Here is this week’s latestet and greatest edition of the Wicked Weekly Update! Remember if you want race results, upcoming races, or have any other info info that you would like to see in the newsletter please send it to newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com by Thursday of each week.
With only one race remaining in the 2009 Salem Park & Rec Race Series, it’s time to start thinking about next years race series. Once again the Wicked Frosty Four will be leading off! A sixth race has been added to the series and it’s one that many of you ran this year. The Devil’s Chase, which was a great success for B&S will be the sixth race! Below is information about the race series for 2010. If you have any questions please get in touch with Doug Bollen at dougbollen12@yahoo.com.
Salem Park, Recreation and Community Services
2010 Race Series
The Salem race series in 2008 and 2009 were a great success!
Salem’s Park, Recreation & Community Services Department is, once again, providing the opportunity for runners of all levels to experience a wide variety of Salem races. From the chill of January to the heat of August, from one mile to a half-marathon, and from a flat and fast course to cross country, this series is intended to encourage you to experience the best racing Salem has to offer. We are offering a new and unique race in the 2010 series on Halloween day to truly experience Salem at its wickedest. All races start and finish in Salem and support the City of Salem Recreation programs for all ages as well as many other charities. By participating in, and supporting, all six races, your versatility and hard work will be rewarded with a one of a kind commemorative hooded sweatshirt with race specific logos from all six events!
On Day 8 of this August heatwave, 8 Wicked Runners decided to make the trek to the 7th Annual Moose on the Loose 10-Mile Trail Race & Relay in Mine Falls Park, Nashua, NH. With the temps hovering in the low 90s, the Wicked 8 decided they would enjoy themselves as much as possible in the 2.5m loop woods’ course that laid ahead of them. Over 388 runners registered for this event, which was split up between a 10m race and 2 and 4-person relay teams.
I’m happy to report that the results were “hot and sunny”. All Wicked 8 finished in great times. Plus, our only 2-person relay team, Kerry Phelan and Kinnon Church aka Team Phelan-Church ran a PR and finished in a combined time of 1:13:26, good enough to finish 7th place in the 2-person relay teams event. They were also one of the younger teams! Despite the high temps and some lack of cups at the last water stop, the day was a success for all! Go Wicked!
111 263 Stephen Touchette 54 M Salem MA 1:21:07 8:07
131 217 Alison Phelan 45 F Peabody MA 1:25:36 8:34
166 262 Elizabeth Touchette 26 F Revere MA 1:32:01 9:13
168 261 Deb Touchette 53 F Salem MA 1:32:06 9:13
175 156 Karen Giroux 43 F Salem MA 1:33:06 9:19
177 236 Allison Rourke 34 F Salem MA 1:33:24 9:21
Relay
7 Kerry Phelan Peabody MA PHELAN-CHURCH 1:13:26 7:21
The “Wicked Kidz” of the Wicked Running Club have been tearing it up at area road races recently. Back in the middle of May, Kyle Hewson ran like the wind at the Our 2 Angels race in Lynn, taking top spot in his age group. On Memorial day, new members Joe & Rebecca Weston took on the Kids portion of the Swampscott Dory Run. Joe took first place in the 1 lap race! Way to go to!! To view more photos from the 32nd Annual Dory Run head on over to photobucket.com!
Members of the Wicked Running Club getting ready to give support to the runners of the 113th Boston Marathon.
With all the excitement surrounding those who ran in the 113th Boston Marathon, it’s easy to forget about those who played a vital role in the success of the event. A big thank you goes out to those from the Wicked Running Club who once again answered the call to volunteer at the Power Bar Gel station and made the Boston Marathon a great race. Below is the list of Wicked Members who volunteered yesterday, along with some friends. A special thank you to John Mahoney who was in charge of organizing the troops!
Darla Johnson, Dan Barrett, Gail Gordon, Angel Green, Marie Gesnaldo, Melissa Jaynes, Anne McDonough-Hughes (Melissa’s friend), Adam Fitch, John Mahoney, Katy Porter-Mahoney, Jason Matulewicz, Ruth Brediger, Tim Clarke, Laurie Fountain, Melissa Murphy (Laurie’s friend), Steve Touchette, Deb Touchette, Liz Touchette, Amber Woolfenden, Danny Leadvaro.
John and Katy at Mile 17, the Power Bar Gel station. Things could messy with all that gel!
