This Pandemic Papers series has
expanded beyond what I envisioned, and for that I am grateful and humbled. It’s
definitely expanded the writing workload, but it’s truly a “labor of love” …
which brings me to today’s chapter on the father-daughter duo of Ken and Shea Bohan.
The past four years while Shea has been on the team (2015-2019, Shea just
graduated this past year) have been a blur of positive emotions and love, as I
was able to reconnect with my old friend and captain – Bo, Class of 1984 –
while watching his daughter flourish into perhaps the greatest “winner” we’ve
ever had in our women’s track/XC program. Every great moment our women’s
program has had during those past four years and 12 seasons, Shea had a knack of
being right in the middle of it.
So today’s Quarantine Questions are
to both father (Bo) and daughter (Shea), similar questions from slightly
different angles. As a result, once again it is a big longer than normal; I
hope readers of the blog do not mind. But in this time of limited mobility and
being mostly shut in our respective homes, longer reads are probably more
acceptable than usual. Here, then, is today’s tandem Pandemic Papers with K-Bo
and Shea.
Describe your very
different (and separated by a few decades) paths to attending Marist
College.
Bo: Were you recruited or was it just assumed that a Friar runner
from St. Anthony’s High School becomes a Red Fox, back then?
Shea: Refresh my memory on your recruiting process. I think it started
with an email to me?
Bo: Unlike the opening lines of John L. Parker's "Once A Runner,"
coming out of St. Anthony’s, I was not a 4:30 miler yet! That being said, I had
been contacted by then-Marist coach Rich Stevens, and was flattered by the
interest. I believe Rich was who started a kind of pipeline of Friars to
Poughkeepsie. In the early spring of 1980, I took my visit and told the coach
that if I got accepted I'd be proud to be a Red Fox. To be sure, acceptance was
no guarantee, but Coach Stevens seemed confident, and eventually my best friend
and teammate Charlie Munn and I were on our way to Marist.
Shea: I
actually was very against going to Marist (both my parents went to Marist so I
tried to be a rebellious 17-year-old). I didn’t love any of the schools I had
officially visited, so I decided to email Pete late November of my senior year.
I remember driving up to Marist for my official (visit) with my dad, I was
still saying there was no way I would go to a school that BOTH my parents went
to; 24 hours later I had fallen in love with Marist, the team and both crazy
coaches. Coming out of St. Anthony’s and joining a team that had four of my Friar
teammates on it also encouraged my decision to be a Red Fox.
Your experiences at Marist were vastly different because they were
separated by several decades, but by the same token there were some
similarities.
Bo: Describe your time as a student and as a runner at Marist. And
describe the differences between when you/we were here vs. Shea's experience. What are your fondest
running memories from your years at Marist?
Shea: What are some of your fondest memories from your time as an
athlete here? I know there are many!
Bo: Well, the early 1980s version of Marist College and the current
school couldn't be more different. Academically, athletically and aesthetically,
I'd say the only constant was the beauty of the Hudson River, and the steady
stewardship of President Murray. Oh, and the fact that we still have no track
facility. President Murray really deserves credit for transforming a small
former Catholic school into an internationally known and respected place of
higher learning. When I started, the campus was less than a third the size it
is now, all the classrooms were in Donnelly, and we had a Pub in the basement
of Champagnat, clearly different times. I'd say the greatest similarities
connecting the different eras, ours and Shea's, are the closeness and loyalty
of the Marist community and the love of team. As I'm sure you remember Pete,
the numerous coaching changes and the obstacles that came with them put the
team concept at the forefront of our focus as student athletes. I believe that
those challenges led to lifelong friendships with the guys who were
upperclassmen when I arrived, all the way to the freshmen who got there on my
way out.
Having had the privilege
to hang around the men's and women's programs these last four years and witness
firsthand the incredible group of young people you and Chuck assemble each year
has really been fun. Seeing the support of past generations is truly a
testament to how far you have brought the program. Having the best student
athletes in the MAAC and seeing all the success they achieve as runners and
people is really inspiring. You can see the freshmen really want to own their
own part of what it means to be on a great team at a great place, I know Shea
did, and that is a credit to the coaches and the school, but also all of us who
came before.
