April, 2008

Teammates & Friends:

The big story in this Newsletter is the Masters Indoor National Championships. With so many injured members and low turnout at various meets this winter I was worried that our team would drop from the 3rd place team standing we had achieved in the past two (indoor and outdoor) National Championships. But the team came together at the right time and with the hard work of Relays Coordinator, Tucker Taft, Mass Velocity put enough winning relays on the track in the last event of the evening to lift or club to a SECOND PLACE combined team score finish!!!

Below you will see how everyone placed and scored, but I need to give some credit and kudos. To begin with, MVTC only had 3 women scoring for us this Nationals. Worlds champion Laura Barre was probably taking a well-needed rest, there was a glitch with Susan Wiemer's club affiliation and Gail Johns-Rees and Paula Fortuna switched over to Liberty AC (read more in Notable Quotes). But the three women we had - Mary Roman, Barbara Jordan and Kim Williams scored so many points that if the three of them were their own team (please, let's not get any ideas), they would have been in 13th place out of 86 scoring teams!

Below you will find an assortment of personal stories and commentary from our members and friends. Just a few months ago I feared that Mass Velocity might fade away and now I believe that the club is stronger than ever. Read on and you'll see what I mean.

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MASTERS INDOOR NATIONALS
Full Results





MASS VELOCITY MEMBERS SCORING POINTS

Dear Teammates:

This has been a difficult year for many of us, with injuries, illness and other distractions. As a result, our spirit as a team seemed to lose a bit of its glow; or so I thought until this weekend.

Our reunion at the 2008 Indoor National demonstrated how strong we are as a team. Larry Libow was Larry Libow - he lead the charge, making us proud to be a part of his team. It was a joy to see Roger running free in that youthful style that is his alone. Likewise, it was good to see Gail and Paula, as they will always be members of Mass Velocity, regardless of the color of their uniforms. We enjoyed watching Carroll Blake compete in a competitive age group and represent the red and white with distinction. And the poet, Charlie Kelley, is back and will undoubtedly share his poetic observations with us. Barbara Jordan, Kim Williams and Mary Roman were in great form and collectively scored more points that we can counted. Bob Matteson is our inspiration; he never fails to amaze us with his effort and results. Dave Neumann continues to impress with fast times and solid team leadership. Our adopted sister, Rebecca Connolly, ran well, exhibiting power and grace in motion. Ian Smith competed in several events, and by human standards, did exceptionally well, but he was hoping for better - let's send him a huge cyber hug. Eric Bucher ran a strong 400 and continues to make great progress as he transitions from distance running to sprinting. Ralph ("Super Souppa") ran a smooth leg of a 4 x 400 WR relay, as well as running well in the 200 and 400. Tom Gillen showed his speed and grit in the 400 meters. Johnny O did well in the long and triple jump, finishing third in the latter, and provided constant words of cheer to the rest of us. Warren Graff was present, but is not yet competing; we await his swift return. Newcomers Darin Brown and Manny Garcia represented themselves and Mass Velocity superbly. Andrian Sheldon competed in the 60 meter dash and promises to be strong in the sprints outdoors. Speaking of field events, Mike Travers was fifth in the long jump; William Wright scored in the long and triple jumps; Brady Mayer was 6th in the triple, and Bob Marchetti competed in the long jump. All of our jumpers were consummate cheerleader from the sidelines (thanks guys). Tucker Taft ran an excellent leg of the 4 x 400 National Championship relay (a relay that might not have occurred but for his effort). As for myself, I did ok and felt lots of fellowship. Lastly, Bob Segal was not feeling well and suffered the loss of his father, but ran and scored a point for the team. Bob, on behalf of your teammates, we send our sympathies for your loss. If I have failed to mention anyway, blame it on my mind, not my heart.

