Luke Shane runs strong in Vermont

Congrats to Marist Running Alum – and good, dear friend of mine – Luke Shane for his outstanding race at Sunday’s Vermont City Marathon in Burlington on Sunday. Luke ran his second fastest time and the fastest spring marathon (by more than two minutes!) in his long and illustrious marathon career, placing 15^th overall in 2:42:48. This race represents his eighth sub-2:50 marathon and 11^th sub-3:00 marathon. Many of you know Luke’s “story” – he was a soccer player growing up, but otherwise was not all that athletic. He likes to remind me that he was that “short, chubby kid” in middle and high school, and when he joined the team at Marist, he was still in the early stages of his running career and not all that competitive. “Not all that competitive” is about the last three words you would use to describe Luke Shane now. Logging that many fast marathon times during the teens (can we call this decade that?) has firmly established Luke as one of the most prolific alumni marathoners in school history. Yeah, I’m biased. Luke’s my boy. I love him like a son and a brother, and about the only thing we argue about is how hard he trains – an outstanding topic over which to bicker. He continues to chase the elusive sub-2:40 time, but even if Luke never ran another step (that’s NOT happening, man!), I’d be proud of what he has accomplished. And oh, by the way? No one is more proud to wear the Marist Alumni Racing Team singlet that Luke (as far as the fancy sunglasses and haircut … well, he’s on his own there … his old coach in the tube socks and same gray Marist track T-shirt doesn’t roll like that). Nicely done, Luke. Long may you run …