BELIEVERS' BLOG
(BABY)SHOE BELIEVER
October 2012
Dave and Bennett explore Rock Creek in mid-September.
If you've been following us for awhile, you know that Team Shoe Believers has experienced a lot of changes since its inception last February. There's been disappointment when runners have had to drop out because of training injuries. But there's also been happiness (and relief) as terrific replacements were found for the injured team members. The additions turned out not only to be excellent runners, but also great teammates: funny, smart, caring and giving.
Meanwhile, another addition to the Shoe Believer family has been maturing beautifully over the last few months. Blog readers first met little Bennett earlier this summer (scroll down for "Shoe Believers: Transitions," July 2012), when we saw tangible evidence of why founding team members Cheryl Braunstein and Dave Pollock had to drop out of the 2012 edition of Ragnar DC. Bennett was born May 22 and Cheryl and Dave received custody only two weeks later ... without having had the benefit of knowing when all of this would unfold.
"It's definitely been bittersweet following the Shoe Believers. I miss my regular running routine and the discipline and elation of meeting a major training goal," Cheryl wrote recently. "But, on the other hand (understatement of the year), Bennett has given Dave and me a whole new meaning of the word elation and we are learning that the only way to have any kind of functioning life is to be even more disciplined than we were before! "
No word yet on Bennett's weekly mileage or training pace.
Meanwhile, another addition to the Shoe Believer family has been maturing beautifully over the last few months. Blog readers first met little Bennett earlier this summer (scroll down for "Shoe Believers: Transitions," July 2012), when we saw tangible evidence of why founding team members Cheryl Braunstein and Dave Pollock had to drop out of the 2012 edition of Ragnar DC. Bennett was born May 22 and Cheryl and Dave received custody only two weeks later ... without having had the benefit of knowing when all of this would unfold.
"It's definitely been bittersweet following the Shoe Believers. I miss my regular running routine and the discipline and elation of meeting a major training goal," Cheryl wrote recently. "But, on the other hand (understatement of the year), Bennett has given Dave and me a whole new meaning of the word elation and we are learning that the only way to have any kind of functioning life is to be even more disciplined than we were before! "
No word yet on Bennett's weekly mileage or training pace.
Scroll down to see earlier postings:
- One Runner's Reflections on Ragnar DC (October 2012)
- Shoe Believers Caption Contest (October 2012)
- Oh, No! Say It Ain't So, Chris! (September 2012)
- Breaking News: Palindromes May Run 'Rangnar' (September 2012)
- Transitions: The Sequel (September 2012)
- OMG! Three Weeks to Go (August 2012)
- Stayin' in Shape! Part Deux (August 2012)
- Stayin' in Shape! (July 2012)
- Shoe Believers: Transitions (July 2012)
- With a Little Help from a Patriot (July 2012)
- Shoe Believers at Capitol Hill 10K (May 2012)
- We've Got Ourselves a Team! (April 2012)
- Are We Insane? (February 2012)
ONE RUNNER'S REFLECTIONS ON RAGNAR DC
October 2012
Pam Champlain
For an excellent, first-person account of the recent DC Ragnar Relay, check out this blog post by Shoe Believers' own Pam Champlain:
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 -- A week later and I've regained full use of my legs! The details aren't as fresh in my mind anymore, but this was the first spare minute I could find to give everyone an update on how my Ragnar experience went. Before I dive in, feel free to go HERE for the full selection of photos. We were lucky enough to have multiple people snapping pics along the way.
I overslept a bit Friday morning, so ended up a bit rushed to finish packing and then go pick up one of my teammates, Garry. Made it to Takoma on time and met up with the rest of my van-mates. We tossed all the gear and people into the van and were on the road to the first major exchange. I hadn't met two of my van-mates until that morning, as we'd suffered some injuries in the final weeks before the race and were forced to find last minute replacements. Everyone seemed to hit it off right away and we were all excited and nervous that the day had finally come ...
Click here to continue reading Pam's blog.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 -- A week later and I've regained full use of my legs! The details aren't as fresh in my mind anymore, but this was the first spare minute I could find to give everyone an update on how my Ragnar experience went. Before I dive in, feel free to go HERE for the full selection of photos. We were lucky enough to have multiple people snapping pics along the way.
