with school supplies. I have an- ing on the Checkers we site, just click on apparel. other 50 or so kits with school supplies, toys, and personal hygiene products. I am also pur- chasing Wal-Mart gift certificates for use down Checkers Fall Marathon Training there. I leave this Saturday and will spend a We are happy to announce that Checkers A.C. week working in the Gulfport community. I will will again be offering a marathon-training pro- send you some pictures when I return. Peter gram geared for a fall marathon. University at Palmer Buffalo’s Head Track & Cross Country Coach, Vicki Mitchell, will once again be offering her ex- pertise on marathon training for runners of all lev- Wanted! Checkers members for the els. There will be a sign-up link on the Checkers Men’s Masters Team (40+ ) for the Boston web site for interested participants. We will be Marathon. Please contact : Herman van Leeuwen (716) 564-3258 accepting the first 12 to 15 members who sign [email protected] up, with 15 being the max number of participants, so don’t delay. If you are a veteran looking to im- prove on his or her time, or someone contemplat- FUN RUNS WANTED ing doing their first marathon, Coach Mitchell’s PLAN YOUR FUN RUN NOW WHILE THERE IS ROOM ON THE CALENDAR. program is for you.

Let us know if you would prefer to access Condolences go out to Sal Teresi for the pass- the newsletter on-line rather than receiving ing of his wife Connie. Sal Teresi is one of the men a copy in the mail. Contact Julie Donnelly who work with John Beishline at the finishline at many at [email protected] to let us know. of our area races.

SPECIAL CERTIFICATES GIVEN FOR PRs—If you did not receive a certificate from Checkers AC for your PR, please email diane- [email protected] and remember to include your address.

NEW COURSE

NEW Chuck LaChiusa 4/1 DATE Ed Mills 4/1 David Sardo 4/2 Joyce Farrell 4/3 Philip Halpern 4/3 Kevin Burke 4/7 10th Annual Checkers Mile Debra Meier 4/7 A Buffalo News Runner-of-the-Year Race John Moore 4/7 New Course Main Street, Lockport, NY Margaret Giardini 4/8 New Date Friday June 9, 2006 David Arlington 4/9 Races begin at 7:00 PM Josh Penfold 4/9 ChampionChip timing by SCORE THIS Jeff Camp 4/11 Maria Forti 4/11 Over $1000 in prizes Frank Limeri 4/11 Race benefits the Kevin Guest House Heidi Spalholz 4/11 and the Lockport Youth Bureau Jennifer Klier 4/12 Jim Schaffstall 4/12 Patrick Donnelly 4/14 Peter Forrestel 4/14 April Maziarz 4/14 Amy Fakterowitz 4/15 Kathy Klemenich 4/15 Nancy Battaglia 4/17 Scott Perrapato 4/17 Mark Rich 4/17 Todd Lemmiksoo 4/18 Daniel Morris II 4/19 Gary Raby Sr 4/19 Frank Morabito 4/20 Jacob Klimchuck 4/21 Carol Schuster 4/21 Helen Botti 4/22 CHECKERS #1 Athletic Store! Sara Cole 4/23 Tim Oehmler 4/24 20% Off all footwear and apparell Nicole Habermen 4/26 Located at 4190 Buffalo Road, Orchard Park. Edna E. Hyer 4/27 You'll get excellent service from Owner Dave Borodzik Ken Gonyea 4/28 and Coach Bob Carroll. Salvatore La Mastra 4/29 Call 662-1331 if you need to inquire about sport items. John Radzikowski 4/30 The Experiment, by Chuck Fried Hopefully, you’ll remember my recent article on my NY City marathon experience. The one in which I didn’t list my less-then-stellar finishing time. I’ve had some time to review the training I did for that race, and compare it to my PR half marathon race (1:44, Grand Island ½ Marathon 2001), and I think I discovered the problem. I’ve developed a theory that my body just responds better to higher mileage. I’d been nerv- ous to go back and test this theory until I read a few recent articles in Runners World and Run- ning Times on some high mileage runners. My concern up until then was that my likelihood of sustaining injury would go up. Yet I’d always maintained a good cross-training regimen, weight training several times a week in addition to my running.

