NEW NL: March 2002

Winter, we hardly knew ye

One more indoor competition remains on our calendar for this season -- the National Masters Track and Field 3K Championships on Sunday, March 24, at the Reggie Lewis center in Boston. Those who have yet to sign up should contact the New England Track and Field office at 617-566-7600 or obtain an application form at www.usatfne.org.

Volunteers are needed to count laps, tabulate results and otherwise coordinate activities for the racewalks. If you can lend a hand, please contact Justin Kuo at 617-731-9889. Those who can help with other events should call the New England Track and Field office at 617-566-7600.

After that, we move outdoors. Year Four of the popular 5-kilometer races in Danehy Park in Cambridge, MA, begins on Sunday, April 14. The races are judged but no one is disqualified; the judges offer encouragement and useful advice. Further details are in our race calendar.

Our first outdoor Grand Prix event, the Clamdigger 5-miler, will be held Sunday, April 21, in Westerly, RI. An entry form is on the back page of this newsletter.

A dream come true
By Stan Sosnowski

The year was 1995, the place was Epcot's world showcase lagoon and the event was the U.S. women's world cup trials. On that January day a dream was born, when we saw our 1st Mousecar. Both Sheila and I fell in love with the little mouse right on the spot. But knew we would never own one.

The next time we saw a Mousecar was 1998 at the award ceremony of our 1st marathon. Neither Sheila nor I had placed very high but a good friend of ours had won the overall racewalk, so we got to touch and have a close look at Mickey. That's when we made up our minds to win a Mousecar.

1999 was the year to try for that Mousecar. But the coveted prize remained out of reach despite all our training and improved times. The next two years became Donald years (the half marathon has Donald Duck on the medals) partly due to injuries and lack of training time to devote to the full marathon.

But 2002 saw a new determination which led to a well- planned attack on the elusive mouse. Once the training was done my confidence slowly began to fade. The closer to race day I got, the more worried I became. Did I train too much or not enough, am I eating the right foods, will my back give out or my foot fall apart? Then we went to the Friday night encounter where the whole group had so much fun and everybody was very supportive. After that I relaxed a little.

Sunday morning 6 A.M., time to wish upon a star and make a dream come true. I went out a little too fast, then cut my pace back to my planned race. The first half went by a little ahead of schedule. Then the pain set in along with a cold downpour, which left me with leg cramps. After stopping twice to rub out the cramps, I slowly picked up the pace again until I saw Space Ship Earth. That's when I made my final push and crossed the finish line within 31 seconds of my 4:40 goal.

I spent a long Sunday night and Monday morning wondering where I stood in the finishing order. At the award ceremony Sheila was the brave one who went over to the wall and read the racewalk results. She came running back screaming "We did it, we won our Mickeys." I will never forget the look on Sheila's face while she was screaming "Our dream has come true." She was half crying and half laughing while riding a big high.

We are still in disbelief fearing Disney will call us up and ask for the Mousecars back. Sorry to have talked so long but I'm still not back to reality yet. Sheila says we can retire now because we have reached our biggest goal.

-- Stan the Mousecar man.

Race results

US Indoor championships - New York, March 2. A great performance and another national title for Joanne.

Women's 3,000 meter racewalk
1.	Joanne Dow	adidas	13:05.72
2.	Amber Antonia	UW Parkside	13:16.70
3.	Susan Armenta	Team New Balance	13:31.51
4.	Jill Zenner	Team New Balance	13:44.07
5.	Anne Favolise	UW Parkside	14:00.89
6.	Robyn Stevens	UW Parkside	14:11.51

New England 3K championship - Jan. 17, Harvard University Track. Quite a fast crowd. Both Joanne and Marcia qualified for the national indoor championships with their showings. Great performances by the men of Maine as well.

Women's 3,000 meter racewalk
1.	Joanne Dow (37)	adidas	13:11.46
2.	Marcia Gutsche (40)	Cambridge Sports Union	14:09.91
3.	Jasmine Brooks (16)	Maine Race Walkers	15:13
4.	Maryanne Torrellas (43)	Conn Race Walkers	16:05.98
5.	Lee Chase (48)	Conn Race Walkers	16:30.20
6.	Chris Anderson (48)	Liberty AC	17:21.49
7.	Maddy O'Brien (17)	Maine Race Walkers	20:17.44
8.	Lana Kane (62)	Shore AC	20:29.14
Men's 3,000 meter racewalk
1.	Kevin Eastler	Maine Race Walkers	12:43.43
2.	Adam Staier (18)	Maine Race Walkers	13:46.39
3.	Mark Dennett (16)	Maine Race Walkers	14:51.32
4.	Jeremy Martin (18)	Maine Race Walkers	14:51.55
5.	Joe Light (54)	New England Walkers	15:24.94
6.	Brian Savilonis (51)	New England Walkers	15:53.65
7.	John Costello (46)	New England Walkers	16:04.99
8.	Bob Barrett (68)	Park RW	16:32.20
9.	Thomas Knatt (61)	New England Walkers	17:33.81
10.	Yuri Kuo (16)	New England Walkers	19:03.99
11.	Carl Kane (62)	Shore AC	19:04.32

Judges: Ken Mattsson, Steve Vaitones, Justin Kuo.

