by Sapan Bhatt

Since childhood, the Boston Marathon has been on my radar. Growing up in Massachusetts, I loved turning on the TV to catch parts of the race as I enjoyed the day off. In high school, I volunteered as part of the spotters network. Groups of four or five of us would stand at an assigned mile marker and let the TV crews know when the lead men and women would pass as well as the Hoyts. Dick and Rick Hoyt were the father/son duo who completed the marathon each year with Dick pushing his son Rick, who had cerebral palsy, in a wheelchair. Their Team Hoyt foundation is a strong presence in the marathon today.
 
This year, I was fortunate enough to qualify for Boston, making it my first major marathon and the largest race I’ve ever done. The infrastructure, amazing crowds, and endless volunteers speak to the prestige and magnitude of the Boston Marathon.
 
The festivities started on Saturday before the Monday race, with a trip to the marathon expo and visits to the running pop-up stores along Newbury Street. There was tons of energy from the jump with a large crowd buying everything in sight at the Adidas store in the expo to a live DJ playing in the Nike store. 
 
On Sunday, the night before the race, we were able to spend some time around Hopkinton, seeing the Start Line and the massive signs of support from all the businesses in the town center.
 
The corral setup is very efficient. Bus drop off to corral line up was about a block (I would skip athletes village which is about half a mile away; there’s plenty of water and bathrooms at the start).

From the gun, I wasn’t too boxed in, no more than at Beach to Beacon. Each mile has water/gatorade with each side of the road having a station a couple hundred meters apart. Each station must have had 15 volunteers, so getting fluids is no problem.
 
There’s a crowd presence almost the entire way. The good weather yielded a large turnout this year that swelled in each town center along the course. One of the cooler things I witnessed was a runner in front of me pumping his arms for cheers and the crowd roaring in front of him. The Wellesley Scream Tunnel was another highlight, pretty much a wall of sound pushing you forward as college students five to six deep pressed against the barricades.
 
My race strategy was fairly basic—my goal was to run 6:15s to the Newton Hills, taking a gel every 4 miles. I would get to the hills feeling solid, fight through them, then recover and regain pace over the last 5 miles.
 
The first 13 miles went pretty smoothly (helps that it’s almost all downhill to this point). I was 90sec faster than goal, but I felt very smooth and well fueled, taking Gatorade every mile or so. I must have heard :Yeah Maine!" and "Go Central Maine" at least 30 times from the crowd. 
 
From miles 13 to 16, I noticed the fatigue building. I adjusted the plan to go through the Newton Hills at 6:20-6:30 pace and conserve energy for the final 5. There are four hills in total culminating in Heartbreak Hill at 20.5. I didn’t really notice the first hill. Hills 2 and 3 were a bit of a grind, and Heartbreak felt like an impressive climb. There was a big banner hanging over Heartbreak celebrating you getting to this point and ushering you to the finish.
 
The hills were where I started cramping in the feet and hamstrings. I stopped at the top of Heartbreak after feeling a lightning bolt shoot down my legs. Temperatures were increasing and honestly I thought the race was lost at that point. All the training leading up to this was probably the difference in my legs being able to fight the cramps and continue at a sub-7 pace for the final 5 miles (that and the seven gels and half gallon of Gatorade I drank on course).
 
Those final 5 miles, I was toeing the line between pushing while avoiding a full lockup of the legs. This section brought the famed Citgo sign and the crowds of Boston College at Coolidge Corner. I took down two gels in this section alone plus two to three Gatorade cups. Making those final turns on Hereford and Boylston makes you feel on hallowed ground. They erect a huge viewing booth across the finish line for race VIPs/media and you can almost see the people starring down at you as you push to the finish.
 
