Last Updated Thursday March 11, 2010
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Results for the KD Shamrock 5K

Bajillion:  That's about how many races have been added to our calendar recently.  Everything should be up to date will all the information I have so check that out.
Ex-AORTA superstar Kim Dorman finally (the most graceful runner I've ever seen) ran her first marathon this past weekend.  After all those 20 mile runs she used to do on Saturday mornings but refusing to attempt a marathon she finally cracked.  She turned in a blistering 3:21:17.  Oddly enough her arch nemesis, Kermit Davis, was running a marathon at the same time at a different place and finished in 3:25.  I'm sure an email passed from Kim saying "who's your daddy"!  Thanks to Steve Speakman for that information.

Catching up:  Molly wanted to thank all the water volunteers and sent me this...A big thank you to the February water volunteers:  Penny Merrit-Price, Carol Dorn, Allen Smith, Bob Kennis, Bev Long, Beth Kisor, Tom Lawry, Carol Keever, and Mike and Gloria Walsh.  Several mornings were a might chilly and several mornings, races were in progress - but you all volunteered for AORTA runners and friends, and we thank you!
Also forgot to include John Nevels brother in the Cheaha 50K results.  Include Peter Nevels at 8:12.  I've also got a number of races that need to be added to calendar so I'll get that posted on Thursday.

The routes for the next two weeks have been posted so please contact Molly to help with a waterstop.

Beverly Long: Last weekend Beverly Long cruised to her first marathon finish in a mere 4:19 at the Albany Marathon.  In the past we've always had to shun her because, well, without a marathon under her belt she wasn't a real runner.  But now at a towering 5' 1/128" she will be a force to be reckoned with.  She said this would be her one and only marathon but bets are already being placed on which marathon this spring will be her second.  Congrats to Beverly.
AORTA was there to help with the KD Shamrock 5K on Saturday.  We had approximately 3 volunteers for each position so things went extremely well.  I don't have results of the race yet but I'll get them posted when I get them.  We had a budding young guest photographer there, Scott Walker.  I took a few photos, Scott took a lot and I've posted almost half of them which you can see at Smugmug.
I have several more new races to get posted for you this week.  I know Tracey Buckingham snuck away to Seaside to run the half marathon and I'll get the story on that.  And I heard some very sad news, John Schelhaus has taken a job in Athens, GA and will be moving this summer.  I don't know all the details yet John's been a big supporter and we are going to miss him...
Birthdays for March are to your right!  If we skipped past your birthday it's probably your own fault.  You didn't put your birthday on your AORTA registration so we don't have anyway to get it.  You can email Karen though and she'll add you to the list.

Tuesday News: Nick Holler and Molly Johnson were in Tampa last weekend to run in the half.  Molly finished with a 2:05 and Nick had a 2:14, both are very good times and congratulations to them.
We'll be sending Beverly Long along with Randy Long as her "support team" to Albany for her first marathon!  Beverly has trained for a marathon at least a couple of times in the past but always ended up with an injury.  This time she has quietly trained in order not to jinx herself which is very different from her usual trash-talking ways.  I think she's in her best condition ever and will do us proud on Saturday.  I tried to get her to predict a finishing time for herself but she didn't fall for that old trick.

Race Wrap-up:  First, I know the website has been up and down over the weekend and today.  We've installed some updates and rebooted everything so whatever was causing us problems should be fixed.
We had runners spread out this past weekend from Mt. Cheaha to New Orleans.  Many thanks to Bob Lawson for providing me these results:
Mount Cheaha 50k (2/27)
Eric Gilbertson 4:44 (5th out of 160)
Marcus Farris  5:17 (11th)
Allen Smith 5:35 (19th)
John Nevels 5:38 (21st)
Bob Lawson 6:18 (43rd)
If you'd like to see just how bad the elevation was take a look at this!

Rock 'n' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon and Half Marathon in New Orleans (2/28)
Marathon:
Blake Henry  3:13 (Congrats!!  First-time Boston Qualifying time!)
Kermit Davis 3:25
Tim Adams  3:39
Half:
John Horton 1:33
Not one slacker in the group...
Tomorrow I'll bring you up to date on a) Beverly Long's Albany, GA quest for marathon glory and b) the KD Shamrock run this Saturday.

Mardi Gras:  The word on the street is that we have several local runners headed to the Mardi Gras Marathon and Half Marathon this weekend in New Orleans.  Marathoners are Blake Henry and Kermit Davis while running the half will be John Horton and Tim Adams.  I know it was supposed to be secret and all that but good luck to the boys.  I also heard that Scott and Laura Walker and prepping for Boston in April.  Scott is still fighting injuries but my money is betting on the fact he makes it.
Daylight Donut Challenge:  This race will be held on April 24th at 8:00am at the AU Intramural Field.  You can download the application here, you can view the map here or you can go to Active.com and register.

Plans for the next 2 weeks have been set and Molly is going to be out of town so we need a few water stops covered...now!  The stop at Annalue & the Accountant's this Saturday is not covered and Auburn Early Ed for March 6th is not covered.

How to be cool:  For those of you who are nerdy and geeks which covers 80% of AORTA you need to know the new and cool sport is "curling".  I told Jocelin Gibson I love a sport that requires no athletic ability, no sweating or heavy breathing and a lot of yelling at stones.  But I've been watching way too many hours of it on TV. 
Don't forget that this weekend is the Russell Forest 10K.  Several from Auburn are headed there and you can go here to get more information.  The people from Alexander City are always supportive of our races.
Results for "Racing to Help Haiti" can be downloaded here.
Also, I know that several are planning marathons in the next couple of months.  If you have insider information on that please let me know.

