Valley Stream Running Club News

Box #212 Valley Stream, New York 11582

Stanley Friedlander, President

Donna Hahl, Vice President

Lois Timpanaro, Treasurer

Joe Tito, Secretary

www.VSRunningClub.org

 

Vol. 26 No. 1                                                 January 2006

Some of us will be attending our January Breakfast Meeting at the Concord Diner Sunday, January 8th at 9:15am. (Concord Diner is located on Sunrise Hwy off of Rockaway Ave.)

 

Other members will be running the NYS Winter Run Series which also starts January 8th at Hecksher State Park.

 

Aphorisms from various running thinkers:

·        ‘A competitive world has two possibilities for you. You can lose. Or, if you want to win, you can change’ – Lester Thurow

·        ‘You either have to be first, best, or different’ – Loretta Lynn

·         ‘I believe every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don’t intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises’ – Neil Armstrong

January - Getting Fit

As a senior citizen runner, I’m very much interested in keeping fit without working hard. Last year Carol and I join a Tai Chi class at the local elementary school. Tai Chi, which originated about 2,000 years ago in China as a form of self-defense, is growing in popularity, especially in Long Island. It’s said that meditative and graceful motions unite the mind, body and spirit, resulting in improved physical and mental well-being. Our class leader was Jessica Smith who is in her late 40’s and is part owner of the Smithtown Shoot the Moon Group. Jessica was aided by Jane a 4 foot 11 inch skinny gal who perform the stretching and warm-up session.  And in the rear was Harvey the over weighted apprentice, his main job was to illustrate bad form and say ‘If I can do it so can you’. Our class consisted of 25 woman age 60 and older and 3 men (Most likely husbands or some one looking for a date). After Jane give us our stretching session, we were treated to Jessica who demonstrated grace, balance and flow by moving arms and slowly shifting weight from one leg to the next and moving about into various unnatural positions. The class was then asked to duplicate this movement which resulted in students moving into each other, a few pulled muscles and an exchange of phone numbers. Each week, we would repeat the same events but adding more movements. After our 6th session we were told that we are well on our way to cultivate the ‘Chi’ (life energy). To complete the process it was suggested we join their home group ($15 dollars a session); buy the self-study CD and a Smithtown black Shoot the Moon tee shirt. The net result is that Carol went back to the Chiropractor and my running still stinks.

If you have any articles, thoughts, or race results you wish to included in the VSRC newsletter, please e-mail them to me.       … Joe Tito

Tip of the Month

When you stretch, move slowly and gradually into each position and hold it for several seconds before relaxing again. Repeat each stretch six to eight times. Never stretch a muscle to the point of pain. Pain indicates that you are stretching too hard or that some injury needs attention. Note, pain is not good.

 

Valley Stream 2005 Holiday Run

 

Photo taking by our Web Master Ed Pettinato at EAB Plaza.

 

What’s happening by Stan

The Best of 2005: The highlight of the club year to me was Ocean to Sound, partly because it is always a miracle to me to see it actually succeed each time and partly for the way so many pulled together to make it a success. We did good. I was most impressed by all the great efforts. I know I will leave many out but I remember Rick coming in from the wilds of Pennsylvania, Dorothy limping her whole leg with plantar fasciitis (get well soon), and Artie coming in from Suffolk just to help out. The true spirit of the club was shown on that day. And I didn’t even mention the dancing at the party.

Welcome to the New Year: Times change and this coming year will see some changes in the club. We will still have our weekly runs and monthly meetings but the meetings will now be held at a diner on the second Sunday after we run. We will run in Hendrickson at 7 and we will meet at the Concord diner at 9:30 for our breakfast meeting. We will still have our New Year’s Run (cancelled this year because of the weather), the John Corrigan relay, the Summer Barbecue, Ocean to Sound Relay, All Clubs Holiday party, and the Christmas morning run but the two club races are gone. I am working on the Sunrise camp event and I hope it will include a race and we can work it. The details of my efforts are below.  There are also events that some of us do yearly such as the L.I. Half and Full Marathon, the Long Island Parks Summer and Winter Series, the New Year’s Midnight run in Central Park (also cancelled this year because of bad weather), the many turkey trots, and other races long and short. There are more avid bikers, swimmers, bi/tri-athletes, hikers, and skiers in the club than ever and I think that it is a good thing, especially as I have been hiking like crazy. By the way, I am told by Donna that the bi/tris are now all called transition events. Makes sense to me.  Donna, Dorothy, Petra, and others have been going to some wild trail races through mud, streams, rocks, and steep hills. I will join them since I can hike them fairly fast. It helps to be a bit suicidal. So I think we will keep the club interesting and growing in 2006. 

