Stories about Striders - 2008

• Elvira and Charles
• Ultra For a Cure
• Ohlone Volunteer
• American River 50
• Spring Program
• Photo Maps
• Paddy's Day Party
• Bay to Breakers

• Paddy's Day Invite
• Way Too Cool
• Aid Station Volunteers
• Trail News February
• Mike S's Birthday
• Jean in Costa Rica
• 2008 Spring Program
• Get Well, Charles

Ultra for a Cure 

April 23, 2008

Some Striders are even more extra-ordinary than others. Michael K has asked us to support him with his fundraising "Ultra For a Cure". Michael will be taking on a Junior Nation Record Challenge. So let's let's give him some support - he deserves it. Michael wrote to say:

As you know, I conduct an annual fundraiser for cancer research called Ultra For A Cure. This year, I will attempt to break the 100 mile Junior National Record at the San Diego 100 Mile in June. I'm currently promoting the fundraiser and I was wondering if I could get a post on the Striders website about the endeavor. ultraforacure@yahoo.com

You can learn more about Michael and his amazing achievements at: http://ultraforacure.blogspot.com/

Top of page

Ohlone Wilderness Volunteers 

And Jean is defending his title in the very demanding Ohlone Wilderness 50k event on Sunday May 18 Volunteers anybody? RD's Rob and Larry wrote to say:

At this time, we're still in need of race day (and pre-race day) volunteers in a number of areas. Course Marking, Kap'n Kirk Boisseree is still staffing the course marking team for Saturday, May 17: atkirkbois@yahoo.com.

If you want to see the full range of volunteer opportunities, check out the "Volunteer Info" section of our web site at: http://abovethefog.net/Ohlone50K/Credits/credits.html.
Or drop us a line:atohlone50k@abovethefog.net

Photo Maps of the Trail 

March 29, 2008

A jolly good turnout at club today. And I think everybody noticed that I was taking photographs with even more enthusiasm than usual. So in case you were wondering "Why's he slowing up the run to take all those b****y photographs?", there is actually reason for my madness!

I've been busy during the last couple of weeks writing software to merge data from my Garmin Forerunner 305 "Personal Fitness Computer" into digital photographs.

The Garmin's probably better known as the "Big Red Runner's Watch". It has a GPS and you can create trail maps and profiles. It also has a heart rate monitor. It's good value and retails just over $200. I personally recommend this - and I know Jean and Rob L are very pleased with their Garmins.

I've written code to merge the GPS position data into the JPG photos. Then you upload the photos to Google's Picasa Web Gallery. And you experience the miracle - maps are displayed automatically by Picasa showing the photo locations. Cool, eh?

There are a number of different map presentations offered. My favorite is the slide show on the map. To see this:

1. Bring up the photos: click here.
2. Click the [+] on the left a couple of times to zoom into the map a little.
3. Click on the thumbnail of Hazel - second top left.
4. Above Rob's head, click: "play" (NOT > forward)
5. Sit back and enjoy.

How could this be better? A little music maybe? A longer title string? Do we need latitude and longitude to 6 decimal places (6 inches)? How about a 3-D experience? Yes, Google Earth! And that's available. Go explore!

Google Earth: click here
Technical description: click here.

Aid Station Volunteers 

March 4, 2008

We're looking for volunteers to help run the aid stations at some up-coming events.

Quicksilver Running Club's Event - Saturday May 10, 2008

Striders provide the aid station at Dam Overlook. The event supports 25k, 50k and 50m distances and athletes from all distances use the station. We'd like volunteers for a 4 hour "stint". 6am-10am. or 10am-2pm. You'll enjoy a nice Saturday morning, good company and beautiful scenery. To volunteer, please email:stationcaptain@stevenscreekstriders.org. We'll be passing the clipboard at club on Saturdays. So com'on Volunteer.

