Road Runners Club of America
2020 Annual Report
TABLE OF RRCA Mission, Vision, and Values ~ 2 RRCA Leadership ~ 3 2020 Financial Report ~ 5
RRCA
HIGHLIGHTS
Kids Run the Nation ~ 6 RunPro: Roads Scholar Grantees ~ 7 Championship Event Series ~ 10 Runner Friendly Community Program ~ 10 Coaching Certification Program ~ 12 Race Director Certification ~ 12 RRCA Hall of Fame Inductees ~ 13 National Running Awards ~ 15 RRCA State Reps ~ 20 Donors and Sponsors ~ 21 On the cover: Aliphine Tuliamuk wins the 2020 USA Olympic Team Trials Marathon. Photo by Mike Scott On the back: The men’s race from the 2020 USA Olympic Team Trials Marathon featuring several RRCA grantees. Photo by Mike Scott
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RRCA The RRCA champions the development and success of communitybased running organizations that empower all people to participate in the sport of running in pursuit of enjoyment, health, well-being and competition.
RRCA The RRCA vision is to see organized and active running clubs and events in every community.
RRCA • All runners and their safety • Diversity in the sport and an enjoyable atmosphere for all • Fair competition, no cheating, anti-doping compliance, and respect by participants for race and club rules and policies • Positive relations with members, volunteers, donors, and sponsors • Best practices in organizational governance and management
The RRCA uses the term “running” to encompass the broad spectrum of running in the United States, including competitive running, jogging, fitness walking, race walking, and wheelchair fitness on roads, trails, and tracks.
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RRCA Leadership George Rehmet President
Lisa Rippe
Vice President
Barb Jewell Treasurer
Goody Tyler
Secretary, At-Large Director
Blaine Moore
Eastern Region Director
Sue Brown-Nickerson Central Region Director
Betsy Boudreaux
Southern Region Director
Stephen Wright
Western Region Director
Samantha Collmar At-Large Director
Jean Knaack
Executive Director
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The year 2020 started on a high note with the highly successful USA Olympic Team Trials Marathon hosted by RRCA Member, the Atlanta Track Club. The RRCA was proud to be a sponsor of the breakfast for the athletes the day before the race and to be there to cheer on the many RunPro Campers and RRCA grantees. A significant high point of the race was seeing Aliphine Tuliamuk cross the finish line as the female winner. Aliphine was an RRCA Elite Support grantee in the fall of 2019 and earned a bonus from RRCA in 2020 as a grantee who won the race. The Trials also marked a significant milestone for the sport, as it boasted one of the largest and most competitive fields perhaps ever assembled for an Olympic Trials marathon. A few short weeks after the success of the Trials, the running community, along with the world, forever changed as the global pandemic caused by the deadly spread of COVID-19 brought world-wide shutdowns of business, sporting events, schools, and more. On March 15, the RRCA seemed to be hit early by the mass cancellations in the sport, as we were forced to cancel the 62nd RRCA Convention in Portland, Oregon due to state restrictions for gatherings. While the event did not occur, we thank our host organization, the Oregon Road Runners Club, especially Stephen Wright, for their hard work planning what would have been, a great event. We are thankful that we were able to recoup the deposit from the hotel, which allowed us to refund attendees. As the effects of the pandemic became clear, the RRCA worked to inform and educate members and the running community about managing event cancellations, pivoting to virtual events, and trying to find a new path forward for the sport. Through the challenges, the RRCA Coaching Course team pivoted the program from an in-person offering to an online course hosted via Zoom. The change in delivery proved to a be a positive for the program, as we engaged a more diverse audience of attendees, including an increased number of international coach candidates in the program. While few events took place after March 15, the RRCA was still able to provide grants through the Roads Scholar program by supporting athletes that had previously attended RunPro Camp and continued to progress in the sport. With a limited number of schools opening in the fall, the decision was made to scale back the Kids Run the Nation grant totals. That noted, the RRCA was still able to provide funds to deserving youth programs that were able to safely operate in 2020-2021. Following the tragic murder of runner Ahmaud Arbery coupled with the national dialog about racial inequity in the country, the RRCA board and staff engaged in a series of critical conversations with coaches, race directors, club leaders, and runners to discuss race, safety, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sport and in the RRCA. As a result of discussions, the RRCA Board approved a revised mission statement and presented members with updated bylaws for approval at the 2021 Meeting of the Membership. The new bylaws clearly spell out the RRCA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the organization. While 2020 was not the year that anyone had planned for, it showed the running community is able to face adversity and find creative ways to adapt and change in order to deliver opportunities for runners to remain engaged in the sport. We look forward to a brighter 2021 and a strong return to an evolved normalcy for the sport and the running community.
