## Canal Connection -- 2 Thumbs Up

Running Club members who have been around for a few years have surely
heard me talk about the Canal Connection 10 K race in Utica. I\'m sorry
that I didn\'t remind everyone about it in the October newsletter. As
usual, this year\'s race was a great one. This race is a good choice if
you are trying to run a PR. It comes at the end of the season when most
runners are in peak condition. Also, the course is a one way race that
features a downhill slope for the first 0.75 mile. Runners then enter
the I&M Canal Towpath (which is a different section of the same path on
which the National Heritage Corridor 25 K is run) and run 4.2 miles on a
flat, limestone surface which features impressive rock formations and
autumn scenery. After a short uphill rise from the canal, the race
finishes on a paved street in Utica.

This can be an especially fast race when there are westerly winds
because the race is run essentially from west to east. Unfortunately,
this year the winds were from the east, which may have slowed times a
little, but otherwise the weather was excellent with sunny skies and
mild temperatures. This race has been growing very quickly over the
years, and had another record turnout this year with over 650 runners!
Among the crowd, I saw Keith Knepper and John Piccalo at the race. John
Koss also ran (see next story), but rather than being way ahead of me as
usual, he paced his wife this time.

I would certainly recommend this race for anyone who wants to run a good
10 K race and doesn\'t mind driving about 1 hour from Argonne to find
it. (Utica is located near Starved Rock, just south of I 80). The race
fee of \$16 is quite reasonable. All runners receive a nice sweatshirt,
and plenty of food (pizza, bagels, soda, muffins, fruit, etc.)
afterwards.

John Schlueter

This race is run along the I&M canal. It starts in the town of LaSalle
and finishes in the town of Utica. You are transported via bus to the
start line from the finish area. The first 1+ miles is on pavement and
down hill and fast, fast, fast! Then the remainder of the race is flat
and on gravel with the exception of the last couple tenths of a mile at
the very end which goes back onto the street. I would recommend this
race to anyone who wants to PR for the 10K. The race had a record high
attendance this year 650 some runners. There is pizza at the finish
along with a lot of other goodies. Sweatshirts are given out as well.
This is a must do race, scenic, fast and FUN.

John Koss

Palos Park Turkey Trot

I ran the Palos Park 3 mile Turkey Trot this year. This is a great race
for anyone who wants a challenge in a three mile race. You start out
with a 100 yard straight away, flat. Then turn a corner and wham! The
first of many rather significant hills is right there. The next 1/4+
mile is up hill and then a short down hill and it levels off for a 1/10
or two of a mile and another hill. The second mile is mostly down hill
with a short but not insignificant hill right before mile 2. *Then*
comes the challenging part of the course: the next 3/4 mile is one hill
after another and these are the biggest hills on the course. The race
finishes with a 1/4 mile down hill run which makes for a great fast
finish. This years race also had a record turn out: 171 runners. Another
great race and a must do.

John Koss

Seize This Opportunity

December begins our annual club membership drive. Enclosed with this
newsletter is a copy of the 2000 Argonne Running Club Membership form.
All people who participate in Running Club events or wish to continue to
receive the newsletter must send in membership dues! By any standard,
the \$7/year membership fee is a small price to pay for what the Running
Club provides. Area road races range in cost from \$15 to \$50 for a
single race. The ARC sponsors at least 12 fun runs per year, and as a
paid member, you will be able to enjoy the post race snacks and be
eligible for raffle prizes. Another benefit of being a paid member is
that you receive free, or greatly reduced admittance into running club
parties, such as the upcoming Christmas party.

As our president, Karl Grimm, mentioned in the November newsletter,
there are a large number of people who receive our newsletter and
participate in our events that do not pay their dues. We strongly
discourage this behavior and may remove such deadbeats from the mailing
list. As you read this newsletter, your 2000 membership in the ARC is at
hand: it is stapled to the back of this very newsletter. So, seize this
opportunity, fill out the form, write a check and mail it to Paul Eident
TODAY!

ThanksGIVING Fun Run and Walk

Thanks to all who participated in the \"Put the giving back in
Thanksgiving Fun Run.\" Two boxes of food were delivered to the
Bethlehem Food Pantry along with a couple of monetary donations. Due to
mild temperatures, twelve runners and two walkers braved the rain to
either run three miles or walk two. After the run/walk, refreshments
were served in the APS Gallery, followed by a raffle. Dick Page won a
\$15 Jewel gift certificate, which he generously donated to the food
pantry. Jean Smith won a \$10 Jewel gift certificate and Renee Lanham
won a pumpkin pie. The raffle was open to all who donated a food item.
Thanks to all for your generosity.