Greater Boston Track Club Invitational 2-miler - Jan. 20 Harvard University track.

1.	Adam Staier	Maine RW	14:05.44
2.	Joanne Dow	New England Walkers	14:23.20
3.	Zach Pollinger	New Jersey Striders	15:10.31
4.	Jon Chasse	Maine RW	15:48.63
5.	Maryanne Torrellas	Connecticut RW	15:56.70
6.	Jeremy Martin	MRW	16:30.99
7.	Jasmine Brooks	MRW	17:02.52
8.	Mark Dennett	MRW	17:02.55
9.	David Baldwin	MRW	17:32.20
10.	Lee Chase	CRW	17:53.14
11.	Tom Knatt	NEW	18:07.24
12.	Bill Harriman	NEW	18:15.37
13.	Lynda Beckett	MRW	18:17.87
14.	Ginger Armstrong	CRW	19:12.37
15.	Joanne Harriman	NEW	20:54.51

Judges: Mary Helen Baldwin, Steve Vaitones, Justin Kuo.

Bill Harriman, himself a member of the Harvard community, comments:
Just after the gun went off in this morning's 3k, the officials started yelling at us that it was a 2 mile, not a 3k, and we'd all have to do 16 laps instead of 15. Something about having started us on the wrong line or something like that, then I heard Steve Vaitones yell "English track." Couldn't the brainiacs at Harvard get it right, and build a track in meters? Or maybe it was just another test of my extrapolation skills, like the long Clamdigger of 2001. Well, I'll show 'em! I've already calculated a multiplier of .9322561 to convert everyone's times to 3k. As for the race itself, I felt sluggish from a missed week of training and was soundly whipped by Knatt, who surged to a 2-0 lead in our head to head series.

It was good to see all those fast Maine kids on the track. Tom Eastler does a great job with them.

12th annual Connecticut Racewalkers Mall 3K - Milford, CT., Feb. 10.

1.	Bill Vayo	14:50
2.	David Baldwin	14:50
3.	Maryanne Torrellas	16:04
4.	Joe Light	16:08
5.	Jim Carmines	16:26
6.	Lee Chase	16:27
7.	Peter Nobel	16:33
8.	Allison Snochowski	17:06
9.	Ann Percival	17:44
10.	Andy Cable	17:47
11.	Ginger Armstrong	17:47
12.	Dana Vered	18:02
13.	Gus Davis	19:39
14.	Gerry Patrick	19:40
15.	Bob Beaudet	20:18
16.	Bill McCann	20:33
17.	Nichole Klein	20:27
18.	Chuck Dolecki	22:29
19.	Diane Blusch	25:14
20.	Florence Dagata	25:34
21.	Eunice Kavanaugh	26:20

Judges: Dinana Gladden, Mary Helen Baldwin, Larry Titus, Geof Bye.

27th annual Presidents' Day 3.7-miler - D.W. Field Park, Brockton, Feb.18. The smallest turnout we've had within memory for this traditional favorite. Steve, bogged down in track and field duties, arrived more than four minutes after the starting horn had sounded, set his watch and took off in pursuit of the small pack. "Man, have you saved me from embarrassment," I said as he chugged past me on the final hill.

1.	Steve Vaitones (46)	Waltham MA	33:54
2.	Charles Mansbach (57)	Newton MA	37:59
3.	Thomas Knatt (61)	Concord MA	39:17
4.	Justin Kuo (47)	Brookline MA	39:21
5.	Dick Ruquist (65)	Cambridge MA	39:49
6.	Ken Mattsson (38)	Cambridge MA	41:42
7.	Steve McAvoy (50)	Everett MA	44:16
8.	Jim Brown (53)	Dover MA	45:42
9.	Tom McDonough (77)	Nahant MA	51:39

R.I. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training report
By Michael Hoffer

2001 and the early part of 2002 has been another exciting and successful year for our chapter. In 2001 we sent walking teams to the Disney, Mardi Gras, Country Music, Sherwood, San Diego, Cape Cod and Dublin marathons. We helped raise thousands of dollars for cancer research, and I am happy to report that a major breakthrough was made and approved by the FDA for the treatment of one of the leukemia diseases. Our collective efforts are paying real dividends in improving the cure rate of these dreadful diseases. Our team continues to have a 100 percent completion rate and our relay team placed third in the Sherwood Marathon.

