Posted by administrator on March 20, 2011 |
Comments Off
NEW BEDFORD — Newcomer Ruben Sança of Dorchester won today’s New Bedford Half Marathon, taking the lead in the first mile and never letting it go.
Sança, competing for the Boston Athletic Association, posted a winning time of 1:05:25. For the women, defending champion Kim Smith of New Zealand made it two in a row, finishing with a time of 1:09:50.
Smith, who bested last year’s time of 1:10:53, was the ninth-place finisher in the 10,000 meters at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Finishing second overall was Dan Vassallo. Nathan Krah finished third. Both are BAA runners.
The field for the race this year was the largest in its history, with 2,730 people participating. That bests the record set last year, which was 2,603.
The course record for men is 1:01:58 set by Geoff Smith in 1985.
The course record for woman is 1:08:32 set by Ingrid Kristiansen of Norway in 1989.
Posted by administrator on March 18, 2011 |
Comments Off
NEW BEDFORD — The minutes are ticking down to the start of the 34th New Bedford Half Marathon and no one is more excited than Mary Hodgson, CEO of the Schwartz Center, a Dartmouth-based school for the developmentally disabled.
Nine children from the school, ranging in age from 2-year-old Molly Menard to 18-year-old Trey Rivet, will be lining up to race alongside all of the other runners Sunday.
“It started out as just a dream but now it’s about to happen,” Hodgson said.
In partnership with Citizens-Union Savings Bank, the center assembled 80 volunteers from the community to push the children around the course in jogging carriages.
“We’ve had a couple of training sessions to get the kids used to it and to get the runners used to pushing them,” Hodgson said.
The children were evaluated to ensure they can withstand the challenge, and the initial response has been great, she said.
“A number of the children communicate via sign language. If they tap their fingers together it means ‘more.’ When the runners slowed down the first day we practiced, the kids were doing it because they wanted more.”
The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, who stage the race, welcomed the kids’ participation, according to race co-director Dan McCarthy.
“The race is a celebration of the best New Bedford. What could be better than able-bodied athletes helping those who would never have been able to participate on their own?” he said.
Mindy Menard of East Taunton will run part of the course pushing her 2-year-old daughter, Molly. “I’m not a runner but I have been training for eight weeks,” she said. “Next year, I hope to do the whole thing.”
Cheryl Rowe, of West Wareham, whose 10-year-old son Jared Rousseau has been going to the Schwartz Center for five years, said the race will be a big occasion for Jared. “He loves interacting with people. He’s very social, so this is a perfect opportunity. When they thought of this, he was the first child they called.”
Runner Lynn Poyant of New Bedford has volunteered her services. “I have run the half marathon for myself, so I thought it would be more meaningful to do this,” she said. “I think it’s great for the kids. I’m glad the Schwartz Center is part of our community. The work they do is phenomenal.”
Poyant’s team includes her sister, Monique Poyant, and cousin, David Reis, and they intend to complete the entire 13-mile course.
“David is great because he already pushes a triple stroller with his daughters in it, so he’s used to this,” she said.
Maribeth Moore, whose son Jeremy Charron, 5, has cerebral palsy, said he is thrilled to be part of the race.
“He’s excited. We’ve been talking about it at home,” the Freetown resident said. “He’s very verbal and loves to be out and about. He’ll get to see the whole city and it will be a great experience for him.”
Brian Tjersland of Dartmouth, a marathon runner, also plans to do the whole race. “I pushed my kids when they were young but I never ran with them,” he said. “I’ve been practicing with Trey. It’s different. It changes your stride,” he said. “He is 125 pounds. I hope someone is there to help with the hills on Hathaway Road.”
Although this is the first time the Schwartz Center is participating in the half marathon, it has a long association with the race, according to human resources director Carol Almeida.
“We’ve been handing out water on Rockdale Ave. as long as I can remember,” she said. “We’ve always been proud to see Team Hoyt (the famed father/son team from the Boston Marathon), so to have our own team is exciting.”
Almeida also paid tribute to the men and women who have agreed to push the children.
“Runners are generally competitive people. But this year many have put aside worrying about what place they finish to help these kids, and I think that’s wonderful.”
This story by Don Cuddy first appeared in the New Bedford Standard Times on March 18th here:
Posted by administrator on March 9, 2011 |
Comments Off
The Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick in cooperation with Downtown New Bedford, Inc. have released details of the Ready, Set, Eat promotion that will run in New Bedford on the weekend of the 34th Annual New Bedford Half Marathon. Download the brochure and get into the fun!
