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7-17-2020_The Recorder_Sports: RUNNING CLUB F.C., VOLUME 19 – Jeff Lajoie
We continue with Volume 19 where we talk running groups and getting off the couch with two of the best. Becky & Steve Shattuck, Greenfield. If you’ve read this series for a while, you’ve probably seen their names in print. For many runners throughout Franklin County, their first steps came under the guidance of Becky and Steve Shattuck. The couple led a popular running group based at The Body Shoppe in Greenfield, and Steve estimates that they trained a couple hundred runners during their 20-plus year tenure. While they no longer lead sessions with new runners, the impact the duo has had on the running community is immeasurable. “We did this beginning training on a voluntary basis for many years,” began Steve. “We modified a beginning running program that initially came out of the Runner’s World magazine, and started to help people begin running.” Getting people running was a satisfying feeling for the pair. They said that since there was usually a pretty large variance in fitness levels throughout the group, runners would spread out over the course of a 30-minute run. Steve would lead the front and Becky would bring up the rear, and after 15 minutes, the group would reverse direction. The running plan consisted of different stages, and newcomers would build up to 30 minutes of non-stop walking before adding short running spurts. Eventually, the 30-minute span would consistent of almost continuous running.
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7-15-2020_The Recorder_Local & Residential – Mary Byrne
A Sunderland woman has been named one of this year’s Commonwealth Heroines. Aleks Kajstura, 37, was one of 133 women across the state to receive recognition from the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, a state group that serves to advance women and girls toward equity in all areas of life. “It was such a great honor, but definitely surprising to see my name among all these women doing wonderful work for the commonwealth,” said Kajstura, who has lived in Sunderland since 2008. Kajstura was nominated by state Rep. Natalie Blais — also of Sunderland — who first met Kajstura in 2015 when they served on the hiring committee for the Sunderland town administrator position. “I remember being impressed by her professionalism, her thoughtfulness and her commitment to a fair process,” Blais said. More recently, Blais said, she discovered the work Kajstura does for the Prison Policy Initiative, a nonprofit that researches the negative impacts of mass incarceration on society as a whole. Kajstura serves as the legal director of the organization, where she lead the campaign against prison gerrymandering and has highlighted the ways in which women are treated differently than men in the criminal justice system.
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7-01-2020_The Recorder_Sports – Jeff Lajoie
When he first tried to swim competitively, Bob Welsh admits he couldn’t last the length of a pool. While the swim portion has never been his expertise, he’s more than made up for it with stellar performances in the other two legs of a triathlon. The 77-year-old Buckland resident is nationallyranked in his age category with USA Triathlon, a considerable feat considering Welsh only got into the competitions less than 10 years ago. “When I retired, I hung around a whole bunch of people who do these things,” he began. “I’d bike with them and then they’d go off and do Iron Man races, triathlons, crazy things. So that was kind of how it started. I’m an adrenaline junkie myself.” Welsh had long been a cyclist, but admitted he needed some direction in the other two disciplines. He went to Greenfield’s Steve and Becky Shattuck for running help, but the swimming aspect took a bit longer. “I couldn’t do a full swim for my first race so I had to backstroke,” he explained. “I’ve done a number of triathlons since then, including some ocean swims, and while they’re very enjoyable, I’m still working at it.” Cycling is where he makes his moves during races. Welsh said it’s not uncommon for him to be well behind the pace following the swim portion of a triathlon, but he manages to pick off competitors moving through the bike course. “I know damn well that I’m certainly not going to be a competitive swimmer,” he offered. “All I’m trying to do is get out and pass people. It’s about surviving the swim and then that’s where the realfun begins.” . . .
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6-27-2020_The Recorder_Local Sports – Jeff Lajoie
One of the longest-running events on the Franklin County sporting calendar will not be part of the summer slate in 2020. The Greenfield Triathlon announced on Friday that it had canceled its race, set for Aug. 2, due to COVID-19. Race Director Christy Moore sent a statement to participants via email informing them of the decision. “The health and safety of everyone involved in the Greenfield Triathlon remains our top priority, so in light of continued health concerns regarding COVID-19 and guidance from local, state and federal authorities, we regret to announce that this year’s triathlon will not take place,” the statement said. “We thank our loyal participants, volunteers and sponsors for their continued support, and look forward to bringing the triathlon community together again in 2021.” . . .
