The Runners Reunion Podcast

Swamscott, MA native Paul Gorman had a stellar career as a professional runner during the 80’s.  His journey to the elite level during the height of the running boom, however, was far from conventional.  After dabbling in the sport in high school, he attended Providence College where the likes of Mick O’Shea, Mick Byrne and John Treacy were solidifying the continuous stream of recruits from Ireland.  After a brief stint on the team, Paul eventually left PC despite making friendships with many of his teammates.  Paul’s rise to the elite level of the sport began after leaving PC with a persistent and disciplined approach that served him well as a professional runner and as CEO of the South Shore YMCA in Massachusetts.

When Title 9 was signed into law in 1972 little did Janice Cataldo know how it would impact her life and the contributions she would make to one of the storied women’s track and cross country teams in the country.  Growing up with five sisters in a traditional italian family learning to be a good homemaker was the order of the day in the early 1970’s.  As fate would have it, a gym teacher at St. Xavier High School in Providence spotted her running talent in class during her junior year.  Janice took his advice to join the track team and quickly excelled earning All-State honors in high school and wanted to continue competing in college.  As a freshman at Providence College in 1976, however, there was not a women’s x-country or track program.  With help from Janice and the quickly changing tide that resulted from Title 9, PC fielded their first x-country team in 1977.  By the time she graduated the cross country team qualified for the national meet and the track team boasted 20 teammates.  We hope you enjoy this episode as Janice recounts her journey through the early days of Title 9, the running boom and the positive impact it has had on her personal and professional life.

Our guest this episode is 10 time All American Mark Robinson.  A graduate of Catholic University, and longtime coach of his alma mater, Robinson did not begin running until his senior year at McKinley Technical High School in Washington, D.C.  Despite a late start in the sport, he posted impressive results by clocking a 4:15 mile and 9:16 two mile in high school.  His success continued at Catholic University and at an international level competing in the 1976 Olympic Trials and on the European Track Circuit as an 800-meter specialist.  Mark’s passion for the sport continues to this day as head boys coach at Bell Multicultural High School in Washington, D.C.  We will discuss Mark’s career on and off the track and his dedication to community development.  When not coaching track you may be lucky enough to sit with him in the stands at a major track meet and enjoy his deep insight into the sport and his analysis of each event that is more than likely to be spot on! Longtime Catholic U. coach helps grow local high school’s running program

In the 1970s and 1980s Johnson & Wales AC (JWAC) was the dominant road running club in Rhode Island.  Prior to becoming a four year college (now a university) JWAC had one of the top Jr. College teams in the country featuring standouts Hollie Walton, Roland Davide, Bob Hodge and Vin Fleming to name a few.  The then 4 year College team transitioned to an all comers club in the late 1970's during the height of the running boom.  Bobby Doyle and Hollie Walton, fresh from the collegiate ranks at UTEP, led the charge and soon other top runners followed including Tom Grundy, Mark Skinkle, John Treacy, Mick O'shea, Mick Byrne, Ray Treacy, Doctor Paul Thompson, Tom and Bobby Ratcliffe and many other top runners from RI.  At the height of its dominance the club had over 70 plus members of various skill levels including the Elite runners.  This also included several team titles over the years around the country at almost every distance including a 50k in Brattleboro Vt in 1978 and third in the TAC National XC meet held in Franklin Park in 1984. The driving force behind the club was the founder and original coach Colonel John McNulty.  His distinguished military career included the Bronze Star and three Army Commendation Medals for Meritorious Service, and the Combat Infantry Badge.  The Colonel was also an accomplished marathoner long before it became a sport for the masses. As a boy in Baltimore he won his division in several road races at various distances.  In this episode we discuss the legacy of the Colonel and JWAC with his son Chief Patrick McNulty.  We will also discuss Pat’s own experiences as a runner, accomplished surfer and career in law enforcement.

Our guest this episode is the third pillar and one of the founders of the Runners Reunion event Charlie Breagy.  Charlie was a member of the second wave of Irish and British runners to attend Providence College that made up one of the most dominant cross country teams in the country during the early 80’s which finished second in the NCAAs in 1981 and 1982.  After graduating from PC Charlie remained in Rhode Island and was a fixture on the local road racing scene.  A product of the club system in Ireland where members remain with their clubs for life, Charlie has been a member of the Rhode Island running scene for more than 40 years serving as a coach, race organizer and an ambassador for the sport.

