The Wicked Running Register SEPTEMBER 2010
Est. Jan 2010
Priceless
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QUOTES OF THE MONTH “I think there is too much emphasis placed on the distinction between the people in the front and the people in the back. I happen to feel that the sensations are exactly the same for all of us.” Kenny Moore, marathoner and writer “Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better start running.” -African proverb
WICKED KUDOS Congratulations to Susannah Barnes, Alfred Rossi, Michael Nickerson and Kristy Henrich (not pictured) for being selected as this year’s recipients of the Wicked Frosty Four Scholarships. Each student athlete received $1,000, an original Wicked Frosty Four tech shirt and a one-year membership to the Wicked Running Club. The scholarships were distributed at the WRC summer cookout on Saturday, August 21st. These recipients were selected by the scholarship committee from a very competitive field of nearly 20 applicants. We wish them the best of luck for a successful future, which hopefully includes some running! Congrats to the Wicked Masters team of: TR Ramsdell, John Ayers, Patrick Smith, and Colin Maclay for taking top honors in their division at the Lynn Woods Relay Race on Wednesday, August 25th. 1:06:29. What they lacked for in creativity for a team name, they made up for in speed! This is the 2nd year the Wicked men’s master’s relay team has taken home a trophy! Congrats to WRC members Patrick Smith, Tim Clarke, Denise Murphy, Stephanie Cooper for completing the Timberman 70.3 Tri in Lake Winnipesaukee, NH on Sunday 8/22 which included a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run. WRC friends Jay Curry (who had a PR) and Stu Greeley also competed. Congratulations to John Ayers (right) for his 4th place overall finish (1st Master) at the Beverly Homecoming 5k on Thursday, August 5th. Baby news! Tim & Nicole Short (photo below left) are expecting a baby in February 2011. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Tim & Nicole racing with a baby carriage! ☺ From Tim Short: “Rich Tomlins (photo right) has decided to step down as Vice President of Wicked Running Club. Rich has served on the Board of Directors for Wicked over the past 6 years in various positions from Treasurer to President. Probably one of his most important roles over the past 3 years has been being the Race Director of the Wicked Frosty Four. His leadership as Race Director has certainly made the Frosty Four a huge success. I'd like to thank Rich for his dedication to Wicked and his hard work over these 6 past years.”
Page 2. Although I don’t have all the details, word is that Wicked did great at the Newburyport 10 Miler on Tuesday, July 27 led by first Wicked finisher Dave Long who ran an outstanding 1:02:09. I saw lots of shout outs on Facebook for PRs as well- nice job Wicked! Congrats to Doug Bollen who broke yet another race record with 478 total finishers in the Derby Street Mile on Friday, August 20, including WRC first place finishing family Rachael Hunt, Colin Maclay and Hazel (photo right) who won the first race she ever entered. Nothing like setting the bar high! Congrats to Sarah Carrier on a PR at the new Run Gloucester 7 Miler on Sunday, August 22. Check out her race review in this issue. Congrats to Annie Rose Willis for her 1st place finish in her new “30-39” age group at the Marcia Lemkin 5k in Lowell on Sunday, August 29th. Team Touchette cleaned up at the Inaugural Waterville Valley Black Bear Half Marathon on Sunday 8/29. The whole carload brought home some bling. Age group award winners were Liz Touchette- 1st place, Deb Touchette- 1st place, Dan Sullivan- 3rd place and patriarch Steve Touchette- 1st place.
RUNNING AROUND… Upcoming Races & Official WRC Events Running Around is a listing of local races and running events that have been suggested by club members or emailed to the club by other groups to share with members. These are not necessarily endorsed or recommended events. Only the listings with the Wicked Logo are official Wicked Events or Grand Prix Races. For a more complete listing of upcoming races, see www.coolrunning.com. Thursday, September 2, 34th Annual Magnolia 5K, Magnolia, MA 6:30 p.m. Magnolia Library Center, Lexington Avenue. Beautiful waterfront scenic 5K-includes 1-mile fun run. Contact: Mike Cronin (Magnolia Library), 1-978-771-6513 mike_cronin@striderite.com Saturday, September 11, 9th Annual International Race for Progeria Research, 5k and 2-mile fun run/walk. 9 a.m., Peabody City Hall, 24 Lowell Street. Benefit 5K-road race and 2 mile fun run/walk to help find the cure for Progeria. Contact: Susan Rosenblatt (The Progeria Research Foundation), PO Box 3453, Peabody, MA, USA, 01961. 1-978-535-2594. race@progeriaresearch.org Sunday, September 12, Nahant 30k, 8:30 main start, 7:30 sunshine start. Hilly, but beautiful course all over Nahant (twice). Starts at Long Beach Comfort Station, park in the Nahant Causeway Parking Lot. 8:30 am start, 7:30 am sunshine start only for those running 11 min/mile pace or slower. Register online by Friday, Sep 10, $31. Pre (application received by Friday, Sep 10, 2010): $34, Post (day of race): $40. Pair of Asics arm warmers, silkscreened with the race logo, to the first 225 entrants. northshorestriders.com/nahant30k. Sunday, September 12, Coastal 5k Run for the Beach, 10 a.m., Beverly, Lynch Park, 55 Ober Street, a benefit for Salem Sound Coastwatch. Contact: Tay (Salem Sound Coastwatch), 201 Washington Street, Suite 9, Salem, MA, USA, 01970. 1-978-741-7900 ntay_evans@yahoo.com Tuesday, September 14, Wicked Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Salem Senior Center, Broad St. All members are welcome to attend. Questions about meeting? Email Tim Short: tim.short1@gmail.com. Saturday, September 18, 3rd Annual Northeastern University Big Dog Race, Boston, 11 a.m. Charles River Esplanade, Boston. To get to start, cross over at Arthur Fielder Bridge to Hatch Shell and signs will direct you to Lagoon area. First 500 get Big Dog T-shirts (as seen on Doug Bollen). To register: www.northeastern.edu/alumni/bigdog5k
Page 3. Saturday, September 18, 6th Annual Run for the Trails, 9 a.m., Hamilton, Devon Glen Farm, 482 Bay Road Enjoy these privately owned trails. This race is the 4th in the NS Trail series. Contact: Carol Lloyd (Essex County Trails Association), 199 Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA, USA, 01938. 1-978-356-5070 calloyd@comcast.net Sunday, September 19, 4th Annual Lone Gull 10k, 9 a.m. Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester. Prettiest race around and best post race food ever! Please indicate WICKED as your club affiliation as this race has club categories as well as individual. Proceeds to cancer related charities. www.lonegull10k.com. Sunday, September 19, Kittery, ME PTA Seaside 4 Miler, 8 a.m. (www.kitterypta.org) From the race director: “This is a great 4 mile road race in beautiful Kittery Point, Maine which starts at the historic Fort Foster. There will also be a kid’s fun run after the road race. Awards will be given to runners in multiple age categories including fastest female pirate, fastest male pirate and best-dressed pirate! The registration is a low price of $15 with same day registration being $20. This is a fairly flat course with one challenging short hill around mile 2. Come spend the day in Southern Maine. Fort Foster provides a great setting for picnics and nature walks for families/runners after the race. Thank you, Sybil Carven” Monday, September 20, Wicked Frosty Four Race Committee Meeting. 