Arlington, VA - To help educate and remind all runners to run safe, the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), its members, and supporters are embarking on a yearlong, public-safety, awareness campaign starting with the launch of the Run Smart : Run Safe animated message developed by Space Chimp Media.  The video is designed to engage and remind both new and regular runners to be aware of their surroundings at all times and to never trust drivers on the road.

“Following the tragic pedestrian fatality of Karen Dubin in 2011, the RRCA has invested memorial contributions into re-launching the Run Smart, Run Safe efforts started by the organization back in 1989,” explained Jean Knaack, RRCA executive director.  “Changing bad driver behavior is very difficult, so our focus is on improving runner safety awareness, as millions are taking up running as their exercise of choice.”

To promote the Run Smart : Run Safe animated video message, the RRCA will be providing participating run specialty stores, member clubs, event, and fitness facilities with give-away cards that include a QR code for immediate viewing of the Run Smart : Run Safe message.  The RRCA will also be working with elite athletes and visible leaders in the running community to help share the Run Smart : Run Safe message.

Running clubs, running and walking events, fitness centers, training programs, and local media are encouraged to embed the video message on their own websites to help share the important safety message.

The RRCA’s goal is to get as many runners as possible, including youth, to view the message; to enhance their personal safety efforts on the run; and to share the message with fellow runners. 

View the Run Smart : Run Safe animated message now at www.rrca.org/education-advocacy/, and be sure to pass it on!     

#RunSafe

The meeting will take place on May 2, 2014 at 3:15 PM (Pacific) at the Davenport Hotel, 10 Post St, Spokane, WA, 99201.

Voting Assignment and Proxy Certification Instructions

The Bylaws of the RRCA allow for the assignment of a proxy vote for member clubs and events. If an RRCA member club or event is not sending their official voting representative (president, director, or owner) to the Annual Meeting of the Membership, then the voting rights of that club or event may be assigned to another authorized representative attending the meeting in person. That person must be qualified by being a member of either the same club or event or from another qualified club or event in good standing in the same state. In accordance with the RRCA bylaws, a proxy cannot be held for clubs or events from different states. To assign voting rights to a qualified proxy on behalf of a club or event member, the authorized representative must complete the Official 2014 Voting Rights Assignment to Recognized Proxy Holder Form. Each Appointed Proxy Holder must complete and submit the Membership and Residence Certification for Proxy Holders Form in accordance with the instructions on the forms. The forms can be downloaded from the Governance section of the website.

Report of the Nominating Committee

On behalf of the 2014 RRCA Nominating Committee, I am please to provide this report of our proceedings in accordance with Article VIII(BB)(1) of the Bylaws of the Road Runners Club of America.  I wish to thank RRCA President David Cotter for giving me the opportunity to continue to serve the RRCA in this capacity.  I further wish to thank the following members of the committee for their service:  Ron Macksoud (AL State Rep), Chris Burch (IA State Rep), and Betsy Boudreaux (LA State Rep).  The committee presents the following slate of nominees for consideration at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Membership:

PRESIDENT - David Cotter
David Cotter is a California native and is a fifty year resident of South Lake Tahoe, California. He has been running since 1990 and his passion is running the trails of the High Sierra within the Lake Tahoe Basin and the trails of Hawaii, where he is now a permanent resident. David is the Immediate Past President of both the Tahoe Mountain Milers (Lake Tahoe) and Sagebrush Stompers (Carson City, Nevada) Running Club. David was appointed as the RRCA Nevada State Rep in 1998 and as the RRCA Northern California State Rep in 2002. In 2004 he served as the Convention Director for the RRCA National Convention and was awarded as the 2003 RRCA State Rep of the Year. He has been the race director for a variety of running events at Lake Tahoe including the Tahoe Rim Trail 50K/50M/100M Endurance Runs, which served as the RRCA National Ultra Championship from 2007 - 2011. David has served two terms as RRCA Vice President beginning in 2008 and one term as RRCA President beginning in 2012. David has served on numerous RRCA committees including chairing the Strategic Planning Task Force, the Fundraising Task Force, and the Executive Director Performance Review Committee.

VICE PRESIDENT – Mitchell Garner
Mitch is very active with the Ann Arbor Track Club (AATC), where he has served as president since 2009 (vice president from 2004 to 2008) and as a board member and executive committee member since 2004. He writes a regular column for his club’s newsletter, The Streak. He is also a committee member of two mid-sized races hosted by the club. In 2013, the AATC hosted an RRCA coaching certification course that was attended by Olympic marathon champion Frank Shorter. From 2008 to 2012, Mitch served two terms as the RRCA Central Region Director. In 2010, he was appointed by the Board to chair the RRCA Distance Running Hall of Fame Selection Committee. In 2011, he drafted the RRCA’s Member Accountability Process, which was adopted by the RRCA Board, to establish procedures for addressing grievances against member organizations that flagrantly disregard RRCA membership policies. In 2012, he was elected RRCA Vice President. Following his election, he was appointed to serve as Chair of the RRCA Strategic Plan Review Task Force, which reviewed and updated the RRCA’s Strategic Plan. Mitch is a member of the AATC’s men’s masters 60+ team, which won the USATF men’s masters 60+ grand prix national championship in 2011, 2012, and 2013. In 2013, the USATF awarded Mitch its Gold Phidippides Award for outstanding performance and endurance in long distance running. Mitch is a principal with the law firm of Allotta |Farley Co., L.P.A. He graduated cum laude from Yale University with a major in economics. He received his J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife Ellen, who serves as the Ann Arbor Track Club’s social media coordinator, and his daughter Kathleen, a University of Michigan senior and budding distance runner.

