Photo Credit: Rochelle Cox

The club celebrated the Holidays with its third Annual Meeting & Holiday Party on December 12, 2025 at Heritage Hall in Kirkland. Due to the availability of the hall, the party was held on a Friday evening, kicking off weekend Holiday festivities early (and a welcome way to end the workweek)! 

We had about 40 attendees for the night, with pasta catering provided by Due Cucina (so fitting for a runner crowd!). Attendees were encouraged to bring an appetizer, side, drinks, or dessert to share (and there was no shortage of dessert!). Ambient Holiday music and a slideshow of highlights from the past year quietly played in the background. We had available club apparel for sale, and each attendee also received a small party favor from the club. New this year was the club raffle, with various prizes from cozy socks and beanies, to nutrition/snack packs, to water bottles and running accessories. The grand prize of the night - a $100 REI gift card - was almost left unclaimed, as the winning ticket was hidden in a special party favor bag that somehow became lost during the evening.

For the meeting portion of the night, we kicked off with thanking the membership for their continued support of the club and the 2025 Board for their time and leadership. Three members of the current 2025 Board are departing at the end of this year:

• Jordan Andersen (Secretary) - stepping down after many years in various board positions with the club
• Steven Dion (At-Large Member) - term limit end, did not re-run for another position
• Steven Hammond (At-Large Member) - term limit end, did not re-run for another position

The results of the 2026 Board Election were then announced. For the first time in club history, there were more candidates (four) running than was available for the At-Large Member positions (three). The results of the 2026 Board Election are as follows:

• President (Incumbent): Joy Chan 

• Vice-President (Incumbent): Daniel Bannon 

• Treasurer (Incumbent): Peter Averill 

• Secretary (from At-Large Member): Paula Murray 

• At-Large Members: Nidhi Hooda, Michael Williamson, and Yasaman Mostafavi

We recapped the major events of 2025, then gave a preview of what was in store for 2026. There were plenty of things to look forward to throughout the Holiday season and new year, both old and new: various Holiday lights runs, January's Chilly Yeti Challenge, the Bridle Trails Winter Running Festival (now during the daytime!), and a new Wednesday 6 AM club run (to officially kick off January 7). We also announced a new educational event to be hosted in late January by club member and physical therapist Matthew Wines, DPT, with more details to be provided in late December/early January. 

As much as we all enjoy running, I really look forward to our club's more social events - for the opportunity to show up in non-workout attire, to talk with people while not putting in physical exertion, and to mingle with those on different life schedules. We hope everyone who attended had a fun and wonderful evening! Happy Holidays!

Photo Credit (all images above): Jordan Andersen

The LSRC Women's Team (L to R): Nina Tang, Jen Rozler, Zhenya Ross, Amy Rapin, Paula Murray, Pamela Hect, Joy Chan, and Mary Blake

Authored by: Joy Chan

Event Date/Location: November 9, 2025

With the USATF championship races being held out of state this year, the Pacific Northwest Track and Field (PNTF) Open and Masters XC Championships was the final club-sponsored cross-country race of the year. Held at Lincoln Park in West Seattle, it is personally my favorite local cross-country course, with fast trails and solid footing, Puget Sound and Olympic Mountain views, and the bonus of spending a half day so close to the water (and the quirky neighborhoods of West Seattle).

We had a perfect day for racing – sunny, mild conditions with barely a breeze. For four hours, team members rotated in and out of the two club tents (as the Women's, Master's Men, and Open Men's races were all occurring at different times). Excited chatter was abound during the warmups and cooldowns, and team members were loud and vocal in their cheers during the three races. 

For the women's team, eight members toed the start line: Women’s 50: Pamela Hect, Paula Murray, and Jen Rozler; Women’s 40: Mary Blake, Zhenya Ross, and Nina Tang; and Open: Joy Chan and Amy Rapin. The Open women did not have enough members to count in the team scoring, but the other two women’s teams did (five needed for Open, three needed for Master’s).

