Most every county has a running club and Westminster is no exception. Nestled between Pennsylvania and the populous big suburban counties to the south, Westminster is one of the state's small clubs with around one hundred members. Once just a regional running area, now runners are coming in greater numbers to race. The first time I ventured up north was to race the Union Mills 8K as their entry in the Maryland RRCA State Series in 1995. The race was flat at the ends and very round in the middle. The race was a mere three bucks and they gave every runner a pair of gloves. The race rarely has more than 50 runners but they have awards such as fruit or flowers for a large portion of the finishers. [Top 2, first masters division finishers, first in 10-year age groups.] That year I finished third so I came back the next year to improve my place. My time improved but the place was the same. Lucky for me I was over forty.

During the colder months, the races start at noon. Two years ago, I raced in a time Prediction 4 miler. You really do have to know the course to accurately predict your time. I dashed out to the lead thinking, "To hell with my prediction, I can win this race." Unfortunately, I was overly optimistic and slowed dramatically on the windy hills. Fortunately, though I was far back from the lead, when I crossed the line it was very close to my prediction. The awards were all food. Yes! I ended up with a jar of coffee. In addition, entry also got you a $2.50 coupon to The Treat Shop at Cranberry Mall. Yes!

I was hooked. Interesting races and well marked/well marshaled courses with food prizes. Sign me up! Then I learned that membership in the club was only five dollars for individuals and $7.50 for families. At nearly all the races, runners can only sign up on race day. Those races are two dollars for non-members and one dollar for members. My accountant told me to sign up right away.

The year starts promptly at noon January 1 with the Winfield Mile. (A civilized time for a race on a winter morning after celebrating the New Year.) Then about every two weeks, there is a shorter race of 5K or 4 miles. This year at the February Prediction 4 Mile, I was ready. I predicted the same time but started slower. Then I foolishly gunned past the lead masters runner at the finish. We had both predicted 26:00. I ran 25:40 and he was 25:50 for the win. In late March there is the Mayberry 10K. This wonderfully scenic course is downhill the first mile. Downhill, as in you need to hold onto a rope to keep from starting. You get to run past a barn that has a road going through it. Then you get to fight the wind going back up that hill. No matter; there was lots of food at the finish line.

In April, you come into town for the Main Street Mile. This is the granddaddy of all their races. From the center of town, you walk uphill for one mile. The street is closed except for parked cars. Then the starter sends hundreds of noisy runners hurtling down the street. It is pandemonium for the first 400 meters. Then it is surrealistic as oxygen clouds your thinking and flameouts fill the course like land mines. Just keep your arms pumping and somehow catch that 9-year-old boy or that 12-year- old girl. Remember there is all you can eat made to order sundaes waiting for you at the bottom.

In the late spring, the Twilight Series begins. There is a short series with races of two to four miles and a long series of five to ten miles. These races start at 7:00 pm and are two dollars. Here is the catch. If you run all the first five races, the sixth race is free and they give you all your money back. How can you lose? Word is that the situation might change next year, in that there might be a premium (T-shirt, shorts, etc), and while they might not give the money back, there will be a goodie.

At the Bell Road 5K/10K, the Mayor, Kevin Dayhoff, came to start the race. Dayhoff is not only the mayor but he is a member of WRRC. He was a member before he ran for city council, before he ran for mayor. That brought out the local television crew as Dayhoff honored Bob Leatherman for his 100th consecutive Twilight Series race. (See the article on that race in the September-October issue. Editor) I guess he likes that money- back Twilight series policy. I was not sure which race I was running as we wailed down the first mile and a half of the race. I decided since the course was out and back I would put off running hills for another few minutes and surged past the returning 5Kers. Life is uncertain, have dessert first. Speaking of which, there was a cake for Leatherman, and when he finished, he cut it for those of us who were hungry.

As fall approaches they toss in a couple of longer runs to help runners get ready for the marathons. The first race is the Bachman Valley Half Marathon. This course is known as a relentlessly hilly course. I can still remember my first time squinting up into the bright sun cresting the huge hill in front. Was it an illusion that the tiny figure walking near the top was pulling away from me? Last year in 2000, they changed it to a double loop course making it again relentlessly hilly. As the year winds down, they continue with twice a month races in the 3-mile to 10K range. Another favorite of mine is the Frozen Finger 4-Mile in December. The course is a roller coaster ride, which guarantees no more the one-foot of level ground. At the end, they announce the top three and masters winners in each sex and then tell them to "Go for it." All the prizes are displayed right there on the road. A frozen turkey, ice cream, or some other frozen dessert.

I have never been to a race where Dave Herlocker was not there. I think the Time Machine is surgically attached to him. He knows everybody. He writes the newsletter. Liuda Galinaitis is designated treasurer for life. She is at most every race too. Joe Loveland is in charge of the equipment. Somebody is always at the first mile and the turnaround calling out splits. Thanks to Kevin Spradlin, their web site is up and running. He is very amenable to suggestions and quick to update the site.

For more information on how to join this fine club or run in some of their quality races you can reach them online at ccpl.carr.org/~wrrc or send a letter to Liuda Galinaitis, 1796 S. Pleasant Valley Road, Westminster, MD 21158, E-mail at liuda@ccpl.carr.org, or phone 410-857-5427.