GLRR Annual Awards

GLRR Annual Awards

2013 Male Runner of the Year – James (the Kid) Sullivan

§  We don’t usually give this award to the same person in consecutive years – but we had no other logical choice

§  James followed last year’s break-through by topping himself.

§  It started with 56:22 at Jones, and then a 1:13 at New Bedford – so we knew he was ready for Boston

§  Then dropped a 2:38 at Boston on us!!!

§  He took a bit of down time for the birth of his daughter

§  Then he was back as fast as ever – Lone Gull in 34:29, then Nahant in 1:58 and capped the GP year at Manchester with a 2:49 good for 16^th place.

2013 Female Runners of the Year – Kara Haas and Liane Pancoast

§  In this year of the women – we decided that our Hall of Fame inductees should share the honor of runner of the year.

§  Kara – came back from 2012 injuries to again dominate the local scene.  The highlight being her wining the US National 10K Masters Championship at the James Joyce Ramble.

§  She also won the Masters division at the Hollis 5K (in 16:30) and finished 2^nd in the Carver 5 Miler.

§  Liane celebrated her birthday and new division at Jones (those were her birthday cupcakes in the slideshow).  She dominated the division over the first four GP races of the season – and then got it in her head to run the marathon again.

§  She went west to run the Santa Rosa Marathon – finishing 4^th in her division despite pulling a hamstring that would hamper her the rest of the season.

§  Despite the setback – she still finished second in her division in the GP standings

2013 Male Most Improved Runner of the Year – Lee Fox

§  Lee has been a weekly fixture at our Saturday group runs.

§  It’s paid off – here are just a few of his improvements in 2013

§  In 2012 he ran 39:54 at the Claddagh 4 Miler, last year he dropped that to 31:49 (an improvement of 2 minutes a mile!)

§  At the Hynes 5 Miler he dropped his time from 50:01 to 39:48 (again a 2 minute per mile improvement).

§  At the GoodTimes series he went from running 27 to 30 minute 5K to consistent 24s in 2013.  An average improvement of better than a minute a mile.

§  He also increase is race volume by about double.

§  By the end of 2013 – he had the confidence, and fitness to tackle the GP series and debuted with a very respectable 50:36 at the Lone Gull 10K

2013 Female Most Improved Runner of the Year – Colleen Casper

By Scott Casper

My big sister...

Her first race was the Medical 5K in Nashua a few years ago.  She had no idea what to expect, and although I wasn't a pro, I had run a few races before.  This was the year it was a Grand Prix race, so I was trying to point out a few of the faster runners. She was nervous and couldn't understand why I wasn't.  We lined up near the back, with the walkers.  The gun went off and we made our way out. I tried to give her some tips, kept an eye on her, and tried to judge her pace to see how she was doing.  We weren't fast, but she was doing great early on.  She started fading late in the race, huffing puffing, slowing down.  I kept talking to her.. kind of like Fil.  come on, come on, you can do this, come on. She was struggling.  

We were coming up to the part in the race where the leaders start coming back at you on their cool-downs, cheering you on.  I could hear the announcer,  I knew we were coming close to the finish, one last turn, then Colleen said, "I can't do it.  I need to stop", I was like what?  The finish is right there, she said where?  I said right there.  We were close enough to see the finish.  The relief on her face was priceless.  She sprinted out the last 100 feet or so, she was so proud, she couldn't believe it herself that she did it. She was hooked.

Colleen asked me to run with her during her first few races.  I love supporting my big sister.  I remember running a 5K with her, and was saying, you know, the next step after a 5K is the 10K, and she said "What???, I can't run that far!  Then while we were running her first 10K together I said you know, the next step after a 10K is the half-marathon, and she said "What??? I can't run that far."  

Her first half marathon was Baystate last year.  She toed the line with Paula Canela, who was having an outstanding year of her own, I was waiting for them both at the finish.  Colleen crushed her race in 1hr 54mins for a debut half and Paula was 9 seconds off from a sub 2hr half.  Both were great great performances.

In the past couple of years she has gone from lining up with the walkers to being in the mix at the front of her age group.  Running in and around the great women of Greater Lowell.  Mary Casey, Marli Moo, Cindy Campbell, Linda, Madeline,

  

Colleen ran her first 5K in the low 30's, then she broke 30 minutes, then 29 minutes, then 28, and kept going.  She has a 5K PR of 23:54, a 10K PR of 52:25.  At the Race for Justice 5-miler, she was 2nd in her age group with a time of 40:11.

