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Less than two weeks out from the 26th Annual Eversource Hartford Marathon & Half Marathonon Oct. 12, this is an update, where proper, to the athletes in the New England’s Finest Programthat first appeared in the Sept/Oct. issue of NER.
Great performances are an indicator of great fitness, but less than extraordinary outings may be due to marathon training. So with that in mind, here’s the outlook.
Women’s Marathon Field
The Champion: Rachel Shilkowsky, Providence, RI– Rachel is the defending, reigning, undisputed female champion after her debut win in 2:41:03 last Oct. This year Rachel ran a PR 2:38:19 in Illinois a month before winning a warmish Vermont City Marathon in 2:45:59. Rachel was a 5-time All American at Cornell.
*Update: On Sept. 21, Rachel ran with her husband, John, in the Wicked half Marathon in Salem, MA, and won outright (John 2nd) in 1:17:39.
Rachel Shilkowsky winning the 2018 women’s race. Photo by Bob Kopac
Karolyn Bowley, Middletown, RI– At age 49, Karolyn was 8th here last year in 2:55:01. This year she was top F40 at New Bedford in 1:21:28 and 4th overall female at the USATF 15K in an F40 course record 57:04. NOW 50, Karolyn was the 2nd F40+ athlete at the Beach to Beacon 10K in 36:43 and is the new F50 metric mile (1500m) US record holder at 4:47.71. Mary-Lynn Currier’s NEF F50 record is 2:57:29 (2015).
Karolyn Bowley at Hartford, 2018. Photo by MickFoto/NERunner
Alexandra Conway,Boston, MA– Alexandra was the 4th female at Hartford last year in a time of 2:51:39. This June 22 at Grandma’s Marathon she ran 2:54:13.
*Update: Illness and a nagging back injury prompted a withdrawal.
Emily D’Addario,Boston, MA– Emily clocked 2:48:21 at last year’s Chicago Marathon. She ran her debut marathon at Hartford in 2013, placing 8th in 2:57:11. Her PR of 2:48:10 was set at the 2015 Boston Marathon where she was the 26th woman.
Heidi Caldwell, Craftsbury Common, VT– Member of a famous Nordic family, the multi-talented Ms. Caldwell penned the Feature: “Running the Lost Highways of the NEK” for NER last issue, serves as the Running Director of the Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Craftsbury, VT and pens the blog segment “Local Dirt.” In June she tied for the women’s title at the Mount Washington Road Race after placing 2nd the year before.
At Hanover HS (NH) Heidi was a two-time state XC and 3200m champion and state 1600m champion. At Brown University (class of ’14) she was the indoor/outdoor Ivy League 5,000m champion with a school best of 16:06. Planning on an OTQ attempt at Cal Int’l in Dec. of 2018, Heidi ran lead-up half marathons of 1:13:43 (MA), 1:15:41 (Quebec) and 1:15:12 (NH) before deterred by injury. Heidi’s goal at Hartford is to stamp her ticket to Atlanta.
Vermont’s Heidi Caldwell. Photo courtesy of Heidi Caldwell
Dawn Hubbell, Hartford, CT– A recent graduate of Central Conn. SU where she was track and XC captain, Dawn was the Northeast Conference indoor and outdoor 5,000m champion and All-ECAC selection at 10,000m (17:02/36:15). She’ll be making her marathon debut and is being coached with the goal of an OTQ time of 2:45:00.
Harriott Kelly, NYC– Harriott ran two marathons in 2016—2:47:22 at Houston and then 2:49:19 at Chicago. In 2018 she only needed one to notch a Trials qualifier, heading west in Dec. and running 2:43:02 at Cal int’l.
Marci Klimek, Arlington, MA– At last autumn’s Chicago Marathon, Marci placed 10th among women (4th US) in 2:34:53. Injured post-marathon, her next race was the New Bedford Half Marathon on March 17, 2019. Marci claimed victory here in 1:14:45. Marci started the Boston Marathon this April but didn’t finish, but not due to injury. “Running always seems to be a bit of touch and go for me, a bit of balance working to stay healthy and fit at the same time,” says Klimek who notes she had a good buildup to Boston, and, “have been doing lots of running the past few months. I’m currently feeling good about Hartford and hoping to have a good run on October 12.”
Ravenna Neville,Cambridge, MA– A full-time attorney, Ravenna ran 2:50:55 at the 2018 Cal Int’l Marathon. This May she ran 1:22:28 at the Brooklyn Half.
*Update:On Sept. 22, Ravenna ran 39:29 at the Lone Gull 10K/USATF-NE Championships.
Mary Pardi, Falmouth, ME– At 49 the Dirigo ace placed as 4th woman and top F40 at the Sugarloaf Marathon this May in 2:59:44. Has a F40 best of 2:46:39 as a 41 year-old. Owns the NEF F40 Hartford Half Marathon record of 1:20:57 set in 2011. This summer won the overall women’s division of the Bridgton Four on the Fourth in 24:36 (6:09 pace) and Capt. Cash 5K in 19:02.
Kate Pallardy, NYC– Kate’s 2:40:13 best from the 2015 Houston Marathon was eclipsed at Boston this April in 2:38:27 for 22nd overall. Entering dinged up at Hartford last year, Kate still placed 3rd in 2:46:39 and a month later won the JFK 50-Miler. This year she’s healthy!
*Update:On July 27 in Munising, MI, Kate placed 2nd overall and as 1st woman at the Grand Island Trail 50K (31.1 miles) in 3:43:03 for a 7:11 pace.
NY’s Kate Pallardy. Photo by Scott Mason
Ellie Pell, Ithaca, NY– A runner for the Red Newt racing team, Ellie won this year’s Buffalo Marathon in 2:48:41. Ellie loves training and has PRs of 1:19:47 for 13.1M: 4:06:00 for 50K; and 7:56:00 for 50-miles.
*Update:Ellie set a new 50K PR of 3:58:37 (7:41 pace) in winning (outright) the Green Lakes Endurance 50K Trail Race in Fayetsville, NY on Aug. 10. In 79˚ heat on Sept. 21, she placed 8th overall and as 2nd woman in the Rochester Half Marathon with a time of 1:22:41.
Rebecca Snelson, New London, CT– Rebecca was 14th female at the weather ravaged 2018 Boston Marathon, running a superlative time of 2:49:50. In Dec., the 24 year-old ran 2:48:06 at Cal Int’l.
*Update:On Aug. 4, Rebecca ran 6-flat pace to place third among women at the Run 4 Kerri 4M in RI. On Labor Day in CT she ran 1:19:43 at the New Haven 20K US Championships.
Rebecca Snelson at the 2019 Run 4 Kerri 4M in RI. Photo by Scott Mason
Gabrielle Wheeler, New Sweden, ME – Ran her debut marathon in Philadelphia last fall in 2:51:01 and is looking forward to another shot at the distance.
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