6:30 p.m., Salem Senior Center, 5 Broad Street. Any questions about the meeting, email race directors Shari Hewson at shewson@cellsignal.com or Alison Phelan alphelan2@aol.com. Saturday, September 25, Tache Realty Wicked Half Marathon, 7 a.m. Bentley School, Memorial Drive, Salem. Course runs through Salem and Marblehead. Directed by B & S Fitness. Registration information available at active.com. Early Registration, $40 (Ends Sept. 15th). Post-Reg- $50 (Sept. 16th-race day). This race is part of Salem Park & Recreation Department 2010 Race Series. Please check website for bag pick up information, as the dates and location of pick up has not been finalized yet. bnsfitness.com or www.salemroadraces.com. Also see events section for an invite to a post half marathon breakfast hosted by Jacquie Washburn and family. Saturday, September 25, Lake Winnipesaukee Relay, NH, 8 a.m. Wicked has at least one team for this relay, but alternates are welcome to express their interest to Tim Short by dropping a note to: tim.short1@gmail.com. Sunday, October 3, 11th Annual Eastern Bank Flutie 5k, 11 a.m., Natick, MetroWest Medical Center/Leonard Morse Hospital, 67 Union Street Run or walk this 5K to support the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation. www.flutiefoundation.org. Sunday, October 3, Apple Harvest Run 5 mile, 5K and 1 mile, Noon, West Newbury, Action Cove Playground, behind Police/Fire Station, 15 Bachelor Street. Scenic country roads, autumn foliage, great food and prizes in all age groups. http://www.appleharvestrun.org. Sunday, October 3, 2010 Smuttynose Rockfest Marathon and Half Marathon, 9 a.m., Hampton Beach, NH. From the website: “As of right now, the elevation guide we have shows this to be the flattest course in New England for a Marathon, and half marathon. The course will be certified and a Boston Qualifier with a start mat and a mat at half way for the marathoners. The race course has been measured and certified according to the USATF and is a Boston Qualifier. The final race approval is subject to revision and final approval by the town of Hampton/ North Hampton and the State of NH.” http://www.hamptonrockfest.com/hamptonhalf-registration.html. Saturday, October 9, Celebrate Pink 5k Road Race and Walk, 9 a.m., Portsmouth, NH. $20 in advance / $25 day of. First 300 people to register will receive a free T-shirt and event bag. The race will begin at Portsmouth Middle School, travel through downtown Portsmouth, go over the Memorial Bridge into Kittery, ME, and return to Portsmouth. Runners and walkers of all levels are encouraged to participate! Complete details and a course map can be found on www.celebratepink5k.org. Sunday, October 17, 1st Annual Fall Frolic 5k, 9:30 a.m. Beverly. Directed by WRC members Shari Hewson and Stacy Adams on behalf of the Beverly Elementary School PTO’s. The route is the same as the popular
Beverly Homecoming race, starting at Lynch Park. $20 pre registration before September 30. www.fallfrolic5k.com Page 4. Sunday, October 17th, 8 a.m. Sun Half Marathon, Lowell. From Dan Barrett: For those of you who have not signed up for the Baystate Marathon (too late now!), there is its sister race, which is included in the Wicked Grand Prix Series, as an alternative race to the Marathon called the Sun Half Marathon. It’s filling up fast and will close when the 1,500 runner capacity is met. ww.baystatemarathon.com. Sunday, October 17, The 31st Annual Fall Foliage 5 Miler, 1:30 pm, Topsfield. Proctor School, 60 Main Street. Registration opens at 11:30am. 5 mile Certified Race. 1:30 pm start, $20 by mail/$25day of race. Also 1.25 Fun Run, 1 p.m. and 3 mile Family Walk, 1:45 pm. Proceeds benefit local North Shore Food Pantries, community service and vocational charities in your neighborhood and beyond! Long sleeve T-shirts guaranteed for first 200 registrants who register by 9/24. Food and drink provided for participants. Adjacent ABC Masco Fair has food, games, and fun for the family. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Topsfield Boxford Middleton. For more info or to register: http://www.rotarytbm.org/fallfol.htm. Sunday, October 31, Devil’s Chase 6.66 Miler presented by Tache Realty, 8 a.m. Starts at Salem Willows. Pre-Reg through Sept 30th, $30 - Plummer Runner's $40. Oct 1- October 31st , $40- Plummer Runner's $50. Tech shirts for first 600 runners. Run like the Devil through the streets of Salem. This year’s race will feature a continuous “Thriller” dance number at Derby Wharf during the race with over 50 Zombies to entertain you. www.bnsfitness.com/events/devilchase.htm Saturday, November 6, 10th Annual Stonecat 50 Mile and Marathon Trail Races, 6:15 a.m. Doyon School, 216 Linebrook Road, Ipswich. Organized by G.A.C., with proceeds to benefit Willowdale State Forest and Bradley Palmer State Park. Entry fee - 50 mile race $70 - marathon $55. There will be no race day entry. All double track, with some single track, trail in Willowdale Forest on a 12.5 mile loop. Applications available for download now! Contact Marty for more info via email at martin.t.sullivan@gmail.com. Sunday, December 19, 2010, Somerville Jingle Bell 5k Run, Davis Square, 11 a.m. This fundraising race is limited to 5,000 and closes very early so sign up now if interested! I give this race 5 cats! It’s a little pricey at $31, but the proceeds support local charities and includes admission, food and a beer at local pubs in the area. Plus the finisher medal is a keepsake bottle opener. Dress up as Santa, an elf, or Rudolph and come on down! NEW for 2011: Sunday, March 6, BLACK CAT 10 & 20 Miler, 8 a.m., Salem Starts at Bentley School. 20 Mile Pre-Reg (ends February 20th) $65, Post Reg. $75. 10 Mile Pre-Reg (ends February 20th) $50, Post Reg. $60. Tech shirts for first 300 runners. Directed by B & S Fitness. http://www.bnsfitness.com/events/BlackCat.htm WEEKLY RUNS: 1) Monday nights, 6:30 p.m., Lynch Park, Beverly. Parking is free after 6 p.m. 2) Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 5:30 a.m. from Front Street, Salem 3) Thursday nights, 6:45 p.m. Salem Common near Hawthorne Hotel. Post socializing at the Engine House 4) Saturday mornings, 8 a.m. from Forest River Park, Salem Other local weekly runs, free or optional donation: *D5K, Wednesday nights, 7 p.m., rain or shines. 5K Timed Fun Run, Starts at Sweet William’s Garden Center, 141 Pine Street, Danvers. BYOB post party. Details: http://danvers5k.com/about. * Lynn Woods Trail Series, Wednesday nights, 6:30 p.m. There is a long and short run each week. For a schedule of distances and more info, see lwrun.org. Due to declining sunlight, this weekly run will be officially winding down at the end of September after their “curtain call” series. * “Run The Q” (a.k.a. Wakefield Lake), Wednesday nights, 6:45 p.m. Weekly 5K Hosted by the Mystic Runners. Starts at Lord Wakefield Hotel, 595 North Avenue, Wakefield. Very flat course around the Lake.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES A big THANK YOU from Doug Bollen to WRC members who helped to “run” the Derby Mile as volunteers instead of racing in it. Wicked helpers were: Beth O’Grady, Karen Giroux, Alison Phelan, Bruce Campbell, Steve, Deb and Liz Touchette, Shannon O’Donnell, Kathey Moskal, T.R. Ramsdell, Mara Mendelsohn, Michele and Gif Campbell, Frank Kilroy, Fred Bollen and Mike Toomey. BAA HALF MARATHON, Sunday, October 10, 6:30 a.m.-Noon From John Mahoney: “In our on going efforts to be close with the BAA (and someday qualify to get club numbers for the Boston Marathon), we are gathering a group to volunteer for the BAA Half Marathon on Sunday, October 10, 2010. The BAA has not yet given me a deadline for volunteering but the sooner you register the better! We need volunteers to sign up sooner rather than later so the BAA can count on us. Contact John Mahoney <john@wickedrunningclub.com> if you have any questions. The BAA has asked us to be their “Course Monitors.” The description for this job is Course Monitors: Course Monitors will be relied upon to provide the runners with both direction, as well as safety along the course. Course Monitors will meet at Playstead Park and be dispatched from there via bus. They should remain at their location until picked up again by bus. I hope you will join us to help with this event. Feel free to ask your friends and family if they want to join us too. We will be happy to include them.”