TREASURER – Dan Edwards
Edwards has been an At-Large Director of the RRCA, serving as Secretary for three years. He was then appointed as Treasurer in late 2012 where he has served in that roll on the RRCA Board. He has been a Tidewater Strider for the past 27 years, has been a board member for the past 24 years, treasurer for 19 years, and race committee co-chair for the past 9 years. He has also led a nationally-recognized youth program, coordinated the newsletter and many other critical functions within the 1,700-member club. The race committee, led by Dan, has 12 club races and over 30 club co-produced races. Dan serves as race director for the club’s largest race, the Turkey Trot Scholarship race, which annually exceeds 2,600 runners. He was the recipient of RRCA’s Volunteer of the Year award in 1993.  Dan Edwards is also a proven leader outside the running community. He has served on the Virginia Beach School Board for the past 17 years and has also been elected to serve as chairman of this 11-member board annually for the past 16 years. The board oversees the education of 68,000 students with 13,000 employees and a budget of over $700 million.

CENTRAL DIRECTOR – Sue Brown-Nickerson
Sue Brown-Nickerson, a lifetime resident of Northwest Indiana, brings 18 years of leadership and board management experience to the RRCA organization and running clubs.  She is a member of the Calumet Region Striders where she served on their board of directors from 1995-2005. After five years of service as club president, she stepped down to form their club’s youth running program, and serves on the club’s race committee, which raises money for youth programs and scholarships. Sue has been the RRCA Indiana State Representative since 2006, and has served on the RRCA National Award and Nomination Committees from 2007-2012. She received the 2004 RRCA Outstanding Club President, the 2010 RRCA Outstanding Youth Program Director, and the 2013 RRCA Outstanding State Representative awards. Sue is a strong advocate for promoting running within the community for all ages and abilities of runners, promoting volunteerism within organization (s), coaching beginner runners including youth, and mentoring local event directors with race management obligations. An avid runner, and both a USATF and a RRCA certified coach, her training and fitness involves less racing, more recreational running, and coaching. She is passionate about the sport of running, and looks forward to her continued effort in supporting the mission, vision, and values of RRCA at the national, regional, and local level.

EASTERN DIRECTOR – Mark Grandonico
Mark served in the Coast Guard for over twenty years and was highly decorated for his accomplishments in the field and behind a desk. He is currently a Healthcare Compliance Officer and Auditor for the largest hospital system in Maine. Mark holds a bachelors degree from Regents College in New York and is certified in Health Care Compliance. He is a member of the Maine Track Club where he served as a Board Member-At-Large, Vice President and President for over 10 years. Mark is also the Vice President and Membership Director of the MidCoast Triathlon club. During his tenure as the Maine Track Club president, Mark was noted for his organizational, communication, fund-raising and recruiting skills. Under his guidance, the Maine Track Club has donated tens of thousands of dollars to local charities and schools in Maine. Prior to his Board of Director duties, Mark served as the RRCA Maine State Representative and he has awarded several RRCA State Championships to area races. He has also been a member of the RRCA Audit Committee for two years. Mark has also been a race director for over ten years and is a member of the Beach to Beacon 10k organizing committee, and he has completed hundreds of races of all lengths including 57 marathons.  Mark is working on completing a marathon in each state. When not running, Mark fills his spare time training for triathlons, completing his fifth Ironman at Mont Tremblant last year.  Mark shares his passion for running and triathlon with his wife Jill.  He has two grown children and resides in Topsham Maine

The RRCA will accept nominations for non-slate candidates that would like to be considered for election. The deadline for submitting non-slate nominations to the National Office is April 10, 2014 at 5:00 PM Eastern.  Email nominations to Jean Knaack at execdir@rrca.org.  An announcement of the recommended slate of directors along with any additional non-slate candidates, will be shared with the membership in advance of the Annual Meeting where the official election will take place.

Respectfully submitted,

David B. Epstein
Nominating Committee Chairman

These outstanding contributors to our sport will be honored at the upcoming RRCA National Running Awards Banquet and Ceremony on May 3, 2014 in Spokane, WA.  We encourage all RRCA members to join us for this event to celebrate these award-winning contributors to the running community.

RRCA DISTANCE RUNNING HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES:

ANNE AUDAIN
Audain was born November 1, 1955 in Auckland, New Zealand with severe bone deformities of both fee. She did not walk correctly until she had reconstructive surgery at age 13.  Three years later, at age 16, she qualified for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games in the 1500 meters.  A year later, at age 17, she finished 9th at the 1973 World Cross Country Championships.  She also competed in the 1500 meters at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, finishing 6th and top New Zealander in the final with a time of 4:21.1. At the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics, Audain competed in the women’s 800 and 1500 meters.  Although she failed to get past the heats, she broke the New Zealand national record for the 1500 meters in her heat.

