February 2017 Volume 35 Issue 02
ROAD RUNNING NEWS FROM THE GREATER BILLINGS AREA
Susan Waukon and Ryen Brandt were feeling festive at the Holiday party on January 7th!
Don’t forget...Froze Noze on February 5th!
Sign up at noon at noon, Town & Country Lanes.
This comic made me laugh as
I got a new Fitbit for Christmas and have actually had the
same thought. I’ve set a goal
of 10,000 steps per day and
typically that is achievable.
This winter, however, I am
finding it a challenge. My
foot is nearly healed and I
should be out there in the
snow and slush soon. 15,000
steps per day is my new goal.
~Cheers
Ronda Vukasin
PART TWO OF A RUNNING SERIES:
Get Active with the Yellowstone Rim Runners
Wednesday, February 15, 2017, 6-7 PM
in the Community Room at Billings Public Library
Do you have a passion for running, want to be involved in the community, and
meet new people? Join the Yellowstone Rim Runners to learn about the history of
the club, their involvement with local races and contributions to the community,
social activities and opportunities for all runners and walkers to participate.
Please register by calling 657-8290.
For additional information, please contact the Library at [email protected]
or librarian Jennifer Kruger at 657-8294.
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Secretary’s Report: YRR Board Meeting 1/10/2017
Board Members Attending – Heather McPhail, Jim Kaiser, Aaron Redland, Susan Waukon, Brad Coutant, Ronda Vukasin,
Chris Perez, Dave Chopock
Other Members Attending – Cris Hernandez, Vince Long, Bill Harrington, Jennifer Kruger
Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m.
Library Running Series – Jennifer Kruger, with Billings Public Library, will be starting a running series in the community room
at the Library starting January 19th; 6-7 p.m. She asked if the Rim Runners would like to host in February. It was decided
that the club would host on February 15th; Brad, Cris, Chris, and Susan offered to attend and present information.
Montana Marathon – Vince said not all checks have cleared for the Montana Marathon to close out the bank account.
Treasurer Report –The report is attached to these minutes. Jim reported that the club is currently in a better financial position than it was last year at this time. Brad moved the approving report and Heather seconded; motioned carried.
Shamrock Run – Jim passed around a Shamrock poster for review and they can be ready for print any time. and majority
of expenses are paid. A committee was formed for this years run; Chris, Jim, Heather, Susan, Leslie, Bill, Aaron. Bill has a
majority of the race organized, Chris has the port-a-potties reserved, and Leslie is handling the necessary permits, Jim will line
out the beer trailer and possibly add an extra spout and keg this year, weather permitting. The committee will need to decide on any additional food/drinks, awards, and plan to start advertising.
Newsletter discussion – Ronda would like to add the newsletter to FaceBook and directly to our website. Dave moved that
we lift the restrictions on the website newsletter, Susan seconded; motioned carried. Ronda posted a want ad for someone to
take over the newsletter. What information do people want to see in the letter? Presidents column. Cris suggested that we
have a reporter and photographer to assist in putting together a newsletter. Vince suggested that we add a question on the
Shamrock registration online form; where or not they read the newsletter. Items are due to Ronda by the 25th for the newsletter. Chris committed to providing Ronda a Club President write up each month for the newsletter.
Christmas Party – Brad has heard that we need to charge for the meal. The cost could have been a factor in the low attendance. Weather and location may also have been a factor. Cris went thru the cost of the party.
Equipment – Dave said that Zoo Montana rented the clock for the New Years Eve Day run.
MT Cup – possible expenses for the club; food, shirts, port-a-potties, timing (donated), shelter. Meeting next Tuesday at 6:30.
Bozeman will be sending us seed money to get going, approximately $1,000 which will need to be pasted onto the next location. Still looking at locations for the race with options
Website calendar – Chris will continue to post and update the website with surrounding races.
Membership discussion – We received a new membership in the mail. There is
discussion on how to handle the Shamrock Run and new membership. Chris will
open up another site for membership only registration throughout the year that
will be open immediately after the Shamrock Run until November.
Youth Run Club – Brad will be meeting (see email)
RCAA – Convention is March 9th – 11th. Brad will write something for the newsletter to recruit a RimRunner to attend the convention.
Club goals for the year – Susan would like to increase membership and add a
trail run starting early March and long runs to official runs. Thursday and every
other Sunday will be long runs. Brad would like to host a top notch MT Cup, expand Youth Program, and get members actively involved in the club. All board
members were asked to think about goals that we can work towards in 2017
and bring them to the next meeting.
