Winter Series 2009

• Runs, not organized races

• Little or no traffic control

• For most of the runs there is a suggested $2.00 voluntary contribution

• All runs start at 10:00 am.

• For most of the runs results at http://www.coolrunning.com, http://www.greystoneracing.net, and http://www.hitekracing.com.

In the past the Winter Series runs have succeeded in providing low key running events that motivated us during the challenging winter running season. Runs are presently being scheduled for the 2009 Winter Series. Except for the New Year's Day Run, Runs are held on many of the weekends in January, February, and March, either Saturday or Sunday.

We encourage you to suggest ideas for this year's Winter Series. If you have a regular running route that might make a suitable course for a group run, please contact Zean Gassmann at zeanzuber@gmail.com or by phone 860-693-8636 (Home).

Some of the dates for the Winter Series have already been set. The present schedule is listed below with open dates being blank.

Joe Vailonis 10K Champaign Run: MDC Reservoir, 10k Certified, co-directors, David Reik, Bill Katz I-84 to exit 39, right onto Farmington Ave. towards UConn Health Center and West Hartford Center. 1.2 miles past Medical Center turn left into MDC complex. After parking, cross bridge to Red Loop. E-mail: bkatz321@gmail.com

Bolton Trail Run: This run is not for "hot house flowers or the weak ankled" so says race director King Archibald VII. 85% of the trail is rocky. The course is roughly 4 miles consisting of 3 miles up and 1 mile down. Race starts and finishes at the commuter parking lot in Bolton on RT. 44. There will be nom cancellations due to weather or trail conditions. You have hereby been served. Directions: West on I-84 to RT 384 East to exit 5. Take left and go back over the highway, and then take a quick right onto Williams Road. Follow till the end. At the T intersection, go right, about ¼ mile and take a left into the Commuter Parking Lot. Heading East on I-84, take Rt. 384 and follow the same directions. King Archibald VII's phone number: (860) 647-7657 E-mail: KingArchibaldVll@aol.com (The vertical lines in the Roman Numerals following KingArchibaldV are lower case l's (ells), not capital I's (eyes))

People's Forest 8.5/17 Mile Run: This run is held at People's Forest on East River Road, Pleasant Valley, CT. One loop for the shorter distance or do two loops for the longer run. Bill Thramann (tel: 860-677-7712, E-mail: thramann@sbcglobal.net) is the director. Take Route 44 through New Hartford. Right on Route 181 to Pleasant Valley. At four way stop, turn right to cross iron frame bridge. Take the first left after crossing the bridge, which is East River Road. Go 1 and 1/10th of a mile to main gate of People's Forest State Park and turn left into parking area.

The Gideon Welles 4-Miler at Cedar Hill: This year, I wish to honor Gideon Welles, an editor of the former Hartford Times newspaper and Secretary of the Navy under President Abraham Lincoln. In keeping with tradition, we honor another person who lived in Greater Hartford and whose remains are interred in Cedar Hill. This run starts and ends in the historic Cedar Hill Cemetery, 453 Fairfield Ave. in Hartford. A scenic and hilly course, it consists of two loops around the inside perimeter of the cemetery and ends at the crematorium - at which point one may decide on a few death options at the nearby office. Parking is available on the grounds by taking the first right upon passing through the gates. Further parking is available across the street in Goodwin Park. No pets are allowed. Please use caution, as roads are open to auto traffic. Race director is Bill Katz and he may be contacted at bkatz321@gmail.com. Special thanks to David Reik, whose race organizing finesse is known and appreciated far and wide. Directions: Take 91 south to exit 27 (Airport Road). Take a right onto Airport Road and stay on this road (it changes names twice) until reaching Maple Ave. (Look for CVS Pharmacy and 7 Eleven at intersection.) Take left on Maple Ave. and continue until Cedar Hill on right. Going north on I-91, take exit 27 and at light take a left on Brainard Rd. to next light. Take left onto Airport Rd. and follow directions.

19th Annual Colchester Half Marathon: 10:00 a.m. sharp start, come early. Start & Finish at Bacon Academy, Colchester's High School, 611 Norwich Avenue, restroom facilities and the high school available before the race, showers & restrooms after the race, 3 water & Gatorade stations on the course (at mile 4.5, 8.1 & 11.3), lots of hills, dirt roads, rural scenery, more hills, cows, professional timing & results. Limited traffic control, all participants responsible for their own safety. Results posted at the post race party at the Bacon Academy Cafeteria, hearty food, non-alcoholic drinks, results, excuses, tales of woe, camaraderie, guests are welcome, especially if they can also volunteer to be course monitors, help at water stations or help with the food & set up. Volunteers should contact me (home 860-537-4597 or work 860-243-9023) at your earliest convenience - it will be fun! Entry fee: $12 pre-registered, $15 day of race - My offer to all runners - think the entry fee is too high, send me what you want! If you don't have at least $12.00 worth of fun, or consume $12 worth of food & drink, or don't get at least $12 worth of endorphins, we are even. But if you have a great time, be sure to put some more cash into the donation containers at the High School or the post race party in the high school cafeteria. Broke? Come out and run it for free and come to the post race party too, just be sure and try to make it back when you can afford to pay! We don't want to turn anyone away from a course this tough! For a course map, topo/elevation graph, and application click here. For more information e-mail: r-kon@sbcglobal.net

Collinsville Dam 11 Miler: This is an 11.0 mile, 2-loop course through historic Collinsville and over the scenic Nepaug Reservoir Dam, starts and finishes at Collinsville Canoe & Kayak. You can choose to do one loop of 5.5 miles. Directions: From I-84, take exit 39 (RT. 4). Go west on RT. 4 through Farmington Center. Continue on RT. 4 through Unionville. Continue on RT. 4 until reaching the junction of RT. 179. Continue straight on RT. 179 to stop sign in Collinsville. Take right at stop sign, cross bridge, take1st left over bridge into the parking lot. From RT 44 west, bear left at light at Canton Green onto Dowd Ave. This road becomes Maple St., follow straight into Collinsville. Contact: Tom Buckley 860-693-9206. E-mail: tbtrailrun@hotmail.com

Asta Memorial Challenge: We are happy to remember Asta by continuing to sponsor this run in his memory. The course is an out and back route on roads with little traffic or with wide shoulders. The run starts in front of our house and follows the Connecticut River from the Rocky Hill Ferry going south to the Cromwell Outboard Association just above the Arrigoni Bridge. Two major elevation changes happen at about 4.5-5.0 miles and 7.75-8.0 miles. Course is marked with the infamous Asta signs. Aid stations at about 2.5, 5, 7.5 and at the turn around at 9.8 miles. Because this isn't a timed event friends are welcome to run shorter distances. Turn around at any water stop and just follow the signs back to the start. No entry fee collected; instead please bring potluck food, drinks, vegetarian chili and hamburger stew will be provided afterwards at 42 Fern Street. I-91 to Exit 23. Left if southbound, right if northbound onto West Street. Left at the stoplight onto Gilbert Avenue. Right at second stop sign just before crossing over I-91, Fern Street, Rocky Hill 06067. Please park on even side of street only. Todd and Kim Brown (860 721-7332, astathesmalldog@cox.net)