Meet Our Members: Rebecca Roy

Rebecca at the finish of the Vermont 50 in 2014

Although she lives in Vermont now, Rebecca Roy is a proud member of the Central Maine Striders.  As the daughter of Gene Roy, she was basically raised into the Strider family.  Although she's been battling an injury lately, she's hoping to get back to running soon.  As part of our ongoing series to get to know more about our members, we recently asked Rebecca a series of questions over email.  Here's what she had to say.

Thank you so much for thinking of me for this. I am very honored and it means so much to me because I grew up with the Striders, all the old timers are family to me. I feel far away but by being a member of CMS I feel connected which means a great deal. 

What do you do when you’re not running? I manage educational programs for Vermont State Parks professionally. I love Nordic skiing, camping, and trout fishing. I am also an avid deer hunter. I have also gotten into mountain biking since I've been injured. I love being in the woods no matter what I am doing.

Why are you a member of the Central Maine Striders? CMS is the best running club out there, the club played a huge important role in my childhood, and want to stay connected. It will be fun to run races in Vermont with my CMS gear!

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At the Kingfield 10K sometime in the 80's. Rebecca with her brother Luc and her older sister Rachel.

How long have you been a member of the Central Maine Striders?
I feel like I was born into the club because my dad was an early member. I spent my childhood going to races with my family every weekend, and that thrilled me. I still love going to races to just watch and I love hearing people's play by play stories of their races. Almost all my childhood memories involve adventures at races with the Club. I moved to Vermont nineteen years ago and had a big gap in my membership. I joined again when my dad was honored as Strider of the Year [in 2017], and will continue to be part of the best running club out there.

Why and when did you start running? My first race was a 1k fun run at the China School in China, Maine when I was 3. I vividly remember my mom's red striped tube socks during that race. I was thrilled to race and that hooked me. Running was a huge part of my childhood and became part of my identity. I just love it. I chose my college because my dad brought my sister, Rachel, and I to an Earth Day race there when I was five. That was Unity College and I ended up running cross-country there and made All-American and we won a National small college title.

How old are you? 43, I will be 44 in April. Still a long way to the next age bracket. My fastest times (so far) were in my late 30's.

And why do you run now? Unfortunately I am injured right now, but I am getting close to running again. I got into trail running when I moved to Vermont. I love adventure runs of all kinds. My favorite is a loop on Mt Mansfield, which is a mountain in Vermont with an expansive long summit, the whole loop is just under 9 miles and features the most beautiful views of Vermont. And [in Underhill State Park], we have a super nice state park campground at the trailhead where you can relax around a campfire and sleep in a lean-to after the run adventure. Sorry, I cannot help plugging my employer. I run today to get out in the woods, to wash away the stress of life, and to feel strong. I work with other ultra runners and they all have a zen attitude that gets you hooked on going long.

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Running up Maple Ridge on Mt Mansfield in summer 2017

What’s your favorite running route? I have a trail loop at work that is four miles with lots of ups and downs, but my I have lots of real favorites in the woods. These are all in Vermont, I mentioned Mt Mansfield but I also have many fun loops I like to do in Groton State Forest in eastern Vermont. I live in Vermont because I like living in the mountains, I am two miles from a trailhead up Mt Cushman, which is a four mile round trip run. I used to run that weekly when I wasn't injured. My parents have a camp on Pattee Pond in Winslow [Maine], every July when I visit I run around the pond. That run is about 9 miles and 3/4 of it is road running and 1/4 is bushwacking. The last couple years I had to ride a bike around the loop instead.

What’s your favorite running gear? I love my Hoka Speed Goat shoes! I have too many pairs of running shoes. That is my addiction!

What do you think about when you run? I brainstorm ideas to solve problems I struggle with. I also love nature so I spend time watching for wildlife and identifying plants on the fly while trail running.

What are your running goals? They are lower now after micro-fracture ankle surgery, I would like to get up to ten mile adventure runs in the mountains this summer. I would love to do the Millinocket Half Marathon next December.

What’s your favorite race? Sugarloaf Marathon! I ran this when was 21 and then again when I was 41, and I ran it with my mom that second time. Absolutely magical day. My mom won her age group! Plus I grew up going to that marathon and I had family managing the Cathedral Pines Campground. We have lots of family history in that area so it is somehow magically extra special.

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Finishing the Sugarloaf Marathon finish with her mom, Sarah Roy, in 2017.

After the finish of the 2017 Sugarload Marathon, Rebecca and her mom celebrate her mom's age group win.

What’s your most memorable race? Finishing the Vermont 50 was a big deal to me, 50 miles is the farthest I have run. There are other adventure runs I've enjoyed that are very memorable like the Pemi Loop and Presidential Traverse in the White Mountains. I hope I can do things like that again.

What is your favorite memory as a Central Maine Strider? I have so many of these from childhood. One I clearly remember is the Kingfield 10K. That was a huge race when I was a kid, and CMS was well represented. There was always live music, chicken bbq, and lots of happy runners lounging out on the hill in the center of town enjoying the scene. We always camped out for the weekend with CMS friends and it was always a blast.

What’s the best advice you were ever given about running? Run negative splits.

What advice would you give to other runners? I learned a valuable lesson about cross-training at my age. I love running and do not really want to do anything else but it helps your body stay stronger by doing other activities. It makes you a better runner and more resilient. I will continue mountain biking and nordic skiing after I heal well enough to rip it up trail running again.

What’s your favorite running quote? "As every runner knows, running is more than just putting one foot in front of the other; it is about our lifestyle and who we are." --Joan Benoit Samuelson (I adore her!)

Thanks, Rebecca, for taking the time to let us get to know you a little more!  We hope your injury heals soon and you can get back to running. We're proud to have you a Central Maine Strider and hope that you can make it back to one of our events in Maine someday.  In the meantime, we're happy to have you as an active member of our Facebook group.

Would you like to be featured in a "Meet Our Members" article?  Contact us at [email protected].

Check out that awesome Striders singlet! Rebecca in the first race that she won, the Gasping Gobbler 10K in Augusta on Thanksgiving Day (exact year unkownn, bur around 1997).