One of the best things about Running Club North is that we have extremely active and dedicated volunteers that make all our events happen in an incredibly supportive environment. We try to recognize everyone’s efforts as much as we can, but for those who are particularly dedicated we give three awards, presented at our annual meeting each year in October. The lists below include our past winners.
We sincerely appreciate every winner’s contribution to the success of RCN!
Have someone you’d like to nominate? Please use the Award Nominations page to do that. We usually actively solicit nominations in the early fall, at the end of the summer running season. But feel free to nominate the perfect person any time.
Most Inspirational Runner
Volunteer
Race Director
Special Awards
Most Inspirational Runner of the Year
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Jessica Blasey |
| 2024 | Rulon Jensen |
| 2023 | Shalane Frost |
| 2022 | Oralee Nudson and Bob Vitale |
| 2019 | Pete Hjellen |
| 2018 | Ed and Jackie Debevec |
| 2017 | Owen Merrill |
| 2016 | Bad Bob Baker |
| 2015 | Janette Hanneman |
| 2014 | Davya Flaharty |
| 2013 | Andy Sterns |
| 2012 | George Rimiller Jr. |
| 2011 | Bobbi Jo Katchmar |
| 2010 | Dorli McWayne |
| 2009 | Jane Lanford |
| 2008 | Jim Decur |
| 2007 | Kristen Bartecchi Rozell |
| 2006 | Barbara Wuttig |
| 2005 | Pat Kalen |
| 2004 | Janna Miller |
| 2003 | Tim Doran |
| 2002 | Jim Madonna |
| 2001 | Ronnie Smith |
| 2000 | Andy Sterns |
| 1999 | Glenn Hackney |
Volunteer of the Year
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Samuel Zielke |
| 2024 | Shalane Frost |
| 2023 | Janet Daley and Arthur Hussey |
| 2022 | Kuba Grzeda |
| 2019 | Tamara and Tim Hall |
| 2018 | Rhonda Gilbertson |
| 2017 | Ron Oliver and Team RWB |
| 2016 | Bobbi Jo Katchmar |
| 2015 | Andrea Swingley |
| 2014 | Roger & Tamara Sayre |
| 2013 | George Berry |
| 2012 | Ed Debevec |
| 2011 | Dee Daniels & Karen Harris |
| 2010 | Gary Pohl |
| 2009 | Bev Weis |
| 2008 | Chad Carroll |
| 2007 | Sharon & Bad Bob Baker |
| 2006 | Monte Jordan |
| 2005 | Keith Pollock |
| 2004 | Stan Justice |
| 2003 | Tracey Martinson |
| 2002 | Corky Hebard |
| 2001 | Kat Betters & Bruce Miller |
| 2000 | Bob Hildebrandt |
| 1999 | Jo Ellen Cowee |
Race Director of the Year
| Year | Winner | Race |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Susan Schwartz | |
| 2024 | Devin McDowell | Granite Tors Run |
| 2023 | Erica Betts | Drew's Angel Creek 50 |
| 2022 | Wendy Cloyd | Midnight Sun Run |
| 2019 | Oralee Nudson & Robbin Garber-Slaught | Ester Dome Ass Kicker |
| 2018 | George Berry | Far too many to list! |
| 2017 | Stacy Fisk | Equinox Marathon, Goldstream To Hoodoo Half Marathon |
| 2016 | Don Kiely | Alaska Endurance Trail Run |
| 2015 | Chris Greene | Granite Tors Trail Run |
| 2014 | Amber Barlow & Tyson Flaharty | Alaska Interior Triathlon Series |
| 2013 | Keith Pollock | Run & Soak |
| 2012 | John Estle & Susan Kramer | Equinox Marathon, Relay, and Ultra |
| 2011 | Jane Lanford | Murphy Dome Roam/Run of the Mine |
| 2010 | Drew Harrington | Northern Trails Series races |
| 2009 | Dawniel Dupee | Alaska Statehood 5K |
| 2008 | Matias Saari | Northern Trails Running Series |
| 2007 | Wayde Leder and Rob Solomon | Two-Way Torture Test |
| 2006 | Fairbanks Symphony Association board - Dorli McWayne, Steve Bainbridge | Beat Beethoven |
| 2005 | Bob Perkins | It Ain't Easy Hill Run |
| 2004 | Jim Brader | Golden Mile |
| 2003 | Bill Young | Santa Claus ½ Marathon |
| 2002 | Gary Pohl, Mike Kramer, Steve Bainbridge | Gold Discovery Run |
| 2001 | Trent Fieldson | Manchu Run |
| 2000 | Paulette Goodwin | Santa Claus Half Marathon |
| 1999 | Steve Bainbridge | Equinox Marathon |
Special Awards
In addition to these usual three awards, in 2015 RCN gave a special award for Outstanding Contributions to Running in Interior Alaska. This award recognizes Paul and Nancy Kelley for race-directing the Tok Trot for 35 consecutive years. There are races that have been around longer, but it’s unlikely that any have had the same race director for such a long tenure. Paul and Nancy put on the Tok Trot 10K in April each year, on a course “flat as your wallet at tax time.” Walkers start an hour ahead of the runners, and a good portion of the townspeople of Tok participate, plus contingents from Fairbanks and other communities. And afterward, the Kelleys host a huge feast at their house for everyone. And it’s all free to participants.
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