Our second place finish in the National is fabulous, but what is more important to me is the fact that the spirit of friendship and collegiality is still among us - let it live forever.
James Morton

PS. Sorry, I forgot to mention four or five additional athletes who contributed to our success at Nationals. I hope they (John Huth, Greg "Cochise" McBride and Terrance Haynes) will forgive me. Again, . . . blame my mind, not my heart. Peace!

Well said James. You are too modest when you say "As for myself, I did ok and felt lots of fellowship." With your performances including 1st place in the 800, I would say that is more than OK! Also to be commended are other Mass Velocity runners who ran very well such as John Huth who continues to improve and ran solid times in open events and relays, Cochise who ran a great relay leg in the midst of injuries, Terrence Haynes (relay and open 400), and Bob Pomeroy's contribution to the 1st place 4x8.
Dave Neumann

Fellow Tracksters,

It is truly wonderful to see how the team has grown and prospered. I am deeply grateful for any association. Most of you have given me wonderful words of wisdom and encouragement over the last couple of years. I’m so happy to be characterized as “an adopted sister”!!! I’m happy to say that we will be joining you down at Penns. Our ad hoc W40 4x400 team is going for a rematch against Athena in the big house. I am keeping my fingers crossed that my sciatica will have left me by then and I will give them more of a fight. My college 400 PR was run at the Penns. Can’t match that today, but looking for a masters PR nonetheless.

Mass Velocity provided a wonderful display over the weekend. Proud to know you all!!!

See you outdoors,
Becky Connolly

Greetings teammates,

As has been pointed out, this is one hell of a team! Though I was unable to compete as much as I would have preferred, I was able to find solace and pleasure in attending some meets and enjoying the performances - especially when a member of MVTC prevailed! For me, this indoor season was a bit of a disappointment due to a nagging pre-season injury (patellar tendonitis) which was compounded by a hamstring injury sustained at the Dartmouth Relays. Recovery has been season long and knowing that I had the support and constant encouragement from my teammates helped to keep me somewhat focused albeit not with the pre-injury intensity.

Unbeknownst to my teammates, I also sustained a hairline tibia fracture ( I didn't know either). I thought it was a shin splint and kept running through it. I had long decided to forego the indoor season and focus on outdoor because I knew I was not where I wanted to be. Notwithstanding that decision, I was committed to maintaining some semblance of running condition and running with the BIG DOGS for the National Championship 4 x 400 relay. Besides, we were 2-time defending champs and a 3-peat was even better.

Watching my teammates compete and perform well was very satisfying and served to get me mentally prepared for the relay - especially since I had not run a 400 in competition since last years Nationals. When the time came for me to get on the stage, that proverbial posterior expulsion of bricks was in the house and not leaving anytime soon. When the gun sounded, I got caught napping in lane 6 - probably because of those bricks.

Whoosh! Charlie Kelley went by on my inside along with someone else to his inside. Shock and surprise were now my unwanted companions. I recovered and decided that I would make my move at the break - just like everyone else. Who knew?! Plan B - duck in behind and make a move at 300 meters. Guess what? Charlie and whoever made a move at 300 and kept me pinned on the outside. Not only would I have to run twice as far to pass them, I would also have to run twice as fast! Plan GFB (Go For Broke) - Bust 'em coming off the last turn. I knew I had the strength but I had been experiencing calf cramping whenever I have attempted sprinting during the last few weeks and as recent as my last training session the past Thursday.

It was almost as if I could hear Coach Butch Blake yelling "GO NOW" and I went. I shot past Charlie and whoever and they were unable to respond. I heard the announcer say "Here comes Cochise McBride"! I felt strong and thought I should have gone out faster and pressed the pace. It was probably good that I didn't because it might have gotten ugly. I had wanted to give the guys a bigger lead but as long as we won each leg only disqualification could beat us. Not Happening. After the race, Ironman Morton chided me saying that they were looking for a bigger lead from the fresher legs. Imagine that! The nerve of that guy! Nevertheless, I am thankful to be walking at all nevermind running.

