People News New Members:
Laura Chipkin, 24, Arlington, VA
Cecilia Carmody, 43, Washington, DC
Will Ellison, 38, Arlington, VA
Megan Plyler, 32, Silver Spring, MD
Lynn Huang, 34, Potomac, MD
Tina Bordanaro, 34, Washington, DC
Tom Bordanaro, 34, Washington, DC
Jennifer Popovic, 31, Washington, DC
Juliette Wohlrab, 35, Alexandria, VA

Reupped: Steven Amter, 47, Washington, DC

We welcome Laura, Cecilia, Will, Megan, Lynn, Tina, Tom, Jennifer, and Juliette into the WRC! Unofficially, that gives us 31 new members thus far in 2004, an accounting of 17 ladies and 14 gents. 

And we welcome Steve back into the WRC...showing that he has remembered from where he once was.

Membership Stats:

A quick purview of the membership shows the following statistics:

States where we live: VA - 50%, DC - 34%, MD - 10%, Other - 6%
Gender: Female - 43%, Male - 57% (but 55% of new members this year have been females)
Ages: 20-29 years - 27%, 30-39 years - 43%, 40-49 years - 17%, 50-59 years - 10%, Older than 60 - 3% 

Update from the Northeast:

Mike Rae, once a regular WRC Sunday distance run guy and still a superb triathlete, sent us an update on his whereabouts and personal life changes. This in from Mike:

• I moved up to Rochester, NY.
• I gained 11 pounds around my belly region (very fun).
• I got a job (graphic designer for the "Rochester Museum & Science Center").
• I bought a house. Hmmm....there was something else....oh yeah....
• I got engaged to Lindsay!

Congrats Mike! We wish you and Lindsay all the best in your future and happiness! Mike also indicated that he'll be coming south to cheer for his sister and brother in-law as they run the Marine Corps Marathon...we'll keep a look out for ya on the sidelines Mike...cheers!

WRC 8k Race Held! Last Saturday, 9/18, the WRC held a low key 8k race in gorgeous Carderock Recreation Area in Carderock, MD. Numbers were down due to Hurricane Ivan's last breaths and drools, but the show went on anyway. A special thanks go out to those who volunteered and pulled the race off: race director and WRC treasurer James Scarborough, WRC Vice President Steve Baker (turnaround man), Erica Morton (waterstop woman), Adina Wadsworth (registration), John Haubert from Potomac Valley Track Club (race clock & chronomix), and the Wilson High School cross country coach who showed his adept hand at giving out finishing place cards. Info and full results on the race are here.

Track and Sunday Long Runs! Numbers have been up of late at the track in Arlington and at the Sunday distance runs out of Georgetown as members and associates prepare for fall marathons and other races. 

Track night has seen from 10-15 people in the main WRC group, while anywhere from 5 to 10 other WRCers have also been at the track on Tuesday nights doing other tailored workouts. 

The WRC saw 27 runners, new and traditional, show up this past Sunday. Miles were then pounded out all along the Capital Crescent Trail! Most runs on Sunday's go along the C&O Canal, the Capital Crescent Trail, or into Rock Creek Park. 

New runners note. If you've been to one or more of the WRC's workouts (distance run and/or track) and wish to be a member of the club you simply need to join. If you want to continue to check out the club, send an email to get included on the weekly email update. We'll then keep you on the update for a spell so you know what's up. Of course, if you go ahead and officially join the WRC, you'll be included in the email for perpetuity or as long as the update or your membership lasts. We welcome all and would love to have you as a member!

Be sure to check out the club's track and distance run pages for more info on the when and where's. 

Track nights will be switching from Tuesdays to Wednesdays (when the lights will be on) because of the darkness, stay tuned for details. Remember, track workouts for the core member group are sent weekly in the club email update.

Got cupcakes? After a long long WRC Sunday run, Erica "Cupcake" Morton was presented with treats in honor of her birthday (and all that marathon training) at Dean & Deluca's. (See what you may enjoy from time to time if you show to run on Sundays!?) 

Fall Marathon Madness

A bunch of members are running fall marathons. Here's what we know so far. We wish all the best with their training and races!
 

Mike Wardian next ventures to the Scotiabank Toronto Marathon this weekend (9/26)...we wish Mike the best of speed and endurance!

Some Fall Thon Links:
Oct 10th - Chicago Marathon website
Oct 16th - Baltimore Marathon website
Oct 17th - Toronto Marathon website
Oct 31st - Marine Corps Marathon website
Nov 13th - Richmond Marathon website
Nov 14th - Marathon in the Parks website

Marathoning Thoughts

"Yay...the main work is all done!" A quip heard last Sunday as several members finished their last long run and were set to begin their taper leading up to their Chicago Marathon. (Now, these folks just have some moderate pace work, short track workouts, and not-so-far distance on the agenda to stay sharp as race time approaches. We wish them all the best in their final preparations, mental tuning, and then in the race itself of course!)

"History teaches us that certain people can run the marathon well, while others blow up like a roman candle. There is no way of knowing your actual pyrotechnic potential, until you actually train for and run one."  - Sir David Keating  (Hint: solid training is best insurance against occurance of any type of pyrotechnics.)

"The only tactics I admire are do-or-die."  - Herb Elliott    (Reminding us that "yours is not to wonder why, yours is just to do or die.")

"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves. The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, 'You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.' The human spirit is indomitable." - Sir Roger Bannister

"Still moving steadily at mile 20 you think you've seen the light at the end of the tunnel, only to realize that the damn tunnel is 6.2 miles long!" - anonymous (Oh patooie, that's simply when it gets interesting.)

"The marathon is over 26 miles! Is that all at once?" -anonymous (Yes dingleberry, and we also know you get tired driving that far too.)

WRC Dues Payment Available Online Now!

Two options for renewals and new memberships. Members, for renewing your membership and paying dues, you now have two options. The traditional mail-in way, or online through a secure server at active.com. If you've been tardy with your dues, please think of renewing now. Thanks! Online registration    Mail in registration

Of course, prospective members reading this are welcome to join by either method also. Joining now takes you all the way through December, 2005 (Dues: $15 individual; $25 family).

Thanks...the WRC appreciates your membership! 

While her 2004 Olympic experience didn't pan out very well and how she had hoped, at least Paula was woman enough to write about her ordeal and not just leave the interested running world hanging in wonder about her thoughts. It just goes to show that we should never take our running for granted, for one never knows what the day may bring...especially in the marathon.