Ready to go!

Here's a picture to start everything off. This was taken in downtown Buena Vista, CO after the prerace dinner.

It's been a long journey to the start line, but the day is finally here. Its pretty surreal, this race has been just a date on the calendar. Yet tomorrow we will lace up our trail shoes for the first stage and begin what should be an epic adventure. We can't thank Doc and the Petit Family Foundation enough for their support of Spencer and I. We are out here for one reason, and that is to continue the legacy that the foundation was founded upon. We will be thinking of Bill, Jenn, Hayley and Michaela often as we make our way over 120 miles. They have been and will continue to be our motivation, and we are so very proud to represent the PFF.

We will recap the first stage tomorrow night and send along more pictures.

As always, be the change!

Brian and Spencer

What a day

Just a quick update-

Lots of fun had today in Hartford, with team members running great times on a gorgeous fall day. I will send a recap of the event tomorrow from the road. But for now, here is how we did -

Team Petit Family Foundation Running Team: 3:20:45, dropping 16 minutes from last year's finish! Here is Caroline bringing it home and Meg showing her support for Hayley.

Team Hang Loose, in honor of the Petit Family Foundation: 4:33:08 - Nice work, with Bill coming all the way from Texas! Check out the Dartmouth Green bracelet for Hayley :)

Mike blew through the half in 1:26, a big PR...which kind of came back to bite him in the end, as his legs kind of packed it in on him. Mike toughed it out and still clocked a very quick time of

3:31. Nice work, bud! Had to do the before and after :)

Tara ran the 5k in 28:40 - nice work!

Sara ran the 5K and her cousin, Flo ran the 1/2 marathon and both did very well!

More photos to come later. Thanks to all that ran and all of those who sent their love and support. It was a great day!

Good luck to the Miss Porter's crew that is running in Newport tomorrow - be the change!

-PFFRT

Waiting for the relay bus

Our trusty 4 and anchor legs, Tim and Caroline!

We are wearing Dartmouth Green

In honor of Hayley Petit, who would be celebrating her birthday today.

At the start!

And we're ready to go!

Harry doing big things in Holyoke

Harry has always been a motivated man, but he has taken his own ambitions to a whole different level - and brought a lot of folks with him.

Harry spent most of his life in Holyoke, MA, and knows how rough life can be in the city. Role models are hard to come by, and watching the local news can get even the most optimistic folks down. But, Harry is a different human being altogether, as in the ones that don't seem to come from planet earth. Harry is one of those people that will take any piece of positivity and own it, polish it, and share it with the world. It's been an honor to watch this young man grow into the man he is now. And it's no surprise he wants to put Holyoke on his back and show his hometown that you can, "Start small, dream big."

A few months back, Harry started a running group of his own. He wanted to inspire his fellow residents to get up and show Holyoke how get inspired, to make a difference. So, he reached out to a few friends and started running. Just like the saying, they started small with an eye on bigger goals. Harry made sure the running routes were marked, driving from street to street to put up directional signs. Slowly but surely the group got bigger and runs got longer, with Harry always leading the way but heading back to check on the entire group.

Fast forward to today, and the group is not only running, but thriving. The runs have gone from one day a week to two, with more and more people showing up as the weeks go by. Harry, always a competitor, makes sure to keep the juices flowing by encouraging team members to join local races to see what they are made of. This weekend, the group is going a bit further and running a 3.5 mile race around the Holyoke Reservoir. If I know Harry, he will get out quick to push himself, but always make sure he loops back around to get the whole crew through the course.

With a handful of local business signing on to help the group out with signs and shirts, I see Harry and the Holyoke crew inspiring their fellow citizens for years to come. I can't be more proud of Harry and all that he has done - he certainly embodies the PFF motto, "Be the change."

Proud of you, Harry!

PFFRT members run the Vermont 100 on 100...and win!

A few members of the Petit Family Foundation Running Team joined forces with a handful of other runners to take on the tough Vermont 100 on 100 race in August. The race, a 100 mile relay race on Route 100 in Vermont, is well known by distance runners as being a test of resolve and ones quadriceps. Mike and Brian decided to give it a go with fellow St. Lawrence University alumni to see what they were made of...and ended up winning the masters division!

http://www.100on100.org/results.html

The course is a brutal one, starting at the Trapp Family lodge in Stowe, winding up and over the Green Mountains, and finishes at the top of Mt. Killington. It is gorgeous, as well, with many stops along the White River to rest your sore legs. Each of us ran a 3 separate legs, usually around 2 hours apart, with a total average of 15 miles a piece. Mike and Brian's team finished 7th overall out of 107 teams with a time of 11 hours, 22 minutes and 55 seconds; that's 6:59 pace for 100 miles!

(Mike in the white with his hand on Brian)

It was an amazing time, and a timely one at that as much of Route 100 was impacted by Hurricane Irene a few weeks later. It is tough to look at the images of so much damage to a beautiful landscape we were just running through. Our thoughts are with all of those still affected by the storm.

Great day, great race, great to be part of the PFFRT!

Lots of updates

Hello everyone-

We have been quiet for a while, but it's because we have been quite busy. Many of our team members have been hitting the road, running races, and really just doing a lot of pretty awesome stuff.

To start off, the Petit Family Foundation hosted the 4th annual Petit Family Foundation 5k in July. The turnout was incredible, the biggest to date. It's much more than just a 5k, so if you have not experienced the race yet, please make your way to next years event. You don't have to be a runner to attend, as there are many things to see and do. Check out the website here for more:

www.petitroadrace.com

Check out these numbers...