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2020 RRCA Financial Report Audited Financial information* as of December 31, 2020
YEAR
ASSETS
LIABILITIES
NET WORTH
2018 2019 2020
$2,700,101 $3,098,128 $3,196,728
$1,069,430 $1,103,936 $723,735
$1,630,671 $1,994,193 $2,472,993
YEAR 2018
INCOME $3,263,788
EXPENSES $3,316,298
NET PROFIT $(52,510)
2019
$3,694,978
$3,331,457
$363,521
2020
$2,699,953
$2,221,150
$478,803
2020 RRCA Statement of Financial Activities and 2021 Budget 2019 AUDITED 2020 AUDITED 2021 BUDGET INCOME $1,991,515 $1,201,742 $1,276,712 Insurance Prog. & Music Licensing $576,638 $504,408 $282,000 Membership Dues $454,377 $481,577 $437,500 Certification Programs Sponsorship & Convention $119,571 $22,870 $43,000 Revenue Contributions & Other Income $178,452 $153,254 $38,700 $374,425 $336,102 $50,000 Investment Income $3,694,978 $2,699,953 $2,127,912 TOTAL INCOME PROGRAM EXPENSES Championships & State Programs Certification Programs Kids Run the Nation Program RunPro & Roads Scholar Program Insurance Prog & Music Licensing General RRCA Programs* PROGRAM SUBTOTAL
$173,010 $406,687 $64,154 $122,285 $2,120,154 $255,835 $3,142,125
$130,856 $410,275 $36,982 $82,397 $1,332,924 $86,474 $2,079,907
$173,488 $436,600 $40,910 $50,761 $1,431,964 $154,610 $2,288,333
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES* National Office Management Board Services Fundraising ADMIN SUBTOTAL TOTAL EXPENSES NET PROFIT/(LOSS)
$85,284 $41,692 $62,356 $189,332 $3,331,457 $363,521
$69,286 $29,468 $42,493 $141,247 $2,221,150 $478,803
$73,857 $32,173 $58,563 $164,593 $2,452,926 ($325,015)
* Functional expenses - The cost of providing various program and supporting services have been summarized on a functional basis in the statement of functional expenses on the RRCA’s Audited Financial Statements. For 2021, the RRCA Board of Director approved that net decrease in assets of $325K.
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Kids Run the Nation® Program The Kids Run the Nation program is the RRCA’s gender inclusive, multi-week, turnkey, youth running program designed to meet the physical activity goals outlined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. The RRCA’s vision is to help establish locally-managed youth running programs in every school in the U.S. Since the grant fund’s inception in 2007, the RRCA has granted more than $300,000 to youth running programs nationwide. This year, 11 programs from ten states serving nearly 600 children received a total of $10,000 in funding. Despite sweeping event cancellations and limited club activities, RRCA members, individual donors, and the Insurance Management Group (IMG) and K&K Insurance, have once again shown their support for gender-inclusive, participation-based running education through their contributions to the Kids Run the Nation Fund. The youth running programs chosen to receive grants this year represent the diversity of the Kids Run the Nation Fund’s impact, both geographically and demographically. Congratulations to the 11 Kids Run the Nation grant recipients in 2020: All Saints Running Club – Broken Arrow, OK Fern Flying Eagle Running Club – Honolulu, HI Hope Harbor Run Club – Claremore, OK Kids Run the Nation – Princeton, WV Never Give Up – Wabash, IN Port Angeles Unit Boys & Girls Club Running Club – Sequim, WA Runner's Edge Youth Running – Boca Raton, FL The CARE Running Club – Escondido, CA Under Thunder Runners – Juneau, AK Villa Marie Running Club – Waverly, NE West County Family Support Center Running Team – Odenton, MD The RRCA also donated copies of the Program Guide for Teachers, Coaches, and Program Leaders and the Running Guide for Kids booklet to additional programs.
Learn more at RRCA.org/programs/kids-run-the-nation-program
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RunPro The importance of the support RRCA provides and how it benefits and is appreciated by the participating athletes is best understood by an examination of how these programs have worked, not only in the past, but also leading up to the 2020 USA Olympic Team Marathon Trials: Run Pro Camp. In recognition of the difficult transition that often encumbers promising collegiate distance runners attempting to compete on the professional level, the RRCA has in place RunPro.com to provide athletes with a comprehensive overview of what it takes and what is involved in becoming a professional distance runner. RRCA's RunPro Camp, a two-day seminar typically held in July, connects 15-20 aspiring professional runners with the resources necessary to pursue a professional running career. RunPro Camp helps athletes understand how to stay in the sport for the long term, as most distance athletes see success the closer they get to their thirties. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, RunPro Camp 2020 was forced to cancel but will return in 2021. Roads Scholar Program. Since 1996, the RRCA has awarded significant monetary grants to assist American post-collegiate road runners who show great promise to develop into national and world-class road-running athletes. “The grants are really seed money in a sense,” notes Andy Smith, Program Director. “The funding is for runners that show potential but maybe haven’t quite succeeded to the point that they can be self-sustaining." While aiding many, the Roads Scholar program has provided grants to Deena Kastor, Kate (O’Neill) Tenforde, Amy (Yoder) Begley, and Alexi Pappas – all who went on to become Olympians. Elite Grants. In support of athletes training for the 2016 Olympic Team Trials Marathon in Los Angles, the RRCA started its Elite Grant Program to provide $2500-$3000 in financial support to about 15-17 athletes that demonstrated authentic Olympic Team potential. Grants were given to a mix of previous Roads Scholar grantees along with athletes that had shown significant progression in their professional running career. At the LA Trials Marathon, RRCA supported athletes finished 4th, 5th and 6th. For the 2020 Olympic Team Trials Marathon, the RRCA again have provided $45,000 in financial support to seventeen athletes
Nearly 50 men and women who participated in one or more of these RRCA programs have qualified to compete in the 2020 USA Olympic Team Trials Marathon, including race winner Aliphine Tuliamuk who received a $1000 winner’s bonus from the RRCA.