The next meeting was to be scheduled for February 14th, 2017 but has been rescheduled to February 7 due to Valentines Day.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30.
Club Secretary Aaron’s children Ryan and
Jaxson Brandt helping at the Holiday Party.
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There and back again…
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing,
you will be successful.
Albert Schweitzer
February in Montana…For many of us we long for March to come rescue us from the clutches of
Winter’s seemingly permanent hold (and if that #@^& furry, fat rodent sees his #@^& shadow on the
2nd I’m putting a contract out on him). February means the probability of more snow and more below
0° days. We’re teased as the days get longer, but the snow and cold continue to wear us down. Spring
seems so far away, let alone summer and its reprieve from the frozen tundra.
February is also the time for Valentines, expensive roses, boxes of chocolate and the plethora of other
items and emotions associated with love. Our love affair with running can waiver and falter because
who really wants to, on a regular basis, go out in the dark, on icy roads (because the sidewalks have
not been shoveled) and shuffle along with wind chill factors that is too low to be believed by others
(and when did putting sheet metal screws into the soles of our shoes become a norm)? The alternatives are to hit the treadmill (dreadmill and be the hamster on the wheel), run 16 laps to the mile on
some indoor track (mind numbing?), pout and wait until May when the weather is so much warmer
or quit, completely. Somehow, someway we need to rekindle that fire within, put on the shoes
(without or without screws) and find both happiness and love in the simple act of running, outside,
unencumbered by layers and layers of attire.
Success, therefore, becomes this simple act of rebelling against entropy and inactivity by biting our
thumbs at Mother Nature and rediscovering what it is about running that we love. Getting our bodies
moving makes us happy. Running, and all physical activity, is not the panacea for what life can throw at us, but it can be the spark that awakens those
dormant feelings of a more positive outlook. A walk. A jog. A run. It’s
about moving one’s body. Besides, it’s only a few more weeks until the
Shamrock Run.
Kia Kaha!
Sean Phelps
#howihammer
“You can never win or lose if you don’t run the race.”
Psychedelic Furs
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February Birthdays...
Jennifer Kirchhevel
Marcia Rodrigues
Moriah Kirchhevel
Kirtlie Krueger
Shea Radakovich
Alibek Berkbulov
Bev Ross
Cassie Matich
Cathy Cullen
Anne DeBoo
Annette Sand
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1
1
2
2
4
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4
6
7
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Linda Montague
Lisa White
Jen Reiter
Molly Newrones
Ben Butler
Chez Keehn
Cody Opp
Claire Slagel
Meghan Meyer
Abigale Olson
Adam Rupsis
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12
12
15
15
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19
21
22
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Jolene Birdinground
Teal Pates
Rosamarie Roccisano
Nikki Sipe
Theresa Schweitzer
Debbie Desjarlais
Cassandra Roth
Daina Zaske
Grace Frankforter
Malinda Rickman
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The Road Runners Club of America convention, March 9-11 in Detroit, is a wonderful opportunity to mingle with runners from all over the country, get great ideas for improving your race or running club, and hear inspiring speakers. It is a ton
of fun! If you are interested in attending on behalf of the Rim Runners, we may
be able to cover the cost of registration.
Contact Chris Perez at [email protected] if you are interested.
More info about the convention is at:http://www.rrca.org/convention
HEART OF A RUNNER
Having a runner’s heart is a great blessing when facing employment retirement and physical retirement from
running. It gives a person the discipline to see a race to the finish and life to the finish. It causes one to have the
drive to run another race and open an other chapter in life. It makes for an attitude to not let life endings be
ending. The runner ’s heart finds another path to run. An example for me is completing an Environmental Art
degree from Montana State Billings during this time. This period in my life caused increased community volunteering. My level of house care and gardening increased. I have many more things to do and I fear running out of
time. My runner’s heart fights people who restrict what I should be doing because of my age. What causes a person to get a runner’s heart? Maybe it comes from being put in a life that I needed to prove my worth. Maybe it
grows in you by the adventure of being a runner. I ran the sacred marathon distance 28 times. Another sacred
distance is 10KM which I ran 100 of them. One can run way less than my insanity to have a runner’s heart. I present the statistics as some kind of proof that I have a heart of a runner that is still working in my life. My challenge is to find ways to keep using my runner’s heart. There is more to life than
Do you want to eat better?
you have ever been looking for. I want to stay fully engaged in life to find this
Go to vegan potlucks at Good
more. Trying to run one’s best time from 100 meters to marathons fits this life enEarth market at 3PM on 4th
gagement. Being a Rim Runner is a great opportunity to grow a runner’s heart
Sunday of month. You do not
useful for rest of life and all areas of life.