A full Master's Men team competed in the Men’s 40 due to four men being in their 50s with the last in his 40s (per USATF rules, a team can compete in a younger division, but not an older one): Michael Arlt, Daniel Bannon, Jason Hect, Mike Nakles, and Mike Williamson. Lastly, Zachary Fung, Clay Koppi, Arthur Lovekin, Mike Rossi, and Adam Stephenson rounded out the Open Men.

One difference this year was an unexpected last-minute change to the course. Due to a windstorm earlier in the week, there was a fallen tree which the parks department had failed to clear in time for the race. This led to a re-routing, which shortened each lap of the course by about 125 meters. In total, the women ran 5.6k instead of the standard 6k, the Master’s Men ran 7.5k instead of the standard 8k, and the Open Men ran 9.4k instead of the standard 10k. Needless to say, there were a ton of course PRs!

With some of the best local clubs in contention, it was a hard-fought battle for placement for all our teams. Everyone gave it their all! Notable achievements include:

• Women’s 50: 2^nd place team
• • 3^rd place W55: Jen Rozler
• Men’s 40: 2^nd place team
• • 3^rd place M55: Jason Hect

All in all, it was a glorious day to cap off the local XC racing season, with newcomers and veterans alike representing the LSRC blue. We hope this season has given people an opportunity to experience the camaraderie of a team running event, while also having fun on courses specific to cross country. It is truly something every runner should try at least once. Until next year!

Full Team Results: https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/269112/info

More Photos: PNTF Club XC Championship - 11-09-2025

The LSRC Master's Men Team (L to R): Mike Nakles, Daniel Bannon, Mike Williamson, Jason Hect, and Michael Arlt

The LSRC Open Men Team (L to R): Adam Stephenson, Arthur Lovekin, Clay Koppi, Zach Fung, and Mike Rossi

There were perfect fall conditions at the Emerald City Classic, our second scored club xc event of the season! The women ran 5k (3 loops of a hilly, offroad course) while the men ran 8k. Highlights:

• Kalli Haverkamp led the LSRC women with a very strong performance in her first post-partum xc race!

• Rochelle Cox ran a solid race to almost tie her course PR from last year!

• Zhenya Ross debuted in her first xc 6k and absolutely crushed the hilly course!

• Joy Chan was just glad to be able to run after feeling unwell (vaccination side effects) the day before!

• Paula Murray had recently recovered from an illness and battled hard to overcome the course, never giving up!

• Mike Rossi led the LSRC men with a superb performance, placing in the top third of the men's race!

• Eric Edmond made a strong comeback over injury with his first xc race in 7 years, placing in the top half!

• Zach Fung ran a focused, consistent race to secure a massive course PR!

• Mike Nakles ran a solid first xc race this season after dealing with an injury earlier this summer!

• Andrew Ruchames joined for his first LSRC xc season and absolutely crushed it!

• Peter Averill ran a controlled race with his first time on this xc course! Great job!

Well done everyone! Full results can be found here: https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/265591/info

L to R: Rochelle, Zhenya, Joy, Paula (missing Kalli)

L to R: Peter, Andrew, Eric, Zach, Mike N., Mike R.

By Jeff Chen

Eight of us made the trek up to Ferndale recently to run in the Bill Roe Classic XC Race. Though this race is mainly a collegiate race, it is open to other runners. Both women’s and men’s races started off with a bang, with over eight teams of young collegiate runners streaming toward the horizon at high speed. Mixed in with all of that were the runners from the Lake Sammamish Run Club. 

In his second running of the race, Zach knew exactly what to expect from the course. Though keeping up with the college kids was still a challenge, he was able to run 10 seconds faster than last year. 

Joy met her goal of running even splits with only a 9 second differential between her slowest and fastest miles (fastest = Mile 1, slowest = Mile 3). Joy gets bonus points for not getting passed by anyone else after the first 200m sprint!

Even though I was lapped by energetic, young collegiate runners, I succeeded in my goal of maintaining an even pace through the race and building up my endurance for longer XC races.