Kristi Wood

Winter Runs

It can be difficult to find good road races during the winter months.
However, Jack Piccalo has suggested one that may be of interest to
Argonne Runners. The Winterfest 5 K run and Fitness Walk will be held on
Sunday February 6 at 1 PM at the Small Memorial Park in Kankakee. This
is a 2-loop course run on city streets following the perimeter of the
park. For more information or entry forms, please contact Jack or myself
and we\'ll try to help you out.

For those of you who have running shoes that are Y2K compliant, and
don\'t mind a 2 hour drive, I\'d suggest the Siberian Express cross
country race on Saturday, January 1 in Kickapoo State Park (near
Champaign). This is a 7.6 mile race held on trails and park roads and is
run regardless of the weather -- it has been anywhere from 0 to 60
degrees at race time! For more information, check out their web-site at:
holbrook.net66.com/\~kennekuk/.

Another good winter race, which has become a tradition among Argonne
Runners is the Frosty Five Miler in Channahon. (Channahon is located
near the intersection of I80 and I55.) This years race will be held on
Sunday, February 13^th^. Instead of T-shirts, runners of this race
receive stocking hats (which are great for winter running). We hope to
have a good turn out for this race. Please contact me if you are
interested in joining us!

Y2K 5K

The December Fun Run will be held on Thursday, December 9^th^ at noon
starting at the APS Gallery. Be sure to mark your calendars for this
event because sometimes the newsletter does not get sent out until the
middle of the month. This may be your last formal reminder! This is
another good reason to check our web-page regularly: Chuck Jonah keeps
the page up to date with the most current information on running club
events. As you can see from the title, the theme of this race will be
Y2K. For walkers, there will also be a 2K course.

We are all aware of how quickly the holiday season passes and soon the
new year will be upon us. Be sure to mark your calendar for the first
ARC run of the new millennium. The Winter Waddle will be coordinated by
Don Bohringer, and will begin at noon outside the IPNS lobby on
Wednesday, January 19^th^, 2000.

Christmas Party!

You won\'t want to miss this ARC event! The annual Christmas Party will
be held on Thursday, December 16 at Papa Passaro\'s (Cass Avenue, just
south of 63rd Street) from 5-8 PM. The party is free for all members
(1999 or 2000) who have paid their dues. A membership form is attached
to this newsletter, and will also be available at the party. For guests,
the cost is a very reasonable \$3.00. As always, there will be plenty of
pizza, drinks, and good conversation for everyone. The highlight of the
1998 party was Paul Eident\'s Christmas Carol sing-along. Last year, we
had a presentation from Jay (Dick Pond\'s Shoes) in which he
demonstrated the latest in running gear. Be sure to join us this year
for another great time!

Retirement Party

After 41 years, one of our long term members, Walter McFall, will be
retiring. A special luncheon to honor Walter will be held on Wednesday,
January 5 at the Argonne Guest House. A cash bar will be offered from
11:30 until noon with lunch served from noon until 1:30 PM. The cost is
\$15, which includes tax and gratuity, main entrée (your choice of
chicken breast, prime rib, or vegetarian pasta), rolls, salad, dessert
and non-alcoholic beverage. Responses for lunch reservations and/or gift
contributions are due by Wednesday, December 15. Please contact Janice
Buckley, HR, Bldg. 201, 2-9371 for more information. We encourage you to
take advantage of this opportunity to say good bye to a great runner and
consistent supporter of the ARC.

A Word of Thanks

As 1999 draws to a close, I want to give a special word of thanks to all
the runner/authors who contributed to the ARC newsletter this year: Karl
Grimm, Laurie Culbert, Don Bohringer, Paul Eident, Geoffrey Bodwin, Dick
Page, Ginger Warren, Chuck Jonah, Corrie Patterson, Jean Smith, Rich
Lee, John Sickels. Kristi Wood, and John Koss. The Running Club members
appreciate the stories and comments you have written, and hope that you
will continue to contribute to the newsletter next year. As always, we
encourage all of our members to send in their stories, comments, etc.

Quote

"One morning in Boston, it was snowing so hard that I didn't think
anybody would be going to training, but I went down to the track anyway.
Billy \[Smith\] was there though. He opened the door and said: 'The road
to Mexico is out there.' "

David Hemery, who won the 400-meter hurdles at Mexico City in 1968.

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.