(April 2-April 8): Poland Crushes Field, Course Record at USATF-NJ 15k Championships

Poland Prevails as Men Go 1-2 in Team Scoring

Middletown- GSTC superstar Tom Poland landed his first career USATF-NJ Championship this morning, as he sizzled to a 48:18 victory and $300 pay day for the win.  Running stride for stride with Mike Rolek, Poland actually fell a few strides back at mile 8, only to open up a six second lead in he final mile.  His time, a swift 5:12 pace over one of the hilliest and most challenging courses in the state, crushed the course record by a  blistering 90 seconds. Wow.

 

Meanwhile, the men's team put an impressive eight finishers in the top thirteen spots.  Running his best race in gold, Mark Del Monaco was the team's #2 man in 50:30 (6th), with the always steady Adin Mickle (7th) just behind him in 50:33.  A minute behind was the ever reliable Ken Goglas (51:31/8th), and next was Shawn D'Andrea, a 2:32 marathoner from Philadephia University making his black and gold debut (52:00/9th).  Closing out the men's scorers were the Blomfield College upstart Luis Romero (52:08), old man Chuck Schneekloth (52:53), Dan Teichman (54:55), Edsel Flores (56:33), and Zach Speigel (59:37).  The top seven GSTC runners would have won the race in 2009 (Luciano De Olivera won in 54:38).  The remaining men all ran very solid races, including 51 year old and 2000 and 2005 Indian Trails Champion Jeremy Stratton (59:39), NYC facial hair king Steve "This Course Was Easy, from what I remember, in 2003" Bonica (59:47), Rob DeCarlo averaged 6:36 pace en route to a fine 61:20 finish, and Kenny Huryk finished in 65:31.

 

The ladies, sadly, were a bit short-handed due to injury and last-minute lineup changes. Regradless, they did run well, with Cheyenne Ogletree once again leading the way. Finishing second overall, Ogletree averaged a very impressive 6:26 per mile finshing in 59:48.  In second, running her best race for the GSTC, was Erin Higgins, who dipped under 7:00 pace to hit the tape at 64:29, with Meghan DeCarlo right on her heels at 64:55 and Karen Auteri finishing up the scoring four in 66:24.   Rounidng out the team was Claire Tafeski (69:27),  Cathy Stutzman (76:23), and Prudence Jones (1:42:22).  It appears they placed second, but team results have yet to be published.

 

Individual results can be found here:  http://raceforum.com/2012/it.html

 

And, at West Point, Tim Morgan placed third in the 5,000m, running a very evenly paced 15:19, with mile splits of 4:58-4:56-4:56.  The 2012 prophecy continues! 

 

 

Your Monday Highlight: Tim Morgan Award Update

 

1.  From the Banks of the ol' Raritan:  Rutgers freshman Robert Klink runs first part of Wednesday progression run with jeans on.  After a mile of refusal, he finally agreed to wear shorts from Dan Teichmann's house.  Really, you can't make this stuff up.

 

2.  In a time crunch before today's race, Mike Anis was asked to fill out an application for Mark Del Monaco, as Mark was running late from Philadelphia.  You know, where it says "First Name" you write the first name; phone number, you write the phone number, etc.  Sure enough, in today's results, Mark's results read:  Del Monaco Mark.  C'mon, Anis!

 

3.  Half miler Wismith "Big Willy Style" Francois receives two texts Thursday that the team run was at 5:00 @ RSC.  What time does he show up and send a text asking, "It's 5:35-where is everybody??"  Yeah.....

 

4.  Sprinter Andre Sylvester texts that he couldn't go to practice Monday because "My phone broke, so I couldn't call you, and my glasses broke, so I couldn't drive to practice."  Sorry, but these excuses are shadier than the back side of a building.

 

5.  Newcomer sprinter Mike Brown told Chuck, "Hey, I live off campus- where do I go for practice?"  After agreeing to pick him up on campus, we realize Mike lives 70 minutes away, in Bergen County, as a commuter.  We suppose that's technically off campus... 

 

 

Team Runs This Week

Our second Tuesday Track Time was even bigger than the first, and what great energy was on the track!  Let's keep it going for week #3....

Monday: 5:30 @ Rutgers Student Center

Tuesday: 6:15 @ RSC (food + drinks @ Olive Branch to follow!)