Our guest spent his formative years in the snow belt of Upstate NY. Glimpses of raw talent showed through championship success running on skis. After a successful collegiate career, the Clarion Call of Boston proved irresistible and he moved east, initially rooming with punk rockers before moving to the infamous River Street AC Commune. He went from working the cash register to a professional role at the upstart New Balance Shoe Company. An original running outlaw, pilloried for contesting antiquated notions of amateurism; a contagion who risked contaminating entire fields he remained true in his belief that professional athletes should be able to accept money openly versus groveling under the table. This proved to be a prescient attitude years ahead of its time. A relative unknown, he upstaged the favorites to dramatically win the 1984 US Olympic Marathon Trials, and backed it up as the first American in Los Angeles. More success followed including a second Olympic Team berth in 1988. A 26 year resident of New Zealand, he recently retired as CEO of Athletics New Zealand, the country's USATF equivalent. Sit back and enjoy the following conversation with Pete Pfitzinger.  Check out the 1984 Olympic Marathon Trials Finish!

While the Runners Reunion Podcast Team is planning for season #3, we are pleased to host Ocean State Running’s master of the media Steve Mazzone as he catches up with Siobhan Breagy to discuss the upcoming Ocean State Cross Country Invitational at Goddard Park on September 22nd and 23rd.  The Ocean State XC Invitational sponsored by Hoka and Marathon Sports is one of the most competitive and popular XC events on the east coast.  Listen in as Steve and Siobhan discuss the new and exciting features planned for this year’s event.  For more information check out their website Ocean State XC Invitational  Theme music by Jens East

Our last guest of the season is Gerry Beagan, one of the founders of the Runners Reunion event.  Gerry’s story is perhaps one of the best examples of how the running boom of the 70’s impacted the lives of the 25 million Americans who fueled the growth of competitive road running.  By chance Gerry was at Fenway to watch the World Series bound 1975 Red Sox on Patriot’s Day and spilled out into the street to watch the finish of the marathon to see running’s common man Bill Rodgers float by in a homemade T-Shirt to win the race in an American Record.  The west wind that day also swept Gerry right into the thick of the Running Boom.   Running from that point on became his passion that inspired him to complete more than 100 marathons, countless ultra marathons, organize many of the area’s iconic road races, coaching local runners to PRs  and publish a magazine and book on New England Road Races.  Like many of us Gerry was always a fixture at post race social events providing sage advice on almost any topic that many of us appreciate to this day.

Our guest this week is Olympian and Team New Balance Boston Coach Mark Coogan.  Mark’s running resume is impressive with range from the mile through the marathon and every distance event between.  Mark’s pro career included training with coach Bob Sevene and support from training groups in Providence and Boulder that included some of the best runners of the era.  Mark used these experiences to develop into one of the most successful coaches in the country.  You can now read more about his coaching philosophy in his new book Personal Best Running: Coach Coogan’s Strategies for the Mile to the Marathon  Of course we recommend listening to the podcast first!

As a Newton, MA native Bob Fitzgerald was no stranger to the Boston Marathon.  Each year his parents would take him to watch the race on the famed HeartBreak Hill.  It wasn’t until he graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in English and focus on journalism that he started running to lose “beer weight”.  The former defensive lineman from Newton North quickly caught the running bug and fit right in with the running boom, easily transitioning into the social scene with the cast of characters of the era.  The “beer weight” came off and Bob clocked some impressive PRs including a 2:40 marathon and 14:33 three mile.  It was Bob’s penchant for journalism and love for the sport that ultimately led him along with his wife Michelle LeBrun to acquire the New England Runner in 1998.  Listen in to this week’s episode as Bob recounts the early days of the running boom and the stories that make up the sport’s evolution throughout the years.  https://www.nerunner.com/

When Julie Peterson-Menosky was in grade school at St. Mary’s Catholic, girls did not have gym class, were limited to only a ¼ of the playground and allowed only to skip during recess (no running)!  Fortunately times were changing quickly with the advent of Title Nine and the emergence of the running boom.  Despite some notable success in high school Julie went off to UMass Amherst without ever visiting the campus, never mind a recruiting trip and a sleepover with the team.  Fortunately the stars aligned at UMass when she decided to try out for the Track and X-Country team that included some notable coaches including Peter Pfitzinger.  Under the guidance of Pete the UMass team won the New England XC championship with a team of walk ons. After graduating from college in the early 80’s Julie met Dan Peterson who became the driving force behind Julie qualifying for an impressive five consecutive Olympic Marathon trials.  We hope you enjoy listening to her inspirational journey as one of the region’s top marathoners for more than two decades.

