Valley News – February 21

Happy Faschnaut Day! This is the PA German version of fattening up prior to the Lenten season which begins tomorrow. Others may celebrate this day under different names such as Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras and Carnival. So, what exactly are faschnauts anyway? They are potato-based donuts fried in lard. Live it up, people!

ENDURANCE SPORTS EXPO
Is anyone planning on heading down to Oaks this weekend for the Endurance Sports Expo? I’ll be down there on Saturday and typically spend a good part of the day meeting vendors, discovering new products and catching up with friends, as well as attending seminars. The cost is $10 at the door but I have a coupon code for you which if you purchase online right now you can get a ticket for $6 – ‘ESE2off ‘. Expo hours are Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.

FIRST STRIDES
Ladies, it’s that time again. First Strides is beginning it’s spring programs. Visit www.firststrides.com for more information.

GIRLS ON THE RUN
Quakertown is starting up a GOTR program this spring. It is exciting to see this wonderful organization branching out even more! I got this email from The Great Bill Tuszynski yesterday. If you can help, please do.

Heidi Pernia (hlpernia68@yahoo.com) is passing this on about a new Girls on the Run group forming in Quakertown.  GOTR works with young girls to introduce them to running and help them train for a 5K.  As Heidi explains, “I have a favor to ask. Dr. Kathy Winters who is the principal at Quakertown Elementary school is preparing to start a Girls on the Run program there in March. They are going to be training for a 5k that is May 31st. I would like to try and help by getting shoe donations for the girls. We are looking for people who have used running shoes that still have some “life” left in them. Most of the girls will probably not have appropriate footwear. I was wondering if  club members would donate used shoes. I would probably have to arrange to pick the shoes up from people. I have not figured out how else to get them.”

RUN THE STAIRS
Full Circle Training’s famous Run The Stairs workout is back! Join Obe and others from FCT at the stairs off 10th St and Martin Luther King Blvd, directly across from the baseball fields. Admint it, you’ve seen these stairs leading off into the woods and always thought to yourself that they’d make a great workout one day. Well, what are you waiting for? Everyone is welcome to join in the fun. Saturdays at 9am.

WEEKEND RACES

Frozen Knight 5k – Saturday, 10am, Reading.
Mardis Gras 5k-ish – Saturday, noon. Bar run in Allentown.
Ugly Mudder – Sunday, 11am, Reading. New course this year.

NEWTON CLINIC

1689 portrait of Isaac Newton by Godfrey Kneller

Oops! Not that Newton. Mark you calendars for March 3. There will be a clinic at The Finish Line for Newton running shoes. The rep will be on hand to answer your questions. Newton Running stresses Natural Running and running on your forefoot, though they do make models for  under and over-pronation. If you’re heading out to the Endurance Sports Expo there will be a Newton expo table there as well.