Going the Distance

Jay Newton on running 2:59

[After Jay ran 2:59 at the Bay State Marathon on October 21, we asked him how he did it.]

"In the fall of 2011, I had pulled my hamstring at the attachment near my glute and shortly thereafter, ran my goal race of a half marathon where I missed my time by just 18 seconds, which would have qualified me for the NYC Marathon had I made it. The race pushed my injury to a new level, and I spent most of my winter and spring trying to recuperate with cross-training and lots of physical therapy.

"As the summer was approaching, I had a goal to run a sub-3 hour marathon. In order to do this, it would require quite a bit of training, including speed work. The problem was, I was still dealing with the attachment injury.

"I approached Fernando, my coach for 5 years now, and had a serious conversation with him as to whether or not he believed that I could begin to train some time in June, in such a way that I would be able to recuperate and still get in the proper training to complete the coveted sub-3 hour marathon. He had full confidence, and began to put a plan together, accommodating my injury.

"I decided to sign up for 'program 2' because my condition required me to have a more focused approach to this training plan. I needed to go week-by-week because the attachment area was just so volatile.

"The training started out pretty rough, since I was somewhat on fresh legs. I hadn't done any speed work in months, and I just wasn't anywhere near the right shape to really kick it up. Fernando and I worked together on a weekly basis to try to get my body up to the next level, because frankly, I was running out of time. I recall one week in July he sent me a schedule that made my stomach churn a bit. I didn't know it at the time, but he was testing me mentally. That was when things turned around. I crushed all of the runs that week.

"From that point on, things came together more and more, and the outlines that Fernando put in place allowed me to not only continue running, but I progressed very rapidly, and the injury stayed at bay.

"On October 21 I ran the Baystate Marathon, and ran a 2:59:29, making my goal by a full 31 seconds. It was the very best race I've ever run in my life. I know I put a tremendous about of time and energy into the training and the race, but I give a lot of credit to Fernando and his ongoing guidance to help me achieve this amazing goal. I can now call myself a sub-3 marathoner."

Sarah Prescott: Ironrunner 13

On October 28 at the Cape Cod Marathon, Sarah Prescott completed her 13th consecutive Ironrunner year with a 3:51:23 finish. While battling injuries for most of the year, Sarah channeled the one quality that separates runners who make it from those who don't -- mental toughness and discipline. And she has done this for 13 years.
An ironrunner is an individual who completes all seven races in the USA Track & Field (New England) Grand Prix Road Racing Series, The races vary in length from 5K to a marathon and (depending on the year) take place throughout the New England states (except Maine and Connecticut). To complete the series, a runner must have mental strength and physical endurance. Those who succeed receive the title of New England Ironrunner.
Sarah Prescott is now an Ironrunner for the 13th year in a row. This is a New England record that is unlikely to ever be broken.

Kath Hardcastle: 2:52:41

At the Dublin Marathon on October 29, Kath was 11th woman in 2:52:41.

Karen Durante - Athlete of the Month

Karen Durante is the New England Runner female athlete of the month (July/August).
Karen has celebrated turning 60 by dominating her division as well as scoring in team events in the 40s and 50s age groups. She began by setting the women's 60+ record at the Amherst 10 Miler, which was the USATF-NE championship. She hasn't lost since in the Grand Prix series, with run-away wins in the New Bedford Half-Marathon, Bedford 12K, and Newton 10K.

Linda Jennings at 10K Masters Championship

The USATF 10K Masters Championship was run in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on June 3. Linda ran this one day before she turned 60. She finished 2nd in the 55-59 division in 43:53, but would have won the 60-64 division.

She reports: "Nothing like doing a masters championship race the day before aging up!!! Similar story to the 8k. No complaints about finishing 2nd. I have a break before the next masters race in September."

Linda Jennings at 8K Masters Championship

The USATF 8K Masters Championship was run in Williamsburg, Virginia, on May 19 -- the Run for the Dream 8K. Linda finished 2nd in the 55-59 division with a 35:10 PR.

She reports: "It was a weird race. Really thought I was running faster . . . wrong. Felt better after the race when a few other masters said the same thing. Focused on other masters, mostly women. Happy to pass a few of them - all younger than me! It wasn't one of my better races but since it is an odd distance, I got a PR. I'll take a PR anyway I can get one! I was happy to see that I finished ahead of the 60-64 women especially since one of them runs about the same as me! These races are a mixed bag - more stressful since it's a national championship race but an opportunity to see/socialize with other master runners that I've gotten to know."

A note to Linda's competition -- her 60th birthday is Monday, June 4.

