"Running Backwards" is a new feature of our webpage and Interval newsletter that will highlight some excerpts of a chosen year in the history of the Central Maine Striders, as seen through past issues of the club's newsletter.  We hope you enjoy it!

It may be hard to believe, but there used to be two chapters of the Central Maine Striders.  From the July 1981 newsletter:
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Brief profiles were written in the old newsletter to welcome any newcomers to the club.  Long-time Strider Jim Moore was featured in the August 1981 newsletter:

In 2020, Jim can still be found running on the streets of Waterville and racing in club races, including this year's January Thaw.  Thanks Jim, for your many years of participation in the club!

And in the September 1981 issue, another long-time member, Jerry Allanach was featured:

Although Jerry has relocated to Illinois, he is still maintains his membership in the club and often comments in our Facebook group.  He also occasionally returns to Maine to run in races.  Last year, some of us got to see him at the Free ME from Lung Cancer "Save Your Breath" 5k in Augusta.  Jerry, thank you for being such a loyal club member.  We hope to see you back in Maine again sometime in 2020!

The October 1981 included results for any club members that finished the Casco Bay Marathon.  Finish times that year included currently-still-active members Gene Roy 2:49, Dean Rasmussen 2:53, and Jerry Allanach 3:08.

Some annual club awards were named in the November 1981 issue.  Gene Roy's name popped up again as "Strider of the Year".  It makes you wonder how many times he's won that award.

Just to give you more reasons to respect Gene Roy, his time of 6:39 at the Rowdy Ultra 50 Miles at Brunswick was also included in that issue.

The December 1981 issue publicized the upcoming 1982 January Thaw.  Hard to believe that there was ever a time that a race entry fee was only $1.

That month's issue also announced the newly elected officers.  

And last, but not least, the December 1981 issue included a short note from the outgoing President, Gene Roy (yep, that guy again).  I have a feeling that wasn't the last time that Gene was a club officer.

We hope you enjoyed this new feature digging into our club archives.  In the next issue, we'll (hopefully) feature 1982.

With the 41st January Thaw on January 19th postponed due to an impending storm, the rescheduled date of January 26th dawned with clear roads and balmy, almost spring-like temperatures. Buoyed by a strong team of volunteers including Gene Roy, Geoff Hill, John Manzer, Harold Shaw, Rob Krickus, Deb Violette, and Lynda McGuire, the race kicked off without a hitch.

The field of 33 included some “old road race veterans” and quite a few new, welcome faces.  Conspicuous among the new faces was a young man, Patrick Caron, from Needham, Massachusetts who just decided to drop in.  The group took off with some donning just shorts and t-shirts for this real January Thaw.  The “outta stata” shot out in a near sprint leaving me to wonder about that pace for 4 1/2 miles but he proved to be the real deal finishing with a time of 23:41.  As far as I can find, this is second only to Todd Coffin’s 1993 course record of 22:01.

CMS runners, Sapan Bhatt and Jordan Castillo, finished second and fourth with times of 27:21 and 30:26 respectively.  They were separated by third place finisher, Blaine Moore of Brunswick in 29:24 running for Team Dirigo.  The first ladies across the finish line were Anya Davidson of Readfield in 6th place overall in 32:07 and Jess Beers of Waterville in 8th place with a time of 33:40.

This was a successful transition year with a strong foundation in place to carry on this longtime tradition led by “new blood” next year.

Thanks to David Colby-Young for his coverage.  As Gene Roy said, “We know we’re putting on a real race when David Colby-Young shows up to take photos.”

Tom McGuire
Race Director

First of all, I'm truly honored to be able to lead this club.  I'm proud of our long history as Maine's oldest, active running club.  When I moved to Maine a couple years ago, I never imagined that I would become so involved in the local running scene, much less become the president of a running club.  It's almost unbelievable how quickly it seems I went from moving to Maine, to running my first Quarry Road race, to attending a Striders meeting, to being elected club Vice President, to starting weekly summer pub runs, and now to being elected President. 

I have to acknowledge that I would never have made it to this position without the inspiration of previous club members and officers.  I'd especially like to thank former President Brendan Gilpatrick, former Treasurer Ron Peck, and former Communications Director Alicia MacLeay for making me feel welcome to the Central Maine running community and for encouraging me to get involved.  Thank you for your years of dedication to the club, and I hope we continue to see you around at club events this year and beyond.

As President of the Striders, I want to bring more value to your membership in the club.  I plan to get more discounts for club members in local races.  I will try to have more opportunities to get free or discounted Striders-themed running gear.  I intend to improve communications with our members through more email newsletters and regularly updating the webpage, and through our Facebook group.  I want to continue to host our summer pub runs and track workouts, but also want to add some additional social runs that are not focused on pubs or tracks.  I am also hoping to add an additional Striders sponsored road race or two, possibly in the 1-mile and/or 10k distances.  Most importantly, I want the Striders to continue to be a club that welcomes runners of all abilities, backgrounds, ages, and interest levels.

I'm looking forward to keeping the traditions of the Striders alive, but I also hope we can begin some new events and activities.  We have a lot of exciting things planned for the Central Maine Striders in 2020.  I hope to see all of you out there running and attending club events!

-Ryan Goebel, Central Maine Striders President

Ron Peck served as the club's treasurer from 2015-18. Ron has overcome his initial fears to actually enjoy racing distances from 3K to marathons. He can often be found at club pub runs and the weekly Quarry Road Summer Race Series, and he is a member of the club's annual team for the Down East Sunrise Trail Relay.

​Ron was a finalist for the 2016 Strider of the Year and is an associate professor of biology at Colby College. He has appreciated the chance to meet many CMS members while serving as treasurer. Thanks, Ron!

Alicia MacLeay served as the club's communications director from 2015-18, overseeing the Striders website, newsletter, race calendar, and other outreach efforts. She enjoys trail running, being outdoors, and documenting beautiful and random moments on the run (#thingsiseewhenirun).

Alicia has run race distances from 3K to 100 miles and in 2015 was named a Strider of the Year. She is the co-founder and editor of Trailspace, an outdoor gear review site. Thanks, Alicia!

Greetings, Central Maine Striders club members and friends.

Above and below you’ll find our January-February Interval newsletter (PDF).

This inaugural issue of 2015 is filled with club news and updates including:

• results and pictures from the first club race of 2015, the January Thaw
  
• a calendar of upcoming local races, including the February 22nd Quarry Snow Shuffle 5K
  
• profiles to get to know your 2015 club board members
  
• a chance to share club history and photos, as CMS turns 40 this year
  
• and more
  

We hope you find it informative, and that you'll share your own running news and ideas with us for future issues.

Membership Renewals
If you haven’t already, please renew your membership with Central Maine Striders for 2015. The cost is still only $15 per family and covers all the runners in your household. Your membership is integral to supporting our volunteer running club, the oldest active running club in Maine.

Please renew today, so you can continue to get this newsletter, plus get reduced registration rates at certain local races, 10% off at the new Granite City Running shop in Hallowell, and more.

Join or Renew: http://www.centralmainestriders.com/join.html

Thanks for being part of Central Maine Striders! We hope to see you on the roads, trails, or track in 2015.

Alicia MacLeay
Interval editor

Download the December Interval club newsletter, courtesy of editor, Linda Benn. 

This newsletter was Linda's last issue. Thanks for all of your dedication and service to the club, Linda!

Check out the November issue of the club Interval newsletter, courtesy of editor Linda Benn.