As some of you may know, our quarterly newsletter Soonar Soundings ended with its last issue in the Fall of 2012. Editor in Chief Marlyss Bird had a great run and produced an award winning publication. In lieu of this publication, we want to introduce a Pamakid Runner’s Club blog, Soonar or Later. The goal of this blog is to allow us to not only continue bringing club news, race reports, and club-related stories we were all familiar with but to also diversify the type of content. We hope to produce a product worthy of its predecessors and at the same time produce something new and interesting. We are very honored with this opportunity and are open to whatever (constructive) advice or suggestions you may have. The blog is currently in a primitive state, so we welcome any submissions (race reports, notable news, haikus, etc). If anyone is interested in submitting a regular “column” please let us know! Subscribe, contribute, and comment!

http://soonarorlater.wordpress.com

John Gieng and Yvonne Ou

Editors, Soonar or Later

Pamakid Runners’ Soonar Soundings e-Newsletter also selected for 2009 Excellence in Journalism Award

The Road Runners Club of America recently selected the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon, hosted by Pamakid Runners Club, as 2009 RRCA Road Race of the Year. The renowned club also received the 2009 Excellence in Journalism Award for its quarterly Soonar Soundings e-Newsletter.

“We’re excited and proud to win the RRCA national awards,” says club president and coach Andy Chan.  “What a great way for our club to kick-off our 40^th year.”

In related news, longtime club member George Rehmet received the RRCA’s Outstanding State Representative of the Year Award. Rehmet, who took home the same trophy in 2001, is the first state representative to win the award twice.

“I really appreciate the nominations that led to my selection as Outstanding RRCA State Representative of the Year,” says Rehmet. “As state rep, I will continue to serve the interests of our running community to our national organization.”

Founded in 1970, Pamakid Runners strives to “promote a healthy lifestyle and support the running community and charitable causes by organizing, volunteering, and participating in running related and social events in the San Francisco Bay Area.” The club donates tens of thousands of dollars annually to local non-profits and charities, due in part to their success hosting the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon and 5K, which this year attracted nearly 10,000 runners to San Francisco.

The RRCA is “dedicated to supporting the growth of grassroots running clubs, training programs, and running events while promoting the common interests of runners throughout the United States.” Since 1971, the RRCA has honored dedicated individuals for their outstanding service to the RRCA and the sport of distance running through their annual awards.

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“The Pamakids Charity Committee is continually looking for organizations to support in our community, and we are excited to contribute to the United Playaz,” says committee chairperson Ashley Rich Rodwick.  “Their summer camp program supports the club’s vision of promoting a healthy lifestyle and strengthening our community.”

United Playaz, which works with youth in some of San Francisco’s toughest neighborhoods, provides leadership skills and other valuable tools by providing opportunities for safe recreational activities and community involvement. Its annual summer camp—which may not have happened without Pamakids’ funding—serves as a “fun and safe mechanism to help youth make healthy behavioral choices by crossing racial or turf lines, building relationships with one another, and decompressing from the daily stressors that impact their lives.” Campers convened at Camp Caswell Memorial State Park in Manteca, Calif., over Labor Day weekend.

The Pamakid Runners, which celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year, puts on the highly successful Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon and 5K, which returns to San Francisco on Sunday February 7, 2010.

To submit a proposal for charitable contribution consideration, please e-mail charitablegiving@pamakids.org for information.

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“We are honored to be in a position to provide so much support to worthy charities in the San Francisco Bay Area,” says club president and coach Andy Chan. “Our San Francisco Half Marathon has grown tremendously over the past few years—due in large part to our title sponsor Kaiser Permanente—which has allowed us to provide even more support to our community, which is very exciting.”

The primary beneficiaries, each of which received $20,000 donations, include the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center, Support for Families of Children with Disabilities, and the Koret Family House.
Pamakid Runners also donated $10,000 to the Hemophilia Foundation of Northern California and $5,000 to Sports Council, Palmer College of Chiropractic. Race organizers also gave free entries to more than 50 youth participants in the Students Run Oakland marathon training program.
“Harbor Light Center employees head out every night delivering sandwiches, clothing and sleeping bags to the homeless,” says Pamakid Runners’ social chair Phyllis Nabhan. “Our donation will help hundreds of people.” The Salvation Army’s live in/work out program focuses on the underlying roots of addiction through substance abuse education and counseling, as well as prepares residents for independent living and employment.

Koret Family House employees manned a water station during the race—one of the many ways the organization says “thank you” for helping them continue to provide families with children undergoing treatment at UCSF Children’s Hospital a place a comfortable, supportive residence.
In addition, Support for Families of Children with Disabilities, puts its funds to good use by offering information, education and parent-to-parent support free of charge to families of disabled or special needs children.
The Pamakid Runners will celebrate its 40th birthday during the 2010 Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon and 5K, to be held February 7, 2010.

