Join us for our second annual Backyard Benefit on May 3rd, featuring a special conversation with Strava co-founder, Mark Gainey. Don’t miss out on another fun, social, sunset evening supporting PDC - secure your spot today!
With the 2022 finish line almost behind us, it’s time to take a look at the season that was. Check out our 2022 Competitive Year in Review!
Thank you to all those who contributed to our 3rd Annual Miles For Meals campaign. During the week of October 17-23, the team logged over 2400 miles and raised our goal of $5000 for Second Harvest Food Bank!
Catch up on all the PDC results through the conclusion of track season and the start of the fall road and cross campaigns! Read all about it here.
Join us for our first annual benefit event this May. We’ll enjoy a relaxed twilight evening before a unique conversation with special guest Sara Hall. For more information and to secure your ticket click here.
Season’s Greetings from PDC! Catch up on the competitive year that was with our 2021 review!
The team has been competing well on the roads and cross country courses, including top major marathon finishes and team + individual wins on the PAUSATF XC Grand Prix. Check out the latest on our results page!
PDC is partnering with Athlete Blood Test for testing and analysis! Read more here…
While the PDC track season continues into the summer, the first six months of the year featured lots of progress, with personal bests galore. Three athletes competed at their respective Olympic Trials, including Matt Leach (GBR) - 4th, 10,000m / 15th, 5000m; Chris Olley (GBR) - 10th, 5000m; Maya Weigel (USA) - 26th, 10,000m. Check out all the results for the year so far on our results page!
This year wasn’t the easiest, but plenty of PDC athletes made great strides. Read all about it on our blog!
Finishing the most unexpected of years, PDC athletes produced strong results at the Track Meet, Marathon Project, and Project 26.20. Read more on our Results page. PC: Justin Britton
We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Tracksmith! Read more on our blog.
Races as we know them have been hard to come by. What has the team been up to during the last few months? Check it out on our blog!
Our campaign exceeded our goals and we greatly appreciate all who contributed. Read more on our blog!
Every mile we run this week will result in a matched donation for our local food banks. Please join us in our effort!
PDC sent six athletes to the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials, our largest contingent ever. All returned with strong performances, finishing ahead of their seeds in the race and racing tough on the extremely difficult course. For the women, Mara Olson led the way in 47th, followed by Amy Schnittger in 99th, Caitlin Chrisman in 128th, Jeannette Mathieu in 183rd and Stephanie Pancoast in 222nd out of 450 starters. Matt Lenehan earned 120th of 252 men. Read more about all our February results here!
Check out our results page, now updated with January results, an outstanding start to 2020 on the roads, track, and cross country course!
This year featured a new logo, a new lead sponsor, and plenty of competitive racing. Read about the highlights here.
Our results page is now up to date with all of our latest results, including PAUSATF XC Champs, Turkey Trots, CIM, and USATF Club Cross Country Championships. Check out how the team did here!
We’re back with some PDC logo beanies, t-shirts, crew neck sweatshirts, and running / trucker hats, just in time for holiday season! Don’t miss out, pre-order only available through Cyber Monday morning! Thanks to our friends at A4 Promotions and Incentives for all your help!
For the 10th consecutive year, the PDC women’s team earned a spot on the team podium at the PAUSATF Cross Country Championships, with 5 scorers in the top 12 for a close runner-up place. The men’s team, led by individually winning rookie Chris Olley and a decisive last lap surge, finished a strong second place as well, our highest men’s team finish in history.
Cross Country and fall road seasons are well underway. Check out our results section for the latest finishes and times from our team members in competition!
A strong contingent of women hit the streets of Santa Cruz for the Wharf to Wharf 6 miler on July 28. Top 10 performances by Marissa Ferrante and Caitlin Chrisman led the way, with Ferrante posting a new club best of 33:00.
Matt Leach traveled to Montreal midweek, where he snuck under the 8 minute 3000m barrier to finish 3rd in a new personal best and outdoor club record of 7:59!
Over the last weekend in July, Tori Tsolis and Ayla Granados contested senior outdoor championships in Patras, Greece, and Des Moines, Iowa. Tsolis earned two podium finishes, taking third in the 1500m and 2nd in the 800m, while Granados finished 8th in a tactical heat at her first US champs, despite a strong last 800m.
Tons of new results are now updated on our results page, including Matt Leach’s team silver medal at the Night of 10,000m PBs/ European 10K Cup, and a women’s team win at the PAUSATF One Mile Bang!
PDC sent a large group to this year’s Portland Track Festival, coming away with several good steps in the right direction. Josh Sealand again hit a lifetime best in the 1500m, running 3:45, while Brendon Fish (pictured) hit 1:50.38 for his first 800m in several years. Ayla Granados, Tori Tsolis, Tasia Potasinski, and Carmen Mejia also had outdoor seasonal improvements.
PDC has an excellent showing at the State Street Mile in Santa Barbara on June 2. Josh Sealand smashed his PR and earned a club best in fifth at 3:54.9. Brendon Fish tucked under 4 at 3:59, with Steven Grolle also finishing in the top 10. Our three women’s top 10 finishers were led by a fifth placing Maddy Berkson in 4:26.
The team has been hard at work on the roads and track. Check out the latest results and top finishes of recent weeks on our results page!
Courtney Heiner and Josh Gruver stepped on to the outdoor oval for the first time this spring at the Aggie Open. Both raced the 2000m steeplechase, a great appetizer for future 3000m efforts in that event. For the second straight year, Heiner took home the victory, while Gruver notched a steady runner-up placing.
Ayla Granados and Tasia Potasinski capped an eventful indoor season for the team with competition at the USA Indoor Championships on Staten Island, NY. Both contested the 2 mile (off year substitute for the 3000m), and although neither hit the marks hoped for at the meet, gained valuable experience in their second and first USA Indoors appearances. Potasinski improved 15 seconds over 2018, while Granados 14 seconds, after also competing for Team USA at the Great Stirling Cross Country in January. Outdoor season is just around the corner!
We’ve had a great four years as Strava Track Club, but we are now returning to our roots as PDC while we welcome On as a footwear partner. Read more about it on the blog!
2018 has come to a close, but not without a great deal accomplished on the track, roads, and trails. Read our 2018 Competitive Year in Review here.
19 athletes competed in four timezones on Thanksgiving Day with 6 wins, and Ayla Granados backed up her top 10 Silicon Valley Turkey Trot finish with our eighth individual female PAUSATF XC championship in the past nine years. Both teams finished on the podium, with the women among the top three for the 10th straight year. Detailed results to come!
The team has been competing near and far, on the roads, trails, and cross country courses, and in distances from the mile to the marathon this fall. Get caught up on all the latest results here!
Strava TC members are competing in national championships and international competition across the globe this track and field season. Read more on our blog!
Between things heating up on the track and great opportunities on the roads - the team has been on fire across the country and even across the pond, where Natalie Tanner and Matt Leach took part in the European Cup / Night of 10,000m PBs in London on May 19. Natalie earned a team bronze, competing with Germany in her international debut. Check out all our recent results through Bay to Breakers below!
Team members have been making strides coast to coast. Three 10,000m PRs from Natalie Tanner (32:36), Amy Schnittger, and Caitlin Chrisman, along with bests from Maya Weigel and Evan Appel led results from the Stanford Invite / SF State Distance Carnival, while a top US performance from Kaitlin Goodman at the Cooper River Bridge Run, a victory from Matt Lenehan at the United Rock 'n' Roll San Francisco, and a 10 Mile club best from Matt Jablonski at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile highlighted the first week of April. Click below to check out all the recent results!
With wins at several races both near and far, as well as a strong men's team score last weekend, things are heating up on the roads. Check out our results page to see our latest road (and track results).