Wednesday: 5:30 @ RSC

Thursday: 5:00 @ RSC

Thursday:  6:30 @ Sneaker Factory w/ Jeff Perrella & Nicolai Naranjo (email jeff.perrella@gmail w/ questions)

Thursday: 8:00-9:00 Yoga w/ Shawnee @ Cook Rec Center

Friday: 4:30 @ RSC

Saturday: 9:30am TBA

Sunday: 9:00am RIVER RUN LONG RUN (Easter Sunday)

 

Run with the GSTC-Rutgers ladies!  Mon & Wed @ 4:30, Tues, Th, Fri @ 1:30 (meet @ Rutgers Student Center)

 

ESU Connection

We forgot to give props to Chris Schneider, a distance star for East Stroudsburg University, who also ran for the GSTC last year both in the East Regional USATF Championships and USATF National Championships in the DMR.  Anyway, he ran a big 5k PR last weekend at the Monmouth Opener in 15:23, and he also brought on board a fantastic new recruit, Sam Jennsen, who has run 1:55 and 4:28 dufrig his four years at ESU.  We're excited to have them both on board come early May!

 

College Ave Mile

June 10th.  It's coming.  The First Annual College Ave Mile is just two months away.  Check check check it out: http://www.gardenstatetc.org/college/mile.html.

Sprinter's Saturday Pizza Meeting

We had pizza and had a meeting.  Here is the picture to prove it.  Goals were set, expectations were refined, and the remainign schedule was discussed.  Dream BIG!

   

 

Quotes of the Week

 

"Do you have an actual stop watch?  Because I have one I don't use if you want to use it.  I notice you use somebody's watch at practice."  -sprinter Marquis Cole in a very magnanimous text message to Chuck on Wednesday.  Funny thing is that he sees Chuck getting his OWN watch from Tony every practice that Tony borrows.

"Update!  Read my blog again! It's been updated!  Again!"  -Mike Anis, who is the team's new overzealous blogger, posting on the GSTC Facebook page

 

"All this running is paying off. I just tried on a pair of kids' sized shorts and it fine. Does that mean I could fit into the jeans? After all, I AM short." -Amalie Park, FB post

 

 

Athlete of the Week: Tom Poland

After capturing both a USATF-NJ title and a course record, Columbia grad Tom Poland is this week's Athlete of the Week. 

 

So what's his secret?  He runs 60-65 miles per week, and his typical hard workout is a long tempo run or progressive run.  Believing in the Fruit Punch Endurox as the post-workout drink of choice, he usually runs at....6:42am.  When not working in a running store, his guilty pleasures include pepperoni and habanero pizza along with...The Bachelor.  His favorite adult drink is Maker's Mark Bourbon, just in case you're thinking about a birthday or holiday present.  The Morristown native attended the Delbarton School prior to his Ivy League education at Columbia.  Check him ut here: http://www.gocolumbialions.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9600&ATCLID=925086.

 

   

 

This Week in Training

Distance

If you ran the 15k, you're probably going to feel pretty banged up, so I filled in two recovery days rather than the Tuesday workout.   Proper recovery is key to completing the rest of the training and staying healthy.  Don't push it for the sake of getting in one workout.

Monday - comfortable/easy run and strides

Tuesday - If you ran the 15k, go for a distance run on feel.  If you didn't, go for 5x mile at 10k pace with 2 mins rest.  Get a full recovery, then go 3x300 at mile pace.
Wednesday - Progression run of 50-90 minutes.  Enjoy the first third of the run, then let it roll.
Thursday - super easy 40-60 minutes
Friday - Let's get some faster stuff going.  8-12x400 at 2M pace with a 200 jog recovery.  Finish with 4x200 at 800m pace.
Saturday - comfortable run and strides/hill sprints
Sunday - Long run

 

Sprinters

The big week is upon us....Princeton's Sam Howell Invitational!

Monday- 5:30 @ HP.  800: 3 x (3x300 w/ 100m walk) @1600, 1200, 800 pace / 400: 2 x (300, 200, 100) @ 800 w/ 50m walk, then 5x50 starts @ 200m  

Tuesday- 800: 45 min recovery run; 400: 10x100 stride, LIFT

Wednesday- 5:30 @ HP.  800:  6x200 (1600--> 400).  400:  2 x (3x100) @ 400m pace - no lift 

Thursday  800:  30 min recovery run; 400: 8x50 stride.

Friday:  off, or easy strides/jogging

Saturday  RACE DAY @ PRINCETON

Sunday: 800: 70min LR; 400: 10x150 stride + LIFT