Posted by administrator on January 17, 2011 |
Comments Off
The third annual DOWNTOWN RUN (renamed from the former RESTAURANT RUN), held in conjunction with the New Bedford Half Marathon, will be held on: Sunday, March 20, 2011 from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm.
Last year’s second effort was again successful and proved that we could keep the runners and their family and friends in the downtown by giving them plenty to do and see. DNB, Inc. will once again be organizing this event and produce a brochure/map guiding visitors to the participating businesses to eat, drink, shop. The “scavenger hunt” style event was enjoyable for families and “kids” of all ages getting their map stamped from at least half the businesses allows
participants to win great prizes.
Some of the changes that the New Bedford Half Marathon Committee and their organizers, The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, made last year kept more people both pre and post race in the downtown.
NEW this year are the weekend packages being offered by the Marriott Fairfield Inn. We also need to expand our activities to become a weekend event. The Downtown restaurants are being asked to participate in a Saturday pasta meal offering being called “Ready Set Eat” to coordinate with the Race Committee’s entertainment plans. The marketing for this will be part of the expanded promotion DNB, Inc. is organizing. Downtown eateries will be asked to offer a uniform pricing on pasta dishes for lunch and dinner.
Please see the enclosed information sheet and the sign up form with fees listed. Our goal this year is to have all the participants in place and go to print with the materials by the end of February, giving DNB, Inc. more time to market and promote the event.
What we need ASAP is confirmation from businesses of participation – donations of prize items, and volunteers for the day of the race to handout maps and act as goodwill ambassadors, providing information, directions, etc. to our visitors. Please feel free to call or write for more information or to confirm a prize donation and/or participation.
Posted by administrator on January 13, 2011 |
Comments Off
Schwartz Center for Children and Citizens~Union Savings Bank to ‘Push Beyond Limits’ at the New Bedford Half Marathon
Dartmouth, MA — January 10, 2011- The Schwartz Center for Children and Citizens~Union Savings Bank are teaming up to run the New Bedford Half Marathon this coming March.
In an effort they are calling ‘Pushing Beyond Limits’, representatives from both organizations will be running to raise awareness of the Center and how it is helping children with special medical and developmental needs from across Southeastern Massachusetts.
Runners will be pushing children who attend the Center along the course, which traverses and showcases the city of New Bedford. The race, which has been rated one of the top 25 half marathons in the country by Runner’s World magazine, is hosted by the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick.
“The New Bedford Half Marathon is an elite race in which the best in the world of running compete” said Mary Hodgson, CEO of the Schwartz Center “We are so excited to team up with Citizens~Union Savings Bank to help children with disabilities to participate in this event and unleash their athletic spirit.”
“We’re delighted to be given the opportunity to showcase the Schwartz Center and our employee volunteers will proudly help the children push beyond limits ordinarily set for them.” said Nick Christ, President and CEO of Citizens~Union Savings Bank.
The Bank recently merged with Bank of Fall River and now operates fourteen branches in the following communities: Fall River, Fairhaven, New Bedford, Dighton, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea and Tiverton, RI. In addition Citizens~Union also offers a wide range of financial services including investment management, trust services, and insurance and brokerage services to consumers and businesses.
The Schwartz Center for Children is a nonprofit organization with offices at 1 Posa Place in Dartmouth, MA. It has been serving children with a variety of special medical and developmental needs from birth to age 21 in Southeastern Massachusetts since 1947. Services include a Day School, Early Intervention Program, Outpatient Rehabilitation Services, Regional Consultation Program, Pediatric Specialty Clinics, and a variety of other programs.
Posted by administrator on March 25, 2010 |
No Comments »
Brian Kirby - Kirby's Irish Pub, New Bedford
Capstone Photography now have photos available of all runners. They likely have MULTIPLE photos of you throughout the race… CLICK HERE TO SEE YOUR PHOTO
You worked hard to achieve this great accomplishment – now get a photographic record of your participation and achievement!
Men’s:
1st. – Derese Deniboba – Bronx, NY – 1:05:21
2nd. – Curtis Wheeler – Buxton, ME – 1:06:28
3rd. – Lucas Meyer – Ridgefield, CT – 1:06:49
Women’s:
1st. – Kim Smith – Providence, RI – 1:10:55
2nd. – Jennifer Campbell – New Market, NH – 1:17:24
3rd. – Jeannette Seckinger – Somerville, MA – 1:17:45
The City of New Bedford and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick kindly Invite you to the 35th Annual New Bedford Half Marathon
March 18, 2012 ~ 11AM Sharp
2011 New England Grand Prix Series
