Congrats are in order!

Congratulations to several Team R.E.D. members for being recognized for their contributions!  All very much deserved!

The Rochester Track Club honored Gwen Jacobson with the Runner of the Year Award! - As you may know, Gwen is pursing her goal of Marathons in all 50 States, but that's not all, she's tackling them at sub-four hours as well!  In addition, Gwen volunteers and supports some many others within the running community.

Gwen "Runner of the Year!" with  last years winner, Steve DeBoer

Here we have a pic of three deserving ladies.  Ruth wins the Service Award, Gwen with the Runner of the Year Award, and Sonja takes home the Dwight Pierson Award!  These awards represent the tireless service they all give to the community!  Nice work all!

Ruth, Gwen & Sonja with the hardware! 

Also, during the Minnesota State High School League Track & Field Coaches Banquet, Eric Klein was recognized as Class-A Coach of the Year! 

Eric and his St Charles Coaching Staff

Here's a look at the week ahead...

Monday 6pm:  Monday Maniacs are cruising out of Kinney Creek Brewery in Rochester.  Come out for a run or walk, and come back for some beverages and a mean game of  Hammerslagen!
Tuesday 6:15pm:  The Tuesday Trail Crew gets off their Asphalt at Whitewater State Park.  You can run, snowshoe, hike.. whatever you like! Afters are at Mauer Bros.
Tuesday 9pm: The Night Owls hit up Glynners Pub in Rochester.  Several people find this later opportunity very nice! Get out and  connect on the run... come back for a social!
Thursday 6pm:  Team R.E.D. runs from the Bears Den in Byron. We'll have our customary routes in the range of 3, 4 or 6 miles, but as always, do what's right for you! Don't forget to come back for the social!

Stories To Tell!

Several Team R.E.D. members have been jet setting all around the states, and globe for that matter! I'm looking forward to the stories they will have to share!

Many of you were able to check in, and help Travis and Monika while they were in Rochester for Travis' surgery. That's so awesome that people were able and willing to help the friends of a friend. Nice work all!

The snow did not hold on for the Sunday Snowshoe, but possibly Monday will bring us a pile to play in.  Here's a look at the week ahead. Remember, for all the group opportunities, you can Run. Walk. Hike. or skip all that and simply Eat. Drink!

• Monday 6pm: The Monday Maniacs are heading downtown, gathering and finishing at the Tap House in Rochester.  Join the crew and log some miles, before coming back for the social!
• Tuesday 6:15pm: The Tuesday Trail crew hits up Chester Woods Park. You may log your miles in running shoes, or possibly snowshoes! El Carambas is the spot for Afters. 
• Tuesday 9pm: The Night Owls are heading to Glynners Pub again this week. What a great chance to get some miles, especially if it's difficult for you to be ready by 6pm each night. Join for the miles, and hit up the post run social! 
• Thursday 6pm:  Team RE.D. is rolling from Broadway Pizza in Rochester. We'll scour the northern side of town, before coming back to have a great social.  

It's the weekend!

Here's a look at the weekend... it includes a possible Snowshoe, but, we do not really know the snow conditions just yet, and it may warm up enough to muck up what we have!  Join us either way, as we'll either snowshoe, or hike!

Saturday 730am:  Off Season Striders get rolling from Charlies Pub & Eatery at Hillcrest Shopping Center in Rochester.  People run quite a variety of distances, and re-unite back at Charlies for a social!
Saturday 9am: Winterfest Frigid 5K in St Charles. See link below with upcoming events for more details.  The event is organized by Team R.E.D. member Eric Kline.
Sunday 8am:  Off Season Striders are sure to be out, but I have not yet seen the location. Check back for details or request to be added to Jean's OSS Distribution list. 
Sunday 1pm:  Team R.E.D. Snowshoe??  Maybe! Meet at the 1st bridge of Oxbow Park, just north of Byron.  The 1st bridge lot is the 2nd lot on your left as you enter the park via the gravel Cty Rd 105. If snow permits we'll snowshoe, if not, let's hike! - this early afternoon start will ensure great temps, and plenty of time to get home for the 5:40pm NFC Championship game! - AFC game kicks off at 2:05pm.

