1. sports
2. running and jogging

May/June 2015
Legion
Profiles
Boston #119
Marathon
Reparations
Matt Pelletier
Karen Bertasso
Rob Edson
Liz Cooney
Getting Lost
Intervals
The Essential
8
Books on
Running
1
2
3
Table of Contents
issue 26: May/June 2015
On the cover: Matt Pelletier donning his winter beard (more on that
on pg 26) and his new Brooks racing kit at the New Bedford Half Marathon. Photo by Scott Mason.
This page: Master at rest. Bernard Lagat reclines on the track after
racing at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. Photo by Joe Navas.
The Warmup
6
LVL Communications
8
Editor’s Note
Electronic Epistles
Lane 1: Performance
10
Marathon Specificity
Lane 2: Body Shop
14
Legion Profiles
14
Club Spotlight
28
Lane 3: Commentary
32
LVL Bits
33
Lane 4: Books
34
Boston Coverage
36
The Warmdown
43
Psychology Part II
Karen Bertasso
Rob Edson
Liz Cooney
Matt Pelletier
Craft Concept Racing
Get Lost
(P)reparations
Your Reading List
by Lynch, Clerici,
Balance, Murphy
Learn the Legion
4
Sunday, June 21, 2015
7:30 AM
Cove Community Center
Beverly, MA
Photo by Roger Brul
Contact Info:
Boys and Girls Club
of Greater Salem
978-744-0915
Early Packet Pickup at
New England Running Co.
Saturday, June 20 from
9:30 to 6:00
Part of the New England Running Company 2015 Road Race Series
Register to win a free pair of Brooks running shoes!
www.nerunningco.com/10miler
5
Editor’s Letter
Yo
u’ve been cranking on all cylinders this spring and we’ve
been trying desperately to keep up. Three
often four web posts per day and enough
content to fill the space of this magazine
several times over. A good problem to
have for a couple of guys trying to keep it
on the level in the margins of their days.
Let’s start with the main event: Boston.
You’ve heard about the weather. It was
bad. I didn’t know quite how bad it was
until I arrived at my usual place along
Commonwealth Ave. Let’s just say parking was not a problem for the first time in
recent memory. The crowds this year, at
least in my spot, were not nearly as dense
as years past, last year in particular.
Weather played a big factor. Tough to
bring the family out for a day of spectating when it’s forty-three degrees and
raining. A classic New England raw dog
day—fitting given the winter we endured.
provide a closer look at four such
“patches” in this issue. Let’s start with the
cover subject, Matt Pelletier. We share
an expansive expose on Matty P that covers seven pages, which is a Level record
for any one individual profile. We offer
many perspectives including those from
himself, his wife Jill, and his coach Ray
Nelson. Pelletier is more than deserving
of this issue’s cover—it’s long overdue.
Back in our early days (2011), seven pages of profile would’ve equaled our entire
Legion section and nearly half the allotted pages of our magazine. Nowadays,
we’re just getting warmed up. We also
have Karen Bertasso, Rob Edson, and
Liz Cooney.
Willow Street ace Bertasso is fresh off a
2:48:14 at the London Marathon. It wasn’t
quite the performance that she hoped for
but she went for it. She blazed the first
half in 1:20:32 in an effort to achieve
greatness. That’s what makes athletes like
Paul Clerici, Fiona Murphy, Scott Maher so deserving of our profiles. They
son, George Ross, Allison Lynch, Kevin aren’t afraid to race from the gun and
Morris, and myself provide you with both leave fear in their wake.
national and local angles regarding the
119th running. Scott, George, and Kevin
Rob, whose comeback is now official,
know how to photograph runners and us calls his age group (50-59) “scary good,”
writers provide you, the informed running and the scary thing is that he’s right. Part
community, with the insights we know
of Rob’s comeback, I think, can be atyou’ve come to expect and appreciate.
tributed to the competitive masters scene
and the phenomenon of age-graded
Our insights, however, are not limited to times.
the Boston Marathon. Muddy, writing
from the vantage point of somebody who One of the my favorite sentences in the
has just completed Boston and its
magazine comes from Liz. It defines not
buildup, explores the reparations he must only her humility but that of the entire
face now that the event is over. He offers running community’s: “I don’t know how
sage advice on how to make amends
long my good fortune in racing will conwith those you ignored during your three tinue, but I do know its source: the good
month training block. Dave Dunham in
people I run with and learn from, even
“Get Lost” gives us some tactics to avoid this late in the day.”
doing just that.
And with that, I wish you all good forThe runner, as far as the Level is contune.
cerned, is his own patch that makes up a
larger quilt that covers the collective. We Run. Read. Peace.
issue 26
May/June 2015
levelrenner.com
Masthead of
Contributors
Writers
Ray Charbonneau
Muddy
Ian Nurse
Dave Dunham
Rich Stiller
Carly Bergenholtz
Paul Clerici
Kristin Barry
Nate Jenkins
Fiona Murphy
Photographers
Scott Mason
George Ross
Kevin Morris
Krissy Kozlosky
Joe Viger
Joe Navas
SNAPacidotic
Allison Lynch
Brian Harty
Web Contributor
Mike Giberti
Web Producer
EJN
ejn@levelrenner.com
Ed/Pub
Kevin Balance
kevbalance@levelrenner.com
Level Renner is a free digital magazine and website. Interested parties can subscribe directly on the
Level Renner homepage.
run on the ground
read the underground
6
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7
Level Communications
Tweets
From @SSiedliski: @levelrenner Love your March/April cover
with @johnltrautmann on it. Saw him break Pre's 3k at Penn in
86.
From @mattmhaley: Big thanks to @levelrenner for adding me
to the blog network. I appreciate the love #levellegion
Letters
focused on undergraduate teaching and learning, as opposed to
sponsored research by graduate students and faculty.
There are far better people on the case than me, but at
the very least, I would look into programs like these (http://
www.collegeautismspectrum.com/collegeprograms.html). Running should be a complement to a great and appropriate academic
program, but just dropping into the University of Oregon or Stanford without identifying the right supports would be as unfortunate as not going somewhere where he could continue his superlative athletic career while also getting a great education.
—Bernie Jones
I think Mike [Atwood, the author] raises some great points, but I
agree with Bernie in that it could be very difficult for Mikey to
address his academic needs and meet the needs of a DI running
program. Research and graduate programs have a negative effect
on the overall quality of undergraduate education even at DIII
programs with graduate schools. It is highly likely that he would
have more academic flexibility at a smaller school. I'd rather see
the NCAA be more strict about football and basketball than have
Hi Kevin,
NCAA running become more similar to those NCAA sports. For
Thank you for the email and invite [to the LVL10K]. If I am back any student athlete, the focus should be on finding a few good
in Boston, I will definitely be there! I took the plunge and moved schools that address his own academic needs, and then seeing
out to San Diego back in August, currently living in Solana
which of the schools has the right athletic program. There are
Beach. Some big challenges keep me on fire but I am really engreat coaches at all NCAA levels. It can't be ignored that the level
joying the life style out here.
of competition is not going to be the same, but Mikey seems to be
After a rough year with my running, I am back in full
very good at front running.
effect with running and training...running those high miles and
—Ben Nephew
now swimming like a fish about 5 days a week. Trail racing has
been going well... took first female in both of my recent trail mar- I know Mikey first hand; we live in the same town. He deserves
athons and third/second overall. Catalina Island in November and to go to a D1 college. The guy works hard. If only I was a D1
Sean O'Brien in Malibu, March. Both are pretty gnarly courses
coach, I'd take him onboard.
with intense elevation ...but I loved the experience and highly
—Travis Tate
recommend taking on the physical challenges...at least just to see
some buffalo on the course!
Regarding the Western Mass Distance Project’s Decision
What I am missing out here is some Level! Northern
not to renew its membership with USATF...
County Sunny D is a great place to live for us athletes but it could
use some Level Races and running network New England style. I
I have lots of thoughts on this, but I'll brief. As a fan of secession
am all on board with this quest to make it come alive. Trails or
in general and a natural doubter of the federal government's abilroad... it's time the West Coast gets a bump from the East Side
ity to properly run this country and hardened skeptic of their endRunning Beat. Let me know if I can help and/or if you make a
less overreaching... oh right, I said brief. Anyhow, I'm definitely
trip out here to check out the scene...I guarantee you won't be
inclined to agree with this decision, maybe more on the national
disappointed :) Hope you are well and keep in touch.
level of being part of USA Track & Field than on the local USA
Best,
Track & Field New England (USATF-NE) level, but still, I see
Diona Fulton
this as a very valid course to take. Sometimes you can only invest
so much time working on something from the inside before you
see that your interests will best served and your voice best heard
when you remove yourself completely. As to the, "you can't have
a voice at all if you aren't still part of it" argument, where and
Regarding our article on Mikey Brannigan...
when have our voices been heard, lately anyway? See my point.
As for me, I'm still a member and will still work to betGreat story about someone who seems like a great kid. Thanks
for sharing and for advocating. That said, I wanted to comment a ter the (broken) system from the inside. For me, it's still the best
bit about the focus on DI programs. No one will debate that at the option, for now. Proud of those Wolves for choosing their own
top DI programs, the opportunity for resources and team training path though (as long as they keep training and running hard!).
are unparalleled. But that level of expectation is also likely mar- —Dan Button
Hi Kevin,
Just ordering a set of decals and a beanie. You folks have a great
site! Read it most every day. Terrific race coverage. Happy to see
some notice of trail racing and the mountain series.
Thanks,
Steve Malynn
Facebook Posts
ried to a set of non-academic pressures that makes the educational
process there all the more challenging. Given his particular needs,
this could be putting all of his proverbial eggs in one basket.
Why not go to a smaller school, with better academic
structures to support students with those kinds of needs and with
a lower pressure athletic environment (but not lessening the opportunities for high level competition)? When folks diminish DIII
(as well as DII and NAIA) and elevate DI, they do so without
recognizing that the top programs outside of DI are better than all
but a select number of DI programs. These places are also more
Inlay artwork by Brian Harty
8
9
Lane 1: Performance
Marathon Specific Intervals
by Nate Jenkins
In preparing to race a fast marathon no workout is more important than marathon paced intervals. These workouts target
the exact pace you wish to run and by targeting it with interval
style workouts you have far more variables to adjust to address
your specific weaknesses. Doing so will assure your success in the
marathon.
of your base training you may do something as easy as 6 x 6
minutes at marathon pace with 3 minutes at 80 to 85% of marathon pace.
Over the course of the base phase and into your specific training,
you can increase either the distance of the repeats (by a minute
or two every week or two) or you can increase the number of
What are marathon specific intervals? Simply put marathon spe- repetitions. Personally I like to build up to repeats that are becific intervals are any workout where repeats are run at marathon tween 4 kilometers and 4 miles. Some even prefer to go as far as
pace with some sort of rest taken in between. If your focus race 2-3 x 6-7 miles with 1 mile recoveries at about 90% of marathon
is a marathon, then start doing some form of these early in your
pace and that’s perfectly fine. However, I know many successful
base and build the total volume and length of the repeats as you marathoners, Carlos Lopes comes to mind, who prefer a great
approach race day.
volume of shorter repetitions, for example workouts such as 30 x
1k or 20 x 1 mile. On these shorter repeats the rest can be either
How should you use them? Your approach to these intervals
a short jog or even thirty seconds to a minute of stationary rest.
depends some on personal preference and some on your particu- This is acceptable because the training effect of this workout
lar weaknesses that need to be addressed.
comes from the muscular fatigue caused by the total volume of
work; the short rests just make the efforts more aerobically diffiIf you have muscular difficulty in finishing strong in the marathon cult.
(be that in the form of late race cramps, tightening up, or muscular fatigue), then you should focus on doing a greater total volIn building for your next marathon try using these intervals as a
ume of repeats, as much as 18 to 22 miles of work at marathon
way of ‘building your race’ and I assure you that you will be repace. This may mean that you have to take longer or slower rests warded with a better sense of your pacing in the middle of the
or do shorter repeats, but the resulting extra muscular stress of
race and greater strength and power in the later stages of it. Ω
the workout will give you the specific muscular endurance to
overcome your issues.
Nate Jenkins is a 2:14:56 marathoner and math teacher who represented
the USA at the 2009 IAAF World Track and Field championships.
If your problem has been ‘the wall,’ which is to say running out of glycogen, then you want to focus on taking
faster recovery jog breaks between your repeats and doing longer stretches at marathon pace. In this case, your
goal would be to build toward sessions like 3-4 x 4 miles
at marathon pace with 1 mile recoveries at only 5 or 10%
slower than marathon pace.
Finally if you are a lower mileage runner, you may find
that doing more than one session that is in excess of 12 or
13 miles with this much marathon pace running is very
difficult. Also if you are going to be racing for a win in a
marathon and know you will need to be making and covering surges, running repeats slightly faster than marathon pace, say 102%, with shorter recoveries at 90 to 95%
marathon pace (so that your overall average pace is
around marathon pace) can be a bread and butter
workout for you. The staple example of this workout is 4
x 4k at 102% with 1k “rests” at around 90% marathon
pace so that for the whole workout, 20 kilometers, you
average right around your marathon pace.
What is the best way to build a progression of intervals?