Saturday Runs for Feb 20, 27 & Mar 6 have been posted.  Please contact Molly to volunteer for a water stop!

Catching up:  Despite the snow and very cold temperatures both of our races went off without a hitch last Saturday.  The number of races ended up being a little lower than expected but that was no doubt due to the weather.  Racing for Haiti collected around $2,800 not to mention shoes and clothing.  Here are a couple of races coming up in our area:
February 27 Montgomery, AL Footprints to the Finish Line 5K/10K. 8:30AM. Starts at GracePointe Chruch on Ray Thornington Road. $20 for 5K; $25 for 10K by 2/12. Info: 334-532-6152 or 334-315-3241 or www.nicufootprints.org to register
John Nevels will be participating in the Delano 12 race, which is a 12-hour event, the idea being to go as far as possible.  The catch is that he's doubling it, making it a 24-hour event, hoping to get between 100 and 110 miles.  In order to make it worth while, John's trying to use the event as a fundraiser for NTSAD (the same organization that he raised money for over the summer by running across the state.  He'll be doing this by asking for donations on a per-mile basis (perhaps $0.25 per mile donation for a family).  In any case, the Delano Day will take place from 6pm to 6pm on March 12-13, and I was wondering if you could mention it on the website.  I'll try to have flyers ready at the next Saturday morning run or AORTA race for anyone interested.
Quick note to remind you about the XTERRA Alabama Oak Mountain 10K Trail Running Race - March 14th, 2010!  Late registration kicks in on February 25th, 2010.  Whether you are racing the 3 race series or just looking for a trail race, come on out!  We are heading over there in the next weekend or so to get a GPS of the course and will post as soon as we get it finalized.  For complete details please go to: www.dirtyspokes.com

The "Big One":  Of course I'm referring to the Blizzard of 2010 that will bury us in, well, 2-4" of snow. I know that's not much but it will bring most of Auburn to a standstill.  However, not AORTA!  We have 2 races scheduled on Saturday morning that will go as planned.  Racing to Help Haiti at 8:00 and then you can walk down the street to the Diamond Dolls 5K at 10:45.  You can still register for both races and you might even get to run in a bit of snow....

Routes for the next couple of Saturdays have been posted and you can see them here. Contact Molly and please volunteer for a water stop.

Here are your results for the Love Your Heart 10K

Lots of stuff:  You will find the "Short Circuit" 5K icon which I've added above, click that and it will take you to a PDF with all the information you need.  I've been told that plans are underway for the Mutt Strut 5K which will be held at Kiesel Park on April 24th.  I'll get the application for you and post it later.  That always takes place along with  Auburn Cityfest!  Don't forget the Unity Run on March 27 and then the Beulah Bobcat Run on April 10th.

Your January results for the 1200 Mile Club
If you plan to do the 1200 Mile Club and didn't get an email you need to contact Karen to be added to the list.

KD Shamrock 5K:  The application is now available here for downloading or by clicking the link above.  And results from last weekends Love Your Heart 10K will be probably be posted late Tuesday or Wednesday.

Results for the Chocolate Festival 5K

Love Your Heart:  I don't think it's appropriate for me to go into detail in this format but the race director for LYH, Jesse, had a terrible family tragedy yesterday.  She is not going to be able to attend the race (which was the right decision) so all of us racers and volunteers need to step-up, cooperate and help make this just as smooth as if Jesse were here.  For one thing, do not use Active.com anymore because it's very hard for them to get to that information with Jesse gone.  Instead you can register at bag pick-up tonight from 5-8 p.m. at Golden’s Bike Shop or tomorrow at the park.  You can also still download the forms by clicking on the icon above or the www.loveyourheartrun.com site and bring them with you already filled out and ready to go.  We appreciate everyone cooperating with these changes.
Racing to Help Haiti will be held Saturday, February 13th.  Monday the 8th at 5:00PM will be the cut-off for being certain of getting a t-shirt.  We've made this race as cheap as we could and once we pay the cost of those shirts ALL of the rest of the money will be sent to help with relief for Haiti.  A couple of people have asked if they could just contribute and not run the race and of course you can.  There are already plenty of volunteers so we just need all the runners we can get.  Go to Active.com or download the application here.

 Molly-Gram: We had some very cold Saturday morning runs in January, but our water volunteers never faltered.  A big thank you to:  Blake Henry, Jim Killian, Bob Kennis, Bev Smith, Beverly Long, Scott and Laura Walker, Jim Doyle, Shari Glover, Sergio Garcia (since I messed up before, he now prefers Garcia to Ruiz-Cordova), and Jamie Shelton.  It may have been cold, but we were still thirsty.  Thank you from all of us braving the cold temps!   Molly also wanted me to tell you that on most Saturdays when there are races there will still be runs at 6:00 so we'll continue to need volunteers.
Also, the volunteer list to the right has been updated.  We've had very good response to my "letter of encouragement" last week but we all know that AORTA people always come through.