Prior to the start of the 1980s, major track and field events did not include any women’s events longer than 1500 meters. This practice started to change early in the new decade, and in March 1982, Audain competed in her first 5000 meters race, breaking the world record.  At the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane she won gold in the women’s 3000 meters in 8:45.53, a New Zealand national record. At the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Audain competed in the inaugural women’s Olympic marathon but failed to finish.  At the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Scotland, she won a silver medal in the women’s 10,000 meters.  In 1988, at her final Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, she placed 11th in the inaugural women’s 10,000 meters race, finishing in 32:10.47.  During the 1980s, Audain won more American road races (75) than any other male or female runner, including 7 wins at the Lilac Bloomsday Run in the 80s and early 90s.

In 1993 Audain founded the Idaho Women’s Fitness Celebration 5K, which is now the largest 5 kilometer race for women in the United States.  Audain became an American citizen in 1995.  That same year, she received the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Award for her services to athletics.  In 2000 she launched the Anne Audain Scholarship Awards.  This scholarship program funds college scholarships for young women who seek to balance academics, sports, leadership and community endeavors in their daily life.

KEN MARTIN
Martin was born on September 10, 1958.  He is an American long-distance runner who was a two-time United States National Champion in the Marathon.  At the 1984 California International Marathon, Martin set a course record with a time of 2:11:24.  At the 1985 Pittsburgh Marathon, he competed alongside his wife at the time, Lisa Martin.  Based on their performance at the 1985 Pittsburgh Marathon, he and Lisa became the fastest married couple ever in a marathon, winning their respective divisions.  Martin placed second in the 1989 New York City Marathon, finishing in 2:09:38 to Tanzania’s Juma Ikangaa’s 2:08:01.  As of 2007, his finish time at the 1989 New York City Marathon was the fourth-fastest marathon ever run by an American-born athlete.

Martin is now a 55-year-old father of three living in Indiana.  In 2010, he had a bout of Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It was, for the time, successfully treated with chemotherapy. Following the chemotherapy, Martin returned to his training, with the goal of setting a new male 50-54 age group record in the mile.  The non-Hodgkin lymphoma, however, took on a more aggressive form. Though he was “mad as hell at first” about the disruption in his running plans, he continued exercising, even during treatments for his lymphoma. During two six-day rounds of chemotherapy, Martin brought a stationary bicycle into his hotel room and rode it 30-minutes a day.  “Cancer and the fatigue will wear you out, affect your mood and your ability to do stuff,” he said.  Martin is interested in exploring whether exercise can improve the quality of life for patients like himself.  There was little available research on this topic.  Martin’s response was to create the Workout Cancer Research Fund to finance research on exercise’s impact on tumors and cancer treatments. Learn more about the WorkOut Cancer Research Fund.

OUTSTANDING CLUB PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR

BONNIE SEXTON
Kalamazoo Area Runners – Kalamazoo, MI

BROWNING ROSS SPIRIT OF THE RRCA

LOUISE TINSLEY
Huntsville Track Club – Huntsville, AL

OUTSTANDING STATE REPRESENTATIVE

SUE BROWN-NICKERSON
Indiana State Rep

OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

BILL WERLING
Peachtree City Running Club – Fayetteville, GA

OUTSTANDING YOUTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR

GRACE OWEN
Lakeland Runners Club Kids Running Program – Lakeland Runners – Lakeland, FL

ROAD RUNNERS OF THE YEAR

SHADRACK BIWOTT, Open Male
MATTIE SUVER, Open Female
KEVIN CASTILLE, Male Master
(presented by Running Times magazine)
LIBBY JAMES, Female Master
(presented by Running Times magazine)
JEFF GLASBRENNER, Challenged Athlete
Little Rock Road Runners Club – Little Rock, AR

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNICATION AWARDS

MILES AND MINUTES - Print Newsletter
Edward Kelleher, Editor
Richmond Road Runners Club – Richmond, VA

OMAHA RUNNING CLUB NEWSLETTER - E-Newsletter
John Fey, Editor
Omaha Running Club – Omaha, NE

MARTY WILLIAMS - Club Writer of the Year
Second Wind Running Club – Champaign-Urbana, IL

JOHN HUNT - Journalism Excellence
Chattanooga Track Club – Chattanooga, TN

OUTSTANDING WEBSITE

BALTIMORE ROAD RUNNERS CLUB
WWW.BRRC.COM

OUTSTANDING BEGINNING RUNNING PROGRAM

SCOTT PEACOCK
San Antonio RoadRunners – San Antonio, TX

RRCA ROAD RACE OF THE YEAR

THE GREAT CRANBERRY ISLAND 50K ULTRA MARATHON
Co-race directors, Gary Allen & Mary Ropp – Crow Athletics – Bar Harbor, ME

Learn more about the National Running Awards Banquet hosted as the closing event of the 56th Annual RRCA National Convention.

