Workouts, Group Runs & Events

 

As our name suggests, we are a running club somewhat geared around training for the Boston Marathon. Group runs, long runs, recommended races and planned events are timed as a lead up to the 3rd Monday in April. But not all of us run Boston, and don’t let that dissuade you from joining us. Our workouts are appropriate for wherever you are on your running journey. 

Heartbreak Hill Event Calendar

Here’s what our annual schedule looks like:

 

• Weekly Track Workouts (summer) - When the weather is warm, the Striders meet at the Wellesley High School track on Tuesday nights for coached workouts. Led by either our esteemed coach, Jim Carroll, or assistant-to-the-coach Mike Ullman, we typically warm up with a light run along the tree-lined Brook Path, followed by a timed track workout. 
• Weekly Track Workouts (winter) - Beginning in early November, the Striders move indoors for coached and timed track workouts on Wednesday nights at Babson College. Note: There is a separate Babson track participation fee over and above annual membership dues.

 

Don’t be intimidated by our track workouts! We run at all paces and all levels are encouraged to attend!

 

• Weekly Track and Road Workouts (Thursdays) - For anyone looking for an additional group workout during the week…we have you covered! We get together on Thursdays for workouts on the Wellesley HS track and occasionally on the roads and trails around Wellesley and Newton. These workouts are coached on an as-available basis by Jim or Mike.

 

Can’t make our track workouts? Don’t worry! Coach Jim sends out a weekly email with that week’s workouts. Follow it whenever or wherever you are able!

 

• Saturday Morning Trail Runs - Don Hogardt, our off-road guru, leads a run on various trails in the Boston suburbs on Saturday mornings. We never know where he’ll choose to run, but these are a fun way to start your weekend. Emails with starting point and starting time are send out every week.
• Sunday Morning Long Runs - In the past, we would gather on Comm Ave across from Boston College for long runs of varying distances. The camaraderie of running with someone at your pace is a big reason why so many of us have been friends for many years. Lately, we haven’t been gathering at the same time on Sundays but many Striders are out on Comm Ave at various times on Sundays. Stay tuned, however! We may bring back scheduled Sunday runs soon!
• Group 10k and 15k runs - Early in the year, we plan two, timed club runs starting on Comm Ave across from BC. These ‘races’ provide an opportunity to determine pacing, fitness level and future race time predictor. After the runs, we meet in the BC cafeteria across the street for breakfast and generous awards! Most everyone goes home with a prize!
• Hopkinton-to-Ashland Repeats - Knowing the course is half the battle in conquering the Boston Marathon. Twice a year, usually in February and March, we head out to Ashland to do three-mile repeats along the first few miles of the famed course to increase familiarity with the undulating nature of the beginning of the Marathon.
• Run From Hop - In February, we’ll take a van out to Hopkinton for a 22-mile training run along the Boston Marathon course. This is an ideal way to build knowledge of the course and experience hitting the hills in miles 17.5 - 21.5 after running the course. We provide water stops along the way, a chase van, a few cheering fellow Striders, and end the run with a spread of bagels, refreshments and fluids. 
• Annual Pre-Marathon Carbo Loading Dinner - You earned it! Usually on the Friday or Saturday night before the Marathon, we’ll gather at a local Italian restaurant to socialize, relax, fill up on carbs and wish each other good luck.
• The Big Day - Talk to any Strider who has run the Boston Marathon and they will tell you that we are treated like absolute elite runners on the day of the race. Vans pick us up in Newton Lower Falls for the drive to Hopkinton. The neighbor of a former member opens his doors and allows all of us (sometimes 40-50 runners!) to use his house in Hopkinton to relax, fill up on fluids and carbs, and prepare for the run. Vans shuttle us to Hopkinton center depending on our starting time. The day runs like clockwork and no other runners, other than the elites, get such preferred treatment! After the race is even better! We have private use of a health club around the corner from the finish so we can shower, refuel and share stories. If only our times were like the elites!

 

Hope this gives you an idea of who we are and what we do!