The Running Maniacs Non-Profit Group of Fun Runners

MAY 13, 2007 MOTHER’S DAY MISSISSAUGA

Seven Running Maniacs went to Mississauga to run the half and full marathons. While the weather at Boston was the nastiest possible for running, the weather for the Mississauga races was ideal- cool, sunny and no wind. Susan said it was a most beautiful course, net downhill, and past lovely homes and the waterfront. Heather said that it was the best organized event she has been to in a while (except for our fall races of course). Ann was impressed that there were lots of outhouses.

The marathoners MaryAnne Slemon, Susan McKenna, Steve Renton and Andrea MacDonald all had excellent times and were thrilled with their results. The halfers Ann Stewart, Heather Pereira and George Da Silva also had great times and were happy with their performances. Another awesome Running Maniac outing!

Congratulations to my running partners Susan and MaryAnne. You certainly put it out there! Yahoo, Yippee! I hope to be out with you again soon!

BOSTON MARATHON, APRIL16, 2007

First Annual Running Maniac Boston Adventure

The Weather Network Glossary defines a Nor’easter as a relatively strong coastal storm. Wikipedia defines a Nor’easter as a macro-scale storm with low temperatures, wind gusts of up to 90 miles per hour, and precipitation which can range from a torrential downpour to a fine mist.

Excellent running weather for our first group of Boston qualifiers! What could be better for Canadians who have trained all winter through snow, ice, sleet, rain and WIND, WIND, WIND? Nothing new here. Same old boring!

Six of our finest went to Boston wearing our Running Maniac colours to run with the best of the running world. Now if anyone was able to see our R.M. outfits underneath all the layers of running coats, ponchos and throw away shirts they would need to have x-ray vision, but whatever.

Mike Carter, Dan Goselin, Ann Stewart, Kelly Ogilvie, Robin Rickard and our beloved Heather Pereira went and conquered this very difficult course and achieved the medal we all dream about. It is made of pewter no less and is awesome! So are all the socks, hats, jackets, shirts and coffee mugs that were purchased and shared about. It was fun to be able to track our runners on line and know that they were together or apart and exactly where they were on the course. Not much teaching was going on in my kindergarten classroom that day, just a lot of proud crying.

Well done guys, you have made the RUNNING MANIACS proud, you are awesome!

P.S, Dear Ann, Congratulations, we now have a Boston Marathoner in our family! We are so proud. LOVE, Mom, Dad, Jill, Dave, Paul, Grandma C., Aunt Ann, Aunt Helen, Uncle Jim, Grandma and Grandpa S., Chip-N-Dale, CSSC, VMPS, and Quad Eng.

APRIL 1, WHITBY April Fool’s Run

Catt and May Bellingham went and ran this race in true April Fools fashion. The weather was wet, windy and very cold. This was a 10 K race for Catt and she was the first female over the line………..boy she sure fooled them. YAHOO, this girl can move. Catt’s mother May ran her first 5K race in an excellent time , well done. We aren’t called the Running Maniacs for nothing. We will go out and race in any conditions and see what we can put out there. Good for you Catt and May representing our club in such superb fashion. ROCK ON! KEEP ON TRUCKING!

AROUND THE BAY RACE, Hamilton, Sunday, March 25, 2007

Off we went on the bus again (we like this method of getting to races) to the Around the Bay Race in Hamilton, Ontario. Again we were able to park very close to the start line, in a public parking lot. We paid double for 2 spots about 100 feet from the start/finish area at Copps Coliseum. Yahoo – very simple for all of us. The weather was #%&?!!! cold and #&%!!! cloudy yet again. We got awesome technical, long-sleeved New Balance shirts – day-glo lime green. Both the 30Kers and the relayers got these excellent shirts and medals also. It was “worth the drive to Hamilton”. We entered Copps Coliseum at the end of our races to hear our names being called as we appeared on the JUMBOTRON, our one moment of fame!

Mary Anne Slemon, Grant Luxton, Jane Chadwick and George daSilva ran a 30K training run/race to help prepare for their marathons in May. Gord Stewart/ Steve Lawrence; Lise Johnson/ Derek Lamont; and Lorri Rochon/ Carolyn Lamont ran the 30K as 15K relay teams. Mary Hamilton/ Patty Lawrence/ Yvonne Rashid ran the 30K as a 10 K relay team. These 3 women were each running their first 10K race – great work. George daSilva ran his first race of this distance. All were pleased with their races.

Two trips to Tim Hortons helped out – we should buy shares in this company………..

P.S. On Saturday , March 24 our Boston group ran one-way from Newcastle to Cobourg along the lakeshore over MAMMOTH hills. Gord and I went and met them at the Cobourg Tim Hortons to bring them home. They looked awesome and are ready to rock.

P.S. TRIVIA QUESTION What Canadian musical icon did Lorri Rochon meet in the Bowmanville Loblaws on Saturday, March 24 ? Greg Keeler of Blue Rodeo

CHILLY HALF-MARATHON AND FROSTY 5, BURLINGTON, MARCH 4, 2007

Wasn’t that fun- the bus ride made the whole event such an adventure. An in-house-out-house, comfortable seats, heat, snacks, coffee, games, music and the best parking spot in Burlington right by the finish line. What more could a Running Maniac ever want! We were all primed to run our races, with at least 4 complete running outfits each, well maybe a slight exaggeration there, but with lots of different running apparel. The races were well organized – they needed to be very efficient- it was VERY cold. We got awesome technical t-shirts, a groovy knapsack and the half marathoners got cool medals. That never seems right – the 5Kers did not get medals – their race cost almost the same #!?!? The après-race food - cookies, juice, fruit, chili, buns, coffee - was excellent.

The course was flat and those houses we ran by – wow – things are looking pretty affluent at that end of the lake HOLEY MOLEY! Definitely not starter or empty nester homes!

Doing the Frosty 5 were Patty, Kaitlyn, Annette, Robert, Lise, Angela, Dave, Pauleen, Yvonne, Mary, Paul and the kids Brynn, Connor and Nick. Brynn, a superstar yet again, was first in her age group. These kids can really run – they looked great at the finish line!

Doing the FULL half-marathon were Ann, Grant, Cindy, Mike, Hugh, Dan, Jane C., Gord, Mary Anne, Karl, Susan, Lori, Heather, Catriona, Chris, Steve R. (aka Lindsay) Steve L., Megan, Steve (father and daughter) Kurt, Carmen and Jane T. Catriona was the first in her age group. Heather was third in hers.YAHOO! Chris, our youngest half-marathoner was also our fastest. Kurt, Megan, Steve, Cat, Jane T. and Karl ran their first half-marathons and were pleased with their results and how they felt during the race – Heather always has us SO race ready.

We were all very excited about being together before and after the races. The bus ride saved many of us from having to drive with sore legs et al. We even dumped Gord off at the airport on his way to Wales. Hopefully as our club continues to grow, we will be able to regularly bus ourselves to the big races. It was very empowering. Next time let’s take movies, Chariots of Fire, Saint Ralph, Forrest Gump, the Terry Fox Story etc.

P.S. Sorry if I have missed anyone. I have tried to be very careful.

P.S. TRIVIA QUESTION What was the bus driver’s name?……………………….Don