Ayla Granados and Rebecca Mehra both made their senior international debuts on January 13 at the SimplyHealth Great Edinburgh Cross Country international match. Comprising the two female legs of the 4x1000m co-ed relay, they competed against a composite team from Europe, as well as Great Britain, Belgium, Ireland, and others to finish in 7th place. Photo credit Keith McClure
On a freezing day in Lexington, the team had a great showing in the USATF Club National Cross Country Championships. The Open women's and men's teams accomplished the goal of two teams in the top 10, with both teams earning club best finishes. Kris Paaso ran away from the field in the 40+ race, taking home individual honors for the first time.
Kaitlin Goodman carried a great fall of training across the finish line, running a seven minute personal best of 2:32 to take 5th at the 35th Cal International Marathon. Amy Schnittger qualified comfortably for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials as well, running 2:41, and Tania Morimoto came close to her personal best in 2:50, after battling sickness earlier in the week.
Strava TC was all over the country running turkey trots near and far. Benedikt Bünz (pictured), won the Boston Volvo Village 5K in Brighton, MA. For all Turkey Trot results, please check our results page!
For the eighth consecutive season, the women's team won the Pacific Association USATF Cross Country Championships, led by Natalie Tanner, our seventh different individual winner in that span, and six athletes in the top 10.
A strong 3-4-5 in team scoring for Matt Leach, Jake Shoemaker, and Trevor Halsted led the men to another excellent runner-up run vs Aggies, their second straight year in second place.
We’re proud to be partnering with our good friends at rabbit for a special pre-holiday pop up shop!
Don't miss out on a chance to fill the stocking of your favorite runner with limited edition rabbit x Strava TC running apparel, featuring top quality rabbit craftsmanship and our winged logo in its signature color. Pre-order now through November 27 (unless we sell out first) to reserve yours today. A portion of the proceeds support the club, and delivery is scheduled for the week of December 11. Hop to it and experience for yourself why we have loved running in rabbit this year!
Outstanding results from coast to coast and across the pond. Check out the roll call from last weekend on our results page!
In the running podcast you didn't know you needed until now, Collin Leibold chats with Strava TC members and others about a variety of topics. Matt Leach features in this episode, chronicling a run-in with a day-old donut, a workout at the Baylands, and next week's Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half Marathon.
Listen here!
As summer turns to fall, Strava TC has begun to make a mark on the roads and cross country courses around the Bay Area and across the country.
Jake Shoemaker led results at the September 10 Golden Gate Park Open XC fixture, our first venture on to the PAUSATF circuit this fall. He outlasted Phil Reid and Malcom Richards for a convincing win. Trevor Halstead followed just behind in 4th place, with Maya Weigel matching that effort with a solid debut 4th place effort on the women's side.
The day prior, Maggie Yount successfully contested the Imogene Pass Trail Run in Telluride, CO, covering 17.1 miles and over a mile of elevation gain to 13,000+ feet in 2:58 for third place.
Lauren Schultz notched a win on hometown soil with a victory at the George Washington Patriot Run 5K on September 10th as well, her first race of the fall.
On September 16, Kaitlin Goodman and Natalie Tanner took to the streets of Northport, NY to contest the Cow Harbor 10K, traditionally one of the fastest road 10Ks of the US year. Goodman and Tanner (debut as a pro) made their mark in a big way, finishing 2nd and 4th.
Dena Evans and Melinda DiNapoli represented the team at the 44th BMW Berlin Marathon as each seeks to finish all six World Marathon Major events, while at home, Josh MacDonald flew the flag at the Garin Park PAUSATF XC event.
Look for many upcoming performances from the team in the coming weeks, including at the local Rock 'n' Roll San Jose race weekend on October 6 and 7.
What does the day in the life look like for your average full time techie and full time triathlete? Read Kevin Bishop's blog piece on runinrabbit.com here!
In our 10th year, Strava TC is on the way to our most and successful productive year yet! Read
In their first European competition tour, Ayla Granados and Tori Tsolis have been off to a very productive start.
Tsolis first set personaland club bests over 800m at the British Milers' Club Loughborough Grand Prix on July 8 and Joensuu Games on July 12, running 2:05, then 2:04. She backed that up with a second place 4:12 at the Savo Games on July 16.
After a repeat 4:17 performance in England and a season opener in the 800m, Granados enjoyed a huge breakthrough in the 1500m, running 4:13.57, a new personal best by four seconds.
Kaitlin Goodman (10,000m), Amy Schnittger (10,000m), and Tori Tsolis (1500m) will be representing the team at the USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships! Read on, and head up to Sacramento to cheer them on!
Matt Leach, currently sitting third on the 2017 10,000m list for British athletes, has been selected to represent Team GB & NI for the European Cup 10,000m in Minsk, Belarus on June 10. This represents his first international selection, following his efforts at the Highgate Harriers' Night of 10,000m PB's selection race on May 20th, where he finished 9th among British athletes.
Strava TC took to the streets of the always festive Bay to Breakers 12K on Sunday, May 21. Matt Jablonski led the way for the men in 8th place, first Bay Area, and with a club best for 12K at 37:04. Chandler Kemp finished just behind in 9th, with Ben Mears in 12th, Matt Lenehan and Josh MacDonald in the top 50 and Brent Varga in the top 100. On the women's side, Caitlin Chrisman ran her debut race for 2017, earning 10th and top Bay Area, with Amy Schnittger in 11th, and Tania Morimoto in 14th.
Tori Tsolis and Ayla Granados ventured south to the USATF Distance Classic on May 18th, both competing in Heat 1 of the 1500m. Granados positioned herself near the front for the majority of the race before coming across the line in 6th for 4:18, while Tori Tsolis mounted a late charge to take the heat win by nearly a second in a new personal best of 4:14.9.
Several team members were in action at the USF West Coast Last Chance Meet on May 13th. Tori Tsolis hit a slight personal best over 800m, while Kris Paaso also won her heat in the same event after a tight stretch battle. In the 5000m, Amy Schnittger won going away in a new PR of 16:20, with Victoria O'Neil 4th. On the men's side, Trevor Halsted, Evan Appal, Bryan Crook, and Benedikt Bünz all had season's bests, helped by pacing from Matt Jablonski.
In Folsom, Courtney Heiner also took the victory in the Love My Mom 5K.
Ayla Granados returned to the Medtronic Twin Cities 1 Mile on May 11th for the second year in a row. She again posted a strong performance, finishing 7th.
Despite unusually windy conditions, the Payton Jordan Invitational again provided some of the best racing opportunities of the year. Kaitlin Goodman ran 31:55 in the women's 10,000m, earning an IAAF World Championships qualifying mark, also a personal best and a club record for the distance. Tori Tsolis took advantage of a quick early pace in the 1500m to close hard for another second place and a 4:15.44 clocking, a new lifetime best. Also earning a slight PR was Matt Leach, who ran 14:03 in the 5000m in very blustery conditions. Matt Jablonski (5000m), Ayla Granados (5000m), and Collin Leibold (1500m) competed as well, but were not able to improve on their seasonal bests.
Courtney Heiner improved to 1:22 and a second place finish at the American River Parkway Half Marathon in Carmichael on Saturday, April 29th. Melinda DiNapoli again contested the hometown Great Race 4 miler in hot weather, earning 4th and second 40+.
Tori Tsolis took to the streets of Des Moines on April 25, taking home a medal for a top 10 placing in her first US championships race.
Tania Morimoto earned the win at the Nihonmachi 5K along the streets of San Jose's Japantown on April 23!
The Strava TC men's team again posted a strong performance in a PAUSATF Road Grand Prix event, finishing in 5 of the top 10 spots at the Stow Lake Stampede 5K. Trevor Halsted led the group in 2nd, with Kris Paaso and Victoria O'Neil earning top 10 results on the women's side as well.
