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ARC in 1997

Below are a few highlights of the past year for the Argonne Running
Club:

**January** John Schlueter takes over as editor of the Running Club
Newsletter from Laurie Culbert. After a lot of hard bargaining, it was
agreed that John would be paid twice what Laurie used to get. When my
first paycheck arrived, I realized that anything times zero is still
\$0.00!

**February** Karl Grimm\'s \"Prisoner of Love\" shorts are the highlight
of the Valentine\'s Day Fun Run.

**March** Dan Remus wins the grand prize at the ARC\'s Shamrock Trot by
coming dressed entirely in green.

**April** For the third consecutive year the ARC\'s entry into the River
to River Relay ,\"3 Does and 5 Bucks\", complete the 80 mile course
through the Shawnee National Forest between the Mississippi and Ohio
Rivers.

**May** The IPNS Division organized the first IPNS Mountain Run which
concluded with a run up and down the IPNS ramp.

**June** Beautiful weather greeted the Running Club for a morning run in
Waterfall Glen.

**July** Laboratory Director Dean Eastman joined the ARC for the
Director\'s Fitness Day Run.

**August** The Running Club sends a team to compete in the Chicago
Distance Classic.

**September** The Chemistry Division claims the Divisional Trophy at the
annual McKee\'s Run after a three year reign by ECT.

**October** The ARC is well represented at the largest Chicago Marathon
ever. Karl Grimm, Dick Page, Laurie Culbert, Pat Dombroski, Tom
Buffington, Joe Mavec and Aziz Uras complete the race in good form,
while Corrie Patterson led the volunteer effort.

**November** Karl Grimm wins the Pulitzer Prize for the longest account
ever of a race (Chicago Marathon \'97).

**December** The annual Winter Holiday Party at Papa Passero\'s was a
great time. ARC members and friends enjoyed an evening reminiscing about
favorite races and plans for the new year.

We hope that you will join us and be a part of the 1998 highlights!

1998 Membership

If you want to be a part of the Argonne Running Club in 1998, you need
to send a signed membership form (enclosed with this newsletter) with
your dues to Karl Grimm. Don\'t miss this chance to become involved with
a fun group of runners and walkers of every skill level. Get to know
some of our members - they can help motivate you to maintain your
running/walking program and reach your goals. Our monthly running events
feature exercise, food, prizes, and good conversation. Running club
members will also receive the Running Club Newsletter which will alert
you as to when the Running Club\'s events are, tell you about area
races, and hopefully provide some inspiration. You get all of this for
only \$7 (\$3 for students) - about half the price of a single road
race. Send in your form today!

European Cross Country Challenge

On Sunday December 7^th^ Dick Page and I ran the European Cross Country
Challenge on a farm in Elgin, Illinois. The race-course ran through farm
fields, pastures, semi-swamps, and wooded areas. (I don\'t know what had
been growing in the fields but it was grassy and almost up to our
knees.) In addition, the course also featured several steep up and down
hill segments. The most numerous \"obstacle\" throughout the course were
the ever-present road-apples. Overall, the race was quite enjoyable.
(While running the course we came upon Jack Picciolo navigating the
mounds of manure.)

We both wore spikes because they afford better traction in icy
conditions. There was not much ice this year so regular training shoes
would probably have been better. Last year Dick thought the spikes gave
him a noticeable advantage.

The only down-side to this race was that there were only 6 porta-potties
at the start (for some 800-1000 people) and the shirt pick-up at the end
of the race consisted of only two people handing out shirts. (You had to
finish the race to get a shirt.) Thus there were long lines for both the
potties and shirt pick-up. There should be more potties and workers for
a race that charges a fee of \$20 (\$25 on race-day).

One of the nice perks associated with this race is that all runners were
invited to a brew-pub in Elgin for free beer (2 pints maximum) and free
appetizers. (You had to show your race bib at the door to get the
freebies.) This post-race party was nice although there were also long
lines here because the food and drinks were \"free\".

Karl Grimm

Innocence Lost

You may be wondering why an article in the Running Club Newsletter is
entitled \"Innocence Lost\"? Well this title comes from an unfortunate
occurrence that can happened to any runner during a race. To make a long
story short, while Karl Grimm and Dick Page were running a race (see
accompanying story about the European Cross Country Challenge), someone
broke into their car and stole their credit cards. In just a few hours,
while they still had not discovered the theft, several thousand dollars
was rung-up on their cards.

They did not steal their cash or any other thing from their wallets or
car, only their credit card(s). This way the bastards could maximize the
time before the burglary was noticed, thereby maximizing the time they
could use the card(s). These thieves must be well organized because they
know where the races are, what to do at the race, and what to do after
they get their loot.

Their experience is not an isolated phenomenon. For example, at the 1995
Chicago Distance Classic, a very large and popular 20K in the city of
Chicago in July, the same unfortunate incident occurred. Laura Miller
and Laurie Culbert went down to the race together and Laura\'s car was
broken into. Credit cards and checks (from the center of the checkbook)
were stolen. About a day and a half later they discovered what had
happened and spent the next several months trying to get the situation
rectified. The same incident happened to Laurie\'s father at a small 5K
in Darien several years ago. (Several other runners have told us similar
horror stories.)

So it goes to show ya \... it doesn\'t matter what race it is or what
town it is in or how large the race is. It happens a lot more then any
runner would care to think it does and race directors don\'t seem to be
doing much about it. So it is up to us, the runners, to watch out for
ourselves and our fellow runners. (Hopefully it is not a fellow runner
that is committing these crimes.)

