Shipping Up to Boston
Club Running Goes the Distance
This Monday, runners from around the world toed the line to take on the Boston Marathon. The fabled race’s 126th running featured not only one of the deepest professional fields in recent memory, but a killer lineup of collegiate club athletes from across the country. Since my Boston experience consisted of watching the pro races from my parents’ couch, I figured I wasn’t the best one to tell you how the day went — so I went to the athletes themselves. Here’s what club running’s most recent Boston finishers had to say about America’s oldest marathon:
“Boston was my third marathon with my two prior marathons being much smaller. After experiencing all that the Boston Marathon had to offer, I can firmly say that Boston was not just my best marathon but my best running experience. While I was a bit off from my PR, the support on the course was just amazing! I definitely am feeling the sharp downhills and the Newton Hills in my legs three days later. But the support I felt on the course was truly memorable and had me tearing up when I turned onto Bolyston!”
— Kyle Donahue, Boston College
“My race went really well. I PRed by 7 minutes from the Detroit Marathon last fall (2:45 to 2:38). Boston was also my second marathon ever, so it’s gonna be weird running a very underwhelming race afterward because the crowds were so crazy in Boston. I’m not even too sore to be honest. I ran 5 miles the day after and it just felt like I had a hard long run the day before. Going into the race, I was thinking I was in more like 2:36 shape, but considering I train in the pancake land that is East Lansing, I wasn’t really able to get an accurate gauge. Other than that, I felt like I left it all out there and pushed myself to my utmost limit, especially considering I ended up in the medical tent afterward! I ran with an Ohio State club runner for a little bit, but then I ended up passing him on the back end of Heartbreak. Never got his name, though”
— Eric Berg, Michigan State
“Quads are SUFFERING today but it was so freaking worth it! Absolutely the most challenging and humbling course I’ve even ran (Boston does not play) but super happy with the outcome and glad I got to do it!”
— Cassie Davis, Minnesota
“My legs are down bad”
— Calvin Murrell, Kansas
Though not everyone was available for comment, there were several other club runners who trekked their way from Hopkinton to Boylston Street this Monday. Clubs from local schools like Boston College and Northeastern University each had several runners in the race. Harris Craycraft ran the fastest marathon in BCRC history (breaking his own club record, mind you), finishing in 2:31:22.
BC BQers Quinn Cunningham, Drew Sandifer, Evan Fagan also ran killer races, sending all their runners under 3 hours on Boston’s notoriously challenging course.
Northeastern University’s running club had several members in the race as well, including Vinny Castronuovo, who ran 2:27:47 to finish with one of the fastest club marathon times of the weekend.
Brendan Hehir, Alex Knueppal, David Muir, Thomas Hinds, and Matthew Petrocelli of NU also ran strong races.
Gerard Rocosz of Monmouth University made club history in Boston, becoming the first athlete in MURC history to run the race.
Athletes’ comments have been edited slightly for length and clarity.
BC Cannot Be Stopped
Just know, dear reader, how lucky you are. I had the header “Road Island” typed out and ready to go, straight to your inbox, until I thought better of it last-minute. I was ready to go out puns a-blazing (sorry, did it again), but level(ish) heads prevailed.
I digress.
At the Newport Marathon this past weekend, held in Newport, Rhode Island (get it?), BC runners reminded us that Beantown ain’t the only place to race a marathon. Ryan Muhlenberg battled intense calf pain in the last 10 miles, yet still managed to take 6th overall and set a record for the fastest debut marathon in BCRC history (2:41:04).
I asked Ryan to describe his Newport experience:
“This was a very big weekend for us with 6 marathoners running Newport and 5 running Boston, and because I knew I would most likely be our fastest runner at Newport, I wanted to set the weekend off right both for my teammates competing with me there and my teammates running Boston. Considering that this was my first marathon, I had a pretty lofty goal of running sub 6 pace. My training had gone well, and I had ran a 1:13:31 half in New Bedford 4 weeks earlier to boost my confidence. Unfortunately, I was also dealing with tendonitis in my calves, but I was hoping I’d be able to hold out for a great time.
“On the big day I went out in 6:15 for mile one before slowly working the average down to 5:47 by mile 16. I must say, that first half marathon was the best I’ve ever felt during a race. When you really commit to a marathon cycle, you really reap the rewards at the end, as I felt like I was gliding in a way I’ve never felt before. Mile 16 was when my calf tendonitis started to cause spasms though, and I found myself letting go of my time hopes and going into survival mode. While my pace fell off a lot, I still felt very happy upon finishing… it was my first marathon, and I knew it was an impressive debut. If anything, blowing up because of my calves has left a chip on my shoulder that will inspire me to do everything it takes to do something really special next year for my first Boston Marathon! The team overall had a great weekend too, with 9 guys running sub 3 and an incredible 2:31 at Boston from Harris Craycraft!
“I’m so happy that I’ve had so many great teammates to train with and compete with during this training cycle, and I would encourage anyone who ever wonders about running a marathon to give it a try. It really was a life changing experience for me, it helped me grow a lot stronger as a runner, and it’s left me feeling ready to accomplishment big things next year as a senior and leader for my favorite club in the world.”
Ryan was one of six BCRC runners to take on the Newport Marathon last weekend, and one of ten total to race a 26.2. My favorite statistic? Across both races, the BCRC mens’ team average for its 10 runners this weekend was 2:48!
The Two-Lap Terror Continues
While the roads of New England tested the endurance of club runners the nation over, raw speed still reigned supreme on the track last weekend. Out West in sunny Long Beach, California, UCLA club track had 3 athletes break 2 minutes in the 800m. Balmore Montes (1:57.89) just edged out his teammate Michael Hughs (1:58.59) in their heat, but it was Clifton Thompson two heats earlier who locked down the fastest UCLA club 800 time of the day with a 1:57.67.
Meanwhile, way down South in the state of Alabama, Heath Varmette of the Auburn Running Club ran 1:56.91 at the Berry Invite. Varmette has been a name to watch all season, but this race places him in the top 3 (non-relay) club 800m times of the outdoor season, coming up just behind Aidan McCarthy’s 1:56.33 victory at Nationals two weeks ago.
Speaking of Aidan McCarthy, the VTRC middle-distance machine returned to racing at the Dennis Craddock Invitational last Saturday. When the dust settled, he had taken third overall in the 800m, running a jaw-dropping 1:52.11. Besting his own time from Nationals (as well as his 1:54 relay split) and Ryan Dailor’s indoor 1:54.78 from February, McCarthy is now the fastest club 800m runner by over 4 seconds.
Show The World How Speedy (Within Reason) You Are
After I showed off my custom Reasonably Speedy tee on Instagram, I recieved several DMs about where such a stylish shirt might be acquired. Ask, club runners, and ye shall receive! As of today, the Reasonably Speedy merch store is live! If you find yourself compelled to pick up some RS swag, you can just that by clicking here.
One last item of note —
I had the pleasure of talking to Pitt club runner (and NIRCA 5000m bronze medalist) Jacob Montgomery for his podcast, All Things Running, yesterday. The episode should be released sometime in the next few days, but in the meantime, check out Jacob’s YouTube channel here: