THE GOLD STAR...Recognizing Awesome Club Members
by Ashwin Anantharaman
Courtney Connolly
Courtney is a Freshmen at Rutgers who competed in her first half marathon at the prestigious NYC half marathon. At 18 years young she finished with a phenomenal time of 1 hour 35 minutes and 21 seconds winning her age group!!!!Her goal was to break 1 hour 40 minutes and she absolutely shattered that!!!! She got to race against professionals like Bernard Lagat(Half marathon debut as well), Kim Smith(did not finish=Courtney-1 Kim-0), Dathan Ritzenhein, Abdi Abdirahman etc. Before races she likes to eat a banana and then get in the zone. Her goal is to run another half marathon and break 1 hour 35 minutes!!!!! Outside of running she likes to play the cello and is a big artist, possibly the next Picasso. She was valedictorian of New Providence High School Class of 2012, possibly making her the smartest student GSTC has ever had.
Jason Chee
Jason joined GSTC after current member Jason Gulya asked him to come on a run with us. Like all of us he knew that key to running fast was to run with fast people. In his first race repping the black and gold Jason ran his first half marathon and ran 89:56 and attributes breaking 90 to joining GSTC. It must have been the coffee and cheerios he likes to have pre race but by posting that impressive time in the half marathon, Jason has some big goals coming up. He would to run another half marathon, break 1830 in the 5k and break that elusive 5 minute mile barrier. Outside of running he likes to play instruments, traveling, baking(the man brought us cookies today after the long run!!!!!), reading, photography, and Brooklyn Nets basketball. He is currently working on a rock&roll/punk album right now with 2 of his friends and is still debating whether to call his group "Little Chee and the Chumps" with his album being called "Half Pint Chumps"(he may need to work on both names). Hopefully Jason gives all of us a sneak preview of this new album when it hits music stores everywhere.
Couch to 5k and Steady Striders by Amy Denholtz
Thanks to our couch to 5k and steady striders for a great 5 mile run at Manasquan Reservoir today, and welcome to our new team member, Phoebe! Our Couch to 5k and Steady Striders group will meet to run this Saturday, March 23rd at 10 am, at Johnson Park in Highland Park/Piscataway. We will meet at the Grove 5 parking lot, off of Landing Lane (for directions and park map, see: www.co.middlesex.nj.us/parksrecreation/johnson.asp). From Landing Lane, turn into the northern side of the park and the first parking lot on the left is the Grove 5 area, which is across from the Rutgers football stadium. Email Amy, at adenholtz@gmail.com, with any questions or to RSVP.
Thanks to our couch to 5k and steady striders for a great 5 mile run at Manasquan Reservoir today, and welcome to our new team member, Phoebe! Our Couch to 5k and Steady Striders group will meet to run this Saturday, March 23rd at 10 am, at Johnson Park in Highland Park/Piscataway. We will meet at the Grove 5 parking lot, off of Landing Lane (for directions and park map, see: www.co.middlesex.nj.us/parksrecreation/johnson.asp). From Landing Lane, turn into the northern side of the park and the first parking lot on the left is the Grove 5 area, which is across from the Rutgers football stadium. Email Amy, at adenholtz@gmail.com, with any questions or to RSVP.
GSTC One of Twenty-Three Clubs Selected Nation-Wide for Prestigious Team Status
Indianapolis, IN- Every four years, the national governing board of American track and field, the USATF, has a Herculean task of wading through a multitude of applications from running clubs across the country. Based on rosters, prior successes, organizational infrastructure, club national performances, and growth potential, the Elite Development Committee selects the small number of applicants that fit all criteria which includes, in the 2013-2016 Olympic Quadrennium, "an ability to qualify and compete athletes at the national championships and Olympic Trials." The GSTC submitted their lengthy aplication and $100 application fee in late August of 2012, the opening of the application window.
On Thursday, the Garden State Track Club headquarters got the phone call from USATF headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana.
"The committee has selected your club to be a part of the EDC program. We absolutely love what you guys are doing in New Jersey. We have been frustrated with many clubs because they are being more a 'sponsor' that just pays for race entries than a 'team' that trains together. With sponsors, athletes train alone and fizzle out after a year or two. In a team-based model, athletes improve. And, what you guys have accomplished in just a few years is also really impressive. Most teams needs a decade or two to get where you guys are in three."
In all, there are twelve East Coast clubs, five from the West Coast, and six from the Mid West. See the list of the country's twenty-three Elite Development Clubs HERE.
The USATF will be mailing further information about program benefits next week.
The Mission Statement Behind the Success
While many organizations have mission statements more for decorative or aesthetic purposes, the GSTC's founding members thoughtfully and collaboratively designed a purpose that has anchored the club's decisions over the past three years. As published on the website:
Garden State Track Club is a non-profit organization that aims to serve all levels of runners in New Jersey. Our goal is to provide direction for runners of all ages, experiences, and abilities, and to foster the future of New Jersey running by providing support to underprivileged young runners throughout the state. To these ends, we will develop structured training and meaningful race schedules for our members in all running venues: roads, cross-country, and track. Our fundraising efforts will enable us to provide guidance, equipment, and financial assistance to young runners in need.
