Letter from DMT President

PRESIDENT'S LETTERS

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December 1, 2002

It seems like just yesterday that I got elected/assigned to the positon of Durango Motorless Transit club president. It was actually three years ago next month.

In three years, the club has come a long way. We have some 150 households as members and nearly 300 individuals. We have a full race schedule including a marathon. Thursday night group runs were especially successful this year with as many as 20 people participating in each run. We've had several socials and running is as popular in Durango as its ever been. The DMT/FLC Scholarship Fund was started last year and with $5,000 already collected, we are well on our way to the goal of a $10,000 endowment. The interest collected from this will fund scholarships for area high school seniors who want to run cross country at FLC.

DMT is a non-profit organization organized under the guidelines of the Road Runners Clubs of America. We are a volunteer-run organization dedicated to the task of promoting running on all levels.

None of this would be possible without the efforts of many individuals.

Karen Rudolph has been taking care of our membership administrative duties for two years. The days of me keeping track of 30 members in a spiral-bound notebook are long gone. Besides membership, Karen and husband, Vic, have revived the Kennebec Challenge and have put it on its way to to being one of the highlights of the year.

Nick Nichols, trusty newsletter editor, group run organizer and Race Director for the Turkey Trot has brought a new face to DMT and has done a phenomenal job in bringing runners of all abilities together.

Shena Oyler did a wonderful job putting on this year's very special 25th annniversary Narrow Gauge 10-mile and 5K runs.

Rick Callies, who works for the City of Durango, continues to make Animas City Mountain Mug Run and the new Telegraph 10K fun, low-key events that are enjoyed by many.

Behind the scenes, John Wolgamott, has oversen our treasury for the past three years and has ensured that our checks have not bounced and that our necessary race insurance is paid for every year.

Tom Burnett has kept a faithful eye on our growing inventory of race equipment. Do him a favor and, please, turn the race timer off after you use it!

Matt Kelly, Race Director, for the Durango Marathon, has helped put Durango running on the map and has also agreed to direct the Steamworks Half-Marathon next year.

Keith Paris has led track workouts and has helped many a runner achieve a personal best at a race.

Joanne Spina contnues to direct the Journey of Hope that helps fund mammograms for those in need.

Numerous other volunteers who have handed out water at races, torn off tags, directed traffic, and run the Chronomix, have all made this running club the premiere running organization in the Four Corners Region.

Our sponsors including Brown's Sport Shoe, Steamworks Brewing Company, Quality Photo, Gardenswartz Sporting Goods have added value for our members and have all helped DMT grow and thrive.

Some of our benefactors, those individuals who have made special contributions to DMT, have chosen to remain anonymous; others have been, and continue to be recognized. Thank-you to all.

As strong as this club appears, DMT still needs your help. We are especially looking for a new membership coordinator, Kennebec Race Director and people to head up committees for the 26th Annual Narrow Gauge Run in 2003. Please do what you can to help promote the sport that we all hold so dearly. And, if you know of runners in the community that are not part of DMT, please encourage them to join. I have to believe that running and racing in Durango would not be nearly as much fun without a strong running community behind it.

Lets make 2003 the best year for running in Durango!

Sincerely,

Marc Witkes

March 12, 2002

As I write this updated letter, I see a dynamic club that is growing, prospering and changing.

Meetings at Steamworks have recently seen attendance of 25 or more. People are getting involved on all levels. The DMT/FLC Scholarship Fund continues to grow and before we know it we'll be helping out some area youth to attend FLC and run cross country there. The race schedule is as busy as ever. Can you believe the Narrow Gauge Runs will have their 25th anniversary this year? And, of course, we are all excited for the inaugural Durango Marathon.

We'll also see the return of the Kennebec Challenge, Animas City Mountain, Telegraph 10K, Turkey Trot and Animas Valley Half-Marathon in 2002. Other area races, most of which offer DMT discounts, include Kendall Mountain, Cortez/Mesa Verde Half-Marathon and Blue Ribbon 10-K.

But, DMT is not just about racing. It is about friends getting together for a long weekend run. It is about helping each other. It is our way of celebrating life and all that it has to offer.

Spring is right around the corner and I imagine that this is one of the most promising times for a runner. There is so much to look forward to.

I'd love to list every single person here that has helped this club prosper in the past couple of years. That list is a lengthy one. Thank-you to all.

However, one person does especially stand out who has tirelessly supported DMT since the minute she walked into a DMT meeting and said "hello". Karen Rudolph has helped us reach new levels that I could never imagine were possible. Long gone are the days when I could keep track of members, addresses and telephone numbers in a little red spiral notebook. Besides her administrative prowess, Karen always wears a smile and is happy to help in whatever area is needed! We can not thank-you enough.

Our e-mail list now reaches some 150 active running households around the entire Four Corners region. We are continually being sought out by other active organizations who want to reach our members and are looking for our support.

