Quicksilver Running Club
About The ClubMission Statement: Over the years the QSRC has continued to promote physical well-being and friendships through running for all, while supporting our “playground”, the Quicksilver County Park with trail maintenance from our runner/volunteer base. Additionally, over the years, the QRSC has given over $100,000 to various local charities from the proceeds of the various running events we host. The Quicksilver Running Club of San Jose (QRC), as it is known today, was initially the Fleet Feet Running Club formed in the late 1970s by Ted Schmidt, the owner of Fleet Feet Running store in the Princeton Plaza. Jim Thiering, the founder of the Almaden Valley Athletic Club that started in 1976, worked with Ted, “and the Quicksilver club started to take off…” Some of the original members were Greg Larkins, Steve Lorenz, Judi Shade, Cathy Casey, Gary Covell, Bill Eilers, Ron Grizwald, Greg Martin, Chris Morella, Ephraim Romesberg, Ed Richards, Ron Wallace, John Peabody, Jackie Zeller, Mike Popolizio, Ted Schmidt, and Jim Thiering along with many others. The first QSRC 50 mile race was directed by Ted Schmidt in 1983. It started in Calero and finished in Quicksilver County Park with four finishers. In 1984 the race started and finished in Quicksilver, doubling in size, with 9 finishers including Bob Dalton in first place followed by Ephraim Romesberg.. In the 1980s the QSRC was a very active group that met Saturday and Sundays at Quicksilver with two regular running groups; one that went shorter distances of 5-6 miles while another group headed up Mount Umunhum for 18-21 miles. On one of the runs up Mount Umunhum Bob Dalton suggested the Christmas Eve Run that has been held every year since. The first Christmas Eve run started, as it still does, at Castillero School and Judy Shade with 21 other people headed to the top of Mt Umumhum with ornaments in hand. A few years after that, it was decided to only go to the top of Mine Hill, in order to leave more time for beer… the tradition continues. Pizza Nights where monthly occurrences, as well as an annual Christmas dance that was held in New Almaden. Western States Involvement: Ultra Racing Team Development: In 2008 Adam Blum formed a Quicksilver Ultra Racing team (QURT) with the focus of winning the USA Track and Field Grand Prix, Pacific Association (PA/USATF) – this rallied many our club members, and what a success it has been. Several QRC members have won their individual age divisions and in 2009 and 2010 we won the Men’s Team Award. In 2011 Adam handed the reigns of the race team over to Greg Lanctot, our present team captain, with about 40 people in our team. In 2011 the Quicksilver Running Club made a clean sweep, winning the Men’s, Women, Mixed and Overall team events – a landmark for the QRC, and one that everyone should be proud of. We are on the competitive landscape. Apart from our PA-USATF achievements it is worthy to note that many of our members have claimed other individual achievements such as: USATF National Age Division Champion, RRCA National Champion, Last Great Race (6x100s), Grand Slam (4x100s) etc. Ephraim Romesberg completed the Grand Slam at the ripe age of 66, running Old Dominion, Western States, Leadville and Wasatch 100 milers. – An inspiration to all!!
However, QRC is not only an Ultra centric club, and every weekend many of our members compete in shorter distance road and trail runs, again bring home lots of hardware. Today, in addition to the 50 miler that started in 1983, 25K and 50K options were added over the years. For those in our club that prefer the shorter distance trail races we put on a 10K and a half marathon, and recently added a one mile event for Kids. Ask any of our club members, and it is not about the results and our successes, it is about the support and camaraderie along the way that they appreciate. |
Quicksilver Running Club of San Jose is a 501(c) (4) nonprofit tax exempt organization