Andy Ong, Mark Guralnick, Joanne Guralnick, Linda Chan, Nicky Zingman, Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong / Photo Credit: Larry Sillen

This year, PPTC will hold its annual Awards Night on February 21st. By now you’ve received a number of emails asking you to nominate your fellow club members for different award categories. The nominations period has now closed and we’ll soon have an opportunity to vote for nominees in the categories of Most Inspirational, Single Outstanding Contribution, New Member of the Year, Comeback Runner of the Year, Most Improved, and Bob Mueller. The winners will be announced at Awards Night. Registration is already open, so make sure to buy a ticket to secure your spot.

Alison Kotch, Chris Fischer, Jason Smith, Nen Reyes, and Andrzej Bielecki

Last year was the first time I attended Awards Night. I didn’t know exactly what to expect. It turns out that Awards Night is the Golden Globes of PPTC. As a member of PPTC, we are the celebrities attending an awards ceremony while enjoying dinner and drinks (for a very reasonable ticket price). There is an open bar for most of the evening—the bar shuts down during the awards ceremony—and lots of food.

When you first arrive at Awards Night, you will pick up a badge with your name on it. Why should you be excited about this? Well, this is when you can finally learn the name of that person you’ve been running with whose name you could never remember! (I’m horrible with names and I will tell everyone that. I hate wearing name tags, but I love events with name tags – I admit, I’m conflicted). The name tags also help you recognize the running buddies whom you NEVER see in anything but running clothes – that’s what they look like in “real” clothes? You’ll even be able to hunt me down and see the face behind my blog byline.

This is also an opportunity for you to dust off those party duds. Put on your cocktail attire. If you’re not one to dress up, don’t let that deter you from attending. People also attend in khakis. Wear what makes you comfortable.

After some mingling, drinking, and eating, the awards ceremony begins. You’ll see who in the club makes things happen, who is behind those inspiring race times, and more. In addition to the awards voted on by members, the team captains present awards for Male Runner of the Year, Female Runner of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year. Last year President Tom Meany also gave the President’s Award to a member who made extraordinary contributions to the club. The award recipients receive a very fitting accolade for a runner: a cowbell!

After the awards ceremony, there is more mingling and drinking and eating. As the evening grows long, the crowd thins. But if you’re up to it, there is usually a group that goes out for a post-Awards Night gathering at a nearby watering hole.

Awards Night is a celebration of our club. This is a celebration of you. I hope you will attend Awards Night where we can raise a toast to our club.

Text and photos by Linda S. Chan, except as noted
Edited by Anna Gold
Produced by Alison Kotch

Awards Night – Why You Should Go and What Should You Expect