In using marathon paced intervals as part of your training,
building up these workouts sensibly and steadily over
your full cycle of training is important. In the early stages
2015 Amenities Include

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Post-race party boat; lunch by boloco
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10
28th Walpole Village Fair Road Race
Sat, June 13, 9:00 AM Start
Village Fairgrounds 62 Front St
Registration opens 7:30 AM
Scenic rolling 5k course
st
1 Race in the Walpole Grand Prix
Overall and 8 age group awards
Free Raffle
Plenty of food and refreshments
Course Records
Kevin Gray, 15:16, 2003
Emily Logan, 17:31, 2005
Villagefair5k.com
19th Annual
Ultra Around the Lake
July 24-25, 2015
Lake Quannapowitt
Wakefield, MA
Info and registration:
www.srr.org/24hour
Four Events: 24-hour ultra, 12-hour
ultra, 24-hour relay and marathon
New, flat 3.2 mile loop course; 2 aid
stations each lap
Start times:
24-hour, Marathon, Relay @ 9pm Friday
12-hour @ 9am Saturday
USATF Certified (Boston Qualifier)
International Association of Ultrarunners:
Bronze Label
Prize Money for Ultra Events
Proceeds Benefit:
Wakefield Educational Foundation &
Christmas in the City
Chip timing w/ individual lap splits
Course Records:
Free tech shirt, finisher medal
Special award for completing 100 miles 24-hour: 140.1 miles by Scott Traer
12-hour: 86.32 miles by Akos Konya
11
Lane 2: Body Shop
The Psychological Component of Injury
Part II
By Ian Nurse, DC
In
the last edition of Level Renner, we explored the psychological component of injury and how easily all aspects of our lives and identities as runners can be affected. This
month, we will identify various coping mechanisms that will not
only facilitate healing but will offer a more positive perspective
during those difficult weeks of healing.
Each week, I welcome new patients into my practice and try to
help them overcome their current injury. The initial appointment
always starts with us sitting down together and talking about injury history. Not only am I gathering information about the actual
physical injury but also the patient’s mental state as that can be
just as important to healing as the injury itself. I can often tell
who will heal quickly after just a few treatments as opposed to
those who will not based solely on the mental state of the patient. If he is optimistic and has taken a positive attitude toward
his healing, the recovery time is almost always dramatically shorter than those who arrive with the mentality that the injury “will
never be cured.”
Many studies have proven that healing time can be dramatically
affected by one’s mental state. As we discussed in Part I, staying
optimistic while injured is not always as easy as it seems. With
that in mind, here are some steps injured runners can take to
help adopt a positive attitude:
#1 Allow Yourself to be Sad
- While it’s hard to accept
that you’re injured (you’d
rather consider yourself
invincible), it’s important
not to hide your feelings of
loss and doubt. Hiding your
emotions is a waste of energy and will also delay the
ultimate healing of your
injury by not allowing you to
cope and move on.
#2 Accept Your Situation Injured runners often focus
on all that could have happened if the injury hadn’t
occurred in the first place. “I
was running really well and
ready to PR. . . “ is an often
heard phrase in my office.
Unfortunately, there is
nothing you can do to take back the injury. It’s far more productive to stop thinking of what could have happened or how good
things were before the injury; rather, accept it and focus on the
situation, focus on the now.
#3 Create New Goals - As you begin the healing process, you may
very well have to learn to measure successes differently than
before. While a walk/run combo was never a consideration in
your pre-injury weekly training, now running pain-free for a few
minutes followed by longer periods of walking may be viewed as
a huge success. Keep focused on the new goals and leave the old
ones behind. Once 100% recovery has been achieved, you can reintroduce the old goals.
#4 Take an Active Role in the Healing - As runners, we are all a
little Type A. Now is the time to put that detail oriented/
perfectionist personality to the test. Be the best patient you can
be. Do everything your doctor or physical therapist asks of you.
Work as hard with your rehab as you did in your training. Keep a
journal of your recovery and rehab exercises just as you did with
your running. Take pride in the time you put in!
#5 Cross-train - If your injury allows you to exercise, do as much
as you can. After a stress fracture in my sacrum sidelined me for
three months, I became an aqua-jogging addict hitting the pool
for two hours a day. It was tediously mind-numbing but when I
was finally able to run again, I was in better shape than before my
injury. Once I got my running legs back a month or so later, my
13th Annual Joseph & Rose Gilio
Memorial 5k Road Race/Walk
Saturday, May 23, 2015 9:00 AM
8:45 am 75 Yard Kids Fun Run (Free)
Saint Timothy’s Church - Norwood, MA
650 Nichols Street
Free T-shirt and High Performance New Balance
Socks to the first 150 applicants
1st, 2nd,& 3rd Place Prizes in each Age Group
12
Lane 2: Body Shop
engine was so primed, I PR’ed in almost every distance. Obviously process. Many studies following cancer survivors have proven
running is the most satisfying type of exercise but there are plen- that this type of practice can aid in healing. In addition, visualizaty of other ways to get in great shape.
tion will help you feel less helpless, more in control and much
more positive. These attitudinal changes in themselves will speed
If your injury limits your activity, you can still "practice" mentally. up your healing.
Instead of physically exercising, practice a mental rehearsal each
day for 5-10 minutes at a time. During this time, focus on seeing, #8 Be Patient - As the saying goes, “time heals all wounds.”
hearing, and feeling yourself running effortlessly and without
Thankfully, the body is an amazing self-healer; however, you must
pain. Regular mental rehearsal of your skills will keep the neuro- allow it enough time to heal properly. An injury is like a scab: if
muscular connections activated so that when you are able to
you pick at it too soon, you often have to start all over. Rushing
begin physical practice, you will not have lost much.
the healing process so that you can get back a week or two earlier
is setting yourself up for developing a more chronic injury that
#6 Lean on Your Training Partners - As we discussed in Part I, it’s could keep you out for extra weeks and even months. Sometimes
common for an injured runner to go MIA in his respective running the fastest way of coming back is the slowest.
circles. While it can be difficult at first, it’s incredibly beneficial to
surround yourself with your running friends. We have all been
Being injured is incredibly difficult both physically and psychologiinjured at some point and understand what you are going
cally. Hopefully, this two part series exploring the mental aspects
through. Not only could you gain some insight on recovery but
of injury will not only help you cope with the many hills and valyou will also feel part of a group again. The camaraderie of runleys of your recovery but also help you adopt practices that will
ners is incredible! Harness its power instead of pushing it away.
speed up your healing and get you back doing what you love. Ω
#7 Utilize Visualization - Practice using healing imagery on a daily Dr. Ian Nurse was recently named the chiropractor for the John Hancock
basis. If you're recovering from a strained hamstring, spend 5-10 sponsored elite runners of the Boston Marathon. Learn more about his
minutes imagining those muscle fibers beginning to come togeth- practice here.
er and heal. "See" in your mind's eye a healthy supply of red
blood cells surrounding that area and facilitating the mending
13
LVL Dossier: Karen Bertasso
Legion Profiles
Name: Karen Bertasso
Age: 30
Height: 5’4”
Weight: 110
Residence: Albany, NY
Day Job: Physician Assistant, orthopedics/spine
High School: Scotia-Glenville (2002)
College: Union College (2006), Boston University
School of Medicine (2007), Massachusetts College of
Pharmacy and Health Sciences (2010)
Club: Willow Street Athletic Club
Average Miles per Week: 80-85
Notable PR’s:
1. Hartford Marathon- 2:45:44
2. Brooklyn Half Marathon- 1:18:28
3. Delmar Dash 5 miler- 28:58
4. Chris Thater 5k- 17:33
Favorites
Races:
1. Tufts 10K Run for Women (although I haven’t run it
in years because it always interferes with my fall
marathon)
2. Hartford Marathon
3. Bridge of Flowers 10k
4. Vermont City Relay/Marathon
Workouts:
1. 800 meter repeats
2. 3 x 2 miles
3. Hard effort long runs
Places to Run:
1. Colorado. I lived there for almost a year and a
half and loved the trails (both paved and dirt). In
Karen Bertasso. Photo by Bill Meehan.
the winter, they plow the bike paths instead of plowing the roads. It’s great!
2. The Willow Street loop in Albany, NY, a 12 mile loop with rolling hills.
3. Erie Canalway (Amsterdam/Fonda section). This run is on hard packed dirt and flat,
which is nice to run on. We park at an ice cream parlor right off the trail so we get to
enjoy a treat afterwards!
Running Shoe: Trainer: Mizuno Wave Rider. Racer: Nike Lunar Racer.
Workout Songs: I’ll only listen to music when I am forced to run on the treadmill.
do, anything that keeps me motivated, mostly Eminem.
When I
Books: Dandelions Growing Wild: A Triumphant Journey Over Astounding Odds by American Marathon Champion Kim Jones, Kings of the Road, and Running with the Buffaloes
Hobbies: My dog, food (cooking and new restaurants), craft beer, kayaking
Running Intangibles
Training Philosophy: Work hard and listen to your body. You’ll get out what you put in.
Prerace Ritual: Painting my nails green and pink, and pasta with shrimp the night before.
Career High/Lowlights: Highs - Brooklyn Half Marathon. I wanted to run my first sub 1:20
half and completely surprised myself by running 1:18. Lows - A couple races I’ve trained
through in the midst of marathon training. My legs never felt great and I wasn’t able to
run the time I wanted, which is mentally more challenging after the race than anything before going into a marathon.
14
LVL Dossier: Karen Bertasso
Legion Profiles
Goals: To make the 2016 Olympic Trials for the marathon. I was able to run 2:45 at Hartford last fall. I’ve been training for the London Marathon this April, so my goal would be
to make the OT standard there!
Proudest Moment: My last two marathons (Hartford 2014 and CIM 2013). I felt like I was finally able to run strong during the end and not hit the dreaded wall. This led me to
achieve significant PR’s at both of these races, 9 minutes at CIM and another 4+ at Hartford.
Best Distance Runner of All Time:
Role Model: Kim Jones.
and determination.
Paula Radcliff
After reading her book, I was amazed and inspired by her strength
15
Week in the Life: Rob Edson
Legion Profiles
Af
ter competing throughout high school (Keene, NH) and college (Keene State College and Colby College), Rob Edson stopped running for nearly fifteen years during his career as a school principal. During that rather long hiatus,
Edson played an occasional pickup game of soccer or basketball but did little to no running. What sparked the comeback?
“I returned to running three years ago to lose weight, get healthy, and join my wife at the local road races,” Edson answers.
His wife Cindy, who he met at Keene State where they both ran,
never stopped running. “She was my inspiration to finally get back
into shape,” Edson says. The apocryphal Cindy signed Edson up
for a Fathers’ Day race in 2012 which marked the start of his comeback. He ran 4 miles in 29:50. Fast forward two years and subtract
forty pounds, and you’ll see that Edson ran the same race in 24:02
at age 51. Comeback complete.
Edson has become an active member of his running club, the Upper Valley Running Club (UVRC), aka the Wooly Syrup Chuggers,
who were featured in our Jan/Feb 2015 issue. He has competed for
his team in many of the NH Grand Prix events as well as the VT
100. In those races his competitive fire burns white hot. “I have
found that my motivation to race against, and beat, other runners is
no different than when I was younger. My physical ability to do so,
however, is another matter altogether. It's been fun seeing old
friends and rivals like Todd Coffin, Paul Hammond and Dave Dunham who are still out there getting it done. The 50+ age group
in New England is scary good!” Another game changer for Edson
and many masters running alike has been age grading. Edson
states, “[It] has opened up a whole new way of looking at results.”
Week in the Life
Monday
6 miles @ 7:20 pace
Tuesday
7.5 miles @ 7:30 pace
Wednesday
Speed or Hill Workout (alternates each week)
Midseason: 12 x 400m
End of season: 2 x 400, 1 x 800, 2 x 400, 4 x 200;
recovery is half the distance or the same amount
of time as the interval
Hills: 7-8 miles with 4-5 hills @ 3-4 minutes each.
I listen to music on the treadmill for these hill
workouts. I run uphill for one song and recover for
one song, and repeat. I hate it when live Springsteen comes on for the uphills—long songs!
Thursday
6 miles @ 7:20 pace
Friday
Off
Saturday
8-10 miles @ 7:30 pace
Sunday
7.5 mile tempo @ 7:30 pace with 20 minutes @
6:00-20 pace
For the week
40-45 miles
Fun (?) Facts
Favorite Race
Skip Matthews Memorial Run
“It reminds me of how far I
have come in the past few
years.”
Rob and Cindy have two children and neither of them like
to run.
From Christmas to St. Patrick’s Day Edson does all his
running on a treadmill.
Edson at the CHaD Half
Marathon. Courtesy of
Maple Leaf Photos.
Highlights/PRs
NCAA Div. II National XC Champion 1989
(Keene State)
6 Time All-American in Track and XC
New England Collegiate XC Champion 1989
4 Time All-New England XC
1500m - 3:51
5000m - 14:13 track
5k - 14:33 road
8k - 23:31
10k - 29:58
50+ Highlights/PRs
USATF National Champion 10k (50-54) 2014
USATF Runner-up Indoor Mile (50-54) 2014
NH Grand Prix Age-Graded Champion 2014
Mile - 4:46 indoor
5k - 16:50
10k - 34:36
16
www.foxboroagainstdiabetes.com
17
Day in the Life: Liz Cooney
Af
Legion Profiles
In the fall of 2009, her editor at The Boston Globe challenged her to write about the health implications of running
the Boston Marathon. He asked her, ”Oh, would you like to
run it, too?”
ally chasing her as she won her age category in 2013.
