February 4, 2001
I counted 80 heads as we left Hunters Woods Village Center for today's 10-miler on a clear, calm, cold morning (18 deg. according to the RR Web-site schedule page--check it out!). This course offers a rare opportunity to verify the parking lot head count because we can count our fellow runners as we negotiate the 180 deg. turn-around on Fairfax County Parkway. During the turn-around, I counted 90 runners--a significant difference that could be due either to the difficulty in counting heads as we mill about the parking lot waiting to start (when we should be engaged in rapt attention to Neil's directions, but then...) or to late arrivals. Supporting the latter hypothesis was the fact that at least two speedy runners (CM and JK) breezed by me within the first two miles of the run; obviously, they weren't in the original head count. The Reston Runners is truly a broad-based running club. Among our running crowd today (and last week as well) was a 10-year old runner maintaining a 9 minute mile pace; and she was just getting warmed up for her soccer match later on in the day! So, young runners, come and keep her company! Today was a milestone day for Cyndy. She ran her first 10-miler ever, and in ice-water soaked shoes--a handicap that resulted from her having to wade into Lake Audubon minutes before she was to leave for the run to rescue her little dog who wandered onto the ice only to fall through; she had time to change her socks but not her shoes. Good job, Cyndy. Every other 10-miler ought to be a "piece of cake" by comparison.
February 11, 2001
There was no shortage of enthusiastic runners and walkers today: between 90 and 100 of us stood around the Fox Mill Shopping Center (FMSC) parking lot waiting for the starting gun. It was a good day to run (as opposed to standing around) in the cold: temperature was 25 deg. F (according to our Web site) under clear skies, and wind was moderate (~10 mph), giving us a wind chill temperature in the low teens. Neil announced that this was the last scheduled run from the FMSC. Future running of this course will begin at the Reston South Commuter Lot, located across Reston Parkway from the FMSC. Many of us, including our map-maker, Ed, feel that this course is a bit long (Ed guesses by a 1/2 mile). So, those runners (including yours truly) who took the "Jerry Robinson shortcut" behind Thoreau Place, cutting off the South Lakes/Sunrise Valley corner, need feel no guilt. The map-maker promises us a reliable measurement of the replacement course (from Reston South Commuter Lot) soon. Many runners shared a pleasant "apres-run" breakfast at the bagel shop in the FMSC.
February 18, 2001
Another snowless run (keep hoping, Bill)! But, the cold was very much with us: 19°F, and a 12 mph wind (giving us a wind chill of about 0°F) under clear skies. So, all in all, a great day for winter running. And about 85 of us, including a wind-chill-defying, bare-legged Dennis, started from South Lakes High School on a run made up of many "loops:" the Post Oak-Buckthorn-W&OD loop, the Hook Rd. loop, and the Wainwright Dr. loop. Joining us again today were two young runners, 10 and 13 years old, both of whom won their age categories in a recent, prestigious 10-mile race! Congratulations to both. So, young and old, fast and slow, and all those in-between, there's a comfortable place for you in our Sunday runs. Come join us!
February 25, 2001
About 100 runners, mostly recovered from the Club's annual meeting/feast/dance of last night, gathered for our 10-miler starting from Lake Fairfax Park. The weather at the start was defined by cloudy skies, a light southerly breeze, and a temperature a little above freezing mid-to-upper 30s). Most of us ran the scheduled course along roads (6 miles worth) and the W&OD trail (either east or west for a total of 4 miles); an unknown (by this reporter) number accepted Anna's invitation to run trails toward the river and back. Lots of choices today. The threat of rain materialized in the form of a moderately heavy (and cold!) downpour through which most of us (the back 2/3 of the pack) had to run for the last few miles. After the chilling finish to the run, most of us beat a hasty retreat to the warmth of the nearby Fairfax Hunt Club (site of last night's festivities) to polish off the left-over desserts and to complete what little was left of the cleanup.