This is it, the final day before the 113th Boston Marathon. If you are running the Boston Marathon on Monday feel free to click here to download the interview questions and email it back (with a picture of yourself if you would like) to tim.short1@gmail.com. Boston Marathon Interview
Boston Marathon Interview
Wicked Runner: Mark Tuttle
How long have you been running, when/why did you start?
I started running in college when I stopped playing team sports. I needed to do something to keep fit. The fact that running helps cure hangovers was a great motivator in college.
Is there something about the Boston Marathon that makes it special to you? Why run this Marathon?
Every runner across the country views the Boston Marathon as the premier marathon. People get excited when they talk about Boston: its history, the punishing course, and its prominence.
How many Boston marathons have you done? Or will this be your first?
I ran in 2001 and made all the beginners mistakes.
Do you have any special diet the week prior to the marathon?
If getting the flu four days before the race is considered a special diet, then yes, I didn’t eat much for two days and now I am eating as much as possible to make up for lost time.
Do you follow any specific running program to prepare for a Marathon?
I try to run six days a week and get several 20 mile runs in before marathon day. I have done some cross training (with the help of Jen Lincoln) to keep me injury free.
What’s your favorite training run while training for a Marathon?
I like the long run because it has a lot of scenic water views. I run around Marblehead Neck then over the Salem Bridge then the Kernwood Bridge. It may sound odd, but I get a great sense of satisfaction looking at the smokestack at the Salem Power Plant and thinking, “I was way on the other side of that 45 minutes ago.”
What is your way to approach running a Marathon? I.e., slow at first, negative splits?
When I find one that works, I’ll let everyone know.
Do you bring your own nutrition for the Marathon? Electrolytes, Gels, Bars?
I wouldn’t have qualified for Boston without the help of GU.
Are you shooting for a specific time at Boston or are you running to enjoy the sights and sounds?
I hope to run under 3:20. I hope to enjoy the sights and sounds, but the smells are often repulsive. There is something about the smell of grilled meat in Ashland and the smell of alcohol in Cleveland Circle that can make you gag. Seeing the finish line is glorious.
Do you run with an MP3 player? Have any tunes that get you over the wall or the rough points in the Marathon?
I try to tune into what my body is doing and tune out any urge to quit or slow down. No music…, although there is a cadence from Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket that I might sing over the hills in Newton.
Anything else you would like to add??
Good luck to everyone running, thank you to everyone volunteering and congratulations to anyone who has completed the Boston Marathon.
The Easter Bunny was kind enough to place these eggs in my basket this morning with a special message. Hope your Easter basket was filled with yummy candy and fun treats!
Speaking of treats, here is an interview that Billy Shea gave to the Danvers Herald. At the bottom you will find a cool video by CNC North Video. In addition to Billy’s profile, check out other Boston Marathon runners’ videos.
Mr. Shea looking sharp for the camera
North of Boston Marathon Profile: William (Billy) Shea
DANVERS - Q. Why do you run marathons?
A. I started running marathons last year, running four of them. I qualified in Chicago for Boston. I run marathons, because they are the ultimate competition for runners, and because I want to push the limits and test my levels of endurance. I belong to the Wicked Running Club, and that has been a great impetus in my desire to push myself
Q. How do you train for them?
A. I train for marathons by steadily increasing my weekly mileage, and scheduling increasingly longer runs each week. [Recently], I ran a 30K race, and [had] run 20 miles in the Eastern States 20-mile race, starting in Kittery, Maine and ending in Salisbury, MA. My level of training has varied in intensity for the different marathons I have run. For some, I have been very faithful with my training, while others not as faithful.
Q. How long have you been running competitively?
A. I have been running competitively since 1997, but did not run my first marathon until Jan. 2008. That year, I ran the Disney Marathon, Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon and Stone Cat Trail Marathon
NAME: William (Billy) Shea
FAMILY: Single; one sister, Susan Prentiss, who’s married to Billy Prentiss, a well-known Danvers runner
EDUCATION: Graduated from Salem High School in 1969; earned a B.A. from Salem State College, and a M. ED. from Northeastern University
OCCUPATION: retired Salem High School principal, now adjunct faculty member at North Shore Community College
HIGHEST FINISH: Chicago Marathon: 3 hours, 46 minutes, 31 seconds
RUNNING ACHIEVEMENTS: A few second and third place finishes in my age group
Bill Shea – Danvers Marathoner from CNCNorth Video on Vimeo.