Fewer than 115 men can call themselves Boston Marathon champion. Even fewer boast a 50 year connection to the race:  athlete; elite athlete talent manager; coach; and catalyzing force linking the marathon to fundraising efforts to make the world a better place. Add a dash of decades of collegiate sports psychology instruction and buckle up for a wide ranging conversation with the always interesting, always erudite  Jack Fultz. Ranging far from his Pennsylvania roots, road racing took hold first over the traditional collegiate career during the height of Viet Nam. It ultimately led him to toe the line in 100 degree heat, in Hopkinton, in April 1976 The rest is history.

Our guest this week is four time Olympic Trials qualifier and coach Greg Lautenslager.  After a 20 year award winning career coaching in New Zealand Greg is back home in his native state of Texas coaching at Hill College.  As many of you know Boston was one of Greg’s stops during his 12 year quest to make the Olympic Team.  As with many of the runners in the 70’s and 80’s Boston holds a special place in Greg’s heart for the many friendships he developed during his time running for Nike Boston.  This past December Greg was able to attend the annual gathering of Newton and Wellesley area runners at the Cherry Tree in West Newton.  Much to his surprise his 20 year hiatus from the Boston scene did not skip a beat as he reconnected with old friends like it was yesterday.  Listen in as we continue to catch up with Greg about his experiences in Boston, New Zealand and the many other stops along his passionate journey in running and coaching.

This week’s guest is Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame Coach Julie Collins.  Julie’s first experience with competitive track and cross country growing up in Smithfield, RI was in middle school in one of the first organized programs in the state for middle school girls in the 1970’s. She also ran with the Ocean State Track Club all women’s team organized by legendary coach John Hird before attending Providence College.  After a successful career at PC Julie turned to coaching in her mid 20’s as a way to break up the day while caring for her young family.  With the support of several key mentors, Julie coached countless young men and women to athletic and academic success.  We hope you enjoy listening to her story of her passion for coaching and helping young adults navigate their way through high school.  Exceptional coaches at the high school level are hard to find.  If you were coached by Julie, or were a parent of one of her athletes, consider yourself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with one of the best coaches in the state of Massachusetts.

This week’s episode features Rhode Island’s own version of the “Chairman of the Boards” and Northeastern standout Tom Mortimer.  Tom’s first exposure to track was a visit to the famed Cranston Street Armory to watch his brother Frank compete for Pilgrim High School.  When he entered through the heavy wooden doors to the Gothic Medieval structure the unmistakable scent of Atomic Balm dominated the track that was housed in the main hall.  The experience of that first meet where spectators and teammates were right on the edge of the poorly marked lanes screaming cheers for the competitors was like nothing he had experienced before.  The deafening noise and the poorly lit venue created a sense of speed and adrenaline that was contagious.  Tom was hooked and knew that is what he wanted to do.

Our final episode for 2022 features Fitchburg State and North Shore legend Paul McGovern.  Growing up in Lynn, MA Paul’s endless energy was channeled through sports.  In his neighborhood baseball was king with several of the local youth of Paul’s generation eventually making it to the major leagues.  That career path changed when a college track coach saw something in this young man that eventually resulted in Paul becoming a pro baseball prospect and taking the lead halfway through the 1992 Olympic Marathon trials.  Paul shares a remarkable tale of patience, persistence, self awareness and mental fortitude that listeners, and mom's and dad's everywhere will want their kids to hear. Take a listen, and get ready for more in 2023.

Our guest this week is Rhode Island running legend Hollie Walton.  As fate would have it Hollie just happened to be a freshman at Hope High School where Bobby Doyle and Ted McLaughlin were beginning their legendary careers.  Before the two began to influence his stellar career, Hollie somehow missed the running portion of the Presidential Physical Fitness Test and was about to flunk gym class his freshman year!  Fortunately the physical education teacher found him in the gym shooting baskets and convinced him to finish the test with a one mile run on the track.  With borrowed sneakers that were two sizes too big and dress pants, Hollie cruised through the mile in 4:50 and the rest is history.  We hope you enjoy this episode as Hollie recounts his epic career from Hope High School, Johnson & Wales, University of Texas El Paso and back to J&W as a club runner.