Related (AND SOME UNRELATED) events and SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS
The cloudy day didn’t dampen the spirits of Wicked Running Club friends who gathered for the annual WRC cook out and scholarship awards at Camp Naumkeag in Salem. Special thanks to the event coordinator Shannon O’Donnell who coordinated the efforts and her hubby Peter Raymond who fired up the grill (and we do mean fired as you can see from the photo right). From your Wicked Hostess Shannon: “ A big thank you to Beth O'Grady and Peter Raymond for all the hard work at the grill and keeping things running smoothly. We were lucky to have a great turnout and I was so glad everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. It's nice to see all the newcomers and Wicked veterans.” Attention Salem Runners: Check out “Salem Days” during the month of September at the Museum of Science in Boston. Free passes for Salem residents to get into museum, Omni theatre and more are available at City of Salem Community Services/ Senior Center on Broad Street, Salem.
Page 6. From Jacquie Washburn: “If you are interested in using your running to help at-risk youth, consider registering for Wicked ½ Marathon in Salem and paying an additional $10 fee to benefit Plummer Home for Boys in Salem. The BONUS is Ernst & Young will double your money by giving a matching $10 for up to 200 runners! For those that don't know Plummer Home is a group home for adolescent boys who are victims of abuse or neglect and/or who have difficulty managing their behaviors. In addition to providing a home and counseling, Plummer Home provides a range of innovative services designed to help its residents grow into healthy adults. An added bonus is that we host a breakfast after the race at our home, 143 Federal Street in Salem. If you plan to attend the breakfast, drop an email or a voicemail jacqueline.washburn@ey.com or 1 978 745-1137, so I can get a handle on the headcount.” YOGA FOR STRENGTH & FLEXIBILITY, Ages 16+, Tuesdays, Aug. 31 to Oct. 5, 6-7 p.m. Fee: $45 or $9 drop-in fee, Senior Center, 5 Broad Street, Salem. Instructor Mark Taylor of Dover Yoga, will introduce you to Rasamaya yoga. Rasamaya loosely translates from Sanskrit as "the illusion of a fluid" and is part of the broader "Hatha Yoga" family. This is a beautiful form of yoga that includes smooth flowing transitions. Please note that yoga in general, and Mark's Rasamaya Yoga Class in particular, include lots of postures that stretch the feet, Achilles tendons, hamstrings, gluts, back, and open the hips. These are great exercises to complement a serious running program and help avoid running injuries. Each class includes Sun Salutations, plank poses to strengthen the upper body, and core work. These allow runners to develop a good bit of muscle strength without a formal weight lifting program. The small group setting allows for individual attention. Please bring your own mat and dress in comfortable clothes. Both beginners and experienced practitioners are welcome. If interested contact City of Salem Park & Recreation Department.
RUNNING PERSONALS From Julie Arrison: “Marie Dunigan is a usual on the Thursday night runs & has been a great volunteer for Wicked this summer. Her company decided not to extend her contract & therefore she may need to leave the States. If anyone knows of any HR/office support jobs, please let her know!” An email to the Club: “I'm a member who has moved away from the Salem area for a few years. I have a 19-y-o boy who is looking to share an apartment or rent a room in or near Salem for his freshman year of college. Given some of the recent concerns about Craigslist postings, I wondered if you wouldn't mind my reaching out to the Wicked community to ask if you might know of any opportunities. Michael is quiet and respectful, is clean and doesn't blast loud music, and will have a part-time job in addition to his full academic schedule. He starts school after the Labor Day weekend. Any suggestions would be welcome. Again, thanks for reading, and for tolerating this intrusion...and for the Thursday night 5k-ish group; I will re-join the run/pizza from time to time when I visit Boston on business! Andy Scherding, ascherding@mac.com.”
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS & NEWS BOARD UPDATE from Tim Short: “I'm happy to announce that Peter Raymond has moved from Member at Large to Vice President. Peter served a vital role last year helping out then Vice President Doug Bollen in conducting the elections for club officers. He has been a solid Member at Large, with some great ideas and I know that he will do a fantastic job as Vice President of Wicked for the final few months of 2010. In addition, Kerry Phelan will become the interim Member at Large for the reminder of 2010. Most recently Kerry has spearheaded the effort to recruit Wicked Runners for Lynn Woods Relay, but also volunteers at many of our other events such as the Wicked Kidz Race. Congratulations to Peter and Kerry WRC board with 2010 Scholarship Recipients and I look forward to working with both of them in the new positions within the Board of Directors.”
Page 7. HELP WANTED: WRR NEWSLETTER EDITOR As my year of being editor draws near, I’m looking for someone to take over my post as Editor in Chief and put your own spin on our Club events. It would be great to get a new perspective on what we do, and it’s a fantastic way to meet more people. Let me know if you are interested! Don’t miss WRC member Brant Henne’s essay at the end of the WRR- “A YEAR OF RUNNING” An email from WRC member and “Not Rest for the Wicked 5kish” Founder, Mia Poppe: “Dearest Runners, My name is Emilia ("Mia") Poppe Mountain and I organize the above run. You can find us on Facebook here and post to your heart's content. By this point, many of you have probably heard that I have Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I show up to greet or time during chemo-off weeks, but during chemo weeks I feel rather crummy and just stay home. NEVERTHELESS, I have so many lovely troopers who have taken over for me. My husband Scott Mountain and my sister Rosemary Poppe always have my back, as does our good friend Brant Henne. So, if you've heard my news, please don't think the group is dwindling or taking breaks. In fact, our numbers are getting so big that sometimes our traditional post-run dinners at Engine House are standing room only. I believe we had 19 runners last Thursday! If I do say so myself, this group is full of some of the friendliest people in town. I abhor cliques and they all know it. I'm proud to say that our "regulahs" have taken up my torch of being extra nice to newbies making sure that no one feels awkward or left out. So if you want to walk an alternate route, or run your fastest, it's all good. Just tell the timer at the end of the route (we end at the corner of Hawthorne Blvd. and Derby St.--not the Common!) whether you ran the standard route or not. I wish you all the best and can hardly wait for (hopefully) six months from now when I can join you regularly again. Best in everything, Mia”
SEEN & HEARD “ON THE RUN” It was Wicked week on Mount Washington as Doug Bollen and Beth O’Grady hiked to the top and back down on the last Saturday in July, followed just a few days later by David Barrett, Dan Barrett, Gail Gordon, Angel Green and Vincent Ng (photo right) who also tackled the tough climb. If you like to hike, this climb gets 5 cats, both in difficulty and in the feeling of euphoria when you finally arrive at the top. Melissa Jaynes is giving up sweets and sugary treats in preparation for the Chicago Marathon. She also welcomed her nephew Jayden, her sister Jen’s new baby- more ‘sweet’ news ☺ Sounds like Frank Kilroy may be going in for shoulder surgery soon, thanks to some Ultimate Fighting action at his job at Middleton Correctional Facility. There has been trash talk about who sweats more: Kathey Moskal, Doug Bollen or Melissa Jaynes, although I’m not sure why anyone would actually want to “win” that competition... WRC member Violaine Gillot, nickname ‘V’, joined the Club on our Saturday morning run with her friend Stephan where she ran her longest distance yet of 9+ miles in preparation for the Wicked Half Marathon. Both V and Stephan are from France, but met here working at the Sheraton Ferncroft, V works the “front of the house” and Stephen is the Exec Chef in the “back of the house”. To which Top Chef fan Doug Bollen said, “Please pack your knives and go”.
