The Blue Team is open to anyone who is dedicated to the sport of running and willing to give back to the running community. It's a great way to become involved on a team, meet training partners to help you achieve your goals, and simply be involved. The Blue Team also is also an integral part of the Columbus Running Company Charity Fund. If you'd like to take part, we'd love to have you. Simply contact one of the owners.

Here are some of the benefits to Team CRC Blue Team:
- 15% off purchases in the store throughout the year.
- Heavier discounts or even free merchandise based on participation levels- running and volunteering.
- Semi-Annual team nights with heavier discounts
- Pride of being part of TEAM CRC!

Here is what we expect in return:
- You are an ambassador for both the sport and the CRC. Please represent our ideals and good sportsmanship at events.
- Wear your jersey/top in your races.
- Volunteer for at least three CRC Charity Fund events throughout the year.
- Although not required, we encourage you to attend store group runs in your area.

To spice things up we keep a point system of races you've run and volunteered for. The more involved you are the more chances to earn free stuff- from pizza and bowling at the next CRC function to free shoes!

Chris Au Chris Au started running in high school, earning district honors and then moving on to run college at Ohio Dominican for two years. Modest pr's led to harder work and this year, shortly after graduating, Chris hopes to pr multiple times through logging high mileage weeks and dedicated hard work. Chris is excited to be on the CRC team and cannot wait to represent both the store and team. Beyond the running, Chris has made a knack for himself through his ability to soothe Bess. In March Bess became angry with Matt for not paying attention to her, so she decided to never brake again. Luckily, Chris massaged Bess's frustration away and Bess run's like the beauty she is.

Brent Stark My foray into running began 12 years ago when I attempted to run three times around Antrim Lake. However, I only made it two times around. My girlfriend (now wife) thought I was going to literally die. It's amazing the lengths some will go to impress. Fortunately, I lived through that experience, impressed her enough to marry her and began running on a more consistent basis 8 years ago. The more I ran, the faster I became and soon I was hooked. I have run many, many races over the last several years and have enjoyed each of them in their own special way (some way more than others!). More important than the races I have run is the fact that I have met some really wonderful people through this great sport. And oh yeah I love logarun!

Charlie Wlodyka Hooray for last names. Charlie is a former Ohio Northern Football athlete who stumbled his way into Columbus for a job. He began showing up for CRC group runs in Dublin, and enjoyed being the center of attention as the handsome new young guy to grace the Saturday morning ritual. Buying a house in Hilliard only furthered the rise in his stock among the group run ladies, and signing up for team CRC blew it up like a Bruce Willis flick. Since starting to run regularly, he has constantly improved. There is no telling where this train will stop...

Scott Schwenter  Scott brings to the table more than the will to run faster than Brent Stark. The former collegiate triple jumper plays USATF's fantasy track and field game with the same mesmerizing dexterity as an East Asian snake charmer. His tongue is a master of linguistics; whenever CRC gets involved with racing foreign athletes Schwenter translates the trash talk. His will to never run a marathon is strong as an iron curtain, but we all know that everything eventually cracks, crumbles, and falls to pieces. When it happens, all will rejoice with awe.

Bob Caldwell  Bob is one of the few members who can officially call themselves a master runner, although some of the others will claim to be. Residing just outside of Dublin, he is a regular at the Saturday morning Dublin runs and Monday night Westerville runs. Until he gets to know you, he'll often run more miles than words he speaks, which got him the initial nickname of 'Silent Bob'. The only thing that seems to keep this man down is lifting stone nativity scenes.

Matt Suttle  Matt is a teacher, runner, coach, and lover. An Otterbein Alum, he now coaches high school cross country and started a middle school running club at the school where he teaches. His doctor wife (way to go, suds) was a hurdler, and you'll often find them at the local track meet checking out the races. He has been with the store since 2004, before the first shoe shelves were even built. Living on the southwest side, you'll often find him taking out the bike as well with fellow teammate Aaron Kramer.

Jeff Voorhees  I began running as a way of rehabbing an injury from another sport. A few miles a week became a few miles a day and eventually running stuck and the other sport fell by the wayside. I had never run with anyone else before crashing a group run at the Westerville Store. Besides providing a group of people for regular workouts, I am learning more about running than I could have ever taught myself and despite having considered myself a runner for years, I am still learning what I am capable of.  From Indiana, graduate of Purdue (BS & BA) and Ohio State (MS & PhD), I'm a biochemist (protein chemistry) and I do cancer research at OSU. Played baseball in college (briefly), got into power lifting (which was dumb), fell into running while getting over a back injury. My life kind of revolves around running and Purdue sports.

Jimmy Little  Jimmy is the kind of guy who genuinely just wants to go fast. During the spring and summer his focus is on the duathlon, while in the fall he'll turn his attention solely to running. He works for Honda, and much like the civic he never seems to quit. If he finds a bike that will go faster than his current one, he'll get it. If he finds a race he can fit into his schedule, he'll race it. Jimmy now has ten marathon's under his belt. He has even got half his family running.

