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Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Central Maine Striders weren't able to have their annual year-end social this year. As a way to foster some kind of social spirit amongst the members of the club, Club President Ryan Goebel hosted an online trivia night after the December 15th Striders monthly meeting. The 25 questions were all running-related, with topics ranging from Striders history to movies about running to songs with running in them. Although some may say that the random algorithm that Zoom used to divide the teams wasn't very fair, the "Running With The Dogs" team (Julie Millard, Ron Peck, Pat Guerette, and Rob Krickus) came out on top of "The Mainiacs" (Alicia Wilcox, Tom & Lynda McGuire, and Drew McCormick) and "Posterior Cross Bite" (Deb Violette, Sapan Bhatt, Shanon Delaney, Brian Morin, and Kate Scott). Although Julie Millard proved to have some impressive Striders historical knowledge, no one could have guessed that it would be Ron Peck's knowledge of the song "Run" by Korean boy band superstars "BTS" that held onto the win on the final question of the night.
Thanks to everyone who participated. We already have plans for a second trivia night coming soon.
Thanks to everyone who participated. We already have plans for a second trivia night coming soon.
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Fellow Striders,
For those of you whom I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Jordan Castillo, and I’ve been so happy to serve as Vice President of this running community for the past year.
Last December, I was just a guy looking for some friends to run with. I heard about the Striders, saw a Facebook post about a monthly meeting coming up, and decided to go. When I showed up, the camaraderie was almost tangible -- I could tell this running community had deep roots and was great at creating opportunities for people to bond over running. And I thought it was so cool how the Striders have been the oldest, active running club in Maine!
I knew I wanted to be involved, and there was an open Vice President position. The Striders at the meeting encouraged me to take the position, and I thought, “Heck, why not!” I definitely knew I was excited to organize social runs and events for the Strider community, so stepping into the VP role felt like a fun (cool-sounding!) way to do that.
So, the reason I’m writing this is because I’m stepping down from my role, and this is like a little goodbye letter because I’m actually moving to Minnesota later this month. A great career opportunity a little closer to family is the main reason for the move. And I’ve gotta tell you, I will miss this community dearly.
I mostly want to take this moment to express my deep gratitude to the Striders, and to each of you beautiful people that have made my past 12 months that much richer. From running my first Millinocket half marathon, to the countless “virtual run” gatherings, to volunteering at the Striders’ first ever 10k race, this community has helped me create so many meaningful memories during my time in Maine.
To end, I want to encourage you all to keep investing in this community. Running may seem like a simple activity, but it has the power to bring some really awesome people together. There’s just something magic that happens when runners gather. We challenge each other, we are excited to see each other grow, and we love sharing stories about our lives as we traverse miles together.
And while we currently have to get a little more creative about the ways we can be “together” in this pandemic, I’ve also found it all the more necessary to stay connected with people who share my deep appreciation for running. Especially now, the world needs joyful people who can inspire others to keep pressing on. This community breeds that joy and inspiration. I can’t wait to see the ways this community continues to grow and positively impact others through the sport of running.
So, Striders, thank you for the opportunity to be part of your story (even just for a year!). And when marathons become a thing again, who knows… maybe I’ll see you out there on the road. ;)
All the best,
Jordan
For those of you whom I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Jordan Castillo, and I’ve been so happy to serve as Vice President of this running community for the past year.
Last December, I was just a guy looking for some friends to run with. I heard about the Striders, saw a Facebook post about a monthly meeting coming up, and decided to go. When I showed up, the camaraderie was almost tangible -- I could tell this running community had deep roots and was great at creating opportunities for people to bond over running. And I thought it was so cool how the Striders have been the oldest, active running club in Maine!
I knew I wanted to be involved, and there was an open Vice President position. The Striders at the meeting encouraged me to take the position, and I thought, “Heck, why not!” I definitely knew I was excited to organize social runs and events for the Strider community, so stepping into the VP role felt like a fun (cool-sounding!) way to do that.
So, the reason I’m writing this is because I’m stepping down from my role, and this is like a little goodbye letter because I’m actually moving to Minnesota later this month. A great career opportunity a little closer to family is the main reason for the move. And I’ve gotta tell you, I will miss this community dearly.
I mostly want to take this moment to express my deep gratitude to the Striders, and to each of you beautiful people that have made my past 12 months that much richer. From running my first Millinocket half marathon, to the countless “virtual run” gatherings, to volunteering at the Striders’ first ever 10k race, this community has helped me create so many meaningful memories during my time in Maine.
