12/02 Newsletter

Checkers High School Invitational

HLETIC CLUB Nov/Dec 2002

Checkers volunteers give the shirts off their backs!

The club volunteers went shirtless this year, because of the largest turnout ever for the 21st All Western New York High School Cross Country Invitational. Ninety five runners competed this year for the titles of Cross Country Runners of the Year. Molly Clauss from East Aurora won the Girls Division with a time of 20:15. Chuck Laderer from Starpoint took the Boys Division with a time of 17:06. Thank you to this years sponsors: Runners Roost, Metro Group, Inc., Frito Lay, Mentholatum, Rural-Metro, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. And a big thank you to the following club members for helping make this event fun for all the high school runners who participated: Karen Crissey, Kathy Sinicropi, Mary and Roger Roll, Jim Kenney, Jim Schaffstall, Joan Crouse, Peter Morris, Amy Fakterowitz, David Carroll, Jeanne Chiarmonte, Ted Washburn, Kim and Bob Truesdell, Dave Sardo, and Diane Sardes. See you next year! Stephen Seerey and Pete Szymanski

HIGH SCHOOL INVITATIONAL RESULTS (Complete results at the web site)

Boys

Chuck Laderer Starpoint 17:06

Mike Deren Frontier 17:14

Kevin Buzzell Grand Island 17:15

Team E.C.I.C. - South Squad

Mike Deren, John Yeager, Steve Palmer, Steve Carden, Bob Iwankow, Dan Field, Mark Janowski, Paul Schwab, Jeff Shevlin, Jody Cendrowski, Dan Burgio, Jesse Mang, Ryan O’Connor, Sean Sullivan

Girls

1st Molly Claus East Aurora 20:15

2nd Becca Nungesser Clarence 20:26

3rd Jessica Nowak Orchard Park 20:32

Team: E.C.I.C. South Squad

Molly Claus, Jessica Nowak, Sarah Vieth, Jamie Rzepecki, Patricia Rich, Mary Veith, SDarah Mosser, Abbey Wawrzynek, Molly McGarvey, Hannah Duane, Leanne Skrabacz, Nora Wynes, Carly Kramer

IMPORTANT NOTICE

In the very near future you may see some of our elite Checker members wearing a different uniform when completing in USA Track & Field races and National class events. I thought it was in the club’s best interest to explain to you why.

These members are making choices not to leave our club but to join another club just like many of us do. I myself belong to Checkers, BTC, and Bond Lake, but I choose only to race for Checkers. Some of our top athlete’s are qualified to run on teams nationally. That means they will have to go out of town and sometimes out of state in order to run these national meets. In the past, we have not provided financial help to these teams so that is why they need to find clubs that will help them meet their present needs.

Another important issue is that even IF Checkers DID provide financial help, we have not been able to field full teams for these athletes so that they can complete. We have come close, but many people with their busy lives and families do not have the time to leave the area to race. GVH, or Genesee Valley Harriers (Rochester) provides assistance to area athletes, and they run many National class races. They have started to assist some of our members to run with their own members so that they can field a complete team and therefore compete nationally.

I have been told by some of these runners that their hearts are with Checkers, but they must run on GVH teams because we cannot provide FULL teams that are willing to run out of town. They have not chosen to run with The Syracuse Chargers because they would not be able to be affiliated with Checkers because of Charger rules, so they decided to join GVH instead. GVH really enjoys the group at Checkers and has no problem with runners being in both clubs. This means that you will still see them wear their Checker singlets at area races, but maybe not where there are team events or prize money. Any comments are greatly appreciated so feel free to email me, dianesardes@msn.com

