An interview with Liza Grudzinski

At the time of her graduation, Liza Grudzinski held every women’s long-distance running record on the books. She was a fierce competitor, her ability to fearlessly lead the pack and/or to gobble up the competition belying her diminutive stature. “Little Liza” has a big heart when it comes to racing at a high level. As she kind of danced around in the early questions here, Liza could be a little nutty at times. Marist was the perfect place for her. It’s amazing how our athletes just kind of find their way to Poughkeepsie, the fit being perfect. It’s also amazing how the answer to my first question in most of these Pandemic Papers interviews reveals an initial reluctance to even consider Marist! But Liza’s high-strung personality was tamed quite well by then women’s coach Phil Kelly. Like most great coaches, Phil mastered the art of being one part fatherly figure (and to several generations of our women, he was exactly that!), one part task-master (emotionlessly dispensing the grueling workouts needed to hone championship-caliber athletes and teams), one part master motivator (through calm, reassuring words but also at times through tough-love talks – pre-, post- and in-race) and all parts loving and caring coach (I do not recall a meet in which Phil was not dispensing post-race hugs to our athletes). Yeah, Marist women’s cross country and track needed a strong leader in Liza Grudzinski, but Liza also thrived under the team-first family atmosphere that we tried (and continue to try) to cultivate during her time here.

As we mentioned in the previous Pandemic Papers with her husband Kirk Dornton, our coach-athlete relationship with Liza has morphed into a mature friendship as she and Kirk set down roots in the area and started a family with their two high-energy boys. Like Kirk, Liza has had a great post-collegiate running career, with her Mount Washington race finish among the big highlights. She has remained true to her Marist roots, connecting with Michelle Gaye as Michelle pursued and eventually broke many of Liza’s records. Liza encouraged Michelle in her quest. Seeing the two women from two different generations of Marist running connect was really neat for me. The original intent was to have Kirk’s and Liza’s interviews back-to-back in the Pandemic Papers series. That didn’t happen, and that’s OK. Given their incredibly frenetic household, it’s a miracle they were able to forge a few minutes to even read my email, much less send back such wonderful and well-thought-out answers. Again, reading Liza’s answers and memories puts a smile on our faces, and hopefully for younger readers continues to enlighten you on the many facets of Marist Running through the years. Thank you, Liza, for participating in the Pandemic Papers series.

I know it’s a long time ago, but tell us how you became interested in Marist and how you wound up here. What was the recruiting process like back then?  

Actually, Marist was not on my radar. My dad insisted I go for a visit. It’s funny how things work out.  One day I was on a conference call with a coach from another college, the coach explained that all runners are weighed in at practice and if weight is too high, runners are told to lose a few pounds. This was back in the 1990s and this treatment towards athletes was pervasive in women's Division I athletics. After that call, I was rather annoyed and knew I was looking for something else for my future. A high-profile Division I team didn’t look so great anymore. I finally made a call to Phil Kelly, the Marist Women's Distance Coach. The phone conference with Phil went very well and my family and I were excited for the visit to Marist.  Phil was very upfront about scholarship money and he was dedicated to the Cross Country and Track programs.  He seemed so confident and lovable that I knew he could coach a stubborn runner such as myself.  He was someone you secretly admired but would never admit to it. I stayed with a group of girls on the team and they treated me like family.  And of course, I met coach Pete for a brief moment on my visit.  I knew right away that Pete was easily approachable and you could talk to him for hours if time permitted.  Making the decision to attend Marist was the absolute correct decision.  Heck, Marist is where I met my husband Kirk. It doesn't get better than that.

Talk about some of your biggest highlights and memories of your time at Marist.

There are so many amazing highlights and memories at Marist.  It’s hard for me to pinpoint one or two.  One of my favorite workouts was 5 x 2,000-meter repeats from McCann (the road behind the freshman dorms near the railroad tracks) to the boathouse and back up again.  I remember the day was cold and windy in March and Phil thought it would be a great idea to end on the hill behind the freshman dorms.  The workout was ridiculously tough.  I remember being so out of breath from the wind with Phil saying, "Now, Liza you need to try to get faster at each interval."  Inwardly, I was saying a few choice words about the craziness of it all.  Phil insisted it was Pete who recommended this great 10K workout for me. Nothing good comes easy.  The harder the workout, the more accomplished you feel.  Holy smokes!  I bet they both don't remember, but I certainly do. 

In terms of favorite race, one of the biggest highlights was at Penn Relays in 2003 when both Kirk and I broke the 10k school records on the same night. There is nothing better than running at night under the lights at Penn.  I remember that night like it was yesterday, with Pete belting out my precise splits every lap for the entire 25 laps and Phil and Chuck on the sidelines cheering me on.  I can still hear their voices now.

Of course, running at Van Cortlandt Park was another favorite.  I preferred the 5k and loved the back hills.  It was then I always went into attack mode because I knew I had to get the hell away from my competitors and not leave it to the flats on the Vanny parade ground. 

Then there was BU.  My 3k and 5k PRs happened there and for some reason those races never seemed hard.  It was like running on a cloud and not feeling tired at the end. It’s amazing when things fall into place how easy it feels.  Big huge hugs from Pete, Phil, and Chuck made the accomplishments even more special.

What are your fondest memories of the day-to-day life of being a student-athlete at Marist?

Most of my memories are not about the races or the PRs or the school records broken.  Most memories consist of the carefree times I had with my friends and teammates.

