Let's Run! WMass Running Podcast

Tim Gaudet talks with Rob Landry, President of the Greater Springfield Harriers. They talk about events hosted by the Harriers, including the Summer Sizzlers, Snowstorm Classics, the Walter Childs Race of Champions, the Big 4th 5K, and the Richard Childs Trail Races. Rob has completed 31 marathons, including 7 Boston Marathons, and has finished first overall in the Walter Childs Race of Champions, also known as the Holyoke Marathon, 4 times. Rob maintains a listing of Western Mass races and results on the Harriers web site, and is working to restore some of the results lost when the Cool Runnings web site was shut down.

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Tim Gaudet talks with B.J. Williams from Belchertown, who will be running in the World Marathon Challenge, an incredible test of endurance in which runners complete 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days, to raise money for Team Hoyt. B.J. is a member of Team Hoyt New England, has participated in events as a Duo Team member, and is the race director for the Hoyt 5K run and walk that will take place in Longmeadow on August 29th. Tim also provides an update of local running events.

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Tim Gaudet talks with Kevin Pfau, a familiar face in the Western Mass running community, who is a member of the Greater Springfield Harriers and is the head cross-country coach at Southwick Regional High School. Kevin is also on the board of the Western Mass Runners Hall of Fame. Tim and Kevin discuss Kevin’s coaching service, Simplified Running, as well as Kevin’s impressive running accomplishments. Tim also provides an update of local running events.

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Tim Gaudet talks with Mel Hine, who is a member of the Western Mass Distance Project. Tim and Mel discuss her numerous running accomplishments, which include 13 marathons. In 2017, Mel completed the Boston 2 Big Sur Challenge, in which she ran the Boston Marathon and Big Sur Marathon over a 2 week period, and Mel also completed the Chicago and New York City Marathons that same year. Mel created the Holiday Fun Run 5K in South Hadley in 2017. Tim also provides an update of local running events.

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Tim Gaudet talks with Mike Sheldon, who is the race director for the Westfield Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K event that will take place this September. Mike is also the race director for Gordy’s First Race, the 10K and 5K event in Westfield on New Year’s Day. Mike has completed 33 marathons, including 14 Boston Marathons. They discuss Mike’s work as a race director and his Boston Marathon experiences, as well as his cycling trips. Tim also provides an update of local running events.

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Grant Ritter is one of the founders of Impact Racing Events, which burst onto the Western Mass running scene in 2016, and now hosts 3 popular events. The Happy Valley Half Marathon at Look Park in Northampton, the Fort Hill Half Marathon in Easthampton, and the Black Birch 10 Miler in Hatfield. Tim Gaudet talks with Grant about how Impact Racing started, and they discuss Grant’s impressive running and hiking accomplishments. Tim also provides an update of local running events.

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Tim Gaudet talks with Sarah Kelly and Kat Morrissey from 18 Maple, a Sports Endurance Training group that Sarah founded, based in East Longmeadow. Sarah is also the director of endurance coaching at the Continuum Performance Center, and has completed a number of triathlons including the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. Kat is a running coach at 18 Maple and has been the first female finisher at a number of races. Tim also provides a rundown of local running events.

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Tim Gaudet talks with Don and Sue Grant, who are well known for creating and hosting the 5K cross-country race at the Northampton Community Gardens. This race has been run on Tuesday nights since 1986. Don and Sue are long-time members of the Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club and were inducted into the Western Mass Runners Hall of Fame in 2020. Tim also provides an update of local running events.

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Half marathons are the second most popular race distance in the US, behind the 5K. Tim Gaudet talks with Meridith Masloski, who has run 84 half marathons since 2014 and has a goal to complete her 100th half marathon on Mother’s Day 2022. Meridith has also run 8 full marathons. Tim provides a rundown of local running events.

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Dr. Tara Futrell specializes in sports and exercise medicine at Baystate Health Medical Practices with offices in both Northampton and Greenfield. Dr. Futrell is the head physician for the Springfield Thunderbirds hockey team, and has worked in the medical tent at the Boston Marathon. Tim Gaudet talks with Dr. Futrell about typical running injuries, how they are treated, and how they can be avoided. Tim also provides a rundown of local running events.

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