“This year I hope to be an Iron Runner for the fourth year in
a row,” Cooney says. In addition to Tuesdays at Tufts, she
credits The Fembots—a dozen women and a few brave
men—for making her faster, specifically on weekend long
runs. “Jen Rapaport paced me to a 3:42 marathon in
Manchester in 2013, keeping me smiling the whole way,”
Cooney recalls. “Last year, I was thrilled to do a 3:39 on my
own.”
So, with nothing more than a few 5Ks under her belt, she
snared a media bib number for the 2010 race and started
preparing. Cooney remembers, “I trained with the Central
Mass Striders and crossed the finish line at age 55 with my
friend and running mentor Rich Lemerise, just 5 minutes
over a BQ.”
Again thanks to O’Leary, Cooney stepped on an indoor track
for the first time this past winter, posting a 6:09 mile at a BU
mini-meet. She also competed in the USATF National Masters 12K in Alexandria, VA for the last two years. She won
her age group in 2013 but was relegated to second last year
when Joan Benoit Samuelson took the top spot.
She was hooked...and determined to earn a number for the
next year. But things would be different the second time
around as she and her family moved to Somerville. Logically, she turned to the Somerville Road Runners to help her
obtain a BQ, and she achieved that goal by way of Tuesday
night track workouts at Tufts University. About that, she
says, “Coach Joe O’Leary puts us through our paces,
dispensing wisdom and encouragement in equal measure
whether we’re closing in on the Olympic trials or just trying to
get better at the back of the pack.”
“Whatever success I’ve had,” continues Cooney, who’s had
many (eight BQs, 2013 SRR Most Improved Runner award,
honorable mention from Running Times in their 2014 Masters Long Distance Running Best Of category), “I owe to my
husband, Tom Cole, who always tells me I can do better (so
far, he’s been right). I also owe a deep debt to SRR.”
ter an adult life of on-again, off-again casual running,
cycling, and swimming, Liz Cooney eventually became a competitive runner. Here’s how:
One final thought from Liz: “I don’t know how long my good
fortune in racing will continue, but I do know its source: the
good people I run with and learn from, even this late in the
day.” Ω
At the track, O’Leary piqued her interest in the USATF-NE
Grand Prix by telling her and the group, “There’s always
See how Liz spends a typical day on the next page.
someone to chase.” True, but those in her division were usu-
Sunday, June 14, 2015
1:00 pm
7.1 miles
www.lhrr.com
We invite you to join us the second Sunday in June and discover for yourself why Runner’s World Magazine has
dubbed the LHRR “The best little race you’ve never heard of.”
Questions? Answers at info@lhrr.com
18
Weekday in the Life
0600
0615
0900
0930
1130
1200
1500
1830
1915
2000
2030
2100
2200
wake up
breakfast (cereal with banana
and blueberries; OJ, coffee)
arrive at work
more coffee
lunch (PB&J on whole wheat,
yogurt, water, more coffee)
walk around the Fens with coworkers
snack (apple, walnuts, raisins)
Workout. Tuesday: SRR track
workout at Tufts Tuesday.
Wednesday: run-commute
home. Thursday: SRR's Casey’s
Run. Friday: bike path 10K.
Monday: rest.
stretch and roll out
catch up on news, email, social,
etc.
dinner (fish, green veg, whole
grains, wine)
read; watch TV
goodnight
Weekend in the Life
0600
0615
0700
0830
1100
1130
1200
1300
1400
2000
2200
wake up
breakfast (raisin bread with PB,
OJ, coffee)
on race day, obsess about race
shorts vs. tights, singlet vs. shirt,
hat vs. visor.
on long-run days, head down
bike path to meet SRRs at Davis
Square
stretch and roll
Second breakfast
post-race debrief and photo
viewing with my husband
lunch
catch up with non-running
friends and family
dinner (ever-changing menu
based on what looks best at the
farmer’s market, fish store, and
butcher, prepared by Tom)
goodnight
Liz Cooney at this year’s NBHM. Photo by Tom Cole.
19
Legion Profiles
Matt Pelletier
10 x 10
Matt Pelletier, a 35 year old titan in the
northeast running community, is this
issue’s 10x10 profile.
way of keeping the body “tired” but still
forcing it to get in fast workouts and
races, much like the body feels at the
end of a marathon.
After qualifying in 2006, my goal was
not to finish last in the ‘08 trials. Setting
a PR and running over a minute faster
than I ever had was not a goal going
1. What was your introduction to
It’s also good for getting a “shake out”
into the race, but that’s what happened.
running?
run in either the night after a hard
After that race I found it difficult to stay
My introduction to running was in the
morning workout/race, or the morning
motivated and set new goals. I had
ninth grade. I was too small to play
after a hard night workout/race.
achieved something that I had been
football (4’11” & 79 lbs) so my parents
working on for over seven years. I had
Lastly, it’s good for getting some blood met the unattainable goal. 2008 was
wouldn’t sign the permission slip for
that, and I was away during soccer try- flow to the legs the morning of a hard
not very good, and ultimately ended in
outs. Kevin Delaney, the cross country night workout/race.
an injury that forced me to take threecoach, heard I wasn’t playing any
plus years off. After finally getting
We don’t do doubles every day. During healthy in 2011, I wanted to qualify for
sports and might be interested in runthe school year, I might double three
ning cross country. He brought me
the trials again but with the tougher
times a week, plus one or both days of standards (2:18 for 2016 vs. 2:22 for
down to his room, showed me a video
the weekend. During the summer,
of one of the guys on the team domi2008), I wasn’t sure that this was possinating a race, and I was hooked. I did- when I have more time, it’s possible I
ble. I wasn’t even sure I would be able
n’t run indoor during my freshman and might double every day but that might
to break 2:22 again. The first serious
just be for one week of training or so.
sophomore years as I was still on the
marathon I ran after the injury was a
wrestling team. I left that sport after
2:21 at the 2012 VCM. It was a great
4. In late summer (Reykjavic Maratwo years of practicing every day but
jumping off point, and I decided I would
thon in Iceland—on your honeywrestling in matches infrequently
focus on qualifying again. I didn’t think
moon) and early fall (Hartford Mara- I would qualify in Iceland (mostly be(apparently not many other schools
have a high school kid in an elementary thon) you attained Olympic trials
cause I wasn’t planning on even makqualifying times (2:18:00; 2:17:02,
student’s body).
ing an attempt there), and I definitely
respectively) two times over. How
didn’t think I would be able to come
2. Describe your training philosophy will it feel to be back on the line for
back and run a minute faster on a crapthe 2016 trials after being there in
and how it has evolved over the
py day at Hartford. Now that I have the
2008? What’s changed since then?
years.
qualifier, I’d like to get the “A” standard
for 2016 which is 2:15. I’m only going
My training philosophy has been pretty Bob Chadronet was the first coach I
to get one, maybe two more shots at
consistent. In college, I started running ever had who had me sit down and
getting it. 2015 hasn’t started off so
write goals. Short term, long term, and great, but I’m trying to stay optimistic
road races and started experimenting
lifetime running goals that I wanted to
with high mileage (100+mpw). I saw
for VCM.
achieve. Bob emphasized not being
big improvements when I did this. My
shy about setting goals that seemed
original coach (Bob Chadronet) was
The thing that’s changed the most
into what the guys who ran fast during unattainable at the time but could even- since the ‘08 trials is being able to run
tually become a realization. When Bob through both the highs and lows of marthe 1980’s were doing as far as
started coaching me, I was barely
workouts and mileage, so that’s what
athon training. 2014 was a huge high
breaking 17:00 for 5K and 60:00 for 10 point for me, much like 2007 was.
he based my training on. When I
switched to running for Ray Nelson, he miles. I told him that I wanted to run in 2015 is much like 2008 was. A low
said that he liked what I had been doing the Olympic marathon trials for the
point in the training where I don’t feel
2008 games which to me sounded cra- as though my races are indicative of
and was always a proponent of high
mileage training for the marathon. The zy. This was in 2001, so it was a long
how well the training has been going.
way away, but I figured if we were writ- 2008 Matt would be losing motivation.
two of us clicked right away, and he’s
ing down “dream” goals, this was about I’m dealing with these lows much better
been my coach since 2001.
as much of a dream goal as I could pic- now than I did back then.
ture possibly ever becoming a reality.
3. Do you run doubles?
From 2001 until I eventually qualified in 5. Brooks has recently stepped up to
2006, there were only a handful of peo- sponsor you. Unfortunately for the
I do, and I (as well as Ray) think douLevel, this means you won’t be wearbles are important for multiple reasons. ple who thought this was possible and
that
I
was
setting
a
realistic
goal.
I
was
ing our singlet anymore. What is it
It’s one way to keep the mileage high
often told not to get my hopes up. Most like running for Brooks?
without doing sixteen mile runs every
importantly, Bob, Ray, and myself beday, which allows the body to recover
Brooks accepted me into their ID prolieved it could be done.
while still running high mileage. It’s a
20
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Sunday, October 25, 11am
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Group training runs available
Race-day pacers
Cash prizes for top M & F finishers
Age-group awards
Team competitions & awards
Custom finishers’ medals
Spectator-friendly finishing area
Plentiful, free race-day parking
Visit our website: www.gansetthalfmarathon.com
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/pages/gansett-half-marathon
Register online: www.lightboxreg.com/gansett-half-marathon_2015
21
10 & 10: Matt Pelletier
Legion Profiles
gram in January under a one year contract. Basically there
are no requirements other than exclusively wearing their
brand (sorry LVL) and using social media to promote the
brand. The perks are really just a ton of gear. I do not get
any financial support in terms of travel to races or anything
like that. I also
don’t get a
paycheck. They
have time and win
incentives, but
they mostly have
to do with winning
national championships and diamond league
events which are
nearly impossible
to win. There is an
incentive for running 2:15 that
might be attainable, but it’s only a
couple thousand
dollars. Nothing I
could make a living on. I’m coming to the end of
my career, so to
have Brooks take
a chance on me
and allow me to
be an ambassador
for their brand is
great. Living in
Providence I’ve
been lucky
enough to be
around people
who made a living
from a shoe contract. I’ve often
benefitted from
that by getting
hand me down
gear from them. I
never thought I’d
be able to say, “I
run for Brooks.”
That in itself is
something I never
thought I would
achieve.
Jones, and Norm Bouthillier were the guys I was looking up to when I moved from college track racing to the
roads. When they asked me to be on their team, I humbly
accepted. I had watched that singlet be up front at every
race I was a part of and couldn’t believe they wanted me on
their team. The
big thing was, I
also trained with
these guys 3-4
times a week.
Every Tuesday
and Sunday Glen
Guillemette would
religiously beat on
me. It made me
faster, but they
also taught me
what they had
learned from
years of experience. They also
encouraged me to
work with Ray
Nelson. I ran with
the Turtles from
2001-2004. In
2005 I was working for Running
Heritage and
joined the team
out of the store.
We had a great
team (Scott Bessette, Ed Duhamel, Chris Poulos, Elaine Craik)
who also trained
together several
times a week. It
was a similar situation to the Turtles. We didn’t
just wear the
same singlet but
worked out and
socialized together as well. In
2008-09 a perfect
storm of injuries
happened where
the entire team
kind of fell a part.
We collectively
6. On the local
agreed that even
scene, I don’t
though some of
recall that you’ve
us might start runPelletier at the 2014 Blessing of the Fleet. Photo by Scott Mason.
ever been a
ning again, that
member of a ractime from 2005-09
ing club. Why have you decided to run unattached as
would never again be able to be repeated, and we decided
opposed to with a club? Is the idea of the “lone wolf”
to never resurrect the name again. Since coming back in
just too alluring?
2011, I have been approached by several clubs about joining their team. I give them all the same answer. It’s just not
I ran for the Tuesday Night Turtles many years ago. Guys
a team if you don’t train together. The people who approach
like Glen Guillemette, Keven O’Neil, Scott Mason, Glenn
me seem to understand why I do what I do. I understand
22
10 & 10: Matt Pelletier
that everyone else doesn’t feel the
same way that I do, but after being a
part of two great teams that thrived, I
can’t see myself putting on a singlet
and scoring for a team whose members
I might not even know. Running for
Brooks might seem to contradict this
idea, but a Brooks singlet is different
than wearing a singlet of a USATF-NE
team and scoring in grand prix events.
Brooks is not a “club” as much as it is a
brand. Every piece of running clothing
will be some sort of brand. This year, I
just happen to wear all of my clothes
from the same brand.
So it’s not so much the “lone wolf” philosophy. It’s just that I don’t have a
group of people that I train with religiously who aren’t already part of a different club. Bronson Venable who is
my training partner as of late, is on
Team RUN. Keven O’Neil (and sometimes Sam Alexander) are on the BAA.
Pat Moulton runs for Rhode Runner.
