The Runners Reunion Podcast

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!

This week’s episode New England Runner Co-Publisher and Editor Bob Fitzgerald

As a Newton, MA native Bob Fitzgerald was no stranger to the Boston Marathon.  Each year his parents would take him to watch the race on the famed HeartBreak Hill.  It wasn’t until he graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in English and focus on journalism that he started running to lose “beer weight”.  The former defensive lineman from Newton North quickly caught the running bug and fit right in with the running boom, easily transitioning into the social scene with the cast of characters of the era.  The “beer weight” came off and Bob clocked some impressive PRs including a 2:40 marathon and 14:33 three mile.  It was Bob’s penchant for journalism and love for the sport that ultimately led him along with his wife Michelle LeBrun to acquire the New England Runner in 1998.  Listen in to this week’s episode as Bob recounts the early days of the running boom and the stories that make up the sport’s evolution throughout the years.  https://www.nerunner.com/ 

This week’s episode features five time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier Julie Peterson-Menosky

When Julie Peterson-Menosky was in grade school at St. Mary’s Catholic, girls did not have gym class, were limited to only a ¼ of the playground and allowed only to skip during recess (no running)!  Fortunately times were changing quickly with the advent of Title Nine and the emergence of the running boom.  Despite some notable success in high school Julie went off to UMass Amherst without ever visiting the campus, never mind a recruiting trip and a sleepover with the team.  Fortunately the stars aligned at UMass when she decided to try out for the Track and X-Country team that included some notable coaches including Peter Pfitzinger.  Under the guidance of Pete the UMass team won the New England XC championship with a team of walk ons. After graduating from college in the early 80’s Julie met Dan Peterson who became the driving force behind Julie qualifying for an impressive five consecutive Olympic Marathon trials.  We hope you enjoy listening to her inspirational journey as one of the region’s top marathoners for more than two decades.

This week’s episode features Boston Marathon legend and three times Olympic Trials qualifier Jack Fultz

Fewer than 115 men can call themselves Boston Marathon champion. Even fewer boast a 50 year connection to the race:  athlete; elite athlete talent manager; coach; and catalyzing force linking the marathon to fundraising efforts to make the world a better place. Add a dash of decades of collegiate sports psychology instruction and buckle up for a wide ranging conversation with the always interesting, always erudite  Jack Fultz. Ranging far from his Pennsylvania roots, road racing took hold first over the traditional collegiate career during the height of Viet Nam. It ultimately led him to toe the line in 100 degree heat, in Hopkinton, in April 1976 The rest is history.

Following The Flame with Greg Lautenslager

Our guest this week is four time Olympic Trials qualifier and coach Greg Lautenslager.  After a 20 year award winning career coaching in New Zealand Greg is back home in his native state of Texas coaching at Hill College.  As many of you know Boston was one of Greg’s stops during his 12 year quest to make the Olympic Team.  As with many of the runners in the 70’s and 80’s Boston holds a special place in Greg’s heart for the many friendships he developed during his time running for Nike Boston.  This past December Greg was able to attend the annual gathering of Newton and Wellesley area runners at the Cherry Tree in West Newton.  Much to his surprise his 20 year hiatus from the Boston scene did not skip a beat as he reconnected with old friends like it was yesterday.  Listen in as we continue to catch up with Greg about his experiences in Boston, New Zealand and the many other stops along his passionate journey in running and coaching.