Thank you Tucker, Butch, and Ironman for allowing me to be part of your relay team and bringing home the gold!
Cochise McBride

Not racing well this season but I was delighted to be part of the winning 4 x 800m team. 800m is a long way for a 400m runner but everyone just dug in to win gold. The team spirit at this meet is just superb and whether you are running like a champion, scoring points or just doing your best, everyone's effort is appreciated. It is a special club.
Ian Smith

I never fail to come away awed by the amazing athletic ability of the participants. Sure, guys like Bill Collins, Charlie Allie and James Morton LOOK fast just standing still, but a guy like Marty Krulee looks like he’d have trouble running for the bus – until he rockets out of the blocks and wins going away. How does he do that?

It’s a lot of fun and very inspirational to see the best that Masters Track and Field has to offer, and we’re fortunate to have had this meet in Boston so often over the last 6 years. We normally only get to read about these folks and seeing them perform in person is a treat.

This year I got back into long jumping and for those of you who don’t do a field event, you’re missing out on a special experience. There’s a lot of downtime while waiting for your next jump and it gives the participants a chance to get to know each other. This year, the M55 long jumpers were a particularly fun bunch, not to mention a strong group of performers. Five years ago, I was the 5th American in the long jump (although a long way from 4th). This year making the top 8 for the final three jumps would have been a challenge, except that one guy had about 200 yards of ace bandage on his thigh (hamstring injury) so I was able to edge him out for 8th place. I considered having one of the giant shot putters nearby just throw me into the pit – might have worked better.

High point of the meet for me was that I actually led the Long Jump competition! Then the 2nd guy in the rotation took his jump.

Personally, I didn’t have a great meet, but my expectations for the Nationals are commensurate with my ability. I just keep telling myself that I’ve chosen to run against the top 0.001% of athletes in my age group and I could kick most of the 99.999% of the butts sitting on couches that Saturday afternoon.

Best Regards,
Bob Marchetti

Hi Larry,
A great meet for me ! Two American records W70-74. The 60M in 10.03 ( old record was 10.26 - Audrey Lary in 2005), and the 200M in 34.58 (old record was Pat Peterson's 35.58 in 1998). This was the most exciting for me since I broke it by a full second. Being 72, I had '06 and '07 in the 70+ to get both records. This year I was older but faster ! --- and injury free, and better eating and training . It all counts ! I also won the 60M Hurdles in 13.15 (Christel Donley ran 13.19). It was a close race but not the time I wanted. Christel has the US Record in 12.83 and I was looking to break that. Her form is better than mine so that gives me something to work on for next year. Looking forward to a great outdoor season.
Thanks for all you do Larry. See you in July at SC.
Barb Jordan

Thanks to all Mass Velocity members for making my first indoor Master's Nationals a wonderful meet! I met a lot of new people and had a fantastic weekend. And special thanks to some wonderful teammates [Bob, Terrence & Ian in the 4x800, and Charlie, Eric and Dave in the 4x400] for letting me grab a couple of golds!
Best to all,
Darin Brown

I almost didn’t go to Nationals this year. I felt out of shape and slow. I didn’t compete much indoors and my workouts were hampered by bad weather, illness and sometimes by just plain discouragement. In the end I decided to go and see what I could do in my events and thereby set a baseline for my summer training.

After I was home Sunday I reflected on how lucky I am to be part of this track community and I was very glad I did attend and compete. The competition is only part of the thrill. Yes, it’s scary to go to the line not knowing if you’ll finish strong or finish wearing cement. It’s scary to go up against people you don’t know – should I try to stay with her around the curve or will I die before the end of the race? But the part I love most is being with people who understand. People who know what kind of spikes to wear and what shorts material won’t stick to lane numbers and who know that a “speed workout” isn’t repeat miles. People who won’t ask me if I’ve signed up for the local 10K when I say that I’ve trained all winter.

I reconnect with women who I met at the Senior Games or Outdoor Nationals and haven’t seen since. Do they know they have been with me all the time since then? They are with me in the dead of winter when I get up at 4:50 and drive half an hour to the only indoor track around.