Fernando -- Coach of the Year

The Salem News has named Fernando Braz the Boys Track Coach of the Year.
The following is from the April 5 edition of the Salem News:

"Fernando Braz led his team to a perfect 7-0 record, the NEC title and league championship this winter. The Tanners also had some great performances on the New England and National stage while setting several school records.

Braz has been coaching the indoor track team for 14 years and has instilled his love for the sport in his athletes.

'This team took pride in doing the little things to achieve team goals,' he said. 'The favorite thing for me was seeing their ability to adjust to different challenges and demands during practices and competition.'

The father of two is a role model for his athletes.

'Coach Braz is the greatest role model I could have asked for during my athletic career,' said Salem News all-star Zach Grube. 'He has many records himself (at Peabody High), but beyond the world of athletics he's a person whom I can only hope to be similar to down the road.'

Fellow all-star Nick Ingham said Braz trained him never to give up because 'it's not about how you start, but how you end.'"

Ultra Tina

[photo courtesy of Scott Mason]

How far can you run in 6 hours?

On November 13, at the 2011 New England Ultra Championship (Rhode Island 6 Hour Ultramarathon), Tina Dowling ran 40.52 miles. She completed 15 circuits of the 2.7 mile rolling loop in Warwick City Park, a course that is wooded and scenic with parts overlooking Narragansett Bay. She ran for 5 hours, 50 minutes, and 35 seconds. Only full circuits are counted.

Tina averaged 8:39 per mile for over 40 miles. She finished 5th overall out of 57 competitors. And she was top USATF open (and master) woman.

Larissa Park Wins Hampton Half
Karen Durante Crushes Age Group

Larissa won an early season half at Hampton Beach, and Karen won her age group at the Vineyard 20 Miler by a half hour.
PRs at Hampton from Chris Marshall, Francine Jones, and Nicole Radulski.
See results link at right for details.

Kara Haas and Kath Hardcastle
1 -2 at Super 5K

Kara ran 17:18 and Kath 17:53 in an early season show of speed at the Super 5K in Lowell on Superbowl Sunday (February 5). They were the top 2 women in the race.

Jodie Conway at Olympic Trials

Seven weeks after running 2:44:09 in Philadelphia to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials, Jodie ran another marathon -- the Women's Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston on January 14th.

"Houston was a good experience. I learned A LOT!! I learned that if I want to qualify again for the trials I should do it a lot earlier. Training for 2 marathons that were 7 weeks apart was not hard for me mentally, it was hard physically.

"While I never had any injuries leading up to Philly, once I started training for the trials, I had arch pain, hamstring pain and eventually severe tendonitis in my left leg that forced me to stop running completely 2.5 weeks before the trials.

"I really wanted to be in the top 1/3 at the trials, but with Philly only 7 weeks prior combined with missing my last 2.5 weeks of training it wasn't going to happen.

"I felt really strong mentally in the race, but my legs just didn't have the spring they had in Philly and I had to slow down a bit over the last half. It was tough running a race where a 2:48 puts you in the back of the pack . . . When I crossed the line initially I felt so defeated until I talked to Fernando and he told me that I had to look at the big picture.

"It's been quite a year, so I can't be disappointed. If anything, I realize how strong I was to run a 2:48 on tired and injured legs.

"I am currently taking some much needed down time. The next 3 weeks will just be rest and recovery!! I plan on doing a couple of shorter races in the spring. NYC 1/2 (March) and another 1/2 in Indianapolos (May). After that, I want to focus on a Fall marathon and try to get closer to 2:40. I am thinking about Chicago. I have convinced Lory Cavanagh to do it with me :)

"The coolest thing about the trials was that I got to meet some pretty amazing athletes. I had dinner with Magda at the Saucony dinner. I also had lunch with Katie McGregor and before the race Kara and Shalane were sitting right next to me while they stretched and discussed when they should warm up.

"Meb and Ryan Hall passed me right as they were finishing. It was a loop course and they started earlier, so that was awesome to see them running to the finish. Meb was so pumped!!"

Jodie was 104th out of 152 finishers. Not exactly "back of the pack."
The top three women, who qualified for the U.S. Olympic team, were Shalane Flanagan (2:25:38), Desiree Davila (2:25:55), and Kara Goucher (2:26:06). Magdalena Lewy Boulet finished 10th in 2:33:42 and Katie McGregor 11th in 2:34:01.
The top three men were Meb Keflezighi (2:09:08), Ryan Hall (2:09:30), and Abdi Abdirahman (2:09:47). Dathan Ritzenhein was only 8 seconds behind Abdi. Ouch.