2012 in Review: Quite a Year!

As we prepare to close out 2012, we in the NETT news room thought we’d take a look back at what was really a remarkable year for our little band of runners. We had some new faces join us, we had some great racing results , we had some great social events, and we dedicated it all to Hannah’s memory.

Here’s a few of the highlights:

In February, we welcomed Danyson to the NETT family and he’s been an active and popular member since.

In March, we launched our own Facebook page and it’s been growing and bringing NETT news and photos to cyberspace in a way we could only have imagined. Huge Kudos to Eminem for her work on this in addition to everything else she does for NETT. Where do we FIND these people? (In the bathroom line apparently?)

April saw one of the most successful NETT weekends in a long time. On Saturday, Mary and Adrienne went 1-4 at the Merrimack Trail Race. On the same day, one of our original Mini Ponies finished her first half marathon! And on Monday, a stable of Mini Ponies were ready to run the Boston Marathon on what would turn out to be one of the hottest Bostons on record. But thanks to some added inspiration and an angel on our shirts, we made it Copley Square in a LOT better shape than most.

In May, NETT came out in droves to help support the Wellesley 1 Miler race which raised money for the Hannah Randolph Memorial Fund. Yes, it was a huge success thanks to the many NETT members who came out to volunteer and run!

Also in May, two teams of NETT members won their categories at the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon. We finished 1st in the mixed open relay (out of 493 teams) and first in the two-person mixed masters relay (out of 72 teams). Oh, and Karyn finished the full race and then a crew of NETT v 2.0 crushed the Vermonster too.

In July, sure we ran some races, but Frank and Tina’s Ice Cream Run was the real highlight. In fact, HUGE thanks to F&T for all of the brunch runs they hosted this year. Their hospitality and generosity is really one of the things that NETT members enjoy most. On behalf of all of us THANK YOU!

In August, NETT hosted another successful Chamberas XC Race. Thanks to NETT’s crew of volunteers we raised a record amount of money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Hannah Randolph Memorial Fund. It’s always great to see so many folks come out for a good cause.

In September the Wings team captured 13th overall at the Reach the Beach relay, our highest finish ever. And later in September, the Mini Ponies stampeded into the GBTC XC Race in Wellesley with a record number of runners (11 men in the men’s master’s race alone!). There were longtime Mini Ponies and new faces flying the NETT colors and it was a great sight.

In October, things got even busier. The Mini Ponyettes won the women’s race at the Wayland XC Race, while the men were second. There were a couple stellar individual performances as well, with NETT-South’s Molkie finishing his first 50 miler while NETT newcomer Zack just blistered a 1:08 half marathon, establishing an NETT record for decades to come.

November saw an NETT wedding and a father/daughter Turkey King and Queen crowned.

And December topped off the year with an amazing performance by NETT at the Kickoff to Winter Double Header. On Dec. 8 NETT mounted an all-out assault on the Mt Hood XC Race, winning the men’s open, men’s masters and women’s masters team competition, as well as the individual overall title and we had our youngest finisher ever!
The next day, a swarm of more than 15 Mini Ponies swept the age groups at Walter’s Run 5K and enjoyed a great holiday brunch.

Overall it was a great year – a banner year – for NETT. We ran strong, we ran proud, and we ran with a purpose this year. Will we be able to top it in 2013? I eagerly await the answer to that question

As always Go Mini Ponies.

Our Thoughts

New England Track and Trail sends its collective thoughts, prayers, good wishes and hopes for healing to the families affected by the senseless shootings in Newtown, Connecticut.

NETT Tears it UP at Walter's Run

In our second race of the Winter Kickoff Weekend NETT was all over Walter's Run in West Roxbury and all over the pastries at the post-race brunch!

First, the race. NETT brought 15 uniformed members and a few more friends and family also out on the course and cheering runners on as well. It was really a great showing but in terms of supporting a good cause and in terms of performance.

We won three age groups, placed second in another and third in one more. Count how many times you see New England Track & Trail in the results here.

The race was well organized by the host Parkway Running Club as always and RD Keith Shields leading the show. The money raised goes to three local charities: Globe Santa, YMCA of Boston Reach Out Program and the Walter Burgess Scholarship Fund.

Once all of our hard work was done it was time to eat! The gang made it back to Dave and Doris' place for a brunch we'll remember (mostly because we will have food from it for months!)

It was the capper to one of the best weekends in the 10 years of NETT weekends. It was great to see new and old faces, kids, parents, spouses, siblings, you name it this weekend.

NETT Mounts All-Out Assault on Mt Hood

Overall race winner Zack Schwartz
1st Place Male, 60+ Marshall Randolph
2nd Place Woman, Masters Kristin Hall
2nd Place Male, 50+ Patrick McVeigh
3rd Place Woman Overall, Mary Pizarro
1st Place Team Men's Open (Zack Schwartz, Dave Hannon, and Chris Smith)
1st Place Team Women's Masters (Kristin Hall, Tina Wang, Karyn Miller-Medzon)
2nd Place Team, Men's Masters (Ryan Hunt, Andy Hall, Patrick McVeigh, Marshall Randolph, Jack Burke)
3rd Place Team, Women's Open (Mary Pizzaro, Julie McVeigh, Bridget)
And a boatload of nutcrackers!

I'd say that's a pretty successful day.

The NETT MiniPonies stormed the insanely hilly golf course at Mt Hood in Melrose in one of the most successful days in NETT history. With only three people required to score as a team and master's categories added this year, NETT came up with a "divide and conquer" strategy and it paid off. Masters runner Chris Smith and Crazy Dave rode Zack's coattails to the overall men's open team win. (It helps when Zack runs a 5:22 pace and gives us a huge lead).

The women's masters team just dominated their category, winning by almost 20 minutes. That's just pure domination. The men's masters team ran true XC style and put three finishers in 10 seconds, only losing to a very strong CSU eam.

And yeah, Marshall won the 60+ category by over a minute of course.

But perhaps better than anything, it was a classic NETT day, with spouses, kids, siblings, friends all joining in as well. HUGE thanks to Frank for babysitting all those kids so their folks could run the race. And for taking pictures.

And lastly, big thanks to Brian Slater and the rest of the Melrose Running Club for putting on another great event this year. A great feast, free beer, glasses, and, oh yeah, nutcrackers!

Now onto Walter's Run!