In addition to the safety factor, we run together for companionship, and to remind each other how important a part of our lives this activity is.
Gordon Bloch, author

My philosophy on running is, I don't dwell on it, I do it.
Joan Samuelson

Buzz oates RunSac Race Series

The gO! Group is officially signed up for the RunSac Series that will begin it's 2010 season on Feb. 14 at the Valentine Run. All of your names have been submitted and the registration fee has been paid. All you must do to participate is sign up for any of the listed events. You will be ranked as an individual and we will also be ranked as teams (Men and Women's gO! Teams separately). This is an age-graded series which means times are adjusted based on age and gender. Last year we finished 4th out of 7 teams, with Leslie finishing 14th overall for the women, and Allen R. finishing 28th overall for the men. Let's see if we can move up that leader board this year! You must run in 8 of the 14 events (4 "short" and 4 "long"). You can check out all of the details at http://www.fleetfeetsacramento.com/runsac

Here is this year's schedule:

2009 Buzz Oates RunSac Race Series Events
Schedule subject to change.

February 14 Valentine Run 4-Mile
March 15 Shamrock'n Half Marathon
March 29 Nutrition Fuels Fitness 5 km or 10 km
April 19 Sacramento Zoo Zoom 5 km or 10 km
May 3 Fair Oaks Fiesta Sun Run 5-Mile
May 25 Buzz Oates No Excuses 5k 5 km
June 20 Shriners Run 8 km only
July 25 Alzheimer's Aid Society Memorial 5 km 5 km
August 21 Race for the Arts 5km
September 13 Buffalo Stampede 10-Mile
September 19 Run to Break the Silence 5 km
October 4 Cowtown Marathon, Half Marathon or 5 km
November 1 Applehill Harvest Run 8.5 mile
November 8 Clarksburg Country Run 20-mile, 30 km, Half Marathon or 5 km

“Days like this -- rain coming down sideways, gusty winds -- separate the runners from the joggers.
The joggers take a look at the conditions and, say, "Uh, maybe I'll take a rest day." The runners take a look and say, "Which hat do I wear?"
Not that it's particularly a pleasant experience, trudging through the puddles, blinking away stinging rain drops spitting in your face, getting soaked to the bone despite whatever layering you're wearing. But it's part of the deal -- run in good weather or bad.
I saw a quote recently former Oregon's legendary coach, Bill Bowerman, who said, "There's no such thing as bad weather, just soft people."
Yeah, it sounds like one of those hard-a**, eye-rolling rah-rah coaching axioms. But it also happens to be true. “

Sam McManis
Sac Bee Blogger/Columnist

Donate Your Old Shoes For A Good Cause!

Just a reminder that Christine will be collecting any old shoes you would like to donate to the Haiti relief effort. She will be available to take shoes at each group run until the end of the month, so start digging through that closet for some old pairs you can spare. Check out the program at http://www.soles4souls.org/

Leslie Gray Featured On Website!

Congratulations to Leslie for being the feature runner on the website WomenRunningTogether.com. Check it out at:
http://www.women-running-together.com/lesliegray.html

Bay to Breakers

We want to submit a list of names to ING for a group discount for the 7.4 mile Bay to Breakers race on May 16, 2010.
Send your name to us OR add it to the race log at the bottom of this
page.

Gary has volunteered to be our group organizer and would like to send
the list of names in on Sunday, Jan. 24th.

Don't register Yet!
Wait until you receive a coupon code from Gary if you wish to pay the 10% discounted price.

Anne

gO! 10K Race Results!

CONGRATS to all of the finishers in the 1st Annual gO! 10K! Once again we had some great gO! weather and enjoyed a unique racing experience. The official chip timing results are in....

Overall male
Joe Ortega 19:15:00 39:25:00

Overall female
Laurie Beyer 23:33:00 48:12:00

Under 40 male
1st Joe Ortega 19:15:00 39:25:00
2nd Isaac Banda 22:39:00 46:08:00

40 - 49 male
1st Tim Herman 22:06:00 44:50:00
2nd Dennis Ow 25:00:00 48:51:00
3rd Mike 25:35:00 54:00:00
4th Alan Lambert 32:20:00 1:09:02
5th Dave Heitmann DNF

60 - 69 male
1st Richard Cannon 25:35:00 54:00:00

29 & under (A) female
1st Christine Cheng 27:22:00 58:00:00
2nd Candice Guider 34:56:00 1:12:51

29 & under (B) female
1st Lisa Sipila 24:53:00 49:31:00
2nd Melissa Gutzman 26:20:00 56:25:00
3rd Melanie Messina 28:15:00 57:19:00
4th Kim Evans 30:06:00 59:56:00

29 & under (C) female
1st Laurie Beyer 23:33:00 48:12:00
2nd Kris Mapes 25:26:00 49:55:00
3rd Heather Clark 28:08:00 55:04:00

29 & under (D) female
1st Terri Tokutomi 27:08:00 54:47:00
2nd Trish Marquez 27:38:00 56:08:00
3rd Leslie Myrick 29:42:00 59:18:00

29 & under (F) female
1st Lesle Gray 29:55:00 1:00:22

That is why athletes are important, why records are important. Because they demonstrate the scope of human possibility, which is unlimited. The inconceivable is conceived, and then it is accomplished.
Brian Ganville, "The Olympian"

The gO! 10K

It's here! Hopefully you have all trained and tapered for the biggest race of the year! This Sunday will be the 1st Annual gO! 10K at Maidu Regional Park. There will be official timing and "awards" of some kind for age group winners (1st, 2nd & 3rd). We want to encourage folks to give their best shot and truly race the 10K. Because we know each other so well, it will provide a perfect opportunity to get some race experience without battling the crowds and with the odd feeling that you know EVERYONE in the race.

Age groups will be decided on the day of the race as we will divide participants into several even groups.

SEE YOU THERE!

Side Note: There will be no coaches at tonight's run at Clover Valley as we have Back To School Night at the high school. Have fun and run hard!

13.1 + 26.2= 1 Amazing Michelle

Congrats to Michelle for her AMAZING accomplishment this weekend down in Florida. Despite freakish weather, Michelle pulled off the ultimate double whammy with a Saturday half marathon and Sunday marathon. You're one awesome runner!!

Tomorrow's Run

We will be running the trails out at Folsom Lake off Twin Rocks road. This is the same place as the Winter Solstice run a couple of weeks ago. Since parking will be limited at the Twin Rocks trailhead, we will meet at the Raley's on the corner of Auburn Folsom and Douglas Blvd. and carpool in. Please plan to meet at 8am at Raleys. If you do not carpool and go straight to Twin Rocks, be aware we won't arrive till about 15 after. We will run the 5 mile loop (with shorter options) mostly on single track trail. Expect some mud and wet conditions. See you then!

Check out the link to the Shamrock'n 1/2 Marathon Training Plan to the right. This is a great local race that many of us did last year and many of us will do again this year! Join us for some half marathon fun. You can get all of the race details at http://www.shamrocknhalf.com/

Marathons are about tenacity as much as talent.
John "the Penguin" Bingham

Tuesday Night Hill Work

We will meet at Sculpture Park Tuesday night for our run. We will warm up by running down the bike trail to Piches hill for the "Hill Work" part of the night, then cool down by running back to the cars. Since it will be dark and we will be on the bike path, you may want to bring your lights!