To end, I want to encourage you all to keep investing in this community. Running may seem like a simple activity, but it has the power to bring some really awesome people together. There’s just something magic that happens when runners gather. We challenge each other, we are excited to see each other grow, and we love sharing stories about our lives as we traverse miles together.
And while we currently have to get a little more creative about the ways we can be “together” in this pandemic, I’ve also found it all the more necessary to stay connected with people who share my deep appreciation for running. Especially now, the world needs joyful people who can inspire others to keep pressing on. This community breeds that joy and inspiration. I can’t wait to see the ways this community continues to grow and positively impact others through the sport of running.
So, Striders, thank you for the opportunity to be part of your story (even just for a year!). And when marathons become a thing again, who knows… maybe I’ll see you out there on the road. ;)
All the best,
Jordan
Jordan, thanks for everything you've given our club. It's been an honor and a pleasure getting to know you. We will miss the excitement and positive energy that you brought to all of our club events. And we hope that you wear your Striders beanie with this much joy in Minnesota too!
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After a brief hiatus, everyone's favorite jog into the past is back! In this edition of Running Backwards, we're heading back to the year 1990.
As many years do, 1990 started off with a quick summary of 1989. Just think, these guys thought 1989 was a strange year. Obviously, they hadn't experienced 2020 yet! Also, Ron Paquette, Donnajean Pohlman, and Gene Roy got their photo taken with a guy that is almost Chuck Norris.
Throughout the year, there were several mentions of Maine running magazines and newsletters that were ceasing publication. Maine Running and Outing Magazine seemed to be the biggest one to call it quits that year. I'm not sure what's harder to believe: That there were so many publications about Maine running back then or that so many were stopping circulation BEFORE the internet became widely available later that decade.
Although he's no longer a member of the Striders, David McIntyre still pays attention to the Central Maine running scene and recently showed up at our Fall Classic 10k and took some very nice videos of the leading pack.
I'm not sure which publication this "Town Line" was reprinted from, but it's a really nice article about Doc and Mardie Brown. It's too bad that myself and many of our younger members never got a chance to meet them, since they seem like truly amazing people. And personally, I was excited to read that they had a house rabbit. (For those of you that don't know, the current club president has two house rabbits).
We no longer make a list of all of the injuries that our club members have, but apparently they did back in 1990!
Not sure if his Arizona tan or the photocopy quality of this photo, but Rick Stuart is looking like he's straight out of Hollywood in this photo. Oh, and his 1:20:21 time was good for 18th place at the Mount Washington Road Race that year.
1990 was the year that Mardie Brown won a "Youth Award" as Tom McGuire looks on from the background. Also, can you believe that Runners World was "saluting" the Central Maine Striders back then? Yep, the Striders were that awesome back then.
The 1990 Boston Primer 15-Mile Race saw Cranberry Island's most famous resident grab 6th place, while legendary Striders Tom McGuire and Gene Roy came in 24th and 25th.
Talking about legends, Joan Benoit Samuelson showed up multiple times in the 1990 Interval newsletters. Below she is pictures with a couple Striders legends.
In 1990, the Striders issued their first "computer generated" newsletter. We told you the Striders were a big deal back then!
Current members Anne-Marie and Rick Davee were featured in a "Meet Our Members" article in the July-August issue of the Interval in 1990.
The legendary Roy family were featured on the front page of the September 1990 Interval.
Some 1990 "updates" on a few guys that are still members today:
Some things just never change. Tom McGuire was asking for members to help out. Current President Ryan Goebel would like to add, "We still need help. Please let me know if you want to help out with any aspect of the club."
It was nice to see a little write up about some of the Striders ladies in the Interval. Current Strider Linda Benn was amongst a group of them that took a trip to Boston to run in the Tufts 10k.
Gene Roy put together a pretty good group for a winter weekend run. We can't wait for this Covid thing to finish so we can get back to some club group runs!
I told you the club was big back then! For comparison, we currently have 75 memberships (which is up from 60 last year), and we hosted two races (the January Thaw and the Fall Classic 10k). Check out the planned 1991 race calendar below. Wowsers! That's a lot of club races! Also, look how many club members were willing to be race directors (hint, hint... anyone?).
And to end this edition of Running Backwards, here's proof that our membership fees are still a great value. In 1990, a membership cost $12 and stamps were 25 cents. Here in 2020/2021, club membership is $20 and stamps are 55 cents. In case you are rusty on your math, club memberships have risen only 67% in the last 30 years, while stamps have risen by 120%.
That's all for this edition of Running Backwards. Thanks for jogging along all the way to the finish line!