The RRCA thanks the following individuals for serving on the various award selection panels.  Each selection panel includes RRCA members from around the country.  Thank you to: Mitch Garner, Brent Ayer, Creigh Kelley, Don Kardong, Doug Kurtis, Frank Shorter, Jacqueline Hansen, Jim Oaks, Joan Samuelson, Kim Jones, Lisa Rainsberger, Steve Spence, Simone Adair, Chip Allman, Brent Ayer, Ken Bendy; Betsy Boudreaux, Chris Burch, Gary Corbit, David Cotter, Larry Eder, Dan Edwards, John Farrow, Tony Flesch, Kathryn Gleghorn, Mark Grandonico, Larry Eder, Johnathon Beverly, Don Lein, Jean Knaack, Lena Hollmann, Dan Kesterson, Tom Kramer, Blaine Moore, Sherilyn Johnson, Mark Miller, Gary Morgan, Bee McLeod, Beth Onines, Bailey Penzotti, Doug Pitchford,  George Rehmet, Kelly Richards, Lisa Rippe, Goody Tyler, Mariska van Rooden and Mark Ward.  Thank you to RRCA Program Coordinator Andy Smith for coordinating the selection process.

In the men’s race Flaherty was content to pace himself behind two-time NVM champion Chris Mocko (San Francisco, Calif.) and Ryan Donovan (Fort Collins, Colo.) in the early stages of the race, a strategy that eventually paid off for him on the scenic, gently rolling, point-to-point course from Calistoga to Napa. Co-leaders Mocko and Donovan ran together for 10 miles at which point Mocko assumed the lead. At the halfway point (13.1 miles) Mocko had a 30 second gap over Donovan and 44 seconds over Flaherty, and appeared to be in control.

“I knew Chris (Mocko) was fit and that he ran a 1:06:35 half marathon a few weeks ago (at the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon),” Flaherty said. “I just kept telling myself don’t get too far out of reach because you never know what’s going to happen. I wasn’t confident that I was going to beat him but I figured I needed to hang in there and give myself a chance.”

That chance turned to reality for the accomplished ultramarathoner (distances of 50 kilometers and longer) and licensed attorney. After passing Donovan and assuming second place midway through the race, Flaherty, who placed fourth at last year’s NVM, set his sights on Mocko.

“I started to gain on him a little bit around mile 20,” Flaherty recounted. “I tried to keep my head up the entire race and keep an eye on him. Around mile 21 I saw him stop and stretch, so I knew he had some issues. I think I saw him stop and stretch three times from miles 21 to 25 and that definitely helped me cut the gap. He kept going strong, but that let me know I had a better chance than I thought.”

After the race, Mocko described his difficulties, which stemmed from a lengthy hamstring injury that affected his ability to train adequately last year: “At 16 or 17 miles things weren’t really going great,” he admitted. My leg started acting up a little bit again. Once you get that first negative thought it’s hard to get it out of your system. Matt (Flaherty) ran a really strong race today.”

With 1.3 miles left in the 26.2-mile race, Flaherty passed Mocko and continued to the finish line at Napa’s Vintage High School, recording a winning time of 2:26:15. Mocko (2nd, 2:28:36) and Donovan (3rd, 2:31:10) followed.

“Napa is one of my favorite marathons,” Flaherty commented. “I love point-to-point courses. It’s well run, a good size, and a really fun race,” said Flaherty who is sponsored by Salomon, a mountain sports apparel company.

Unlike the men’s contest, the women’s race was a one-woman show as Jenny Kadavy (nee’ Wilson), 31, fronted the competition from wire to wire and was unchallenged. Her winning time of 2:40:47 earned the University of California, Davis graduate a personal record (improving her previous best marathon by eight minutes). It also was under USA Track & Field’s 2:43:00 “B” standard qualifying time for entry into the 2016 U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials, which was Kadavy’s goal.

Kadavy was initially accompanied by two-time NVM women’s champion and course record holder Devon Yanko (nee’ Crosby-Helms ). Yanko (San Anselmo, Calif,) had to drop off the pace at two miles, eventually finishing third in 2:52:54. Meredith Placer (Tucson, AZ), a former miler at Wake Forest University, grabbed the second place spot in 2:52:26 in her debut at the marathon distance.

“I just wanted to go out at a consistent pace, and not too hard,” said Kadavy (Asics Aggies Running Club) who bumped up her training to a modest 55 miles per week last December to prepare for NVM. “I think I kept that pace well. Nobody was challenging me, so I just ran my myself. I just wanted to do 2:42 at least and get in that range.”

Graham Cooper (age 44, Piedmont, Calif.) garnered the men’s masters (40 years of age and older) victory in 2:44:32. Mary Lynch (47, Santa Ana, Calif.) secured the women’s masters win in 3:08:51 and placed 10th overall.

Both overall winners, Flaherty and Kadavy, were crowned Road Runners Club of America national marathon champions. The marathon served as Road Runners Club of America’s 2014 National Marathon Championship.

Known as “the Biggest Little Marathon in the West,” the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon rewards male and female open and masters winners with oversized bottles of wine etched with their championship accomplishments. The male and female winners of the race also receive their “weight-in-wine” donated by the Silverado Trail Wineries Association.