Seasonal improvements were the trend at the 2nd annual Cardinal Classic meet at Stanford. In the 5000, Matt Jablonski ran away from the field for the win in Heat 2, running 14:05. Trevor Halsted and Benedikt Bünz took a close second and third in Heat 4 of the 1500 with season bests, with Tori Tsolis also improving her time by 4 seconds. Ayla Granados ran a second straight 4:17, and Collin Leibold earned his second fastest time ever. In the 800m, Kris Paaso make a strong move to the front and held on for third in her heat of the 800m, and in the 10,000m, Amy Schnittger earned second place in her first track 10K, stopping the clock at 34:15.
Ayla Granados made a big move to the front of her heat at the Bryan Clay Invitational on April 13, holding on for a big personal best and victory of 4:17.10.
Tori Tsolis also opened her 800m season, taking fifth in heat 3 at the Beach Invite.
Matt Leach took to the Yale track to contest the 5000m in the oldest continuous international track and field meet, contested for the 46th time between Harvard / Yale, and the Achilles Club (affiliates of Cambridge and Oxford Universities). In tactical affair, he kicked home for the comfortable win.
In the coming weeks and months, look out for more Strava TC related content on the blog of our apparel partner, rabbit! Coach Dena started things off with an entry about how the club and how it came to be... check it out!
Six athletes competed well at the SacTown 10 miler on April 2, a stop on the long course PAUSATF GP. Amy Schnittger led the pack in 3rd place, with Tania Morimoto in 9th and Courtney Heiner in 11th. For the men, Ben Mears was 12th, Matt Lenehan 23rd, and Brent Varga 35th.
Kaitlin Goodman traveled to Charleston, South Carolina on April 1, taking 6th in the always competitive Cooper River Bridge Run 10K. Her performance also represented the top US race on the day.
Strava TC athletes had a very productive evening at the Stanford Invitational distance carnival on March 31. Collin Leibold, (13:39, 5000, CR); Ayla Granados (16:01, 5000); Matt Leach (28:45, 10,000, CR) all had huge personal bests, with Leach's time topping the leaderboards both in the UK as well as Europe. Tori Tsolis ran a solid second place in her 1500m heat and Trevor Halsted opened in the 5000.
Always a friendly venue for the team, SF State's Cox stadium again played backdrop for some strong runs from Strava TC athletes. Victoria O'Neil ran a 65 second personal best in the 10,000m, with Matt Jablonski also improving his lifetime best in the 5000m by 11 seconds. Kris Paaso opened her track season with a 2:15 800m, and several men also ran initial efforts at the 5000.
Coach Dena Evans traveled to Kampala, Uganda as the senior women's coach for the US team at the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. The senior women's 10K squad finished fifth, with the mixed 4x2K relay 6th. This is her fifth appointment to a US coaching staff and third at the World Cross Country event.
The first race of the 2017 PAUSATF Short Course Grand Prix took place on a beautiful and sunny morning in Brisbane, March 12th. Strava TC fielded full men's and women's teams, which competed very well for our first scored outing of the year. On the men's side, Matt Jablonski (2nd) and Trevor Halsted (3rd) waged a strong battle with eventual winner, Phil Reid of Aggies, with the men unofficial gaining the team victory (official scoring to come). Overall, seven men finished in the top 11, with 8 in the top 20 (Josh MacDonald, 6th, Bryan Crook 7th, Evan Appel 8th, Ben Mears 10th, Chandler Kemp 11th, Kirk Scheibelhut 18th).
For the women, Amy Schnittger again led the way in 1st, followed by Victoria O'Neil in a strong 3rd and Kris Paaso running strong once more in 4th / 1st 40+. Dena Evans and Melinda DiNapoli rounded out the scoring for the team, which appeared to be a very narrow runner-up to Impalas in the Open team scoring, despite scoring 3 masters athletes.
Next up on the Grand Prix - CreditUnion SacTown 10 Miler on April 2, and the Stow Lake 5K on April 23.
Results to come on pausatf.org.
Strava TC sent a strong group of athletes down to Orange County for the Newport-Mesa Spirit Run on March 12th. An early season road racing opportunity at the long-standing community race, the competition yielded solid performances over the mile and 5K.
Tori Tsolis took home the women's victory in the mile with a late kick past teammate Ayla Granados, both running strong road times of 4:40 and 4:41. On the men's side, Matt Leach set a club road best in a close finish for second (Reid Buchanan 4:05), with Collin Leibold third, also in 4:06. Benedikt Bünz earned 7th and club training-mate Neville Davey finished 8th and first master.
Everybody returned for the 5K, where Annie Beck raced fresh to the victory in 17:01 with Granados again second in a workout effort and Tori Tsolis 5th. On the men's side, all four athletes finished in the top 10 to compete the day's work.
We hope to return in 2018 for another great morning of racing.
In her fifth trip to Jacksonville, Kaitlin Goodman emerged among the top 10 for the first time at the national 15K championships. Clocking a personal best and club record time of 50:53, she recorded one of the fastest closing miles (5:10) in the field to secure her finishing place.
Strava Track Club is teaming up with rabbit as our official apparel sponsor! Keep an eye out for Strava Track Club athletes wearing rabbit apparel in training and racing. Club Director of the Strava Track Club, Dena Evans, says it best: "We are thrilled to partner with rabbit. Their energy and commitment as a young company embodies the spirit of our team members and our Silicon Valley roots." Read more on our blog.
Ayla Granados took her turn on the oval Sunday evening, taking 10th place in her first contested event at a US track and field championships. A tactical pace over the first mile gave way to a an emphatic sprint finish. With her second top 10 in a US championship (2016 Road Mile), she is poised to embark on her 2017 outdoor campaign with confidence and strong plans for future PRs.
Extended poor weather forced the organizers to change the course. Race day weather was pouring rain. The new course ended with 2 miles straight uphill. Even so, nothing stopped Amy Schnittger and Courtney Heiner, who opened the 2017 PAUSATF Long Course Grand Prix with a 1st and 4th place finish at the John Frank Memorial Redding 10 Miler. Next up on the GP, the CreditUnion Sactown 10 Miler on April 2.
Contesting his first USATF Championships on the track, Collin Leibold earned 11th place in one of the toughest and deepest fields of the weekend. Altitude and tactics created tough running over the final mile, but outdoor season awaits with valuable championship running experience under his belt.
Strava TC is excited to again head south for a spring road mile this March. We'll send a competitive men's and women's group to the Newport-Mesa Spirit Run on March 12 at Fashion Island in Orange County. One of the areas oldest road races, we hope to help them strengthen a newer tradition of an elite road mile event alongside their traditional 5K.
That same day, team members will also represent the club at our local PAUSATF GP race, the Reach for a Star 5K in Brisbane.
Find out more about the Spirit Run.
Victoria O'Neil, prepping for longer races down the road, took a rare dip in the 1500m pool at the Johnny Mathis Invite at SF State. She earned a big personal best (mile equivalent) of 4:48 in the 1500m. Benedikt Bünz also got in a rustbusting effort in the men's 1500 as well.
Kris Paaso again has won the Juana Run, one of Palo Alto's most beloved local road races. Moving up in distance from the mile, where she has won multiple titles, Paaso took home the victory at the 8K distance on February 25.
Results
Courtney Heiner won the Valentine Run Race for Justice 5K on February 11, starting off her 2017 season with a spirited win on the roads of Sacramento.
Three Strava TC'ers headed to Seattle over the February 11 weekend, and each came home with a new personal best from the 2017 Husky Classic. Collin Leibold took a hard spill at the start of his heat, but after the officials restarted the race, he ran for a strong 4th place and a new PR / club best of 7:54. His mark also qualified him for the USATF Indoor Championships. Matt Leach moved smoothly over the final laps to earn a new personal best of over 10 seconds at 8:03, putting him (at the time of running) 11th on the 2017 British indoor list. Ayla Granados ran her second 3000m ever, turning in over a 30 second improvement to run 9:20, and lay the groundwork for a likely trip to USA Indoors as well.
Matt Jablonski continued an outstanding winter campaign, taking top honors at the always competitive Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon in San Francisco, traditionally one of the biggest races on the local calendar. His time of 1:05:41 represents a new personal and club best for the distance.
