The Wicked Running Register January 2013 • Priceless
EST. JAN 2010
Reach the Beach Relay to Support the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem Doug Bollen
I am excited to be Team Captain for my first Reach the Beach Relay Race. I have been running for over 30 years. I’ve run in hundreds of road races and directed over 40, including the Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run on Thanksgiving Day. But my favorite running event to participate in is the relay race, where team members support each other on the course, working together towards one goal. I’ve participated in a number of relays such as Lake Winnipesaukee, Mill Cities and Lynn Woods, but this will be my first 24 hour relay race. I look forward to the team camaraderie both on and off the course as we work together to complete the race, and meet our personal and team fundraising goals to support programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem. The Reach the Beach Relay will take place on May 17 & 18. It is a 200 mile run from Mt. Wachusett to Westport, MA. The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem has formed a team of 12 runners who will take turns running continuously day and night until we reach the finish line, with each runner raising a minimum of $1,000 in support of this cause. Our team is ready for the challenge! I hope you will consider making a donation to this worthwhile cause to support the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem. You can make a donation at this link: http://www.bgcgs. org/give/doug The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem is the second oldest club in America and has been fulfilling the same mission for over 140 years: to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, the Club serves over 1,200 members in Salem and Peabody, ages 8-18, with an average daily attendance of 150+ youth. The membership dues for the Club’s drop-in program are just $10 per school year, including a wide range of programs such as homework help, dance, athletics, nature studies, leadership activities and career and college planning. All programs are mentored by professional staff and support the goals of the Salem school district. Thank you!
The Wicked Running Register • January 2013 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com
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Seen and Heard on the Run The Maine Coast Marathon is back after 26 years! It’s a beautiful course with quite a history, especially for a race held for less than 10 years in the ’80s.
Registration is NOW OPEN at northshoretimingonline.com for Miles 4 Markie and Wayne’s Walk! Sunday, April 7, 2013 | Race starts at 10:00am; walk at 10:30am Last year’s first annual Miles 4 Markie was an enormous success! With your help I was able to raise over $6,000 for the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Department and I am asking for your help again! Registration for this year’s Miles 4 Markie is now open and there are a lot of exciting changes taking place! First, this year the event is growing from a 5k to a 4-mile multi-terrain run! We are currently undergoing certification from the USATF and also incorporating a 2-mile Wayne’s Walk so everyone in the family can participate! Trophies and medals will be awarded to those who finish top in their categories, and commemorative buttons will be given to the walk participants! All who register on or before Friday, March 22 will receive a T-shirt regardless of which event you choose! Let’s make this year even more successful than before! I hope to see you all there! Happy Running! —Kendra Patterson
QUOTES ON THE RUN: “ Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it’s all about.”
—Patti Sue Plumer, U.S. Olympian
Rich Tabbut (aka Hammer) will be Running the Boston Marathon & the Maine Coast Marathon within 30 days of each other. He paid a $15 entry fee for Maine Coast as that is what they used to charge for a marathon — he got the special rate because he is an “alumni” of the original 1983 event. Rich’s marathon PR of 2:54:12 was done at Maine Coast in 1983. He walked most of the last 3 miles, because he went out too fast. Qualifying time for Boston was 2:50 for his category back then.
Jason Carraro, while a great guy, cannot find his way around the Emerald Necklace. Do not let him lead your group run in strange territory!
There are a number of trailblazers in women’s history...Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Julie Arrison, and Nicole McGuinness.
Olde Salem Greens Snowshoe/Mud Run: When asked if he minded running in the mud instead of the snow, Mike McKie’s answer was that he loves getting dirty. As a child he wanted to be an archeologist or firefighter, because they were both dirty jobs. Aaron Toleos fought blood sweat and tears at the snowshoe race, literally — as he emerged from the trail covered in tears and scratches from thistles and thorns. But he still ran ‘bloody’ fast!
