Kudos to USATF

We just received official word that the USATF will be providing funding for the US 24-Hour Team.  Here is the press release:

In a landmark decision that shows support for the sport of U.S. Ultrarunning, USA Track & Field will provide funding for the 2010 Team USA Ultra teams competing at the 100 km and 24-Hour World Championship events.

Previously the two annual national ultra teams were self-funded, relying on temporary sponsorships and donations, and team members' personal funds. The recent decision by USATF will underwrite a significant portion of the two teams' travel expenses, and will provide opportunities for grants from the championship host events and other organizations to cover the remaining costs.

"It's an historic decision and a welcome statement of support for our world-class American athletes from USA Track & Field," said American Ultrarunning Association President Roy Pirrung, the 24-Hour Run national team manager, who is also a former national champion, national record holder, and 7-time national team member in the 24 Hour event. "We're grateful to USATF and its new leadership for taking this huge step to enable our best ultra athletes to represent their country on the world stage."

As Roy Pirrung said, this is wonderful news for the ultra community.  USATF has really stepped up to help ultra athletes, not just shorter distance Olympic athletes.  Hopefully, USAFT's commitment will continue into the future and the ultra-running community will continue to improve and gain more runners and supporters.

Ninth End Defeat

Else, Bob, me and Roger

We spent the past weekend at the Cleveland Skating Club curling in their mixed bon spiel. Our team returned with the same line-up as last year: Roger at lead, me playing second, Bob at vice and Else as skip. Last year we lost our first game, dropped to the 2nd event and then won the remainder of our games. This year, we would reverse that order. We won our first 4 games. For the last game, which was the championship game or First Event, we ended up tying after 8 ends. This was somewhat of a miracle as we had not been playing very well at all. We were down 3 with the hammer in the 8th end and got 3 points for the tie. In the 9th end, without the hammer, we were trying to force the opposing skip to draw. Else's final rock was a bit heavy and it ended up just floating by the other team's shot rock so that was the end of the game. An exciting game in any event. Our wins were against Roseland (Windsor), Skating Club (Cleveland) and two Annandale (Ontario) teams. Our only loss was to Ridgetown (Ontario).

Day-Tripping at Welland Curling Club

Last weekend the team went on the road so to speak for a one-day bon spiel at Welland, Ontario. Three of us went via Cleveland and one went the other way around (via Detroit). It took both cars about 3 1/2 hours to get to our destination.

Welland is a town not too far from Niagara Falls. The border crossing took only a few minutes. Any time you tell a Canadian border guard that the purpose of your visit is curling, they LOVE it!! Obviously, it's not a common occurence.

We had two 8-end games on Saturday. We played pretty well but lost our first game with the last rock. I missed a guard and the other skip was able to take out our shot rock for the win. The second game we faired better and won.

The ice was good practice for us. Very fast and it had quite a bit of curl to it. Our second game, however, had a bit of funky ice. One side of the sheet curled like crazy and the other side fell out. I guess that's part of the challenge!! We were the only US team at the event so that was pretty cool. The Canadians were happy to have an international flavor to the event and were great hosts. Definitely a bon spiel to return to.

The team is continuing to practice and gel. We're still meeting for Monday practices and have one more spiel to test ourselves in February. Only a little over a month until Nationals.

2010 - Looking Forward

Wow, I can't believe it's already 2010! I have been very remiss in posting what's been going with my running and curling. Most of my "free" time has been devoted to curling. Considering a game takes two-plus hours, curling can eat up a lot of time. For example, this past week, I played one game on Monday, Tuesday and Sunday and played two games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday! Only one day (Wednesday) to do my laundry!!

My curling team has been trying to get focused on the US Nationals. Nationals are coming up fast. Besides practicing with Mayfield teams, we have a few Canadian bon spiels lined up for January and February to test out some really fast ice. Of course, we also have to figure out uniforms. If we're not the best team at Nationals, we aim to be best dressed! Time will tell.....

On the running front, I have been doing very minimal miles. I've still be plagued by a swollen tendon in my ankle that doesn't seem to want to go away. Combined with the huge snow banks, I've been limiting my running to the treadmill. I will need to start increasing my miles shortly so I'm hoping both the swelling and snow banks disappear soon!

The US 24-hour team for France should be announced shortly. Based on results from 24-hour races this past year, I think we will have superb women's and men's teams. I can't wait to see how the race unfolds in France - only 4 months away! Other than the World race, I haven't planned anything else except the North Coast 24-hour in September. Given the curling practices (and work), my time seems taken up until mid-March. We will just have to see what develops. Stay tuned.

Kalamazoo in March

Well, it's official.  We brazenly signed up to compete at the 2010 U.S.A. Curling Nationals in Kalamazoo, Michigan next March.  Only ten women's teams signed up so we don't have to curl down for the privilege of playing at Nationals.  Instead, our team is automatically IN!  Apparently, the women's Olympic team, skipped by Debbie McCormack, is taking a pass at Nationals (the Olympics will be two weeks before Nationals).

This will definitely be a learning experience.  Now the hard part.... practice, practice, practice.

Trying Out The "New" Team

This past weekend we were at Bowling Green Curling Club curling in their Women's Bon Spiel.  There were 14 teams from Ohio, Michigan and Ontario competing.  Besides Courtney and Laurel from my Club, we had invited Emilia from Detroit.  We were hoping that this could be the start of a great team.  We just hadn't played together before.

Courtney, Emilia, Laurel and me

The ice was super slow, in part because the ice is always slow at Bowling Green and there was the added factor that the temperature was downright HOT outside (temp. hit 70 on Sunday).  The warmer the ice, the slower it is.  We were in control of all of our games.  Unfortunately, the first three games were only 6 ends (which I hate) and in our first game I made a major blunder.  Even though we were ahead after 5 ends, we lost in the sixth end.  Stupid on my part (but I'm trying to learn from my mistakes).  In the rest of our games (three more), we played well and won easily.  I am excited to play some more and get more challenges.  Nothing definitive set up right now but should know shortly.....

Time for a Rest

After having pain on the outside of my ankle for the last few weeks (which I have self-diagnosed as peroneal tendon strain - at least that sounds good!), I'm taking a running break.  This past weekend I ran a 5-mile Halloween race in downtown Cleveland with my ankle throbbing and for good measure threw in a marathon on Sunday (the Inland Trail Marathon in Elyria).  Saturday the weather was not the best.  The race course was along Lake Erie and the last few miles involved running directly into a strong headwind.  The picture on the right is of me after the race freezing to death!

The weather on Sunday was fantastic for a marathon.  Again, however, I was not in perfect form as the nagging ankle would not let up throughout the race.  At this point, I think my body is telling me to take a break.  I was happy to complete these races though as I had pledged to run them for the Epilepsy Fundraiser I've been involved with, which is ending next week.

                                                                                                          

Now, I can concentrate on strength training and of course CURLING.  We have our first official bon spiel this weekend so I will report next week how that went and curling plans for the upcoming season.