Page 8. Although Beth O’Grady and Chip Bott never saw each other during the 7.04 mile Falmouth Road Race, both finished in the exact same time of 57:44. Cat Gaglione and her hubby are in training for the Mount Desert Island Marathon in Maine this fall. Amber Woolfenden: “Thanks to Kathey Moskal for once again being my running life saver. This past weekend I was running back from Marblehead and passed Kathey who thankfully ran back to Salem with me. Not only did she share her water, but ran ahead and bought us some more! Thanks Sistah!” Michele Campbell just signed up for the Nahant 30K. From Michele: “Funny thing is that when I finished my first 5K three years ago, a woman was handing out fliers for this 30K and I said, ‘No way, that's hilarious. Never could run a 30K’ How quickly things change.” Michele is in training for the Chicago Marathon in October. Standing in line at Coffee Time Bake Shop in Salem (5 cats for everything!) a man in line looked at me and said “Hmm… Lynn Woods?” He said he saw my WRC sticker on the car and figured someone in there must be a runner and was trying to place me. Tucker Adams, age 9, son of WRC members Matt and Stacey Adams runs the D5K with his father on Wednesday nights. I saw him run at the Salem Park & Rec Track Meet on Monday, August 16, and that boy knows how to pace himself! Gail Gordon at the WRC cookout pointing out that unless food is out of the wrapper, cover off, and/or sliced and ready to eat (like watermelon) no one will go near it. She was right! If you are trying to sneak a pizza for dinner, it’s probably not a good idea to be wearing your fluorescent yellow wild turkey shirt Tricia Pini! (Ha, just kidding. I’m sure she wasn’t trying to sneak anything, but boy did that shirt scream LOOK AT ME!). Michele Campbell asking me if my board position was “wicked janitor” because I couldn’t stop cleaning at the cookout. Patrick Smith Facebook post following Timberman 70.3: “It was a fantastic Tri weekend. My rockin’ Comp Racing Tri team was out in force with 40+ in attendance and racing, with 26 crossing the Timberman Tri Fest finish line. Woohooo! And most (or all) crossed with personal bests that included my sub 5-hour 4:54 (a long awaited goal). It couldn’t have been finer. Until we got back to Tula (our pup). Boy did we miss her!” (Patrick and pup left) How about Finn Lacey, age 8 (one of our featured runners last month- photo right) running 7:04 in the Derby Mile! Too bad the Tufts Mile Marathon Relay team has a minimum age requirement! WRC Members spotted by Doug and I, recovering at the end of the Falmouth Road Race: Robert Guay, Tracy McLaughlin, Billy Shea and WRC friend Chip Bott. Not seen were Michele & Gif Campbell who were staying in a cottage near the finish area, which was crashed by Miles Fartlek who apparently didn’t book a room in time….Miles! See Billy’s race review for Falmouth later in this newsletter, and check out Where in the World is Wicked for his adventure in Falmouth. Does it feel like you’ve had more than your share of hot runs this year? Well it’s not your imagination, as this summer was officially the hottest summer on record. Billy Shea took some great photos at the Derby Street Mile, which he posted on Facebook in several albums. There is also a video of the Derby Street Mile on You Tube.
Page 9. You know you are a runner when you stop by your parent’s house to hide some water bottles under the porch for your long run the next day, like Shannon Downey did before she dropped by the WRC Cookout. A few months ago we talked about how seeing road kill makes some of our members sad. I can only imagine how they would have felt if they were running with Doug Bollen on Loring Ave. just before turning onto the dirt path, when a bird dropped dead right out of the air and thumped very loudly onto the street. As of this newsletter printing, the flattened out remains were still there as proof. Julie Arrison was spotted attending the Polish picnic in Salem, claiming that Polish food makes you run faster. (Hmm… not the polish food my nana use to make- that would weight you down like a brick in your stomach!)
WRC RACE SERIES UPDATE by TR Ramsdell Race number five in the Wicked Grand Prix Series was certainly an exciting one to be a part of. It was a hot Friday night race on August 20th, when nearly 500 racers took on the now world famous "Derby Street Mile". For those of you that weren't part of this extravaganza (and why weren't you?), the race is broken into 2 parts. The competitive race was for those who were looking to "put it all out there". A one-mile drag race against 350 of your closest friends. Competition was fierce with a lot of good natured beatin' and bangin' to get to the Derby Wharf finish line first. I know of quite a few "PR's" that were set, and many personal triumphs as well for a few that took on "the mile" for the first time. The second race went off a few minutes later, and was more suited to families, or those younger racers who might get trampled in a larger field. Nearly 150 smiling kids with moms and dads tagging along, crossed the line to the cheers of everyone lining Derby Street. Almost nothing makes a kid happier than parading around with a shiny finishers medal after running a mile and kicking mom or dads butt doing it. Congrats to everyone that took part in this great race, and thanks to Park and Rec head, Doug Bollen, for putting on an awesome event. Our sixth race in the series will be the Lone Gull 10K on Sunday, September 19th. This is a beautiful course along the ocean in Gloucester. It's a pretty fast course with a few small "bumps" along the way. Some of the fastest runners on the North Shore come out for this one, but don't be intimidated by the large field. Run your race and enjoy the amazing scenery. And oh yeah, did I mention breakfast? They also put on a huge breakfast to help all you speedy people replace those calories you burned up on the course. Let me also take a minute and mention that I've noticed quite a few of our runners dropping off the Grand Prix series results page lately. This is an 8 race series and you MUST complete 6 races to be a contender. You can only miss 2 races, so in its simplest terms, "three strikes and you're out". There are a few of you that have already missed 2 races, DON'T MISS A THIRD! Once you miss that third race, your name is dropped from the list. If you are still unclear as to the rules of the series, please check them out on the Wicked website under "Race info", then "Grand Prix Series". The rules are at the bottom of the page under the schedule. I also want to thank my co-race coordinator, Dan Barrett, for his tireless effort in getting all the results to us, and keeping track of all the contenders. We really can’t appreciate just how much time Dan spends pouring over race results, tallying the scores, and organizing the series. Thanks Dan! So that being said, we've got 3 weeks to go 'til the Lone Gull race. C'mon, who's in?
WICKED REVIEWS From Tim Short: “Next time you are looking for a delicious dinner at Ninety Nine Restaurant, you have to try the Chicken & Sausage Al Forno. The dish is penne pasta, creamy marinara, roasted chicken, sweet Italian sausage (my favorite!) and topped with mozzarella. Then it’s all baked to make the cheese gooey and so tasty! Of course, I you should also get a tall Sam Adams to go along with dinner! Octoberfest would be an excellent choice!”
