ABOUT

CAPSULE HISTORY OF THE USRSA

by John Strumsky

On August 7, 2000 the Articles of Incorporation for the United States Running Streak Association, Inc. were accepted by the State of Maryland after the official filing made on behalf of the organization by John and Dawn Strumsky of Millersville, Maryland. The legal process, however, started almost a year earlier, when John mailed rough drafts of various documents to an attorney on August 20, 1999, and then met personally with the attorney on September 1, 1999 to completely review the matter. These legal efforts resulted from a series of telephone discussions began even earlier—throughout 1998—when John and George Hancock of Windber, Pennsylvania discussed the feasibility of establishing a national group for streak runners

The following is a history of the USRSA in capsule format:

• 12/01/94 – The first running streak list by George Hancock of Windber, Pennsylvania appeared in the Runner's Gazette. It listed 51 streak runners, and resulted from an inquiry about streak running in the November 1993 issue of Running Times. George periodically updated the list.
• 10/12/98 – After a series of conversations throughout the year, John Strumsky of Millersville, Maryland developed the concept for "an official repository for running streak records" in a letter to George Hancock. George responded that he would support such a concept.
• 02/11/99 – John Strumsky roughed up first drafts of articles of incorporation, by-laws, press releases and membership applications.
• 05/13/99 – Dawn Strumsky commissioned logos for the USRSA through an art contest at Lansdowne High School in Baltimore, Maryland.
• 08/20/99 – John sent rough drafts of various documents to an attorney with instructions to pursue incorporation of the USRSA.
• 09/01/99 – John Strumsky met with the attorney to proceed with the drafting of incorporation documents for the USRSA.
• 04/08/00 – Dawn and John Strumsky held the Bob Ray Day celebration in Towson, Maryland to honor the holder of the longest running streak in the United States. They created and presented 15 Running Streak Medals to the streak runners in attendance and to those who made contributions towards the event.
• 08/07/00 – The United States Running Streak Association was incorporated by the State of Maryland.
• 11/21/00 – The USRSA formed its initial advisory board with Robert Ray of Baltimore, Maryland; Margaret Blackstock of Atlanta, Georgia; George Hancock of Windber, Pennsylvania; and John Strumsky of Millersville, Maryland.
• 12/12/00 – The USRSA invited six other streak runners from across the country to join the advisory board. They were: Robert Kraft of Miami Beach, Florida; Stephen DeBoer of Rochester, Minnesota; Geza Feld of Farmingdale, New York; John Watts of Portland, Oregon; John Roemer, IV of Parkton, Maryland; and John Wallace, III of Portland, Oregon.
• 12/28/00 – The USRSA received its first membership dues from Robert "Raven" Kraft of Miami Beach, Florida.
• 01/04/01 – The USRSA commenced operations with Dawn Strumsky as administrator of the association and editor of the newsletter.
• 01/15/01 – The first press releases were sent out announcing the formation of the USRSA and profiles on the founding members.
• 01/29/01 – John Wallace, III of Portland, Oregon developed the original website for the USRSA.
• 03/01/01 – The first USRSA Active Running Streak List contained 113 streak runners, and the first USRSA Retired Running Streak List contained 16 streak runners (both lists contained runners with streaks of less than one mile daily).
• 04/02/01 – The first quarterly issue of The Streak Registry was mailed to potential members and advertisers (209 copies of 24 total pages).
• 04/04/01 – Ron Whittemore of Claremont, New Hampshire made the leap of faith and became the first paid lifetime member of the USRSA.
• 07/24/01 – The tax-exempt status of the USRSA was approved by the IRS.
• 09/01/01 – Steven Morrow of Eagle Lake, Minnesota took over the duties of webmaster from John Wallace, III for the USRSA internet site at www.runeveryday.com.
• 10/04/01 – The USRSA conducted its first survey of all known streak runners in the country, on what should constitute the minimum standards for maintaining a daily running streak.
• 12/01/01 – The Active Running Streak List contained 86 streak runners, and the Retired Running Streak List contained 14 streak runners. (All streaks having daily runs of less than one mile were purged from both the Active and the Retired lists.)
• 12/01/02 – The Active Running Streak List contained 91 streak runners, and the Retired Running Streak List contained 17 streak runners.
• 01/04/03 – The USRSA conducted its second survey, of all members, on how to generate more interest in the organization.
• 02/15/03 – The USRSA began accumulating statistics on members' running mileage and race results.
• 07/23/03 – The USRSA presented Mark Covert of Lancaster, California with The Running Streak Medal to honor the 35th anniversary of his running streak. His was the first presented by the USRSA, but the 16th awarded since the medal was created by Dawn and John Strumsky for Bob Ray Day in 2000.
• 09/16/03 – Doug Holland of Tucson, Arizona signed up as the 100th member of the USRSA.
• 12/01/03 – The Active Running Streak List contained 107 streak runners, and the Retired Running Streak List contained 23 streak runners.
• 05/26/04 – The second presentation of The Running Streak Medal by the USRSA was made to Jon Sutherland of West Hills, California to honor the 35th anniversary of his running streak. His is the 17th medal awarded.
• 10/02/04 – Mailed the 15th quarterly issue of The Streak Registry to members and potential advertisers (135 copies of 56 pages, plus a 20 page supplement on books about running and racing).
