The Conqueror - Summer 2017

The Summer 2017 Edition of the Conqueror was compiled and edited by Urvi Mujumdar and Carrie-Anne DeDeo

Welcome! As you may have noticed, The Conqueror took a little hiatus. But never fear--we’re back now to catch you up on all the awesome things SRR has been up to in the first half of 2017, plus some exciting events and opportunities to look forward to in the future. We finish this edition with a very special member spotlight.

Announcements

• Read a recap of the annual awards presented at the Post-Holiday Bash on January 20th. Thank you again to all who attended, volunteered, and helped organize!
• SRR was named one of two Best Running Clubs in the Northeast by Competitor!
• Have you renewed your membership for 2017? If not, here is the Membership Sign-Up.
• Interested in a calendar that brings together all SRR events in one place? Soon you’ll have it! Thank you to club member, Irene Lanois for taking on this project. Stay tuned for info on how to subscribe.
• Did you know the Bur-Run has been on a consecutive streak for over 8 years now? Join the Monday night fun! Info can be found at the Bur-Run Page. Thank you to current organizer Seth Maleri and prior coordinator Paul Venuti, who have been manning this run every week for 3+ years!
• The Casey’s Thursday Night Summer Streak competition is currently in progress! Stay tuned to weekly updates posted on the Facebook group or visit the Casey's Page. Thank you to current organizer Irene Lanois!  
• This year's Red Sox Runner's Night will be Wednesday, August 2, vs. Cleveland @ 7:10pm. Bleacher seats are $30, and the Budweiser Deck & bar will be open for us to hang out and socialize with members of our club as well as other local running groups starting at 5:40pm. (Grandstand seats are $32, but the view from the bleachers is better!) Follow the link to purchase tickets by July 31st. You can see who else is attending and where they're seated by clicking on the "Show All Attendees" button.
• The SRR board is proud to announce the confirmation of the following July appointed positions. Congratulations to our new and continuing officers!
• Boston Marathon Coordinator: Tina Tobey Mack
• Grand Prix Coordinators: Tim Blanchard and Victor Gonzalez
• Kids Program Coordinators: Darren Cormier and Shane McNally
• Marketing Coordinator: Emily Munoz
• Webmaster: Sara Radkiewicz

The board would also like to say a hearty thank you to our outgoing officers--Grand Prix Coordinators Tom Breider and Tom Bok as well as Webmaster Adrian Bellando--for their years of service to the club.

Recap of the Year To Date

• Wintah Challenge

Thank you to Deb Downs and an awesome committee for planning and carrying out a fun tradition on a bitterly cold day! The usual Casey’s route was mixed in with snow angels, snowballs, powdered donuts, and a dance to the finish.

Photo Credit: Nicole Tateosian

• In March, our newly elected Board of Directors and Club Officers took office. Thank you to Club President Julie Holt, Vice President Nichole Bukowski, Secretary Paola Massoli, Treasurer Stephanie Finnegan, and Members at Large Jason Lachapelle and Melissa Glotzbecker for leading us into the new year!
• Special congratulations to Julie Holt! The previous board wrote a nomination for Julie to be considered for a Leadership Development Scholarship through the Road Runners Club of America. She was selected and attended the annual convention (held in Detroit, MI) this March!
• Pictured below, the board is never bored at our monthly board meetings!

Photo credit Laura Buso

• An Ras Mor celebrated its 20th year on March 26th this year! Thank you to Joe O’Leary and the committee and volunteers for making it happen.  Below, happy volunteers Victor Gonzalez and Molly and Mireya Crellin.

Photo courtesy Pensri Pilotte

• April was a busy month as 50+ SRRs once again took the field at the 121st Boston Marathon! Despite an unseasonably warm day, several SRRs made their mark including our own Deb Downs featured below on her way to a course PR of 3:10.

Photo courtesy Paul Nelson

• May was a month of community spirit! The SRR Kids Program came to a close at the Mystic River Herring Run. Many runners and volunteers braved the cold rain at MOM’s Run (to benefit Dana Farber), and scholarships were awarded to local Somerville High School graduates.  

• In June, the annual 26x1 Club Challenge Relay brought together teams from across the area and capped off the SRR Grand Prix. The committee put together a great event at a new location (Hormel Stadium in Medford, MA) this year. Pictured below, the top female Emma Kosciak came back all the way from Texas for this hand-off!

