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Quick bites... Dues Due - Don't forget to mail in your membership dues for '08!
Payable to: Squannacook River Runners, P.O. Box 451, Groton, MA 01450 $10 Indv - $25 Fam
The Groton Road Race needs your help! Contact Anthony to volunteer.
Contact Kim to help distribute flyers
From the Editor - Hi Folks, Chris here, send articles, news, cash and complaints to me @cyktrussell@yahoo.com
The Club Website has a new face!
The new SqRR website http://www.sqrr.org - tell Sue Hoxie what you think! |
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Upcoming Races to consider...
Folks - No pressure but it's always good to have something to train for. If you're like the majority of us - you'll never win anything - but the challenge is what keep us going in the race against ourselves and old age!
Run to the Beach 30k
Groton Road Race!
Eastern States
Boston Marathon!
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Going to Boston!
You may be aware that the BAA grants the SqRR 5 entries to the 'big race' every year. We distribute these to deserving members. This allows people who are active in the sport to bypass the qualifying standards and still get a 'legal' entry. It's still not easy and requires hours of long, cold, lonely training. So let's give them our warm support! Even if you're not running the race you can still come out and watch on Patriot's day. Also we'd love to have you come into the club-sponsored hotel room at the finish line and join us for some refreshments and whining!
Three cheers for our 2008 entrants and all their hard work:
Jason, Maria, Devon, and Brooks |
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Thursday Night Headlamp Runs!
It all started after a Group Run in late November when several, slightly insane, individuals discussed the possibility of staging a weekly Headlamp Run during the winter months.
It was a simple discussion that went sort of like this, "Hey would anyone be interested in a Headlamp Run this week? A few others responded, "Sure" and poof!, a tradition was born.
The first few Headlamp Runs consisted of a small core group of runners, it consisted of running for 40 minutes on the snowy, crusty Rail Trail with an occasional off-road excursion.
We changed the Headlamp Run to Thursday evenings in late December once the Groton School track became available.
For some strange reason, it seemed to snow every Wednesday or Thursday evening. We soon realized that having our headlamps and reflective vests on, and the limited traffic on the road that late in the evening, it actually may be pretty safe to run on local 'back roads' instead of attempting the muscle the snow covered Rail Trail or the Hill of Death.
The Thursday night staging point is now the Rail Trail Parking Lot in Ayer. The thought was that if anyone was interested in staying off the main roads and just wanted to get a flat 5K run in (or longer/shorter), then the Rail Trail would be perfect.
After the 2nd Thursday Night Headlamp Run in Ayer, Mark Graf asked if anyone wanted to repair to JP O'Hanlon's for some post-run liquid hydration. Now that is LEADERSHIP my friends!!!!!!! Did we make a wise decision in electing Mark our Club President or what!!!!!!!!!!!
We are referred to as 'The Men in Tights', by Roisin, our lovely Irish Bartender. For some strange reason, participation has dramatically increased after our move to Ayer, could it JP O'Hanlon's?
Rain, snow, sleet, or cold, we run. We generally meet at the Rail Trail Parking Lot in Ayer at 8:30pm every Thursday evening unless an email is sent out informing the members otherwise. We run anywhere between 3 -½ to 6 miles at a conversational pace. This is a social run. We stay together as a group for safety reasons. If anyone is interested in joining us but does not have a headlamp, just shoot us an email and show up, many of us have extra headlamps.
If you are looking for some variety in your weekly running schedule, please considering giving the Thursday Night Headlamp Run a try. We can't promise it will shave seconds off your 5K time, but we will promise great conversation, a unique running experience, great company, and a high probability of snow.
Respectfully Submitted,
Anthony Mavilia |
Inspiration
I read a great quote in an interview in Runner's World recently that said
'Running is physical prayer"
Here's another...
"Consult not your fears, but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do."
- Pope John XXIII, theologian | |
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Message from El Presidente
Welcome to the Q1 Newsletter!
I hope you can look back on a rewarding year of running in '07, and that 2008 blesses you with many happy, injury free miles out on the roads and trails.
I am encouraged by all the fun ideas and "events" we've begun dreaming up. Let's keep it up!
The character and vitality of the club derives directly from the enthusiasm of its members, and we have a really great bunch of people.
So let's enjoy each other's company and help each other stay motivated and healthy! See you out there!
Mark Graf, "the prez" |
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Welcome New Members!
In their own words...
Tom Knatt: 67 years old, has been a racewalker for 37 years, and is planning to compete at the World Masters Indoor Championships in France, March 2008. www.clermont2008.com.
Michelle DeVellis: My husband (David) and I moved to Groton last March and we absolutely love living here. I will leave my job at a venture capital company in Boston in January to start my own tutoring business. I enjoy reading, running, skiing, and (from April - September) cheering on David's baseball team. I have found it difficult over the last several years to make time for all of these activities, but I am more optimistic now that I can ditch the Boston commute. I am hopeful that the SqRR can help me to get back in shape and renew my commitment to running. I look forward to meeting all of you and to sweating on the trail!
Devon Skerrit: Seven years ago I watched the Boston Marathon and was amazed and inspired. My first real race was in 2004, the Utica Boilermaker 15K
(1:20:55) while I was working for my alma mater, Colgate University, in Hamilton, NY. Since then, my career in higher education has taken me to Philadelphia (Penn for grad school), Worcester (Holy Cross) and now to Harvard. I ran the Boston half in 2005, my first marathon in Chicago 2006, and Philadelphia marathon in November 2007. I'm new to Groton and SqRR and I'm incredibly appreciative of the spirit, camaraderie, and support. Running Boston is a privilege and the pinnacle of my marathon training.