I meet women who are coming back from life threatening illnesses who are willing to go out on the line, hurt, sweat, fail, or win, and fully embrace the health they know most of us are taking for granted.

I talk with women who are new to the sport and I find awe and mystery in their ability to race fast with so little experience. And I’m happy to share what I know with them and to find that even newcomers always have something to teach me too.

I see friends who I have come to admire, respect, love and maybe envy a little when they can run times I can only dream of. Friends who inspire me and challenge me and give me a dope slap when I say I might drop the 200 because I’m not very fast (and then I make the finals).

That’s what Nationals means to me; my own performances are just a small part of it. And probably not even the best part.
Kim Williams

Wow - what a great weekend! Congratulations to James on three golds. A great job all around by everyone. Special thanks to Tucker for putting together the relays.
John Huth

I don't normally like to generate any "drama" or let my personal life intrude in a public way on our track and field world. But in this case, I thought some of you might appreciate this story about my 2008 Indoor Nationals experience.

As you know, I missed all of the indoor season last year and most of the outdoor season because of a foot injury. But I trained hard all winter long with a number of other folks at the Reggie Lewis Center---with Carroll Blake leading the way with his carefully organized, grueling practices. As March approached, I realized that I would not be able to run the 400 (my best race) at the nationals because I had to be out of town that Saturday for my nephew's Bar Mitzvah. I kept up the training though, knowing that it would be a great foundation for the outdoor season. I would run only the 200 on that Sunday---one and done in a preliminary heat---and just be happy to be there.

Two weeks before the nationals, my training was interrupted first by a work-related event and then my father's terminal illness. I missed our last two practices at the Reggie and didn't get much sleep for the next 10 days during the bedside vigil for my dad, dealing with the subsequent funeral, and then attending my nephew's bittersweet Bar Mitzvah two days later---all down in Connecticut.

By Sat. night, I was back home in Somerville, but exhausted and fighting a head cold. I knew I was in no shape to run a credible 200 in the prelim and almost decided not to show up for the race. I would just go down and root for the MVTC team and the other athletes. But then I decided that I couldn't let all those months of training fly out the window and reasoned that less than 30 seconds of running wouldn't kill me, so I showed up Sunday morning in my bright red MVTC suit anyway.

Good thing I did! Turns out that I made the 200 finals "by accident" when a bunch of runners scratched so that only six were left, making prelim heats unnecessary. So, MVTC was guaranteed at least one point from me, just for showing up!

By the time of the race, I was stiff and uncomfortable (having had to warm up twice), even more stuffed up in the head, and agonizing about how bad I would look in the finals with all those other top runners. On top of that, I was even dreading the introductions, since most of the other runners in the finals were going to get introduced as "former national champ" or "former star at Texas A&M", etc. and I had ZERO credentials---except being old and local.

But I got an idea. I asked Larry to ask Peter, the public address announcer, if he could say "running in memory of his late father" after he announced my name and lane number. I didn't want it to be maudlin or a big deal, just short and nice. And both Larry and Peter came though. I came in dead last and ran my worst 200 of the season, but I scored a point for the team and ran a memorial race in my dad's honor.

But I wasn't done. Later in the day, at Tucker's insistence ("Just have fun!") and despite my dire predictions of how slow I would probably run a 400, and not having run a relay since high school, I dragged myself over to the MVTC B team for the 4X4 relay. But for some reason, I suddenly felt relaxed and energized. I think all those months of 400 training kicked in, despite my fatigue and sinus problems. So, after John Huth got us off to a good start, I ran a decent second leg (for me) and handed off to guest runner Anthony Baker who kept us within striking distance. Then Tom Gillen really made up some ground as the anchor and gave us second place and a silver medal!

So I went from mourning the loss of my father and almost skipping the Sunday races to helping score several points for MVTC, dedicating a race to my dad, and getting the first medal in my life at a national championship ... in ANYTHING!

