PODCAST · sports
The Runners Reunion Podcast
by rgillooly1405
The first running boom in the 1970’s produced some of today’s most iconic road racing events such as Falmouth and Litchfield that attract capacity fields year in and out. The era also produced mega marathons such as NYC and Chicago that are now destination events attracting runners from all over the world with elite international fields. Athletic shoe companies such as Nike and New Balance went from little known brands to global enterprises fueling the sport with the sponsorship of road races, track events and the elite athletes that competed in them.The running boom also produced a unique cast of characters that made running events, and their post race parties, extremely entertaining. The era was pre internet and the randomness of who would show up at the races made it even more special. This podcast is about their stories and walks you through how they got involved in the sport and what they are doing now.
Episodes
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From Harvard Law to Hogwarts, join us for an in-depth discussion with Dan Schlesinger
From Harvard Law to Hogwarts, join us for an in-depth discussion with Dan Schlesinger on his meteoric rise as an elite marathoner with his 3rd place finish in the 1982 NYC marathon to his transition as an acclaimed artist. His passion for running and art can be seen in his newly released book...
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Training and Racing with two time Boston Marathon champion Geoff Smith
Hailed from Liverpool, Geoff Smith’s approach to training and racing mirrored the City’s reputation as tough, gritty, and resilient. In his youth soccer was his passion and he was good at it, running the midfield tirelessly. Join us for this episode as Geoff recounts his remarkable career from...
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The Run for The Hoses 50th Anniversary Celebration from The City Side in Cleveland Circle Episode 2
In our 2nd episode of The Run for The Hoses 50th anniversary celebration from the City Side in Cleveland Circle we recorded Grant’s “Fireside Chat” with Jack discussing his 50 plus year relationship with the Boston Marathon. The Chat covered Jack’s inauspicious start in running as a walk on at…
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Our series on the "Run For The Hoses" celebration events continue from the City Side in Cleveland Circle
Turning on Beacon Street - Marathon Reflections on the Eliot Lounge, Tommy Leonard, and the event as a civic moment with Don Callahan, Mike King, and the Boston Globe's Dan Shaughnessy. We would also like to thank Jack's wife Jan Ross for working tirelessly to set up these memorable events!
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The 50th Boston Marathon Anniversary of the "Run For The Hoses" tour visits the Lower Falls Wine Company
Heartbreak approaches — Mile 16 (Lower Falls Wine Company), Perspectives like “When in Doubt, Less is More”, or “Don’t feel to slow? Then you’re going to Fast!”, and other musings as the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Run for the Hoses tour moves ever closer to Boylston Street. Featuring Pat...
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A life of running, coaching, and community with Sue McNatt
As a 10-year old Sue McNatt’s equestrian coach suggested she supplement her training with running to improve her endurance. The next day she went for an endless run around the “block” and has never looked back. Sue’s impressive competitive career spans decades as a high school all-American,...
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The 50th Anniversary of "Run For The Hoses" Marathon Tour
In this episode the Runners Reunion podcast was at the Morse Tavern in Natick recording live on January 14th. The Morse Tavern is the second stop on the 50th anniversary of the “Run For The Hoses” tour celebrating Jack Fultz’s memorable win. The “tour” was organized by Jack’s wife Jan in...
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This week we catch up with Matt Centrowitz Sr. with a colorful discussion on his remarkable career in running and coaching
Growing up in the Bronx a young Matt Centrowitz was running with the wrong crowd getting into trouble before he entered high school. Fortunately, a move to Queens and a new start at Andrew Jackson High School running took on a new meaning when he joined the track team. After transferring to the...
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From Walk-On to Category One: Hank Pfeifle's Journey in Running and Cycling
As a senior at UVM Hank Pfeifle walked on to the cross-country team and instantly became one of the interchangeable top runners on a very competitive team. The cross-country skier was inspired by the likes of Vermont legend John Dimick who encouraged him to give cross country a try. Dimick was…
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Running to stay alive with Vietnam Combat Veteran Tom Egan
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...
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Catching up with 1982 NCAA & TAC XC Champion Lesley Lehane
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...
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Join us this episode as we follow Richard Mulligan's incredible journey from one of the top runners in Ireland to the top of the Country Music charts decades later
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...
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Our guest this episode is 1996 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier Kim Carlson Benner
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...
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Our guest this episode is recent author of “Two Clicks Above Mediocre: An Athlete’s Story” Jon Berit
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…
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Catching up with Brad Schlapak the master of mileage and antique clocks
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…
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Welcome to season four of the Runners Reunion Podcast and a look back over the past three seasons
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…
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Catching up with Mimi Fallon as she discusses her life in running and the many friendships along the way
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…
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Catching up with Paul Gorman and his persistent approach to running and beyond
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...
