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January/February 2011 - Editor's Note
By Brenda Barrera
January/February 2011
For the Washington Running Report
January marks a new beginning and a fresh start and yes, that tradition of making a New Year's goal. Many of you have scribed, blogged, or tweeted these while others have just made a mental note. Sage advice is to make your goal specific and put it in writing; you are more likely to achieve it. An example: if 2011 is the year you are going to run a 5K or a half marathon--pick out a race, write down a specific time goal, and follow a training plan to help make it a success. Our mission is to help you make, keep, and sustain your goals with information and inspiration found on the pages of Washington Running Report.
This past year we made a commitment to change WRR to a glossy format and use more local writers, which we will continue. For 2011, we are thrilled to be taking a step further. Starting with this issue, we are adding two new columns, "Military Running Scene" by Sue Himes, Cmdr. U.S. Navy, a member of the Armed Forces elite marathon team, and "A Woman's Perspective" which will have a different contributor from DC, MD, or VA in each issue. A popular writer, Ann Brennan, contributes the inaugural column. Coach Kirt West decided it was time to switch things up and "Ask the Coach" is now more personal for him, hence the new name and focus: "The Senior Runner." We will still have the popular WRR Runner Rankings by James Moreland and our usual features. Let us know what you think.
Just as we did a special series last year on half marathons, this year we are going to look "Behind the Race" scene. The purpose of this six-part series is to highlight the various aspects of putting on a road race, starting with a general overview of expenses. I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to add a 2011 goal: Pick one race and get involved in a non-running capacity. It could be as a volunteer for a water station or goody bag stuffing. One thing for sure, you will look at races with a different perspective and, we hope, appreciate the countless hours and dedication by all involved in our sport.
Lastly, we have a new feature, "Inspiration." This will be on the back page of each issue, a little something to leave with you before you close the pages. Feel free to post it on your fridge or tape it on the wall by your treadmill. For this issue, the feature is presented with a heavy heart. Coach Mike Broderick, from Gaithersburg, MD, died way too young. He was beloved by so many runners, not only from our region but across the country. This page highlights just a snippet of the inspiration he shared. We hope it will inspire you to take a first step or to keep taking more . . . all you need to do is put one foot in front of the other.
Safety Tips for Winter Running
When daylight hours are short, and inclement weather keeps more people indoors, focus on safety and adjust running habits.
1. Run with a partner, or run with a dog.
2. Write down or leave word of the direction of your run with friends or family.
3. Avoid unlit areas, especially at night. Run clear of parked cars or bushes.
4. Wear reflective material when running in low light conditions.
5. Know where to find shelter on your route if the weather gets really bad.
For more: www.rrca.org
Correction: The Nov/Dec 2010 "Running Tally" (p. 55), on the 5K growth (40% during the past decade), I think that you meant that said distance had the second most growth behind the half-marathon (2000-09), not that it was the "2nd most popular distance". The 5K, with 4-plus million finishers, is easily the most popular U.S. distance. ...from Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director.