One of my favorite memories was attending the MAAC Cross Country Championships in Orlando, Florida.  Kristen Paquette and I were injured so we took full advantage of the sightseeing, taking in as much of the parks as we could.

Another memory that will live with me forever is the support I received from my teammates and coaches after my father passed away from leukemia suddenly my senior year. I was heartbroken.  I lost my biggest support, the person who was there for me no matter what.  After a loss like this, the very thought of going back to my routine at Marist and even attempting to break school records was inconceivable. When at my father’s wake a BUS showed up and one by one each Marist teammate stepped off to pay their respects ... all I can say is WOW.  It most certainly is true, little acts of kindness can do amazing things to a person's well-being. It changed my mindset during an extremely difficult time.  With the overwhelming support of my teammates and coaches, I was able to return back to Marist to finish my degree and take down school records.  Thank you, thank you to all of you who stood by me.  Words cannot express my gratitude. This is just the true testament of what Marist stands for.  

You continued running and racing after college. Talk about that, some of your best highlights and memories, and how you are currently staying active/continuing to run and train.

After college, I ran for the Westchester Track Team for years before switching to a team called Riadha. Riadha now consists of some of the best middle and long distance runners in the world.   The training was intense to say the least.  My focus at the time was mountain running. The Mount Washington Road Race is one of my all-time favorite races.  They say, “It’s only one hill,” right?  That’s right, one hill that covers 7.6 miles straight up a mountain.  No flat ground at all.  Given my small stature, my body is suited for running up mountains.  My first attempt at Mount Washington was my best; first American female and 3rd overall.  I have completed two marathons and my best marathon was after I had my first son. Pete gave me all the advice I needed to train.  Of course, with working full-time and being a mom, I had difficulty being consistent, but that’s how training goes.  Pete always told me, “There’s no such thing as perfect training,” especially when you have a lot going on all the time.   My last race was five years ago at the Steamtown Marathon.  I just run for pleasure now due to chronic Lyme disease issues and my two boys, Emmett and Elliott, who keep me running in other ways. I’d love to run Mount Washington again if given the opportunity.  

Talk about your career path – how did you get into teaching, how long have you been at your current position and how your teaching career has evolved through the years?

I’ve been a Biology teacher at Monroe-Woodbury High School for 17 years, starting in 2003.  I usually teach biology special education courses.  Students are expected to get a passing grade on the NY State Regents Exam at the end of the year. Through the years, I’ve found establishing a good rapport with my students comes first; learning follows as a natural course.

Now that all of our current student-athletes are “distance learning” … what is it like to be “distance teaching”?

Distant learning is unbelievably challenging. When I am in class teaching, I know right off the bat if someone doesn't get a concept through his or her body language, facial expression, and reaction time.  I usually have a strong understanding of the needs and learning styles of all my students. I always teach using a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating hands-on activities mixed with auditory and visual approaches.  This isn’t feasible with distance learning and I cannot replicate the in-person connection from an electronic device. Currently, I teach several special education classes as well as a general education biology class.  It is much more difficult to reach my special education students when their accommodations require many strategies that are implemented in-person, such as redirection, repeating of concepts, and so on.

The general education students are having an easier time as many are moving towards AP and honors classes in the future. They are independent learners and more often than not able to complete assignments on their own.

The emails are rather overwhelming when I have 90-plus students.  My life as a distance learning teacher is answering the following questions:

I cannot find that assignment?  How do I complete this?  I can't open the pdf file?  What do I do here? How do I write on a Google Doc?  How do I log onto castle learning?  Why was that question marked wrong?  Did you grade that assignment yet, I thought I did it?  Am I going to fail if I cannot access the document?  My computer will not download the virtual lab? The questions go on and on.  If you don't laugh, you will cry.  I just keep saying to parents and students that we are in this together.  Flexibility is key.

“Distance teaching” has an added component/challenge for you with two very active toddlers in the house. How are you managing that and what “schedule” are you on with the boys?

Kirk and I are homeschooling our high energy, head-strong boys. Emmett is in kindergarten and learning to read, write, tell time, add and subtract, perform science experiments, and learn geography. It’s all about small bursts and a ton of patience. Are we on a time schedule?  As much as I’d like to say yes, heck no! 

We tried that a little, but it fell apart rather quickly.  Even so, learning is going on in a roundabout Grudzinski-Dornton kind of way.  As a parent, you are your child’s first teacher.  The only glitch is most kids do not want to be taught by their parents.  Some days are a struggle but, like training and racing, if we have an off day we get up tomorrow and try again.  Like everyone else, we are doing the best we can and that’s all one can ask for.  I like a good challenge, so it's all good. Keep everything in perspective, that’s my motto right now.  We’re in the middle of a pandemic and everyone is trying to deal with this situation the best they can.  

What message would you give to our current seniors who lost their final outdoor track season and final few months of their senior year?  

When I heard that college athletic events were canceled for the season and colleges were going online, it made me think of what my own final months at Marist were like and how I would feel if I’d never had them.  I kept thinking about the relationships I forged in that time and before it and not being able to share the last few months with those I came to call my family is an idea that’s hard to swallow. I can’t imagine not being able to run my last season after all that hard work, or walk across the stage and receive a diploma. Reflecting on this, all I can say is resiliency is the key to a successful life.  Early on, I have learned that life is unpredictable and does not always go in the direction you envisioned. The only way to find success is to exercise a flexible mindset and accept the curveballs life throws at you.  You have to possess a sense of faith in yourself to overcome and move forward and be grateful for the amazing time you were given at Marist. You left your mark at Marist and a virus is not going to negate that. That said, keep your connections with your Marist family.  Your time at Marist will stay with you throughout your life.  The world is still out there, virus or no, waiting for the accomplishments you’ve yet to achieve. Dig deep, toughness lies deep inside of you.  You will rise above this to meet the greatness that awaits you. I believe in you!