Photo courtesy Deb Downs

• SRR Grand Prix Results can be found at http://goo.gl/5v1msX.  Congratulations to all participants and winners. Thank you to the Toms (Breider and Bok) for putting on a fabulous series! Stay tuned for details on the awards party.

• Most recently, a crew of awesome SRR volunteers braved a hot day at the Mile 5 water stop at the BAA 10K. For future volunteer opportunities, contact Irene Lanois at volunteer@srr.org

Photo courtesy Irene Lanois

Toe the Line: Upcoming Races

SRR Event: 5th Annual Race to the Row 5K, Fast Mile, and Kids Fun Run

Where: 275 Foley St., Assembly Square, Somerville MA (map)

When: Sunday, August 20th @ 9:00 a.m.

The Race to the Row 5K will run through the Assembly Square District and along the Mystic River, ending with a fun-filled post-party and beer garden! There's also a Fast Mile race and a free Kids Fun Run! Proceeds will be donated to East Somerville Main Streets, the Somerville TrackPAC, and Somerville Auxiliary Police.

Click here to REGISTER TODAY!

We rely on the energy and enthusiasm of our volunteers to make the Race to the Row a success. Whether you’re running or not, there’s guaranteed to be a volunteer opportunity that’s right for you. All volunteers get admission into the post-race party, featuring free beer, pizza, and ice cream!

Click here to VOLUNTEER TODAY!

USATF Grand Prix - New England 

• SRR USATF Members planning on running the BayState Marathon can get a 10% registration discount. For the discount code, email Coach Joe O’Leary at track@srr.org

• SRR-paid entry to the Lone Gull 10k (Sep 24, Gloucester MA) is available now. To get the club to pay for your entry, all you have to do is enter their information on the following spreadsheet before September 10: https://tinyurl.com/ya7xvptp You must be a paid SRR member and a USATF member, and SRR must be your USATF club. Nobody will be officially entered until September 10th, so you can change your mind until then. Only people who have changed the "Confirmed" box to "YES" will be entered on that date (so it's safe to enter your data and leave "Confirmed" as "NO" if you are a not sure). Coach Joe will confirm with everyone on the list before I make the entries.

• More info on the annual USATF-NE Grand Prix

Exciting Things to Come!

Introducing SRR's Own Epic Summer Long Run Series!  

Forecast: Hazy, hot, and humid with the strong possibility of beer.

The Long Run Committee kicked off the summer with three fun-filled long run events (and post-run celebrations) this summer. We strongly encourages you to save the remaining dates in the list below. Thank you to the hosts of all past and upcoming runs!! Stay tuned for more detail as events approach. All are welcome!  

Saturday, 5/6      Scotoberfest Spring Edition Trail Run & BBQ (Belmont)

Saturday, 6/24      Viv's Invitational Long Run & BBQ (Somerville)

Saturday, 7/15    Summer Beer Run & BBQ (Arlington) - 9.5 miles, 3 beers

Saturday, 8/12    Long Run & Corn Hole Tourney (Somerville)

Saturday, 9/16    No Frills 30K on the Charles (Watertown)

SRR Expands Our Community Workout Opportunities

Looking to beat the summer heat and kick off your week knowing you accomplished a killer workout? Come get your sunrise miles and strength in with the Somerville Road Runners on Monday mornings. Our Summer Sunrise Stride & Strength workout gives you the opportunity to run morning hills followed up by a strength circuit. This workout is open to current members as well as to anyone interested in checking out SRR.

Questions?  Reach out to Nichole Bukowski at nichole.bukowski@gmail.com

Time: 6:00 am on Mondays

Location: Meet on Powder House Boulevard at the bottom of Packard Ave.

Starting Date: Monday July 31st and repeats each Monday through the summer

SRR T-Shirt Design Contest

We are looking for your ideas and input. We want to offer a greater variety of fun casual SRR gear for our members to kick around town in. Is there a fun running slogan, pun, or image you want on a t-shirt, hat, sweatshirt, etc.? Let us know what it is!  We are accepting the full mock-up design--or just shoot us your ideas and we can create the mock-up.

Check out one of the designs our current rockstar SRR member Anthony White submitted. Who doesn't want to wear this fun and stylish shirt around town? As we know, SRR Runs This Town!

