Ark Valley News - Out of the office

Out of the office
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: September 03, 2010

Is running really that popular?

Who was expecting that kind of turnout at the Hornet Hustle fun run?

Wow. Is running really that popular?

I think it was combination of a few things for the Abilene PTO's first-ever event to draw more than 350 participants and raise over $11,000.

Running, obviously, was a draw. I'm not one of them, but there are many people who like to run.

Second, it was for a good cause. Abilene school kids (I have one) are worth it. All the money is going to school and student programs through the PTO.

Third, it had some energized organizers. If you know Stephanie Gillig, you know what I'm talking about. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Plus, she knows a lot of people and was able to spread the word effectively.

The event, which featured three races, was more than running, though. It was a big, outdoor school mixer. It was fun seeing families together in a different setting.

The high school and middle school cross country runners made the races competitive. The families made them fun. There was a bunch of them, too.

Like Eric Burns, his wife Susy and their two boys, Mason and Bailey. They all ran the 5K.

Mike Haden and his family — wife Sara and kids Andrew and Amber — ran (walked?) in separate races. Mike barely avoided last place in the two-mile race, but Andrew placed second in the one-mile. Mike's brother, Richard, also ran the 5K.

I saw that Abilene Principal Mark Hoy's family also participated.

It was a nice event.

†††

The News is wading deeper in the social media ocean. With the Valley Center High School football season starting Sept. 3 at home against Ark City, we wanted to find a way to transmit game updates to those who wanted them.

The last couple of seasons, I've been sending text messages to a dozen or so friends and Hornet fans during Friday night games, giving them scores after each quarter and that type of thing.

The number of people wanting updates has grown. So, I wanted to streamline the process a bit.

Now, anyone can sign up to receive text updates on their cell phones. Just text “Follow arkvallenews" to 40404, and you're in. It's a free service from The News. However, standard text messaging rates from your cell carriers do apply.

The updates also will go to The News' Twitter account @arkvalleynews and my Facebook page.

Following each game, I'll be posting a game summary on our website, www.arkvalleynews.com.

And of course, you'll get the full game story plus photos in the next Ark Valley News.

We hope you can find a way to stay up to date with the varsity football team.

Call me, e-mail me or message me if you have any questions.

I'm looking forward to the football season.

†††

Speaking of social media, I checked out a couple of impressive local blogs this week.

One is by Chris Moon of Valley Center. Chris, a 1997 Valley Center High School graduate, is a reporter for the Wichita Business Journal. His blog isn't about his work, but it is about his new “job."

On 365go.blogspot.com, Chris said he received a calling from God to reach out to one person each day for a year and talk to them about God in some way.

Through the blog, Chris, a seasoned writer, relives the encounters he has with complete strangers and casual acquaintances, often just praying with them and encouraging them.

“I felt the calling was very broad," Chris explains. “I didn't need to convert 365 people into Christians over the course of a year. I just needed to talk to them about him."

As of Aug. 31, he was on Day 15.

It's very compelling stuff.

You might also want to check out friend Dan Schmidt's blog about running, ozrunner.blogspot.com, or Mike Haden's clicketyclickclick.blogspot.com, where he's been posting an interesting photo each day since January and writing about the image's significance.

I don't spend a lot of time on the Internet, but these blogs are worth a look.

Chris Strunk is publisher of The Ark Valley News. Reach him at 755-0821, news@arkvalleynews.com or on Facebook.