As everyone knows, the hallowed streets of Rutgers University will soon be fraught, for the first time in city history, with the uniforms of the USATF-NJ Grand Prix Championship Series. Yes, New Brunswick hosts big events like the Big Chill 5k and the Unite Half Marathon. However, this is the first time the city will play host to a team-scored championship race, and it is less than three weeks away.
This will also be the first time the mile will be a recognized Grand Prix distance, as well.
That said, one part of the event easily lost or forgotten is the final race, the “Royal Rumble Relay.” Added in 2013 to give participants “more bang for their buck,” runners now have the option to sign up with a partner, to run the relay, and get a discount on the race entry. In the relay, one can chose from the three categories of male, female, or coed, along with thirteen divisions: open, sibling, parent-child, youth, costume, dating, married, high school, college, Rutgers alumni, masters 40s, masters 50s, and masters 60s divisions.
And for the first time this year, belts will be awarded to the first place relay teams in the male, female, and co-ed divisions. That’s right…belts are no longer for professional wrestlers with facepaint, speedos, and oiled up muscles. They are now for runners. Whether or not that’s a good thing….we don’t know. But that’s all you need to know: the heck with medals and trophies for the team relay. It’s time to change up the game a bit. And what better way to do it than invoke steroid using images of the likes of Hulk Hogan? Thanks to Chris Croff for the idea…we think, thanks.
Sign up with your partner HERE…before the Macho Man Randy Savage comes after you!
Poof! The Viets Disappear
Well, there wasn’t anyone in the club that felt like the Vietnamese national women’s 4x400 relay coming over for four months was a little weird. And just as soon as they entered into our lives with their big smiles, full hearts, and never-ending complaints about the weather, the hardness of the track, and the Highland Park downtown….they have left.
To be clear, it was nothing the adidas GSTC did. In fact, during a meeting with Vietnam’s Olympic Sports Chair Saturday afternoon after practice, the commissioner was very happy with our relationship. They seemingly approved of their housing, their training, their new teammates, and the coaching.
However, there were two major reasons why the ultimately decided to yank the girls back to Vietnam, forfeiting thousands of dollars paid in rent and other such expenses.
First, things on the home front are a mess. In case you haven’t been following, tensions with China have escalated since they began drilling for oil off a Vietnamese shoreline. We are sure you are familiar with the fact that, unfortunately, these two countries have been at war for thousands of years. In fact, the Vietnamese first freed themselves from China rule in 938AD, following their “resounding” victory in the famous “Battle of Bach Dang River.” Ah, of course. The ol’ Battle of Bach Dang River.
This bleeds into reason #2: the Vietnamese ladies have been, evidently, very outspoken since arriving to the USA. Since their arrival, they have been communicating with friends, family, and boyfriends about how great the USA is, about how bad the Vietnamese government is, and how much they dislike the two team managers assigned to their trip. As we have been told, this had led to numerous published articles, engaging the communist Vietnamese government. After myriad warnings to stop misleading the Vietnamese public through social media, the country’s top officials had no choice but to yank their “rogue” runners sent to America on a $100,000 government grant.
So, we are sad to see our friends of two weeks go so soon. But, to be honest…it was quite a time-consuming endeavor, and they weren’t always the most gracious, thankful of guests. We wish them luck. They did run in one meet wearing the Black and Gold, though…more on that below.
aGSTC NOTES
Sieve Packs Bags for Ottawa Marathon
Princeton Enclave- After numerous weeks of logging over 100 miles per week, Greta Sieve will soon fly to Ottawa, Canada for the Ottawa Marathon. After doing workouts like 4 x 2 mile @ 12:10 pace, it seems as if Katie Chaput’s 2:57:02 club record is in grave danger. With the GSTC’s #2 all-time half marathon performance (81:24) from last year, the Princeton Enclave—along with the rest of the club—wishes her well in her quest to race a good marathon. Good luck, Greta, and have fun!
Congratulations!
Congrats to Chris Croff who was recently promoted to manager of the Summit Running Company. On the aGSTC Leadership Team, congrats to Karen Auteri who was selected, and accepted, the role of North Enclave Captain.