The Miles Since November, I’ve upped my weekly mileage. Currently, I’m running 12 miles a day, 6 days a week. Two or three times a month, I substitute a longer run (18-20 miles) for one of my daily 12-milers. Yes, I know I’m a mutant. A deviant. That special extra-crazy breed of runner, a group most of society already considers to be a bit ‘out there,’ that just likes the miles. To make matters worse, I actually don’t mind the treadmill in the winter! I don’t need a lot of sleep, and actually get up at 5 am to get in my miles. I’m typically stretched, and ready to start by 5:30, and finished at around 7:15 or 7:20 (to help you with the math, a 9:00 mile would take 1:48 for the full 12, so that’s about my typical pace). Yes, I really prefer being outoors, especially since my wife and I bought our Garmin units. Where was that inven- tion a few years ago! We love it! Run anywhere, and poof, there’s your distance, and pace (give or take, its not al- ways 100% accurate, but it’s better then getting home, and jumping into the car to figure out the mileage you just finished). But hey, we live in Buffalo, and try as I might, I just can’t handle some of the really cold days. 40, is ok..35…maybe…but much below that, and I’d rather be skiing. So far, I can really feel my endurance improving, as well as my speed. Currently, my goal is just to break a 4 hour marathon. Something which, theoretically, shouldn’t be a major challenge, but since I’ve yet to do it, let’s wait and see. A running friend/part-time coach told me to break down the marathon into a 20 miler, and a 10k. Do the 20 miler in sub 3:00, which I can do…,then they you can do a 10k in under an hour, something that also ‘feels’ doable, but again, its all theory so far. I know current conventional wisdom holds that I don’t have to do this kind of mileage, but firstly, I enjoy it, and secondly, it does have the added advantage of allowing me to pretty much eat whatever I want! So far, I’m planning on running the Hamilton Bay to Bay race at the end of the month, then the Grand Island half, followed by the Buffalo marathon as my ‘goal’ race. My wife and I have found a few races we’ve run this winter, including two half marathons we found in Florida while visiting her parents (the marathon of the Palm Beaches Half Marathon, and the ING Miami Marathon Half). We also ran the Lockport YMCA 10-miler. That was a blast! Who knew Lockport had hills (sort of!) As I find the time, I hope to keep writing to document my progress. I also find it useful to record in detail not just my daily runs, but how I ran them, pacing, indoors or out, etc. I’ve been doing this for nearly a year now, and it really helps. I’m going to post my log, as well s some articles on a blog I’m starting. If you want the link, you can email me at [email protected]. Until then, happy trails (or treadmills)!

Members wearing their singlets out of town! Checkers members proudly wear their singlets in national and international competititons,. Clyde Ferguson wore his Checkers singlet at the Little Rock Arkansas Marathon. His time was an impressive 3:46:38. Must have been the wearing the colors! Herman Van Leeuwen ran the 10K in Monterrey, Mexico, and a halve (half) marathon on Vlie- land Island in The Netherlands (Holland). Share your out-of-town pictures with us. Send to [email protected].

President’s Corner by Roger Roll Pack your bags— we’re headed up North Therefore, this is what the move to Lock- Mark the date of Friday June 9th in your calendars; we’re going on a port will provide for us. A new course on a road trip! The place: City of Lockport. The exact location: Main Street. rebuilt Main Street. This Main Street has The reason: The Checkers Mile is moving up North. Now some of you an island in the middle that extends the will be questioning this move and ponder, why leave Buffalo and Erie whole length making it ideal for a straight County for Lockport and Niagara County? Well every move has a rea- out and back mile loop. A Mayor and City son, and this is ours. Niagara County resident and Lockport Y 10 Mile Council that actually wants the race to race director, Jeff Tracy, first approached us with this idea of changing happen, and a race that has the backing locations. He asked the Checkers Board if we would consider moving and support of the Lockport Business As- the race from the Erie Basin Marina in downtown Buffalo to downtown sociation. We are allowed to use the Mu- Lockport. Jeff is part owner of Score This, a timing company for road nicipal Building as a registration location races and triathlons, and Checkers has used this timing service for the with flush restrooms (no port-johns). The Lockport Fire Department is Checkers Mile, so Jeff was familiar with the Marina layout and how the right there for EMS, and the Sheriffs Auxiliary Unit will provide traffic Checkers Mile was organized, and he understood some of the prob- control at no expense. Did I mention the use of the City’s portable lems that existed. stage, again at no expense? The race will go from a Saturday morn- When the original Mile Race idea was conceived 10 years ago, the ing race to a Friday Night Event with the last heat featuring elite course lay out was different. The race started down by the guard shack runners running under the newly installed streetlights, which gives at the entrance to the Marina, went through the Marina, around the the course a stadium like effect. This entire event will not only be fun lighthouse, and finished back by the start. Because of complaints from for runners, but also entertaining for spectators. the Marina Association, we were forced to change the course. It went Now there is still plenty of work to be done including our major from being a fast out-and-back course to a slower candy-cane shape task of drumming up sponsors. In addition, we are going with no race course. Every year we have had to deal with an Association that didn’t directors, just a race committee, so any member wishing to volunteer want us there, and a slower course that drew less participants. So with can contact us to do so. The bottom line is, we really didn’t have an unpopular course, our four-year agreement with our major sponsor much to lose by moving the, and, as you can see, plenty to gain. As ending, and on-going complaints from the Marina Association, the the saying goes, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but Checkers board was open to entertaining other suggestions that would it sure seems like Lockport and their local community members are allow the Checkers Mile to continue in a more favorable venue. using a better fertilizer. See you on the 9th, Roger.

