## Remembering Walter and Tom

It is appropriate to remember Walter McFall as he retires from Argonne
National Laboratory this January 2000. I was fortunate enough to work
with Walter when I came to the Lab and he was a technician in the
Corrosion Group of the Metallurgy Division in building 212. We worked on
some nasty materials but still had some fun. Walter was working with
liquid mercury as a coolant and I was working with superheated steam and
zircaloy. Later we worked on alkali metals, sodium and lithium.

![](media/image3.wmf){width="1.8194444444444444in"
height="3.1666666666666665in"}![](media/image4.wmf){width="2.25in"
height="3.4722222222222223in"} Soon after Walter got his bachelor\'s
degree in night school, he started looking for a better job and found
one in Human Resources - then Personnel division. I began running in
1970. Walter began running a few years later - in the fall of 1977. It
was with the encouragement of two Richards (Richard Gehrke and Richard
Lee) and a fellow by the name of Art Brown that he began running. The
running club came into being because several of us were already
gathering as members of the Argonne Photography Club. We used to run
around the roads of Argonne and when we heard about the Corporate Cup
competition in 1979, sponsored by Running Magazine, we started dreaming.
What if we could find enough runners at Argonne to make a team? Once we
put together that first team of runners and came back to the Laboratory
as finalist with medals, we quickly put together \"The Argonne Running
Club.\"

That was the beginning of the Argonne Running Club and we went on to win
a few medals and have a lot of good fun. Tom Braid was there and helped
us win the Master\'s team event, along with Phil Horwitz and Nancy
O\'Fallon. The following year, 1980, we got really serious and began
recruiting everywhere and Walter was elected first president and
\"President for Life\". Of course he had all the connections and knew
almost everyone that came through Personnel. We even kept an eye out for
new hires if they had any running interest!

So, we\'re going to miss him at Argonne and we hope he comes back to
visit us, even if he remains in his typical \"3-piece\" running outfit
(see photo). More in the next issue.

Rich Lee

Braid's Trail

About 15 people showed up at noon December 15 at the East gate on a cold
drizzly day to try out Tom Braid\'s cross-country trail. What great
cross-country weather! And what a course! We had a down hill road to the
grass going in to Argonne Park. Once in Argonne park we soon had a steep
little hill, now christened Braid\'s hill and then through the park to
the forest preserve trail. A short distance on the crushed stone trail
to the edge of the forest preserve and another grass fire-break trail.
Now the leaves, the mud and more hills. Even a cable or two to jump over
the entrances to the forest preserve property.

Now, trying to be smarter than a deer, we cross Bluff Road and down
another fire break trail back to \"Signal Hill Road\". There, some
turned right and the nuclear engineers went straight and got lost.

Maybe next year we can mark it better. Or we could have bits of paper to
follow, like Hansel and Gretel. How do you handle nuclear engineers?
Again we cross Bluff road and back through the forest to the crushed
stone trail and return back through the park and to the gate where the
guard let us in without a fuss. Many prizes were raffled, courtesy of
Tom so that everyone got something. Thanks Tom!

We even got the guard involved, picking the numbers. Again, Tom provided
refreshments and he noted the first few finishers setting the new course
record. The previous course record was held by Rich Lee who scouted out
the course the week before. Kristy Wood and Laurie Culbert walked and
managed to finish not long after the lost engineers.

With shoes thoroughly soaked we headed for the nice warm showers at
Argonne and dry clothes. Already looking forward to a repeat next year!

Tom came to Argonne in November 1956 and he used to have an on-site run
every year with a bottle of single malt Scotch whisky for a prize. Too
bad we can\'t do that on site any more. But it does keep us sober!

Rich Lee

Mud, Mud, and More Mud

Mud, slime, primordial ooze\... no matter how you express it, there was
ample amount of it out near Elgin on December 5. That was the day
Richard Page and I ran the 99 European Cross Country Challenge 8K, which
took place on the grounds of a horse farm in Gilberts, IL. In case you
have never heard of such a race, it is a true cross country race, not
just a race on grass in a park.

With all the dry weather in November, we were apprehensive that the
course would be extremely dry (read that dull). However, in the few days
before the race, and, including race day, there was plenty of rain.
There were several inches of mud on the one-lane road at the start of
the race. We knew then that it would only get better. (My wife says that
I have never grown up and still like to play in the mud. However, I
prefer to believe that in a previous life I was one of those race horses
that are called mudders because they enjoy a sloppy track.)

