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Ambler Area Running Club

Welcoming runners of all abilities.

USATF Team

AARC has a team participating in the Mid-Atlantic USA Track & Field Club Challenge Grand Prix.  Everyone in the club is welcome to join - you just need to join the USATF as an AARC member prior to competing in any of the races.

The Club Challenge is a series of 11 events throughout the year in the tri-state area, starting with Shiver by the River in April and ending with the Philadelphia Half & Full Marathons in November.  Distances are from 1 mile to 26.1 miles.  The list of 2022's events can be found below.

Why enter? To complete against the other running clubs in the area.  2017 was the first year the Ambler Area Running Club entered the competition, and we finished in 8th place out of 13 teams.  In 2018 we finished 9th out of 26 teams.  See below for the 2019 results.  There was no 2020 challenge.

Cash awards go the fastest clubs! 1st Place $1,200, 2nd $900, 3rd $675, 4th $475, 5th $325, 6th $200, 7th $125, 8th $75, 9th $50, and 10th $50.  Team scores are calculated for the fastest five runners at each event, and the best eight of the twelve events overall.

More information can be found here:

Grand Prix Circuit Rules

2022 Event list page

2022 Off Road Events List Page

USATF Mid-Atlantic Facebook page

What next? If you are interested in joining the team for the 2022 season, please contact Ira Meyers or Jim Lombardi 

2022 Schedule

EVENT NAME START DATE START TIME
Fireside Frostbite 5 Miler February 19, 2022 9:00am
Haddonfield Adrenaline 5K* TBD 9:00am
Valley Forge Revolutionary 5 Mile Run April 24, 2022 8:30am
Blue Cross Broad Street Run 10 Mile May 1, 2022 8:00am
Memorial Main Street Mile May 30, 2022 9:00am
Scott Coffee Moorestown Rotary  8K* June 4, 2022 8:30am
Main Line Run 5K September 11, 2022 8:30am
Philadelphia Distance Run – Half Marathon September 18, 2022 7:30am
Delaware Distance Classic – 15K* October 9, 2022 9:00am
Cooper-Norcross Run the Bridge Event 10K* November 6, 2022 8:30am
Philadelphia Half Marathon November 19, 2022 7:30am
Rothman Institute 8K November 19, 2022 10:45am
Philadelphia  Marathon* November 20, 2022 7:00am
*Mid-Atlantic Championship Race

2021 Results

The club placed 13th place of the 21 clubs that competed (club results).   (overall age-graded standings).    (women's and men's age-graded results).

2019 Results

The club placed 9th place of the 21 clubs that competed (club results).  We had 11 club members run for the team (overall age-graded standings).  Hillary, Vince, and Bob all placed 2nd in their respective age groups - Congratulations!  (women's and men's age-graded results).


Race Frostbite 5-Miler Haddonfiled Adrenaline 5K Valley Forge Revolutionary Run 5 Miler Broad Street 10-miler Scott Coffee Moorestown 8K Main Line Run 5K Delaware Distance Classic 15K Norcross-Cooper Bridge 10K Philly Half marathon Rothman 8K Philly Marathon

Total

Races

Ran

Runner                                           Date 23-Feb 16-Mar 28-Apr 5-May 1-Jun 8-Sep 13-Oct 3-Nov 23-Nov 23-Nov 24-Nov
Jim Lombardi 1 1   1 1 1 1 1   1   8
Vince Varallo (Age Group 2nd Place) 1 1 1 1     1   1 1   7
Hillary Goodman (Age Group 2nd Place) 1   1 1 1 1         1 6
Bob Boland (Age Group 2nd Place) 1   1 1     1 1       5
Lisa Marie Gelembiuk 1     1       1 1     4
Kristy Corino       1       1 1     3
Vlatka Moll       1         1     2
Justine Shults                 1     1
Jen Sowden 1                     1
Bob Harmon       1               1
Lauren Brown       1               1
Total Club Entrants to Each Race 6 2 3 9 2 2 3 4 5 2 1 39

Race Reports

Fireside Frostbite 5 Miler

February 22, 2020

1300 runners were greeted with beautiful blue skies and perfect winter temperatures for the start of the venerable 2020 Frostbite 5- mile race. The race served as the first race of the year for the USATF Mid-Atlantic Grand Prix Series. So not only was the field large, it was also extremely competitive. To illustrate just how competitive it was, I would like to compare it to last year’s Broad Street Run. Based on the Runners World Age Grade Calculator, the 2019 BSR had 0.6% of its men and 0.32% of its women score an age graded percentage of 80 or greater. The 2020 Frostbite had 6.4% of its men and 2% of its women score 80 or higher. A score of 80 or higher is considered national class. A score of 90 or higher is world class. There was one runner, Chuck Crab, in the race that scored a 90%. He was in the 60-64 age group where 5 of the top 6 (8.8%) were over 80%. The old geezers like fine wine keep getting better. The age graded calculator is based on the percentage of the world record time for your age is of the time you recorded for the race.