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Roads Scholar® Since 1996, the RRCA has awarded over $730,500 in grants in support of elite runners in the U.S. In total, including those selected in 2020, 140 athletes (72 women and 68 men) have received a Roads Scholar grant. The goal of the program is to assist American post-collegiate runners who show great promise to develop into national and world class road running athletes. The grants awarded by the RRCA go directly to the athletes to help support their goals and training needs. This year with the financial challenges created in the running industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RRCA is particularly grateful to its Roads Scholar Fund donors and major contributor, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. Congratulations to our grantees: Karis Jochen (Boulder, CO): Karis began her running career in College Station, Texas as a way to stay fit for her first love, soccer. After a surprise 5th place finish at the Texas CrossCountry State Meet as a sophomore, Karis decided to see what focusing on running could bring her. She graduated high school as a twotime Texas Cross Country State Champion, two-time Texas Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year, and 5th place finisher at both Footlocker Cross Country Nationals and NXN Nationals as a senior. Continuing her running career in her hometown as a Texas A&M Aggie, Karis found her love for the 10k on the track and earned All-American status in cross country. After graduating college in 2018, Karis attended RRCA’s RunPro Camp and continued to pursue the longer distances on the roads. Most recently she finished 3rd place at the 2020 USATF 20K Championships and finished the 2020 Aramco Houston Half Marathon in 1:12:55 to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials. When races resume, Karis looks forward to making further progress in the longer distances and making her marathon debut.
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Dhruvil Patel (Hopkins, MN) Dhruvil began running as a freshman in high school, achieving enough success to run for DIII North Central College in Illinois. While there, Dhruvil put together an exceptional collegiate career, becoming an 11-time DIII All-American between Cross Country, Indoor, and Outdoor Track, and a 4-time DIII National Champion in Cross Country (2018), indoor 5,000m (2018, 2019) and outdoor 10,000m (2019). After graduation, Dhruvil attended RRCA’s RunPro Camp and joined Team USA Minnesota, where his professional running career has flourished. Top performances to date include 10th place at the 2020 USATFK 15K Road Championship (45:10), 19th place at the 2019 USATF 10 Mile Road Championships (48:36), 12th place, and 2nd American at the 2019 Bix 7 Road Race (34:44), and 1st place with a course record at the Run Mag Mile 10K (29:57). Abbabiya Simbassa (Flagstaff, AZ): Abbabiya (Biya) began running his junior year of high school in Iowa, placing 7th that year at the Cross Country State Championships and breaking the school record for the 1600m. Biya earned a scholarship to compete at Iowa Central Community College for two years. There, he was the part of the NJCAA National champion in Cross Country and Track. For his last two years of eligibility, he transferred to University of Oklahoma, where he put together an impressive resume that included runner-up at the Big 12 Championships and Big 12 Cross Country Men’s Newcomer of the Year. After graduating from University of Oklahoma in 2015, Biya joined Team USA Minnesota to continue his running career. He attended RRCA’s RunPro Camp in 2016. Training under coach Dennis Barker, Biya qualified for the 2016 U.S Olympic Trails – Track in the 5000m. Later that year, he moved to Colorado Springs to train with American Distance Project, finding continued success with coach Scott Simmons. Stand out performances included a 27:45.78 10,000m (2017), 4th place at 2017 US Outdoor Track 10,000m, 5th place at the 2017 US 5k road championships, and 5th place at the 2017 US Cross Country Championships, 8th place. In 2018, he was 2nd American at the 2018 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run in 47:04. In 2019, he was 2nd at the Medtronic TC 10 Mile, the USATF 10 Mile Championship in 46:57. Futsum Zienasellassie (Flagstaff, AZ): While attending North Central High School, Futsum qualified for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championship three times, winning the 2011 Nike Cross Country individual national title. While there, he also won seven separate high school state titles in Cross Country and Track. Zeinasellassie began attending Northern Arizona University in the fall of 2012. During his freshman Cross Country season, he finished 31st at the NCAA Cross Country Championships with a time of 29:54.10. In 2013, Zeinasellasie returned to the NCAA Cross Country Championships to finish 4th as a sophomore in 30:05.7; followed by a 3rd place as a junior in 30:25.3; and rounding out his Cross Country eligibility with 4th place as a senior in 29:49.8. He attended RRCA’s RunPro Camp in 2017. As a professional, Futsum finished 6th at the 2019 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run with a time of 46:57. In the fall of that year, he won the Cow Harbor, Medtronic TC 10 Mile USATF Championship in 46:55, and the Monterey Bay Half Marathon with a time of 62:33.
