Last modified on May 8, 2008                                                                  

TODDS ROAD


STUMBLERS


May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.

 

The Todds Road Stumblers are an informal group of runners who meet each Saturday morning to run and enjoy each others company. This non-profit group has no dues and owes its existence to the generosity of Alex Campbell, the original "Stumbler", who founded the club in 1975. Club members meet in an old farmhouse that serves as the club's headquarters in the beautiful Bluegrass countryside of central Kentucky. The clubhouse is located at Pine Grove, about 6 miles east of Lexington, just east of the Clark County line, at the intersection of Todd's Road (1927) and Comb's Ferry Road (1923).

Starting time for the weekly runs is 7 AM. Runners can choose to do 6, 9, 12, 15 and some hardy "soles" even do the 21 mile course over the rolling hills of Clark County. Runners of all levels of ability are welcome with the emphasis on enjoying running with good friends (old and new) while surrounded by some of the most gorgeous rural scenery in the country. Come join us for a run and some good conversation and then top it off with a cup of coffee and a donut. All runners completing the 6 mile course for the first time receive a Todds Road Stumblers t-shirt. Just show up on Saturday morning or, for more information on our Saturday runs, email Judy.

If you are new running with the Stumblers, please review the Rules Of The Road.  They are for your safety.  All runners are expected to follow these.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

2007 saw 10 Stumblers enter the 500 Mile Club, more than any year since 1984!

TODDS ROAD STUMBLERS ANNUAL SPRING FLING POTLUCK BREAKFAST

Saturday May 10, 2008.

 

We hope you can join the Stumblers for a spring run and a potluck breakfast immediately following your run.  The spring marathons are behind us and we're all gearing up for the Bluegrass 10,000.  Come on out and join us, bring your favorite breakfast treat to share, and swap some running stories.  Running stories are like fishing stories, they get embellished the more they're told.

 

Stumblers who haven't been out in a while, this is a great excuse to come back out.  If you're recovering from an injury or not able to run for whatever reason, come on out and let us know of how you're doing. Breakfast starts around 8:30.

 

  •  WELCOME CONNOR!  January 5, 2008 - This was Connor Ross' second time to run with the Stumblers, but the first time we were able to get his photo.  Connor is a 2nd year student at VMI but was visiting family in Winchester.  Thanks for holding back the pace while running with some 'geezers'.

 

 

 

 

  • NIKKI JOINS THE 500 MILE CLUB!  December 29, 2007 - Last for 2007, but not least.  Congratulations to Nikki Ditsch for completing her 500 miles and joining her husband, Gary, as a member of the 500 Mile Club.  Way to go!  Nikki is an accomplished athlete and runs, bikes, and swims her way to fitness.  Check out her fitness blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • MARATHON GLORY  December 8, 2007 - The Todds Road Stumblers were well represented at both the Kiawah Island Marathon and the Rocket City Marathon.  Steve Olson trained for and started the Rocket City Marathon in spite of being ill, but used good judgment and aborted the run to live and run another day.

          Kiawah Island                          Rocket City

          Chuck McQueen      3:47:53       Carol Miles            3:17:53 (First in her age group)

          Jon Walker              3:51:45       Terry Ringle           3:42:45

          Don Nicholson         3:56:26        Phil Waters           3:54:08

          Jim Thornton           3:56:26        Larry Brown           3:59:45

          Ed Dove                  5:06:45      

          Ron Mayer              5:35:33

  • UNDOCUMENTED...BUT VERIFIED  December 1, 2007 - Jim Thornton, Skip Rafferty, and Don Nicholson (L to R in photo) have been running with the Stumblers for years but it seems they have not been logging their Saturday morning miles.  After Jim started whining (he's always the one isn't he) about not being on the 500 Mile plaque it was noted that Skip and Don weren't on it either.  The TRS self appointed executive committee reviewed their case, and after careful and lengthy deliberation, decided to mark December 1 as the celebration date of their 500 miles.  Lest anyone else think they can get away with not documenting their miles, be forewarned, these three Stumblers had to get affidavits attesting to their years of attendance at TR and get someone to vouch for their good moral character.  If you know these three you know that getting someone to vouch for them was not an easy task.  Congratulations to Jim, Skip, and Don!

 

 

Tree Planting and Memorial Plaque

We're taking donations to buy a tree and plaque in appreciation and memory of Mr. Doug Gay, whose generosity and friendship helped make possible the Todds Road Stumblers, along with the generosity of Mr. C., the original Stumbler.  The tree has been planted but we are still collecting for a nice outdoor plaque.  Suggested donation for long-time Stumblers that can afford it (and you know who you are) is $20.  Of course we'll take that kind of donation from anyone, but if you're a student or have other special circumstances, please give what you comfortably can.  See Marty, Barry, or Wes to make your donations.

