April 2026
April Running is Not For Fools
Last month I was talking with a friend I have run with in the past, asking if they had been out running much lately. Their response went something like this, "No it's been so cold, and it's dark outside when I'm not at work, and I am too busy during the day on weekends, and my body aches." Lots of excuses.
Yes, it can be hard to get ourselves into a good routine in the winter offseason when we can easily fall out of habit. But it's April now, and the good thing is that we can always pick up our running habit again. It's still eagerly there waiting for us.
The weather has become warmer, the hours of daylight are longer, and that sun is feeling wonderful on our bodies. Sometimes those aches and pains occur due to lack of regular exercise. So set aside some time in your schedule and get back out there again. You'll feel better for doing so. Don't be concerned about how far or fast you go, just be patient knowing that it comes back in time. Here are some options for you to consider, remembering that our events welcome all paces of runners/walkers.
FUN RUNS, held second Wednesday of month at 6pm, with approx 3 mi/6 mi routes:
- April 8th, Buffalo Wild Wings, 4601 W College Ave, Grand Chute, a 3.7 mile loop that goes through Arrowhead Park. Run it twice if you want more miles, then wings, drinks and good conversation to follow.
- May 13th, Grand Chute Community Center, 1850 West Grand Chute Blvd, Appleton, with routes through Bubolz Nature Preserve. Hot beef and chicken sandwiches, cold beer and other refreshments will be served. Please bring a complementary dish to pass.
TRAINING RUNS:
Come out and run with our friendly group every Saturday morning at 8:00 am at the Copper Rock coffee shop on College Avenue in downtown Appleton (until Memorial Day when we move this to Telulah Park).
Pacesetters Member Spotlight - Jordan Crawford
Pacesetters board member Jordan Crawford set big Racewalking goals for himself for 2026, and has started the year with some impressive efforts at a couple of national meets.
In January, Jordan took second place at the USTAF National Marathon Race Walk Championship held in Santee, CA, completing it in 3:31, an impressive 8:04/mi pace.
In March, Jordan again took another second place silver medal, this time at the USTAF World Half Marathon Race Walk Team Trials held in Gainesville, FL, completing it in 1:39:49, an amazing 7:37/mi pace.
So what's next for Jordan? Well, because of his great performance in Gainesville, he earned an invitation to compete for the US in the World Race Walk Championship, to be held in Brazil on April 12, 2026. What an honor is that!! After that comes the Penn Relays 5k Racewalk in late April, followed by another half marathon Racewalk in May, this one in Podebrady, Czech Republic.
Congratulations on your accomplishments Jordan and good luck in your upcoming races!
Pacesetters Board Positions
Looking for a great way to get more involved with our local running community? We are currently looking for new members to join our board! No experience is necessary, just a passion for running and a desire to help keep this club going. This is the perfect opportunity to get your ideas heard and help shape the future of what we are doing. One major position to fill is the President, as Cyndi is needing to step down. This may seem daunting, but you could first join our board, and if things go well, eventually move towards this position. Let us know here if you are interested, know someone else who may be interested, or have any questions about what we do and what would be required. The time commitment is minimal and it's a fun group to be a part of!
New Quirky Trend - Butter Run Challenge
This past month an Oregon based outdoor and running content creator came up with a strange idea that has been gaining big popularity and attention. Know as the Butter Run Challenge, Libby Cope tried an experiment while out for a trail run with her boyfriend. She wondered what would happen if she put a container of heavy cream in her backpack. Could the agitation of this from running produce something special, i.e., could she churn butter this way?
Their video of this has been a social media phenomenon getting more than 10 million views. Also know as "churning and burning," here are their tips for how to do this:
- Use heavy cream with at least 35% fat content. Add a pinch of salt.
- Pour into a secure sealable zip-bag or jar. Put in backpack, or, secure to dog harness/collar for pet-assistance.
- Find a milder day and a rougher trail to run on, to help maximize jostling. Run for about an hour.
Strain out the liquid buttermilk portion. Rinse the butter and enjoy your home-made post run snack on bread!
Let us know if you succeed ... send us your pics and we will post them!
Protein Ball Treats - April
This month's Protein Ball Treats recipe from Pacesetters President Cyndi Faulkner is for Carrot Cake, which might be a nice side dish for your Easter dinner table. Again, no baking required. To start, simply mix the first 5 ingredients below:
Then, form into balls. Lastly, brush with a bit of coconut oil and roll in shredded coconut as a final enhancement. Enjoy!