Wow, are we going to be busy: Just so you can kind of keep in mind what we have coming up the next few weeks AND so you'll see why we've been bellyaching about volunteers here is our race schedule.  Not all of these are races AORTA will be working.  You can find out more information on all these on our Race Calendar.
Love Your Heart-- Feb 6th
Dash for Deb Memorial 5K -- Feb 7th
Racing for Haiti -- Feb 13th
Racing for the Cure (Diamond Dolls) -- Feb 13th
Cupola Engineering Society 5K -- Feb 20th
Russell Forest Run 10K -- Feb 27th
KD Shamrock 5K -- March 6th
Also on March 27th I've just posted the race application for the Unity Run.
Retired runner turned cyclist Caroline Donnelly sent me an email about an epic adventure she is  doing.  Greg, I wanted to let you know about an event that I am planning . I will be cycling from St Augustine FL to San Diego CA starting Feb 26. I have been so fortunate that Mike and Gloria Walsh let me "go shopping" in their camping gear and I now have all that I need for my bike tour. I will be pulling my Partner II trailer w/ all of my gear....sorta like a turtle and its shell :) We will be camping most nights along the way and cooking at least one meal a day together.  The ride is 3100 miles and I hope to complete it in approx 60 days. I will be riding with 4 other people from around the US....WI -MA- KY-NY. Three of the folks have done this type of tour and are well-seasoned. I have talked to the East AL Food Bank  and will be using my ride as a fund raiser for them. I have volunteered at the Community Grocery for many years and it is a place that is close to my heart. There will be barrels around town....Golds Gyms and also hopefully all the groceries. I would like to raise $3100 and 3100 # of food. Caroline said there will be updates on Facebook so I'll get the link to that for updates and pics.  Of course, any donations you can make will be greatly appreciated.  Good luck to Caroline!

Final Rant for the Week:  T-shirts will need to be ordered for the Racing for Haiti Race early next week in order to have them on time.  That means we need you to get pre-registered no later than the end of the day on Monday (Feb 8th).  Sure, you can download the application, fill it out, address the envelope, put a stamp on it and carry it out to the mailbox like they did in the Civil War.  Or, you can go to Active.com and for a mere $1.14 extra you can sign up on line and be done with it.

New & Improved:  To the right you will see a list of our upcoming races followed by the name of the race director.  Since my nasty-gram yesterday we've several who emailed and said they like to volunteer and help which is great!  If you want to volunteer for a particular race then click on their name and drop them an email.  Then I'll post the volunteers there for each race. 

Do the Math:  We have only been semi-successful when it comes to rounding up volunteers to help us with events.  We do that because a) it’s almost always for a good cause and b) we need the money.  AORTA charges $350 for each and every race we do whether it’s the old Tough Ten Race or a race we help with on campus.  The math to all this is pretty simple, even for your average runner.  We have 100 runners and eventually they pay their dues so we get $2,000.  The prize for the 1200 mile club usually costs us $1,200 so we are already running out of money!  Then we pay our insurance which is $750 per year and at that point we really are broke.  We have 3 timers which have to be replaced every few years at $1,000 each.  A clock which costs over $3,000 which lasts about 5 years.  A trailer that needs new tires right now and has to have a tag each year to be legal.  And there are plenty of other things like race numbers, traffic cones, signs, safety items, etc. we have to purchase and replace.  The bottom line is if AORTA didn’t help with a lot of races each year we’d be broke after the 1200 Mile Club and paying for our insurance.  If you think about it the people who are volunteering to help at races are the ones who are helping to foot the bill for AORTA each year to keep this well oiled machine going.  If you’re not helping/volunteering then you’re one of those people that Alvin and I disparagingly refer to as “moochers”.  Of course, not to your face, only behind your back.  You don’t need to give up your illustrious racing career and all the glory; we only need you to volunteer a couple of times a year to keep this dysfunctional club afloat.  Alvin said to remind you that back in the good old days we did races for free.  We had $8 in the bank, one stop watch and a clip board.  We had water but you had to bring your own cup.  So...help by volunteering!

Love Your Heart:  The date for this is February 6th, less than 2 weeks away.  You can download the application here to get all the details.
Ooops:  In the long and sordid history of AORTA this is the first mistake we have ever made.  Actually, we don't even call this a mistake, we call it "over booking".  When you have a large worldwide bureaucracy the size of AORTA it just happens!  We have 2 races on the same morning.  The Race to Help Haiti will start Feb 13th at 8:00am and the Diamond Dolls race will start later that morning at 10:45.  So you could run from Kaz at 6:00am, then race a 5K at 8:00 and another at 10:45.  So it's not a mistake at all but an opportunity to help the Haitians and help cure cancer all in under 4 hours.  You'll find links to the Haiti run above and you can go here to download the application for Diamond Dolls.

Haiti: We all know about the total mess going on in Haiti from the earthquake last week.  The poorest nation in this hemisphere has been turned upside down and those people are in serious need of help.  AORTA will be sponsoring a race to raise funds on February 13th.  It will be a simple 5K that follows the route we use for the Toys for Tots and Allie Khodadadi will be the race director, yes, she is the offspring of Karen so directing is in the gene pool.  Master Graphics is selling the t-shirts to us dirt cheap in order to help.  Every penny we raise will go to help.  We are also planning to collect that closet full of t-shirts you no longer wear and those running shoes that don't fit.  You know those people are going to really appreciate your help.  I'll get an application posted and provide more details as things are arranged but save the date.

Our Half Marathon Results have been updated and you will also find
Age Group Results.

From Tracey Buckingham: Thank you to all who ran and volunteered for the Auburn Classic Half Marathon last weekend.   I hope you enjoyed the race!  Results are now posted here.  Photos of the event and finish line can be found at
http://www.auburnsportsshots.com/AORTA-and-Road-Races

We will again be able to make a sizeable donation to the Cancer Center of East Alabama Medical Center, thanks to your participation.  Mark your calendar for January 22, 2011!

