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

We're excited to recognize two club members for their standout running achievements as female and male Striders of the Year. Susan Brooks, Stephanie LeBlanc, and Julie Millard were nominated by fellow club members for the female Strider of the Year award. 

Please review the nominees' info below, as well as the male Strider of the Year nominees (Dave Drew, Mike Brooks, and Ron Peck) separately. Then vote for one female Strider of the Year and one male 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:

• run@centralmainestriders.com
• 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.

---

Susan Vogt Brooks

Susan Brooks started running 45 years ago at age 12 and has run consistently since. She ran her first marathon, the 1994 SAPPI Saicor Marathon (3:58), while living in South Africa. A year later she ran it in 3:27 (PR) and ran her first ultramarathon, the Two Oceans Marathon (56K in 5:03) across the tip of South Africa. "That race remains the most challenging I’ve ever done," she said. The next year she ran the iconic 92K Comrades Marathon on an uphill year.

Susan has since run 15 marathons and ultras, including Boston (3:43) and the Vermont City Marathon in 2000 while three months pregnant (under doctor supervision).

This May, Susan won her age group (W55-59) at the Sugarloaf 15K (1:15:21.2). In June she placed second in her age group at the Bay of Fundy International Half Marathon (1:55:07). She placed second in her age group (W50-59) at this year's Quarry Road Summer Race series.

On the bike, Susan has participated in the Trek Across Maine for 14 years, raising funds for the American Lung Association.

---

Stephanie Friend LeBlanc

Stephanie LeBlanc started her 2016 season at the January Thaw 4.5 Road Race and in February participated in her first snowshoe run, the Quarry Road Snowshoe Shuffle.

In June she completed her first marathon at the Black Bear Marathon (4:09:39), and was first woman at the Hospice Run/Walk for Life 5K (25:04). Over the summer she competed in the Bond Brook Trail Series (third female for the series) and at the Quarry Road Summer Race Series, where she placed second in her age group (W40-49).

In September she ran her first trail ultra at Last Man Standing, completing eight 4.2-mile loops to pass 50K. She also ran the Bradbury Mountain Trail Series, placing second for F40-49.

Other 2016 races included the 10K Healthy High, Rabbit Trail Run, Salomon Trail Running Festival 10K, Midnight Owl 15K prediction run, TD Beach to Beacon 10K, Doc and Mardie Brown 5K, The Flume 10K, the Ragnar Adirondack Relay, and her first trail half at Run Through the Woods.

---

Julie Millard

Julie Millard has been racing for almost 40 years. Highlights of her early career include finishing 109th at the 1986 Boston Marathon (3:12.43) and on the first-place women’s team (Team Fischer Women) at the 1996 Mt. Baker Ski to Sea Relay. She was named the 1996 Striders Comeback Runner of the Year when she finished third at the Casco Bay Marathon (3:21.01) a year after her first child was born.

In recent years Julie has competed in distances from the mile (6:48 at the Maine Mile in 2014) to the 50K (5:48:02 at Pineland Farms in 2013, in recognition of her 50th birthday). Her marathon PR of 3:06:34 was set in 1993 at Sugarloaf, and her PW of 4:05:03 was set in 2010 at Boston, where she ran to honor her great uncle Fred Cameron's victory there in 1910.

Julie is the Maine Senior Games record holder for 3000 meters for women aged 50-54 (13.57.6). She placed third in her age group at this May’s Sugarloaf 15K (1:14:23.07) and has won her age group (W50-59) for the Quarry Road Summer Race Series every year since its inception in 2013.