And I have it all on DVD to share with friends and family ...

But the best part of all is that during the whole ordeal, I was among friends---many of them with their own compelling stories---who not only appreciated the demands and rewards of being a masters track athlete, but who also understood what it meant to deal with other life events at the same time.

Great meet. Great stories. Thanks to all. Good luck at the Penn Relays to those who are going and then see you outdoors!
Bob Segal

As in the past, it was great to be able to participate in the Indoor Nationals at the Reggie Lewis Track. For me it was a bit of an anniversary, since my first track meet ever was at this same meet 5 years ago, when Joan Benoit Samuelson smashed the 3K mark by just running at her usual marathon pace, and Bill Collins blew the doors off with a 22.99 200 meters, the first time anyone over fifty had ever broken 23 seconds. It being my first meet, I had to struggle even to finish the 200 while still standing up.

I am happy to say that my conditioning has improved since then, and this year in particular that is in large part thanks to practicing with "Coach" Blake and my MVTC teammates at the Reggie on Tuesday nights for the past several months. I not only made it 200 meters, but I actually kept going for another 200 meters and managed to come up with a 4th place in M55, and not look hopelessly bad even though the other three members of my section of the 400 were Bill Collins, Frank Schiro, and Coach Blake himself.

I am also very happy to say that it is a whole lot less lonely to run at track meets now than it was 5 years ago. Having teammates and friends cheering you on as you wobble into the 400m finish is really wonderful. It is even more fun to do the same thing as part of a relay team, getting the baton from Cochise neck and neck with two other teams, then managing to leave one of those teams well behind, and pass the other in the final straightaway and hand off to the ever reliable Coach Blake for the third leg and the amazing James O. for the final leg of a gold-medal 50+ relay performance. Wow, what a feeling.

And probably the best feeling is the overall camaraderie of the team. There is something about relays. It really doesn't seem to matter who wins them, but being part of a relay team always manages to produce four people grinning from ear to ear at the end (after they catch their breath, of course). I will admit it is particularly gratifying after spending much of the meet "herding cats" to keep all of our relay teams together, to be told by several originally reluctant "cats" that they were *so* grateful that I pushed them to run the relay. And then there was that ear-to-ear grin again.

Next stop Penn...
-Tuck

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LINKED INDOOR NATIONALS
PHOTO GALLERIES

Eric Bucher posted his photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/bucher78/2008USATFMastersIndoorNationals

Bob Pomeroy posted this video of the crash in the 4x800 relay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV52wsrrLEQ

Kim Williams posted this gallery of photos by Warren: http://picasaweb.google.com/KimInMaine/MassVelocityAtReggie

Tucker Taft posted this huge gallery: http://picasaweb.google.com/Tucker.Taft/MassVelocityAtIndoorNationals2008

Mary Roman keeps breaking her own American Record in the Super Weight.
Here's Mary setting the American Record at Prince George Sportsplex in Md. on 2/23/08.


Barbara Jordan setting a new American Record in the 60m.

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Hall of Fame
Class of 2008 Announced

The Northeastern University Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2008 and it includes seven former Husky athletes that excelled in their respective sports. The seven honorees are Vincent Barletta (rowing), Anders Hoeyem (soccer), Harry Mews (ice hockey), Roger Pierce (track & field), Nikiya Reid (women’s track & field), Brooke Whitney (women’s ice hockey) and Kelly Wilk (field hockey). They will be inducted at Lombardo’s Restaurant in Randolph, Mass. on Friday, April 18. Read Full Roger Pierce Story - Click Here.

Roger Pierce, NU Class of 1971

Anyone interested in attending should contact:
George Makris
Banquet Chairperson
NU Varsity Club
617-373-4821
Cost of evening includes dinner - $50.00

On behalf of all your fellow Velociteers and friends - Congratulations Roger!!!

