Las Vegas Marathon 21 Club
2008 Board of Directors
Check this out!
We thought you might like to hear a little bit about the folks that help keep this club on track and handle the business end of things. The original board helped set the foundation of the LVM 21 Club and each year we hold elections for Officers as well as Members at Large. We also have a few folks who help out on a non-official capacity although their jobs are almost more important than the board at times. We present to you the machinery of the LVM 21 Club. Our job is to keep the club up and running!
ANGELA SALAS (RunnerAngie)
President
Running was something I started back in college to relieve stress and keep of the extra pounds in nursing school. I have never been a competitive runner and always felt running was something fun and peaceful for me. While in nursing school I ran with a friend and we’d talk about classes and laugh, when I was working as a nurse in cardiology it helped with stress of work and hey, I figured I should be a good example for my patients. We all know how good running is for the heart. After I “retired” and started staying home with my kids running became my escape. I needed some thing to take me out of that “mommy mode” and get me out of the house. Being a mom is draining and the physical act of running was refreshing. It was then that I decided to do my first marathon. Prior to that I had never wanted to run so far. After my first I was hooked.
Since then have trained for twice as many as I have started, and I have started twice as many as I have finished. Injury, illness, a few DNF's have all been a part of my marathoning career but I have loved training for them all and loved starting/completing the ones I have done. As I have gotten older I have become smarter about training and appreciate more now what the body can do. I have also learned that it can do more when you give it some rest.
I love training and running long~ 20 miles is my favorite distance to run. I don't run 5/10k's but I will do an occasional 1/2 marathon. My love is the marathon despite being a middle of the pack runner who may never qualify for Boston! I do however have the distinct honor to say that I placed 2nd over-all in the women's category of the 2005 Central States Marathon. OK~ there were only 30 some runners but it still counts right :)
I plan to run at least one marathon a year for the next several years, that being the Las Vegas Marathon of course. If I can fit another one in each year that would be fine otherwise I am content just running for the love of running.
I will be 41 this year and in my spare time I enjoy swimming with my girls, gardening and yard work. I am now the President of our local running club and have been race director for several of our local races. My husband is into cycling and running so I do get to watch him do his thing off and on. He is the competitive one in the family and he will be running Boston this spring.
I have to mention that I have met some of my best friends and the nicest people through running. I have friends all over the U.S. that I have meet due to running and I would have never known them otherwise. Hopefully the health benefits of running will keep me going a long time, I can't imagine life without it.
Dennis Kato (SurfCityUSA)
Vice-President
I started recreational jogging while in college after taking a hint from my father that I was neglecting my health. When I reached my mid-30s, an advertisement for Pat Connelly's LA Roadrunner marathon training program caught my eye. I enrolled in the program, and my love affair with marathon running was soon born.
After half a year of arduous training, I ran the 1995 LA Marathon, slogging through wind and rain. The thrill of completing my first marathon is something I will never forget. But just as important is that I found that training for the marathon to be a very satisfying experience, where every long distance weekend run was a reward in itself.
I am still involved with the LAA Roadrunner as a Pace Leader and assist others in their preparation for LA. Besides LVM21, I am also a member of the LA Running Club and Marathon Maniacs. To date I have run over 50 marathons, including 14 consecutive LA Marathons, all 12 Pacific Shoreline / Surf City Marathons, and all three Las Vegas Marathons since the course was moved to the Strip.
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Lesley Gallacher (Lesley)
Secretary
I live in Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, work in IT by day, dream of beach-bumming at night and run as much as possible.
I started running regularly about six years ago and it wasn't long before the race "bug" bit me. My first race was the obligatory 5K about 6 months after I began running, and a few years after that I trained for my first marathon.
I first participated, however, in a marathon in 2005 at the Las Vegas Marathon as a volunteer. This is where I met the people that would become the Las Vegas Marathon 21 Club. It was the experience of handing out medals at the finish line and being part of the group of people that started this club that finally convinced me I could train for my first marathon, which I completed in Las Vegas in 2006.
Other interests of mine include travel, biking, my family, my dog and the beach. Especially the beach.
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Don Pemberton (Donaldaz)
Treasurer/Membership
I am a recreational runner with aspirations of joining the 50-50 club (running 50 marathons in 50 states). Most of my days, however, are spent in front of a computer at my job as a consultant/web designer/programmer for Maricopa County.
Born and raised in southern California, I spent my high school days in Olympia Washington where I had a short-lived and very unnoticeable track career. Following a brief stint with the U.S. Air Force in Arizona, I lived in Florida, Virginia, and Maryland before returning to my favorite state, Arizona. During this time I was married for 20 years and raised 3 wonderful boys.
If there is a fun local race giving out free shirts, I am usually there.
Other interests of mine are softball, the Suns, the Diamondbacks, golf, movies, camping/hiking, and traveling.
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Sandra Woods (SLW085)
Member at Large
Well, I began running when I went thru the Police Academy in Buffalo back in '97. Before then I was into cycling. Our PT instructor was into racing and encouraged/challenged us to run a local race that included a Police category. I took overall Female Police Officer and was hooked on running since.
I've completed 9 marathons including NYC, Buffalo, Marine Corps., Ontario Shoreline, Canadian Int'l, and Las Vegas. My best time thus far is 3:54. My goal is to qualify for Boston. After that I'd like to try Triathlons.
