News from Delco Road Running Club

A. To promote regular running as a life-long activity that will enhance the physical, mental and emotional well being of people of all ages.
B. To sponsor weekly fun-runs in Delaware County neighborhoods for fun and fellowship.
C. To promote communication and camaraderie among area runners.
D. To facilitate competitive racing and team competition for all interested members.

Hello Delco RRC

Have something interesting to add to the email? Forward it to me at info@delcorrc.com. Thanks to those that always give me support.

"Every failure is a blessing in disguise, providing it teaches some needed lesson one could not have learned without it. Most so-called Failures are only temporary defeats."

- Napoleon Hill

With this quote in mind: So you come out and can't keep up with the group or just can't seem to feel good about your runs. You are not the first and won't be the last. You are only a failure if you give up trying. Come join us at one of our many Fun Runs and prove to yourself that you are a winner.

A Passing...

Long time club member and new Team Coordinator, Dennis Tate's father passed away in Virginia Tuesday night. If you wish to get in contact or send sympathy cards, the address for Dennis is 158 Marlborough Road, Upper Darby, PA 19082.

We are sorry for his loss.

Volkswanderung Recap

Click on this link to view pictures from the Volkswanderug. Thanks John Greenstine for taking the pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/john.greenstine/Volks2010#

From Byron Mundy,

Our annual Volkswanderung (the people's walk-run)on Thanksgiving morning raised $ 1760. in donations from almost 100 participants who each received a souvenir cap. The funds will be delivered this week via a Delco RRC check to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry located in Prospect Park.
Seventy-two runners entered the 4.3 mile prediction run held on the Ridley Creek bike loop. Club newcomer Christopher Begley ran the course in 32:57, just 3 seconds off his predicted time of 33:00 to take first place. The 20 runners with the best predictions (listed below)each won a homemade pumpkin pie. Many thanks to all those who donated pies!

Many thanks to event directors Mary Beth Mundy, Diane Lista, Dot Kracht, and their committee for doing another fine job. ALso thanks to Tom Simms's Nice Threads Company for producing our caps at cost, The Running Place for donating coupons, and Swiss Farms (John Velardi) for donating refreshments. Thanks to Nick Sachetti for helping with the race results and John Greenstine for taking great photos.

Time Differences for the 4.3 mile prediction run. Overcast 40 degrees.

Top twenty out of 72:
00:03 Chris Begley
00:12 Maria Dudeck
00:24 Tom Brazill
00:33 Kristen Dwinnells
00:34 Bridget Velardi
00:45 Steve Scales
00:47 Virgil Whitsett
00:57 Diane Lang
01:01 Bill McGurk
01:02 Rose Miller
01:02 James Bencrowsky
01:03 Bill Weber
01:05 Paul Randolph
01:07 Pam Cloud
01:08 Mike Gormley
01:12 Bob Fyfe
01:18 Andy Keller
01:24 Nick Nilan
01:28 Gene Archambault
01:30 Sharon Scales

Swarthmore Fun Run - Wednesday

About 25 runners and walkers were out last night at the Swarthmore Fun Run. 15 people came out to Swarthmore Pizza afterwards for good food and laughs. Come on out and join in the fun. All abilities are welcome.

The Running Place Seminars

Free Seminar Wednesday, December 8th - 7:00pm at The Running Place

Minimalist Footwear Training Approach

Brought to you by The Running Place and employee Jason Kilderry, also owner of ETA Coach (www.etacoach.com). The Minimalist Footwear Training Approach seminar is designed to answer questions of runners of all ability levels. Have you ever wondered... Should I be training in running shoes? Will wearing running shoes lead to injury? Is bare foot running or running in minimalist footwear something I should incorporate into my training? How do I approach incorporating minimalist footwear into my training? Come learn about the pros and cons of training in minimalist footwear, running technique, and learn some simple but effective ways to avoid injury while training.

Please RSVP to therunningplace@gmail.com or 610-353-8826 to reserve your spot. Spaces fill up fast! There is no cost for the seminar, but require RSVP. Please feel free to bring a friend!

Look for these upcoming seminars:

Jan 19th - Nutritional Considerations for Endurance Athletes, Part I

Jan 26th (tentative date) - Structuring Your Training Season

Feb 2nd - Nutritional Considerations for Endurance Athletes, Part II

Feb 9th - Broad Street Run, Keys to a Successful Race

Run to the Lights - Wednesday December 22nd

Save the date. Once again, Bill and Shirley Weber are hosting the Delco RRC's annual Run to the Lights. Start from the Weber's and join us on a short but fun run to view the Christmas lights on display in Drexel Hill. 6:30 pm on December 22nd though we won't start running on time...do we ever? The best part of this may just be the after run activities that take place in the Weber's home. Loads of good food, drink and fun are had every year since they began hosting the event. Please join us for a fun-filled evening. You don't have to run, feel free to join us just for the after-party. The Weber's address is 720 Shadeland Avenue, Drexel Hill, PA 19026. Side dishes, munchies and desserts are welcome but not necessary. It is the start of the holidays and we must eat heartily. Click HERE to send Shirley an email. All Delco RRC is welcome. I really, really hope to see you there.