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Question of the Month – What are your fall running goals? Stephanie Hagyard: “To finish my 1st half marathon- the Wicked 1/2 marathon on September 25th” Debbie Shahidi: I am hoping to complete my first half marathon [the Salem Wicked Half Marathon] in Sept, and I am also hoping to get a little faster in the 5k races David Long: “1.Complete the North Shore Trail Series (5 of the 6 anyway) 2. PR at some distance” Julie Arrison: “Run the Wicked Half Marathon (my first!) & finish the Salem Road Race Series”. Tim Short: “I have one goal, one mission this fall. Break three hours at the Baystate Marathon on October 17, 2010! I know have it in me. All I need is a little luck and some decent weather.” Amber Woolfenden: “My fall running goals are to finish the Wicked Half Marathon with a smile on my face, run the Lone Gull 10K for the first time, and prep for the Wild Turkey Run (Gobble)!”
REVIEW YOUR RUN The Falmouth Road Race, Sunday, August 15 Reviewed by Billy Shea Sunday, August 15, 2010 marked the 38th year of the Falmouth Road Race, a 7.1 mile course starting in Woods Hole and finishing in Falmouth Heights on beautiful Cape Cod. With 10,000 runners participating, it has the feel of a marathon, without the grueling distance. Logistically it can be a difficult race to run, but if you’re willing to overlook some of the inherent hassles of such a large race in a small town, you will be very pleased. I ran this race three years ago for the first time and tried to enter again last year, however I did not make the lottery. The nice thing about Falmouth, though, is if you’re not selected in a particular year, you have an automatic entry the following year. Such was the case for me. It’s practically impossible to drive down the day of the race, so planning for a place to stay, at least for overnight, is strongly suggested. My planning waited until the last minute, and I was not successful in finding any place to stay. I had resigned myself to the fact that I most likely would not be running this year when, at the last minute, Michelle Campbell and her husband, Gif, graciously offered Chip Bott and I a room to stay in at the house they were renting, yards away from the finish line. After a good night’s sleep in bunk beds (I won the toss for the bottom bunk), we drove to the designated spot to pick up the shuttle bus to Woods Hole. Thousands of people were there, but many years of organizing this race has resulted in a very smoothly run event, with hundreds of volunteers assisting with all aspects. After arriving rather early in Woods Hole (we boarded the 7:45 AM bus with a 10:00 AM race start) we wandered about, observing the people and sitting at the water’s edge watching the runners arrive who had opted to come in by boat. At 9:15 we attended the Dynamic Warm-Up and got ourselves loosened up. At this point in the morning, the temperature was rising rapidly, and the sun was out in full force. I worried that this was going to be a very hot race. Finally we entered our assigned corrals. It was great to see Doug Bollen there! With the sound of the gun, the runners were off and we began our jaunt through one of the most scenic races I have ever done. Beautiful beaches, lighthouses, quaint neighborhoods, supportive spectators, and numerous water stations all contributed to making this a great race. Yes, it was hilly, but none seemed to be particularly impossible. I guess the summer running in Lynn Woods paid off in that area. The other bonus was the bright sun from earlier in the morning had given way to overcast skies, which made the running so much more pleasant. I ran hard, but stopped a couple times at the water stops. I have still not mastered the art of drinking and running! Two years ago I ran an 8:04 pace, and after a couple miles into the race, with times hovering around 7:30, I was confident I was going to surpass it.
Page 11. At various times during the race, I heard the name Bill Rodgers being shouted out, so I knew I was somewhere in the vicinity of him. Four time winner of both the Boston and New York Marathons, he is a frequent runner of this race. At the last mile, I spied him just ahead of me, and thought to myself, here was my chance to run alongside one of the most legendary marathon runners in the world. And I did. For about a couple hundred yards, I ran alongside him, not saying a word. I couldn’t think of what to say! I contemplated running to the finish with him, guaranteeing what most likely would have been a great photo, but I was feeling particularly strong at the end, and decided to run my own race and dashed ahead. What an honor, though, to have been briefly in his presence. After a final trek up a rather steep hill, there is a nice downhill finish, and I crossed the finish line at 53:13, a 7:30 pace, surpassing my time from three years ago. Chip came through a couple minutes later and ran his best time ever at this race. It was time now to get some drink and refreshment and socialize with the other finishers. It was great to see Doug Bollen and Beth O’Grady, as well as other Wicked runners, Robert Guay and Tracy McLaughlin who all seemed to have really enjoyed the race. The after race “goodies” were really good and plentiful: hot dogs, juice, fruit, energy bars, chicken salad, chips, frozen fruit bars. Nobody left there hungry. After a refreshing shower back at the Campbell’s, and a ride back to the truck (Thank you, Gif, for your patience. The traffic was horrendously slow!) we headed home. All in all, it was a great race. If you are contemplating doing this one, plan early for a place to stay, and try to stay a couple days to truly appreciate the beauty of the area and the event. While it was only 7.1 miles, this race has all the hoop-lah of a marathon, and if that is “your thing,” definitely “go for it!”. Getting to the starting line, from lottery entry to lodging to transportation is definitely a hassle, and for that reason this race gets 4 cats out of 5”. Run Gloucester 7-Miler, August 22, Reviewed by Sarah Carrier “The inaugural Run Gloucester 7-miler was held on a picture perfect running day on August 22nd. It was on the cooler side (50's) and cloudy. Registration was held at the Gloucester High School with plenty of room for the expected 800+ runners. Since I had pre-registered, I walked up to the pre-reg board to find my name and the number for packet pick up. There were numerous volunteers standing about eagerly answering any questions throw to them. The start was at the fisherman statue along the oceanfront. They had pace markers and plenty of room for all. As this was put on by none other than DMSE Sports, Inc. (Dave McGillivray), the mastermind behind Falmouth, Beach to Beacon and Boston, I expected a class act and was not surprised to see one; a tough achievement for many first run races. His vision is to make this part of a 3-race series including the 2 latter races. A great way to encourage tourism in coastal New England. The route wound us through downtown, past the artist colony and out along the breathtaking stretch along the Atlantic. The course was challenging with many rollers along the way. It looped you back downtown up a (LONG) steep hill, back down to the finish line by the fisherman statue. There were water/Gatorade stops every mile and an AMAZING post-race plethora of foodie freebies. The race also brought along some big guns from Kenya (world's female record holder for 10k) as well from our own backyard. No I am not talking about me. Nate Jenkins of Andover was 4th overall with a sub-5 pace. Cannot relate...at all. The only complaint I would have about the overall experience would be the shirt. With a price tag of $35 pre-reg, I was hoping for a tech shirt. Instead they settled with cotton T's. AND the small was pretty much a dress on me. Other than that, I would absolutely give this race 5 cats. It rocked!”
