March 2015

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Lake Grapevine Runners & Walkers March 2015 Dear Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers, Although the past week has showered us with a North Texas version of wintry weather, believe it or not, spring is right around the corner. Spring begins on March 20, but RAW isn't waiting around for Daylight Savings Time to begin our 7AM start time. Weekend start time has moved to 7AM since that is when the majority of our club members have been meeting to start their weekend run/walk. In this issue of the FOOTPRINT, you can learn how RAW and its members are involved in the community through the Grapevine VIPS program and how we provided financial support to Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange (GRACE). You'll also want to check out the "Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) News" below and congratulate Gary Howsam as RRCA's 2014 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year. And as always, we're highlighting a few photos of members out and about the past month. Be sure to send us your race photos too! Or if you're into writing, we'd love to get a race report from you!

Calendar of Events Join us for our scheduled run/walk gatherings!

Saturdays and Sundays 7 AM RAW Clubhouse

Trail Run/Walk Wednesdays and Fridays 6 AM and 7 AM RAW Clubhouse

Track Workouts Tuesdays 5 - 6:30 PM Grapevine Middle School Track (subscribe to grapevinetrackies Yahoo Group for schedule and/or location changes)

Newbie Sunday Sunday, March 1st 7 AM RAW Clubhouse

Board Meeting Monday, March 9th 7 PM RAW Clubhouse

Lunch Bunch Tuesday, March 17th Noon Red Dog Right 3311 E. Hwy 114, Southlake

Footnotes Congratulations

Volunteer Opportunity The Grasslands Trail Run will take place on Saturday, March 21st.

Each year, RAW and its amazing volunteers host an aid station.

Come out and support this North Texas Trail Runners race and RAW member Christopher Barnwell's race directing debut.

We hope you will consider being a part of the aid station by volunteering and cheering runners and walkers on the course.

Email Joe Luccioni or sign up at the clubhouse to volunteer!

Board Meeting Don't forget to check out the March LGRAW Board Meeting!

The meeting will take place on Monday, March 9th, 7 PM at the clubhouse.

Do you have an agenda item you would like to add? Email Monica.

Survey for New Trail

By Joe Luccioni

My Membership Expires: LGRAW

Quick Links contact us membership renewals volunteer sign-up water duty instructions RAW forum like us on Facebook LGRAW board of directors

RAW Privileges Dallas Athletes Racing 15% discount on select 2015 races. Coupon code: Raw15.

Luke's Locker 10% off most purchases with your membership.

Running Warehouse Enter LGRWD at checkout (exclusions apply).

RunOn! 15% off purchases on the day they come out to RAW for a shoe demo.

Sunstone Yoga (First Sunday of the month) FREE Yoga classes at ALL DFW area Sunstone Yoga locations.

Print this newsletter as

To Mike "Jersey" Bassano on being promoted to Lieutenant and named the Fire Fighter of the Year, Double Oaks Fire Department.

Condolences To Stacy Marchiori on the passing of her grandfather.

Thank you To Gary Howsam for organizing the first of our 2 annual "Keep Grapevine Beautiful" trail clean up days.

To all RAW water duty volunteers who take just a few minutes of their time to stock the course with cool water and Gatorade EVERY Saturday and Sunday! Without your kindness, there would be A LOT of thirsty RAW runners on the course.

Lost & Found Left something at the clubhouse? Check to see if we found it. All unclaimed items are in the clear tote along the north wall of the clubhouse (just outside the bathroom).

RAW Off to the Races March 2015:

3/14 - Shannon Brewery Run 5K 3/21 - Grassland Half, Full & 50 miler trail run 3/21 Dallas Rock n Roll 5K 3/22 - Dallas Rock n Roll Half Marathon

The Grapevine Parks Director proposed a project to the City Council last fall for a trail, along Kimball Road from the Shane Wilbanks trailhead on Snakey Lane west to Meadowmere Park. This trail has been on the city master plan for more than 15 years. The Council, however, balked initially at funding the trail until a citizen survey and a 5-year plan could be completed.

The City of Grapevine Quality of Life Survey 2015 (eight questions) was created to ask for citizen's opinion on the importance of trails and other quality of life projects. This is a great opportunity to expand the geographic scope of routes for RAW members. The proposed trail will extend safe, off road passage from the RAW clubhouse to Meadowmere Park.

I urge all RAW members to fill out the survey and rate trails as very important. There is also a write-in opportunity in Section J of the survey. I urge RAW members to tell the city that they want a safe pedestrian passage along Kimball Rd via a trail.

Click here to complete the survey and write-in your support for the construction of a trail along Kimball Rd.

Super Bowl Fun Run

By Stan Pollard

The 2015 edition of the Super Bowl Fun Run was a great time for all those who showed up. The weather may have been predicted to be horrible but overall, it ended up being a perfect day to run with your team colors flying high. The New England Patriots not only won the big game, but the runner with the most team spirit also sported them Pats. Hopefully, we will see y'all again next year.

