Roger Robinson

The Road Runners' Club of America (the national federation for the sport) presented Roger with its "Excellence in Running Journalism Award, 2009" at the awards banquet held in conjunction with the annual RRCA Convention, in Lakeland, Florida, on April 24. In accepting the award, Roger commented:

"I want first to thank a group of people who have not yet been recognized, those who give their time and expertise to judging these awards. For several years I was on the panel for the RRCA Best Club Newsletter award, so I know how scrupulously the judging is done.

It's typical of the RRCA's broad vision and creative contributions to the sport that they should have an award that encourages and recognizes good writing about running. Good writing can give individual and social significance to an activity that might otherwise be merely physical and ephemeral.

The other group who have made my own work possible are the editors I mainly work for - Jonathan Beverly at Running Times, Rich Benyo at Marathon & Beyond, and Gordon Bakoulis at New York Runner. We are fortunate to have people of their calibre and such excellent magazines serving our sport.

On a personal note - since I first came to the U.S. to race in 1980, I have received nothing but the warmest welcome and friendship from the American running community. I have done my best to put back. This award - for my writing for mainly American runners - therefore means a great deal to me. Thank you."