|
|
Stories about Striders - 2008
|
|
|
|
|
Elvira and Charles
April 26, 2008
Charles and Elvira were married on April 23. And they were at club this morning to see everybody. The club presented them with a book of photographs of them with their Strider friends. We hope Elvira and Charles will enjoy the gift for now and their kids will enjoy it in 20 years from now!
We wish Elvira and Charles every happiness in their future life. God Bless You!
And Eileen and Derek turned up with their new arrival Sophie. Born November 27, 2007. God Bless the Lindsey Family. Great to see you at club.
And a new Strider this morning. We welcomed Randy to the club. He ran with Bill and chums, came for breakfast and joined the club. Welcome, Randy.
More photos: click here.
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/
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
|  |
American River 50 mile Run
April 7, 2008
Lots of Sprited Striders and chums participated last weekend at the American River 50 mile Run.
- Michael K - 40th from 500 at the age of 16. Wow! Blog
- Jean - not at his best. Still a great run. Blog
- Lina - a very good time. Sadly not a PR
- Dennis - PR. 2hr 30min's better than Headlands 50
- Pat K - A good solid performance. 5th consecutive AR50 finish, I believe
- Eileen - PR. Good Result on her way to Western States
- Christina - a solid performance as always
- Chris M and Chuck W - chums and sometime members of the club
- Bill D - not his day. Had to drop with calf muscle pain at mile 10
- Oh, and Jerry H was helping with the Aid Station at Manhattan Bar
Event Results: click here.
Event Photos: click here.
Striders Results: click here.
| Photo credit: http://zinsli.com/pictures/08_0405_ar50/index.asp |
Lina
 |
Dennis
 |
Eileen
 |
Spring Program
April 7, 2008
Spring is here and there are lots of good things planned for May and June. So, mark your calendars and prepare for some fun.
The Quicksilver Aid Station will be on Saturday May 10. and is held in Quicksilver Park, San Jose. To volunteer: click here
The Striders Spring Picnic will be held in Linda Vista Park, Cupertino on Saturday May 17. This is a pot-luck BBQ occasion for all Striders and their family and friends. Everybody's welcome. More details soon.
The Western States Aid Station will be Saturday June 28. The club is very proud of having operated the 'Last Chance' Aid Station for more than 25 years. It's a really enjoyable and relaxing weekend. To sign up click here
And of course there are lots of other spring events coming up including Santa Cruz Half, Big Sur International Marathon, Miwok 100km, Ohlone Wilderness and Bay to Breakers. If you're running - good luck. And don't forget to buy and wear your Striders Club Shirt.
If you're volunteering for an aid station, or running in an event, don't forget to buy and wear your 'Coolmax' Striders Club Shirt. Only $20/$25 (short/long sleeved) from Peter.
Santhi, Robin and Mike at Santa Cruz Half Marathon, April 2007.
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:
-
Bring up the photos: click here.
- Click the [+] on the left a couple of times to zoom into the map a little.
- Click on the thumbnail of Hazel - second top left.
- Above Rob's head, click: "play" (NOT > forward)
- 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.
|

|
Paddy's Day Party
March 22, 2008
|
Everybody had a very nice time at Mike and Wanda's Home for the Paddy's Day Party on Saturday March 22. Lots to eat and drink. At least 4 different types of "Irish Stew" - Ham, Beef, Tofu and traditional Lamb. Not to mention lesser know Irish delights such as prawns, wings, cabbage, sushi, apple pie, fruit torte and lots of other stuff. Patty and Jim's corn doo-dah was great and one day I'll know what it's called.
A huge "Thank You" to our wonderful hosts Wanda and Mike. Wanda was beautiful in her green Scotch-Irish Ross Tartan Kilt and Traditional Costume. Mike's efforts with the music were rewarded by enthusiastic singing by some Striders. Thanks guys - it was great.
Photos: click here.
|

