Board Members

What does running mean to you? When I got into running about ten years ago, I ran alone. Always. I enjoyed the solitude of running, but also, I didn’t know any other runners. That changed in 2017 when I decided to take on my first marathon, as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. I was scared to death of the distance, so when I learned that DFMC offers group runs, as well as advice from a trained coach, I vowed to attend every group run I could.

What I quickly learned was that running with a group is fun! Chatting helped pass the time and allowed me to pick the brains of these other more experienced marathoners. As a newbie, I had questions, and they had answers. I also soon realized that many of us had more in common than just running (and our desire to defeat cancer), and I made some terrific friends pretty quickly.   
Fast forward to summer 2018.  I had just completed rehabbing an injury I sustained during the 2018 Boston Marathon (I also ran for DFMC). I was not planning to run Boston again in 2019, and I already missed the camaraderie of running with the group. 

Then, I had an idea: what if I could attempt to recreate that atmosphere here in Malden? What if I could create a club that would be welcoming to all runners, with a shared desire to help in some small way the community in which we live?

And with that, Run Club of Malden was born. 

What does running mean to you?

A daily run is something I look forward to because I get to enjoy time outdoors. I have run consistently on my own since track & field in high school because running allows me to have a little adventure every day—I know that I can come back the next day and the run will be totally different. Being part of RCMalden and sharing run adventures with other people is a bonus!

How did you get involved with RCMalden?

I was moving to Malden and looking to join a local run club. My good friend, who already lived in the city, was running with the newly formed Run Club of Malden. She invited me to a Saturday long run with the group, which at the time began at the Stone Zoo parking lot. After I moved, I began attending the Wednesday and Saturday runs every week. I love running with this group and look forward to it every week!

Your favorite run 

One of my favorite races is the Litchfield Hills Road Race, which takes place annually in June in Litchfield, Connecticut. The whole town comes out to enjoy the day so it feels like a big party. Completing the grueling climb up Gallows Lane hill and immediately sprinting down the center of town to the finish line is a rush!

What does running mean to you? 

I started running when I was 30, mostly to lose weight, and didn't realize I would grow to enjoy it as much as I do. I slowly worked up to running my first marathon and now I've run over 10 marathons in 8 states. I hope to one day run a marathon in all 50 states!

How did you get involved with RCMalden?

I moved to Medford about a year ago and was looking for a run club to join. There are a lot of options in this area which is awesome with differing levels of intensity. I like RC Malden because of the relaxed, fun atmosphere and great people. 

Your favorite run 

My favorite run is on the freedom trail. I really enjoy urban running and the incredible amount of history you can experience in such a short distance is just incredible. 

What does running mean to you?
I hated running growing up. I was a swimmer and whenever our coach made us run, I would sneak into the gym to do the elliptical instead. I missed swimming as an adult so  I started doing sprint triathlons and all of the sudden, one day, the running just clicked and I fell in love with it. It’s so much more than physical exercise - it’s my therapy and my stress relief. And now with RCMalden, it’s also part of my social life! 

How did you get involved with RCMalden?
I had just moved to Malden when I signed up to run the Boston Marathon - my first marathon. My neighbor saw me out for a run and mentioned that she saw on Facebook that there was a new run club in town so I decided to try it out and I’m so glad I did. I don’t think I would have made it through marathon training without the club’s support.

Your favorite run
I absolutely love running around the Charles River, especially in the morning when the water is calm and there is a chill in the air. The world feels perfect in that moment.

What does running mean to you?
Growing up, running was a means to an end. I played field hockey and softball so it was important to have endurance, but I dreaded the timed mile in gym class. After joining the indoor track team as a sophomore in high school, I began to understand the appeal of running as part of a community. I was hooked. I ran off stress in college and carried this mindset in the years beyond by running in hundreds of road races, and even four Boston Marathons. 

How did you get involved with RCMalden?
I moved to Malden in March of 2019 after having spent 15 years living in Brighton. I was looking for a community to connect with to show me the local running routes and create a new community. Thankfully, I knew Joe from DFMC and he let me know about RCMalden right away!

Your favorite run
Running at sunrise or sunset along the Cambridge side of the Charles River. I  like to stop at the MIT bridge and take a moment to breathe and take in the view of Boston.