Checkers AC C/o 80 South Cayuga Williamsville, New York 14221

See Checkers web page at: www.checkersac.org PR’s Course Carolyn Corgel 0:19:58 Penguin Run 5K Course Carolyn Corgel 0:21:14 Resolution Run 5K Life Christopher Di Cesare 0:19:21 Penguin Run 5K Life Sandra Hebeler 1:32:41 Lockport Y10 Life Sandra Hebeler 0:24:37 Penguin Run 5K Course Patricia Hilbert 0:22:16 Canisius Chilly Challenge 5K Life Jenna Holevinski 0:32:12 Penguin Run 5K Course Gene McDonough 1:40:31 Miami Half Marathon Life Daniel Morris II 0:38:38 Shamrock Run 8K Life Dan Morris 1:24:14 Lockport Y10 Course Fran Nesbit 0:34:17 Penguin Run 5K Course Fran Nesbit 0:37:57 Resolution Run 5K Life Darrin Pocza 0:30:36 Shamrock Run 8K Life Anne Pyrak 0:20:05 Penguin Run 5K Course Rick Queeno 0:34:44 Shamrock Run 8K Course Rick Queeno 0:20:48 Polar Bear 5K Age-Group Rick Queeno 1:15:54 Lockport Y10 Course Fran Rowe 0:27:39 Penguin Run 5K

SPECIAL CERTIFICATES GIVEN FOR PRs—If you did not receive a certificate from Checkers AC for your PR, please email [email protected] and remember to include your address.

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I will download an electronic copy of the newsletter which saves the club money on printing and stamps. Manly Yesteryear vs. Femanly Nowyear, By Bill Donnelly