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Janice Cataldo discusses Title Nine and the early days of Women's X-Country and Track at Providence College
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...
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Our guest this episode is Olympic Trials qualifier, coach and community organizer Mark Robinson
Our guest this episode is 10 time All American Mark Robinson. A graduate of Catholic University, and longtime coach of his alma mater, Robinson did not begin running until his senior year at McKinley Technical High School in Washington, D.C. Despite a late start in the sport, he posted impressive...
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The Legacy of Johnson & Wales AC and Colonel John McNulty
In the 1970s and 1980s Johnson & Wales AC (JWAC) was the dominant road running club in Rhode Island. Prior to becoming a four year college (now a university) JWAC had one of the top Jr. College teams in the country featuring standouts Hollie Walton, Roland Davide, Bob Hodge and Vin Fleming to…
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The Runners Reunion Podcast catches up with one of the event’s founders Charlie Breagy
Our guest this episode is the third pillar and one of the founders of the Runners Reunion event Charlie Breagy. Charlie was a member of the second wave of Irish and British runners to attend Providence College that made up one of the most dominant cross country teams in the country during the…
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Two time Olympian Pete Pfitzinger kicks off season three with the Runners Reunion Podcast!
Our guest spent his formative years in the snow belt of Upstate NY. Glimpses of raw talent showed through championship success running on skis. After a successful collegiate career, the Clarion Call of Boston proved irresistible and he moved east, initially rooming with punk rockers before moving...
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The 2023 Hoka and Marathon Sports Ocean State XC Invitational with Steve Mazzone and Siobhan Breagy
While the Runners Reunion Podcast Team is planning for season #3, we are pleased to host Ocean State Running’s master of the media Steve Mazzone as he catches up with Siobhan Breagy to discuss the upcoming Ocean State Cross Country Invitational at Goddard Park on September 22nd and 23rd. The…
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Our last guest of the season is Gerry Beagan, one of the founders of the Runners Reunion event
Our last guest of the season is Gerry Beagan, one of the founders of the Runners Reunion event. Gerry’s story is perhaps one of the best examples of how the running boom of the 70’s impacted the lives of the 25 million Americans who fueled the growth of competitive road running. By chance Gerry…
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Our guest this week is Olympian and Team New Balance Boston Coach Mark Coogan
Our guest this week is Olympian and Team New Balance Boston Coach Mark Coogan. Mark’s running resume is impressive with range from the mile through the marathon and every distance event between. Mark’s pro career included training with coach Bob Sevene and support from training groups in…
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This week’s episode New England Runner Co-Publisher and Editor Bob Fitzgerald
As a Newton, MA native Bob Fitzgerald was no stranger to the Boston Marathon. Each year his parents would take him to watch the race on the famed HeartBreak Hill. It wasn’t until he graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in English and focus on journalism that he started running to lose “beer...
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This week’s episode features five time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier Julie Peterson-Menosky
When Julie Peterson-Menosky was in grade school at St. Mary’s Catholic, girls did not have gym class, were limited to only a ¼ of the playground and allowed only to skip during recess (no running)! Fortunately times were changing quickly with the advent of Title Nine and the emergence of the...
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This week’s episode features Boston Marathon legend and three times Olympic Trials qualifier Jack Fultz
Fewer than 115 men can call themselves Boston Marathon champion. Even fewer boast a 50 year connection to the race: athlete; elite athlete talent manager; coach; and catalyzing force linking the marathon to fundraising efforts to make the world a better place. Add a dash of decades of collegiate...
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Following The Flame with Greg Lautenslager
Our guest this week is four time Olympic Trials qualifier and coach Greg Lautenslager. After a 20 year award winning career coaching in New Zealand Greg is back home in his native state of Texas coaching at Hill College. As many of you know Boston was one of Greg’s stops during his 12 year quest…
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This week’s guest is Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame Coach Julie Collins.
This week’s guest is Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame Coach Julie Collins. Julie’s first experience with competitive track and cross country growing up in Smithfield, RI was in middle school in one of the first organized programs in the state for middle school girls in…
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This week’s episode features Rhode Island’s own version of the “Chairman of the Boards” and Northeastern standout Tom Mortimer.
This week’s episode features Rhode Island’s own version of the “Chairman of the Boards” and Northeastern standout Tom Mortimer. Tom’s first exposure to track was a visit to the famed Cranston Street Armory to watch his brother Frank compete for Pilgrim High School. When he entered through the…
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The Runners Reunion Podcast catches up with Fitchburg State and North Shore legend Paul McGovern
Our final episode for 2022 features Fitchburg State and North Shore legend Paul McGovern. Growing up in Lynn, MA Paul’s endless energy was channeled through sports. In his neighborhood baseball was king with several of the local youth of Paul’s generation eventually making it to the major…
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This month’s episode features RI legend and NCAA All-American Hollie Walton
Our guest this week is Rhode Island running legend Hollie Walton. As fate would have it Hollie just happened to be a freshman at Hope High School where Bobby Doyle and Ted McLaughlin were beginning their legendary careers. Before the two began to influence his stellar career, Hollie somehow…
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This week’s episode features RI Hall of Fame Coach Jim Doyle!