The Wicked Running Register • January 2013 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com
Wicked Board 2013:
Presidential Perspective T.R. Ramsdell
President: T.R. Ramsdell mopartr@comcast.net Vice President: Kenny Hewson khews114@gmail.com Treasurer: Melissa Jaynes melissa.jaynes@gmail.com Secretary: Alison Phelan alphelan2@gmail.com Membership Director: Tennille Doyle tennilledoyle@gmail.com Clothing Director: Michael Harvey wickedrunninggear@gmail.com Member-at-Large: Doug Bollen dougbollen12@yahoo.com Member-at-Large: Michele Campbell michelejcampbell@yahoo.com Member-at-Large: Mike Toomey mike@mypersonalrunningcoach.com
Non-Board Positions Newsletter Editor: Michele Campbell newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com Grand Prix Series Co-Coordinator: T.R. Ramsdell mopartr@comcast.net Grand Prix Series Co-Coordinator: Rich Tabbut welshhammer@gmail.com Webmaster: Tennille Doyle tennilledoyle@gmail.com Social Activities Coordinator: Tennille Doyle tennilledoyle@gmail.com
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As the new year begins, I’m thinking about the things that I’d like to accomplish this year as your President. First and foremost, I want to continue to promote Wicked to anyone that will listen to me. I’d have to sort through the membership list for an exact count, but I’ve managed to convince around 25 people to join our awesome club. Now, I only mention this to put the bug in your ear. Don’t you know some great people that could benefit by becoming a Wicked member? Think about what you get out of this club. New friends with like goals, training partners for those difficult runs, social gatherings, relays, group runs, Grand Prix Series, destination races, clinics, club races, 300 new Facebook friends! I’m sure that every one of us has several friends that would love to join in on the fun. Maybe they just need that “push” from you to get them to commit. Joining anything new can be somewhat traumatic to some folks, be it a gym, or a book club, or the PTA. Some people will just never take the steps to join anything fearing rejection or embar-
rassment. I used to be this guy. I was very timid about meeting strangers, and absolutely terrified if I had to speak to a group. Joining Wicked has changed all that. I’m the first one to approach a stranger now, and love speaking to large groups. There are many more people just like me out there that need us. Let’s try and change that. I want to challenge you to extend the invitation to someone you know and try and get them to come out for a run with us. Once they’ve met us, the club sells itself. We have 300 of the nicest, most supportive people on the planet in our membership. Wouldn’t it be great to increase those numbers? When I joined in January ’09, we had barely 100 members. We’ve now grown to 300ish in that 4 year span. Let’s see how close to 400 we can get this year. We get a ton of complete strangers who find us by doing a random internet search. Imagine how many people we already know that would love to join us. So that’s your mission this year. Recruit! Let’s spread the love. Talk to your co-workers and friends. If everyone brought in only one person each, we’d hit 600 by years end! Just imagine......
“ We have 300 of the nicest, most supportive people on the planet in our membership.”
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The Wicked Running Register • January 2013 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com
Race Review Walt Disney World Goofy Challenge Julie Arrison
One night at D5K, after a long hot Chicago training run and rehydration with a beer or two, a dream was born. Andrew Bencal completed his first marathon at Walt Disney World in 2010 and I have been on a tear of marathons since 2011. Whether it was the beer or T.R. whispering, “Do it, do it, do it,” we found ourselves signed up for the Goofy Challenge—which is a half marathon on day one and a full marathon on day two. Andrew’s training plan started in June and consisted of a program much like marathon training early on. After I finished the Chicago Marathon, things ‘got real’ in terms of long runs and training. There were many Friday long runs of 7-10 miles backed up with Saturday long runs of 16-20 miles through the months of November and December. Andrew found that Lynn Woods was a great alternative to the roads and both of us were happy to have company for the many miles.
