​June 24, 2018, Glen Ridge, NJ: Shore AC harriers savor their accomplishments at the Lager 5K race. Front row, L-R: Antonio Meza Soriano, Rob Neugass and Amanda Eller. Middle row, L-R: Jan Stofan, John Kuhi, Lindsay Ritchings and Jamie Reuter. Rear row,
Race Date:  June 24, 2018           Results from CompuScore

SHORE AC TEAM RESULTS:
OPEN WOMEN:
  2     SHORE AC "A" OPEN WOM          1:33:39.23 AVERAGE:  18:43.85
  62.Lindsay Ritchings  New York,NY     30 F 336      U  675   17:55.12*
  70.Brianna Feerst     Brick,NJ        24 F 336      U  251   18:05.41*
  93.Jamie Reuter       Leonardo,NJ     32 F 336         669   18:40.47*
  96.Amanda Eller       Delmont,NJ      27 F 336      U  239   18:45.53*
 164.Kellee Mcewen      Howell,NJ       30 F 336      U  512   20:12.70*
 403.Kendal Hand        Howell,NJ       24 F 336      U  329   24:48.81

​OPEN MEN:
  9     SHORE AC "A" OPEN MEN          1:29:05.00 AVERAGE:  17:49.00
   2.Justin Scheid      Succasunna,NJ   32 M 36       U  728   15:22.62*
  59.Antonio M. Soriano Red Bank,NJ     34 M 36       U  536   17:45.68*
  65.Jan Stofan         Englishtown,NJ  46 M 36       U  788   17:56.94*
 105.Terry Lusardi      Madison,NJ      54 M 36       U  965   18:55.75*
 109.Robert Skorupski   Rockaway,NJ     45 M 36       U  760   19:04.01*
 136.Reno Stirrat       Rockaway,NJ     64 M 36       U  786   19:40.05
24     SHORE AC "B" OPEN MEN          1:55:55.61 AVERAGE:  23:11.12
 132.Timothy Mcqueen    Ogdensburg,NJ   46 M 37       U  523   19:33.06*
 241.Emmanuel Brody     Roselle,NJ      66 M 37       U 1048   21:51.99*
 275.Przemek Nowicki    Holmdel,NJ      73 M 37       U  579   22:25.95*
 296.Rob Neugass        Marlboro,NJ     57 M 37       U  569   22:43.92*
 668.John Kuhi          Oakhurst,NJ     74 M 37       U  424   29:20.69*
 705.Dennis Tardio      Bradley Bch,NJ  65 M 37       U  806   30:05.80

June 24, 2018, Glen Ridge, NJ: Emmanuel Brody toasts to his 65-69 age group victory with blessings from his wife Edith.
​
Shore AC Ladies Spice Up Lager 5K
Like beer streaming out of open keg taps, runners flowed fast across the finish line at the Lager Run 5K on June 24.  After all, this race served as the USATF-New Jersey team championships for the men’s and women’s open categories.  The teeming hordes of colorfully clad harriers included an impressive 34 men’s teams and 23 women’s teams.  Within this mass, Shore AC partisans could spot 2 men’s open teams and 1 women’s open team sporting their classic navy blue singlets.

WOMEN’S OPEN:
Though few in number, Shore AC ladies attracted lots of attention!  They battled the much more numerous and perennially talented Garden State Track Club for top team honors.  Shore AC supporters were hoping for a repeat of the 10K championships at Newport earlier this year, where the SAC women’s team won, in part because Garden State split their top talent between their A and B teams.  But Garden State had obviously learned their lesson and instead concentrated their premier speedsters on the A team at Lager.  The Shore AC lady rockets had to settle for second place this time --  despite a scorching average of 18:43 per runner!
Former Point Pleasant Beach High School standout Lindsay Ritchings led the charge for Shore AC.  Lindsay fulfilled her pre-race challenge of running under 18:00 by crossing the finish line in a phenomenal 17:55.  Hot on her heels came another Point Pleasant Beach star alumna: Brianna Feerst, registering a superb 18:05 as our number two lady.  The hit parade continued when former Middletown South High School sensation Jamie Reuter (nee Liberti), in her Shore AC debut, ripped a terrific 18:40 as third team scorer.  Welcome, Jamie!  In the blink of an eye, Shore AC’s fourth scorer, high school track coach Amanda Eller, showed her students how it's done by dashing past the clock in a blazing 18:45.  SAC veteran and former Howell High School heroine KelleeMcEwen (nee Hand) cemented the team’s silver medal when she sprinted home in 20:12 to complete team scoring.  Younger sister Kendal Hand served as the squad’s all-important insurance runner with a solid 24:48 performance.  Congratulations, ladies!!!

