In The News!

The Red9Runners were featured in an article appearing on the website for the Suburban Journals.  The article really captures what we are about as well as recounting some of our recent accomplishments.

Madison County runners compete in events across region

Posted: Thursday, December 9, 2010 12:00 am

Members of the red9runners run club from the Collinsville Maryville Troy YMCA have been busy going the distance. Twenty members of the club decided to take on the challenge of a fall marathon or half marathon.

Dan Keeton, Jeremie Lavrack and Holly Lavrack traveled to Dayton, Ohio, for the Air Force Marathon. Holly Lavrack competed in the half marathon while Keeton and Jeremie Lavrack ran their first marathon, completing the distance in under four hours.

Fifteen red9runners were at the Lewis and Clark Full and Half Marathon in St. Charles, Mo., with two tackling the 26.2 mile full marathon and 13 red9'ers putting in 13.1 miles in the half marathon. Thirteen of the 15 runners set personal records that morning. The other two red9'ers were first-time half-marathon runners Jeremy Jones and Sheila Acuncius who set a great pace to beat in the future. Completing the full marathon were Darrell Meek and Miriam Bell. Half marathon runners were Brandon Bell, Chuck Toennies, Chris Muenter, Debbie Sury, Erick Larson, Gloria Jones, Jeremy Jones, Julie Schottel, Kari Ulrich, Melissa Schmitt, Sarah Williams, Sheila Acuncius, Stephanie Renner and Tiffany Jenkins.

Cheri Becker and Donna Polinske took a road trip to Ashland, Wis., to take on 26.2 miles of the Whistle Stop Marathon.

To finish off the fall distance season, Chuck Toennies competed in the Monumental Half Marathon in Indianapolis on Nov. 6.

While many in the club were busy with long-distance, our multi-sport adventure racer, Patrick Albert, completed the Berryman 36 Hour Adventure Race in September as part of Team POW/MIA. This was his first year on the race and Team POW/MIA finished very well. In October, Albert successfully finished the BT Epic 50 Mile Mountain Bike Race. Both events were held in and around the Berryman Trail in Potosi, Mo.

The red9runners Run Club at the Collinsville Maryville Troy YMCA has a thriving group of more than 40 runners of all abilities and who run varying different paces and distances.

The club meets four time each week to run together. They also host regular meetings and social gatherings as well as run races together. The club volunteers at the YMCA and for other community activities and charities. The group is lead by personal trainer and member of PowerBar Team Elite, Cheri Becker.

The red9runners are made up of regular people not elite athletes and truly has runners and run/walkers of all paces. Everyone is encouraged to run at their own level with members running everything from 6 minute miles to 13-plus minute mile run/walk. While some members prefer not to race, other members run races varying in distance from the 5K (3.1 miles) all the way up to the full marathon (26.2 miles) and beyond.

The red9runners did their first triathlon as a team in August 2010 and have planned future multisport events for 2011. The club sponsors a First 5K Program and Young Runners Club at the YMCA where kids and adults are coached to run the 5k distance. There is also a marathon and half marathon training program which fully prepares runners to take on an endurance event.

The Collinsville Maryville Troy YMCA started a new marathon training program on Dec. 4 geared toward the Go! St. Louis Marathon and Half Marathon on April 10, 2011, or another spring distance event.

For more information about the club or to participate in a training program, please contact the Collinsville Maryville Troy YMCA at 618-346-5600.

Red9Runners December 2010 Newsletter

November Newsletter

Red9Runners November 2010 Newsletter

Red 9 Window Decals!

Hey everybody, be sure to get your window decal while supplies last.  $5 each, contact Cheri to purchase.  Currently they are at the Y.

Also coming soon, embroidery! For all of your custom logo apparel.  Ball caps, knit caps, scarves, headbands, etc.  More details when we get it set up.

