Though the club had been holding a few winter races for a number of years, it was finally made into a series in January 1983 by then club president Scott Banks who named it the Larry Mathews Winter Series. Larry was a young man who died shortly after graduating from Handley High School from a health problem. He was a fine runner and Scott felt this would be a good way to remember him and have a set schedule of races during the winter months. Sponsorship (cash donations) were secured from Larry's last place of employment, Rich Foods, and long time supporter of running, Jimmy Wilkins and the Wilkins' Shoe Center.

Scott set up a six race series that would give out medals in five year age groups at each race and would culminate with awards to the overall male and female winner of the series using points from each race (20 for first, 19, 18, etc.). The first few years, race participation consistently numbered in the 50 plus range for each race. The SHORTEST distance the first three years was five miles!!! An hour run was held as was a 10 miler that ran from the city park to the entrance to the landfill and back. Contrast that with this year's series as the longest race was the Bowling Green 4.7 miler!!! But this simply reflects the trend of today's average runner....shorter distances. I think the only runners wishing for longer races are myself and the aforementioned Jim Shaughnessy (a.k.a. Mr. Cold Blooded).

Winners of the first Winter Series, 1983. From left to right: Mrs. Nora Mathews, Kevin Mathews, Mr. Jack Mathews, Ruth Riemenschneider.

Over the years, there's been a lot of memorable moments. Here then are a few that stick out in my mind:

1. Berryville Poker 5 Miler-- each runner got a playing card at each mile marker. Best hands at the finish win prizes. What I remember in 1988 was a torrential downpour. Bill Stewart, Mark Vann and I split away very early and ran the first 4.5 miles together. I remember we were each wearing Nike shoes (Bill: Terras; Mark: those green sock racers; me: Pegasus) and Bill was yakking the whole time. After the first mile, I got him to run up ahead as we neared the mile markers and grab three cards and then we'd catch up and he pass them out. I remember sticking them in my shorts as it was just a nasty day and I didn't want to carry them in my hand. Mark slowed with a half mile to go and Bill slowed at the end and I had to really urge him on so we could finish in a first place tie (raise your hand if you believe that).

2. The one hour run in December of 1985 was run in -20 degree wind chill. Tights weren't out much yet and I remember wearing a pair of shell pants that gave me a headache.

3. There was a 10K in West Virginia up near Reynolds Store at Berkeley Springs Elementary School. It was a bear of a course and wins the contest for the toughest winter series race ever. Finishing a close second was the Leesburg 7 Miler where you had to climb Big Mama.

4. A 2.5 mile race was put on at Tuscawilla just outside of Charles Town. This was in the peak of Chris Northrup's running career. Chris was constantly breathing down my neck and occasionally beating me on the roads. He was foaming at the mouth for this one as Chris just has natural speed and the shorter the race, the better for him.

8K in Winchester City Park, 20 March 1983. Club notables (from left): Neal Riemenschneider, (? red shirt), Scott Banks, Jon Bellingham, (? white shirt), and 1983 Men's Series Winner Kevin Mathews.

He even brought his Dad in from Parkersburg to watch him defeat ole Riemo. I even thought I was a dead man... but I beat Chris by a scant 5 seconds after running together for the first half of the race. Chris refused to talk to me for quite a long time. It wasn't until he asked me if he could have the cookie I was eating at the post race spread that he finally spoke. Chris can forget really easily when it comes to food.

5. The Powhatan Mystery race, February 1992. Chris bused us out, pointed up this really steep long hill and much to everyone's chagrin, he said, "You go that way; have fun!" all the while laughing his head off.

6. The Sherando 6 Miler, January 1992. We ran out to a turn-around, came back a bit, turned right, ran a bit, turned around, ran back, made a right, got to the finish line, turned around, AND DID THIS 5 MORE TIMES!!!! That's a total of 14 turn-arounds and 10 turns for 6 miles. Everyone had sprained necks after that race.

7. Winchester City Park 3 Miler in 1990. Tom England hung on to Chris and I through the first mile then fell off (WAY OFF) and finished 4 minutes behind us. "I just wanted to see what that felt like going out that fast," was Tom's explanation. Oh yes, lest I forget, I beat Chris by 9 seconds (great article, eh Chris?).

8. Stonebrook Handicapped 2.5 Miler. It was out, loop and back through the Stonebrook subdivision. I started last and killed myself trying to catch people. With 0.5 to go, I see a group of runners and Tom England is in there just yapping away. I pull even with them than a quarter to go and I'm just suckin' wind big time when Tom sees me and cranks it up to roar by me and beat me by 2 seconds. He's like a new man, just strutting around as how he beat me. Of course, time wise, I beat him by three minutes but he made sure to keep that a secret.

Bowling Green Costume Run, February 1990. Tom Scully hopes Riley won't make fun of Ruth's colorful costume. Also pictured are Bob Morris (balloons) and Ed Daley (in blue).

9. Last year's Powhatan Mystery Run. With brutal winds and bitter cold temps, 18 souls turned out to run. True hard-core runners made a statement that day. Of course Chris stayed in his warm car the whole time.

I also have what I call "One Hit Wonders." Races that were held one time and then disappeared.

1. City park mile relays. I was race director for this one. I broke everyone up into teams of 3 runners. I tried to make it as even as possible. Each team member had to run in relay style one loop around the park then pass of to a partner. Each team had to run 9 miles so each person ran a mile, rested, ran a mile, rested, and ran a mile. It was chilly so people would hang out in my station wagon waiting for their teammate to come through. "Batons" were rulers, wooden spoons and other household items.

2. Bill Stewart held a 3 man relay out at what is now James Wood Middle School. Each team member had to run the school's 3 mile cross country course once.

3. A 5 miler that started and finished at the aforementioned James Wood Middle School and did 2 loops in Whittier Acres.

4. A 5 mile handicap race held at Kim Weisgerber's church outside Stephens City.

5. The Blood Race out at Clearbrook. Ruth was race director for this and had a nice course out in Clearbrook laid out and plaques for the top 3-4 winners by blood type. It iced over the first week and snowed the next week and was never held.

Berkeley Springs 10K Team Race Winners, 21 March 1988. Front Row: Robert Wilkins, John Rowland. Back Row: Neal Riemenschneider, Howard Cahill, Bob Morris, Todd Smith

And previously mentioned races; Tuscawilla, Berkeley Springs, and Stonebrook 2.5 handicapped.

Than there are two races that were NEVER held. Both cross country and both canceled twice due to nasty winter weather. Bill Stewart had a course at Sherando Park he uses for his high school team and one just outside Martinsburg that is held in late August as a bona fide race.

Most Consecutive Years: 8 for Powhatan
Most Years Held: 13 (for a couple of years this race wasn't held)

As I approach the 100 race mark for Winter Series events competed in, I obviously have a few thoughts and here they are:

1. After 6-7 years of being a competitive event, the series was changed. The competitive side was thrown out and race directors were encouraged to come up with oddball ways to spread out as many "awards" as possible. This was kind of neat but as this fad faded, Bill Orndorff reinstated the current system of points. This brought participation up but now I think it's time to go back to a non-competitive series. Let's face it, at the banquet, most of the same people going up for Winter Series awards win awards during the year also.

2. Give more awards at races. This can be done by giving race directors the money that would be saved on the end of series awards. Encourage race directors to be creative and come up with some different ideas for awards. I was never much of a costume guy, but that category for the Bowling Green event brought out a lot of funny costumes. Just makes for a more fun at the awards ceremonies.

3. Less races. Hey, all of you are nice people, but eight races is just too many for me. I like to support local events whenever I can but all these races keep me from going to other areas during the winter months.