Friends of the Running Community

Since Jon Walk is a much more gifted writer than I am I'm posting his note about what we have planned for the next couple of months in case you're out of our e-mail distribution list loop.

Friends of the Running Community
Monday, October 20, 2008 Update

Thank you for taking the time to read this e-mail and share it with your club members, athletes that you coach or train, friends, family or fellow runners and/or triathletes.

TEN FOR TEXAS WATER STOP

Friends of the Running Community will be heading up the Mile 8-9 water stop at Ten For Texas on Saturday, November 15. While many runners who would have run the race this past Saturday are partcipating in the Rock 'N Roll San Antonio Marathon and Half Marathon (as we both are), we feel strongly enough about one of our hometown races to still volunteer before we head to San Antonio later that morning.

We hope that you'll join us in providing the final hydration boost to the finish line as well as a good-natured cheer for the last push as well. Please contact Bill Dwyer (bdwyer2@comcast.net) or myself as soon as possible if you can help us at Ten For Texas! Race Registration

MONTGOMERY COUNTY TRIPLE

Don't forget about this year's trifecta of events on Thanksgiving Day Weekend.

First is the time-tested classic that needs no additional promotion, the 19th annual GE Run Thru The Woods 5-Miler on Thanksgiving Day. It kicks off Turkey Day morning between Market Street and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and is Montgomery County's crown jewel event. Race Registration

While many are starting their Christmas shopping (can't they wait a couple of hours?), the City of Conroe Turkey Trot 5K - a cross country affair - takes place at 8 a.m. in Carl Barton, Jr. Park. Race Registration

When Run The Woodlands 5K, produced by Luke's Locker, falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving as it has the past two years, it has been the third event in the Triple. This year, Friends of the Running Community will be producing an additional separate event since the fourth Saturday (for RTW) falls before Thanksgiving this year. As soon as these plans are complete, we'll announce them as soon as we can.

Finish all three and you'll receive the award like no other (not even your fellow finisher) - the Montgomery County Triple Pine Cone Award (recognized as an Honorable Mention finisher in Runner Triathlete News' competition in 2007). (MC3 finishers who work the T4T water stop will have a fourth pine cone on their award!)

MONTGOMERY COUNTY ENDURANCE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

We announced these back in late June, but we've been waiting for the majority of the season to unfold to begin to announce more of the details.

We will recognize individuals - who are residents of Montgomery County - for their athletic achievements between January 1, 2008 and December 7, 2008 in the following categories:

Runners of the Year (Male/Female)
Youth: 18 and under
Open: 19-39
Masters: 40-49
Veterans: 50-59
Seniors: 60 and over

Multisport Athletes of the Year (Male/Female)
Youth: 18 and under
Open: 19-39
Masters: 40-49
Veterans: 50-59
Seniors: 60 and over

Ultrarunners of the Year (Male/Female)
Open: 39 and under
Masters: 40 and over

High School Track (Spring '08) Athletes of the Year (Male/Female)
Cross Country (Fall '08) Athletes of the Year (Male/Female)

Coach of the Year (for Runners and Multisport Athletes only)
Rookie Endurance Athlete of the Year
Volunteer of the Year

Nominations will be received beginning Saturday, November 1 through Sunday, December 7.

Friends of The Running Community will announce three semifinalists per category on Monday, December 8 and a media panel that will not include either of us will vote on them the following week.

The winners will be announced at the first annual Montgomery County Endurance Athlete of The Year Awards ceremony (place still to be determined) on Saturday, January 10 where Chevron Houston Marathon race director Brant Kotch will be our guest speaker.

BILL CREWS REMISSION RUN 5K

Mark your calendar for this Saturday, January 31 event at Conroe's Carl Barton, Jr. Park. More details forthcoming.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at either walksports@aol.com or bdwyer2@comcast.net.