• 11/15/04 – Held the first USRSA essay contest for members, with the theme of "A Running Feat by My Running Feet". Six winners in two categories won $450.00 in U.S. Savings Bonds.
• 12/01/04 – The Active Running Streak List contained 113 streak runners, and the Retired Running Streak List contained 29 streak runners.
• 01/28/05 – The USRSA presented John Wallace, III of Seattle, Washington with its Runner of the Year Award for 2005 for running across the United States (west to east) from September 26, 2004 through January 27, 2005.
• 02/16/05 – The third presentation of The Running Streak Medal by the USRSA was made to Jim Pearson of Ferndale, Washington to honor the 35th anniversary of his running streak. His is the 18th medal awarded.
• 04/08/05 – Bob Ray ended his running streak yesterday—the longest in the United States—and asked that the title of Honorary Chairman be passed on to Mark Covert, now the holder of the longest active running streak in the country. Mark accepted, and the board voted to move Bob up to Chairman Emeritus.
• 07/06/05 – The fourth presentation of The Running Streak Medal by the USRSA was made to Kenneth Young of Petrolia, California to honor the 35th anniversary of his running streak. His is the 19th medal awarded.
• 12/01/05 – The Active Running Streak List contained 129 streak runners, and the Retired Running Streak List contained 37 streak runners.
• 06/07/06 – The fifth presentation of The Running Streak Medal by the USRSA was made to Stephen DeBoer of Rochester, Minnesota to honor the 35th anniversary of his running streak. His is the 20th medal awarded.
• 07/31/06 – Runner's World Magazine mentioned the USRSA for the first time in one of its articles (about Mark Covert having the longest streak in the U. S.).
• 12/01/06 – The Active Running Streak List contained 145 streak runners, and the Retired Running Streak List contained 47 streak runners.
• 12/22/06 – The sixth presentation of The Running Streak Medal by the USRSA was made to Alex Galbraith of Houston, Texas to honor the 35th anniversary of his running streak. His is the 21st medal awarded.
• 08/14/07 – The seventh presentation of The Running Streak Medal by the USRSA was made to David Hamilton of Portland, Oregon to honor the 35th anniversary of his running streak. His is the 22nd medal awarded.
• 08/22/07 – Peter Lefferts of Naples, Florida signed up as the 200th member of the USRSA.
• 12/01/07 – The Active Running Streak List contained 161 streak runners, and the Retired Running Streak List contained 88 retired streaks. (The format of the Retired Running Streak List was changed to show retired streaks by the same runners separately.)
• 02/04/08 – Held the first USRSA running & racing contest for members during 2007. Eight male and eight female winners in four running and four racing categories won plaques.
• 03/06/08 – The USRSA presented John Wallace, Jr. and Karen Wallace of Ishpeming, Michigan with its Runner(s) of the Year Award for 2007 for running across the United States (north to south) from July 7, 2007 through September 26, 2007.
• 07/23/08 – The USRSA presented Mark Covert of Lancaster, California with its Runner of the Year Award for 2008 in recognition of the 40th anniversary of his running streak.
• 12/01/08 – The Active Running Streak List contained 189 streak runners, and the Retired Running Streak List contained 112 retired streaks.
• 12/28/08 – ABC World News ran a segment about the USRSA on it television broadcast about New Year's resolutions. It featured Mark Covert with comments by John Strumsky.
• 01/13/09 – Margaret Blackstock became aware that Julie Maxwell has a longer active running streak than her, and asked that the title of Honorary Vice Chairman be passed on to her. Julie accepted, and the board voted to move Margaret up to Vice Chairman Emeritus.
• 02/02/09 – Held the second USRSA running & racing contest for members during 2008. Eight male and eight female winners in four running and four racing categories won plaques.
• 05/26/09 – The USRSA presented Jon Sutherland of West Hills, California with its Runner of the Year Award for 2009 in recognition of the 40th anniversary of his running streak.
• 06/06/09 – Mailed the 34th quarterly issue of The Streak Registry to members (235 copies of 56 pages, plus a 52 page supplement of members' running and racing records).
• 11/05/09 – The eighth presentation of The Running Streak Medal by the USRSA was made to Walter Byerly of Dallas, Texas to honor the 35th anniversary of his running streak. His is the 23rd medal awarded.
• 12/01/09 – The Active Running Streak List contained 221 streak runners, and the Retired Running Streak List contained 138 retired streaks.
• 12/12/09 – Elliot Friedman of New York, New York signed up as the 300th member of the USRSA.
• 01/01/10 – The ninth presentation of The Running Streak Medal by the USRSA was made to Robert Kraft of Miami Beach, Florida to honor the 35th anniversary of his running streak. His is the 24th medal awarded.
• 02/16/10 – The USRSA presented Jim Pearson of Bellingham, Washington with its Runner of the Year Award for 2010 in recognition of the 40th anniversary of his running streak. (Shared award.)
• 07/06/10 – The USRSA presented Kenneth Young of Petrolia, California with its Runner of the Year Award for 2010 in recognition of the 40th anniversary of his running streak. (Shared award.)
• 08/07/10 – Annual dues ($20) and lifetime dues ($250) remain unchanged over ten years.
• 4/4/2011 John and Dawn Strumsky resign as Directors. Mark Washburne of Mendham, New Jersey is appointed new Managing Director and President of USRSA.