Valley Stream Running Club News

Box #212 Valley Stream, New York 11581

Stanley Friedlander, President

www.VSRunningClub.org

 

Vol. 25  No. 3                                                March   2005

 

Ø      Bob and Valerie are heading to PA. Join us at the Lucky Duck to wish them well, Wednesday March 9.

Ø      We will be at Scenic Eisenhower Park, Sunday, March 20 for the John Corrigan 5x2 Mile Relay Race which starts at 9:00 AM. Come early (8:00) so that we can field a few great teams.

 

Aphorisms from various running thinkers:

Ø      'I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. I can reach for Perfection; Excellence is God's business' - Michael J. Fox

Ø      ‘I travel all the time. I gauge how much I like a city by how good the running is. And my hotel selection is determined by proximity to running routes.’ - James Carville - Political Consultant

Ø      ‘You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm’ - Colette

 

March - The Magic Elixir

Last January Carol and I returned from a vacation trip from Florida, and I am hotter and faster than ever before, with a lot more stamina. It was incredible; I flat wore out all the other 65-84 year age runners in their local race. I know what you are thinking! 65 year old runners don’t get better!

 

What is the secret?  The first morning of our adventure, we had breakfast with an ‘Italian-75 year old-nutritionist-eight timed marred-runner’. This man is quite fast and good with the ladies. At Breakfast he dumped a large bottle of Olive Oil and hand full of Garlic Cloves on to his corn flaks. This Elixir is the staple of Italy which is reported to: Lower Blood pressure and cholesterols levels, increase SEX drive, improve running speed, and keeps the vampires away.

A subsequent advantage of the Magic Elixir is that people do not get into your face and chatter. Post Note – the 75 year old Italian noted earlier is not Joe Cataldo. We visited Joe C. while in Florida; he is fine and is currently training Florida senior citizens for the 2008 Olympics.

 

Over and Out…   Joe Tito

 

Tip of the Month

Calcium may help fortify the bones, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, decrease the risk of colon cancer, reduce body weight, and ease PMS.

 

What’s happening by Stan

ELECTIONS: Thanks to all of you for trusting me to be your President for 2005. I have said many times because I feel it deeply that this club is blessed with a great bunch of wonderful people. I hope to earn your trust in this coming year.

I am very pleased that the excellent people who have worked so hard for our club as officers were re-elected: Donna Hahl, Vice President, Joe Tito, Secretary, and Lois Timpanaro, Treasurer. Many others have contributed during the past year and listing them all would mean just publishing our whole mailing list. Let’s keep going to make this another great year for the club.

Just so we didn’t take ourselves seriously, a hard fought election was also held to name the chief harasser of Tom Moore and the winner was Mike Gillen. Tom wasn’t at the meeting so we couldn’t have the contestants show their stuff by harassing Tom in person. The election was chaired and overseen by our club Attorney Gregg Weinstock who deserves out thanks.

NEW LIFE:  At the meeting, I spoke to the club about my concern that the club was not growing as well as I would like it and about my ideas in bringing new life to the club. Not that there is anything bad happening - we had a very good year in 2004 with many events and good meetings. However, my concern was that the club was not growing very well and also that the club was not meeting as a group often enough. The club seems to consist of a group of runners, a group of runners and triathletes, and a group of our dear friends who have moved or are not for various reasons joining us very often. This is normal for a club like ours and is a good thing but I would like the groups to meet together more often and to do so in a way that can attract new people to join with us.

The root of the club in the late 1970’s was in runs held every Wednesday night year round: First at the hills near Alley Pond and later in Hendrickson. The people would meet by the Administration (starting in the mid eighties) and go on a run about the 1.5 mile loop. They started together and some raced and some ran at training pace. (I hate the word jog - doesn’t it mean shake?). Sometimes there would be track workouts, fartlek, or runs outside the park. After the running, we would change our clothes in the Admin. Building and then go out to have pizza. This format allowed the fast and the slow, the runners and the walkers, and the healthy and the injured to meet every week. Also we attracted new people especially when we wore our team colors.

