Meet Our Members: Tom Farmer, Volunteer Coordinator

Tom finishing the 2022 Lexington, Kentucky, A Midsummer Night's Run

"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. ​
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​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.

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Tom and friend Tip Mixson at the 2021 Frankfort (Kentucky) Striders Christmas party