Athletes of the Week - March

Writeups by EJ Hrynowski

Week Ending March 3 - Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly in Rhody 5K

I’m really happy with my run at Stu’s, and the nominations I received for this week’s AOW (especially in light of the sources, I’m really humbled). But when it came down to the recipient for the week ending March 3rd, the committee cast a cold and calculating eye on the results and has chosen a most worthy recipient.

Some Chickens like to fly low under the radar, operating in stealth mode so as to avoid detection. That was the case for this Athlete of the Week until he unleashed a 3:24 PR at Stu’s 30k with a 2:26:35 finish. I asked him about his race, I really hope he doesn’t mind that I’m quoting his response (he does a better job of explaining it than I could hope to, I think we have another member of Glenn’s rapidly growing Greater Lowell Running Writers club).

“…it really wasn't about the time at all. I felt in control the entire race. I ran a negative split by over 2 minutes but most importantly I ran with a group of four other runners and absolutely loved every minute I was out there. To me, that is the essence of running. The time was just the icing on the cake…looking forward to another strong week of training.”

That’s how you run Angry. Please join me in congratulating Paul Kelly on his choice as Athlete of the week!

(I haven’t been able to locate any Stu’s pics yet, this is a file photo of Paul running the Rhody 5k)

Week Ending March 10 - Kara Haas

Kara floating over the finish at Hynes.

If there's one thing we've all had enough of, it's ado. If there are two things we've all had enough of, it's ado and snow. Can't promise we won't have more snow, but without further ado I give you the Athlete of the Week for March 4-10.

To say the least, she's no stranger to winning races. One week after breaking the tape at the Claddagh Pub Four Miler in 24:25, she did it for the SIXTH time at the Hynes 5 Miler in 30:09. Good luck to anyone who wants to wrest that crown from her firm grip.

Please join me in congratulating Kara Molloy Haas on her selection as Athlete of the Week. I'm sure all of Angry Chicken Nation is pulling for a Wild Rover Series sweep, when the Frozen Shamrock 3 miler (delayed by that snow that we've all had enough of) runs on April 14th. 

If it snows on April 14th, look for emails from Glenn and Dave Camire looking for Angry Chicken volunteers to shovel the course. At least it's the three miler of the 3-4-5 series, the show (and the sweep!) must go on.

Photo courtesy of Mike Stanwyck

Week Ending March 17 - Nicholas Kanaracus

Nick nailing that age group win.

The team from the Mill City had a great day in the Whaling City, with so many remarkable performances and results that the AOW committee thought it would be nearly impossible to pick just one. But among those great performances in New Bedford by both chicks and chickens, one stood out from the rest. Only one Angry Chicken came home with first place in his or her age group.

If you've seen him working hard on the Rat Dome track, you know the result against the always strong USATFNE field was well earned and speaks for itself. Please join me in congratulating Nicholas Kanaracus on his selection as Athlete Of The Week for March 11-17.

Photo courtesy of Jimmy Lee Shelton

Athletes of the Week - February

Writeups by EJ Hrynowski

Week Ending February 3rd - Mike, Steve, and Kevin

Mike Girouard, Steve Gendron, and Kevin Carnabucci

The groundhog's done his thing, which means we're emerging from the racing doldrums. This weekend saw a bunch of great efforts, like Mike Girouard at the Great Stew Chase 15k, and Steve Gendron and Kevin Carnabucci at the Super 5k. The AOW committee scans the interwebz from edge to edge, but as the mercury rises so too does the number of Angry Chickens pinning on bibs.

The Athlete of the week for January 28th - February 3rd didn't take long to make his presence as a member of Greater Lowell known.  Getting ready for his entry into the Masters category in March, Kevin Carnabucci dug deep at the Super 5k for his first sub 18:00 in...well...quite a while.  The green and gold apparently suits 'bucci well, as his finish in 17:46 was good for 15th overall and second Angry Chicken.

He's a very welcome addition to our Men's Masters team, and we're looking forward to more great races from him.  Please join me in congratulating Kevin on his selection as Athlete Of The week.

How can you help? Glad you asked! Send your comments and recommendations for Athlete of the Week to AOW@glrr.net. We're probably already on it, but you know what happens when you assume. We don't want any Super Chickens flying under the radar, so get typing and click Send (and don't worry about speling or grammah, we can even make sense of the emails Fil sends us)

Week Ending February 10th - Not the Groundhog

Just sayin'

Week Ending February 17th - Pabst Blue Ribbon

Seriously EJ, again?