If a club starts itself in RI, or even CT
since I live on the border, and I start
training with these people day in and
day out, I might join them.
7. Mental toughness is such an important aspect of this sport. What
do you do to keep the pace honest
or on some days just get out the
door when your body is telling you
otherwise? Or better yet, stay in the
race when your body wants to tap
out?
Legion Profiles
8. Describe your best performance
and proudest accomplishment.
Best performance was probably the
2007 Olympic Marathon trials in NYC.
It was a very tough course, and I ran
my second fastest marathon ever, and
Hartford 2014 is only fifteen seconds
faster on a much easier course. I was
so excited to do as well as I did in that
race…until I talked to Nate Jenkins who
told me that he ran 2:14 and reality set
in that 2:17 isn’t that fast.
have a social life. Jill and I are trying to
start a family, so if I ever become a father, I’m planning on putting 100% of
my outside of work time into that…
although hopefully not until after March
2016.
Bonus. What’s next?
VCM is the next major race. I’m hoping
to be competitive in the race this year
as I was a distant fourth last year.
VCM will always hold a special place
with me, and I like to do well in their
My proudest accomplishment is eventu- race for all that they do for me. I might
ally finding someone who can deal with do a smaller local race as a workout
leading up to it, but VCM is the focus
all of my neurosis and accepted my
for right now. After that, maybe Hartproposal to spend the rest of her life
with me. That Jill had seen what living ford. I haven’t decided if that’s too
with me was like and still wanted to be close to the trials or not. After the trials,
I have no idea if I’ll even continue to
a part of that blows my mind. She is
incredibly supportive of what I do, even compete. Part of me wants to keep
going and part of me wants to accept
though it drives both of us crazy.
I’m getting old. Part of me wants to
9. What non-running activities do
continue to be a part of the running
you do to support your running?
community (which if you’re reading this,
you totally understand is unlike anyRay wants me to lift weights, but I find
thing else) and part of me wants to
that extremely boring, and just find trou- grow up and do normal adult stuff. I
ble fitting in the running, never mind
guess I’ll cross that bridge when I get
lifting weights.
there after the LA trials. Ω
Sleep is very
important for recovery, and I try
to get at least
eight hours during the week,
and as much as
my body feels it
Training when your body doesn’t feel
needs on the
like it isn’t so hard. I’m so OCD that
weekend. I do
running is scheduled into my day just
like breathing and eating. It’s just going not get up on
to happen. I think it’s one of the quali- Saturday morning until I have
ties that has led to the moderate
amount of success that I’ve had. I get to.
a weekly schedule from Ray, and I just
do it. I might not run at the same time I am a vegetarian, so I feel as
every day, but that weekly schedule
though my diet is
gets done to the letter one way or anpretty good. I do
other.
have a sweettooth and I feel
As far as staying in races when your
like neglecting
body wants to tap out? I wouldn’t say
I’ve figured that out yet. Mentally I feel dessert is a
as though I quit in both grand prix races crime against
so far this year—both times early in the human nature.
race. I’m not proud of it. Both times
10. If you wereI’ve felt as though I just wasn’t as fast
as the people around me. A move was n’t a runner,
made early on in both races, and I did- what would you
do with all of
n’t respond to it, which is something I
feel as though I did very well last year. your free time?
I hope to break this cycle at VCM.
Probably try and
Injury Prevention - Coaching - Training
www.runstrongstudio.com
23
10 & 10: Matt Pelletier
Legion Profiles
Simple math tells us 10 x 10 = 100. Thus, we have 100 shorts that should allow us to get to see the many sides of Matt Pelletier, former URI Ram, current Olympic qualifier, forever Legion member.
True or False
Fill-in the Blank
I’ve run in a foreign country. Iceland
I’ve been flirted with post race. Surprisingly
I subscribe to Level Renner. No, but I read
it when it comes out
I do barefoot strides in the summer. I
should
I pray before a race. True
I’ve left work early to go running. Frequently
Beer is an acceptable post race replenishment. Not for me
Burgers are better than burritos. False
I’ve Googled myself. More than I’d like
to admit
A dog has jumped on me during a run.
True
I’d rather be retired.
Wasting my twenties is my biggest r egr et.
Bobby Doyle is my inspir ation because he was a workhorse.
Stretching is overrated.
The LVL can be improved by adding more photos of me.
Elite Boston-area athletes don’t get the recognition they deserve. [Editor’s Note: The
LVL is trying to change that.]
If I could only listen to one song while running, it would be “Recounts and Recollections” by From Ashes to Autumn.
I sleep with too many cats.
30 is the most miles I’ve ever run in a day.
Yes or No
I’ve run 100 miles in a week. Yes
I log my miles with pen and paper. Yes
I drink coffee prerace. Yes
I ice my legs postrace. No
I own a treadmill. Yes
I have taken a selfie. Yes
I look up race results of my rivals. Yes
I have run through injury. Yes
I have gone skinny dipping. Yes
I read a book to fall asleep at night. No
Favorites
Book. It’s a cliché but Once a Runner
Athlete. Nick Arciniaga
Ice cream. Is for little girls
Running shoe. Brooks Adrenaline
Seinfeld character. J. Peterman
Band. H20
Board/card game. Cribbage
Article of clothing. Jeans & a T-shirt/
hoodie
Season. Fall
Tattoos. I have one or two of those
Hodge Podge
Zodiac sign. Cancer
Fav #hashtag. #OLOC #runhappy
#215in2015
Hours of sleep per night. 8-10
Percent of day spent thinking about running. 75
Paper, Plastic, or Canvas. Canvas
Refrigerator essential. Gatorade, seltzer,
soy milk + soy creamer, tofurkey, apples, peppers, spinach
Best article in the history of this mag. Not
this one
Rather step in gum or dog poop. What
kind of choice is this?
# of bumper stickers on my car. 3
# of minutes spent answering these questions. Started at 10:00am, finished at
11:45, but taught a class in between
Either Or
Front runner or late surger? Front runner
Trail runner or road burner? Road burner
Short distance specialist or long distance
grinder? Long distance grindah
Tea or coffee? Coffee all day
GPS junkie or run on feel? Slowly transitioning to GPS junkie but I can run
without it
Beach house or ski chalet? Fortress of solitude in the woods
Track or treadmill? Track
Facebook or Twitter? I need to do less of
both
Downton Abbey or Big Bang Theory?
Gross
Wine or beer? Coffee
1 word
Twitter handle? @mpelletier217
College? Go Rhody
Car model? Dakota
Nickname? Matty P
Carn-, herb-, or omnivore? Herbivore
Occupation? Teacher
Hardest race course? Nooseneck 18K
Easiest race course? Track
Underground Legend? Bobby Doyle
Training philosophy? Do work
1 - 10
1 is the least/worst. 10 is the most/best.
Desire to run in all 50 states. 2
Priority I place running in my life. 10
My fear of injury. 9
Pearl Jam. 6
My ability to get out of my comfort zone
while racing. 3
Casinos. 5
Banksy. 7
Shakespeare. 4
Importance I place on my eating habits. 8
Runner’s World. 1
Word Association
$50 5K. WTF?
Obama. POTUS
USATF. #freeSISU
Minimalism. Injury
Boston 2024. Rich people not interested in
watching the events, just being present
and ruining it for the true fans (is that
one word?)
Bill Belichick. 2nd greatest coach ever
LVL. Swag
Going Green. It’s 2015, why hasn’t everyone?
Color runs. Lung damage
Jack Daniels. Once upon a time
Numbers
Height & Weight. 5'9” & 120 lbs
Miles before retiring a running shoe. 500
exactly
Most laps ever on a track. 160; 20 miles
indoors at URI
5k PR. 14:36
26.2 PR. 2:17:02
Shoe size. 10
Preferred racing distance. 26.2
MPW. 100-150
Minutes per day online. I’m logged on all
day to something
Texts sent per day. 5 tops
24
10 & 10: Matt Pelletier
Coach’s Curve
by Ray Nelson
The Level asked Pelletier’s coach, Ray Nelson, to offer some
insights on his star pupil. Those insights are below.
Ma
Legion Profiles
Early on in our coach-runner relationship, I learned that if I
assigned Matt a range of miles to run, say 8-10 general aerobic
or recovery miles, he would always run the higher amount. So I
stopped doing that and kept it to one number of miles. He is a
strong-willed, never-say-die type of runner who will accept any
challenge and tough it out.
Matt is quite easy to coach. I usually give him his specific running schedule one week at a time, and he can be consistently
counted on to carry out each run or workout as prescribed. In
that regard, he doesn’t require much else from me. I give him
the plan, he does it, and lets me know daily how it went in relatively brief terms. This way I can make adjustments to the
schedule if need be and better plan ahead. Our relationship is
based on mutual trust and respect. From day one, he has
bought into the program, believes in the methodology, and
I asked him to detail his training complies with it without asking questions about the why’s of
over the previous year and to list what we are doing. Sometimes I wish he would, but it is really
Ray Nelson.
Photo by Ronne Ringquist.
his PR’s and goals. Matt respond- not necessary as he knows the philosophy and components of
the training model.
ed right away and told me his
primary goal among others was to qualify for the 2008 Olympic
Trials Marathon; mind you this was in 2002. His PR’s back then Matt is no stranger to 140 mile weeks but usually hovers
ranged from 52.0 in the 400 to 69:15 in the half marathon. He around 100-120 in his training cycle prior to tapering for a marathon. In 2007, we went to Keene, NH for the Clarence DeMar
had yet to run a marathon but knew that would be his best
Marathon, five weeks before the Olympic trials for a “super
event and was willing to do whatever it took to get there.
long run” (SLR) at tempo pace. This was definitely not a race
This is what struck me most about Matt, that he was complete- effort. Matt ran 2:38:54 (6:04 pace) finished first but also ran
the last 10 miles progressively at 5:48 pace. That was a key
ly serious about his running, knew it would take very hard
work, was not timid about high mileage, and was willing to pay workout, one that Nate Jenkins in his recent article called a
“specific distance tempo” at 90-95 % of goal marathon race
the price. But he also knew he needed a coach to guide and
structure his training and was mindful of the days and accom- pace. Back then, I just called it a SLR, which Matt ran ideally.
plishments of Bobby Doyle, Roland Davide, Tom Grundy, and Nowadays, I still prescribe a SLR but put more emphasis on
marathon race pace runs, and long high-volume intervals with
Hollie Walton back in the 70’s and 80’s. He knew that these
plenty of recovery. Years ago, as an example, I would assign as
Rhode Island legends trained and raced hard and was respectful of the days back then and what they did, mostly with- many as 12 mile repeats at marathon race pace down to half
marathon race pace in the early fundamental period (say 12-14
out sponsorship or prize money. He knew that I had coached
others successfully and said he was familiar with my work...so weeks out), but now I will assign that type of workout closer to
race day (say 4-8 weeks out). Basically, the emphasis has mildly
it was kind of inevitable that he and I would connect.
shifted to aerobic capacity workouts (speed and strength buildSince becoming his coach, with the exception of the 400 and
ing) before focusing on specific endurance training closer to
800, Matt has smashed all of his PR’s and set a marathon PR of the race. Anyhow, Matt ran a then PR of 2:17:17 (19th place) at
2:17:02 at Hartford last October.
the Olympic trials marathon in November of that year.
tt first approached
me to coach him in
April of 2002. At that time he
was finishing up his student
teaching while at URI and told
me that he would really like to
increase his mileage and become
a better runner.
In 2002, after a few months under my coaching, he ran the
Blessing of the Fleet 10 Miler in Narragansett, RI, and crushed
his PR of 52:18 (set at the same race in 2001) with a time of
51:07. His best time at the “Blessing” is 50:00 in 2014. In the
early years of our working together, Matt not only got faster
and stronger, but he learned how to win races and deliver a
performance equal to his fitness level. In short, he learned how
to deal with the pressure, run with poise and composure, and
race like a champion.
In 2014, Matt decided to run the Reykjavik Marathon in August
while on his honeymoon in Iceland. The result was first place in
2:18:00. Then just seven weeks later, in nasty rainy weather,
he ran his best time (2:17:02) winning the Hartford Marathon.
Matt has now won seven marathons and will be trying for his
fifth VCM title in late May of this year. His goals are to set a
PR, break the course record of 2:17:03, and achieve the “A”
trials standard of 2:15:00. A lot has to go right for all three to
happen, but a sub 2:17 is within close reach. Ω
25
10 & 10: Matt Pelletier
Spouse’s Sidebar
with Jill Pelletier
Legion Profiles
month on the Level there was an article “What Kind of Runner
Are You.” I am the person who knows about running, knows
some decent runners, and would probably scare Meb away. I
think I scared Ruben Sanca away. I was excited to meet him. He is
really good.