Over 1000 at the pasta dinner the night before

Over 2100 runners

Over 1500 walkers

Netted over $100,000

RECORD turnout overall - 7000+!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is pretty spectacular. Having run tons of 5ks, I can say with absolute certainty that I have never been to a 5k with those kinds of numbers.

The Petit Family Foundation has really got something going and it's incredible to be a part of and watch it happen.

-PFFRT

Petit Family Foundation annual 5k coming up this weekend!

The fourth annual GE 5k Road Race to benefit the Petit Family Foundation will take place on July 17 at 9 a.m. at the GE facility at 41 Woodford Ave. in Plainville, with registration from 7 to 8:30 a.m.
In addition to the 5k road race, there is also a Fitness Walk for non-runners and a Kids Fun Run so the youngest members of the community can be involved. For those eight years old and younger, the Kids Fun Run (with a special "prize" for all participants) will be held at 8:30 a.m. The 5k and fitness walk will start promptly following the kids run at 9 a.m.
Again this year, the fun will begin on July 16, the Saturday before the race, in front of GE's Plainville facility, the race's Title Sponsor. For those who have registered by the 15th, pre-registration pickup will be available from 12 to 4:30 p.m. Runners and walkers can come to the race site to pick up their bibs (with B-tags for runners this year) and tee shirts on Saturday to avoid common "race day lines." Again this year, there is a pasta dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday the 16 at the GE grounds. Adult tickets are $5 and children 12 and under are free. WDRC-FM's Jerry Kristafer will be there to MC, and live music will be performed by the Key West Trio Band in addition to a variety of other fun events and door prizes.
Other activities planned for the day of the race include food and beverages, a massage tent, and appearances by the Stanley Sprint Cup race car, New Britain Rock Cats' mascot "Rocky" and more. There will also be a drawing for six great raffle prizes. Tickets for the raffle are available now and can be purchased the day before during registration pickup, at the pasta dinner, or on Sunday up until the drawing time of 9 a.m. WDRC-FM's Jerry Kristafer will be back on Sunday as well as weekend morning anchor Kerri-Lee Mayland from presenting Sponsor, NBC Connecticut.

The GE Road Race is a fund raiser for the Petit Family Foundation and is made possible thanks to the generosity of many corporate sponsors, but just as importantly, it is an event intended to be one that brings people together for an exceptional weekend of community spirit and positive energy to honor both the memory and spirit of Jennifer, Hayley, and Michaela Petit. Visit the race website to register and for additional information at www.PetitRoadRace.com. The Petit Family Foundation was set up in the wake of the senseless tragedy of 2007 that took the lives of Jennifer, Hayley, and Michaela Petit. The Foundation's mission is to honor the kindness, activism, and idealism that were personified in these three women. The Foundation uses its funds to foster education, especially for women in the sciences; improve the lives of those affected by chronic illnesses; and to support efforts to protect and help those affected by violence against women.

Text written by: Hayley Hovhanessian, Petit Family Foundation


Side note: The PFFRT will have a table, so if you are planning to run, stop by and say hello...or join us!

PFFRT extends its reach to the North Country

The PFFRT's reach seems to be growing. Check out this picture from the recent St. Lawrence University Alumni Athletics golf tournament. That logo in the right hand corner looks familiar...
While this team isn't partial to any institution, it has to be said:

GO SAINTS!

-Brian

That wasn't a lot of fun...

What a 4.5 mile tempo run looks like in 85 degree heat and 70% humidity. I think I am going to need a gallon of Gatorade after that one...wow.

I hope the training pays off - big Petit Family Foundation 5k coming up in a few days!

Big award for PFF running team member

Just an update on the success off the course of one our runners, Harry. He received the award in front of 2,700 fans at a recent Holyoke Blue Sox baseball game.

Harry is coming off a stellar football career , where he was named first team collegiate All-American.

Also, Harry has started a local running group to inspire folks in his home town to get in shape. Quite an inspiration young man, to say the least.


We are proud of you, Harry!

Another big day for Spencer

Spencer had another big day on the bike, competing in a stage race time trial in Bend, OR this past Saturday. Way to represent the west coast for the Petit Family Foundation running team, Spencer!

The PFFRT in Ireland

Thought I would post this - Taken in Ballydavid, Ireland this past week. I recently had surgery, so I couldn't run, but did a fair amount of walking along the cliffs. I, of course, was wearing my PFFRT shoes :)

What a ride for Spencer, our resident PFF Cyclist!

The Oregon State Time Trial Championship was held on Sunday, June 12th, in Corvallis, OR. The course was pancake flat...20k out and 20k back for a total of 40k. Time trials are considered the race of truth because it's simply you against the clock, no drafting, no peloton's, just an open road and a high heart rate. Like a marathon a 40k TT is won in the last part of the race. The key is to set a steady tempo and then crank it up above LT for as long as you can hold on. I ended up being 3rd overall for Cat 3's in Oregon, being beat by two guys who are on the verge of upgrading to Cat 2's. While being able to sustain an average heart rate of 175 for 55minutes this type of race is my strength in comparison to criteriums or road races. This is why at the end of the year I'm shifting over to running which will ultimately lead to tri's. I am excited to be a part of PFF -West Coast!

Hope to meet you all soon!

Spencer




Nice job, Spence! Great shirt!

Some of the PFF running team post race. It was a cold one put there today, with a little snow mixed in to remind us that wired is still around. Nothing dampened our spirits, though. It was an amazing experience, with 11 team members running. Can't wait for the next race!

Some of the Miss Porters women set to run the 1/2 marathon. Go Daisies!

The PFF running team mobile!

Here we go!