Also, hard to believe that some of the club's founding members--Kyle Flyer, Dan Teichmann, and Mike Obsuth graduated Rutgers University this weekend. Yes indeed, they were just freshmen in 2011when they first joined the club as some of the first runners. Finally, congrats to half milers Jaris Rousseau and Norbert Kuter for graduating this Thursday, but….it hasn't happened yet. We'll believe it when we see it.
aGSTC Results
Kunze 2nd at “Hair of the Dog” 5k
Hightstown- Half miler Jarrett Kunze led a group of GSTC’ers in the interestingly named race “Hair of the Dog” 5k. Despite a hard track workout the day before, Kuntz finished second overall in 16:10. Teammate Zander Mintz was third in 17:28. Pete Klapsogeorge couldn’t resist his hometown race, finishing in a fine 21:211, good for 30th place. Amy Denholtz, despite a Bachelorette Party the previous evening, ran 34:09 as well.
Zeoli 2nd in Sterling “5k”
Sterling- In the Sterling Scholarship Run this weekend, Joe Zeoli finished the slightly long 5k in 17:50. He was second overall in the school fundraiser event.
SUPERHERO HALF: Josh, Woody, and the Banana
Morristown- For some, the SuperHero Half Marathon was a fun way to exercise and spend a Sunday afternoon.
For others, it was about winning a bet that involved a banana costume.
Morristown Enclave teammates and rivals Josh Rockland and Woody Kongsamut shook on a bet weeks ago: whoever lost to the other would wear a banana suit in an upcoming Morristown Enclave group run. And for twelve miles, it looked like Woody would soon have, we mean be, a banana. Ahem.
But with just a mile to go, an excited Woody surged, with blood pumping and his heart rate racing, opening up almost thirty seconds on the unsuspecting banana-to-be, and finally crossed the line in a huge personal best of 86:08. Josh, after being beaten bad by a Woody, accepting his imminent date with with the banana, struggled across the line at 86:37, also a PR. Josh, Woody, and the banana all seemed to be very content afterward with their performance, although everyone was sweating from a tiring, hot experience. Allegedly Rockland requested the next banana challenge happen in the woods.
We hope he meant on a cross country course.
In Non-Woody News: Goglas Becomes New SuperHero Champ
Morristown- It wasn’t a PR, but indeed, his hair length is sure getting at an all-time performance.
Ken Goglas rolled to victory in the SuperHero Half Marathon, taking the crown in 72:11. Averaging 5:30 a mile, the GSTC men’s co-captain, who has unfortunately struggled all year with illness and allergies, finally showed signs of recovery and fitness. After spending the first two miles chasing down Rich Burke, he spent the remaining eleven miles running solo, en route to becoming the third straight GSTC’er to win the event. In 2012, Ryan Grote won; last year, Steve Mennitt took the flag.
Other club finishers included Chuck Schneekloth (3rd, 79:09), Bradley Livingston (8th, 83:06), Kongsamut (18th, 86:08), Rockland (19th, 86:37), Karen Auteri (24th, 87:53), Keith Flyer (94:22), and Brian Harris (1:39:07).
Auteri’s performance ranks her as the #11 All-Time GSTC Performance List.
Chefitz PRs in 18:34
Highland Park- Running in front of his hometown, Ezra Chefitz continued his hot streak, as he PR’ed and ran 18:34 during the Highland Park 5k on Sunday.
Angi Runs Wildwood 8k
Wildwood- Diana Angi, or Diana Stavrou—the same person, we keep forgetting—ran the Wildwood 8k in 43:07, finishing 3rd in her age group.
Two Weeks Ago, Oopsy: Fonder Breaks Two Milestones
Lakewood- Mike Fonder, one of three men’s co-captains, PR’ed in two track meets weeks ago at Georgian Court University. In a very, very rare moment, the Weekly Email somehow made a mistake. Insert joke here.
