Landrunner Mission: To support health and fitness of all ages through recreational running April 2007 - Issue No. 132 SEVENTH RUNNING OF OKLAHOMA CITY MEMORIAL MARATHON ON PACE FOR ANOTHER RECORD YEAR Pre-Registration up 66% Over 2006 Registration for the seventh Oklahoma registration for every event, full marathon, popular with registrants. Also growing are City Memorial Marathon is running a big half marathon, five person teams, kids Mar- the five person teams. Officials are con- pace over the 2006 record turn-out. This athon and 5K memorial walk, are all run- sidering limiting 600 five person teams promises to be the biggest and best suc- ning well ahead of previous years. The re- this year. All five person teams should get cessful Run cord year their registration in to assure a spot at the To Remem- of 2006 start line April 29. ber. “ . we say with confi- produced Memorial Marathon has announced “ W e ’ r e more than that all runners who register online by not yet ready dence and pride that 1 2 , 0 0 0 April 13, will have their names printed to project a fi- r u n n e r s on their bibs. “This is one incentive that nal number of 2007 will be our most and some makes Oklahoma City Memorial Mara- runners, but k n o w l - thon so special,” Hill said. we say with edgeable successful year” Registration packets can be picked up confidence local run- at the Memorial Marathon Expo Friday and pride that ners are March 27, noon to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 2007 will be l o o k i n g April 28, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Expo is at our most suc- --Thomas Hill for up to The Cox Convention center. There is no cessful year,” 1 5 , 0 0 0 day of race packet pickup. said Thomas Hill, President of Oklahoma this year. City Memorial Marathon. While the full marathon is the show (Information supplied by Oklahoma City With just a few weeks until race day, piece, the half marathon continues to be Memorial Marathon) - 1 - www.okcrunning.org April 2007 Springtime Activities Gear Up Spring has arrived and with the milder temperatures Savine Billings, Bret Sholar, John Oseland, and Chuck have come the seasonal winds and more running activi- Mikkelson. The event was successful enough to be able to ties. March opened up with the Creek Classic which was provide support to seven other races throughout the com- followed on consecutive weekends by our Panera Beacon ing year. Overall winners in the 5K were Sam Dech and on the Bay, and the St. Paddy’s Day Great Race of the Tiffany Cone. Winners in the 25K were Matthew Colbert Great Plains. The three races comprised the highly suc- and Jessica Tranchino. cessful Triple Crown of March Racing. The overall men’s The month of April is always prominent on many run- champion was Stephen Murphy, and Anne Portlock edged ners’ calendars because it features two of the communities Tiffany Cone for the ladies crown. Congratulations to ev- most popular races, the Red Bud Classic and the Okla- eryone who competed and to the age group winners as homa City Memorial Marathon. Be sure and come by the well. club’s booth at the expo at both races. We will have new The club’s Race Committee delivered a nearly perfect merchandise available. day for the Panera Beacon on the Bay. We had 574 official Our club meeting for April will be the Bill Rodgers registrations for the 5K and 25K races combined which is reception at the Sheraton Hotel on the 26th (see the an- the largest crowd in recent memory. At the risk of leaving nouncement in this newsletter). You won’t want to miss someone out I’m going to go ahead and acknowledge (in your opportunity to meet the all time top winner of the no particular order) those volunteers who made the event Boston and New York marathons. Grab a friend and bring a reality this year: Sherri & Jack Rector, Kent Frates, Sam them with you. This reception is open to everyone. Loy, Don Smith, Don Garrett, Trey Cone, Tracey Rose, Ric & Frances Williams, Cara Rogers, Karen Davis, Richard Tate, Suzie Bostick, Marie Breshears, Mike Hae- Good running to all, ger, Tom Briggs, Bill & Marlene Robinson, Paul & Linda Lekawski, Donna & Melissa Banks, Kevin Lynes, Tom Bill Snipes Coniglione, Linda Horn, Nancy Romano, Jodie Spielman, President Upcoming Landrunners Meetings/Socials Date Meeting / Social Location / Time Speaker April 26 Club Meeting / 2nd Floor Ballroom, Bill Rodgers, 4 Time Boston Special Reception Sheraton Downtown / 6:30 Marathon Winner May 21st Club Meeting Ingrid’s Deli / 6:30 To be determined June 16th Club Social Johnson’s home -- 5600 NW 103 Pl Time to be announced - 2 - Running Legend Rodgers Set to Speak with Landrunners As a 4-time winner of the Boston and New York City Marathons, Bill Rodg- ers running credentials are without peer. As much as anyone, Bill can be credited with the “running boom” of the 70’s, as there was no more domi- nant road racer in the world than “Boston Billy”. Bill Rodgers is credited with more sub-2:20 marathons than anyone on record, and is still found running strong in road races all over the world. Rodgers’ approachable nature finds Bill as popular as ever in the new mil- lennium. He focuses his refreshing mix of running lore and time-proven strategies on helping runners of all skill levels stay on the roads, and-as importantly-enjoy the sport throughout a lifetime. Bill has appeared at the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon since its incep- tion in 2001, and we’re fortunate to have him here Thursday April 26, at 6:30pm for a special LANDRUNNERS reception. Signed books and post- ers will be available as door prizes, and for purchase. Don’t miss a relaxed evening with one of the true icons of our sport, as we kick off the weekend in preparation for the 7th annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. Date: April 26, 2007 Time: 6:30 pm Place: Second Floor Ballroom, Sheraton Hotel, Downtown Oklahoma City ________________________________________________________ Reception open to the public, membership in the OKC Running Club is not required to attend. www.okcrunning.org April 2007 RUNNERS ARE SAYING: 20 MILES TURNED OUT GREAT! I just want to thank you so much for the trial run for the Doug, you were right. Thanks for letting me run with Memorial Marathon this past Sunday. You people are great, you!! (As if you had a choice.) It really wasn’t as bad as I everyone was so nice and helpful, the water the food, and the thought. I can take a measly 14 miles this weekend!! friendliest group I have ever been around. And the doctor, wow, greenhawa what a nice guy, he was so great to help. I really appreciate all everyone did. I ran my first 20 mile run, had to run and walk the last 3 miles, but I finished. A bit sore today, but I feel great What a great run! I noticed before we started my heart about the accomplishment. Thanks for helping me meet my rate was way up because I was nervous, but it turned out to be goal. Where will you run next week? OK, well have a great very enjoyable. The only injury I am currently suffering is the week and again thanks a million times over for everything. You big blister my “blister free” socks left on my big toe. daizy people are amazing. Thanks, Donna Maybe one of these days I’ll be running as fast as you and we Well, I realize that I am one of the slower distance run- can talk while running. I think you were probably back home ners out there, so maybe this why I have this problem. But by the time I was gettin some pretzels and water at the end of for the third year now, the day we do our 20 mile run, it is a the run! Glad you had a good run, though! air-run-hamby chore for me. The end of it is not fun. I am tempted to forget the entire marathon thing. I could be home planting flowers or something. But it seems like the second 20 mile run is always Hey, what a great run, and you guys such as Cara, Austin, Jane, better, and I start regretting that I said I would never run another Kari, Nick, Mary and a few others kept me running. Austin, stinkin’ marathon. Can anyone else relate? Anne you did a great job with your first 20 miler, running sub 3 hours, and sub 2 hours at the half marathon point. And likewise Cara, I can relate, even though this is my first, but if it was easy, you gave support to our caravan being the running pharmacy, it wouldn’t be such an accomplishment, right? having the medications to take care of us enroute. Plus having air-run-hamby a cardiologist among us and in our vicinity gave us heart insur- Thank you for the encouraging words. I feel better ance. And of course having a real doctor at the end to treat our about it. Anne final ailments, priceless. Doug I would have to agree that the first 20 miler is harder than You people are machines! I met the group at Wilshire and West- the second. I have a better idea how to handle the second one ern to run 10 for half marathon training.