All who send in ideas will be entered in a drawing to win free SRR swag. Spread the word!

Send your ideas to marketing@srr.org or nichole.bukowski@gmail.com (club VP).  

Artwork by Mauricio Salmon

Member Spotlight: Milly Serafin-Breider

How long have you been running and a part of SRR?

I was born into SRR, so I’ve been a member my whole life! I didn’t start running until I was a year old, but I have run several 5Ks in my six years. I prefer to go and cheer for my teammates over running though because I get to wear my SRR hoodie and then lick everyone at the finish line!

Where are you from?

I am from Buffalo, NY!

Fave race and why

I love the Boston Marathon. I’ve never run it, but it’s the best race to lick runners at ‘cause they are so sweaty!

Most unusual thing seen on a run

Once, I saw a guy pulling a tire while running up Packard Ave.!

Recent PR or race accomplishment

I would have to say it was the “mud run” 5K at Pineland Farms. It wasn’t a PR, but I was very proud of the fact that I ran through mud up to my shoulders and finished the race strong!

Why do you love being a part of SRR?

I love SRR because there are so many people to lick! Also for all the good friends I’ve made through the club, including (but not limited to) Ziggy, Penelope, Kona and Presley, Hobbes…

Would you recommend joining SRR to your friends, and if so, why?

I feel like SRR is the hot new dating site. I got my mom and dad together by being cute and winning my dad’s heart. He wanted to take me for walks and buy me things, and he thought my mom was okay too. After some convincing, and some (a lot of) help from me, they finally went out on a date and now they are married!

Running shoe of choice

I prefer to go bare paw.

What is something that your teammates might not know about you?

I like to practice yoga while I am out for a walk. I can do a handstand while doing my doody, and sometimes I almost flip myself over!  

Quote of the Season

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”—Aristotle

The Conqueror - Summer Recap 2016

You may have noticed that The Conqueror has been vacation. We're back with more SRR news and info for you, but moving forward we will be publishing on a quarterly schedule. Look for Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter editions!

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!

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?

Greg with one mile to go at the Boston Marathon!

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. 

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

The Conqueror - May 2016

Announcements

Toe the Line: Recent & Upcoming Races

• May 21: SRR Grand Prix Race #4, Playworks 5k, 10am, Dorchester
• June 25: SRR 26x1 Team Relay
• Congratulations to everyone who ran the New Jersey Marathon and Half Marathon, the Providence Marathon and Half, and of course, the Boston Marathon!
• Chris Klucznik finished fourth overall at the Providence Marathon
• Hsien Chung Tseng and Cheng-Chih Yeng both completed their first marathon under goal time in Providence 
• Tim Morin and Tom Brieder both broke three hours in the New Jersey marathon
• Despite the heat, there were many great performances at Boston - see the full recap and results below

An eager committee member reports for duty!
Photo courtesy of Julie Holt

Call for Committee Members

Would you like to help SRR with one of our various race committees? We need your help! Being on a race committee is a great way to get more involved in the club, give back and learn more about our role in the Somerville community, and meet your fellow members. We have something for everyone, from marketing to race-day logistics to planning that awesome post-race party. As a first step, visit the SRR Annual Races page and email info@srr.org and we can point you in the right direction!

The SRR Amazing Race

Mark your calendar: we'll be holding the first annual SRR Amazing Race run to celebrate National Running Day and Global Running Day on Wednesday, June 1! This 5k fun run will be a friendly team competition, with prizes for our winners. Stay tuned for more details to come on our facebook page and yahoo message board!

SRR News

Boston Marathon 2016 Recap

Kate O'Malley and Victor Gonzalez show SRR spirit
at the Cheer Zone! Photo courtesy of Nicole Tateosian

