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THE HERD:  This is the HERD.  They are silver toothed, velvet tongued, one eyed son of a guns, and pistol pack'n Mamas.  At the end of the Stoned Elephant Stampede in November you will be given two weeks to review your standings, and to make a case for yourself.  The HERD will be listening.  You can also, like last year make a pitch for others who you think deserve special consideration.  The HERD will then review the data.  They will have the power to award 10 points to a male and 10 to a female.  They can award it in any manner they choose.  They can choose not to award any points.  However they want to dole them out.  They just can't give them to themselves.  I only ask that they keep the spirit of the Stampede in mind.  Who ran fast, Who kept up with knowing their sport.  Who pitched in at local or regional races.

Here they are:

bulletEric Worsley.  Last years male winner and keeping an eye on Fall River and Rhode Island.
bulletJulie Spolidoro,  Last years female winner.   Marshfield Plymouth area.
bulletJohn Anjos.  Long time friend and blood brother.  Taunton area and Veteran Division
bulletRichard Flood.  Multi sports.  ie Tri's.  New Bedford.
bulletWoody Wilson.  Westport, Fall River, and Dartmouth.  Veteran
bulletTom Gelson, Marion.  Help Richard with Multi sport.  Master
bulletSheryl Briggs-Coye.  Bourne and the Cape. Sub-Master, and master of the volunteer points.
bulletGretchen Parmentier.  Taunton,  Sub Master.  Data person.  Will let us know if our numbers are off. 
bulletNancy Dorn, Plymouth Senior Division. 
bulletEd Talbot.  Veteran,  Mattapoisett area.  Vast experience in all facets of road running.
bulletMaciel Pais.  Open Division.  Keeping an eye on New Bedford.  Is a teacher, so can spot cheaters.
bulletSal Corrao, Sub-Master.  Sal's vast experience will help keep an eye of the high school division. 
bulletJoan Britto.  Volunteer, Director on Dartmouth Parks Tri.   Don't let that nice personality fool you.
bulletKathy Lopes, Director of Ft. Phoenix RR.  Can spot a slacker when she sees one.
bulletKevin Mullin, Fairhaven.  Help us understand the crazies that run all day and into the night.

Time to catch up with the people who read this stuff :

Hi John,
It was a pleasure meeting you at the community health center yesterday.  That meeting sparked a lot of excitement within our race committee and I learned a great deal about the stoned elephant stampede.  I'm new this year to running (I ran in high school) so I wasn't really paying attention to anything besides running a few races BUT I do love a competition.  Now that I understand the stampede, I'd like to earn some bonus points. First, I finished the NB half marathon this year in 1:42 so I believe I should get 10 points (i'm listed as 5) but personally, my proudest running achievement is my 1st marathon, the LA Marathon that took place on memorial day.   I've included my results as proof.
 
Thank you so much again for meeting with us.  It was very much appreciated. 
 
Odilia  or Didi (my nickname)
10720 Odilia DesRoches Acushnet MA   F 03:38:00

JB:  So, Didi,  what you are telling me, is that you flew all the way across the country, spanked those California girls, got back on the plane flew home whistling:  "East Coast Girls are hip......."  You got your points, and wait tell you see what you did to the standings.  By the way that time you did in LaLa land is a 10 pointer.

****************************************************

Hello John!

I hope you are enjoying the summer. Just a quick note to provide you with an update on my marathons. On Mothers Day, Kenny Rogers, Sheryl Briggs and myself made the journey to Bradley Palmer State Park to participate in the 6 Hour Mother's Day Run put on by the GAC, the folks who put on the annual StoneCat 50 Mile Trail Race and Stone Cat Trail Marathon. Both Ken and I were able to complete 27 miles that day. Please refer to the following link:
http://www.gaconline.net/mdres09.html

On June 7th, I had the pleasure of running the 26th Nipmuck Trail Marathon in Ashford Connecticut. http://www.runwmac.com/gt2009/nipmuck2009.html

Nipmuck represents my 5th marathon for the year 2009.

In any event, please consider this an update on my marathon progress to date.

Best Wishes

Kevin Mullen

JB:  Thanks for keeping us up to date on you Multi-Milers.  I know that runners are always looking for info on different  races.  

Fairhaven Father's Day Road Race:  It was good to see Patrick Moulton and Julie Spolidoro take the honors in the 1oK, and Joe Navas and Christine Anderson do the same in the 5K.  The field to 1,209 has the race committee thinking.  It is by far the best running event in these parts.  Why do I say that?

