The Greater Long Island Running Club has announced that veteran running coach Ed Melnik has been retained to serve as the head coach of the club and its men's and women's racing teams.

Each week for 44 weeks of the calendar year, Ed will manage and coach the club's Tuesday evening speed work session. In addition, he will be including articles on various aspects of fitness and training in Footnotes, the club's monthly magazine, and will address the general meetings of the club at least once a year.

The club's executive board selected Melnik for the job at its February 15 meeting, acting on its collective belief that "the fire needs to be lit again," and that Ed Melnik - respected by team members and club members alike, who can provide the kind of knowledge, leadership and encouragement that will help runners of every age and level of ability - is the right person to light that fire!

At the same board meeting, the club accepted the proposal of Fitness Together and its Woodbury proprietor Bob Mittleman to be the financial sponsor of the club's men's and women's racing teams. We very much thank Bob for his generous support! The Fitness Together program of personalized fitness training for men and women ranging from 15 to 80 years of age seemed to be a perfect match for what the club is trying to accomplish through its racing teams and otherwise.

The first of the club's 2006 weekly Tuesday evening track workouts will be at Plainview Kennedy High School on March 28, and Coach Ed cordially invites runners of all ages and levels of ability to join in. Call the Greater Long Island Running Club office at 349-7646 for details ...and motivation!