Elle Pishny Meyer, coming across the line with Justus, ran 1:19:44 for fifth female overall.
On the track, Jake Shoemaker took first place in the 1500m at the UC Berkeley All Comers Meet on Saturday, February 4.
Photo: Karen Ramming
Amy Schnittger took a quick trip to Bend, Oregon to compete at the USATF Cross Country Championships on February 4th. Racing at altitude, on an extremely difficult 10K course in cold temperatures, Schnittger finished 27th overall to represent the team.
Full results to be posted.
Opening the 2017 racing, Ayla Granados and Matt Jablonski braved stormy conditions and a shortened course to take home the victories at the Hot Chocolate 15K (shortened to 5.9 miles) on January 8 in San Francisco.
From our team to all of you, we wish you a wonderful holiday season!
Strava TC took a small contingent to the USATF Club Nationals Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida on December 10, the 10th year we have sent athletes to the event. Amy Schnittger led the contingent on the women's side with a 24th individual placing as the team of Schnittger, Ayla Granados (35th), Tori Tsolis, Lauren Schultz, and Victoria O'Neil earned 12th place overall.
Collin Leibold represented the men's team with an individual finish of 33rd place and a strong new 10K cross country personal best of 30:17 on the Apalachee Regional Park course.
In near perfect December conditions on the road from Folsom to Sacramento, Strava TC enjoyed some outstanding performances at the California International Marathon on December 4.
Tania Morimoto, running alongside Jeff O'Brien, improved her time nearly 4 minutes with a 2:47:21 posting, and Ben Mears hit an nearly 30 second PR to finish 21st in 2:25:40 after an outstanding training cycle to close the year.
Plenty of Strava TC-ers joined in on the Turkey Trot fun this year, and a few walked away with personal bests!
At the Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, Ayla Granados (new club best, 16:10), Amy Schnittger, Tori Tsolis, Matt Leach, Benedikt Bünz, Kevin Bishop, and Ben Mears all PR'ed in the elite 5K race, with season best runs for Evan Appel and Brent Varga. Tania Morimoto, alongside Jeff O'Brien, took home the women's title in tihe 10K, while Melinda DiNapoli earned yet another top 5 in the open 5K.
Victoria O'Neil was top turkey at the Aptos 3.3 mile trot, while April Greer won her age group at the Gobble Wobble in Burlingame.
On the east coast, Collin Leibold took third, first US, in the Alexandria Turkey Trot 5 Miler, while Lauren Schultz PR'ed for 10th. Aneesh Sampath took 6th in the Nissaquogue River State Park Turkey Trot, and Mary Liz had a solid sub six minute pace effort at the Forever Young 5K in Brightwaters, NY
Results posted soon...
The Strava TC women continued a remarkable run in local cross country competition, earning our seventh straight team championships at the Pacific Association USATF Cross Country Championships, Sunday November 13 in Golden Gate Park.
Amy Schnittger won her fourth straight race on the GP circuit, becoming our sixth different individual victor over those seven years. 2015 champ Ayla Granados was second, with Maggie Yount 4th and Tori Tsolis in 8th. Team vet Steph Pancoast and Victoria O'Neil sealed the deal in 17th and 18th, with Lauren Schultz running strongly in 22nd.
Next up, Turkey Trot and Club Nats!
After knocking on the door for the past few years, the men's team finally broke into the top two of the Pacific Association with style. Finishing with a nearly 40 point gap between themselves and third place Strawberry Canyon, Strava TC's men announced themselves with some great running on November 13.
Trevor Halsted broke up the Aggie juggernaut with a tough 6th place individual place to lead the group, with Collin Leibold holding on for 9th. Matt Leach, Ben Mears, Kevin Bishop, and Matt Lenehan also all finished in the top 25 with Brent Vargas and Sam Yount backing them up.
The Clarksburg Country Run Half Marathon served as the 2016 PAUSATF Half Marathon Championship on Sunday, November 6. Prepping for races down the road, Tania Morimoto and Trevor Halsted both earned third place with a personal best for Tania just over 1:20 and a debut effort 68 for Trevor. Ben Mears ran a steady 69 for 5th as his marathon training comes together. While Matt Lenehan had a tough day, watch out for him at the PAUSATF XC and the Berkeley Half!
Results
China Camp in Marin County became the scene for some muddy, trail run - style cross country efforts on October 30. Vanquishing the competition and the weather, Amy Schnittger and Collin Leibold took the wins, with Ayla Granados in second, Tori Tsolis in 5th, and Maggie Yount in 7th for the women. Evan Appel produced a strong 7th place for the men as well.
Also running in Boise, Idaho, Victoria O'Neil finished third in the Onward Shay half marathon, her first attempt at the distance.
Kaitlin Goodman took a break from grad studies to road trip out to Cape Cod, taking the win at the 6th Annual Cape Cod Marathon Half on October 29th.
Courtney Heiner tried her hand for the second time at the half marathon distance, taking runner-up honors at the Run the Parkway Half along the American River in Folsom on November 5th.
With the predicted storm conditions failing to materialize, the team took advantage of the flat course and solid footing to post some fast times over the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational course on October 15.
Running in the Men's Invitational section, Matt Leach (7th, 23:49), Trevor Halsted (10th, 23:59), Collin Leibold (13th, 24:10), and Benedikt Bunz (100th, 25:21) all enjoyed PRs for 8K cross country, with Evan Appel also finishing a solid 44th in 24:40. On the women's side Tori Tsolis opened her cross country season with a 16th place and 21:03 mark, her second fastest 6K ever.
Led by Kaitlin Goodman in another top 10 US individual finish, the Strava TC team of Goodman, Ayla Granados, and Amy Schnittger took home third place at the Tufts Health Plan 10K, which also served as the US 10K road championships for 2016. The race represented the first road 10K for both Schnittger (24th) and Granados.
The day prior, Caitlin Chrisman executed an extremely steady race to earn 14th place and a brand new personal best of 2:38:47 at the Bank of American Chicago Marathon. A Bank of American employee and an Illinois native, Chrisman used her home advantage to great effect, PRing by nearly two minutes. Justus and Elle Meyer also took home top 20 age group finishes in a recreational effort.
Courtney Heiner continued her PAUSATF cross country season, moving into the top 25 at the Willow Hills Open in Folsom, while Benedikt Bünz had a hard effort for fifth at the Deejay Ten 10K in Milan, Italy.
The historic setting of the Stanford Cross Country Invitational again offered a big field and an opportunity to race against some collegiate athletes while the open season is just heating up. Trevor Halsted battled the field to a top 20 finish in his team debut, followed by Evan Appel and Collin Leibold in the top 40. Kevin Bishop, another Strava TC debutant, avergaged just over 5 minute / mile pace over 8K. Club member Steven Grolle, running unattached to preserve NCAA eligibility, ran an 8K personal best for 13th, dipping under 24 minutes for the first time on a cross country course.
With an outstanding course and climate, Rock 'n' Roll San Jose has proved a happy hunting ground for the team over the years, and 2016 was no different.
In his half marathon debut, Matt Leach earned 8th place in 66:51, running strongly in what ended up being an almost entirely solo effort. Ben Mears broke away from a pace pack in the first few miles to run a very solid 1:09 as he preps long term for CIM.
On Saturday, Bryan Crook, Amy Schnittger and Tori Tsolis took home the spoils in the 5K, with Bryan running gun to wire for the win, and Amy setting the pace midrace, coming across the line with the same time as a hard charging Tori Tsolis for 1st and 2nd. All three enjoyed times at or near their road PRs.
Results
The fall season is well underway! Plenty of newcomers have joined the fold, and some have already enjoyed early success. Amy Schnittger has won two PAUSATF cross country individual titles, including the Golden Gate Cross Country Open on September 11. Matt Leach took 6th in the USF Invitational on September 3, Kirk Scheibelhut earned 5th at the Santa Cruz Challenge on August 20, and Courtney Heiner represented the team at the Ancil Hoffman Challenge on September 17.