In the accompanying Greater Kiwanis Club of Napa 5K Run, Alan Reynolds (50, Sausalito, Calif.) and Rylee Bowen (14, Santa Rosa, Calif.) emerged as victors. Reynolds’ time was 17:13 and Bowen’s was 18:03.

All proceeds from the Napa Valley Marathon (a non-profit organization) are donated to local charities in the Napa Valley.

Full race results for the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon are available on the event’s web site at www.napavalleymarathon.org.

“We are able to revolutionize what custom is in the sport of running with RRCA’s endorsement,” said Scott Kaylin, President and Co-Founder of Champion System. “Our involvement with RRCA shows our dedication to the sport of running and to evolve custom running apparel. The vision of this organization parallels our belief in an active, healthy lifestyle.”

The RRCA e-store features RRCA branded running gear and accessories. This store features a variety of technical apparel for types of running activities and showcases some of the products available for customization for clubs and teams.

“We are excited to provide our members with an opportunity to purchase RRCA branded performance running gear to wear proudly in support of our organization,” said Jean Knaack, RRCA Executive Director.  “The bright yellow design of the RRCA wear, created by Champion System, highlights our commitment to encouraging runners to be visible and safe while out on their runs.” 

Member organizations of the Road Runners Club of America are also encouraged to contact Champion Systems about creating fully customized apparel for their club, events, and training program participants.

About Champion System
Champion System, a worldwide leader in custom technical apparel, was founded in 2005 and has quickly earned the reputation as a company offering the finest quality handmade garments for a wide range of sports and activities. Strong customer relationships and close collaboration with the world’s top athletes has been the key to Champion System’s success. Its distinctive and stylish garments are worn by Olympians, National and World Champions and recreational athletes of all levels. Champion System’s goal is to allow the customer to be their own brand and be known for its commitment to pioneering innovative, race-proven garments that can be customized with virtually any design. It has revolutionized sublimation printing, redefined garment construction and simplified the custom ordering process. With offices in 22 countries Champion System continues to set the standard in the custom apparel industry.

**The race shirt must have the RRCA logo on it to be considered for judging**

All entries should be mailed to the RRCA National Office at 1501 Lee Hwy, Ste 140, Arlington, VA, 22209 by March 15, 2014. Please include the name of the event, event date, location, host club, contact name, contact email, and contact phone number with the shirt.

RRCA National Convention attendees will vote for their favorite shirt, and the winning shirt will be announced at the RRCA National Running Awards Banquet in conjunction with the RRCA Convention. Sport Science sponsors the contest and the winning event will receive a prize pack from our sponsor.

Photo: 2012 National Race Shirt Winner, San Antonio Road Runners

Top entrants Chris Mocko (San Francisco, Calif.) and Devon Yanko (San Anselmo, Calif.) have each ascended the winner’s podium two times at the Napa Valley Marathon (NVM). The NVM all-time winner’s list contains an array of outstanding distance runners. The superb NVM men’s course record of 2 hours, 16 minutes and 20 seconds was set in 1987 by (U.S.) National Distance Running Hall of Fame member Dick Beardsley. Yanko (nee’ Crosby-Helms) set the fast women’s course standard of 2:39:37 in 2012 and also won in 2007. The record for the most wins at NVM is held by Mary Coordt (Elk Grove, Calif.). Coordt captured the women’s crown in 1997, 2005, 2009, and 2010.

NVM’s gently-rolling-but-fast course has stayed the same for the entire 35-year history of the event. The course is certified (for accurate distance) by USA Track & Field (the U.S. governing body for the sports of distance running, track and field, and race walking).

Mocko, age 27, who won the men’s race in 2011 and 2012, is hopeful for a strong comeback after finishing tenth at last year’s NVM, on an “off day” for him. Following an injury-plagued 2013, the former Stanford University distance runner says he is back to training 100 to 110 miles a week including a hard weekly training session on the track. The recent consistent training has paid off for Mocko. At this year’s Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon on February 2nd, he was rewarded with a two-minute personal best, finishing second in 1:06:35.

“My ultimate goal for the Spring season is a 26.2 mile tour of (April’s) Boston Marathon, but Napa will be a leading indicator of my fitness over the longer distances,” Mocko said. “It will help determine whether pursuing the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying standard of 2:18:00 is in the cards for me. If I can keep myself in contention at Napa over the first 15 miles and finish strong, I’m confident of a personal best and a low-2:20s clocking.”

Mocko’s current marathon personal best is 2:23:40 which he recorded in 2011.

Yanko, 31, is not quite as confident in her race-day prospects going into this year’s NVM as she gains back her strength after recently being diagnosed with, and receiving treatment for, severe iron deficiency anemia.

“We’re working on getting my iron levels up, and they’re improving, but I’m not sure how they will be by race day,” said Yanko, an accomplished marathoner and ultramarathoner (distances beyond 26.2 miles) who has represented the U.S. on international ultra distance teams. “I really do hope that I can be there since I’d love to go after the (2016) U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying time. The decision to run will have to be pretty last minute.”

Yanko has run more than 15 marathons and 30 ultramarathons since 2006. Her personal record for the marathon is 2:38:55 which she recorded at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials race in Houston, Tex.