There are a lot of questions that come with being Mrs. Matty P:
“How is his training going?” and “What is he looking to run today?” Most of the time I don’t have the answers. If Matt’s training was going poorly or he wasn’t feeling well he usually would
not tell me. I get anxious and worry, and he wouldn’t want me to
know. Speaking of anxiety, most of the time the runners are the
ones who are plagued with it on race day. Not Matt. It’s me and it
Photo by George Ross
starts the night before when I can’t sleep. Then at a race, I pace
1. You've known Matt since 1994. How has his running evolved the finish line. If there is a 5k that starts at the same time as the
marathon, I will run it to distract me for at least thirty minutes of
over the last 20+ years?
the 2 hours and 17 minutes that Matt is competing. At some racThe first time I heard of him was not because he had won some
es the elite tents serve beverages for the companions while they
big event. It was because as a 4’9,” 80 lbs freshman Matt had hit wait. Orange juice and vodka also does the trick to calm my
my older sister with a whiffle ball bat in gym class (she was pretty nerves on race day.
snotty and I am sure it was for a good reason). I knew he ran
On top of the anxiety from the anticipation of how the race will
cross country and track but truthfully did not know if he was
unfold, there are the texts and Facebook posts that can get overgood or not. I just thought he was a punk.
whelming, but they are also a good distraction. One thing I have
Almost twenty years elapsed and I had not heard much of Matt
noticed is that a few days before a big race I will start to get
Pelletier. I would see him running around Warwick every so often friend requests from people I do not know. Most are runners
and say to myself, "Hey, there is Matt Pelletier. He hit my sister
who want to follow my posts on Matt throughout the race.
with a bat. He still runs?” One Sunday morning in August (August
15, 2010 to be exact), I was late for work, about to make a right
And as every runner’s fiancé knows, picking a date for a wedding
out of my apartment complex and nearly hit three attractive run- must be narrowed down to a weekend that does not include a
ners (Dave Principe, Scott Bessette, and Matt). I was embarmajor race on said runner’s schedule.
rassed and covered my face so the trio couldn’t identify me. But
3. Can you tell us some quirks about Matt that only somebody
throughout the day, I felt worse and worse about the situation
who lives with him would know?
and finally outed myself and left Matt an apology via Facebook.
Well, we started talking and... got married almost four years to
Matt is extremely OCD. Like most runners, Matt logs his mileage
the day (August 16, 2014) later.
but not only does he log his mileage online, he also records it in a
hardcopy journal. The log sits on our coffee table and must be
When we first started dating Matt was not running anywhere
near the mileage he runs today. He had just returned from a sec- written in with the same pen everyday which sits right next to the
ond knee surgery. He continuously tried to woo me with his glory log. Here’s another example of his OCD: Matt only does laundry
on Sunday, and I cannot do his laundry for him. His running
day high school and post-college running stories, namely a few
clothes are organized in a specific order in each drawer. He even
tales about the Boston Marathon and 2007 Trials. I would just
smile and agree. Yes, I Googled him. I read the articles online. But went out and bought me more running shirts because I was
wearing some of his shirts and it messed up the rotation of when
I had no idea that Matty P was kind of a “big deal.”
he would wear them. Each night before going to bed, Matt makes
One thing I admire about Matt and attracts me to him the most
sure he has his bag filled with running clothes for the next day.
(other than the tattoos) is his dedication. He does not give up and He carries this bag with him in case he gets stuck somewhere and
that is not just with running. He is dedicated to his family, friends, needs to get his run in. Example number three: Matt grows a winand students.
ter beard starting on Thanksgiving (day of the Pie Run) and does
not shave it until after New Bedford and he must stick to that
I would like to think that I am the main factor behind Matt’s
schedule every year. Example four: for a morning run Matt must
come back. Do you think it’s a coincidence that when I came
drink two cups of coffee and check his Facebook, Twitter, and
around he started running really well again? Ha, I jest. Matt suc- email before he leaves. Example five: Matt’s race bib must be
cess is all on him. He puts the time in and it shows.
perfectly centered on his shirt before a race. Last example (but I
could go on): Matt also changes his sneakers out at every 500
2. What is it like to be the spouse of an elite runner?
miles, once a month and must have a new pair ready to go the
I think I may be a little bit different from some of the other spous- week before.
es and significant others. First, I am not much of a runner. Last
Side note: Matt and sis have made amends. Ω
26
The LEVEL RENNER 10K
#LVL10K
Version 3.0
Sunday, July 19, 2015
9:00 am
DW Field Park
Brockton, MA
Registration Now Open
$20 thru June 14
then incremental price increases
10K
www.levelrenner.com/10k
27
Club Spotlight
Craft Concept Racing
there’s a new club in town
by Meagan Nedlo
As
most great ideas do, CRAFT Concept Racing came about over the
course of several months, many long runs,
and a few post-race brunches. A handful of
my closest running partners and I found
ourselves feeling somewhat distanced from
the existing team constructs within the
Boston running community while at the
same time yearning to cultivate a fresh
new dynamic, something we could call our
own and shape from the ground up into
exactly what we wanted it to be. We also
knew we needed support from a vendor
partner that would encourage us, inspire
us, and outfit us in the best technical apparel on the planet. Fortunately, I just so
happen to work for such a company: CRAFT
Sportswear, a longstanding industry leader
in base layer, running, Nordic, and cycling
apparel with a growth strategy focused on
the New England run market and a desire
to support local athletes. From these compatible visions, CRAFT Concept Racing
came to life.
To the founding members of CCR—myself,
Mariah Tinger, Larissa Park, Sarah Bard,
Katrina Vassallo, Beverly Antunes, Molly
Giffen, Diana Bowser and Melanie
Schorr—this means we want to encourage
and challenge each other as runners, but
beyond that, to support each other in all
the other facets of our lives that are equally important, if not more so, in comprising
our individual identities. We are Olympic
Trials qualifiers and All-Americans and
course record holders (and even one 2015
national champion—way to put us on the
map, Sarah!) but we are also lawyers, doctors, authors, students, new moms. We are
strong women who want to be examples
within our community and show how powerful and transformative running can be.
We want to show how a shared Sunday
long run can forge lasting bonds and spark
initiatives that
transcend any one
race or time on the
clock.
We want you to see CCR athletes toeing
the line at everything from the local 5k to
the New England Grand Prix Series to the
2016 Olympic marathon trials and be
proud to consider us one of your own. We
want to challenge you, to motivate you, to
inspire you every day to run just a little bit
faster, to reach just a little bit further, to
embrace the pain, to enjoy the hard work.
You, the Level Legion, already do this for us
whether you realize it or not.
To learn more about CRAFT Concept Racing
and its members, check out our new web
site at www.CRAFTconceptracing.com. To
get your hands on some sweet CRAFT apparel, view the spring look book or find a
local dealer. Ω
Of course, we also
want to kick some
ass. We want to
show that you
don’t have to be
part of a storied
athletic organizaSo who exactly are the members of CCR
tion or be backed
and what do we want our fledgling team to by a billion dollar
become? Our core philosophy can best be brand to compete
summed up by our mission statement.
among the best.
MISSION STATEMENT
“CRAFT Concept Racing is a team of like-minded professional women located in the Greater Boston area
who are committed to demonstrating to themselves
and the community the importance of athletic excellence without sacrificing a well-rounded lifestyle including career and family. As a team, our focus is to
support one another to further our collective goals and
achievements, promote the strength of women, and
have a positive impact on youth runners within the
community.”
28
All Things Running and More
11th Annual Memorial
Charity Road Race
Sunday, June 14, 2015
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Cottage Street School
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30 Cottage St., Sharon, MA
5K Race - 5:45 pm
Kids’ Race - 5:30 pm
www.fatherbullockcharityrace.com
$50 Bonus for New Course Record
Standing Course Records
Full–service PT for the Hardcore Athlete & Weekend Warrior
Board Certified Orthopedic Specialists
Video Gait Analysis & Footwear Prescription
Orthotic Analysis & Fabrication
Alter-G Anti-gravity Treadmill
Bike Fitting by the Cycling PT
Dry-needling treatments
Massage & Cupping Therapy
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
110 Florence Street
Malden, MA 02148
781.321.7000
500 West Cummings Park
Suite 2100 Woburn, MA 01801
781.305.4656
Male: Mike Don 15:58
Female: Lindsay Willard 17:55
www.fitzgeraldpt.com
2015 Walpole Grand Prix
4 Races, 12.4 miles, 24 Male Awards, 24 Female Awards
Village Fair 5K, Sat, June 13
Walpole Ed 5K, Mon, Sept 7
Boyden 5K, Sat, Oct 24
Camy 5K, Sat, Nov 7
Facebook “Walpole Grand Prix Race Series”
Info: jb.logan@verizon.net
29
Lane 3:
4: Commentary
Commentary
Lane
Get Lost!
Get
Lost
by Dave Dunham
by Dave Dunham
Ha
major bearing. My first experience with
going off course was a high school crosscountry dual meet. The opposing coach
led us on a course preview and assured us
that the course would be marked when the
race started. It was not marked and there
were no volunteers offering directions. I
was well out in front when I took a wrong
turn and continued on what I thought was
the correct route. I crossed the line in first
place but the coach felt my time was too
fast and after much protest the results of
the meet were voided. Years later I picked
up a win at the Woodford snowshoe race
when I was fortunate enough to know the
course. I was in sixth place when I reached
a major trail junction where I knew to turn
right. There was no course marking at this
I’ve had my share of run-ins with getting
point and as I turned right I noted that
lost and found that it involved an even mix there were no shoeprints in the snow. On
of roads, trails, and snowshoe races. The
that day a large portion of the field went
reasons for going off course are varied and off course due to a lack of proper markers.
the results of these wanderings are mixed. For a number of years after that, I’d show
Occasionally getting lost has no impact on up at Woodford a few hours early and run
the results but for the most part it has a
the course as a warm-up putting out 200
ve you ever been running and
suddenly had that terrible feeling that you might be off course? You
weren’t sure if you were going the right
way and an awful, sinking feeling hits you?
This is one hundred times worse if you are
in the middle of race. Suddenly a great
experience comes crashing down in one
frustrating moment. It seems like there
has been an increase in reports of runners
going astray while racing. Recently, a number of high profile races have suffered the
disaster of runners going off course. As
both a racer and race director, I started
thinking about the “why” and the “how” of
people losing their way.
orange flags to mark the way. A poorly
marked or unmarked course is probably
the most common cause of lost runners.
There is a certain level of expectation
when attending a race that there will be a
clearly marked course. Unless you are running an “open course” like the Bretton
Woods Fell Running Championships,
Dipsea trail race, or the Stark Mountain Hill
Climb, navigation should not be required to
complete the course.
Poor course markings or a lack of markings
seems to be one of the most common
causes of lost runners. The best course
marking I’ve ever seen was at the USATF
10K trail championships in Laurel Springs,
NC. The RD lined the course with surveyor
flags. The butterfly design of the course
meant that there were a few spots where
the course crossed itself. At these locations he had knowledgeable volunteers
who were briefed on their specific location.
He also had posted course maps with “you
are here” on them as a back-up.
30
Lane 4: Commentary
At the other end of the spectrum I recall a US championship 50K
trail race that had minimal markings. The pre-race instructions
had runners following trail X to trail Y with markings only at major
intersections. The women’s lead pack reached a four-way junction 20 miles into the race and as promised there was flagging,
but the surveyor tape was wrapped around a post in the
center of the intersection. There was no clear
marking on any of the other trail entrances.
Eventually the women split up each taking
a path until someone found the correct
direction.
in before me. Others came into the finish line from the wrong
direction. It was a runner’s (and director’s) nightmare. Keep in
mind that this kind of thing doesn’t just happen at small trail races. Never assume that a “prestigious” event is immune from mistakes. A couple of years ago a major cross-country race at Franklin Park was marred by runners completing loops in
the wrong order!
Even the best planning of a race
director can be jeopardized by
one poorly instructed or missing volunteer. Last year the
Multiple course markings and/or
lead runners went off
courses that have loops that
course at the New Engcross each other are another
land marathon champi Beware of first year races
common way in which runonships most likely
 Avoid races put on by non-running
ners get lost. As a race didue to a volunteer
groups
rector I would always try to
not being stationed
 Be careful of races with multiple or
avoid using loops and keep
at a 180 degree
the course from crossing
overlapping courses
turn. The runners
itself. I recall a time I dimissed the turn and
 Get advice from people who’ve run
rected the Northfield
continued on not
the race before
Mountain race which was
knowing their mis Get a course map
a qualifier for the USA
take until it was too
 Preview the course
Mountain team. I “idiot
late. An example
 Talk to the race director/course marproofed” the course, or so I
where a lot less
shal
about
course
markings
thought. After the race one
harm was done
of the top runners noted
would be the New
 Keep your head on a swivel (watch for
how she went off course. I
England 5 mile champicourse markings)
was shocked when she told me
onship
a few years ago.
 Don’t assume the people ahead of you
that she had lifted up the tape
A volunteer placed a cone
know where they are going
blocking off a trail and went under
at the wrong location and
it. The kicker is that she had helped
the entire field ran about a
with the course markings on the previquarter mile short of the adverous day. Sometimes the race isn’t at fault;
tised distance. At least in this case
in the heat of battle people can do some
it didn’t change the outcome or cost
weird things.
any runners their fair share of the prize
purse.