Race day was coming and nerves set in for both of us—especially when the forecast came out. One of the great things about WDW Marathon weekend is that the run typically takes place in dry conditions with a temperature in the high 50s or low 60s—perfection for distance running! A balmy, humid warm front was passing through Florida in 2013, though, and all runners packed shorts and singlets—as well as shorts and tee shirts for fun in the parks—to prepare for the anticipated highs in the 80s. Marathon Weekend at WDW is a big deal. While it’s a difficult race to “race,” the organizers treat the weekend like any big city marathon blended in with Disney’s organizational prowess. The expo runs for 3 days and is stretched across the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Number pick up and shirt pick up is flawless. The expo itself isn’t a personal favorite due to size of venue and merchandise available, but if you’re a first time runner in a distance event, you’d never know the difference. The expo is also home to a series of kids races starting with the wee distance of a 50 yard “diaper dash,” making it a weekend that a family can really devote to health and fitness. The weekend also boasts a 5K and a “Pasta in the Park” party and
all events truly encompass the runners through the weekend. Race day itself is an interesting affair. I’ve only stayed on property and have taken WDW transportation to the races, but this option works great. Each onproperty resort has buses that transport the runners to the start of the race. Because the first wave of the race goes off at 5:30 a.m. and it’s about a half mile walk to the starting corrals, early arrival is mandatory, so the transportation leaves these hotels around 3:00 a.m. Once you arrive at EPCOT, you are greeted by cheerful volunteers, cowbells, party music, spotlights, and an incredible pre-race atmosphere that would make even the worst morning person put a smile on their face. Bag check is effortless and porta-potties and water are abundant. The walk to the starting corrals is also lined with music, characters, and more porta-potties. Once you are in the starting corrals, you are essentially locked in for anywhere from 30-60 minutes, so it’s important to plan that walk accordingly. In the corrals, there is more music, guest speakers, chats with celebrities and elite runners, and more. Then 5:30 a.m. arrives, the fireworks go off, and Corral A takes off down the stretch. Each corral is treated to the same entertainment as you move closer to the rolling start and really makes the staring line exciting.
The Wicked Running Register • January 2013 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com
cars such as Herbie and Lightning McQueen, but also about a mile of amazing antique and vintage autos that owners brought for viewing while they cheered the runners on. Though we missed out on it, apparently there were rides open in the Animal Kingdom and you could take a jaunt on the Expedition Everest Wild West: Julie (left) and Nicole McGuinness made a Coaster if you chose. new friend at Disney—in cowboy body paint. Yee haw! The Wide World of Sports gave runners the chance to run on a world-class track The half marathon course travels and also round the diamond at the through the Magic Kingdom and Atlanta Braves spring training facility. EPCOT and the full marathon travels through all four WDW parks as well as a Hollywood Studios was full of cheertour around the Richard Petty Speedway ing cast members and some interesting movie related sites. EPCOT also boasts and the ESPN Wide World of Sports. the end of both races and great crowd One of the biggest downsides to both races is the amount of time that is spent support. on access roads. While there was music The support along the course was from local high school marching bands, perfect as well. There is no need to stops for pictures with characters, and travel with a belt as there is a water and funny signs along the way for distracGatorade stop just about every mile as tion, it’s tough to distract from the boredom on these stretches—especially well as Clif Shot stops. The volunteers were excellent at both races—full of during the full marathon. The part that smiles, cheers, and encouragement at stank, literally, was the trek right by the water treatment plant around mile 11-12 every corner. I was also impressed with the amount of medical staff on the of the full marathon course. course who really had a diligent eye on the runners in the unexpected heat. The highlights are enough to make So, the question to ask—would we you forget the hot, boring stretches do this race again? Despite a glowing though. Running up Main Street in the review for Disney’s organization, likely Magic Kingdom will never get old. It puts Wellesley’s famed scream tunnel to not. The training for the race is significantly more than marathon training at shame with spectators and Disney Cast its peak weeks and two days in a row of Members yelling and cheering and enwhat many consider significant distances joying the sunrise. The run around the Speedway was surprisingly enjoyable and may not be the choice for either of us. While I certainly appreciate the health featured not only Disney “character”
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and fitness of a run like this and while I want to cheer for all on the course, it is not a race for you if you want to truly “race” the entire time. During both races, there were couples romantically holding hands and strolling along and groups of friends walking 5-6 abreast on narrow paths. It can be frustrating. Would we do one race or the other again? Absolutely! It’s a “fun run” for a distance run. We enjoyed the company of Nicole McGuinness for the 13.1 and friends of mine completing their first marathon for that race. There were lots of laughs, people watching, costumes, and joy. There were also celebrity sightings and we had the chance to run with Joey Fatone of N’Sync and Dancing with the Stars fame during the last mile of the run. (Author’s Note: he swears like a trucker and was drinking a 22 oz. beer. My hero.) The finish of both races makes you forget any pain and suffering as you cruise past an amazing gospel choir and into a finish line with spectators at least 8-10 deep. The post-race is a breeze as well. There are an abundance of volunteers with medals, there are tables of icy water and Gatorade, and bag pick up is as effortless as drop-off. Friends and family are fairly easy to find (especially when they greet you with Goofy hats!) and transportation back to the resorts moves quickly. We’ll be there for the 13.1 next year and encourage anyone to join us in the fun! I give this race 3.5 cats for a monotonous course with the exception of the actual theme park areas and for the portion of the run that goes by the water treatment plant.