What advice would you give to current team members and/or prospective student-athletes considering Marist?  

If you are returning back to Marist or if you plan on attending Marist, you are making a fabulous decision.  One that you will cherish for a lifetime.  Embrace every moment and enjoy the journey.

An interview with Tim Johnson

Recruiting non-distance runners to our trackless campus at Marist College is no easy task. But as you’ve seen so far in this Pandemic Papers series, our program has a rich history of success in the non-distance area. That’s a testament to Marist College itself. We tend to draw highly motivated students and just flat-out good people. The sprinters tend to find their way here, whether or not they are recruited (and oftentimes, they either are not recruited at all or just lightly pursued). And the great ones tend to adapt to our challenging circumstances, to the point where they eventually wind up on the school record board in the McCann Center.

Such is the case with today’s Pandemic Papers subject, Tim Johnson. Like so many great things in life, a seemingly random set of circumstances led Tim to Marist and to Marist Track. Once here, though, the Little Engine That Could proceeded to take aim at that record board. He still remains on three relay records – again, like any great track athlete, his finest moments were with a relay baton in his hand. But as we’ve detailed in previous posts, Tim made the totally improbable and curious leap to endurance athlete after college – completing both a marathon and an Ironman triathlon. It’s not an exaggeration when we say that Tim’s idea of a post-workout cooldown at the Vassar Track was walking – slowly, oh-so-slowly – from the track to the parking lot where the vans were located. Grudgingly, if prodded by Coach Terry Horton, he would do a lap or two on the track or the turf, at a jogging pace so slow that we could briskly walk next to him and have a conversation. Sprinters focus on speed. They don’t do long and slow. Who knew Tim would morph into an Ironman! So, today’s interview tells the story of Tim Johnson, how he got to Marist, became one of our greatest sprinters and then graduated to a new phase of his athletic career.

How did you become interested in Marist and how did you choose Marist over other schools?

I became interested in Marist for a couple reasons. It was one of a handful of schools that offered my original major. The campus was also a huge draw for me, I mean, how could you not fall in love with it? Otherwise, I just liked the atmosphere and the opportunities that it would offer for me later in life. There are so many other intangibles about Marist that I learned to love over the years that would have made my decision even easier in high school. For example, if I had known about Rossi’s when I was applying, I would have done just about anything to get in…

           

As a sprinter, was our lack of on-campus track facilities an issue in considering the school? How were you and your teammates able to manage that situation?

Track was somewhat of an afterthought for me once I was accepted to Marist. I was originally being recruited for soccer by a couple of schools but that didn’t work out for various reasons. Once I had decided to come to Marist is when I considered running track.  In speaking with Coach Pete, it was clear to me that the lack of facilities was not going to be an issue.

Managing without a track was actually easier than you would think. We did a lot of alternative workouts, which not only helped me as a runner but also switched things up. This both prevented injury and got us away from the repeat 400s that I love so much (NOT).  We did get to the track once if not twice every week.  Because we didn’t have our own track, it made these workouts so much more important. Subconsciously, I think it made us all work harder because we knew our time there was limited. For those considering Marist for sprinting, the lack of track should not be a reason to deter them from coming. The coaching staff does a phenomenal job training us to be the best runners possible.

Talk about your time as an athlete at Marist. What are some of your fondest memories?

I wouldn’t even know where to start. Being an athlete at Marist has allowed me to form friendships that will stick with me for life. It helped me grow as a person and taught me skills and lessons that I am not sure I would have learned otherwise. One of the best memories for me was breaking the indoor DMR record at the indoor IC4A meet my junior year. Everything clicked that race for me and everyone else on that relay. I still remember the feeling when we found out we were moving on to the finals. Some of my other favorite memories came seeing other people beat personal goals. But what all the memories have in common is the team. Everything good that I remember about Marist I did with friends I found on the track team!

You and your teammates formed a particularly close bond with Coach Horton. Talk about that and his impact on our program!

Terry is the man! We still chat here and there about the team and it’s a good way for me to stay updated.  Learning from such a great runner like him was one of the best parts of running at Marist for me.  Every workout we did for him was done with specific purpose, and while I didn’t always like running 10 400s, it was helpful in the long run. I can’t say enough good things about nor would I even know where to start if I tried to list them all.

Talk about your time as student at Marist. How did it prepare you for your future in the working world?

I majored in Biomedical Sciences with a double Minor in Chemistry and Psychology.  With that on top of track I was stretched more than thin, but somehow I survived and made it to the real world. To this day, I am realizing how well Marist prepared me for the work force as well as for graduate programs. The classes that I took at Marist set me up for success on a daily basis even today! I cannot say enough good things about the academics at Marist and the commitment of the track coaching staff to support their student-athletes in that.

After graduation, you made the particularly curious leap from record-setting sprinter to marathon runner and Ironman triathlon finisher. How in heaven's name did THAT happen? What are your future goals in that area?