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Photos of Joshua Way courtesy of Maine Running Photos
Joshua Way:
The morning of the Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10k was very cold and windy, I felt like I was freezing waiting for the race to kick off. My intentions were to win in a time around 36 minutes. When everyone was at the start line I was nervous as I didn't know how fast everyone else was, Club President Ryan Goebel kicked the race off with a "Runners set....Go!!" I was off and immediately I was up front with a fellow Strider runner Casey Gallant as we went down Quarry Road and turned onto North Street. I didn't think I could continue the pace I was running, but luckily the wind pushed me right up North street. After we finished the first half ,I pushed the uphills and got rid of Casey. He did a great job during this race. He pushed me very hard the first 5k. Back onto North Street I went, with the wind slowing me down, I was getting very tired. When I got back onto Quarry road for the home stretch, I knew I only had only a mile left. I ran that last mile faster than I thought I could, I was up front in the lead as I came near the finish line. I was pushed on by cheering family's and friends. I sprinted to the finish line in 34:32. I was very pleased as I moved off to the side for fellow runners to come through. I would love to run this race next year!
The morning of the Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10k was very cold and windy, I felt like I was freezing waiting for the race to kick off. My intentions were to win in a time around 36 minutes. When everyone was at the start line I was nervous as I didn't know how fast everyone else was, Club President Ryan Goebel kicked the race off with a "Runners set....Go!!" I was off and immediately I was up front with a fellow Strider runner Casey Gallant as we went down Quarry Road and turned onto North Street. I didn't think I could continue the pace I was running, but luckily the wind pushed me right up North street. After we finished the first half ,I pushed the uphills and got rid of Casey. He did a great job during this race. He pushed me very hard the first 5k. Back onto North Street I went, with the wind slowing me down, I was getting very tired. When I got back onto Quarry road for the home stretch, I knew I only had only a mile left. I ran that last mile faster than I thought I could, I was up front in the lead as I came near the finish line. I was pushed on by cheering family's and friends. I sprinted to the finish line in 34:32. I was very pleased as I moved off to the side for fellow runners to come through. I would love to run this race next year!
Kristina Guerette:
As the worldwide pandemic continues to evolve, we do too and continue to roll with whatever comes our way. There have been a lot of changes over the past 7 months, but one thing has not changed for me: the sheer joy of lacing up my sneakers and going for a run. Both my husband (Patrick Guerette) and I are avid runners and have continued to find joy in running, despite races being cancelled. We were both training for big races in April and May, including the Boston Marathon and an Ultra Marathon in Vermont. We didn’t let the cancellations of those races get to us. When Patrick mentioned that the Central Maine Striders were organizing a fall race with a capacity of 40 runners, I knew I had to sign up. This was my chance to see results of all the training I’ve completed in the past year.
It was a cold, breezy morning at the Quarry Road. Foliage was at its peak and runners were happily warming up for the Fall Classic 10k. There was some nostalgia of a high school cross-country race with the crunching of the leaves and the brisk fall air. Race directors, runners and volunteers were masked up and following all COVID-19 safety protocols. Despite all the safety measures, race day did not feel any different than any other race I’ve done. I still had pre-race jitters, I still did my typical warm-up and mingled with other runners and my husband was STILL competitive with me as always. Patrick made a friendly bet with me prior to the race: If he ran faster than me, I would have to cook dinner all week (anyone who knows me is well aware that I am no chef and I never cook!). Fair enough. I knew we would be close. My 10k goal has always been to break 40 minutes but would today be the day?
I started off strong with mile 1 at 6:11 pace. Too fast? Maybe. Leaving the Quarry Road and heading on North Street, finishing the second mile at 6:12 pace. I felt strong and knew I could keep up with the pace. I could hear Patrick trailing behind me through miles 3 and 4. I was in the zone and knew I could finish strong. Patrick crept up on me and passed me going into mile 5, looking strong. He cracked a joke and broke ahead. I just had to keep him in sight if I wanted to break 40 minutes. Turning back onto the Quarry Road for the last 1.5 miles, I could feel my legs starting to cramp and the wind was strong. I could hear the voices in my head saying “How bad do you want this?” Feeling the adrenaline rush in the last 400 meters, I raced to the finish in a time of 39:07. I immediately felt that “runners high.” All the hard work and dedication paid off.
We may be living in strange times but I felt a glimpse of hope in today’s race. It was fun to see other runners in the community come together and do what we love to do. Thank you, Central Maine Striders, for putting together this event! See you next year.