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I’M ALSO A Marketing Communications Manager. This month’s member spotlight falls on Michele J. Campbell who shares these interesting tidbits about her life. She earned a BA from Simmons College and an MS in Advertising from Boston University, and is a board member for the Wicked Running Club. She has 15 years of experience in B-to-C marketing communications, with specialties that include public relations, graphic design, branding, marketing strategy, campaign and promotion development, and management. Originally from Connecticut, Michele has been running for 3 years and is attempting her first marathon this fall- Chicago! She also plays tennis, is directing the Salem Tennis Tournament this year with her husband. A vegetarian turned vegan since 1986, she likes to refer to herself as "Powered by Plants". She digs rock, punk, alternative, baroque and classical music (and she still uses the word “digs”), and plays the cello (although not too much recently). It’s impossible to talk about Michele without including her husband Gif, who she met in 1996 at a job and they have been together ever since. Gif has been a musician his entire life and starred as Patrick in "Mame" when he was a little boy. Gif grew up in Danvers. His mom was a lifeguard at Salem Willows and his grandma worked at Pioneer Village and was Miss Salem. As Michele says: “Before i met him i swore off dating musicians - then he invited me to one of his gigs and I was like ‘damnit!’” They married on the beaches of Turks and Caicos (photo above). Gif works for PBS and they have a great DVD library. What does the J stand for? J is for Julia. I always say I'm lucky to have two names featured in Beatles songs. Where do you work? I just hit one year at the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston. This is an orchestra and chorus that specializes in performing on period instruments and using techniques of the composers' day. It's pretty cool to hear history in this way - Mozart, Beethoven, Handel and more. 3 years to marathon is pretty fast. Why did you decide to start running, and why take on a marathon? Gif has been friends with a guy named Lu for about 25 years and now Lu's my family too. Lu has always been a runner and ran the Wild Turkey in Salem for several years while Gif and I would cheer him on. A few years back Lu told me that I should run it with him so I made that a goal. I started training for that a year out (lol) because I never thought I'd make it to five miles - couldn't even run for 10 minutes straight when I started. When I realized I could do five miles, I made a half the next big goal (done x 5!) and then I decided I want to try a marathon before I turn 40. I'm 38 now so Chicago on 10/10/10 will be the first! So I asked you about yourself and you gave me a pretty good bio of your hubby Gif. I know you went through a serious health scare with him about a year ago. How are things now and how did that affect both of you? Yeah, wow. It started in December 2009 so not that long ago. He was at work and rushed to emergency -- bleeding in the brain that led to two ICU visits and brain surgery. The haunting chill you feel when things like this happen is indescribable. We are very lucky people as I could be a widow now had things gone down differently. What we learned is that life is a gift and a positive attitude and sense of humor helps in recovery. We learned that you need to value the little things that most take for granted. The way his smile makes my day as we drive to work. The way his laugh is a part of who I am. We are different people now. I want to thank everyone in Wicked because the support from my running friends during this time for both me and Gif was absolutely incredible and I can't express how much this meant to us. We've made so many friends through the club and love being a part of it!
Page 13. The veggie thing is interesting to me- what prompted you to switch over and do you ever cheat? Does it make it hard to go out to eat? Is Gif a veggie guy too? It started as an ethical thing for me. Stopped eating meat at age 11 in 1983 when I made a personal connection between humans and animals. But soon I benefited from better health also and now maintain this lifestyle for both reasons, as well as environmental ones. Most people who have been vegan as long as me don't cheat -- because it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle. It's not as hard as people think. Many common food items are usually vegan (bagels, pita bread, salsa, humus, dark chocolate, etc.). I always find things in restaurants and can order easily (Chinese, Indian, pizza without cheese.) For those of you who know me, you know I can eat - a lot! Gif is not vegetarian but likes to eat the things I do. He loves cooking vegan, too, as he experiments in the kitchen. He's about 85% veg. He has high cholesterol now so he also eats veggie pizza without cheese! What is your favorite race and why? Lone Gull. I mean, great course, awesome scenery, fab food. I love the 10K distance also. Is there something Wicked would be surprised to know about you? Well, I was very into punk rock and hard core back in high school and college. Even had a shaved head for a while and electric blue non-leather Doc Martins were my shoe of choice. I am still punk on the inside, and occasionally I'll wear skull-clad items to the tennis club or on a group run. Who will be profiled next month? Maybe YOU!
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS WICKED? Scenes from the Falmouth Road Race, Saturday, August 14th
Looks like I beat those lazy Kenyans to the start… nice!
Almost out of the woods… I think this might be a PR!
Whew that first mile was hot! But not as crowded as I thought it would be…
Steaming stretch of beach but I’m still the leader- prize money here I come! Zipping through mile 6 towards the killer hill at the end, but where’s the giant flag? Where’s the fans? Where’s the Elite Cat tent? Huh… what did you say? The race is SUNDAY… Argh!
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, deep, but I’ve got ‘Miles’ to go…ha!
I thought the crowds would be bigger but all I keep seeing is Michele & Gif
Page 14. Photo Left: Dawn Cobak, Peter Raymond, Alison Phelan and Shannon O’Donnell at a rainy Lynn Woods Relay Race.
Photo Right: Melissa Jaynes, Mike Toomey and Jacquie Washburn at the Derby Street Mile.
He swims with the fishes is not just a line from the Godfather, it’s a description of WRC member Colin Doherty’s latest vacation adventure… only these fishes are SHARKS!
Also swimming with the fishes was who else, Miles Fartlek.
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My Long-Lost Family by Miles Fartlek (with help from Shannon Downey) People may think that I lead quite an exciting life. And I've been very busy this year! I've been to the Falmouth Road Race and attended a Toomey clinic before I realized it wasn't free. I've had sleepovers with many members of Wicked and met many dogs. And apparently there is photographic proof of me imbibing in too much wine and being "overserved" cocktails on a girls' night out, but I don't remember any of the details so I'm going to plead the fifth. However, I was recently picked up and brought to a house that claimed to have four of my long-lost relatives. A family with four black cats, just like me? This I had to see! After I was strapped into the front seat of a new Honda (above left) I began to get a little nervous. After all, I've spent some time with dogs before but four cats? What if they didn't like me? And, to top it all off, my Wicked shirt is a little, well, wicked dirty. I'm a little embarrassed! I felt a little bit better when the Crazy Lady who took me promised that she'd do my laundry so I could be fresh as a daisy when I met the other kitties. After a load of laundry and a nap, I was ready to face the family and see if they would accept me. What's a house with four cats like? First of all, there are tufts of black fur *everywhere. Apparently Crazy Lady isn't fond of cleaning but she claims she only has the kitties' best interests at heart since they all hate the vacuum. Sounds suspicious. Also, there are many litter boxes - I counted three downstairs and another upstairs. Thankfully, they were all clean. And there are a lot of food dishes. Now *that* I like! The first cat to appear was the youngest, one that they call Boo Boo Kitty (top left). As I was investigating the automatic water dish and grabbing a snack, she approached me and started sniffing around. She seemed to really like me, and I liked her, too! She's very pretty with beautiful Halloween eyes. She was very interested in everything that I was doing. She even gave me a hug when she first came over! As I was visiting with Boo Boo, the oldest cat, Shirley, (right) got curious as to what was going on. Actually, I think that she was more interested in the food dishes so I just stood aside and let her be the Alpha cat that she is. After a snack, yet another cat came to visit. This one is called the Big Ragu and she's not much bigger than Boo Boo. Apparently, prior to Boo Boo's arrival, she was the baby in the house so she's not happy with how things have been going. So she's a little bitter and I didn't know how things were going to go. But she seemed to like me and Ragu, Boo Boo and I shared a little kiss (left…smooch!). So now I've met three - where is the fourth kitty? I was promised 4! Apparently, the final kitty isn't as open as the others so we needed to go find her. Her name is Laverne (right). She came out and said hello but didn't linger. It was a long day at this house. There were a *lot* of cats!! And I'm a little tired. And, to be perfectly honest, that Boo Boo was a little needy and barely left me alone! I tried to get away and she followed. I thought my adventure was over and I was ready to go home, with a clean outfit and having met some new friends. But Crazy Lady had one last stop: Brodies. Apparently that's what she does. And the bartender at Brodies thought that I should get some training and become a chef! I had to tell her that it would be difficult because I didn't have opposable thumbs but she insisted on training me anyway.