Now that the 120th Boston Marathon is behind us (and the 50th anniversary for women!), we would once again like to thank the entire SRR village for making this a great experience! The list of shout-outs goes well beyond this: Nichole Bukowski and Aaron Beer (Course long run), Irene Lanois, Jenn Fonda, John Gorvin, Heather Hagerty (for help with the Casey's Pasta Party and Sean Collier Memorial Run), Melissa Glotzbecker (and the volunteers at the Boston Marathon expo), Jon Bean, Irene Lanois, and Laura Buso (Cheer Zone/Elite Water Stop Coordinators), Julie Holt and Nichole Bukowski (#SRRRunsBoston and Guess the Weather fun!), Kimi Macdonald and Julie Holt (creating and ordering the popular Boston Marathon shirts!), Kate O'Malley (winner of the Cheer Zone Cheer Award!), Victor Gonzalez, Sarah Wright (for your helpful cheers and team support at the 30K), Gordon Pilotte and the folks at the Burren (awesome after party), Kathy Hynes (bus coordinator), Tina Mack (hotel coordinator), and Jesse Edsell-Veter (Boston Marathon coordinator) for putting it all together.  The list goes on, and please know everyone's help was appreciated! 

Robert Cipriano at the 30k on his way to an age-group win!
Photo courtesy of Andy Marinelli

SRR Boston Marathon Results (courtesy of Coach Joe O'Leary):
* An age group win by Robert Cipriano, the first in the history of SRR 
* A top-ten age group performance by Wolfgang Ketterle
*Men's Masters team took SECOND overall! (Robert Cipriano, Greg Picklesimer, Wolfgang Ketterle)
*Full list of SRR Results including PRs

May Photo Contest: #SRRFuelMyRun

We had so many great Boston Marathon photo submissions last month. Congratulations to our April #SRRRunsBoston contest winner, George Woodward!

What's Fueling Your Run these days? Do you read up on the latest Runner's World articles searching for "newly released power foods" in search of your PR? Then again we hear that those nibbling on swedish fish mid-run are happy and running just fine. Perhaps you are fueled by something greater than food...now we're getting all deep on you. You thought this was just a running club social media contest didn't you? ;)  Are you fueled by a morning sunset, the shirtless crew team on the Charles, the reward of more ice cream for your miles, morning laughs with friends, or post run celebrations? The time is NOW! Let us and let the world know what Fuels Your Run! All entries are put in a drawing each month to win a prize. Use #SRRFuelMyRun on our SRR facebook page or instagram (tag us: @somervilleroadrunners) to be entered in the drawing to win!

Casey's News

It was a very busy month at Casey’s! On April 14^th we held our annual Pre-Marathon Pasta Dinner and Sean Collier Memorial run. Well over a 100 people came to honor Sean and enjoy the festivities, and we were even featured on both the Somerville Community Access Television and also on channel 7 news. This month has also seen a bunch of new faces and the return of some past regulars.

April also saw many SRR members and Casey’s regulars running marathons. Between Boston, Providence, and New Jersey, a lot of miles were covered by SRR! 

We are looking for any suggestions of things that folks may want to see at Casey’s. Please give us a hand by letting us know your thoughts and fill out this quick survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6V5SS7N 

Lastly, we are still working on getting the results posted again. Some of the missing results should be going up soon, but it will take some time to track the PRs (we will let everyone know once those are all organized).

See everyone on Thursdays!

Race Report: Providence Half Marathon

"Where I am right now might not be where I was, or where I want to be, but it is where I am just now." Read more about Urvi Mujumdar's Providence Half Marathon: Just This Mile.

Member Spotlight: James Klucznik

James is an accomplished SRR spectator, and his father Chris came back from a stress fracture to place 4th overall in the marathon (with just three weeks of training, nonetheless!)

James Klucznik and dad Chris after the
2016 Providence Marathon!

Age: 2
Weight: 26
Nickname: James, Jamesey
Day Job: Hanging out, Playing, Napping
PRs: 10 meters – 5s

How long you have been running and a part of SRR? 
I started running in June 2015. Crawling is for babies and when I want to be sneaky, walking is boring to be honest, but running is where the fun is! I like to think that I became an SRR member on April 20, 2014. Technically dad had done the family membership although I still don’t think he’s remembered to include me in the family listing – some lame excuse about me not having an email address.

Dad started running back in middle school and claims he did high school track although I haven’t seen any picture evidence yet. He took some time off from running for awhile after high school before joining SRR in June 2011. He said it was a fun summer of track workouts and was talked into running the Baystate Marathon by Tom Breider. He’s been running since, except when broken with injuries which makes him sad.

Mom was a swimmer in high school and an occasional runner afterward. Mom claims that when she and dad were first together, mom would run 4-5 days a week while dad would sleep in every day.