Team member results are as follows:

Lorraine Grassi 39:06  F40-44  17th of 108
Jennifer Peacock 45:50  F45-49  28th of 82
Jim Lombardi 43:13  M50-54  44th of 76 
 Hillary Goodman   38:14   F55-59    3rd of 56 
 Bob Boland 33:23   M60-64    6th of 57 
 Rob Holmes 38:37   M60-64   12th of 57 
 Howard Cohen  41:41  M60-64   26th of 57 
 John Herman 40:49  M65-69   10th of 35 

Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge Event 10K

November 3, 2019

Beautiful blue skies, 44 degrees and a 10 mph breeze out of the northwest made for perfect running conditions for the 2300 runners participating in the Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge 10K. A fast first mile is a rarity as the race starts on the Jersey side of the 93 year old iconic Benjamin Franklin Bridge with a ¾ mile 4% grade hill. But you can pick up the pace as you descend into Philadelphia. Then you make a U-turn and run back to Camden. By the time you get off the bridge you have already completed 3.1 miles. The rest of the course is mostly flat and runs past the majestic battleship USS New Jersey before finishing in front of Rutgers Camden’s athletic fields.
The AARC had four runners competing in the Mid-Atlantic Grand Prix event that was part of this race. Lisa Marie Gelembiuk ran 54:01 and placed 22nd our of 157 in the 45-49 age group. Kristy Corino running with Lisa Marie also finished in 54:01 and placed 10th out of 101 in the 55 – 59 age group. Jim Lombardi ran 52:30 and place 25th out of 99 in the 50 – 54 age group and Bob Boland ran a 42:54 and placed 3rd out of 63 in the 60 – 64 age category.

The Grand Prix series winds up the year during the Philadelphia Marathon weekend. Runners can run in any one of the three races which include an 8k and a half marathon on Saturday, 11/23 and the marathon on Sunday, 11/24.

Delaware Distance Classic 15K
October 13, 2019
Temperatures in the mid-fifties, a partly cloudy sky and the trees in the early stages of the autumnal color show made for a perfect setting for the Delaware Distance Classic 15K in Wilmington. The out and back race follows the mostly flat Markel trail over wetlands, through woods and under a couple of major highways and makes for a very pleasant run. The AARC team had three runners participating in this Mid-Atlantic Grand Prix event. Taking advantage of the wonderful day was Vince Varallo who finished 11th overall and first in the 45 - 49 age group running an even 6:00 minutes per mile pace to finish in 55:51. Bob Boland finished 2nd in the 60 – 64 age group in 1:05:48 and Jim Lombardi finished 6th in the 50 – 54 age group in 1:16:42. 
Main Line 5K
September 8, 2019
The Main Line 5K was held on September 9 in Wayne, PA.  301 folks ran the race, and representing AARC USATF team was Hillary Goodman and Jim Lombardi.  It was a great morning for a race, except for that last hill over the SEPTA train tracks.
Scott Coffee 8K
June 1, 2019

The Scott Coffee 8K was held on June 1 in Moorestown,NJ.  The race was held in the tree-lined streets of Moorestown,NJ prior to the start of Moorestown Days with many local vendors at the start/finish area.  Runners received a t-shirt and  a package of Lacas coffee (which is pretty good, IMO).  691 folks ran the race, and representing AARC USATF team was Hillary Goodman and Jim Lombardi.

Broad Street Run
May 5, 2019

Upon arriving on Broad Street on the morning of the run the thought occurs that this must be a special race for 40,000 fellow runners to jump over the logistical hurdles necessary to arrive at the starting line. And the 10 mile run through the heart of Philadelphia never disappoints with the fast course, different neighborhoods, interesting architecture and thousands of spectators spread out along the entire length offering cheers and words of encouragement. This year it was raining hard enough so that everyone would be soaked before they reached city hall. I had the pleasure of speaking to over 50 runners before and after the race and it struck me that not one person complained about the weather proving that runners are either oblivious, hardy or just really cool people.

The AARC USATF Mid-Atlantic Grand Prix team had 8 runners in the race and there were some great performances.

  Name  Time   Place  Age Group 
 Hilary Goodman   1:13:46    3rd of 667  F 55 - 59 
 Vince Varallo    58:56   4th of 1512   M 45 - 49
 Bob Boland   1:08:47   7th of 564  M 60 - 64
 Vlatka Moll   1:37:29  12th of 86  F 65 - 69
 Kristy Corino  1:23:02   22nd of 667  F 55 – 59
 Bob Harmon  1:28:11  36th of 253   M 65 - 69
 Lisa Marie Gelembuik  1:24:09  92nd of 1356  F 45 - 49
 Jim Lombardi  1:29:18  401st of 1116   M 50 - 54

Three runners Hilary Goodman , Vince Varallo and Bob Boland achieved age graded percentages over 80% which is considered national class for their respective age groups.

Valley Forge Revolutionary 5 Miler
April 28, 2019

The third race of the Mid-Atlantic Grand Prix series, the 5 mile Rev Run, was held at Valley Forge National park on Sunday. The course one of the most beautiful in the Delaware Valley offers stunning vistas at every mile and a number of challenging hills. The race was well organized with many post run amenities including Sly Fox brewery beer which always tastes good after a hard run especially when they let you go back for a second one. AARC was represented by three team members among the 939 entries and all three scored points. With a very impressive performance Vince Varallo ran 29:27 finishing 10th overall and first out of 80 in the male 45-49 age group. Also with a solid performance, Hilary Goodman ran a 38:20 and finished 2nd out of 37 in the female 55-59 age group. Bob Boland ran a 34:51 and finished 3rd out of 30 in the male 60-64 age group.

Haddonfield Adrenaline 5K
March 16

The Haddonfield Adrenaline 5K was held on March 16 in Haddonfiled, NJ.  The course was flat with a few slight inclines, and the weather was perfect for running.  Of the 984 runners, Vince Varallo and Jim Lombardi represented AARC’s USATF team.

AMBLER WEATHER

Contact Us

P.O. Box #204

Springhouse, PA 19477

Email: wm@aarclub.com

Ambler Area Running Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit and subsidiary organization of the Road Runners Club of America.

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