Nada. Nothing. Zak Martins comes home for Thanksgiving this week. So that gives us hope.
Kyle's Korner is a segment of the Club's weekly email that will focus on reacquainting you with a different current club member each week. We will catch you up on how they are doing with regards to their training, their lives, and other general nonsense. This segment intends to be informative and educational while attempting humor in a purely inoffensive way. Mostly.
This week on Kyle's Korner we chatted with Ezra Chefitz. Known for always having fabulous hair despite any weather condition or workout he's currently doing, he is one of our Rutgers Club Team members and has been running with the Black and Gold for a few years now. What you may not know is he got his start with us! But that's only the beginning...
Kyle: Good evening Ezra and thanks for joingin us!
Mr. Chefitz: Anytime! I haven't been interviewed since our 8th grade year book.
Kyle: This is a pre Turkey Day special edition of KK so it might be an interview of the same elementary caliber
Mr. Chefitz: I am in the middle of writing a children's story for my creative writing class, so I'm already in that mindset. Lets do it.
Kyle: Brilliant! So first a little about yourself. Sum up your road to black and gold.
Mr. Chefitz: Lucky for you my history is pretty brief! I only started running in college, starting with 10 mile weeks my Freshman year. In the spring of my sophomore year I signed up for the Rutgers half marathon on an impulse and started "real training". That summer I joined GSTC to have some company on my long runs because I decided to run the NYC Marathon.
I chose GSTC because that summer I was studying for my summer class on the porch of my off campus house and all of a sudden a wave of runners raced by. Did some exploring and soon discovered the College Ave Mile
Kyle: You sure Chuck didn't have you pre-write that fantastic tale? That's great though! Really shows how a running club like ours can help inspire people to get on a good pair of shoes and get out there.
Why the sudden decision to pursue running after not doing it in high school?
Mr. Chefitz: Ah that's the ultimate question, which usually comes right after I say something like "that was my first cross country race". I went to a small private school that didn't have a track or XC team
Also side note, our very own Eric Davis used to work out in the same gym as me in HS and convinced me to run my first 5k and gave me tips and stuff. Pretty cool when I see him at races now and we talk about it
Kyle: I feel as though we are unfolding the pedals to a great flowering storyline that is your running career. Lets get to the nectar. What would you say is your greatest running achievement so far?
Mr. Chefitz: Yeah I'm pretty pumped! This fall has really been about pushing the envelope until I find my limit. I think the most noteworthy achievement will hopefully come in 2 weeks at the Big Chill. I'm gearing to break 18, which would be a 10 min PR from my freshman year Big Chill race.
Also ever since I joined the club I no longer need music to enjoy a long run. Kinda metta I guess haha.
Kyle: Well we all wish you the best of luck with that PR Goal!
NOW FOR THE FESTIVE FUN! How do the Chefitz's celebrate their Turkey Day?
Mr. Chefitz: Oh boy, do I love me some thanksgiving. Our biggest holiday brag is that we don't need to travel or get stuck in traffic! Both sets of my grandparents live in town, so we do lunch with my Dad's extended family promptly followed by dinner with my Mom's. Somewhere in between I get to show off my football skills (no need to mention that I'm playing w cousins half my height and a third my age).
Kyle: Two table sessions is definitely the way to go, especially for us runners who can burn that off. Any weird family traditions?
Mr. Chefitz: My Mom's side is very big into desserts. Its always a big deal who gets to take first. I would say about 12 years ago we started a lighting fast thumb war tournament, your ranking determines your turn to take dessert. My favorite was last year when the final round for the winner came down to my grandfather and my 7 yrs old girl cousin. Powering through the arthritis, my grandfather managed to win after an 8 min battle. One of my aunts has one 7/12 years. She has quickly become my least favorite aunt.
Kyle: The TDTB SHOWDOWN! Turkey day thumb battles huh? Almost anything is worth Thanksgiving dessert so I solute your tradition for who gets first pick. Any racing plans this Thursday morning?
Mr. Chefitz: Well I might get yelled at if you publish this, but I just signed up for a turkey trot 5k. As much as I wanted to do Ashenfeltererereriuey, I have to be able to make it back to my grandparents by 11. Us Chefitz's are a prompt people, and no one wants to be the guy who shows up late
Kyle: Don't want to be banned from the great thumb war for being tardy, I understand my good man. Are you planning on making the trip to Lehigh?