Red 9 Runners Take on the Lewis and Clark marathon

October Newsletter

Red9Runners October 2010 Newsletter

There were many things going on this past weekend.  Unfortunately I wasn't at any of the newsworthy events so I don't have any details other than what I could glean from Face Book.
Jeremie and Dan ran the Air Force Marathon While Holly ran the Half.  I suspect that since it was the Air Force Marathon the course was probably only 20miles.  I will have to get a confirmation on that though.
Several Red9Runners volunteered at the Italian Fest 5k in Collinsville.  Several runners that finished the 5k were first timers who took part in the First Time 5k program held over the summer.  I volunteered a couple of times to help out with the program, and those guys were really working hard.  We also had a program for kids to train for the 5k which I am told was like herding cats.
I can't wait to get more info on these events to share with the readers.  If anyone who was there wants to write something up I would be glad to post it for everyone.

Red 9 Photos

September 2010 Newsletter

Red9Runners Sept 2010 Newsletter

This Just In!

File Photo of Miriam Bell at the 2010 Wood River Triathlon.

Has tragedy struck Miriam Bell's chance to run a sub-4hour marathon at Lewis and Clark on Oct 3rd?  Only time will tell.  Sources close to Mrs. Bell indicate that she has been "grounded from running" because of a hurt leg.  When reached for comment local Ironman Darrell Meek said "Don't Worry", and gave his his 'iron clad' guarantee that Mrs. Bell would be "ready for the marathon", and that she would indeed "beat four hours".  Running coach, and multiple marathon finisher Cheri Becker is said to have advised Mrs. Bell to "Try to relax and and enjoy your time off".  Coach Becker also added that she was sure everything would be fine by next week.  This is not the first time Mrs. Bell has had to face adversity during a race.  The heat of the 2010 Go! St Louis marathon proved to be too much for and her and her chances of a sub-4hour marathon slipped out of reach.  The heat also played a big roll in last year's Lewis and Clark marathon.
The local running community has really rallied around Mrs. Bell in her time of need.  Several runners have offered  to bring bags of ice to aid in the healing process.  Members of the Red9Runners have seen the hard work and dedication put into this race by Mrs. Bell and feel it would be a shame if she were less than 100% on race day.
Mrs. Bell or a spokesman for Mrs. Bell could not be reached for comment.

Red 9 Riders

Today was the second group ride, and it went very well. I got a late start leaving my house and had to ride really hard to the turn around in order to mark the trail in case we got separated. I marked the course with a big 6 in chalk (6mile turn around). Then it was time to put the hammer down and get back to the Y.  Upon arrival I thought I would have a few minutes to catch my breath but no such luck everyone was ready to roll. There were six of us Dan, Jobie, Jeremie, Dave, and Dave's friend I think his name was Randall.
Dan and Jobie were pretty excited to try out their new bikes. Dan got a Trek 2.1 (Yay Trek!) Jobie got a Giant Avail (a popular choice for women at the Y).  Jobie happily set the pace for the first part of the ride, and seemed to be really happy with the increase in speed with the new bike. Dan and Jeremie decided to ride the 26mile Orange Loop. We turned at the 6mile mark I previously made on the trail, and headed back.  Jobie and I rode together most of the way, Super Dave "Doing things he's not supposed to do against medical advice man", and Randall brought up the rear.  It truly was a nice ride. Once back at the Y we sat around for a bit talking and what not. Then it was time to head home. I ran into Jeremie and Dan by LakeView Acres, and it was easy  to see that Dan was enjoying his new bike as much as Jobie was enjoying hers.
Next week I might have something a little different planned. It depends on whether I get a chance to go out and pre-ride the route or not.
See you next week!

Go! St Louis

Alright everyone, Go! St Louis is right around the corner (literally since I am at work right now).  But anyway, we have been pouring our blood sweat and tears training for this race. Miriam almost lost her leg, and I seem to have left my knee somewhere out there on keebler, it's probably lying in the gutter next to the dead cat, or it got carried off by coyotes, if you see it please let it know that I miss it and look forward to a happy reunion one day.
So like I was saying the big race is right around the corner and everyone has been training hard.  After the race when everyone cuts back on their mileage and enjoys some lazy time I would like you to take a few moments to write down some of your favorite memories from training or from the race itself and I will post them here for everyone to read.  A paragraph should do it but feel free to write as much as you want.
I look forward to your contributions and I know everyone else is looking forward to them as well.
Stay safe and be healthy!

