April - May 2009 Issue #136 Striding Along Newsletter of the Gate City Striders Running Club In this issue: President’s Column............................................................................................................p.4 Youth Running...................................................................................................................p.7 Mother’s Day......................................................................................................................p.8 Rewire the Brain................................................................................................................p.11 The Rearview Mirror.........................................................................................................p.14 Racing Ahead....................................................................................................................p.16 12 X 26.2 = 60.....................................................................................................................p.20 Races of Interest...............................................................................................................p.25 Strider Wear........................................................................................................................p.46 Road ID..............................................................................................................................p.49 Membership Information..................................................................................................p.51 My First Marathon.............................................................................................................p.56 CLUB DIRECTORY Executive Board: Night Phone Day Phone E-mail President Michelle Poublon 603-595-2239 [email protected] VP/Communications Mark Sage 603-472-3668 [email protected] Treasurer Karen Long 603-880-9883 [email protected] Community Relations Jodie Ficociello-Dolan 603-521-8756 [email protected] Social Director Skip Cleaver 603-888-2318 603-305-9871 [email protected] Secretary Dan Dugan 603-595-0668 603-557-6755 [email protected] Membership Trevor Ward 603-262-5018 [email protected] Competition Michael Wade 603-889-1208 [email protected] Head Coach and Racing Team: Head Coach Dave Camire 978-430-5669 [email protected] Assistant Coach Jim Stronach 978-454-4172 [email protected] Assistant Coach Keith O’Brien 978-376-2426 [email protected] Assistant Coach Dave Dunham 978-474-9745 [email protected] Assistant Coach Brian Withers 603-289-5374 [email protected] Assistant Coach Richie Blake 978-649-6418 617-283-0043 [email protected] Assistant Coach Justin Soucy 603-893-3965 [email protected] Youth Coach Bill Spencer 603-882-4859 [email protected] Team Captains: Female Open Liz Fay 603-429-2446 [email protected] Female Masters Michelle Poublon 603-595-2239 [email protected] Female Seniors Emily Strong 603-595-7149 [email protected] Male Open (Open) Male Masters Michael Wade 603-889-1208 [email protected] Male Seniors Trevor Ward 603-262-5018 [email protected] Veterans Skip Cleaver 603-888-2318 603-305-9871 [email protected] Newsletter: Editor Richie Blake 978-649-6418 617-283-0043 [email protected] Race Results Julie Hanover 603-438-6043 [email protected] Jennifer Vincent 603-641-5159 [email protected] Race Apps Emily Strong 603-595-7149 [email protected] Other: Webmaster Steve Moland 603-315-0340 [email protected] Fitness U Director Leeann Ward 603-882-2238 [email protected] Strider Wear Steve Piper 603-465-2881 [email protected] Equipment Mgr Kevin Reynolds 603-891-1916 [email protected] April - May 2009 Striding Along 2 Cover photo: The Gate City Striders Racing Team at the New Bedford Half Marathon. Photoq by: Justin Platt Turn to page 55 for full size photo! Editor’s Note: Howdy fellow Striders, When the release of this issue was nearing, I was a bit concerned. It didn’t seem like we had a lot to say, and I wasn’t sure if we’d be able to fill enough space to have a really good issue. Thankfully I was wrong. Once the word was out, lots of great articles and photos Striding Along is published 6 times a came pouring in. year by members of the Gate City Striders, Inc. of Nashua, NH. For It’s hard to judge, and I know I’m a bit biased, but I’d have to say that correspondence or a membership this is one superb issue, and it’s all because of you, the members. We application, please write to: have some great writers and photographers in our midst. I only hope Gate City Striders that those who contributed to this issue, will continue to do so, and PO Box 3692 others will realize that they too, can have their say. Nashua, NH 03061 Visit our Web Site So please, keep writing, and shooting photos. You can make the www.GateCity.org cover! (I think this month’s cover is great! So good in fact, I also placed the photo in a larger size on page 55.) Our Mission Statement The Gate City Striders is an athletic I was also intrigued by the articles we have on marathons. From and social organization dedicated to someone running thier first, to