The post race is challenging. You have so many people coming in and there’s a lot of hustle and bustle. I was lucky to find Shannon quickly to get to the car so I could get home to recover. I was ecstatic to finish in 2:46:45, a 7 minute PR for me. The atmosphere makes me understand why people work so hard to come back to Boston year after year. I’ll be aiming to return in 2026 and bask in that energy for another ride. I hope to see you there.

by Tom Farmer

Hello, Central Maine Striders! It's your new club volunteer coordinator, Tom Farmer. I'm still new to Maine, but I am not new to volunteering. I love the smell of volunteering in the morning; it smells like...free coffee and donuts.

I recently sent an email to members who've indicated they're interested in volunteer opportunities. If you did not get an email and are interested in learning more about club volunteer opportunities, please reach out so I can add you to future emails (email: [email protected] and/or phone: 502-767-4422).

Below is some information on upcoming volunteer opportunities. 

I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you, and thanks for your willingness to volunteer!

—Tom
​

Portland 10 Miler - Sunday, April 27
This is also the day of the Moosehead Marathon, but I think we can still get the number of people requested to help out. Respond to me ([email protected]) with your information and willingness to commit

• Central Maine Striders Water Aid Station - Time and details forthcoming
  7 Volunteers Needed
• Check-in--They have also asked if 5 people would be willing to help with check-in, but be aware that starts at 5:30 a.m. in Portland. Totally understandable if it's not feasible, but if you are willing to help please let me know.

As of April we are still looking for three more volunteers.


Ironman 70.3 Maine - Wednesday, July 23, through Sunday July 27
For the Ironman in Augusta, use the signup link below to indicate your willingness. Then, please email me ([email protected]) letting me know what you signed up for. I have signed up to work Run Aid Station #4 on race day (Sunday, July 27). Join me and make it a Central Maine Striders water stop!

• Wednesday July 23rd - Ironman Augusta - Packet Stuffing
  12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and/or 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Friday July 25th - Ironman Augusta - Multiple Opportunities
  All-day opportunities for check-in, setup, info booth, etc.
• Saturday July 26th - Ironman Augusta - Multiple Opportunities
  All-day opportunities for check-in, setup, info booth, etc.
• Sunday July 27th - Ironman Augusta - Race Day
  All-day opportunities
  Tom has signed up for Run Aid Station #4. Join him and make it a true Central Maine Striders water stop!

Ironman volunteer sign-up link:  https://ironman.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=90249

"Meet Our Members" is where we get to know a little more about our fellow Striders—who they are, why they run, why they're part of Central Maine Striders. Recently we caught up with new member Tom Farmer,  who stepped up to be our club's Volunteer Coordinator after moving to Maine only last year. Thank you, Tom!  We asked Tom to introduce himself and share some of his running life. ​
​
​Hello, Central Maine Striders! Firstly, I would like to thank you all for being so welcoming. My wife Elise and I knew exactly one person when we moved to Maine in August, and that was our landlord. Getting to know you all has been a true pleasure. I am formerly of the Frankfort (Kentucky) Striders and I hope to do the best I can as a member of my new group of striders.

I started running as part of a health journey that began in spring 2020 (COVID lockdowns) and that journey continues today. Lately I've been hampered by a few elements (such as the joy of navigating icy sidewalks on a regular basis), but look forward to getting back to form as a member of the Striders. I reside in Hallowell with my aforementioned wife, Elise, and our two cats, Toki and Skwisgar.

In Frankfort, Kentucky, I spent a lot of time volunteering for, as well as coordinating, community efforts. As such, when club president Martha said the Striders needed a volunteer coordinator I couldn't help myself. As your new volunteer coordinator I hope to help the Striders leadership by finding new opportunities for Striders engagement. But most importantly, I hope to help the leadership by managing volunteer assignments for Striders events so as to ease their organizational burdens.

For now, stay tuned as I work with Martha and others to gather all the information I need to maintain connections. If, however, you have any immediate thoughts, ideas, or desires to commit, then my electronic and telephonic door is always open. You can reach me at (502) 767-4422 or [email protected].

Thank you, Tom! We asked Tom some additional running questions about himself:

How did you find Central Maine Striders?
Before leaving Kentucky I searched the web and Facebook for run clubs near Augusta, and the Central Maine Striders were top of the list and clearly the most organized.