I overslept a bit Friday morning, so ended up a bit rushed to finish packing and then go pick up one of my teammates, Garry. Made it to Takoma on time and met up with the rest of my van-mates. We tossed all the gear and people into the van and were on the road to the first major exchange. I hadn't met two of my van-mates until that morning, as we'd suffered some injuries in the final weeks before the race and were forced to find last minute replacements. Everyone seemed to hit it off right away and we were all excited and nervous that the day had finally come ...
Click here to continue reading Pam's blog.
NEW! EXCITING! DARING!
SHOE BELIEVERS CAPTION CONTEST
October 2012
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Here's your big chance! Come up with the best caption for Photo 1 and/or Photo 2. Send your entries to [email protected]. Everyone -- runners, drivers, families, friends/enemies -- is eligible to enter. Deadline is midnight, Sept. 30, 2012. Winning entries will have the distinct honor of being recognized on this webpage. You've got a lot to work with here.
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Photo One
Winner: "Don't touch me Lucky Charms" (Dave Maloney) Runner-Up: "Grrrrrr, Baby!" (Garry Gunder) |
Photo Two
Winner: "Dave, please don't squeeze the Charmin" (Jack Cline) Runner-Up: "Grab n' Go" (Cheryl Braunstein) |
It was a tough call, and our panel of expert judges deliberated for several hours and consumed three 6-packs in the process. Our winners, Dave and Jack, will each receive small jars of jam -- fresh from the Santa Fe Farmers Market. Our runners-up can pad their resumes with this honor.
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And the Special Award for Best Unsolicited Caption Goes To ...
... Lisa "Up with Dogs" Morton, who suggested the following caption for this candid photo of Jennifer Imo:
"One more flushable wipe closer to the finish line."
Lisa receives several smiley faces and the undying gratitude of her teammates.
Oh, No! Say It Ain't So, Chris!
September 2012
Dang! We surely didn't think we'd be publishing any more "transitions" pieces. But the Shoe Believers were surprised (and greatly saddened) to learn that Team Captain Chris Carter has to pull out of this year's Ragnar Relay DC due to a calf injury. Chris, the founder of the team, will stay very involved, including serving as driver of Van 2. Next year, Chris!
Fortunately, Shoe Believer Sue Garman Kranias was successful in recruiting an 11th-hour replacement. Her neighbor, Janet de Jesus, has bravely volunteered to join the team and run Chris's legs. Welcome to the team, Janet! |
Breaking News: Palindromes May Run 'Rangnar'
(September 2012)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (Associated Press) -- A rogue band of top runners has registered under a fictitious name for this week's relay race from Cumberland to Washington, according to sources close to race organizers. If true, the subterfuge apparently breaks no rules, but it already has enraged some of the other elite teams in the contest. The team in question registered several weeks ago under the non-threatening name of Shoe Believers. But race officials now believe the 12 runners may actually be the infamous Palindromes, long-feared on the distance relay circuit. The allegations started surfacing last week, after a woman using the name Pam Champlain took delivery of team jerseys that referred to this week's race as the "Rangnar" Relay. The race is actually part of the "Ragnar" series of relay races across the country. "Any fool can see that Rangnar is a palindrome," said one elite runner who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal. "It's clearly the calling card of the Palindromes, who were hoping to slip in here and catch other teams off-guard." Runners usually don't put on their custom-made shirts until the end of the race, when the entire team joins to cross the finish line. The Rangnar label normally would not have been seen until the end of the relay, too late for other top teams to know what hit them. The woman who received the shirts told a reporter that the misspelling was an innocent mistake. But a spokeswoman for the shirt manufacturer said the team was given ample opportunity to review the spelling before final production. |
The shadowy group of runners came to prominence in 2007, when they won the grueling Australian relay from Paraparap, Victoria, to Arrawarra, New South Wales. Not only are both city names palindromes, but so too is the distance of 1551 kilometers (961.69 miles). The team of seven women and five men stunned the running world by winning the brutal relay in 151 hours, an average pace of 9:29. The group instantly became known as The Palindromes. Since that inaugural victory, they have led secretive lives, surfacing every few months to annihilate the competition in relays around the world. Their full names are not known, but a series of emails intercepted by a hacker in 2009 revealed the following first names of the runners: Hannah, Eve, Lil, Otto, Bob, Nan, Izzi, Gig, Anna, Ada, Pip & Ara. The drivers of the team vans are known as Pop and Dad. The origins and nationalities of The Palindromes are not known, but numerous theories abound, especially among conspiracists on the Internet. They have been linked with groups as diverse as the Somali pirates and the Russian punk band Pussy Riot. One theory is that they are simply a group of white-collar professionals from the Washington, DC, area -- including lobbyists, federal contractors and congressional staffers. If true, they would be looking to steal a win in their own backyard. Regardless, the mystery of The Palindromes is bound to continue, and all eyes will be on the two vans labeled "Shoe Believers" as they roll from Cumberland towards the nation's capital later this week. |
Transitions: The Sequel
September 2012
Back in July, we noted that life-changes invevitably occur when a dozen people embark on a 7-month journey (see "Shoe Believers: Transitions," below). Our latest transitions include elements of a Hollywood movie -- an unexpected crisis; help from a kind-hearted stranger; and, of course, the blossoming of love. The story unfolds in three chapters ...
