Executive Board
Michelle Poublon – President
I have been a GCS member since 2003 and board member since 2006. I live in Nashua with my husband, Mike, and children Danielle, Eric and Michael. The first marathon I completed was the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. Since then, I have run 5 marathons: the Vermont City Marathon, the Chicago Marathon (twice), the Boston Marathon, and the Bay State Marathon. My proudest moment was completing the 2004 Chicago Marathon. My worst experience was at the 2005 Boston Marathon in 80+ degree heat, knowing I was in trouble at mile 6. My PR is 3:38:29, which I ran at Bay State in October 2008. My favorite races include the Lake Winnipesaukee Relay and the Mill Cities Relay. My Goals for 2009 are: to improve my half marathon PR and compete in my first triathlon. Things I live for are: my family, the beach, Margaritas, long runs with the Breakfast Club (“hsmrg”), good food, chocolate, and outdoor adventure!
Mark Sage – VP/Communications
I was born in England & grew up in a small coastal town. I am married to Marian & we have a daughter Laura & son Tim. My extended family includes three brothers and one sister. I started running when I was aged forty, after having lost about 30 lb in weight. I learned a lot in lose early days, some of it painful but it was the best thing I did as I met a lot of interesting runners / people. My first race was Francestown 5 miler in 1999. My first Marathon was in Hartford, CT. in 2005. My hobbies include: hiking, fly fishing & traveling. My profession is Sales & Marketing with the family business who manufactures PTFE (Teflon) plastics which my father & uncle started in 1955. I have seen the family business grow over the past 30 years into a successful international business. I look forward to assisting Gate City Striders, promoting running & a healthy living style.
Karen Long - Treasurer
My non-running interests are: soccer, biking, hiking, skiing, water skiing, boating, my lake house, gardening, shopping and spending time with my family. My running interests are: To help volunteer when I can and running long distances. The reason why this is, I met so many wonderful people that I developed a good friendship with. This is something I value. My favorite marathon is in Anchorage, Alaska -The Mayor Midnight Marathon in June 2001 not a PR but, it was absolutely beautiful. I got to see a great deal of Alaska. My best time for a marathon is Bay State 3:15 which, was a PR. It was not the PR I was excited about so much but, it was not being sore the next day. This was the first time I have experienced this which tells me I am doing something right while training for my marathon. I have done 3 previous marathons and I could not walk so well for next couple of days. I realize running is an important part of my life and I have met so many wonderful people.
Dan Dugan – Secretary
I have been an E-Board member for 3 years and a Gate City Strider for 4 years. I love being a part of this club because I have met some pretty amazing individuals along the way and made some great friends. For the past 2 years I have helped with organizing the Marathon Bus, which for me is one of the best benefits the club has to offer. Last year was a great year for me. I ran a PR at every distance and earned the title of NEGP Iron Runner. In addition, I won the Male Open division for the Clubs Intra Competition. I don't usually win anything. I only hope that 2009 will be just as good as 2008.
Trevor Ward - Membership
I have been a member of the Striders for about 12 years, back then I was more of a casual runner, not very consistent with my workouts. The last several years I have made running more of a priority and thanks to the coached track workouts I have actually set PR’s for most of my distances in the last 3 years. The GCS track workouts have been great for improving running but also are a nice social event where I have made many friends over the years. The last 4 years I have been very involved with the Fitness U. clinics, it’s great to see the young kids getting started in running, having fun and being fit. I work at Texas Instruments (computer I.C. design stuff) and in my spare time when I am not running I have a studio set up at home where I like to work on my oil paintings (landscapes and still life’s).
Jodie Ficociello-Dolan, CFT – Community Relations
International Sport Science Association (ISSA), CFT (Certified Fitness Trainer), American Heart Association (1st Aid/CPR/AED). My community Interests include: Assistant Cross Country Coach at St. Christopher School, PALS Cross Country Youth Girls Head Coach, Hudson Police Department Bicycle Safety Rodeo for Children and I have participated in long distance bicycling events for fundraising. My Hobbies include: Running, Mountain and Road Bicycling, Kayaking, Skiing, Hiking and Strength Training. I have been a fitness enthusiast for several years and have always been nutrition conscious. Mountain biking has always been my passion. However, being a homemaker for the past several years while putting my career on hold, I have evolved into more of a Road Biker. Eventually I caught the “running bug” and there is “no stopping me”. Although I only joined the Gate City Striders in April of 2008, my children have been involved with Fitness University since 2006. Joining GCS and surrounding myself with all the other motivated members of GCS has only enhanced my ability and overall motivation. I focus on Fitness and Sports Nutrition. I am now working at Best Fitness in Nashua, NH as a Fitness Professional and enjoy working with people who share the same passion for fitness and self-improvement.
Michael Wade – Competition
I started running when I was an out-of-shape nearly 30 year old who desperately needed a change in lifestyle. “Why not start running again? I couldn’t possibly be any worse at it than when I was in High School, right?” Come to find out it takes significantly more effort to propel a 240lb. body than a 140lb. one! It was at that point that I figured I needed a goal in order to take my mind off the pain that my body was feeling. So, I decided that once I could run a mile without stopping, I’d start training to run Boston. For some reason this seemed like a logical progression to me. Little did I know that my decision would mark the beginning of an odyssey of stunning disappointment and profound joy that is the world of long distance running. 11 years and a 15 marathons later I’m: a proud father of 3 – Casey (17), Erin (15) & Emily (2.), a fortunate husband of Johanne, and a owner of an agonizingly close to sub-3 marathon PR of 3:00:22 . I’ve been a member of the Gate City Striders since we moved to Nashua in 2003. I’m currently the clubs “Competition Coordinator” which is basically a professional way of saying that I’m the chief motivator, communicator & cheerleader for the racing team. In addition to marathons, I enjoy running trail races, cross-country races, mountain races, track races, relay races and road races of any distance (except 5k’s – those really hurt). When I’m not running I sleep. When I’m not sleeping (or running) I like to build stuff, write stories, read stories, climb mountains, take photos, draw pictures and raise children.
The GCS youth track program is offered to kids ages 7 through 18 who are interested in competing in track & field events. This coached program, led by experienced coaches and GCS members, is scheduled to begin Tuesday April 6, 2010. Find out how you can sign up!
Here's the GCS-Triad Racing Team report from the DH Jones 10 miler which served as the kick-off to the 2010 New England Grand Prix Race Series.
An up-to-the-minute list of GCS-Triad Runners who have signed up to run (and had their entry fees paid by the club) for the second New England Grand Prix Race of the Year.
Hot off the desktop of our editor Richie Blake comes the Feb / Mar issue of our club newsletter "Striding Along". Enjoy!