Anything from your past Striders club you'd like to see as part of this Striders club?
I could give you a long answer explaining my thoughts on this, but I'll try to summarize it as best as I can. The Central Maine Striders do have a diverse group of people and fitness levels, and your organizational level is above and beyond. Short version, you all are amazing! I think that can be leveraged to encourage others to join even if they're not fast runners or runners at all. Social runs are a great way to encourage movement and fitness or, in my case, remind me to get back to it!

Can you share a memory of a favorite or memorable run and/or race?
I have two. The first was the day that I was walking in Cherokee Park in Louisville, Kentucky, as I had been doing every morning from April 2020 to July 2020 and I realized that I wasn't sweating or breathing heavily (like I had been)...so I started running. Second was my first (and only so far) 10K, when I got to the end of the traditional Frankfort 5K route and all the doubts about going another 5K vanished.

Any runs/races you're looking forward to in 2025?
I'm looking forward to the social runs and using those to get me back to form in time for the Doc & Mardie Brown 5K in August. I promise I'll still do volunteer work, I'll just need a 30 to 40 minute break during the race.

Best running advice you ever got?
"Shoes, dude." —my brother

Any running advice you'd share with others?
Brains are funny...you run way better with people than you do by yourself. Make friends.

What do you do when you're not running?
My wife Elise and I like to explore national and state parks, go to wineries and breweries/cideries, kayak...but with a hefty added dose of video games.

Anything else you'd want fellow Striders to know?
I have always been socially awkward (dork for life), and that anxiety usually manifests as me talking way too much. So, I truly appreciate you all as a group being warm and welcoming. It's tough pulling up all your roots and moving 1,100 miles from your home of 40 years, but you all are making it a lot easier and I thank you. Also, I can officially say that I think I am now the second Irish citizen member of the Striders, thanks to the benefits of ancestry, various documents, and a not insignificant amount of euros.

​by Mark Fisher

Want to run to the top of the highest peak in the Northeast? Then get ready to sign up for the lottery to participate in the 2025 Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race to be held Saturday, June 14.

Central Maine Striders also has five lottery bypass slots that will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to current club members. But you'll still need to enter February's random lottery first. 

Lottery and Bypasses
Interested in running Mount Washington this year? The Mount Washington lottery for Random Selection Registration opens on Monday, February 10, at 8 a.m. and closes on Monday, February 24. Please first sign up for the lottery between February 10 and 24. Race officials will then send out selection/rejection emails on February 27. 

Of course, if you get in via the random lottery you won't need a bypass slot—excellent! However, if you find yourself on on the outside looking in, please email me ([email protected]), and if I have a bypass, you can claim it as a club member.

Volunteers Needed
For each Central Maine Striders bypass slot, we also need to supply a volunteer—for a total of five club volunteers. This year our volunteer opportunity will be on Friday, June 13, for "directional and bib pickup" needs. This happens during the open bib pickup times on Friday afternoon and evening. So if you get a bypass, we also will need to supply a volunteer to match.  

If you want to volunteer on behalf of the club (untied to any bypass entry) that is most helpful, and please let me know. Thank you!

Our Central Maine Striders team has continually been part of the historic Mount Washington Road Race. This 7.6-mile, all-uphill run draws thousands of runners from around the globe to make the grueling 4,650 vertical feet climb to the summit. This event is possible because of volunteers that so generously give their time to support the silly people that want to do this race!

​Thank you so much, and if you have questions, please let me know.  
—Mark ([email protected])
​

• 2025 Mount Washingto Road Race Info
  
  
• Renew your 2025 Striders membership to be eligible for bypass consideration (first-come, first-served)

Congratulations to Sapan Bhatt (25:17) and Lindsay Theis (30:17), our top men's and women's finishers at today's  January Thaw 4.5-mile road race. (Lindsay is also our new club Vice President!) Thirty-three runners turned out to race in Belgrade in the 46th edition of the annual January Thaw. The race also kicked off the club's 50th anniversary year in 2025.