While I loved to race
and compete in the Red and White, my fondest memories as a runner at Marist
always have been about training. The shared daily grind, the commitment to
oneself and the greater good of team, truly the miles of trials and trials of
miles, to quote Parker again. Thirteen milers in driving rain, runs over the
Bridge in searing heat, 20x400 on the old Poughkeepsie High School track and
the run back to campus, exhausted but exhilarated, all the miles at Ogden Mills
or Roosevelt and the hundreds of hills at the Psych Center, those are the
memories I cherish, hammering with teammates, damn to be young again!
Shea: I don’t even know where to begin. I am fond of almost
every memory I had as a Marist athlete, from sitting in the caf for 7 hours
after a long run to sprinting across infields to give post-race PR hugs. My
favorite race memory has to be outdoor ECACs my junior year when we won and set
the school record in the 4x8 from the slow heat. After our heat we went into
the stands (Me, Jenna Robinson, Kerry Gaye, and Denise Grohn) to watch the next
heat, we had no idea we could win the entire thing until the fourth leg started
in the fast heat. I remember being tackled by other teammates and everyone
screaming on the top of their lungs when we found out. Outside of running, I
think something I miss the most is just the athletic community. I loved walking
around campus and seeing all of my friends from different teams. I think that’s
something me and my dad can both relate to from our time at Marist.
How did Marist prepare you for your post-collegiate careers
(non-athletic)?
Bo: You were a communication major with me, right? How did you go
from there to FDNY and describe your career path?
Shea: Your career is just starting. Tell us what you are doing now and
how Marist prepared you for what you are doing now.
Bo: So yeah, I majored in Communications and wanted to go into journalism
when I graduated. Actually Pete, if I remember correctly, you followed me into
the internship at the Poughkeepsie Journal. So, I got out of school and took a
job at a small publishing company that put out safety and security newsletters
for schools, hotels, and hospitals. The guy I shared writing duties with was a
graduate of the University of Georgia, and he happened to be waiting for his
number to be called to go into the FDNY. Honestly, up to that point I never
even considered it. Long story short, a couple years pass, and I'm writing for
a weekly newspaper, selling running shoes and coaching at Stony Brook on an
interim position. Brian, the guy from Georgia, sends me a packet with all the
info to take the FDNY test, and a letter saying he thought it would be a good
fit for me. I thought it over and decided I’d give it a go. A couple months of
serious training and classes, and I got in the first class off the next test
and was sworn in, in June of 1990. On a side note, I kept my column at the
weekly paper for another decade or so.
Shea: The term post-collegiate still doesn’t seem real to me, but I
think Marist taught me to get outside of my comfort zone and roll with the
punches. I actually just passed my 6-month mark of working/living in NYC. I
work for a tech company call Next Jump, we are an ecommerce platform for all Fortune
1000 companies. We also just started developing HR apps for the Navy, Air Force
and other Fortune 500 companies. I studied environmental science in college, so
this transition into the business world was weird at first as I am surrounded
by engineers most of the time. Each day is different, so I definitely find
myself rolling with the punches often.
How are you both dealing with the Coronavirus situation right now?
Where are you, how has it affected your work and your running life and what are
your thoughts on this situation?
Bo: Compare this pandemic to 9/11. They are different for obvious
reasons but similar in subtle ways. How can you compare them?
Shea: You grew up in the shadow of 9/11. It obviously affected you and
your family and extended family deeply. What lessons do you think we can learn
from that moving forward?
Bo: The current world health crisis has obviously been taxing on all
of us. We are blessed that for the past two weeks and for the foreseeable
future we are all together in South Carolina. We are also healthy. Watching the
situation unfold in NYC has been heartbreaking. As a retired first responder in
the City, I can tell you there is a shared frustration on the front lines that
throwing manpower and resources at the problem will not fix it. Comparing
anything to that day in 2001 is never easy. That being said, the need for New
Yorkers and Americans to come together in mutual support of each other reminds
me of the days and weeks that followed the attacks. The scope of this thing is
just so crazy, it’s tough to wrap your mind around it. It’s a daily struggle
for us all, and it is hard to not let it consume your every thought. So, we
have been going for long walks, getting our runs in and trying to spend some
time on the Lake, things that we can control.