As the worldwide pandemic continues to evolve, we do too and continue to roll with whatever comes our way. There have been a lot of changes over the past 7 months, but one thing has not changed for me: the sheer joy of lacing up my sneakers and going for a run. Both my husband (Patrick Guerette) and I are avid runners and have continued to find joy in running, despite races being cancelled. We were both training for big races in April and May, including the Boston Marathon and an Ultra Marathon in Vermont. We didn’t let the cancellations of those races get to us. When Patrick mentioned that the Central Maine Striders were organizing a fall race with a capacity of 40 runners, I knew I had to sign up. This was my chance to see results of all the training I’ve completed in the past year.
It was a cold, breezy morning at the Quarry Road. Foliage was at its peak and runners were happily warming up for the Fall Classic 10k. There was some nostalgia of a high school cross-country race with the crunching of the leaves and the brisk fall air. Race directors, runners and volunteers were masked up and following all COVID-19 safety protocols. Despite all the safety measures, race day did not feel any different than any other race I’ve done. I still had pre-race jitters, I still did my typical warm-up and mingled with other runners and my husband was STILL competitive with me as always. Patrick made a friendly bet with me prior to the race: If he ran faster than me, I would have to cook dinner all week (anyone who knows me is well aware that I am no chef and I never cook!). Fair enough. I knew we would be close. My 10k goal has always been to break 40 minutes but would today be the day?
I started off strong with mile 1 at 6:11 pace. Too fast? Maybe. Leaving the Quarry Road and heading on North Street, finishing the second mile at 6:12 pace. I felt strong and knew I could keep up with the pace. I could hear Patrick trailing behind me through miles 3 and 4. I was in the zone and knew I could finish strong. Patrick crept up on me and passed me going into mile 5, looking strong. He cracked a joke and broke ahead. I just had to keep him in sight if I wanted to break 40 minutes. Turning back onto the Quarry Road for the last 1.5 miles, I could feel my legs starting to cramp and the wind was strong. I could hear the voices in my head saying “How bad do you want this?” Feeling the adrenaline rush in the last 400 meters, I raced to the finish in a time of 39:07. I immediately felt that “runners high.” All the hard work and dedication paid off.
We may be living in strange times but I felt a glimpse of hope in today’s race. It was fun to see other runners in the community come together and do what we love to do. Thank you, Central Maine Striders, for putting together this event! See you next year.
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Are you interested in purchasing some Central Maine Striders gear?
We've partnered with Joseph's Sporting Goods in Waterville for some exciting new Striders apparel. They'll have Striders short and long sleeve tech tees, singlets, hoodies, and hats available for ordering. Click here to download the pricing sheet.
To order, you can call Joseph's at (207)660-6676, or stop by their store at 146 Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville.
We've partnered with Joseph's Sporting Goods in Waterville for some exciting new Striders apparel. They'll have Striders short and long sleeve tech tees, singlets, hoodies, and hats available for ordering. Click here to download the pricing sheet.
To order, you can call Joseph's at (207)660-6676, or stop by their store at 146 Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville.
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It's getting to be that time of year again. The temperatures are dropping and 2021 is approaching. That also means that it's time to renew your membership for 2021. Also, memberships for anyone who joins now will be valid through December 31, 2021.
Keep in mind that membership benefits include:
- Membership for your entire household
- Being part of the oldest, active running club in Maine
- Subscription to our e-newsletter, The Interval
- Discount on entry to local road races, including the January Thaw 4.5-Mile Road Race, Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10k, Doc & Mardie 5k, Quarry Road Summer Race Series, and Save Your Breath 5k.
- Discounted or free Central Maine Striders gear
- And more benefits coming soon!
Go to www.centralmainestriders.com/join for more info and the link to join.
Keep in mind that membership benefits include:
- Membership for your entire household
- Being part of the oldest, active running club in Maine
- Subscription to our e-newsletter, The Interval
- Discount on entry to local road races, including the January Thaw 4.5-Mile Road Race, Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10k, Doc & Mardie 5k, Quarry Road Summer Race Series, and Save Your Breath 5k.
- Discounted or free Central Maine Striders gear
- And more benefits coming soon!
Go to www.centralmainestriders.com/join for more info and the link to join.
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Hi, my name is Deb Violette and I am Board Secretary and member of Central Maine Striders. I am not your typical member as I do not run. You are probably thinking, “How did you become a Board Secretary and Member?” Here is a bit of my story and how I came to Central Maine Strider’s annual social December 2018.
I started a foundation called Free ME from Lung Cancer in 2012 to help researchers find a cure for lung cancer, help Maine high risk patients get access to early lung cancer screening and low income home owners get access to radon air abatement systems. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. In fact the Environmental Protection Agency states that one in every three homes has radon high enough to warrant mitigation.