On the roads, Matt Lenehan won the SF Giant Race Half Marathon, Ayla Granados won the Lodi Mile, and Benedikt Bünz took part in the German national road 10K championships in his hometown of Hamburg. Stephanie Pancoast had the fastest road split, won her age group, and finished fourth including pros at the Santa Barbara Triathlon on August 27.
Several team members also ran for their companies at the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge on
Look for Strava TC jerseys at the Stanford Invitational, Bronco Invitational, upcoming PAUSATF Cross Country events, and the Rock 'n' Roll San Jose 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon, among many other races to come this fall.
Marco Bertolotti, using a strong kick over the final straightaway, took home top honors in the Kalevan Kisat, the Finnish national championship meet. His performance qualifies him for the Sweden / Finland dual meet on September 3-4, his first senior international competition for Finland. Following his victory on July 22, he has improved his season best over 800m twice, including a 7th place at that distance nationally, and has won the Gothenburg, Sweden Scandinavian Milers Club meet.
Finishing strong after a long spring season, Annie Beck turned in a first place performance at the Joensuu Games 3000m in Joensuu, Finland (July 30), running a club best 9:04.99. Kaitlin Gregg Goodman, shouldering much of the mid-race pace, also took home a personal best in 3rd in 9:11. The week prior, at the Oxford, England British Milers Club event, both women also notched slight PRs at 1500m.
Several team members have put together solid road and trail performances over the mid-summer period.
At the historic Wharf to Wharf race on July 23, Steven Grolle earned a very competitive 14th place in 29:29, a club best for men, while Courtney Heiner took a spot in the top 25 and Melinda DiNapoli earned 3rd among 40+ women.
Ayla Granados took 4th in the Marin Miracle Mile, the PAUSATF Road Mile Champs, while Justus Meyer qualified for the Western States lottery with a 14th place finish in the Never Summer 100K in Gould, Colorado.
At the SF Marathon, Caitlin Chrisman won the second half for women, while Ben Mears took 4th and Mett Lenehan 9th. Jonathan Tijerina took 6th in the 5K.
Lots of hectic travel yielded some strong results for the group over the past week.
At the Canadian Olympic Trials in Edmonton, Alberta, Laura Carlyle (also sponsored by Oiselle), finished 7th in the 1500m, her highest Olympic Trials finish to date, while Justin Marpole-Bird battled through an injured calf to earn 10th place in the final at the same distance.
Just days later, Carlyle and Annie Beck competed at the Lahti Games in Lahti, Finland, where they finished first and fourth in a tactical race with a sprint finish.
Next, at the KBC-Nacht meeting in Heusden-Zolder, Netherlands, Kaitlin Gregg Goodman contested her first race since US Olympic Trials, earning 10th in the 5000m, while Carlyle took advantage of a quick pace to take home a sensational personal best of over 3 seconds in the 1500, running 4:12.09.
Back on home soil, Ayla Granados won the Miguel Reyes Memorial 5K on July 16th at Fresno's famed Woodward Park cross country course, also setting a new course record.
With a full summer of racing on the schedule, Marco Bertolotti has already gotten off to a busy start on the Scandinavian circuit. After a rust buster 1500 in the Savo Games in Lahpinlahti on June 19 (13th), he set a season's best in the 800m at the Kuortane Games on June 25. Another 800 at the Paavo Nurmi Games followed, with the SM-Viestit relay meet for his hometown (Tuul) contingent yielding silvers in the 4x800 and 4x1500m, as well as a leg on a 4x400m relay. Next up are the Finnish nationals on July 22-24 with the Joensuu Games on July 30 to come.
Thursday, July 7
Following up on her strong 11th place finish in the 10,000m, Kaitlin Gregg Goodman earned entry into the 5000m event after having improved her personal best over 10 seconds in 2016. Although she did not advance to the final, she is one of only two female athletes (Kellyn Taylor) to have competed in the US Olympic Trials at the marathon, 10,000, and 5,000 meters this year.
Celebrating Independence Day with some fast running, three team members took on the roads for kick off the 4th of July. Jake Shoemaker ran an all-time PR of 14:39 to win the Redwood City Parade Run 5K, while Ben Mears got on the podium at the Morgan Hill Freedom Fest 5K, also a PAUSATF GP event. Lauren Schultz took on a deep field in Eugene, earning 10th in a new road PR.
Sunday, July 3
Adding yet another superlative performance to her 2016 season, Kris Paaso led from gun to wire in front of 22,000 fans to take top honors in the masters exhibition 1500m at the US Olympic Trials. Club training partner Neville Davey also earned the men's victory in a spring finish!
Racing in warm conditions in front of 21,000+ spectators at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, Kaitlin Gregg Goodman took a competitive 11th place in her first Olympic Track and Field Trials after a tactical battle over the final 4000m. Molly Huddle, Emily Infeld, and Marielle Hall were the top three finishers and head to Rio for the US.
Responding well to spring training after the US Olympic Marathon Trials, Gregg Goodman has improved her 5000m personal best by 10 seconds, and pending the conclusion of the declaration process, may have an opportunity to compete in that event as well, on Thursday, July 7.
Photo credit: Patrick Reaves
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Strava TC took on all comers in three countries over the weekend, with strong competitive results. At the PAUSATF / USATF West Region Championships, Kris Paaso won the 800m, and Benedikt Bünz, Jake Shoemaker (also 3rd in 800m), and Steven Grolle went 2-3-4 in the men's 1500m. Lauren Schultz was 2nd in the women's 1500m and 6th in the 800m.
Up north, Justin Marpole-Bird took 8th in a season best at the Harry Jerome Classic 1500m, while Marco Bertolotti worked through the travel rust, taking 13th in the Savo Games 1500m in Lapinlahti, Finland.
PAUSATF / West Region Championship Results
Kaitlin Gregg Goodman has been enjoying an outstanding spring as she prepares for next month's US Olympic Team Trials.
On Saturday, June 11, she took runner-up in the always strong Bellin Run 10K in Green Bay Wisconsin, while on Friday, June 17, she turned in an 8 second personal best, finishing the Adidas Boost Games 5000m in 15:29, a personal and Strava TC club best.
Next stop, Eugene!
One of the nation's best distance track meets provided the backdrop for some solid improvements from Strava TC'ers over June 11-12.
Evan Appel (5000m) and Lauren Schultz (1500m) enjoyed lifetime bests in their events, while Kris Paaso smashed the existing US 45-49 age group record in the women's 3000m, running 9:45 (previous record, Monica Joyce, 9:57). Kris is training for the women's 1500m masters exhibition at the US Olympic Trials on July 3rd.
While Justin Marpole-Bird and Marco Bertolotti had solid seasonal improvements in the High Performance men's 1500m, Stephanie Dinius opened her 2016 10,000m efforts, but was unable to hit her trials qualifying goal. Ayla Granados and Annie Beck also competed, but did not improve on seasonal bests on the 12th.
Also decidedly not in the middle distance category, Justus Meyer and Elle Pishny Meyer won the Big Basin 50K and Marathon races respectively on June 12, with Justus setting a new course record for the longer distance.
Ayla Granados was among a scorching-fast field at the 2016 State Street Mile in Santa Barbara on June 5th, taking fifth place in 4:36, a new personal and club best for the distance.
With three 5000m entries in the June 2nd Adrian Martinez Classic, the club turned in three excellent results. Kaitlin Gregg Goodman set a new personal best of 15:37 in 5th place, while Annie Beck took 6th while shaving four seconds off her previous best to 15:50. Stephanie Dinius ran just shy of her lifetime best of 16:03 in 16:04 in her first track race of 2016.
