## For Something Different: Disney World

What better way to start the new year then by running a marathon in
sunny Florida? So off I went to Orlando to compete in the 6th running of
the Walt Disney World Marathon on January 10, 1999. This marathon was
actually "fun" to run (I know what you are thinking...how can running
26.2 miles be fun?) because I ran it to see what Disney was like and not
to run a PR. I had never been to Disney, so this was a totally new
experience for me. Disney is like being in a dream world -- it is very
clean and everyone is very friendly. The marathon course took us through
four of the theme parks -- Epcot, The Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom Park
(the new Disney attraction), and MGM Studios. The start was at Epcot at
6AM (the bus picked me up at my resort hotel at 3:30AM - yikes, I am not
a morning person), complete with fireworks and singing Disney
characters. The first hour or so of this marathon is run in the dark,
which is actually pretty neat. Running through Epcot in the dark with
the colored lights overhead and the fiber-optic lights in the sidewalks
was very cool. I was surprised by the amount of spectators out at this
time in the morning...tons of people lined the roads to watch and
support us crazies. Oh and I should mention the temperature at the start
was a lovely 55°F. I can't say enough good things about the organization
of this event and the amount of cheerful volunteers working to make this
such a popular and enjoyable marathon. But I wouldn't expect anything
less from a Disney production. Everything from the 2-day expo, to the
transportation logistics, to the race info book I received beforehand,
to the entertainment along the course (and there was a lot of it), to
the course and runner's safety along the course, to the finish line
events, to the big Mickey Mouse head finishers medal, was a first-class
production. There were even enough porta-potties at the start, along the
course, and at the finish to support the 9,000 marathoners and 4,000
half-marathoners. This marathon had runners from all 50 states and many
foreign countries. Anyone, who is looking for some fun in the sun,
running, should consider the Walt Disney World Marathon in January 2000.
But register early, this years race was at full capacity by November
23rd of 1998.

Winter Waddle

Our first run of 1999 was the Winter Waddle, which started at the
parking lot outside of APS, Bldg. 401 Gallery. This event included a 5 K
run and 2 mile walk, and who could have predicted that the sun would be
out and the temperature would be +40°F (could have been a wind chill of
--40°F), especially after the weather we have experienced the last few
weeks. Fifteen brave individuals gathered to enter either the run or
walk, and all seemed to enjoyed the day. The winning group of runners
included Laurie Culbert, Dick Page, John Schlueter and Bob Giese with a
time of 24:45. The first walker was Donna Skonick at 28:23.

After the event everyone enjoyed hot chicken soup (1.5 gallons), hot
apple cider (.5 gallons), cold apple cider (.5 gallons), water and
crackers. I would like to thank John Sickels and Karl Grimm for their
help in making this event happen.

Don Bohringer

Thanks for the creative idea of having hot soup after the run, Don. We
are always looking for ways to give our runs a unique 'flavor', and your
secret soup recipe certainly did that!

Valentines Run

The Chemistry Division will sponsor the February Fun Run. The race will
have a Valentine them and will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 1999.
The race will begin from the front of Building 200 at noon. In addition
to a 3 mile run, there will be a 2-mile course for walkers. There will
be valentine refreshments and a raffle at the finish. Runners will be
able to warm up in the lobby of 200 before and after the event. Don't
let the cold weather scare you away from our last run of the winter
season!

Membership

February is the month that we wrap up our membership drive for 1999.
Enclosed with this newsletter is a copy of the membership form. If you
haven't done so already, sign the waver, and send it in to Karl Grimm
(Bldg. 208, Rm. A205A) with your membership fee. I think it is quite a
bargain at only \$7/year (or \$3/year for students). This comes to a
little over fifty cents a race if you come to each of the monthly races
that the running club sponsors. At each of the fun runs, there is plenty
of refreshments, good conversation, and often raffle prizes. In
addition, you will get information about area races, discounts on
certain races, information on track workouts, the opportunity to
volunteer at the Chicago marathon, etc. Help us to keep the running club
an active and fun group -- send in your membership today! After
February, you will have to beg one of us for a membership form.

Christmas Party

The Argonne Running Club held it's third annual Christmas Party on
December 17^th^. It was a cold night, but the dedicated members that
showed up had a wonderful time. There was plenty of pizza, soda (and
other beverages), and good conversation. Jay, a manager at Dick Pond's
Running Shoe Store, and his wife were our guests for the night. He
showed us examples of various types of running clothes that runners can
use in the cold weather to keep their running up during this difficult
time of the year. If you missed the party in 1998, you'll want to be
sure to mark it on your calendar for 1999!

