Omaha Running Club 2008 Board and Advisors

Officers

Tom and his wife Lorraine are long-time runners and have done many races, from 5Ks to marathons, where they have lived in New York, Pennsylvania, Dallas and Omaha. They have also ventured afield as well, completing the Big Sur, Disney World and Taos, New Mexico marathons and the Bloomsday race in Spokane, Washington, among others. Their current goal is to obtain a race number from every state, and even as a long shot possibly doing a marathon in every state to become members of the 50 states club. That is a very long shot, however.

Tom has been active in running clubs and race management in Pennsylvania, Dallas and now in Omaha, as well as currently serving as the RRCA state representative for Nebraska and South Dakota.

Tom is Senior Assistant Corporate Secretary at Union Pacific Corporation. Tom and Lorraine are the parents of two grown daughters and have lived in Omaha since 1999.

I grew up in rural northeastern South Dakota and moved to Omaha four years ago for a career opportunity doing civil engineering work and yes the warmer weather and lack of snow is a lot nicer for outdoor training. I am employed by Thompson, Dreessen & Dorner, Inc.

I have volunteered to be on the board to help increase the number of events that welcome the new and non-completive runner to participate. My favorite thing about running events is meeting new people.

I participated in track and cross county in High School and have since completed a number of marathons over the past few years. This year my goal is to break the 3 hour mark.

Hobbies: Running, what else?

My wife and Laurie are foster parents. We have two children of our own and three foster children.

I grew up in the Sandhills of western Nebraska. When I moved to eastern Nebraska, I no longer had a horse to ride, so I started running to get around.

Directors

I'm entering my 20th year with the Omaha World-Herald, where I currently serve as a copy editor/reporter. For the past four years, I have covered the Omaha Beef and also report on running and cycling news and features.

I'm a 1977 graduate of UNO with a degree in coummunications and took up running seriously in 1980. My first of four marathons was the 1983 Lincoln Marathon. I followed that with the 1984 Lincoln and Omaha Marathons before deciding it was too much work training for a marathon. But in 2002, soon after turning 50, I decided to try it one more time by running the Baltimore Marathon with my oldest son who lives in the area.

ACL transplant surgery in 2004 has all but ended my running career, although I manage the three-mile Richfield Run each year.

I retired from the Union Pacific RR in 2003. Formerly I was a manager of Timekeeping. Originally from Portland, Or. My railroad career has given my family the opportunity to live in San Francisco, Houston, Los Angeles and Omaha. I'm married with 3 grown children and 2 grand children. My two sons live in Houston, Texas and my daughter resides here in Omaha. I'm looking forward to continueing my post as volunteer coordinator for the ORC during 2008.

My running career ignited in San Francisco during the 1970's. And my first road race was the San Francisco Examiner Bay to Breakers-12K (Wild and Krazy) in 1979. I've ran numerous other races (5k and up) including 8 marathons since.

I enjoy early morning runs around Lake Zorinsky especially during the snow season. (Although most of my training runs are done during the evening hours.)

Hobbies: Running, Road Racing, Running. Interests: Swimming, Biking, Travel Favorite Road Race: San Francisco Examiner Bay to Breakers. Most Challenging-- Omaha Marathon-2004. Goal for 2008: To complete 8 of the 14 Magnet Series races.

Susie is a native Nebraskan who grew up on a farm and has been running since inheriting her brother's first hand-me-down Keds. She has competed in 50 some marathons and actually places pretty well. Her passion for running and community runs deep and has compelled her to take advantage of the opportunity to serve as race director of the Omaha Marathon Weekend. She would like to run a marathon in every state, but is finding that possibly just running "a race" in every state will suffice to accomplish that goal.

Hobbies/activities include running, ultimate Frisbee, biking, painting, music, traveling, organizing charity events, entertaining friends, riding RAGBRAI, etc.

Susie is a nurse who educates individuals on how to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. She owns her own business that contracts with The Nebraska Medical Center, coordinating their Executive Physical Program and is a Reliv Distributor.

One day she dreams of her Knight in Shining Armor lifting her onto his horse (or swanky car), presenting her with a pair of the "Newest version of Saucony Running Shoes" and heading to Hawaii to run in a marathon. With an alias like Tigger, that dream will surely come true.