​MEN’S OPEN:
Shore AC assembled two high-spirited teams for the Lager 5K.  Neither had expectations for high placement.  However, the A team did manage to crack the top 10.  They finsihed in ninth place, thanks to a tour de force performance by the incomparable Justin Scheid.  Justin seared the pavement with an incredible time of 15:22.  Folks, that equates to an average pace of 4:56 per mile.  Can you say, "WOW!!!???"  More than 2 minutes later, but still with a superb time, our second man Antonio Meza Sorianocrossed in 17:45.  Shore AC fans barely had time to catch their breath before rookie phenomenon Jan Stofan flew down the finishing chute in 17:56.  Our fourth place gentleman, Terry Lusardi, rose to the occasion by contributing a solid 18:55.  Teammate Bob Skorupski wrapped up team scoring when he tripped the timing system in 19:04.  National age-60+ sensation Reno Stirrat provided high-powered backup with his 19:40 measurement.  Knowledgable readers might be asking, what happened to Reno?  Painful side stiches compelled him to walk at 2.5 miles.  Hey, it happens to the best!
Great perfomances highlighted Shore AC's men's open B team.  Prized rookie Tim McQueen celebrated the participation of his wife and children in the race by spearheading his team in 19:33.  Notching the number two spot was the indomitable road warrior Emmanuel Brody.  Manny rallied his taped-up body to another 65-69 age group victory, this time in a laudable 21:51.  Next across for the B team was the 70-74 age group champion, none other than the great Przemek Nowicki.  His 22:25 signaled another positive milestone in Przemek's return to high-level competition.  Encouraging news kept on coming when Rob Neugasstriggered the clock in 22:43.  Rob keeps chopping off time as he rehabilitates hamstring, ankle and foot.  Team scoring came to a close when Coach John Kuhi sailed triumphantly into port well below 30 minutes in 29:20.  Knee pain does not sideline this stalwart!  Finally, our honorary Captain of the Z team, the delightful Dennis Tardio, clanged the bell in 30:05 to add team insurance.  Well done, team!

Individual Accomplishments:
Like always, Shore AC athletes garnered glory for the club and themselves by placing high in individual competition.
One Shore AC athlete achieved fame by placing among the top 10 overall.

• Justin Scheid:  2nd  MOverall:  15:22;  85.10% 5th M AG!!!
• Lindsay Ritchings:  6th FOverall:  17:55;  82.34% 10th F AG
• Brianna Feerst:  7th FOverall:  18:05;  81.58%

Several SAC members scaled the podium in the hotly contested age group competitions.

• Maya McQueen:  3rd  F9-12:  25:44;  64.02 (family)
• Jan Stofan:  3rd  M45-49:  17:56;  79.76%
• Terry Lusardi:  3rd  M50-54:  18:55;  80.36%
• Reno Stirrat:  2nd  M60-64:  19:40;  83.89%
• Emmanuel Brody:  1st M65-69:  21:51;  76.82%
• Przemek Nowicki:  1st M70-74:  22:25;  80.98%

​Numerous other Shore AC stars distinguished themselves by placing in the top 10 in their age groups.  Three cheers to these hard-working harriers!