Matt Marshall  Matt is a man dedicated to driving for UPS, keeping up his running, and representing CRC either on the roads or by volunteering. So dedicated he only had time to write this for his bio:  "Getting back into running again after a 12 year lay off." Good luck. Before his time off, Matt was a standout distance runner who competed for Bridgeport High School and Edinboro University in the '80's. He boasts PR's of 15:11 for 5k, 4:24 for the mile, and 2:42 for the marathon.

Chris Weiss  Chris is arguably the most active CRC runner and boasts calves of steel. He ran for Manalapan HS in Central Jersey and went on to run for Rutgers for two years. After his stint at Rutgers he lost touch with the joy of running, put on some lb's, and played rugby. He managed to find himself a beautiful wife named Sarah, who has only appeared at one CRC function so far. "We got two kick a$$ dogs named Emily and Chiana and two cats named Neko and Tink," Weiss says of their relationship. His boyish good looks coupled with multiple facial piercings make him quite the topic of discussion among the group run ladies at the Saturday morning run. His taste of music is seriously lacking, however. He'll be away from running for a few weeks this summer as he had to undergo some knee surgery, but his enthusiasm and big calves will help him recover quickly.

Aaron Kramer  Aaron and his wife, Susan, are parents to Adam, Riah, and Mara (all future runners!) After several years of "competitive" buffet and pizza eating in college, he is enjoying his return to competitive running after a 15-year hiatus after high school and joined the CRC Blue Team in January 2007. He believes in a "lifestyle" approach to running including healthy eating, cross training, and strength training. He added cycling to the mix in 2006 and now enjoys competing in duathlons as well. (He won the 2007 Shelby YMCA Biathlon.) He has set lifetime PRs in every distance from 5K to marathon since turning 35. Some day he plans to run an ultra marathon if he loses enough of his senses!

Steve Wolf  The infamous Steve Wolf. Every person should have goals in his or her life. Every person with a list of goals should include 'Meet Steve Wolf' at some point. He is a personal trainer. He puts decals on race cars. He rides a motorcycle. He always wears the flashiest shoes. He goes by 'Wolfie' rather than his real name. You would think the man would have an entourage, but he is above even that. His greatest CRC moment was when he helped team CRC win a cross country race over rivals from Cincy and Louisville. You'll see him out running, biking, and taking on all challengers. When you do, make sure you introduce yourself.

Meghan Ferran - Bio coming soon!

Anna Ondecko - Bio coming soon!

Kristen Smith - Bio coming soon!

Rachael DeLeon  Rachael is someone forever attached to running. She's been a runner since high school, ran in college, and somehow finds time to keep running despite working long hours in the retail business for Abercrombie and Fitch. Even if she wanted to escape running, she never will because she married a running store owner. That's cool, she says, because it comes with certain perks when it's time for a new pair of shoes.

Stephanie Whitis It was the dawn of this new century when future CRC master employee Matthew Whitis encouraged her to do some running. A touch of bewilderment clouded her senses, or perhaps it was Matthew's charm. Her curiosity got the best of her and she entered her first road race. When she finished, "I was hooked", says Stephanie. She's been improving ever since, and even claims two Marion Popcorn Festival crowns to her name. "I have enjoyed setting goals for myself and working hard to achieve those goals". She has raced everything from track, road, and even cross country. She obviously has since married Matthew, and they call Clintonville home. The two are masters of the three mile warm up and cool downs. She hopes to re-qualify herself for Boston soon, as she'll be representing CRC at the upcoming XC nationals in Spokane.

Mike Hansen Mike began his running career by going out for the 7th grade Track and XC teams at Massillon-Jackson.  He enjoyed running and competing so much he went on to run for the University of Cincinnati and has kept going on his own since graduating in 2004.  After leaving Cincy, Mike spent 2 years Georgia Tech in Atlanta learning to become a male prosthetist (one who makes artificial limbs like Oscar Pistorius wears, not a person who stands on the street corner).  He and his wife recently returned to Ohio and have made Columbus home.  You may see them getting in their miles on the Northwest side of town. Mike looks forward to getting involved with the local running scene and staying competitive with Team CRC.

Bob Krile Bob is one of our masters' heroes who stepped in to the mix for the 2007 USATF Club Cross Country Championships.  He won our affection with his stiff arm approach to racing, seen to your right. He's not afraid to tackle the miles, either, and usually does so on the bike paths of Westerville and Genoa Township up on State Rt. 3.  Want to know where a certain path leads? Ask him. He is on a group that helps to plan these things.  For that we are grateful. He most recently took his trade to the track, where he competed in the USATF Masters Track Championships.

Mike Bailey - bio coming soon!

Rob Ickes So we asked Rob, a man of many words,  to send us a bio for the site. Here is what we get. Really don't know what to say. I started running in 2003 as a way to get back into shape. I ran my first marathon that fall, and have been running them ever since. My goal is to someday break 2:50 in the marathon.  Will that work?

We have designated Monday nights at 6:30pm as a CRC store team training night. You are welcome to join us for a spin around Westerville store. Nothing fancy, just a good run. We meet and leave from the Westerville store.