Intro
2014 Yearly Club Dues
https://runsignup.com/Club/NJ/NewBrunswick/GardenStateTrackClub
ROAD RELAYS: TWO WEEKS
Sign up HERE. GSTC’s longest-running tradition, doubling as a fund-raiser and a chance to run in funny clothes.
This week, we would like to spend a few minutes talking about the art of the event. Most races are fairly simple: run race, finish race, get a free bagel, go to awards ceremony, go home, done.
The Road Relays is a little more…elegant, or shall we say…complicated.
The Art of the Team Name
Should you be funny? Ironic? Inappropriate? Witty? Traditional? Deciding on the team name really solidifies your team’s identity. For example, in 2013 names ranged from gems like “Bearded Cat Ninjas” to “Vicious and Delicious.” A sibling duo called “Unfortunately Related” signed up, along with the Roig Father-Daughter combination of “Roig Rage.” We aren’t sure if the “Awesome Bros” lived up to their name last year, coming in at 53rd place and all, but “Pink Dynamite” sure did, as did “Kenya Catch Us.” One appropriately named team was “Yo Mamma Runs So Slow…” (finishing in at 124th), along with a masters team titled, “Over the Hill Gang” And, to be quite honest, we haven’t a clue what the team named “Beasts of the NJ Wild” looked like, and…we think we wanna keep it like that. Likewise goes for “We Got the Runs.” Hey, keep it classy, right?
The Art of the Team Outfit
Okay, so you have a name. Fantastic. But now what? What do you wear? It’ll most likely be cold, but not THAT cold…it’ll almost be March, and it’ll be 11:00am. That said, you wanna distinguish yourself from the other teams. Maybe the same shirt? Funny hats? Face paint? Hey, whatever you wanna do. It’s your team, your team picture, your day…you look however you wanna look. However, the more unique you look, the more fun you will have. That is written somewhere in some book. Or on the Internet. Everything is in the Internet. Yeah, there.
The Art of the Handoff
This all starts with selecting what color baton you want. Green for good luck? Red for Rutgers? Purple for your toenail color? Please, discuss this with your teammate prior to the event, as bickering moments before the race is just weird. Actually, come to think of it…that might be fun to watch. Bicker away.
Next comes the art of the handoff. Once you’ve decided on the color, you’ll need to practice the baton exchange. After all, there will be three handoffs. Do you do an open or blind handoff? Research the Internet on that one. Also, spotting your teammate is important, as well. You wanna be ready to go, with your sweats off, as your partner comes barreling down the final stretch. This is when wearing a bright purple outfit, or a funny bow on your head, may come in handy. It’s almost like trying to spot your luggage on the carousal. Maybe you can tie a bright red ribbon on the top of your partner’s hair.
The Art of the Team Picture
Everyone likes the team picture at the end. It’s tradition. The question remains: how do you look? Do you wanna sport the “I just ran for 1000 miles” look? Or, “Hello, I just ran a race and look even cuter now than I did before” look? Or, you can simply just try to make it look good for the Facebook profile picture. It’s your call.
This finally segues into the “Post Race Party” at Mike’s Courtside. How do you wanna roll up to it? Still in costume? Sporty, yet clean? Or heck, iron and throw on your finest tuxedo tshirt? Decisions, decisions.
RESULTS: GSTC WINS 8 EVENTS AT MU
Riddick Launches 7th Farthest Throw in USA
West Long Branch- Monique Riddick continues to have a breakthrough season this winter, and after Saturday’s competition…she is ranked 7th in America.
The Indiana University grad and Edison resident put the shot 16.64m, or 54 feet and 7.25 inches, to win the event by over fourteen feet. Not only did she break the meet record and her own facility record, she set a new PR, climbing up the national ranks now to #7 in the land.
The USATF Indoor National Championships are the weekend of February 22-23 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Although she is the fourth GSTC member to make the national championships “Status of Entries” list, she will become the first club member to actually compete at the national meet in two weeks.
Ross Sets Facility Record…Twice
Saturday’s Monmouth meet seemed, more or less, like a rerun of Princeton’s meet. The main character prevailed the same way; the only change was the supporting, background roles. Oh, two facility records tumbled this time around.
In the men’s 500m, Tyrone Ross sat on Kelly Fisher for two circuits, finally using the final 100m to push by the veteran from North Carolina with a 64.64-64.81 victory. While far from his best time, it was good enough to break Bayaan Oluyadi’s facility record of 65.79 set in January of 2013.