Meetings: We met at the Concourse diner after the holiday run and I have been told  that it was a success for all. We had a better attendance than we would have had if we had met at the hospital and it was more enjoyable. Also it took the strain of the people who have been providing breakfasts for the club for many years now. It also is no strain of the club’s budget. When the weather gets better, then we will go back to the park and have runs and breakfasts under the sky.

Elections: We decided at the meeting at the Concourse that the elections would be held at the coming meeting. If anyone wants a delay or has an objection please reply to me or Gregg and we will postpone the elections to the next meeting. I am thrilled that the great crew who have been doing such great work this past year have agreed to run again. They are Donna Hahl V.P., Joe Tito Secretary, Lois Timpanaro Treasurer, and myself as President. I appoint Gregg Weinstock Esq. to be in charge of elections and any procedural matter is to be referred to him.

Sunrise Day Camp for Children with Cancer: I have joined the team at the Feinberg (Oceanside) Jewish Community Center in planning a fundraising event for this camp which is under construction in Suffolk County. It will give children undergoing chemo or other treatments a place to go in between treatments. Many children spend years in chemo and you can imagine how hard it is for them and their families. The JCC is joined by four major hospitals (LIJ Schneider’s Children’s Hospital, Sloan Kettering, and two more) in this project - the first such day camp on the East coast.

The hope is to raise $100,000 at a walkathon/race. I volunteered to be in charge of day of event volunteers and to continue helping the planning. I have been giving them advice. They are going to a meeting with Polansky next week about the race part and I will go with them. If GLIRC get the race we will be shut out and I don’t think that GLIRC will do the best job. I therefore have connected the event director with Dave Katz hoping they will use him so we can stay on top of this and because I know that he will do a better job than GLIRC. We’ll see how it comes out. I hope that you will all consider helping out day of event ( day and venue to be decided) no matter who puts it on. It’s a great cause. I will also see if I can volunteer at the camp when it opens. If you can fit it in your schedule, maybe it will be up your alley too.

Bless you all, and a sure cure for all that ails you, and I close by saying

HELLO 2006 AND GOODBYE 2005: 

Stan

 

Dues

Dues for 2006 are $20 per local household.  We will begin to collect dues at the January meeting. Please send your dues to Lois Timpanaro, or bring them to the next meeting. Please note that dues for out-of-towners are $10 for single members or families. 

Long Island Marathon

It is time to register for the 2006 Long Island Marathon and Half Marathon. The date is May 7th. The course will be the same course as 2005. See their web site www.thelimarathon.com . The fee is $40.00.

 

Jim and Jen Holden

The happy couple is expecting their 2nd child, due date is April/May. 

 

My Dad’s Trophies in Tanzania – Sean Corrigan

After my dad died, I wanted to put his many trophies to good use. I was introduced to Max Iranque of the Timmax AC (in Arusha Tanzania), I had well over 100 trophies and medals refurbished with a small  memorial plaque and shipped off to Max for use in his club's races. Previously, no awards were ever given at these races, as you can appreciate what an expense that would be in this region. I think my father would have gotten a laugh out of this trophies being handed out by Filbert Bayi, the former mile world record holder. See you on the roads, Sean

 

From Harry Feigenbaum

I was reading in the NYTIMES that Greta Waitz has cancer (breast?), is on chemo and stays fit by walking - can't (won't?) run anymore. Does that make me (76, terminal metasticized bladder cancer, running 7 to 10 miles a week - depending on chemos) a better runner than she? Nah!
Harry F.