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Longtime Pamakid Harry Cordellos ran his 41st Bay to Breakers this morning. Was this the hottest race day since 1968? It’s got to be pretty darn close! Harry doesn’t give us a weather report, but he does share all lots of other good stories in a recent article in the San Francisco Examiner. Read all about it here.
– Soonar

The Pamakid Runners convened on Friday, April 24 for a brisk run (or walk) around Lake Merced. The club has beeen “running in circles” since 1970 and in honor of nearly 40 years of running and socializing, they decided to change directions and run the course counter-clockwise! As I looked down upon all all of my old and new Pamakid friends, I noticed that noone got lost and everyone seemed to have a good time. After the run, folks migrated to Janet Pomeroy Center for dinner and an awards ceremony, which included a special award for the Cunneen family. Betty Cunneen founded Pamakid Runners, and she and husband Pat Cunneen have been part of San Francisco’s running community since I was a little chick.

Rites of Spring race results are posted below. See you “Soonar” rather than later. — Soonar

WOMEN’S RESULTS

Name                    Time        Age Group    Overall

Age Group 10-14
Tapanga Dorey    54:52        1                    31

Age Group 25-29
Anna Kurtz           32:52        1                     13
Megan Guttmann   47:50     2                    23

Age Group 30-34
*Ilona Gugan        32:48        1                     12    * First Place Female

Age Group 35-39
Amy Sonstein        33:15        1                     15
Kelly Haston          33:46       2                    16

Age Group 40-44
Jennifer Marinelly    58:06     1                  33

Age Group 45-49
Kelly Cunneen         53:52         1                 30

Age Group 70-74
Jeannie Jones          45:20        1                   21

Age Group 75-79
Marty Miracle         48:20        1                   24

Age Group 80+
Alice Dingwall      1:16:00        1                   34

MEN’S RESULTS

Age Group 15-19
Merick Nguyen      29:13        1        7
Marcus Johnson    51:48        2        29

Age Group 20-24
*Gino Guisti           26:40        1        3     *First Place Pamakid

Age Group 25-29
*Chakira Omine    25:17        1        1    *First Place Male

Age Group 30-34
Jason Reed            25:29        1        2
Kenly Gaffke         26:49        2        4
Tom Bevans          29:32        3        8
James Firestone   58:04        4        32

Age Group 35-39
Eduardo Vazquez    27:26        1        6
Frank Alupay          32:29        2        10

Age Group 40-44
Adam Lucas              27:21        1        5
George Rehmet        31:28        2        9
Garrett Cunneen      34:17        3        17

Age Group 45-49
Pat Cunneen Jr.    32:44        1        11
Ron Dorey    50:29        2        28

Age Group 50-54
Walter Paulson    37:45        1        19

Age Group 55-59
Wayne Plymale    33:14        1        14

Age Group 60-64
Michael Ryan    45:40        1        22

Age Group 65-69
Paul Mosel        38:44        1        20

Age Group 70-74
Keith Johnson     37:22        1        18
Harry Cordellos   50:02        2        25
Theo Jones           50:03        3        26

Age Group 75-79
Pat Cunneen         50:18        1        27

A spirited bunch of Pamakids met up on Wednesday, March 11, at our newly engraved park bench, situated perfectly in front of the California Academy of Sciences. In exchange for a donation to San Francisco Parks Trust, we received a fabulous meeting spot for running, walking, or just hanging out, and we tested out all of these options during our inaugural gathering. Pat Cunneen painted a nifty banner (see photo), and Phyllis Nabhan decorated our sitting spot with balloons and made sure everyone had snacks.

About 25 or so club members showed up, with a large group taking off for a six-mile jaunt, a smaller group opting for a four-mile “easy” run, and one energetic club member tackling a mid-week 10-miler. Several folks opted for a walk through the park, while still others came by to keep the bench warm. How nice!

The weather was perfect – sunny and cool, with an extra hour of daylight to guide our way. From my perch, everyone seemed to have a good time, and most everyone wandered over to Pacific Catch for a post-run meal. “A little birdie told me” that this event reminded them of the Pamakids in its early days…people of all ages and abilities coming together to run around and socialize. No big flash, and no charge (except for dinner if you choose to partake).

This thing was so much fun, it just might become a habit. Stay tuned…

— Soonar

Today’s San Francisco Examiner included a half-page feature on Pamakids runner and board member Danielle Bisho, who ran a personal best in today’s Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon. The story also featured Pamakids coach and club president Andy Chan, who, only a few years ago, was Danielle’s “rival coach” from her high school years, as Danielle attended (and ran for)  St. Ignatius while Andy was a few years into his job as coach at Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep.

Full story here.

In related news, Pamakids presented its best Half Marathon and 5K to date this morning, with nearly 9,500 runners toeing the line. From my bird’s eye view, the race went off without a hitch, and without a cloud in the sky. More news on this as it comes. Check out Race results here.

– Soonar