2nd Amesbury Erg Marathon

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » March 29th, 2009, 9:36 am

The 2nd Amesbury (Massachusetts) Erg Marathon will be held on Boston Marathon Monday, April 20th 2009, outdoors in Amesbury Square. Probably starting at 9:00am.

So far four of last year's five participants have indicated a willingness to do it again. Other participants are welcome and encouraged to come. Having one's own erg would be helpful, although we should be able to scrounge up a few ergs for those who don't have one.

Here is a a report and video on last year:
http://www.c2forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=7640

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » April 20th, 2009, 3:26 pm

Participation increased 20% from year one to this year. Preliminary results look like this:

1. Rick Bayko 61 lwt 2:59.45.4 (2:07.8 pace) 27spm
2. Gary Passler 54 lwt 3:11:40.2 (2:16.2 pace) 27spm
3. Lon Sherman 59 lwt 3:19:17.5 (2:21.6 pace) 30spm
4. Matt Talas 42 Hwt 3:22.15.2 (2:23.7 pace) 31spm
5. Dave Nock 70 Hwt 3:40:52.2 (2:37.0 pace) 30spm
6. Jim Gabriel 43 Hwt 3:44.46.3 (2:39.8 pace) 29spm

Cyclist2 · Post by **Cyclist2** » April 20th, 2009, 9:36 pm

Good job! How much money did you raise?

My wife is back there right now watching the running Marathon this year - an injury caused her to defer until next year. She'll be back next year, so maybe I'll "sign up" for the erg marathon to keep me motivated over the winter.

Again, way to go!

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » April 21st, 2009, 1:13 pm

Cyclist2 wrote:Good job! How much money did you raise?

My wife is back there right now watching the running Marathon this year - an injury caused her to defer until next year. She'll be back next year, so maybe I'll "sign up" for the erg marathon to keep me motivated over the winter.

Again, way to go!

I left before the bucks were added up. I'll have to ask Dave when I'm recovered enough to go back to the gym and get back on that.

It would be good to have you next year.

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » April 21st, 2009, 1:23 pm

The weather was almost perfect for the 2nd Annual Amesbury Erg Marathon held in the town square of the northeast Massachusetts community. Dave Nock of the world famous Hard Nock's Gym ('A Hard Man Is Good To Find') organized the event in conjunction with the Amesbury Police Department in order to raise money for Cancer research.

Three of last year's participants returned (Dave Nock, Gary Passler and Rick Bayko) and were joined by three others, including two erg marathon virgins. It was scheduled to start at 10:00am, but since everyone was present and accounted for Dave decided that he couldn't curb his enthusiasm and got us on the machines ten minutes early. The lovely Audrey was recruited to walk back and forth on the sidewalk and street for nearly four hours while attired in a provocative ensemble at Dave's behest, collecting donations from passing drivers and pedestrians. At one point a Poland Springs delivery truck passed by and stopped a few meters up the street. The driver jumped out, grabbed a 24-pack of his bottled water, and dropped it in front of us for refreshment while wishing us well, then jumped back into the truck and drove away.

Early on the erging was easy, with metes piling up with an effortlessness that belied the misery to come. First came the occasional murmer about sore buttocks after about an hour. Huge seat cushions were added by some, and the stationary journey continued. Two hours into it the murmers became gripes, and those not suffering in the tushie were getting very weary in the legs. As one guy finished and a cushion became available another took it and was rejuvenated. From three hours until three and a quarter hours the meters counted down to zero and handles were set down in blessed relief.

One guy made it just under 3 hours. Lon Sherman improved his PB by about 15 minutes, and Matt Talas and Jim Gabriel got PBs by finishing their first ever. Ergs got disassembled and loaded up, and by 2:00pm Amesbury Square returned to normal for another year.

Here is a Youtube video of some of the action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LpJdykQlvY

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » April 22nd, 2009, 8:24 am

Jim Gabriel, Age 43 Hwt, 3:44:46.3

Jim is a cop in the rough & tumble Everett, Massachusetts and did the marathon for the first time. Once he got to use a big seat pad his pace improved significantly.

rowmyboat · Post by **rowmyboat** » April 22nd, 2009, 8:51 pm

Well done to all who competed, great fun! Perhaps to start with and after the finish :lol:

Great to see you managed just under 3 hrs Rick, super effort!

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » April 23rd, 2009, 8:14 am

rowmyboat wrote:Well done to all who competed, great fun! Perhaps to start with and after the finish

Great to see you managed just under 3 hrs Rick, super effort!

