Heather Gardiner – the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

Beginning with some good indoor track workouts after being driven indoors by the weather, Heather set sights to a 2002 bygone goal: a sub 17 minute 5K. 

How to run sub 17? 

First, practice. Run seventy miles per week and be able to run the following workout and you’re on your way. The workout: Warm up with a few miles then polish off an 800 meter in 2:38; jog rest for 200 meters then run a 600 meters in 1:58; again jog for 200 meter then run 5 by 400 meters in 75, 78, 78, 78, 75, taking 200 meters of jog recovery between each.

Second, pick your poison. The poison on Heather’s race schedule, first was the Valentine’s weekend meet at Boston University brand spankin’ new indoor athletic facility. Use the Valentine’s Day meet for the first assault at 17 minutes, then “if at first you don’t succeed…” aim next for Harvard’s USATFNE Indoor Championship in late February. Heather toed the starting line, seeded in 4th position at the Valentine’s Day in the women’s fastest 5000 meter heat based on her 17:10 set one year ago at the same meet. 

Third, execute. On the Boston University track, from a barrel start (e.g. Split the starting pack with half the runners on the inner lanes and the other half on the outside lanes but several meters ahead. Outside lane runners then break to the inner lane after ½ lap) Heather followed the fast starting pack through the first curve where the two starting packs merge. She completed the first lap in 39 seconds and was dead last. Heather’s strategy called for an even set of 25 laps in 40-41 seconds each. She was on schedule and on the 3rd lap soon began to weave up the middle of the pack. 

The pack was also the trail pack, several seconds behind lone leader Brandee Boice. Brandy had taken a commanding lead ripping through the first lap in 36-37. By the 4th lap, 800 meters (2:41), Heather separated herself from the trail pack, and was followed only momentarily by Springfield College notable Marissa Clapp. Marissa finished a close second to Veronica Kanga in the CMS race Whitin 5 on Thanksgiving, 2002. With the 8th lap, 1600 meters approaching, the announcer noted “Brandee Boice leads the women’s 5000 meters but Heather Gardiner is making a move.” It was a self-fulfilling prophecy as Heather, hearing the announcement, reached for and found a 39 second 8th lap. Nearly together, Heather and Brandee passed the mile in 5:23. One lap later Heather drew up to Brandee’s shoulder. Brandee dropped—stepping off the track with a tight hamstring. Suddenly alone, Heather continued through a series of laps which varied no more than 6/10s (40.2 to 40.8). With 4 laps remaining and so far hearing no other splits than 40 (or faster) as she circled, she was confident but beginning to tire. She dropped to 41, 41 then 42. A glance to the clock showed she needed a last lap 43 for her sub 17. Reaching for and finding a kick, a final 39 lap cushioned her goal: 16:57.62.er 

Heather Gardiner 16:57.62 (CMS)
Marisa Clapp 17:21.02 (Springfield College)
Emily Selvidio 17:26.09 (BAA)
Allison Smith 17:42.72 (Dartmouth)
Anya Davidson 17:44.54 (Brown)

With 17 conquered, Harvard USATFNE meet brought a new goal in the 3000 meters:  sub 10.

Harvard USATFNE – Barbara McManus – An 18 Year Redux 

1985, high school junior from Holy Name, youngster and Central Massachusetts stand-out runner Barbara McManus posted a 12:09 indoor 2 mile in regional competition to qualify for the High School Indoor State Championship at the Harvard Track. Also qualifying, but from the east, a high school senior girl whose name is now lost to the acccumulation of track statistics, toed the line in that same 2 mile Championship with sub 11 ability. In this meet as in many others, it was convention that track officials will pull runners from the track if they are lapped by leading runners.

By the first lap, the sub 11 wunderkind runner led by seconds and increased the lead over her nearest competition by each step. The now Eastern Mass High School star easily won, depleting the field to 3 runners as she lapped all others, including Barbara, one-by-one. Almost 2 decades later, many PRs later (5000m/17:51; 5 mile/29:56; 10000m/38:02; Marathon 2:57:34) and less than gentle persuasion later, Barbara would toe the line in the Harvard USATFNE 5000m. Redemption? PB? 

Questioning her own fitness Barbara vowed “…to get a PBB” (pierced belly button) if I set a PB!” (personal best).

USATFNE Harvard – Kim Duclos – Covergirl

It was an odd week. Seven days had passed and Kim Duclos hadn’t appeared in the newspaper.  The week before, in the Southbridge News she posed, thoughtfully examining snowshoes in anticipation of the upcoming Hyland Orchard 5K Snowshoe race. Then again, she mugged for the Sturbridge Villager with a similar pose. Next she was in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette as she sailed through the air and snow, again on snowshoes. Finally, she was once again pictured in the Southbridge News as she raced through the Sturbridge orchard, again on snowshoes.

