Super 5K

This picture was taken on February 6, 2005 at first Super 5K road race. These were the early days of the NRA (no singlets yet!). Later that day, the New England Patriots won their third Superbowl title in four years. Seven years later, the Patriots have not won another Superbowl. However, on February 5, 2012 there will be another Super 5K (8th annual) and a chance for the Patriots to win their fourth title.

Sunrise at The Towers

A nice photo taken by NRA vice-president Ric Thornton. This is sunrise on Sunday, January 8, 2012.

Greatest race ever.

December 26, 2011. The 4th annual Nooseneck 18K. We begin with a short history of the number of finishers, and the male and female winners. The following format will be used: year (finishers): Male Winner (time, pace), Female Winner (time, pace).

2008 (36): Matt Pelletier (1:01:34, 5:30), Michaela Driscoll (1:17:58, 6:58)
2009 (69): Keven O'Neil (1:04:23, 5:45), Claire Gadrow (1:17:55, 6:58)
2010: Canceled (blizzard). Shortened course winners: Tim Coffey and Genevera Stewart
2011 (108): Matt Pelletier (1:03:39, 5:41), Claire Gadrow (1:18:10, 6:59)

This year's race was won by repeat-chapmions Claire Gadrow and Matt Pelletier. The big story, though, was the wild success of the barely-advertised regift raffle. If you weren't there, you missed a great race, and an equally-great post-race party. Do not miss out in 2012. Everyone was having too much fun to take pictures, so I post a collage of finishers from 2008. Thanks to Glenn Anderson for playing photographer and timer in 2008.

Preparations are under way for the 2012 Super 5K--our 8th annual. Preparations include soliciting sponsors, making and distributing race applications, purchasing awards, hiring a DJ, coordinating with Amalfis and the Town of Narragansett, advertisement, buying pins and bib numbers, and ordering t-shirts. Speaking of t-shirts, Murray Norcross has made a number of good suggestions for the shirt design and is rumored to be on this year's shirt committee. This week's picture was taken at the a recent "bridge run" and features Murray at what appears to be the east end of the Newport Bridge. As usual, he enthusiastically sports the club singlet.

Big congrats to our own Aroline Hanson for placing 2nd in the recent Marshall University Marathon (WV) in a time of 3:08:01, besting her 2011 Gansett time by almost 6 minutes. Even though she has moved away, we still see her from time to time when she visits, and (crossing fingers) we hope she runs Gansett in 2012. This week's picture is Aroline showing off her 2nd place trophy.

Congrats to Peter for finishing his sixth of seven marathons in his quest to run a marathon in seven continents. The latest stop was Korea, where Peter was SukSoo's guest. As is Peter's custom, he distributed NRA shirts to the locals, so that now the Narragansett Running Association is being worn in all continents but Oceana. This week's photo is Peter and SukSoo planning the Korea trip during a track workout at CCMS.

If you were present at the 2011 Gansett Marathon, you probably noticed a number of runners sporting "Marathon Maniacs" singlets. (www.marathonmaniacs.com) From their website: "Running marathons and beyond is our passion. The more races the better." Gansett Marathon is now open, and once again we're getting numerous requests from Marathon Maniacs. In particular, there are quite a few Maniacs from Brazil requesting clearance. Did you know that Brazil has the largest and most rapidly growing contingent of Marathon Maniacs outside of the US? Take it from "Cowboy" Bob Bishton (a 10-star maniac), who ran last year's Gansett Marathon. He was kind enough to send me this week's photo, in which Bob in running alongside one of the Brazilians who has registered for the 2012 Gansett Marathon. This shot is from the 2008 Rio marathon. Bob's been keeping in touch (though he does not plan to run Gansett in 2012), and he sent along this nice piece of race reporting:

"I went to Buenos Aires to run that marathon and bumped into him at the hotel. During the race, we started off together until he pulled away around mile-3 and by the half he went out of sight. But, at mile-25 I caught sight of him again and was able to reign him in. See...I was just making up the handicap I gave him and what a motivator to finish strong that was for me! :) When I pulled alongside around mile-26 I immediately decided to run with him and cross the line together instead of trying to put the nice host from Rio away. I offered my hand so that we could raise them crossing the line and when I did it was just before we overtook another runner just steps from the mat. That runner was quite tall, so I had a choice to either break the hand hold or jump up and try and swing our arms up and over his head. The split second decision was to leap and I did. We managed not to bop the guy in the head and crossed the mat with upraised arms. What fun. You may note that the other runner is in the process of stopping his watch at the line.."

We have another marathoner among us. On October 9, 2011, Wendy Costanza finished the Mohawk Hudson Marathon in a time of 4:10:58 (9:36 pace). The conditions were very warm and this would have been an excellent time for a first marathon even in perfect conditions. Wendy's story is one of perseverance, having had to abandon last year's Marine Corps Marathon due to various injuries. It's a good thing that perseverance is part of her character. She'll need it, because she broke her ankle this morning at the sunrise run! This week's photo is Wendy and Melissa (half marathon) after the race.

Congratulations to our friends from TNT for their victory at the second annual TNT-NRA showdown. Final score was TNT-51.13 and NRA-40.08. This week's picture is the TNT banner--emblematic of their team spirit--which held up nicely in the strong wind.

We should start a list. A list of states, countries, commonwealths, etc. where the NRA singlet has been worn in competition. In the "US states" category, we have Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. We have Vermont. We have work to do. The inspiration for this list is this week's photo that reminds us that Wendy and Melissa found a 5K during their trip to New Orleans, LA. Thankfully they had the foresight to bring their NRA singlets. The 5K ran through a cemetery, and the New Orleans Track Club treated them like royalty--arranging rides to and from their hotel among other things. Post race spread was awesome as well, complete with a beer truck (shown in the photo). This story reminds us that running is a great excuse for travel, and vice versa. We can learn a lot from attending far-off races. Let's get to work on that list. And if you see Wendy around, wish her luck on her upcoming marathon (Mohawk Hudson).