Link to Results: https://pntfo.trackscoreboard.com/meets/9272025/events

L to R: Jeff, Joy, Louis, Matt, Sal, Amy (missing: Zach & Paul)

Joy and Amy relaxing after their race :)

BY DANIEL BANNON (Photo/Elena Smentkowski)

Fourth formal marathon completed. I’ll start off by saying that was hard AF! Miles 21-26.2 were a struggle-fest for sure. Hello, cramps – I hadn’t encountered those before to the point of slowing or stopping me. Warning shots from my right calf came early, by mile 15, and I correctly deduced that nothing good awaited. It almost shut me down in both legs by the last few miles.

Finishing at 3:53-something was definitely not the race that I expected to run. I trained to 3:35, and I held that pace for 19ish miles. My cardio was fine, confirmed via post-action analysis, but the body betrayed me on this day. Why, I’m not sure yet…and may never know. And that’s okay too.

After a brief pause during the cool down, I shrugged and enjoyed the rest of my day and embraced the experience. Everyone I met wanted to talk about their experience. I wasn’t even that tired, never had a chance to push my cardio to the limit those last few miles. I had a vastly better time pacing 4:00 at Tunnel Light the other month, versus striving valiantly for 3:35 at Chicago. Light Bulb Moment, perhaps?

Sometimes you don’t run the race you think you will that day. I had to grind this MF out. No lingering physical problems a few days later fortunately.  Grit is what was required on this day. Not a fast finish. And I can live with that, with a big grin since the event itself was quite well run.

Run. Assess. Adjust. Run better. I’m enjoying LSRC club runs, volunteering, and pacing more than running for glory in ‘25. That might be it for formal marathons for a while. Getting into the remaining Abbott Majors appears to be a combo of luck, skill, and work I don’t currently feel motivated to do. Doing stupid distances with no particular objective? Seems more appealing!

Onward!

by Pamela Hect

“The Harvest Half reminded me that running is more than miles, it’s about the friendships we make while sharing a common purpose.”

This fall’s Harvest Half was more than just my third half marathon of the year. It felt like the capstone to a season of resilience, friendship, and rediscovering joy in running again.

When I first laced up, I wasn’t sure if I had the stamina—physically or mentally—to commit to training. But I wasn’t running alone. Thanks to my Perrigo crew, Sunday “run-days” became my long runs and my weekly social outlet. Almost every Sunday morning, we met at Whole Foods, laced up, and logged miles together. Week after week, the miles stacked up alongside laughter, encouragement, and the kind of conversations that make the road feel shorter. Those Sundays didn’t just make my legs stronger; they reminded me that running is always better when shared.

While Sunday runs were my anchor, I did make it out to a few Lake Sammamish Run Club “Wake Up Friday” (WuF) events. One Friday morning before the Harvest Half, my pal Doug pushed me to run four miles well out of my comfort zone and Mari reminded me to “smile”. Though I groaned through it at the time, I know those little nudges helped me build the grit and stamina I carried into race day.

And then, of course, there is Piper, the most famous dog in our running community. She didn’t run the Harvest Half, but she joined countless training runs, yelping happily at Perrigo parkruns and splashing into the water on summer mornings. Doug and Dean are her favorite dog-whisperers.

Each half marathon along the way carried its own story:

• Lake Sammamish Half (March): My first race back, and a test of resilience. I crossed the finish line in 2:14 (10:15 pace). It wasn’t easy—I was still recovering from a bout with Norovirus—but finishing reminded me of all the work I put in during the winter.
• Super Half (June): Race day was cold and unlike our practice run. The weather was cold and wet.  I, sadly, caught Covid 2 weeks prior. My time slowed to 2:19 (10:41 pace), but the real victory was simply showing up, running through the rain, and proving to myself that setbacks don’t define the journey.
• Harvest Half (September): By the time fall arrived, I was ready. Strava clocked me at 2:03 (9:23 pace), a personal record and my fastest of the three. I debuted my brand-new Hoka Bondis, which felt like running on clouds, and they carried me comfortably through the first half of the course.

The second half, though, was all grit. My goal was to break 2 hours, and I pushed as hard as I could, but fatigue set in. There were four water stations, and looking back, I wish I’d stopped at the third one on the way back. I was so thirsty and so tired at that point that every step felt heavier.

