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 Lizard Droppings

 Special Olympics needs you!
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Volunteering can make a difference in your life and the lives of others. Many organizations utilize volunteers, but only with Special Olympics can you walk out on the athletic field and see your investment of time and talent make an immediate impact. All over the world, throughout the year, in every sport imaginable, it can happen right before your eyes. Whether you're coaching an athlete or handing out medals or timing a runner - you are touching the lives of people with mental retardation. Special Olympic athletes are working hard to overcome the odds and can do so with your help. They deserve the chance to compete, the chance to grow and the chance to lead both on & off the playing field. As a volunteer, you'll not only be giving back to the community, you will be changing a life forever.
For more information on volunteering for the Special Olympics Regional Track Meet - June 13th, Sunday, 8am - 3:30pm

Please, contact Steve Sexton - [email protected]. or call - 503-236-1152 - 503-775-0152.

 Team Red Lizard returns as the Official Pacers for the Portland Marathon.
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In 2003 TRL came to the rescue as the previous organization supplying the marathon pacers bailed out late. Marathon organizers contacted TRL just a few weeks before the marathon asking if the club could help out. Eight club members each ran 13.1 miles and paced 4 groups to their marathon goals.
This year TRL looks to pace 6 groups of marathoners during the race, meaning we are looking for 12 club members to act as pacers. Each pacer wears a standard race number with "Team Red Lizard" on it and the time they are pacing (3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30). They also must wear a club shirt or singlet with a lizard on the back for the runners to follow. If you are interested in helping runners attain their marathon goals, please contact John Harper via the message board.

 Lizards in the Big Easy
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Three TRL members ventured into the land of Cajuns and crawfish for the Mardi Gras Marathon and Half Marathon in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Tiffany Wheeler and Andrew Staab opted for the half marathon while Cheri Cole chose the longer option.
Course highlights included a jaunt through the French Quarter past Jackson Square, Café Du Monde, and the French Market, and an ending inside the Louisiana Superdome.
While pacing Tiffany, Andrew got into the spirit of the event by wearing a jester’s hat and throwing beads to the spectators. Tiffany just missed setting a PR and managed to finish in the top 10%.
In the marathon, Cheri battled warm temperatures and the effects of the Louisiana nightlife to finish in the top third.
The next night the Lizards met with Paul Bodet, the founder of the 15th Street Flyers (http://www.15thstreetflyers.org), a Covington LA running group, to swap club shirts and H2C stories. Paul and his team will be out here again for H2C and plans to hook up with us for a run.

 Special Olympics - Regional Track Meet - June 13th, Sunday
Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, Oregon
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To: All,
Team Red Lizard ( a Portland running club) is teaming up with Special Olympics N.W. to provide for and direct the regional track meet held on June 13th. Last year we had the great opportunity to play an important part of providing for most of key positions and extra volunteers to facilitate the track meet.The event went very well, and was a learning experience for all of us. I might add, the event was an amazing and rewarding experience for all who helped.
This year, TRL will be providing for all the operation of the track meet. According to Jan Hull (N.W. S.O. Sports Director)"This year's event will be even bigger." Last year, there were 400  participants.
Our goal is to not only  provide for and facilitate the smooth operation of this event, but to make it into a community service event. Last year's event could not have been put on with just a small group of TRL members. So, we came up with the idea to involve area High Schools and a Middle School. We had students from Benson, Central Catholic, Grant, and Environmental Middle School. This year we will have students from other schools, as well.
Most impressive is the involvement of students in this event. The interaction of student to athlete was unique, positive, and productive. The track event, as well as all other S.O. sporting events, is an important aspect in the lives of these athletes. An equal and true value is to those that volunteer, especially youth.
Because of the one-on-one interaction of youth volunteer with  Special Olympic Athlete,  we want to establish this event as a "Youth Community Service Project."
Along with encouraging youth participation,  we would like to draw in locally known, high level, and respected athletes,  professional, collegiate, and amature. We want to emphasize the value of community service to youth by showing to them, despite their given status,   everyone should become involved and contribute to help others.
From this, we hope that you can help us follow through for the benefit of our Youth and the Special Olympics Athletes.
Thank You,
Steve Sexton---Email- [email protected](w)-503-236-1152--(h)-503-775-0152  

 Monthly Blanchet House Volunteer Opportunity
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TRL has committed to assisting the Blanchet House, a Portland homeless shelter, with their dinner service once a month.
On the first Saturday of every month TRL has offered to provide a minimum of 5 volunteers and as many as 15 to work the evening meal service from 4:30 to 6:00 pm.
Currently we will be rotating volunteer coordinators until a consistent one can be found. The coordinator secures verbal (or message board)commitments from club members regarding the upcoming month and communicates with Blanchet House the number of volunteers the club will be providing.

If you are interested in helping coordinate please e-mail Andrew at [email protected].

 Help Team Red Lizard help those in need
With the holiday season just around the corner many peoples’ thoughts turn to helping others in need. This December, Team Red Lizard will pool our resources to offer assistance to Blanchet House of Hospitality. Blanchet House (http://www.blanchethouse.org/blanchet.htm) provides free meals, beds, jobs, and HOPE to those in need.
Team Red Lizard will be helping in 2 ways.
For the week of December 15^th through the 20^th, desperately needed items will be collected at each of the TRL weekly runs. Items in short supply at Blanchet House include the following: Blankets, gloves, coats, socks, hats. In addition to clothing, they also need toiletries; toothbrushes, razors, toothpaste, hair brushes, etc.
Then on Saturday the 20^th, Team Red Lizard has committed to providing 15 volunteers for their dinner. Dinner runs from 5:00 to 6:00. New volunteers are asked to be there no later than 4:15 and can leave at 6:00 or stay after to eat dinner with the rest of the volunteers. TRL will transport all the donated items to Blanchet House when we go there for dinner. Look for more details on the message board.

 Team Red Lizard runs the Victoria Marathon and Half.
Great performances were put in by many Lizards!  Dave Hatfield, Win Goodbody, and Daryn all ran sub-3:00!  Here are the results. 

Some other results:

Paul Curran - Ironman Hawaii - 10:18
Emilie Miller - Victoria Marathon - 3:12
Dean Giblin - NY Marathon - 3:49
Mandy Giblin - NY Marathon - 3:49
 

If you would like to see your name in print... send your information to the .

Event Photos:
Victoria Julz
Victoria Team

 Team Red Lizard sponsors MILE 24 Aid Station at the PDX Marathon
Team Red Lizard hosted the mile 24 aid station for the 12th consecutive year -- and this year, the club also provided the marathon with the PACERS! Great job to everyone who helped.
The support is always appreciated. Here is a note we received from “Willie”:

After the fact?  Yeah, but no less heartfelt.
I was aiming for a sub-3 at the Portland Marathon, and after mile 20 I
really started to feel the hurt. Luckily, around mile 21 a Team Red Lizard
pacer with a yellow bib on his back marked "3:00" ran right past me. I
fixed my eyes on the bib and followed him as best I could, the whole time
thinking, "You're saving me."  Sadly, I was too wasted and had to drop back
around the start of 26, eventually finishing a few minutes over (and ending
up in the medical tent), but I'm certain that without that pacer to drag me
along, I would never have gotten the time I did, or maybe wouldn't have
finished at all.
If you could pass along my gratitude to that bibbed marauder, I'd really
appreciate it.

Truly,
Willie

 Way to go Lizards!