Dedication Award – Randy McFarlend

Several years ago when I first met Randy McFarland, I never envisioned presenting him with the HTC Dedication Award. As with life, things change over the years.

My fondest memories of Randy date back to the old Pine Mountain Trail Run. It was a 46.2 mile rocky, mountain trail run in Pine Mountain, GA. The finish line served as a big hang out. Runners finished for several hours, then sat, enjoyed soup, swapped stories, and told lies. While I sat with DeWayne Satterfield, we could hear a voice coming down the trail, a loud voice, no mistaking it. It was Randy. He looked beat up and tired, only he was not alone and it was not another runner he was talking to. It was a dog! Randy had hooked up with a dog and ran the last 6 miles to the finish with him. From that time on, Randy became “Dog Man”, so now you know the rest of the story.

Randy soon took over the Monte Sano 15K as race director and directed it for 4 years (2000 - 2003). From that point on he became more and more active in HTC events. He usually runs them or helps put them on. He has been directing the New Year’s Day Fun Runs for 4 years so far (2004 – present). When the club didn’t have a race director for the Monte Sano 15K this year (2007), Randy came in at the last minute and directed it again. Suzanne says, “I can depend on ‘Dog Man’ for just about anything, he always responds to my emails before anyone else. He is a truly dedicated volunteer and we are lucky to have him in our running community.”

Track club members all know Randy’s voice, his flamboyant running style and casual outfits, his sense of humor and most of all, I appreciate his willingness to volunteer at our running events and would like for everyone to recognize Randy tonight as the 2007 winner of the HTC Dedication Award.