Personal Records Fall This Summer for Performance Group Runners ... Looking Forward to Fall Season
by Matt Scherer
Owner, Fast RunnerZ

Coaching the Thursday Performance Group this summer has been an incredible experience for the coaches as well as for the runners. Heather Hanscom, a professional marathoner for Brooks, is the primary coach from week to week, and she writes and oversees the workouts. "I really enjoy working with the group," says Hanscom. "They are all great people. Seeing them run workouts, talking with them about their running, hearing about their races, and just getting to know them reminds me of why I run, and that is for the pure enjoyment of it."

There have also been several other local professionals who have helped out and made appearances. Matt Scherer, Adam Steele, and Marc Sylvester, all of Nike Oregon Track Club, have spent time with the runners at the track and afterwards over burgers at Villard Street Pub. "It's been awesome spending time with the runners. They are a very fun group to be around," says Adam Steele. Mike Black, co-owner of Eugene Running Company and founder of the Thursday Performance Group, has also been very helpful and supportive with the transition of coaching to Fast RunnerZ.

The summer competitions were highlighted by marathons, road races, and the All-Comers meets at South Eugene High School. In the short four months since Fast RunnerZ has been coaching the group, there have been numerous noteworthy performances. Chris Shultz and Richard Gambino lowered their mile bests by 67 and 52 seconds, respectively, while other runners in the group saw more than 15 personal records. "When I started with the group," states Heather Hanscom, "I asked everyone to write down their race schedule and what times they hoped to run. It was exciting to see that most people had either met or exceeded their goals."

Coaches and runners alike are looking forward to even better performances on the track next year but are looking first to the fall racing season. Marathoners are in the beginning stages of their training programs while others are working towards local road races almost every week from now through December.

The Thursday Performance Group is free to join and meets every week in Eugene. For more information, including photos and a calendar of events, visit www.FastRunnerZ.com.