Presidential Thoughts...

The holiday season is fast approaching when everyone will be talking about getting into the Christmas Spirit. It is at this time of year I am reminded of all of the spirit that can be found within our club and its members.

The Battenkill Runners Club has challenged The Adirondack Runners for two years to a relay competition. Both years we were defeated. This year they challenged us again. Chuck Nacy, at our last meeting, said if we were really serious about winning, we should show some winning spirit. E. John Loucks worked hard to assemble some competitive teams and on a cool crisp Sunday morning we met at the covered bridge for the showdown. Led by the Shirtless Team our club prevailed. The cup now rests with TAR.

Congratulations are also in order for Mark Regan, Gen May and Ernie Spears for their great showing in the Marine Corps Marathon. Gen and Mark both had PRs and for that matter so did Ernie, as it was his first.

The night before the Goblin Gallop a girl I know who is new to racing asked me if the race would be cancelled, as the forecast was not good. I responded by saying that races are not called off because of bad weather, modified perhaps (remember Mt. Washington,) but never cancelled. I awoke the next morning to find that the forecasters were indeed correct. It was dark, cold, windy and rainy at 7:00. My thoughts turned to race directors Amy Hoffer and Christine Cifone-Clohosey. I knew they planned to begin setting up at 6:30 am. With true spirit, they rose to the occasion. Adding hot chocolate and hot coffee to the pre and post race refreshment list the race went on as planned. The weather was indeed nasty, but the race was a success, refreshments top notch, awards appropriate to the season, shirt design snappy and results timely. And any volunteer who works under those conditions sure has spirit in my book.

My birthday happened to be last week, and for the Wednesday night running group that seems to mean cake, cards, and perhaps beer and a present or two. Brian Teague made a card for me, complete with a digitally enhanced picture of myself finishing the 2003 Boston Marathon in a respectable time. The caption read Visualize Success. Candi Schermerhorn and Jim Werthmuller gave me a card containing a $5 scratch off ticket. Well I visualized, and I won $50, no kidding. Somehow this group really knows how to lift your spirit, even when you are not looking forward to getting older.

The Adirondack Runners are a diverse group. They do not always see eye to eye (you learn that when you are president), but they are a group of people with a multitude of talents that you can count on to have spirit, drive, and commitment to get the job done. I had some fellow runners up to dinner the other night to pay them back for helping me through the Mohawk Hudson Marathon. That night I think Candi summed up my feelings too when she said, "You know, we are really lucky to have such a great group of friends."

I don't know about you, but I will be at the club Christmas Party this month. I don't want to miss Phil and the Patsy Awards. I hope you will all join us for some holiday Spirits!
Merry Christmas.

Jill Pederson