It’s actually a funny story how that happened.  Post-graduation I was living at home commuting to NYC for work and working out nights and weekends. At some point in June/July of 2017, my Mom bet me that I couldn’t finish a half marathon (she claims she said that I couldn’t finish one in under two hours – it’s still up for debate).  Obviously, I took the bet and sweetened the deal by wagering a free pair of new running shoes for myself if I broke 2:00 and a free pair of shoes for her if I couldn’t.  I trained for MAYBE 6 weeks with long runs on the weekends of 6, 8, 10, and 12.  At the time I completed the 12-mile run, I was getting ready to have to shell out for new running shoes for her.  Two weeks later, I was crossing the finish at 1:57.53.  I waited patiently for Mom to cross the finish line to claim my new pair of shoes.

From there it just escalated. I started going on more medium to long runs and at some point in time decided to sign up for the Hartford Marathon. As I began training for that, a good friend from high school completed an IRONMAN.  Not knowing much about the race, I joked with my family that I could do it.  At some point joking turned into why not try and I found myself submitting the entry fee for the Lake Placid IRONMAN in July of 2019.  A total of 18 months of training including my first full marathon (yes, my first marathon was actually a training run), and a half IRON that kicked my ass two months before the full and there I was after 14+ hours crossing the finish line at Lake Placid.

I became an endurance athlete because of a bet for free shoes.

As for the future, I will probably run a few more marathons, and maybe a half IRON or two.  I really enjoy the half marathon distance at this point because it feels short. I also really like the 5ks that give you free food and beer afterwards, especially the Hot Oil 5K (unlimited pizza and beer afterwards) that me and Nate Lungarini have turned into a yearly tradition!

Let's talk about the Coronavirus pandemic. When you were in college, you studied epidemiology and had a strong interest in that. What's your opinion of the current situation and how do you see it playing out in the short-term and long-term future?

Where do I even begin…

All thing considered, I think we are doing all right in terms of the pandemic. We were plagued by early deficiencies in testing that ultimately resulted in more cases and a faster spread of the virus. Some counties (LA) even think that there was an outbreak of the virus in October of last year and we just didn’t know it was COVID-19.  I think as testing ramps up and we catch up and are able to determine who has antibodies and who doesn’t and how well those prevent re-infection, we will be in a better place to determine how the next 1-2 to more years will be. Right now, I see us wearing masks for the foreseeable future. Activities like going to sporting events and the bar will be different than what they were before the virus.  In Connecticut, we will be home for another month (Gov. Ned Lamont ordered businesses to stay closed until May 20^th), other states are opening sooner than that so we will see what kind of impact that has on the spread.  The one thing that I am somewhat concerned about is the second wave of the virus and how impactful that will be to us.

Unfortunately, officials are having to choose between keeping people safe and saving the economy.  It is certainly a tough choice to make and I am happy to say it’s not mine. 

Ultimately, at the end of the day we will get through this stronger than before in a world more prepared for next time.

How are you and your family coping with the crisis?

This is the first time in three years that we have all been in the house together for an extended period of time.  It has been interesting, to say the least. We have been playing a lot of board games and doing puzzles. But overall things are going well and it’s good to have time with family. I think the best thing we have done is split up chores as well as which days people cook on. Knowing that you don’t have to cook every night relieved stress I didn’t even know I had.

Where are you living now and what are you doing career-wise?

I actually just moved back home to Connecticut after living in Michigan for a few months. I am working for a medical device regulatory consulting company and am currently placed at a client in my hometown. This basically means that I get to work with this client, the FDA and other regulatory agencies to ensure that they are meeting all the applicable regulations to ensure their medical devices legally stay on the market. 

What are your future aspirations in that area?

I would like to run my own consulting business for small pharmaceutical and biologic companies to help bring new and innovative products to market.

What message would you give to our current seniors who lost their final outdoor track season and final few months of their senior year?

My heart breaks for them. I couldn’t imagine what I would do if that happened to me.  It just goes to show that every day, every workout, every meet, every race is meaningful because you never know if it will be your last.  In essence, there are no days off – make every race count!

What advice would you give to current team members and/or prospective student-athletes considering Marist?

To the current team: Make the most of your time with your teammates, put in the work at lift and practice day in and day out because when you run your final race you want to be able to say you gave it all.

To prospective student-athletes: Running at Marist was one of the best decisions you will ever make.  Not only is the coaching staff exceptional, but the people you will meet and the experiences you will have on and off the track will stick with you for life! 

Anything else you'd like to add ...

Go Red Foxes!!

An interview with Jordan Casey

For today’s Pandemic Papers interview, we don’t have to look too far in the past – less than a year! Jordan Casey just graduated in May 2019 and like so many of our alums, she hasn’t stopped running. Jordan was planning on running her first marathon – St. Jude’s in Tennessee – last Saturday. Well, we know how THAT ended up. But, like Annie Gould a few weeks ago, Jordan didn’t want to let her supreme marathon fitness go to waste, so she decided to run 1 mile each hour for 26 consecutive hours (and yes, tack on that extra point-2 for the marathon). A unique challenge that I knew she would be up to, and she did great with it. So this interview is mostly about that endeavor, which she achieved from and around her home at Ballston Lake, just north of Albany.

We love Jordan. She was one of those heart-and-soul athletes on our team, a true leader during the greatest era of our women’s program – which is continuing and WILL continue, thanks to the leadership of her and her awesome teammates and classmates who have graduated and are now join the growing ranks of beloved Forever Foxes. But, for me, Jordan was an acquired taste. I’m low-key and quiet. I like to keep to myself in the back of the bus, reading some boring old book or checking my email or reading the New York Times on the laptop. Jordan is neither low-key and she’s definitely not quiet. When Jordan is in the room, you know Jordan is in the room! So, so, so, sooooooooooooo full of life! Again, for a shuffling, doddering old introvert like me (look below, she had to explain what tik tok is to me … she knew I wouldn’t get that reference!), that took a little getting used to. But as the years wore on, Jordan and I became very close. Behind all that infectious energy of hers emerged a mature, strong, awesome young woman, and a helluva runner and team leader too. Her close bond with her mother Jen – herself an awesome marathoner – is pretty neat too (see picture below that Jordan drew as a child!). Her very close bond with Coach Chuck was and is inspiring to see as well. Here, today, is Jordan’s very neat marathon story.