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RRCA Championship Event Series - 2020 The RRCA Championship Event Series is one of the oldest traditions in distance running in the U.S., dating back to 1958 when the RRCA awarded their first championship designation. The goal of the RRCA Championship Event Series is to shine a spotlight on well-run events, and to promote the sport of running by recognizing the top performing runners in the Open, Masters (40+), Grand Masters (50+), and Senior Grand Masters (60+) age categories for both men and women as RRCA Champions. Due to the pandemic, the RRCA determined it was not safe to promote live running events in 2020, so suspended the series for the year. We look forward to a better 2021. We thank the following events that were selected to be National Championship Events but were unable to occur due to the mass shutdown of the running community. • • • • • • •
Ultra Championship – Stone Mill 50 Mile – Montgomery Village, MD Marathon Championship – BMW Dallas Marathon – Dallas, TX Half Marathon Championship – Hibiscus Half Marathon – Honolulu, HI 10 Mile Championship – Wintrust Lakefront 10 Miler – Chicago, IL 10K Championship – Prefontaine Memorial Run – Coos Bay, OR 5K Championship – Heart and Sole Run 5K – Billings, MT 1 Mile Championship – The Mile – Terre Haute, IN
RRCA’s Runner Friendly Community®
The goal of the program is to shine a national spotlight on communities that standout as runner-friendly and provide incentives and ideas for communities to work towards becoming runner-friendly communities. San Antonio, TX: With more than 1,500,000 residents, San Antonio is the seventh largest city in the U.S. and the second largest city in Texas. In 2000, then San Antonio Mayor Howard W. Peak envisioned, and voters approved, a system of trails, both paved and natural trails, in the unused green spaces of the city. Each succeeding mayor continued improvements to the trail system with now more than 80 miles of paved trails that connects the city’s parks to each other. With an additional 30-miles planned in the
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near future, in addition to the 110 miles of trails within the city’s 25 parks, community walkers, runners and cyclists have access to safe exercise venues without ever having to enter unsafe traffic flow. All trails include conveniently spaced dog-friendly water fountains, emergency access points, and emergency call stations for police or medical help. The trails are regularly patrolled by park police on bicycles or allterrain vehicles, and park stewards on bicycles constantly patrol the trail system for safety and security. Additionally, area for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations adopt sections of the trail system to help maintain cleanliness and to keep the trails clear of hazardous debris. The Runner Friendly Community application was submitted by RRCA club member the San Antonio RoadRunners (SARR), which boasts over 1,200 members making it one of the larger clubs in the country. In addition to group runs and training programs that serve runners of all abilities, SARR works closely with the city’s Parks and Recreation department and the Mayor’s Fitness Council to endorse and host running-specific events and the club works closely with other nonprofit organizations charged with maintaining and improving area parks and running/walking/cycling trails (both natural and paved) within those parks. SARR also partners with for-profit organizations to promote and provide volunteer support for other, non-club sponsored running events. SARR also provides support and a presence for local school running events and maintains a youth running program throughout the year for community youth. Terre Haute, IN is located near the Illinois border along the Wabash River, 75 miles from Indianapolis, with a population of 60,785. Terre Haute has a long tradition as a manufacturing hub, playing on its central location and the United States and proximity to both coasts. The city has more recently emerged as a home of higher education, with at least four colleges located in the city, including Indiana State University. Terre Haute’s geography and proximity to colleges play a big part in what makes it runner friendly. Since 2002, Indiana State’s campus has been home to the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, one of the most renowned XC courses in the world. The course has hosted the PreNational Invitational and the Division I NCAA Cross Country Championships a total of 12 times, a modernday record, earning the city of Terre Haute the nickname Cross Country Town USA in 2009. RRCA member Wabash Valley Road Runners (WVRR) who submitted the Runner Friendly Community application has close ties to the Indiana State XC program. WVRR members have served as course marshals at several meets hosted by ISU, while collegiate runners regularly compete in and volunteer for one of the six yearly races hosted by WVRR. WVRR’s contributions to the Terre Haute running community go beyond organizing events. They offer a robust training program known as “Trained in Terre Haute,” that works with inexperienced local runners, helping them work up to a half marathon over 15 weeks. The club also has a dedicated youth training program that takes place every summer and uses proceeds from events to fund scholarships and other local charities. Even beyond its championship Cross Country course, Terre Haute’s infrastructure is a big factor in making it runner friendly. The city has over 30 miles of trails, in places like Deming Park, or the Waishiki, and Heritage Trails. Heritage Trail in particular demonstrates a commitment to runners. A former railway, the trail spans seven miles, beginning near downtown Terre Haute, linking up with parks, neighborhoods, schools and businesses before heading east into a more wooded countryside with scattered farmland.
Learn more about the Runner Friendly Community program at: RRCA.org/our-programs-services/programs/runner-friendly-community
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RRCA Coaching Certification Program Even in the midst of our international public health crisis, the RRCA Coaching Certification Program delivered and improved on the goals set for the year. Drawing on past expertise in distance education, the coaching team, led by Randy Accetta PhD, was able to pivot the course delivery method within two weeks of the nationwide shutdowns in March 2020. The program pivoted to an online mode that not only provided a high level of intellectual excellence but also increased the RRCA’s ability to bring the program to a more diverse audience with extended global reach. The online environment enabled participants to take the course from Canada, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Ireland, Peru, Venezuela, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the US territory of Puerto Rico. We exceeded our 2020 goals with key accomplishments. 1. Level I and Level II curriculum: reviewed, redesigned, and updated 2. Level I and Level II coursebook: reviewed, redesigned, and updated 3. Level I exam: reviewed, redesigned, and updated 4. Two Level II online courses were taught for 70 current Level I Coaches 5. Thirty-eight (38) Level I courses were taught, with over 1300 participants taking the class from every state in the U.S. except North Dakota. For the 8th year, we have maintained consistency and cohesion in the teaching team, with continuing excellent contributions from Randy Accetta, Cari Setzler, Brent Ayer, and Bobby Gessler. Erica Gminski has continued to provide stellar support as the Coaching Program Manager. Since the program’s inception more than 10,300 people have become RRCA Certified Running Coaches.
RRCA Race Director Certification Program The RRCA Race Director Certification Course remains a cornerstone program for the organization. Since the program’s initial release in 2013, the RRCA has certified more than 400 race directors, adding 54 new race directors in 2020. 2020 also saw a pronounced increase in international enrollment, as race directors based in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Switzerland, and Vietnam all obtained RRCA certification.
