The 9:30 pace group is an awesome group of runners with a balanced combination of marathon veterans and novices.  Led by Maureen (8th year as a leader) and Lisa (2nd year as a leader), these runners bring a lively mix of personalities with a wide range of discussion topics that has kept all of us going through these hot and humid Saturday runs.

The 9:30 group is a rather large group, numbering between 15-20 runners a week. Some of our more notable veterans include: Sue (our own personal encyclopedia of running knowledge), Theresa, JJ, Ace, Vincent (who has run more marathons than he can count and will turn 50 on 10-10-10), Anthony, Maria, Jackie (our aspiring golf pro), Steve, Liz, Shane, Sheri (who, in addition to training for the marathon is also planning her wedding) Ken, Ken and Larry (when the mood strikes him). 

Some of our new runners include June, John, Eric (who is running for PAWS), Mike, Marty, and Maureen (our triathlete).

Whether the Saturday morning discussion centers on a debate about White Sox relief pitchers, opinions on the latest topics in the news or entertaining stories about our family and friends, one thing is clear: the support and encouragement shared between the 9:30 runners will insure that we all conquer the enemy on 10-10-10!

The 9-minute group is a great group of runners.  This group is lucky to have a mix of runners.  We have advanced, intermediate and a couple novice runners.  We need the advanced for their experience and to look out for the others. I always like the intermediate runners who have come back knowing they can do better, still looking for a PR.  The most fun may be the novice.  They have no idea what they are in for, but each week they show up and lay it all on the line. Under the watchful eye of Carol, our group leader, I expect great things from this group, I expect first marathons to be finished, PR’s to be set and Boston Qualifying times to be met.  I only hope I can be back with them before I turn them loose on the enemy.  The only problem with this group is they must arrive late.  The picture we took had only a few runners in it but at the 2nd water stop where I was waiting the group was huge.  Maybe some of them are camera shy.

My name is Tom Wiora, the 8 minute group leader.  When I was younger, I always thought I was master of my domain.  As I grow older, I realize that I was just led to believe that and hand been the victim of cunning and guile.  Looking back, the signs should have been easy to read but I was blind.  My eyes started to open the weekend we dropped our oldest off for his Freshman year at college.  Upon leaving, the wife looked at me with eyes welling and said "I don't know if I can handle this".  At the time, I thought she was referring to the fact that our son was getting older and moving forward with his life without us.  However, I now believe it was the foundation for some more cunning and guile.  What the eye-welled look was a panic "Oh my God, in 2 short years, after we send our other two off, it's going to be just me and him -  24/7.  I've got to find this guy a hobby, a time-devouring hobby, so I won't have to entertain him 24/7."  Two weeks later, she attended a group meeting for Yankee Runners.  With excitement in her voice, she said " Tom, these people are right up your alley, you should go, next week, the sooner the better".  She was once again right, and at the same time preserved her sanity for years to come.  Two years later, after dropping our youngest off at school, her eyes welled once again.  I now know how to read her.  They were tears of joy -- we were finally on our own.  Later that evening, she said, Tom why don't you go for a run, a long run.  She always knows how to make me feel like the master and I always question later, am I really?

I am please to introduce the 8 minute group for Yankee Runners 2010:

Returning members include myself, Tom Wiora and Dan Dresden aka "Naked Dan".  Dan is a fine runner who has logged 18 marathons, most recently Boston 2010.  Dan recently illicited a comment from my oldest son, as he was thumbing through the Boston pictures and came across the spelling of Boston 2010 on the chests of some of Yankee's Boston 2010 runners.  My son commented " Hey , who's the buff guy?" referring to Dan!

Our old friend Steve Heller has once again laced up his shoes and is running as strong as ever after a prolonged injury.  Special congrats to Steve on the recent marriage of one of his 4 daughters.

Last year, there was an 8:15 self prescribed pace group consisting of Kathy Ceja, Janis Mcguffin, and Mike Casey.  Their competitive spirit has compelled them once again raise the bar and run with the 8 minute group this season.  All are Boston qualifies with fine times this spring in Beantown.

Our newest member to the group is Matt Gibson.  Matt is a fine runner with several marathons under his belt.  His goal this year is to qualify for Boston 2011, which is no easy feat.  WIth hard work and determination, along with a little guidance from the group, we hope to torture Matt enough in training to make his qualifying effort a cake walk!

As a person who has never wore the uniform, it is more important that I thank those of us who have.  Our group of veterans represents veterans all across this country.  They all deserve not only our thanks but also our support. I was happy to join with Eileen Rowan and collect supplies for our troops.  I was happy to do this and yet I wonder why it is necessary.  We ask our men and women to carry arms in hostile and distant lands and our government can’t even give these heroes decent socks and sunscreen?  I am not sure why some of the best and brightest sons and daughters of America volunteer knowing what lies ahead of them.  I am glad they do.  WE NEED THEM ON THAT WALL.

For each of the past several years the Yankee Runners have entered a Male and a Female Team in the team competition of the Shamrock Shuffle as well as the marathon.  Each year our teams have worked hard and made us all proud.  Both teams have won several awards, and our Female Team has several first place finishes. I was worried about this year.  The March Madness ½ marathon in Cary Ill was the same day so our teams were divided between both locations.  We need more runners for the Shuffle, so what did I do?  I do what I always do:  I asked for other runners to step up, and step up they did.  With several of our top runners in Cary some of our newer friends agreed to run for the team.  They ran with enthusiasm.  They ran with heart.  They ran to a first place finish.  With our streak still alive we can now focus on putting together a team for the marathon.  Good job to all who ran.

I hear the Men are going to try and get all the horses out for the shuffle next year.  They are tired of the girls getting the trophy.