Flavio De Simone and Glen Mays en route to a 1-2 finish in the M50 age group at the Equinox Half Marathon.
The Boulder Road Runners are having great success in races this spring. Representing the club at the USATF Masters Grand Prix points, to world-class track meets, to the local 4k and back to Boston! Let’s celebrate our club members’ achievements.
USATF 10-Mile Masters Championships
By Doug Bell
It was near-perfect weather for the USATF Masters Grand Prix 10-mile Champs in Sacramento, CA, as well as a great day for the BRR men’s teams: The M70s team took the crown, and the M60s team placed 2nd. Several team members also made the individual podium:
Roger Sayre – 1st, 1:01.13 (M65)
Jack Pottle – 2nd, 1:07.24 (M65)
Doug Chesnut – 1st, 1:10.40 (M70)
Doug Bell – 3rd, 1:16.57 (M70)
Gary Ostwald – 1st, 1:17.34 (M75)
Both Chesnut and Ostwald ran incredibly, winning their age groups. I believe they both recorded their highest age-graded scores ever – both over 84%. Chesnut went out at 7-minute mile pace and never slowed down. Ostwald drafted off Atlanta Track runner Dave Glass for about five miles and then dropped him. Our mindset was different going into this race for various reasons. Yet we still had to race very well to get the victory.
Often the best times are after the race. For me it was eating huge delicious burgers with Adam, Jack, Gary, and Douglas right after the award ceremony. So much fun sharing tidbits about our races and other things going on in our lives.
Men’s 70’s team took the top podium position at the USATF Masters10 Mile Champs
Men’s 60+ took 2nd overall at the USATF Masters10 Mile Champs (L-R) Gary Ostwald, Jan Frisby, Jack Pottle, Doug Bell, Doug Chesnut, Roger Sayre, Adam Feerst.
Lucky Leprechaun 4k
By Marcey Cote
Festive green outfits, a live band, Irish dancers, beer, burritos, and social time with run peeps… what more could you want? The St. Patrick’s Day race at Avery Brewing (put on by Lee Troop) was, indeed, a good time. Lots of BRR members ran, and many made the podium:
Flavio De Simone – Top age-graded male, 2nd Master (M50)
Marcey Cote – 1st AG, 2nd Master (W50)
Paul Moeller – 1st AG (M50)
Chris McDonald – 2nd AG (M50)
Ellen Rich – 2nd AG (W65)
Sara Cohen – 3rd AG (W65)
Lynn Hermanson – 1st AG (W70)
Nancy Antos – 3rd AG (W70)
Linda Yarr – 1st AG (W75)
Tom LeMire – 1st AG (M75)
Rich Castro – 2nd AG (M75)
Don Hayes – 3rd AG (M90)
Boulder Road Runners took on the Lucky Leprechaun 4k at Avery Brewing Company. Photo courtesy of Alistair Norcross.
M50s Team Shows Versatility
By Chris McDonald
To kick off a couple of months of various races around the country, Todd Straka (M55) and Chris McDonald (M50) represented the Club at USATF Masters Indoor National Championships in Louisville, KY in March, each earning a silver and bronze. Straka ran 4:34 to earn silver in the 1500m, and 2:12.3 for bronze in the 800m. McDonald ran 9:57.5 for bronze in the 3,000m, and 2:12.2 for silver in the 800m.
Todd Straka and Chris McDonald looking strong at the Masters Indoor Nationals in March.
The BRR M50 team members covered all the disciplines well in April. John Borthwick won the M55 road mile championship Thursday night at the Grand Blue Mile in 5:12 and returned Friday night to run the 800m in 2:18 at the Drake Relays. While McDonald ran a 4:56 for a mile on the track at the Arcadia Invitational. Chris Grauch took to the trails winning two USA Mountain Running titles in Mount Sunapee, NH. Meanwhile, Charles Trujillo raced well at the USATF Duathlon Championships and Flavio De Simone won three half-marathon and one marathon title in just 10 weeks including the Equinox Half Marathon (late March) in Fort Collins where he ran with Glen Mays where they finished 1-2 in the Men’s 50+ age group.
John Borthwick is all smiles after back-to-back performances in the Grand Blue Mile (M55 road mile champion!) and the Drake Relays (800m).
Worlds Masters Indoor Championships
By Todd Straka
In March, I traveled to Torun Poland, the gingerbread capital of the world, to compete in my first Indoor Worlds Masters competition and my first trip back to Europe since I was 18 years old. I was fortunate enough to be traveling with three other U.S. teammates who knew the ropes, so we made our way around town like locals, taking to the shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions. I took in as much of the sights as possible – from the woods on the edge of the city, to a wild mix of classic European churches, castles, and walled-in cities, to quaint neighborhoods with a mix of Soviet-era style apartment buildings scattered throughout.
While I didn’t make it to the finals in either the 800m or the 1500m events, it was an experience like no other. Lining up wearing the Team USA uniform with the best in the world, ready to be competitive on the track, while brothers-in-arms off the track. It was exciting: from the world-class treatment with our own trainers to the announcer on the speakers to the cameras that panned to each face as they introduced the runners before each race while streaming to the live YouTube channel. I cheered on Team USA during many events and even got an opportunity to be on the inside of the track for the men’s and women’s 800m finals to capture the human emotional moments, as well as witness quite a few new World and American records being set.
Overall, the entire Worlds experience was humbling, inspiring, and one of the coolest events I’ve ever been a part of.
Todd Straka (center) amidst international competitors and friends at Indoor Worlds in Poland.
Boston Marathon
A handful of BRRs traveled to Beantown for the revered race, and had much success:
Anthony Bruns – 2nd AG, 2:23 (M40)
Glen Mays – 2:53 (M50)
Allyson Serrao – 2nd AG, 3:12 (W55) – lifetime PR!
Scott Boylan – 3:47 (M65)
Mike Wien – 4:11 (M70) – after rotator cuff surgery
Allison Serrao scores a marathon PR in Boston
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