Late Winter Races

It's not to early to start looking at the area race calendar and start
choosing some races to provide motivation to train for. There are
several places to get listings of area races. Electronically, runners
can check out our web site at: http://chemistry.anl.gov/ARC/, and look
at some of the links to other running organizations in the Chicago area.
Personally, I like to pick up a free copy of Windy City Sports or The
Amateur Athlete at sporting good stores or health clubs. Both of these
magazines are great places to read about running events near Argonne.

Last month I mentioned the Frosty Five Road Race in Channahon, IL.
Unfortunately, I forgot to include the date. This year's race will be
held at 1 PM on Sunday, February 14^th^. There is still time to sign up
for this race -- I have entry forms for those interested. The race
starts and finishes at the Channahon Middle School. The five mile course
will wind through the flat, paved, and beautifully scenic I&M Canal
Heritage Corridor and town roads. The first 200 entrants receive knit
stocking caps. The entry fee is \$14/\$16. This year there is also a
walking category. I know that we are going to have a good representation
from our running club at this year's race. We hope to see you there.

A race which I've run several years now is March Madness in Cary, IL.
This year's race will be held on Sunday, March 7^th^. There are two
races, a 10 K (9:35 AM) and a half marathon (9:50 AM). Since this race
is very early in the race season, the weather can be unpredictable. I've
run in on a crisp, sunny morning, a rather mild spring-like day, a
morning after 6 inches of snow, and last year - in freezing rain. This
race is rather challenging -- the course has several hills (more on the
half-marathon route). The Cary Hillstriders put on the race so you know
the area is hilly! But all in all, it is a good race with several
hundred runners. Cary is located about 50 miles NW of Chicago.

I don't run many races downtown, but for those of you who may be
interested, I have entry forms for the Wacky Snacky 5 K run on Sunday,
February 21^st^. They claim that this is a 'weatherproof' course because
it is mostly underground on Lower Wacker Drive. The race benefits the
Blind Service Association. After the race, there is a sampling of snacks
in celebration of National Snack Food Month.

I recently received an entry for a race I've never run before, but it
sounds interesting. It is the 35^th^ annual Lincoln Memorial Run in
Springfield, IL. This race will be held at 10 AM on Sunday, March
28^th^. There is both a 5-mile run and half-marathon. The course is run
on asphalt country roads southwest of Lake Springfield. The 5-mile
course is generally flat; the half-marathon course is more challenging
with occasional hills. The entry fee is \$15. Again, please contact me
if you would like an entry form.

Help Us Out

The ARC sponsors about twelve fun runs during the year. You may have
noticed that at each race, there are 2-3 running club members who aren't
running the race, but instead are organizing it. These fun runs wouldn't
be possible without the volunteers. I'm sure that all of us would rather
run in the races than have to organize them, but it would be helpful if
everyone could volunteer to work at one race per year. It really isn't
much work -- you get to choose a theme, a course, and set up the
refreshments and prizes as you like. The running club will reimburse you
for the expenses. If you've never worked a race before, you can help out
someone who has done it many times. If you are interested, contact Paul
Eident (Bldg. 200, L175, 2-3579).

The running club is always looking for new ideas and themes for races.
If you have any suggestions, please let us know. Last year we had our
first Red Dress Run, which turned out to be a big success. We also had
our first Dash and Splash run which turned out to be especially popular
for the mosquitoes.

As always, if you have run a race, or know of a good one in the area,
send me a note about it for the newsletter. It's a help to ARC runners
to know which area races are good, and which ones to avoid.

Quote

"Joanie, if marathons make you look like this, please don't run any
more."

Joan Benoit's mother, in a letter, after Joan's exhausted face appeared
in a newspaper photo upon winning Boston in 2:22:43.

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:
schlueter@anchx4.chm.anl.gov; Phone: 2-3588. ARC president: Paul Eident,
Bldg. 200, Rm. L175, 2-3579, eident@anlchm.chm.anl.gov. ARC webpage:
chemistry.anl.gov/ARC/ webmaster: Chuck Jonah, Bldg. 200, Rm. B157,
2-3471, jonah@anlchm.chm.anl.gov. For membership information, contact
Karl Grimm, Bldg. 208 Rm. A205A, 2-6721, b23921@ra.anl.gov.