Shea: I’m actually in South Carolina right now, our company has
been working from home now for three weeks so I knew I could work remotely
anywhere. My sister and I made the decision to leave NYC, so we packed up my
Jeep and drove 12 hours to my dad’s house here on Lake Murray, SC. I think the
Coronavirus is difficult for me and people my age to wrap our heads around still.
I can relate it to 9/11 as well, as this is a time of uncertainty for everyone in
every aspect of everyday life. I think what I remember most from 9/11 and the
years to follow was the support and love. I was surrounded by hundreds of
people who risked their lives each day to help New York. We received thousands
of letters and phone calls from people all over the country. We were able to DO
things to help, or BE THERE (in person) for everyone. Even if it wasn’t
helping, it made us feel like we were doing something for others and I think
that is the hardest thing about the Coronavirus. My dad keeps reminding me that
by staying home we are helping people, this is something we are both struggling
to wrap our heads around. Another major thing I think we need to remember,
reach out to people. Loved ones, friends, people you haven’t spoken to in years
… just do it.
Talk about your post-collegiate running and how it may be helping
you deal with this current pandemic?
Bo: Your post-collegiate running career is a lot longer than Shea's, recap all you did since graduating
from Marist in 1984.
Shea: You just graduated what seems like 10 minutes ago, but you are
still running and running strong. What are some of your post-collegiate goals,
once running (and everything else) returns to normal?
Bo: After graduating, I kind of became a recreational runner for the
first year, trying to focus on work. I soon realized that I needed more. So, I
started training again and soon was running with the distance guys at Stony
Brook and competing on the roads for Schwabs 2nd Wind, a running specialty
store where I also worked. Soon after that I began training with, competing for
and working at Super Runners Shop. This led to all kinds of breakthroughs for
me as a runner, as I was training with very accomplished athletes. As
importantly, it was a team in every sense of the word, back to two-a-days, high
mileage and traveling to races all over the Northeast. Then I joined another
team, the FDNY. The FDNY when I was hired was basically the guys locker room
anyone who has ever been on a team can relate to. That's how I've always
described it, it was all the best aspects of being on a team all the time. You
worked out, ate and went to work as a unit! I was in heaven and we had a
running team and archrival to boot!
I had the privilege of
competing in an FDNY (still in the red and white) singlet both nationally and
internationally in every event from the mile to the marathon. Man, we ran a lot
of miles and drank a lot of beer and I got to meet so many great men and women
along the way, way too many of whom are no longer with us. So, my competitive
days extended well into my 40s and it was a blast the whole way! I feel really
lucky to still be able to get out the door every day for 3-5 miles and my
"races" now are just a fun run on Thanksgiving and maybe St. Patrick’s
Day.
Shea: I think running is one of the only things keeping me sane
right now, as things are moving SO fast at work strategy wise. I’m super lucky
to be away from people down here, so I’ve been running higher mileage just to
clear my mind. I took about 15 weeks off from running after graduating (injury
ended my last spring season), so I was very glad to start running again when I
was able to. I slowly built back up and now I run around 60 miles a week
depending on how I feel. I hadn’t placed any running goals for myself after
college, I just wanted to fall back in love with running for myself. I raced
the Tower to Tunnels 5k in September in an FDNY singlet, it was more of a day
for my dad, the FDNY and my family/friends. When everything returns to normal
I’ll think about racing some 5ks, we will see though. Right now (well before
Coronavirus), I was running in Central Park every day. I meet Jordan (Casey) most
mornings in the park before work, I think we are both just enjoying running
without any pressure right now.
Getting back to 9/11 for a moment. I know you could probably write
a book on that, but what thoughts and memories can you share from that terrible
tragedy?
Bo: As a proud FDNY, you have dealt with so much loss -- then and
in the ensuing decades. What can you say about that time and how it has
impacted our world?
Shea: What lessons can you impart with your generation and
younger, who either have vague or no recollections of 9/11, other than as a
historical event? How can we keep that very important topic relevant?