Updates for next week will be posted on Sunday.   Upcoming events are listed below...

Whitewater WinterFest Frigid 5K

Jan. 20  9am

St. Charles 

Annual RTC Banquet

Saturday, Jan. 27 

Canadian Honker Events at Kahler Apache

Keynote Speaker:  Dr. Mike Joyner

Rochester Winterfest XV -Optimist Club

Frozen Goose 10K/5K

Feb. 4th

2018 Spring Season Marathon/Distance Training

Feb. 17th

Rochester Athletic Club

Please Note: Off Season Striders Update

5 Team R.E.D. members dared to step outside on Thursday night, and by all reports, it was very do-able! - Mileage ranged from 3 to 5 to 10 miles!  Wendy brought our group total to 6 when she stopped in for a glass of red wine. Seems wise!

The weekend is here and that typically means, Off Season Striders! Due to the sub zero temps, Saturday's regularly scheduled run is cancelled, and they hope to get some miles on Sunday.

Saturday - OSS Cancelled
Sunday 8am - OSS is running from the New Panera along 16th St SW in Rochester.
Monday 6pm - Monday Maniacs head to the Freight Yard on Civic Center Drive in Rochester.  Join the crew and log some miles, come back to the Yard for a great selection of beverages and food if you like! - Remember the social is a piece of what helps us make stronger connections!
Tuesday 6:15pm - Tuesday Trail crew heads to Quarry Hill in Rochester. The trail are fun this time of year! We gather at the parking lot at the end of 9th Street NE, by the snow covered tennis courts. Location for the social is a game time decision.
Tuesday 9pm - The Night Owls have a new kick off spot this week! - Join the crew at Glynners Pub. What a great chance to get out and log some miles! - Don't forget to have a post workout social with the team!
Thursday 6pm - Team R.E.D. rolls into and out of the Bears Den in Byron. Take your choice of distance, just be sure to come back to the Den!  See you soon!

Below are a few of the upcoming events in the area! - the information is stolen directly from Jean and her OSS email. 

Whitewater WinterFest Frigid 5K

Jan. 20  9am

St. Charles 

Annual RTC Banquet

Saturday, Jan. 27 

Canadian Honker Events at Kahler Apache

Keynote Speaker:  Dr. Mike Joyner

Rochester Winterfest XV -Optimist Club

Frozen Goose 10K/5K

Feb. 4th

2018 Spring Season Marathon/Distance Training

Feb. 17th

Rochester Athletic Club

New Race! - Whitewater Winterfest Frigid 5K!

This Frigid 5K is organized by Team R.E.D. member Eric Kline.  Join the fun on Jan 20th! Registration is a mere 15 bucks if pre-registered, and $20 on race day.  You can register online at https://endurancecui.active.com/new/events/50234351/priceCategories/50207152/primaryForm?_p=43569926890702515

The race starts at The Garage @ 361 West 5th Street in St Charles.

You know Woo's secret to racing faster... "Run more 5K!"

Here comes the sun... !

According to the worlds #1, top of the line, superstar, meteorologist Cindy Morgan... it's going to get warmer. Really, it is!

CALL TO ACTION:

Please read the message below from Team R.E.D. member Alyssa Hogan (I know many of you know the wonderful Hogan family). - and as a side note, Alyssa has moved a bit closer, now residing in Eau Claire!

She has wonderful trail running friends from Wyoming, currently in Rochester, seeking medical treatment. She is reaching out to see if we can get together a Meal Support for them while they spend time getting healthy in Rochester Minnesota.

If anyone can help with a meal and if someone smarter then me could help create a schedule, sign up page. That would be totally amazing. A great way to share our support for others. If you can help, please reply to the post in Team R.E.D. Facebook or email me at byron.teamred@gmail.com if you can offer some help. Thanks so much for considering!

