Mar/Apr 2012 - Level Renner

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Featured Race Gansett Marathon nice course that I felt was fairly fast.” When asked to elaborate, he was able to quickly respond, “Faster than Boston.” Dr. Tammaro later went on to emphasize that he did not form his race as an intentional slight against, or to compete with, the world’s oldest annual marathon. “I just really like smaller marathons. Take one of my favorite marathons, Holyoke, [Walter Childs Memorial Race of Champions Marathon] for example. When you get passed by another runner there, it’s a big deal because a person can still count ‘OK, I’m in 4 th place. Now I’m in 5 th place, etc.’ At Boston, it’s more like, ‘Now I’m in 434 th place.’ Who cares?” Although Gansett is not about outdoing the big one in Beantown, there is still a rather obvious, highly competitive nature here. Plus, one can’t help but wonder why Tammaro chose to hold his race the Satur- day before Boston each year. After the success of its inaugural year and its April calendar slot firmly in place, Gansett organizers immediately turned their attention to improving the race. "We thought about it and decided to make this even more of an NRA event and hold it in Narragansett,” he said. The seaside community was receptive to the running club’s proposition and suddenly the race had changed. The USTAF certified Gansett course became, and still is, a unique partial double loop, with a good deal of it running along the ocean and nearby salt pond/marsh area (see map). When asked about the challenge of designing a new route all over again from scratch, Tammaro chuckled, “How do you plan a run the distance from here to Providence without going up at least one big hill?” All modesty aside, a study of the map’s elevation data shows that he has managed to do just that. Further scrutiny reveals that although it is a small race, still in its infancy, the Gansett starting field tripled last year (58 in ‘10 vs 162 in ‘11) and should continue to grow annually. Its demographic makeup is also surprisingly more diverse than one would expect. I mistakenly assumed that a small race in a small town in the smallest state would logically be comprised mainly of Ro’ d’islandaz (“chowdah and clamcakes” accent implied here). However, a look at both years’ results shows this most certainly is NOT be the case. “We’ve had people from all over the place run here,” Tammaro said at one point, his eyes lighting up as he listed locales scattered across the U.S. as Images from gansettmarathon.com 8
Featured Race Gansett Marathon well as Sweden, Korea, and British Columbia. “Marathon Maniacs and 50 States Marathon Club are two groups in particular that contact me frequently about registering for the race.” With interest and excitement mounting, perhaps the sky is the limit here. Yet, despite continual hopes for expansion, Gansett’s director, who happens to be a 70 mile per week runner himself, did admit wanting to eventually cap his race’s field somewhere around 800 participants. In sticking with the qualifier only, limited field concept, when I pressed about whether or not he will also lower Gansett’s qualifications by five minutes per age group every time Boston does, Tammaro did not mince words. “Absolutely,” he responded with zero hesitation. Clearly, a man who feels that “if you give a little flex, somebody will ask you to flex a little more” knows where he stands. The rules are 10th Annual Joseph & Rose Gilio Memorial 5k Road Race/Walk Saturday, May 26, 2012 9:00 AM 8:45 am 75 Yard Kids Fun Run (Free) Saint Timothy’s Church 650 Nichols Street Norwood, MA Proceeds to benefit Saint Timothy’s Social Outreach Program Cash Prizes! Professionally Timed! Free T-shirt and High Performance New Balance Socks to the first 150 applicants 1 st , 2 nd ,& 3 rd Place Prizes in each Age Group Category Course Records: Kevin Gray15:55 & Emily Logan17:43 Race Day Registration is Available! Worth a look www.distance-running-tips.com clear cut and apply to everyone. “If the President of the United States called us up and said he wanted to race Gansett we’d have to tell him no. Sorry, but you didn’t qualify,” Tammaro declared with a wry smile. Imagine telling the Commander-in-Chief to step up or stay away. Without a doubt, Gansett is a runner’s race. It’s a no frills, zero pomp and circumstance affair. You won’t find rock n’ roll bands serenading you at mile markers, nor are there gimmick costumes or gags. In fact, finishers don’t even receive a medal (an embroidered finisher’s patch is provided at the finish line along with the customary Gansett Marathon T-shirt). This only further reiterates the spirit of the event. The satisfaction of earning your way into a coveted spot in a quality race and running your tail off is all the incentive a serious runner needs. As we drained our pint glasses and the interview came to a close, I managed to sneak in one final question, “Suppose I’ve recently run a BQ and I’m looking for a marathon to run. What would you say in order to convince me to run your race?” Tammaro’s response was simple and sincere. That impish grin showed itself again as he held both arms out to his sides and in a casual manner said, “You wanna run a real qualifier? Come run Gansett.” Get in where you fit in, boys and girls. You know you want to do it. If Muddy has piqued your interest, more information can be found at http:// www.gansettmarathon.com. Gansett is fast approaching and is now accepting registration applications for the April battle. 9
Page 1: Under this Ground… New Balance Gr
Page 4 and 5: Editor’s Note Let’s start with
Page 6 and 7: Lane 2: Nutrition A Healthy Dish on
Page 11 and 12: A Day in the Life of Robert Ciprian
Page 13 and 14: Blake Russell The Elites in the hea
Page 15 and 16: Side by Side Reno Stirrat Photo by
Page 17 and 18: The Dossier Files: Becky Hutchinson
Page 19 and 20: Greg Hammett at the 2010 Bay State
Page 21 and 22: Q and A w/ Greg Hammett The (Semi)E
Page 23 and 24: Lane 3: Commentary Get the Most for
Page 25 and 26: Lane 3: Commentary Deconditioning b
Page 27 and 28: Lane 3 Commentary Olympic Trials De
Page 29 and 30: New Balance Grand Prix New Balance
Page 31 and 32: New Balance Grand Prix they pushed
Page 33 and 34: Continued from page 25 therapy (PT)
Page 35: Rat Re-Issues 1998 Stu’s 30K woul

Mar/Apr 2012 - Level Renner

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