Maine Running Hall of Fame (MRHOF) Announces 2018 Inductees

October 28, 2018–The board of directors of the MRHOF named eight individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport of running in Maine to be inducted into the Maine Running Hall of Fame at its 20^th induction ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at the Governor’s Hill Mansion, Augusta, Maine.

• Gary Allen, who hails from Great Cranberry Island, began running in high school at Mount Desert Island High School and has never stopped. He has joined a select group of individuals who have run sub-three hour marathons in each of five decades. Gary has also contributed to the sport of running as a race director, staging the 1^stAnnual Cranberry Island race, establishing the Mount Desert Island Marathon, the Millinocket Marathon and directing the Great Cranberry Island 50K Ultra.

• Tom Blake, of South Portland, began his love for track and field in the eighth grade at Mahoney Junior High School in South Portland. He ran for South Portland High School and it was there that he became an assistant scorer for track meets in Southern Maine. He has served as the clerk for indoor meets at the Portland Expo for 30 years and a founding member of the Southern Maine Girls Indoor Track Conference. He has officiated over 5,000 track meets, created the Maine Corporate Track Association, and coached Unum to 6 national championships.

• Pete Bottomley ran his first road race on the 4^thof July in 1979, at age 17, with a 4:38 mile split at the Four on the Fourth in Bridgeton. This ignited a passion for running that would remain undiminished for forty years. He ran for Oxford Hills High School and the University of Maine at Orono. Pete started the Dirigo Racing Club and ran with the Dirigo Masters Cross Country squad becoming a top team in New England. He founded the New England Mile, a fund raiser for Easter Seals.

• Faye Gagnon started walking and jogging to stay fit while living in Auburn. She has continued running and racing for 41 years. As a member of the Androscoggin Harriers Running Club, she has competed in over 400 road races consistently placing first or second in her age group. Faye has served as the President of the Androscoggin Harriers Running Club and as a teacher as influenced her students, particularly young women, to join the sport of running. She has served as a coach with “Girls On the Run”.

• Rock Green began his running career at age 23, as a turning point in his life. At that time, he was homeless and addicted to alcohol and tobacco. Within two years, he ran his first marathon at the inaugural Casco Bay Marathon (now the Maine Marathon) in a time of 2:53:57 which qualified him for the Boston Marathon. Since 1978, Rock has completed over 40 marathons and ultra-marathons including 100 milers, 12 hour and 24 hour runs. Rock won the Triple Crown of Marathoning on three occasions winning three marathons a year in 1981, 1983 and 1985.

• Colin Peddie running career started in high school at Maranacook High School and then Cheverus. He led the Cheverus cross-country team to become the Class A State Champions in 1981. While at the University of Virginia, Division 1 college, he was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All Conference team six times and earned Division 1 All America Cross Country Team honors. Colin continued to run in Boston and qualified for the 1996 Olympic Trials in the marathon. He has since opened a chain of running stores called “Marathon Sports”and has since received much recognition for his retail running stores.

• Steve Reed began running for Lincoln Academy in Newcastle where he participated and lettered in cross-country and track. He continued running for Bowdoin College and then went on to the University of Vermont College of Medicine to obtain his M.D. degree. While in private practice in Wiscasset, he has continued a 40 year running streak, placing 9^thin the U.S. and 10^thin the world according to the U.S. Running Streak Association.In, 2019, he plans to complete his 30th consecutive Boston Marathon.

• Ed Rice, a runner, journalist and race director, has contributed to the sport of running in many ways. He was the creator of Maine’s Terry Fox Run, the Bangor-based 5K that honored the man who lost his leg to cancer. This tribute race has raised over $125,000 for cancer research efforts in Maine. While living in Massachusetts, he co-founded the Ginny DelVecchio Fund which later became the Angel Fund, raising money in support of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) research at Massachusetts General Hospital. He has been a long time member of the Sub-5 Track Club, based in Brewer, and has run 27 marathons.

Two Maine races will also be inducted into the MRHOF this year; the Mid-Winter Classic 10 miler and the Mount Desert Island Marathon & Half Marathon.The Mid-Winter Classic 10 Miler is an all volunteer non-profit race that was founded in 1982. Recently celebrating it’s 37th year, the race is hosted annually by the Maine Track Club, and donates to youth running and fitness. The Mount Desert Island Marathon was started in 2002, helping to extend the season of tourism on MDI. The event now features a half marathon, team relay and kid’s run, and recently celebrated it’s 15th year.

The Maine Running Hall of Fame induction ceremony and banquet is open to the public. Space is limited, so reservations are strongly recommended. The ceremony begins at noon with a social hour, followed by lunch and the induction ceremony. Tickets are $25 per person and may be purchased online at Eventbrite.