Adrian Martinez Classic Results (and Video)
Ben Mears and Kris Paaso represented the team at the Marin Memorial Day 10K, the latest stop on the PAUSATF Road Grand Prix. Taking advantage of the fast course, Mears took 11th overall in a personal best time, while Paaso was 3rd overall for women and first 40+ athlete.
With the team's first foray into the team scoring for the 2016 PAUSATF Grand Prix, the men's open team scored a very solid second place, led by Evan Appel in 3rd. All scorers finished in the top 12 overall, with Ben Mears in 7th, and Benedikt Bünz in 10th, Steven Grolle in 11th, and Marco Bertolotti in 12th, running together in a hard training effort.
The Pacific THERx 5K4Play again returned to Portola Valley for the fifth year. As race hosts the first four years, the fifth edition now provided the team an opportunity to test the waters in the masters division for the first time. Led by an outstanding second place overall finish by Kris Paaso in 17:08, the team of Paaso, Melinda DiNapoli, and Dena Evans appear to have earned the victory, with final points score established later in the week by the PAUSATF.
Annie Beck had a successful weekend in southern California, returning to the Hoka One One Middle Distance Classic for a fast 1500m. Her time of 4:17.77 represents a personal best by over a second. Next stop for Annie is the Adrian Martinez Classic 5,000m on June 2, where she will hope to improve on her seasonal and personal best of 15:54.
Several Strava TC'ers were in competition on Saturday, May 14 at the USF West Coast Last Chance Meet, rapidly growing into a competitive late season opportunity from its inception a few years ago. Lauren Schultz and Steven Grolleset huge new personal bests in the 5000m, while Ayla Granados doubled back from her USATF Road Mile success to PR in the 800m and set a new club best at 2:08.79. Justin Marpole-Bird and Marco Bertolotti also competed in the 1500m, with Marco Bertolotti settting a slight season best before doubling back in the 800m.
The following day at the Zappos Bay to Breakers, Elle Pishny earned 8th place among femaled and top bay area finisher, with Tania Morimoto in 12th and JustusMeyer 13th in his age group.
Ayla Granados (far left), earned 6th place in her first open national championships, running 4:43 against a field of experienced, national caliber athletes on May 12 in Minneapolis. He time also set a new club best in the road mile, eclipsing Kirsty Legg's 4:44 from last year's Lodi Mile event.
Steven Grolle pushed the pace mid race, and battled in a stretch run to finish third in a blanket finish in Hornet Stadium.
At one of the deepest distance meets in the world, several team members competed well at 1500 and 5000 meters. Kaitlin Gregg Goodman opened her track season with a 15:43 mark at 5000 meters, just four seconds off her lifetime best in her first race since the Olympic Marathon Trials. Annie Beck (pictured) earned a 6 second personal best as she dipped under 16:00 for a 15:54 result in the same race. In the 1500m, Justin Marpole-Bird and Ayla Granados had season bests as well, while Laura Carlyle (Oiselle) took home 3rd place in her heat in a new lifetime best of 4:15. Marco Bertolotti competed in the 1500m, but suffered a mid-race collision and did not finish.
Maggie Yount earned a decisive victory in her very first marathon, running 2:50:05 to clinch the win at the San Luis Obispo Marathon on Sunday, May 1. Her time eclipsed the previous record of 2:59:02 by club alum Kimberly O'Donnell and the second place finisher by nearly 30 minutes.
Dena Evans and Melinda DiNapoli represented the club at the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday, April 24, in a fundraising effort for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
Taking advantage of a great opportunity to compete on home turf, several athletes competed under the lights against strong fields at the newly created Stanford Twilight meet. Kris Paaso appeared to have set a new US 45+ 1500m record, although dueling age group athletes may have put that mark already in jeopardy pending ratification. Other highlights included a personal best for Steven Grolle in the 1500 and a very near best for Benedikt Bünz, as well as season bests for Justin Marpole-Bird, Annie Beck, and Marco Bertolotti at the same distance.
During the previous week, Kirsty Legg also opened her season with a 1500m at the Mt. Sac Relays before a planned competition in the Penn Relays open mile.
Ben Mears and Tania Morimoto took on the PAUSATF and a big open field at the Credit Union SacTown 10 on April 3. Earning valuable long course Grand Prix points, Morimoto was 7th on the women's side, while Mears earned 16th.
Maggie Yount returned to her hometown to compete in a rare track race with current Maryville University athletes at the Washington University (St. Louis) Invitational. She was fifth in the 10,000m out of 37 athletes.
Strong steps forward were taken at the Stanford Track & Field Invitational on Friday, April 1.
Annie Beck enjoyed a solid lifetime debut at 5000m, running 16:00 with a strong finish, while Steven Grolle set a new 1500 best at 3:52. Marco Bertolotti (pictured) and Ayla Granados set seasonal bests over the same distance, and Courtney Heiner opened her steeplechase campaign for 2016.
Lauren Schultz set a new personal best by 10 seconds in the steeplechase, while Kris Paaso continued lowering her outdoor mile US 45+ record at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival on April 1.
Several Strava TC athletes ventured south to warmer weather last weekend, contesting the Encinitas Mile along Vulcan Avenue, just north of San Diego.
Justin Marpole-Bird took a close second to Dusty Solis of Big Bear TC, while Ayla Granados and training partner Laura Carlyle took 3rd and 4th on the women's side. Marco Bertolotti was fifth with Jesus Romo ninth for the men, and Courtney Heiner also took eighth among the female elites. After the warm temps and hospitality of the Encinitas Mile, the group looks forward to the unofficial opening of spring at the Stanford Invitational in two weeks.
A team Diane Heiser, Elle Pishny, Maggie Yount, and April Greer took on all comers at the annual Oakland Running Festival, taking second place in the marathon relay among females.
The first road 5K of the PAUSATF short course Grand Prix took place Sunday, March 13, in Brisbane. Brand new member Steven Grolle earned the win with a strong kick over the final 100 meters to beat US World Half Championships team member Scott Bauhs. Kris Paaso started off another road campaign in style, earning 40+ laurels as well as runner-up status overall to Impalas' Olympic Trials marathoner Teresa McWalters. Ben Mears took 6th, earning valuable GP points, with Brent Varga 32nd.
Several Strava TC athletes braved the El Niño impacted conditions at UC Davis on March 12th, to work on tactics ahead of the big meets to come.
Ayla Granados and Marco Bertolotti both won the 1500m, while Courtney Heiner won the 3000m and training mate Laura Carlyle took home the 800m victory.
Jesus Romo and Lauren Schultz took 3rd and 4th respectively in the 2000m steeple, while Justin Marpole-Bird took 6th in the 800m.
Strava TC athletes enjoyed a productive, early season day at the races on Saturday, February 27th. Read all about it in our blog.
Kaitlin Gregg Goodman, who grew up in Davis, attending Davis Senior HS and UC Davis as a student-athlete, was named by the Sacramento Running Association as their 2015 Cross Country Athlete of the Year at the February 27th SRA Hall of Fame Banquet. Joining her at the event were her brother, Brendan and her father Bill, each also recognized Open Track Athlete and High School Boys Track / Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year respectively.
Benedikt Bünz took on a tough loop around the Stanford Dish walking path to earn a 3.3 mile victory on Sunday, February 21. The Stanford Dish Race was organized by the Stanford Running Club
The Double Road Race, where athletes run two separate races with a half time interval, has continued to be a happy hunting ground for team members. For the second year in a row, the team has has a strong showing at the San Jose event. While taking home top co-ed team honors, Tania Morimoto and Ben Mears each won both the 10K and the 5K legs on Saturday, February 20, while Sean Sketch followed closely in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
With 205 starters and fewer than 150 finishers, the 2016 Olympic Marathon team trials were a battle against the heat as well as against an amazing field. Each competing bravely in their first trials appearance and battling late-race physical issues, Stephanie Dinius finished 45th (debut marathon) and Kaitlin Gregg Goodman finished 54th to represent Strava TC at the event. While Gregg Goodman has locked in a mark to compete at the Track & Field Trials in July, both hope to now turn their attention to the track with plans to compete in Eugene. New member Caitlin Bullock, recovering from untimely injury with only a few weeks to train, did not finish.