With over 67 state championships in cross country, indoor and outdoor track Jim Doyle is one of the most successful high school coaches in any sport in the United States. In 2017 Jim was inducted into the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Hall of Fame and in 2018 was honored by the National…
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This week’s episode features two time US Olympic marathoner Cathy O’Brien as we discuss her running, music and more.
As a high energy 7th grader, Cathy O’Brien found herself on the Dover NH high cross-country team. Her coach predicted that Cathy would be “fantabulous” if she worked at her craft. Any running chronicle of the 80’s and 90’s shows she did. At 16 she ran the inaugural 1984 women’s Olympic marathon...
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This week we are “On The Road” again with Bob Hodge (episode #2) as he discusses his career as a professional runner during the 1980s.
During this time “Hodgiesan” traveled to Japan four times to compete in several iconic marathons and road races. His Olympic dreams stayed alive as he competed in the ‘84 and ‘88 marathon trials. He planned for his last race as a journeyman pro to be the ‘88 track trials. After that the plan was…
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This week we are “On The Road” with Bob Hodge as he discusses his competitive running career that spanned the pre-running boom days growing up in gritty streets of Lowell through the early 1990s
This week we are “On The Road” with Bob Hodge as he discusses his competitive running career that spanned the pre-running boom days growing up in gritty streets of Lowell through the early 1990s . During his youth Lowell’s famous textile mills were closing at an alarming rate with its population...
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This week we feature Scott Mason one of the original founders of the Runners Reunion
This week’s episode features Scott Mason who was one of the many runners influenced by the running boom in the late 70’s. Having never competed in high school or college, Scott rose through the ranks to become a top regional runner and one of the few Rhode Islanders to clock sub 50 minutes for 10...
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Our latest episode features Portsmouth Abbey (RI) and Harvard standout John Murphy
Our latest episode features Portsmouth Abbey (RI) and Harvard standout John Murphy. At times John’s running career provided him solace from the challenges of daily life but also great frustration due to injuries. At Harvard John was mentored by the legendary Bill McCurdy who helped him develop a...
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From the slopes of Ski Valley in Cumberland, RI to the foothills of Denali The Runners Reunion talks story with Tom Egan
From the slopes of Ski Valley in Cumberland, RI to the foothills of Denali Tom Egan recounts his running adventures from his early days competing on the Cumberland High track team to a 15 mile run on sea ice in the Arctic Circle navigating through a dangerous ice fog. 100,000 Mile Journey
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Our latest episode features Ironman Triathlon champion Karen Smyers. Karen recounts her early days as a competitive swimmer through her dominance in the world as a professional triathlete
Our latest episode features Ironman Triathlon champion Karen Smyers. Karen recounts her early days as a competitive swimmer through her dominance in the world as a professional triathlete and how the sport became a lifestyle that continues to this day. For a full bio on Karen you can visit...
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Paul Hammond recounts his early days running in Maine and his more than 40 years of running at a competitive level.
Legendary Bates College track legend, and fixture in New England Running scene for more than forty years, discusses his early days of racing and training in Maine and competing with some of New England's best runners during the height of the running boom in the early 80's.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The first running boom in the 1970’s produced some of today’s most iconic road racing events such as Falmouth and Litchfield that attract capacity fields year in and out. The era also produced mega marathons such as NYC and Chicago that are now destination events attracting runners from all over the world with elite international fields. Athletic shoe companies such as Nike and New Balance went from little known brands to global enterprises fueling the sport with the sponsorship of road races, track events and the elite athletes that competed in them.The running boom also produced a unique cast of characters that made running events, and their post race parties, extremely entertaining. The era was pre internet and the randomness of who would show up at the races made it even more special. This podcast is about their stories and walks you through how they got involved in the sport and what they are doing now.
HOSTED BY
rgillooly1405
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Runners Reunion Podcast have?
The Runners Reunion Podcast currently has 43 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Runners Reunion Podcast about?
The first running boom in the 1970’s produced some of today’s most iconic road racing events such as Falmouth and Litchfield that attract capacity fields year in and out. The era also produced mega marathons such as NYC and Chicago that are now destination events attracting runners from all over...
How often does The Runners Reunion Podcast release new episodes?
The Runners Reunion Podcast has 43 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Runners Reunion Podcast?
You can listen to The Runners Reunion Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Runners Reunion Podcast?
The Runners Reunion Podcast is created and hosted by rgillooly1405.
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