December birthdays

Amy Hurta 12/2

James Kavanagh 12/4

Alan Wrobel 12/4

Andy Hargrave 12/5

Mary Roll 12/6

Thomas Cumbo 12/7

Mark Kelly 12/7

Eileen Leary 12/9

Lucy Lorczak 12/9

William Schimpf 12/9

Kieran O'Loughlin 12/10

Diane McGuire 12/11

Jerry Bergman 12/12

Thomas Couch 12/12

Eileen D'Arcy-Smith 12/12

Kenneth Heavern 12/12

Fred Kobler 12/14

Richard VanAlmkerk 12/15

Jacqueline White 12/15

John Tamburlin 12/16

Robin Czerwinski 12/18

Lori Miller 12/18

Cynthia Ferrelli 12/19

Chloe O'Loughlin 12/19

Gloria Calato 12/23

Gary Raby 12/23

Grant Hennigar 12/25

Monika Mordue 12/25

Thomas Donnelly 12/26

Susan Dowd 12/27

Jody Snyder 12/27

Alicia Proctor 12/28

Theresa Seitz 12/28

Tom Baroni 12/29

Chris Sangiacumo 12/30

Jim Collins 12/31

Paul Wandel 12/31

January Birthdays

Kathie Evans-Augustyn 1/1

Gloria Santarpia 1/1

Diane Sardes 1/1

Bill Seyler 1/2

Maria Baer 1/6

Lauren Ann Lorek 1/7

Bridget Martin 1/7

Marleah Close 1/8

James Burgess 1/9

Hermann Pohl 1/9

Tim Zelasko 1/9

Ann English 1/11

Carol Heiligenthaler 1/11

Ron Snavely 1/11

Gerald Mangan 1/12

Bob Neidlinger 1/12

Paul Duttge 1/13

Gary Hastings 1/15

Emily Frank 1/16

Melissa Hanson 1/16

Gerry Buchholtz 1/17

David Eckhardt 1/17

Edye Radice 1/18

Peggy Towers 1/18

Glenn Diamond 1/19

Catherine Forrestel 1/19

Kathy Jablonski 1/20

Susan Littler 1/20

David DiValerio 1/21

Katie Pietrak 1/22

Kevin English 1/23

Chin Li Pompeo 1/24

Ellen Hamm 1/25

Melisa Holden 1/25

Henry May 1/25

Paul Donnelly 1/27

Maureen Kemeny 1/27

Mary Ann Hobar 1/28

Jennifer McConvey 1/29

Murray Priest 1/30

Larry Ammon 1/31

Getting to Know You, by Paul Wandel

BIO: Susan Munson

Age Group: 40-44

Residence: Orchard Park, NY

Personal: Married to Art Munson and owner of 2 Tibetan watchdogs

Checkers affiliation: 2 yrs

Running: 10 yrs

Interests: Avid reader, needlepoint and cross-stitch.

Goals are an important and even vital element in our lives. Establishing and meeting them creates the difference between failure or success, good or great, and second or first place. Sue Munson has realized that goals and hard work produce results. “My current goal is to win the 2002 Buffalo News Runner of the Year Series.” This Orchard Park resident and Checkers member is number one in the series. “I’m a serious runner with serious goals.”

Attraction to Checkers AC is centered on a great coaching knowledge base and the opportunity for team competition. “What Checkers has done for me is expose me to team events and some USATF events, which has fostered competition in larger events. Also, I remain impressed with Bob Carroll’s role in coaching and find this an invaluable resource.”

Sue's personal convictions are best characterized by motivation, commitment, focused intensity, discipline and structure. “My motivation is driven by working toward my goals and then realizing success.” This positive reinforcement (work- success) couples with a very unique training program to provide the basis for her performance.

Just what is special about this training? “I do everything on a treadmill and I love it. It is a very reliable training partner and it teaches you consistency. The workouts range from Distance to Tempo to Hills to Intervals…. all on the treadmill.” The benefits are evident. “It is a cushioned flat surface. There is no external interference and therefore it is easy to relax and think about my form.” Sue draws from a variety of coaching sources for a balanced program. Training six days a week, her workouts include: long run- 14 miles; hill work- 6 miles@ various grades @ 6:49 pace; tempo work- 6 miles; 1200M Intervals- 4 miles and an occasional easy run.

Another effective tool for Sue's training is a heart rate monitor (HRM). “I use a HRM for tempo and interval workouts and monitor my max HR and recovery time. Then I track it from week to week to know how to adjust. A HRM and a treadmill prohibit you from being over trained.” At a 159-162 HR, Sue is able to maintain a 6:07 pace. “I am well within my bounds. I know that I can get faster because I haven’t maxxed out in training.” To complement the HRM and treadmill, she meticulously logs everything.

When Sue Munson assembles to the start line, she never feels isolated. “I have a lot of respect and support on the front line. The local crowd support is great. It keeps me going when I’m tired and I really miss it when I’m competing out of town.” Adding, “Art my husband, is my number one support person. Training is what is fun. Racing is not. It is very, very serious and it is all competition.” Sue's personal records include; 5K (17:50), Buffalo Mile (5:27 Masters Record), 10K (37:24), 10Miles (1:04), Grand Island Half Marathon (1:24). Her aspiration is to compete at the National Masters level. Sue is quick to encourage others (especially female masters) by inspiring them that ‘You can do it!’ “That indirectly inspires me.”

Sue's long-term Masters goals are: 5K (17:30), sub 5:10 mile, 10K (36:30) and half marathon (6:15 pace). Based on her consistent improvement in performance and dedication to hard work, I am certain that Sue Munson will realize those goals.