Grapevine VIPS program tops 100,000 hours Grapevine VIPS (Volunteers In Police Service) recently surpassed 100,000 volunteer hours, a total that translates into more than $2 1/2 million worth of service.

In 2006, the VIPS started with 19 volunteers; 10 of the original 19 are still volunteering. There are 65 active VIPS on the current roster which include RAW members, Joe Luccioni, Chris Reyher and John Bush.

Congratulations and thank you for your service.

Grapevine VIP, John Bush

read the full story

RAW Supports GRACE Fire Recovery Efforts

proof of your membership.

FOOTPRINT Submissions Share your race or training experiences with RAW! We are always looking for content to include in the FOOTPRINT. If you have a running/walking related story or photo you'd like to share with the club, consider submitting it for the FOOTPRINT. Click here for the submission guidelines.

Footnotes: Want to give a shout out to your running buddy in the footnotes section? You can send congratulations, condolences, get well, speedy recovery wishes, or wishes of good luck.

All submissions must be received by the 15th of the month for the next issue.

Send all submissions to pr@lgraw.com.

On February 12, the Grapevine GRACE Donation Station suffered significant damage from an arson fire, resulting in an estimated $75,000 loss in destroyed goods and infrastructure. RAW members assisted with the clean-up and made cash donations to help with the fire recovery efforts.

The Grapevine Craft Brewery created a "GoFundMe" online fundraiser to help GRACE get back up and running after the fire. Like other local businesses, RAW made a $2500 donation to support GRACE. With the generosity of our members and the club's additional donation, RAW's total contribution exceeded $5,000.

read more

Road Runners Club of America News Kelly "K2" Richards, Road Runners Club of America Director-at-Large

One of my favorite things about the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is its National Running Awards program, developed in 1971, to acknowledge the service and dedication of outstanding volunteers to the running community. I love these awards because many runners are humble servants to the sport and spend many hours volunteering. They aren't doing it for the recognition. They do it for the love of the sport and the running community. In my experience, award winners are always happily surprised. This is true with RAW's very own Gary Howsam who was selected as the 2014 National RRCA Outstanding Volunteer of the Year! Thinking the e-mail from the RRCA announcing he was selected as the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year was SPAM, Gary didn't respond until a second notice was sent, and I was copied. When I replied congratulating him, he realized it was a real announcement. Gary 2014 National RRCA Outstanding Volunteer of the has never sought attention, but I'm thrilled he was selected, and I Year, Gary Howsam, with Kelly (K2) Richards know he's deserving of this recognition. The next time you see Gary, please congratulate and thank him for all he does for RAW.

Olympic medalist, American Record-Holder and RRCA Roads Scholars grant recipient Deena Kastor was selected as the 2014 Masters Female Road Runner of the Year. I found this terribly exciting because I'm a long-time Deena fan and

nominated her for the award! You, too, can have an exciting time with Deena. She is pacing the Dallas Rock 'n' Roll 5K on Saturday, March 21 and the Half-Marathon on Sunday, March 22.

Another one of my favorite things about the RRCA (hey, I'm allowed more than one!) is the Annual National Convention (this is where the national award winners receive their awards). It is an informative weekend where every type of runner, running leader, running volunteer, running coach and race director can learn, network, meet a few running celebrities and have fun. The 57th Annual RRCA National Convention is heading to Des Moines, Iowa, on April 22-26, 2015. Convention attendees will be given the opportunity to attend the 106th Drake Relays on Friday night during the unique "Under the Lights" session of the games. Convention highlights include keynote speakers and Olympic athletes, national exhibitors, and educational sessions with topics ranging from club management to working with professional athletes. The coveted RRCA Coaching Certification course will also be offered. Enjoy Des Moines and discover great eating and nightlife in the Court Avenue, East Village, and Western Gateway Districts of downtown.

Stay tuned for next month's article where you can learn about my other RRCA favorite program - the Annual Race Shirt Contest sponsored by Sport Science.

The 2014 Double Trouble shirt has been submitted. Wish Race Director Chris Morris and RAW luck!

Cross Timbers Trail Run

John Studebaker wins 1st place in the seniors division at the Half Marathon.

RAW Pics

Monica Waite enjoys running the trails at Lake Texoma.

Michele "Drum" Blackard wins the overall female title for the Cross Timbers Trail Marathon.

Polar Dash Pacers (L-R) Linda Truon, James Bratton, Jared Manse, Gary Brumle, David Marti, Mark Dainty, Amy Michelle Lucio, Robin Waguespack, Elizabeth Mendiola and Becky White battled the "cold" at the Polar Dash.

People say that Kevin Wessels was so fast that the spectators didn't even see him.

Part of RAW's Keep Grapevine Beautiful trail clean up crew. (L-R) Evelyn Luccioni, Alan Engisch, Danyah Arafat Johnson, Marty Metzger and Stacy Marchiori.

Jennifer Van Vlack proves that hard work pays off and smashes a new PR at Rock n Roll Las Vegas.

Minnesota's T.C. Bear is going to be jealous if the Texas Rangers Mascot converts Kelly "K2" Richards to be a Rangers fan.

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