When did you decide you wanted to run a marathon and how did you pick THIS marathon?

When I started helping Christine (Gambell) train for NYC and then got to jump in and run a few miles with her and her mom during the NYC Marathon, the energy from the race and all the people was something that made me want to be an actual a part of it all. After Christine finished and I realized how big what she and her mom had done was, I wanted to do it too! I told my mom right away, and obviously she was all for it being she's done over 20, and we did some research on the best marathons for your first one. When we came across the Rock N Roll race series we loved two things: 1. The fact that we could raise money for St. Jude to compete in the event and 2. The location of Nashville. The two of us decided we would make it into a mini-vacation for her and I and spend a few days there and I would run the full and she would run the half. I was pretty excited to start training and we able to run part of my first marathon with my mom.

How was your training for the marathon going before the race was canceled?

My training was going well! I was running 4-5 times a week and doing some bike doubles or all bike days. I was feeling pretty good and doing some of my training runs with Shea (Bohan) and Christine. I had gotten in my 18-mile long run before they had let us know the race was postponed. At that time, my shin was actually starting to bug me again and I was getting nervous it wasn't going to hold up before the date of the race. I started biking a lot more and doing my exercises from when I was hurt my senior year.

What were your emotions like after the race was canceled?

So going off of the last question, when the race got postponed I was obviously very upset because I had gotten through the bulk of my training, but at the same time there was a sense of relief because my shin had begun to really hurt. When the official postponement came out, it was around the time I had moved home because of Covid-19, so I took 10 days completely off of running and stuck to just the bike. After those 10 days, I started to ease running back in and obviously, hence the "marathon" I just ran, my shin feels fine! Now we're just waiting on the new date of the race. 

How are you and your family managing the Covid-19 pandemic/stay at home situation?

It's nice to be back home with my entire family because we haven't all been together for more than a week in a long time. I have a little set up in the kitchen with my "work station" and my sister and brother tend to do school work in their rooms because I'm on calls for a lot of the day. We're managing it, some days harder and more trying on each other than others, but I am beyond lucky to be home with my whole family, all healthy. 

How has it affected your training and did you continue with your normal marathon training or alter it?

Kinda like I was saying before, I more altered/stopped my training because of my shin pain, but now that my shin feels better I am back to running and biking and lifting just with a little less structure. I don't necessarily do full long runs anymore, I'll bike for a bit then run a few miles on "longer days," just to preserve my shin and make sure that when I do have to start back up again more seriously I'll be at 100 percent. 

What made you decide to do the 1 mile an hour thing?

I actually saw it on tik tok lol – Pete, tik tok is this app that people make silly little videos on and post them. But anyways, I saw this guy who had run the LA marathon a few months ago and was training for another one when, like me, his got postponed, so he decided to do 1 mile an hour for 26 hours. When I saw the video, it was about two weeks before the original date of my marathon so I told my mom my little idea and she was, again all for it, and we decided it would be perfect to do on the day the marathon was supposed to be. I was very excited to do something on the day the marathon was supposed to be because I had already invested so much time into training and started raising money for St. Jude. 

Describe how that went! Where and when did you do each mile (all outside or some on the treadmill)? Gimme splits! You know I want the splits!

Honestly, it was so much harder than I thought it was going to be. The hardest part being the 2am-6am window. My body was so confused and so tired getting up to run each hour was brutal. But other than those few hours I had a blast and really my legs felt great. I did every run outside except from midnight until 4am, those I did on my treadmill in my basement. And the ones where it was too dark, so the 10 and 11pm the first day and in the early morning the second day, my mom was following me in her car up and down our road with her high beams on so I could see. I stuck to the about half-mile long dirt road I live on for more, but I also wanted to get off just my road so we actually drove around in between some miles to let me run in cool places. We went to Lake George's Million Dollar Beach for the sunrise and I ran a mile up there, we hit Saratoga State Park for a few and also a local nature preserve with really nice trails. That was really nice because I got to switch up the scenery a bit and lucky it was an absolutely beautiful day too. I had a great time and the support I got from my family and friends was incredible and beyond what I thought. It was really amazing how much money was raised in 24 hours and how incredible I felt finishing the whole thing. Splits are on the picture of the little board my mom made me to track each mile :) 

Chuck has supported you literally every step of the way with this. Describe your special relationship with your very special coach -- both in college and after college.

Yes, Chuck has been incredibly supportive and helpful. He was an amazing coach for me at Marist and I knew whatever I wanted to do post-collegially he would be supportive of. He knew I didn't want to train super aggressively for the marathon, I wanted to enjoy myself, so he helped me to come up with a plan that wasn't too much with my work schedule, that being so so helpful. I dedicate part of being the runner I was during college to him and his way of coaching. I am extremely grateful to have a coach like him who still wants to help me and coach me even though I am not technically his athlete anymore :) Him, you Pete, and all the girls have been so supportive through all I do in my life, running and non-running, and you all are the people that keep me motivated, I am very lucky! 

