RMR 2022

Organization for the RMR 2022 began in May 2019, a month after the successful 7^th running of the annual event. We were coordinating our plans with the police and VDOT, with restaurants and medal companies, with clothing and timing companies and sponsors, and with our 700 runners and 200 volunteers. And when the world shut down 3 weeks before the gun was to go off in 2020, we closed our doors along with everyone else.  We started our planning again in September 2020, hopeful that the world would find a way to allow us to gather safely the next April, but by February we recognized our hopeful planning would have to cease.  

In November 2021 we re-opened registration for 2022, feeling somewhat listless and foolhardy. A band of 7 met and planned and sought permits and food and venues. In February, when the police informed us they would not be able to staff the event, some of us were quite ready to admit defeat. But Paul and Pablo convinced us to carry on by claiming they could find a road-free course. We would have to abandon the marathon, but we would host the half. They never claimed it would be certified or exactly 13.1 miles. 

By April 10, 2022, our 8^th (or 10^th) Runners Marathon of Reston - nearly 3 years in the making – would finally take flight. 320 of the 430 registered runners crowded together on the South Lakes High School track, held their breath during the National Anthem, and dashed off behind Tim Smith and Mark Colturi on their bikes through the wooded trails of Reston. Fun fact: Tim and Mark had not dusted those bikes off since the summer of 2021, and found they were only barely able to stay ahead of our lead runner, Aaron Church, who kept a 5:48 pace going for 13.1 miles (or 6:05 pace for 12.5 miles, depending on whose Garmin you believe).

90 volunteers – all decked in hoodie maroon sweatshirts - made this event possible on Sunday, and were busy feeding, watering, directing and encouraging the runners. Our key volunteer veterans knew just how to organize their teams, with Neil and Heather at packet pickup, Jordan at the finish line, Dan Grove on the water stops, David Breese and Jarrett Marquis in charge of the sentries, Marcy, Luciana and Claire on Food, Amy greeting volunteers, Dennis on Awards, Brian and Pablo on photos, and Anna/Gordon with their phones to their ears on race day. Nine of us had gathered on Saturday with our buckets of chalk, flour, cones, and signs to make certain no runner would get lost, and when Dave called me to tell me the first runner had made it to the second lap we all breathed a sigh of relief that at least one runner had not gone astray.

Almost all runners who left the track at 7:30 in the morning returned (just one bloodied his eye on the sidewalk and earned himself a few stitches), and all were wrapped in blue fleece blankets at the finish line. Several runners noted with some dismay that we had chosen to give them 2020 medals (tastefully re-marked) and shirts, but most were gleeful at the large pile of bling rarely seen at the average race. Reston Runners can be proud of their many members caring for the community with such generosity and grace at this event,.

After 10 years of managing so many details of this event with my hubby, I will be training a new race director for 2023. We seek additional planning members – just let us know if you are interested!

Anna

Details

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 17 April 2022

Meeting Minutes

Submitted by Dan Grove, Secretary

Date: September 29, 2021 Start Time: 4:00pm End Time: 5:12pm Location: Zoom

Administrivia:

• Minutes from August – approved and posted to website
• Next BoD Meeting– Wednesday, November 3, 6pm ZOOM 
• MAL Roz Cherry resigned from the board. 
• New Board Members – recruit now for January voting
• RR Google Docs– Google gives nonprofits free use, Mary looking into google non-profit setup.
• RRCA Runner Friendly CommunityNomination - RR member suggested seeking designation.  Reston Association is interested in joining Reston Runners / Reston runners Community Fund in seeking designation.  
• Website–  RRCA gives suggestions on websites / other local clubs’ websites. Further research needed on changes
• Diversity and Inclusion – Marcywill contact Reston’s diverse HOAs and clusters, publicizing the club and inviting members. Some runs may start at convenient locations to them. The RR Community Fund is funding activities at Title 1A schools.
• Storage Unit – Inventory and organizing session scheduled for 11am Sunday, October 31. Need reps from all programs (YIM, ITP, WTP, RMR, 10-10, FLS). All Board aboard, Catherine and Marcy coordinate

Weekly Operations:

• Weekly run-walks– no formal breakfasts or potlucks
• Water support/Announcements -We’ll continue with board members bringing water at start. We’ll continue with board members bringing water at start. Sunday midpoint water is being done (Marcy organizing).
• Announcements – Get people to join/renew/pay their dues; talk about auto renewal so it won’t be a surprise.
• RR Course Committee Calendar – Catherineforwarded what Dennis has set up through december, Dan updated the water support/announcements schedule.
• Saturday Course Marking– Marcyis recruiting more people, Mary Brett doing Saturday Walk courses

Programs and Events:

