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 Apr 2 Mitch Garner's Convention Blog #3
Road Runners Club of America ConventionSan Francisco, California March 28, 2009 – Day #3 Perhaps the most wonderful thing about attending an RRCA convention is the bond you feel with others who are as passionate about the sport of running as you are. There are so many wonderful happenings in the world of grassroots running right now. There are youth programs, beginning adult running programs, scholarship programs, and programs for disabled runners, to name a few. Beyond these programs are all the fantastic things that running clubs are doing around the country to give back to their community and to raise money for various charitable causes. You really “catch the fever” when you attend the convention. The final day of the convention began with assorted group runs/walks through San Francisco and environs led by the San Francisco Road Runners Club. For the adventurous, there was the Dipsea Trail Run from Mill Valley, through Mount Tamalpais, and over to Stimson Beach on one of the most beautiful trails in California. For the urbanites, there was the Fisherman’s Wharf Explorer, which started at Fisherman’s Wharf and then headed west through Fort Mason and the Marina, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the old army barracks in the Presidio. I opted for a walking version of the Fisherman’s Wharf Explorer, led by SFRRC member Bailey Penzotti. The most interesting part of the walking tour was a stop at the Boudin Bakery, where we saw bakers kneading dough into the bakery’s famous specialty, sourdough bread. They have turned this process into a creative venture, transforming loaves into the shape of rather crusty alligators and turtles! After returning to the hotel, I received a cell phone call from my friend and fellow Yalie, Frank Shorter, to apprise me of his imminent arrival at the hotel. When he arrived at the hotel, I was shocked to see him on crutches! About two weeks ago, he had surgery on a bunion on his left foot, and his doctor has advised him to be non-weight-bearing until his foot is healed. His condition caused me to reflect upon my current DL status due to knee surgery on my right knee last December. Although I ditched my crutches in mid-February, I am not quite ready to get back to running. For someone like me who was running up to 95 miles a week a year ago, it is very frustrating to not by running. I told Frank that if we bound his bad left leg and my bad right leg together, we could probably be a decent team in a three-legged race! I joked with Frank that since we were sharing the same hotel room, we should have received the hotel’s special double-gimp discount! Saturday’s programs for convention attendees included the following: training tips and race trends for ultrarunning, outstanding youth running programs, environmentally “green” races, sports nutrition for peak performance, RRCA programs and services, care of runners’ feet, starting a beginning running program, building a successful half or full marathon training program, healthy training tips for runners, best practices for RRCA clubs, use of Active.com for club and race management, and advanced trail running. The program on footcare for runners featured some rather graphic pictures of various foot injuries sustained by runners during races and suggestions for avoiding and/or treating them. Prior to this program, I did not know that there was so much science involved in dealing with blisters. At lunch, we were treated to a presentation by Dean Karnazes, one of the world’s greatest endurance athletes. In 2006, Dean ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, concluding his feat at the ING New York City Marathon. Several years ago Dean spent all night running 100 miles from his home in San Francisco to Calistoga at the northern end of Napa Valley so he could take part in the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon, which he completed in just over three hours. In 2008, repeated the same feat, but this time ran all the way back home to San Francisco after completing the marathon! Also in 2008, he ran the trail of the California missions in 12 days, starting at the northernmost mission in Sonoma and finishing in San Diego, a distance of 700 miles, stopping at each of the 21 missions along the way. He regaled us with stories about his on-the-run nutrition, including his practice of having pizza, his favorite food, delivered to him at a designated meeting place along his route and then devouring the entire pizza in one rolled-up piece like a gargantuan burrito! Throughout the day, conventioneers placed bids on fabulous items at the silent auction. I was lucky enough to be the successful bidder on a genuine 2000 Boston Marathon banner that adorned the City of Boston in April 2000. The 2000 Boston Marathon was very special to me because it was my first Boston Marathon, and my wife Ellen and my daughter Kasia came to Boston as my personal cheering section. It was also very special because I ran the entire race with my dear friend from Ann Arbor, Dr. Mark Supiano, without whose help and inspiration I might have given up at around mile 23. On the plane after the race, I wrote a poem entitled “Brothers of the Marathon,” and that poem is the centerpiece of a framed collage, now hanging in the hallway of my Ann Arbor