Thanks Shirley. It was kind of fun at the start, but after the finish might better be described as the weight of the world falling off one's shoulders.

Dave Nock, Age 70 Hwt, 3:40:52.2

Dave is a legend in these parts, having owned and operated the Hard Nock's Gym for close to 50 years. He was an Amesbury cop, and a successful competitive bodybuilder. He continues to work out as hard or harder than most badasses in the area and trains a multitude of others from professional sports stars like John Cena (wrestler) to hockey moms getting into exercise for the first time ever.

Organizing an event to raise money for Cancer research is close to Dave's heart, as he has had his own battles with the sinister disease.

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » April 24th, 2009, 10:28 am

Matt Talas, Age 42 Hwt, 3:22:15.2

Matt had never done more than one hour at a time on the erg before tackling the marathon. It is more typical to see Matt moving large amounts of weight up and down during his morning workouts at the Hard Nock's Gym.

Nomugie · Post by **Nomugie** » April 24th, 2009, 9:40 pm

Thank you for posting this, Rick. Looks like an excellent event (again)....Too bad I have to work on Patriots Day...

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » April 25th, 2009, 4:26 pm

Nomugie wrote:Thank you for posting this, Rick. Looks like an excellent event (again)....Too bad I have to work on Patriots Day...

Take the day off next year. Tell your boss that I said it was all right.

Lon Sherman, Age 59 lwt, 3:19:17.5

'Doc' Sherman is a cardiologist, and did a PB by about 15 minutes while rowing between the two oldest participants. The positioning was intentional, in case any problems arose, for instance if he had to assure everyone that "Yes, what Rick (or Dave) is having is a heart attack. Get them away from the other rowers so that they don't interrupt the marathons.":mrgreen:

That's Mrs. Sherman watching from behind. When Lon did his first marathon at the gym about a month ago it was kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision. About three hours into it the Mrs. came in and read him the riot act because he was still at the gym long beyond when she expected him home whilst he continued stroking along. This time she knew what to expect and was strongly supportive.

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » April 26th, 2009, 7:59 am

Gary Passler, Age 54 lwt, 3:11:40.2

Gary is the second most legendary athletic figure around these parts behind Dave Nock. He has completed the Ironman Triathon in Hawaii several times as well as other full-length triathlons to qualify.
During one of the Hawaii events he stopped for a significant number of minutes to assist a fellow competitor who was having a medical problem, until official lelp arrived, then continued on and set a new PB. His resume includes many Boston Marathons, Mt. Washington running and cycling races, and hundreds of lesser events.

Usually he is better than what he was able to do here, but he is also recovering from his latest face-off with a surgeon's knife, somthing that he has also endured many times over the years to repair excessively overused muscles, tendons, ligaments and other mysterious body parts. This time it is the right ankle that still lacks normal mobility as it goes through the healing and rehab process. But the cause was good, so Gary was there. When not competing he can often be found helping out with the organization of other events.

His latest passion is Cyclocross. That doesn't require as much mobility in the ankle that some of his other passions do, so he can pursue greater risk there for awhile until he returns to normal.

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » April 27th, 2009, 10:27 am

Cyclist2 wrote:Good job! How much money did you raise?

My wife is back there right now watching the running Marathon this year - an injury caused her to defer until next year. She'll be back next year, so maybe I'll "sign up" for the erg marathon to keep me motivated over the winter.

Again, way to go!

At the Hard Nock's Gym this morning I asked Dave and he said that on the day Audrey collected some $600, and money continues to trickle in.

Rick Bayko, Age 61 lwt, 2:59:45.4

The over-publicized Bayko, who is sometimes known to write about himself in the third person, is a shopkeeper in nearby Newburyport. As did Gary Passler, he used to run the Boston Marathon before injuries accumulated to level that made the infamous 'Wall' seem petty. The erg now allows a whole new way to get injured.

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » April 28th, 2009, 7:54 am

Audrey and the Boys

Audrey was the star of the show, standing and walking for nearly four hours collecting donations. Note the contrast between Audrey's bare arms and shoulders and Mrs. Sherman's heavy blue overcoat in the background. She kept telling passersby that she was doing nothing, but that the guys on the rowers were doing all the work. We on the rowers disagreed; we had the easier task.

Thanks too to Dan Edson of Newburyport for all the nice photos and video that have appeared in this thread.

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