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8-15-2019_The Recorder_Opinion: Readers Write – Betsy Evans, Gill
To the organizers and volunteers of the 2019 Greenfield Lightlife Triathlon, a huge than kyou! The day was glorious. As always the chit chat before and after the race among the competitors was that the event is so friendly and so well organized. And I’m sure adjusting to all the course changes wasn’t easy, but it came off with out a hitch. Out on the course the volunteers were super supportive, clapping and shouting words of e-couragement. Being the oldest woman on the course (72, I am proud to say) perhaps resulted in some extra words of support as well — love that. At one point I ran between an 80-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl (oldest and youngest people on the course). Wow, so inspiring. As my Mom always said, “if you want to stay healthy, just keep moving. ”We were all taking the motto to heart, “To finish is to win“! Thanks for giving us all such a memorable experience, plus delicious food! See you next year.
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8-05-2019_The Recorder_Sports – Thomas Johnston
JoEllen Reino added to her legacy at the 36th Greenfield Lightlife Triathlon on Sunday. The South Deerfield resident finished the race in 1 hour, 2 minutes and 9 seconds to win her fifth consecutive and race record sixth overall women’s sprint group at the long-running annual event. “It means a lot to me because the people are so good here,”Reino said after the win. “They make for such a warm, caring race. It’s the nicest triathlon I’ve ever done.”The 2019 event was forced to undergo vast changes from previous races. With the closing of Nash’s Mill Road due to bridge construction, the course was altered significantly from years’ past. The main changes came in the cycling course, as athletes were forced to make a U-turn to complete that portion of the race. On Saturday, the water at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area did not pass the Bathing Beach Water Quality Test, deeming it unsafe to be used in the race. This forced organizers to cancel the swim leg of the triathlon, replacing it with a short run before the athletes got on their bicycles.“I was disappointed because of the integrity of the event, ”Reino said. “When we do a triathlon, we want to do a full triathlon but they have to do that because of the safety. They’re looking out for people, they’re not trying to be difficult. I understand why they cancel even though it is disappointing.” Reino finished nearly five minutes before any other women crossed the finish line, with Astrid Schanz-Garbassi, racing out of Oakland, Cal., taking second with a time of 1:07:03. Melissa Mattison secured third place with a finish of 1:07:13. . . .
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8-03-2019_The Recorder_Sports – Thomas Johnston
The Greenfield Lightlife Triathlon kicks off Sunday,with this weekend’s race marking the 36th running of the highly anticipated event. As of Friday, 258 people had signed up for the race.In last year’s event, 350 athletes competed. Competitors can continue to sign up at today’s packet pickup,which runs from 4-6 p.m., though a 20-percent jump in fees will occur. The water was expected to be tested today in preparation for the swim portion of the triathlon. Due to the closing of Nash’s Mill Road for bridge construction, the course was forced to undergo significant changes this year.“We appreciate everyone’s flexibility with our struggles in Greenfield,” race director Christy Moore said. . . .
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8-06-2018_The Recorder_Sports – Josh Solomon
In the weeks leading up to the 35th running of the Greenfield Triathlon, it seemed the weather was either hot and humid, rainy or both. On Sunday, the 355 race participants were spared torrential rains, but got served a harsh dose of hot and humid. That's just what the doctor ordered, though, for perennial favorite, South Deerfield's JoEllen Reino, who grew up in Virginia. "It's such a short and sweet season up here," she said with her usual smile. "I'll take it." Take it she did — Reino walked away from the sprint rendition of the triathlon with her fourth straight title and a new record, five total wins. She finished the feat in 1 hour, 16 minutes, 21 seconds. She broke a tie with Don Dwight, who finished first four times. "I was happy with how I performed and then whatever the results were, it took care of itself," Reino said, after claiming her award to the cheers of the many familiar faces in the stands at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area. She beat out Northampton's Tara Strassburg (1:17:09) by 48 seconds. "Certainly with this heat, I don't know where she gets her energy from," race director Christy Moore said. "She's just fun to watch and I think she has fun competing, which is why I think she's so successful." . . .