1. Wiley Veteran Suffers 11th-Hour Injury
Brrrrr! This does not look good ...
Just three weeks before the start of the DC Ragnar Relay
-- and only a day after a meeting of Van 2 runners at his
condo -- Jeff Vincent experienced a leg injury that will
keep him from running the event. Jeff, one of the founding
members of Shoe Believers, said he was extremely disap-
pointed to be sidelined, but noted the average age of the
team's runners would now drop by about 11 years. He will
still participate as the driver of Van 1.
-- and only a day after a meeting of Van 2 runners at his
condo -- Jeff Vincent experienced a leg injury that will
keep him from running the event. Jeff, one of the founding
members of Shoe Believers, said he was extremely disap-
pointed to be sidelined, but noted the average age of the
team's runners would now drop by about 11 years. He will
still participate as the driver of Van 1.
2. Triathlete Runs to the Rescue
But help is on the way!
Fortunately for Shoe Believers, an excellent replacement for
Jeff was quickly found. Garry Gunder has graciously agreed
to step in on extremely short notice. Garry, 33, is an accom-
plished runner who has participated in a number of 10-mile races
and half-marathons. He also is a triathlete; he is shown at left
during last November's Ironman Arizona. Garry will take Jeff's
place in Van 2, running legs 9, 21 & 33. Thanks to Shoe
Believer Kerry Adams for recruiting Garry!
3. Love Prevails
Shoe Believers to tie knot ...
Maybe she's always been attracted to men with impressive
titles like "Team Captain." Maybe he thought he should ask
her BEFORE she spent more than 24 consecutive hours with
him in a smelly van. Whatever the reasons, Christina West
accepted Chris Carter's marriage proposal during a recent
weekend getaway to a B&B in Harrisonburg, VA. They've
been dating for 5-1/2 years. Christina, driver of True Believers
Van 2, runs an occasional 5K race, but is better known as one
of the area's top swimmers in the masters category. Wedding
date TBD. Congratulations from the whole team!
OMG! Three Weeks to Go
August 2012
Nothing focuses one's attention like realizing you'll be participating in a 200-Mile relay race in just over 3 weeks. With that mind, the members of Shoe Believers' Van 2 met at Jeff and Susan Vincent's home on Aug. 27 to do some serious planning for the DC Ragnar Relay. They covered topics ranging from cell phones to cowbells, and made plans for a preliminary drive-through of the course before the Relay. The entire line-up for Van 2 attended, with the exception of Mike "Our-Man-in-Binghamton" Frame, who will get a long-distance summary. (Mike's photo can be found at the "Transitions" item, below.)
Stayin' in Shape! (Part Deux)
August 2012
Here are two more Shoe Believers who hit the road in August to get in top form for the DC Ragnar Relay on Sept. 21-22. Christine Kontra participated in Pelotonia, an annual bike ride in Ohio to raise funds for cancer research at Ohio State University. Christine, an OSU alumna, rode as a member of the team "Influence Pedalers." With her 100-mile ride from Columbus to Gambier on Aug. 11, she has personally raised over $900 to date.
