WMAC 2006 News

Submissions welcome! Please e-mail any news concerning WMAC members, running events, wildlife sightings, adventures on the trails, rules of thumb (toe?), etc. that you wish to offer. Email to: Web Editor.

The Dam Race Course: "Longer and hillier"

(posted July 26, 2006, from John Grenier)

Hi...
I'm looking forward to seeing some of the WMAC runners looking to pad their Grand Tree points for 2006...

The race is back after a one year hiatus. This is my first time managing the race but have been a part of the CMS group that put it together in the past. I have redesigned the route to make it longer and hillier. In rerouting the course, I have changed the gas line part of the course to be UPHILL instead of down and have added two sections of challenging terrain within the French River Basin. The race covers just about everything and includes at least two places where you will get feet wet. I've tried to eliminate confusion in certain areas but there is only one spot where the route crosses itself and that will be manned by an experienced trail runner. I'm still sure someone will go the wrong way, they always do. :):)

I'm keeping the traditional bake goods as prizes to the winners, there will be raffle prizes for all and there will be plenty of fruit and drinks at the finish line. Also, tee-shirts to the first 85 participants...

Thanks,
John Grenier

Kathrine Switzer Event in Springfield, April 4th (free)

Western New England College in Springfield, MA will host world-renowned runner and entrepreneur Kathrine Switzer on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m. in Sleith Hall Auditorium on the College's main campus, 1215 Wilbraham Road. Switzer and her husband, elite international runner Roger Robinson, will speak about making the most of the opportunities that arise from overcoming seemingly insurmountable circumstances. The program, titled "Finding Diamonds in the Ashes: Out of Adversity Comes Opportunity," is free and open to the public.

Switzer became a pivotal figure in sports history when she broke the gender barrier at the Boston Marathon in 1967, becoming the first woman to officially enter and run the race. Her entry created an uproar and gained worldwide notoriety when a race official tried to forcibly remove her from the competition. For three decades, Switzer has dedicated her multi-faceted career to creating opportunities on all fronts.

A world-ranked, elite international runner for an unprecedented 30 years, Roger Robinson is one of the leading authors, speakers, and historians on running. He represented England and New Zealand in world championships and had record-breaking age-group victories in the Boston, New York, and Vancouver marathons.

Related links of interest: [http://www.katherineswitzer.com/life.html]Switzer site and a short History of Women's Distance Running, from the film, Run Like a Girl (by ex-SMAC runner, Charlotte Lettis Richardson).

Seven Sisters trail

Carol, Ed, and John confirming that the Sisters trail is in nice shape as springtime approaches.

Bobcat waits for webmaster to tie running shoes

Although Bob and Denise may routinely slap the bears on their noses when they take their rubbish out, a bobcat a few feet from my basement office in Amherst is unusual.

Dion Snowshoes

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