I have been very proud of my big sister.  I had the honor of running with her this morning in the BAA 5K, a few weeks after knee surgery.  And now I am proud to be introducing her as the Greater Lowell Road Runners Female Most Improved Runner of the Year.

5K PR - 23:54

10K PR - 52:26

Half PR - 1:54:33

2013 Volunteer Couple of the Year – Trina and Mike Sheehan

§  Where would we be – where would Glenn be…

§  Trina and Mike have been active in the club a long time.  In fact Trina has been active long before me!

§  Over the last couple of years, but especially last year, Trina and Mike have worked hard to relieve me of many of my tasks.

§  Mike has been the man for the group runs – making sure the office is open before the runners get there (I’m always late, or out timing).

§  Mike is also the Membership Director – and has really completely taken over the management of that aspect of the club.

§  Trina is now the Social Director and we expect big things in the coming months.

§  They’ve been there for Fudgcicle (as you saw in the slideshow).

§  But their biggest contribution is in Baystate.  I’ve come to rely on them to get things done. 

§  They are there at every meeting.  Mike handles the agendas now and tries to keep me in point and on schedule, and Trina gently reminds me to keep things simple.

§  They now manage the all the amenities of the race – shirts, food and more.

§  Come race week – they are all over the place helping to make sure things get done.

§  We could not do Baystate without them.

Other Races in March and April

US National Snowshoe Championships

Scott Graham wants to build a snowman.

Scott Graham took a 'break' from marathon training to run in the US National Snowshoe Championships in Woodford, VT on March 1.  He finished 7th in his age group.  A full race report can be found at http://www.levelrenner.com/2014/03/06/snow-not-stopping-graham/.

Stu's 30K

Jill Trotter on her way to 1st Master.
Photo courtesy of Krissy K.

EJ, Jason, Jill, Dan Button, and Frank Georges all made their way out to Clinton, MA for Stu's 30K on March 2.  Dan Button was 3rd overall in his first race in GLRR green.  He posted an impressive 1:52.  EJ continued his dominance on this course with a 1:58 that won him his age group.  Jill was first woman master and fifth female overall in a time of 2:16.  Jason ran a 2:04 and Frank ran a 2:16.  All impressive on this difficult course.

Full results can be found here.

Claddagh 4M

Steve Gendron and Kara Haas were both second overall in this second race of the Wild Rover Series.  Richard Molloy and Jonathan MacKenzie went 1-3 for the 70 year olds.

Full results can be found here.

Hynes 5M

Kara crossing the finish for the win at Hynes.
Photo courtesy of Mike Stanwyck.

On March 9th, the Wild Rover Series wrapped up with the Hynes 5 Miler.  Kara Haas won for the women, while Steve Gendron and Matt Theodoros went 2-3 for the men.

Full results can be found here.

It's Baaaack.  Good Times Series Started April 8th

After four races, Jefferson Welch leads for the men and Katie Gessler leads for the women.  Can Katie hold her lead AND make it through her first marathon?  Tune in to find out!

Marathon Woman

By Kerri Haskins

As I embark on the second try at Boston this year (first attempt last year), I am also reflecting on where I have been since I started running longer distances in 2005.   I had run from age 8-22..sprinting, jumping, throwing but had pretty much put my sneakers away after college.

It wasn't until I had some medical issues and life issues in fall of 2005..did I decide it was time to try again and signed up for my first half in Hyannis that winter of 2006 (I know what a good first choice-middle of winter).   3 months later after training some more, my ex mother in law past away, after a 8 year fight

with schleroderma.  The day after I was determined to run my 1^st marathon in October 2006 (Hartford) for her and raise money..and the rest is history.

Below is an article featured in the UNH alumni Magazine last summer.  Had run 50 marathons in 50 states and first woman from NH to do so.  I will be running my 84^th marathon at Boston Monday, and probably one of the biggest marathons and most emotional for me.  From there I will attempt a 100 miler in NJ in May.  We all know we need to set our next goal. ; )  That is a given.

With regards to joining GLRR this February, I am glad I did.  The group is great, very motivating and supportive.  Although I am usually in the back of the pack, do not have a runners body, and call many of you “speedies”..this gives me inspiration to run another race, either be a 5k or another marathon ; ).  I hope to run my 100^th marathon next fall, and will be close to home in MA or NH.

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*From UNH Alumni Magazine.