With over 67 state championships in cross country, indoor and outdoor track Jim Doyle is one of the most successful high school coaches in any sport in the United States.  In 2017 Jim was inducted into the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Hall of Fame and in 2018 was honored by the National High School Coaches Association as the National High School Boys’ Cross Country Coach of the Year!  In this week’s episode we discuss with Jim how he became involved in competitive running during the running boom of the 70’s,  his transition into coaching in the 80’s, and how he has become so successful coaching and mentoring countless young runners over the years.   We hope to see you at one of the Bobby Doyle foundation events this summer.  There will be a wine and beer tasting event at The Guild Brewing Co. in Pawtucket, RI from 6-9 p.m. on June 24th and the annual Bobby Doyle Summer Classic 5 mile Road Race on August 14th.  https://www.bobbydoyleraces.org/

As a high energy 7th grader, Cathy O’Brien found herself on the Dover NH high cross-country team. Her coach predicted that Cathy would be “fantabulous” if she worked at her craft. Any running chronicle of the 80’s and 90’s shows she did. At 16 she ran the inaugural 1984 women’s Olympic marathon trials, and within months, closed out her high school career as a 5-time state cross-country, and Kinney national champion. Post high school adjustments followed, but Cathy was soon back on track, with refocused energy, validating earlier predictions by becoming a 1988 US Olympic marathoner at 20.  Her career ascended, highlighted by a world record for 10-miles, a second Olympic marathon berth in 1992, a 2:29 marathon PR in Los Angeles and a Mt. Washington Road race title. Cathy talks with the Runner’s Reunion team about running in those simpler times, a period without the distraction and pressures of social media and message board opinions. We reflect on Title IX, classical music versus 80’s rock, honor, sportsmanship, and while on the glide path to motherhood, and her current career in musical education, the value of victories paid in lobsters versus cash.

During this time “Hodgiesan” traveled to Japan four times to compete in several iconic marathons and road races.  His Olympic dreams stayed alive as he competed in the ‘84 and ‘88 marathon trials.  He planned for his last race as a journeyman pro to be the ‘88 track trials.  After that the plan was to finish school and get a “real” job.  After the ‘88 track trials however Bob had one more offer to travel to Japan for one “last” race.  Bob’s wife Frannie jokingly matched the offer and the trip never happened! Check out Bob's epic win at the 1982 Beppu Marathon!

This week we are “On The Road” with Bob Hodge as he discusses his competitive running career that spanned the pre-running boom days growing up in gritty streets of Lowell through the early 1990s .  During his youth Lowell’s famous textile mills were closing at an alarming rate with its population dropping just as quickly.  Bob’s brother Billy went to Vietnam and never returned. It was a turbulent time with Richard Nixon elected to restore law and order only to resign five years later as a result of the Watergate scandal. Running became Bob’s escape from the disillusionment many youth felt at the time.  Bob’s passion and talent for running were a perfect match for the running boom that offered him a career as a running vagabond enabling him to travel the world and accumulate a book full of tales.  You can read all of Bob’s stories in his book “Tales of the Times”.

This week’s episode features Scott Mason who was one of the many runners influenced by the running boom in the late 70’s.  Having never competed in high school or college, Scott rose through the ranks to become a top regional runner and one of the few Rhode Islanders to clock sub 50 minutes for 10 miles. Scott combined his passion for the sport with his love for photography to provide us with a visual documentary of the local running scene that spans five decades.  Scott’s enjoyment for camaraderie the sport has offered continues to this day as he can be seen “shooting” at many running events throughout New England.  Always on the search for a good “Hazy”, Scott is looking forward to the next Runners Reunion event he is planning with Gerry Beagan and Charlie Breagy.  Click Here To Check Out Scott's Photography

Our latest episode features Portsmouth Abbey (RI) and Harvard standout John Murphy.  At times John’s running career provided him solace from the challenges of daily life but also great frustration due to injuries.  At Harvard John was mentored by the legendary Bill McCurdy who helped him develop a resolve to persevere through injuries to compete against some of the very best the NCAA had to offer.  John’s resolve and grit would be tested once again in 2005 when he suffered a stroke during the Chicago Marathon.  Through fate and family support, John has made a remarkable recovery considering the severity of his stroke.  He is now an advocate for stroke awareness and the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle so that other families can avoid disabilities that may result from a stroke. John's Stroke Advocacy Work

From the slopes of Ski Valley in Cumberland, RI to the foothills of Denali Tom Egan recounts his running adventures from his early days competing on the Cumberland High track team to a 15 mile run on sea ice in the Arctic Circle navigating through a dangerous ice fog.  100,000 Mile Journey

Our latest episode features Ironman Triathlon champion Karen Smyers.  Karen recounts her early days as a competitive swimmer through her dominance in the world as a professional triathlete and how the sport became a lifestyle that continues to this day.  For a full bio on Karen you can visit https://www.karensmyers.com/

Legendary Bates College track legend, and fixture in New England Running scene for more than forty years, discusses his early days of racing and training in Maine and competing with some of New England's best runners during the height of the running boom in the early 80's.