First Annual Stonehead Volunteer Rankings

In keeping in the spirit of the release of the annual and much-anticipated Stonehead/Pebblehead FL Trail Runners Rankings elsewhere in this issue, I offer my inaugural Stonehead Volunteer Rankings -- a recognition of those reliable suckers with Gumby-like ankles who show up time and time again -- serving 2 to 14 hour stretches -- for at least 75 percent of the trail series races (to quote Joe Dabes: "All races count!"), and, we're not necessarily dressed in our running clothes, because we rarely get to run (see *All-Stars* below for exceptions to this rule). We're the folks who come early, stay late -- heat, cold, humidity, snow, windchill, bugs, mud, lyme disease and lack of delectable food be damned.

We are there so that everyone else can run and rank up those Seinfeld-esqe points that don't really matter. The following people each receive 300 perfect points on a scale of 300. I'm sure after much consideration and scheming, someone has been overlooked. But if so, step right up and be counted.

Although in the actual Stonehead/Pebblehead rankings there are no prizes, in my rankings, there are valuable prizes. Please note we do not want anymore stinkin' framed certificates issued by RRCA, or T-shirts; we want cold hard cash.

I've been keeping score all year, too. In no particular order, here are the real Stoneheads among us, who worked almost all 11 trail runs, including the bonus points/Artic-blast FL Snowshoe, a race which requires three layers of underwear, Bugaboo boots and handwarmers...:

Congratulations to: Julie Jones; Don Tily; Ray Kuzia; Herb Engman, *Tim Ingall (volunteer, trail run race director and highly ranked masters trail man); *Jim Miner (see Ingall reference); *Alan Lockett (see Ingall/Miner reference, plus almost Stonehead "runner" of the Year, plus the guy who also took home all the stats and produced computerized results for one and all to study); and, last but not least, Diane Sherrer -- me, myself and I.

Honorable mentions: Frank & Sally Rusby, who worked long hours on two toughies: the FL Snowshoe & Fifties, and also own "the truck;" Earl Steinbrecher, Sr., who drives all the way from Windsor to volunteer and entertain the troops. He gets the "Bob Hope USO" award. And, Pam Carlucci who volunteered to recruit & coordinate volunteers for the Fifties, which was no small task, and timed Tortoise & Hare with one eye and a stopwatch..

The tribe has spoken.

-- Diane Sherrer

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