With the exception of the Volcanos, it is difficult to get people out to events. Grete Waltz, the best female distance runner of all time, spoke here. Less than a hundred people came to hear her. John, the Penguin, Bingham spoke to even fewer. This after extensive publicity, handing out information at races etc.

     Those who didn't hear these speakers missed a treat. While they may be at different ends of the spectrum regarding success (if you measure success in terms of speed and winning) their remarks had a lot in common. Grete spoke about her early years of running when women didn't have the support they do today. It was inspirational. The Penguin spoke about his early running experience and running in the slow lane. He was so funny we laughed so hard we had tears in our eyes.

     I tend to respond to external forces regarding my motivation for running. These speakers brought back memories of my initial attempts at running and the encouragement I received from others. From time to time we all perhaps need a little boost not only regarding our own running but also about helping others begin. I helped out some at the initial Women' s Running and Walking Clinic. I saw one of the participants at the finish of the Avon Women's race. She told me that advice I had given her really helped her during the race. Kind of scary, isn't it? However I felt great if in some small way I had helped.

     For the first time I was a volunteer for a Hood To Coast Team. My shift was in the early hours in Portland. By me passed the teams that had started the earliest. This was a different world of runners than I was used to. It was a very hot day yet I saw runners in long tights. One runner came by in a long sleeved shirt; several came by in black shirts. Although I was at the halfway point of their first leg, several runners looked like they would have a hard time making it to the next exchange. I felt sorry for them. There are runners like this all over the Willamette Valley. Our organization could be of great assistance by offering training tips and helping them get in shape to the point that the relay is not akin to a death march.

     Our goal should be to find runners and walkers in our community, encourage them, and assist them to be more than just part-time exercisers. We need to support our local events and to do our share. I would encourage all members to do the following:

  1) Recruit a new member for the Striders.

  2) Contact Susan Gallagher to see how you may help with her clinic on Tuesday evenings.

  3) Call Phyllis McCall (378-0032) and offer to volunteer for the Dream of Roses race, Nov. 1; participate in the Silver Creek Falls cleanup and the Highway 22 cleanup.

  4) Let a Strider board member know that you would like the organization to do something (or better yet offer to lead the project or serve on the board.)

  5) Send newsletter articles to the editor, Judy Martin, jdmartin@viser.net

     With walkers officially new to the organization, we need to learn how best we may help this group.