Fonder, for the first time in his career, broke 2:00 for the 800m and 4:00 for the 1500m during the GCU Last Chance Invitational. His 1:59.40 was 3rd overall, and his 3:58.58 was 4th, just a step behind GSTC’s favorite Tim Morgan SuperFan, Chris Schneider, who was 3rd in 3:58.12.
Swarthmore Last Chance Meet
4x100 Break CR, MR, FR
Swarthmore, PA: In less than sixty seconds of the meet’s track events starting, the men’s 4x100 team set a new club record, meet record, and facility record. You can watch it all here.
The quartet of Ish Robbins, Chris Turner, Herman Kirkland, and Cyrus Wesley dominated the event, sizzling around the track in 40.83 seconds—the fastest this event has ever been completed on the Swarthmore track during Monday’s Swarthmore Last Chance Invitational.
A few hours later, Wesley broke two clubs records: the 200m (21.41), then the shortest time holding a club record, as sixty seconds after his 200m heat, Isaiah Gill thundered down the track in 21.36. They went 1-2 in that event.
Tyrone Ross won the 400m in an impressive 47.71, while Nafee Harris won the long jump in his final leap, besting teammate Kirkland by 2.5” with his 25-2.5 effort. Kyle Price wrecked the field in the men’s steeplechase, winning in 9:11.70—just a step shy of his own club record.
Micah Leonard finished second in the triple jump (11.33), falling a bit shy of Shene Davis’ club record in that event. Kelsey Lewis added a 2nd place in the high jump (1.58m), while the Vietnamese ladies not only went 1-2-3-4 in the open 400m, Oanh, Lan, Thuy, and Huyen ran 3:41.87, breaking the meet record by six seconds. Lan earlier won the 400m in a club record time of 53.89, with Huyen (55.21), Oanh (55.94), and thuy (56.45) behind her.
The men’s 4x400 had a breakthrough race, winning the event in 3:15.99, the second fastest time ever clocked in GSTC history. Ross, Gill, Robbins, and Ricardo Garcia teamed up for win. Watch the relay here, including Gill anchor is a blazing fast 46.6 final leg!
Numerous other GSTC athletes PRed, including Matt Eder (1:57/800m), Mark Parisen (4:08/1500m), Garcia (4:01/1500m), and Erin LaCosta (28/200m). Josh Neyhart (4:00) and Dennie Waite (3:55) both had season bests (SBs) in the 1500m.
GSTC Racing Schedule
USATF-NJ Grand Prix
6/1 Stomp the Monster (open women)
6/7 College Ave Mile (all divisions)
6/16 President’s Cup (open men)
6/22 Lager Run (masters men)
6/26 Sunset Classic (open, masters women)
Spring Track and Field
5/28 Twilight Meet @ Icahn Stadium (sprinters)
5/29 John Hay Distance Festival (half milers, milers)
6/14 adidas Grand Prix (Icahn Stadium, NYC)
Team Runs
Monday: (track and field) Team workout 5:30 at Highland Park HS
Monday: (Central Enclave) 4:15 @ HPHS
Tuesday: (Central Enclave) 4:30 @ HPHS
Tuesday: (South Enclave) track session TBA
Wednesday: (Central Enclave): 4:15 @ HPHS
Wednesday: (Morristown Enclave) 6:15 group run @ Morristown Running Company
Wednesday: (track and field) Team workout 5:30 at Highland Park HS
Wednesday: (South Enclave) 6:30 @ trail at Elk or Williamstown bike path
Wednesday: (Princeton Enclave) 5:30 @ Turning Basin Park on Alexander Road
Thursday: (Central Enclave) 4:15 @ HPHS
Friday: (Central Enclave): 4:15 @ HPHS
Saturday: (track and field): 10:00am at HPHS
Saturday: (Morristown) 9:00 group run @ Morristown Running Company
Sunday: TEAM RUN AT MANASQUAN RESERVOIR 9AM
Steady Striders
By: Mark Parisen
Hey Striders,
Let's keep building up some of these runs, College Ave Mile is only a
couple of weeks away! Please reach out if you are having trouble finding a
partner,
Monday: 30-40min Run
Tuesday: Cross Train (Bike, Swim, etc.)
