News - April 2020
Apr 25
The Best Running Tips of All Time
At Outside, we write about running. A lot. We’ve spent countless hours talking to the greatest athletes and brightest minds in the sport to examine every training and racing strategy imaginable. We’ve even tested many of those approaches ourselves. While we think it’s all worthwhile info, we recognize that sometimes keeping it simple is best. So we’ve distilled 40 years of advice into one comprehensive list of the 27 pieces of advice that we consider most valuable to your running life. more
(by Jay Bouchard, Outside Magazine, Sept 13, 2017)
Apr 21
Coronavirus Hits a Colorado Trail-Running Family.
March 15, 2020, the second Sunday of the month, I wake early in a hotel room in Boulder to run in Chautauqua Park. Pink light illuminates the massive rock formations of the Flatirons, but I barely notice the view. I am so wound up with worry that I see only mental images that flip like flashcards, each involving a family member, every thought layered with news of the pandemic. more
(by
Sarah Lavender Smith, Trail Runner, April 8th, 2020)
Apr 17
At last year's Kansas Relays - Friday night's Masters 800m runners.
back row (l-r): John Bortwick, Paxton Bennett, Rikki Hacker, Jason Hahn, front row: daughter of Kara Kowalik, Kowalik, Tracey Bernett, Dee Boeck, Meaghan Ridgway, Sara Schwendinger, Stan McCormack, Randy McDermott. Not in photo: Evie Deitrich, Kit McCaffrey, Tim Wigger, Steve Daley, Jim Watry.
Apr 14
The Hessdale Half Marathon was run on Sunday, April 11. Never heard of it? One runner - Fritz Menninger. So many races canceled this spring, Fritz reported on his solo run in the Flint Hills. Check out the route and the photos. more
Club members: if you want to report an interesting run, send us a story: runlawrence@gmail.com.
Apr 11
Exercising Outdoors With a Face Mask - Many of you had questions about running or cycling while wearing a face mask. Here’s what the experts have to say.
more
(by Gretchen Reynolds, New York Times, Apr 10, 2020)
Apr 8
Digging into races from the past as we're quarantined for awhile.
Dee Boeck made the Lawrence Journal-World headlines for a short article as winner in the Macy's 10K F30-39 race. Gene Wee also ran with a lot of other Lawrence runners. See results.
Apr 7 - A Word of Caution on Virtual Events
Many events scheduled for April - June are moving to virtual options. RRCA discourages member clubs from creating NEW virtual events between now and the end of May. Members should only be promoting virtual events to replace pre-planned road or trail races forced to cancel during the months of April-May (an perhaps into June). If converting a pre-planned event to a virtual offering, RRCA recommends updating your event waiver if you move to a virtual run and utilize an updated sign-up for capturing virtual run data/results. If you host a virtual run, you need to maintain insurance to cover your organization in the event of a claim of liability.
The RRCA is advising caution when hosting virtual events at this time. Although an appealing option in many ways, the requirements and guidelines from many local governments to stay at home are worthy of consideration. Popular running routes, especially multi-use trails are seeing an unsafe uptick in the number of runners/walkers/cyclists out on a daily basis, and to a great extent, social distancing is not being practiced by some, which puts people at risk. Virtual races that offer a very specific running route along with a narrow window for completion may overwhelm a recommended course or multi-use trail and be in violation of local gathering regulations. Pre-scheduled events converting to a virtual option should offer a large time frame for runners to complete the distance, and organizers should not prescribe a required or recommended route to help limit overcrowding of public spaces.
If you elect to move to a virtual option, DO NOT hold a packet pick-up where people can come to collect shirts and medals during the next 30-days. This defeats the purpose of limiting interaction with people. Inform participants that a plan will be devised for distribution of shirts/medals as soon as it is safe to congregate.
Apr 1
Back in the 1970s, faculty runners from the universities of Kansas and Nebraska held a postal track meet. You ran your own race, then posted your times to compare. Now in the 21st Century we all can a similar "postal" event.
Thanks to the Manhattan Running Company, beginning May 4 we have the Social Distance Virtual Running Project. It's your chance to be part of a group event but you run anywhere, then submit your time. The distances are 1 mile, 5k, 10k and half marathon. When you sign up you will get a t-shirt and a bib.