Jesse Langley - M55 from Lancaster, PA

Robert Miller - M?? from Jefferson, MA

David Rusch - M50 from Mandeville, LA

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"Hi Tucker, and fellow Mass Velociteers...
Thanks for posting the results from Worlds! I appreciate the effort that is put into keeping us all updated. I do have to make a small correction, though. The results you have for me are from the different sections of the pentathlon. I didn't do all those individual events plus the pentathlon. The results site was not exactly user-friendly, or English-friendly. Come to think of it, neither were the officials and the people running the information center in the athletes village, but that's another story. I almost wanted to leave the posting as it was, as it would make me look pretty spectacular, but I would have felt guilty. Anyway, thank you again. And by the way, I just had the 5 month ultra-sound today...and it's a girl."
- Susan Wiemer

Our own Laura Barre had great success at the World Masters Indoor meet in Clermont, France. On behalf of MVTC I want to offer much congratulations on your awesome performance in Clermont! If I understand the results, you won the straight hurdles, placed 2nd in the long jump, 3rd in the 60M dash, and you were on the wining M35 4 x 200 USA relay team. [Editors Note: I hope that we'll get a story and photos from Laura that we can share with everyone]. Here's the link to the results: http://www.athle.com/clermont2008/results.aspx?Num=024696
- Warren Graff

A few weeks ago Harold Morioka's team from Canada broke the World Indoor M60 4 x 400 record by running 4.13.30. In Boston at the US National Masters Indoor Championship meet, it was broken again (this time by 10 seconds!) by the USA team of 1) Barnum, Larry 64 2) Pierce, Roger 63 3) Allie, Charles 60 4) Souppa, Ralph 60 running 4:03.24.
- Warren Graff

Dear Larry, Thank you for your e-mail, am happy to hear from you. I really improved on my this year 60meters sprint race. I was able to sprint 6.66 seconds at the University of Abuja-Nigeria Senior Athletics Championship. I won the 60m and the 100meters in 10.75seconds to begin the year.
I am training seriously for the Nigeria Olympic trials. I wish every member of Mass Velocity club in America all the best. Any member that wants to come to Abuja-Nigeria should contact me with my e-mail. Am happy to be a foreign member of Mass Velocity Athletics Club. I wish I can see or visit America for the first time to see my club members. Bye Larry and greet all members.
- Henry C.Onwusonye, Abuja-Nigeria.


Hi Larry, I wanted to let you know that I changed my club affiliation to Liberty Athletic Association for the Nationals. Gail and I have been working with their clubs coach and she asked us if we would be willing to help them out in the women's relays at the Nationals. They are mainly a long distance running group but have been very accommodating to us training at the BU track with them and allowing us to use the facility in their allotted time. I still want to keep up my membership with Mass Velocity as I like being part of a sprint track club and can always switch my club affiliation back in the future. I wanted to explain this all to you and am glad to hear that you're still very involved with the club! Hope you are well,
- Paula Fortuna

I have made a difficult decision that I wanted to share with you. I have joined Liberty AC recently. As you probably know, Paula and I have trained the past 2 winters with them at BU, thanks to Mary Harada. Several weeks ago I was offered an opportunity to train with Cathy Utzschneider, Liberty's coach. She is a great coach and offered to set up a personal training program for me including specific drills, speed workouts, weight workouts, stretches, endurance work, etc. Joining Liberty provides me unlimited access to training sessions. In addition, it really helps to have a group of motivated, supportive teammates to train with, despite the fact that most of them are distance runners. I still plan to keep my Mass Velocity membership. Take care and stay healthy,
- Gail Johns-Rees

Thanks for everything Larry. You're the best. And thanks for the reminder about paying my dues! Also I want to leave you this: 2006/2007/early 2008 have been frustrating for me with injuries and missing many meets. If if was not for Mass Velocity and the connection I have with the men and women from this club, I have may have given it up. But I have not! And that is largely due to the relationships we have built. Much credit goes to you and the forming of this club. See you in the future,
- Mike Needham

Hello fellow masters, I just recently had my first book published and it is about us. Please take a look at an excerpt from the site below. I appreciate your time and support. Stay healthy and Train hard. http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/book_excerpt.asp?bookid=42406
- Cornell Stephenson
WRH 4x100 and DMR

Thanks for everything Larry, and we know you are still there. We are still the best club in the USA!!!
- Roger Pierce

Larry, Thank you for Mass Velocity - your vision and enthusiasm to start a club and recruit members has been remarkable. At the last two meets, I have observed you completely immersed in your coaching responsibilities with Y-Speed athletes. Your love of track and your dedication to them is palpable. They are a very fortunate group of kids to have you.

