Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/54815
du Greater Boston Running Co., Newburyport n eorth q + a Runner's World Pounding the pavement with North Shore running buff Pat O'Connor. for residents of the Boston Metro area, April means one thing: Boston Mara- thon madness, which culminates this year on April 16. In honor of the event, North- shore talked with running enthusiast and sometime marathoner Pat O'Connor— head coach/proprietor of LunchTime Runner (LunchTimeRunner.com) and the Outreach Marketing and Promotions Coordinator for the Greater Boston Run- ning Co. stores in Newburyport, Lexington, and Hingham—about his beloved sport. What's the toughest marathon you've ever run? My first marathon in Boston. For an experienced runner, I had a rough last six miles. I did not respect the distance enough and set my goals too high. Any marathon mishaps? During my sec- ond Boston experience, as I was cruising through Kenmore Square, I noticed some faces in the crowd wincing at me. I had felt that my toes were going numb for a few miles at that point. When I looked down at my feet and turned back to look behind me, I realized that my white shoes were red with blood and I was leaving bloody footprints. I had lost all but two toenails. My shoes, as it turned out, were an entire size too small. Where is your favorite place to run non-competitively? Middlesex Fells Reservation that encompasses the Medford/Winchester/Stoneham/Melrose area around Route 93. [It has] wooded rolling trails that go on for miles. I can run more than 15 miles without running the same path twice. 176 nshoremag.com March/April 2012 Marathon Man Pat O'Connor. What makes ours such an attractive region for runners? ...Regionally, with the change of seasons, there is a unique challenge to racing and training, especial- ly in the fall. It is beautiful—especially for cross-country. The North Shore has great country-like roads and peaceful parks for running. What is LunchTimeRunner? ...The philosophy is not only to help busy adults train for their goals in a comprehensive way with high quality and low-to-mod- erate quantity, but runners of all ages... Working with athletes of all abilities, I focus on individual fitness training levels, efficient technique, and flexibil- ity and strength. The actual running in the program complements all the other aspects of running. Running can be a beneficial means of exercise, stress reduction, and mind and energy enhance- ment if it is approached the right way with some guidance. —L.L. photograph by joel laino