Whenever we return to normal ... what are your future goals with running? Future marathons, etc.

Oh man, I think I want to run the real full marathon for whenever its new date is, but running has been quite tough on my body in the last two years and I think after I do the marathon I will stick to just some leisurely running for a bit :) Running will forever be a part of my life, I love it too much, but I'm excited to run this marathon for real in the future and then just relax and run a few miles every day, mornings before work. 

What advice can you give to runners to stay motivated during this crazy time?

Make yourself a schedule and remind yourself of your goals. I am a super scheduled person and that helps me stay routine and get the things done that I want to get done, like running before work. Now obviously work is a lot different so my whole schedule got turned upside down, but when I got home I told myself that every day I would do what I used to do, run before work and lift after work. Having that little schedule keeps me motivated and makes me feel a little sense of normalcy through all this. That and reminding myself, literally I use the reminders app on my phone and I have it pop up at the beginning and end of the day, what my end goal is and why I'm putting all this time into training. For the girls retuning to the team next year, I think writing down what you're training for right now and what your goals are for the next season would be so motivating and helpful. That way you see them every morning and every night, maybe on your mirror or something, and you know that that is what you are going out for this run for, or doing the body weight lift you found online for, or taking that extra time to do abs after your run for. It's so hard right now and there's so much unknowns so if you try and do things or remind yourself of things that are normal, staying on track can be at least a little easier. 

And as I have asked everyone in this series: What message can you give to our wonderful senior class as they continue to cope with the emotions of losing their final outdoor track season and final few months of their senior year?

Well for starters, y'all are so incredible and I can't imagine having my senior year taken away from me, but everything happens for a reason and this is a great time to find things that bring you a sense of accomplishment, in athletics but also in your life after college. Talk to your friends and teammates as much as you can and do things that makes you feel successful every day. Don't spend time thinking what could have been, think about what you can do now to give you the feelings you would have felt if this never happened. Whether that's having Zoom happy hours or Facetime runs or just good old phone calls, stay connected with the people you would have been spending this time with, plan for when you're going to see each other after this all ends. I've seen a lot of seniors I know on other teams and our team as well doing things they maybe wouldn't have done at school because they didn't want to hurt their training. Just find something that is rewarding to you, running related or not, and cling onto that to help you feel rewarded in this new chapter of your life after college. 

Anything else you'd like to add ...

My little brother Jack just committed to Marist and he plans to try out for the hockey team! So look out for the littlest Casey on campus and when I come to his games I'll make sure to drop by :) Thanks for featuring me on the blog, Pete, I am very honored.

An interview with Ned Kenyon

As you have probably noticed so far in this Pandemic Papers series, we have a large and loyal alumni network. That will continue to come into clearer focus as you read the many more awesome interviews to come, of which I am very excited to share. Today’s alum, Ned Kenyon, is the glue that keeps together a very formative time in our program’s history – the mid- to late-1990s. As Ned accurately points out here, the foundation for the greatness to come in our program was sowed with the seeds of the teams he was on – specifically the 1998 men’s cross country team that finished second to nationally-ranked Iona College in the MAAC Championships. That meet was one of the greatest days in our program’s history to that point, as our women’s team won the MAAC title for the first time, in 1998. Memories of that sunny Sunday at Van Cortlandt Park still put a smile on my face, and the team photo from that day still hangs in my office.

Anyway, Ned. He keeps us all together. He’s been graduated from Marist for a few decades, but he’s still running strong and he still has big goals for his future. His bonds to his teammate (and yes, to his old coach) remain extremely strong. As the years go by, relationships tend to drift apart. It’s natural. We still care about each other, but life gets in the way and a month turns into a year turns into a few years and before you know it, you haven’t heard from each other. Ned just doesn’t let that happen. He staunchly keeps us together. I hear from Ned frequently – snarky texts (we call each other out, all the time!), emails, calls. He recently set up a Zoom meeting with a bunch of alums from his era. Of course, he did. That’s what Ned does.

Because Ned is the glue, the one who keeps us all together, keeps those ties strong, he has felt the loss of several alums from that era quite strongly. He was particularly close with Eric Bergmann, one of his best friends from Marist with whom he stayed in close touch. Losing Eric to cancer last year was difficult for us all, but Ned took it especially hard. He talks about that below.

Ned is a proud NYPD officer, and we worry about him as a first responder during this pandemic. As you would expect, Ned takes a stoic attitude toward it all. No doubt, he leans on his inner toughness, which I saw during his running career at Marist. As Ned points out, he was never the fastest nor the smartest guy on the team. But you don’t need to be the fastest and the smartest to have toughness and loyalty. Ned leads the league in both of those categories, and more. And so, it’s a natural progression to have the Pandemic Papers take a stroll down memory lane with my boy and my brother, Ned Kenyon.

It was a long time ago but how did you become interested in Marist and what made you choose Marist over other schools? Did I recruit you (I honestly don't remember!)?

I came from a pretty big Catholic, athletic high school in Saint Anthony’s where XC/Track was just as big, if not bigger, than football at that time. I was a decent runner but never a superstar. I ran distance and middle distance but never broke five minutes for the mile until the end of my junior year. I worked hard the summer before my last and ran well enough to be an alternate for states XC, which I felt really proud about. My times improved big time and I knew that I wanted to keep running throughout college so I wanted to pick a college that I know I would feel comfortable with and would also have a great communications program as I wanted to pursue the same career as my brother, which was being a disc jockey. 