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RRCA Distance Running Hall of Fame Inductees - 51st Class Founded in 1971, the RRCA Distance Running Hall of Fame inducts American runners that have attained extraordinary levels of achievement in the sport of distance running as either an athlete or a key influencer (an individual that has contributed a considerable amount of their time and knowledge to the betterment of the sport of distance running). The RRCA is proud to announce its 51st class of RRCA Distance Running Hall of Fame inductees. Marilyn Bevans (born October 4, 1949): Her many African American firsts include the following: winning the Washington Birthday Marathon in February 1975 in Beltsville, Maryland. First to run under 3 hours (2:55:52) at the 1975 Boston Marathon. First to represent the U.S. in international marathon competition in 1976 in West Germany for the Women’s International Marathon, and in 1981 at the Tokyo International Marathon. Marilyn is the only Black American female to ever make the podium at the Boston Marathon with her 2nd place finish in 1977. Her thirteen sub-3-hour marathons ranked number one on the all-time list of American-born Black Americans for a remarkable 44 years. For eight years (1973-1981) Marilyn was the fastest African American marathoner ever with a best of 2:49:56 achieved at the 1979 Boston Marathon. She was part of the first generation of women long distance runners in the United States who preceded Title lX. Marilyn was one of the top female marathoners in the world from 1975 to 1977 with consistent high finishes in Boston of 4th, 6th, and 2nd respectively, along with a 5th place in the 1975 NY Marathon. In 1977 Track & Field News ranked her 10th in the world. Marilyn coached for more than 30 years at Baltimore's Perry Hall High School and twice was All-Metro Coach of the Year. Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (born August 22, 1978): Janet grew up in Kenya, before attending college in the United States at Harding University in Arkansas. She graduated from Harding in 2005 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in health care management and nursing. In college, she won three Division II national championships and was named an AllAmerican eight times. She was inducted into the Division II Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Harding Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2011, Cherobon-Bawcom was a three-time U.S. road champion, winning the 20 km, with a time of 1:08:31, the 10 mi (54:15), and the 10 km (32:47) races. In August of that year, the IAAF declared her eligible to represent the United States in international competition. At the end of the year, she was declared the women's champion of the 2011 USA Running Circuit.
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She was the 2011 RRCA Road Runner of the Year as multi-RRCA Championship winner. At the January 2012, US Olympic Trials – Marathon, Cherobon-Bawcom finished fifth with a time of 2:29:45, besting her personal record by nearly eight minutes. Later in 2012, she set a new American record in the 25 km, with a time of 1:24:36 at the U.S. road championship at the Fifth Third River Bank Run. She also won the 15 km road championships with a time of 49:41. In 2012, she made the U.S. Olympic team in the 10,000 meters where she placed 12th at the London Olympics. In 2014, Janet Cherobon-Bawcom won the Credit Union Cherry Blossom / USA 10 Mile Championships in 2014 and set a women's only start American Record with a time of 52:12. Jennifer "Jen" Rhines (born July 1, 1974): Jen is an American long-distance runner who has competed in three different Summer Olympics and made 15 US Teams. Rhines attended Villanova University as an undergraduate. While at Villanova, where she earned a degree in Civil Engineering. Rhines was a five-time NCAA individual champion: 5000 meters (1994, 1995, and 1996), 5000 meters (1995), and Cross Country (1994). As a post-collegiate professional runner, Rhines has won three USA 15K national titles (1998, 2005, 2011), a USA half-marathon championship (2011), and was USA 10,000 meter champion on the track in 2002. She competed in the women's 10,000 meters race at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, finishing 16th with a time of 31:26.66. In the 2004 Athens Olympics, she competed in the women's marathon and finished in 34th place with a time of 2:43:52. Rhines qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games by placing second in the 5000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials. She finished 14th in the 5000 meters in Beijing, with a time of 16:34.63. Rhines won the 2011 USA Half marathon title in Houston, TX with a time of 1:11:14.
Dathan Ritzenhein (born December 30, 1982): Dathan is an American long-distance runner. He held the American record in the 5,000 meters (12:56.27) from 2009-2010, when it was broken by Bernard Lagat. He is a 3-time national Cross Country champion with wins at the USA Cross Country Championships in 2005, 2008 and 2010. Ritzenhein attended the University of Colorado at Boulder in the fall of 2001 to major in history and compete collegiately in Cross Country and Track. In 2004, Ritzenhein ran the 10,000 meters at the Olympic Games in Athens but dropped out mid-race due to pain caused by an earlier stress fracture. Shortly after the Olympics, he decided to forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility in order to run professionally. Ritzenhein began his professional career on December 31, 2004 when he finished 3rd in a 10K road race in Italy. In January 2005, he won the prestigious Belfast International Cross Country race.
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Ritzenhein won the U.S. Cross Country Championships in the 12K for his first senior national title. He made his marathon debut in the 2006 ING New York City Marathon, finishing 11th place with a time of 2:14:01. Ritzenhein finished 2nd with a time of 2:11:07 in the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials, which placed him on Team USA for the Beijing Olympics. At the 2008 Olympic Marathon, Ritzenhein was the first American Runner to cross the finish line, finishing 9th with a time of 2:11:59. In January 2009, Ritzenhein placed 2nd at the U.S. Half Marathon Championship. Three months later, he set a personal best at the 2009 London Marathon, finishing 11th in 2:10:00. In the January 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials, Ritzenhein ran a personal best 2:09:55, but placed 4th, narrowly missing a spot on the US Marathon Team behind third-place finisher, Abdi Abdirahman. On the evening of June 22, 2012, Ritzenhein placed third in the US Olympic Trials in the 10K and successfully achieved the Olympic 'A' standard of 27:45.00. On August 4, 2012, at the 2012 London Olympics, Ritzenhein finished 13th in the 10,000 meter finals with a time of 27:45:89.
