"Good Luck" to those runners competing in the Salt Lake Marathon & Half-Marathon this Saturday and safe travels and good luck to those competing in the Boston Marathon on Monday -- congratulations!

Only 4 more weeks until the Ogden Marathon & Half Marathon.  Even if you're not running, there's a lot of fun stuff happening in Ogden that weekend.  For a full schedule please visit www.ogdenmarathon.com

Happy Tax Day today! Hopefully all your tax dollars pay for something that will enhance your lives; we're getting a new road all the way to Antelope Island -- driving to the shop everyday is like Christmas morning over and over again.

If you've bought shoes from Striders in the past couple of years, chances are real good Lauren Halverson has helped you once or twice or even three times.  She's Ms. Hustle at Striders; always moving and always talking to people.  We had to calm her down; she used to greet customers in the parking lot as they were walking into the store.  Now she'll wait until you enter the building, but she'll have your foot analysis done and ten shoes lined up to try on before you know what happened -- she's awesome!  She's ran many of our shorter races and a few half-marathons, but now she's gunning for the 2010 Ogden Marathon.  She's been ready to run Ogden in the past but she's made sacrifices and worked the shop so we could run.  This is her year, so we're all excited to see how she does.  Lauren is our April Runner Spotlight, you can read all about her at www.stridersrunning.com 

After a very windy and chilly half-marathon a couple of weeks ago, we've come to the end of the 2010 Winter Racing Circuit with one more race to go:

The next WRC race is the 30K on April 24th.  This is a great opportunity to get your last long run in before the Ogden Marathon.  After this one you can start your taper for the marathon.   Registration is available in person at Striders or online at Active.com via a link at www.stridersrunning.com  The 30K will start at 7:30am sharp at The Red Moose Lodge in Eden (2547 N Valley Junction Dr. Eden, UT)  To book a room at the Red Moose Lodge, please call 801-745-6667 and mention the Striders Winter Racing Circuit.  You can also book online at www.theredmooselodge.com 

Packet pick-up for the 30K will be from April 21^st through April 23^rd at Striders from 10am-7pm each day.  You may also pick-up on race day from 6:30am -- 7:30am at The Red Moose Lodge.  If you DON'T plan on running the 30K, please let us know.  801-728-9121 or striders@stridersrunning.com

The 30K course map is available here: http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=87788

Aid stations and portable bathrooms will be located at miles 3, 6, 9, 12 & 15.5.  Water and Gatorade will be available at each aid station. Gu will be available at mile 6 & 12.  You way also drop apparel at each aid station, but do so at your own risk -- Striders will not be responsible for lost apparel or accessories. 

If you have a runner in the 30K and want to volunteer, we would love the help.  Please contact John or Kristin here at Striders.

At the end of the 30K we have an awards ceremony based on the cumulative results for the entire Winter Racing Circuit -- if you missed one or more of the 5 circuit races you will not be included in the cumulative results.  There is NOT a separate awards ceremony for just the 30K race.  The awards ceremony will start at approximately 12 noon; cash awards will be given to the top 3 male & female Circuit runners, medals will be given to the top 3 in each age and gender category. 

Once you finish your 30K race we'll have a finishers prize waiting for you at the finish line (don't call and ask what it is because nobody knows and they won't tell you anyway).  You will also receive a 2010 Winter Racing Circuit Finisher's Certificate.  Those certificates will be available at the Ogden Marathon Expo on May 14^th in the Striders booth.  If you can't get it at the expo, we'll have them available at Striders afterwards. 

Thanks to all of you for your support of this year's WRC; we'll be back again next year. 

Registration is open for the Memorial Day Classic Half-Marathon, 5K & Kids Mile on May 31st.  The Half starts at 6:45am, the 5K at 7am and the Kids Mile at 7:30am. The races will take place in Syracuse at the Jensen Nature Park on Bluff Road.  Registration forms are available at Striders or online at www.stridersrunning.com You can also register at Active.com through a link at Stridersrunning.com  Awards will be given out to age and division winners and overall winners.  Every participant in the Kids Mile will receive a medal. Course maps are here: 

Half-Marathon:  http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=212186

5K:  http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=123406

The Memorial Day Classic is a benefit event for the No More Victims Foundation. 

The Northern Utah Trail Series (NUTS) is on -- www.northenutahtrailseries.com  The organizers have had a rough go of it trying to get approval to stage these races, so let's give them some support.  If you competed in the Buffalo Run you're already participating in the NUT-Series. Here are the remaining races:

July 17^th -- Half-Marathon (Ogden Shoreline trail at Rainbow Gardens)

Sept. 18^th -- Ogden Shoreline Trail Marathon (Rainbow Gardens)

If this year goes well, we'll get 4 or 5 races in the Ogden Trail Network next year.  For more information check the website.  Registration should open soon.

The NUTS organizers are looking for a volunteer coordinator, so if you're interested (it doesn't pay anything but you get a free pass to heaven) please contact Joel or Aric at the NUTS website. 

Our favorite 5K of the year -- The Gerald Anderson Memorial 5K -- is scheduled for June 12^th in Morgan.  We should have registration forms any day, stay tuned for details but mark your calendar now.

Registration is now open for CRAZY BOB's BAIRGUTSMAN. Go to STRIDERS or www.stridersruning.com  The race is scheduled for August 7^th at 6am. If you don't know what it is, you shouldn't run it.  If you don't know where it is, you shouldn't run it.  If you've never been on a trail before, you shouldn't run it.  If you're afraid of heights, getting stung by bees, bitten by snakes or eaten by big cats, then you shouldn't run it.  If you feel the need to call Striders with a list of questions, then you shouldn't run it.  If you're prone to injury or crying fits, then you shouldn't run it.  If you listen to Lady Ga Ga, you shouldn't run it.  This is more of a Dropkick Murphy's type of run.  This is the GUTSMAN -- no frills, no wimps, no whiners, no matching outfits and no friggin' walking sticks; you're here to CONQUER THYSELF! 

Crazy Bob's illegitimate twins will be on the FITZONE Show tonight (April 15^th) at 7pm, KFAN Radio 1320am.  Hopefully they don't break the restraining chains on the air or it will be a quick show. 

We'll see you sooner than later.

Thanks,

John & Kristin