As soon as I stepped foot on campus at Marist for a tour, I knew I belonged there. I had applied to Buffalo State, Hofstra (the ‘safe’ school), Indiana U., and Oswego State but Marist was the one. I also met you, Pete, on that visit and you had a small table with just a pamphlet to give to me. When I saw that Daffy Duck tie you had on, I knew you were a character (Coach Pete says: I have no recollection of that tie!). You spoke to me about the values and goals you had for the team, athletically but most importantly, academically. You emphasized that you wanted your athletes to not lose focus one the real reason you go to college to learn and be successful. I immediately told my father Marist was the place I was going. I was totally fine with being a walk on. I just wanted to run.    

What are some of your fondest memories of your time at Marist, both athletically and academically?

Wow, this is a tough question. There are so many memories, that they come in snippets, like Long Dog Run, K&D Deli sandwiches, the Red Baron (Coach Pete says: That was a barely road-worthy Ford van that we drove to way too many practices and meets … it’s unlikely that piece of crap would have or should have passed inspection), McCann Center track, Slugs v Thugs, and the list goes on. But I have to say athletically it’s just doing something I love with a group of guys that were and still are my brothers. But personally, it was finally breaking 2:10 indoors at Manhattan College after what seemed like an endless battle getting over that wall. I think that was my junior year. I ran 2:06 and pretty damn happy about that. Again, I was never a superstar and never strived to be but I did love helping to push others to be successful.

Also, that Class of ‘97 team. I owe them big props to the person I am now. That was my sophomore year and I think that was the year we really came together as a family, as well as a team. I think, Pete, that was the year that started it all up to the present day. Family. That’s what the Marist XC/Track team is now and thanks to guys like Pool, JT, Tim, Eric and Pat, we became that and I can’t thank them enough. They wanted us to be one unit, and we were.  

My senior year, during ‘98 XC, we really came together as a team and I remember our whole goal that year was to get second place, behind powerhouse Iona, in the MAAC championships. There was no way we could touch Iona because they were nationally ranked and had guys like Vinny Mulvey and Ricardo Santos on that team. But we knew we could get second if we worked hard. Rider and Manhattan College were really our only competition. I think each member of that team ran the race of his life. We didn’t all run under 30 (think the team is way faster now), but we all ran with guts like our lives were on the line and we did it. We got second place. The pure adrenaline and excitement on that day I will always remember. 

I was never an academic person. I did not have a stellar GPA (I think it was 2.7 or something) but I just loved taking any history class. That’s always been an interest of mine. I wasn’t able to totally focus on work and classes and I think my grades suffered in that way but I had some great teachers and met some great friends in those classes.  But some of those history classes really opened the door for me to learn different cultures and I have become a military history buff. 

I know you were very close with our recently departed alums -- Eric Bergmann and Karen (Mangan) Carson. Please say a few words about your friendship with them, what they meant to you, what they meant to the program, etc. Also a few words on Greg Salamone, if you could.

This is hard for me Pete as I think about them every day and Eric’s death especially, I still struggle with. Ten years ago, I never would’ve thought that we would lose these three great human beings to such a f**ing sh**ty disease. 

Greg (class of 2001) I remember on his recruiting visit wore a Reese’s PB Cup shirt and when he showed up the next year as a freshman, he was christened ‘Reese’s’. He never seemed to tire, always pushed himself and never said ‘I can’t’. EVER. His long runs were always hard and you never could keep up with him unless he let you. He always laughed and never gave into the typical college peer pressures that so many of us do and I envied him for that. We lost touch for awhile but when I heard he was sick, I reached out to him via email and he got back to me about a week before he passed. I still have that email and I look at it often. 

Karen (class of 1997) was such a positive person and I always remember her smile, because it lit up a room. When I first met her, I was like wow because she seemed intimidating cause she was pretty and popular but she really wasn’t intimidating at all. When I got to know her, she was so friendly and always said hello when I saw her in the halls before class or at practice or at the bar (sorry, Pete!). She was a gutsy runner who excelled at the middle distance and she was always yelling on the sidelines at every race. I know she was closest with the ‘97 group, especially Mary, who became her sister-in-law, but she was just such a good person with a beautiful heart. It saddens me that during this COVID world we are in now, we can’t properly mourn her but I knew we all will and be able to talk about all the thing we loved about her. 

Eric (Class of 1997) was the guy that made you laugh so hard in a library that you would get in trouble. He was one of a kind. A great runner that always looked to push you to work harder. He would stand up for you like a brother. We had a common love for U2 and music, we had the same kind of humor and he was someone that would sit and listen to you and help you with your problems. And when you got in his pick-up, you felt cool. He was one of the first guys my freshman year to really make me feel comfortable as I was struggling with fitting in at school and on the team. We remained close throughout the years and was one of my best friends and the day I had to say goodbye to him in the hospital was probably the worst day of my life and still gets me, even while writing these words. His son, Ethan, I have grown close to and is the spitting image of Eric but might be the faster runner haha.

You've done a lot of running since graduation. What are some of your post-collegiate running highlights? And what are some of your future goals?

    

Ok, yeah, I have run quite a bit because I never lost my love of this sport.  Like I said before, I was never a superstar but I like to think now, in my early 40s, that I am fast for my age. I can still crank out a 5:20 mile (if it’s a one-mile race! Haha) but I think I do pretty well for myself. 