I started Free ME from Lung Cancer because I am a 22 year lung cancer survivor. I was given a 10% chance of living two years. During my treatment I knew that I wanted to help others diagnosed with this disease. A disease that often leaves the patient isolated, shamed and blamed for their disease because so often it is linked to smoking. Through research we now know that this is not the case at all. If you have lungs you can get lung cancer.
I host two events annually. A themed auction and a "Save Your Breath" 5k. You may have seen my post on the 5k [on the Central Maine Striders facebook group]. In December 2018 I saw a post about Central Maine Strider’s annual social. I asked if anyone could come to the social and I was told yes. So I joined the group that night with the intentions of introduce myself and talk a bit about my foundation, my passion to improve the lives of lung cancer patients and make a donation to the club. The club members was so very gracious to let me post my event on their FaceBook page and never once complained about my obsession in doing so. The group introduced themselves and then allowed me a few minutes to talk.
As the evening unfolded the group began their year end election of officers. They didn’t have a social media/webmaster lined up so I volunteered to take the social media piece for them. I was a social media director for another nonprofit plus my own and thought, “What’s one more FaceBook page to support?” I paid my dues for the upcoming year and returned home. A few days later my phone rings and it was [Club President] Ryan Goebel. Ryan asked if I would mind holding the Secretary’s position. He wasn’t able to find anyone to hold that seat. I said any way that I can help was fine with me and that is how a non runner became a Board Secretary and member for the oldest active running club in the State of Maine.
If you are reading this and not a member yet I encourage you to come to one of our meetings on ZOOM. I have enjoyed serving as Board Secretary these last several months. The members are really fun, creative and friendly. I know you will enjoy the group as much as I have.
If you are interested in learning more about Free ME from Lung Cancer and our upcoming virtual Save Your Breath and virtual online auction please visit us at freemefromlungcancer.org or call me at 207-215-9035. I hope to see you at our next board meeting scheduled for November 10th at 7pm.
Deb Violette, Board Secretary for Central Maine Striders
I started a foundation called Free ME from Lung Cancer in 2012 to help researchers find a cure for lung cancer, help Maine high risk patients get access to early lung cancer screening and low income home owners get access to radon air abatement systems. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. In fact the Environmental Protection Agency states that one in every three homes has radon high enough to warrant mitigation.
I started Free ME from Lung Cancer because I am a 22 year lung cancer survivor. I was given a 10% chance of living two years. During my treatment I knew that I wanted to help others diagnosed with this disease. A disease that often leaves the patient isolated, shamed and blamed for their disease because so often it is linked to smoking. Through research we now know that this is not the case at all. If you have lungs you can get lung cancer.
I host two events annually. A themed auction and a "Save Your Breath" 5k. You may have seen my post on the 5k [on the Central Maine Striders facebook group]. In December 2018 I saw a post about Central Maine Strider’s annual social. I asked if anyone could come to the social and I was told yes. So I joined the group that night with the intentions of introduce myself and talk a bit about my foundation, my passion to improve the lives of lung cancer patients and make a donation to the club. The club members was so very gracious to let me post my event on their FaceBook page and never once complained about my obsession in doing so. The group introduced themselves and then allowed me a few minutes to talk.
As the evening unfolded the group began their year end election of officers. They didn’t have a social media/webmaster lined up so I volunteered to take the social media piece for them. I was a social media director for another nonprofit plus my own and thought, “What’s one more FaceBook page to support?” I paid my dues for the upcoming year and returned home. A few days later my phone rings and it was [Club President] Ryan Goebel. Ryan asked if I would mind holding the Secretary’s position. He wasn’t able to find anyone to hold that seat. I said any way that I can help was fine with me and that is how a non runner became a Board Secretary and member for the oldest active running club in the State of Maine.
If you are reading this and not a member yet I encourage you to come to one of our meetings on ZOOM. I have enjoyed serving as Board Secretary these last several months. The members are really fun, creative and friendly. I know you will enjoy the group as much as I have.
If you are interested in learning more about Free ME from Lung Cancer and our upcoming virtual Save Your Breath and virtual online auction please visit us at freemefromlungcancer.org or call me at 207-215-9035. I hope to see you at our next board meeting scheduled for November 10th at 7pm.
Deb Violette, Board Secretary for Central Maine Striders
Be sure to check out our club newsletter for a discount code good for $10 off entry into the Save Your Breath 5k.
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Thank you to all of the runners, volunteers, and sponsors who made our inaugural Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10k a success!
Womens Overall Winner Kristina Guerette and Mens Overall Winner Joshua Way
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My running story is a little bit different from the other Central Maine Striders members I have read. I never actually set out intentionally to run in the first place.
