The Winner's Circle Running Club

Serving Northeastern Massachusetts, Southeastern New Hampshire and Southwestern Maine

Long time WCRC club member, running mentor and friend Ted Wendt passed away February 2 (obituary). Left: Ted steers the WCRC entry home at the Newburyport Yankee Homecoming Bed Race. Center: Ted supports the boys after the 1995 Clarence DeMar Marathon. Right: Ted brings home the gold (and silver) at the 100th running of the Boston Marathon in 1996.

WCRC runs at 5:00 PM every Thursday from the club's locker rooms at the Winner's Circle Sports Bar, 211 Elm Street (Rt. 110), Salisbury, MA 01952. Runners of all abilities are invited to participate. Club "social hours" occur each Thursday following the run. General club meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at 6:30 PM.

Group runs are held every Monday at 6:00 PM from the parking lot at the Redhook Brewery in Portsmouth, NH. Of course, a "social hour" in the pub always follows the run. This is a club neutral run ... if you're looking for a group run to keep you motivated through the winter, show up Monday at 6:00!

WCRC Annual Meeting and Election Night Party February 13

The Winner’s Circle Running Club will hold its annual meeting and election night party Saturday evening, February 13, upstairs at the Circle. The voting begins at 6:00 PM, with the annual meeting to follow. Free pizza will be provided. A very important function at the annual meeting will be the election of the 2010 WCRC Board of Directors (names for the ballot were collected at the January meeting). SHOW UP AND CAST YOUR VOTE!!! The annual meeting also includes presentation of the 2009 WCRC Grand Prix awards and the 2009 Most Improved Male and Female Runner awards. Continuing a tradition started last year, the club will present a 2009 Volunteer of the Year award. Finally, this year will mark the first presentation of the all new Paula Holm award. Follow the link for descriptions of these special awards.

Next WCRC Winter Indoor Track Workout Tuesday February 9

The Winners Circle Running Club is once again renting track time at the Governor’s Academy (formerly GDA) in Byfield MA (just south on 95 from Newburyport). They have a 200 meter indoor track. The one hour sessions will be on 6 successive Tuesday evenings, beginning Tuesday, January 26. The official track time is 7:00-8:00 PM. Plan on arriving by 6:45 so you can be on the track as soon as it is available. To get the most out of the indoor hour, arrive early and do your warm-up outside. The cost for use of the track will be $20 flat fee per WCRC member, for any number of sessions (a tremendous bargain even if you can’t make all 6 sessions). These sessions are open to anyone who just wants winter access to indoor training. Additional details will follow. These sessions are for WCRC members only, but the $20 fee is still a good deal even if someone has to pay to join the club first.

If you’re interested, please contact Mike McCormick at 978-382-0738 or stellamccormick@comcast.net.

WCRC BOSTON TRAINING RUNS - Next Run Sunday February 21

WCRC is organizing a series of biweekly group training runs targeting the 2010 Boston Marathon and other spring events. All members welcome - even if you’re not running Boston. Eight dates - every other week through winter. HOSTS needed. Hosts are asked to provide warm place to meet/change, lay out the route, and post info. about best place for fueling stops, to put out water, and any other relevant info. etc. The pace will vary with ability. Runs set up for training, not racing. Hopefully we will have a good idea of who will be coming and intended paces so everyone has someone to run with the whole way. To ‘book’ a hosting date please contact Mike McCormick:978-382-0738 or stellamccormick@comcast.net.

Circle Talk - The On-line WCRC Members Forum

WCRC Member Recommended Events
Click to see events not formally associated with WCRC but which have been recommended by club members.

	Not To Be Missed WCRC Races and Events
	The Andover Striders in association with the Winner's Circle Running Club will be presenting the Annual Run to the Beach 30K on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 10:00AM. Point-to-point course starts at the North Andover VFW and finishes at the Winners' Circle Sports Bar in Salisbury. Miles accurately marked, water (and more) at 5,10, and 15 miles. Great post-race party at the Winner's Circle (oops ... its about the run, not the party). No timing, no awards, NO ENTRY FEE, no numbers, no yogurt, and no race directors to bitch to! For more info please contact Dave LaBrode at ickylabrode@verizon.net.
	The 29th annual spring classic April Fool's Four-Mile Road Race will be held on Saturday, April 3, 2010. 11AM start at the Winner's Circle Sports Bar, Rte. 110, Salisbury, MA. Cash and merchandise awards, raffles. T-shirts to the first 200 entrants. Organized by WCRC. For more information email robrobertsoniii@comcast.net.
	WCRC is once again organizing a bus trip to the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 19, 2010. The bus will provide transportation from the Circle to the start in Hopkinton, and from the finish in Boston back to the Circle. Details and bus application forms are available here. Space is limited so don't miss the bus!

Wear the WCRC Colors! Click here for information on racing and clothing items which sport the WCRC logo and colors.

2009 WCRC Grand Prix Series. The 2009 WCRC Grand Prix Series is underway, under new series director Dale Eckert. Results will be posted periodically. Dale has devised a new system for scoring each race, which I am sure he would be happy to explain to you over a beverage at the next WCRC meeting. Male and female series winners in each age group will be recognized with prizes of undisclosed monetary value and will have their names engraved on the plaque of honor on display upstairs at the Winner's Circle.

WCRC Whine Line. Here is your chance to whine to the WCRC board: "The course was too long", "The clock ran too fast", "The race director was rude", "The beer was too warm", ... the possibilities are unlimited! Use the Whine Line to pass on your anonymous feedback to the WCRC board - positive or negative.

WCRC Photo Gallery. Visit the Winner's Circle Running Club Photo Gallery. If you have WCRC photos (new or old) that you'd like to add to the gallery, send a scanned version (any picture file format) to wcrc@xenia.unh.edu or bring the real thing to a club meeting, road race or Thursday run.

WCRC's Kelly Bradbury in pursuit at the 2003 Run for the Roses 5K on May 14 - photo courtesy of Ted Tyler.