As a racer I try to minimize the possibility of getting lost. Last year
I entered the Lone Wolf Trail 10K, which I’d run before and enSometimes even the police can be the cause. I ran a 5k in Peajoyed. I contacted the RD when I couldn’t find a map online (bad body where again the entire field went the wrong way. I was
sign). The RD put me in touch with the course designer who nev- leading the race following the police cruiser which took me down
er replied (another bad sign). On race day I asked about checking the wrong street and everyone followed along. After the race
out the course map, none was available (very bad sign). I went
(which came out to about the correct distance) I was surprised to
out on the course and previewed the parts I wasn’t 100% sure of. find out the reason the police car didn’t stay on course was to
It seemed pretty clear, but I’ve logged hundreds of hours in Mine avoid going the wrong way down a one way street.
Falls and know every trail. The race course was fairly well marked
and I moved to the front after two miles. Unfortunately, the park So who should be held accountable when runners go off course?
was also being used for a middle school cross country meet. The A lot depends on the ‘why.’ Sometimes the blame should squaremarkings for that race were big and bold and the markings for the ly fall on the shoulders of the race director. Other times the runrace I was in were much more subtle. I thought nothing of it as I ner is clearly at fault, but many times the lines are blurred and
each played a part. Ω
headed out for a two mile loop. When I got back to that point I
was surprised to see that half of the field had turned and skipped
Dave Dunham has run well over 100,000 miles and may have gotten lost
the two miles. After that, they were utterly confused on which
way to go. I yelled directions to people as I raced for the finish. I once or twice.
ended up winning the race but I was not the first person
to cross the finish line as a bunch that ran four miles came
Tactics to Avoid Getting Lost
31
Lane 3: Commentary
Marathon (P)reparations
by Muddy
Oh
what a difference a “P” makes.
In fact, when we commit, fully
and completely, to training for and racing
in a marathon, the distinction between
“preparation” and “reparation” becomes
crystal clear.
Preparation with a capital “P” is what the
marathon distance requires. It will not allow for weakness in the designing of training schedules, hammering of workouts,
monitoring of nutrition, nor will it allow for
inadequate stretching, rolling, course researching, perfect race dreaming. Preparation is the marathon.
In a bit of a paradoxical twist it is the allconsuming preparation for the marathon
that ultimately forces us to drop the “P”
and shift to reparation as soon as we cross
the finish line.
Ambrose Bierce placed an interesting
spin on the concept of reparation in his
1906 satirical piece, The Unabridged Devil’s Dictionary. He wrote, “Reparation, n.
Satisfaction that is made for a wrong and
deducted from the satisfaction felt in committing it.” Fitting for sure. We’ve been
taking physically from our bodies but also
taking selfishly from those around us. We
can certainly make amends with our bodies after our big race, but how do we recompense the people we’ve shortchanged
before our race, during our marathon build
-up? How do we ration that satisfaction
from our “wrong” marathon experience?
Where to begin with the list of atonement?
tired?” Maybe you even went so far as to
hire a babysitter so you could bang out a
multi-hour workout? Luckily, children are
forgiving and will gladly embrace our
attempts at rebuilding parent-child bonds
that may have been strained prior to the
marathon. Nobody closer to us experiences nearly the entire marathon process as
thoroughly and completely as our immediate family members. We owe them big
time.
Our friends also need to be assuaged of
any ill will they may hold. Our compadres
have accepted us for who we are so they
most assuredly understand why we repeatedly have declined social invitations or not
returned phone calls. It is a sad day when
running trumps friendships, but that is
what the marathon makes us do. Once the
race is over it’s time to pay up, literally and
figuratively, for our training-induced snubbings. Hopefully, they’ll be there waiting
for us with open arms.
work, not run! Are we contractually
obliged to apologize for using a sick day
when our only affliction is a burning desire
to nail a long mid-week workout? I don’t
condone this type of scalawag behavior
but when it comes to running, it’s no longer a question of sickness or health; it’s a
question of having found a sickness that
makes us healthy. Perhaps as an olive
branch toward our employer we could
promise to never abuse our professions
again—until next year that is, when the call
of one last PR lures us back into the game.
Sorrynotsorry, boss!
Let us not detract from our successful, epic
marathon races. However, our jobs are not
over by any means. All we’ve done is slide
the “P” from in front of preparation and
plopped it in front of a different “R” (in
the form of “PR” ). Now though, ‘tis time to
acknowledge that payback can be just as
difficult and grueling as those series of
Newton hills on Commonwealth Ave. Postmarathon reparations are a grind and perhaps the most grueling of all. Better get
started.
If arms aren’t wide open, some minor restitution will be needed, especially when
dealing with work colleagues. Certainly we
wronged them at some point during our
Muddy has been prepping for his reparations since
buildup. Our bosses, unfortunately, pay us April 20.
to
Should we begin with our families? We
certainly owe them recourse. Tops on the
list should be our significant others, who
deal with us on the good (running) days
and bad all throughout our training. Essentially they have taken a back seat at times
to our 26.2 mile mistress. Perhaps our
poor children, having witnessed us asleep
on the sofa countless times during training
cycles, will realize that there’s actually
nothing wrong with mommy or daddy, at
least in a physical sense. How many times
did we utter, “Not now, honey. Daddy is
32
Renner Music
by @davidandrewbrya
Birding by Ear by Richard K. Walton and Robert W. Lawton
In Birder's Eye View Diana Churchill recommends listening to bird song and admires Birding by Ear, a
Peterson field guide audiobook, where "the authors grouped the birds into categories and did an excellent job of comparing and contrasting similar songs." While living in Boston, Churchill first learned bird calls on walks led by members of
the Brookline Bird Club.
"Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams
A "Summer of '69" cover from one of the many live bands was one of the aural highlights of my 2014 Peachtree Road
Race in Atlanta, GA. In related news, @bryanadams and @RyanAdams share the same birthday and are currently tweeting each other about touring possibilities.
Pier Pressure, The Copper Pig BBQ & Smokehouse, Glynn Place Mall, Brunswick, GA
Golden Isles band Pier Pressure set up outside The Copper Pig at 2014's inaugural BHS Band on the Run 5K, a fundraiser for the BHS Marching Pirates, held on the first day of fall in Brunswick, GA. A memorable race as the sounds of Pier
Pressure led me to a PR (maybe a 2015 PRRQ for a better start wave), and The Marching Pirates went on to perform in
the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day
Parade.
2015-2016 HSR Grand Pr*ck Series
Hockomock Swamp Rat GPS #9 kicks off at the LVL10K on July 19.
Here is the grueling 20 race schedule. Enjoy the pain.
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July 19, 2015 Level Renner 10K, Brockton, MA
August 1, 2015 Johnny Kelley 11.6 miler, New London, CT
Sept. 7, 2015 Around Cape Ann 25k, Gloucester, MA
Sept 19, 2015 Ogunquit Beach Lobster Dash 5 miler, Ogunquit, ME
Sept 27, 2015 Clarence DeMar Marathon, Keene, NH
Oct 11, 2015 Bobby Bell 5 miler, Haverhill, MA
Oct 26, 2105 Canton Fall Classic 10K, Canton, MA
Nov. 8, 2015 Monson Memorial half marathon, Monson, MA
Dec. 13, 2015 Christmas 10K, Newport, RI
Dec.19, 2015 Norfolk Pub 10 miler, Norfolk, CT
Jan. 10, 2106 Weary Traveler 4.9 miler, Bourne, MA
Jan. 24, 2016 Boston Prep 16 miler, Derry, NH
Feb 21, 2016 Five College Realtors 10 miler, Amherst, MA
March 6, 2016 Stu's 30K, Clinton, MA
March 15th, Old Fashioned Ten Miler, Foxboro, MA
April 2, 2016 Boston Tune up 15k, Upton, MA
April 3, 2016 Seagull Six Spring Classic, Wood's Hole, MA
May 7, 2016 Tribune Five Miler, Clinton, MA
May 28, 2016 Wachusett Mountain Road 10K, Wachusett, MA
June 19, 2016 Paul Mailman 10 miler, VT
Five Bonus Opportunities
 June 20, 21 2015 Coventry/Paul Mailman early bird special
 Any marathon in the month of October
 Feb. 13, 2016 Martha's Vineyard 20 miler
 Any marathon in the month of April
 June 19, 2016 Coventry
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33
Lane 4: Books
Just Read It: Why We Run
by Ray Charbonneau
Today, sometimes it seems like any idiot (cough) can write a
running book. I did a quick search on Amazon and found 11,325
books listed under the “Running & Jogging” category.
Once a Runner (1978) by John L. Parker Jr. is
fiction, but it might be the best and most honest depiction of the complex combination of
ego and humility, desire and aversion, confidence and fear, and practicality and dreaming
that goes into becoming a champion runner.
At this point in my running career, I’m not all that interested in
reading or writing about new and different training plans. It’s not
that I know everything, but I’ve done enough running to know
"In a thousand different ways they wanted to
who I am, and I’ve tried most of the ways to shave thirty seconds
know The Secret. And not one of them was
off of my marathon time. I’m more interested in books about why
prepared, truly prepared to believe that it had
we run.
not so much to do with chemicals and zippy mental tricks as with
that most unprofound and sometimes heart-rending process of
The best of those books are often memoirs, or at least written
removing, molecule by molecule, the very tough rubber that
from a first-person perspective, but they do more than simply tell
comprised the bottoms of his training shoes. The Trial of Miles,
what happened. They explore the joy of running and also why we
Miles of Trials.”
persist through the sorrows that come from age, injury, or just
not being as good as we want to be. They’re introspective, not
In The Long Run Solution (1976), Joe Hendernecessarily inspirational, though inspiration is a common byson presented the idea that competitive runproduct when a writer shares emotional truths.
ning could be for everyone, in part by placing
more importance on doing most of your run“The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner”
ning at a comfortable pace. At the time, Joe’s
by Alan Sillitoe (1959) is a short story that uses
idea of an “easy” training pace was seven
running to symbolize the lead character’s indeminutes per mile, but the details were less
pendence. Today, when there are millions of
important than his relaxed attitude and calm
people signing up for races, the idea of the runconviction that reserving time for running on a
ner as the platonic ideal of the iconoclast is outdaily basis was important, whether or not you
dated. But still, the idea that running is somewere winning races, both for fitness (an idea that wasn’t yet unithing that you do by yourself, for yourself, and
versally accepted back then), and for mental benefits that were
that your success or failure is totally up to you
possibly “even more immediate, dramatic and promising.”
holds a strong appeal for many.
"The challenge of running is not to aim at doing the things no one
“You should think about nobody and go your own way, not on a
else has done, but to keep doing things anyone could do—but
course marked out for you by people holding mugs of water and
most never will."
bottles of iodine in case you fall and cut yourself so that they can
pick you up—even if you want to stay where you are—and get
The 70’s running boom petered out in the 80’s,
you moving again.”
but in the 90’s a second, more inclusive, runGeorge Sheehan is the original philosopher/
king of running. His books were the first to focus on the spiritual side of running, but in a
completely grounded and practical way. Running and Being (1978) contains what is probably Sheehan’s most famous quote, “Each of us
is an experiment of one.” The Sheehan in Running and Being is an inclusive elitist. All he demands is that you do what everyone can: strive
to do your best, because that’s how you,
“discover the wholeness, the unity that everyone seeks.”
ning boom began, one that continues to this
day. John “The Penguin” Bingham was one of
the main chroniclers of this second running
boom. His book, The Courage To Start (1999),
tells how even a pudgy, sedentary man like
Bingham can get the same benefits from running as faster people if he overcomes his fear
and runs. Bingham wants you to run in spite of your perceived
limits, which might lead to finding out they're not limits after all.
Bingham was probably the first to extoll the once heretical idea
that running is so much fun, it can be a good idea to slow down,
even in races, and extend the time you get to spend running.
“My fitness program was never a fitness program. It was a cam“If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how
paign, a revolution, a conversion. I was determined to find myfar. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been
self. And, in the process, found my body and the soul that went
running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to
with it.”
earn, no membership card to get. You just run.”
34
Lane 4: Books
In The Runner’s Guide to the Meaning of Life
(2011), Amby Burfoot covers running from the
perspective of someone who’s been a champion but has come realize that running without
expectations is “far more enjoyable than striving for the Olympics.” Burfoot places a special
emphasis on how running can help build connections between people.
I’ve got a particular soft spot for books by writers who run. Haruki Murakami’s What I Talk
About When I Talk About Running (2007) emphasizes the solitary nature of both running
and writing, and how the two mesh naturally.
Murakami enjoys running and racing with others, but he’s more concerned with what running does for him personally, both physically
and mentally.
“When I run with someone else, the conversation flows naturally
because… what else can we do? We lift our knees to move forward and open out mouths to breathe more deeply. First, to capture as much oxygen as possible. And second, as a by-product, to
talk...We should throw out our watches when we run and count
words instead. The more words exchanged, the better.”
“That’s why I’ve never recommended running to others. I’ve tried
my best never to say something like, ‘Running is great. Everybody
should try it.’ If some people have an interest in long-distance
running, just leave them be, and they’ll start running on their
own. If they’re not interested in it, no amount of persuasion will
make any difference...Still, some might read this book and say,
Runners often speak of their habit as an addic- ‘Hey, I’m going to give running a try,’ and then discover they ention. In Chasing the Dragon (2013), Mark joy it. And of course that would be a beautiful thing.”
