Well, here we go with another race season; we started it off with the Winter Racing Circuit 5K last Saturday at Weber State University.  It was a warm morning as over 400 of our closest friends ran a tough 5K course; it gets better with the 10K on February 19^th.  We hope to see you there. 

Our good friend Brian Nicholson from the Deseret News wrote a nice article about the WRC last week.  Here it is if you missed it:  http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700106548/Runners-literally-warm-up-for-Ogden-Marathon.html

Thanks Brian!

Let's see if we can fill the Red Moose Lodge!  Now is the best time to book your stay for the WRC Half-Marathon & 30K.   Call 801-745-6667 and ask for the special runners' rate for those two races as well for the Ogden Marathon. 

Cindy Woodward is back for another WRC after a "rockin" 2010.  She literally rocked it last year running the Las Vegas R&R Marathon (2009), the Arizona R&R marathon, the San Diego R&R marathon, the Mardi Gras R&R ½ marathon, the San Jose R&R ½ marathon, the Denver R&R ½ marathon, the LA R&R marathon and then finally topped it all off where it all began with the 2010 Vegas R&R marathon last December -- amazing!  The Vegas marathon is tough too; the first half is an out and back on the Vegas Strip, but once you're off the Strip it's into the spaghetti bowl where the second half of the course is consolidated into 6 city blocks -- brutal.  But she did it; twice.  It's encoded in Cindy's nature to take on challenges head-on, and with no fear all in the name of fun.  This is exactly what she's done with running; she's only been running a few years but her resume reads like a seasoned 20 year runner.  We have to give her credit for helping keep our kids' rooms clean too.  Cindy is a professional decorator (she's the best from what I've seen) and last year she came by the house and took on the bedrooms of our two kids.  At the time the two rooms were decorated with dirty laundry, books, shoes and guinea pig food.  In an afternoon she transferred it into kid heaven with new window coverings, wall pieces, rugs, lamps, jars, mirrors and pillows.  The kids loved it, the pets got to stay, and now they want to keep their rooms clean and get excited when it's time to make the beds.  We're very fortunate to have Cindy and her wonderful family as friends.  You can read all about Cindy at www.stridersrunning.com 

If you're planning on running in the Buffalo Run on March 26^th (www.buffalorun.org), you gotta get some trail miles in this month.  Right now the trails on Antelope Island are dry and clear and primed for running.  There's a training run planned out there this Saturday, February 12^th.  The plan is to meet at the gate at 8am and carpool onto the Island.  Once on the Island, RD Jim Skaggs will lead the run on the Mountain View trail all the way to the Garr Ranch and back.  This will make for a nice 23 mile run.  If you're not up for that many miles, you can turn around at lower Frary for 12 miles total, or at any point along the trail to customize your run.  Please bring your own food and water and be prepared to run in the elements.  Don't pet the buffalo, not a good idea.

Registration for the BAIRGUTSMAN is now open!  Registration forms are available at www.stridersrunning.com, you can also register at STRIDERS or online at Active.com.  The Gutsman is not a trail race, there's not much of a trail at all really.  The Gutsman is a mountain race; much of it requires being on all fours to get up the mountain.  It will be cold then it will be hot.  You'll probably get cut and scrapped up a bit.  There's a 50/50 chance you could get stung, bitten or even eaten.  You could get lost; the search and rescue team may have to come find you.  Grown men will cry; you can't prepare for this race in a gym, in a jazzer-size class jumping on tires or on a treadmill.  You're gonna have to get dirty.  There will be pain and maybe some broken bones.  Above all else it will be awesome; who wouldn't want to "conquer" it?  Space is limited, register early.  The day of reckoning is August 6^th.  If you have questions about the Gutsman; meditate, pray and fast; your answers will come. 

Last year we were able to raise a nice chunk of change for our favorite children's charity, NO MORE VICTIMS with the Memorial Day Classic Half-Marathon, 5K & Kids Mile.  We'll be back at it again in 2011 on Memorial Day, May 30^th for a re-run of a very important event for us.  Registration is now open at Striders or www.stridersrunning.com 

It's another Wasatch year for me (www.wasatch100.com); gotta make sure the last time wasn't a fluke.  I'll let you know how it goes. 

We hope you all have a great Valentines Day! XOXOXOXOXOXO

JOHN AND KRISTIN WOJCIECHOWSKI