I know I have already hinted at the fact that runners had better race times Back in the Day partially because we had more manly names then as compared to now. A recent episode made me think more about this phenomenon, and made me rethink my whole hypothesis. In so doing, I realized I was on to something, and so through much careful scientific and Intelligent Design type thinking, I have expanded on my theory (although it seems so logical one can hardly call it just a “theory” but rather “fact”) and share my amazing find- ings with you, the reader. I offer you this in the Checkers Chatter because all the major scientific journals turned me down cold. Pompous numbskullheads! So first, back to the incident that triggered my amazing brain towards tackling this observable fact. Early one morning a certain someone, who of course shall remain anonymous, but whose initials are Diane McGuire, was using a Q-Tip to clean her ear (you should have seen the ball of wax that came out of that portal, could of polished my car with it) and I noticed that she was holding it as if she were holding a tea-cup while eating crumpets with the Queen of England. You know, holding it delicately between her thumb and forefinger, while keeping the other three digits in an upward position as if she were at the local watering hole and ordering three “Sidecars”. I, trying always to be helpful in a constructive way, pointed out to her what a femanly way it was that she was holding the cotton swab. She, being the wit she is, replied: “Oh, and I suppose Back in the Day the manly thing to do was to push the thing in one ear and out the other ear!” I had no answer, because I couldn’t hear her. You see, Back in the Day I used to clean my ears in the manly style by pushing the Q-Tip in one ear and out the other ear. My ear drums are shot, but fortunately there was little brain damage. She repeated herself, and once I was able to read her lips, I had to start the thought processes that eventually gave me quite a headache, but also led me to my “MANLY Theory”. The letters in “MANLY” stand for “Most Are Not Like Yeti”. I know it doesn’t make much sense, but my manly mind was so tired from all the thinking I had to do, it was it best acronym I could come up with to spell out “MANLY”. Don’t you just love acronyms, they take such creative thought. Back in the Day, everything we runners did had to be Manly. Even the cleaning of our ears, as I have already pointed out. Now for you kids out there, listen to Mom, and never stick anything smaller than your elbow into your ear. My lack of hearing is the per- fect example of why not to do this. However, listening to his Mom proved to be a bit of a tragedy for one local Manly runner, Douglas Macarthur Kabibble. A fine runner who always followed Mom’s advice, he tried to be too manly and he tried to clean his ears with his elbows, and unfortunately, both elbows got stuck permanently. There was nothing the doctors could do to help him. He managed to get by until one day in 1983 he tried to pick his nose with his big toe, and you can guess the rest. That’s right; the old toe was stuck tight. On a family trip to Maine the next fall, while he was hopping through the pine forest, he was mercifully put out of his misery by a young hunter named Dick Cheney who mistook Douglas for a one-legged moose (or was it a giant deformed quail?). Anyway, it was a Manly way to go. On a lighter side, I do believe that the more manly way we dressed Back in the Day was directly responsible for our faster times. No girlie-man tights or femanly new-age fiber tops for us. True, they didn’t exist back then, but tut, tut, no matter, we would have worn only clothing made of manly cotton anyway. It was just the manly thing to do. And boy, did it help us improve our times. You see, as I have pointed out before, most of us would wind up running together around Delaware Pare on any given day. I have mentioned in past articles that we rarely followed a running program, but when we ran together we invariably ended up going faster and faster, basically ending up running a pace run almost every day, and getting in great distances at the same time. The more I thought about my MANLY Theory, and the more I tried to make the facts fit the hypothesis (this is where the Intelligent Design concept comes into play), I came to realize what part wearing manly cotton played in our daily speed workouts. Simply put, nothing says manly like stinky, sweaty underwear, and that is what we ran in. Cotton shorts and tee-shirts, and in the winter, many layers of cotton. We would sweat tremendously during the run, then go home and drape our running duds over lamps, chairs, and shower rods to let them dry for the next day, where upon we would reactivate the sweat already there while adding to it. This UMASS (our acronym that stood for Unmistakable Manly Attire Sweat Stink) would build until wash day, which for most of us manly run- ners was the third Saturday of the month. Unless of course it was February, and since it was such a short month, we could skip wash day altogether for that month. Now, when we would start gathering during our runs, UMASS would start to kick in. Running alone, one doesn’t notice ones own sweat stink, but once our species starts to gather in gaggles, that stink starts to kick in. No girls, I’m not saying that we manly men ran faster because the UMASS triggered our testosterone in some manly competitive manner. No, what I’m saying is that we manly men realized we had to run faster and faster in order to outrun the STINK! Another acronym we had (we thought acronym to be rather manly Back in the Day), and this one stands for Sweaty Thick Icky Nasty Krapp (we stretched it at times). That STINK was like a living, breathing thing, and the more of us there were together, the bigger, nastier, and faster the Stink was, so of course, the faster we ran. There used to be a permanent path around the park where