The “Ageless Wonder” once again found himself trailing the 4x400 relay by about four strides on the anchor leg. The 34 year old former Big East Champ from Seton Hall, who also anchored the 1997 Metuchen HS 4x400 that won the national title in 3:12, got quickly to work, using a fast opening 200m to catch the Rider University anchor. From there he sat patiently for the next 150m, uncorking a monster kick in the final straightaway to pull away from RU. His 49.4 split, very fast for the slower, non-banked surface, helped the GSTC win 3:22.33 to 3:22.83. It also broke the facility record of 3:23.92, set by a very good Essex County team a year ago. He teamed up with Ricky Garcia, Mike Saparito, and Kevin Persson for the win.
The GSTC men finished 1st and 2nd in the 4x800 relay. Eder and Waite teamed up with Jaris Rousseau and Norbert Kuter for the dubya.
Garcia, Waite, Goglas, Ogletree Win Events
Garcia used a sizzling 54 second opening 400 to run away with the men’s 800m in1:54.55, the club’s #2 fastest time ever run indoors. In a bizarre twist, he was sitting on two Rider 800m athletes when they both, with one 200m lap to go, dropped out. It was clearly done by design, which is an unusual occurrence on the collegiate level. Teammate Saparito was second in 1:55.57 and Matt Eder fifth in 1:58.77.
Dennie Waite continued his impressive indoor season, winning the 1000m leading wire towire in 2:30.90. While teammates Kyle Price (2:32) and Atilla Sabahoglu (2:40) finished 2-3, Waite was in control the entire race, splitting 29-59-1:29-2:00. Had there been someone to chase, there’s good reason to think he may have taken down the club record of 2:28.
Ken Goglas coasted to an easy win in the 3,000m, finishing 1st in the thirteen man field in a time of 8:51.58.After sitting on Rider’s Jon Knipper for a few circuits, he took control of the race, opening up a larger lead with every lap. He eventually won the event by 23 seconds over Knipper.
In the women’s mile, the lead pack of Cheyenne Ogletree, Molly McKeon, and Danielle Branco were together until 400m to go, when Ogletree opened up a large gap, winning the race in 5:10.71. Teammates Nicole Salge (5:27) and Brittany McCann (5:41) finished 6th and 10th, respectively, in the event.
Other Top Performances
The women’s 4x800 were barely edged out for the win, as Salge, McCann, Erika Meling (who won her heat of the 800m), and Chelsea Callan battled Monmouth the entire race, finally losing contact by two seconds in the very last lap, 10:01-10:03. The women’s 4x400 ran their best time of the year, finishing second in 4:17.14 with Eva Gaye McKenzie, Erin LaCosta, Grace Chong, and Alexis Mbakwe teaming up for the SB. Finally, Add Victor snagged bronze in the 60HH.
Full results can be found here.
Duran Wins in Boston
Alina Duran continued her hot hand this weekend, both literally and metaphorically. The GSTC’er threw the weight 17.91 meters, winning the very large and competitive field at the Valentine Meet at Boston University. She is just short of the 19.50m standard to qualify for the national championships.
Robyn Evangelist added a 2:17.30 800m earlier that day, equaling her PR.
Millrose Games
For better or for worse, the GSTC had some last minute injuries, family obligations, and news that our DMR "C Team" was no longer an accepted entry. Regardless of these many last minute changes, the club is excited to announce the Distance Medley Relays for Millrose Games:
GOLD TEAM, Women's A: Robyn Evangelist (1200), Tiana Davis (400), Chelsea Callan (800), Cheyenne Ogletree (1600)
GOLD TEAM, Men's A: Andrew Golato (1200), Kevin Persson (400), Ricky Garcia (800), Dennie Waite (1600)
BLACK TEAM, Women's B: Nicole Salge (1200), Erin LaCosta (400), Erika Meling (800), Angela Dunn (1600)
BLACK TEAM, Men's B: Kyle Price (1200), Josh Chavanne (400), Mike Saparito (800), Eric DuBois (1600)
Team Runs
Monday: (Central Enclave) 5:30 track workout at Highland Park HS
Tuesday: (Central Enclave) 5:30 group run @ Rutgers Student Center (RSC)
Wednesday: (Central Enclave) 5:30 group run @ RSC
Wednesday: (Central Enclave) 5:30 track workout at HPHS
Wednesday: (Morristown Enclave) 6:15 group run @ Morristown Running Company
Thursday: (Central Enclave) 5:30 group run @ RSC
Friday: (Central Enclave) 4:15 group run @ RSC
Saturday: (Morristown) 9:00 group run @ Morristown Running Company
Saturday: (Central Enclave) 10:00am track workout at HPHS
Sunday: TEAM RUN: 9am MANASQUAN RESERVOIR
Quotes of the Week
“It occurred to me that my neighbor directly ‘stage left’ is a cat. Humans do not live there. Multiple creatures do not live in there. Just one, single catr.” -Paul Matuszak, via FB
“Running the morning after a storm has become a game for me…dodging ice and snow piles and ducking branches…extra points if I don’t fall.” -Jennifer Lucas, via FB
“Sometimes, finishing a race can be the happiest thing in life ever!” -Atilla Sabahoglu, via FB
“I think mother nature makes snow days so I have more free time to work on the GSTC roster.” -women’s captain Angela Dunn, via FB
“You can’t win races in the spring and summer without putting in the miles during the winter. It’s going to be a long, cold run tonight.” -Keith Grunchacz, via FB
“They have arrived.” -Alina Duran, via FB: the captain beside a picture of her new throwing shoes
“I totally want to volunteer for the Grand Prix. Free stuff and elite track are like my favorite things.” -Dennie Waite, via email
“I told my mom I can’t leave yet….I want to watch my team run the relays.” -Mo Riddick, GSTC thrower, excited about the remaining part of the GSTC track meet.