Meanwhile, Shoe Believers Team Captain Chris Carter hit the road on Aug. 25 at the always tough Annapolis 10-Miler. Seen below in his energizing UCLA Bruins t-shirt, he overcame some bad leg cramps to finish the hilly course. Chris said he was determined not to get his first DNF (Did Not Finish) ... he persevered!
Stayin' in Shape!
July 2012
Sue & Pam at start
Many Shoe Believers are running summer races in preparation for the DC Ragnar Relay. On the evening of July 21, Sue Garman Kranias and Pam Champlain took advantage of a break in Washington's recent heatwave to run the Rockville Rotary Twilight Runfest 8K. It's one of premier summer races in the DC area and attracts some of the region's best runners.
Despite running a 12-mile training run that morning -- in super-soggy conditions that continued throughout the day -- Pam finished near the midpoint of the highly competitive 30-34 age group. For her part, Sue blitzed through the Rockville race and placed an excellent 6th among the large field of 83 women in her 45-49 age group.
[Memo to other teams: Look out for the Shoe Believers!]
Despite running a 12-mile training run that morning -- in super-soggy conditions that continued throughout the day -- Pam finished near the midpoint of the highly competitive 30-34 age group. For her part, Sue blitzed through the Rockville race and placed an excellent 6th among the large field of 83 women in her 45-49 age group.
[Memo to other teams: Look out for the Shoe Believers!]
Shoe Believers: Transitions
July 2012
Rarely does a 12-member relay team make it from initial planning to race day without at least a few changes to team composition. People move. Change jobs. Get injured. Have second thoughts about the craziness of participating in a 200-mile odyssey like this September's Ragnar Relay.
Our Shoe Believers team is a case in point. Since our initial meeting in February (see earliest item, below), we've lost three of our founding team members and replaced them with three good friends and runners. Here's an update ...
That beautiful baby to the right is Bennett, son of our teammates, Cheryl Braunstein and David Pollock. They just learned in May that they would be adopting a little boy; he was born May 22 and they received custody only two weeks later. Bennett has turned their lives upside-down (in a most positive way!) and, understandably, they have had to withdraw from the relay.
Meanwhile, teammate Matt Greenwald was trying to deal with a nagging injury that has impacted his running. He eventually decided that "discretion is the better part of valor" and it would be best to drop out. Undoubtedly a good move, given the demands and unpredictability of a race like the Ragnar Relay.
Cheryl, David and Matt remain loyal Shoe Believers, and we'll draw on their moral support during the race. Their places have been taken by three very capable runners who bring great enthusiasm and sparkle to the team:
* Jennifer Imo is a good friend and neighbor of team members Kerry Adams and Lisa Morton. That's her (below) after one of her two Marine Corps Marathons.
* Michael Frame (below) is our only team member who doesn't live the in the DC area, although he travels to the nation's capital frequently in his position as director of federal relations for SUNY Binghamton.
* Laura Haynes has known Christina West (Driver - Van #2), and team members Chris Carter and Jeff Vincent for several years. Other Shoe Believers will be humbled to know she ran track for the University of Tennessee - Knoxville from 1994 to 1997.
Our Shoe Believers team is a case in point. Since our initial meeting in February (see earliest item, below), we've lost three of our founding team members and replaced them with three good friends and runners. Here's an update ...
That beautiful baby to the right is Bennett, son of our teammates, Cheryl Braunstein and David Pollock. They just learned in May that they would be adopting a little boy; he was born May 22 and they received custody only two weeks later. Bennett has turned their lives upside-down (in a most positive way!) and, understandably, they have had to withdraw from the relay.
Meanwhile, teammate Matt Greenwald was trying to deal with a nagging injury that has impacted his running. He eventually decided that "discretion is the better part of valor" and it would be best to drop out. Undoubtedly a good move, given the demands and unpredictability of a race like the Ragnar Relay.
Cheryl, David and Matt remain loyal Shoe Believers, and we'll draw on their moral support during the race. Their places have been taken by three very capable runners who bring great enthusiasm and sparkle to the team:
* Jennifer Imo is a good friend and neighbor of team members Kerry Adams and Lisa Morton. That's her (below) after one of her two Marine Corps Marathons.