Marathon Woman
This summer, Kerri Haskins '93 became the first New Hampshire woman to run 50 marathons in 50 states.
By Kristin Waterfield Duisberg

Eight years ago, when Kerri Haskins '93 stepped on a treadmill to see if she could run 2 miles, the former UNH track and field captain was shocked to discover the answer was no. "I'd had some health problems," she says, "and I knew I had let my fitness slip, but I had no idea by how much."

Determined to get back in shape, Haskins signed up for the February 2006 Hyannis, Mass., half-marathon, and ran the 13.1-mile race in a blizzard. The same October, she ran her first full marathon, in Hartford, Conn. "It just felt good," she explains, "knowing I could set a goal like that for myself and achieve it."

Seven years later, the Danville, N.H., resident is closing in on the 75-marathon mark—a goal she expects to achieve this fall. And in July, when she crossed the finish line at the Missoula Marathon in Montana, she became the first New Hampshire woman to fulfill an elite marathoner goal: to run a marathon in every U.S. state.

A self-described tomboy, Haskins started running at the age of 8, and began competing in the New Hampshire Hershey Track and Field program at 9, after beating the local boys in playground races lost its thrill. As a 12-year-old, she set a Hershey state record for the 200-meter dash that still stands today. Her focus was on the sprint distances, and as she added volleyball and softball to her high school sports repertoire, she picked up javelin and long jump as well. By the time she graduated from UNH with a degree in business administration, however, she was pretty burned out on running, all but hanging up her sneakers—until that afternoon in 2005 when she stepped on the treadmill.

Haskins says the seed for the "50 in 50" goal was planted in 2007, at the beginning of her third 26.2-miler. Spotting an older man in a T-shirt that identified him as a member of the "50 States Marathon Club," she asked him how many marathons he had run. The man turned out to be the club president, and his answer—"250, so far"—captured her imagination. "I kind of figured, 'Why not?'" Haskins says with a laugh.

Among the more memorable races she logged en route to the magic 50 were a Baton Rouge, La., race that she ran on four hours' sleep; the Big Island, Hawaii, marathon, which began at 6 a.m.; a tiny race in Green River, Wyo., held at 8,000 feet—and this year's Boston Marathon, her first. Haskins was just past mile 21 and Heartbreak Hill when the bombs went off and the news started filtering in. Along with hundreds of other runners, she continued on to mile 24, where she was required to stop.

"I went through a lot of emotions," she says. "Shocked, angry—it was just surreal." The race didn't count toward Haskins' goal, and five days later, when she headed to Lovington, N.M., for her next marathon, she was anxious. "That's the one time I wondered whether I wanted to continue my journey," she admits.

She did, of course, tapping into the same mental toughness that's gotten her through 60 marathons and seven ultra-distance races, through hills, heat, high winds, and even a bout of flu. Beyond that first-marathon sense of accomplishment, she is at a loss to explain what drives her to run, but counts as her inspiration her fellow "Marathon Maniacs" and 50 State Marathon Clubbers. Although she shoehorns in her marathons on weekends and vacation days from her day job at Pfizer, Haskins laughingly brushes off any suggestion of a Type A personality—even if the 1,400-plus miles she'll run this year suggest otherwise.

"My family and friends were a little bewildered when I first started this, but now they think it's pretty cool," she says. "When they text or call me, the only thing they want to know is, 'What state are you in today?'"

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Editor's Note -
Kerri finished Boston in a time of 5:43:28 to complete her 84th marathon.  Shen then followed it with a 50K the following weekend in Kent, CT -- finishing in 7:11:20 to complete her 85th.  I get tired just reading that.

GLRR Inducts Four Women into the Hall of Fame

Patty Foltz

By Tom Foltz

Patty joined GLRR in the spring of 1988, thus making this the 27th year she has run Grand Prix races for the club. By my reckoning, she has run more GP races with the GLRR singlet than any other woman in the club. She routinely scored for the team throughout her Master years, and did well in the GP standings, winning the Masters division once. When she turned 50 in 2008, she finished second in the Grand Prix series and was named GLRR Woman Runner of the Year. In the 10 years she competed as a Senior, she finished first twice, second twice, and never finished lower than 7th place.

