News

Due to the winter storm, we regret to inform you the Easter Hash Run and Kids Egg Hunt scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday, March 22nd) at 11:00 am at KVCC has been CANCELLED. We will not be rescheduling for a later date.

The Beyond Training Run scheduled for 7:00 am tomorrow (Saturday, March 22nd) beginning from the Gull Road Meijer is still ON, but we recommend runners use their best judgement based on travel conditions. If driving conditions are treacherous, it is best to stay off the roads on foot as well.

Stay warm, safe and have a Happy Easter!

Check out the menu and find something for everyone.....

Great effort from great motives is the best definition of a happy life.
-William Ellery Channing

President’s Perspective

Variety is the spice of life and the sport of running enjoys many dimensions. The social camaraderie of a Saturday morning run with friends sends hundreds of runners out on the roads bright and early each weekend. There is nothing like the adrenaline that flows as you get ready to launch into VO2 Max pace at the beginning of a 5k race. The quiet tranquility of a trail run is the perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life, allowing the opportunity to commune with nature and the beauty she has to offer. The big city marathon is not only a weekend event, but a life-changing experience allowing one to push the body and mind to the physiological and psychological limits while exploring an exciting new venue. The team spirit of relay events is reminiscent of youthful days as track and field or cross country athletes. The joyful laughter of children as they run down a trail in search of Easter eggs is contagious. If you asked me which I prefer, I would have to say all of the above are my favorite.

Kalamazoo Area Runners greatest attribute and greatest challenge is the same today as it was 5 years ago; it is the many dimensions of our diversity. The depth of our membership is made up of youth runners, open runners, masters’ runners, marathoners, 5k racers, social runners, competitive runners, trail runners, charity runners and the list goes on. Any one individual may be one of these, some of these or many of these. We learned long ago, as an organization, that we can’t be everything to everyone, but we can offer something for everyone. Many of you have already completed the member survey. If you haven’t, we encourage you to do so in the next week. The KAR/BCRR Board will use your feedback to validate our values as an organization as we plan future events and programming. As we move forward, we will not only look at our menu of offerings, but how we operate as an organization. Is it time to implement a business plan, budget process and review our organizations non-profit status? Is our organizational structure conducive to empowering our leadership team and operating efficiently while at the same time ensuring the proper controls are in places where they are truly needed?

We also need to consider the running community as a whole and look outside of ourselves as we work in cooperation, partnership and sponsorship with other organizations. We don’t desire to duplicate efforts that are already underway, but instead find ways to compliment those efforts, while at the same time add value to the various interests of our membership population. The KAR/BCRR Board is charged with maintaining a tremendous balance, not only internally within our own organization, but externally as part of the greater running community. As volunteers with families, careers and community involvement outside KAR/BCRR, we also have to carefully balance and allocate time and resources. Your valuable feedback will play an invaluable role as we continue to identify the best ways to support our mission and objectives, or perhaps even revisit those. KAR/BCRR is, after all, our volunteers, our membership and we thank you and appreciate your feedback. Once compiled, we will share the results with our membership and most importantly, we will use your feedback as we contemplate future decisions.