As 2012
draws to a close, Club Ed runners got together to celebrate another year of
running, a season of holidays, and friendships developed on the track, in the
hills, and on the roads. Steve and Cindy Notaro graciously opened their home to
the club, and although it was occasionally drizzling/raining outside, the
atmosphere inside was warm, welcoming, and festive. In addition to plenty of
tacos and drinks, desserts were plentiful. Cakes, pies, cookies, and brownies
of all recipes and calories were happily consumed.
Coach Ed
also delivered several awards to commemorate the 2012 training year. The
following runners, from among the many accomplished athletes in the group, were
acknowledged:
Paul Cooney, for his dramatic
improvement and multiple PRs in most every distance raced this year;
Chris DeWitt, for leading the charge to
develop a track-oriented racing contingent and for leading the way at the El
Toro USATF One Mile Run for the club;
Marian Drahnak, for PRs in 10Ks and
half-marathons, and for showing us that racers come in different sizes, ages,
and times of our lives;
Dave Grethen, for reminding us of the
virtues of developing a training plan and sticking to it, and for returning to
the Hometown10K and finishing on his own terms;
Nathalie Higley, for her return to
racing and her domination in the MB10K; older can also mean faster!
Will Longyear, for showing us that even
if you pick rainy marathons, you can still PR with determination;
Nicola Lowrey, for a year of ups and
downs, triumphs and injuries, and for sticking to it…to better times ahead!
Bill Macleoud, for continuing to
impress us all as a Masters athlete, as a tremendous competitor, and as an
amazing tri-athlete;
Andy MacKay, for defining gritty
determination in a continuing comeback from a terrible accident;
Jon Megeff, for continuing to remind
us, by example, that Master athletes can be competitive, fast, and successful
in their chosen sport for years and years;
Ian Mickelson, for living the
competitive dream as a professional triathlete, that few will get a chance (or
have the talent) to do;
Aaron Munger, for a year of racing
accomplishments on the track and roads, including a lifetime one-mile PR at age
36!
Sue Reinhardt, for being a true running
legend, and staying “Goofy” (racing in both the half and full marathons on
consecutive days in the same weekend at the Disney Marathon);
Trish Riley, for transitioning from a
treadmill runner to teammate, training partner, and road racer;
Tami Shalvarjian, for a year of
ever-improving running, training, and racing, capped off with a marathon PR,
despite the rain and wind!
Kevin Sullivan, for an inspirational
comeback, from heart surgery in summer to the Ironman in Kona!
Marty Friedman, who continues to be, in many respects, a “conscience” for the club, challenging me to think about the entirety of the membership, the engagement and improvement of all levels of training
and running.
To all of
you amazing runners, congratulations on an impressive 2012 (albeit not without
some injuries and might-have-beens)…on to 2013!