As we start the 2002 season we sent eight walkers to the Disney Marathon, and everyone finished in good spirits even though we experienced significant rain. I had a successful race, finishing first in the half marathon in the 60-69 age category. After my race I waited for my teammates and walked with them for the remaining 13.1 miles. At the award ceremony I saw Stan and Sheila Sosnowski, who both finished first in their age groups in the full marathon. We took teams to the Mardi Gras Marathon in February and in June will send teams to both San Diego and Anchorage.

I would love to do the Boston Marathon. I continue to do these races in honor of my young patient partner Caitlin, and I would like to have her at the finish line and award her the medal after the race. I hope to see old friends along the racing circuit; while my times have slowed, my enthusiasm continues to be upbeat and I am still having fun.

For further information,, contact Mike Hoffer at 401-789-2866 or e-mail at mike_hoffer@Toraytpa.com.

Winter workouts

Ken Mattsson is conducting racewalking sessions at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School indoor track in Cambridge, MA in conjunction with the Cambridge Sports Union. The fee is $1 per session.

For information, call Ken at 617-576-9331.

Springfield racewalkers train at Forest Park at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesdays and on Blake Track at Springfield College at 7:30 a.m. on Saturdays. For information, contact Bob Beaudet at 413-525-3542

2002 race calendar

As always, our listing of racewalking events is not engraved in stone. Some races are added during the season, others are changed or canceled. It's always best to verify the time, date and location with the race director before setting out.

March

24 - USATF National Masters 3K, 1p.m., Reggie Lewis Track, Boston. . USATF-NE office, 617-566-7600.

April

14- 5K, Danehy Park, Cambridge, 9:30 a.m. contact Bill Harriman at 978-640-9676 (before 9:30 p.m.).

21 - Clamdigger five-miler, Town Beach, Westerly, RI. Grand Prix event. A traditional favorite for New England Walkers. Joe Light, 401-596-3173

May

12 -5K, Danehy Park, Cambridge, 9:30 a.m. (See April)

19 - Great Bear 5K. Pollard School, Needham, MA, 3:20 p.m. An unjudged walk as part of a daylong series of road races. 781-444-8499.

Late in month or early in June - 15K, Ninigret Park, Charlestown, RI. Stay tuned.

June

9 -5K, Danehy Park, Cambridge, 9:30 a.m. (See April listing.)

14-15 - Massachusetts Senior Games, 1500-meter and 5K racewalks for ages 50 and above. Springfield. 413-788-2457

July

4 - Dedham 5-miler, Dedham, MA. An unjudged walking division as part of the town's holiday road race.

14 - 5K, Danehy Park, Cambridge, 9:30 a.m. (See April listing.)

13 or 20 -Bay State Games 3K. Part of the track and field portion of the statewide athletics festival. 781-932-6555.

20 or 27 - Eastern Masters 5K championship, Springfield College. USATF-NE office, 617-566-7600.

26 - Blessing of the Fleet 10-miler, Narragansett, RI. Not judged, not really a racewalk. But great fun.

August

11? (perhaps to be rescheduled to avoid conflict) - 5K, Danehy Park, Cambridge, 9:30 a.m. (See April listing)

8-11 - National Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Orono, Maine. 5K and 10K racewalks. USATF-NE office, 617-566-7600.

September

8 - 5K, Danehy Park, Cambridge, 9:30 a.m. (See April) Sometime this month - Regional one-hour championship. Many details to come.

October

5 - 5K, Bristol, NH, in conjunction with New Hampshire Marathon. 603-744-3335.

6 -- National Junior 5K championships, plus New England 5K championships, hosted by the New England Association. Location and other details to follow.

? - Connecticut 10K championship.

Racewalking down memory lane

Steve Vaitones offers another flashback from the North Medford Club Newsletter, this one February 1966:

"Raimo Ahti Beats Schell for New England AAU One Mile Title at MIT" Reported by Fred Brown
AAU mile walk at MIT Ahti 3 pts, Schell 2, Hassenfus 1, all the rest 1/2 a point except Ashton & Mcveigh as with different clubs. 19 starters; however, after Rebman I don't know how they finished. There were plenty of NMC members to take the places & times but no one did so. I don't know how some of our gang make a living. I gave 'em watches, paper, and pencils, but it was too much for 'em. Only other point-getter was Charlie MacKay who finished 5th in the mile run. If a few of our guys had competed we could have won the team prize for the meet.