Additional top contenders in the invited fields include:
MEN

Matt Flaherty (28, Bloomington, Ill.) returns after placing fourth at last year’s NVM. He is currently focusing on ultramarathon distances and won the 2013 USA 50 Mile Road Championships (Boalsburg, PA) in 5:28:11, for which he was named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week. His 2:22:53 personal best marathon was recorded at Grandma’s Marathon (Minn.) in 2011. He is a licensed attorney who has put his legal career on hold to pursue his running career and serve as a running coach.

“I’m excited to be returning to Napa and I’m hoping to improve both my place and time at this year’s edition,” Flaherty said. “I had a healthy and successful 2013 season, so I should be coming into this year’s race much stronger than last year. I’m still hoping to better my marathon personal best. The Napa course is gorgeous and perfect for running fast, and, hopefully, we’ll have great conditions and competition like last year.”

Ryan Donovan (31, Fort Collins, Colo.) will compete in his first NVM with a goal of improving his current marathon personal best of 2:25.51 that he set at last year’s Columbus Marathon. Donovan has a special personal motivation that he carries with him on his runs: In 2009, Donovan’s wife, Rachel, gave birth to the couple’s first son, Kale Pierce Donovan. Their child was born with a very rare genetic disorder, Zellweger Syndrome, and he passed away peacefully in his sleep after 26 days of life.

“Today, I know that my son is looking down on me, and I always want him to know that I worked as hard as possible and did my best,” Donovan said. “Each and every marathon I race I dedicate each mile—all 26 of them—to a day of his life.”

Since then, the Donovan’s have since been blessed with a beautiful daughter, Clover, who is now three years old. Donovan’s wife and daughter will accompany him to NVM and cheer him on.

Mason Myers (44, Carmichael, Calif.) is making his debut at the marathon distance at NVM after running competitively in high school and college and then taking an 18-year break from the sport. In high school, he earned third place in the 3,200 meter race at the 1987 California State High School Track and Field Championships in 9:05. In 1989, he won the California state junior college title in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. At age 38, he rediscovered his attraction for road racing and cross country. Since then, as a Masters (age 40 and over) athlete, Myers has recorded excellent marks at distances from 1 mile (4:45) to half marathon (1:15:24). He is a strong contender to win the men’s Masters title at NVM.
WOMEN

Kimberly O’Donnell (24, Walnut Creek, Calif.) owns a marathon personal best of 2:47:13, set at the 2013 Orange County Marathon in Newport Beach, Calif., a race that she won. She has excelled at race distances up to 50K. In 2013, she set new women’s course records at the Marin Ultra Challenge 50K trail race (Sausalito, Calif.), and at the Headwaters Ultra Marathon 50K trail race (Mt. Shasta, Calif.) where she ran 4:22:10.

Jenny Kadavy (nee’ Wilson) (31, Concord, Calif.) placed fourth at the 2011 NVM in 2:52:05 but hopes to improve by 10 minutes in this year’s race. Her personal best marathon is 2:49:13 which she recorded at the 2012 California International Marathon in Sacramento, Calif.
“I think I’ll be in better shape than I have been for a marathon,” said Kadavy who manages to squeeze in her training while working full time as an English teacher at Freedom High School (Oakley, Calif.). where she also serves as the school’s cross country coach and assistant coach for track and field.

“It would have been nice to have a couple more weeks of mileage under my belt, but I feel more prepared for this marathon than for the other four that I’ve done.”
Kadavy recently won the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon on February 2nd in 1:16:03 which is roughly equivalent to a 2:40 marathon.

Allison Maxson Ritchie (27, Folsom, Calif.) is moving up to the marathon distance after posting impressive marks in shorter events. She placed third at the 2012 San Jose Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in 1:17:37, and has a 5K personal best of 17:17. A graduate of the University of Portland where she competed in cross country and track, Maxson Ritchie went on to earn a Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Puget Sound. She hopes to promote wellness through her professional career and by example as a runner.

At the Napa Valley Marathon’s annual Marathon College, held the day before the race, Joe Henderson (running author, editor, and coach) will moderate a unique 90-minute panel discussion, Celebrating Northern California Marathons, that will include a half-dozen race directors and former race directors of some of Northern California’s most famous marathons. The panelists include Gene Brtalik, event director of the Oakland Running Festival; David Hill, co-race director of the Napa Valley Marathon; John Mansoor, founder and former race director of the California International Marathon; Doug Thurston, race director of the Big Sur International Marathon; Cynthia Timek, race director of the Avenue of the Giants Marathon, and Les Wright, race director of the Lake Tahoe Marathon.

Likely topics that will be discussed by the panelists include: (1) the trend towards earlier entry cutoff dates as the demand for limited spots in marathons increases; (2) the increase in runner/walkers and pure walkers participating in marathons, and the resulting pressure to raise cutoffs for official finish times; and (3) the effect of the tragic bombings at the 2013 Boston Marathon on security measures at marathon races.

The Marathon College is scheduled for Saturday, March 1st from 10 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa. Marathon weekend includes a Sports and Fitness Expo on Friday, February 28th, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 1st from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Marriott. Both the Marathon College and Sports and Fitness Expo are free for the general public.

