The Stained Glass Pub in Glenmont, MD drew hardy road racers from as north as Camp Hill, PA and as far south as The Plains, VA to celebrate the tenth year of the 50 Plus Club. The party also coincided with the 64th birthday celebration of Charles Raper Jr (In photo blowing out the candles). The joy of racing and the desire to compete brings runners out week after week, year after year, in increasingly greater numbers. Back in 1997, Ted Poulos of McLean, VA had just reset his Guinness World Record with 222 races run. We decided to start a club for runners to aspire to race, what seemed Ripkenesque, fifty races a year. That was one race every weekend.

The club has grown from its original seven to more than eighty members. Some stayed on for a novelty year. Race leader Ted Poulos has a combined 2,116 raced in his first ten years. During that span, club members have reached the 50 race plateau 250 times. They have reached the 100 race plateau 72 times. Sixth different runners have exceeded 150 races in a year and two exceeded 200 races. Poulos capped off 2003 with 337 races.

The 50 Plus Club is free and runners are members regardless of speed or of how many races they eventually race. Members come from ten different states and from all ages from teen to octogenarians. Runners report daily to update their growing totals. Races are divided into nine categories: 1500M/1M, 3K.2M, 5K, 5M, 01K, 15K/10M, 20K/HM, Marathon, and Other. (Photo of James Moreland announcing awards)

At the awards runner are awarded certificates enumerating their year's accomplishments, which might include succeeding in getting those fifty plus races, a POULOS Award for fifty victories in a year, or a BLANK Award (Named after Peter Blank, the first runner to have fifty races in just one category of races). Currently there have been 61 times a BLANK Award has been earned and 6 Double BLANK Awards, (100) races in a single distance. Multiple BLANK Awards are for more than one category with a BLANK in a year. There have been 9 BLANK Doubles and 4 BLANK Triples.

Also, each year runners earn a title for the champion with the most races in a category. When a new all-time number is reached, there is a traveling trophy that rests with the new champion. This year Jon Palks added to his collection with the 10M trophy, while Karen Young (in photo above) earned the half marathon trophy.

Race leader by Category

Category	Times	Name
1500M/1M	82	Ted Poulos
3K/2M	        82	Ted Poulos
5K	        146	Jon Palks
8K/5M	        57	Jon Palks
6M/10K	        66	David McSherry
15K/10M	        28	Jon Palks
20K/HM	        12	Karen Young
MARATHON	50	Billy Lese
OTHER	        50	Jon Palks

Runners also vie for the most categories with double digit participation in a year, seven different categories is the record, so far. The most miles raced in a year were by Billy Lese in 2003. While racing fifty marathons he raced 1561 miles averaging 24.4 miles per race. Runners go for the title of Age Group Ace, mounting age group wins each month in each category.

One might think that this carefree attitude of racing at the drop of a hat week after week might mean these runners are not so fast. Walt Washburn (84) in photo .

Top runners during these first ten years of the club.

1. Denise Knickman:
   Olympic Marathon qualifier -1998 Chicago Marathon 2:47:25


2. Walt Washburn:
   American Record Holder 80-84
   2003 Al Lewis 20M 3:30:23
   2003 Houstonian Lite 3:05:11
   2004 Bellehaven 25K 2:45:07
   Virginia State Record in the Marathon 75-79
   Numerous Maryland State Single age records.


3. Patrick Griffith:
   Running Times Best of 2006 60-64
   Virginia State Record in the 5K 55-59, 60-64
   127 race streak of age group wins


4. Tami Graf:
   Virginia State Record in the 5K 65-69, 70-74
   Virginia State Record in the 10K 65-69
   Virginia State Record in the HM 60-64, 70-74


5. Bill Osburn:
   Scores of Maryland State Single age records from 5K to 20K
   Included is a 41:20 10K at age 62.

In all thirty-one of the members have been or are currently a Ranked Runner. Dozens have been on the boards of nearly all the region's running clubs, including at least a half dozen presidents. Members have spent countless hours volunteering at races as well as performing race director duties at all level of races from track meets, road races, to ultra marathons.

For more information about our 50 Plus Club, contact Club founder James Moreland.

Photo Gallery 2007.

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