When my husband retired from police work, I quit my police job and we moved to sunny, warm Las Vegas. I currently work for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority - (the "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" folks). I work bike patrol as a security officer.
Martha Corazzini (ginger26.2)
Member at Large
Growing up in Connecticut, I would never have considered myself an athlete. True, I studied ballet and tap dancing as most girls do; in high school I was a cheerleader, however when it came to sports I was usually the last one picked for any team!
Anyone who knew me back then would certainly be surprised to see me now! I began running a few years after I moved to New York City. With Central Park as a backyard and the world famous NYC Marathon as your hometown race, who could resist?
In 1993, I ran my first marathon. For the next few years I ran one or two marathons a year; however I was soon bitten by the marathon bug. Instead of just running a long run in training for the one big marathon of the year, I started running a marathon each month!
In 2000, I moved from NYC to Las Vegas. Since then I’ve run over 100 marathons. In 2007, I completed marathons in all of the 50 States. Currently I have 13 states toward a second time and 3 continents toward my next goal of running the 7 continents.
Today, I live in Henderson, NV with my boyfriend, Ati, two Shih-Tzus, Sunny and the Guga and one “Pomer-ahua”, Tinkie. I have an office in my home and still work as a travel consultant for the same travel agency I worked for in NYC, which is great as it gives me an excuse to commute back to NYC for work and get in some training runs in Central Park...
In addition to my board position in the LVM21 Club, I am 1st Vice President of the Las Vegas Track Club; I also belong to the New York Flyers, the 50 State Club and I’m Maniac #578 of the Marathon Maniacs.
Shelley Fluegge (SeeChicletRun)
Member at Large
I'm a 26 year old mom to two boys (3 and 4) and a girl (born 1/2008). As if I needed more to occupy my time I am also the owner of clothdiapersnmore.com.
I am possibly the only LVM21 club member to never have run or walked a marathon. I began running in 2006, depressed and obese. I ran while pushing my two toddlers in a double jogging stroller. Soon I was hooked...there was no looking back. On a whim I googled Las Vegas Marathon and found this crazy bunch. They encouraged me and I ran the 2006 half marathon.
My plans quickly included the 2007 full marathon but a little bundle of joy (my daughter) had other plans. So I'm back to training for the next Las Vegas Half Marathon. My sights are still set on the full eventually, but for the time being I'm happy being 'just a halfer'.
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Jeff Shoemaker (Ramrod)
Member at Large
Jeff Shoemaker, known as Ramrod to the LVM21 members (and the Detroit Police Dept.), was born in 1826 in Mesopotamia. After graduating from Yale at age 12, he invented the electric salt shaker in 1974, and patented Liquid Electrician in 1999. Things were swell for our hero, until he lost his vast financial holdings at Michael Vick's house. He decided to take on the world of professional marathon running as a way of generating income. "Ha! This is easy!" said Ramrod. He has won literally EVERY race he's ever entered, and as such has once again become wealthy beyond YOUR wildest dreams. But don't ask him for money. He'll give you love, and kindness, and a sandwich, but not money, which he considers evil and dirty, and besides, he uses it to impress chicks. He's a swinger.
Actually, I am a married father of two (Mark is 12, lotsa hair, and Hannah is 10, nutty as heck). The legendary Donna and I have been married for almost 26 years. I'm a Sprinkler Fitter by trade (boring Rammo, get to something interesting ya clown) and I run because it makes me happy. I really don't like to race much, but since I love my LVM21 family, I make an exception each December. I'm not sure why anybody voted for me, but I'll do my best not to let you down. I have no idea what my duties are. No one tells me anything.
Kathy Link (klink)
Webmaster
Although I ran some track for a year in junior high, I didn't REALLY start running until I was 46. I had lost a lot of weight, and my walking turned into walking/running, and then running/walking, and then...running! I would run about 2-2 1/2 miles every morning and I loved it.
I did my first half-marathon about a year after that. I remember while training running my first 10 miler...WOW! And actually finishing the half and getting a medal? Priceless!
I decided that I wanted to run a full marathon when I turned 50. I ran the RnR Marathon in San Diego. It was NOT a pretty sight, and I said I would never run another marathon again.
But then I saw an ad for the NEW Las Vegas Marathon that was going to go DOWN THE STRIP! My husband and I LOVE Las Vegas, and I thought that this would be a pretty cool thing to do. Well, to make a long story short, I got involved with this bunch, and the rest is history. I have now run 6 marathons, and plan on doing at least 18 more (in Las Vegas!).
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Albert Ho (elephant)
Graphic Designer
Board Name: elephant
Real Name: Albert Ho
Age: 70
Location: Anaheim, California
Work: Rancho Santiago Community College District
Job: IT Professional
First Marathon: 2004 Los Angeles Marathon (LAM); since then have run/walked five more marathons, including the 2005 Las Vega Marathon.
How I got into marathons: At age 68 decided I wanted to run/walk at least one marathon before getting "too old"; after that, I was hooked! I love the camaraderie amongst the marathoners as well the health benefits.
Special note: My family was shocked that I could complete a marathon... it inspired two of my sons to trained for and run the 2005 LAM the next year. My daughter-in-law is now training for the Disneyland & LV half-marathons and plans to run the 2007 LAM.
Goal: To run/walk the next 20 LVMs for a streak of 21 marathons as a legacy runner!
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