National Running Award Recipients Browning Ross Spirit of the RRCA - Chuck George Chuck George has been a leader in the production of running events in the greater New Orleans metro area for close to 40 years. Through his organization, RRCA member the New Orleans Running System (NORSI) Chuck has put on over 1,000 races, including the annual Jazz Half Marathon, Armadillo Dash Trail Run, and Laketown Distance Festival. In doing so, he has become an industry leader in event production and his knowledge and experience have made him a valuable resource. This is a role Chuck embraces enthusiastically, making himself available regularly to provide ideas, assistance and recommendations to other running event organizers. Throughout his time in the sport, Chuck has also been a staunch supporter of the Road Runners Club of America, serving on the Board of Directors in the early 2000s, advocating for programs like the Championship Event Series and Race Director Certification, and donating countless race entries to the silent auction. Outstanding Club President - Hans Wong Elected in February, Hans initially set about asking board members past and present to meet for a SWOT analysis to shape the agenda for the Houston Striders moving forward. However, with the onset of COVID-19 not long after, Hans deftly pivoted to helping the club not only survive but thrive in these challenging conditions. When COVID-19 spread, Hans was the first club president in Houston to institute safety precautions, eventually ceasing in-person activities, with clear guidance communicated to the membership over email and on social media. Hans directed volunteers to host virtual workouts, encouraged virtual engagements and created team-based virtual challenges with online tools later replicated by other organizations due to their success. Amazingly, Hans also found time to focus on other important club items unrelated to the pandemic, drafting and overseeing the deployment of a club volunteer appreciation program and improving the impact of the club’s scholarship program. Hans’s focus on maintaining a
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social atmosphere, training, and member benefits, while providing clear communication and calm leadership for a largely new board was critical. One measurable impact: membership numbers remained steady in 2020 for the Houston Striders despite of renewals starting in July, during the pandemic. Outstanding State Rep - Alex Morrow Since taking over as Alabama State Rep in 2015, Alex has been an active and engaged ambassador and leader. A specialty running store owner, Alex has used his deep ties to the local running community to grow RRCA membership and the RRCA State Championship Event Series. Alex is a constant presence on race day at finish lines. A Level II Certified RRCA Coach, Alex has also drawn on his work coaching elite athletes to help the RRCA, serving on the Roads Scholar grant selection panel and serving as an advisor to the program. His presence on social media is always positive and refreshing, and Alex works hard to feature runners from a broad demographic spectrum in a way that his spotlights can serve as role models for others.
Road Runners of the Year Aliphine Tuliamuk – Open Female At the February 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Atlanta, Aliphine shook off chilly, windy conditions and a challenging, hilly course to win the race, finishing first in a time of 2:27:23, and securing her spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Aliphine had foreshadowed her virtuoso performance in Atlanta a month earlier, kicking off 2020 by running a 1:09:49 at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in January. Nathan Martin – Open Male At December’s The Marathon Project race in Chandler, AZ, Nathan Martin ran a 2:11:05, the fastest marathon ever clocked by a Black man born in the United States. Martin’s time eclipsed the previous best of 2:11:52, held by Herman Atkins, a mark that had stood since 1979. Impressively, Martin’s performance at The Marathon Project also improved on his own personal record finish in a marathon by more than three minutes. A twotime U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, Nathan Martin ran the 2020 race in Atlanta, finishing 69th under tough conditions.
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Kate Landau – Masters Female At age 43, Kate Landau turned in the best performance by a female master runner at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, finishing an impressive 14th in 2:34:07. The finish in Atlanta was part of a string of impressive performances after Landau returned to the sport following a long hiatus, including wins at the Portland Marathon in 2016, Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon in 2018, the Miami Marathon in 2019, and dropping her PR to 2:31:56 in Boston in 2019. Abdi Abdirahman – Masters Male At the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta, Abdi finished third in 2:10:03, one second behind runner-up Jacob Riley. At 43, this performance made Abdirahman the oldest runner ever to make a U.S. Olympic team. The finish also marked Abdirahman’s fifth time making the U.S. Olympic team, having previously done so for the marathon in 2012 and the 10,000 meters in 2000, 2004, and 2008. Outstanding Volunteer - Jack Hase In 2020, Jack Hase did the same thing for the Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers (LGRAW) that he has done for many years: contribute in multiple ways big and small that allow the club to function. Jack is currently the club secretary, a position he’s held for three and a half years, stepping up to fill this important role following past service on the board. Jack has also been LGRAW’s webmaster since the club has had a website (more than 20 years), and more recently became the club's race timer. In that role, Jack has timed every race and timed fun run that LGRAW has produced since buying the timing equipment more than a decade ago (often on courses he certifies and designs). Jack is also an indispensable member of LGRAW on a personal level, frequently promoting the club at expos and other Dallas area events. Perhaps most tellingly, Jack is known by club members as Jack “Any Pace” Hase because he makes it a point to run the pace of any first-time club member to ensure they feel welcomed and included. Outstanding Beginning Running Program – Front Runners New York Every spring, Front Runners New York hosts a 10-week Beginners Running Clinic. The goal of the clinic is to train all of the participants to run the FRNY LGBT Pride Run in late June. The run is a 5-mile race and many of the beginners have never run before. The club has a committee that works on collaborating with the club’s coach to create a 10-week training program. Each Saturday, the group meets at the club’s Saturday morning Fun Run in Central Park. They learn proper warm-ups, stretching techniques, and running form. Most importantly, they also learn that running also includes camaraderie, connections, and friendships.