I wanted to take a minute to share my "Mass Velocity" story with you. When I hung up my spikes after my last meet in college I knew about Masters track and planned to return to track when I was 35. After my second child was born I started training for half marathons and ran 3 of them before I was 35. The last one I ran was not fun. I trained for many months to just run a 2:04 and it took me 3 days to recover. I started to realize that my body was not meant to do distance events and thankfully I would be turning 35 soon. I hit the track for sprint intervals and training for long jump shortly after my 35th birthday. I started slowly and competed in my first meets that summer. Although I enjoyed the training more and liked being in the long jump pit again, I missed the "team" aspect of track that I had always enjoyed. I went on-line and googled Masters track and up came Mass Velocity (this was four years ago, when MassVelocity was a virtual club). I met you, Gail and Paula and many other Mass Velocity persons at a few Indoor meets and quickly joined Mass Velocity. Mass Velocity really makes Masters Track fun for me. I train alone and without a coach but I have my Mass Velocity teammates to e-mail and see at the meets. I confidently sign up for meets knowing that I will see at least one or two familiar faces, and most likely meet another new person that has joined Mass Velocity. I signed up for Indoor World's this year after reading the accounts from fellow teammates that went to the summer Worlds in Italy and knowing that Susan Weimer - a fellow teammate would be there. I know that I am a rather "quiet" member of the team, but the team is very important to me. It has buoyed my confidence to participate in college meets and go to the large Masters meets. The background on my computer is always a picture of Mass Velocity - once a picture from Springfield, another time the jump crew from Nationals, and most recently a picture of the entire team. In addition to all of my own running, I have also been inspired to assistant coach at the high school level, and people like Lee Hess, inspired me early on. I really love the time I spend coaching. I find it extremely rewarding and have learned so much from my young athletes.

Thank you Larry, for Mass Velocity. It has become a very important part of who I am.

Respectfully,
Laura Barre

Here are the tentative Penn Relay teams. Some of the folks mentioned below may not even know they are being considered, so if you know they would or would not want to be on the team, please respond on their behalf. Some people are listed as alternates because they are currently injured or otherwise unable to run, but may be ready by late April.

Note that Phil Felton, the masters events manager, generally allows us to shift between teams within the same club, to deal with last-minute
injuries or travel emergencies.

Don't delay if you have any comments...

Please note! If you are interested in competing in an individual 100m event, you will need to apply yourself!

Thanks,
-Tuck


4 x 100 teams (all on Friday about noon)

40+: Dave Neumann, Barney Borromeo, Eric Bucher, Cochise McBride,
Michael Fortunato (alt), Jeff Elliott (alt)

50+ A: Tom Gillen, Michael Fortunato, Jeff Elliott, Jesse Langley,
Cochise McBride (alt), James Morton (alt)

50+ B: Tucker Taft, Charlie Kelley, Michael Baugh, Rockdale Hudson,
Larry Zwick (alt), John Huth (alt)

60+: Roger Pierce, Ralph Souppa (injured, can't compete), Bob Davis,
Bic Stevens (alt), Warren Graff (alt) (both injured, can't compete)

70+ mixed: Mary Roman, Mary Harada, Spencer Parrish, Dick Camp

4 x 400 teams (40+ is Saturday afternoon, rest on Friday afternoon)

40+: Dave Neumann, Terrence Haynes, Eric Bucher, Darin Brown,
Cochise McBride (alt), James Morton (alt)

