RRCA Annual Report_Layout 1 3/5/12 12:40 PM Page 39
2011 Program Report
onships for 2012 and we would like to invite runH ners from across the country to consider participatH ing in the Montgomery County Road Runners Pikes Peak 10K on 4/29/12 and Bel Air Town Run 5K on 6/3/12. We have one of the famous ultra's in the country as well, the JFK 50 miler. If you want to run this one on 11/17/12 you better plan to sign up when the registration opens on 5/1/12. The USATF Track & Field Junior Olympics will be in Maryland in the summer of 2012 as well. Thanks Brent Ayer for representing Maryland and the RRCA so well as the President! Thanks Memphis for hosting the 2012 convention; I know we all are lookH ing forward to it. Have a great Olympic and Leap year everyone! Massachusetts State Rep: John Childs In 2011 we hosted two State Championship events with each involving more than 400 runners. I atH tended 10 member events during the year. I helped promote a Run @ Work Day in Salem, MA. I atH tended the RRCA convention for the rst time. Wicked Running Club was awarded the “OutstandH ing Large Club Website of the Year ” at the convenH tion. We solicited the donation of a GPS watch for the convention silent auction. We hosted the RRCA Runners Expo in conjunction with Run Gloucester and established a relationship with DMSE Sports. The race and expo attracted about 1,000 runners. Salem, MA, was designated an RRCA Runner Friendly Community. I created an RRCA Massachusetts State Rep Facebook page with assistance from Tim Short. Local clubs have been slow to show interest in RRCA activities but progress is being made. We also hosted two Weight Watchers WalkHIt events in the state. This will be my last year as state representative due to my increased involvement in organizing road races. I ’m hoping to identify a successor at the end of 2012. I ’m scheduled to address the general memH bership of The Greater Framingham Running Club on Jan 8, 2012, to provide an overview of the RRCA and explain how they can become more involved. We (Old Colony Running Events and RRCA MA) are hosting a U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials viewing party on 1/14 at a local social club to bring both member clubs and nonHmembers together for a networking opportunity. My goal is to continue to promote RRCA through events like the Expo and the viewing party so clubs see the local RRCA supH port and value.
Michigan State Rep: Gary Morgan It was a great year of running in Michigan! There were seven RRCA championship races in Michigan. They were the Kal Haven UltraHRun in Kalamazoo (Central Region Championship); Dexter to Ann Arbor Half Marathon in Ann Arbor (State ChampiH onship); Kalamazoo Classic 5K in Kalamazoo (State Championship); Kalamazoo Classic 10K in KalamaH zoo (Central Region Championship); Kaly Omara Memorial 10K in Davison (State Championship); Labor Day 30K in Milford (Central Region ChampiH onship); and the Kensington Challenge 15K (State Championship). The Ann Arbor Track Club has a great youth proH gram that has the youth competing in various track and cross country races around the country. The Kalamazoo Area Runners have a fantastic marathon training program that keeps growing by leaps and bounds. The City of Allen Park was awarded the Runner Friendly Community distincH tion and it ’s the home of the Downriver Runners. The president of the club, Dan Martinez, and I awarded the plaque to the Mayor of Allen Park in December. As you can see Michigan is a running state that keeps on moving forward to promote running as a healthy way to fun living. Minnesota State Rep: Lisa Dahl I happily accepted the role of Minnesota State RepH resentative in October 2011. I previously served in this role for the State of Kentucky and am excited to contribute to the RRCA again. I have instituted a quarterly email newsletter for all MN RRCA running clubs/events, including prospects. The purpose of the newsletter is to inform memH bers, generate excitement about upcoming events, and foster twoHway communication. I have been folH lowing up individually with key contacts to deterH mine how I can best support them. For 2012 I have awarded the following MN State Championships: • Charities Challenge 5K – 4/21/12 • Get in Gear 10K – 4/28/12 • Charities Challenge 4 M – 7/4/12 I will continue to foster additional participation and start recruiting participants for 2013. I supported the activities of the RRCA by serving on the Runner Friendly Community and Award Committees. I am scheduled to attend the 2012 RRCA National Convention in Memphis. I look forward to reconH RRCA Annual Report • 39