Losing credit cards (or checks) is no fun; having to straighten-out
fraudulent purchases with stolen credit cards is even less fun. There is
a hassle with canceling cards, iterating with the credit card company to
remove fraudulent charges, getting new cards etc\.... ugh, it is a big
hassle.

Do not bring a checkbook or credit cards to a race. If you have to bring
one of these items to a race, either carry it with you as you run (use a
fanny pack) or hide it really well in the car (although that is really
not recommended). If you are a passenger in a car, consider only
bringing a minimal amount of cash. (This can be a problem thought if
there is some sort of emergency.)

Theft at races is a growing problem, so learn from other peoples bad
luck. Remember, these burglars are professionals and they know where to
look in the car and they work fast. It sure would be nice to see running
organizations such as CARA, get involved in doing something about this
ever growing problem.

Karl Grimm

Laurie Culbert

Running Behind the Pack

I learned a lesson at the National Heritage Corridor Classic 25 K back
in September, and feel that it is one that is worth sharing. This is a
race that I have run many times, always finishing within a few minutes
of the 2 hour mark. But this year was different. Still suffering a
little from a groin pull at the Madison Marathon months before I had not
put in the miles I usually do during the summer. Although the injury did
not bother me extensively during the race, it was on my mind. On top of
these factors, this was one of those days where my body just didn't feel
in-synch. Most runners have probably experienced this at one time or
another, but it is the feeling that your legs just can't find the right
pace, and your lungs and legs don't work in rhythm with each other.
Needless to say, I set a PW (personal worst) that day, running the race
in somewhere near 2:45.

The people I saw that day, I'll never forget. They were the
"back-of-the-packers" that I never realized ran races. They are the
runners who are often crossing the finish line after many of the
post-race snacks are gone, and many runners are heading home. These
runners were a sight to see, much more interesting than those carbon
copy superhuman sprinters who are clothed in brightly colored, high-tech
running gear who seem to be chiseled out of stone without an ounce of
fat between them all.

I believe more than ever that it is these runners that truly deserve the
awards. True, it is very impressive to see great runners running one
five minute mile after another, but we come to expect this since these
are the runners we always see on TV or read about in the papers. I also
understand how much training these \"natural athletes\" must go through
and that they must perform their best to run like that. However, the
\"back-of-the-packers\" are also giving their best, but doing it for
much longer periods of time. I\'ve often wondered if the slick athletes
could hold their 5 min/mile pace until the last runner crosses the
finish line.

What I saw that day in September I will never forget: runners that
weighed twice as much as me trotting along - yet determined to finish
the race, runners easily twice as old as me - yet enjoying every step
they took, runners with braces supporting nearly every part of their
body - but focused enough not to concede to their obvious pain, a
grandmother who I would have expected to be handing me a Gatorade
following a running/walking pattern that was guaranteed to get her to
the finish.

No, these runners will never cross the finish line first, and there may
be few treats to choose from when they do finish, but everyone of them
went home a winner. When many top runners went home to think about how
they could improve their time, I am confident that may of these unlikely
heroes went home with a feeling of victory. Next time you are at a race,
I encourage you to walk back to the finish line after you have caught
your breath and cheer for those runners straggling in behind you. I am
confident that not only will you make them feel good, but you will feel
better about your race time as well.

Winter Waddle

The Argonne Running Club\'s first race of the new year will be The
Winter Waddle. It will be held on Thursday January 15 at noon. The start
and finish will be inside the APS Gallery (below the APS Auditorium).
Regardless of weather, the 3 mile run or 2 mile walk is sure to be a
great time. Before and after the event, runners will be able to warm up
indoors with snacks, warm beverages, and good conversation. Don\'t miss
this chance to get 1998 off to a running start!

Frosty 5

Winter can be a difficult time to find good road races. However, for
those of you who enjoy winter running, or want to get some training in
for that favorite spring race, I would recommend the Frosty Five in
Channahon, IL. I have run this race several times, and plan to run again
in 98. The race starts and finishes at the small Channahon Middle
School. The five mile course winds through the scenic I&M Canal Heritage
Corridor on paved town roads. Most runners have more than enough race
shirts, so this race gives out knit stocking caps to the first 200
entrants. These make excellent head warmers for winter training runs.
After the race, runners can warm up with hot coffee, hot chocolate and
pizza. There are shower facilities available so you can warm up and dry
off before heading home. Channahon is only about 30 min. from Argonne,
near the junction of I55 and I80. Call me if you need entry forms
(2-3588). Hope to see you there!

Hospice Races

The Iowa City Hospice Road Races were held on Sunday October 19th. This
is a big event in Iowa, with registration limited to 9000 runners. There
are races of 1 M, 5 K, 10 K, and 13.1 M. Some very good runners have run
this race, including Jenny Spangler (of the US Olympic Marathon Team).
The course is mostly flat, but there are more hills (grades) than there
are for most races around Chicago. Most of the courses are on city
streets in Iowa City, but the half marathon route heads out into the
corn fields for a few miles, including one section of about a mile on a
gravel road. This race was expected to raise about \$125,000 for the
Johnson County United Way.

I have enjoyed running this race several years now. This year, the
weather was cool (in the 40's), with cloudy skies for the start. The
clouds cleared out by the time that I finished the race 1 hr. 52 min.
later. My sister, Carol, had signed up for the 10 K race, but at mile 2,
decided to run the half marathon with me. The T-shirts from this race
are nice because they don't have any advertising on them.

Inspiration

If you want to be the best runner you can be, start now. Don\'t spend
the rest of your life wondering if you can do it.

Priscilla Welch

Winner of \'87 NY Marathon at age 42.

Cool Down