Regional Features
Wigal Gets RRCA Award
Melissa Wigal of the River City Runners and Walkers in Parkersburg, West Virginia, was honored by the Road Runners Club of America for directing the "Outstanding Beginning Running Program" of 2012 in the United States. Melissa could not be at the annual RRCA Convestion in Albuquerque, New Mexico, so West Virginia's RRCA State Rep Tom Kramer accepted the award for her. Tom made a formal presentation to Melissa at the West Virginia State Championship race May 18, the Chick-fil-A 10K at Parkersburg.
NFL STARS & TWIN BROTHERS JASON & DEVIN McCOURTY MAKE A BET TO SEE WHO CAN RAISE MORE $ FOR TACKLE SICKLE CELL
Twin brothers and NFL defensive backs, Jason & Devin McCourty have partnered with Embrace Kids Foundation and launched a campaign against sickle cell disease. The campaign, entitled "Tackle Sickle Cell" aims to educate the public, increase blood donors and raise money & awareness for the fight against sickle cell disease.
Team USA Wins Gold at 24-Hour Championships
Jon Olsen won the World 24-Hour Championships to lead Team USA to win gold in both the men’s and women’s races on Sunday in Steenbergen, Netherlands.
Olsen (Modesto, Calif.) logged 167.568 miles to take the top spot over John Dennis (Takoma Park, M.D.) by more than four miles. Team USA locked up the team competition with 485.012 miles over runner-up Japan’s 467.623 miles.
DC Road Runners Club to Host the 2013 RRCA National 1-Mile Championship
Arlington, VA – The DC Road Runners 1 Mile Track Championships will be the host for the 2013 RRCA National 1 Mile Championship. The event is part of the Bring Back the Mile Tour, and the RRCA is a supporter of the Bring Back the Mile, America’s Distance, campaign.
The race will take place on Wednesday July 24, 2013 in Arlington, VA at the Washington-Lee High School track. The Track Championships are FREE to all runners, member and non-member alike, but race organizers request that runners pre-register to help with planning.
Ross Bolding is top RRCA master
The Road Runners Club of America award as Male Master Runner of the Year was given to Ross Bolding of the Little Rock, Arkansas, Road Runners. Bolding was honored at the annual RRCA Convention in Alburquerque, New Mexico, being presented with his award by Jean Knaack, executive director of the RRCA. Runners from around the nation were in attendance. Bolding, who is 67, said he weighs 155 pounds, which is what he weighed in high school.
Angelo and Sherry Celesia honored for youth program
Angelo and Sherry Celesia of the Tidewater Striders, Virginia Beach, VA, were honored at the annual RRCA Convention as Outstanding Youth Program Directors.
The award was presented by RRCA Executive Director Jean Knaack at the meeting in Alburquerque, New Mexico. Angelo and Sherry were recognized for their efforts in increasing youth programs from an attendance of 20-30 participants to around 200 in multiple cities in the Tidewater area.
Harrison Named USA Track & Field Athlete of the Week
INDIANAPOLIS - Queen Harrison (Clemson, S.C.) has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after defeating a loaded field in the women’s 100-meter hurdles at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday.Photo of Queen Harrison
The Biochemistry of the Runner’s High
By Thomas Peterson, Ph.D.
(Dr. Peterson is principal scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Na tional Climatic Data Center in Asheville, NC. This column first appeared in the Asheville Track Club newsletter, Runnin’ On. Peterson is a member of the track club.)
As a scientist, my recreational reading tends towards the nerdy.1 I read enough about my field (climate change) at work, so my evening reading is usually quite different. Two topics that have piqued my interest of late are evolutionary psychology2 and the chemistry and physiology of our brains.3 Before I get into what going on in the runner’s brain, let’s first take a side trip into the relevant topic of evolutionary psychology.
"One Fund Boston"
USATF Georgia Contributes...
USATF Georgia announced this weekend that it has organized a fundraiser to support "One Fund Boston, Inc.", the organization created to to help the people most affected by the tragic events that occurred in Boston on April 15, 2013.
USATF Foundation announces 42 Youth Club Grant recipients
INDIANAPOLIS - The USA Track & Field Foundation Chairman Bob Greifeld andExecutive Director Tom Jackovic announced today it has awarded 42 youth grants to track & field clubs throughout the country. The grants assist young male and female athletes with expenses such as travel to meets, equipment, uniforms, awards and facility rental.