The 2014 edition of NVM has, once again, been selected by the Road Runners Club of America as its National Marathon Championship.

The 2014 Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon starts on Sunday, March 2nd at 7:00 a.m. sharp in Calistoga on the Silverado Trail near the intersection of Rosedale Road. The 26.2-mile road course runs the length of the beautiful Silverado Trail and finishes at Vintage High School in Napa.

Entry slots are still available for the companion Kiwanis 5K Fun Run, which starts (8 a.m.) and finishes at Vintage High School on marathon morning.

Every Napa Valley Marathon participant assists important local causes. All proceeds from the Napa Valley Marathon (a non-profit organization) are donated to local charities and schools in the Napa Valley region. In addition, an independent economic impact analysis commissioned by the marathon in 2012 estimated that the local economic impact of NVM is approximately $3 million annually in direct spending.

To learn more about the Napa Valley Marathon, visit http://www.napavalleymarathon.org/

As the below biographies reflect, this most recent group of State Representatives demonstrate the reach and scope of the RRCA, not just geographically, but in its ability to service members of all backgrounds who are passionate about the sport of road racing.

Colorado - Will Dillard: Will returned to running in 1989 after years of bicycle racing and triathlons. He has run multiple marathons including Big Sur, Marine Corps, Disney, Chicago, and several other big marathons, as well as numerous half-marathons and hundreds of 5K, 10K, 15K and 10 Milers.  Will has been an RRCA Certified Coach since June 1991 and is also certified by USA Cycling as an Elite Level I Coach and is certified by USA Track & Field as a Level II Coach.  While living in Georgia he was the club coach of the Chattahoochee Road Runners for over ten years and also served as president and vice-president during his time there. As newsletter editor in 2000, he was awarded the RRCA Southern Region Journalism Award for Medium Sized Club.

Florida - North - Bryan Graydon: Bryan has been a member of the Lakeland Runners Club since 2004 after starting off volunteering at the summer race series as a split timer. In 2009, he was voted in as the club vice president and took over as president in 2010 when the club hosted the RRCA National Convention. He was also awarded the 2012 RRCA Outstanding Club President of the Year Award.  He is no longer able to run and compete due to knee troubles, but as an RRCA Certified Coach, he lives vicariously through the running glory of those he coaches. Whether it’s a local 5K or a large regional race, you can bet you will find Bryan somewhere among the crowd cheering on the runners as they cross the finish line.

Georgia - Mariska Van Rooden: Mariska lives in Atlanta, GA and started her running career in 2007 in preparation for the Marine Corps Marathon. Since then Mariska has participated in many road races ranging from 5Ks to marathons. In 2010, she decided to add a little bit of swimming and biking to her training and has completed several triathlons including two Ironmans. After having worked as a human resources professional for more than a decade, Mariska decided to switch careers and become a full time endurance coach with a focus on running and triathlons. She is currently a board member of the Metro Area Running Club in Atlanta and works as an endurance coach for Endurance Concepts, an Atlanta-based endurance coaching firm.

Hawaii - Ron Alford: Ron has been running for 35 years.  After a 40-year+ career with the Department of Veterans affairs, he retired and moved to Hawaii with his wife.  He lived in many places during his work career and running has always been there for him. He was an active member of the Peninsula Track Club in Newport News, Virginia, both as runner and volunteer. He next moved to West Virginia where he re-activated the Huntington Track Club and partnered with the local parks department to develop the club and promote local running events.  In 2002 Ron became an RRCA Certified Coach and introduced a very successful beginners running program in Huntington, which has some of the highest obesity, smoking, and heart disease rates in the country.  After a job-related move to Atlanta, Ron joined the Atlanta Track Club and served as a volunteer coach for club members. Ron now serves as a staff volunteer with the Honolulu Marathon Clinic, which prepares participants to run the Honolulu Marathon in December.

Massachusetts - Stephen Viegas: Steve returned to the sport of road racing 30 years ago after a 16 year hiatus and continues to compete as a masters athlete in track and field, cross-country, and road racing.  He has been a member of Mystic Runners since his return to the sport, where he is a former president and coach. Steve has also served two terms as secretary and one term as president of USA Track & Field New England and currently serves on its board as the immediate past president. He is a certified RRCA coach and is USATF certified Level I Coach.  Steve can be found most Wednesday evenings timing the Mystic Runners weekly 5K race.  He has met athletes from around the country at national championships and has made many valuable contacts with fellow administrators around the country at USATF annual meetings and workshops.  He looks forward to networking with athletes and other stakeholders in his new role of RRCA State Rep.

New Jersey - Erica Phillips:  Erica is a graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in Kinesiology. She currently lives in Hoboken, NJ and has an extensive background in dance.  She is also a personal trainer and coach for athletes. Her passion for the sport of running began as a family affair when Erica’s father started taking her out on his daily runs when she was a young girl. She has been running ever since. To this day, her favorite running partner is still her father. Erica loves running any type of race – from 5K’s to half marathons.  She has completed marathons in Hartford, CT, Providence RI, Long Branch, NJ, and most recently, the Marine Corps Marathon.  Her ultimate goal is to complete a marathon in all 50 states.