* Michael Frame (below) is our only team member who doesn't live the in the DC area, although he travels to the nation's capital frequently in his position as director of federal relations for SUNY Binghamton.
* Laura Haynes has known Christina West (Driver - Van #2), and team members Chris Carter and Jeff Vincent for several years. Other Shoe Believers will be humbled to know she ran track for the University of Tennessee - Knoxville from 1994 to 1997.
With a Little Help from a Patriot
July 2012
On the eve of Independence Day, a quorum of Shoe Believers gathered at a tavern within the shadow of the White House to finalize the all-important "leg assignments" for the Ragnar Relay. This is a complicated business, with important consideration given to such factors as distance, difficulty and van assignments. In the spirit of the upcoming national holiday, the Shoe Believer delegates were able to reach compromise on all issues. They were assisted, no doubt, by the spirit of patriot Sam Adams, whose "Summer Ale" was being pushed as a Happy Hour special.
A list of leg and van assignments can be found on our FAQ page (with additional details for team members here).
The hard-working delegates also made substantial progress on related assignments, such as van captains, navigators and "quartermasters." There was also considerable discussion about upcoming training runs and preliminary races, as the Shoe Believers began to focus on the fact that the the Relay was only 11 weeks away ...
A list of leg and van assignments can be found on our FAQ page (with additional details for team members here).
The hard-working delegates also made substantial progress on related assignments, such as van captains, navigators and "quartermasters." There was also considerable discussion about upcoming training runs and preliminary races, as the Shoe Believers began to focus on the fact that the the Relay was only 11 weeks away ...
Shoe Believers at Capitol Hill 10K
May 2012
Our national policymakers, so often mired in gridlock, could have taken a lesson from Team "Shoe Believers" at the Capitol Hill Classic 10K on Sunday, May 20. Several members of the team participated in the race and demonstrated how you actually get something done -- and done quickly -- in Washington, DC.
This was the 33rd running of the 6.2-mile race, which jags through several residential blocks of Capitol Hill before doing a long out-and-back on East Capitol Street and around RFK Stadium. About 2,800 runners were expected.
The Shoe Believers gathered for a pre-race photo op on a gorgeous spring morning. From left, Kerry Adams, Lisa Morton, Margaret Stearns (possible alternate), David Pollock, Cheryl Braunstein and Chris Carter.
More photos below. (Roll over the first large photo for a prompt -- in upper left corner of photo -- to play or pause a slide-show.)
This was the 33rd running of the 6.2-mile race, which jags through several residential blocks of Capitol Hill before doing a long out-and-back on East Capitol Street and around RFK Stadium. About 2,800 runners were expected.
The Shoe Believers gathered for a pre-race photo op on a gorgeous spring morning. From left, Kerry Adams, Lisa Morton, Margaret Stearns (possible alternate), David Pollock, Cheryl Braunstein and Chris Carter.
More photos below. (Roll over the first large photo for a prompt -- in upper left corner of photo -- to play or pause a slide-show.)
We've Got Ourselves a Team!
April 2012
Officially, we are Team #71 in the 200-mile Ragnar Relay this September 21-22. More importantly, we'll also be known as the "Shoe Believers." (That is, unless a bolt of lightning strikes, and someone comes up with an even better name in the next few weeks ... very unlikely.)
The name was the brainchild of team founder/organizer Chris Carter, and it was the first item on the agenda when he gathered almost the entire team for a meeting at Jeff and Susan Vincent's condo in Arlington, VA. It was the first group get-together since the first organizational meeting in February (see the previous posting, below). In the intervening two months, Chris has led the effort to fill out the team and accomplish several of the early steps in the extensive planning process.
The April 15 meeting in Arlington included 10 of the 12 team members. There was the initial group of Chris, Jeff, Dave Maloney, Sue Kranias, Cheryl Braunstein, and David Pollock . The new recruits included Pam Champlain, Lisa Morton, Christine Kontra and Kerry Adams. Only charter member Matt Greenwald and newcomer Jack Cline couldn't make this latest get-together.