• Youth in Motion (YIM)completed
• Interval Training Program (ITP)- completed
• Women’s Training Program (WTP) – completed
• Seize the Day race- NA
• 10 weeks to 10K- started 9/25, good attendance ( ~40)
• Finish Line Services- FLS has 3 upcoming races
• RMR –Scheduled for April 10, 2022. Outside area of SLHS reserved. First planning meeting is 9/30.  
  • RMR Training Program – will probably happen if RMR does, a smooth 10W-to-10K transition to Half training would be good (Marcy)
• Summer Picnic - August 28, big success, potluck system worked well
• Thanksgiving Turkey Trot – 9am Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 25). Lake Fairfax pavilion H was reserved; freebies to give away will be collected during the Storage Unit organizing above (Catherine & Marcy); simple time display at the finish line; Who will do course marking?
• Holiday Party? – an outdoor potluck after a weekend run? (Indoor is not safe). Date? 
• Documenting our programs and events– Marcy will contact program managers (already talked to John about 10 to 10 – others?) to ask them to set up program task lists/timelines/contacts so institutional program knowledge is retained if the current managers leave. For example, how/when to apply for school resources, bling ordering, list of current volunteers, etc. Have them include a 25-35% profit guideline, sharing revenue with the club.

Membership: 

• RR Welcome Letter – Dan’s update approved; Dan contacted Jack about linking it, done
• Require a Waiver for non-members at club runs? – RRCA probably has a suitable waiver ready to go. Legally necessary? Would it encourage membership? 
• PRR Relationship – Discount still active, confirmed by Caitlin
• Annual renewal - Jackto review setup to ensure renewal accuracy
• Messaging is poor

Treasurer Report:

• Bank Balance as of August 31 was about $17K, some WTP expenses not in yet. 
• Membership income$3,400 thru August which is not covering operational expenses
• Programs- Each program should aim to provide  25-35% of income to general club operations
• Spirit Wear report- Positive feedback received on orders. Mary distributed all orders. Revenue about $186.

Details

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 26 February 2022

Mobile Phone Menus - Click HERE

Quick Calendar View - Click HERE

Summer Potluck - July 16th.

North Hills Pavillion. 5:30-8:00 PM. To make this a success, please RSVP and sign up to bring dishes and volunteer!

Women's Training Program (WTP) 2022

 WTP 2022 is underway! Thanks to all coaches & participants. For photos CLICK HERE.

Details

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 14 March 2022

Meeting Minutes

Submitted by Dan Grove, Secretary

Date: December 8, 2021 Start Time: 6:00pm End Time: 7:12pm Location: Zoom

Administrivia:

• Minutes from November – approved
• Next BoD Meeting– Monday, January 10, 6pm ZOOM 
• New Board Members – recruit now for voting early next year, a call is recurring in eNews.
• eNews Editor –recruiting continues
• Communications/Website/Social Media – Catherine looked at other local club websites. We’re using Joomla, one of the better platforms. Discussion about enabling multiple people to update things, and developing a full communications strategy and team.
• Diversity and Inclusion – Discussion of starting runs convenient to Reston’s diverse HOAs, clusters, and elementary schools. The RR Community Fund is funding activities at Title 1A schools.
• Annual Meeting – a team has stepped up to coordinate this, set up a potluck Signup Genius page.
• RRCA Club Insurance Renewal –Dan will submit info and send the invoice to Marylater in the month, and will do the insurance paperwork for races as they are finalized.

Weekly Operations:

• Weekly run-walks–GPS maps exist for our courses, finding a turn-by-turn platform for cell phones would be very helpful.
• Water Support/Announcements -We’ll continue with board members bringing water at start. Sunday midpoint water is being done. In the winter Gatorade will be discontinued. Catherine to get January+ courses from the course committee, Danwill update the water support spreadsheet.
• Announcements – Get people to join/renew/pay their dues; talk about auto renewal so it won’t be a surprise.
• Course Marking–Marcy has recruited people to “own” certain courses.

Programs and Events:

• Finish Line Services- active
• RMR –Scheduled for April 10, 2022, planning is proceeding. 
  • RMR Training Program – A Half Marathon training program is coming in January, a smooth transition from 10W-to-10K to Half training is the goal. (Marcy)
• Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5K – very well attended, great party!
• Holiday Party– outdoor potluck at North Hills Pavilion at 9am after the Saturday, December 18 run. Catherinewill bring coffee & cups, Jeannieplates, cups, napkins, and utensils

Membership: 

• Annual renewal- we’re currently covering the processing fees

Treasurer Report:

• Balance Sheet and Income Statementwere reviewed, we have adequate cash on hand to cover existing and future expenses. We are operating in line with our planned budget.
• Programs– have brought in about $4K of revenue 

Details

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 26 February 2022