we ran. I always thought us few runners wore the grass away, but now I realize how wrong I was. The Stink residue killed the grass. Why else are there still parts of the path exposed where no grass grows to this day, even though no one runs there anymore. Why else did the Parks Department cover the rest of the old path with cinders and asphalt? I believe they are trying to hide the “Brown Field” that lies under it. Just beware when it rains heavily around here, you may notice the oozing, bubbling puddles of stinky goo seeping through the cinders. Of course wearing smelly cotton wasn’t the only manly thing we did that made us faster. We also ran 80 to 100 mile weeks on a regular basis. It’s amazing how far one had to run before the STINK grew weary and gave up. But the “100 mile per week” program was actually sponsored by the U-Ride-Em Motorized Wheelchair and Scooter Company. The company, which I believe was a subsidiary of Runners World of Pain, the first magazine just for runners, hoped to capitalize on the running boom going on. Actually, I believe they hoped to capitalize on all the manly runners who would need their product several years down the road. Talk about patience. The company does make some manly looking motorized wheelchairs, or scooters, and many of my past running buddies do use them. As an example of a typical manly runner from Back in the Day, I give you Irv Frawley. A sub-2:40 marathoner and all- around good guy, Irv was sometimes manly to the extreme. I once did a training run with Irv, who was just over ten years older than me, and we ran on the sidewalks of Delaware Ave. from Delaware Park downtown and back. When coming to each intersection, Irv would man-up and, without slowing down or looking both ways, speed across said busy intersection. He figured it was up to the mo- torists to avoid him, for as a manly runner, he had the right of way. I only did one training run with Irv. He was just a bit too manly for me, and I didn’t want to be the hood ornament on some Ford Mustang. Not surprisingly, Irv was an ex-Marine who carried the manly Marine lifestyle over into his family life. I remember seeing a feature on him on the local six o’clock news in the mid-seventies. It was about the ex-Marine/marathoner/manly guy and how he lived his life. They showed him and his family enjoying a picnic. His three young kids were off playing while he supervised his mess- sergeant, err, wife who was doing the cooking. When it was time to eat, out came his whistle, and two shrill blasts let the kids know to come running immediately, and I mean now! He explained to the reporter that the kids’ whole daily routine was set to a code of whistle blasts (I think five blasts meant time to go to the bathroom). Anyway, I believe I heard that two of his kids now live on a com- mune in California they helped start, and the other lives in a Shaw Ling monastery somewhere in West Virginia. Irv’s true manliness is shown in the way he celebrated the Bicentennial of our country on July 4, 1976. Seems he and Fred Gordon were training together in late June of that year and wondering how to celebrate the approaching big day. Remember, Fred is the one who started the tradition of the New Years Eve run in Delaware Park, a tradition that lasted many years, and rumor has it a couple kooks, err, “dedicated runners” still celebrate the night by running around Delaware Park at midnight and then trying to find out who broke into their cars. So it’s not surprising that these two “dedicated runners” decided it would be neat to celebrate the 200th birthday of the US of A by running 50 miles. How does that fit the holiday you ask? Why, they would do it on a quarter mile track. Get it, 200 laps, one for each year. YOW!!! So bright and early on that hot, steamy Fourth of July, Irv and Fred met at a local high school track and pro- ceeded to count off the laps. Now, Fred was recovering from an injury and could only accompany Irv for the first 40 laps. He then sat himself in the stands and dutifully counted the remaining 160 laps, one by slow one, as Irv manly completed his own personal tribute to our founding fathers. I do believe that it was Benjamin Franklin who wanted the Declaration of Independence to say “Not all men are created equal, for some are more manly than others.” He was thinking of Irv. Fortunately, cooler heads among our founding fathers prevailed. I haven’t seen Irv in more than twenty years, but if you ever do see him riding along in his U-Ride Em Motorized Scooter, give him a manly wave. I could come up with many more examples of how manly we runners were Back in the Day, but I think the example of Irv Frawley says it all. We were a manly bunch. I know the title for this article leaves a lot to be desired, but it was the best I could do. I wanted to use an acronym, and I had one in mind, but I’m just too tired to put the right words together. Hey, maybe all of you could help me. My title was going to be the acronym that spells out IRISH SPRING. Get it; remem- ber the motto for that product, as a beautiful babe says: “Manly yes, but I like it too.” So if all you guys and gals would work on this, maybe we could come up with a great acronym. Just put your ideas on the Checkers’ Forum. I’ll get my brother, Tom, better known as Bill Donnelly’s slow little brother, to be the judge, since he never has anything to do concerning the club. The winner will get an original signed copy of this article. Second place will get two copies. Wow, this could be great, but remember, try to keep it manly.

Empire State Games Snowshoe Races

Sprint races at the 300 meter track at Paul Smith's Col- lege on Saturday and the 5k race at the Lake Placid Olympic ski jump complex. Picture by Mike Rogers Winter Returns With a Vengence in 2006 Pictures from Shamrock Run, Chilly Challenge, and Mardi Gras Photos by Diane Sardes, Joan Crouse, and Adam Niziol.

Many new pictures on the web. www.checkersac.org