Mr. Chefitz: Hmm it depends... where is Lehigh and what would I be missing?!
Kyle: . . . club nats?
Mr. Chefitz: :O. . .me?
Kyle: One can always dream! And if Chuck doesn't get un butt-hurt soon he wont be able to run around taking photos ha, might need an assistant.
Mr. Chefitz: Ah now we're talking! My dads a photographer by hobby so I know a thing or two about shutter speed, aperture, and making sure the lens cap is off.
Kyle: Once again, Brilliant! Well that's all the time we have for this week. Thank you so much for talking with us and good luck defeating pint-sized cousins and quick thumbs.
Mr. Chefitz: Ahaha thank you! This definitely now ranks in the top 5 things I'd rather be doing than homework
Kyle: Tune in next week to see who we interview!
Gold Star
by Ashwin Anantharaman
Tim VanLiew
Tim joined GSTC to take a big step toward his career goals as a track and field athlete. The club offers a ton of benefits for their members. There is a large community of athletes for everyone to connect, share and grow. The level at which the club competes on a national scale was a big factor in him joining.
His favorite part of being a track and field athlete is the challenge of evolving as an individual in his event. When he trains or competes, its just him working hard to achieve the goals he sets. His coaches play a huge part in his success, but they cant do it for him, so he has to be smart and strong in what i do.
If he could go head to head with anyone in the sport, it would have to be Jan Zelezny. He is the greatest thrower of all time and he would benefit in so many ways to see Jan throw in person.
His goals for this season are to first break the 80m barrier and then qualify for World Championships in Beijing.
Quotes of the Week
"Sorry for there late notice- I'm backpacking Europe until I return on December 10th. I'm staying on pace though- I packed the running shoes and I'll be getting roadwork in out here!! I'll be back on track for Saturday, December 13th. Don't pull out the high jump pit without me." -high jumper Earnest Eusebio via email
"What's a B+? I thought the highest grade was a C. I always got those." -Mark Parisen, via FB chat
"3x5 back jerks at 205. Wishing I had jerk blocks to work with." -thrower Tim VanLiew, in a FB caption of him lifting.
"I still have that itch." -three time Big East javelin silver medalist Paul Mongone, via text
"I like Dan already. He's fast, a master, likes beer, and is eloquent." -Lee Mooney, via FB, while welcoming new member Dan Shea, who used the word "stirling" in his thank you response--which subsequently made half the club a bit light-headed with such a word
"I look forward to a painful return." -Regina Brack, sprinter, via Fb who rejoined the club this weekend after months offnifty 18:03 5k last weekend
"Active.com engages in a nefarious practice I do not appreciate. They set up their signups to opt you in for their $64.95 membership, which you probably don't need or want. You miss this detail and you find this on your credit card statement later. THEN you get put on hold for 10-15 minutes before they can speak to you so you can get a refund. Shenanigans! Get your brooms!" -Dr. Mike Anis providing another lecture on Facebook
"He'd punch a shark if you told him it would benefit the team." -Josh Neyhart, via text, regarding the always team-oriented, yet a little crazy Kyle Price.
"No extra points for blind cats." -Ken Goglas, to Steve Bonica--the owner of many cats without all faculties--in the 100+ FB thread about cats. However, when we went to download pictures today for the contest....the thread was gone.
" Viewed from todays lens of neo-liberal economics, raising a tariff during an economic depression does not seem like a wise move. Not only did the tariff increase the prices of consumer goods in a cash strapped economy, it also violated the principle of the free market, which is the guiding principle of the global economy today. However after taking into account the isolationist nature of the US during the time period, as well as the global economic slump, it is somewhat understandable that the tariff was passed as a way to protect struggling US industry. Interestingly, the fact that the highest ever tariff was passed during the great depression is largely ignored in policy today, as the US and other capitalist countries impose free market regulations on developing countries through institutions like the IMF and the World Bank. Thus industries struggling to develop are flooded with US goods and these countries are often prevented from limiting imports by the strict neo-liberal conditions attached to loan agreements they sign with the IMF. In a way, the Hawley-Smoot tariff is an example of US historical hypocrisy, which I see as a key theme (though certainly an alternative one) to the entire history of the United States." -Chris Johnson, replying to an email to men competing in nationals that asked them several logistical questions, one jokingly about the Hawley Smoot Tariff
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