New York - Michael Eighmey:  Michael, a 12 year veteran of US Naval Special Warfare, has competitive experience that includes: trail and road running; multisport events; and mountain and road cycling. His current personal running endeavors are focused around ultra-distance running, with an eye on the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning.  Michael’s background also includes professional coaching experience at the collegiate, scholastic, and youth levels. He and his wife, Sarah, reside in Geneva NY with their four children. They are co-founders of the Seneca Lake Running Club and currently coach high school Cross Country.

Ohio - Jim Latham: Jim Latham has been chasing his wife around ever since he met her, ensuring she stayed hydrated and vertical on her long runs. Not only does he enjoy half marathons and various trail races, but this led to volunteering at numerous races where he ensured other runners stayed hydrated and vertical – including having been a sector lead with the USAF Marathon, and also the Boston Marathon where he volunteered the last few years with the Security Team at the finish line.  He is the president of, and a race director for, the almost 1,700 member, all-volunteer Ohio River Road Runners Club in Dayton. Jim has made it a priority to upgrade the Club’s EMS support and create a comprehensive plan providing full EMS support for 40+ road and trail races a year. He is also a certified Wilderness First Responder with experience in both front and back country situations. When not otherwise engaged with the running community, he works as an NDVMA Americorp Volunteer Naturalist for Five Rivers MetroParks at the Germantown MetroPark Nature Center doing outreach and advocacy programs, hikes, and facilitation for people of all ages to get outside.

Pennsylvania - Jeff Hills: Jeff is a later-in-life runner, having started when he was 48 years old, at the time his oldest son, Kyle, graduated from college.  His motivation was two-fold: to get in shape and to spend some quality time with his son.  Four years later his life has never been better. What started as just a few 5K’s every weekend or so has eclipsed into running two 100 Milers, ten 50 Milers, countless 50Ks and numerous other race distances, primarily on trails.  As an active member of the Pagoda Pacers Athletic Club, he’s been afforded the opportunity to run and train everyday with some of the strongest trail runners on the east coast, and on some of the most spectacular trails.  For the last three years, he’s been the race director for the Grings Mill 5 & 10 K Run which annually draws over 625 participants and has been one of the longest consecutive races in his area, having now completed its 36th year. 

Washington - Paul Gill: Paul Gill began running late in life in 2005 as a way to lose weight and get in shape.  After losing 50 pounds, he ran his first marathon in May 2005.  He has been running ever since, and to date, has completed 20 marathons, two ultras, and 30 half marathons.  Paul joined the Bloomsday Road Runners Club in 2007 and has served on the board for four years and is very involved in his running community.  Paul is currently a race director for two races in Spokane, WA, and serves on the board for the Spokane Marathon.  He is also the chairperson for the 2014 RRCA National Convention in Spokane.

To learn more about all RRCA State Representatives and to connect, visit the RRCA State Reps page and find your state.  You can easily find RRCA member clubs and events in your state under your State Reps individual page.

Adidas/BRC teammates Alisha Williams and Rochelle Kanuho finished 5th and 6th, respectively, over the muddy 8,000-meter course ensuring the team title for adidas/BRC. In the men’s 12k, Joe Gray (Scott Sports) rallied for 4th-place, while steeple ace Hillary Bor (U.S. Army) finished 17th in his first race as a U.S. citizen.

Suver picked up $2000 for her efforts while Gray earned $1,500 in prize money with Williams and Kanuho earning $900 and $700, respectively.

Women’s 8,000m
1. Amy Van Alstine adidas / Northern Arizona Elite Flagstaff AZ 27:35
2. Jennifer Simpson New Balance Boulder CO 27:57
3. Mattie Suver adidas / Boulder Running Company Colorado Springs CO 28:01
4. Kellyn Johnson adidas / Northern Arizona Elite Flagstaff AZ 28:13
5. Alisha Williams adidas / Boulder Running Company Colorado Spgs CO 28:19
6. Rochelle Kanuho adidas / Boulder Running Company Colorado Springs CO 28:23
7. Meghan Peyton Saucony / Team USA Minnesota Richfield MN 28:27
8. Alia Gray Brooks / HTS Elite Boulder CO 28:38
9. Kara Lubieniecki HTS Elite Lakewood CO 28:49
10. Alexa Rogers Littleton CO 28:52

Men’s 12,000m
1. Chris Derrick Nike Naperville IL 36:14
2. Luke Puskedra Nike Eugene OR 36:39
3. Bobby Mack III Reebok Raleigh NC 36:43
4. Joseph Gray Club Northwest (Scott Sports) Colorado Springs, CO 36:58
5. Sean Quigley Boulder Track Club Lafayette CO 37:02
6. Brent Vaughn Boulder, CO 37:08
7. Patrick Smyth Nike Salt Lake City UT 37:13
8. Jacob Riley Hansons-Brooks Distance Project Rochester MI 37:18
9. Chris Barnicle Mammoth Lakes CA 37:19
10. Joe Moore Manhattan KS 37:36

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