The Wicked Running Register • January 2013 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com
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Join Julie at the Boston Marathon for a Great Cause Only 4 spots left on Team Franklin Park Coalition! It’s a good time...three returning Wicked members would agree...
Second Annual Comedy for the
I am the Marathon Charity Team Leader for the Franklin Park Coalition in Boston, Mass (www. franklinparkcoalition.org). We have the privilege of being part of the BAA’s Official Marathon Charity Program. For us, this means over $60,000 dedicated to park restoration, youth programming, athletics, and cultural opportunities in Boston’s largest greenspace. For runners, this means four months of free USATF certified marathon coaching, online and in-person fundraising support, training gear, organized group training runs, a race day experience like no other charity offers, and, of course, guaranteed entry into the 2013 Boston Marathon.
Coalition Fundraiser
Runners are required to raise $4000, but we provide immense support to work with the runners to help them reach their goals. Even if they are not directly connected to Franklin Park, this is a great chance for someone to fundraise who loves the outdoors and greenspace, works with kids, has a passion for athletics, or loves diverse cultural programming.
Pizza, Route 1 South Saugus, for
If you could share this email with your club, it would be greatly appreciated. They can be in contact with me directly via julie@franklinparkcoalition.org or by calling 413-530-0831.
Sunday, February 17 6:30pm — 9:30pm Celebrate President’s Day weekend with Wicked members Julie Arrison and Shari Hewson at Giggles Comedy Club/Prince a night of gut busting between allyou-can-eat pizza and laughing at our expense as nationally known comics discuss our insanity for running a marathon. All proceeds from the night will go to supporting youth and athletic
Thank you in advance for your help!
programming for the Franklin Park
Kind regards, Julie Arrison • Boston Marathon Charity Team Leader
Coalition (www.franklinparkcoalition.org). There will be a 50/50 and raffle with many prizes including a chance for Shari and Julie to
Join in the conversation about road races and running with North Shore Road Race Guide on Facebook! Check us out at facebook.com/ northshoreroadraceguide
pick up your bar tab for the night. Tickets will be $20.00 in advance and $25.00 at the door. Tickets can be purchased from Shari and Julie directly or by mailing a check to Julie Arrison, 18 Leavitt Street, #3, Salem, Mass. 01970.
The Wicked Running Register • January 2013 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com
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Wicked Grand Prix Series 2013 T.R. Ramsdell
Get out your calendars and your big red marker, and get these dates marked off for the 2013 Wicked Grand Prix Series. We’ve chosen the line-up for the upcoming season, so get ready Wicked, here they come. I asked for suggestions from members for some of their favorite races they’d like to see in the schedule this year. We’ve chosen 8 races that fall on 8 different months, in 5 different towns. We have a few returning favorites, a few that might not be your favorite (but you’ll do them because you’re Wicked tough), and a couple newbies.
