As 2022 comes to an end we gear up for 2023 we’d like to give you a quick glimpse back at the past year.
As we came out of the Covid slumber we were able to hold our Superbowl Tailgate Trot 10K and the St. Luke’s Half Marathon & 5K. We had over 6,000 participants attend our races and attendance has crept back to slightly more normal numbers.
In 2022 there were more club members who earned volunteer incentives than the previous year:
231 Individual Volunteers
541 Total volunteer slots were filled
49 Club Members Reached Bronze (Renewed membership)
13 Club Members Reached Silver (LVRR Logo Bag)
6 Club Members Reached Gold (LVRR Logo Jacket)
There were many new and returning faces at our group runs and we created a group run Facebook group for members to coordinate the runs.
The oil heater for the clubhouse finally kicked the bucket and we updated the heating and cooling in the house with new units in the living room, kitchen, and bathrooms.
We collaborated with the Wildlands Nature Conservancy by putting together a group hike to explore the new property, Black River Sanctuary. LVRR awarded the conservancy a $20,000 grant in 2021 to help build trails and signage at the new sanctuary.
We gave $12,750 back to the community in the form of Grants to:
Women’s 5K Classic
Healthy Kids Running Series
Wilson Area Cross Country
Camelot for Children
Salisbury High School XC
Liberty High School XC/T&F Booster Club
Bethlehem School District
Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley
Bethlehem Catholic XC
We also gave scholarships totaling $28,000 to seven bright, deserving high school seniors.
We gave the staff at Allentown Parks Department holiday gift cards for all of the hard work they do to maintain our beautiful park system.
We could not have done any of this without our volunteers and runners.
Thank you!
Looking Ahead
New Year Run and Luncheon
Please join us on January 1st as we ring in the new year with our annual New Year Run. We meet at Emmaus Community Park and depart promptly at 12 PM for a 5-mile run up the mountain and back. The run takes place on the streets and the rules of the road apply. We stop at the top for a chance to catch our breath and toast the new year with champagne before heading back down.
Meet at Fire Company #2 (just down the street) for lunch and drinks on the club. All are welcome to attend.
Ice Scraper 5k
The next two dates for our ever-popular winter 5k series are January 8 and February 5. Register online by 9 PM the night before the race. No race day signups.
Superbowl Tailgate Trot 10k
Plans for this year’s race are moving ahead full steam. This year’s top 50 giveaway is a pair of LVRR logo running socks. (Top 50 men and top 50 women will all receive a pair as they cross the finish line.) The committee wishes to let you know that they will be collecting donations on behalf of the Allentown Rescue Mission. Here is a list of items that are needed. Receive a ticket when you drop your donation at the clubhouse on race day for a raffle. Two people will be chosen at random to receive a $25 gift card.
Sign up to run the Tailgate Trot here.
Did you know that LVRR has a shoe drop? There is a Rubbermaid box in the clubhouse to the right when you enter the building. It’s next to the doorway to the kitchen. Drop your gently used running shoes in the box at the next group run or race that you attend.