What kept me moving was the energy around me. At the second water stop, the cheer station was filled with familiar faces, including Mary and Doug, whose cheers lifted my spirits right when I needed it most. I also remember smiling at the encouragement signs lining the course on the out-and-back stretch. Lillian and Tali ran ahead after mile 7 and I knew I had to keep pushing.

Jason was with me the whole race, to pace me and to remind me to breathe. His presence reminded me that I can do hard things—and crossing with a shiny PR proved it true.

Crossing the finish line wasn’t just about the clock. It was about honoring the journey: the sick days, the rainy races, the early alarms, the Whole Foods Sundays, the rare WuF pushes, Piper’s cheerful presence, and the friendships that kept me lacing up when it would have been easier to stay home.

Most of all, I’m grateful for the Perrigo crew, each of whom adds something special to our circle:

• Gayle, for her sweetness and steady encouragement.

• Laura, for keeping me honest on the days when I didn’t want to run.
• Mary, who always makes me laugh and brightens the miles.
• Anne, my cerebral friend, who makes running feel like both exercise and thoughtful conversation.
• Lillian, who keeps us organized and moving forward (on and off the road).
• Tali, my running-gal enabler in the very best way.
• Tracey, who puts a smile on my face and models hat fashion like no one else.
• Jolla, whose incredible running milestones inspire me to aim higher.
• Jackie, whose steady, encouraging presence is a reminder that consistency carries us further than speed ever could.
• Beth, who brings her funny, quirky spark and “woo woo” energy that makes every run more magical.

This year of running has reminded me that improvement isn’t always linear and that progress is as much about community as it is about pace. My Perrigo crew lifted me through the lows and celebrated the highs, turning every mile into something meaningful.

And the sweetest ending of all? After the Harvest Half, Jason and I brought home two tiny kittens. We named them Hoka and Saucony—a playful nod to the shoes that carried me through this year’s races.

As I look ahead, I’m filled with gratitude. Grateful for the strength to run, for the people who inspire me to keep going, and for the simple joy of chasing finish lines together—sometimes followed by kittens, and often accompanied by a wagging tail and a cookie-seeking nose. The Harvest Half may have been my third half marathon this year, but I know it’s just another step in a journey that’s far from over.

A heartfelt thank-you to the Lake Sammamish Run Club for organizing such a welcoming, encouraging event and for building a community where miles become memories.

Here are a few of the club highlights during the month of August:

On Sunday, August 10 at Idylwood Beach, Lake Sammamish we had our third annual LSRC Summer Picnic. It was great to connect, eat lots of great food and catch up on the year's activities and events. We had a chance to introduce the board to our newer members, and to thank our volunteers for all they do throughout the year.

On Saturday, August 16 the LSRC Joggernauts (Daniel Bannon, Victor Wang, Adrian Wang, Zhenya Ross, Skye Pazuchanics, and Alan Sharp) competed in the Centennial Relay and Ultra Run. The 100KM route spanned the entirety of the Centennial Trail (Snohomish to Arlington, and back). Congratulations to all!

June has been a busy month for running events and group activities. Here are a few of the highlights:

On Thursday, June 5 at Marymoor Park in Redmond we had our first official LSRC pacing event. All our pacers (Joy, Daniel, Doug and Nidhi) led their respective pace groups to on-time finishes. Thanks to Champs Sports for a great run and an enjoyable evening!

It was a hot one: On Saturday, June 7 at the Lake Tye Challenge in Monroe, Daniel Bannon and Skye Pazuchanics ran amazing races with help and support from Shawn P. Skye took first place honors in the women’s 6-hour race, while Daniel took second place in the men’s 6-hour race. Many thanks to the good people who put on this unique ultramarathon event as a fundraiser for Wild Sky Community Trails Association.       (Meanwhile, in a parallel universe…) Also on June 7, it was another 90°F-day at the Yakima Mile (but we'll take 90°, over the 101° that was 2024). Max Jensen was 1st Grandmaster (overall 60+ winner) and Jason Hect and Piper were 5th in the Dog Mile. Trevor Jex ran a PR, and Pamela Hect was strong in her first road mile! Mike Williamson, Matthew Williamson, Michael Arlt, Zach Fung, and Joy Chan all ran solid efforts. Congratulations to all our finishers!   And finally, on Wednesday, June 18 we had an LSRC showing on the track at All Comers. Many of us participated in what we later learned was the final Jogger’s Mile (no watch allowed, predict your time for the win) – an event we hope to see return at some point in the future. Excellent participation in the 400, 800, 1500 and 5K throughout the night, and a captivating 4x400 relay with Arthur Lovekin, Mike Williamson, Zhenya Ross and Zach Fung for an awe-inspiring sub-5 min 1600m. Thanks to CNW for putting on another great meet.