Matthews writes from his experience as a licensed professional counselor and as someBen Tanzer’s 99 Problems (2010) is a series of
one who’s been in recovery from addiction for
essays that mix details of Ben’s runs with
twenty-one years. Running can be a positive
thoughts generated during those runs about
addiction, helping you manage your impulses
his writing projects and his life. Ben runs, in
and work through your issues. But it can be as
spite of knee pain and time away from work
destructive as any substance if you don’t let
and family, because he needs to run, because
the inevitable injuries heal, can’t accept your
running satisfies something inside him the
limits, or use it to escape from your problems instead of dealing
way nothing else does. Running faster or farwith them.
ther is nice but not necessary. He explains his
obsession in a way that’s very personal but easy for other runners
“All of this leads to my premise that the life of an addict and the to relate to.
life of a marathoner are not that different… Both are looking to
feel free. To use the body to extend past the body. To modify “Why is running so important to me? The cliché response is, ‘Why
chemicals in one's body to transcend the body. The amazing feel- is breathing important?’ Because it simply is, and as soon as you
ing of power and revelation I get during a run is actually what I get a taste of it you want more. Just like drugs or sex. Or Prinwas seeking by using substances. They have that in common. Of gles... And what I eventually learned was that when the drugs are
course, one is based on fear, hurt, laziness, immaturity, and cow- no longer anything but another hurdle to getting real stuff done;
ardess, and the other is based on discipline, bravery, and inner when you don’t actually want to have sex all the time, or at least
strength. I'll let you decide which is which.”
put in all that effort to have it all the time; when the Pringles, if
you are honest, leave you sort of queasy and laying on the couch
Alexandra Heminsley’s Running Like a Girl breathing heavily; there is running.”
(2014) reminds the boys that women have an
additional set of issues to overcome as society So sure, people run for fitness. People run to see how fast or how
lurches toward accepting women athletes, far they can go. But there are an infinite numbers of ways to exerespecially if you’re less athletically-gifted. And cise and an infinite number of ways for humans to test themshe reminds all of us of the rush we got when selves. As all these authors explain in their own way, runners stick
we discovered running, and of the years it with running not only to become fit or fast, but because there’s
takes to go through all the changes, good and something about running itself that meshes with each runner’s
bad, before you know for sure that running is soul.
you and you are running.
Ray Charbonneau resisted the temptation to quote from his own books.
“Running was no longer how I stayed fit but who I was. It was Until now. “Sometimes, when I’m relaxed and appreciative of the simple
how I functioned, how I relaxed, how I processed my emotions. pleasures of running, I get a little glimpse of transcendence. The rest of
the time I settle, and it’s still good. Each run is worthy in its own way,
It was something that those who loved me, loved about me.”
even when it’s only for the relief I feel when a bad run is over. And every
run helps keep me fit so I’m ready the next time the magic appears.” You
can read much, much more at y42k.com.
35
The 119th
Boston Marathon
Desisa Gets His
Gold Back and
Rotich Sprints to
the Finish
by Paul Clerici
On
a day when
one of the big
questions was the weather - but not how much to
shovel - cold rain and a
headwind may have prevented records from falling, but it did not dampen the excitement. Winners included a benevolent champion and a previous dropout; and on the
local front, there were
several top American
men and women finishers.
Boston Marathon Race
Director Dave McGillivray
was especially pleased
with the 2015 race, particularly on the heels of
the previous few editions.
on Boylston Street. Desisa had—in a humble
gesture to the late Boston Mayor Thomas
Menino at the 2013
B.A.A. 10K two months
later—presented his
medal back to the city as
a gift to its resiliency and
strength after the tragic
bombings.
For the 2015 title, Desisa
averaged a 4:55 per mile
pace for his 2:09:17 victory.
“I saw in 2013 where to
stop and hold back and
where the ups and
downs are,” he recalled.
“I worked with my coach
to prepare for the course
better and did more
training than I did in
2013. I took off my hat
and started waving my
hands because I love the
Boston people.”
In second place was
Yemane Adhane Tsegay
(2:09:48), also of Ethiopia. Desisa and Tsegay
had agreed beforehand
to work together.
“Challenges are always
during transition years— Allison Lynch recaptures an iconic moment in athletics: Meb Keflezighi and Hilary
Dionne cross the finish line together at the Boston Marathon.
in 2012, the heat and
then recovering from
that; and then what happened in 2013 and recovering from that;
“Yes, we tried to go together and help each other, but it was very
and 2014,” he said. “So, what was 2015 going to be and how do
difficult with the wind,” admitted Desisa. “We held it together and
you plan for that? This was a year where we learned from last year pushed each other. We did it for our country and are very happy
and we executed very similarly [to it] this year. Dealing with all the with the result.”
snow leading up to this year’s race—and the rain —we’re constantly being tested. But that’s okay because this organization cer- Added Tsegay, “We spoke together before the competition. We
tainly is up to the challenges,” he noted of the Boston Athletic As- made this a teamwork win. After 30K, we felt good so we pushed
sociation (B.A.A.).
and tried to always bring in more speed. [On race day] we made a
big teamwork win for our country. I tried to push, but in the end it
Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa earned his second Boston win in three
was impossible for me to catch up with Lelisa Desisa. That is why
years, and even ran past his 2013 victor’s medal, which is on dishe won. But I am still very happy with this result.”
play inside the newly-opened Boston Marathon RunBase location
36
Boston Coverage
by George Ross
by Kevin Morris
by George Ross
From left to right: Ritz wasn’t afraid to take the lead mid-race. Rotich sprinted to victory. Linden, now healthy, came back with a strong race.
In a time of 2:10:22 was 2014 Boston Mar- not really plan to take the lead that early in
athon runner-up Wilson Chebet of Kenya in the race, but I thought maybe the others
third.
already used too much of their fuel. So I
tried a reasonable pace where I can main“I am really happy with what I have done
tain my effort. But this race was still a big
[on race day],” he said. “The weather was step for me.”
challenging, and because of it I was not
going to let someone get away from the
Other American top finishers included
group. In the end, I was happy finishing
Matthew Tegenkamp in 11th (2:13:52),
third.”
Jeffrey Eggleston in 12th (2:14:17), and
Nicholas Arciniaga in 14th (2:18:02).
Defending champion Meb Keflezighi, admittedly powered by the cheers of “USA”
In the women’s open division, victory came
along the route, persevered despite sever- down to a late decisive move on Boylston
al water-intake fits of difficulty en route to Street by Kenyan Caroline Rotich, who in
his eighth-place 2:12:42.
2012 dropped out of Boston in the latter
stages of the race. But this time, in 2:24:55,
“Everything was going like I had planned,” by mere seconds she edged Mare Dibaba
he said. “At the 35K mark, they surged and of Ethiopia (2:24:59).
I pushed really hard to try and close the
gap. We were going so fast and my water
“We came to 25 and I was like, ‘It is almost
was not going down. The consequence of
over,’ and knew I wouldn’t go all-out until
that was the water would come back up,
the finish,” said Rotich. “But then I started
too. I had to stop five times and threw up, to feel Mare Dibaba and thought I’d finish
but I had to keep going.”
second. Just like that, I saw the finish line
and was like, ‘I can kick! I can kick!’ Once I
Ahead of Keflezighi was fellow US Olympi- saw the finish, I knew I could let go. I had
an Dathan Ritzenhein in seventh place at
to give it all of my strength until the finish
2:11:20.
line.”
“We went out so fast, I just made a decision at 10K to back off and maintain my
effort a little bit more,” said Ritzenhein,
who even took the lead in Wellesley. “I did
Dibaba, who was third at the 2014 Boston
Marathon, felt victory was hers as she led
the Kenyan within the last half-mile, despite an early move at 23 miles that failed
to put away her competition.
“I was trying to improve the pace and
make it a bit faster. But then I realized that
the group was getting closer when we
came up the hill. Then I decided I had to
save my energy,” Dibaba said through interpreter Feven Alem. And in regard to the
final stretch on Boylston Street, “I was
pretty confident that I would win, but I
realized in the last few meters that I wasn’t
going to have enough. Initially when I was
in the lead, I felt good. But when I realized
that she passed and I was in second, then I
was very sad.”
Ethiopian Buzunesh Deba faded to third
place in a time of 2:25:09.
“[Race day was] not my day. I felt absent
[on race day]. The last 2-3 miles were too
by George Ross
37
Boston Coverage
Tatyana McFadden (above) three-peats while Chris Zablocki (right) finished as top New
Englander in 20th place. Photos by Scott Mason.
tight and I’m looking forward to future
races,” said Deba. On her attempt to stay
with the leaders down the homestretch,
she added, “Yes, I tried to make that happen, but it didn’t. I couldn’t make it happen.”
a September 2014 drug test and subsequently issued a two-year ban.
Reactions were mixed, from apathy to applause.
“I don’t necessarily feel it was a void at all
Desiree (Davila) Linden, who was second [not having Jeptoo in the field],” commentbehind Caroline Kilel of Kenya in the 2011 ed Linden. “I haven’t seen the finish yet [by
the post-race press conference], but it
Boston Marathon, finished with a strong
fourth-place 2:25:39 as the top American. sounded like it was a thrilling finish. It was
tight down Boylston and it seems to be a
“I’m pleased with my race,” she noted. “It little bit back to normal here as a result. It
was a day to slowly chip away and improve was a competitive, great field and that was
myself. I think my tactic was great [on race good to see.”
day]. To win on this course, you have to be
gritty and aggressive and in for a long day Deba, who by more than a minute finished
second to Jeptoo at the 2014 Boston Maraof pain.”
thon, exclaimed with a laugh, “Yes, I was
Linden’s fellow countrywomen in the top
happy that she wasn’t here. My plan was
15 included Marblehead’s Shalane Flanabased on her not being in the race.”
gan in ninth (2:27:47), Adriana Nelson in
In the wheelchair division, which for the
13th (2:38:47), and Charlestown’s Hilary
Dionne in 15th (2:40:42). Dionne near the first time since 1987 instituted a non
end of her race had the unique distinction -controlled start, by more than six
of being accompanied by Keflezighi, who as minutes Marcel Hug of Switzerland
he finished his race surprised her from be- (1:29:53) beat defending champion
hind when he reached out and held up her and 10-time winner Ernst Van Dyk of
arm as they crossed the finish line togeth- South Africa (1:36:27). Masazumi
Soejima of Japan was third
er.
(1:36:28).
Notably absent in the women’s race was
three-time (2006, 2013, 2014) Boston Mar- Two-time defending champion
athon champion Rita Jeptoo of Kenya, who Tatyana McFadden of the US threeAthletics Kenya determined to have failed peated with a 1:52:54. Only Wakako
Tsuchida of Japan in second prevented an
American sweep, as Susannah Scaroni and
Amanda McGrory, both of Illinois, finished
third and fourth, respectively.
According to the B.A.A., there were 30,251
official entrants (16,500 men; 13,751 women). The start field was 27,165 (14,858
men; 12,307 women) with 26,610 official
finishers (14,588 men; 12,022 women). In
the wheelchair division, there were 53 entrants (42 men; 11 women), 51 starters (41
men; 10 women), and 50 finishers (41
men; nine women).
The Local Angle: Dionne and
Zablocki Lead the Way
by Kevin Balance
It
’s the locals that make this race—
and pull back its curtain. Cynics
by George Ross
38
Boston Coverage
might think that Meb was opportunistic
when he reached for Hilary Dionne’s hand
and hoisted it in the air as the two crossed
the finish line. No, this was not an advantageous photo op to further “the brand;” the
cameras just so happened to catch him in
an act of humility and sportsmanship, one
of several he displayed on the course. Lauren Philbrook who finished in 2:41:17 for
16th place, recounted, “The best moment
for me was when Meb passed me and gave
me some encouragement.” His interaction
with Dionne was not unique; instead it
emblemizes his character.
Dionne did not race her best Boston Marathon, having clocked 2:35:08 last year but
likely had her most memorable. She landed
on the front page of national websites—
many of which were not running-based.
However, those publications offered little
more than a cursory mention of one of the
best marathoners in the US. The Level, on
the other hand, will give you two tidbits
about her race. One, she ran most of it
alone, which, given the conditions, made
for a taxing day both mentally and physically. Battling a headwind on your own
makes a 15th place 2:40:42 all the more
impressive. Two, she paced the B.A.A.
open women to a team victory. Meb’s gesture was just icing on an already frosted
cake.
by Scott Mason
Lauren Philbrook (above, far left) came in 16th. Jason Ayr (below, #127) battled the wind and PR’ed.
Thirty-five seconds in arrears of Dionne
was Philbrook, a Hopkinton native now
living in PA. In a day of positive splits, she
managed to stay fairly even, running the
second half a mere seven seconds slower
than the first. “I felt much better in the
second half than I
119th Boston Marathon Top New England Performances
have in the past.
It was so nice to
WOMEN
MEN
run up Heart2:40:42
Hilary Dionne
Charlestown, MA
2:20:35
Chris Zablocki
break Hill and feel
2:46:22
Katie Misuraca
Gloucester, MA
2:21:58
Ruben Sanca
good.”