Another important advantage of meeting this way is this: I have had people call me who are interested in the club but they are not capable of running with our faster runners but they want more running than our walkers can provide. I had nowhere to direct them. If we meet regularly one night a week then I can have them come to the park on that night and they can run the loop and meet everyone. The point is that it is a fairly short loop.

The members at the meeting were receptive to this idea and several volunteered to start coming down. We are doing it at present on Wd. Night at 6 and so far we have Denis, Tom Z., Donna, Eddie, Terry, Lois, and me. Of course, with the weather so cold and snowy recently it’s been pretty empty but it will pick up as the weather warms up. Please join us. If a different night and/or time is better for you then let me know or better come to the March meeting where we will discuss it further.

BOB AND VALERIE DINNER: In case you haven't heard, Bob and Valerie are leaving very soon to live in the Poconos. We want to show them how much we enjoyed their friendship and their contributions to the club, and how much we will miss them, so we will do so at a dinner in their honor.  It will be on Wednesday, March 9, 7 p.m. at the Lucky Duck restaurant, 9 Nassau Blvd., Garden City South. (Their number is 516-485-4848.) Please get in touch with Donna for details and to RSVP. We will sorely miss this couple who have been our friends and have been so good to the club for many years. I hope you can come to give Bob and Val a send-off to remember.

SIGN:   Donna suggested that we have the club name put on the sign which is at the corner of Sunrise and Central. The cost will only be $90 and it would publicize the club. The club voted that we should do it. Donna and I will meet with the Village about it before the coming club meeting and we will report on what happened at that meeting.

ROTARY RUN: The plan to have the race in December hit a big snag which is that we don’t have any warm protected place for the runners during the winter. I suggested to Boris that we have a 5k starting at the Admin. Building but he didn’t sound enthusiastic. I feel that if the race isn’t drawing well in August for many years, then we have to change something. Well we will see what happens. It’s up to Boris.

JOHN CORRIGAN RELAYS: I am sure all who knew John remember him very fondly. The relay in his honor will be on Sunday March 20 at 9 a.m. at Eisenhower. It will be a 5X2 mile and we will select teams from those who show up. Please come by 8:00 at the latest for team selection. The club will pay all entry fees for our teams.

BEST WISHES: Lois has just completed her round of chemo and she should be walking with us soon. Eileen Brazil was in chemo the last we heard. Much health and happiness to these two lovely ladies and to all who are sick and injured.

SORRY this column is so long but there was a lot of business. Thanks for hanging in there to read so much. Stan

 

John Corrigan 5x2 Race – New Date and Team Size

Make a note in your calendar - The Long Island Road Runners Club (LIRRC) is hosting a John Corrigan 5x2 Mile Relay race on Sunday March 20 at 9:00 am. Try and make this race for a special friend. For 2005, the running teams are made up of 5 runners. Our March VSRC meeting will be held after the race (That is, the March meeting will NOT be held in Franklin General Hospital).

 

Dues

2005 dues are $20 for local and $10 for out-of-towners (price includes all members of the family). Please send your check to Lois or at the John Corrigan 5x2 Mile Relay Race (Which is our next meeting).

 

Pennsylvania Here We Come!

I started running in January of 1990! Through many years of playing softball and drinking beer I was approaching 300 pounds! I started running in the park and it was no fun! Breathing heavy and feeling horrible, I ran one loop of the park! Luckily it got easier as I went out every morning! I lost weight pretty fast and people I didn't know told me I looked much better. I was hooked on running and was trying to run like I did when I was a teenager. I never got that fast but could come close to a 6:00 mile. For about 2 years I ran by myself and really didn't want to run with anyone! I finally realized I wasn't going to make the Olympics and decided to run with people. It made running more fun and the miles flew by! I think it was 1992 and I joined the Valley Stream Running Club. It was great finding new runners to run with and learn some new ways of training. Many runners have come and gone but it was always a nice group of people. Valerie saw me losing weight and started running and worked her way up to running the New York Marathon in 1993. Running was great for us for about 10 years until our legs went. We have many great memories and we're glad we took up running!