Recovery Mode:  Much of AORTA is in recovery mode this week after the Auburn Classic Half Marathon last Saturday.  Things went very smoothly as always with about 200 completing the half.  Tracey Buckingham did a great job along with many many volunteers.  No, I don't have the results yet but will get that posted as soon as I receive it.  I did get quite a few photos.  Don't complain about how you look, it's not my fault you look that way!  You can find those here at Smugmug and I have a few more to post. 
We also handed out jackets to those who finished the 1200 Mile Club in 2009.  If you didn't get yours I'm sure we'll have them at the run this Saturday morning and you can pick it up then.  They are VERY nice and thank Karen Khodadadi for getting that together.
Last week I got a race report from Brian Benson.  He was at the First Light Marathon and said I could be generous and say he "ran" the marathon but a more accurate description would be he "completed" it.  He's too hard on himself, he finished in a good 4:43 in frigid weather with a wind chill of 12 degrees.  Carol Dorn was also there and finished the half in an excellent 1:43.  Congratulations to both of them.

It's almost here!  Thanks to all who have registered for the Auburn Classic Half Marathon and those who will be volunteering.  Just a few last minute notes:
   * Packet Pick-up will be available at Moore's Mill Fitness on Friday from 4:00 - 6:00pm and Saturday 6:00 - 7:00am
   * On Saturday, please park in the upper parking area near Ogletree Road.  We cannot park between the Fitness Center and the tennis courts. 
   * Remember that it is not a closed course - run safely.  
   * The EAMC Children's Half Marathon will start at 10:00.  Watch for the kids and cheer them on!
1200 Mile Club: No, you aren't in the 1200 Mile Club!  Even if you were in it last year you must sign up again.  Here's what you need to do.
   1  You must renew your AORTA membership by January 31st ($25 individual/$30 family)
   2  You must send Karen Khodadadi an email and say you are doing The 1200 Mile Club by the 31st.
   3  And don't forget you have to volunteer for a race from start to finish in 2010
There is a new race starting this month which all of you will love.  It's the "Chocolate Festival 5K".  With a name like that it's got to be a hit.  You can go here to find more information and I'll get it posted on our calendar.
And the Birthday List for January has finally been posted.

Half Marathon:  This Saturday is the annual Auburn Classic Half Marathon.  Everything is set to go and it's not too late to register!  Temperatures will be in the high 30's which are good for a race like this so you don't want to miss it.

Helen "Heidi" Yates has been bugging me to post her time from Disney this past weekend.  She turned in an excellent 4:10:53 for the marathon.  I was told this was her first marathon but I think it's actually her second.  Regardless, great job and congratulations to her.  I haven't heard anything about any other Disney runners or from the First Light in Mobile.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered for water stops on Saturdays throughout 2009.  When people participate, they should volunteer – and you stepped up for the cause, thank you!  A special thank you goes out to the December volunteers:  Tom Lawry, Lucy Lamar, Jennifer Cabbage, Nick Holler, Bob Banks, and Mike and Gloria Walsh.  You folks make my small part with AORTA so easy.  Molly

Finally, Alvin sent me his "tips for running in cold weather" after the run last Saturday:  As we experienced today [me for only two blocks in 16 degree weather] even with hand warmers your fingers still get cold.
The Mobile First Light Marathon tip was to run with tube socks on you hands so your digits won't get cold.  Sounds like a plan to me.
Also slower runners and those over 60, (names removed to protect their identity) should dress warmer since they will not be generating as much heat as Blake and the Beverly's [Long and Smith].
Greg and Alvin should run swathed in electric blankets with a five mile extension cord.
However, our more intelligent members should ignore this information since they will be home in bed or either drinking hot coffee on days when the temperature is below 30 degrees..

Alexander City:  The inaugural Russell Forest Run will be held near Alexander City on February 27 and will be a 10K.  This has been added to our race calendar and if you need any further information you can go to www.russellforestrun.com .
This weekend we are dispatching runners to Disney World and Mobile.  Helen Yates will be running the marathon at Disney World on Sunday.  Carol Dorn, Brian Benson and other Auburn Runners I don't know will be in Mobile to run the First Light Half Marathon.  Good luck to all of them.

Here are the final results for the 2009 1200 Mile Club

The run for Saturday, January 9th has been posted.  Please contact Molly Johnson to volunteer for a water stop.  There will not be a run on the 16th as we'll be hosting the Auburn Classic Half Marathon.

Non-member:  You do realize you are no longer a member in good standing with AORTA?  You're membership ran out as they dropped the ball on New Years Eve in New York.  Alvin and I have both resolved to shun any communications with "you people" until you get your membership up to date but as Tammy pointed out "most people will be relieved that you aren't bothering them".  We don't have an application that says 2010 and we are too lazy to make a new one so just use the old one, write your check and drop it in the mail.  Fill out the entire application. 
I don't have any big news, only small trivial things.  I got a book for Christmas.  Alvin got a shirt.  And, Peyton Bean got engaged.  Don't get excited, you won't be invited to the wedding because she told me "I won't be inviting all those superfluous "little people" in AORTA, we only have room for 800". 

Resolution Run:  We'll have our annual resolution run this New Year's Day starting from Kaz at 8:00am.  Yes, you can sleep in a little bit late.  Then around 9:00ish we'll have breakfast at my office like we always do.  You bring a breakfast dish and we'll supply all the plates, cups, cutlery, etc.  Everyone is invited!