One of the few to
manage a PR was
NH native Denise
Sandahl (read our
profile of her in
our July/August
2014 issue). “I
really don’t know
how I got a PR
today,” she con-
by Scott Mason
Essex, CT
Lowell, MA
2:46:34
Madeline Duhon
Somerville, MA
2:25:14
Jason Ayr
Medford, MA
2:47:15
Elizabeth Ryan
Cambridge, MA
2:26:36
Aliaksander Leuchanka
Durham, NH
2:48:10
Emily D’Addario
Boston, MA
2:26:38
Eric McDonald
Groveland, NH
2:48:32
Denise Sandahl
Bow, NH
2:27:37
Louis Serafini
Brighton, MA
2:49:06
Marie Davenport
Guilford, CT
2:27:57
Philip Shaw
Manchester, NH
2:49:32
Kristin Barry
Scarborough, ME
2:29:37
Joseph Darda
Willimantic, CT
2:49:39
Keri Leonhardt
Cambridge, MA
2:31:57
Jonathan Baker
Cambridge, MA
2:50:06
Christine Shaw
Manchester, NH
2:32:06
Thomas Petersen
Cambridge, MA
data compiled by Luke Maher
39
Boston Coverage
by Scott Mason
by Scott Mason
by George Ross
From left to right: Nicole Casey, 2:53:27. Eric Williams, 2:49:16. Louis Serafini, 2:27.37.
fesses. “I didn’t train well over the winter.”
She did, however, listen to coach Kevin
Beck’s wind/weather advice prior to the
race. Imagine if we were all privy to such
atmospheric augury. Here come the friend
requests, Kevin.
Another person overcoming Aeolus, Boreas, and Zephyrus (deities of the wind), was
Jason Ayr. Perhaps his surname had something to do with it. Ayr, who had run a
string of 2:27 marathons, finally got off the
“snide” with a breakthrough 2:25. He was
not at all intimidated by the wind as in various stages throughout the race he was
leading a pack of men—all of whom were
taller than him. We appreciate the tenacity
in which Ayr attacked Boston, and he was
rewarded with the two most important
letters in racing: PR.
Still, Ayr wasn’t the fastest regional runner.
Two bested him: Chris Zablocki and Ruben
Sanca. Zablocki, currently a pre-med student in the Caribbean, was our first regional finisher, posting a 2:20:35 for 20th overall. He used a stealth strategy to turn in
that performance: “I saw Sanca finished
2:19 last year at this race so would know a
good pace. I stayed with his group until
halfway when I realized we had slowed
down too much. I decided it was time to
start pushing it harder and was on my own
the rest of the way.” Turns out Zablocki did
slow (he ran the second half 2:39 slower
than the first), just not as much as the rest
of his pack. 1:11:37 1:08:58 HALF
new each of the last five years (downwind,
high temps, bombings, an emotional Boston Strong year, and frigid temps and
strong headwinds). This is proof that runners are a committed and resilient group.
We will be ready for whatever 2016 has in
store for us."
Two Level Legionnaires and sometime
training partners, Ruben Sanca and Nate
Jenkins, managed to find the silver lining
despite the too cloudy day. Sanca who
See the tables within for the best local indimissed his goal time but still ran 2:21:58
vidual and team performances.
said, “The race could’ve gone in many ways
with the weather but I was happy with how
Don’t Call Them Old: Local
I handled the many adversities on
race day.” Jenkins, who had to step off the Masters Produce Age-defying
course at mile 19 due to hyperthermic
Performances at Boston
symptoms, said, “I am actually leaving this
race very pumped up I had no coordination by Fiona Murphy
problems which is so huge to me I can’t
describe it. I have a couple ideas of what
ter one of the worst winter trainwent wrong and it is fixable.”
ing seasons ever in New England,
with
record
snowfall amounts and cold
Local teams, accustomed to the blustery
temperatures,
local runners were hoping
conditions, strode to success in the compeMother
Nature
would be kind and reward
tition in which the top three garbed in the
us
with
a
perfect
weather day for the 119th
same uniform score. The B.A.A. men’s masters team of Pat Callahan, Peter Hammer, running of the Boston Marathon on April
20, 2015. It was not to be. The forecast of
and Wayne Levy combined for a time of
8:04 to secure the top podium spot by over temperatures in the 40s, headwinds at 20
mph with gusts up to 35, and cold, raw
24 minutes. Despite the conditions, Levy
rain, heavy at times, unfortunately came to
said, “We were able stay on course and
fruition. But we are hearty New
stick to the plan of successfully defending
our master’s team title. The Boston Mara- Englanders, and marathoners to boot, so
we all came to toe the line, weather be
thon has challenged us with something
Af
40
Boston Coverage
Top New England
Age Group Performers
MEN 40-44
13th-Todd Smith, 2:39:21, 40, Bristol, VT
14th-Michael Standolnik, 2:40:19, 41, Plainfield, CT
18th-Patrick Callahan, 2:41:04, 42, Needham, MA
WOMEN 40-44
3rd-Marie Davenport, 2:49:06, 40, Guilford, CT
*4th MASTER $1500
4th-Kristin Barry, 2:49:32, 41, Scarborough, ME
*5th MASTER $1000
6th-Christine Irish, 2:52:28, 40, North Yarmouth, ME
25th-Colleen Ryan, 3:06:30, 42, Danvers, MA
MEN 45-49
by Scott Mason
Kristin Barry (2nd from left) and Marie Davenport were among the top masters.
damned.
The headlines in the news outlets all capture the top winners in the open divisions at Boston, I am here to report on the runners over the age of 40, who
seem to defy aging and continue to run at incredible speeds, some well into
their 60s. The B.A.A. does have prize money for the 40-49 age group of masters runners, both male and female. The top five men and women split a
combined $40,000 prize purse.
The first place masters winners at this year’s Boston Marathon, each receiving
$10,000 in prize money, were Danilo Goffi, 42, of Milan, Italy in a time of
2:18:44 (but watch out, Meb turns 40 this year and will be competing in this
category next year) and Liza Hunter-Galvan, 45, of San Antonio, TX (New Zealand citizen) in a time of 2:46:44.
There are also some incredible local (New England states) masters runners
that placed well in age groups from age 40 and above. Two local women in
the age 40-44 age group both finished in the prize money this year. Marie
Davenport, 40, of Guilford, CT, came in as fourth female master in 2:49:06.
Kristin Barry, 41, of Scarborough, ME, finished fifth in 2:49:32.
As a 49 year old masters runner myself, who finished way behind these amazing runners [Editor’s Note: Murphy finished in 4:14:39], it was an honor to
catch up with some of these top masters runners as they share some of their
race day goals and experiences with me:
Kristin Barry, Scarborough, ME, Dirigo RC
41, 2:49:32 and 4th in 40-44 age group and 5th overall master finisher
Barry’s goals going into Boston this year were adjusted due to weather: “Just
try to race and go after place. Luckily I had women to run with this year. I
think many of us chose to run in packs to help fight conditions.” Barry felt the
difficult winter conditions for training “hurt us in terms of training but helped
us deal with unpleasant, tough conditions.” Barry also has the best post Boston recovery plan: a week’s vacation in a tropical locale with her family. Well
earned!
4th-Peter Hammer, 2:37:20, 48, Needham, MA
6th-Robert Ashby, 2:42:43, 46, Brunswick, ME
12th-Dave Counts, 2:44:33, 48, Newtonville, MA
13th-Freeman Lee, 2:44:59, 47, Boston, MA
16th-Wayne Levy, 2:45:36, 49, Waban, MA
17th-Gregory Picklesimer, 2:46:01, 48, Needham, MA
24th-Alden Hall, 2:46:34, 45, Lebanon, NH
WOMEN 45-49
7th-Karolyn Bowley, 3:01:30, 45, Middletown, RI
9th-Cathi Campbell, 3:06:21, 47, Allston, MA
MEN 50-54
14th-Eric Williams, 2:49:16, 50, Concord, NH
WOMEN 50-54
4th-Mary-Lynn Currier, 3:08:26, 51, Burlington, CT
16th-Heather Knight Pech, 3:19:08, 53, Darien, CT
MEN 55-59
20th-David Oliver, 2:58:44, 58, Westborough, MA
WOMEN 55-59
1st-Joan Samuelson, 2:54:03, 57, Freeport, ME
2nd-Evelyn Caron, 3:4:40, 55, Andover, MA
13th-Karen Kiepert, 3:28:48, 57, Boston, MA
MEN 60-64
9th-James Wilson, 3:14:40, 62, Brookline, MA
WOMEN 60-64
1st-Sharon Vos, 3:12:51, 60, Old Greenwich, CT
4th-Elizabeth Cooney, 3:34:47, 60, Somerville, MA
7th-Karen Durante, 3:40:12, 64, Newbury, MA
MEN 65-69
4th-Kevin Downing, 3:23:58, 65, Attleboro, MA
WOMEN 70-74
7th-Terry Tattersall, 4:45:53, 71, North Attleboro, MA
MEN 80+
9th-Jimmy Green, 5:57:54, 82, Marblehead, MA
41
Boston Coverage
119th Boston Marathon Top New England Teams
OPEN WOMEN
OPEN MEN
1. BAA
8:15:14
1. NYAC
7:22:14
2. GBTC
8:30:21
5. Whirlaway
7:34:41
10. Crow
Athletics
9:20:58
6. BAA
7:39:02
7. GBTC
7:40:14
MASTERS WOMEN
by George Ross
Christine Irish, No. Yarmouth, ME, Dirigo
40, 2:52:28 and 6th in the 40-44 age group
Irish’s race goal for this year of sub 2:50
was altered by the weather forecast and
now was “to run smart and finish feeling
strong. I figured any time goals were out
the window.” She now feels, after competing so strongly in the headwinds on
Monday, that a sub 2:50 goal is achievable
under better conditions. To cope with her
low points during the race, “I was able to
review in my mind the events of 2013 and
recognize that it is such an honor to take
part in the marathon each year”.
Peter Hammer, Needham, MA, Boston
Athletic Association
48, 2:37:20 and 4th in the 45-49 age group
Hammer says the tough weather didn’t
factor into race day goals, other than staying a little more protected by pack running,
but it was training setbacks, including a
forced two week layoff from running in
March due to a knee injury that altered his
plan. His strategy was to remain conservative through the half and then reassess in
Newton. “Ultimately my ‘cautious’ pace
also served as my pace through the hills
and down Beacon Street,” Hammer said. A
highlight of his day was celebrating with
BAA teammates Pat Callahan of Plainfield,
CT (42, 18th 40-44 AG, 2:41:04) and Wayne
Levy of Waban, MA (49, 16th 45-49 AG,
2:45:36). Together they won the masters
team competition. “Without the help of my
teammates, I never would have made it to
MASTERS MEN
5. BAA
10:12:30
1. BAA
8:04:00
8. Winner’s
Circle
10:18:12
2. CPTC
8:28:26
3. SRR
8:29:33
5. Whirlaway
8:33:52
Christine Irish ran 2:52:28 and just missed masters prize
money.
the starting line—let alone the finish line.”
Downing, owner of DB Sports in North
Attleboro, admits that this winter’s training
Todd Smith, Bristol, VT, Green Mountain was more difficult than in past winters,
Multisport (GMM)
“But I managed to keep my training miles
40, 2:39:21 and 13th in the 40-44 age group very consistent with a mix of treadmill and
Smith said that the cold, wet, windy condi- long runs outside. I think the winter we
tions didn’t really affect him. “I just had to just had definitely was a positive effect on
work a little harder for the second half of
my Boston race because you get used to
the race,” said Smith. Smith loves the hills cold and wet conditions.” Downing ran a
on the Boston course, both the downhills
lot of the race with his training partner,
at the start and the uphills in Newton. He Mike Cullinane. Downing felt the toughdescribes his success this way: “Just stick- est part of the course was the hills, where
ing to a plan that works and allowing one- the cold and rain contributed to tightness
self to enjoy other aspects in life is key.”
in his calves. Downing’s secret to running
Like many of the runners, Smith felt the
so well at 65 is “quality over quantity!”
cold was most problematic only after the
finish. He will be leading the 3:30 pace
Terry Tattersall, North Attleboro, MA,
group in the Vermont City Marathon in
Wampanoag Road Runners
May.
71, 4:45:53 and 7th in 70-74 age group
Tattersall feels the weather and dealing
Karen Durante, Newbury, MA, Whirlaway with an injury were big factors in her race
64, 3:40:12 and 7th in the 60-64 age group this year. “Physical therapy and the Wamp
Durante’s first race goal is always to finish, runners keeping me positive gave me conthen to finish without walking. “This was
fidence I could do this. I planned to try my
by far my best Boston marathon as far as
best and enjoy the journey,” she said.
execution. My first and second half were
Tattersall credits her running successes to
both 1:50. This year my last 2 miles were
keeping active and doing things she enjoys,
my fastest and I ran the entire way without like yoga and gardening, and a lot of
stopping.” Durante credits the many bene- stretching.
fits of being a part of a team with her success: “I feel it makes me a better runner
Not everybody is represented in this space
when I am part of a team. You just want to (too many good runners; too little space),
do well.”
but see the tables within for all local masters who placed in the top 25 of their age
Kevin Downing, Attleboro, MA, Wampagroup. Ω
noag Road Runners
65, 3:23:53 and 4th in the 65-69 age group
42
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