So, without further ado, here is the schedule for the REGULAR race series:
Same rules apply as usual, you must complete 6 out of the 8 REGULAR series races to be considered a series finisher. Relays are bonus points, and help greatly to boost your score if perhaps you don’t happen to be as fast as Dave Long or Tim Short. For a complete explanation of the rules and how the series is scored, please refer to the Grand Prix series section of the Wicked website, or ask me.
And the relays (all dates TBD):
Some of the dates haven’t been finalized, so they are marked TBD (to be determined). Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the dates posted. If for some reason a race is canceled, another race of similar size will be substituted at the WGP coordinators’ discretion. I will update the exact dates as soon as I receive them, so stay tuned.
March 17 Olde Salem Greens 5k Cross Country, Salem. May 2 Pipestave Hill 5k trail race, W. Newbury July 30 Yankee Homecoming 10 miler, Newburyport Aug. 16 Derby Street Mile, Salem Sept. 15 Lone Gull 10k, Gloucester Oct. 20 Baystate 1/2 or full marathon, Lowell (your choice, both will be scored) Nov. 28 Wild Turkey 5 miler, Salem Dec. 15 Festivus 5k, Salem
Aug. Sept. Dec.
Lynn Woods Relay Lake Winni Relay Mill Cities Relay
This is NOT a jacket series. Anyone that completes all 8 races plus all 3 relays will receive a special gift at the Winter Banquet. That gift is at the discretion of the WGP coordinators. This year, it could be beer mugs or toasters, etc. Depends on what we happen to decide. I’ll have a preview for you next month for our first race, The Olde Salem Greens 5K on March 17. C’mon, who’s in?
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Wicked Kudos From Melissa Jaynes: To Jennifer Howland and Aaron Toleos: Thanks for an awesome last couple of miles at the Derry 16 mile Boston Prep run. Three Wicked runners finishing together was a great way to end the race on a warm-hearted note (despite Aaron wearing a T-shirt in temps that were 15 degrees with a decent headwind). See photo below. To Michele Dunkin for her willingness to conquer the cold 2 degree morning Front Street run after moving here from North Carolina. To Kerry Phelan for pulling together a Wicked awesome slide show while home from college for the Holidays. You are the cat’s MEOW! From Amber Woolfenden: Thanks to Lisa Kelly for being my spin class buddy. Thanks to Mary Bruno and Michele Campbell (Hey! That’s me.) for hanging with me on long runs. Thanks to Susan Keezer for being my track motivator. From Kelly Gifford: Wicked kudos to Mickel McClish & Leeanne Nagle for braving the humidity and taking on the 15th Annual Key West Half on Jan. 20th. Extra shout out to Mickel who placed second in his division. Go Wicked. From Julie Arrison: Thanks to Kenny Hewson, Denise Ramsdell, and Nicole Phillips for being at the finish line at Goofy with smiles, cheers, and even Goofy hats! It was a great end to a long day! Thanks to Andrew Bencal for training for and taking on the Goofy Challenge with me. It was great to have a buddy for 39.3 miles!
The Wicked Running Register • January 2013 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com
Q&A
Ask the Coach
With Mike Toomey From Kelly Gifford: After a 5-6 week absence from running due to illness (flu), what is the safest yet fastest way to get back on course for training if one hopes to complete a 26.2 this fall?
The good news is you have plenty of time! Serious training for a fall marathon will start in June / July, so the number one thing to focus on now is your health and coming back the right way. I always encourage my runners to ease in to running by limiting the runs to 30 minutes at the start of a comeback. You could follow this for 2-4 weeks and still have plenty of time to prepare for the fall. After this time, start increasing 1-2 days per week as health permits. The 30 minute run is by far the biggest bang for your buck....It has the most upside with the least amount of risk! Good Luck! If you have a question for Mike, send it to newsletter@wickedrunningclub. com and it will appear in the next newsletter.