Miwok 100km - Saturday May 3, 2008 Tia Boddington, the RD at Miwok has emailed looking for a few more volunteers to help stage the Miwok event. Lots of jobs available - however she'd particularily like volunteers for Tennessee Valley Aid Station, 6:30am - 11:00am More information about Miwok at: http://www.run100s.com/miwok/

Western States Endurance Run - June 28, 2008

You should have received an invitation by email to come to Last Chance in June. This year's event will take place on Saturday/Sunday June 28/29, 2008. Striders will once again provide the Aid Station at Last Chance, mile 43. We're proud that this is the 27th consecutive year. The Stations Captains this year are Robin and Jean. As Jean will be running in the event again, it falls to Robin to be "the man" on event day.

So, of course we'd like some assistance and that's where you come in. You know it's a real fun event. To remind you, here are the photos from Last Year: click here.

You may email the Station Captains at: stationcaptain@stevenscreekstriders.org.

A busy Aid Station at Quicksilver in 2007
Penny at Miwok in 2006
Striders at Last Chance, 2005

Carol has sent the following email about the Tony Look Trail (formerly named REI Trail).

Until further notice the REI (Tony Look) trail is closed due to trail damage. I know several of you have been on the trail since it has been closed and don't see the damage but it is there. The signs at both ends of the trail are often knocked down and not visible.

According to the park ranger there is damage to the underside of the trail and in the hills above it. This damage makes the trail unsafe for use.

They are currently working to get a crew on the trail to do the repairs and I have left my telephone number with them to be informed when this work will be completed and the trail will be open for use. The last time we had this type of damage it was closed for 2-3 months and they feel it will be the same time frame this time.

Please be aware if you are using the trail you do so at your own risk.

Tony Look Trail Maintenance

Carol has also sent the following email about trail maintenance.

I received a call from Daniel at the Stevens Creek Maintence Department.

There is going to be a trail repair day on Saturday March 1. This is being run by the parks and recreation department. They are looking for volunteers to help with the trail repair. After this repair the trail should be open once again. Since I will be out of town that weekend please contact Heidi Mcfarland at 408-955-8854 to get details of the work day.

The parks will provide tools and know how on doing whatever projects they deem necessary. I have had in the past many people from the Striders on my work crews and the work is physical but not difficult. The tools are made to work with gravity so you do not need to be especially strong to use them.

If you can help it would get the trail open for our saturday morning runs again.

If you have any questions I will be happy to talk with you or contact Heidi.

Mid Peninsula Regional Open Space District - Volunteers wanted

Steve R has also sent the following email about trail mainenance.

Here is a list of upcoming trail projects for the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) for the spring. click here.

As you know, each year WS entrants are required to volunteer 8 hours of their time for trail work or other ultra-related activities. Joining any of these projects will count as WS volunteer hours, so please encourage those in the club who are in WS to look at any of these projects to fulfill the WS volunteer requirement.

Of course anyone in the club who would be interested in this can also volunteer!

Note that the first project listed (for 2/23) is in Picchetti. I won't be able to participate in this one but anyone who runs the REI-Zinfandel Loop should consider it.

To participate, please contact:
Paul McKowan, Volunteer Programs Coordinator
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
(650) 691-1200
volunteer@openspace.org

Steve, Dennis, Penny and some other folks helped with trail maintenance in 2006. Penny sent the following photos: click here.

It'd be great to have good support for the trail maintenance effort by members of the club. If you require additional information, please email the board: board@stevenscreekstriders.org.

Trail Maintenance in 2006
Steve and Lizzie

The Ranger

Fixing the trail

Strider Mike S had a special birthday this week. On Tuesday January 29, to be exact. A round birthday. Guess what, you can divide it by 12!

And Penny and Andrew did the honors and had a party for him. And lots of Striders and friends came to wish him well. Watch him blow out the candles. And of course to eat the cake. Very good fun. Thank you Penny and Andrew for your wonderful hospitality.

As Bob D put it. Mike's 60? Gosh, he doesn't look a day over 59!

And a new idea. Rebecca's suggested we have a 'Recipes' section on the web site. Good Idea, Rebecca - check back next week and I'll have it done. I'll start with the recipes which have been in the recent newsletters. If you've got a favorite you'd like to share with the club - drop me an email robin@clanmills.com.

Robin's Photos: click here.
Rebecca's Photos: click here.

Our amazing French friend Jean is participating in an adventure in Costa Rica. Here's an update from his wife Agnès:

I just had Jean on the phone! He is on a beautiful beach resort at the border of Nicaragua, happy to be done, but he said he could even run more!

This last day was special, as they were running on the beach, not a sandy one, but a rocky one with high tides. At one point on the road later on, he and the 3rd runner took the wrong direction as the person who was supposed to guide them had fallen asleep. Their route, back to the beach was hazardous but they made it to the finish and were credited 20 minutes.

So after this long week of challenging running (23 hours) across gorgeous Costa Rica - 210km/140 miles + 12000 calories burnt- experiencing different climates and terrain, he feels as if he lives on another planet. I am sure that, at one point, next week, he will be happy to run on a nice flat road or on an easy trail in our foothills.

From the bottom of my heart, a big thank you to all of you who supported Jean in this very special running challenge!

Thank you for your encouraging words and thoughts (he will discover all of them as soon as he can have access to a computer and internet...)

Agnès

Jean will share more in his blog next week: http://fartherfaster.blogspot.com.

Here is the leaderboard (look under "Individuals"): http://www.thecoastalchallenge.com/leaderboard/leaderboard2.htm.

Well, the New Year Edition of "What's Afoot" should be arriving shortly in your in-box. And as well as stories about your friends in Striders, it explains the program for Spring 2008.

However, before launching into details about the program, the board would like to thank Mark Williams for years of service to the club. Mark has been the treasurer this year and was president last year. Thank you for your service, Mark. Of course this leaves the board looking for a treasurer and we're looking for a volunteer. Somebody?

So here's what's lined up for the first half of 2008:

March - Ski Weekend and Paddy's Day Party

We're going skiing at Tahoe. Details are still to be arranged. However we'll travel to Tahoe of Friday and stay in a cabin for the weekend. Ski on Saturday. Dinner together on Saturday evening. Probably a run on Sunday morning and breakfast together before heading back to the Bay Area.

A Paddy's Day Party on Saturday March 15. Last year's Aussie Day Party was such a success we had to follow this with something to celebrate another nation's special day. This year it's the Luck of the Irish.

April 20/21, 2008 - The Relay

199 mile run for a team of 12 runners. Everybody runs 3 legs of around 10k. You'll run Saturday afternoon, during the night and Sunday morning. You'll never forget it. A great weekend.

May - Quicksilver Aid Station and Picnic

Striders provide the aid station at Dam Overlook in Quicksilver Running Club's annual ultra. The event supports 25k, 50k and 50m distances and athletes from all distances use the station. We'd like volunteers for a 4 hour "stint". 6am-10am or 10am-2pm. Saturday May 10, 2008.

A family picnic on Saturday May 17, 2009 in Linda Vista Park, Cupertino. Bring your other half, kids, family and friends. Pot Luck. As well as drinks, BBQ and other nice things to eat, we'll have a few games for everybody to join. It'll be fun.

June - Western States - Saturday June 28, 2008

Mark your calendars now to go to Western States and prepare for some fun.

Striders have been doing the aid station at Last Chance for more than 25 years - a proud record. The aid station is at mile 43 on this demanding event. Striders try to provide the best aid station in the event.

The name Last Chance derives from the ghost mining village on the site. Today it's forest wilderness, although mining only ceased as recently as 1970.

We travel to Last Chance on Friday and camp overnight. The aid station's open from 11am until 5pm on Saturday. Then we clear up and proceed to watch the finish at Placer High School, Auburn.

Pages from the February 2008
4 page edition of "What's Afoot?".

January 12, 2008

Well, the year's begun with some good and ungood news. The Good News is that Charles S is out of hospital. The Bad News is that he's been in hospital during the Holidays. Here's his email:

I have a pulmonary embolism. A recent flight to the UK caused a clot in my calf that then moved to my lung. Today is my first day out of hospital.

Charles (Wednesday Jan 9, 2008)

Gayla emailed and asked the board to do something. So I reached for my John Bull Printing Set and Brownie and here's the result:

Additionally, everybody signed a "Gell Well" card for Charles and we all hope for his speedy recovery.

Running Club

Cupertino, California