Run and ride: Join the running club at the 2019 Winter Bike Summit

​Everyone and their brother is doing an end of year recap or a list of resolutions related to either running or decluttering or time management or something else I’m sure to fail in my resolve for.
 
I’ll keep my recap to a minimum: For the first time in probably a decade, I didn’t keep a meticulous running log. Sometime around July, I just stopped updating it. I was still running, with higher mileage in the fall and a lovely holiday season of going when I felt like it and not having any goal or plan.
 
I ran several races, including the Glacier Hills 50K in October, and spent about a dozen solid weekends traveling all over the Upper Midwest to compete in cyclocross as part of Parallel 44 Racing – including winning actual money in the Iowa Cyclocross Series. How about that?
 
Now it’s January, and I keep thinking it’s time to start a new spreadsheet and keep track of my mileage, if for no other reason than to know how shot my shoes are.
 
Still, it was a pretty good year for recreation in Sioux Falls.
 
Falls Area Singletrack finished several miles of trails for running, riding and hiking at Tuthill Park, adding to the work they’ve already done at Leaders Park and along the sides of the bike trail.
 
The Sioux Falls Area Running Club held its second year of a trail series – not easy in a year when every park was flooded for what felt like the entire season.
 
Group runs at 605 Running Co. blew up over the early winter with their 100K challenge, and the evening trail runs at Good Earth State Park continued to do well.
 
Then there’s what everyone else is doing: Coffee shop bike rides with Falls Area Bicyclists that draw 100 riders. Weeknight hikes with the Great Outdoor Store that show you different parks in the region. Family rides for ice cream. Women-only group runs all over town as part of Sioux Falls Women Run.
 
What do you want to do? Whatever it is, there’s someone out there who wants to do it with you.  

This weekend, I’ll be at the 2019 Winter Bike Summit, representing my two loves: The Sioux Falls Area Running Club and women in cyclocross. It’s the first time the club has been involved in the event, and it’s perfect for us.
 
I would love to talk with you about what the club does, how you can get involved or just hear what races your training for this year, what injury you’re coming back from, what new distance you just tackled.
 
Hearing people’s stories never feels like work. It feels like inspiration.
 
We should be part of all the recreation that’s happening in our community. Every time any of these events happens, or trails get built or someone discovers something new they can do, right here where they live, we all benefit.
 
The club also will be presenting a check to Falls Area Single Track of money raised from our trail race series.
 
I hope you’ll come visit and see the other vendors who are there and meet others in the community who want what you do – a better place to live and play.
 
Doors open at 3:30 p.m., and I’ll be moderating a panel on cyclocross at 4 p.m. You can read more about the event here.
 
There’s a stack of events going on that day. Join one.

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​Jacqueline Palfy is a longtime runner, reader and writer, marathoner, mom and board member of the nonprofit Sioux Falls Area Running Club. You can follow her on Twitter @runnerJPK or reach her at [email protected]. Story ideas are encouraged.

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