Page 16. All in all, it was a good day. I met some relatives, saw how bad a housekeeper Crazy Lady is, got my laundry done and learned how to flip burgers and pour a cocktail (right). Onto the next adventure! Maybe I can catch a catnap in the car. I give my day a rating of 5 cats - one for each of us! What else?
WRC MEMBER ESSAY Please enjoy this personal essay shared by WRC member Brent Henne. I apologize for the smaller type. I couldn’t figure out how to reformat it without messing it up so I left it exactly as I got it. Thank you for sharing Brent!
A Year of Running by Brent Henne I have hesitated to do this, as I want neither to jinx myself out of running, nor present myself as anything more than a seasoned rookie. It seems fitting to jot down my reflections on what has been nearly a year of running. The fat of the land The start of my journey directly coincided with the move back to Massachusetts from Colorado. I wasn't in the best of shape when I got to the Rockies, but in the 5 years I spent there I really treated my body like shit. Eating meat multiple times a day, downing 12 packs on a Tuesday night at home, and getting virtually no exercise was my lifestyle regimen. When my wife, Jade, and the kids left early to find a job while I stayed to sell the house, the spiral of depression and self-neglect accelerated. Keilbasa, Heineken and Jameson were my company, and by the time I chain-smoked and diet-pepsied my way through a 36-hour nosleep straight drive across country, I was tipping the scales at around 235 pounds. I wasn't chubby; I was fat. An odd phenomenon about moving is the unintentional reinvention of yourself. In Colorado, I had slipped into this unhealthier me, and no one batted an eye. On the flip side, moving BACK home pulls the rug out from underneath that Heftier Days reinvention. "Dude, you're BIG" was my best friend's opening words. Thankfully, that was about as charitable as Scott ever got with me on the subject. I had always been frank about his hairline, and the shoe was now on the other foot, much to his delight. I've never been comfortable with my appearance – there's a laundry list of things I really don't like about my body. This was the first time I felt straight up embarrassed. It wasn't just that I was packing serious dough; I was weak. My resolution to myself - run off a few of these pounds. Grinding it out We were still staying with Jade's parents in Nahant, and I began running a mile loop. I have no idea how long this was taking me – maybe 15-18 minutes. Pure torture. I've always had a love-hate relationship with running. Part of it was my roots on a treadmill. The entirety of running was a constant state of anticipating not running anymore. Added to this was my body rebelling against this horrible new boss who insisted on physical activity. My shins felt like freshly cleaved kindling wood, and my knees were compressed into stress balls. Runner's city We finally relocated and I traded in the punishing hill work of Nahant (it's still one of the most intense 5Ks you can do), for the Frogger-meets-Donkey Kong dangers of Salem's city streets. I called up Scott for advice on mapping a route that I could handle. I promptly took his advice, and I think he and Emilia were shocked to actually see me sweating it out a half-hour later. There they were, two lithe wood nymphs in moisture wicking performance shirts, while I looked like I was in my third trimester, ready to give birth to a bitter baby. Make that triplets.
Page 17. I still remember talking about my gut, and seeing Mia's eyes dart down to check out my "playground". They continued on, but while I was almost done, they had run here, there, done a track loop barefoot, and were about to run a longer version of the loop I had just tracked – and they didn't show any signs of slowing down. I spent the last half-mile staring at my generous profile in shop windows, and getting angrier and angrier and angrier. I could still count on my hands the number of runs I had completed since I started, but I just wanted everything to get better already. Why couldn't I effortlessly go wherever my legs wanted to take me? Why couldn't I wake up skinny? Colorado gets credit for being an active state, and deservedly so. Ironically, it’s where I was personally very inactive. Thankfully, Salem is pretty inspiring, and specifically I continue to be impressed with the number and vigor of runners in Salem. It really is a runner's city Not a running city, with perfect conditions; there's actually some things that suck about running in Salem. What doesn't suck is the passion that people have for it. These people don't jog - they run. They've made it a city for running. So it's a runner's city. I wasn't a runner yet. Emilia's Thursday night running gang, No Rest for the Wicked, was something I was politely declining on a semi-regular basis. I wasn't confident I could even complete that distance. All the way to the Willows? You're kidding, right? I take my car if I want to go there. I was also embarrassed about my pace. "Pace shame" still plagues me, but I know there is always somebody slower, and a dozen people faster. The seed was planted, though, and being "good enough" for Thursday nights was my new running goal. Does not play well with others I remember wearing my "Rocky Balboa" sleeveless sweatshirt to my first No Rest for the Wicked Thursday night. I finished in an astounding 33:30 on September 24th, which I was very impressed with at the time. Even better, I wasn't last. My smothering unfulfilled narcissism was being replaced with something else – smothering unfulfilled competitiveness. To this day, nothing bothers me more than being "beaten" by somebody I've beaten once. My first silent shame spiral over this was on my second week, when Marissa slipped past me on the last mile. After some fits and starts, I became a regular member. In late October, I realized that I wasn't going to ever be in the first handful of finishers on the Thursday night group. I needed a rubric with which I could measure my invented "progress". In response, I started to run a little bit longer on other days of the week. Adding a mile – wow, that was tough, but rewarding. A five miler - I'm manning up now. By the time I ran seven miles, I was floating on endorphins and smug self-satisfaction for two days. I was also hobbling up and down the stairs. It's cold and dark here The weather got pretty brisk when I ran my first real race on Thanksgiving morning. I was afraid if I stopped running, I wouldn't start again. So I started buying running junk to keep me warm, and a headlamp. The Thursday night crew thinned out quite a bit. I have a great memory of running with Emilia and Rosemary on a frigid night in January. It was the kind of cold that makes you angry. It was snowing sideways. We were sticking together and chatting, as running had warmed us up – and then we hit the turn by the Willows. A stiff gust of wind immediately shut the 3 of us up. We finally finished, and arrived to staff applause at the Engine House for pizza and beer. Springtime and the living is easy Three key things happened in my newfound running career over the winter. 1. I had added real "long runs" of 10 miles or more. 2.
I had a marathon bug bite me, and I knew it was a matter of time before I would register for one (look out Baystate I'm gunning for you on October 16th).
3.
I became a running group addict.
I don't like to run next to somebody per se, but the social aspect of the Thursday night crew had me hooked. I'm not the type of person who looks up an activity on a bulletin board and seeks out friends. Organically, I became really attached to the people in the group – I guess repeated downing of beer and pizza helps lubricate the wheels of kinship. I went from trying to find a seat next to Scott, to sitting anywhere and chatting it up with anyone. We're best buds, but there are some nights we barely speak at all, and that's great. One of the most rewarding things is seeing other people in the group catch get the running bug. I know my friends have had a bemused interest in my commitment ("Wow... is that a GPS watch, Brant?") and its great to have that feeling when I observe people shifting from "I can't stand running" to "I'm going to run the loop twice."