The Clydesdale
need to be vegan. However,
Your food must be vegan.
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Jenny Simpson - Breaking Through!
Who is She? Jenny is from Florida where she won 8 high
school state championships and set state high school records
in four distances from the mile to 5K. At the University of
Colorado she won 3 NCAA championships in the steeplechase and set NCAA records in 7 distances, indoors and out.
Why I’m a Fan: She’s got an infectious grin and a monster
kick.
What She’s Done: While still in college she qualified for the
2008 Olympics in the steeplechase and finished 9th in Beijing, setting a new American record in the process. As a pro
she shifted her focus to the 1500 and mile and won gold at
the 2011 world championships and silver in 2013. She didn’t
make it to the finals at the London Olympics, but last year in Rio she became the first American woman to medal in the Olympic 1500. She ran toward the front of the pack early in the race but suddenly found herself mid
pack when everyone surged with two laps to go, and was 7th with 500 meters to run, but picked off runners
ahead of her and kicked into third coming off the final turn.
Where to See Her Next: She’ll be part of a distance medley relay team shooting for a world record at the Indoor
Grand Prix in Boston on January 28th, and will probably be running in some of the other major indoor meets this
winter.
~Brad Coutant
Editor Wanted:
Newsletter editor needed beginning November 2017. Fun, slow-paced position in a great club. Be part of the
Yellowstone Rim Runners board and join a group of great volunteers! Get to know more members, be as creative as you want and bring new ideas to the club. This position isn’t very time consuming, about 5 hours a month,
it can be tailored to your time schedule. The pay is not monetary, but the satisfaction of volunteering for this position is it’s own reward!
Requirements:
A PC
Publisher software (provided by the club)
A passion for running and/or being active
No experience necessary…
One board meeting per month. (2nd Tuesday at 6:30 pm)
I’m not sure how many years I have been the newsletter editor, but it’s been at least five... I love this job, but
think new ideas and a fresh look is best for the club. Any questions or interest? Please email me at
[email protected]. I look forward to chatting about this rewarding volunteer position.
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Yellowstone Rim Runners…. Mark your calendars for:
The Froze Noze Biathlon
Where: Town & Country Lanes
(Approx. 5 miles east of Billings on Hwy 312, towards Huntley)
When: February 5th, 2017
Sign up starts at 12:00 pm and event starts at 12:30 pm
Run either 2 or 4 miles and bowl one game
Bring moola for one game of bowling and eats (Pizza and soda or beer)
If you don’t have a bowling ball and shoes bring monies for rentals.
AWARD CEREMONY following the bowling and eats.
Get to practicing your BOWLING!!! (Remember, for every pin knocked
down, you get to deduct one second off your running time!)
Any Questions? Contact race directors. Daniel or Nancy Hillman
406-794-6620 or [email protected]
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P.O. BOX 2424
BILLINGS, MT 59103
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
~~~A more complete calendar available at www.rimrunners.org ~~~
Please send photos, stories, jokes and or race results in to share in the newsletter.
February 1, Wednesday Group Run/walk, Time Out March 11, Run to the Pub, Bozeman. 10k & Half
Sports. 5:30 pm
March 19, Shamrock Run, Pioneer Park. 5k 1 pm, 1
February 5, YRR Froze Nose, Town & Country
Mile Kids run to follow
Lanes. Shepherd Sign Ups start at noon, race at
April 2, Purple 5K, Downtown Billings.
12:30
April 9, Scheels Run for Ryan, Scheels.
February 8, Wednesday Group Run/walk, Pioneer
Park. 5:30 pm
February 14, YRR Board Meeting. Basement at
Valley Credit Union, downtown. 6:30 pm.
February 15, Wednesday Group Run/walk, Canyon
Creek Brewing. 5:30 pm
February 15, Part Two of a Running series: Get
Active with the Yellowstone Rim Runners, Billings
Public Library. 6-7 pm Call 657-8290 to register.
February 22, Wednesday Group Run/walk, Angry
Hanks, 5:30 pm
Wednesday group runs at 5:30
1st Wed., Time Out Sports 5:30
2nd Wed., Pioneer Park 5:30.
3rd Wed., Applebee’s (Heights) parking lot or Canyon Creek
Brewing Co, Billings West End. 4th Wed., Angry Hanks,
(on 30th Street across from Pug Mahon’s)
5th Wednesdays are at Pioneer Park
Runners also welcome to join Terry Johns on Tuesdays
and Thursdays 7 am and Sundays at 7 am! His group
meets at the parking lot behind Dehler Park!
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