From the onset, the club established its purpose as being a state-wide initiative that would bring a high level of organization, passion, and teamwork to the sport. In addition, the philanthropic arm of the club- to help others in the sport- has served as a long-standing moral compass as well. Subsequent to designing this mission statement, the club--run by volunteers only--has encouraged members to think "team first" in a sport that, so often, can be dictated by personal interests and needs. "The stronger the team, the stronger the individual runner" has been the mantra throughout. We are a club that recruits actively because we know that others will run faster and enjoy the sport more in our club than trying to achieve their goals alone. We are a club that proposes grand prix rule changes not to benefit our club needs, but rather to benefit the sport of running itself. We are a club that, after finishing a race, turns around and cheers on teammates instead of walking to the car for warm down clothes. We are a club that donated running equipment to Irvington and Columbia High School runners in need months ago, who waits an extra five minutes for someone in the bathroom to warm up together as a team, who has four coaches writing weekly training plans out of mere fun, who wins, and loses, with humility and good sportsmanship, and we are a club that has, in result, attracted some of the most amazing people this side of the Mississippi. This EDC selection is simply a confluence of our mission statement and the amazing people who carry it out daily.
Amazingly Relevant Quotes of the Week
"This club has given to me way more than I have contributed back to it." -Prudence Jones, during her 20k warm up last weekend
"Just wanted to thank you for convincing me to race this season. I didn't think I could handle the nerves again, but I've learned to calm down and its worked and this year has been so much fun. I know the other guys appreciate all you do for the team. We're all pumped to get the season going." -Mike Brito, men's sprinter co-captain, via text
"Also, many have commented that GSTC will make a better runner out of me, and that they are happy for me. I am so blessed and honored to be a Garden State Track Club member. I thank you always for having me on your team. I do hope that I can contribute to the success of the team." -Patricia Butcher, masters distance runner, in an email this evening. Great timing!
"If it wasn't for Meghan (DeCarlo), if you think about it, we wouldn't really have a team." -Karen Auteri, via phone. Ahh, the impact one person's recruiting efforts can have on an entire team.
Tim Morgan Quotes of the Week
"There it is...the promise land!" -to the van group, upon seeing a Wa Wa on the horizon after today's team run.
"Umm, excuse me, problem: egg sandwiches?" -to the hapless Wa Wa employee, upon realizing that this promise land was now more of a land of broken promises
"Not only did they give me a ****ty room, but I paid out the a** for it, too!" -describing a hotel in the Adirondacks last summer
"You know what I found ridiculous? That someone made a movie called Bigfoot's Big Weekend. Suddenly he goes from a myth to a girl-chasing, booze drinking weekend party animal. Who thinks of these things?" -early comment during team van drive to Manaquan Reservoir for Sunday team run
Team Runs
Due to Rutgers spring break...they are much less frequent this week
Monday: track workout at Highland Park @ 5:30
Tuesday: 5:30 at Rutgers Student Center, jog to HPHS for track workout
Friday: 4:30 at Rutgers Student Center
Sunday: TEAM RUN! SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION (INFO BELOW)
Address:
So. Orange Ave. & Cherry Lane, West Orange
From New Jersey: Take Route 280 West to Exit 7/Pleasant Valley Way. Turn left onto Pleasant Valley Way. Reservation is straight ahead.
Website:
Distinguishing features: Nineteen miles of hiking and walking trails; Twenty-seven miles of carriage roads for jogging, horseback riding, & cross-country skiing.
College Ave Mile: Update
As you all know, the College Ave Mile is less than three months away: Saturday, June 8th, from 4:15pm-7:15pm. We are excited about the new changes this year: making it a Saturday night event, providing three events for the price of one (open mile, relay race, and "field day games"), having a beer garden for afterward, and having it be part of the RRCA-NJ Grand Prix! We are on the "Bring Back the Mile" calendar!
That said, there are several opportunities our club will have to promote both our spring event and our club. We will announce the lead organizer in this soon, as we will need club volunteers to help out at the below events, but for now....here are the opportunities:
Runapoolza Expo (April 19, 20)
New Jersey Marathon Expo (May 3, 4)
Superhero Half (May 19)
Our web designer is working on a fresh new website for the College Ave Mile....coming very soon!
Just a Reminder...
To officially join, complete the application here.
To buy some fresh GSTC gear, here's where the magic happens.
This Week in Training by Chris Tafelski
Monday - comfortable run + 6-8x 8-10sec hill sprint
Tuesday - 8x1k @ 10k pace with 3 mins rest - if your 1k times are over 4 mins, run 800s instead.
Wednesday - steady state run of 75% long run duration
Thursday - super easy 40-60 mins
Friday - 1.5 mile run at T pace. Take a 3 minute jog, then go 6x400 @ 3k pace with 2:00 rest and 4x200 at mile pace with 1:30 rest
Saturday - same as Monday
Sunday - long run
Tuesday - 8x1k @ 10k pace with 3 mins rest - if your 1k times are over 4 mins, run 800s instead.
Wednesday - steady state run of 75% long run duration
Thursday - super easy 40-60 mins
Friday - 1.5 mile run at T pace. Take a 3 minute jog, then go 6x400 @ 3k pace with 2:00 rest and 4x200 at mile pace with 1:30 rest
Saturday - same as Monday
Sunday - long run
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