Special Events/Races

Club Championship Series celebrates its 5^th year!

The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up. -Paul Valery

The Kalamazoo Klassic is one of sixteen local races participating in the 2008 Club Championship Series. While the Klassic embraces its 30^th anniversary, the Club Series has attained a milestone as well and is celebrating its 5^th birthday.

The Club Championship Series was the brainchild of KAR/BCRR V.P. Technology Jay Campbell and was developed to encourage and recognize club members for their participation in local events. Although Jay has since relocated and now resides on the east coast, the club’s Database Administrator Joe Hulsebus now manages the data for our 500 plus members. This includes filtering the results for the 16 events through the membership database, as well as retroactively obtaining results for new members added throughout the year. Since a numeric identifier for each individual (i.e. Social Security Number) is not available, the results are pulled by name, which leads to omissions if the name is not spelled exactly the same way in the race results as it is on the membership roster.

To help with this, we encourage participants to periodically check the Club Series Standings to ensure their results are properly credited and email Joe Hulsebus at kar.bcrr@gmail.com if there are any omissions. Another tremendous help to Joe in making sure athletes are placed in the correct age group as of the last event date is maintaining a list of member birth dates in the database. We do not have this information for new members joining through the Safari Training Program and need it. If you are a new Safari participant this year, please email your birth date to Treasurer Cristi DeDoes at dedoesc@yahoo.com.

This information will be used for internal club use only.

What else do you have to do to participate? Absolutely nothing! All active KAR/BCRR Members are automatically enrolled in the Club Championship Series. Runners joining the club before the final Club Series event retroactively have their results from participating races included in the points tally. Athletes are placed into age groups based on their age on the date of the final event, which this year is the Peacock Strut to be held on September 20, 2008. Points are tallied by simply dividing the winner’s time by the athlete’s time, then multiplying the result by 100. The points from the athletes’ top seven events are added together for a total. The top 3 winners in each age group are presented with an award and honored at a dessert party, usually at the held at the Kalamazoo Country Club, at the end of October. Many of our winners are not necessarily the fastest runners, but the athletes who participated in the most events.

The greatest reward of all, however, is not the individual achievements, but the impact we as runners can make on the greater community. By participating in many of the Club Series events, you are supporting important community organizations. Your participation in the Kalamazoo Klassic helps individuals with disabilities lead independent and productive lives through MRC Industries. The Peacock Strut raises money for the Portage Community Center. PCC believes all people have value and should have the opportunity to improve their quality of life. They identify human service needs and provide quality programs and services to the Portage community. Participation in Lindsay’s Race will assist the Gull Lake Ambulance, Village Police and Fire Rescue units in purchasing needed equipment to better serve the community. The event will also benefit "Lindsay's Kids," a program which provides bike helmets and safety instruction to all 4th grade children in the community. These are only a few examples of the ways we as runners, can impact the community around us through race participation. Check out the list below for Club Championship Series Races coming up in the next month. Most Club Championship Races also participate in our Race Discount Program, and offer KAR/BCRR Members a $2.00 discount.

Kalamazoo Klassic 10k and 5k 30^th Anniversary

Join us June 14, 2008 as we celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the Kalamazoo Klassic and a community tradition. Discover the Thrill, the Will, the Hill by running the 10k or go for a PR on the fastest 5k around. For the ultimate challenge, run both! More information and registration can be found at www.kalamazooklassic.com. Bring the entire family for the Kids Klassic held Friday evening, June 13^th. Co-Race Director is Cindi MacDonald! Club Championship Series Event, Race Discount Program Event, KAR/BCRR Volunteer Program Event

Cereal City Classic 10k and 5k

The Cereal City Classic is also scheduled Saturday, June 14 at the Battle Creek YMCA. Visit www.greatlakeschampionchip.com for registration information. Club Championship Series Event, Race Discount Program Event

Steve’s Raider Stomp 10k and 5k

It’s a race put on by a runner for runners and a first class act. The 3^rd Annual Steve’s Raider Stomp is June 21, 2008 at Decatur High School. The Race Director is none other than KAR/BCRR Member Bob Smola. For more information, check out Steve's Raider Stomp Registration. Club Championship Series Event, Race Discount Program Event

Binder Park Zoo Cheetah Chase 5K

The Binder Park Zoo Cheetah Chase features not only the Gazelle Gallop 5k, but also the Sloth 5k Walk and the Lemur Lap Fun Run for kids under 10. Join in for this fun event June 28, 2008 which includes free entry to Binder Park Zoo for the day. For more information, check out Binder Park Zoo Race Club Championship Series Event, Race Discount Program Event

Schoolcraft Firecracker 5 mile and 1 Mile Fun Run

Begin your July 4^th celebration with the Firecracker 5 Miler! Event will be held July 4, 2008 at Schoolcraft High School and proceeds benefit the Schoolcraft track and cross country programs. Check out Schoolcraft Firecracker for registration and all the details. The Race Director is KAR/BCRR member Brenda Stoddard!

Club Championship Series Event, Race Discount Program Event

Lindsay’s Race 5k and 10k

Lindsay’s Race 5k and 10k will begin at Gull Lake High School July 4, 2008. Proceeds assist the Gull Lake Ambulance, Village Police and Fire Rescue units in purchasing needed equipment to better serve the community. The event will also benefit "Lindsay's Kids," a program which provides bike helmets and safety instruction to all 4th grade children in the community. Visit Lindsay's Race Registration for more details.

Club Championship Series Event, Race Discount Program Event

New! Prater Chiropractice Center to Offer Orthotics Discount

Chiropractic Sports Physician, Daryl Prater, D.C., CCSP, is offering KAR members a $30 discount on custom foot orthotics. 2 different methods are available: eSoles www.esoles.com which uses a laser to scan the contour of the foot and an air pillow to mobilize the foot into the ideal neutral position and Footmaxx which is a force plate that helps break down the biomechanical movements of the foot for runners. For more information contact Daryl Prater at praterd@aol.com. Please present 4-digit Club ID.