My highlights were 19:38 at the Police Appreciation 5K a couple years ago and a 3:21 in the NYC Marathon back in 2005. I’ve run 1:37 and 1:38 respectively in the last two Covered Bridges Half Marathons in Vermont and finishing in the top three in my age group in several races throughout Long Island and NY. Yes, I am old, and can’t keep up with some of these younger guys but I can hold my own. 

My goal is to finally finish my first ultra. My first two were unsuccessful and I am trying to change my approach to running to concentrate on endurance instead of speed. I have two big ultra 30 milers in the early fall (COVID permitting) and I am looking forward to them. This year is all about distance and clocking in the miles but with the job I have, it’s tough to get consistent training in. But I am just one of those guys that can jump in a race after not training for weeks (I don’t plan on doing that). 

My brother also motivates me as he has now gotten into running too and I act as his coach which is kinda cool. My nephew, Jack, is a junior at Gettysburg College and is one of their top runners on a successful program so it’s great to talk with him about all things running. 

Describe your career path since graduation and how you would up with the NYPD. How long have you been on the job and what is your current assignment?

I really was lost after I graduated Marist. My major – Communications (Radio/TV/Film) - didn’t really have many jobs out there and I didn’t really know the right people. I actually gave myself six months and if nothing turned up, I was going to join the Army.

I did work at a post-production company for five years but it was going nowhere so a friend of mine (Sean St. Clair ‘00 and sometime javelin thrower on the team) became NYPD and told me to take the test. That was in ‘04. I wanted around that time to get into government work (CIA, FBI) and thought law enforcement was a good first step. I took the test, got the call and went into the July 2005 class. The academy training helped me run my best marathon too!

I am completing my 15th year now and it’s had its ups and downs, as I am sure fellow brother in blue Bryan Quinn, whom you interviewed earlier, can attest. I started as a foot patrol cop at the Midtown South Precinct in the crazy streets of midtown Manhattan (sarcasm) and did my field training there or as the department likes to say ‘impact zones’ where they flood high crime areas with cops to try and stem the high rush of robberies and larcenies in the area. After playing tour guide to people from Europe and running after unlicensed street vendors (no one could outrun me. My friends called me gazelle) for six months, I was transferred to the 13th Precinct, in Gramercy, and did eleven and a half years there working the overnight shift and the 4x12 tour. I did narcotics, terrorism (like active shooter), and auto crime training as well as just responding to your daily problems that people have. The area was nice but had its mix of good and bad. There were project houses as well as $5 million brownstones. After all that time, I needed a change so the past two and a half years, I have been with the Evidence Collection Team. I respond to crimes that already occurred, putting the puzzle pieces together of how, when, why, what, and who. I look for fingerprints and collect DNA and it’s satisfying when your work gets recognized by detectives and higher ups and even more when you make an identification on the evidence you collect. I am not looking to advance in rank as I am happy just being a police officer. 

NYPD is on the frontlines of this Coronavirus pandemic. How has it affected you personally, professionally and your precinct? Are you worried about getting the virus and your health? Mostly! How are you DOING!

I try not to give into the paranoia, hysteria, or panic that seems to grip so many people at this time. I have a job to do and that is what I focus on. I am still going into the city, still taking mass transit, and still interacting with the public. If you think about things too much, it will drive you crazy. I try to remain calm and concentrate on each crime scene I go to.

My unit was hit hard by this. There are only about 14 of us and eight got hit with symptoms. Some were positive and negative. But the way my department works, if you have symptoms, you have to go sick immediately then get tested. This creates problems because it means there is more work to do for the remaining members, which I am a member of.  I am glad I do not show any symptoms and have felt fine throughout this whole thing but it can be stressful with the longer hours and work. 

I am worried about my parents and that is the only thing that stresses me. They are in their 80s and my father’s health is not the best so I go and get their groceries and do whatever I can while keeping to social distancing and tell them not to leave the house.  We all stay connected through Zoom and talk so thank God for that.

As you know, our senior student-athletes lost their final season of eligibility (outdoor track) and their final few months of their senior year. What message would you like to impart of them?

Don’t lose your focus. This is a bump in the road. Life is full of ups and downs. But what goes down must go up. This will all pass. Not having a graduation or an outdoor track season is disappointing for sure, but it is not the end of the world. It’s a bump. This virus is scary and what you should be focused on is your family and staying healthy at this time. Everything will fall into place. But don’t get frustrated. Don’t let something like this make you lose faith or hope. Keep running, support each other, do your online classes, stay in contact with each other.

And put down the phones. Talk with your family. Get to know them again. We sometimes get caught up in technology that we forget how to interact as people, just talking face to face. Do things that we normally take for granted or don’t have time for.

But most importantly, breathe. Just breathe. Take a step back and know that this will all pass. 

What message would you like to impart on returning student-athletes and any prospective student-athletes, about Marist?

Marist was the greatest decision I have ever made. The people I have become friends with whether on or off the team, are part of my family and will always be. I wish I could relive ‘95-‘99 over again and even though, some people might say that I live in the past, I don’t mind at all. They were some of my favorite times of my life and you will make great memories too. Pete is a great coach and you will learn so much from him as a runner, but most importantly, as a person. But you can’t get anywhere unless you take your academics seriously. 

Anything else you'd like to add ... 

  

I thank you, Pete, for all that you have done for this program and for me. Without you, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. When I am in a race or just running through the neighborhood, I still hear your voice in my head and still can visualize you standing somewhere near the finish with your watch, yelling out splits or telling me to move or relax and that always motivates and pushes me. EVERY SINGLE TIME. Thank you, Pete.

RUN. REHYDRATE. RUN SOME MORE ...