Vote for Central Maine Strider of the Year: Men's Nominees

We're excited to recognize two club members for their standout running achievements as male and female Striders of the Year. Mike Brooks, Dave Drew, and Ron Peck were nominated by fellow club members for the male Strider of the Year award. 

Please review the nominees' info below, as well as the female Strider of the Year nominees (Susan Brooks, Stephanie LeBlanc, and Julie Millard ) separately. Then vote for one male Strider of the Year and one female Strider of the Year. (Note: you must be a 2016 or 2017 club member to vote.)

To vote for Striders of the Year, send your picks to:

• [email protected]
• or mail them to: Central Maine Striders, P.O. Box 1177, Waterville, ME 04903
• Must be a 2016 or 2017 club member to vote. Note a member? Join or renew today.
• Deadline: January 7, 2017

We’ll announce the Striders of the Year and recognize them at our annual dinner in January.

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Mike Brooks

For his 70th birthday, Mike Brooks ran seven marathons in seven days in seven states this spring to raise more than $17,000 for Camp Sunshine, a Maine retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. This October, a couple of months after undergoing heart surgery to replace a valve, Mike completed his 500th marathon or ultra length race at the Maine Marathon, with Strider Ron Paquette at his side.

In past years, Mike has run the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon, plus another 22 miles to the summit of Mt. Whitney, completed 24-hour races, and competed in the grueling Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence Six-Day (320 miles completed) and 10-Day (491 miles completed) races—all while raising thousands of dollars for Camp Sunshine.

"My only talent as a runner is that I can put one foot in front of the other for long distances," said Mike. "Raising money through biking and running for Multiple Sclerosis, Dempsey Center Healing Tree for Children, and Camp Sunshine has been extremely rewarding to me."

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Dave Drew

Given the longevity of his racing career, the quality of his performances, and the variety of events in which he's participated, it can probably be said that long-time Strider, Dave Drew, has been flying under the radar.

This former Maine Track Club "Master of the Year" award winner has many notable achievements including the Maine Rail Trail Half Marathon course record of 1:22:44 set in 2011, third place and first male finisher in 57:07.06 as a 50-year-old at the 2015 Sugarloaf 15K, and many strong showings in open, masters, and now senior competitions.

In addition to his road racing notables at distances from 5K through the half marathon, Dave has competed impressively in triathlons and snowshoe races. Most recently Dave ran the Portland Thanksgiving Day 4-Miler in 26:01.

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Ron Peck

After an eight-year break from running, Ron Peck laced up his shoes again in 2013 and ever since has been a consistently competitive racer at distances from the 3K to marathons.

Ron won the Bay of Fundy Marathon in 2014 in 3:01:31, his first marathon since his return to running (he had previously completed several marathons and Ironmans).

He won his age group and was second overall at this summer’s 2016 Quarry Road Summer Race Series, as well as in 2014. "It was a special highlight to win the Quarry Road 8K on my 41st birthday this year," said Ron.

Ron qualified for and ran the Boston Marathon in 2015 (2:59:20) and again in 2016 (3:04:26). At this October’s Mount Desert Island Marathon he won his age group division and was 19th overall (3:02:19). 

​Ron is also the treasurer for Central Maine Striders.