Keith and Susan’s Wedding by Bob and Valerie

         Valerie and I left Pennsylvania Thursday morning at 9:55 AM. We usually stop off at an IHOP in Kenvel, New Jersey which is about half way and got there at 11:00 A.M. After a good breakfast, I couldn't resist getting gas when I saw 199.9. I had just filled up at 2.13.9 in Pennsylvania but it's the first time in a long time I'd seen gas under 2.00. New Jersey was always the cheapest gas but for the last 6 months Pennsylvania has been cheaper. The attendant said that we have a flat, I got out taking a look and it was like a pancake. The car only took $7.00 but it was good we stopped. I pulled into the garage where the guy shows me a large nail but what made it unusual the head went in first. I must've picked it up in the IHOP parking lot. They don't have my size and have to order it. We're sitting in the waiting room when Valerie says “I hope this is no indication as to how the next 2 days are going to go". Valerie is great with the one liners, the one I love is “It wasn't meant to be" after my horse just lost by a nose! We were there about an hour and finally on the road at 12:45 P. M. We heard the New York weather for Friday, snow from 1 to 8 inches. Why not just say we're getting some snow but have no idea how much!

       We get to our hotel at about 2:00 P. M. and decide to do Christmas shopping for 3 hours. Then it was off to the church for rehearsal and then dinner at the bride’s sister’s house with 24 people. The food was good and we had a nice time.

      Friday morning I wake up at 6:00 A. M. and the snow is really coming down, we're in trouble! At 7:00 A.M. the snow had changed to rain and we lucked out!  I dropped Valerie off at the beauty parlor and met 10 friends from my old health club for breakfast at the Valbrook. Went to the beauty parlor and had to wait for Valerie. The girl comes out and tells me to wait inside. Valerie wasn't comfortable walking down the aisle with our arms joined at the elbow and the girl showed us to join under the elbow and it felt more natural. I took Valerie to get her make-up done and when she came out she really looked good! Went back to the hotel and got dressed and then picked up my son, daughter and an usher and took for pictures. Went back to my son’s house and picked up Valerie and my daughters boyfriend Kane. We arrived for pictures and I never smiled so much in my life. The photographer made us pose many different ways and took 3 or 4 pictures every time. I was glad when it was over.

      The sun was out and we headed to the church Our Lady of Victory in Floral Park. We stood in the back of the church and greeted people when they arrived. From the club Tom and Ellen Moore and Don and Rose Munday were there. Our son Keith’s bride to be Susan teaches 4th grade in Garden City and they had a snow day. It was great seeing all these kids entering the church and I'm telling them to sit on our side. I knew Susan had a lot more people coming than we did and this balanced it out nicely. The ceremony went well. Our son and his bride looked good together in front of the church. They said there vows and then kissed for what seemed like a long time to me and I was glad it was over! Let's get ready to PARTY! We had a drive to get to the party which was in Hauppauge at a place called the Wind Watcher on a private golf course.

    I thought we would have traffic at 4:45 P.M. on a Friday evening but it was light. We got to the Hyatt and checked in and then joined friends for a drink before the reception. Tom and Ellen, Rose and Don, Valerie’s sister and her husband, Valerie’s brother and his wife and my friend Browne and his wife. It was nice finally relaxing and spending time with a nice group of people. We got a shuttle bus to take us about 300 yards from the Hyatt to the reception. I would've walked but it was cold and Valerie wanted to ride. When we got to the reception, they had cubes with kisses in them and the name of the table you were sitting at. Each table had a different song name with the words to the song on the table. It was a nice idea they had to put Keith and Susan’s picture on every kisses wrapper. I heard a lady tell a guy you can't throw the wrapper away their pictures on it! I saw Joe and Carol Tito at the cocktail hour and we talked about the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade. Joe and Carol lucked out for once and didn't have to travel more than 6 or 7 miles. The food was good during the cocktail hour and I met some nice people from Susan’s side. They told us to line up to be called into the main room. I told Valerie I wanted to run in but she said no! I think it was at least a jog and was fun when our names were called. Our daughter Denise was best man (person) and gave a nice speech. She thought she might break down crying but held it together pretty well. The Dee-Jay was good and got a lot of different people up to dance. I especially enjoyed dancing with Rose. The food was very good and the night flew by. We had a great time and didn't want it to end! Susan has a very large family and friends and Keith told us to keep our number down, which we did. There are other people from the club we would've liked to have invited but couldn't. I can appreciate that because my daughter Denise is going to be ready soon! Since we're paying the bill, I hope the groom’s side is not too large! I think Mike Gillen was smart having 2 sons. I'm only kidding; Valerie and I wanted a boy and a girl and were very lucky!

