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Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 5:35 PM Subject: Incline Club V4 LR #19 This Sunday, April 2, 8 a.m. meet in the COG parking lot. Run out the Ute Indian Trail and then cross Hwy 24 and do the Waldo Canyon lollipop loop clockwise. Cross back over Hwy 24 (be careful) and head up Longs Ranch which connects back into the Barr Trail at No Name Creek. Run down the Barr Trail to finish the loop. 2.5-3.5 hours. Newbies skip Waldo and head up Longs Ranch Road. #### Carol S writes: To all my Incline Club Buddies - It’s hard for me to say just how much I treasure all your thoughts, prayers, expressions of sympathy, and support that I have received, regarding the loss of my son, Alan. The outpouring of love and friendship has been so wonderful, and so very much appreciated. I also want to thank all of you who were able to come to Alan’s memorial, and the assistance provided with the food for the reception. And a very special thank-you to Neal and Teresa Taylor, who provided the printed signs that I needed for Alan’s memorial. I have resumed my training for LT100, as I know Alan would not want me to give up my dream... looking forward to seeing you all at the next Club run. #### Sid R writes: Sunday’s run seemed to be a lot better for me but I am getting really tired running on the snow! :-) I had a message, last week on Ute trail I lost a white water bottle with a black top. If anyone found it and could return it, I would really appreciate it. Thanks, and have a good week. (OK everybody here is another chance to be creative with Sid’s bottle — lets try to keep it PG this time OK?) #### Steve B writes: I had a tough enough time keeping up with you and Dan on Waldo last Sunday. When I saw the two of you head up for Longs I couldn’t IMAGINE! So I “wussed” out. When the tough get going... I’ll miss the next two Sundays as I’ll be backpacking with my daughter Natalie, age 11, in SE Utah canyon country. I’ll be getting up early to get my trail running in so I’ll be ready when I return! (Matt and Dan add this: When the tough get going — we followed the tracks the really tough made;-) #### Tom K writes: Regarding Phyllis D‘s speculations in the last Incline Club e-mailing [V4 LR #18]: THE GLOVE IS NOT MY SON! #### Those that came to the run last week may have noticed a rather talkative individual following me around while I was doing the “*” thing. Contrary to popular opinion he was not my twin brother. However I must admit I was rather impressed by the fact that he could do several one-legged deep knee bends in a row where as I, and several others, soon found out we could not do one! For those that would like to learn more about this individual you will see below he has been rather busy: Man Missing on Pikes Peak http://www.gazette.com/archive/00-03-01/daily/loc7.html Minnesota man OK after cold night on Pikes Peak (Half way down page) http://www.gazette.com/archive/00-03-02/daily/loc52a.html Man’s high hopes unrealistic (IF YOU READ JUST ONE THIS IS IT!!!) http://www.gazette.com/archive/00-03-04/top.html Alaskan pitches in to help man conquer a mountain http://www.gazette.com/archive/00-03-15/daily/loc8.html Weather beat climbers on peak http://www.gazette.com/archive/00-03-16/daily/loc21.html #### They say change is good — if so this is a good time indeed! Change 1) Don’t forget the time change this Sunday morning. We will still meet at 8a.m. but don’t forget to set your clocks an hour ahead or you will have to run really fast to catch up! Ask Dan V — he has had to do this twice out of the last three years! Change 2) This is the LAST week of parking in the COG parking lot for this season! The COG will start running trains on April the 14th. For us that means we need to stay out of their way. In the past we have parked down the road at Spring Street by the fountain but in the past we were a smaller group. This year we will be parking at Soda Springs Park which is the park at the bottom of Ruxton Ave. Besides more parking room, the park also has the benefit of public restrooms and there is plenty of room to have “after the run picnics” like we did with the orange slices that Yvonne C brought last Sunday. This will also force everybody to do some warming up before the Thursday workouts;-) Which brings us to: Change 3) Thursday, April 6th will be the first Thursday workout of the season!!! It will either be the Incline to determine handicaps or if there is too much snow 30 minutes of 1 min hard, 1 easy. Watch for next week’s reminder which I will now try to get out in the first part of the week. Change 4) As a safety issue I am asking that dogs no longer be brought to the workouts! Suffice as to say that people getting knocked down by dogs does not fit into a well-rounded training program. Last week was not the first time it has happened and it is not the sole reason for the new policy but it did bring out a lot of frustration on the part of many people. To that I can only say I am very sorry — it is my fault and I should have done something a while back as the club grew! When it was 10-15 people and 1-2 dogs it was just not that big of deal and, in fact, I have had a lot of fun keeping track of the K9s and it was one of the unique aspects of the club. However, last week we had 43 people and 7 dogs and when that many people get together with that many dogs the potential for disaster is just too high. Just