RESULTS

Parkway 10K

1st woman - Sue Munson37:24:00

John McMahon M 1/35-39 34:13:00

Bach Weslow M 1/30-34 35:01:00

James Waldron M 1/40-44 36:48:00

Jerry Irving M 1/50-54 36:54:00

Stephen Forrestel M 2/50-54 37:22:00

Thomas Miller M 2/45-49 40:53:00

Jeanne Chiarmonte F 1/35-39 41:13:00

Julie Doell F 2/30-34 41:57:00

Diane Sardes F 1/50-54 42:41:00

Melisa Holden F 3/30-34 43:29:00

Jerry Bergman M 1/60-64 43:31:00

Peggy Towers F 2/50-54 45:39:00

Joseph Antkowiak M 1/65-69 45:59:00

Andrew Moynihan M 2/30-34 46:40:00

Jody Snyder F 2/45-49 46:59:00

Diane McGuire F 3/45-49 47:07:00

Marcy Sheehan F 3/50-54 47:17:00

Patricia Kunselman F 2/55-59 48:57:00

Sandy Bueme M 1/75-79 57:20:00

Edye Radice F 2/65-69 58:27:00

Gloria Santarpia F 3/65-69 1:00:09

Helen Bueme F 1/70-74 1:02:13

Fran Rowe F 2/60-64 1:03:59

ECMC

Paul Drexler M1/25-29 16:40

Ellen Hamm F1/35-39 21:53

Edna Hyer F1/65-69 29:34

Chestnut Ridge 10k Run

Hermann Pohl 1M30-39 39:13

Debra Morris-Allen 1/F40-49 42:39

Jack O’Lantern 5k

1st female Jeanne Chiarmonte 20:37

Peter Forrestel 1M50-54 18:43

Jill Murray 1F30-34 24:25

St. Mary’s 5k

Tom Dessauer 2M35-39 18:16 5:53

Trey Gardner 1M30-34 19:02 6:08

Ron Snavely 3M35-39 19:07

Paul Pietraszewski 2M55-59 23:377

Catherine Meyer 1F35-39 24:08

Kathie Augustyn 1F45-49 25:12

Sandra Hebeler 2F50-54 27:21

Helen Bueme 1F70+ 28:53

Sandy Bueme 3F70+ 28:53

Gloria Santarpia 1F65-69 29:15 Edye Radice 2F65-69 29:35 9:32

Ellicottville 3.5 Mile Race

1st place, Dan Essler 18:56 3rd place, Larry Krajewski 20:46

New York City Marathon

John McMahon 2:52:11 6:34

Amy Noe 3:59:41 9:08

Jill Murray 4:12:29 9:38

Susan McNulty 6:24:53 14:41

Peter Sawicz 7:34:56 17:21

McDougald Memorial 5k

Bach Weslow 1M30-34 16:37

Tom Dessauer 3M35-39 18:06

Fred Lew 3M50-54 18:45

Alan Wrobel 3M40-44 18:55

Amy Fakterowitz 1F30-34 20:06

Sara Hays 1F14-19 20:39

Lynn Keane 2F30-34 24:22

Maria Baer 1F50-54 26:14

Gloria Santarpia 1F65-69 29:31

Edna Hyer 2F65-69 29:44

LeBro's 5K

1st male, Mike Heitzenrater 16:53

1st female, Brenda Litzinger 19:57

Jake Symoniak 1M13-19 17:54

Ron Snavely 2M 35-39 19:26

Mia Symoniak 1F13-19 20:26

Jim Collins 1M 55-59 22:39

Kathleen Yesny 1F 45-49 22:41

Debbie Symoniak 3F 40-44 23:17

Maureen LaChiusa 2F45-49 23:21

Paul Pietraszewski 3M 55-59 23:26

Gloria Santarpia 1F 65-69 29:17

Edna Hyer 3F65-69 30:47

Turkey Trot

CHECKERS TOP THREE in AGE-GROUPS

Mike Heitzenrat 1/19-24 25:29

7 Matthew Glynn 1/30-34 25:35

Bob R. Carroll 1/45-49 26:20

John F. McMahon 3/35-39 27:03

Rich Grimm 1/40-44 27:13

Brad Heron 2/14-18 27:58

James R. Waldro 2/40-44 28:14

Jerry J. Irving 2/50-54 28:34

Stephen Forrestel 3/50-54 29:08

Rebecca E. Heuer 1/35-39 29:10

Susan A. Munson 1/40-44 30:22

Joanne York-Rappl 2/40-44 31:26

Debra Morris-Allen 3/40-44 32:27

Amy Fakterowitz 1/30-34 32:51

Diane Sardes 1/50-54 34:06

Joanie Hays 3/35-39 34:10

Joseph Antkowiak 2/65-69 36:21

Peggy L. Towers 2/50-54 36:31

Patricia Kunsel 2/55-59 37:19

Marcy A. Sheehan 3/50-54 38:20

Kathleen M. Manno 1/60-64 45:24

Sandy J. Bueme 1/75-79 45:36

Edye Radice 2/65-69 47:49

Fran Rowe 2/60-64 47:54

Helen M. Bueme 1/70-74 49:01

Gloria M. Santarpia 3/65-69 51:00

The President's Corner, Diane Sardes

It’s been quite a year of changes. Our world has taken so many different directions and because of that our lives are filled with more stress. Sometimes it feels like the day is only 5 hours long. Just when I look outside for the 3^rd time, it seems, it’s already dark. Many of us have lost loved ones this past year. As I miss some of these people throughout the day, I think of the good memories they left me with. While they were here, I never thought of what it would be like without them. Since they passed on, I learned how to bring them back anytime I want, all I have to do is close my eyes. I can see them smiling, laughing, walking and running. But when I open my eyes they are no longer there moving about. In the photograph’s I look at everything is still.