As usual, there were plenty of natural hazards including extremely steep
hills, split-rail fences, fallen logs, and the ever-present mounds of
\"road-apples\". However, the best part of the race were the water
hazards, especially the mud bogs. In some spots people would only sink
in up to slightly above their ankles, while the next person taking
nearly the same path would go in up to their knees. One girl was knocked
off balance and took a header into the goop - she was mud from head to
toe. And to top off the run, the slight rain turned into snow showers.
Ahh \... pure bliss. Needless to say, you should wear old clothes and
shoes to this race (and bring along a clean change of clothes).

From past experience we both knew to wear our spikes for better traction
on the slippery hills. They were certainly lifesavers this year. While
others slipped and slid on the hills, we navigated them with comparative
ease. (This is the only race of the year that I wear spikes.)

The race is sort of expensive (\$22 pre-registered) for what you got,
but it was more than a lot of fun. One other difference from most races,
only race finishers get a shirt (usually long-sleeved). There were only
a few portapotties for the approximately 1200 people who ran. However,
if you don\'t mind running this type of race, the absence of johns is
not really a priority - you go where you can, and most people do.
(Another benefit of this race is that you get to see a lot of very nice
looking horses. The horses at this farm are not your usual riding stable
nags.) Finally, included in the entry fee is an invitation to a
post-race party at a pizza place in Elgin that includes free appetizers
and beer. However, we did not attend the post-race party because, from
our experience, this type of event is usually overcrowded.

Karl Grimm

Y2K 5K

On December 9 the Argonne Running Club sponsored the Y2K 5K Fun Run. The
run, which started and finished at the APS Gallery, had three different
options for runners or walkers. There was a 2 Km (1.2 mile) course, a 2
mile course, and a 5K (3.1 mile) course. (Essentially, the course was
the same, just the turn-around points were different.) The weather,
which was predicted the day before to be rainy, cooperated. Actually,
the day was sunny and warm, a very pleasant day for early December.
There were approximately 20 people, which included a good mix of runners
and walkers, at the run. After the run there was plenty to eat (bagels,
cookies, bananas, etc.), a raffle for the participants, and lots of
socializing.

Since the main purpose of these fun runs is for ANL exercisers to
socialize, not for hard-core racers to blaze to new PR\'s, it would be
nice to see more Running Club members at these monthly events. It would
also be nice to have some other Running Club members volunteer to help
run them. They are very easy to set-up and run. This would then take the
burden off of the same people month after month. To volunteer, just
contact any of the officers of the club (see addresses at the end of
this newsletter).

Karl Grimm

Winter Waddle

The ARC's annual \"Winter Waddle\" will be held on Wednesday, January
19, 2000, starting at 12:00 noon, by the IPNS, Bldg. 360 lobby. The
event will feature a 2 mile walk and a 5 K run, that will include the
HILL. Refreshments will be served after, which will include hot soup and
drink. Prizes will be raffled off after the completion of this run. If
you need any more information please give Don Bohringer a call (2-8799).

Christmas Party Successful!

Those of you who didn't attend the annual Argonne Running Club Christmas
Party missed a great time. We had a nice sized gathering of running club
members and their significant others. There was plenty of food, drink,
and conversation to fill the evening. The highlight of this year's party
was when each runner took a turn telling of their favorite running
experience of the year. We heard stories of cross country runs in the
mud, marathons, international events, and local races.

Cool Down

The Argonne Running Club Newsletter is edited by John Schlueter. Please
send your stories, photos, tips, race reports, race entry forms,
comments, etc. to me. Mail: Bldg. 200, Rm. A185; Internet:
JASchlueter@anl.gov; Phone: 2-3588. ARC president: Karl Grimm, Bldg.
208, Rm. A205A, 2-6721, b23921@ra.anl.gov. ARC webpage:
chemistry.anl.gov/ARC/ webmaster: Chuck Jonah, Bldg. 200, Rm. B157,
2-3471, CDJonah@anl.gov. For membership information, contact Paul
Eident, Bldg. 200 Rm. L175, 2-3579, eident@anlchm.chm.anl.gov.