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8-04-2018_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
Participants in the field for the 35th running of the Greenfield Triathlon are going to get an opportunity to challenge themselves Sunday morning when competitors take off swimming at the sound of the air horn at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area on Nash's Mill Road in Greenfield. As was the case one year ago, this year's field includes many returning champions that other triathletes will get an opportunity to compete against in one of the two courses. Three of the four individual champions from a year ago return to try and tackle the course that has made the first Sunday in August a Mecca for triathletes for three and a half decades. "This is the longest-running triathlon in New England and we are proud to have it in Greenfield," said race director Christy Moore. The triathlon features two races. The smaller course is called the Sprint Division and features a .31-mile swim, a 15.14mile bike and a 3.09 run, while the longer course — known as the International course — features a .63-mile swim, a 30.28-mile bike and a 7.09-mile run. . . .
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8-19-2017_The Recorder_Readers Write – Judith Roberts, Colrain
I have been competing in the Greenfield Triathlon for 24 years. I have the T-Shirts to prove it. It is a fun and exciting event in our beautiful little town. But most importantly, it is so well run by the wonderful volunteers. I want to add my voice to thank them all. From the spectators along the course who cheer us on to Christy Moore, race director, and everyone in between. This includes too many people to thank here, but our local police, lifeguards, ambulance, Rick Roy, the cooks, the masseurs, people cleaning the roadway and picking up trash, handing out water and directing us along the route, and many, many more. I am so grateful to you for what you do. You are a big part of what makes our little community a great place to live and work and play.
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8-7-2017_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
JoEllen Reino had to travel a bit further than the .31-mile swim, 15.14mile bike and 3.09-mile run to make history Sunday morning during the 34th annual Greenfield Triathlon at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area. The South Deerfield resident also had a 3½-hour drive. On Thursday, Reino decided that she would drive back to Franklin County during the middle of her Maine vacation to compete in the event and the three-time champ and twotime defending champion made history as she tied the record for most all-time wins with her fourth title. Reino won the women’s Sprint competition by 1 hour, 18 minutes, 8.4 seconds to tie Don Dwight with four all-time wins as Dwight captured four consecutive men’s International Division crowns from 1994 through 1997. The overall women’s winner was competing in the 50-54 division. Reino was not the only person who made history. She was joined in the record books by Hatfield’s Madeline Nagy, who also picked up her fourth alltime victory with her women’s International competition victory. Nagy finished the .63-mile swim, 30.28-mile bike and 7.19mile run in 2 hours, 42 minutes, 56.5 seconds for her fourthever crown and first since 2015. . . .
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8-5-2017_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
Dan Bensen, JoEllen Reino and Madeline Nagy will all be looking to go down in the Greenfield Triathlon history books Sunday morning during the 34th running of the annual event. The trio will each be vying for their fourth-ever crowns, which would tie a record set by Don Dwight when he won four International races in the 1990s. The Triathlon kicks off at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area on Nash’s Mill Road in Greenfield. The first heat of competitors will hit the waters of the Green River and subsequent heats will follow. The triathlon features two races: the Sprint and International. The Sprint is the shorter of the two races and consists of a .31-mile swim, 15.14-mile bike and 3.09-mile run, while the International course includes a .63mile swim, 30.28-mile bike and 7.09-mile run. Bensen and Reino join Carson Poe for another run at history as each of the three will vie for their third straight wins. . . .
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8-5-2017_The Recorder_Sports – Andy Castillo
Planning Sunday’s annual Greenfield Lightlife event a year-long endurance test – When the starting gun of Sunday morning’s Greenfield Triathlon fires and athletes surge into the Green River, it’ll be the result of lengthy preparation by hundreds of volunteers behind the scenes. “ As soon as the race is over, we meet the next month as a debrief to see if there were any issues. Then we roll right into planning and getting things in place for the next year,” said Greenfield’s Recreation Director Christy Moore. The annual competition is one of the department’s largest fundraisers. On Friday night, a group of eight volunteers packed bags with T-shirts, water bottles, snacks, to be given to athletes. “This will be my fourth,” said Amy Bowse, a triathlete who’s also on the race’s seven-member planning committee, pausing as she worked. Bowse designed the T-shirts. “I loved it so much after the first year. I wanted to be a part of it,” she said. . . .