Quivering Quads 2010

For a Quivering Quads race report go to my personal blog.  Yes this is a cross posting because I didn't want to write two.

Be Safe Out There!

With the arrival of warmer weather we will be spending more and more time outside running and cycling.  I ran across this blog post from Marathon Maritza regarding safety while running.

Please Run Safely

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

My lovely readers – there are those of you I have met  and those of you who I haven’t.  But we all know we share a bond that non-runners cannot understand. We are a community. You waddle races, you win races…you BQ, you cross the first finish line of your first 5k…the details of it all really don’t matter.  We are a community of runners and when one of us triumphs, we all feel the pride and the joy. And when one of us falls, we all hurt.

If you don’t know about Chelsea King, then I am sorry to be the bearer of this news.  Our community will surely mourn this fellow runner, but I want to take this opportunity to educate you, remind you, give you food for thought, so that something even slightly positive can be salvaged from this awful, awful tragedy.

Please be safe runners out there.   We are responsible for taking the best care we possibly can of ourselves. 

1. When you run outside, run in busy well-lit neighborhoods. Yes, you might have to stop at more lights. Run on trails when there will be other foot-traffic. Run in the daylight whenever possible.

2. Run with a buddy or a group if you can. Run on the treadmill (yes, it sucks) when a safe environment is not available to you.

3. Run with your dog(s.) It’s good for them, it’s good for you.

4. Carry your cell phone and some cash or a credit card whenever possible. Have ID on you.

5. Wear reflective, light-colored clothing. If it’s dark out, wear a headlamp and/or those blinking lights.

6. If you need your music, put the volume low enough to hear traffic and the sounds around you. Better yet, turn the volume low and only put one earbud in. Even better, don’t wear it.

7. Make sure someone knows you’re out, what your route is, and when you can expect to be back. Call/text/tweet/Facebook/Chat/Skype them after your run. We have 50 million avenues to communicate. Use them.

8. Look both ways before you cross the street, make eye contact with car drivers, don’t run against red lights.  For crying out loud, run AGAINST traffic so you see cars coming and they see you! Yes, we have the right away, but we need to be responsible for ourselves.

9. Sometimes, it’s a good idea to carry pepper spray.

10. We need to be aware of our surroundings in general, especially us ladies. Be aware of parking garages, parking lots, etc. Have your keys in your hand already as you walk to your car. Walk with a friend, or co-worker if you can.  Pay attention.

This is not meant to scare you. It is meant to make you smarter.  It is meant to remind you of the little things that we sometimes forget and take for granted, things that are really small and easy to remember and can help keep us safe.

Run hard and run safe, my friends. 

My condolences to the King family.

More articles on running safely: From Runner’s World From About.com Lots from Runtheplanet (see links)

And Just so you don't get too complacent, thinking such things as "it wouldn't happen here".  Here is a blog post from Roger Kramer Cycling.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Jogger attacked on MCT Nature Trail

If you live in the St. Louis area, you pretty much had to be hiding under a rock Monday to have not heard about the attack on a female jogger that took place Sunday on the Madison County Transit Nature Trail in Edwardsville.

The good news is that Edwardsville Police have a suspect, although he was not in custody as of this morning. Also, the woman escaped his attacker and suffered only minor injuries.

The crime got big play in St. Louis-area media outlets, including the one I work for, the Belleville News-Democrat. My hope is that the extensive coverage prompts people to be more careful while using the trails, but that it doesn't create paranoia that prompt people to stop using the St. Louis region's trails.

The attack in Edwardsville also brought back reminders of an  August 2006 attack that took place on the MetroLink Trail in Belleville. No suspect has been arrested in that particular attack. That attack prompted the organizers of the Tour de Belleville bicycle ride, which will take place July 13, to use proceeds from this year's ride to purchase emergency telephones that will be installed along the trail.