End of the week... We'll try to catch up on a few things I've recently overlooked and rub your face in how much fun you missed at the AORTA Christmas party last night.  To the list of runners who completed Rocket City Marathon last week add Dave Dycus who turned in a superb 3:11.  Excellent time!  I also overlooked Sarah Wolf, "Wolfie", who competed in the Ironman Triathlon in Panama City. She finished in 15:13:12 without "bleeding or puking" and even said it was fabulous and she felt great throughout.  Regardless of your time, it's quite an accomplishment to even finish one of those monsters!  Congratulations to Sarah. 
As always, the AORTA party went off without a hitch and attendance was excellent.  We had enough food to feed a crowd 3 times larger and not a veggie or fruit in sight!  Beverly Long, Nick Holler, Jim Doyle, Kermit Davis, Penny Merritt Price, Brian Corbitt, Molly Johnson, Tracey Henry, Andy and Heather Taylor and others took home major awards.  The downside is you have to listen to all of their "trash talk" afterwards.  I think that everyone had a really good time and we appreciate the efforts of Elyse Corbitt, Carol Keever, Karen Khodadadi, Mike and Gloria Walsh and Alvin Walls who put this thing together.  If you missed it you missed out on another good time!
I read something last night that I thought would be good for us to end the week with.  We all remember Ty Garner and his accident several months ago.  I've had many people ask me about him and even after reading his website you don't really know what is going to happen to Ty in the long term.  But last night his wife sent out an update that I thought was very encouraging, the best I've seen so far.  I took the liberty to copy what she had to say so all of you could be updated with this encouraging news... Well, I am back in Atlanta enjoying a couple of days with Ty.  He is extra spunky these days.  He is smiling a lot (SOOO good to see that!!).  One of the cute little therapist today did a little "GO TY Dance" while he was walking down the hall with a rolling walker and he almost started laughing!  PT has had him walking on a regular rolling walker (no harnessing!!) the past 2 days and he has done GREAT!!  They do help support him, but he is a lot of the work.  I feel like things will improve there a great deal after the tendon lengthening surgery.  Right now he can't get his right foot flat on the floor, therefore the right knee and hip stayed flexed making walking awkward.  But he sure gives it a go!!  He is mouthing words all day long .. still not pushing sound out with it, but it has got to be close.  Pray for this area, as that would help Ty out so much to be able to communicate with everyone.  The nueropsych MD did some questioning with him today regarding numbers, letters, orientation (ex. what month it is, what city we are in) and he NAILED it!!  She was giving him choices she had written on paper and he was getting everyone of them correct (and even shooting her some looks like SHE was a little crazy for asking!!).  He is getting there .. everyone is so excited about his progress and he has quickly become a favorite around here at Shepherd Center by all of the staff (as he does everywhere he goes) .. there is no one like our Ty Garner .. Karen  So you think you have problems?  You don't, we all have a lot to be thankful for and should appreciate our normal boring daily life a lot more than we do! Pray that Ty will continue to improve and get to go home soon!

 Saturday Runs for Dec 19th, 26th and January 2nd have been posted.  Contact Molly to help us cover the water stops!

Rocket City:  If you read some of the Rocket City finish times that I posted earlier today we found that those were 2008 times.  Why their website is so out of date is kind of odd but here are the actual times...
Scott Walker 3:15
Micah Mauldin 3:28
Laura Walker 4:13
Sean Thomas 3:14
Brian Benson 4:35
Todd Kyser 5:13

AORTA Christmas Party:  I've talked with Elyse Corbitt this morning who has been planning the AORTA Christmas Party for weeks and she said to tell everyone "it will be hip and groovy".  Her words, not mine.  AORTA will be absorbing the costs for the party but we are asking that if your last name ends in A - M then bring something sweet and if N - Z then bring something salty.  (Peyton, that means you're to bring something sweet.)  We also plan to accept donations for a needy family in Lee Country that we are going to help but it's going to be voluntary if you wish to give.  Elyse will be accepting those donations.  We'll also have some highly coveted awards to hand out and you'll get to see how your running buddies look in real clothes, you might be shocked!
Your deadline for the early entry to the Auburn Classic Half Marathon is up Thursday night!  Tracey said she will take applications up through the party on Thursday.  If you apply early for the race AND renew your membership in AORTA at the same time then you will receive a discount.  AORTA membership is $25 for an individual and $30 for a family and you need to add that to the cost of your technical shirt or cotton shirt.  Some of you have tried to scam the system, it won't work!
Bob Lawson and Eric Gilbertson are organizing a Tuskegee Fat Ass 50k for May 1 in Tuskegee National Forest.  Please check out the link: http://business.auburn.edu/~ral0011/FA/  Fyi, the term "fat ass" is used to denote an unofficial (i.e., no entry fee, no awards, no support, ...) ultramarathon.  Let Bob know if you'd like to be added to the list of possible runners and/or to the email list.  Also, feel free to forward to your crazy running friends around the region.

Results from the Toys for Tots 5K & 10K
Also plans for the next 2 Saturday's have been posted!

Your Wednesday Update:  Don't forget the AORTA Christmas Party on the 17th, I should have more information on that tomorrow.  Elyse, Alvin and Carol all took leaves of absence from their jobs since Thanksgiving to get this planned.
This past weekend Nick Holler was in Memphis for the Marathon there finishing in 3rd place in his age group which is 70-75 years old!  And he finished in 5:11.  If I'm still running at all when I turn 70 I will consider it a tremendous success.  Nick said things went fine until about 24 miles when he got cramps and had to do some walking but otherwise he was fine.  A big congratulations to Nick, that's pretty awesome!
AORTA's token German runner, Oliver Prigge, competed in the Ironman in Panama City, FL about 4 weeks ago.  This was his 6th Ironman and he sent me a brief report.:  I had a terrible swim in the ocean because 2,500 people started all at the same time.  I also had a very long transition time to the bike because of my back problems but had a good bike and run after that.  The 2.44 mile swim took 1:05, the 112 mile ride took 5:30 (22.1mi/hr avg.) and the 26.2 mile run was completed in 3:34.  So my biking and running times were my best ever in an Ironman.  Overall I finished in 9:59:13 which is 156th place and 44th in my age group.  I missed the slot for Kona by 14 minutes.  Congratulate Oliver when you see him, that's an amazing time. 