My story begins 2 and half years ago when I turned 35. I was overweight, had been for about 15 years, and was generally unhappy with my body and health. I always felt tired and never put much thought into exercising and changing my lifestyle habits. The one week a year I felt my best was when I took my family to Florida to visit my parents who spend their winters there. It was coming back from the trip of my 35th birthday that changed me. Without realizing it, I had managed to lose 15 lbs. just in that week! Wow, I thought that’s incredible, how can I keep this momentum going?
Well I've always been a very competitive person (for better or for worse) and the key for me was to find a weight loss competition. My wife had done a "chub club" group on facebook in the past and really found inspiration from other peoples' journey's and friendly competition. Lucky for me there were some friends of ours who were also feeling the pressure of growing older and wanting to make a change. My wife set up a new "chub club" and sent out the invitations. One by one friends from all over the country started joining and before I knew it we were up to almost 50 participants! The only catch was that on the first day everybody had to post a picture of themselves standing on a scale for the group to see, THE HORROR! I really didn’t want my friends to see how much weight I had packed on since high school, but in the end I knew that would only make the payoff that much sweeter! Did it ever, I started by just changing my diet, no more fast food runs for lunch and extra sugary coffee and donuts every morning.
My story begins 2 and half years ago when I turned 35. I was overweight, had been for about 15 years, and was generally unhappy with my body and health. I always felt tired and never put much thought into exercising and changing my lifestyle habits. The one week a year I felt my best was when I took my family to Florida to visit my parents who spend their winters there. It was coming back from the trip of my 35th birthday that changed me. Without realizing it, I had managed to lose 15 lbs. just in that week! Wow, I thought that’s incredible, how can I keep this momentum going?
Well I've always been a very competitive person (for better or for worse) and the key for me was to find a weight loss competition. My wife had done a "chub club" group on facebook in the past and really found inspiration from other peoples' journey's and friendly competition. Lucky for me there were some friends of ours who were also feeling the pressure of growing older and wanting to make a change. My wife set up a new "chub club" and sent out the invitations. One by one friends from all over the country started joining and before I knew it we were up to almost 50 participants! The only catch was that on the first day everybody had to post a picture of themselves standing on a scale for the group to see, THE HORROR! I really didn’t want my friends to see how much weight I had packed on since high school, but in the end I knew that would only make the payoff that much sweeter! Did it ever, I started by just changing my diet, no more fast food runs for lunch and extra sugary coffee and donuts every morning.
The first week, BOOM 7 lbs. down. Then I thought hey I'm really onto something, why not add in some exercise? So I would use my lunch to walk around town and get some miles in, BOOM another 10 lbs. down! Then I thought why not walk when I get home from work with the wife and kids? Add in good meal choices and portion control and by the end of the month I had lost 34 lbs and was tied for 1st place in the competition.
At this point I was feeling so great that I knew I had to keep the momentum going so I walked faster and further every week. It was on one of my walks that I felt I couldn’t walk fast enough and broke into a jog, it wasn’t for very long but I was hooked, it felt euphoric so from then on it was jog/walk/jog every time I went out. Before I knew it was jogging almost a mile at a time before I had to walk again and catch my breath. I slowly increased that to a mile and half, then two or more.
This went on for 9 months, and with a continued change to healthy eating I had lost 85 lbs. total! Winter was upon us again at this point and it was getting uncomfortable to continue exercising outside, so I joined a gym and started using the treadmill everyday on my lunch hour. A few months later I had lost 100 lbs., and that’s where my weight loss journey has concluded. Since then I have slowly increased my running speed and distance to where I am now.
Finding the Central Maine Striders group on facebook has taken my running to the next level. I have run my only 2 races this year thanks to following this group and their passion for running. The Quarry Road Trails Racing series opened my eyes to trail running as I had never run any trails prior to my first race. The Doc and Mardie 5K race recently was my first in person race and now I am hooked!
I love what running continues to do for me physically and mentally and I am so thankful the members of the Central Maine Striders have accepted me into the fold. I look up to so many runners from the group and really enjoy the friendships I have made so far with hopefully many more to come.
At this point I was feeling so great that I knew I had to keep the momentum going so I walked faster and further every week. It was on one of my walks that I felt I couldn’t walk fast enough and broke into a jog, it wasn’t for very long but I was hooked, it felt euphoric so from then on it was jog/walk/jog every time I went out. Before I knew it was jogging almost a mile at a time before I had to walk again and catch my breath. I slowly increased that to a mile and half, then two or more.
This went on for 9 months, and with a continued change to healthy eating I had lost 85 lbs. total! Winter was upon us again at this point and it was getting uncomfortable to continue exercising outside, so I joined a gym and started using the treadmill everyday on my lunch hour. A few months later I had lost 100 lbs., and that’s where my weight loss journey has concluded. Since then I have slowly increased my running speed and distance to where I am now.