BCRR Winter Series

For those of you who are interested in keeping in racing shape throughout the winter, the Bucks County Road Runners Winter Series offers relaxed, varied and fun races over 12 weeks beginning this Sunday. All of the races are held in Tyler State Park in Bucks County and vary in distance from 5 miles to a half marathon. The courses are not unlike running the loop at Ridley Creek State Park and include plenty of hills to keep your heart pumping. There is an outdoor fireplace to keep you warm before and after the winter morning races and there's always plenty of good food and hot drinks.

BCRR has a long history of partnering with Delco RRC. They timed this year's WDF, many BCRR runners have run the Tyler Trail Race over the years, and they always come out in force for the marathon water stop. Possibly you have met some of our BCRR friends at one of these Delco events.

Winter Series races are a great way to get your Sunday morning exercise. All races are on Sundays beginning at 9:30 except for New Year's Day, a Saturday at noon.

http://bcrr.info/Schedule2011WinterSeries.html

Make the Positive Argument - Gretchen Rubin

I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday's post will help you think about your own happiness project.

At the suggestion of the brilliant Bob Sutton on Work Matters, I read David Dunning's book, Self-Insight: Roadblocks and Detours on the Path to Knowing Thyself.

One passage jumped out at me:

"[People] can argue anything. If asked to argue that some assertion "A" is true, people can do that. If next asked to argue that the opposite of "A" is true, they can do that, too, often with the exact same ease and effectiveness...When testing a hypothesis, people tend to emphasize evidence that confirms the hypothesis over information that disconfirms it. For example, if I asked someone whether he or she was an outgoing individual, that someone will likely sit back to think about times he or she has been an extroverted, sociable person...if I asked the same person whether he or she is the shy type, he or she would likely think of exactly...opposing examples because they confirm the new hypothesis." (46-47)

I've been applying that observation as a happiness-project strategy, and it's astonishingly effective.

When I catch myself thinking, "My husband isn't very thoughtful," and my mind starts kicking up examples of thoughtlessness, I retort, "My husband is very thoughtful" - and sure enough, I think of lots of examples of thoughtful behavior. When I think "My daughters squabble a lot," I answer, "My daughters get along very well."

I can actually feel my opinion shift. It's almost uncanny.

I wonder if this effect partly explains why happy people tend to live in happier atmospheres than do less happy people. Situation evocation refers to the phenomenon in which we spark a response from people that reinforces a tendency we already have -- for example, if I act irritable all the time, the people around me are probably going to treat me with less patience and helpfulness, which will, in turn, stoke my irritability. On the other hand, if I can manage to do more joking around, I evoke a situation in which the people around me were more genial.

If I make positive statements, I'll tend to convince myself and other people of a positive view of things. If I make negative statements, I'll do just the opposite. For example, if I say, "Wow, that was such a great meeting," people are prompted to think that the meeting went well. If I say, "Wow, that meeting was such a drag," people are prompted to think along those lines.

As Goethe observed: "I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather."

For more info on the Happiness Project, visit http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/the-year-of-happiness-challenge.html

Good Eats

Walnut, Golden Raisin, and Fennel Seed Scones

2 cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 large egg yolks

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup golden raisins

1/3 cup chopped toasted walnuts

1 tablespoon fennel seeds

1 large egg beaten to blend with 1 tablespoon water (for glaze)

Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter large baking sheet. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl to blend. Add butter. Using fingertips, blend mixture until coarse meal forms. Whisk egg yolks and buttermilk in small bowl to blend. Slowly stir egg mixture into flour mixture. Gently stir in raisins, walnuts, and fennel seeds. Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface and knead gently just until smooth, about 4 turns. Divide dough in half; pat each half into 6-inch round. Cut each round into 6 wedges. Transfer scones to prepared baking sheet. Brush with egg glaze. Bake until scones are light brown, about 17 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Races to Run this Week

Saturday, December 04, 2010
9:00 AM 1st annual Festive Run and Fun Walk
5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk - Coatesville Christmas Parade starts at 10am. Cash prizes of $200, $100 & $50 for top 3 Male and top 3 Female finishers overall.
Location: Scott Middle School, 800 Olive Street, Coatesville, PA
Website: www.runtheday.com

Saturday, December 04, 2010
8:00 AM Lansdowne YMCA Reindeer Run
5K Run
Location: Lansdowne YMCA, 2110 Garrett Road, Lansdowne, PA 19050
Website: www.runtheday.com
Contact: Duane Johnson
Phone: 610-259-1661

Sunday, December 05, 2010
1:00 PM 33rd Annual Brian's Run
5 Mile Race and Diaper Dash - up to age 3 (100 meters), Fun Run Ages 3-8 (500 meters), Fun Run Ages 9 and older (1 Mile)
Location: Henderson High School, 400 Montgomery Ave, West Chester, PA 19380
Website: www.briansrun.org