Razia Shoyeb: I moved from San Diego and needed to run outdoors during the weekend and maybe also winter. I joined SqRR, after the Groton Trail Race and reading about SqRR website. Club activities are things I like to do and the members are very nice and friendly.
Jason Shamberger: I've experienced the excitement of the Boston Marathon as a spectator, and I can't wait to be part of the race. Running Boston will make 2008 a year to remember!
Dave Boyle: Greetings Fish. A couple of run-on sentences about me: I'm really not a runner but have run in several road races over the years. I play baseball, basketball, hockey, tennis and several other sports. Running to me is a great way to stay in shape. I'm the Operations Manager at a small bio-tech company in Waltham, and I live in Maynard. I have two great kids: My son Sam who's 11 and my daughter Vanessa (7) who came in first in the Ayer Thanksgiving 5K, her first Road Race. |
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Groton Road Race 2008
The planning for the 2008 Groton Road Race is in full swing. On January 3, we opened up online registration, and the registrations began happening immediately!!
Some highlights of the planning:
- Race day is Sunday, April 27th. The forecast is for sunny skies, light breezes and temperatures in the high 60s. Get it on your calendar!
- A lot will be the same as in past years: we have continued to refine our process and our teamwork. We have discussed a few refinements that should make our job easier and the event more fun for the public.
- Mostly what's new is new faces: Anthony Mavilia has contributed his race-director experience (Ayer Thanksgiving 5K) and is giving us lots of ideas and energy.
Susan Preiss has been doing a great job of writing and spreading publicity; Kim Sheffield is gearing up to leaflet the Northeast with applications (see below)
Mark Gerath is contributing his wisdom, connections and home (see below!)
Former ringers Sue and John Lachance will be helping Dave Wilder with the course management
Brian Irwin is bravely taking over the reins of the intense finish line operation. Have I missed anyone? Probably. Come to a race meeting to see how it is happening.
We have decided to eliminate the traditional bag-stuffing event on the weekend before the race. Instead, we plan to stuff bags on the Saturday of registration (April 26th) (bright and early in the morning). This will save us the logistical hassle of lugging materials in and out of Legion Hall. Bag stuffing is still a lot of fun, so come early on Saturday and pitch in.
A perennial issue: we need committed volunteers!! Anthony Mavilia has courageously taken on the task of coordinating volunteers. The trouble is, he knows you all are out there, but he doesn't know who you are. Believe me, Anthony is a roll-with-the-punches guy (just who you want on your local firefighting force, but he's jittery about this.
Please contact Anthony (alm91397@verizon.net) and make arrangements to volunteer on race weekend.
We have a location for the Cast Party!! Mark Gerath has volunteered to host the party at his home in Groton center, which features a large house, barn and yard. Best of all, it is just across the street from the race, so we can literally stumble over there after the festivities. Plan to come and unwind!
Feel free to join in - this is not a closed operation. See you soon.
- Gordon Row , Race Director. |
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Q1 Race Wrap-up...
Since we last spoke the Fish have competed in a bunch of events!
We had an outstanding and overwhelming Mill Cities turn out. See the video...
We also had members compete in:
- P'nut Butter Chip Chase
- Hangover Classic
- Derry Prep 16 Miler
- Martha's Vineyard 20 Miler
- Super 5k
- Hyannis Marathon
- Stu's 30k
...and others - We just keep stacking up the medals and T-shirts.
Remember - if you go to a race bring some Groton Road Race Flyers to distribute. |
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Race of the Month!
One of the traditions I would like to continue to build in the Club is the "Race of the Month", whereby we select one upcoming, local race each month and try to get as many Fishies as possible to partake. It's fun when a big swarm (school?) of blue-uniformed Squannies show up in strength, and it's good to support local races. (We sure like it when other runners do that for our race, don't we?)
So we have dedicated a "Race of the Month" page to this on the new website. http://www.sqrr.org/activities/racing.html
Please suggest any cool local races to add to our list.
Thanks for your support.
Mark __._,_.___ |
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Headlamp Snowshoe Tours
Seven SqRR members extended the "Nighttime Headlamp Running" concept to a new dimension on January 17th by going for a moonlight snowshoe outing.
We started out across a frozen lake, then cut into the woods and hills without a specific itinerary. We followed deer, rabbit and coyote tracks. We followed cart trails, and the snowshoe tracks of others who had gone before us. All under the reassuring glow of our headlamps. We wound our way randomly up steep inclines, and along the bases of forbidding outcrops, until we felt it was time to return to warm quarters for food and libations.
Another group of Fishies snowshoed to the summit of Mt. Watatic on February 20th for a spectacular view of the lunar eclipse.
Additional similar adventures are being formulated all the time. What's your idea for a good time? We want to hear it.
Mark __._,_.___ | |
Got an article to contribute? Something funny, sad, contemporary or dramatic? Recipe? Favorite run? Rant? Epic heroic poem in iambic pentameter? Thow a couple couplets over the transom and we'll get you into print.
--->the editor's desk here at SqRR press!
See you out there,
Chris, |
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Sincerely,
Chris Russell
Squannacook River Runners |
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