The Runners Reunion Podcast

Catching up with Mimi Fallon as she discusses her life in running and the many friendships along the way

Mimi Fallon’s first road race was the NYC marathon in 1989.  She entered the lottery for a number on a whim thinking it would be a long shot to be selected.  As fate would have it, she was selected and off to NYC with a 10 mile long run on her limited resume.  Remarkably, she covered the distance with an impressive time of 3:09!  Join us on her journey through the running boom years and beyond as we discuss many legendary mentors, notable track clubs and the other half of this fan favorite running family Jimmy!

Catching up with Paul Gorman and his persistent approach to running and beyond

Swamscott, MA native Paul Gorman had a stellar career as a professional runner during the 80’s.  His journey to the elite level during the height of the running boom, however, was far from conventional.  After dabbling in the sport in high school, he attended Providence College where the likes of Mick O’Shea, Mick Byrne and John Treacy were solidifying the continuous stream of recruits from Ireland.  After a brief stint on the team, Paul eventually left PC despite making friendships with many of his teammates.  Paul’s rise to the elite level of the sport began after leaving PC with a persistent and disciplined approach that served him well as a professional runner and as CEO of the South Shore YMCA in Massachusetts.

Janice Cataldo discusses Title Nine and the early days of Women's X-Country and Track at Providence College

When Title 9 was signed into law in 1972 little did Janice Cataldo know how it would impact her life and the contributions she would make to one of the storied women’s track and cross country teams in the country.  Growing up with five sisters in a traditional italian family learning to be a good homemaker was the order of the day in the early 1970’s.  As fate would have it, a gym teacher at St. Xavier High School in Providence spotted her running talent in class during her junior year.  Janice took his advice to join the track team and quickly excelled earning All-State honors in high school and wanted to continue competing in college.  As a freshman at Providence College in 1976, however, there was not a women’s x-country or track program.  With help from Janice and the quickly changing tide that resulted from Title 9, PC fielded their first x-country team in 1977.  By the time she graduated the cross country team qualified for the national meet and the track team boasted 20 teammates.  We hope you enjoy this episode as Janice recounts her journey through the early days of Title 9, the running boom and the positive impact it has had on her personal and professional life.

Our guest this episode is Olympic Trials qualifier, coach and community organizer Mark Robinson

Our guest this episode is 10 time All American Mark Robinson.  A graduate of Catholic University, and longtime coach of his alma mater, Robinson did not begin running until his senior year at McKinley Technical High School in Washington, D.C.  Despite a late start in the sport, he posted impressive results by clocking a 4:15 mile and 9:16 two mile in high school.  His success continued at Catholic University and at an international level competing in the 1976 Olympic Trials and on the European Track Circuit as an 800-meter specialist.  Mark’s passion for the sport continues to this day as head boys coach at Bell Multicultural High School in Washington, D.C.  We will discuss Mark’s career on and off the track and his dedication to community development.  When not coaching track you may be lucky enough to sit with him in the stands at a major track meet and enjoy his deep insight into the sport and his analysis of each event that is more than likely to be spot on!
Longtime Catholic U. coach helps grow local high school’s running program

The Legacy of Johnson & Wales AC and Colonel John McNulty

In the 1970s and 1980s Johnson & Wales AC (JWAC) was the dominant road running club in Rhode Island.  Prior to becoming a four year college (now a university) JWAC had one of the top Jr. College teams in the country featuring standouts Hollie Walton, Roland Davide, Bob Hodge and Vin Fleming to name a few.  The then 4 year College team transitioned to an all comers club in the late 1970's during the height of the running boom.  Bobby Doyle and Hollie Walton, fresh from the collegiate ranks at UTEP, led the charge and soon other top runners followed including Tom Grundy, Mark Skinkle, John Treacy, Mick O'shea, Mick Byrne, Ray Treacy, Doctor Paul Thompson, Tom and Bobby Ratcliffe and many other top runners from RI.  At the height of its dominance the club had over 70 plus members of various skill levels including the Elite runners.  This also included several team titles over the years around the country at almost every distance including a 50k in Brattleboro Vt in 1978 and third in the TAC National XC meet held in Franklin Park in 1984.
The driving force behind the club was the founder and original coach Colonel John McNulty.  His distinguished military career included the Bronze Star and three Army Commendation Medals for Meritorious Service, and the Combat Infantry Badge.  The Colonel was also an accomplished marathoner long before it became a sport for the masses. As a boy in Baltimore he won his division in several road races at various distances.  In this episode we discuss the legacy of the Colonel and JWAC with his son Chief Patrick McNulty.  We will also discuss Pat’s own experiences as a runner, accomplished surfer and career in law enforcement.