From May 1 through May 16, 2025, the club sought input from members to gauge interest in structured track workouts. A total of 18 respondents completed a brief survey about locations, availability, and attendance likelihood at in-person track workouts. Full survey results may be viewed on this PDF: LSRC Structured Track Workouts Interest Survey Results_2025_05_30.pdf

Synopsis of results

• The results from the track interest survey showed people are interested in meeting together to do workouts, whether that is doing one of the club's planned workouts or their own workout. 
• Evening workout times were more popular overall, with Wednesday evening having the highest number of people indicating they would be able to attend (10/18 respondents), followed by Tuesday evening (9/18 respondents).
• Lake Washington High School (Kirkland) was the most popular location (15/18 respondents), followed by Redmond High School (11/18 respondents). The International School (Bellevue) and Northshore Middle School (Bothell) were third and fourth, respectively. The three "Other" locations for a track location suggested by members included Chinook Middle School (Bellevue), Eastlake High School (Sammamish), and Juanita High School (Kirkland).
• Half of all respondents would still be interested in a weekly workout that they could access and take anywhere to do on their own while another quarter said they would potentially be interested, depending on what they were training for.

Moving forward with this information

It is clear at least 18 people - and likely more - are interested in doing track workouts, ideally with others for company. At our next board meeting on June 3, we will discuss implementation of track workouts in potentially several stages:

1. Improve our goal races tracking system so we can better track members' training goals for the year. As a club, we need to consistently encourage each other to share our goals!
2. Design plans that align with club-focused runs (e.g., training for a summer 5k or fall half-marathon) and decide on the best avenue for disseminating these plans to our members (e.g., posting the workouts onto the club website).
3. Secure track at a consistent location and time. (Historically, weekday evenings during the schoolyear are more difficult to secure than during the summer due to schools using their tracks/fields for fall/spring sports, but this isn't to say it's impossible to be at the same location year-round.)

Please stay tuned for more updates on track via our emails (for subscribed members) and information posted on this site!

By Peter Averill

SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2025 

May 4th was the annual Mt. Si Relay & Trail Runs in Snoqualmie, put on by our friends at Eastside Runners. This race, which has been around since 1983, also includes the marathon, 50k, and 50-mile ultras. LSRC members entered a team into the relay event, and our VP Daniel Bannon won the Half Marathon.

The relay is a 58-mile run, mostly on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, with teams of five running two legs each. I took part along with Pam, Doug, Alan, and our leader Skye on team The Devil Wears Strava. My first leg was 6.4mi; I had the shortest total mileage, but the tradeoff was that the first 6mi were all uphill! (709ft gain). The setting was beautiful; a hard packed trail through forest, with two bridge crossings over ravines affording exceptional (if vertigo inducing) views. A runner ahead of me reported a bear sighting, but I missed that - I'm not sure if I should be relieved or disappointed. The route also took me past an active shooting range; it was good they forewarned about that!

My second leg was just 3.8mi, to the finish line, though it was hard to get legs that had stiffened up warmed up again for that.

We didn't really enter to be competitive, just to enjoy the event, but came 2nd in the mixed master's division. It was my first time running this kind of race. I went into it apprehensive about how the travelling and waiting around would be, but it was an enjoyable experience, with lots of socializing and changes of scenery at the various transfer points. It was nice to see a lot of familiar faces we hadn't seen in a while. I'd certainly do this again, and I recommend the event overall.