I started running about 10 years ago and discovered that I liked it. Once I started racing I experienced tremendous anxiety along with being a fierce competitor. I agonized about each and every race as if it was a life or death event. After I ran my one and only marathon, I got injured, lost all my speed (which was relative to me) and my desire to run. I was so sad! But there was hope! I kept at it and was determined to come back. I found a running buddy, my friend Connie and she literally saved my running. So here I am! My attitude and perspective have changed 360 degrees. I still race, but now I enjoy it. The competitor in me still loves to go all out. So no matter what the clock says I know I gave it my 110%. I usually feel like throwing up when I finish a race, but so far it's never happened!

My husband Mike is runner. He's usually injured. Even so, he always beats me. My goal is beat him. I get closer with every race! We have so much fun with this competition. Mike was on the board for three years so he's very supportive of me. I have three kids: a 24-year-old daughter, a 21-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter. One day after a summer run, my son told me I looked like a runner because of the sunglasses I was wearing. That was one of the nicest compliments I've ever received.

I love to run and lift weights. I'm a gym rat. I've started running with the ladies of the evening and it's great fun!

I have two businesses. One is a faux finishing business, Exclusively Faux and I am also an Arbonne Independent Consultant.

My goal is to support and give to the running community through the ORC. I am here to serve and inspire!

Dan is a 2001 transplant to the metro area from Columbus, NE who took up running in Dec. 2002 to combat the "middle age spread" (brought on in part by his wife Brenda's great culinary skills) and to increase cardio-fitness. Since then he has completed 4 half marathons, several full marathons and numerous competitive shorter runs.

"I took up running for mostly selfish reasons and reasoned that committing to a club and entering the competitive runs would keep me motivated. I found the ORC newsletter and website to be very helpful and have appreciated the camaraderie with ORC members. Serving on the board is a small way to give back to the running community what was given to me"

Dan and Brenda see marathons as a way to travel to places they wouldn't normally consider visiting for tourist reasons only. For them, it is an incentive/reward to train hard and then enjoy the trip even more by booking a few extra days for sightseeing.

They have a grown son, a teenage daughter and a teenage son. Together the family is learning the benefits of making healthier choices. Dan and Brenda are also NASCAR fans.

I have been active in running events most of my life, from high school sports, to road races and now marathons (thanks to several summers with the ORC Marathon Clinic). I have completed numerous marathons. I participate in the monthly gatherings with the Ladies of the Evening. It's a running, socializing and - best of all - eating event. In addition to running, I enjoy biking and would like to start focusing on triathlons.

I am originally from Brainard (commonly referred to as the Bohemian Alps region of Nebraska). My husband, Chris, is also a runner. Even though we don't share the same training philosophies, I am fortunate to have someone who shares my passion - he may beg to differ.

I have found the Omaha Running Club to be very active in promoting running events for all ages and abilities. I've made valuable friendships with the social and athletic opportunities it creates. I look forward to serving as a member on the board

I started running in 1979 from the downtown YMCA as a change of pace from the weight lifting that I normally did at noon. I found that I really enjoyed the physical aspects of it as well as the social aspect provided through group running (there were as many as 8-10 of us who would run from the YMCA back then). As time went on I found myself running more and more frequently and ran my first race in 1980. It was Mick Freeman's CB 13 and somewhere about 11 miles I was hurting so bad and thinking to myself "I am never going to do this again"! That was 27 years and 25 marathons ago. Guess I was wrong!

I am married to fellow Board Member Jackie McNeeley who takes great pleasure in beating me in races!

I am employed by Election Systems and Software as a Quality Assurance Analyst.

I look forward to contributing to the outstanding efforts of the current ORC board members in whatever capacity I am needed.

Board Advisors

Liason for the ORC relating to finish line, race services, etc. Lifetime member of ORC. Married, 1 daughter and 1 son. I enjoy helping other groups succeed in putting on events. My current employer is PayPal Inc.

Hobbies: Certifies course measurments through USATF, Hunting.

ORC Board: Active with the club since 1985.

Married with a grown daughter and son. I have run aboutfourteen marathons but after running nine of them in Lincoln I am trying to travel to different ones each year now.