Wednesday: 30-40min Run + 4x15s Strides
Thursday: Core Workout/Strength Training/Personal Training Session
Friday: 20-25 minute run + 4x20s Strides or Hill Sprints
Saturday: OFF
Sunday: Team Long Run (TBA On Facebook page)
Quotes of the Week
“I would have invited Softball Peter to my workout, but I did it on the road. Harder to catch grounders on the concrete.” -Greta Sieve, via text, talking about Softball Peter Bolgert, who last month skipped out on a track workout with her and other teammates…for softball practice, and has thus inherited said nickname.
“My life has been one big game of duck duck goose, and I’ve always been ‘it.’” -Zak Martins, at practice tonight (aren’t you glad we held off sending this email until tonight?!)
“My favorite movie of all-time is Oceans Eleven Inches and Edward Penishands.” -an alleged Facebook message from one Leadership Team member to another and both will, for obvious reason, go unnamed.
“I have a lot of work to do.” -John Macchione III, who has joined the sprint group as he prepares for the USA Olympic Bobsled team combine from July 26-28 in Lake Placid, NY.
“My PR was all from Chuck’s help, as he ran next to me the entire time in a real classy move.” -Tim Murphy, after the Superhero Half. Hey, the first time “classy” and “Chuck” were used in the same sentence must be documented for eternity.
“79 minutes? Did you get lost out there?” -Superhero Race Director Heather McDermott after the race. Yeah, that’s more like it—that’s what we’re used to.
“Fonder messaged me at 1am and asked me if I was watching the Oxy Track Meet. I was doing something much better—playing Donkey Kong.” -Peter Bolgert, via text, explaining how the Princeton Enclave nerds spend Thursday nights.
“Who found $4 on his run today? This guy!” -a very proud Timmy Morgan, via FB. A very symbolic moment: see the tangible benefits of running?? When was the last time you found $4 hanging out on Facebook?
“At mile 7 of Superhero, GSTC in the lead.” -Amy Weinstock, via text, as Kenny G flew by her water station
"Nah, let's not break it--let's SMASH IT." -Darren Boone, new GSTC sprints coach via text message, regarding the ever-elusive 40.0 and 3:10 relay barriers this year
GSTC Weekly Trivia
Question: Check the flavor of the rhythm I wrote--
A. False
B. All of the above
C. Battle of Bach Dang River
D. Let me clear my throat!!
Gold Star
By Ashwin Anantharaman
Stephen Ellwood
Stephen joined GSTC on May 12th because he missed competitive running and having a team to help him get faster. His Prs include 25:47 in the 8k, 14:56 in the 5k and 3:52 in the 1500. His goals are improve upon his college times and help GSTC become an even bigger threat on the national level. His pre race routines are kept a secret, but it obviously has been working with such fast times. The only thing he will share is that he tends to visualize what may happen during the race before the actual race. Outside of running he is a 2nd year medical student at Rutgers NJMS and enjoys every sport especially basketball.
Jessica PK-Redden
Jessica joined GSTC this week as she was looking for people to run with and noticed how amazing GSTC is. Her goals are to run under 19:45 in the 5k(after biking) at the Amateour Sprint World Championships in the Canada, run under 1:30 for the half marathon. Before a race she likes to warmup for 20 minutes and must eat a good breakfast. While preparing for a race she doesn't follow any specific or structured plans now and basically runs on feel. Her hobbies outside of running include eating, triathlons and spending time with her family watching a good movie or eating.
TMA: Totally Misunderstood Award
No one did anything dumb this week from the club. Hmm, highly unlikely, but nothing was reported!
TEAM STUFF
Yearly dues----à https://runsignup.com/Club/NJ/NewBrunswick/GardenStateTrackClub
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 +8x8-10s hill sprints
Tuesday - 5x1k @5k with equal rest.
Wednesday - medium run of 75% long run duration.
Thursday - super easy 40-60 mins + strides
Friday - 2x(400-600-400-200) at mile pace. Take 1:00 between reps and a lap jog between sets.
Saturday - same as Monday
Sunday - long run!
What is this email?
D, standing for DJ Kool!!!
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