Page 18. Changes inside and out I lost most of the weight my body doesn't need, and it happened faster than I thought it would. I became so focused on running and my mileage and pace that I stopped caring about losing weight. All of a sudden I had to buy a smaller belt. I still have body issues, but the desire to lose weight to a back seat to everything else that running was filling my mind with. Somewhere along the line, running stopped being a mental struggle, which was a real gift. Don't get me wrong; from 5K PR attempts to pushing through the last mile of a long run, there's always going to be the noble effort to "dig deep" (that's my mantra when I need to lean on myself). What's gone is the constant desire to be done, to measure how long is left. If I get winded or I'm already sore, I try to slow down. I'll leave the GPS watch at home, and run purely for pleasure. I still wear the headphones on my long run (2 hours is a long time for me to labor with my own thoughts), but for 5 and 10Ks, I'm good without it. It's actually become my time to meditate, and focus on the breath. Buddhism crept back into my life through the back door. One interesting side effect that never happened with seated meditation is the effects of running endorphins. I am often moved to the verge of tears on a longer run – either because I'm thinking of something sad that has happened, or something so wonderful and nice that I'm overcome with gratitude. Sometimes that something is as simple as running Marblehead neck and seeing water on both sides of me. I valued that ability to be overwhelmed with one's life, in a positive and visceral way. Running for what, exactly I've become more realistic about what I can push my body to do. I've vacillated between total denial and naive overconfidence in regards to what is potentially possible. My inner dream is the cliché desire to qualify for the Boston Marathon. My wife was the first person I shared my Boston dream with – the dream not to run, but to qualify with a pace of 7:20, sustained for 26.2 miles. Jade's response stung, but I've turned them into an engine that drives me. Those words are my motivation when I don't want to get up at 4AM and lace on my distance shoes, or I want to take a second rest day. "I don't think you can do it" haunts me and propels me forward. I don't want to prove my wife wrong; I want to validate to myself that my goal was worthy, and so was I. (That said, I would be happy to run Boston for charity, independent of my goal, and if the best I ever get is an eight-minute mile pace, well that's pretty good, too.) At the same time I now know that running a marathon isn't some monumental feat – it's simply the culmination of long-term training. Something anybody could do, if they felt compelled to pursue that particular goal. I also appreciate the barriers we all set up, whether its running an 10 minute mile for the first time, or running one's first 10K. Like flimsy wooden boards in a karate dojo, those barriers are something we make, so that we can shatter them. I understand that the frustration of not meeting a goal should be balanced with the awareness that progress is made in the endeavor, and that is the real benefit. I also acknowledge that a goal easily reached wasn't a goal wisely chosen to begin with. My biggest fear is that one-day I'll just stop running. I'm notorious for leaving things unfinished and having a passion for something short-lived. It's ironic that I've focused on running, as it's a metaphor for how I want to sustain the practice of running. The beauty in running is that at any moment, at any step, you are free to stop. It's as simple as coming to rest. You could be 25 feet from your start, or 100 miles. The choice to continue, to persevere for perseverance's sake – that is the grace and the beauty in running's gift. Shout-outs I can't give enough thanks to Emilia, without whom I think I would have stopped running by last October. Thanks to Scott, who like a Zen master, knows when I need to be encouraged with praise, and when I need my lofty selfappraisals to be smashed into dust. Thanks to Rosemary, Billy, Kristine, Marie, Mickel, Greg, Jeremy, Jeff, Julie, Herb and Marissa – these are the Thursday night regulars, without whom my life would be like warm water. Thanks to the Engine House, who has put up with our beer-pitcher shenanigans. Most of all, thanks to my wife. Though her eyes may glaze over when I tell her about somebody else's PR, and she is probably cursing me when she has to put the kids to bed without help on Thursdays – she's helped me and loved me the whole time. NRFTW turns 1
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PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE by Tim Short Ah, it’s now September. This is the time of the year when the road-racing scene starts to really heat up around the North Shore. With the summer racing season ending and fall just weeks away you might be asking yourself, “What does a Wicked Runner do now that it’s getting darker earlier and the leaves will soon be changing colors?” The simple answer is….plenty! Runners in New England are blessed with the ability to find road races all year round. Try finding a 5-mile race in Arizona during July at 10 am on a Saturday morning! But to me, fall in New England is the perfect time to pick up a 5k or a Marathon. Though I wouldn’t suggest anyone just jump into a Marathon, although legend has it that our very own TR Ramsdell’s first race was a Marathon, so apparently it can be done! The fact of the mater is that our little slice of Massachusetts has really become a hotbed of races in the last several years. One only has to look at http://coolrunning.com to see the many options that we all have on any given weekend during the best time of the year to race! Combine that with a few different race series (YMCA Race Series, Salem Park & Rec Race Series, North Shore Trail Series and many more!) Not only are there numerous races on the weekend (way too many to mention!) but there also some very fun races on Wednesday nights as well. In Danvers you will find the world famous D5K. This race starts proudly at 7ish. Which usually means you will begin around 7:15. The laid-back attitude fits this race very well. Adam Prentiss along with Wicked Runner Aaron Toleos have developed at a great following for the D5K. For more information about this fantastic race, check out http://danvers5k.com. If you are more into the trail thing, look no further than Lynn Woods. Each week runners get to test their ability on some hilly and technical trails. You can always fine a good size group of Wicked Runners here to run with. Wicked Runner Bill Mullen is the man in charge and gives great instructions right before the race starts so no one gets lost. Http://lwrun.org is the Lynn Woods website and a great place for results, photos and more! You can also follow Lynn Woods on Twitter at lwrun. Runs start at 6:30pm. Travel a little south on RT 128 and you will find the Mystic Runners and their Lake “Q” 5K. Back in June Mystic welcomed the Wicked Running Club with “Wicked Week”. This 5K is very flat and very fast. Try it out and I’m sure you will score a PR! Check out those “Wicked” friendly Mystic Runners at http://mysticrunners.com. The Lake “Q” 5K race starts at 6:45 p.m and is usually followed by a little Karaoke and beer for all that are interested. So you see Wicked Runners, even though summer is quickly coming to end, there is still plenty of great racing left! Keep on Running Wicked Nation! Tim Short, President WICKED QUIZ Pick the correct answer to this question: Why wasn't your newsletter submission included? A) Beth sent it to the trash instead of newsletter folder by accident B) Beth hates you C) Beth was so buried with emails about other stuff it got lost in the shuffle D) Beth’s computer thought you were spam and she never saw it E) You didn't send one The correct answer is all of the above… maybe! But probably not B ☺
Page 20. Although it seems like I am everywhere, I’m really not, nor can I ever be. That’s why we need your contributions to be sure all of our members are included. Thank you for your contributions! Editor, B.
WICKED CONTACT INFORMATION: There are about a gazillion ways to stay in touch with Wicked, just a few options are below: Got a question? You can e-mail the Board at: BOARD MEMBERS: President: Tim Short, tim.short1@gmail.com Vice President: Peter Raymond, pote259@yahoo.com Secretary: Alison Phelan, alphelan2@aol.com Treasurer: Melissa Jaynes, melissa.jaynes@gmail.com Membership Coordinator: Annie Rose Willis, Annika729@aol.com Clothing Coordinator: Michele Campbell, michelejcampbell@yahoo.com At Large: TR Ramsdell, mopartr@comcast.net, Shari Hewson, shewson@cellsignal.com, Kerry Phelan, kphelan18@gmail.com WRC VOLUNTEERS: Volunteer Coordinators: Kathey Moskal, katheyatc@aol.com and Paul McCabe, pmccabe1234@yahoo.com Wicked Grand Prix: TR Ramsdell, mopartr@comcast.net or Dan Barrett, Daniel.J.Barrett@Comcast.net Social Director: Shannon O’Donnell, shannonmaryod@gmail.com Newsletter Contributions: Beth O’Grady, bethogrady@yahoo.com Wicked Website: wickedrunningclub.com. Website Questions or Problems: webmaster@wickedrunningclub.com Wicked is also on Twitter and Facebook!