The JPL Running Club

The JPL Running Club is one of the many employer-sponsored JPL Recreation Clubs, established to provide opportunities for Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) employees and contractors to participate in recreational activities that promote employee health, wellness and morale. The Running Club is dedicated to the promotion of running, jogging or walking for JPL employees, contractors, retirees, their families and friends.

Updated March 31, 2020


Running Club News

**** NEWS****

The 46th Annual Arroyo Seco Freako has been POSTPONED from its traditional April 1st date.
New date will be in the Fall of 2020.

 

We did hold our almost Annual Brown Mountain Christmas Run on Tuesday, December 24th, 2019. A small, but enthusiastic group enjoyed the cool Southern California December sunshine. Picture below is from the start of the event.

 

2018 X-Mas Run

2019 Almost Annual Brown Mountain Run participants pre-race.

The 45th annual Arroyo Seco Freako, was held on Monday April 1st, 2019. Because of the construction near the Devils Gate Dam and the Flint wash bridge, the 46 racers followed a new course (pictured below), one that should be useable for the next 4-5 years while the Big Dig is underway. The race was won by Mike Kerkman in a time of 20:29. Mike came in almost a minute before the second place finisher, Peter Dixon. The first women, Shaunessey Grant, came in 11th overall, in a time of 25:11. Full results are now posted here.

 

Option 1

2019 Arroyo Seco Freako running route

 

For an interesting look at the history of the Arroyo Seco Freako, see this list of all the routes used over the past 40 plus years.

 

SEND US YOUR RACE RESULTS:

Have you run in a race such as the Los Angeles Marathon, the Pasadena Marathon, City of Angels Half-Marathon, recently? If so, please let us know and tell us your finishing times.
We would like to recognize all JPLers who race by posting their names and finishing times on the JPL Running Club Web site (eventually, I promise).

And if you'd like to also send us a brief race report, we'd be happy to post that as well. Please email Melora Larson with this information.

Current membership dues are not currently being collected,. If you want to help keep the web site up and running, contact the club treasurer to see if he needs anything: Mark Ryne at JPL Mail Stop 264-282. Off-Lab members should send this to Mark Ryne, Mail Stop 264-282, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109.



  • 2020 Event Calendar

    Please stay tuned for more JPL Running Club races and events. We would love new blood to help us start holding events essentially once every month or two (or at least 2-4 events every year). Please let us know if you are willing to help spear head an event.

    JPL event registration and waiver procedure is described here.

    Weekday Date Time Place Event
    Wednesday January 1 12:00am   Happy New Year 2020.
    Sunday March 8 ~7:00am Start Dodger stadium Los Angeles Marathon.
    TBD TBD (Fall) 12:00pm Lower Hahamongna Park 46th Annual Arroyo Seco Freako Microthon (Charles Voge Memorial Run)
             
    Friday Dec 18 11:45 am JPL East Gate JPL (Brown Mountain) Some Times Annual Christmas Run

    Note: Italicized events are tentative.

    Events in gray are not sponsored by the JPL Running Club, but the Club is "adopting" them as sister events because large numbers of Club members are expected to participate. Your participation and finish times in such events can be listed on the Club's web site the same as if these events were Club-sponsored. However, all issues of liability, release waivers, etc., are between the individual runner and the sponsoring organization.

    Archived Event Calendars: 2002 1998 1988 1987. Additional event calendars from past years will be archived as they can be found.


    JPL Running Club Administrivia

  • President: Kelly Perry
  • Vice-President: Sam Dolinar
  • Treasurer: Mark Ryne
  • Website Administrator and List Server admin: Melora Larson

    Current membership dues are not being collected currently. If you want to help keep the web site up and running, contact the club treasurer to see if he needs anything: Mark Ryne at JPL Mail Stop 264-282. Off-Lab members should send this to Mark Ryne, Mail Stop 264-282 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109.


    Events from years past

    Club-Sponsored Events

  • Arroyo Seco Freako Microthon (Charles Voge Memorial Run)
  • Voyager Grand Tour Marathon Relay (originally New Year's Run & Marathon Relay)
  • Smog Jog Relay
  • Great Pumpkin Run
  • Christmas Run
  • May Madness Medley Match Race Tournament
  • Club 2-mi Races, including Track Race, Green Dot Race, Handicap Race, Know Your Pace Race
  • Club 10K Races
  • JPL Section Challenge (part of NASA Intercenter Competition)
  • JPL Bike & Run Races
  • JPL Olympics
  • Registration and waiver procedure

    Externally Sponsored Events

  • NASA Intercenter Competition
  • Mojave Death Race
  • Los Angeles Marathon
  • Jimmy Stewart Marathon Relay
  • Xerox Marathon Relay
  • Manufacturers Hanover Corporate Challenge



    Runner Information and Resources

    Running Courses near JPL --- Where can I go run near JPL?

    On-Lab Shower Facilities --- Where can I take a shower on-Lab?

    Computer Rankings of JPL Runners --- How do my times compare to those of other JPL runners?

    Information for Race Directors --- What do I need to know and do to put on a race?

    Links to Other Useful Running Pages...

  • Raceplace Online

    Our New Website

    Our website is currently undergoing extensive renovation, both in its content and in its "look-and-feel". Keep checking this site while we're renovating, and send us your comments and ideas.

    Our old website, inherited from our old jplrecclubs.caltech.edu/running domain, is temporarily archived here. If you notice that we've inadvertently left any old data behind as we transition to our new website, please let us know before we remove the old site.

    Approximately 200 old flyers from the first 20 years of our Club's existence (mid-1970s to mid-1990s) have now been scanned and added to our new website. Oldtimers can look at these and reminisce. Newer Club members should read some of our old flyers for ideas on how to make our Club active again.


    The Off 'n' Running Newsletter disseminates running news and information of general interest to Club members. The Club's Bulletin Board is a place for information exchange among individual runners or groups of runners. Check the bulletin board often, and the newsletter somewhat less frequently.



    Website Administrator: Melora Larson