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Runners handling temperature swing
By JOE SHAFRAN
Last week’s weather was like the stock market. One day high, the next day down. Last Wednesday, in some places, we hit triple digits on the thermometer but on Saturday morning we runners enjoyed temperatures in the low sixties. I was going to say that in Wednesday’s heat, you could shoot a cannon down Bestgate Rd. and not hit a runner. However, I would be wrong, depending on the time of day. The neighbors tell me that Jon Line was out there running and when I checked with him, Jon admitted that he did ran that triple digit day, but in the evening, and that he guzzled water at his 7 mile turnaround on the B&A Trail. You understand that Jon has to be true to his calling. He manages the Gotta Run store downtown. And as for others on that 105 degree day, the fellow I call the Cal Ripken, Jr. of Annapolis running, Gill Cochran 61, the lawyer, is reported to have continued his streak of running the streets of Annapolis everyday the past 25 years, but you understand this is mostly at 6:06 in the morning.
On Saturday morning, when the morning temperatures were in the sixties, we runners were all out there, as were the bikers, in full force. Now, if only we can have last Saturday morning’s temperature for the weekend of the Annapolis Ten Miler on Sunday, Aug 26, but it’s probably not to be. However, the 5,000 who signed up for the race understand that the race goes on, rain or shine, cool or hot. I don’t know if you happened to see Debbie Perry of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department on TV last week urging that all runners at the A-10 wear some sort of visible I.D. containing full medical information. If you missed her, Perry said that the department medics will be on call Sunday for the race and ask that runners make it easier on them if they need medical help by wearing a visible I.D. Perry’s suggestion will be repeated this Saturday evening at 7:30 on Comcast Cable Channel 99 in Anne Arundel County.
And speaking of hot weather and sweating, I may be jumping the gun when I say this but, I have it on good authority that the City of Annapolis will issue its coveted License to Sweat to Betty and Ben Moore, 1:30 P.M Wed., Aug. 22 at Susan B. Cambell Park at the Annapolis City Dock. The public is invited. No speeches. Just a photo of the presentation by Mayor Ellen Moyer.
The Race of the Week has got to be the Annapolis Ten Miler, 7:45 A.M. Sunday morning Aug. 26th, one of the more popular runs on the east coast which closed registration when it reached 5,000, a while back. However, it takes many volunteer helpers to pull of this event and the call has gone out for the seven hundred that are required. These critical jobs range from wearing a reflective vest and being a traffic cop at various places to handing out bananas at the finish line at Navy Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis. Seriously, Penny Goldstein and Donna Cogle say they need people to help set up on Saturday, strike the set on Sunday, people in food distribution, at water stops, as course monitors and for parking. You need to be in touch with Goldstein and Cogle and they’ll not only find a nice job for you for a few hours but will give you one of their keepsake Strider tee shirts guaranteed to be a conversation piece when you’re in line at the grocery store checkout and, as a bonus, you might be seen on live TV if the Baltimore station shows up. Reach Penny by e-mail at munch 301@verizon.net or 410.721.6614, or Donna at 410.623.6628
The hint of the week comes from Ken Mierke, a runner and a newcomer to the area who I listened to a week last Saturday as he lectured at the Strider’s training run that starts and ends at the Truman Park ‘n Ride lot. I would say that if you listen to him closely and follow his precepts you can have a career in running without injury. He hands out a sheet that is titled the Ten Commandments of Evolution Running, Number on is this: Land with your feet directly beneath your center of mass and never allow your foot to extend forward beyond the knee. There are nine others that you can get from his web site. At the training session, it was Merke training the trainers. By the way, when you see him in shorts , don’t let his legs deceive you. They are somewhat spindly. He calls himself a disabled athlete with muscular dystrophy. Mierke’s web site is www.evolutionrunning.com
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RUNNING CALENDAR
Aug. 26: 7:45 a.m. Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis Ten Mile Race. Registration is closed. Volunteers are needed.
Sept. 2: 7 a.m. Virginia Beach ,Va. Rock "n" Roll half marathon. Visit www.rnrhalf.com
Sept. 23: 8:15 a.m. Severna Park. Victim's Fund Run, for the State's Attorneys Office and Anne Arundel County Bar Foundation. Call Judy Feldt at 410.222.1740, Ext. 3872. 5K run and 2 mile walk.
Sept. 30: 8:30 a.m. Quiet Waters Park. 5K run. Volunteers on the Run. Junior League of Annapolis. Register and get information on www.active.com
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If you have a suggestion for the runner of the week,
please e-mail me with a contact number.
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