The LVRR’s goal is to host fun and safe events for participants. That goal could not be accomplished without the support of our enthusiastic volunteers. Here are the number of volunteers needed to host each LVRR event.
Ice Scraper Series – 34 per event (136 for the series)
Tailgate Trot 10K – 46
Emmaus 4 Mile Classic – 47
St. Luke’s Half Marathon/5K – 600
St. Luke’s Half Marathon Kids Run – 76
Summer Series 5K – 41 per event (205 for the series)
Kids Series – 76 -per event (365 for the series)
Lisa Bellito
Lisa Bellito (pictured above) serves as the Volunteer Coordinator. She also serves on the Emmaus 4 Mile Classic and Ice Scraper Series Committees.
Q: How many years have you been a member of LVRR?
A: Since 2013.
Q: What have you accomplished as a board member?
A: I have been involved on several race committees and coordinate volunteers.
Q: Where is your favorite place to train?
A: The Allentown Parkway and Trexler Game Preserve.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
A: My favorite hobbies are running and spin.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Anything by Stephen King.
Q: What is your day job?
A: I am the Manager of Individual and Small Group Product Development and Implementation for Highmark Health.
Q: Any running goals for 2020?
A: I am hoping to get to run at least one of the races that I registered for this year but my ultimate goal is to continue running just for the love of it, without training for a specific race.
Q: Any goals for the Club?
A: I would like to continue to grow membership. We have worked so hard to offer so many opportunities for involvement through running and volunteering for all age groups.
Meredith Longo
Meredith Longo serves as the current Vice President of the Board of Directors, is a member of the Youth Committee, Scholarship Committee, and a mentor for First Strides.
Q: How many years have you been a member of LVRR?
A: I have been a Board Member for 6 years, with past two years serving as Vice President. I have been involved with LVRR long before becoming a board member. I was a volunteer for the Kids Series and Tailgate Trot10k, I have been a mentor with First Strides for over 10 years and served on the Youth Committee for past 7 years.
Q: What have you accomplished as a board member?
A: My biggest accomplishment has been growing the Kids Series events year over year. Annual participation has increased 40% in the past six years and we are fortunate to maintain sponsorships to keep this a FREE event. It fills my heart to see how excited the younger children are and to see them move up to a new age group each year. The greatest reward is seeing these children become volunteers after they phase out of the age requirement or when they apply for one of our LVRR college scholarships. A majority of applicants began their running career in the Kids Series!
Q: Where is your favorite place to train?
A: I love being anywhere near water.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
A: I love traveling the world!
Q: What is your day job?
A: I am the U.S. Finance Manager at Victaulic Company, a Manufacturing company with world headquarters based in ForksTownship, PA.
Q: Any running goals for 2020?
A: I retired from long distance running a few years ago due to injuries. I would love to be able to work back to running a few miles at least 3 times a week.
Q: Any goals for the Club?
A: To continue to promote a healthy lifestyle and educate the sport of running, especially to women and youth. It doesn’t matter if you walk or run, as long as you are moving your body. As I tell the First Strides participants, “Leave who you were. Love who you are. Look forward to who you will become. The only failure is not to try, because putting forth the effort is success in itself.” I would also love to see more club members become active volunteers. I think you gain so much more appreciation for the sport once you volunteer and have a little bit of insight into what it takes to host the event. It only takes 1-2 hours to volunteer and we even have some volunteer positions that you can still participate in the race. I especially encourage anyone that is unable to race due to an injury to consider volunteering!
Tim Lambert
Tim Lambert serves on the St. Luke’s Half Marathon and Tailgate Trot 10K race committees.
Q: How many years have you been a member of LVRR?
A: 15+ years.
Q: What have you accomplished as a board member?
A: Established the Group runs, transitioned to full responsibility for the SLHM water stops and serve as committee member on the Tailgate Trot 10k.
Q: Where is your favorite place to train?
A: The Lehigh Parkway which is where I started running 30 years ago.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
A: My hobbies include drinking craft beer, skiing, and running (currently injured).
Q: What is your day job?
A: Real Estate Agent (“retired” accountant).
Q: Any running goals for 2020?
A: To return to running after a nagging 5 yr Achilles injury.