A long, long time ago in a county far, far away the Frederick Steeplechasers were born. While the other running clubs were called roadrunners because they ran their races on the roads, Frederick, with only so many roads to run on, ran from steeple to steeple. By the mid 1970s, a small determined group of county residents decided to leave the sanctity of Fort Detrick, where they had run their first race in June of 1975. Current president Brent Ayer was one of the founding members. After a successful summer, this young man headed off to school at Lewis University in Illinois.

In 1978, two Mount St. Mary's students organized the first Goodloe Byron Memorial 15K. Byron was Maryland's sixth district Congressional Representative for eight years. This course loops around and up above the campus. The terrain is so challenging at some points that one year I ran my slowest mile, the fourth, three minutes slower than the ski slope eighth mile. Brent Ayer has been at all 23 races, racing 21 times. His best time of 53:59 would have won some years but he never got past second place. There are always nice awards and a ritual keg of beer for the finishers.

In 1982, the club started its Grand Prix series and included many local races in their series. This encouraged runners to join more races and coordinated schedules to avoid having races on the same day. The series consists of from ten to twenty races. All of them count, so participation is paramount.

Soon after, in 1984, the club convinced the Mayor to open the newly renovated north side of Market Street to runners. The Market Street Mile became the signature race of the club. It soon drew runners from all over the area to race this fast mile along this narrow street in the center of town. The course record for the men is 3:58. With a parade and bands playing, soon runners from all over the region were coming to race. Many stay all day, this first Saturday in October, discovering the little town feel of Frederick.

In the beginning, club presidents served for only one year. By 1982, it was decided that the term needed to be longer because of all the work retooling the throne. The job of president in a club that tops out at around three hundred is a very demanding job. Often the president would be found plotting with whomever would listen to get himself overthrown.

There are many talented people working for the Steeplechasers. I am amazed at their dedication and their patience. The president is driver and the members are the vehicle but the volunteers are the fuel that allows the club to move forward. No volunteer list can be complete without mentioning Joe Myers. He has been race director for more races than I can remember, either from the beginning or at the last minute when the race is about to fold. He loves running but he loves to make races happen even more. Some of his races are mystery distances but I know I will have a good time at any race in which he is involved. He is the first to arrive and the last to leave.

There are dozens more who keep the club going such as the "Godfather" of the club, George Waxter. He and his wife Peggy are omnipresent. In Frederick, families run together. Races have kids of all ages. The Lowries, the Tisos, the Kurtzs, the Buzzells, are just a few of the families with four plus running members.

Being president makes a person more cognizant of what it takes to make a club go. After the presidents step down, they are still very active. Merlin Porter-Borden (1981) still maintains the club database. John Laughland (1982-6) continues to write for the newsletter. Byron Stay (1986-89) continues to direct races. Tim O'Keefe (1989-92) is the Crown Prince. Though he would never admit it, many think of him still as the commander- in-chief. He directs, volunteers, races as a ranked runner, writes for the newsletter, is the Maryland state record keeper, scores the decathlon series, and still has time to cheer you on while you race. Just like Savoir-Faire, he is everywhere. Ken Anderer (1995-96) is the man with his finger on the button. Nobody crosses the finish line in the Steeplechaser race until Ken's finger hits the plunger on the Time Machine, which has been grafted to his body for services rendered. Brent Phillips (1997-9) was so excited to be president even after he found out how much work was to be done. One reason he could be so tireless in his work is his wife Barbara. Barbara does not run, which makes her awesome presence at club races, picnics, and parties even more impressive. She is also a first class photographer. Most of us just push a button and hope to get at least a glimpse of red eyes rather than the back of someone's head. Her pictures are artistry.

I remember Tim Briscoe (1992-94) well because he recruited me to join the club at the RRCA Challenge in 1995. I was hooked right away. I ran all thirteen of the Grand Prix races to win the series that year, just edging Brent Ayer and sending him to his rightful spot where he had finished for the last several years. Mark Adams of Gaithersburg, MD finished a spirited third, running only twelve of the series races. He was another runner converting to the low key, but rewarding, racing scene in Frederick.

Everybody wins at these races. One year I encouraged a Montgomery County runner to head north. She said it did not matter. She was too slow to win anything. I told her, "One never knows." Though she finished in last place, she went home with a third place age group trophy. I won my division and earned a box of pancake mix. Nobody goes home empty handed.

The Steeps were the first to have a nighttime Fourth of July race. The 5K winds it way past all the street vendors, through and around Baker Park, finishing just as the Fireworks light up the summer sky. Earlier in the year, there is a scavenger hunt that starts by the carillon in the center of the park. Everyone is given a map of Frederick and a list of eight locations. At each location is a batch of colored dots. The winner is the first one back to the Bell Tower with eight different colored dots. Last year was a blast even in the pouring rain.

During the summer, the club puts on a great decathlon series. For ten weeks, runners meet at the Frederick High School track. After warming up with a fun run, the main event begins. Each week has a different distance from 100 meters to 2 miles. The times are age graded and points are assessed. If there are twenty-five runners, first place after the age-grading gets 2500 points and so on down to 100 points. The next week may have thirty runners, so the winner gets 3000 points. Again obviously, you gotta play to win.

Another huge bargain masterminded by the ever-present Joe Myers is the Keys Ballpark Run. Are professional sports costing you too much? This race starts in front of the Frederick Keys Ballpark and runs through the local cemetery, in case you need a place to rest from running too hard. The finish takes you into the stadium, along the warning track and down the third base line, just before the baseball game starts. The first year I celebrated a masters division win by sliding into the home plate finish line. For your $20 fee you get a T-shirt, lots of refreshments, a chance for a $50 savings bonds for an age group win, and two tickets to see the ball game. In 2000, Frederick Steeplechasers got in free. What a great recruiting tool! Pay $15 for the club membership and get a free entry to this great race.

The Frederick Steeplechasers is an RRCA club with a Woman's Distance Festival. Sunday mornings at 7:00 am, year round, they run from Frederick High School. Wednesdays during the warm months, they run at various locations in the evenings. As a member, you get to read about running in the club newsletter The Intervals.

To learn more, you can reach the Frederick Steeplechasers online at http://www.steeplechasers.org/ or send a letter to Frederick Steeplechasers, P O Box 681, Frederick, MD 21705-0681. Membership is $15.00 for individuals with special rates for families.