Flotilla of Bodyguards

New England Runner Magazine, Sept/Oct 2005

Pulled out this photo... Doc D and Pusher on my immediate sides... I still have my flotilla of bodyguards in our new GSR team.

Race: Whirlaway 10K/USATF-NE Grand Prix

Pusher reports that, "Surgery went as expected, will take a little while to mend because of where the incision is... but I will be up and Gooning in no time!"

Yankee Homecoming, Newburyport

Doc D said I have to reveal that I was so tired after we got back in the Goon limo, I got in my car and went the wrong way, getting stuck in the bumper-to-bumper traffic on 495 AGAIN... I think it just means that I raced my ass off and I was totally spent.

Here's my race report on the GSR website... check out my teammates Yankee Race Reports too, fantastic.

NUMBERS:
** 3rd consecutive Yankee Homecoming
** 12 second PR for 10 mile distance
** 1:14:49 7:29 (8/105 division) watch time: 1:14:37, 7:27
** GSR women’s masters team, 2nd overall

"the Pusher"

Trumpets Sound!!!!

Welcome to GSR, John Murphy, Official Goon Name “the Pusher”… nope, it's not lack of track etiquette, it’s his profession… drug pusher… and, ahhhh maybe pushing the accelerator on the Mustang.

We've always enjoyed Pusher’s humor, loyalty and fun attitude, he’s hung with the GSR circle for years… many miles together, Olympic Trials, helping Goatie over chain link fences, sliding dives, Boston on a stress fracture, with no whining... he's true GSR material.

Tomorrow, Pusher has non-running related surgery... so prayers and thoughts are with him. He said, "about 15 years ago I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. I had surgery, radiation etc and was clean as a whistle until about 10 days ago. The urologist found a mass and it needs to be removed. Depending on what they find, it'll be radiation, chemo or a combo of both. But, I'm not whining. One of the first questions I asked was 'when can I get back to running?' So I will be back at the oval with you Goons soon. I will keep you all up to date ."
-Pusher

PS, don't worry. I got through this once before. It won't stop me this time either.

USATF, New England Ironrunners, 2008

Jacket ceremony, October 2008... where are they now? I just found 7 GSR runners and at least 8 GTD runners

Am I right?

Hockomock Swamp Rat Profile

Hockomock Swamp Rat is a ridiculously hilarious underground running magazine... 'head rat' must have felt sorry for me... put my profile in a few years ago. Runners I had never met still mention the profile and know me from it. Nothing cooler, huh?

Link below is more about the Swamp Rat... it is absolutely worth the subscription. Hockomock Swamp Rat

USATF Exchange Zone Magazine

Photo: Bedford, USATF, New England 12K Championship, Sonic Boom, Doc Death, Hillcheck, Spanky, Enforcer, Silent Assassin, Goatie in front.

The article below appeared in recent USATF Exchange Zone Magazine and was written by a member of USATF-NE Board of Governors, Lisa Doucett, who serves as Women's Long Distance Running Chair... she's hard core, old school, no nonsense, serious athlete... we shared lots of time on trails and hills during the USATF-NE Mountain Series 2007, many years of USATF-NE Grand Prix races and I recently had the opportunity to chase her up Mt Washington again, but alas couldn't catch her again.

Being recognized by one's peers is touching.

article ~

WOMEN'S LONG DISTANCE RUNNING PROFILE:

SARAH PRESCOTT

Sarah Prescott, a fixture at most USATF New England Grand Prix races as well as the Mountain Series is a founding member of the Goon Squad Runners, hence the "G" singlet proudly displayed in the photo. Sarah has been running for over 30 years and calls Con­cord, New Hampshire home. She prefers races over the half mara­thon length, but will compete at just about any distance. I know I am one of many women runners who watch that long ponytail disappear ahead of me in races. Since she is not only a very good runner, but also a nice person, it makes it more tolerable than usual to get left be­hind.

The Goon Squad evolved out of four friends and running partners deciding to make their dedication to running official and in­viting their colleagues to join them in a no-dues, no-frills club. All Goons must also have a nickname, and Sarah is known as the Mountain Goat, a well deserved moniker. Running in a highly competitive divi­sion, Sarah routinely places in the top spots in the USATF NE Mountain Series and at the Mount Washington Road Race. In addition to her love of steep grade climbs, Sarah has run 21 marathons, a 50K, and has been an Iron Runner in nine consecutive USATF-NE Grand Prix series. Her 3:31:59 in 2008 is her marathon PR and has logged nine Boston Marathon qualifiers.

Perpetually upbeat, Sarah arrives at races ready to go with a plan and a goal. Her focus and joy for the sport are admirable and conta­gious. Though she is racing to win, she has kind words and encour­agement for other participants, even when she is passing them (I speak from personal experience). Look for Sarah at area USATF­NE events and beyond, and especially on mountain tops.