Here is a story from the Salem News about yesterdays run at the Salem Commons. Along with the many kids that participated from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem, there were also a few members of the Wicked Running Club enjoying the afternoon as well. For more photos from yesterdays run click on: Boys & Girls Club Marathon kids. Wicked runners who showed up to support the Boys & Girls Club efforts to run 26.2 miles in support of Steve’s team were Steve’s Team members: Beth O’Grady, Karen Giroux, Stephaine Cooper, Alison Phelan and Sally Holtzman. Other wicked runners joining in were: Billy Shea, Patrick Smith, Doug Bollen, John Mahoney and Maria Ramirez.
Sister, club running in director’s memory
By Tom Dalton
Staff writer
SALEM — After Steve O’Grady was killed by a drunken driver 10 years ago, his older sister Beth pledged to run 10 marathons in his memory over the next decade and to raise $40,000 by what would have been his 40th birthday.
Both goals are within sight.
This year’s Boston Marathon on April 20 will be her 10th.
When she crosses the finish line, O’Grady will have a lot of well-wishers at her side, literally and figuratively.
Family and friends will cheer her on, and members of “Steve’s Team,” a running squad O’Grady formed, will be running with her on the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston.
And members of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem, where Steve O’Grady was executive director, will be in her thoughts and pushing her along, though they won’t be running the Boston Marathon themselves.
Since the start of the year, nearly 100 members of the youth organization have been running to raise money in Steve O’Grady’s memory. With the help of pledges secured by the club’s board, they expect to raise $2,620 — $100 for each mile of the marathon.
The children have been running inside the old gym at the Hawthorne Boulevard headquarters of the club. Yesterday, more than 50 children joined O’Grady to run outside on the cinder track around Salem Common.
Although many were born after the crash, the kids have been learning about the former director, a popular youth leader and Little League manager who was killed just weeks after his 30th birthday. They have read news clippings and even watched a video of Steve O’Grady leading a tour of the club, a film made just days before he died.
Beth O’Grady is all smiles during yesterday’s run at the Salem Common.
“I felt it would be kind of nice to run in honor of him because he was a big influence on the club,” said Connor Antony, 10, a fifth-grader at Witchcraft Heights School.
The goal for older children is to try to run all 26 miles between Jan. 1 and the actual marathon.
One of the most impressive feats has been turned in by a young club member. Before yesterday’s run, Qasim El-Ashkar, 8, had run 15 miles, all of it inside the club’s gym. That translates to 379 laps.
“Sometimes I walk,” said the second-grader at Bentley School.
The club members who have been running in Steve O’Grady’s memory have received an invitation to Fenway Park to be recognized on the field at a Red Sox game the day before the marathon. The club is working out details now.
Beth O’Grady, a former president of the Boys & Girls Club, beamed yesterday as she stood on the Common watching the little children stretching with members of the Salem High School track team, some of whom are former club members.
The track team came down because its assistant coach, Karen Giroux, is a member of “Steve’s Team.”
“I just love it,” O’Grady said. “This is what we hoped for — to bring together as many kids in the community as possible.”
“Runner’s don’t eat donuts.” “You guys out for a swim?” “Is this a road race?” were among the comments from regular customers when a dozen Wicked Runners detoured to Ziggy’s donuts while on the usual Tuesday morning run today. Although the sign said “Closed” our noses told us a different story when we arrived outside the shop just before 6:30am. The delicious smell of breakfast delights enticed us all to stand in the cold until the unsuspecting shop owner opened the door. We were not disappointed. Moments later we were enjoying piping hot treats and declaring “Who needs Power Bars!” The side trip taken today to celebrate the coming of spring (despite the 20 degree temp) could become a regular feature of the Tuesday/Thursday runs. After all isn’t this why we run?
Wicked Reporter Tricia Pini on her experiences with the Hyannis 1/2 Marathon
I’m happy(?) to report I crossed the finish line ahead of 61 other runners…. out of 2,044! I barely feel the need to share my time (2:39:47). Guess I’ll keep on plugging away at it!
Some winter weekend in Hyannis highlights: I stood in line for an hour to speak with Bill Rogers and Frank Shorter. They were great and witty, and the guy behind me in line was kind enough to take a picture for me.
Contact Tim Short for more info!
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