Thanks to all the racers, volunteers, and spectators who made this event a success, as well as Race Director Ron Peck and Central Maine Striders club president Martha Nadeau for their organization and leadership of this historic race.

Congratulations to the following club members who were recognized by President Martha Nadeau at the December annual meeting for their service, support, and spirit for the club in 2024:

• Strider of the Year: Ian Hepburn
• President’s Award: Kate Scott for serving as Vice President
• President’s Award: Amy Stabins for serving as Secretary
• Spirit Award: Alex Casey (not pictured)
• Spirit Award: Tom Farmer (not pictured)

 2025 Officers Elected

Attendees also elected new and returning officers for 2025 at the December annual meeting and jingle bell run:

• President: Martha Nadeau
• Vice President: Lindsay Theis
• Secretary: Alex Casey
• Treasurer: Ron Peck
• Communications Coordinator: Alicia MacLeay
  ​​
  

Volunteer Coordinator: The club is in search of a coordinator to organize volunteers for Central Maine Striders races and opportunities to help the running community. Email [email protected] if you are interested.

by Ian Hepburn

TUCARD: The Terrifically (And Unnecessarily) Complicated Adventure Race Duathlon. I am prefacing my race report with this expansion of the acronym so that I can emphasize the “Unnecessarily Complicated” aspect of this event. I will try my best to describe the rules that TUCARD participants had to follow in this year’s race, with the understanding that I probably can’t make them that clear in the space I have allotted. 

On September 21, 2024 I participated in my first TUCARD, which is an annual event facilitated by the Marsh Island Trail Runners. I am not the first Strider to take part in this event (see previous TUCARD 2021 and 2022 race reports from Amy Stabins).

The TUCARD has elements of an orienteering challenge, i.e. navigating to points on a map, combined with running and biking (or other modes of conveyance, which I will get to in a moment). Complexity is added by the terrain itself, as it takes place in/on/around the trail networks north of Bangor like the Bangor City Forest, the Orono Bogwalk, the Caribou Bog Conservation Area, and other trails in that vicinity. The Veazie Railroad Bed runs through these trail systems as well, connecting them all. Some of these trails, like the railroad bed, are wide and flat, but they are connected by smaller, capillary like trails that are rougher, steeper, and difficult to move quickly on. 

On top of the physical challenges posed by landscape are the rules of the TUCARD. The boundaries of the race environment are defined by the “Shadow of the Pony” (you will notice a distinct equestrian theme to the TUCARD, especially if you go to their website and check out past TUCARDs). In this year’s TUCARD, there were four waypoints, whose coordinates were given to registered participants before race day. The race organizers did not provide any context or guidance about these points until the day before the race, when the “Sparkle Pony Rule” (more equestrian stuff) was revealed. This dearth of information until 24 hours before race day is a hallmark of the TUCARD. In the case of this year’s event, it was revealed that racers had to collect three of the four points, but there were some stipulations. 

WARNING: ATTEMPTED EXPLANATION OF COMPLICATED RULES FOLLOWS! 
In the map below, you see the Shadow of the Pony, which outlines the edges of the course. Within the Shadow, you can navigate to any of the points in any way you choose to, as long as it does not involve anything powered by a motor. So, if you decide to swim or paddle across a pond instead of running or biking around it, that is allowed. However, modifications to a racer’s time may be applied based on the surface they are racing on, as well as their form of locomotion. No modifications are applied if you are walking or running on a trail. However, if you are walking or running on a paved surface, a 2x modification is applied so that every minute of time spent on foot on a paved surface counts as two minutes of race time. If you are biking on a trail, a x1.5 modification is applied. If you ride your bike on a paved surface the timing modifications are compounded so that for every minute spent riding your bike on a paved road counts as three minutes of race time. However, time spent boating applies a x1/2 modification to your time, and time spent swimming applies a x1/4 modification. Part of this year’s Sparkle Pony Rule added a new form of locomotion; time spent dribbling a soccer ball applied a x3/4 modification to your time. So, if you spent 60 minutes navigating through swamps, thickets, brambles, and other environmental hazards while kicking a soccer ball, it only counted as 45 minutes. Racers are required to record their progress using Strava or other digital exercise logging system, and this is how the race staff can apply the appropriate time modifications to each racer’s raw time.

