By Lou Slaces, running reporter 

            Old Lou has to tip his headband to one member who has really stepped up for the club in time of need and handled all the chores and dirty work it takes to keep an organization going—one Donald Lee Nichols.  The club, which has had a hard time finding people to take the lead, might have “hit the wall” , as we marathoners say, if not for Don the last 6 months.  And on top of that, Don is the race director for the club’s  Y2K Triple event on New Years Eve – one of our club’s main race fund raising events.  So if anyone deserves the spotlight – however low beam—of a club profile, it is Don for keeping us organizationally and fiscally sound in 2005.

            Don’s running career—he forthrightly professes—is a product of trial and many errors.  So let that be an inspiration to us all.  He began walking in 1995 when noticed that he bought a size 38 belt and at 217 pounds pronounced himself “fat, divorced and depressed”.  He started walking and within a few weeks went to 207, less depressed and seeing a ray of hope that divorce wasn’t the end of the world.  At that time a friend -- Chuck Whobrey—provided a little inspiration by inviting him to watch the River Run.  Don vowed to walk it the next year, did so, and immediately decided that he was a runner.  He proceeded to buy his first pair of shoes by himself, started jogging in them, and in short order began running two 5 k’s per month,  while simultaneously developing a stress fracture and Plantar Fascitis!

            Don, however, is no dummy, and decided that being self taught had its limitations and that is when he became involved with GERWC.  By virtue of his membership, he immediately began buttonholing Chuck and other runners after races and runs to learn the tricks of the trade.  With the help of some sophisticated shoe fitters, he was able to return to running in short order.  He joined up with Gordon Benfield’s speed group in the late 1990s, which he really enjoyed, but admits that he got a little too into the speed work too quickly in 2001 and ended up with arthroscopic surgery on a knee.  But never one to give up, Don came back from that go on to some of his best times – including a highlight Kentucky Derby Half Marathon in 2003 in 1:53.

            So that is our Don – determined, not afraid to give it a try, willing to step into the breach when you need him the most, determined to finish the race, the job or the training even when it hurts some to do so.  All GERWC members need to give him a big thumbs up next time you see him.  He has kept us together.

            Don’s tip:  If you are a beginner, learn about shoes and fit from a pro and talk to the veterans – it will save you a lot of pain.  And for the more veteran runners, he thinks diet and hydration are more important than he used to think they were—he recommends studying those things.

            And now for Don’s joke:  A blonde runner gets on the airplane for Boston in April and sits in the First Class Seats.  The Flight Attendant comes up to him/her and says sorry you will have to move because you do not have a first class ticket.  Blonde Runner fails to respond.  Flight Attendant tries again.  Same lack of response.  Attendant asks – “Are you going out for the Marathon?”  Blonde runner says “Yes”.  Attendant says: “Well you will have to go to the back cabin if you want to get to the race because the First Class Seats don’t go to Boston.  Blonde runner heads for the back of the plane.