Kim, training for two upcoming Marathons, DC Marathon toward the end of March, and Boston on April 15 began to focus her training. The New England weather was taking its toll and Worcester resident, Kim had no place indoors to turn for training. She entered 2003 with an 18:09 5K record set months before on a cross-country course but had no recent short race experience and no track work whatsoever.

Barbara: “So you’re all set for Sunday in the 5000m?”
Kim: “I am?”
Kim: “I mean. I am.”

With a PBB (Pierced Belly Button) after her PB (Personal Best) sub 3 at Boston, she contemplated other possibilities.

USATFNE Harvard – Marge Bellisle – “By golly, I can receive mail on my computer!”

Marge Bellisle, until recently communicating with quill and ink, joined the 20th century with e-mail, then joined the CMS Fast Chick mail list then re-rediscovered her youth via the indoor track, looking more like a teen-ager than fast master. Nursing some knee problems, and training only at short distances, Marge aimed for the late March USATF Masters meet in the 3000 meter distance. Harvard’s USATFNE Indoor Championship was a warm-up. Evasive in her expectations “I’m just trying not to finish last” she joined Heather Gardiner and Barbara McManus as the gun fired for the 3:00 p.m. start of the Women’s 3000 meters. “I won’t take the piercing bet; I’ll spare everyone my pierced belly-button.”

5000 meters

Kim Duclos and Barbara McManus entered the 5000 meters with recent best times of 17:51 and 18:09 respectively. The women’s race was first up and featured top seeded Brandee Boice (unattached) and Carly Greytock (BAA). 21 women toed the line as the pistol fired. Boice attacked the early mile, breaking the race open quickly. She was never challenged after the early several laps.

From the sidelines, Heather Gardiner called splits and moral support until she questioned whether she was watching a 5000 meters race or a marathon. Women continued circling long after a winner should have been declared. An error by the lap counter rendered the race results void. Kim and Barbara ran together from start to finish, clinging to 43 second laps and passing the first mile in 5:47. An unofficial watch has them at 18:21 and finishing together. The official clock may still have them out there circling. 

Brandee Boice was the clear winner with Amy DeCamp in second and Carly Graytok in third, all in times unknown. We don’t know now, and probably never will know the finishing positions of Kim nor Barbara. It was, however, from my unofficial and perhaps biased perspective, a well paced and well executed race.

FOLLOW-UP NOTE: Subsequent to the race, USATFNE officials were able to publish official finishing times and places based on times from spectators, athletes and coaches. Brandee was the victor with a 17:05, with Amy DeCamp of BAA in second place, 17:23. Kim Duclos was credited with an 18:21.1 and 8th place with Barbara McManus in 9th in 18:21.2. It turns out that the lap counting confusion had been created by some officials who were unfamiliar with the Harvard’s 220 yard (not 200 meter) track. 

Smith College All-Comers, March 16

The last chance for 2003 and in the middle of a marathon taper, Heather Gardiner once again set sights on the 3000m. Smith College hosts a number of all-comer meets at their indoor facility. This particular meet was Sunday, March 16 and included a 5:00 p.m. indoor mile, a number of other events and closed with an 8:15 p.m. 3000m race. 

Sidney Lentendre, after running her Sunday a.m. workout ventured to the Smith College track for the mile—a tune-up for the March 28 USATFNE Master Indoor Championship. At the 800m split (2:47) Sidney led a trail pack of 3 women, each young enough to be…um…her really younger sister. Sidney would break the pack with 5 laps remaining for a 2nd place, 5:37 finish.

Later that same night, Gardiner signed up for the 3000m. The Smith College indoor facility record of 9:53 was held by Merrimack Valley Strider and Western Mass speedster Seanna Carmen. For the 3000m, Gardiner’s strategy remained the same: hold 39s as long as possibly. 

Running in the all male fastest heat, Heather ran though the 1st lap in 37 flat, in sixth place, then settled into the trailing pack of three with a second lap 39. Feeling good, Heather tossed the strategy aside and moved from sixth to fourth to now lead the trailing pack with a 37.9 third lap, then another and another, passing the mile in 5:09 (a PR by 3 seconds), breaking the trail pack and aiming for the leaders. Her slowest lap was 39.9, as with 3 laps to go, Heather visibly, but only briefly slowed. The announcer said “Heather Gardiner is going for Seanna Carmen’s record of 9:53.” With that, she regained the pace in the final two laps to finish as quickly as she began with a final 400m of 77.3. Sub 10; PR and facility track record of 9:42.61.