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8-8-2016_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
Although it may be difficult to remember the type of things you were doing as a 10-year old, running triathlons probably wasn’t among them. Greenfield’s Luke Scotera will forever be able to boast about doing just that as a 10 year-old, however, as he was awarded the Patrick Bell Award, which is given annually to the youngest finisher in the Greenfield Triathlon Sprint Division. The award is named in memory of Greenfield native Bell, who got his start in triathlons in 1995 at the Greenfield event at age 13. He continued competing in the sport for 10 years before tragically dying in 2005 at the age of 23 after completing the Ashland Lions Club Triathlon. Each year his family comes out for the Greenfield Triathlon and many of his brothers and sisters compete in teams. Then the family hands out the award that typically goes to someone around 12 or 13, but this year was awarded to someone even younger. “My mom encouraged me to do it,” Scotera said about his impetus. “It was great. I had a lot of fun.” . . .
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8-8-2016_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
Familiar faces adorned the podium following the 33rd running of the Greenfield Triathlon Sunday at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area, where three defending champions retained their crowns. Deerfield’s Dan Bensen and Conway’s JoEllen Cameron returned to the top of the podium in the Sprint Division, while Northampton’s Carson Poe repeated as Men’s International Division champion. Katie Mason of Brooklyn, N.Y ., was the only first-time champion this season, winning the Women’s International Division. Sunday’s victory marked the first celebration of the month for Cameron, who will be celebrating again in two weeks when she marries fiance John Reino, who doubles as her training partner for the multiple triathlons in which they both compete, and who, incidentally, also won his age division (men’s 50-54) Sunday. Cameron joked that this will be the final time that JoEllen Cameron will compete. She will be JoEllen Reino in any future appearances. All the more reason for her and Reino to come back early from their vacation in Maine to compete in Sunday’s event. “We just love this race,” Cameron said, “and we love triathlons in general. We train together, it’s something we like to do. We are doing another one Wednesday in New York. We probably do about seven or eight triathlons per summer.” Winning the women’s Sprint Division was no easy feat for the bride-to-be, thanks to Easthampton’s Kate Mc-Cully, who had the fastest swim time of any competitor, male or female. McCully completed the .31-mile swim in 7 minutes, 12 seconds, which was more than 30 seconds faster than any of the other 155 entrants in the Sprint Division, and nearly 2 minutes better than Cameron. . . .
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8-8-2016_The Recorder_Main – photos by Matt Burkhartt
Athletes from all over the region biked, swam and ran their way to victory at the Greenfield Triathlon on Sunday. Above, Mark Waller of Greenfield races down Nash’s Mill Road during the Sprint individual bike leg. . . .
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8-5-2016_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
The 33rd running of the Greenfield Triathlon will take place Sunday morning at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area in Greenfield, where three former champions will be among the few hundred people competing. Last year’s Sprint Division champions Dan Benson and JoEllen Cameron are both returning to defend their titles, as is last year’s International men’s champion Carson Poe. Benson finished the .31-mile swim, 15.14-mile bike and 3.09-mile run in 1 hour, 8 minutes, 1.5 seconds to claim the 2015 Sprint men’s championship, marking the second time the Greenfield native has won the event, the other coming in 2012. Last year was also Cameron’s second title, as the 2011 champion hailing from Conway earned the Sprint women’s championship with a time of 1:17:16.3, finishing five minutes ahead of her nearest rival. Last year also marked the return of the Pumping Station covered bridge to the course, after what might be the most popular part of the course was washed away by Hurricane Irene in 2011. . . .
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8-2-2016_The Recorder_Sports – Jaywalking by Jay Butynski
Hank Lange remembers it well — Greenfield Triathlon, Aug. 4, 1991, he the 37-year-old overall runner-up and men’s 30-39 division champion. Although it would be no stretch to assume that his grueling accomplishment that day could not have been topped by anyone in his immediate family at that time a quarter-century ago, such a logical assumption about his grueling ordeal would be inaccurate indeed. In fact, dead wrong. Because, you see, just 20 hours before the starting gun had sounded, Lange’s wife, Diana, had given birth to their first child, a daughter. Now, 25 years after the birth of Sarah Wellington Lange, she and her dad will return to Greenfield to participate in the 33rd annual triathlon Sunday morning at the Green River Swimming and Recreation Area. The Brattleboro residents had not returned to the race until last summer, when the Langes attended the 32nd running of the event as spectators. While cheering competitors, father and daughter could feel their competitive juices begin to flow and then and there a challenge was issued for the following summer. “The idea was hatched while we watched that day,” Hank said. “She’s out for blood, I’m afraid.”. . . .