1.	Raimo Ahti	NMC	7:21
2.	Paul Schell	NMC	7:27
3.	Wm Purves	MIT	7:37
4.	Dave Hasenfus	NMC	7:47
5.	Steve Rebman	NMC	7:59

18 finishers all from 6 down with no times given

Notes from Steve: As you can tell, the participation was the big thing. The points referred to the intraclub competition the NMC held for both runners and walkers. MIT's track was in the DuPont gym, then with a packed dirt floor, 10 laps per mile, square with 90 degree corners. Some things don't change - like needing club members to assist sorting out the places and times in walks. Ahti was a top cross country skier from Fitchburg and had some impressive walk times too. Note our friend Bill Purves placing as an undergrad at MIT.

BAA Track Meet January 29th 1966

1.	Ron Daniel	NYAC	7:06.8
2.	John Schilling	NYPC	7:19
3.	Bruce MacDonald	NYAC	7:19.8
4.	Paul Schell	NMC	7:19.9
5.	Shaul Ladany	NYPC	7:26
6.	John Gray	NMC	7:34.8
7.	Dave Hasenfus	NMC	7:35
8.	Wm Purves	MIT	7:50

This was part of the big BAA Indoor Games at the old Boston Garden (the new Garden, er, FleetCenter, was constructed so that there is no way a track could be put in there). It was a wood track, 11 laps to the mile. Costs killed the meet, which died in 1971. For many years up to that time, it was the track meet that funded the BAA marathon.

"THE CLAMDIGGER", 5 mile Road Race and 5 mile USATF Grand Prix Racewalk, 3 mile Fitness Walk & 1k Kids Run
( Included again this year: Clydesdale Division)

Press Release for Clamdigger 2002	Race Results for 2001
	Race Results for 2000

When:	Sunday, April 21, 2002	10:45 a.m. for Race Walk 11:00 a.m. for Run & Fitness Walk 12:00 p.m. Kids 1K
Where:	START and FINISH at the WESTERLY TOWN BEACH PAVILION, ATLANTIC AVENUE, MISQUAMICUT BEACH, WESTERLY, RI
Course:	Flat, Fast, Out & Back. Racewalk will be judged.
Timing:	by SNERRO
Entry Fee:	$12.00 PreRegistered $15.00 Post Registration	GIFTS TO ENTRANTS PRIOR TO APRIL 14, 2002 Proceeds to support area youth running
Sponsors:	To be determined
Information:	Race Director:	Robert Rose 401/596-0772 (email: Mercedes280SL@hotmail.com)
	Race Walk:	Joe Light 401/596-3173 (email: Jolt47@cox.net)
	Clydesdale Division:	Sue Gordon 401/377-4601

Awards Categories:	?-19 Jr	20-29 Open	30-39 Sub	40-49 Master	50-59 Grandmaster
	60+ Senior		Clydesdale Division Open (?-39)	Clydesdale Division Master (40->)	Top Racewalkers
Refreshments:	Chowder and drinks for all participants.
Directions: FROM CT: I-95 to Exit 92. Take right at end of ramp (Rt 2). Follow to junction with Rt 78. Take Rt 78 to end, straight thru light (Intersect Rt 1). *Continue straight for about 1.5 miles and make left at stop sign. Go straight thru first inter-section and left on Atlantic Ave. Go about 1 mile, look for signs. FROM RI: I-95 to Exit 1 (Rt 3). Take right at end of ramp and follow signs to Rt 78 (about 5 miles). Take left onto Rt 78 and follow to end. See above * for the rest of directions.

WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK

In consideration of accepting my entry, I, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound, hereby waive and release any and all rights and claims for losses and damages that I may have against the Town of Westerly, the WT&AC, Inc. and its members: The Committee, representatives and any volunteer personnel for any injury that I may receive from my participation in the WT&AC Clamdigger 5 Mile Race/Walk on April 21, 2002. Any participant under the age of 18 years must have parent's written permission to compete. I hereby assume any risk arising out of my participation in this event sponsored by the WT&AC, Inc. This waiver of liability and as-sumption of risk is based upon RI Statute 7-6-9 entitled Exemption from Liability.

Mail check (payable to WT&AC) and entry to:
Clamdigger, WT&AC, PO Box 211, Westerly, RI 02891

Category:	5 Mile Run:_______		3 Mile Fitness Walk: _______
	5 Mile Racewalk:_______ USATF#: _________ (Grand Prix Participants)		5 Mile Clydesdale Run : ________ (Male>190lb; Female>140lb)

Name: _________________________________________ Sex: M F Age(4/21/02):___________

Address: _______________________________________ Phone # _______________________

City/State/Zip:_______________________________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________ Date: ___________________
Parent if under 18 years of age

For up-to-the-minute information on race schedules, clinics and other events, call the New England Walkers hotline at: 781-433-7142

The New England Walkers

Send material to:

Charlie Mansbach
25 Larkspur Road
Newton, MA 02468
E-mail address: mansba@nws.globe.com or cmnsbch@cs.com

For membership information, contact Justin Kuo at 617-731-9889

New England Walkers Newsletter March 2002