Hello, fellow BTC Members:
As crazy as it sounds, 2015 is almost over! I am not sure how the past year slid by so quickly, but the old saying is definitely true, “Time flies when you are having fun!” 2015 has been another amazing year for our club, and credit for our success needs to be given where it is deserved -- to our amazing membership and BTC Executive Board. I am constantly impressed by how many of you give back and volunteer for this club on a daily basis, not for compensation, but because you love what the BTC stands for. The sense of community, the amazing events, and our goal to help improve lives through our passion and love of fitness is what makes the BTC so special.
Speaking of amazing events, November 7, 2015 brought us the 41st Annual Vulcan Run 10k, the BTC’s last and premiere race of the BTC Race Series. What a spectacular event and day! The early rains could not keep runners from taking to the streets of downtown Birmingham and once again participating in this iconic race. Few events offer you the opportunity to run through Downtown Birmingham, around the gorgeous Highland Parks, and then back down through Southside. Vulcan Run 10k Race Director Allison Stone planned and executed a perfect race. It is not often you get to witness a race of this size go off without a hitch, but Allison made it happen!
In addition to the Vulcan Run 10k taking place, BTC Social Coordinator Katherine Dease directed the Vulcan Kids One Mile Fun Run. I cannot begin to describe how fantastic it is to see parents who have completed the 10k going over to join their children as they ran the One Mile Fun Run! Isn’t that what it is all about? Running should be a family event, and getting our children involved at an early age instills a love for our sport to be carried throughout their lives. Thank you Katherine for your hard work and passion!
I also want to give special recognition to BTC Volunteer Coordinator Kim Benner for all of her efforts to marshal and organize the dozens of volunteers who help make this event so special. From bag stuffing, to packet pick-up, to race day operations, we could not make any of this work without Kim and all of her amazing volunteers. Volunteers are the life-blood of our club and without them we would be lost. Whenever you see volunteers at BTC or other events, please take a moment to thank them for their time. It is often a thankless job, and a little recognition and appreciation goes a long way.
November also saw a successful conclusion to the 2014 BTC Triple Crown Half Marathon Challenge. We had 96 BTC members sign up for the Challenge (a new record by the way), and 79 who completed it, another new record! The Challenge of three half marathons in three months was concluded with the Magic City Half Marathon on November 22, 2015. It was a chilly, blustery day, but undaunted, our Triple Crown Challenge participants hit the road to earn the honor of completing the Challenge. And how cool was it to finish the race on Regions Field? It was quite the memorable experience, and one I hope even more BTC members will experience next year. For the 79 BTC members who completed the Challenge, they collected their Challenge finisher’s shirts the day of the race, and will be presented with their Challenge medals at the BTC’s End of the Year party on January 9, 2016. Before I delve into that topic, however, I need to mention some other exciting BTC events coming up over the next month.
I hope all of you will join the BTC, along with our friends at the Trak Shak, on December 24, 2015 for the Annual Tacky Sweater Run. The event takes place at 8:00 a.m. and starts in front of the Trak Shak Homewood location. There will be a 3 and 5 mile run option, plus the BTC will be providing coffee and snacks post run. Grab your tackiest sweater, put on your biggest smile, then come run, eat, drink and be merry with hundreds of your fellow runners! There will also be some amazing door prizes, so you will not want to miss this event.
On Saturday, January 2, 2016 we will be returning to Red Mountain Park for the 5th Annual BTC Resolution Run. This year’s event will offer a NEW family fun run as well as the traditional 5k, 10k, and 20k options. In addition, returning this year is the ever-popular scavenger hunt with awesome prizes for the lucky finders. This is a great event for first time trail runners, as well as the experienced, and portions of the proceeds benefit Red Mountain Park. This really is a great way to ring in the New Year. After the run, put on some fun hats and glasses, take your picture on the Trak Shak / BTC photo wall, enjoy some Jim ‘N Nicks breakfast and hot coffee, and join in on the revelry! When we held this event the first year we had maybe 300 people show up to run. Last year, more than 600 folks came out for the festivities, and this year will be even bigger!
Finally, make sure to put January 9, 2016 on your calendar for the BTC End of the Year Party. Social Coordinator Katherine Dease is hard at work in party planning mode, and I know she has a big evening planned for us! It is at this party that we recognize outstanding contributors to the BTC by way of the Dr. Arthur Black/Rick Melanson Award for Outstanding Member, and the Randy Johnson/Danny Haralson Award for Outstanding New Member. If you have any members that you would like to nominate for one of these awards, please email me at president@birminghamtrackclub.com.
We will also be awarding the 1200 Mile Club jackets to those BTC members who have achieved this milestone for the first time in 2015. 1200 Mile Coordinator Alison Hoover will be on hand to present you with your hard-earned awards. Speaking of awards, for the first time this year we will be handing out the BTC Triple Crown Challenge Medals in a special presentation to those who completed the Challenge. We believe the BTC members who worked so hard to earn this award deserved some extra recognition!
In addition to all the fun and awards, the BTC will elect the officers to lead the club for 2016. The BTC slate of officers is listed below, but all nominations are welcome and will be received from the floor the night of the BTC End of the Year Party. The slate of officers for 2016 is:
- President – Alex Morrow
(Current President, Peavine Falls Race Director, Past Vice President, Past Marketing Committee Chair, Past Social Media Chair)
- Vice President – Darnell Allen
(Current Vice President, Current BTC Ambassador Program Chair.)
- Treasurer – Monica Henley
(Current BTC Long Run Coordinator)
- Secretary – Leslie Bailey
(Current BTC Treasurer)
Both Darnell Allen and I will be running for a second term in our respective positions. Leslie Bailey will be moving from Treasurer to Secretary, and Monica Henley will be joining the group in the role of Treasurer.
With these moves, the BTC will be losing Kelly McNair who has served as the BTC Secretary for three years. Kelly did a wonderful job for the club and will be dearly missed, but after three years I fully understand her request to move on and let another member fill that role.
As you can see, even though the year is coming to an end, the fun is far from over. As we transition into 2016, make it a point to come out and join us for all of the great events the BTC has planned. We love seeing you, and I know you will have a great time.
Kindest Regards,
Alex Morrow
BTC President