The Ann arbor track club is hosting an open 1-mile race at the UM indoor track on February 20th at 11:30am.  The UM track team is holding the "University of Michigan Silverston Invitational" track meet starting at noon.  They will open up the track for the AATC mile just before the official meet starts. 

This race is for adult runners of all ages (anyone over 18 is welcome) and all ability levels.  No one is too slow for this event.  If you can have fun running a mile, then you belong here.  There may be a separate heat for kids, but that has not been arranged yet, so we will post another announcement if that comes together.

The event is free for AATC members.  Runners that are not AATC members are welcome, but will have to pay a $10 fee (For $20, you can join the club and the $10 fee will be waived).

If you would like to run in this event, please e-mail the following information to Paul Mayer ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) NO LATER THAN FEB. 15TH

• Name
• Gender
• Age
• Are you an AATC member ?

The race is limited to one heat of 30 runners.  Entries will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.

Whether youngsters are looking to get fit, train for another sport or aspire to be the next Carl Lewis, the Ann Arbor Track Club Youth Program is prepared to serve.

Team manager, Ron Beasley, emphasizes that the program, designed for children ages 6 – 18, is actively enrolling children of “all abilities and skill levels.  We have about 70 kids who are members of the track club and are involved in the program throughout the year,” the focus of which is broken down into three seasons.  Cross-country runs from late August through early December, indoor track from mid-November through mid-March and out-door track from mid-April through late July to early August.

Children are divided based upon their abilities and intentions.  Those wishing to compete regardless of skill level participate in the “Competition League” whereas those desiring a focus on fitness typically take part in the “Recreational League.”

Head Coach, Bob Bard, takes pride in his coaching philosophy, which focuses on fun, family, substantiated research, discipline and lifetime fitness.  Bard explains that he doesn’t run drills simply because they have always been done.  He is diligent about keeping up with new      methods and applies them when appropriate.                                                             

Bard practices what he preaches as he runs with his young prodigies and encourages parents to do the same.  Those who can’t run are encouraged to walk, help facilitate drills or any one of the numerous tasks involved in managing the workout.

The program, made up of all volunteers, has quite a bit of parent involvement.  Parents often lead the athletes through a series of stretches and basic drills before splitting them up into their respective groups.

Assistant Coach, Cathy Gardner, describes the club’s runners as a “happy group.”  Children are challenged to work hard and develop their skills, but Gardner describes the program as less regimented than some other clubs.  “We modify the workouts when necessary and make it fun,” she says, this being the focus of the program.

Gardner maintains that she generally works with the younger athletes, while Bard and assistant coach, Joe Codrington, generally work with the middle and high school athletes.  She elaborates that while Bard generally oversees the workout, “coaches are good at rolling with each others differing perspectives” – a good lesson to be learned by young athletes and applied to the ins and outs of every day life.

Phillip Hill has been bringing, Xavier, his 10-year-old son, to the club workouts which are held 2 – 3 times each week for the past two years.  When asked what he thinks about the program, Hill exclaims, “We travel from Monroe, so you know we enjoy it,” and adds that the coaches provide a good work ethic.  Hill notices that Xavier’s participation helps him to feel good about himself and increase his self-confidence. 

Xavier who competes in the indoor track season says that what he likes best about the program is how it helps him to improve his speed for football season.

For more information, please visit the Youth section of the website, or call Ron Beasley at (734) 330-7931.

Sort of. I have been running and racing for almost twenty-four years, so some of you might already know me, and I look forward to meeting those of you who do not.

I would like to introduce myself and thank the board members for giving me the opportunity to write for your website, and in turn, share my passion with like minded souls.

I have always been an active person.  As a child, I ran with all of the different team sports that I played and started running recreationally around age thirteen.  I began running competitively by default.  I was cut from my junior varsity fast pitch softball team when I was a junior in high school.  I had just spent a week of my school vacation at a pitcher/catcher camp that my coach required me to attend.  Discouraged and angry, I decided to “show him.”  I joined the track team and having no knowledge or concern for proper attire, I showed up in my baggy cotton sweatpants and high tops, which I used for basketball season.  I had a great time running around the track with others...only later did I learn that I provided a great deal of amusement especially to the coaches who chuckled as I apparently bounded around the track like the Easter Bunny.  

Runners run for a variety of reasons, one no better than the other.  I run because my day and my heart are incomplete without it.  I am thankful to my long lost softball coach for giving me the opportunity to discover what I now love to do most and can’t bear to limit myself to any one distance or terrain.  After 32 marathons, 7 ultras, more road and trail races of varying distances that I can count and a smattering of triathlons, biathlons and adventure races, my love and yearning for our sport have never waned and only seem to strengthen in intensity.

My fondness for writing developed by accident.  While serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Namibia from 2003 – 2005, I trained a few of my learners for a marathon on the coast.  It took some doing, but after convincing my principal, we packed up his “combie” and drove to the coast, a first for us all, where my learners ran the marathon relay while I ran the marathon.

In hopes of drawing some attention to the needs of the country, I wrote a story about our experience, which Michigan Runner was kind enough to publish.

Things shall we say have “snowballed” from there.  In addition to the writing that I do for Michigan Runner, I also do quite a bit of writing as a marketing assistant for Running Fit and as a freelance writer for the Oakland Press as well as individual clients. And now I have the pleasure of being the official writer of the Ann Arbor Track Club website.

My goal is to keep you entertained, motivated and intrigued, some of which will require your assistance.  I have no shortage of ideas but also want some feedback from you.  What do you want to know about?  Do you have questions about injuries or training?  Are you a new or old member who would like to be profiled?

You are all athletes with amazing stories and talents.  Whether you are a National Champion, a cancer survivor, a marathoner, or otherwise, you have a story from which we can all learn and be inspired.

Please introduce yourselves when you see me lurking around at your track workouts, crazy runs, races and/or around town, and don’t hesitate to contact me with your comments, questions and/or requests at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

See you all soon on the roads, track and trails.