Where you are from?
Born in Cambridge, first few months in Somerville, now living in Needham. I do miss Somerville. Dad grew up in Canton and mom in Westford.

What is your favorite race and why?
Good question. Well I decided to come out 4.5 weeks early to watch my first Boston marathon. Luckily dad didn’t seem to mind missing the race, he seemed pretty happy to hang out and keep me warm at Mt. Auburn. I was born on my first Easter and watched my first marathon on tv at the hospital the next day. Dad and I got to watch Meb go for the win, then we actually got to see Pick propose to Carla on tv! Besides Boston, I just enjoy any race I get to run with mom or dad or watch the runners go by. I could see myself doing this someday! I know if dad could pick, it would probably be Doyles, Gobble x 3, or the Boston Marathon. Mom is partial to the Tufts 10K, the Dennis 5 Miler, and any race where she gets to run with me. She claims I’m getting heavy now, but it’s fun for me!

What's the most unusual thing you've seen on a run?
Turkeys! Lots and lots of turkeys!

Favorite thing to see on a run?
Choo choos!

Favorite Workout Songs?
Taylor Swift – Shake it Off.

What's a goal you're working towards?
Making it through a run without pooping in my diaper and/or falling asleep.

Why do you love being a part of SRR? 
Everyone is so welcoming and friendly. It looks like a fun club for every type of runner. It doesn’t matter your pace, favorite distance, or reason for running, everyone shares a love for running and being part of a supportive group. It’s fun being at races and seeing so many SRR singlets and support along the course for everyone.

What is something that your teammates might not know about you?
I have a baby brother coming in August!

Quote of the Month

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." 
- John Bingham

The Conqueror - April 2016

Announcements

Toe the Line: Recent & Upcoming Races

• April 18: 120th BAA Boston Marathon
• Over 50 SRRs will be tackling Boston on Marathon Monday. Good luck and we'll see you at the 30k!
• April 23: Spring Classic 5k, Cambridge, 9:30am
• The Spring 2016 Kids' Program race will be the Mystic River Herring 5k, May 15th. If you are interested in being a pacer, please email kids@srr.org.

Boston Marathon 2016

One of our favorite times of the year is here! Months of hard training give way to excited - and maybe nervous - anticipation of one of the world's most prestigious racing events. From the pre-race pasta party and the 30k Elite Water Stop Cheer Zone, to the post-race hotel suite and Burren after-party, our club works hard support our fellow runners as they tackle the storied Boston Marathon. Good luck runners, and thank you to our many volunteers and club members who make this week so memorable for us all!

For your one-stop guide to Marathon Week SRR-style, visit  http://www.srr.org/boston-marathon/

Guess the Weather Contest

Yup....you heard us right. We are inviting you to guess the weather on Marathon Monday. Will it be another April snowstorm, a scorcher for the record books, a 50 mile tail-wind pushing our runners through the streets to Boylston? We are tough and ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at us....so why not add a little levity to the anticipation of planning our flat runner outfits and spectator gear?!    

Volunteers secure signage at the 30k during the monsoon of 2015!
Photo: Tom Cole

The Details: One entry per person, guess the exact temperature in Hopkinton when the first wave goes off at 10:00 am on Monday April 18th & guess the weather conditions (sunny, overcast, hail, rain, snow, cloudy, etc.) Entries can be submitted using this form up until 9:59 am on Monday April 18th. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yYSVkvINejNRE2JYtm3rEjE6HyC1aCmy-gzn8zB5xqE/viewform

The winner will receive an SRR T-shirt. If more than one person enters the same information and guesses correctly then we will draw a winner from those entries. 

April Photo Contest: #SRRRunsBoston

Congratulations to our March #SRRRunsGreen contest winners, Christophe Attias and Liza Neustatter!

It truly takes a village to support our SRR community in prepping for and running the marathon each year. Show your support and gratitude for all things SRR Boston Marathon this year by submitting a picture to our monthly social media contest. Tag yourself picking up your bib, kissing the finish line or a spectator along the screaming tunnel in Wellesley, volunteering at number pick-up, carbing up, high-fiving the black and gold, celebrating your commitment to training and supporting your SRR community. It takes all involved to make this happen each year.  All entries are put in a drawing each month to win a prize. Use #SRRrunsBoston on our SRR facebook or instagram page to be entered in the drawing to win!

