Gophers Defeat World Champions in the 2006 Utica Boilermaker

In an amazing show of strength and fortitude all four of the Groton Gophers went on to defeat one of the winners of the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon in the July 9, 2006 Utica Boilermaker. "Sure the guy is a lot older then us, and didn't take the race seriously, but we'll take any victory we can get.", one of the gophers was heard saying.

All gophers performed to the best of their abilities and scored PR's in this race. Stephen Codner had a time of 73:25 (7:53/mile). Ray Wagner had a time of 74:37 (8:00/mile). Ron Moore had a time of 76:11 (8:10/mile). Steve Gallow had a time of 76:27 (8:12/mile)

Marathon Training Schedule for Wine Glass Marathon

Codner Shatters all Gopher Records by running sub 7

In an amazing feet of strength Stephen Codner shattered all Gopher records by running a 21:37 for a 6:57/mile pace in the Nate Race 5k in Canastota, N.Y.

Codner stated the night before that he was ready. It turns out that the secret to a great race is the Collegetown 9's deep dish pizza and beer the night before. No longer will the gophers have to chow down at the pasta dinners before the big race. Just bring us the pizza with the broccoli.

Ray Wagner also came in with a very impressive time of 23:15, and is on his way to setting a 5k PR this year.

Weedsport Historical 8k Run June 3, 2006

One of the most fun runs the Gophers do is the Weedsport Historical 8k. This is a combination road race/ trail run which includes a drumlin. A drumlin according to Dictionary.com is "An elongated hill or ridge of glacial drift."

This year the weather was 54 degrees and raining which made the race even more fun. The drumlin was extremely slippery with many people slipping and falling. Many of the races decided that running through the mud puddles on the tow path was much more fun then avoiding them. Some runners even choose to hit the mud puddles along the edge of the road.

After last weeks races of setting 5 PR's the gophers decided to take it easy this week, and only set two new PR's.

Stephen Codner went on to place 3rd in the 40-49 age class, followed by Steve Gallow taking 4th, and Ray Wagner taking 5th. Gallow and Wagner feel they should include prices for the top 5 finishers of each age group.

Results:

24th Steve Codner 37:36

25th Steve Gallow 37:55

27th Ray Wagner 39:06

Camillus Memorial Day 5k May 29, 2006

"I've got a mule, and her name is Sal", could be heard as the Gophers ran along the Erie Canal in the Camillus Memorial Day 5k. Ray Wagner Stepher Codner, and Gary Rightmire believed that one difficult race in a weekend is not enough, and talked Steve Gallow into joining them.

As the gun went off, and the Gophers began their run through the cheering crowd Gallow and Codner took off to run a sub 7 for the first mile. Codner pushed Gallow to run hard. At the end of the day in the blistering heat Woohoos could be heard as the two of them had 2 PR's in one weekend.

The results were as follows:

68th Stephen Codner 22:29
80th Steve Gallow 22:54
105th Ray Wagner 23:37
210th Gary Rightmire 28:12

Recway 10k May 21st, 2006

The Gophers began their busy summer race season with the Recway 10K. This race is run on the South Hill Recreation Way in Ithaca, NY. The 3 veteran runners of this Race, Ray Wagner, Stephen Codner and Gary Rightmire warned the newbies, Steve Gallow and Ron Moore that this is a difficult course to run. Being the first time that Steve and Ron ran a 10k race, they were guaranteed PR's. The day was perfect for running. It was a little warm, but a slight mist of rain helped cool the runners.

The official times are as follows:

16th Stephen Codner 47:16
17th Ronald Moore 48:19
18th Steve Gallow 49:09
21st Ray Wagner 50:36
38th Gary Rightmire 56:17

Keep up the great work Gophers!

(Special Note: The Gophers all ran so fast that it was impossible to get a picture of them in this race.)

The Gophers made a very strong show at the 28th Annual Mountain Goat 10 mile race.

Elite runner Steve Codner continued his sub 8 min/mile pace to dominate the gophers. Codner shattered his time from last year by 6:06 to finish with a time of 1:16:23 for a pace time of 7:40

Following next was fast starter rooky Ron Moore with a 1:22:19 for a pace of 8:16. We expect great things from Ron.

Ray Wagner came in with a strong finish at a time of 1:23:24 for a pace of 8:23.