Finding the Central Maine Striders group on facebook has taken my running to the next level. I have run my only 2 races this year thanks to following this group and their passion for running. The Quarry Road Trails Racing series opened my eyes to trail running as I had never run any trails prior to my first race. The Doc and Mardie 5K race recently was my first in person race and now I am hooked!
I love what running continues to do for me physically and mentally and I am so thankful the members of the Central Maine Striders have accepted me into the fold. I look up to so many runners from the group and really enjoy the friendships I have made so far with hopefully many more to come.
- Published on
In this edition of Running Backwards, we're taking a jog down memory lane to 1984.
All the issues of The Interval newsletter in 1984 featured the same masthead which showed the club's association with Road Runners Club of America and The Athletics Congress, our familiar PO Box 1177 address, and a list of the officers. [Anybody out there want to run for "Data Processor" in 2021?]
In the January-February issue, President Dean Rasmussen was happy to ring in the new year and perhaps even happier to hand over the position of President to another (un)lucky soul.
Central Maine Striders t-shirts were available for $12 each. [Speaking of t-shirts, we're working at getting some new Striders shirts made here in 2020. Stayed tuned for more details.]
The president elect had a few comments in which he names the other new officers (including current Strider Jim Moore), but fails to name himself. Who is this mystery president elect?
Amongst the race results, were some results leftover from the end of 1983. In the Veterans Day Half Marathon, Donnajean Pohlman seems to have dashed across the finish line one second faster than Ron Paquette.
Also in November 1983, several Striders ran in a cross-country race at UMaine-Augusta. Striders teams nabbed the first and second place team prizes. Current Strider Gene Roy placed 4th overall with a time of 17:27 in the 3-mile race. Other current Striders that raced in Augusta that day included Dean Rasmussen and Sarah Roy.
And yet another November 1983 race that featured a ton of Striders was the Gasping Gobbler 10k. Gerry Clapper set the course record with a time of 31:09. Also there were current Striders Geoff Hill, Jerry Allanach, Dean Rasmussen, Jim Moore, Ron Paquette, and Sarah Roy.
Outgoing president Dean Rasmussen had one last word and shared the newly ratified Central Maine Striders Constitution (only partially reprinted here).
Thanks to the April 1984 Interval masthead, we find out that the mystery president elect is none other than Fred Judkins II. Also, it seems that the "Data Processor" position that he held previously was eliminated and/or absorbed into the position of President. Club Presidents are very accustomed to absorbing all the miscellaneous duties that no one else wants to do.
Some of President Fred Judkins' first words in newsletter were to congratulate Super Strider Gene Roy with the Presidents Award.
Speaking of Gene, there was also a nice profile written up about the entire Roy family in that newsletter. We're proud to say that most of the Roys are still members in our club.
Race results that were "In The News" in April 1984 included the January Thaw, where Ron Paquette, Jim Moore, Donnajean Pohlman and Sarah Roy were amongst the finishers.
The St Pat 10k in Waterville was also "In The News". Current Striders that ran that day included Jerry Allanach, Ron Paquette, Jim Moore, and Donnajean Pohlman.
[By the way, a 10k in Waterville sounds like a pretty good idea, don't you think? Have you heard about the Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10k? Click here for more info.]
[By the way, a 10k in Waterville sounds like a pretty good idea, don't you think? Have you heard about the Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10k? Click here for more info.]
The May 1984 newsletter was a bit late getting out thanks to a blown wordprocessing diskette. Hashtags weren't invented yet, but this surely would be classified under "#1984problems".
Kids, don't worry if you don't know what a "wordprocessing diskette" is. If you blew your wordprocessing diskette back in 1984, I imagine it was kind of like dropping your iPhone into a river and then coming home to find that Apple replaced their 2-day express shipping with three-week shipping.
Kids, don't worry if you don't know what a "wordprocessing diskette" is. If you blew your wordprocessing diskette back in 1984, I imagine it was kind of like dropping your iPhone into a river and then coming home to find that Apple replaced their 2-day express shipping with three-week shipping.
Oh... injuries. Unfortunately, too many of us Striders have been through the dreaded running injury and subsequent recovery period. It's all part of being a runner.
[As a comparison, as of 9/7/2020, we have 72 family memberships which translates into 126 members.]
Included in the race results that issue was the Boston Primer Readfield 15-miler. Jerry Allanach flew through the 15 miles in 1:35:55. Gene Roy was only two-and-a-half minutes behind that. And Donnajean Pohlman once again eked out a victory over Ron Paquette by a margin of one second.