News

Boston Marathon Course Run Recap

The group gathers near the start line in Hopkinton

Once again those running the Boston Marathon built up their legs, hearts, and souls at the end of March with a long run on the Boston Marathon Course. This Boston Prep run is made possible each year by the incredible generosity of our SRR Marathon Course Prep Run Coordinator and all the volunteers who drive our runners out to Hopkinton, man the aid stations, and give us high fives and bum slaps along the way. Our very own Aaron Beer did a stellar job organizing this event.  Now our marathoners are ready to rumble on April 18!  #SRRrunsBoston


SRR Second Saturday Run Recap

Top: Hanging out at the Janji store
Bottom: A visit with Heartbreak Bill at the Newton Firehouse

This past Saturday April 9th marked our 3rd SRR Second Saturday Community Run. These have been a great success and are open to runners of all paces, abilities, and distance interests. Our January and February runs were hosted out of Au Bon Pain in Davis Square and concluded with hungry and thirsty runners gathering at Orleans in Davis post run. Our April run was hosted by the local running company Janji, which currently has a "pop-up" store-front on Newbury Street in Boston. Many SRRs ran along the Charles River from the Newbury store location and chatted over coffee bagels and discount shopping at Janji post run. Big shout out to to Janji for hosting us, feeding us, and giving us a discount on your running apparel line, which we love for the mission. Their mission is "Run For Another". A proceed of each of their sales supports clean water in chosen countries of need. We look forward to seeing you for our next SRR Second Saturday Community Run May 14th at 9am from Au Bon Pain in Davis Square. #SRRSecondSaturdayRun



Casey's News
This month Karen Vitali and Alison Lackey stepped down as the Casey’s Run co-coordinators, we are all very thankful for the hard work and dedication that they brought each week to Casey’s for the last two years! Irene Lanois has taken over as Casey's coordinator and is excited to be taking on this role.

Some exciting announcements: First, effective immediately, the timing sheet will be posted to Facebook on Thursday nights right after the run! We are also working on getting back to posting the results to the website. Second, we will be including a monthly update in this newsletter. The update will highlight PRs, newcomers, run streaks, upcoming events and more. 

Upcoming Events: On Thursday April 14^th the Casey’s run will include our annual Sean Collier Memorial Run and Pre-Marathon Pasta Party. Prior to the start of the run, there will be a moment of silence for Sean and we will run in his memory. After the run please join us at Casey’s for a pasta dinner to get those running Boston fully carbo-loaded! We will also be collecting donations (cash, or checks made out to Somerville Road Runners) for the Sean Collier Memorial Scholarship. 

Race Report: New Bedford Half Marathon

Read Mark Duggan's epic tale of his mad dash to the finish after his mad dash to the start: For Want of a Chip Time: Mark Duggan's New Bedford Half Marathon

2016 Club Election Results

Elections took place Monday 3/14. Congratulations to all the newly elected board members and club officers! The list of officers has been posted on the SRR website. Please reach out to the board with any questions, ideas, or to learn more getting more involved with SRR!

Member Spotlight: Jenn Fonda

You may know Jenn as the Boston Marathon coordinator for 2015 and the fearless leader of the SRR Kids' Program for the last few seasons. 

How long you have been running and a part of SRR? 

I've been running since 2007 and joined SRR in March 2013.

Where you are from?

I spent most of my childhood in Rome, NY.

Jenn at the BAA 10k in 2015
Photo by Tom Cole

What is your favorite race and why?

Even though I had less than ideal race conditions last year I would still say the Boston Marathon.  I've watched the marathon every year since 2000 and it was incredible to finally be a part of such a historical race.  

What's the most unusual thing you've seen on a run?

A bike with wheels almost as large as a unicyle.  They were riding it on Beacon St close to Kenmore as if it was a normal thing to do.

What's a goal you're working towards?

I'm running my first trail race, a half marathon, at the end of this month.

Why do you love being a part of SRR? 

I joined SRR for the friendship and running companions but I got so much more.  I love the encouragement that everyone in SRR gives whether your chasing a PR, conquering a new challenge, or trying to get through an injury (I've had my share the past few years). 

What is something that your teammates might not know about you?

I've seen two no hitters--Jim Abbott at the old Yankee stadium and Derek Lowe at Fenway on my birthday!

Quote of the Month

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." - Pre