JULY SPOTLIGHT RUNNER

We're fans of small businesses that are successful because they care for their community and the people they serve. Our friends and neighbors at Lifelong Fitness are just such a business. Little community personal training gyms are popping up everywhere; it's hard for them to compete with the big gyms and their big state of the art buildings and equipment. Brittney Atkin is killing it over there at Lifelong. She's helping people see change; they go in and come out different people. It's amazing and inspirational how one person can affect so many people. Brittney has a resume' that speaks for itself; all-state runner and champion in high school, college educated and a long list of people who are exceeding their goals and expectations due directly to her help and guidance. She's really done a lot for our kids too; Mom & Dad can't take all the credit for Shad's success in the pool. Brittney is one to watch out for in the future, not only as an athlete and a trainer but a business person too. I would hire her now while she's available; once she hits the big time it's going to be near impossible to get an hour with her. Brittney is our Runner Spotlight for July; you can read her profile at www.stridersrunning.com

UPCOMING RACES AND EVENTS

Technica Catch Me If You Can contest - Okay, if you're not aware; Technica has splashed down into the trail running market with a new line of shoes. They're similar to the Hoka shoes; they're similar because they're designed by the same guy at Hoka. We have them at STRIDERS and they're great; they're called the DIABLO MAX. They have an over-built mid-sole like Hoka, but not as dramatic. The Diablo has a nice "rocker" feel in addition to all the great cushioning. I plan on using them at Wasatch this year (Wasatch 100 not Wasatch Back Relay fun run). While on a training run for Wasatch in my Diablo's; I was going up and then down the Malan's trail in Ogden and was very impressed with the way the shoes performed. The next time I sat down with Technica I told them of my experience with the Diablo. That led us to the CATCH ME IF YOU CAN CONTEST. Here it is:

The contest will run from July 15^th to August 15^th, 2011. During this time period, grab a GPS watch and start at the trail head at the top of 27^th Street in Ogden. There's a power pole where the oil meets the road; this is where you start your watch. You're going to run all the way to Malan's Peak and then back down to the power pole - bout 4.5 miles round trip. You can run it as many times as you want over that 30 day period. Report to us your fastest time; you can come in with your GPS watch so we can verify your time. Just to keep everybody honest; you'll need to mark your location with the GPS at the start, the peak and the finish. You can also upload your run from your GPS and email it to us.

We'll keep a running tally online so you know the time to beat. After 30 days we'll post the final results. The male & female runners get $150 and a pair of Technica's. The 2^nd & 3^rd runners, both male & female, will win Tecnica shoes. We'll post times for everybody who participates so you know where you rank. If we can gather up enough t-shirts and water bottles from Tecnica, we'll give you one for playing.

There's no entry fee; just don't cheat. On July 15^th we'll have the course marked from 27^th Street to the top so you know the way. Please contact us at STRIDERS if you have any questions. Please check out the Tecnica shoes too - www.tecnicausa.com or better yet, come into STRIDERS and try a pair on.

Farmington Festival Days 5K, 10K & Half-Marathon - Race is on July 9^th at 6:30am. Registration closes July 7^th at midnight so register now at www.farmingtonfestivaldays.com The event is limited to 1000 runners total and it's filling up fast. The breakfast and parade after the race is amazing; you don't want to miss this one.

Northern Utah Trail Series (NUTS) www.northernutahtrailseries.com - The next NUTS race in the series is the 2^nd annual FULLY NUTS TRAIL ½ MARATHON on July 16^th. Check the website for details. Registration forms are at Striders or online at www.ultrasignup.com

The NUTS Wolf Mountain 10K & 5K has been rescheduled for September 17^th. Details are on the NUTS website above.

Bountiful Handcart Days Half-Marathon & 5K - July 23^rd, 6:30am at the South Davis Recreation Center. Free chuckwagon breakfast for all registered runners. Entry forms are at STRIDERS and the SDRC - 550N 200 W., Bountiful, UT. You can also register online at www.active.com 

Deseret News Marathon, 10K & 5K - July 25^th; Pioneer Day! www.desnews.com/run

Come make your mark in the Inaugural Morgan Valley Marathon, Half Marathon or 5K on Saturday July 30th 2011! This is the one you've been waiting for! Located in the mountains just 20 miles out of Ogden up Weber Canyon (I-84). 

The course loops through the beautiful Morgan Valley; beginning and ending at the Morgan County Fairgrounds. MVM has everything you want in a race: beautiful scenery, a gentle (not too hilly) course, happy- helpful volunteers, great prizes and the most awesome schwag bag ever! Not to mention the cool finishers medal and tech shirt!

For those who have not yet registered for the Morgan Valley Marathon- the prices have gone up! But never fear, because you are loyal customers and friends to STRIDERS you can enter the code MORGAN2011 as you register and you will get the discounted fee! www.morganmarathon.com

Registration for the BAIRGUTSMAN is filling up fast. The race will go one as planned on August 6^th with no course changes. This year all finishers will get an "I Survived" medal and medals will be given to overall and age/gender division winners. Registration available at www.strideracing.com, details at www.stridersrunning.com CONQUER THYSELF!!!

If you're still in the mood for trail running later in the day on August 6^th, there's a Charity Carnival and 10K & 5K trail runs at Black Island Farms in Syracuse (3178 S 3000 W). They're trying to raise $20,000 for Dennie Denhalter who is a home bound, paraplegic Syracuse resident who needs a special needs van with a lift so he can get to his cancer treatments. Right now he has to have an ambulance transport him every time. Event time is 3pm - 9pm. Details at www.dollars4dennie.blogspot.com

18 Hours of OGDEN - August 13^th. Trail relay; one location, one loop, 6 runners. Check it out - www.r-scape.com

Hurt In the Dirt - August 20^th. Check it out at www.goalfoundation.com 

Skyline Mountain Marathon & ½ Marathon - August 20^th. This is a dream course for mountain runners; 200 runner limit both races combined. Run up to Ben Lomond, run down to North Ogden divide then run up to Lewis Peak hen run down to Ogden Valley into Eden - bring an extra set of legs and a spare stomach. http://skylinemarathon.com/

The Huntsville ½ Marathon & 5K is scheduled Labor Day weekend; Saturday, September 3^rd. This race is well over 30 years old and one of the oldest road races in Utah. It's also one of the most scenic. If you got into the St. George marathon, this is a great tune-up race. The Huntsville race is also a fundraiser for the Weber State Track alliance. So, let's get all the runners, joggers and walkers who bleed purple up to Huntsville this Labor Day weekend. Look for registration to open this month at STRIDERS. 

OV50 - October 22^nd. Registration is available at STRIDERS. Race is limited to 50 runners. Finishers receive a tech shirt and belt buckle. Chili and baked potatoes at the finish line. Old Snowbasin road is a mess so it looks like we're going to use the course from 2006 - http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=65654

For a full list of Utah running events, be sure to visit www.utahrunning.com

JOHN AND KRISTIN WOJCIECHOWSKI
STRIDERS
801-728-9121
STRIDERS@STRIDERSRUNNING.COM