  Valerie and I are moving to Lehighton, Pennsylvania on March 31st. It's a nice house but what makes it really great is the pond in the back of the house. It's the size of a football field and we usually have a 100 ducks and 100 geese. We're looking forward to some babies being born in May. We have 9 acres of land so I'll be spending a lot of time on a riding mower. I really enjoy the fact that it is nice and quiet there. It's our little paradise. We will miss you guys but will try to make Stan's barbeque every year. If anybody wants to get away for a day or two it's only two hours and fifteen minutes away. Valerie and I would love to see you guys!

 

ps. I hope to keep in touch with you on the computer – Bob Croon.

 

Gone with the Wind – Joe Tito

It was a cold winter February 27 morning that brought Carol and me to Bethpage State Park. The Greater Long Island Running Club and the Runner’s Edge were the sponsors of this 3 by 2 mile trail relay run. Donna, Rochelle and I entered as a mixed senior master’s team; we called our team ‘Gone with the Wind’. The race is FREE and the food included home made cookies, soup and muffins. There was hot coffee, tea and bagels before and after the race. Each runner received 2 FREE tee shirts. What was our time or place? Who cares – we had a great time and it was FREE.

 

 

March 05 Bubbler-The Benefits of Strength Training

Diet, Nutrition and Exercise - I was going to talk a lot about diet and nutrition this month but I've decided to break it down to just one extremely important recommendation; WATER

Water Recommendations during Exercise:

A loss of as little as one percent of your body's fluid weight can lead to a decrease of 20 percent or more in performance by putting a strain on the heart and preventing heat from dissipating to the extremities.

.           Two hours before exercise: drink at least 16 ounces.

.           One hour before exercise: drink at least 8 ounces.

.           During exercise: drink at least 4-8 ounces every 15-20 minutes.

.           After exercise: drink at least 16 ounces.

Remember - if you are thirsty - you are already dehydrated!  Regular water is adequate for exercise that lasts up to one hour.  During strenuous exercise that will last longer than one hour, you are encouraged to consume a sports drink (Gatorade, Propel, etc.) or a watered down sports drink to replace sodium and glucose loss.

I know that this seems like a lot but water regulates your body processes.  It carries nutrients and other chemicals to your cells and also carries wastes out of your body's processes.  Water also helps to regulate your body temperature and makes up to 55 to 75 percent of your body weight.  It also lubricates your joints and other structures and without adequate amounts, dehydration can set in and lead to impaired exercise, sugar cravings, fatigue and faulty body temperature regulation.  We need water to stay fit.

What is fit?  What does the term fitness mean to you?  To many people, "fitness" relates to physical activity such as a daily exercise program.  To some, the term may mean a trim or muscular body.  And yet, to others (like me), it may mean the ability to run a 10k race, bench press your own body weight (200 lbs in my case), or simply being free of disease and other health problems.  The true definition refers to your own optimal health and overall well-being.  Fitness is your own good health - at its very best!  Being fit translates into every aspect of your physical, emotional and mental well-being.  All three are interconnected and nutrition and physical activity are fundamental to one another.

See you in the Fitness Center as we all have work to do!

Joe Cataldo - Certified Personal Trainer/Certified Fitness Instructor      

 

 

Race Results

Jones Beach 5K – Winter series 2/13

Tom Zullo 25:16,       Dorothy Russo 27:59,           Fred Pupke 28:00,

Donna Hall 35:00,     Ed Pettinato will e-mail

Donna Hahl – Snow Flake 4 mile – 46:00

Gregg Weinstock – Super Bowl couch to Refrigerator Relay

Rich Ostrowski – Valley Stream Xcountry Ski – Those Ski tracks you saw during and after the storm were mine (R.O.).

Joe Cataldo - Bad news and good news.  I came in fourth with a blazing 1:01:00, in the Tiger Dash 10k on Saturday.  The good news, I beat Morris by 3 minutes.