Annual St. Patrick’s Road Race/Walk Saturday, March 16, 2013 (All day)
Registration begins at noon. Walkers start at 12:30 p.m. Runners start at 1 p.m. Sign up for this annual four-mile sanctioned event! All are welcome! Recruit family and friends to walk or run to help raise money for the Barton Center for Diabetes Education. They run two camps during the summer for kids affected by diabetes where they can be with others just like themselves. This event is followed by a delicious buffet and an awards ceremony. Pre-register and get a T-shirt. If you have any questions, please call 508-987-2056, Ext. 2003 or email events@bartoncenter.org. Visit bartoncenter.org to register and fundraise.
The Wicked Running Register • January 2013 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com
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Member Spotlights: SUSAN HENNESSEY Salem Joined Wicked because: I’m new to running and a friend of mine (who is a member) spoke very highly of the club!
AMANDA GOMM Salem Joined Wicked because: I’m tired of running and/or training alone.
Favorite race: Miles Over the Moon
Favorite race: Wild Turkey 5 Mile Thanksgiving Day race 2012
Favorite Distance: 5k
Favorite Distance: 10k
Goal for this year: 1/2 marathon this fall in Salem
Goal for this year: The Portland Marathon in October..Portland, Oregon!
This photo is from last June during that awful wind and pouring rain storm at Castle Island in Boston which ended up being a personal best - which completely shocked me!
Secret talent: I’m an awesome cook, but it’s not really a secret! When I’m not running I like to: Cook, read, spend time with my family.
KATE COMEAU Beverly Joined Wicked because: I love running and running with others is great too.
KATIA DE MELLO RINDEIKO Lynn Joined Wicked because: I love Salem, I discovered that I enjoy running and WRC is the coolest!
Favorite race: Frosty Four in Salem or Wild Turkey Favorite Distance: 5K or 4 mile
Favorite race: Miles Over the Moon
Goal for this year: Run a 10K
Favorite Distance: 5 miles
Secret talent: I can say the alphabet backwards.
Goal for this year: 1/2 marathon.
When I’m not running I like to: make soap Contact Ann Sousa at aesousa@verizon.net to be featured in Member Spotlights.
ABBY BENT Salem Joined Wicked because: I was told how nice and welcoming everyone in the group was.
Secret talent: decorating my house (inside and out). When I’m not running I like to: spend time with my daughters Victoria and Yolanda, the sunshine of my life!
Favorite race: Big Sur Half Marathon. Favorite Distance: 13.1 Goal for this year: Qualify for the Boston Marathon Secret talent: Carpentry When I’m not running I like to: Bike, kayak, and cook AARON BALDWIN South Hamilton Joined Wicked because: I moved to the area this summer for Grad school and wanted to be involved in a running group/community. I joined mid-summer. Favorite race: I really enjoyed the Frosty Four. Favorite Distances: Mile, 5k, 4 mile, 8k, 10 mile Goal for this year: PR in the 8k and 10 mile Secret talent: Strategy Board and Card Games When I’m not running I like to: Read! Fiction, theology, religion, philosophy, autobiographies, relationship, social commentary, and running books!
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The Wicked Running Register • January 2013 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com
Where in the World is Wicked? Key West, baby and Salem (of course)!
Tennis is dangerous: At the Olde Salem Greens Snowshoe Classic, Michele Campbell (far left) shows onlookers Mary Bruno, Amber Woolfenden and Holly Allison how she managed to hit herself with a tennis racquet during a recent match. Then she showed them the bruise on her shoulder. Classic Campbell. Don’t Miss the Doyle’s 5 Miler April 7, 2013 at 10 a.m. The Wicked Running Club is invited back to enjoy our own little corner in the sun for the Doyle’s 5 miler. As a club, we’ll have our own private tent and area for the after party--which is one of the best after parties for a race, sponsored by Sam Adams and full of live music. The race is April 7, 2013 at 10 a.m. and goes through Franklin Park. Please contact Julie Arrison (juliearrison@ gmail.com) if you plan on running. Rockin’ it tropical: Kelly Gifford, Leeanne Nagle and Mickel McClish at Willy-T’s in Key West, Fla. And Mickel represents in the ocean.
For all information, visit: http://doylescafeboston.com/Events.html