FLRC Newsletter - September 2004
	The 16th Annual Forest Frolics: Home of the Trail Raptor (Trailialus horribilus)

It was officially proclaimed to be a rain-free race for the 16th year in a row! Rumor has it a few raindrops were starting to fall as the last two runners finished up, but they had started a little late. Not that it was dry out there in the woods. The water was about calf deep in two of the stream crossings—depending on how high your calves are—and there was some good mud to be found along the way. Its still not been settled whether clockwise or counter clockwise is the fastest way to run the 15K loop, although clockwise seems to have more takers. What do you think? Many runners commented on the new (second year) Dabes Diversion being much better than the old route out to Hauck Hill Road. We didn't get any reports of major getting-lost or off-course episodes. It must have been the upside-down map shirts. Maybe next year we shouldn't mark the course at all. We should also report that participants did a fine job consuming the watermelon and cookies, but fell a little short on doing their duty when it came to the soda and beer.

There were 121 finishers in the two races: 47 in the 7K, and 74 (inverses of each other; it must be an omen) in the 15K. Seventy-one people registered Sunday morning! In the 7K, Nate Lockett and Amy Rhodes were victorious, and in the 15K it was James Davenport and Jennifer Morgan. James cut 3 seconds off the previous course record (1:00:18, held both by him [last year] and Peter Yacobucci) with his 1:00:15 (data lifted from Joe Dabes results report). In both races there were quite a few younger runners, which was great to see. The youngest in the 7K was 9-year-old Tin Tin Larson, along with all these kids named Marks and Boor. In the 15K Zackery Rivers 13 and Adrian Servetnick 14 were the least senior. Great job! We certainly hope that everyone enjoyed the race. If you did, remember the Madness is coming up shortly and the Monster Marathon, an easy jaunt through the woods (a good opportunity to qualify for Boston, NOT!) is at the end of August on many of the same trails. Check out these and other trail runs/races on the FLRC website. We are always open for suggestions, so let us know if you have any. We'll probably do whatever the hell we want anyway, but you never know.

As in other races this one couldn't happen without all the volunteers. (There are no paid positions.)

• The Jon Marks clan was again out in full force setting up, taking down, running clocks, keeping track of finishers, running the race, peddling shirts, and more.
• John Sholeen of course paid the bills and took in all the entries and entered all the preregistered people on the computer. Were going to miss him doing all of this work.
• Jim Miner almost single-handedly registered 71 runners Sunday morning. Joe Dabes (the originator of the Frolic) cleared trails, prepared numbers, did the results, and more.
• Ray Kuzia directed people at the center of the figure 8, all the while looking quite dapper.
• Joe Reynolds handed out preregistered numbers in his usual sedate manner.
• Gillian Sharp, Jay, and Chanita Somton (speedy Tin Tin's mom) worked the finish expertly.
• Doug Dziedzic rode his bike four hours to help out.

Thanks for coming. Find a friend or two and come again next year.

—Steve Ryan

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