From your race director:  A picture speaks a thousand words ...Thanks to over 400 runners and 70 volunteers, Toys for Tots collected several truckloads of toys and raised $1000.  Special thanks to Alvin Walls, Greg Lanier, and Carol Keever who always go way beyond the line of duty, in addition to putting up with a demanding and cranky race director.  Thanks to the Junior Civitans and the Auburn Women's Gymnastic Team who freeze their tails off every year to provide our road control.  We couldn't do this race without them!
We redesigned the race course this year with the hope of making the race safer.  I would love any feedback you would like to provide about the race course (email).  I also hope you found the flashing light that AORTA provided in honor of Ty Garner.  You can read more about Ty at: http://www.caringbridge.org:80/visit/tygarner  Ty's accident has heightened the importance of running defensively especially during this time of year with limited daylight.  We hope you will wear a reflective running vest and this light   Run Safe! ..Karen

400:  This past Saturday in spite of predictions of bad weather we didn't get a drop of rain and the Toys for Tots Races went off without a single flaw.  Well, just one tiny flaw where we sent the 1 milers the wrong way but we didn't charge for the extra distance they all ran.  When we heard what had happened with them we all looked at each other and said "yep, I can see exactly why that happened".  We had over 400 runners which was the largest crowd ever and the most volunteers ever.  It also means a record number of toys were given away too!  It's only 10:00am so I'm sure once our race director gets up we'll hear something from her...

Blizzard on Saturday:  Sorry, but I'm a skeptic, it snows about 1 out of every 100 times they predict a little snow.  But they are saying a 50% chance of precipitation after midnight so what are the chances of us canceling the race?  Zero!  We are also expecting about 400 runners which means a lot of cars.  DO NOT plan to park in the church parking lot.  You should park in the lot at the corner of Samford Ave. & College St. or park at Auburn Junior High.  There are also several nearby side-streets that you can use.  It will also be a bit cool (mid 30's), dress accordingly.  Much preparation has gone into this race and I expect things will run flawlessly...probably.

Jr League Art Race: The Jr League race next year will take place at the Jule Collins Museum on April 3rd.  You can view their web page here or download the application.
The runs for the next couple of Saturday's have been posted so take a look at those and go ahead and volunteer for a water stop with Molly.
The Pensacola Sports Association and Running Wild are hosting the 13th Annual Pensacola Double Bridge Run on February 6, 2010.  This is a 15K Run and a 5K Run/Walk.  It’s a beautiful course that takes you over two bridges and finishes on Pensacola Beach.  You may visit www.doublebridgerun.com for more information or contact the race director.

2nd Post for Wednesday:  You are lucky to get one post per day, two is incredible.  The Race Results page has been brought up to date.  I know, there wasn't a single race from 2009 on there but now you can find all our races.  Also the December birthdays have been posted.
Wednesday: On our upcoming race list you will find information on the Jingle for Tots 10k, 5, & 1 mile race in Alexander City on December 12th. 
For our Christmas Party on the 17th we are asking everyone to bring their favorite Christmas snack or goodie.  Please, nothing healthy!  Instead of doing dirty Santa like we have in the past this year we are planning to take donations to provide help to a needy family or to the Angle Tree program.  We'll decide that in the next few days...
Future AORTA superstar Helen "Heidi" Yates is in the midst of her long runs in preparation for  the Disney World Marathon.  That will be on Jan 10th.  We are expecting a long race report from her when she returns.  I know she is no longer a "Yates" but it takes me a couple of years to catch onto new names after people are married.  Good luck to Helen.
Also if any of you ran in the Aaron Blake Reynolds Memorial Run on Nov. 14th in Columbus you can download the results here.

AORTA Christmas Party:  Grab your calendar and mark Thursday, December 17th at 6:30PM.  That is when we'll be having our party which will be at the Grove Hill Clubhouse.  AORTA socialite, Elyse Corbitt, will be doing all the planning for our event and we'll have more info as we get closer to the date.
Remember too that on January 16th is the Auburn Classic Half-Marathon.  Tracey Buckingham has done some things to sweeten the deal for AORTA members so listen closely.  If you join or renew your AORTA membership by December 31st the cost of the race will be $35 and will include a very nice technical shirt.  If you join/renew AORTA by the 31st then for $25 you can get a cotton shirt.  And, if you don't want a shirt at all and want to re-up then the race will only be $20.  But, this offer is only good until December 31st at 11:59PM!
The reason we have to be so precise when we cut you guys off for applications and renewals is perfectly illustrated by what happened yesterday at the close of pre-registration for Toys for Tots.  I was told that early Monday morning about 160 runners had applied by mail or through active.com which was well behind our numbers from last year.  A mere 12 hours later over 140 applications came flooding in bringing the total numbers now to well over 300.  Oh, and there were 6 applications stuck in the mailbox AFTER the mail ran and I'd bet there are even more this morning.  That's why we have to herd you like cattle and threaten and yell and scream.  I will bet that several more dribble in today but the good news to all that is we will have record breaking numbers this Saturday for the race which is great!  I know someone will ask "I missed the cut-off, can I still race on Saturday"?  Of course, you can register the day of the race but you won't be guaranteed a t-shirt.  It's for a great cause so plan to be there!
And here's a note from our superb "Saturday Water Czar" Molly Johnson...November is always a busy month, but a number of AORTA members found time to assist with Saturday water stops; thank you to:  Allen Smith, Micah Mauldin, Carol Keever, Jane Hoehaver Farr, Lucy Lamar, Bob Kennis, John Schelhas, Becky Freeman, Greg Lanier, Tracey Buckingham, and Sergio Garcia.  All of us running on Saturday mornings appreciate your willingness to volunteer.

