Another new year……even better things ahead of us! The winter series in full swing posting record numbers and even more important providing hot oatmeal, it’s a great time to be a BCCR club member. It is wonderful to see so many of us showing up for workouts together, posting on Facebook and the Yahoo group as well enthusiastic attendance at the Pizza social, the November “Third Thursday Social” at Dominic’s and of course so many of us feasted at the pancake breakfast in December. All that our own 5K in the prestigious Bucks 5K series as well as multiple BCRR group runs and work outs popping up all over Bucks County.
There is a palpable rise in the club’s energy and I love it! How awesome is to see the pride in our members faces as we present checks to the various charities our club supports. We have donated over 30,000 with the proceeds of the 2015 Thanksgiving Day race and the Winter Series. Our membership has worked hard to raise these funds and although it is always a labor of love the personal sacrifice our club members make at the various events does not go unnoticed not only by our membership but the community as a whole. Words can not express how proud I am and we all should be of the dedication to the sport of running exemplified by the Bucks County Road Runners.
The amazing thing is the positive impact we have on the community. Just by doing what we love, running and sharing what we love with others, again running we make a difference on our planet. We are all aware of the impact on charitable contributions running provides. In 2014 alone the Boston Marathon raised more than 38 million dollars for charity. The fund raising capabilities of a crazed group of endurance athletes can not be underestimated.
We all enjoy running races and social events and work outs however I think other than fund raising it’s often lost on us the impact of running beyond our physical well being and emotional enjoyment. Please consider some of the other ways the BCCR community affects our local community: Thanks to our club Tre Fratelli Restaurant had their biggest pizza party to date and Dominic’s pizza had a record Thursday night. Their owners, cooks and servers all made out. Thanks to BCRR there is a run on Steele cut oats and gluten free pancake mix at the Giant Super Market. Manhattan Bagel is on the upswing feeding hungry runners and the people in the orange and banana industries are smiling. Thanks to us a legion of sports medicine providers has been launched to heal the aches and pains associated with the sport we love, and foam rollers are flying off the shelves! Thanks to us the owners of the local running shoe stores stay profitable. Thanks to us Tyler Park is a rocking place to be, the Delaware canal is hopping and people know there is a place called “Bald Pate”.
Additionally the attitude of our club is contagious. I can’t overstate the feedback I get from all those we come in contact with. From the park rangers at Tyler to the workers at the eateries we frequent to the groups we sponsor; our efforts and our enthusiasm and commitment to our sport and the community are appreciated.
The clubs success is entirely due to the enormous efforts of our board (I am so incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing and dedicated board) and the countless hours our volunteers put in mentoring group runs, planning socials, the winter series madness with it’s legions of volunteers and even begging mug designs and party planning for our upcoming Luau. We have a great group, the best I think.
To be perfectly honest when several people approached me to run for president last summer I was fairly uncertain if I could make the sacrifices needed to be a good president. The time commitment, the energy commitment and the sacrifice those close to me have to make of my attention and focus on them. I was promised two things: One: It would really not be a major time commitment, just a few hours a month. Two: It will all be worth it. Well one of those statement is true and it’s not hard to guess which one. I wouldn’t have it any other way. On behalf of my board of directors we all thank you for the privilege of serving our club members.
Keep Running!
Johnny King-Marino