    The next morning we met everybody that stayed overnight for a continental breakfast. It was in a nice room and the food was good. We had a lot of fun talking about the wedding day! I said goodbye to the brides father Pat and thanked him for everything. He grabs me and kisses me! I was stunned but his daughter said he was officially welcoming me into the family! I've seen the Godfather movies and started thinking, the family or THE FAMILY! We put our son and daughters CD on and really enjoyed it. They had CDs made as wedding gifts. The songs were all appropriate about love and almost all country which we love! We got home to 12 inches of snow but it was beautiful!

And finally, Keith and Susan will be honeymooning in February in Cancun, Mexico

 

Fun Runs, Speed Work, HILL WORK and Long Runs

·        Wednesday evenings. Group Runs / Walk at the Valley Stream pool at 6:00 PM.  Check with Donna, If new to club.

·        For Hill Work in Alley Pond Park on Sunday mornings we meet at 7:30 AM.  At Alley Pond we have a standard 8-mile loop and a lake loop which adds about 3 miles. For those who go directly to Alley Pond Park, parking is on Winchester Boulevard just off of Union Turnpike.

·        For Long Runs we will meet on Saturday mornings, time of 7:30 AM at the bridge in the park.  Be on time though, because after one loop in the park we sometimes go off to places hither and yon. Bring water as we often leave the safe confines of the park.

 

Race Results

HoHoHo Holiday 5K 12/17/05

            Denis Brazil 21:04,   Fred Pupke 25:54,    Mary Ostop 29:43,

Ed Pettinato 32:40, Joe Tito 33:02, Lara Russoniello ran with a group from her track team.  They were all tied together as Santa and his reindeer and had a great time together.

5 Mile Hangover Fun Run 5 Mile 1/1/06

            Donna Hahl, Ed Pettinato, Joe Tito. Our group time was 59:20

 

Upcoming Races (Preliminary) 

Sun. Jan 8        Winter Run Series 5k                            Heckscher                                11:00

Sun. Jan 15      Winter Run Series 5k                            Caumsett                                  11:00

Sun. Jan 22      Winter Run Series 5k                            Sunken Meadow                      11:00

Sun. Jan 29      Winter Run Series 5k                            Jones Beach                             11:00

Sat, Feb 11      Snowflake 4 M                                     Long Beach                              11:00

Sat. Mar 4        Little Cow Harbor 4M                          Greenlawn                                9:30

Sat. Mar 11      Kings Park 15K                                   Kings Park                              9:15

Sun, Mar 19     John Corrigan (5x2 Mile Relay)           Eisenhower Park                      9:00

Sun, Mar 26     Suffolk County ˝ Marathon/5K           Selden                                     9:00

Sat, April          St James 5M                                       St. James                                9:30

Sat. April 1       ASPIRE 10k                                        Plainview                                 9:00

Sun, May 7      LI Marathon                                         Eisenhower Park        8:00 F, 9:00 H

Sun, May 28    Long Beach 10M/5k                            Long Beach                             8:00

Tue, July 4       Bellmore 4M                                        Bellmore                                  8:30

Sat. July 8       Vytra Woman’s 5k                              Farmingdale HS                      9:00

Sun, Sept. 10  Ocean-To-Sound                                Start Jones Beach                  8:00

Sat, Sept 16    Cow Harbor                                         Northport                                 8:30

Sat, Nov 4       Rockville Ctr 10k                                 Rockville Ctr                            10:00

Sun, Nov 19    Mineola Mustang 5k                            Mineola                                    10:00

Sun. Nov 26    Rob’s Run                                           Syosset                                   9:15

Sat. Dec          Snowball 5M                                        Wantagh                                 8:00

Sat. Dec 16     Ho Ho Ho Run 5k                                Bethpage HS                           9:00