But it was in her 60s when she truly came into her own, and dominated her division. She sold her business in 2007, finally giving her the opportunity to develop a better and more consistent running base, and in the spring of 2008, she took advantage of the club's offer and began getting coached by Nate Jenkins. That year (2008), she won every local race, ever Pub series race and every GP race in her age group. She also won her second GLRR Woman Racer of the Year. There was a string of races in the fall of 2008 which demonstrated her dominance in the field:

• Ran 20:59 on a USATF-NE certified 5K course and broke the Age-group record that had stood for 18 years by over 3 minutes.
• Won her division in the Tufts 10K in October with a time of 43:37, finishing 121st overall out of a field of over 5000. She also beat every other 50-year old in the race, except for GLRR's Liane Pancoast, who was 23 seconds ahead of Patty.
• Less than one week later, she won the Vet's division of the Bay State marathon (the final GP race that year) by 45 minutes, with a time of 3:31. She beat every 50-year old by at least 5 minutes.
• Won the Vet's division at the National Club XC championships in Spokane, and was 4th overall for Masters in the age-graded standing.

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Diane Geehan

By Amy Molloy

Congratulations to Patti, Liane, & Kara! I know Diane would be thrilled and honored to be elected in to the Hall of Fame with all of you. Diane may have only been one member, or one runner for Greater Lowell, but she made a big impact on the Greater Lowell scene. Not only was she was an excellent runner, but she was a full time nurse, full time mother, and dedicated member of the running club.

Diane was an avid marathon runner. Her fastest of five Bostons was in 2008, only a few months before she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Her time was 3:48,an average of 8:40 per mile. She finished the Cape Cod Marathon in 2006 in a Nor'easter in a time of 3:55. But her fastest marathon was Cape Cod in 2007 with a time of 3:38 at 46 years old. She was the female Runner of the Year for GLRR in 2007 and I believe she was the only female for the club who ran all of the Grand Prix races that year. She was so proud to get her jacket for that and wore it with pride. She ran every marathon and race with determination; the same determination she used in her fight against cancer. Less than 3 months before she passed away from Lung cancer, and a few days after a chemo treatment she participated in one of her favorite road races. Pete and I were lucky enough to join her in the John Carson 2 Miler on the fourth of July. Hot and humid as usual. We all walked it together and that's a memory I'll never forget. There were a few times I didn't think we 'd finish, but she was determined and wasn't gonna give up. Diane was also a compassionate runner. In 2002 she ran the last mile of the Boston marathon carrying a fallen firefighter's helmet from 9/11. I also can't help but think she would have been one of the runners last year running straight to the hospital to donate blood or start IVs on patients that needed help. She would never think twice about doing good for others like that. She's even helped one of our own after running 26 miles. Glenn can contest to that. Her quick nursing skills helped him with a medical emergency one year.

There was something about Diane that always made you smile. From the time she was wolfing down a hot dog at the end of the Newburyport 10 miler on a 95 degree day, or the year she hopped on a plane to Philly just a few hours after running Boston to go to a nursing conference. She called me the next day to tell me that the fire alarm went off in the hotel and she had to walk down several flights of stairs! Anyone in this room who's run a marathon or lives with a marathoner knows how painful it is and how ridiculous it looks to walk down stairs the day after running 26 miles. There were also a few years, I believe, that Diane didn't tell her husband Brian that she was even running Boston! She didn't want to worry him she would say, but then she'd always get caught by a friend or family member out on the course. Then there was her "CHI phase" She would walk around with her "CHi Running" book for weeks 24/7. I teased her and her "CHI" book, but her times drastically improved from it right before she got diagnosed. That's alright cause she got the last laugh when i eagerly picked that book out of a pile of prizes at the Chamberas XC race this past fall. Yup I Couldn't put it down for days either!

Diane enjoyed her family, running, friends, and being a nurse and she had fun doing everything she did. She had so much energy and determination in all that she did. I remember training for Boston with her when i was only 23 or 24 years old and I would roll out of bed at the last second to go for an early morning run...at 8 and i would barely be awake enough to run and Diane would have already delivered the Lowell Sun to her whole neighborhood for her boys so they could sleep in. Then after our 20 mile runs she would then bring them to soccer games and other activities. And i would be going home to lay on the couch all day. She was a great role model because now, for me, 10 years later after my first Boston i get "it" I get what its like to wake up earlier to get stuff ready for my boys and then come home after a 3 hour long run and play with cars or do crafts, build a lincolnlog house or whatever it may be, grocery shop , make dinner, etc. I hope to be half the mother, runner, nurse, friend, and wifethat Diane was. She was a great role model.

Diane was not "just a runner" for GLRR, she was also an advocate for GLRR and all the people it services. Diane's passion for nursing had a great impact on the running community as well. She was the medical director of the 2007 & 2008 Baystate Marathons. At the 2008 race she had a terrible cough and was carrying hundreds of gallons of water at the finish line, doing her part to keep things organized at the finish. It was only days later she had a patch on her chest with numbing medicine because her cough was so bad her chest ached and a little over a month later she was diagnosed with lung cancer . Giving back to the community was clearly important to Diane. She was always stressing the importance of community service to her three children. She brought her kids to any youth meet or event GLRR held. One of her last wishes in life was to better the GLRR youth club and that's how the Diane Geehan youth fund was formed. This running club has come a long way since the days Diane was running with us. Between all the success of the youth and being running club of the year, I know Diane has a huge smile on her face right now and is extremely proud.

Here are some words of wisdom from Diane I wanted to pass on that she shared with us towards the end of her battle against cancer. "Care for each other and your families, drink water instead of diet coke, go outside for lunch, feel the breeze and sunshine, park way out so you get a walk in and out, run or walk outside during your free time even if its only 10 mins, buy that house, go on that vacation, watch a ballgame on a Sunday afternoon with your family, choose fruit, hug each other, and pray for a happy life."

Thank you for honoring Diane and electing her into the Hall of Fame!!!

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Kara Haas

Kara has been dominating the local running scene since she first laced up her running shoes over twenty years ago.  She learned running and racing from the likes of GLRR greats Bob Hodge and Dave Dunham and has put that knowledge to good use over the years.

All of her PRs have come after the age of 35, but some of her most dominant performances have come after bringing her daughter into the world in the fall of 2011.

• Set a Masters American Record for the 3K of 9:49 at the BU Track on 12/31/11.  Yes, that's about 3 months after delivering.
• Won the USATF Masters 10K Championship at the James Joyce Ramble on 4/28/13 with a 37:51.
• Won her age group in the 2013 BAA 10K with a 37:47.
• Won her age group at Falmouth in 2013 with a 43:06.

The list goes on.  But numbers don't tell the whole story of what she means to the Lowell running community.  She is simply one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.  She has been known to follow times of local runners and offer pats on the back or pep talks when needed.  Greater Lowell is happy to welcome her 'back home' and to induct her into our Hall Of Fame.

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Liane Pancoast

By Glenn Stewart

I've been running with Liane for most of the time I've been with GLRR – which is about 10 years.  Her history goes back much farther than that – and I try my best to do it justice.  

I'll talk about the recent stuff first.  We've always been roughly the same speed – so when Liane got really active again (5 years ago) with racing, we seemed to be in the same track groups or training run groups.  Now when you train with Liane – be prepared. She is going to have a lot to say – I find out a lot about the club from Liane.  You can tell when she starts to struggle, or is not feeling well – silence.  Of course there have been the times that I've struggled – like Carver 2 years ago – when Liane dropped me like a rock because I was making so much noise heavy breathing.  Probably the most famous of the races we did together was the 2011 Cape Cod Marathon.  There were about 8 or 9 of us to start with running as a group. Much like a training run – at the beginning. Lots of chatter (we had Liane and Ally).  At about 17 miles Liane was dropping off the pace. I went ahead with Ally (who was logging her first sub 4 marathon). Once I got Ally in, I went back to look for Liane.  I went back half a mile, then a mile, then a mile and half… and started getting concerned – I figured she might be walk a little.  At just over a mile and half – I found her, just kind of mopping along – this was the worst I've ever seen Liane (she says it’s the worst she ever felt running).  But we sucked it up – and she did finish the race. We even ran some of the mile and half (especially when she was the race photographer – actually he as nice to let us stage and pose the picture – and she gave it her Liane smile.)  Despite the ordeal – she finished 5 in the division.  She swore she’d never do another marathon!!! But she did.

Last summer, due the events of Boston, she committed to getting into Boston – with a BQ. So it was off to Santa Rosa.  Without my help – she did much better – she took 35 minutes off her Cape Cod time and finished 4th in her division. So now it’s on to Boston.

Liane’s been racing with GLRR since the 'Green Slime' days.  She posted a 19:20 at the Louise Rossetti 5K – back in 1999.  Old timers (pre me) remember RoJacks – used to be the GP 8K – Liane did it in 32:13 in '98.  She still runs the Tufts 10K every year – though it will be hard for her to surpass her 40:40 from '95.  In '99, she was the 3rd master at the Philly Distance Run half marathon in 1:29.  She followed that with a 3:17 at the Vegas Marathon in 2000.  During all this time she has been a solid member of the GLRR race team.  I've come to rely in her help rally the troops.  More than once she has saved the team by getting that one more we need to score, or being the one more even if she was not really up to racing.  No one has been a more tireless booster of the race team than Liane.  Always there – always cheering us on.