DON’T COUNT THEM OUT This is no joke: The 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) season will begin on April 1. While you may wonder whether the Los Angeles Dodgers can repeat as champs or if the Tampa Bay Rays can exact their revenge, don’t count these four teams out just yet. MINNESOTA TWINS You don’t make it to the playoffs with the best record in all of baseball and not make it into some kind of list. The Twins are going to be a fun team to watch because they have a chip on their shoulders. While the team managed to score 269 runs in just 60 games, they also lost their record- breaking 18th straight playoff game in 2020. If they can get consistent pitching, both starters and relievers, they will be in the hunt at the end of September.
Vinny Cappadora and his wife, Nichole, met while running. He had just been laid off from an IT job, and she wanted a career change, too. In hindsight, it seems like fate that the two of them would go on to start a race management, consulting, and timing business. But before all that, they held a half-marathon in their home state of New York. That’s when inspiration struck. “I called the local race timer and they were very off-putting,” Vinny says. “Basically, they said that if we had less than 300 people, it wasn’t even worth it for them to help us. So, I thought, ‘You know what? We can take all of the business they’re throwing out the door!’” That’s exactly what they did. A decade later, Vinny and Nichole own Happily Running and work with organizations and individuals across the country to plan, time, and source supplies for races. No need is too big or too small for their attention. “If you’re looking for an event and want to be able to just say, ‘Hey, here is the date we want it on and here’s a check for [a certain amount of] dollars — see you on race day!’ then we can do that. Or if you just want to order a box of safety pins, we can do that, too,” Vinny says. WANT HELP ORGANIZING YOUR RACE? HAPPILY RUNNING HAS THE EXPERIENCE YOU NEED CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT: ST. LOUIS CARDINAL The award for best offseason ought to go to the Cardinals, who, all winter long, appear to have outwitted their Milwaukee and Chicago rivals — the Brewers and Cubs were the top two teams in the National League Central DETROIT TIGERS There is a benefit to repeatedly being near the bottom of the league: You get good draft picks. The Tigers are on the cusp of finding that special blend of offense and defense in the coming season thanks to some much- needed depth by up-and-coming pitchers and first-round draft picks — so much so that Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has them as the top team that missed the playoffs in 2020 who could make a solid run.
last year — by acquiring third baseman Nolan Arenado and re-signing Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina. The Cardinals are favored to win the Central if those off-season moves pay off. SAN DIEGO PADRES After acquiring Manny Machado in a big trade in 2019, the Padres have continued to improve, especially against difficult opponents. The Padres were a tough team last year, defeating the Cardinals in the wild card round and losing to the eventual World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Expect them to be near the top of the standings in September.
Over the years, Vinny and Nichole have worked with race organizers of all stripes, including some of
the nation’s biggest companies like Spartan Race. Happily Running also puts on three of its own races each year, and in 2020, they got plenty of virtual race experience. One of their services is connecting race managers with vendors like us who provide swag and apparel. “Lynnpro really helps with their prices and service,” Vinny says. “For the people [at Lynnpro], it doesn’t really matter [how big your order is]. I feel like a lot of times I deal with somebody and they’re like, ‘Oh, you’re only ordering 100 shirts?’ But with Lynnpro, you get the same kind of help and attention whether you’re ordering 100 shirts today or 100 today and 200 tomorrow.” We’re proud to provide shirts, hats, and drawstring bags for Happily Running’s clients. If you’re a race manager looking for help in 2021, give Vinny and Nichole a try. You can find them at HappilyRunning.com or by calling 607-376-RACE.
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