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See Alyssa Hogan Larsen message below.

When we left Jackson Hole, we left the running club (Teton Trail Runners) in the hands of these two amazing friends... Unfortunately, Travis is facing some serious health issues and he and Monika are on their way to Mayo in Rochester, MN. Give them a boost if you can... and if you're one of my Team R.E.D. running peeps, let me know if you'd like to help with a meal while they're in Rochester! 😘 🏃🏻 🏃‍♀️ #runtribe

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A handful got out for some miles from the Bears Den last night.. with the wind as light as it was, the evening was actually a pretty nice night for some miles!

Mike, Brian, Wendy, Sonja, Don, Adam, Sarah and Kasey staying warm!

I really encourage you to get to Saturday's Polar Bear Prediction 5K. It's super fun... you predict your time and the person closest to their prediction, without finishing too fast, wins! In fact, the 10 people closest to their predictions win!  The awards are hand carved Bears, provided by Roger!

You can win this event as a super fast runner, a medium runner, a slow runner or as a walker for that matter. 

You can register online at at http://rochestertrackclub.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=28&ArticleID=1022 or on Race Day at Gloria Dei church in Rochester. Please park on the street to keep room for church goers, as the church is also performing a funeral service Saturday morning.

Registration is just $10 for Track Club members, and $15 for non members.  All registrants receive a warm hat, and a nice lunch is provided by the Rochester Track Club after the run.

Here's a look at the next few days.

• Saturday 9:30am:  Polar Bear Prediction Run Gloria Dei Church. Predict your time, and take off your watch! - no cheating!
• Sunday 8am:  Off Season Striders get rolling for 5-West along Circle Drive in Rochester. This may be the warmest it's been in weeks! 
• Monday 6pm:  Monday Maniacs are heading to Grand Rounds in Rochester. This is a great spot to get us around the city, and back for the social! 
• Tuesday 6pm:  TerraLoco is hosting a Resolution Night! - It starts with a group run at 6pm.  Various organization will have information tables set up for you to visit if you like (Team R.E.D. and SE MN Trail Runners will both be represented).  
• At 7pm, there is a panel of guest speakers lined up to share some great stories of motivation, perseverance and the like...
• Tuesday 6:15pm:  Carely State park is the host site for the Tuesday Trail Crew. This is a fun park to run and a favorite of many! Meet at the first parking lot. 
• Tuesday 9pm: The Night Owls are burning the midnight oil (well, the mid evening oil anyway).  Join the crew at Beetles Bar & Grill on 2nd Street in Rochester. 
• Thursday 6pm:  Team R.E.D. is gathering at Brothers Bar & Grill and heading down the path to happiness (or to Silver Lake!).  When we meet at Brothers, please park in the back, and we'll do the route talk just inside the back doors. 

2018... and we're off and running!

Happy New Year to all! - The temps are a bit chilly, yet that doesn't need to prevent us from getting outdoors for fresh air, fitness and fun, be sure to dress in layers and join the fun!

Tuesday 6:15pm:  The Tuesday Trail crew hits Eastwood Park at 3330 Hwy 14 East, Rochester. This is a fun, winding trail.  The trail runs close to the parking lot, so in the event you've had enough, it's easy to cut things short! Location for "afters" will be determined during the run.
Tuesday 9pm:  The Night Owls bring in the new year from Beetles Bar & Grill on 2nd street. This is the winter location, and it's a great one, keeping us under the street lamps and near the beer!
Thursday 6pm:  Team R.E.D. is at the Bears Den in Byron. You can walk or run the bike paths throughout town and then come back to the den for the social! - plan on 3, 4 or 6 miles.

Team R.E.D. Bowling was a hit! - Many thanks to Jill & Adam for setting it up, and to all of you who were able to join the party! Pictures to follow Wednesday evening, along with updates on upcoming races in the area!