The other major twist in the race was that only two of the four points were available to be collected at a given time. In the :00 to :29 part of an hour, points ‘u’ and ‘n’ could be collected while points ‘b’ and ‘p’ were not available. In the :30 to :59 part of an hour, ‘b’ and ‘p’ were available and the other points weren’t. So, racers had to determine a strategy where they could get the points at the times they were available while navigating through the trails and waterways, and making decisions about things like if the speed afforded by a bike would be worth the time penalty. Complicating this even further were two points near the extreme north and south ends of the course, where you could get a token to invert the time rule for the availability of the points…. 

I think that if you have read this far you get the point that the TUCARD is more complicated than most other races. Fortunately, the post-race potluck lunch was refreshingly straightforward, with almost every 
participant bringing food and beverages to share and discussing their race strategies. The race organizers encourage pot-luck participation by offering to subtract five minutes off of your race time if you brought a food item to share. 

What I observed during the race was that many participants used bikes as their primary means to get around, but there were a lot of others who went on foot. As the ‘D’ in TUCARD stands for Duathlon, every racer had to employ at least two forms of locomotion, so racers without bikes had to swim/boat at least part of the course. In my case, I used a sturdy mountain bike to cover ground quickly. I felt pretty smart on the morning of the race as I had visited these trails a few weeks earlier to get an idea of the terrain and how easily navigable the trails were, and using this knowledge I was able to move quickly from the start to my first point (point ‘p’ on the map).

My attitude changed pretty quickly once I tried to move east towards point ‘n’, and I discovered how steep, rooty, rocky, and swampy the terrain between the points was. My strategy fell apart and I was forced to make some decisions on the move. I had to choose between pushing hard over narrow steep trails to move directly to the next point with the distinct possibility of not making it in time and being forced to wait 30 minutes for it be available again, or moving south to the waypoint that would allow me to collect a token to reverse the time rule for point ‘n’. I opted to add distance to my route and collect the token, then proceeded to point ‘n’. I then headed for the northern half of the course to collect my last point, where I was again forced to make a decision between a direct route to the point, or to collect another time inversion token before getting to the last point. I won’t go into further detail, but I will state that when I crossed the finish line, I had travelled 16.7 miles in 2 hours, 29 minutes. 

I am writing this on October 30th, 2024, 39 days after the TUCARD, and the official standings haven’t been published yet. This is typical, as the scoring for the race is as complicated as the race itself. The race staff has to scrutinize the digital records of each participant’s route and apply the appropriate time modifiers to determine the final official times and standings, which has typically taken about a month. So I may have actually won the 2024 TUCARD (highly unlikely), or maybe I came in last (more plausible), but either way it was a blast.

I enjoy orienteering races, and the creative challenges posed by the terrain and the race rules ensured that no part of the race was boring. If you are looking for a physical and mental challenge and aren’t easily frustrated by ambiguities and contradictions, then the TUCARD is the race for you. However, it will help to keep these things in mind: 

1. Preparation is helpful. If possible, acquaint yourself with the trails before the race.
2. You will not get all of the information you want about the race when you want it.
3. Mike Tyson said “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”. That applies here, as the Sparkle Pony Rule serves as the metaphorical punch that will disrupt the strategy you might have formulated prior to the race, so keep your mind open and be flexible. 
   
   

I apologize for the long report, but there is a lot to this race and I highly recommend it, so hopefully I’ll see you at TUCARD 2025. 

To quote the classic film The Outsiders: Stay golden Pony Boy!