October 2025 Newsletter

Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry (or two or three!) to our summer photo contest. It is so much fun to see what everyone has been up to – UVRC certainly gets around! We had photos from all over the country and world, and a few from right here in our beautiful backyard. Our winners are posted below. And if your photo is included in the winner selection below, email uppervalleyrunningclub@gmail.com with your shirt size, and we’ll track you down to give you a UVRC shirt! 

Furthest Distance Traveled – this one was a tie, because these were both big trips! Jimmy Wu got his heat training in running through Da’an Park in Taipei, Taiwan, while Trang Le visited the Great Wall in China. 

Photo 1 – Jimmy Wu

Photo 2 – Trang Le

Most Breathtaking Scenery – this one goes to our very own Tim Smith on a trip to Norway! 

Photo 3 – Tim Smith

Most Coordinated Selfie – this one goes to Michael Holmes while pacing 1:30 group at the Covered Bridges Half Marathon. If only we could all take selfies while running that pace…

Photo 4 – Michael Holmes

Most Delicious – this one goes to Peter Wild, who captured some August delight at the Sprouty 5k/10k post-race scene. 

Photo 5 – Peter Wild

Most Beautiful Mountain Range – this one goes to Melissa Herman, who snapped this selfie on a trip to the majestic Tetons. 

Photo 6 – Melissa Herman

Best Photo Featuring a Cute Critter – While it was a bit of a let-down that no one submitted a dog picture (I really feel like we let RJ down with that!) it’s a good thing that Helene Sisti captured this adorable bird on Mt. Willey in the Whites.

Photo 7 – Helene Sisti

By Cara Baskin

TNT (Tuesday Night Track) has been a staple of UVRC for over a decade. We’ve been circling up weekly to get to know each other and lay down some sweaty laps as a team.  

When I first showed up to TNT shyly in 2015, after weeks of urging from a friend, I have to admit I was intimidated. I hadn’t done a speed workout in years and didn’t know a soul. What was my 5k pace if I wasn’t racing? Despite my hesitation, I was met with the enthusiasm of our leader Kim and the smiling faces of our traditional introductions circle. When it was my turn, I introduced myself and decided to ask for help with an upcoming running relay. Right off the bat, Kevin Hartstein walked up to me and offered to be on my relay, and to be my friend. Shortly after, I was swept up in my new pace group for my first track workout in years. The laps sped by and the friendships rolled in as I was welcomed back week after week, and over the years I’ve seen my speed improve incrementally just by being consistent. There is something special about TNT, where the magic of the pace group takes the work out of the workout, and grants you fitness and friendships in return.

Curious? Whether you’re training for a race, looking to run with others, interested in trying a speed workout or hungry for free monthly pizza with your teammates, join us at an upcoming TNT! We have a wide range of “pace groups” (centered around 5k race pace) that show up weekly and there’s no limit to how many groups we can have! Never run a 5k? We have a group for that. Looking for that extra 1%? We have a group for that too. I can’t wait to see you on the track someday soon!

Here is who you might see at TNT!

The seventh race in the Upper Valley Running Series (UVRS) was the Triple Dam 10K, organized by club member Sean Meissner. Great work to all UVRC runners! Results:

https://www.runlikeardy.com/races/triple-dam-10k/

The eighth race in the Upper Valley Running Series (UVRS) was the Sharon Sprouty 5K/10K. September 6th was a great day for running, with many UVRC runners. Results:

https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/35839

We’ve got one more race in October left: the Tiger Run 5K/12K, October 26th in Enfield NH (race director, UVRC’s own Rick Currier). Run across the bridge through the middle of Lake Mascoma!

https://raceroster.com/events/2025/105523/2025-tiger-run-12k5k

What’s the UVRS? It’s our club’s series of local road races. Checkout the UVRS website for the latest information:

https://uppervalleyrunningclub.org/upper-valley-running-series/

UVRS results are now available! Check the UVRS website (above).

Not running? Got a friend or family member who will be there but not running? Consider volunteering:

https://uppervalleyrunningclub.org/volunteering/

Happy Running!

Geoff and the UVRS committee

By Scott King

There are many things in life worth doing. Being part of the running club has been one of them since I joined in 2015. It has given me a place where I feel I am part of and proud to be a part of. It keeps me healthy for other things I like to do in life. Being part of a group, I like to help when I can and that is why you can see me at the annual picnic cooking at the grill or helping with parking every year or so at the Mount Washington Road race. Another thing I donate my time to is Lebanon, my hometown, and the different things they are looking for help with. The past couple of year I have been working with the Lebanon Tree Advisory Board. There are several goals they have and the one I enjoy helping with is planting of trees. These are not the small 1-foot seedling trees, but rather 3- to 5-year-old trees that might be anywhere from 5 to 15 feet tall with a 2’ root ball weighing 60 to 120 pounds.  Being that I am older, I have found it rewarding to drive by a tree decades later and see the tree doing well. These trees might be at a school or cemetery or one of the trees I know many of you seek shade from at Colburn Park. Lebanon has started to plant the next generation of young trees for the park and other areas, you may have noticed some planted last year or this spring. 

We have some dates set for this fall and we are always looking for more healthy bodied individuals or teams to lend a hand in planting. The dates put out in an e-mail are October 11^th and 18^th, both are Saturdays, and we will meet at 9. Late comers are welcome. If you are interested, please reach out to Susan Johnson – skj@susankjohnson.com and ask to be put on a e-mail list of tree plantings. You could go to the following Lebanon Tree Advisory Board | Lebanon, NH, and sign up to help and read more about the board and the goals. I look forward to seeing you all either running or planting some roots in Lebanon.

https://tinyurl.com/yxx728tt