• Matt McQueen:  7th  M9-12:  31:15;  52.02% (family)
• Amanda Eller:  4th  F20-29:  18:45;  78.69%
• Jamie Reuter:  5th  F30-39:  18:40;  79.12%
• Kellee McEwen:  9th  F30-39:  20:12;  73.04%
• Necia McQueen:  6th  F40-44:  23:31;  66.2% (family)
• Robert Skorupski:  7th  M45-49:  19:04; 74.47%
• Timothy McQueen:  9th  M45-49:  19:33; 73.17%
• John Kuhi:  5th  M70-74:  29:20; 62.84%​​

Race Date:  June 3, 2018           Results from USATF
SHORE AC TEAM RESULTS:
60+ MEN:
  2.    Shore Athletic Club A    4:35:11
============================================================
  1     RENO STIRRAT             64   1:26:44
  2     KEVIN DOLLARD            62   1:31:07
  3     SCOTT LINNELL            61   1:37:22
 (4)    PRZEMEK NOWICKI          73  (1:49:22)

SHORE AC INDIVIDUAL RESULT:​

        SUSAN STIRRAT            62   1:58:08

Ann Arbor Half Marathon: The Right Stuff​

Save the day against all odds: it's what heroes do.  Picture Tom Hanks in "Apollo 13".  Fate punches him and his crew in the gut, but he stays calm and pulls the team through.
Something similar happened with Shore AC's men's 60+ team at the USATF National Masters Half Marathon competition in Ann Arbor.  Key team memberKevin Dollard came down with a sudden gastrointestinal pain six days before the race.  The searing agony almost compelled him to stay home and not attend the race.  But with expert medical care, his condition stabilized enough that, by race day, the pain was gone.  Quite remarkably, there he was standing on the starting line.  And guess what?  Our hero ran a magnificent race!
Yet it would take much more than Kevins's 1:31:07 result to counter the efforts of the other outstanding teams in the men's 60+ category, namely Boulder, Ann Arbor and Genesee Valley.  Well, uh, correction: there was no countering Boulder.  That team is absolutely loaded with unbelievable talent.  They took first place by a mile.  But, as assessed by USATF Running Professor Paul Carlin, the other three teams were evenly matched, and it would be anyone's guess which would take second place behind Boulder.
Enter Shore AC superman Reno Stirrat.  Determined to fulfill his team front-runner role with fortitude and keep Ann Arbor's #1 guy Michael Young in sight, Reno pounded out a scorching 6:32 per mile average to cross in 1:26:44.  This heroic achievement put Reno 11th on the age grading list in this tremendously loaded national race.  Superb!
But a team's score is determined by its top three men, not its top two men.  It was estimated that Shore AC's #3 crewmate, Scott Linnell, had to deliver better than a 1:40:00 performance for Shore AC to vie for second place.  Scott started decently with a 7:00 per mile pace through 3 miles.  However, fatigue gradually overtook his body.  By Mile 9, Scott had slowed to a 7:45 pace.  Scott knew that such a pace wouldn't cut it.  There wasn't much energy left in his body, but Scott re-focused all of his remaining vim on picking up the pace.  It worked.  Scott's final time of 1:37:22 got the job done.
Septuagenarian Przemek Nowicki served as back-up runner for the M60+ team.  Przemek notched a solid 1:49:22 to improve on the 1:50:xx clocking that he recorded at the Polish National Half Marathon competition in mid-May.  Well done, Przemek!
Running individually in the Half Marathon, Susan Stirrat happily dipped under 2 hours with a 1:58:08 finish.  Brava, Susan!
This article would not be complete without recognizing another one of our heroes: Kevin's wife Denise.  We call her our "team mom" and for good reason.  Dee collected our warm-up clothes before the race, drove to two spectator points along the race route to cheer us on, and was waiting for us at the finish line with a bright smile that brought sunshine on a cloudy day.  Dee even researched restaurants and made reservations.  Thank you, Team Mom!!!
This article will be updated with age grading information when it becomes available.

Did you know Global Running Day is this Wednesday, June 6th? The day serves as "a worldwide celebration of running that encourages everyone to get moving. It doesn’t matter how fast you run or how far you go—what’s important is that you take part, and how you do it is up to you. Run a lap around your block, take your dog for a long walk, or call your friends for a pick-up game in the park. The important thing is that you have fun being active—and you inspire others to join you.”

Shore AC is registered on the official Global Running Day website. If you would like to help celebrate our amazing sport, make a pledge to help us reach our goal of 100 miles! Follow the link to sign up for free: globalrunningday.org/2b7pdx8

Happy running!