Week Ending February 24th - James and Liane

James Sullivan and Liane Pancoast

The AOW committee has some serious catching up to do, but the first rule of getting out of a hole is "stop digging". So we are going to award AOW for the week ending 2/24, and backfill our other recipients as soon as possible.

This was an awesome week to be an Angry Chicken, so many great performances and so much fun in Amherst. Way too much awesomeness to pick a single winner.
To quote Matt Story, "winning your age group in a Grand Prix is a big effing deal". Yes it is Matthew, yes it is. Liane Pancoast took on the best that New England has to offer, and came out on top of the 55-59 AG. That's how to celebrate your first day in a new age group, happy birthday Liane!

Our second winner continues to roll to new personal records on a regular basis, seeing the payoff for his commitment to high volume and high quality training. James "The Pocatello Kid" Sullivan made a "big effing deal" statement of his own, flattening out the hills of Amherst in 56:22 for 30th overall and 1st Angry Chicken. That's 5:39 per mile on a rollercoaster course, I can't wait to see what the Kid has up his sleeve for the rest of the series (especially the Hollis Fast 5k, get outta the way, ANGRY Chicken coming through!)

What a fantastic way to start off the Grand Prix, please join me in congratulating Liane and James on their outstanding efforts and results!

Keep running Angry, and keep your comments and suggestions coming to AOW@glrr.net

photos courtesy of Krissy Kozlosky of krissyk.smugmug.com

Athletes of the Week - January

Writeups by EJ Hrynowski

Week Ending January 6th - Bethany Knoettner

Bethany Knoetter at the Carver 5M

The AOW committe would like to thank all of you for your cards and emails expressing concern for our whereabouts and well being. We should have told you of our plan to hibernate through the month of January, to allow the New Year's abuse to be slowly and thoroughly detoxed. We left a wakeup call request with Punxsutawney Phil, just in time to see the Patriots try to win another Super Bowl. Time to get back at it, we've got some catching up to do.

With her outstanding performance and AG win at the 1st Run 5k, Bethany Knoettner got her year off to a great start. She's really the one that deserved to sleep in for a month, but that would be way out of character for a hard running Angry Chicken like Bethany. Winning Athlete of the Week for January 1-6 is probably way better than paying down your sleep debt anyway. Congratulations Bethany, with a fantastic start like this we'll expect more great things from you throughout lucky '13.

BETHANY KNOETTNER 1084 38 WESTFORD MA 21:31

By the way, who are the Pats playing tonight?

Week Ending January 13th - Liam Skinner

Liam Skinner @ Fudgicle

The road crews at the DPW aren’t the only ones trying to fill in holes these days, the AOW committee has a couple to fill in too. And we better keep our beaks to the grindstone, somebody left the coop unlocked and the Angry Chickens are running amok. Sherman, set the Wayback Machine for the week ending January 13th…

The AOW for January 7-13 is another Angry Chicken who often flies under the radar. I know I wasn’t aware of the current state of his running until he blew by me heading to the first handoff at Mill Cities. I tried to stay with him, to no avail.

Liam Skinner earned AOW with an outstanding race at the Fudgcicle on January 12th, placing fourth overall and first Angry Chicken in 18:12 (5:52 average pace).

And he’s not just a great runner, he’s a great guy too. I had the pleasure of his company for a run back to the Mill Cities start, if the opportunity to chat with him presents itself I heartily recommend you take advantage. Please join me in extending long overdue congratulations to Liam Skinner on his selection as Athlete Of The Week.

Week Ending January 20th - Pabst Blue Ribbon

It had to happen sooner or later

Week Ending January 27th - James Sullivan

James cleaning the course.

I picked up Matt Theodoros and the Athlete of the Week for January 21-27, and headed west to the Log Cabin 10k in Fitchburg. We knew he had been on a tear, but what he did on that Sunday still left us astonished. On a hilly course, he charged off the line and ran solo from the gun to the finish. With a finish time of 33:37, James "The Pocatello Kid" Sullivan was a full 60 seconds ahead of the second place finisher.

Matt and I weren't the only ones impressed by The Kid, when the RD uploaded the results to coolrunning.com, he added "Weather for today was Sunny, Temps in the 20's with a stiff wind. Thanks to the boys from Geater Lowell for coming down and cleaning the course!!!"

Please join me in congratulating our Director of Sartorial Chickenness, for his well-earned repeat selection as Athlete Of The Week.

Photo Courtesy of Paul McDermott