While the marathon trials dominated running world headlines over the weekend, team members got to work in other venues as well. Marco Bertolotti took his second dip into the indoor pool, earning 7th in Heat 5 of 6 of the mile.
Benedikt Bünz took on a hilly 5K course around Dodger Stadium to take fifth in a competitive Big LA 5K in the hours prior to the trials marathon race.
Maddie O'Meara also contested the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon in San Francisco, where she earned 13th in 1:25:25.
Kaiser Pemanente Half Marathon
Strava TC has been active on the road, track, and cross country course throughout January. Kaitlin Gregg Goodman braved the cold mud of Scotland to earn 21st place at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country International Match while competing for Team USA. She has also recently been named as the Sacramento Running Association's Cross Country Athlete of the Year, an award to be presented at the SRA Awards Banquet on February 27. Ben Mears set a personal best of 1:08:41 at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon on January 17, and Marco Bertolotti opened indoor season with a 1000m at the UW Preview meet in Seattle. The year begins to heat up as February approaches, with the US Olympic Marathon Team Trials, indoor and outdoor track, and road races on the menu. Stay Tuned!
2016 has gotten off to a great start. Continuing her build-up to the Olympic Marathon Trials, Stephanie Dinius came from behind in the final 5K to win the Jacksonville Bank Half Marathon on January 3rd. Her time of 1:13:41 surpassed the course record and broke the tape ahead of 13 other women under the trials standard of 1:15:00.
Kaitlin Gregg Goodman heads to Scotland this weekend to contest the Great Edinburgh Cross Country international match on Saturday, January 9, running for Team USA, vs Team Europe and Team Great Britain. Over the famed Holyrood Park cross country course, she'll face a still winter test in her first international competition for the US.
The men and the women took on huge fields in the 2015 USATF Club National Cross Country Championships on December 12. Kaitlin Gregg Goodman (7th) and Stephanie Dinius (11th) led the women to a seventh place finish, despite the absence of PAUSATF Champ Ayla Granados. Gregg Goodman's individual performance earned her a spot on the US team for the Great Edinburgh XC international match next month.
The men's team, with a 48 point, 30 second scoring spread led by Matt Jablonski and Ben Mears, finished in the top half of the 59 team field, one of the deepest in recent history.
USATF Club National Cross Country Championships Results
Strava TC members competed in a large handful of Turkey Trots, across the country and in five states. Find out all the details in our blog!
The Pacific Association USATF Cross Country Championships again came to sunny Golden Gate Park on Sunday, November 22nd. Read all about our strong performances on the blog!
Several team members were in action, with a handful opening their cross country campaigns at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational. Read all about it on the blog.
Read about our recent performances at the USATF 10 Mile Championships, the Rock 'n' Roll San Jose, and much more in our latest blog entry!
Kaitlin Gregg Goodman has been named one of 10 women chosen by Strava to receive an Olympic Trials training grant. Targeting up and coming marathon talents prepping for the 2016 Trials, look for Gregg Goodman and the other recipients on the Strava website between now and February 13! Read the official release here.
With an eye toward the creation of more top-quality distance opportunities for athletes in our region and nationwide, Strava TC is excited to partner with the NorCal Distance Project, Sacramento State, and other organizations to help bring an international level 10,000m qualifying attempt to northern California on Sunday, December 6. Read more here.
Team members have competed well at national championships over the past couple of weekends. Read all about these races and more in the latest blog post!
The thin air was good to the team last weekend. Read about it in our blog!
Strava TC'ers have been on the move and taking home some wins. Catch up on all the latest racing action in our blog!
The team has compiled an outstanding pile of performances so far in 2015. Read about our year to date in our 2015 Mid-Year Update!
Read on about a strong weekend (including SF Marathon 2nd Half Winner, Tania Morimoto) in our blog.
Strava TC'ers were in action over hill and dale this weekend...read more about the latest action on our blog!
The team has competed well in two scored competitions over the past week. In the Morgan Hill Freedom Fest 5K, The men and the women finished second, despite onsite misdirection leading two athletes to start the race late. Kris Paaso led the women with an outstanding 16:58 runner-up finish (Stephanie Pancoast in 3rd), with Jake Shoemaker also posting a fourth place finish (three in the top 10) for the men.
On Sunday, July 12, Anne Beck and Reesey Byers (pictured, PC Empire Runners) led the crew at the Miracle Mile in San Rafael, with Beck finishing second and Byers in fourth. Official PAUSATF scoring is pending, but both teams look poised for podium places, particularly the women, with all five placers in the top 17.
Across the pond, Michael Atchoo began his European track adventure, placing 6th in his 1500m heat in 3:43 at the Flanders Cup Kortrijk meeting in Belgium.
Results for the PAUSATF Road Grand Prix can be found here.
Results for the Flanders Cup Kortrijk meeting can be found here.
Michael Atchoo and Jesus Romo represented the team at the USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon last week. Although in the midst of strong seasons, unfortunately neither was able to progress to the final in their respective events.
Annie Beck returned to the track on July 2 at the Portland Summer Twilight, where she took a close second place after taking over the lead when the pacesetter stepped off the track. Nearly holding off the field until the final straight, Beck gained valuable competitive experience for future races this summer.
For links to all our results as well as those from years past, please check the results tab.
Three Strava TC athletes competed at the Adrian Martinez Classic meet on Thursday, June 4th in Concord, MA. The highly competitive middle distance meet featured deep and outstanding fields in every event. Kaitlin Gregg Goodman continued to drop her club best and personal record time in the 5000m, notching 15:39 for a three second seasonal and lifetime improvement from last month. Kirsty Legg-Howell posted a time of 4:35.1 in the full mile to set her own club best and the top GBR mark in that event so far this year. Annie Beck ran 4:38.5 in the same race, earning a PR in that event, in her 2015 season opener in the mile/1500 events.
Legg-Howell and Beck are sticking around the Boston area to contest the NB Boston Twilight Meet #3 on Saturday, June 6, while Gregg Goodman will conclude her spring campaign with her first attempt at the NYRR Oakley Mini 10K on June 13 in New York City.
Nick Scalfone enjoyed success at his first ultra trail race, winning the Rocky Mountain 50K in Laramie, Wyoming. His time of 3:47 at the high altitude event was a course record. Check out his race on Strava!
The fourth Pacific THERx 5K4Play is in the books, and featured one of the most competitive fields in its short history. Unofficially, the women appear to have won with the men coming in second (pending official scoring). Kirsty Legg doubled back off her 1500 at the Payton Jordan Invitational to take the win in 16:54, leading four in the top 8, while Dawson Vorderbruegge was sixth to lead 6 men in the top 25.
Results can be found here. Thanks to all those who raced, volunteered, and supported BAWSI!
Several athletes were in competition at the Stanford oval for the Payton Jordan Invitational. Kaitlin Gregg Goodman again led the team on the track, running 15:42 for a 30 second PR and new club best over 5000 meters. Mike Atchoo improved his season best in the 1500 to 3:40.20, with Dylan Ferris at 3:43. Jesus Romo gave his PR a scare in the steeplechase, running 8:49, while Courtney Heiner (steeple), Marina Vorderbruegge (1500), and Kirsty Legg (1500) competed, but did not hit new seasonal bests.
Payton Jordan results can be found here.
Join us in Portola Valley for the fourth edition of our Pacific THERx 5K4Play! A fun, out and back 5K with great competition and the PAUSATF prize purse. Register online or at our two packet pick-up sessions: Friday 5-7pm at Fleet Feet Menlo Park, or Saturday 9am-12pm at Pacific THERx Fitness Center.
Register today at 5K4Play.com!