Hobbies - Running, biking, duathlons, snow skiing and fishing.

ORC Board - Newer to the board. Hope to keep up a high level of volunteer participation and to help increase the number of successful, reoccurring runs available for all of us in our Iowa/Nebraska running community.

I'm originally from St. Louis and have made my home here for several years now. I live in Iowa and work in Nebraska. My career is in the health promotion industry with Union Pacific Railroad. I travel 9 states working with employees on preventive health issues.

As an exercise instructor, many of my exercise sessions were designed for others. I started running in college as an activity just for myself. Now what keeps me running is how I feel, the camaraderie of other runners and my education. I look forward to another great year with the Omaha Running Club.

My son started playing soccer a year ago. I decided to take advantage of when he had soccer practice and get myself in shape by running the perimeter of the park. That was all it took for me to understand why so many have a passion for running. After participating in my first organized run at Peak Performance's St. Patty's day run I was hooked. I also have a passion for weight training and biking.
My favorite part of participating in running events is getting my friends and fellow runners out there with me.
I decided that it was time I do my part to keep the fun going and volunteer to help to help the Omaha Running Club.

I grew up and currently live in Council Bluffs, IA. I work for ConAgra Foods as a Business Analyst in the IT department. There is nothing I look forward to more than getting out for a run after sitting all day at a desk.
I look forward to serving on the ORC board and becoming a more active member of the Omaha Running Club.

Membership and

Race Management

Alan ran middle distance and XC in High School and College. He started running again in 1993 after his father lost his leg to diabetes. He has run over 22,000 miles since, including 10,489 miles in a string of 1,234 straight days! His running tapered when he switched careers and moved to Omaha in mid 2002. He has run less than 1000 miles since injuring his back and neck in an automobile accident in 2004.

Alan spent 9 years on the Omaha Running Club board of Directors as an at-large member, Director-elect and Director and Marketing Director. He has served as the Membership Coordinator for the ORC since 2004 and assists Stan Shirk with the scoring of Omaha Running Club events. He was a Lincoln Track Club Board Member for 5 years and served as the Computer/Results Coordinator for the Lincoln Track Club Board from 1998 to 2004. He still assists in the scoring of Lincoln Track Club events. He also times events for ChampionChip Minnesota (www.championchipmn.com).

He is a member of the Planning Committees for both the Omaha Marathon and the Lincoln Marathon and served as the volunteer Cross Country Coach for College View Academy High School in Lincoln from 1998 through 2003. He also coached Lincoln Youth Track and Cross Country from 1994 through 1997. He has met many lifelong friends through running.

Physical Therapy

Personal Training Advisor

Omaha Sports Physical Therapy
www.OmahaSportsPT.com

A Nebraska native, David is a nationally-known expert in the field of plyometrics, and speaking nationally and regionally on strength training and conditioning. He has authored rehabilitation, speed training and plyometric training chapters for both the Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning (2000) and NSCA's Essentials of Personal Training (2004) textbooks.

Brian Long, PT, ATC is the owner of Champion Physical Therapy & Athletic Rehabilitation, PC in Omaha, NE. His practice specializes in treating the athlete and is located in the All Seasons sports complex.

Dually licensed as a physical therapist and an athletic trainer, Brian has over 13 years of experience and expertise in the field of athletic medicine. He has worked with a multitude of professional athletes in all major sports, Olympic athletes in several different disciplines, and amateur athletes of all ability levels. Brian also has a great deal of training and experience in biomechanics analysis. He has served on the sports medicine teams for five different marathons and many shorter races. He has also twice served as the Sports Medicine Liaison for the Toyota Gator Bowl and worked with the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL.

After many years of being active in football, basketball, baseball, and track & field, Brian became a competitive and recreational runner 15 years ago as part of his recovery from a lumbar spine surgery. He has since finished two marathons and multiple 5K, 10K, and 15K races. More recently, he has enjoyed participating in the relatively new sport of adventure racing due to its multi-disciplinary demands. His company is an "Extreme Partner" sponsor of the Nebraska Sports Council Racing Series and provides sports medicine coverage for their events. www.championpt.com