a few weeks ago another club member was knocked down by a dog and got their hands bloodied. I have heard from people that have dogs that say they would not bring them to a workout for this very reason so please do not take this as “non dog owners vs dog owners.” Heck, we have even had an instance of dogs running over dogs. Val S asked that his letter be included below. At the very least, I hope you will see that he did not ask that the dogs be banned. So if you do not agree with the new policy please blame me and not Val. If you want, I will be happy to discuss some of the other factors that went into the decision. Val S writes: On 3/26/00, I was running with the Incline Club up Barr Trail. Today’s run was no different from other Incline Club Sunday runs. 30 plus runners take off in a group, along with several dogs usually off leash. Dogs and runners run down the trail. Dogs, being dogs, take off, run up the trail, then run back. And meander across the trail; then stop to look for the owner. And chase and play with other dogs. Runners are running along with the dogs. Runners are dodging dogs. And then most of us turn our attention to things like basic respiration. Most runners are mindful of the dogs and start out slow so they can maneuver around as the dogs change course on the trail. I’m certainly mindful of dogs being around. Last August on a Sunday Elk Park run with the club my attempts at avoiding running into a dog in front of me, off leash, resulted in my watching the dog’s ever-changing feet instead of the trail in front of me. I missed seeing a plate sized rock angled from the ground about 45 degrees. The rock was wet, my weight shifted to the outside of the foot which was on the rock, and I heard a “crunch” emitting from my ankle. As you know as fellow trail runners, you don’t step on rocks, you step over them. I did not see this rock because I was watching the dog in front of me. So today as I was running up Barr Trail, about 5 minutes from the start, two dogs off leash chasing each other approach from my left and cut in front of me. My legs collide with the dogs and I go down on all fours. I was mad. I did not slip on my own accord. I swatted one dog away that was under me with my hand as I raised up off the ground. And lunged at the other dog, which then backed off. Someone who I assumed was the owner of the dogs came to the dogs defense. I exchanged some words with the owner about keeping your dogs on leash in accordance with local and state laws. My tone of voice was heated, and angry. I was heated and angry. I was surprised I popped off like I did. Realizing I was not hurt, I continued my run. Did I overreact here? Was I out of line? Perhaps. To me I was on a public trail, in control of my person and property. Someone else’s property, out of the owner’s control, came to entangle my legs, contributing to my fall. I don’t like that. In hindsight, which is always 20/20, when I hit the ground as I tangled with the dogs, my mind flashed back to the earlier Elk Park injury. I felt I had fallen due to no fault of my own, just like the Elk Park fall. I allowed rage to swell up inside me. And in the seconds that ensued in this last fall, I choose not to control the rage I felt. Sure, in hindsight, I wish I had not gotten so mad in the context of an Incline Club run. I’d imagine my actions were viewed, at a minimum, as shocking to those within earshot. Not to mention the incredulous reaction of the dog owner to whom I vented. We are a bunch of runners, nobody gets mad over small stuff like this. At the time, in my context, it was not small stuff. But this is my perception. And mine only. In the bigger picture of things, I should not have popped off like I did to the dog owner in the tone of voice I did. I apologize for subjecting the members of the Incline Club to behavior that has the potential to alienate club members from the very reasons that bring all of us together: runners running with a common bond. So what to do address this incident. I can only speak for myself. And no, I would not say to keep all dogs at home for these runs. I would suggest for those dog owners who feel the need to run with their dogs off leash to really examine the potential impacts of this in a public setting. For instance, call your homeowner’s insurance agent and ask them your liability if your pet is off leash and causes damage or personal injury in a public setting. Or perhaps call the Colorado Department of Wildlife, and speak to a conservation officer on the rationale for leash laws. One reason for leash laws is to cut down on the disturbance of wildlife patterns. One option for the club could be to keep your dogs on leash for say, the first 10 minutes of each run, allowing time for the majority of runners to get ahead. Or, maybe have dogs and their owners wait for 10 minutes at the start of the run to allow other runners to get ahead. I welcome comments, positive and negative, to what I’ve said above. I like to think I have an open mind about most things — until I fall! Sincerely, Val Snider 260-6887, (e-mail address removed for www posting) #### Again to Val and anyone else that has had problems (on either side of the issue) I am really sorry! This was totally my fault for not paying attention to the problems that come with growth. #### Go out hard, when it hurts speed up... Matt Carpenter http://www.skyrunner.com
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