Today, Monday, November 30th is the final day to register for the Toys for Tots races and be guaranteed a t-shirt.  It's too late to mail in your application but you can apply at active.com.

Bunch of stuff:  December is usually a pretty busy time for AORTA.  Last Thursday was the 1st Annual Turkey Trot race which got off to a tremendous start.  I was told that over 350 runners showed up for that race. 
Of course this coming Saturday is the Toys  Toys 10K, 5K & 1 mile races but I know that you've already sent in your application.   
The AORTA Christmas Party will take place later this month and I'll get you the time, date and place for that.  You'll want to be there, it's the social event of the season for the "Who's Who" in the running world!  Alvin Walls said he will be making a public appearance but won't be signing autographs. 
We won't have a run from Kaz this Saturday the 5th and for the 12th I'm thinking we'll move the start over to Moore's Mill Gym to give all of you a chance to run the Auburn Classic Half Marathon Course a month before the race.
On Saturday the 12th will be the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville.  I saw some familiar names on there including Brian Benson, Micah Mauldin, Jonathan Spry, Sean Thomas, power-couple Scott and Laura Walker and Trip Garner.  There were a lot of other runners from Auburn that I didn't know.  Good luck to all of them on the 12th.

Toys for Tots:  Our Toys for Tots races will be held in just over 10 days.  This has become a very popular race in the AORTA stable and we should have a couple hundred runners if we repeat the results from last year.  The last day for you to be guaranteed a t-shirt is November 30th.  Now, we all know what that means despite the fact that many of you try to scam the system each year.  It means we MUST have your application AND money in our hands by Monday the 30th.  It doesn't mean postmarked the 30th. It doesn't mean you intended to send it the 30th but tripped on a dust bunny and missed the mailman.   It doesn't mean you call us on the 30th and say you'll probably be at the race and for us to hold a t-shirt for you!  Are we clear, last day is the 30th?  This year we have a new course and we'll have lots of food after the race.  And don't forget to bring a toy, it's for a great cause...

Plans for Saturday the 28th have been posted. 
Please contact Molly to help with a water stop.
Don't forget on Thanksgiving Day there will be a 5K at Moore's Mill Golf Course.  You can download the application here.

Race Updates:  Just over a week ago Bob Banks, Tom Lawry and  Maggie Lawry were all at Chickamauga for the half and full marathon.  Bob Banks broke through 4 hours with a 3:57, Tom, who foolishly thought we didn't know he was going, finished with a good 4:19 and Maggie ran and finished the half in a very respectable time despite little training from a recent injury.  Bob reported that the weather couldn't have been better.  Congratulations to all of them.
At the same time we had Gary Leung and Beth "Princess" Ladisla in San Antonio, TX for the marathon.  I'm doing this from memory but I think Beth finished with a 4:26 and Gary had a 4:39 but Gary was sick the entire weekend.  I'm pretty sure that's a PR for Beth.  Beverly Long was supposed to accompany them and do the half but her mother became very ill before they were to leave town and passed away last Friday. 
At precisely 8:06 this morning I got an email from Molly reminding me that there is not a route posted for this weekend or next weekend.  She takes her job as Water Volunteer Czar very seriously...  I'll have that posted shortly.

Sorry kids:  I've been in NYC the past 5 days and so there have been no updates.  I would think our most important business item would be that there is a 5K on Thanksgiving Morning starting at 8:00am.  The race will start at the Moore's Mill Club and as I understand it will run along the golf course.  You can get all your information here.  In the past we've always had our own run on Thanksgiving morning but this year we'll do this race instead.  This is going to be VERY informal, I think we are going to start the clock when we leave and I don't think anyone is recording the time.  All proceeds are going to the Auburn Food Bank, a good cause.
I will update you on how our boys and girls did at Chickamauga last weekend and at San Antonio.  I also know that we have several going to Huntsville in just a couple of weeks and I'll get those victims posted ahead of time.
Personally, I love drama and controversy, especially when it really has no effect on me.  The next big drama will probably be those people who were in the 1200 Mile Club, they ran the 1200 miles or more but they ignored the part where they have to volunteer for a race in order to get the award or prize.  Sure, they'll be recognized for their 1200 miles but they won't get the snazzy gift which is always pretty nice.  It costs about $20 to join AORTA and then you get an award for $35-$50...what a bargain!  But if you have not fulfilled your volunteer duty you can bet that the AORTA Politburo will vote thumbs-down for you!  Attached is a list of everyone in the "club" and the races they did or didn't volunteer.  I'm proud to say that when it comes to volunteering we have some overachievers which is really great mixed in with you slackers.