What was the price that you paid to get into this race?  If you were in the first 1,000 you received a TShirt, those of you who were in the first 800 got a mug and a T.  Everyone enjoyed the food and beverage.  That included the family members that you brought along.  But here's the real story:  I brought young people into out sport:  Here's some interesting facts:

5K

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Sixty eight boys and girls ran in this 3.1 mile race.  Many of them as part of the Father Son and Father Daughter teams.

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A total of eighty seven men and women competed in the high school division.  Many of those had just came off outstanding high school track seasons.

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A total of twenty one Father and Daughter Teams entered.  Many of they had three or more on a team.

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There were twenty two  Father and Son Teams.  Again many of those had three or more runners.

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692 Entered the 5K, and 639 finished.

10K

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A total of 517 entered the 10K.

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They came from over Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, New York, and of  course Massachusetts.

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Forty-Three runners were in the 18 and under group.

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There were 15 Father and Son teams

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Fifteen Father and Daughter Teams.

The best way to put it?  They came from all over, from all ages, and the family that runs together, stays together.  Healthy bodies and minds give way to happy families.

Marion Village 5K Road Race:  This race saw a record increase of 458 runners and walkers.  It is by far one of the fastest courses through one of the most beautiful towns along the south coast.  Eric Narcisi, you would know him as a two time winner of the Acushnet Road Race stated:  " I didn't know this place was this beautiful.  Had I known that I would have planned to spend more time down here."   Look for Eric to be back next year.  And don't be surprised if he doesn't drag some of his RTK Running Team with him.  We saw Danny Yifru in Fairhaven.   The day was beautiful for a change, and the times reflected it.   Best of all was to see our own JoAnn Matthews break back into the winners column, and they always talented and lovely, Ann Priesig by way of Falmouth capture second over all.

Now on to what you have all been waiting for.  The Marion Road Race closed off the first half of the Stoned Elephant Stampede.

Stoned Elephant Stampede.  You started your trek on a cold winters day in Raynham, and you have made it to the first watering hole after the Marion Road Race.  Granted due to the weather The Frostbite was not run.  Many of you took advantage of keeping up with the sport by entering the Name Bart's Burrow, volunteering, running a half and full marathon, sending in photo's, and naming two of the greatest runners the sport has ever seen due battle.  Then the games began with the month of June, and I told you things would change.

Sal Corrao built a lead using all of the above,  Keith Nadeau took it away from him by winning the Middleboro Y race, and a high placement at the Day Of Portugal.  This changed.  Sal placed high in the Fairhaven 10K, and talked a cramped up Keith to finish in under 40 minutes.   Sal came back to get some points at Marion, and now enjoys the lead at the first watering hole.

Boy's!  Don't look back, because here comes Nancy, Gretchen, and Julie.   Plymouth's Nancy Dorn has just gone on a stampede of her own.  She has volunteered, answered the questions, ran 1/2 and full marathons, and consistently wins the ladies senior division.  She is in third overall.  Gretchen Parmentier from Taunton by way of Fairhaven, is another threat to take it all.  She is just getting better and better with each race.   She also exhibits the spirit of the Stampede:

Hi JB- Are you looking for any volunteers at one of the upcoming races?  Is it possible for me to both volunteer and run at the same race?

Thanks,

Gretchen H. Parmentier

Right now the champ in this regard is Sheryl Brigg-Coye.  Sheryl has bailed out a number of races by helping out at the registration tables, Most notably was the Berkley race, and this past week end, Marion.

Woody Wilson is right up there with all of them:  Check this out.

Hi John,
   Well John since I'm home in bed for this week let me tell you why I find myself in this predicament. Coming down with a brutal cold at the end of last week the question was..."are the points worth at least showing up, staggering around the course and trying not to trip over my own tongue as I gasp for breath." Well, being a card carrying member of the herd of course the answer was yes. Not the correct answer as it turns out but worth the trip. Of course I stayed as far away from everyone as I could, staggered around the course as slowly as I could, limped to my car as I looked like I was in the final miles of a marathon, and was home, showed and in bed by 10:45a.m.!
    As I came back from the doctor's today with no pneamonia only a very bad case of bronchitis and with a prescription for something strong to help me get through the night I had to ask myself...was it worth it. Well, maybe the outcome wasn't the best but like the commercial says...The Fairhaven Father's Day race?...priceless. Now if I feel better by Saturday I might attempt Marion and you won't have to drug test me unless I line up facing the wrong why. The cough syrup haze should clear by then. But as a member of the herd halftime can't come soon enough!
Woody Wilson

Woody ran in Marion and placed.  

Don't get too comfortable up there.  At the beginning of the month Eric Worsley and Julie Spolidoro were out of the top twenty five.  They are now in the top 10 and climbing. 

I'll let you digest the standing for a couple of days, then we will take a look at the divisions, and the towns. I'm also going to announce the HERD at that time.