someone running one each month. the promotion of running and fitness at all levels. Members vary in ability These were especially interesting to me, as I am about to partake in from beginning joggers to competitive my first ever marathon. (What a year for me, in my fortieth one... a marathoners. new job, my first marathon... and that marathon being Boston.. and I won a lottery entry for Mt. Washington, my 2nd.) Maybe by the time USA Track & Field Club # 157 I’m 60, I’ll be able to keep up with Dave. (For more on that, turn to Membership meetings page 20.) Merrimack YMCA 3rd Wednesday of month. I’ve had some ideas on what I might expect during my first marathon, Track workouts but I don’t know if I could say it better than Melissa does starting on Wednesday nights, Nashua High page 56.) School South, April thru October. Weekly runs at Pennichuck JH starting The benefits of cross training are well stated by Jody on page 11. the end of October (And it’s kind of neat to see others who have been positively effected by a book that I also enjoyed, Chi Running.) It is also great to welcome in lots of new people in their new positions.... Julie and Jennifer joining us in the Results department (I wonder if they knew what they were getting into?) Continued on page 49 April - May 2009 Striding Along 3 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN BY MICHELLE POUBLON welcome Karen Long, Trevor Ward, and Jodie Dolan to the 2009 GCS E-board and I would like to thank Michael and Mark for committing to a second term. I would also like to thank Ed, Deb, and Stan for all of their hard work while serving on the board – you will be missed. Finally, we wish Deb the best of luck in Texas with her new club, The Houston Striders! If you haven’t already seen it, I urge you to take a t the Annual Meeting in February, I look at the new club website (www.gatecity.org). predicted that with the momentum we New management software makes it easy for almost gained in 2008 continuing into this year, the A anyone to post new information. This translates to outlook was very good for another successful year. more frequent and quicker updates about Well, after just three months, I have to say we’re off everything you need to know about the Gate City to a great start! There are some very exciting things Striders. The Club Calendar lists all GCS going on with the club right now that I want to activities, including grand prix races, volunteer races make sure everyone knows about, including a new and events, social functions, and club meetings. and improved website, a new training program for We’ve added Race Results, a section dedicated to beginner runners, a youth track program, a strong Volunteering, a Profiles page (which currently showing in the NEGP series, and a commitment to contains bios of our E-board members and making our events more environmentally coaching staff and will soon contain bios for all responsible. All of these are the result of the members) and so much more. But we’re not done commitment those members who dedicate their yet! The E-board has plans to add more features, talents- both athletic and creative- to making the which we will share with you as they become Gate City Striders the best it can be. It might be a available. For now, I encourage you to check the little late for New Year’s resolutions, but have you website frequently, and if you have any feedback or decided how you are going to get involved this year? suggestions, please share them with us. First, I want to fill you in on the most recent changes in your E-board. We held elections at the Outdoor Workouts Coming Soon Annual Meeting in February. With Michael Wade and Mark Sage seeking re-election, there were three Warmer temperatures and melting snow mean we seats to fill, those previously held by departing have successfully survived another New England members Stan Klem, Ed Deichler, and Deb Miner. winter and we’re getting closer to the start of the Luck would have it that we had exactly three outdoor track season! Mark your calendars for excellent nominees who members unanimously Wednesday, April 22, the first day of outdoor elected to fill the open seats. I am pleased to workouts at Nashua High School South. All Continued on page 5 April - May 2009 Striding Along 4 Continued from page 4 end of May and will be held at the Milford High members are invited to participate in these coached School Track. Details about practice schedule and interval workouts, held on the high school track and meet schedule are available in the Youth Running on the trails of nearby Mine Falls Park. There is a section of this newsletter and on our website. All group for everyone, no matter your pace. who are interested in participating or helping out with this program may contact Mike at The outdoor season will be split into two 12-week [email protected] for more details. sessions. Session I begins April 22 and ends July 8. Following a three-week break (July 15, 22, and 29), GCS TRIAD is off and running! Session II begins August 5 and ends October 21.