Fellow club members celebrated today’s royal wedding in their own special way: competing in a USATF-NJ team championship race in London-like drizzle.  (How ironic that perfectly blue skies graced Londontown.)  Read all about the splashy results here.
 
Next up in the 2018 USATF-NJ Club/Team Grand Prix is the Ridgewood 10K on Memorial Day – Monday, May 28.  Details appear below.  SAC MASTERS LADIES: regretfully we had no teams at today’s Our House 4-mile race.  Let’s make up for it with a MASSIVE SAC ATTACK at Ridgewood!!!

• Monday, May 28, 8:20 am: USATF-NJ Ridgewood 10K, Ridgewood, NJ: Masters Men & Women
  • Race web site here.
  • Registration here.  $27 for USATF members.  On-line registration ends 5/23 at 11:59 pm.
  • Participant listing here.
  • 10K course map here.

 
SAC Open Runners:
 
Your next USATF-NJ Team Championship race will be the Lager Run 5K on Sunday, June 24.  Our goal is to enter two men’s teams and two women’s teams.  Mark your calendars now!  Here are details:

• Sunday, June 24, 6:15 pm: USATF-NJ Lager Run 5K, Glen Ridge, NJ: Open Men & Women
  • On-line registration here.  $27 for USATF members.  Price increases 6/15.
  • Paper registration here.
  • Participant listing here.
  • Course map and video here here.

 
GOOOOOOOOOOO SHORE AC!!!!!

​Shore AC Results for the 2018 USATF-NJ Newport 10K Race in Jersey City, NJ
May 5, 2018, Jersey City, NJ: Members of the victorious Shore AC women's open team beam with pride, while supporting cast men share in the joy. Front L-R: Lindsay Ritchings, Kellee McEwen and Kendal Hand. Rear L-R: Tim McQueen, Justin Scheid, Bob Skorup.

Race Date:  May 5, 2018           
Results from CompuScore

SHORE AC TEAM RESULTS:

OPEN WOMEN:

  1.   SHORE AC "A" OPEN WOM          3:23:02.70 AVERAGE:    40:36.54
  29.  Amanda Marino       Asbury Park,NJ   28 F 336    U   28     35:00.41*
  68.  Lindsay Ritchings    New York,NY       29 F 336    U 1384   38:47.52*
  91.  Ashley Hart             Jersey City,NJ     30 F 336    U  669    40:36.32*
 113 .Kellee Mcewen       Howell,NJ            30 F 336    U 1058   41:56.53*
 208. Jayne Condon        Wall,NJ               30 F 336    U  354    46:41.92*
 222. Kendal Hand          Howell,NJ            24 F 336    U 1843   47:15.47
 374. Laura Donnelly       Princeton Jct,NJ   52 F 336    U 1888   50:48.11

OPEN MEN:

  7    SHORE AC "A" OPEN MEN          3:21:02.30 AVERAGE:  40:12.46
  23.   Justin Scheid  Succasunna,NJ    32 M 36     U 1471   34:05.42*
  67.   Robert Skorupski   Rockaway,NJ     45 M 36     U 1558   38:44.14*
 106.  Timothy Mcqueen    Ogdensburg,NJ   46 M 36     U 1069   41:30.39*
 138.  Donald Schwartz    Manalapan,NJ   57 M 36       1478   43:20.33*
 139.  Scott Linnell      Colts Neck,NJ    61 M 36     U  962   43:22.02*
 292.  Mike Washakowski   Monmouth Bch,NJ  66 M 36     U 1737   49:06.30
1543. Eliot Collins      Raritan,NJ       66 M 36     U  351 1:19:39.33

Shore AC Women Sail to Victory at Newport 10K

Excitement lit the faces of the Shore AC ladies as they prepared for the third USATF-NJ team championship race of 2018: the Newport 10K in Jersey City. Was it the cool breeze that buffeted the waterfront?  The dynamism of a revitalized metropolis?  The prospect of post-race beer on Cinqo De Mayo?  Whatever motivated them, it filled their sails and drove them through the concrete canyons with foam seemingly spraying from their blazing shoes.  In fact, these outstanding gals sped down the streets so fast that they won the team championship!