Robin and beautiful hostess Wanda
|
Bay to Breakers
March 21, 2008
We've recently received a couple of emails about the Bay to Breakers. Members of the club have participated in this event many times over the years. The club will not have a "Striders Team" this year, however members are of course welcome to take advantage of the offers below.
SamTrans Special Service to Bay to Breakers
Five different express bus routes will serve the Peninsula taking you to the Bay bright and early on race day and picking you up near the Breakers. The bus locations are: Palo Alto Transit Center, San Carlos Caltrain, 101/92 Park & Ride, Millbrae BART and San Bruno BART. No need to pre-purchase tickets; simply put your $4.00 in the farebox when you board or pay $8.00 for your round trip and you'll be given a sticker, which will be used as your return ticket.
For group reservations for parties of 10 or more, please call 650 508-6292 by May 9.
Call 1.800.660.4287 (TTY 650.508.6448) for more details, or click here:www.samtrans.com/baytobreakers
Take Caltrain to Bay to Breakers
A northbound Special Train will depart the San Jose Diridon Station at 6:17 a.m., making all local stops until Redwood City. It will then stop at Hillsdale and Millbrae, before expressing to the San Francisco station, arriving at 7:30. A second Special Train will depart the California Avenue station at 6:24 a.m., making all local stops until San Bruno and will express to the San Francisco station, arriving at 7:25 a.m.
Trains depart the San Francisco station on Sundays each hour on the hour until 9 p.m. For fare and schedule call 1.800.660.4287 (TTY 650.508.6448) for more details or click here: www.caltrain.com/baytobreakers.
Yesterday, you spoke to our volunteer Christine, who called to see whether your club members might be interested in participating as pledge runners at this year's Bay to Breakers on Sunday, May 18th.
You kindly agreed to share the information with your club members, which you can find on our web site http://events.ggbreathe.org/BaytoBreakers . I have also attached two flyers: one if your club members would like to be pledge runners,another if they would like to volunteer at the event.
Thank you so much for being willing to share this information with your club members. We truly appreciate it!
Regards, Patricia Tind, Volunteer & TB Program Coordinator, Breathe California, 1469 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95126, Phone: 408-998-5865 Fax: 408-998-0578, www.lungsrus.org
Paddy's Day Party 
Come and join your fellow Striders at a celebration of the green, in honor of St. Patrick's
Day, held on Saturday March 22nd from 7-10 pm, hosted by Mike and Wanda at their
lovely 'party central' home in Cupertino. Please email board@stevenscreekstriders.org if you need the address.
Please bring your favorite green beer or drink to share. If your last name begins A through
M, please bring a main dish or appetizer, and N through Z please bring a salad or a
dessert. Entertainment will be provided by Mike and Wanda.
Please come and be part of a good excuse to eat, drink and be very merry! Hope to see
all of you leprechauns there.....with plenty of shenanigans!
|
Other club news
March 10, 2008
Good Running at Cool
Our club mates Jean, Mark and Bill did really well at Way to Cool last weekend. Jean and Bill were placed 2nd in their divisions and Mark did a very good sub 4:30 on a demanding course. Read Jean's story: http://fartherfaster.blogspot.com. And results: click here.
I subsequently received this delightful email from Bill:
|
Tony Look/REI Trail Open Again
I understand that the Tony Look Trail is open again. This is good news. I've found it quite tough climbing Coyote Ridge the last few weeks. I didn't realise how often I run that trail until it was closed!
|
Wow Jean - what a story! I can hardly remember enough to fill a small paragraph :).
I was really excited by how well my body performed, especially given that I worked on Friday then left Mountain View at 4am Saturday and drove to Cool.
I felt strong until the last 5 miles when I began to get nauseous and had a hard time taking in enough energy. Also was right on the edge of leg cramps.
My 5:51 was better than I hoped for and was good for 2nd of 14 in the 60+ division (1st was age 62). I was 1st 70+, but there was no 70+ division.
Ray Piva's 70+ course record is 5:35 - I was really jazzed to come that close, especially considering he is an ultra legend and was 71 when he set the CR. I had just turned 73 on Thursday!
Jean - Good Luck in the AR50. See you there, if I can find you.
Robin - Thanks for the kind words.
|
Two inspirational stories, don't you think?
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
|
Tony Look (REI) Trail Closed
February 14, 2008
|
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
|
Mike S's Birthday
February 2, 2008
|
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.
|

|
Jean Second Overall in Costa Rica!
February 1, 2008
|
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.

|
|
Newsletter and Program
January 25, 2008
|
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?".
|
More Program Information
As we move closer to those events we'll be publishing more information on the web site. So for now, please mark your calendars and prepare for some fun.
Get Well Soon, Charles
|
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.
|
|
|