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Outstanding Youth Running Program - Runner's Edge Youth Running The program is coordinated by South Florida's largest run specialty retail store, Runner's Edge, located in Boca Raton. Coached by avid runners, teachers, and community leaders, 80 young runners from multiple elementary schools meet at a local park over the course of several weeks to learn and run, working toward a 1-mile or 5k event. Coaches incorporate academics into each running activity to reinforce concepts learned in the classroom, such as addition relays and "Race to the Word." Members of the Florida Atlantic University track team also serve as volunteers and role models for the young runners, 30-40% of whom receive special services from their schools. Excellence in Running Journalism - Alison Mariella Désir Since re-connecting with running almost a decade ago, Alison Desir has been a passionate and tireless advocate to improve the sport’s diversity and inclusion. Alison has created multiple organizations dedicated to welcoming and empowering BIPOC and women runners, while also drawing on her formal training to bring the mental health benefits of the sport to a broader group. In 2020, Alison’s writing, both in traditional outlets and on social media, powerfully and insightfully connected the broader national reckoning about race and racism in America to the sport of running. Her article in “Outside Online” responding to the death of Ahmaud Arbery spurred overdue and necessary conversations and actions about the racial divides in the sport at all levels. Throughout the year, Desir’s Instagram feed also became an important voice where she shared her personal reflections and broader commentary on efforts within running to combat systemic racism.
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Communications Excellence - Alpine Runners With in-person group activities impossible for much of 2020, the Alpine Runners’ newsletter and club communications, managed by Beth McCloskey, served as a connector to members starved for running information. Beth serves primarily as newsletter editor, which she keeps relevant with a variety of content that members look forward to each new issue. In addition to her editorial role, Beth proofs all the articles and assists in writing the articles profiling a different member in each issue. The club also maintains an active, informative, user-friendly website, and posts regular updates on its social media accounts with club pictures, news, and general running-related information. Road Race of the Year - Publix Atlanta Marathon Held the day after the 2020 Olympic Trials Marathon, the Publix Atlanta Marathon capped an exciting and invigorating weekend long celebration of running. Held for the second time on a new course, the race took participants past some of Atlanta’s most important monuments, and showed off some of the city’s more unique and beautiful neighborhoods. Hosting an event of this quality open to the general public a day after organizing a top-notch Olympic Trials race for the country’s top athletes is a testament to the hard work and determination of the Atlanta Track Club and their commitment to supporting running at all levels.
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RRCA Running Around the Nation
For four decades, the RRCA State Representatives (State Reps) have served as ambassadors for the organization by providing a physical presence in each state for the RRCA. State Reps promote our programs and services to clubs and events in their home state. They assist the National Office and the RRCA Board of Directors in carrying out the mission, vision, and values of the organization. The RRCA thanks the following individuals for volunteering to serve as RRCA State Reps: Alabama: Alex Morrow Alaska: Melanie Clark Arizona: Tim Bentley Arkansas: Jayme Butts-Hall California - East: Simone Adair California - Coastal: Stephanie Davies California - South: Jackie Britton Colorado: John Perez Connecticut: Rachel Tambling Delaware: Vacant Florida - North: Michael Bowen Florida - South: Don Nelson Georgia: F.M. Barron Hawaii: Ron Alford Idaho: Allison Evaro (Outgoing) Illinois - North: Doug Pitchford Illinois - South: Erica Hunt Indiana: Frank Murphy Iowa: Kristin Adkins Kansas: Brenda Groskinsky Kentucky: Anna Heeman Louisiana: Todd Delahoussaye Maine: Chandra Leister Maryland & DC: Lou King Massachusetts: Stephen Viegas Michigan: Scott Fiske Minnesota: Paulette Odenthal Mississippi: John Dolan Missouri: Jacob Varadian
Montana: Ronda Vukasin Nebraska: Vacant New Hampshire: Chandra Leister New Jersey: Alethia Mongerie New Mexico: Gary Schancer New York: Mickie Sanders-Jauquet Nevada: Jimmy Gabany (Outgoing) North Carolina: Scott Waldrop North Dakota: Vacant Ohio: Peter Qumsiyeh Oklahoma: Stormy Phillips Oregon: Steve Wright Pennsylvania: Jeff Hills Rhode Island: Vacant South Carolina: Lionel Adams South Dakota: Benson Lagat Tennessee: Sherilyn Johnson Texas - North: Marcus Grunewald Texas - South: Lee Greb Texas – Central: Sharron Fisherman Utah: Karie Underwood Vermont: Chandra Leister Virginia: Grattan Garbee Washington: Grace Martinez West Virginia: Lyn Mikesell Wisconsin: Kayla Sell Wyoming: Marlene Short
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Generous support from our members, individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundations enables the RRCA to grow and enhance our valuable programs that benefit the running community. The RRCA is proud to be a BBB Wise Giving Alliance Accredited Charity and is a Platinum-Level Guidestar Exchange Partner.