Steve Gallow was next taking about 1:30 off of last years time. His time was a 1:25:18 for a 8:34 pace. He's decided that maybe next year he'll try the Italian wine and cheese training again to see if he comes in with the same time that he had last year.

Another first timer to the Moutain Goat was Gary Rightmire with a 1:39:10 for a 9:59 pace. Gary had run one of the training runs at a faster pace. He was experiencing some muscle cramps this time.

Although it was a great day for the race, some of the Gophers found it a little hot. Steve Gallow commented, "I knew I was in trouble when Codner wasn't wearing any gloves." Gallow likes it cold, and prefers the 20 degree days. He starts wearing a shirt at that temparture. Codner and Moore like it hot. Bring on the heat is their response.

All in all it was a good showing at a great race.

Stephen Codner took some other great photos at the race.

The Groton Gophers had an impressive showing at the 24th Ithaca Annual Skunk Cabbage Classic 10k and 1/2 marathon on April 2, 2006. This race is sponsored by the Fingerlakes Runners Club.

Pictured here Team Gopher included Gary Rightmire, Ray Wagner, Stephen Codner, Ron Moore, and Steve Gallow.

Rightmire and Wagner represented the Gophers in the 10k, while Codner, Moore, and Gallow took on the treacherous 1/2 marathon. Codner, Moore and Gallow all went on to complete the difficult course with personal records. David Jung also ran the 1/2 marthon. (He wasn't around when we took the photograph.)

We have begun to rethink our motto of "Starting Slow, and Taper from There." Listen to interviews on the April 3rd edition of the Podcast. You can also view the the photo's on Stephen Codner's web site.

The Groton Gophers welcome their newest gopher, Polly Case-Codner, at the Cazenovia Chilly Chili.

Once again many of the Groton Gophers began their season at the Cazenovia Chilly Chili.

Veteren Ray Wagner stated that he was going to go out strong the first mile, and die after that. (Ray, the wisdom of Walt Stack is start slow and taper from there.) Ray hit the first mile at 7:35 followed by Ron Moore and Steve Gallow at around 7:45.

After that it wasn't until mile 2.5 that Ron and Steve caught Ray. From there Ron and Steve battled it out until the finish line. All the running Gophers came in strong:

Steve Gallow placed 151 out of 734 with a time of 23:55 a 7:42 pace.

Ron Moore placed 153 out of 734 with a time of 24:03 a 7:45 pace.

Ray Wagner place 161 out of 734 with a time of 24:09 a 7:47 pace.

All Three shattered their previous times from last year.

Judy, Polly, and Kris all said that the time doesn't matter and sugguested that we get a life.

Stephen Codner becomes the elite Gopher

Stephen Codner not only traveled to the west coast for the Pacific Shoreline Marathon, but he also shattered all Gopher records. He has set quite a bar for the rest of us this year. Let's hope that we can hang on to his shirt tail this year.

View his adventure on his web site.

Also view the professional photos of him.

Pacific Shoreline Marathon

February 5, 2006

Hey Everyone!!

I am in my final stages of training for the Pacific Coast (half) marathon! I fly out on Friday morning and will be on the beach by noon PST on Friday. I will probably get settled in and run an easy 2 miles that afternoon. Saturday I will attend the running exposition right at the Hilton Hotel where I will be staying and possibly drive 16 miles north and see the Queen Mary - unless I take a surfing lesson. Sunday is the race. Over 7000 runners will participate. The course runs right along the coast and back. My plan is to run between an 8min/mile to an 8.30min/mile to bring me in at at personal best of 1 hour 45 min to 1 hour 50 minutes. Training has gone real well and I am now sporting a weight of 169lbs and feel great! Big party on the beach after the run where I expect to drink heavily and party hearty with the California Girls ;) (sorry Polly) Fly home on Monday :(

Wish me luck and you may get a phone call from the beaches of southern California this weekend!!

Steve

(picture is Huntington beach - where the course runs)

Message from Steve Codner

Welcome to the Groton Gopher Blog Site.

This site is dedicated to all those runners who consider themselves a Gopher. The requirements are very stringent. If you would like to become one, raise your right hand and repeat after me. "I'm a Groton Gopher". Congratulations, you're a member.

Last year we used a wiki to keep everybody updated. (http://seedwiki.com/wiki/groton_gophers/groton_gophers.cfm) This year we're trying the blog format.

Hopefully Stephen Codner will return with his great newsletters.

Have a great year of running Gophers, and remember to start slow and taper from there.