Bo: So, 9/11. Man, what can I say, it was clearly the worst day in our
country's history. What I choose to take away from that day, a day when we lost
so many friends in a matter of hours, was the way we came together in an
unprecedented response. Not only all the first responders, who all had to
acknowledge that this was a day that would change everything, but New Yorkers
and later people from all over the country and world. It really made me feel
connected. I'm not sure that makes sense, but when you spend hours, days weeks
then months dealing with death, the body recoveries, the endless wakes and
funerals, the feeling of a connection to something bigger helped us deal with
all the suffering. I see a similar thing happening now and this time I feel it
may be even more important because of all the isolation. Stay positive, take
one day at a time, go for a run.
Shea: I think explaining 9/11 to people who don’t remember it is
something I struggle with, as that day dramatically changed my childhood and
everything around me. If I had to leave my generation with anything right now
it would be to step up in any way you possible can. In regards to keeping this
topic relevant, I’d say just to remember that New York came together 10 times
stronger after the events on 9/11.
For both of you: You were able to share a truly unique
parent-child bond, connected through Marist Running. Reflect on what it meant
to you both during the past four years -- Bo, being able to get reconnected
with our program (a blessing for me/us) and Shea, being able to bridge the
generations from your dad's time to now.
Bo: When Shea chose Marist, obviously I couldn't have been happier.
Immediately after she arrived I knew it was the right fit, I could just tell by
the way the team interacted. The four years to follow, went by so fast it’s
hard to imagine. Personally, I had so much fun traveling around to watch her
run and thrive with the team. Having a good friend who also happens to be a
great coach in charge of the program was a real bonus. Getting to know Chuck
and his family, and adding them as friends was the icing on the cake. To both
of you, thank you for doing what you do! Forever Foxes!
Shea: I grew up at a road race every weekend practically watching
my dad race in his FDNY singlet (I loved this as it usually turned into a party
afterwards), so I knew I wanted to compete like I had watched him do so. Our
unique bond began when I started running at St. Anthony’s (he also went there
too), but I don’t think I appreciated it until I came to Marist. The crazy guy
flew across the country almost every weekend for four years to watch me run a
race, which sometimes only lasted just over two minutes. I got to intertwine my
actual family and my Marist running family; my favorite part was seeing how
much my teammates idolized my dad as well.
For both of you, but especially Shea: What message do you want to
send to the graduating senior athletes on our team (your former teammates,
friends) on the loss of their outdoor track season and the final weeks of their
college careers at Marist? What message of hope can you impart on our returning
athletes?
Bo: To all the graduating seniors on the team, you've been robbed! I
feel terrible about the lost opportunity. The lesson in all of this, if there
is one, is that nothing is guaranteed. Take nothing for granted, appreciate
every moment, all the people in your lives and go for a run, it won't fix any
of this, but it is the one thing you can control. Thanks for all the great
memories, it was a blast watching you grow and compete! To all the returning
runners I'd say the same thing and when this finally passes, I'm looking
forward to getting back out there and cheering you on! To you Pete, and to you
Chuck, please keep yourselves and families safe and healthy, hope to see you
all soon.
Shea: Well, they would
also probably freak out if I got emotional on them here, but I would thank them
for being the most supportive group of individuals.
To the seniors (both on the team and not on the team): Support
each other as much as possible, and when this is all over let it fuel the fire
in you for whatever you do next in life whether it be running or work-related.
I am so lucky to have spent three years with you crazy people, and I have no
doubt you will all do bigger things after this craziness ends.
To the rest of the team: Again, I’d say use it as fuel for next
year. Run for the seniors next year, but also appreciate ever moment so much
more than you would have as we now know this experience can be taken away at
any moment.
I don’t think the returning athletes need “hope” from me
specifically, but one thing I’d leave them with is again just to support/reach
out to each other. No one is going to get through this experience alone, but it
will make you so much closer in the end if you all do it together. Cannot wait
to see the amazing things you will do!
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| Thanks to Marty McGowan for sending me this photo of Bo in the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in the Tunnels to Towers 5km |
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