This is a precious time of year Not to just remember those who have left us, but to cherish the times we have now and to love and care about the people who are around us.

I’ve made so many friends since I joined Checkers. I feel like I have many sisters and brothers now. The more you come around this club the more you look forward to the next time you meet again. Whether it’s for a workout, race, party, picnic, there are people that are in Checkers that are enjoyable to be with. All of you have helped to make this club the largest in the area. You are all unique and have joined for different reasons, and the board members who sit at the meetings once a month thank you for making this club special. If there is anything you need to discuss about club functions or how the club is run, you can contact any of the board members.

We end the year with The Buffalo Mile being a success as was the High School Cross Country Invitational. Track season, our yearly picnic, and the Gala were also successful. The 2003 track schedule is now being planned. Our website has a new webmaster.

We end this year missing those we’ve lost but seeing and cherishing those who are here with us, so we don’t have to close our eyes or look at a still photograph to remember them.

Here is hoping that your new year will be better than the last.

Reach the Beach, Amy Fakterowitz

     Last spring, John Moore sent me an email telling me to check out a website about a race called Reach the Beach. I quickly skimmed it over and wrote back "I'm in!" not exactly realizing what I was committing to. Five months later, twelve of us piled into 2 fifteen passenger vans for a race that I will remember for the rest of my life.
     Reach the Beach is a 200 mile relay race across the state of New Hampshire. It starts at Bretton Woods and ends at Hampton Beach at the Atlantic Ocean. Each runner runs 3 legs over a 24 hour period. The teams are staggered with the slowest teams starting at 8:00 in the morning and the fastest at 4:00P.M. We fell right in the middle and started at 12:30. Rich Clark, Gary Maslanka, Dave Szafran, Sharon Lindstedt, John Moore, Melisa Holden, Jason McGrath, Jan Jezioro, Jody Snyder, Ellen Hamm, Tom Miller and myself made up the Checkers A.C/Buffalo team. We knew each other but not really well before the trip. There is nothing like living in a 15 passenger van for 3 days to quickly change that. It is a bonding experience like none other.
     Rich Clark started out our relay running the first leg which was billed as the hardest 5k that you will ever run. They were not kidding. Jason started out running some of it to support Rich but quickly turned around to join the rest of us at the bottom of the mountain. For the next 24 hours we ran up and down mountains, through the pouring rain, and through the pitch black darkness of the night. It is quite an experience running through the middle of the night with no runners around and no lights on the roads...in some ways very peaceful and in other ways quite frightening. We learned a lot on this trip. We learned about the power of Oreo cookies. We learned that it's okay to be wet and smelly when everyone around you smells just as bad. We learned about the kindness of strangers. The people in New Hampshire come out in fullforce for this race by opening up their schools and businesses for the runners to clean up, eat and rest. We learned that some foods sit better in our stomach than others when running 9 miles in the middle of the night.(Okay, that was just me). We quickly found out how painful it is to run, then sit, then run, then sit and then try to run again on no sleep. And we came away with some new friends that we shared an amazing experience with. Twenty six hours after we started, we crossed the finish line together. What a feeling that was.
     The team would like to thank Checkers, Tom Donnelly (for his awesome team
t-shirts) and our many other sponsors for helping us to offset the cost of
this race. I would highly recommend this race to everyone. We are already
looking forward to next year and maybe even trying out Hood To Coast after
that. Hope to see many more Checkers members there.