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Maria Bertacchi

Candidate for the VHTRC Board of Directors

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Maria Bertacchi

In 2007, I came on board to the VHTRC board to replace, the un-replaceable Chris Scott. He shoes, both big and dirty, were hard to fill, but I did my best. Now I would like the opportunity to be on the board, on my own merits.

VHTRC has many amazing and talented runners. I am mostly in awe of the great talent this club contains. However, I am not one of those talents. I am slow runner who will never be first in a race. I will never win an age group award (unless I am the only person in my age group running); no running magazine will interview me, nor will I represent any running gear company based on my running skills. I run races mostly to finish and if my time happens to be better than my last race, that is just a bonus. In short, I run for fun, for friendship and to stay in shape. I want to represent all the others in our club who might, like me, be happy to just be a middle to back of the pack person.

I see VHTRC as a “trail runners” club and not merely an “ultra-runners” club. Not every trail run needs to be, or should be, long and take all day to complete! This is not to say the run should not be adventurous or difficult. If you are running short, the more hills, mud and water you encounter, the better!

My goal as a board member will be to continue what we are known for: Bull Run Run, MMT, and the Women’s Half Marathon; perhaps introduce some new ones; and to continue to advocate for regularly scheduled training runs. VHTRC should welcome runners of all athletic abilities and encourage good stewardship of the trails, and the woods, in which we run.

The candidate wrote, submitted, and approved this statement.

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