As a "Mixed Submasters" team, the Shoe Believers includes six women and six men. We range in age from 29 to, ahem, 63. We come from a variety of professional backgrounds in the DC area -- from A (higher education Advocacy) to Z (exhibits development at the National Zoo). We include some longtime runners, some relatively new runners and a few runners who recently took up the sport again after a hiatus. Some of us run a lot of races; others ... not so much. Several have run marathons, but only one has participated in a long-distance relay. Most of us are meeting the majority of the other team members for the first time.
But we share two things. First, we are all within a just a few degrees of separation from Chris Carter. Second, we all want to experience the challenge of a long-distance relay race and the special camaraderie of being on a team that meets that challenge.
There's still so much to do: attacking a long list of logistical details; recruiting van drivers and course volunteers; meeting numerous registration deadlines; identifying a charity to benefit from our efforts; and doing some preliminary races and training runs together. But we are now a team ... and we are on our way.
The name was the brainchild of team founder/organizer Chris Carter, and it was the first item on the agenda when he gathered almost the entire team for a meeting at Jeff and Susan Vincent's condo in Arlington, VA. It was the first group get-together since the first organizational meeting in February (see the previous posting, below). In the intervening two months, Chris has led the effort to fill out the team and accomplish several of the early steps in the extensive planning process.
The April 15 meeting in Arlington included 10 of the 12 team members. There was the initial group of Chris, Jeff, Dave Maloney, Sue Kranias, Cheryl Braunstein, and David Pollock . The new recruits included Pam Champlain, Lisa Morton, Christine Kontra and Kerry Adams. Only charter member Matt Greenwald and newcomer Jack Cline couldn't make this latest get-together.
As a "Mixed Submasters" team, the Shoe Believers includes six women and six men. We range in age from 29 to, ahem, 63. We come from a variety of professional backgrounds in the DC area -- from A (higher education Advocacy) to Z (exhibits development at the National Zoo). We include some longtime runners, some relatively new runners and a few runners who recently took up the sport again after a hiatus. Some of us run a lot of races; others ... not so much. Several have run marathons, but only one has participated in a long-distance relay. Most of us are meeting the majority of the other team members for the first time.
But we share two things. First, we are all within a just a few degrees of separation from Chris Carter. Second, we all want to experience the challenge of a long-distance relay race and the special camaraderie of being on a team that meets that challenge.
There's still so much to do: attacking a long list of logistical details; recruiting van drivers and course volunteers; meeting numerous registration deadlines; identifying a charity to benefit from our efforts; and doing some preliminary races and training runs together. But we are now a team ... and we are on our way.
Comments? Click here.
Are We Insane? (First Organizational Meeting)
February 2012
Team Captain Chris Carter (left) and Dave Maloney
On February 12, eight mature and otherwise sensible people met at Chris and Christina's lovely home in DC. Our purpose was to consider the feasibility of fielding a 12-member team for a 200-mile running race from Cumberland, Md., to just outside the nation's capital. The event, scheduled for September 21-22, is one of 15 "Ragnar Relays" to be held across the country in 2012 (there probably will be another 15 or so long-distance relays under different sponsorship in the U.S. this year, as the events continue to surge in popularity).
After considerable discussion about what the undertaking would require -- and the considerable implications for our schedules, home lives, egos and bodies -- we decided to press forward. Planning and logistics are at least half the challenge for an event like this. Our first need is to fill out the membership of our co-ed team. Then we'll need to secure two rental vans (not to mention the drivers) that will move our team along the long route over a period of roughly 28 hours. Day-into-night/night-into-day along backroads, towpaths and running trails. Beyond that, myriad details await. For now, it's enough to know we're committed (or should be) ...
After considerable discussion about what the undertaking would require -- and the considerable implications for our schedules, home lives, egos and bodies -- we decided to press forward. Planning and logistics are at least half the challenge for an event like this. Our first need is to fill out the membership of our co-ed team. Then we'll need to secure two rental vans (not to mention the drivers) that will move our team along the long route over a period of roughly 28 hours. Day-into-night/night-into-day along backroads, towpaths and running trails. Beyond that, myriad details await. For now, it's enough to know we're committed (or should be) ...
Comments? Click here.