The Runners Reunion Podcast catches up with one of the event’s founders Charlie Breagy

Our guest this episode is the third pillar and one of the founders of the Runners Reunion event Charlie Breagy.  Charlie was a member of the second wave of Irish and British runners to attend Providence College that made up one of the most dominant cross country teams in the country during the early 80’s which finished second in the NCAAs in 1981 and 1982.  After graduating from PC Charlie remained in Rhode Island and was a fixture on the local road racing scene.  A product of the club system in Ireland where members remain with their clubs for life, Charlie has been a member of the Rhode Island running scene for more than 40 years serving as a coach, race organizer and an ambassador for the sport.

Two time Olympian Pete Pfitzinger kicks off season three with the Runners Reunion Podcast!

Our guest spent his formative years in the snow belt of Upstate NY. Glimpses of raw talent showed through championship success running on skis. After a successful collegiate career, the Clarion Call of Boston proved irresistible and he moved east, initially rooming with punk rockers before moving to the infamous River Street AC Commune. He went from working the cash register to a professional role at the upstart New Balance Shoe Company. An original running outlaw, pilloried for contesting antiquated notions of amateurism; a contagion who risked contaminating entire fields he remained true in his belief that professional athletes should be able to accept money openly versus groveling under the table. This proved to be a prescient attitude years ahead of its time. A relative unknown, he upstaged the favorites to dramatically win the 1984 US Olympic Marathon Trials, and backed it up as the first American in Los Angeles. More success followed including a second Olympic Team berth in 1988. A 26 year resident of New Zealand, he recently retired as CEO of Athletics New Zealand, the country's USATF equivalent. Sit back and enjoy the following conversation with Pete Pfitzinger. 
Check out the 1984 Olympic Marathon Trials Finish!

The 2023 Hoka and Marathon Sports Ocean State XC Invitational with Steve Mazzone and Siobhan Breagy

While the Runners Reunion Podcast Team is planning for season #3, we are pleased to host Ocean State Running’s master of the media Steve Mazzone as he catches up with Siobhan Breagy to discuss the upcoming Ocean State Cross Country Invitational at Goddard Park on September 22nd and 23rd.  The Ocean State XC Invitational sponsored by Hoka and Marathon Sports is one of the most competitive and popular XC events on the east coast.  Listen in as Steve and Siobhan discuss the new and exciting features planned for this year’s event.  For more information check out their website Ocean State XC Invitational  Theme music by Jens East

Our last guest of the season is Gerry Beagan, one of the founders of the Runners Reunion event

Our last guest of the season is Gerry Beagan, one of the founders of the Runners Reunion event.  Gerry’s story is perhaps one of the best examples of how the running boom of the 70’s impacted the lives of the 25 million Americans who fueled the growth of competitive road running.  By chance Gerry was at Fenway to watch the World Series bound 1975 Red Sox on Patriot’s Day and spilled out into the street to watch the finish of the marathon to see running’s common man Bill Rodgers float by in a homemade T-Shirt to win the race in an American Record.  The west wind that day also swept Gerry right into the thick of the Running Boom.  
Running from that point on became his passion that inspired him to complete more than 100 marathons, countless ultra marathons, organize many of the area’s iconic road races, coaching local runners to PRs  and publish a magazine and book on New England Road Races.  Like many of us Gerry was always a fixture at post race social events providing sage advice on almost any topic that many of us appreciate to this day. 

Our guest this week is Olympian and Team New Balance Boston Coach Mark Coogan

Our guest this week is Olympian and Team New Balance Boston Coach Mark Coogan.  Mark’s running resume is impressive with range from the mile through the marathon and every distance event between.  Mark’s pro career included training with coach Bob Sevene and support from training groups in Providence and Boulder that included some of the best runners of the era.  Mark used these experiences to develop into one of the most successful coaches in the country.  You can now read more about his coaching philosophy in his new book Personal Best Running: Coach Coogan’s Strategies for the Mile to the Marathon  Of course we recommend listening to the podcast first!