Our Running Achievements in 2021

We recently asked club members what their greatest running accomplishments of 2021 were.  Here's what our club members accomplished this past year:

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Derek Huffman:  "I ran my first races since high school (20 years) this year. I broke my 42-minute goal for the Fall Classic 10K by finishing in 6th place with a time of 41:41.  Jessica, June (7), and Wade (3) Huffman, ran their first races (ever!) in the Quarry Road Summer Running Series. We look forward to many more races in the coming years!"

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Amy Stabins: "My greatest accomplishment in 2021 is competing in the TUCARD race.  It was in an area I'm unfamiliar with, with people I didn't  know, and as I get older I get less and less competitive (ie, I'm likely to come in last...).  But the race looked like so much fun and I'm so glad I did it!"

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Harold Shaw:  "Very simply, to still be running and being healthy enough to run. It seemed that the first half of 2021 was devoted to various injuries and that the older you get the longer it takes for those things to heal so you can do what you love. Now, to get comfortable enough to get back to racing and life will be good again. ​😊"

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Karl Foss:  "My Greatest 2021 running achievement was running 13 miles of the Down East Sunrise Trail Relay.  I ran 6.3 miles starting around 11:30 at night and 6.7 miles starting around 6:30 in the morning.  I trained hard for it and with the pandemic going on, it was really emotional."

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Patrick Guerette:  "​I had some really great experiences this year; first 100mi, Mt. Washington, Jay Peak 53.1k... but getting an actual win at the Strider Fall Classic, was my first race win in a while.  Also, I'd like to add/share that my wife [Kristina Guerette] ran Boston 9 weeks postpartum, I am sure she would love the recognition :-) "

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Martha Nadeau:  "The Downeast Sunrise Trail Relay: an overnight relay race, 100.7 miles Ellsworth to Eastport. I had relegated this to my 'love to, but I am not good enough to do' list. Glad it didn't stay on that list! My team was awesome and this race was more than I could have imagined. Running in the middle of the night, with only moonlight and a headlight to guide me along the trail in the woods, often being the only person around. So proud of myself and my whole team for not only finishing, but coming in under the expected time."

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Laurel King:  "My greatest running accomplishment of 2021 was the Mt. Washington Road Race. My time wasn't anything to brag about, but I actually had fun running those 4,650 vertical feet."

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Ryan Goebel:  "After more than two years of not being able to race due to injury, I returned to racing and even surprised myself on how well I ran in several races, including the Flight Deck Half Marathon, Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10k, Save Your Breath 5k, and Millinocket Marathon.  It feels great to be back to running regularly and being able to compete."

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Beth Bridger:  "The best thing that happened in my running world this year was finding a whole bunch of new friends who are just as passionate about running as I am. As much as I love running my body tells me I need to back off. So I'll be volunteering and cheering and telling everyone about the joys of running. One of the best days I had in 2021 was interacting with the Thomas College track & field team during a fundraiser. Seeing the impact that the sport and their coaches have on these athletes reminded me that I absolutely need to continue to be involved with runners and trackies. Here's to a new year a new adventures in running."

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Drew McCormick:  "I would have to say my biggest (also longest) accomplishment of 2021 was competing in my first marathon at the Maine Marathon held in Portland,ME. I had never experienced the amount of community and passion around the event and the sport of running, I simply found it fantastic."

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Susan Brooks:  "​My greatest running achievement is every day that I lace up my shoes and get out the door. This year has been particularly challenging as I’m coming to terms with ever-slowing runs and races and the need for more time to recover. After fifty (50!) plus years of running I’m learning to cross train with a goal of more rounded fitness that will keep me healthy and injury free as I run on into each decade. It’s still one run at a time and each is an achievement.  I did finish 3rd in my age group at the Millinocket Half (290/939 overall)"

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Thanks to all of the Striders who sent us their running achievements from this past year.  And thanks to all of the Central Maine Striders members, both in this article and not, for making 2021 another great year for the club.  We're looking forward to running into the new year with all of you!