Police and MCT believe trails are generally safe places to be. Edwardsville Police Lt. Scott Evers said there have not been any other attacks on the miles of MCT Trails that go through his city, and MCT released this statement on the trails:

"Thanks to existing security measures and a solid working relationship with law enforcement agencies in the communities served by the MCT bikeway system, tens of thousands of individuals safely enjoy the trails every year. MCT continues to believe that the trails are safe and that this was an isolated, unfortunate incident."

Nevertheless, Edwardsville Police offered several tips to stay safe on the trails, including cycling, running or walking with a friend or in groups and exercising only during daylight hours.

Here are some links to coverage on the attack:
Belleville News-Democrat
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The (Alton) Telegraph
Edwardsville Intelligencer
KSDK-TV
KMOV-TV
KTVI-TV
KPLR-TV

Don' t worry though the attacker was subsequently caught and brought to justice.  Just remember to be safe out there.  I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to any of you.

Running the Sahara

I have come across some exciting news in the running community.  The powerful and inspiring documentary Running the Sahara  narrated by Matt Damon will be shown on the big screen.  Running the Sahara chronicles the journey of three runners as they run for 111 days across 4300 miles of Saharan desert.  It will be shown at the Plaza Frontenac Theater on Feb 24th.  The best part is that in addition to seeing the documentary, each person will receive a copy of the DVD, and there will be a Q&A with Charlie Engle, one of the runners.  Charlie's story is inspiring even without having run across the Sahara.  He has been featured in Runner's World, and other magazines for overcoming addiction through running.
Tickets are $35 at the door and $25 in advance, however by following this link http://nehst.com/rtsln , and entering the code GROUPSALE (case sensitive) you will get an extra $5 discount.  $20 is not bad for what you get out of it.
I have seen the documentary already and it was really great.  I can't say enough good things about it so instead play the video and watch the trailer.


I am not sure how many tickets will be available, so if you think you might want to go by all means do not hesitate.  Here are the details again:
What: Running the Sahara
When: Wednesday, Feb 24th 2010
Where: Landmark - Plaza Frontenac Cinema
Why:  You already read why!

The Week in Runnning

For me personally this was a horrible week for running. I have been sick almost for a week now so my best run of the week was the 5 I did on Monday. Cheri and Donna were off to Florida to run in the Melbourne & Beaches Music Marathon, leaving Saturday's long run in the hands of the sick and the lame (I was the sick, and Miriam was the lame).
                                                                 We got some snow Friday night but it was nothing like the "Snowmageddon" they were predicting. There was anywhere from 0-1 inch on the ground. Miriam made the call to run outside (point of clarification: Miriam did not actually run) which was appreciated, although had everyone ran on the dreadmills I could have stayed home,and convalesced.  I was glad it was a cut back week for the Full Marathoners 10 miles seemed pretty doable, plus I figured I might end up with less mileage if I ran in with the Halfathoners (and that is how you know how sick I was).
Dave was still injured so he walked down the hill with us, and then walked back up.  I hope he gives himself enough time to heal properly.  The rest of us took off and thus began our long miles for the week.  Both routes were pretty simple making me glad that I didn't have to remember much.  I didn't run terribly fast because I wanted to be around if anyone needed help, and that's what Cheri would do.
Ingrid decided to do 5 instead of 6 so I ran her in.  We talked about how  she wants to do a Tri, and how so far this year she has been more consistent with her training.  On the way back out I crossed paths with Betsy and Kari it looked like they were moving pretty good and I didn't want to interfere with the flow so I let them run it in without me, beside they were pretty close to the Y at that point anyway, and I wasn't sure how far I would have to run to pick up the remaining three full marathoners.  As it turned out not as far as I thought.  By the time I got back to Keebler and was half way up that first hill I saw them.  What a relief!  After last week I was not eager to get back up on Keebler.  Everyone made it in just fine with me bringing up the rear.  All in all it was a good run under the circumstances.

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