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8-3-2015_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
On July 23, Greenfield native Dan Bensen celebrated his marriage to college sweetheart Rachel Meyer with a wedding. Ten days later, he was again celebrating — this time, Greenfield Triathlon’s Sprint Division championship. Bensen cruised through the 32nd running of the event to finish in 1 hour, 8 minutes, 1.5 seconds to beat the field by more than three minutes Sunday morning at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area. . . .
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8-3-2015_The Recorder – photo by Matt Burkhartt
Competitors in the 32nd annual Greenfield Triathlon exit the Green River after completing the swimming leg of the event at the Green River Swimming and Recreation Area on Nashs Mill Road Sunday.
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7-31-2015_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
The bridge. Ah, the bridge. Finally, it’s back. After a three-year hiatus, the covered Pumping Station bridge on Eunice Williams Drive makes its long-awaited return to the Greenfield Triathlon during the 32nd running of the annual race Sunday morning at the Green River Swimming and Recreation Area in Greenfield. The most famous and picturesque part of the course has always been that covered bridge, but the floods from Hurricane Irene in 2011 destroyed it and caused race officials to create an alternate route for the past three years. The bridge reopened this past fall, so now the triathlon can return to its original route, much to the delight of organizers and participants. “I’m extremely excited, it’s nice to have our traditional course back,” Greenfield Recreation Director Christy Moore said. “I think the athletes are excited, too. They missed it. It’s just so quintessential New England to have a covered bridge on the route. I don’t know of any other triathlon that has a covered bridge on the route.” . . .
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8-4-2014_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
It was not going to be easy for Meghan Skidmore to best her 2013 performance at the Greenfield Triathlon, but the North Conway, N.H., resident put on a show to remember during the 31wst annual running of the event. Skidmore not only won the women's overall International Competition, she also beat all the men in the event to claim her second consecutive title Sunday morning at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area . . .
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8-4-2014_The Recorder_Main – photos by Micky Bedell
Participants of the Greenfield Triathlon make their way through the event course . . .
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8-2-2014_The Recorder_Sports – Mark Durant
Now in its fourth decade, the Greenfield Triathlon appears to be as strong as ever. Race Director Christy Moore of the Greenfield Recreation Department said that 229 athletes have registered for the various age groups and divisions as of Wednesday night – including 123 for the individual Sprint course and 73 for the individual International course for the 31st-annual event, which takes place Sunday morning beginning at 8 a.m. at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area . . .
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8-5-2013_The Recorder_Main – Chris Curtis
The finish area of the Greenfield Triathlon fills rapidly with spectators as finishers begin to trickle in, to be immediately surrounded by family and friends with water and congratulations . . .
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8-5-2013_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
Last summer, Gregory Shea was disappointed that the swimming portion of the Greenfield Triathlon had to be canceled due to high levels of bacteria in the Green River. This year, he showed why . . .
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8-5-2013_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
Noah Kramer was a spectator five years ago, watching father Daniel Kramer run the Greenfield Triathlon. During the awards ceremony following the event, Noah, then 9, listened as the Patrick Bell Award was given out to Lexi Skovran, a 12-year-old who was the youngest competitor to finish the race . . .
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8-3-2013_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
The Greenfield Triathlon will celebrate its 30th year of racing on Sunday morn-ing.More than 200 athletes are slated to take part in the 30th running of the competition, which takes place on the first Sunday of August and has become a staple in Greenfield after three decades of racing . . .
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8-3-2013_The Recorder_ Life & Times – Kathleen McKiernan
From June until August, Luke Toritto, 18, of Greenfield wheels his bike from his home or laces up his sneakers after work and takes to the pavement . . .
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