See you on the trails and the roads!

Sincerely,

Marc

December 2001

This has truly been another great year for the club and running in Durango.

The schedule for 2002 is even bigger and better than ever! Kennebec returns. The 25th Annual Narrow Gauge 10-mile and 5K runs will be on Memorial Day weekend under the direction of Sheena Carswell.. Thank-you to Jim Morehart and Morehart Chevrolet Subaru Oldsmobile who have been long-time sponsors of this race. The First Annual Durango Marathon will be held on October 13. Thanks to Matt Kelly. We need volunteers and runners. Rick Calais and the city of Durango are co-sponsoring two events again this year, Telagraph 10K and Animas Mountain Mug Run. And, finally, the Durango Turkey Trot, which has been an annual tradition under the able direction of Peter Schertz for many years, makes another round of gobbles in November under the new leadership of Jim Nichols.

Membership for 2001 was over 130 households. With a little effort, that number can easily reach 200 by the end of 2002. We started a DMT/Fort Lewis College Scholarship Fund for area high school seniors who are going to run cross country for Fort Lewis College. Our goal is to build an endowment of $10,000 within two years. Please contact Dale Garland for more information. We bought race/club management software and upgraded much of our equipment. The new Yahoo e-groups allows us to have reliable, quick information passed on to all the members in a timely fashion.

Thank-you to Keith Paris who worked so very hard to help everybody achieve personal bests at this year's Tucson Marathon. Under his and Linda's direction, the Quality Photo Sprint Series returns in 2002 as well.

We have truly been blessed with so many people who have worked very hard in helping to build this club. THANK-YOU!

With Jim Nichols attending to the newsletter, Karen Rudolph on membership and John Wolgamott watching the treasury, DMT promises to be better than ever in 2002.

I encourage everyone to get involved in any way that you can. We need lots of help and and we are always open to new ideas and thoughts. I challenge everyone to help make running in Durango the best that it can possibly be.

Stay with us as we continue to grow...

Sincerely,

Marc Witkes

DMT President

December 2000 Members and friends of DMT, Oh, what a great year for running and runners in Southwest Colorado it has been! After a quick straw vote, I became DMT President in early February. After politicking for several months, I entered past President John McAward's 40th birthday party greeted by himself, Eric Pierson, Dale Garland, and John Wolgamott with, "Yes, I second the motion... Say, aye!" The year started with "Wiggy's Fun Run", 18 miles on Highway 550 from Cascade Village over Coal Bank and Molas to Silverton the last weekend in February. Attendance in the past has been as high 10 and after a fluke snowstorm, this event was attended by Kieth and Linda Paris, Emily Loman and Ernst Baer. Did I forget anyone? This umpteenth annual event will continue in 2001. March brought warmer temperatures and increased running. The Moab Half-Marathon was well attended by DMT'ers. April escorted Montrose Eight is Enough, Hoshoni Days 5-K, and Pueblo to Pueblo 11-miler. In its 23rd annual running, the Narrow Gauge 10-miler and 5-K took place Memorial Day weekend. Again, thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers, runners, family and friends for making this event one of Durango's finest. With Rick Callies and the City of Durango, the Animas Mountain Mug Run took place in early June followed by the Father's Day 5-K at Purgatory. Soon thereafter, DMT entered the modern-day era with a fine web site, dirc.co/dmt (now go-dmt.org), put together by long -time DMT'er, Geoff Ames. The e-mail updates also began around this time. If you no-longer want to receive these mailings, please let me know and I will delete your name. Wouldn't want to fill your "inbox" with any junk e-mail! Karen Rudolph also stepped up to the plate around this time and took on a major task as DMT's computer membership coordinator. July brought the Hardrock 100, the Blue Ribbon 10-K, and the Kendall Mountain Run. Thanks to Dale Garland and the Silverton folks for these events. The Hermosa Creek Fun Run in August was a great time, thanks to Durango newcomer, Jim Nichols. The Animas City Mountain Run II, a real Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, and the Tucson Marathon in December rounded out the season. DMT members Keith and Linda Paris are Couple of the Year for their unbridled enthusiasm and the First Annual Quality Photo Finish Mile dedicated to the new Alice McLean Memorial Fund. Quality Photo also provided free photos of the 10-mile race during Narrow Gauge. And let's not forget all the socials at Steamworks with noted guest speakers including Greg Lyman and Dave Rakita. In 2001 the Animas Valley Half-Marathon sponsored by Steamworks and theDurango Sports Club looks to make a return. A new Quality Photo track series will be sponsored by Quality Photo, Keith and Linda Paris. With a permit in place and a capable race director in Mike Aronson, the Kennebec Challenge should also return in 2001. We will also continue various group runs and speed workouts on Tuesdays with the generous coaching of Owen Paris via e-mail from Florida. Runners' World is scheduled to profile Durango and the DMT in March 2001. How exciting! Obviously, this letter is a very general overview of all the great things that happened with DMT this year. Thanks to EVERYONE involved for making this truly a banner year. "Runners are smilers." - Sri Chinmoy. Happy trails! Marc Witkes DMT President