Their victory did not come easily.  The Shore AC ladies edged out a superb crew from Garden State Track Club by a mere 4 seconds!  Leading the SAC armada was Villanova and Jackson Memorial star Amanda Marino.  She shredded the 6-mile course in a jaw-dropping 35:00.  Point Pleasant Beach star Lindsay Ritchings deftly rode the waves in Amanda's wake, surfing to a superb 38:47 as sencond team scorer.  The third team slot was filled by a newcomer to USATF-NJ team championship racing: Ashley Hart.  Well-known to attendees of the yearly Shore AC Cross Country Series, Ashley debuted on the state-level stage with a heart-pounding 40:36.  Fourth across the finish line was SAC veteran Kellee McEwen.  She returned to action with a magnificent 41:56 -- all the more remarkable considering this was her first team championship race after a matriachal sabbatical from running.  Team scoring wrapped up when Jayne Condon jolted the clock in 46:41.  Jayne's performance was no doubt enhanced by the brand new running shoes that she had purchased at Target 30 minutes before the start of the race!  Former Shore AC summer intern Kendal Hand(47:15) and ubiquitous Shore AC masters competitor Laura Donnelly (50:48) provided all-important insurance.  CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES!!!

I think, therefore I am.

I think about running, therefore I am a runner.

If you’ve thought about the word “running” beyond its primitive role of “running away from something,” you are, indeed, a runner. Your own objective for being a runner is insignificant, for you decidedly chose running over all the other -ings. 

For the travel-on-foot type, what makes running more than just any other old verb?

It is not a comfortable endeavor, at least in the true sense of the word. Sure, one day’s mileage can feel more comfortable than another’s, but running is by no means a cozy evening by the fireplace, warm mug of herbal tea in hand. If it is not comfort we seek, then some other form of pleasure must be at stake. Is it the satisfaction of overcoming a competitor at the finish line? Is it the sinewy, toned reflection in the mirror, the stellar vital signs? Is it the “feeling of euphoria coupled with reduced anxiety and a lessened ability to feel pain,” more commonly known as runner’s high?

Regardless, the thread that weaves us all, whether one runs a 40-minute or a 20-minute 5k, is the complex understanding of comfort--the foresight to know that what is uncomfortable in one context is actually comfortable in another, the fortitude to persevere through discomfort in order to enhance one’s comfort thereafter.

No matter the duration of time between the start and finish line, every runner fights the same battles. Your relative success depends on your courage, resolve, and strength of character--in simple terms, your ability to grit it out. How do you improve your ability to grit it out? You practice being gritty. How do you become gritty? You tell yourself things.

-----------

On a recent weekday, I headed over to the track at 6:00am to complete a 8x600m speed-endurance workout. While packing for work the night before, I concocted a half dozen different ways to perceive the workout to make it seem easier in my mind. Put simply, I told myself things.

It’s just running fast for two minutes, then getting a break!

If I think about it as 2 sets of 4, or 4 sets of 2, it’s basically not even a workout!

It’s really just an easy run with some spurts of faster running!

I’ll finish before I would’ve normally woken up--not even a dent in my day!

I ate extra dessert last night--I have so much energy to spare!

In the grand scheme, I won’t even remember this workout!

Whimsical in nature, the things I told myself were somewhat therapeutic; they masked the things I could have told myself that would have brought worry instead of relief. 

Upon my arrival, I threw my hair into a high bun, tightened my shoelaces, and promptly began my warm up jog. Within minutes, I knew it was going to be a “grit it out” kind of day. 

There will always be times when discomfort is not as easily conquered, and that is when the things we tell ourselves are better left short and sweet.

Warm up done.

Water. Workout flats. Strides. High knees. A few quick stretches. Go.

Legs heavy. Run through it. Eyes on the finish. You’ll get a break. Zone out. Grit it out. Repeat.

------

Approaching the finish line of a hard workout or race is the definition of bliss; it is the moment you realize you have won the battle against discomfort. That very moment, that feeling, that sense of accomplishment--that is why you are a runner. But this version of success does not come easily. In order to get there, you have to grit it out. You have to tell yourself things. There is just no other way.

What will you tell yourself today?


Written by Amanda Marino