Announcements
Toe the Line: Upcoming Races
- September 11: Seasons 20k, 9am, Acton, MA (USATF-NE Grand Prix Race)
- September 25: Lone Gull 10k, 9am, Gloucester, MA (USATF-NE Grand Prix Race)
- October 16: Baystate Marathon and Half, 8am, Lowell, MA
SRR Tops Boston Running Clubs
SRR has been voted #1 Running Club on the Boston A-List for 2016! Thanks for being awesome!
SRR has been voted #1 Running Club on the Boston A-List for 2016! Thanks for being awesome!
Second Saturday Long Run: September 10
Join us this Saturday for the September edition of the Second Saturday SRR Long Run. All levels and paces welcome. Meet us at Au Bon Pain in Davis Square at 9 am. Please reply to this post on our facebook page if you plan to attend with desired distance and approximate pace. Our goal is to make sure all have a running buddy!
You don't have to be a current SRR member to attend. We would love for you to come to join us for a weekend community run and learn about our wonderful club!
September Photo Contest: #SRRMakeYourOwnMap
Ever upload your GPS route and think to yourself "oh, that looks like a heart", or maybe your toddler took a hold of your Garmin and you're impressed by the energy he/she documented? Maybe you tried out the famous "Boston" letters route to kick off marathon week? Whatever the case - be creative on your run! Upload your GPS images and tag Somerville Road Runners on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #SRRmakeyourownmap throughout the month of September and you will be entered in a drawing to win your own SRR courier bag!
SRR News
In Memoriam
It was 10 years ago this summer (on June 4th, 2006) that SRR lost Coach Steve Burton. Though many of us never had the honor of knowing him, we are inspired by all that the club members have had to say about him. We continue to honor him through the Most Improved award, and the annual Double Dare at Casey's. June's Second Saturday long run (next week on 6/11) started from the bench by Au Bon Pain where there is a memorial plaque for Coach Burton. Thank you Brian Cullinan for providing these pictures.
SRR Awards Scholarships to Somerville High School Students
In May, SRR awarded two new scholarships (plus one deferral from last year) to graduating seniors from Somerville High School. Thank you to our scholarship committee: John Gorvin, Linda Mar, Heather Kispert Hagerty, Molly Saghirian Crellin, and Nicole Tateosian for all their time and effort for making this a successful program for the Somerville community. The recipients will enter into college programs in the fall, and have exemplified our motto "Fortitudine Vincimus."
 |
| left-right: SRR President Urvi Mujumdar, scholarship recipients, and Scholarship Committee member Heather Hagerty |
Race Recap: 4th Annual Race to the Row 5k, Fast Mile and Kids' Run
A thank-you message from Scott Abrams, Director, SRR's Race to the Row
Let me start out by saying the SRR has some of the most amazing people as members. Folks were still signing up to volunteer almost until the day of the race. I appreciate that so much. We basically filled up every spot we needed. On top of that, other SRR folks were just pitching in wherever they saw a need for some additional support. Didn't need to be asked, just jumped in. If you ever want to start your own race, make sure you've cozied up to Steve Vaitones who is a race director's guardian angel. Thank you everyone who came out on Sunday to help put this great event on. This is how we are able to donate so much to our charities.
Thank you to my awesome race committee of Tim Morin, Julie Holt, Mark Duggan, Carrie-Anne DeDeo, Jenn Fonda, Stephanie Finnegan and Laurie Gagnon. These guys took on so many different responsibilities over the last six months and everyone chipped in with enthusiasm, especially on race day.
We are all very happy with how the races turned out, especially considering the curves in the road we always have to deal with. As has become our custom, we had to move our headquarters and party area for the fourth year in a row, and we moved the Fast Mile course as well. Both of those changes actually worked out for the better and these will probably become permanent. There was a lot of growth in the event. The Fast Mile grew from 17 runners in the first year to 80 registrants this year. The winner ran a 4:44 which hopefully will lead to making this a more competitive race. We had around 75 youngsters in the Kids Fun Run which is probably close to double last year. The 5K race went off smoothly as well and it was such a great site to watch racers pretty much taking over every road in Assembly Square.
If you came out to Race to the Row, we hope you had a great time. If you stayed until the end of the party, you know our supply of Harpoon beer didn't run out, and you probably woke up on Monday with a headache and bouncy house burns on your knees.
If you have any feedback at all about the Race to the Row, positive or negative, please feel free to reach out to me and let me know. We are always looking for ways to make this better. Next year's race is scheduled for Sunday, August 20, 2017. Don't plan your bachelor party, wedding or kid's birth that weekend, please!
Member Spotlight: Greg Soutiea
How long have you been running with SRR? 6 years?
Where are you from?
Originally from St. Louis, but have lived in Boston for the past 7 years.
What's your favorite race, and why?
It's gotta always be the Boston Marathon. It was the first race I ever saw on TV that I told myself "I will run that one day." I remember very clearly as I was waiting tables in college on a Monday morning and seeing it on TV above the bar after I had run the Chicago marathon (my first) the previous fall.
 |
| Greg with one mile to go at the Boston Marathon! |
Most unusual thing seen on a run:
Once, in the middle of winter ran through Oak Square I saw a car on with a baby inside with absolutely nobody around. I waited for what felt like hours (probably was 3-5 minutes) and as I was about to call the police a woman finally came over to the car. I felt like I was on the show What Would You Do and I was being videotaped to see how I would react.
Recent PR or race accomplishment:
Winning the 24 hour event at 3 Days at the Fair with 123 total miles run in 24 hours. It wasn't as many as I hoped, but several things didn't go as planned and luckily it was enough miles to still get the win in my first ever attempt at this event.
Why do you love being a part of SRR?
The people. Hands down. Getting involved with SRR when I first moved to Boston was one of the best decisions I made. The events, the weekly runs, the giving back, and the other SRR activities are all great, but none of it would be the same without the great people who make up the club.
Running shoe of choice:
Mostly the Hoka Bondi for longer distance, but I still rotate in the Saucony Kinvara for shorter or faster miles and racing.
What is something that your teammates might not know about you?
Hmm..it turns out all the cool stuff I do has to do with running! When I'm not working or running I try to volunteer my time with local organizations whenever possible. I regularly volunteer with the United Way of Mass Bay and I've worked with several other organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, Jamie Oliver Food Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs, and others. I think I've been fortunate in my life and look forward to being able to help others who may need a helping hand.
Quote of the Month
"I always loved running…it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs." - Jesse Owens