"Track is clear (from all snow)...where's the weekly email?" -Ricky Garcia, via text
TMA
Our poor women’s 4x400 b team checked in, received a hip number for their anchor, and continued with their hour-long warm up. They were told they’d be in heat two, but when heat one finished….they were the only ones assigned in heat two, and were thus asked, by meet management, to step off the track.
This Week in Club History
In 2012, we celebrated Timmy Morgan’s birthday with a cake after a group long run at Six Mile Reservation. However, in true Tim style, he….went to the wrong trail head at 9am. So we waited for another thirty minutes, only to learn that…he has gotten lost navigating from one trail head to the other. Sigh.
Gold Star
By Ashwin Anantharaman
Anna Cook
Anna has been emailing with Erin Lacosta since last week to nail down logistics and hopes to get to a practice this week or early next week. She has been researching different track clubs in the area and was very impressed with the range of locations, coaches, and community service GSTC offers. After seeing that and realizing that how much better everyone in GSTC gets she decided that we were the best club for her. Her goal is to get back in shape for competing in the jumps by late spring or next indoor season. Her PR’s are 5’8 in the high jump, 16’9 in the long jump, and 35’ in triple jump. Her pre-workout routines include listening to music while stretching/warming up. Outside of track she has become interested in yoga and also enjoys reading, learning to cook, and occasionally watching trashy reality tv.
Joshua Gonzalez
Josh joined GSTC 2/1/2014 because he wants to step up my running. This means he wishes to run faster and efficiently. His goals are maintaining an 8 min mile pace, complete his second full marathon in under 4 hours and his half marathon in 1 hour 45 minutes!. He warms up with a light jog but after that he is focused, smiles and drinks coffee to give him some energy. He also wants to learn more about how to prepare himself before a run/race as he feels it will make him a better overall runner. Outside of running he enjoys biking, playing with his Apple or Android electronic, watching a good movie, and most importantly being a great dad and husband.
Steady Striders
By Amy Denholtz
This weekend the steady striders group will do a Road Relays route preview, in Buccleuch Park in New Brunswick, on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014 at 9am. Please park next to the pavilion (in the area on the right immediately before the Gazebo and circle). Please email Amy, at adenholtz@gmail.com, with any questions or to RSVP!
TEAM STUFF
Sunday Morning, 2/23: Road Relays www.roadrelays.org
Team website---------------> www.gardenstatetc.org
Team Facebook Fan Page----> https://www.facebook.com/groups/159501487397707/
Team Blog---------------> http://gardenstatetc.blogspot.com/
Team YouTube Channel---> http://www.youtube.com/user/GardenStateTC
This Week in Training
By Chris Tafelski (cjtafelski@yahoo.com)
Monday - comfortable run + 5x8-10s hill sprints on 2:30-3:00 rest.
Tuesday - fartlek run of 2:30/2:30 cycles. Pickups should be at T pace, recoveries should be about T pace + 30-40 sec. Finish the run with 2x200 at mile pace, 2x200 at 800 pace on full recovery.
Wednesday - medium run of 15-20% of weekly mileage
Thursday - super easy 40-60 mins or OFF.
Friday - mile reps. Start at T pace + 30s, then cut off 10 secs each time. Do 4-5 reps, so you'll either be ending at T pace or T pace -10s. Take 1:00 recovery. If your miles are 7:00 in duration or longer, you can either do one rep less, or run 1200m reps instead. We did this workout about a month ago. Try to proress the workout by going for one more rep, or going 5s faster per rep than last time.
Saturday - same as Monday.
Sunday - long run!
Garden State Track Club
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