Track workout 7.07.09

Minutes after Professor F emailed the training goals and workout objectives, Enforcer was on my case... we've done so many workouts/races together, she knows what I'd try to do at workout while she's away on vacation... so Goatie was reigned in via internet... Enforcer truly lives up to her name... love it.

Buckets of rain ended just before the workout. My group, Sonic Boom, Carmella and fast dude hit the target times, even though it looked easier on paper than it turned out to be... fellow Goons: OCG, Brewski, Spanky nailed their workouts and I chatted with Steph Triage on cell who'll do hers today. Doctor Death got sidelined by work. Any GTD runners doing their workout today, adhere to Coach Annie and Professor's email, or else you too may hear from the Enforcer

Mount Washington Road Race 2009

(photo at summit, Judge, Spanky & Goatie)


I got up at 4:00 and drove familiar route to White Mountains. I’m a Cow Hampshire native, my parents too, so it’s like Christmas morning for my GoatDad when I run Mount Washington.

MomGoat called me the night before with mental prep I could draw upon… something about a magnetic mountain pulling me uphill and also Mount Washington being sacred to Native Americans and my Native American lineage.

It was misting when I arrived, saw Judge, Spanky and Taz, then Goatie stepped into a grassy ravine filled with water… socks wet already. Judge too, we took off socks to try to squeeze out some of the water.

Judge, Spank & I warmed up then I got into an unfortunately slow line for porta-john and almost missed the start. Sprinting to the line I did glove hand off to GoatDad, high five with RD Bob Teschek, good luck hug with 3 time Mt Washington winner Dave Dunham (17 sub 1:10 finishes), quick fortuities with GTD runners Jim Johnson (Taz) & Jon Healey and lined up with Bob Hodge (13 top 10 finishes).

GoatDad and Dave Leonard stood on the rocks and yelled to me as we started the incline. It was humid and foggy and I looked around wondering if Spanky was nearby. The Goons had bet that Spanky and Goatie would duel it to the top. Spanky is two groups ahead of me at GTD track, so I feared it could be a painful duel for Goatie. As the only Goon girl racing against the Goon boys, Codfather encouraged me: “you eat men for breakfast” and “mountain goats always are at home charging straight up the mountain leading the pack of beer guzzling males.” Fearing Spank’s sneak attack like New Bedford, I pushed harder.

The miles actually went by quickly and I kept checking in on my form to reduce the hurt. I wanted to punch one dude who kept running too close to me… I’d speed up, him too… I’d go to the left, him too… I got tired of it, gave him a “look”… finally away.

Somewhere around 5-6, walking started to seem better than running, so I asked two guys near me to make me start running again. Firmly, the guy on my left said, “Let’s go, run to the bottom of that hill!!!!” I replied, “Hahahaha, it’s ALL a hill!!” But his push got me going and we ran together until a steeper incline, then we looked at each other and he was ready for me to back off, but I had found my extra gear to keep running strong.

I saw the Dunham entourage running down, but at a higher point than last year. Logically, I figured, I very well could be faster than last year… he must have spent exactly the same time at the top, right?! Given my level of exhaustion, this way of thinking made more sense than looking at my watch.

Scott Mason was a wonderful sight and I knew not far until the finish. I saw Kristin, Taz and heard lots of cheering and I smiled about the ridiculousness of the wall… it’s totally nuts. I saw the clock in 1:40:50s and knew it had been a good run… finished just over 1:41... stupid 4 seconds over, rather be in 1:40’s, but no whining, it was a 2.5 minute PR.

I waited for Spanky & Judge who made me proud of their strong runs and with absolutely no whining or complaining about the challenge they had just endured. Typical Goatie made them go to the summit for a photo and then led them through wrong parking area… professing some knowledge of the location of Taz’s bro-in-law’s car.

Learning from post-mountain race lightheadness, I forced some Gatorade, put on my Goon jacket and Judge & I met up with GoatDad and Scott Mason at the bottom. No kidding, Dad was so pleased, you’d think I had won… glad he enjoyed it, all I did was run.

Judge and I phoned Doc D with our Goon update and I hit the road south.

Thank you so much to all my GTD buddies for their kind support and encouragement, Mrs T, Sonic Boom and I had worked hills together, honorary Goon Scott Mason, Professor Fernando and of course, Doc D who makes me one very lucky & happy Goatie

Track workout 6.30.09

At track last night, the Enforcer encouraged me to move up to their faster group... trusting her advice, I hopped in with them. Briefly overexuberant, I got reigned in by the bus driver arm... don't step over the line! I recoiled suitably. Execution, discipline and support of each other... plus some Goonfun... Coach Professor Fernando taught us well.