home, of my 2000 Boston Marathon memorabilia, including my bib, my finisher’s medal, a map of the course, and a picture of us finishing together. I will never forget that moment when we crossed the finish line together! For me, it was something that I had wanted to achieve for my entire life, and I finally did it. Following the silent auction was a live auction of various items. The bidding was very lively on many of the items, including an American flag and lunch in the dining room of the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., thanks to a kind donation by RRCA President Brent Ayer. Then everyone was summoned to the RRCA Annual Awards Banquet, featuring a keynote address by Olympic marathon champion Frank Shorter. Convention Director and RRCA Central California State Representative George Rehmet, appropriately attired like a penguin in his tux, served as master of ceremonies for the evening. It was my great honor and privilege to introduce Frank, whom I have known for many years since Yale and who has become a close personal friend. For several weeks, I gave much thought and reflection to what I wanted to say, but in the end, I just wrote what my heart told me to say. Here is an excerpt from my introductory remarks: When I was asked to introduce Frank at this year's RRCA dinner, I accepted this honor with great joy in my heart. But how do you get your arms around a mountain? Frank is the reason why I became I runner and why so many wonderful things have happened in my life through the sport of running. He has been and always will be my hero. When my daughter Kasia was very young, I would show her Frank Shorter's picture, and she would always say, “Frank Shorter, Olympic champion!” I even have a cat named Frankie! If anyone is interested in receiving a copy of my introductory remarks, I would be happy to provide a copy by email or in print form. Frank’s remarks about the future of running in the United States were both upbeat and probing. He acknowledged the great enthusiasm for running in the Bay Area and the presence of a second American running boom. He paid tribute to the RRCA for its support of running at the grassroots level. He recognized the challenge in bringing the sport to less privileged communities where distance running, for sundry reasons, is not accepted as a sport as much as in other communities. He touched upon his passion for fair play in athletics and his disdain for those who cheat by using performance-enhancing drugs. He lauded America’s race directors, whose to-do list rivals the task list and responsibilities of the most complex human endeavors. In the end, he eschewed any precise prediction for the future of running other than the sheer joy of running and exhorted everyone to keep running and “let it happen” while they are enjoying the ride. Frank’s speech was deeply appreciated by the attendees. After Frank’s remarks, Nebraska state rep Tom Whitaker told me, “It is great to know that somebody knows we are out here and cares about our work.” Well said, Tom. After Frank’s keynote address, Executive Director Jean Knaack presented awards to the 2008 RRCA national award winners. I could write tomes about the wonderful things that these outstanding individuals and clubs have done to advance the sport of running in the United States. The common thread among all the award recipients was a deep love for the sport of running and a commitment to making running the greatest participatory sport in the United States. To quote one recipient, “It’s all about the dream.” At the end of the evening, the RRCA recognized the 2008 Class of Roads Scholars: Josh Moen, Jonathon Pierce, Brett Gotcher, Sally Meyerhoff, Julia Lucas, and Emily McCabe. These individuals have exhibited great potential as elite runners and represent the noble future of American running. At the conclusion of the evening, Frank and I retired to our room. After lights out, we chatted for about 30 minutes about family and friends and all kinds of running-related topics. It is not every day that you have the opportunity to talk about running one-on-one with an Olympic champion! I am very blessed to have Frank as my friend. Life is good. In closing, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the 2009 RRCA Convention Club Consortium for its outstanding work in hosting the convention. It was an incredible experience. No detail was left unattended. The theme of the convention was, “RRCA’s Bridge to the Future.” We are on that bridge, and the future is bright. The bar has been raised to a lofty height for next year’s convention in Lakeland, Florida. I am happy to report that plans are already being made as we speak. I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog as much as I enjoyed participating in the convention. For those of you who attended, I know that you will agree with me when I say that it was a great time. For those of you who did not, you missed a great time, but I hope you will consider attending next year. Until then, “Ave atque vale.” That is, “Hail and farewell.” Keep climbing that mountain and have faith. Mitchell Garner Central Region Director Photo: Frank Shorter by Bailey Penzotti Read the #2 Convention Blog at http://www.rrca.org/news/index.php?article=2427 Read the #1 Convention Blog at http://www.rrca.org/news/index.php?article=2426 ###
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