Thursday Update:  These sources I have who tell about different ones secretly doing races are supposedly your "friends" but they are ratting you out!  Think about it. Tom Lawry, Maggie Lawry and Bob Banks are heading to the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon this weekend. Maggie is running the 1/2 and Tom and Bob are attempting the full. I hear that's a great setting for a marathon so good luck to them.
John Nevels managed to finish the Pinhoti 100 again this year, getting lapped by the sun, but still sliding in at 27:38:57, 22 minutes faster than last year.  How do you run for 27 hours?  John said the race was well organized, and his dad, brother, and Fred Trouse, did an outstanding job of keeping him going through thick and thin.  A race report can be found at either http://nevels.fastrunningblog.com/ or http://letsgoforarun.blogspot.com/.
If you are looking for a race this weekend you have the EAST ALABAMA THANKSGIVING RUN Saturday, November 14--Lakeview Baptist Church Parking Lot. Runners and walkers are needed to participate in the 1-Mile Fun Walk or the 5K Race.  Registration forms are available in the church office or online at www.lakeviewbaptist.org.  Entry fee is $15 or 10 pounds non-perishable food items.  All benefits the East Alabama Food Bank.  View the race route at www.lakeviewbaptist.org.   Contact Hal Cooper (334-332-1953) for more information.

October 1200 Mile Results

Plans are set for Nov14 & Nov21.  If you would like to be a volunteer for a water stop please contact Molly Johnson.

November birthdays have been posted.

Callaway:  AORTA invaded Callaway Gardens in force this past Saturday afternoon for the Twilight 10K.  Here are the results:

Alicia Fite 1:12:17 *
Traci Henry 1:07:56
Allyson Dozier 1:17:39 *
Blake Henry 41:51 2nd AG
Allison Bonner 1:03:35
Billy Farr 1:07:35
Jane Farr 1:01:37
Lucy Lamar 59:42
Pheza Sumners 1:17:38
Molly Johnson 54:39 1st AG
Andrea Musso 1:08:00 *
Heather Presley 57:58 *
Karen Khodadadi 56:57
Penny Price Merrit 55:53
Alvin Walls 59:49 1st AG
* first time 10K; thanks to Mr. Walls for those results.

Next in line will be the San Antonio, TX full and half marathon this Sunday.  Why is San Antonio so popular?  I have no idea.  In the full marathon will be Beth Ladisla, Gary Leung and Eric Gilbertson.  Beverly Long had signed up and trained for the half but last week her mother became very ill and she's had to cancel which is very unfortunate.

The most immediate problem is we need to change the rules for the 1200 Club because it has grown so much, it costs the club at least $1,000 per year and I get 40-50 emails at the beginning of each month with your mileage and then proceed to lose several of those.  So the AORTA Politburo has met and here are the new rules for the 2008 1200 Mile Club: 
1) Must be a member by Feb 28th. No exceptions!  Membership forms must be completely filled out including email address.
2) Must turn in mileage no later than the 15th of the following month.  No exceptions.  Let's face it, if you are tracking your mileage there is no reason why you can't turn it in on time.
3) -- on the third day of the following month you will receive an email with a link.  Click on the link and you simply enter in your mileage when prompted.  Do not send your mileage to the website any longer.
4) -- Around the 13th of the month, people who have not responded will receive a reminder email. Once again, you can click on the link and enter your mileage for the month then hit submit.
5) To qualify for the 1200 Mile Club you MUST volunteer for a local race.  That doesn't mean help with registration and go run the race.  It means helping from start to finish, you can't race that day at all.  It's hard to get experienced people to volunteer and this is going to help us out a lot.

Now, if you want to be in the 1200 Mile Club for this year you just need to send Karen an email saying you want to join and you'll be added to an automated database that she has set up. Then you will be in the automated system.  Later, a new spreadsheet will be sent to me monthly that I'll post with everyone's mileage.  Yes, it's magical...

If you've been a regular member for a while then don't bother reading this because you know this already.  But, if you are new and have been pondering maybe possibly to try running with AORTA this is for you.  Lately, I've had several inquiries (at least 5) about wanting to run with us on Saturdays and they have a lot of questions about what we do so here goes my explanation.
A)  Yes, it may say the Saturday run is some impossible distance for you but ignore that.  About 25% of the people will run that far, most will run an hour or maybe a bit more or less so don't be intimidated by the mileage that gets posted.  It's bogus man!
B)  No, you don't have to be a member of AORTA to run with us.  But, at some point we would certainly hope that you would want to support the group by becoming a member and forking over your $20.  Now, if you go a really long time we send one of our aggressive females after you to collect.  I have some names in mind but I won't mention them right now.
C)  What do we have to offer on Saturday?  Click on the link to the right that says "Saturday Plan" and it explains in a haphazard way what we are doing.  We have a planned route, a planned distance, you can print out the map if you aren't familiar with Auburn and most importantly we have water stops about every 3 miles! 
4) "I'm too slow, I'll fall off the back".   You might, but you probably won't, we have runners of all abilities.  We have a lot of fast people and a lot of slow people and I can almost guarantee you will find at least one person who is your speed.
E) "But I'm new to this and those guys have been doing marathons and running for years".  I can say with all confidence that everyone understands how it is to be new and how hard it can be to get started running or to try and move up to the next level.  We've all been there!  I've seen so many runners who started running with us and their max distance had been 3 miles over 45 minutes.  A year later they are much faster and have done a 10K or half marathon and pondering a full marathon.  Running with a group makes running much easier and you'll find yourself being pulled along.
F)  "You mean you run at 6:00 am on a Saturday?"  I've heard that a thousand times but once a person shows up they realize it's not that hard to get out early.  We meet that early for 2 reasons.  1) Do you know how hot it is, this helps to beat the heat a little. 2) Many of the members have kids and activities so they get their long run done early and can still get home before soccer, baseball, etc.
The hardest day will be that first Saturday!  After that you'll fall in, enjoy the people and the run and never look back...  This Saturday would be the perfect day to start!

March Birthdays
Mike Walsh 15th
Robin Kelley 19th
Vicky Van Santen 19th
Jim Killian 21st
Josh Schelhaus 25th
Scott Walker 26th

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