The New England 65+ Running Club

Annual Meeting (Luncheon)
September 27

Run For All Ages
November 6

The Board of Directors, at president Jerry Levasseur's urging, created a new award in 2009 "to acknowledge a race director who best exemplifies the ideals and main purpose of the New England 65 Plus Runners Club. It should be a race director who has included older age groups eligible for awards and has recognized the older runners over a period of years. If in a given year there is no one who meets the criteria the award will not be given. The Committee responsible for choosing a recipient consists of the Club President, Vice President, two Past Presidents and two at-large Directors. A plaque recognizing the award will be presented to the recipient at the annual luncheon.

Marty Schaivone of MS Running Productions in Stratford CT is a most deserving recipient of the first Race-Director-of the-Year Award. He began directing races in 1991, and by the mid 90's he recognized that the number of runners beyond their sixties was increasing significantly. He began that early to introduce an over-seventy age division in the races he directed. It was not long after that an 80+ division found its way into his awards structure, and he introduced an over-70-free registration. That is really recognizing the older athletes! Last year he also introduced an over-90 division to honor the intrepid Doc Whitney, the much admired and long-time member of the NE65 Plus Runners Club. Marty has diected about 20 or so races a year for the last 10 years; for the preceding 5 years he managed 6-14 a year. He clearly has been a successful director on the side of the veteran runner. His own record as a competitive runner is something he can also boast about, but that is another story. The Club bestows this award with great appreciation.