August 3, 2000 DMT Members and Running Friends, Time to update this letter and as usual, I am not at a loss for words! How exciting these days to be a runner in this area! Speed-work on Tuesday mornings at 6:30 A.M. has been getting a tremendous response with 10-20 folks regularly showing up. In addition to all of the new faces, many women have been running quarters and halves with the guys as well! Group runs have been changed to Thursdays at 6:00 at the Colorado Trailhead on Junction Street in a better effort to allow people to run both the group runs and speed-work. From the very beginning of this program back in May, Kris Oyler and Sheena Carswell, took hold of this idea and have been running with it ever since. Thank-you. August is shaping up to be a very busy month. Georgetown-Idaho Springs Half-Marathon, Durango Sports Club Femme 10-K, Quality Photo Finish Mile and, the Hermosa Creek Fun Run. Events further ahead include the Sports Club 5-K Trail Run, Rim Rock in Grand Junction, Duke City, Pueblo River Trail, and Durango's own adopted Tucson Marathon. If that is not enough, we also have the Annual Turkey Trot once again directed by Peter Schertz. As of yet, we have not finalized a date but, this race will definitely occur around Thanksgiving. If you haven't heard the news yet, Runner's World is seriously considering doing a piece in their travel section on running in Durango sometime in 2001. This is very exciting and if you are up to helping this process get rolling, drop an e-mail or write a letter to Runner's World and tell them how much you enjoy running in this area! Again, if you are an active runner and/or racer in the area, please consider joining Durango Motorless Transit. $10.00 gets you a discount at Brown's Sport Shoe, $2.00 pints at Steamworks, local race entry fee discounts, and the national RRCA publication "Footnotes". Without a strong membership, local races cannot take place. Part of the membership dues allows DMT to purchase the necessary insurance to hold such events. Mail your membership today to DMT, PO Box 32, Durango, Colorado, 81302. Tell a friend as well. Happy continued training, racing, and fun runs to all! Any comments, concerns, or questions, please feel free to call me at 247-3116 or e-mail at marcwitkes@hotmail.com Very Sincerely, Marc "Wiggy" Witkes Durango Motorless Transit President

May 2000 Welcome to Durango Motorless Transit! We are a community based running club for all ages and abilities. We promote fitness and healthy living through running and walking, we sponsor local road and trail races, and we offer group training runs and speed-work. 2000 has been a very exciting year for me already! I assumed presidency of the club in March and we are off to a running start with 40 new members since then! We have a calendar full of events and I am happy to see that under the new leadership of Rick Calais and Michael Aronson, two of Durango's favorites, Animas Mountain Mug Run and Kennebec Challenge, are again on the calendar. Horse Gulch 5-K Benefit under the direction of Chance Poe should prove to be a welcome addition. Many races have already taken place including Wiggy's Fun Run, Eight is Enough, and Pueblo to Pueblo. Spring and the nice warm weather are finally here and if you haven't already, I encourage you to visit one of our long-time local sponsors, Brown's Sport Shoe, treat yourself to a brand new pair of running shoes, and head out for the roads and trails! And, of course, please show your membership card for a 10% discount. Thanks Steve! Narrow Gauge is scheduled for Sunday, May 28, 2000. This years edition will include a 5-K and a 10-mile run with both starts at 8:00 A.M. at Park Elementary. If you aren't running this year, please consider helping out. We have much need for volunteers and if your friends or family would like to help out, we will be very thankful as well. Remember, this club is only as strong as its members. I strongly encourage everyone to volunteer once every so often for all of the races that you have run over the years. This running community is about sharing, helping, and contributing. Your comments and contributions are always welcome and well-appreciated. Don't forget Tuesday's speed-work sessions. Meet at noon at Dave Rakita's physical therapy office on 2nd Avenue. Group trail runs meet at 6:00 P.M. at Junction Creek/Colorado Trailhead on Monday evenings throughout the summer under the leadership of Chris Oyler and Sheena Carswell. And, don't forget to say hi to Chris at Steamworks Brewery when you use your membership card for a $2.00 pint! I am very excited about this web site and about running in southwest Colorado. Sincere thanks to long-time DMT member Geoff Ames for setting up this wonderful site. It is going to be a great year! Come on! Get involved! Running means so much to all of us! Share it with a friend! Volunteer to help out! Welcome to DMT 2000! Let's make it GREAT! Sincerely, Marc "Wiggy" Witkes marcwitkes@hotmail.com
DMT President Marc Witkes, in a rare moment: standing still...	[back to top of page]	SITE MAP

December 2000