With more than 110,000 miles logged that included 130+ marathons and 10+ ultra-marathons it is safe to say that running has been a big part of Tom Egan’s life.  As time has passed Tom has reflected on his experiences throughout his adventurous life including a year long stint in Vietnam during the height of the war.  Fifty years later Tom found the courage to relive his experiences in Vietnam through the stories of the courageous men and women in Al Santoli’s New York Times Bestseller Everything We Had.  Their stories were very similar to his experiences with the daily struggle to stay alive and the public hostility that accompanied the transition back to civilian life.  Join us in this episode as Tom reflects on his service in Vietnam and remarkable running journey that helped him cope with his return to civilian life.

Growing up in Peabody, MA the inseparable twins Lesley and Lisa Welch decided to join the cross country ski team in middle school.  Unbeknownst to them the meeting they attended was for the cross country running team!  Before club sports dominated middle school sports and parents were, for the most part, hands off, the twins decided to give it a shot. From that point on the twins dominated the high school, college and ultimately the pro ranks.  Join us this episode as we follow Lesley’s career and her relationship with running sage Bruce Lehane, her coach and husband throughout her journey.

Born at the notorious Sean Ross Abbey, Richard Flaherty was forcibly taken from his mother hours after birth. Good fortune smiled when he was fostered by the Mulligan family. Despite the stigma, supported by his adoptive parents while living on their rural family farm, and possessing an internal drive he first seized on his athletic gifts in football, then to running where at 17 he wore the Irish colors of the national team for the first time. Prodigious talent took young Richard Mulligan to Providence College and success, and on graduation he returned to win Irish titles on the roads, the track and cross country. While music had been a life constant, it was not until - in an understandable quest to find his roots - he discovered the musical pedigree of his father's family. Music then provided a platform to share his life story and where recently, he landed atop the Irish Country charts. 

Like many of us who started running in the 70’s and 80’s it was pure happenstance. After a stint on the west coast for college Kim Carlson Benner moved to the Boston area.  After a brief stay in Salem her sister’s apartment near the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Mass Ave in Boston on the marathon course had an opening.  Moving into the Eliot Lounge neighborhood Kim was quickly swept up by the aura of the Boston Marathon.  After watching a guy run by dressed as a canoe she thought “If he can do it I can too”.  At the time she did not realize she was taking a page out of Mimi Fallon’s playbook and entered the NYC marathon for her first race.  Her progression from that first marathon was remarkable, especially considering she continued smoking a pack a day while occasionally bumming cigarettes off the Eliot Lounge doorman.  Join us for Kim’s story of love, friendship, and her single minded focus that resulted in qualifying for the 1996 Olympic Trials marathon.

Our guest this episode is long time GBTC team member and recent author of “Two Clicks Above Mediocre:  An Athlete’s Story” Jon Berit.  Mediocre is an understatement in reference to Jon’s running resume and certainly his longevity in the sport.  For example his marathon PR of 2:29 would have placed in the top 117 finishers in the 2024 Boston Marathon which would hardly be considered mediocre by today’s standards.  Jon’s talent label was likely associated from his years at Providence College when the likes of John Treacy, Dan Dillon and Ray Treacy were just a few of the legendary runners on the team where running 25 minutes for 8K would get you a spot on the JV team.  We hope you enjoy Jon’s journey through decades of competing for the love of the sport fueled by the early influences of the running boom.

On December 3, 1995, the US Cross Country Championships were held at fabled Franklin Park.  Reuben Reina was the heavy favorite to repeat his title from the year before.  His plan was simple - stay with the leaders, unleash his signature kick and win two in a row.  Local fan favorite Brad Schlapak and Boston’s own version of Quenton Cassidy had different ideas.  Franklin Park was his domain, having raced there more than 30 times running for Narragansett Regional High School and Northeastern University.  Join us on Brad’s journey to that day in Franklin Park from his youthful aspirations to become the next “Rocky” to elite runner and master craftsman in restoring antique clocks.  

Brad Featured in the New York Times

Steeple Chase Clock

As we prepare for season four of the Runners Reunion Podcast, we thought it would be a good time to reflect on the first three seasons and the many interesting and inspiring guests that have been gracious enough to share their stories.  The Running Boom of the 70’s and 80’ was much more than a fad.  During that time, we experienced the democratization of running with women and men of all ages getting involved in the sport.  Fueled by the advent of title nine, many of our guests were breaking barriers and setting the stage for generations to come with the impressive showing at the Paris Olympics this past summer by the United States women’s and men’s teams.

There were also many iconic figures associated with the running boom including Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers.  While many of our guests may not be national household names, their stories and contributions to the sport are equally impressive and compelling.  Thank you for listening!  

Mimi Fallon’s first road race was the NYC marathon in 1989.  She entered the lottery for a number on a whim thinking it would be a long shot to be selected.  As fate would have it, she was selected and off to NYC with a 10 mile long run on her limited resume.  Remarkably, she covered the distance with an impressive time of 3:09!  Join us on her journey through the running boom years and beyond as we discuss many legendary mentors, notable track clubs and the other half of this fan favorite running family Jimmy!

Swamscott, MA native Paul Gorman had a stellar career as a professional runner during the 80’s.  His journey to the elite level during the height of the running boom, however, was far from conventional.  After dabbling in the sport in high school, he attended Providence College where the likes of Mick O’Shea, Mick Byrne and John Treacy were solidifying the continuous stream of recruits from Ireland.  After a brief stint on the team, Paul eventually left PC despite making friendships with many of his teammates.  Paul’s rise to the elite level of the sport began after leaving PC with a persistent and disciplined approach that served him well as a professional runner and as CEO of the South Shore YMCA in Massachusetts.

When Title 9 was signed into law in 1972 little did Janice Cataldo know how it would impact her life and the contributions she would make to one of the storied women’s track and cross country teams in the country.  Growing up with five sisters in a traditional italian family learning to be a good homemaker was the order of the day in the early 1970’s.  As fate would have it, a gym teacher at St. Xavier High School in Providence spotted her running talent in class during her junior year.  Janice took his advice to join the track team and quickly excelled earning All-State honors in high school and wanted to continue competing in college.  As a freshman at Providence College in 1976, however, there was not a women’s x-country or track program.  With help from Janice and the quickly changing tide that resulted from Title 9, PC fielded their first x-country team in 1977.  By the time she graduated the cross country team qualified for the national meet and the track team boasted 20 teammates.  We hope you enjoy this episode as Janice recounts her journey through the early days of Title 9, the running boom and the positive impact it has had on her personal and professional life.