First Up:  Here’s Arturo Bartonando

The annual Spaghetti Fundraiser for ACS – Fri. Aug 21nd from 5:30 – 8:00 at Moose Lodge Family Center - is going to need some of those fabulous Vardo cooks again this year.  The VV's (Vardo Volunteers) have been fantastic for 3 years running on this event!  If you can help with this event please contact Art Barton at:  a.barton@mchsi.com

On Saturday morning, August 22nd, the "ACS 5K for Life of Story County" race will be held at Brookside Park.  Here's another event that many Vardos have been having fun with, as a volunteer and/or as a participant. For all who can get involved we have a "Vardo Team".  This is a fundraiser for the Story County Branch of the American Cancer Society, so all team members will receive a packet, complete with fund raising tips.  Rumor is there may be a special prize for the greatest fund raising team; look for more on this as it unfolds.  If you would like to be on the Vardo Team for ACS, and we really wish you would, please respond with an email back to George Klotzbach  klotzbach@msn.com

On Sunday morning, September 6th, GAAR (Great Ames Adventure Race) will be held at Ada Hayden Park.  This race is a lot of fun but has not had a lot of Vardo participation, just a few Vardos each year?  We need to up that!  This race is a real adventure, it includes kayaking (or canoe), biking, and running.  Proceeds from this race are used by the local Ames Paddlers, Biking, and Running Clubs to promote their Club causes of cleaner rivers, safer riding, and Arthritis research.  In the next few weeks more will be out on this race, including online registration opportunities, so go ahead now and pencil these dates on your calendars!

This Just In From The Fargo Marathon

3:33:10  Sir Brendan Finn

Source: http://www.fargomarathon.com/results.htm  and  http://www.onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php#racetop

Our reporter states:  “The smoking fast time is a Personal Record for him, and he missed a Boston Qualifier by just over 2 min.” 
(Our Editor states:    “Holy Fargo, man.”)


Speaking Of Brendan The Finn – Here He Is With Tonight’s Routes!

#1 www.usaf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=290860
Start at Vardocenter to 6th to University out to Stange, North to 24th back to Northwestern back to the Vardo center: 5.27 miles.

#2 www.usaf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=291227
Start at Vardocenter east to Duff north to 24th west to Hayes, south on Hayes to Ridgewood to 6th, back to Vardocenter: 4.77 miles.

I will have water, Gatorade at the Vardocenter.  Brendan Finn


Art!  Go Away – You’ve Already Had Your Turn For This VardoGram

“Great Ames Adventure Race options are solo, tandem, and relay.  Solo participants complete the entire course. Tandem is two people in one canoe or tandem kayak, both bike, and both run; times are averaged. Relays can be 2-person, 3-person, or 4-person; participants compete in sections as assigned by their teams.”


Hey, Vardo:  What’s On Your iPod?

This week, we “borrowed” Jan (“The Jan”) Schmitt’s tune machine.  Does her playlist frighten you?  It frightened me

“Kill-Kill-Kill”             Black Widow
“Grenades For Breakfast”        Lucifer’s Friend
“Stik A Nife In Bill”         The Violent Femmes
"You Light Up My Life"     Debbie Boone
“I’m In A Bad Mood”     System of a Down
“Blood All Over”         Deathcab for Cutie
“I Write The Songs”     Barry Manilow
“Cut Off Its Head ‘n Kill It”     Slayer
“Total Destruction - Part II”     Venom


Group Runs / Activities This Week

Monday:              Sister Stacey Roberts celebrates a fine birthday.  Maybe with some leftover pulled pork still in the freezer from the Holiday Banquet . ..
Tuesday:              5:30 PM  Group Run.  Vardaman Center for the Performing Arts -  Your RouteMaster:   Sir Brendan Finn
Wednesday:      5:45 PM VardoCycle – Meet at the Pizza Ranch on East 13^th St.    Your host:   Chris “Well, Butter My Chamois” Delaney
Wednesday:      Good gravy, just put on your helmet and do your job.
Thursday:            5:30 PM Group Run – Ada Vardaman Hayden Heritage Warren Q. Madden Flippin’ Nora Park
Saturday:             Group Run.  Your RouteMaster:    Hillary Olson, the HydroWoman
Sunday:                And look here:  It’s Kathleen Wendel’s birthday