In what is possibly one of the greatest race names ever, the Strides of March 10k was held in Waterville. Some familiar names (Jerry Allanach, Ron Paquette, Sarah Roy, and Donnajean Pohlman) were amongst the current Striders that raced that day.
[Hmmmm.... another 10k in Waterville? You know you want to run in one too. Click here for your only chance to run a 10k in Waterville in 2020.]
[Hmmmm.... another 10k in Waterville? You know you want to run in one too. Click here for your only chance to run a 10k in Waterville in 2020.]
Although not in Waterville, yet another area 10k was held that spring in China. Thirty-four Striders showed up to race there! THIRTY-FOUR Striders in the SAME RACE! How awesome is that?
The Roy kids showed up to take 136th, 163rd, and 177th places in the fun run. Wait... how big was this fun run? Was every kid in central Maine there to run?
[10k's were cool in 1984. Help the Striders make 10k's cool again by signing up for the 2020 Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10k.]
The Roy kids showed up to take 136th, 163rd, and 177th places in the fun run. Wait... how big was this fun run? Was every kid in central Maine there to run?
[10k's were cool in 1984. Help the Striders make 10k's cool again by signing up for the 2020 Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10k.]
In the August 1984 newsletter, President Fred Judkins sent out his "deepest empathy" to all the injured runners out there. Unfortunately, being injured is part of being a runner, as our current president knows all too well. Luckily, the sun will shine again and you will most likely run again after your injury heals.
There hasn't been many book or recipe recommendations in The Interval over the years, so that makes this one all the more interesting. For those that are curious, Amazon still sells a newer edition of this book, so I'm sure that some local bookstore out there also does.
Have any of you tried the "Hass Crabmeat Au Gratin"? We'd love for you to let us know if eating it helped you win anything.
Have any of you tried the "Hass Crabmeat Au Gratin"? We'd love for you to let us know if eating it helped you win anything.
Wait a minute... He ended up 10 miles away from the finish on a 4-mile course? Now that's what I call getting lost!
We no longer provide this service, but found it interesting that you used to be able to request a membership roster. I guess privacy concerns have changed a little over the years.
Jerry Allanach ran a 2:54 and Ron Paquette clocked a 3:42 in 1984's edition of the Maine Coast Marathon. Not bad, guys!
And then there was everyone's favorite "only one hill" race -- Mount Washington.
Hey look! Another 10k. This one was in Fairfield. Jerry Allanach notched a sub-40-min 10k just a few weeks after this sub-3-hour marathon. Geoff Hill also ran sub-40-minutes that day.
Although not quite as well named as the "Strides of March", the "Save Your Sole" 10k is still a pretty good race name. Oh yes, it's another 10k. [Did we mention anything about the 10k happening October 11, 2020 yet?]
There was a Waterville 10k in August too. Because you just can never have enough 10k's.
At the Renovation 10k, current Striders Jim Moore, Donnajean Pohlman, Dean Rasmussen, and Ron Paquette were finishers.
At the Renovation 10k, current Striders Jim Moore, Donnajean Pohlman, Dean Rasmussen, and Ron Paquette were finishers.
It seems that the Striders had a surge in interest in biathlons and triathlons in 1984.
The October 1984 issue of The Interval served up some more 10k news. However, this note from the president wasn't about the 10k race itself, but rather the "controversy" of former Striders wearing Striders singlets. There was even a main-in poll about it contained in this newsletter. Although we're not sure what the final results of that poll were, we just want to make it clear that in the 2020 edition of the Striders, if you paid for your singlet, you're free to wear it whenever and wherever you want.
The final issue of the year came out in November and had some bad news. The Striders were running low on cash and the final newsletter of the year had to be squeezed onto one page using a really small font.
I'm not sure if a Triple Crown or Grand Slam of Maine marathons still exists, but Gene Roy nominated Jerry Allanach for the Grand Slam award in 1984. Jerry cruised through four marathons in the state of Maine that year, clocking sub-3-hour times in all of them, including a very impressive 2:50:40 at the Casco Bay marathon.
At the bottom of the one-page November 1984 newsletter, several race results were squashed at the bottom (we've done your eyes a favor and magnified the font for you here). Lots of familiar names here. And look at all of those 10k's!!! [One last time: have you registered for the Central Maine Striders Fall Classic 10k yet?]
Well, that's all we have for this edition's jog into the past. Thanks for coming along. We hope you found it to be more of a fun run than a marathon going through 1984. No one knows what year we'll be running back to in the next issue, but we promise that it will have less links to our October 2020 10k.