Page 22 - June_2014

reader athlete
JONATHAN LYNCH

By Phyl Newbeck

Age: 42 | Residence: Colchester | Family: Fiancée, Kimberly; Son, Andrew; Daughter, Abby; Cats, Sneakers and Butters

Occupation: Software engineer
| Primary sport: Running

JONATHAN LYNCH STARTED RUNNING SO HE COULD BICYCLE 100 MILES,

BUT SOON FOUND MANY MORE REASONS TO LACE UP HIS RUNNING

SHOES. A DESIRE TO COMPETE LED HIM TO 5KS, WHICH LED TO 10KS,

HALF-MARATHONS AND LAST YEAR’S VCM, BUT NOW HE HAS HIS SIGHTS

SET ON BOSTON.

VS: When did you start running?
half-marathon and I enjoyed it so much tance, but I feel like I’m getting fitter as I thought it wouldn’t be for me, but I
JL: I started running around June of that I decided to do a marathon and I train more.
absolutely love it and the few occasions

2012. A good friend of mine has MS signed up for VCM. Unfortunately, I when I couldn’t go to class because I was
and he asked me to ride a century with started having terrible stomach pains in VS: What distance do you like best?
travelling, I’ve really missed it. I try to
his team, but I’d never done any bike the days leading up to the race. I was JL: I really enjoy 5Ks right now. That’s do some at home now during the week.
riding and I was out of shape. I start- finally convinced to go to the emergency where I feel I’m strongest. My placing
VS: Tell us about your most memo-
ed running every day so I could lose room and within a few hours I had my in those races is way ahead of my half
weight, get in shape and help the team. appendix out. It was just a few days be- marathon placing, but last year I had a rable races.
I ended up doing back-to-back centuries fore the race so I still did the run, but really great 10K and as I get fitter the JL: Last year’s VCM was really memo-
with the team and I continued to run.
at a much slower pace. I was happy to longer distances is more appealing.
rable. The crowd support and that feel-
complete it, but I was careful not to ing of completing a marathon was great.

VS: When did running becoming rac- burst my stitches.
VS: How do you train in the winter?
I didn’t finish in the time I wanted, but I
ing? JL: I continue to run during the winter, felt strong and it was so good to finally
JL: My first race was the Shelburne VS: Are you signed up for this year?
but remember I’ve only had two winters do that. I think my best performance
Farms 5K in September of 2012, right JL: This year I trained with a goal to since I started running. This winter was was the 10K Art Tudhope race in Shel-

after the century rides. I’ve always been qualify for Boston, which would require quite challenging with the unpredict- burne, which is one of the GMAA races.
kind of competitive and the idea of rac- me to finish in 3:15. Last year my first able weather, but I was in VCM train- At the start of every year I set a goal for
ing appealed to me. I love the adrena- half marathon was around the pace ing mode.
myself for each distance. I set a goal of
line and the after-race glow. If it weren’t I would need for Boston, so I thought 43 minutes for 10Ks and did that one
VS: How do you find time to train?
for racing, I probably wouldn’t run. I it would become a goal but not one I in 39:01. It was way faster than I was
run so I can do well in races.
would attain for 10 years. Then I did JL: I work from home most of the time expecting and I won my age group and
15 races last year, mostly 5Ks and 10Ks and I work with folks from India where a pie. It was pretty memorable.
VS: When did you start doing longer and I got faster and faster. I’m still very we have a fairly large offshore contin-
races? still very new to longer distance so my gent, so it’s usually not a problem for VS: Do you do other sports?

JL: In November 2012, I did my first
fitness is heavily skewed to shorter dis-
me to take off an hour in the afternoon JL: I love anything outdoors. I don’t go
because I’ll make it up later in the day. too much for the motor sports; I like
Those guys come on board at 11 at to be out in nature. I like to hike, run,
night and I make up the time then.
swim and kayak. As a kid I did a ton of

swimming. That was a big sport for me.
VS: Do you have a training regimen?
I trained every day and went to meets
JL: I’ve been following the Jack Daniels and swam through college. That has
running program, which takes a very given me a pretty good base that I can
scientific approach to running. He has base running training off. I have started

you calculate a number based on your swimming more these days and last year
previous race results. That represents I did the Colchester Sprint Triathlon,
your fitness and then you train based which was incredibly fun. I’ll do it again
on that. It’s a very scientific approach, this year. Vermont is a great place for

which really appealed to me for that me. I really enjoy living here.
reason. It’s very prescriptive and easy to
follow.
VS: So now do you consider yourself
This year I’ve been going to the in shape?

Marathon 201 class, which is led by JL: I feel a little awkward doing this [in-
Sam Davis, who is somewhat of a leg- terview] because I’m just getting start-
end as a local runner. He goes through ed. I think I may have some aptitude,
all aspects of running, including speed but I don’t consider myself an athlete. I
work and recovery and rest and it’s have friends and running partners that

been really helpful to be part of that. I have beat me by a mile. I’m just getting
also started doing yoga, which I think on my feet in running.
has really helped. I was kind of reluc- --Phyl Newbeck
tant to start that with my now fiancée.

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