After graduating from USM where I played lacrosse I needed something to stay active, so I started running. I love being outside and exploring new places so my focus was drawn to trail running. I found I would spend hours exploring new trails or mountains seeing how fast I could move through these places and learned there were races that did just that. This is where my love of running came together with racing these distances. I am also the race director of the Farm to Farm Ultra Run in Freeport and a board member of the Maine Track Club.

I have a background in disability insurance and on a daily basis I would see the negative impacts of not making health a priority. I found that I had people who would often turn to me for advice on running and fitness so I decided to pursue it as a profession (Dirigo Endurance coaching). I use a web-based model that allows me to work with people around the country. I live in Sidney for most of the year, so I also get the chance to work with people locally as well, including the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams at Thomas College.

I hope to use my experience with the Maine Track Club to help grow Central Maine Striders. I want people to experience the value that being a Strider can offer by being part of a great community of runners.

• Favorite Race: HURT 100, Hawaii, and the Madeira Ultra Trail, Portugal
• Favorite Run: Every run is a chance to do something I love.
• Favorite running gear: Whatever shoes I got on my feet.
• Favorite running advice: Never stop moving.
• Favorite running quote: “Running to him was real; the way he did it the realest thing he knew. It was all joy and woe, hard as diamond; it made him weary beyond comprehension. But it also made him free.”  ― John L. Parker Jr., Once a Runner 

I'm a lifelong fan of track and field, with a special affinity for distance runners. In my youth, I hated running anything beyond a mile, but always admired those who found joy in covering long distances. Two of my three children followed my trackie footsteps as jumpers, hurdlers, and sprinters; the third child played baseball.

I've worked at Colby College for almost 20 years, 10 of those in the Admissions office. When I'm not running, reading about running, or trolling runners on social media, I enjoy reading, crocheting, and spending time outdoors. My second fitness passion is CrossFit: I love to lift weights. I love to challenge myself during my CrossFit workouts. My two fitness passions complement each other well. I love the energy and inclusiveness of the athletic community, no matter what the sport.

I'm a born-again runner. After one miserable high school cross-country season and a disastrous run on a hot, humid day in 1984, I swore I would never run again. Flash forward to 2012: While attending my 30th high school reunion I noticed that most of my classmates, including myself, had become somewhat "puffy" and out of shape. I had recently begun CrossFit, cleaned up my diet, and decided to add running to my new, healthy lifestyle. That summer, I walked and ran almost every race of the inaugural Quarry Road Summer Race Series. I joined Central Maine Striders and also became part of a group called "Central Maine Moms Run This Town."

Since then, I've completed more 5K's than I can count, a half-marathon, a couple of 10-milers, and a 15K. I've moved from almost-last to almost-middle-of the-pack. I run for me; I run for the fun of it. I run for the satisfaction of knowing that I can run a mile or two and finish a race, no matter what. I've volunteered at a few races. It's the only time I get to see the winners cross the finish line.

As a club officer, I hope to help increase membership and increase awareness of Central Maine Striders, our events, and of other local running opportunities. My main goal as a runner is to get others up and moving.

• Favorite Race: Cape Elizabeth Mid-Winter Classic
• Favorite Run: Bond Brook trails
• Favorite piece of running gear: my headlamp
• Favorite running advice: Pick 'em up and put 'em down. 
• Favorite running quote: "It really gets grim until the competition begins. You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement." —Steve Prefontaine

I am an Australian living in Oakland, Maine, with my wife and daughter. I have always had an interest in keeping active and the outdoors. Most weekends you find our family trying to make the most of Maine outdoors, either on a trail, on a lake, or on a mountain. Currently I work at Colby College in Waterville as the Associate Director of Campus Life for Residential Education. I oversee the student leaders in the residence halls. 

I entered my first ultra marathon before even running a half marathon. Crazy? Yes! But it got me hooked. I was not much of a runner till I entered that race thinking "how hard can this be?" Then there was no looking back. Since then I have completed a bunch of ultras, marathons, and trail races. I prefer trail when I run, but will run anywhere. I am always up for running and connecting with people. 

Since moving to Maine I have taken up snowshoe running. Last year I directed Waterville's first snowshoe race and this year will be putting on two races: the Quarry Snow Shuffle 5K Snowshoe Race (February 7) and Quarry Storm 5-Mile
Snowshoe Race (March 20).

As president, I would like to see the Striders have a wider impact on the central Maine running and non-running community . 

• Favorite race: The North Face 100, Blue Mountains, Australia
• Favorite run: Anywhere, as long as I am running
• Favorite piece of running gear: A hat or a beanie
• Favorite running advice: Just keep moving 

Below are meeting notes and the treasurer's report from the December 8, 2015, Central Maine Striders club meeting.