President's Corner Congrats to our Boston runners! The dreary cold winter is behind us and the first days of spring are upon us. It can mean only one thing. Running season has begun!

I am proud to announce that 18 SJAC runners will be toeing the line this year in the Boston marathon. This is quite an accomplishment. As many of you know, the Boston marathon is the only marathon besides the Olympic trials that you have to qualify for. Considering that none of us are elite athletes and have families, jobs and other commitments this is a testament to how dedicated our runners are to the sport. The personal sacrifices to qualify make me proud of all of our runners. In the weeks leading up to the marathon I can feel the excitement building. I truly feel like a kid at Christmas wondering what the day will bring. During a particularly hard training cycle the taper that leads up to the race makes the body and mind refreshed and ready to take on the challenge. The memories of past marathons flood my mind. The start of the Boston race especially stands out. The crowds that line the start, the media helicopters overhead, the military fly over and finally the pause before the gun goes off . For a split second the scene freezes as if in slow motion. And then the gun goes off and sets everything in motion and the journey towards Boston begins. It is in these moments that make those early morning long runs all worth it. Running itself transforms us.
We don’t all have to be Boston marathoners to understand what the simple act of running can do for our body, mind and souls. It is what makes us tick. It can cure everything form heart disease, high cholesterol to depression without taking a single pill. But it is more than some magical elixir. It makes us better people because it links are physicality with our brains. Studies have shown that it makes us smarter, happier and of course fitter. But it also allows many of us find ourselves and do things we never thought were possible. So this spring as the world around us wakes up, let’s take a moment to wake up our souls with the gift of running. And let’s honor those in our club that have gone that extra mile and qualified for what has become the gold standard for marathoners…The Boston marathon. Good luck runners!
I’ll see you on the roads,
Brandon Hamilton
SJAC President

SJAC Leads 2006 Club Challenge

After two races in the 2006 edition of the Mid-Atlantic USATF Club Challenge, SJAC is in first place with an eighteen point lead over Runaway Success. Ten races remain to be contested and competition will heat up as the season progresses. The Pike Creek Valley Running Club, Philadelphia Athletic Charities and Haddonfield Running Company round out the top five places in the standings. The current standings are below.

There are currently 75 Mid-Atlantic USATF members recorded as "attached" to SJAC. No less than 23 and as many as 47 of these members turned out for Grand Prix-Club Challenge races during 2005. This tremendous support by our club's membership is the major reason we are the four-time defending champions of the Club Challenge! The remaining ten races on the 2006 Grand Prix Circuit are listed below. We'll have a large group at each of these races. Join us to run or come to cheer on your fellow club members!

Grand Prix schedule: http://mausatfcom.readyhosting.com/TheGrandPrix.asp

Description of our participation:
SJAC-Club Challenge Info

2006 No Frills Race Series
Kicks Off on June 13, 2006

Runners await the start of the August 23, 2005 race

The 14th edition of SJAC's "No Frills, Just Thrills" race series starts on Tuesday evening June 13. Held on alternate Tuesday evenings during June, July and August, the "No Frills" series provides a weekday summer evening outlet for runners interested in some good competition, a hard workout or just a run with others. The series offers an economical entry fee of just $5, $3 for SJAC members and is free for full time students! Come out to run one of the races or volunteer your services and help us put the race on. Our "race crew" heads over to the deck at Connie Mac's Pub for post-race food, beverages and socializing.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006
......................6:30 P.M 1 Loop (3.65 Miles) or
......................................2 Loops (7.3 Miles) or
......................................3 Loops (10.95 Miles)

SJAC does the Off Road Series!

For the first time in this the third year it's being contested, SJAC is participating in the Mid-Atlantic USATF Off Road Series.
Nine club members made the trek to Reading, PA on Feb. 26 for the Ugly Mudder 7+ mile trail race.
Six club members completed the Tyler Arboretum Trail 10K in Media, PA on Apr. 1.
Two more trail and two cross country races remain in the series schedule. If off road running is for you, come join us in any of the remaining races!

Off Road Series schedule:
http://mausatfcom.readyhosting.com/Gprix06off.htm

Haddonfield Adrenaline 5K debuts!

After a successful 22 year run, the Bancroft Run was replaced by the Haddonfield Adrenaline 5K on March 18. Sixty-two SJAC members turned out for this race held what could be considered our "home turf". An all club email was distributed that evening with results for SJAC members so they will not be repeated here. However, please check the SJAC Photo Gallery in the next few days for a pictoral display from this race. Our thanks to Jeff Moore for the photography!

Kirk Earney 1st SJAC finisher in 16:30