June, 2007
June, 2007
Teammates & Friends:
For most of us, June is the beginning of the outdoor track season. That's true, unless you've been fortunate enough
to be a high school track coach all spring. I am somewhat exhausted from a season that starts slowly and then ends
in a whirlwind of local, divisional, state and New England championships. From the Massachusetts HS state championships
on a Saturday to the Connecticut Senior Games on a Sunday, I transitioned from coach to competitor in a matter
of hours. I'm beat ... and so our season has begun!
It was a Sunday afternoon, with running events scheduled to start at 2:30pm and the weather was threatening. The turnout was light even though the Connecticut opened up competition to 30+ and 40+ year olds. One thing that hasn't been corrected yet is that the heats for the 100m and 200m were not run by age group. In many cases a heat had just two or three folks and it was quite likely they were all in different age categories. Considering they were using electronic timing, it should have been rather easy to assign heats by age groups. Nonetheless, here are a few shots from the games.
Rob Porcaro in the 200m
John Novak in the 200m
Jon Tetherly in the 800m
Spencer Parrish in the 200m
Arnie Pollinger in the 200m
If you are fortunate enough to see James Morton on the track at a practice or, better yet at a meet, consider yourself lucky. If he didn't already have enough on his plate when he recently took over the reigns as CEO and President of the Greater Springfield YMCA, he now has been given even more work and responsibility. Just a few weeks ago, Governor Patrick appointed James to the Springfield Financial Control Board. With the City of Springfield in financial ruin, a FCB was created to oversee the operation of the city and to get it's finances in order. This board has authority over the mayor, city council and school committee. With a new governor came some new members and James is one.
But James still finds the time for track - and not just for himself. This past May, James provided one of the YMCA
vans (and did the driving himself) to bring some members of the High School of Commerce track team to the MSTCA
State Coaches Invitational Track Meet in Wilmington, MA.
James with Commerce sprinters. Far right, (kneeling) is Assistant Coach Larry, Head Coach
Katie Oake-Libow and Assistant Coach Vinny Savage.
This summer James is one of the organizers of a first annual,
city-wide "Springfield
Youth Olympics." "The City of Springfield in conjunction with Springfield
College is pleased to announce an exciting new initiative: The 1st Annual 2007 Springfield Youth Olympics, which
will take place on the campus of Springfield College on July 27 and July 28. Every student who goes to school in
Springfield, and is between the ages of 10 and 20, is invited to compete in the Springfield Youth Olympics, which
will feature track and field events. The competition is open to students in Springfield public and private schools.
Springfield residents who go to school outside of the city are also eligible. Athletes (or weekend warriors) who
live in Springfield and are between the ages of 20 and 60 are also invited to compete in special categories."
So if any of you are fortunate enough to see Mass Velocity's James Morton out on a track this summer, give him
a pat on the back.
Susan writes "I just got back from competing in the heptathlon in Birmingham, and am happy to tell you that
I broke the American record for women's Heptathlon 40-44. The original record was 3786 and I scored 3810. I still
have to send a copy of my birth certificate in order for them to officially recognize it, I guess. I thought when
I joined usatf and verified my age with my birth certificate that I was covered. Otherwise I would have brought
it with me."
"I'm still rehabbing the foot injury (post-tibial tendinosis, sort
of like plantar fascitis but extends up into the arch). Just completed 8 weeks of PT and am on my third pair of
orthotics (the charm!). The doc (John Hester--excellent--recommended by Rob Porcaro) said that for the next 6-8
weeks I can start running, building up from 10 minutes to 30-40 minutes of distance work 2 or 3 times a week during
the next 6-8 weeks---which brings me to mid-July.
So, realistically, if all goes well, I might try to compete in a meet in Aug. or Sept. Or just keep training and
be ready for indoors. I will probably give up the 100---which was Roger's suggestion 2 years ago---and focus on
the 400---also Roger's suggestion 2 years ago (notice a theme?), mainly because I can't use blocks anymore. If
I run a 200, it will be from a standing start. Or maybe I'll become an 800 man, who knows?
The good news is that I joined a health club that has an indoor track, lots of machines, pool, etc. such that I
am actually in better overall shape now than before the injury. I go there almost every day. So at least aerobically
and strength-wise I won't be starting from square one when I resume interval training. In the meantime, I'll come
to some meets to help out and root on the Mass Velocity crew! BTW, I have some running shoes and spikes for your
high school kids too. Hope all is well." - Bob
Segal
"Fellow Velociteers, I'm rehabbing my R Achilles and just did my
first sprint / jump workout tonight. Have to ease into this so won't be able to make a Saturday workout for 2-3
weeks. Also at indoor nationals some of us talked about getting together periodically for jump workouts so Mike
T., Brian Knowles, Brady Mayer and whoever else is interested let's figure out a time and place." - John Oleski
"Hi All, This Saturday's workout was enjoyed by Ironman Morton, Butch
Blake, Super Souppa, Chuckie Kelly, and myself. It was well organized and everyone was able to complete the workout
w/o injury. It was beneficial that we started early due to expected HHH weather predicted for later in the day
with showers possible. Some of you are recovering from injury and we hope to see you out as soon as you are able.
We would also hope to see some of our fantastic lady athletes join us @ future practices." - Cochise McBride
A warm welcome to the following NEW MEMBERS of Mass Velocity:
Carlos Freytes - Buford, GA - M50
Larry & Mass Velocity:
The Greater Framingham Running Club puts on weekly track meets, every Wednesday at 6:00 throughout the summer -
beginning Wed. June 6th
and finishing up Wed. August 8th
(although there is no meet on July 4).
The track meets cost $1
to enter per week. They are very low-key. Lots of kids run; each event starts from the youngest kids and then progresses
through high school to open. Usually Eric Bucher and I will run the 200 and/or 400, and other adults will run these
and the 800 and mile as well. I've occasionally run the 100 too. Only the winner of each race is always timed (hand-held),
but if you arrange with one of the volunteers to put a watch on you before the race, it is no problem. As I said
these meets are low key. In fact, if you are planning on running, please let me or Eric know; one or both of us
is usually around.
Here is some more info: http://www.gfrcrun.org/summertrack.htm
Directions to Bowditch Field track in Framingham: http://gfrcrun.org/calendar/locations/bowditch.htm
Arnie Pollinger,
President Greater Framingham Running Club
Monday Night All-Comer Track Meets in Buckland (off Rt 2 in WMass) for 3 bucks!
Monday nights, July 9, 16, 23 and 30 - The Bridge of Flowers, All-Ages Summer Track Series. Events start at 5:30pm. USATF Sanctioned.
Motel Rooms Booking Up Quickly
Greater
Bangor Accommodations / On-Campus Housing Info
PDF
Entry Forms and Information
I apologize for the rather short newsletter and for getting it out so late this month. I will not be competing in as many meets this summer as I usually do and therefore I need more of you to submit photos and commentary for upcoming newsletters. This will be especially important for the Outdoor Nationals. If any of you are sidelined by injury or illness, please give me shout-out so I can pass the information along to the rest of our community. If you have had an extraordinary performance, or a personal best at any meet, please be sure to notify me for inclusion in the next newsletter. I don't want the Mass Velocity Newsletter to be my personal blog. This is a newsletter for our community - by our community. Please help make it so.
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