Kids Run the Nation® Fund
Thank you to the following clubs, events, individuals, and corporate supporters that contributed $19,700 towards our fundraising goal for the Kids Run the Nation Fund in 2020. 15th Street Flyers 4Life A Runner's Mind Productions Alaska Salmon Runs Albany Running Exchange Altis Endurance Sports LLC Ann Arbor Track Club** Arsenal Events Athletic Equation, Inc. Atomic City Roadrunners Charmed by Endurance LLC Chicago Road Runners Crow Athletics David Lugo-Robles David Noble Fort Worth Marathon Frederick Steeplechasers Gagnon Foundation on behalf of Cole Crosby** Golden Valley Harriers Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission Houston Striders** Insurance Management Group****
Island Road Runners Junction 311 LLC Kalamazoo Area Runners Kelly Richards** Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers** Lauren Keating Lisa Paige Magdalena Steiner Mammoth Track Club Mammoth Track Club Mercedes-Benz Marathon Weekend of Events Mickie Sanders-Jauquet Mile 26 Tribe NPHC of Greater Atlanta Olga Starikova Rainshadow Running Club Ribbit Running LLC River City Run, Inc. Run Lawrence Kansas Run to Remember 1st Responders Runner's High Club
Runners High Timing & Race Mgt. Skelton Law Racing Stephen Hughes The Kayla O'Mara Mem Scholarship Fund Trackqua Varsity Running Velo Amis Wes Wiggins
****$10,000 and above ***$5,000 and above **$1,000 and above *$500 and above
Roads Scholar® Fund
We thank the following clubs, events, individuals, and corporate supporters that helped raise $20,000 in support of the Roads Scholar Fund for 2020. A Runner's Mind Productions Alaska Salmon Runs Albany Running Exchange Ann Arbor Track Club** Atomic City Roadrunners Lilac Bloomsday Run** Cherry Blossom Inc.**** Crow Athletics Cumberland Valley Athletic Club** David Noble Faerber's Flyers Goody Tyler** Hal Hidgon
Kelly Richards** Lisa Paige Lisa Rippe** Magdalena Steiner Mammoth Track Club Mickie Sanders-Jauquet Mile 26 Tribe Olga Starikova Ribbit Running LLC River City Run Inc River City Runners and Walkers Club Runners High Timing and Race Mgmt
Runsignup Skelton Law Racing South Florida Racewalkers South Florida Racewalkers Trail Nerds Traverse City Track Club Varsity Running
****$10,000 and above ***$5,000 and above **$1,000 and above *$500 and above
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Annual Program Fund
Thank you to the following clubs, events, individuals, and corporate supporters that have contributed nearly $28,000 to the Annual Program Fund in 2020. Annual contributions to the RRCA, along with our fundraising auction proceeds, help support the Kids Run the Nation program materials, Runner Friendly Community program, RUN@WORK Day promotional efforts, State Reps Program, RRCA National Running Awards Ceremony, including award winner travel stipends, Championship Events Series awards and materials, 2,000 Hour Volunteer Recognition program, and much, much more. Alaska Salmon Run A Runner's Mind Productions Alaska Salmon Runs Albany Running Exchange Amazon Smile American Online Giving Foundation** Atomic City Roadrunners Barb Jewell* Betsy Boudreaux Carolina Godiva Track Club Catoctin 50K Trail Run Club South Runners Inc. Crow Athletics David Noble Fort Worth Marathon Front Runners Tampa Bay Golden Valley Harriers Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission Harold Tinsley**** Hometown Happenings
Human Xavier Human Jean and James Knaack Jean Arthur John G. Tyler**** Kelly Richards Kristy Campbell Lisa Rippe* Magdalena Steiner Mammoth Track Club Mickie Sanders-Jauquet Mile 26 Tribe Sue Brown Nickerson NPHC of Greater Atlanta Olga Starikova Oregon Road Runners Club* Pacesetters Running Club Paypal Giving Fund Ribbit Running LLC River City Run Inc RunDallas**
Runners High Timing and Race Mgmt Skelton Law Racing Stan Rosenfeild in recognition of George Rehmet The Blackbaud Giving Fund Trackqua Varsity Running Wonderland Adventure Running Brainshark (In-Kind)*** Crowell & Moring (In-Kind)**
****$10,000 and above ***$5,000 and above **$1,000 and above *$500 and ab
RRCA Official Sponsors and Corporate Supporters RunSignUp.com Gatorade Ashworth Awards Leslie Jordan Insurance Management Group K&K Insurance Marathon Printing the Driven Race and Club Solutions Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series Altra Running Constant Contact Blerter Race Roster
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Some 2020 Racing Highlights Keira' D'Amato smashed the 10 Mile American Record: At the specially-arranged Up Dawg Ten Miler, an all-women's competition in Washington, DC, D'Amato's finish time of 51:23 set a new American record at the distance. D'Amato's time shattered the previous record of 52:12, set by Janet Bawcom in 2014. The micro race was organized by long-time RRCA supporter Phil Stewart, race director of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run.
The Marathon Project The Marathon Project race held in Chandler, Arizona in December 2020 produced some of the strongest results ever for American distance runners. The final finish times also included several stand-out performances by RRCAaffiliated athletes. Sara Hall, a 2019 Olympic Marathon Trials RRCA grant recipient, was the top femalefinishers2:20:04, the second fastest ever marathon time by an American woman. Emma Bates, a 2017and 2019 grantee, finished fourth in 2:25:40. In the men's division, 2016 Roads Scholar and 2019 grant recipient Martin Hehir finished first overall in 2:08:59. Colin Bennie, a 2018 RunPro Camp attendee, finished third in 2:09:38. Overall seven of the top 20 women and five of the top 20 men had ties to the RRCA.
2020 RRCA Board and Staff 2020 marked a year of change for the RRCA Board of Directors as we said our goodbyes to several long standing board members: Mitchell Garner (12 years of service), Jean Arthur (7 years of service), and Craig Minyard (4 years of service). In March 2020, RRCA welcomed the following new board members: President George Rehmet, Treasurer Barb Jewell, and At-Large Director Samantha Collmar.
The RRCA National Office staff kicked off 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia celebrating the Olympic Trials Marathon followed by participating in the Publix Atlanta Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K, the RRCA Road Race of the Year. In 2020, Executive Director Jean Knaack celebrated 15 years of service along with Andy Smith serving 7 years, Erica Gminski serving 5 years, and Mike Webb serving 4 years with the RRCA.
The National Office team did an outstanding job keeping the organization running under very challenging operating conditions in 2020.