Taking home the blue ribbon for the second year running, Kimberly O'Donnell dipped under 3:00 for the first time since a winter injury, running 2:59 for a runaway win and new course record at the beautiful San Luis Obispo Marathon. New member Ryan Neely, took home fourth in a much deeper 2015 field than in his winning effort of 2014.
SLO Marathon results can be found here.
In the team's first ever team podium finish at the Boston Marathon, a team of Matt Lenehan (2:25, 33rd, 16th US), Ben Mears (2:29), Adam Tenforde (2:37), and Tom Parise (2:50) earned third place in the Men's Open division of the world's most famous marathon. Tania Morimoto took home a strong five minute PR of 2:51 in 44th overall, and Maddie O'Meara notched a solid 3:04. Nice job team!
Several Strava TC athletes are on the track this weekend. Leading the charge so far is Michael Atchoo, who took the honors at the Mt. Sac Relays 1500m over a strong field with a new club best 3:40. Also notching PRs in early results were Courtney Heiner in the 5K at 16:33 and Marina Vorderbruegge, with a slight best at 4:24 for 1500m at the Bryan Clay Invitational. Atchoo also bounced back to win his heat of the 800 at the Beach Invite in 1:49.
A huge weekend took place on the track for the Strava TC, as athletes competed at the Stanford Invitational and SF State Distance Carnival.
Kaitin Gregg Goodman enjoyed a 52 second personal best in the 10,000m to take third and also solidify a ranking as the #2 US athlete so far in 2015. Also celebrating all-time club bests were Dylan Ferris and Kirsty Legg, both at third overall in the 1500 in 3:42 and 4:19.07, as well as Courtney Heiner, who clocked a 10:08.99 steeple for sixth place overall. Michael Atchoo moved his personal best 5 seconds faster with a 14:01 5K, Jesus Romo had his fastest steeple season opener ever, and Marina Vorderbruegge was 11th in her heat of the 1500m.
At SF State, Lauren Schultz continued a strong spring with a 5th place in her steeple heat for a 21 second PR, while Dawson Vorderbruegge took 13th in the men's elite mile.
Tania Morimoto led a strong showing for Strava TC at the 3rd annual Rock 'n' Roll San Francisco Half Marathon. Making a move over the final five miles, she broke the tape ahead of teammate Elle Pishny, who was the two time returning champ. Chris Mocko led a excellent team showing on the men's side, taking third, just ahead of Matt Lenehan, Ben Mears, and Jacob Shoemaker in 4th-6th, with Justus Meyer and Billy Mateker rounding out the top 10 finishers in the race.
The central valley was a happy hunting ground for road milers on Saturday, March 28th. Dawson and Marina Vorderbruegge each won the men's and women's open heats with Jesus Romo and Lauren Schultz taking runner-up positions in each race. Kirsty Legg competed as a guest member in the elite team section, and came home in 4th place in a new club and personal seasonal best of 4:44.
Lodi Mile results (open races on slightly shorter course) can be found here.
Kaitlin Gregg Goodman earned 12th place at the USATF 15K Championships / Gate River Run on March 14 in Jacksonville, Florida. The result marked her best ever finish at the race and her best US Champs place since a top 10 the USATF Cross Country Championships in 2012.
Strava TC's first team outing of the spring resulted in a strong showing on both sides. Kris Paaso took home top honors on the women's side followed by Elle Pishny in second. For the men, Chris Mocko earned second and Matt Lenehan third, who along with Ben Mears and Nick Scalfone placed four in the top 10. Final team scoring still pending with PAUSATF.
Chris Mocko returned to one of his happiest hunting grounds on Sunday, March 1, taking home the winner's laurels for the third time in five years. This year, he clocked 2:23:06 for a personal best and 36 second margin of victory over Kevin Poole.
Results can be found here.
Michael Atchoo traveled to snowy Boston to contest the USATF Indoor National Championships in the mile run. Positioned well throughout the first half of a tactical affair, the rough and tumble world of indoor racing caught up a bit with Atchoo, who was caught in a tangle and stumbled with only a couple laps to go as the leaders surged. However, the race provided valuable experience and with a 3:57 under his belt from February, outdoor season looks bright!
Results can be found here.
At the San Jose Double Road Race on Saturday morning, Maggie Conley Yount ran a gun time of 37:29 to set what is believed to be an all-time women's world best with a stroller over 10K. The Guinness record book lists a 43 minute effort and Oregonian Julia Webb ran a 38:15 last year. She then followed up her superlative 10K effort with a 5K mark of 19:08, which is also a world best to our knowledge. Kris Paaso, running in a training effort, finished runner-up to Conley Yount overall, taking first masters honors in the process. Billy Mateker took fifth among men and Sam Yount took 12th, running alongside the stroller group. Strava TC took home the mixed team title for the second consecutive San Jose Double Road Race.
Results can be found here.
Kirsty Legg needed a strong negative split finish to hold off all challengers at the 2nd Annual Encinitas Mile near San Diego on March 15. Her time of 4:46 won the event and set a new course record.
On March 13, Legg and Kris Paaso were honored at the PAUSATF Awards Banquet for their exploits on the cross country course and roads in 2014. Paaso earned Road Athlete of the Year while Legg was crowned Cross Country Athlete of the Year. Congrats!
Strava Track Club's Courtney (Anderson) Heiner, the 2014 NCAA Division II 1500m champion while at CSU Stanislaus, was honored as the college women's athlete of the year at the Sacramento Running Association Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday, February 21.
Nick Scalfone took to the snow for the first time this winter to earn the victory at the Jazztrax Snowshoe Stomp 10K in Bear Valley, California. On the brink of cancellation due to unseasonable weather, the race was agreed to be held last minute, and offered Scalfone a chance to tune up prior to the Dion National Snowshoe Championships, being held in Eau Claire, Wisconsin next Saturday, February 28. Way to go Nick!
Results will be posted when available.
It's still winter, but things are just starting to heat up for the Strava Track Club. We've got folks competing in indoors, outdoors, on the road, trails, and more. Follow our results and athletes here, and on Strava. More to come each week!
Five athletes traveled north to Seattle's Dempsey Indoor to compete at the Husky Classic over Valentine's Day weekend. Two Strava TC men competed in the mile with outstanding results, breaking the club record twice in a span of less than 10 minutes. Dylan Ferris marked a sizeable seasonal improvement, taking second in Heat 5 with a strong 4:00.59, followed quickly by Michael Atchoo, who took third in Heat 6 with a sterling season opener of 3:57.58.
Jesus Romo marked a personal best in the 3000m taking 11th in Heat 3, while Marina Vorderbruegge and Courtney Heiner posted seasonal improvements in the mile and 3K respectively, with Vorderbruegge's mark also creating a new club best. The following day, Heiner and Vorderbruegge returned to the track to take 4th and 6th in the UW Open Mile.
Results from the Husky Classic can be found here.
Results from the UW Open can be found here.
Matt Leach has been named to the Great Britain squad for the 2019 European 10,000m Cup, scheduled for July 6 in London. Matt is a part of a six man squad in the team competition, held within the popular Night of 10,000m PBs. This is his second selection for GB at this event.
Led by Mara Olson in 47th, all six PDC athletes posted outstanding performances, finishing above their seeds, at the February 29th US Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta. Amy Schnittger came home in 99th, with Matt Lenehan in 120th, Caitlin Chrisman in 128th, Jeannette Mathieu in 183rd and Stephanie Pancoast in 222nd out of 450 starters. Read more about all our February results here!
Our women's team won the PAUSATF Cross Country Championships for the eighth consecutive year on Sunday, November 19. Led by Natalie Tanner, our 7th different individual victor over 8 years, the team placed six in the top 10 to comfortably take the title.
On the men's side, another strong performance continued our march toward the top of the association standings. Matt Leach, Jake Shoemaker, and Trevor Halsted led the squad in 3-4-5 for team scoring as the men finished runners up to Aggies for the second straight year.