At the start!

And we're ready to go!

We are off!

We are all here and most are off and running! I toed the line with Mike before he shot out of a cannon, definitely after a fast marathon time. I just handed off to Meg, who will. Then pass off to Dave, who passes to Tim, who hands off the anchor stick to his daughter and speedster, Caroline. Should be great!!!

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!

Big weekend ahead for the PFFRT

The gun goes off at 8am this coming Saturday for the 2012 Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon and the Petit Family Foundation Running Team will have a HUGE group toeing the line. The Hartford race has always been a big turnout for our team, but this is set to the be the biggest in our short history. Here is what it looks like so far:

Hartford Marathon Relay:

2 teams of five runners ready to go

Hartford Marathon 5k:

5 runners so far with a few more likely

Hartford 1/2 Marathon:

2 runners

Hartford Marathon:

1 runner

In total, 17 team members of all ages will be on the line representing the PFFRT. It's an amazing to think about how far this small team has come. We even have a team member coming all the way from Texas to run. Way to go the extra distance, Bill!

Stay tuned for updates, results and pictures - it should be a great time!

-PFFRT

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!

Caroline off to a flying start

PFFRT member Caroline may be new to high school cross country, but she hasn't let that intimidate her. You see, Caroline is already a seasoned veteran, used to running in front of big crowds.

How, you ask? Simple - she has been the trusty anchor leg for the Petit Family Foundation Hartford marathon relay team anchor for the last two years. Caroline took on the pressure of finishing strong and has done so with speed and maturity beyond her years. She has signed up to take on the honors of the anchor for a third straight year and we can't wait to see what she is going to do.

Caroline hasn't shied away from older runners so far, as she has been right up in the front of the pack from the first race of the season. A consistent #1 for her team, Caroline can be found crossing the finish line in the top three in almost every race.

Fantastic running, Caroline!

PFFRT member is a Saint

I know, that's a pretty aggressive statement. However, Mike is literally a Saint, or at least a coach of a few lady Saints.

Coach Mike has his lady Saints cross country team running impressive times early in the season and looking to make a statement at the upcoming NCAA pre-regional meet. The St. Lawrence University XC women's team is familiar with the spotlight, as they climbed as high as #2 in the national in last year's polls. They roll into this year after winning the last TWO individual titles at the national meet.

Good luck in the rest of the season, Mike!

A former stand-out runner himself for SLU, Mike will be making his marathon debut in a few weeks in Hartford. While Mike thinks he is an old timer, we just think he's really fast. Good luck, Mikey!