 

Tree and Plaque Contributors to Date:  January 19, 2008

 

Steve Olson              Martin Ginocchio         Paul Walmsley            Ernie Peel                     Jim Pierce

Virgil Johnson           Dan Wells                   Rhonda Uber              Judy & Mark Duncan      Jim Thornton

waLLy Stefaniak         Barry Collins               Don Nicholson            David Sheeks

Wes Moody              Judy Collins                Jon Walker                 Neil Armstrong

Bill Sanborn               Chuck McQueen         Phil Waters                 Herve Antoine

Tom Scally                John Trump                 Terry Ringle               George VanMeter

 

SCENES ENJOYED ALONG THE ROADS  where else are you gonna find this kind of scenery?

to view larger photos click here

          

      

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • ANNOUNCEMENT  Have YOU signed up for Donut Duty lately?  If you've picked up donuts in 2008 or have signed up to pick up donuts in 2008 - then you're off the hook.  If you have done neither, please sign up for donut duty before you grab that well-earned donut on Saturday morning.

If you're fairly new you might not have any idea of how the donuts get there, or how the coffee gets made, or how the clubhouse gets cleaned up each week.  It's really quite simple and painless.  You're coming out to run anyway, right?  Committing to picking up donuts is just an added incentive to come out to run.  REMEMBERING that you have Donut Duty is perhaps the hardest part about donut duty, and you don't want to disappoint your fellow Stumblers by not remembering when it's your turn.   So, we've made that easy too!  If you can't remember which day you signed up for donut duty - check the bottom of this page to see who has Donut Duty.

Here's how it works:

1.  Commit to a date and write your name on the calendar provided (on the counter next to the coffee pot)

2.  Pick up the donuts before coming to run on your scheduled date from Magee's Bakery at 726 E. Main St. anytime after 6:30 a.m.  (if you need directions ask).  You don't even have to pay for them.  Through the generosity of Alex Campbell they are already paid for.

3.  Deliver the donuts to the club house (don't forget this part, it will be tempting to eat them before you get to the clubhouse).

4.  Plug in the coffee pot, Barry Collins will already have the coffee ready to go!

5.  Between 9:30 and 10:00 start cleaning up - empty and rinse the coffee filter and pot, put away all condiments and cups.

 

See - easy as eating a donut.  There are only 52 Saturdays in a year, so if every active Stumbler signed up for just one Saturday we would probably only have to do Donut Duty once per year.  A very small price to pay for that delicious donut at the end of your run - and we know you like the donuts!  As an added incentive to sign up for Donut Duty we plan to reserve the parking spot closest to the clubhouse for the person bringing the donuts.

  • Thank you to Vernon Childers who is hosting our web site, and to Judy Duncan and Wes Moody for publishing content.  If you have any suggestions of how this site can be more useful to the Stumblers, please email Judy or Wes.

PARKING REMINDER

Please do NOT park along the road across from the clubhouse.  Some runners have been parking along the road and blocking access to the warehouse.  Parking is permitted in the clubhouse yard (but don't block anyone in) and in the REAR of the Pine Grove Grocery Store parking lot.  Leave the parking spaces closest to the grocery for patrons of the store.

 

We share the roads around the Clubhouse with cars and we all know who the loser would be in a collision.  As pedestrians we have a right to be on the roads, but we also have a responsibility to run safely.  Every runner is responsible for their own safety.  Please be careful and follow the:

RULES OF THE ROAD

  • Stay on the left side of the road, facing traffic, this puts you in a better position to anticipate and react to vehicles, and it's the law.

  • Get into single file, as far to the left as practical, whenever there is any traffic and on curves and hills.

  • Wear reflective clothing at dawn or dusk and in the dark or fog.

  • Be especially careful in adverse weather like rain or snow.

  • Try to run or walk with a partner.

  • Get off the road if cars are approaching from both directions.

  • Use your ears as well as your eyes, listen for approaching traffic, don't wear headphones.

  • Anticipate potentially dangerous situations and be prepared to act to protect yourself.

  • Stay alert, be careful of fatigue, "runner's high", or any lapse of concentration.

  • Be courteous to drivers, a friendly wave is appreciated.

  • Do not be confrontational, if there is an incident with a reckless driver try to get the license number but do not engage in an altercation.

  • Help other runners/walkers be safe, remind them of the rules.

 

The Song of the Ungirt Runners

by Charles Hamilton Sorley

 

We swing ungirded hips,
And lightened are our eyes,
The rain is on our lips,
We do not run for prize.

We know not whom we trust
Nor whitherward we fare,
But we run because we must
       Through the great wide air.


The waters of the seas
Are troubled as by storm.
The tempest strips the trees
And does not leave them warm.
Does the tearing tempest pause?
Do the tree-tops ask it why?
So we run without a cause
       'Neath the big bare sky.

The rain is on our lips,
We do not run for prize.
But the storm the water whips
And the wave howls to the skies.
The winds arise and strike it
And scatter it like sand,
And we run because we like it
       Through the broad bright land.

Items of Interest

 

 

  .
"A dog is a dog until you look him in the eye, 

then he's--Mr. Dog."