Hello, fellow BTC Members:
I love this club! You might naturally assume I have an affinity for our crazy bunch of runners since I serve as President for the organization, but that notion is not powerful enough to express my feelings. I love this club! My exuberance is at a high point because two weeks ago I watched, and was part of, nearly 200 Birmingham Track Club members who made the trek to Chattanooga for the 4 Bridges Half and the 7 Bridges Full Marathon. It was an amazing time!
Being in a distant town and seeing BTC members, shirts, and hats no matter where you went was exciting and comforting. For one weekend, the BTC took over Chattanooga and made it our home base. It was a great experience to spend time with club members post-race at the BTC tent, erected right next to the finish line, to hear shouts of, “Go BTC!” as you ran by on the course, and then later that afternoon to walk in to a random restaurant for a post-race celebration meal only to realize you knew half the patrons in the joint! I have said it a hundred times, but once more will not hurt. Running may be considered a solitary sport, but it sure helps to have the BTC family supporting you along the way.
Speaking of the BTC family, I cannot wait to see nearly 2000 of you at this year’s Vulcan Run 10k on November 7. Billed as the “South’s Premiere 10k,” The Vulcan Run is by far my favorite 10k, and what’s not to like? From the beautiful course, to the amazing scenery, to the fantastic post race party, to being able to run a race with 2000 of your closest friends, it always adds up to a great time. Our wonderful Vulcan Run Race Director, Allison Stone, has upped the ante and is making this year’s race extra special. You are going to love what you see on race day. Make sure to read on in this issue of The Vulcan Runner for more information about the race. By the way, the finisher’s shirts are awesome! If you want one and have not registered, do so now! Only those who preregister are guaranteed one. You can register at the following link:
The Vulcan Run 10k is next up on our agenda, but as usual, there are dozens of exciting projects in the pipeline coming our way. I am thrilled to announce a date has been set for the 5th Annual Resolution Run at Red Mountain Park. I recently met with Valerie McLean from the Trak Shak and Red Mountain Park Executive Director David Dionne and his staff, to discuss the logistics of this fun event. Make sure to mark your calendars for January 2, 2016. This year there will be a 1-mile fun run, as well as 5k, 10k, and 20k options. When the BTC launched this race five years ago, no one could have predicted how large it would become. Last year, nearly 600 runners came out to participate in this family friendly event, and this year will be even bigger! Not only is it a great way to ring in the New Year, but proceeds help fund Red Mountain Park, which truly is a jewel found within our city limits. Stay tuned, registration will open soon.
After the Resolution Run, we will all start gearing up for the 2016 BTC Race Series, which will kick off with Adam’s Heart Runs 5k, 10k, and 10 miler on February 6, 2016. I met with AHR Race Director Lisa Booher last week, and preparations are already well under way. Not only is Lisa working on the race logistics, she has a few other surprises in store for the kickoff of the BTC Race Series. The 2016 AHR races were strategically placed on the weekend before the Mercedes Half and Full Marathon. The thousand or more BTC members who run Mercedes usually need a run the weekend prior in the 6 to 10 mile range as they taper for race day. AHR provides the perfect opportunity not only get in the last long run of your Mercedes training, but to do so with hundreds of friends and receive a finisher’s shirt as well! How nice would it be if all of our long runs worked out that way?
Lastly, and speaking of Mercedes, the BTC has officially launched our long run training programs targeting the Mercedes Half and Full Marathon. Each Saturday at 6:00 a.m. in front of the Trak Shak in Homewood, hundreds of your fellow BTC members are meeting and running together as we get ready for Mercedes. Join us! The mileage, running routes, and water stops are provided -- just show up and run. In addition, our friends at the Trak Shak have begun opening their store early so you can get any last minute supplies you may need before your run. It really is a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of your club membership. You keep hearing me talk about family, well this is what it is all about. Come run, sweat, and laugh with us -- I know you will enjoy it as much as we do.
Kindest Regards,
Alex Morrow
BTC President