50+ A: Cochise McBride, Jame Morton, Charlie Kelley, Tucker Taft,
Tom Gillen (alt), John Huth (alt)

50+ B: Tom Gillen, John Huth, David Rusch, Larry Zwick,
Michael Baugh (alt), Jesse Langley (alt)

60+: Roger Pierce, Ralph Souppa (injured, can't compete), Larry Barnum (?),
Bic Stevens (alt), Warren Graff (alt)(both injured, can't compete)

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Outdoor Season Schedule
This is Not The Complete Schedule
Our Website Will Have The Complete and Updated Schedule Posted Shortly
Check Often and Send Us Meet Information if You Don't See a Meet Listed

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Saturday, April 12th
Northeastern Solomon Husky Invitational
Northeastern University Track, Dedham, MA

Entry via DirectAthletics
*** IMPORTANT: Online entries are OPEN until Tuesday, 4/8/08 11:59 PM ***

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Sunday, June 1st
Trinity College, Hartford, CT

[Click on Logo to Jump to Games Registration Page]

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Sunday, June 15th
USATF NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIP
M.I.T., Cambridge MA, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Saturday, June 28th
Springfield College, Springfield, MA

[Click on Logo to Jump to Games Registration Page]

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Saturday, July 12th
MIT - Cambridge, MA

[Click on Logo To Jump To Masters T&F General Information Page]
Note This Requirement:
Participants in the 100 meter, 200 meter and 400 meter must include a seed time for each event on their application.
Seed times can be updated until July 7, 2008, by contacting the Bay State Games office
at (781) 932-6555 or by e-mail at info@baystategames.org.
Athletes who do not include a seed time will be dropped from the event.
Seed times will not be accepted on the day of the meet.

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Saturday, July 19
USATF East Region Masters
Howard Community College, Columbia MD

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Sunday, July 27
USATF New England Masters
Springfield College, Springfield MA. 9:00 a.m.

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Sunday, August 17th
Livingston Park, Manchester, NH

[Click on Logo to Jump to Games Registration Page]

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I am one of James Morton's biggest fans but I must call him to task for writing (above) "Larry Libow was Larry Libow - he lead the charge, making us proud to be a part of his team." I am working hard to have everyone stop thinking that Mass Velocity is my team. I am willing to take credit for the concept and I'm willing to acknowledge that I put some initial work in to get MVTC off the ground, but I think that the 2008 Masters Indoor Nationals is proof positive that this club is successful and thriving as a result of a true group effort. This is not my team, it's our team. Everyone who was there, whether or not they competed, whether or not they scored points - even if they couldn't get to The Reggie, is a contributing member of a very unique track club.

Mass Velocity is beginning to branch out beyond our New England roots. Master track and field athletes quickly realize that there are very few running clubs that don't have their primary emphasis on long distance running / road racing. Likewise, there are very few clubs that are dedicated to master athletes. Even if it's just for a few meets each year, the lure of the fellowship and the good feeling of belonging to a club of people with similar interests can make any track meet more than just a few seconds of competition amongst a sea of strangers.

This is the reason I thought about creating such a club. This year I volunteered my time to work at the Indoor Nationals. But as I walked around the facility, I knew so many people and was warmly greeted by close friends and brand new ones. What a wonderful feeling. I realize that we are a club whose members are geographically dispersed, and becoming more so. But when we all gather at a track meet, we become a close-knit family of supportive friends.

Let's take the momentum we have (and remember that Mass times Velocity equals Momentum) and turn some heads at the Penn Relays and then let's get ourselves to Spokane for the Outdoor Nationals so we can show SoCal TC that we too can be competitive on either coast!

Peace, speed and good health,

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All past MVTC Newsletters are available online at http://www.massvelocity.org/newsletters.htm

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The Mass Velocity Newsletter is an open-access publication under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. Users may freely copy, distribute, and display its contents, but must give credit to the original publication source and author.