About Coastal Athletic Association
Market Square Day 10K, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
The Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) is a non-profit organization formed by a group of dedicated runners from the coastal communities of southern Maine and New Hampshire. CAA creates a network of competitive and recreational athletes of all abilities and ages who enjoy running and provides support and encouragement to all levels of athletes for training and races.
Our running club was started in 1996. Our mission is to nurture a sense of community and camaraderie through running and fitness; to help all members achieve their athletic potential in a supportive team atmosphere; to help introduce and encourage health and fitness in our community.
Board Member Bios
Sybil Carven - President
When did you start running? 1984
How long have you been a member of CAA? 12 years (one of the founding members).
Other interests/hobbies? biking, swimming, tennis, rollerblading.
Favorite Race? Covered Bridges Half Marathon in Quechee, VT
Favorite movie? Sound of Music
An unknown fact? I was a very shy child!...yes, believe it or not!
April Pratt
When did you start running? I started running about 12 - 13 years ago.
How long have you been a member of CAA? I have been a member since the club was started...way back when.
Other interests/hobbies? Sleeping. Body Pump Classes ... Spinning Classes at Synergy .... Hiking and biking too. Enjoy doing volunteer work whenever possible. Spending time with my husband ... and checking out any microbrew bars we can find.
Favorite Race? Beach to Beacon - Cape Elizabeth, Maine ... first Saturday in August.
Favorite movie? Favorite? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Sound of Music
An unknown fact? Ran my first Marathon in 2007- Richmond Virginia! Dream Job: Funeral Home Director I have 8 Grandchildren.
Linda Conti
When did you start running? About 3 years ago. I was spending the summer making a special effort to be physically active, biking, hitting the gym, eating healthy, and I saw a sign outside Runners Alley advertising their 5k training group. I never thought I would ever run any kind of race, but I signed up for the training and have now done three 5ks and the Market Square Day race. I'm still working on being a 'runner'.
How long have you been a member of CAA? A little over a year.
Other interests/hobbies? Sailing, bicycling, kayaking, dancing, music.
Favorite Race? my first--Great Bay 5K
Favorite movie? Camelot
An unknown fact? Used to be a folksinger in college. Is this what you mean?
Molly Betournay - Secretary
When did you start running? Growing up, I ran to stay fit for soccer. Once I stopped playing soccer, I started running more as a way to stay active. I completed my first half marathon four years ago and have been running regularly since.
How long have you been a member of CAA? I joined CAA two years ago for the track workouts and quickly discovered Saturday morning group runs and Thrusday night pub runs.
Other interests/hobbies? I am happiest doing anything outside- running, hiking, skiing, cycling, etc. And when the weather is no good for being outside, I like to read and cook.
Favorite Race? Big Lake Half Marathon
Favorite movie? Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
An unknown fact? Um...I count the Golden Retrievers that I see when I run marathons as a way to keep my mind busy. Vermont City holds the current record at 27.
Stephen Luber - Treasurer
When did you start running? 1964
How long have you been a member of CAA? 5 years
Other interests/hobbies? Skiing and other outdoor activities; volunteer work; home improvements
Favorite Race? Lately it has been The Falmouth
Favorite movie? The Princes Bride
An unknown fact? Once worked in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World
Brian Betournay
When did you start running? I ran cross country in high school, but it wasn’t until later that I became more serious about running. After college I accepted a bet from a couple high school friends to run a half marathon. I ran Boston’s Run to Remember half marathon (and beat my old buds) rekindled my competitive drive and discovered the many benefits of the running lifestyle. Since then, I have completed nine marathons and dozens of half marathons and trail/mountain races.
How long have you been a member of CAA? I joined Coastal in the winter of 2008 while training for my first Boston.
Other interests/hobbies? I’m interested in any type of outdoor adventure: biking, hiking, canoeing, frolf, bocce ball, campfires, etc.
Favorite Race? Marathon – Vermont City and Boston
Favorite movie? Dances with Wolves
Mike Davis
When did you start running? Ran off and on most of the past 30 years, but not until late summer of 2007 when my wife and I signed up for Runner’s Alley half marathon training did I really run.
How long have you been a member of CAA? 3 years
Other interests/hobbies? Hiking, model trains, woodworking, reading, golfing, minor league baseball and hanging with my wife.
Favorite Race? Good question, not sure I have one. Maybe Lake Winnie
Favorite movie? If I say Grease, people would probably think I’m goofy, so I will say “The Blind Side”.
An unknown fact? I’m not really a runner, I’m a football player wearing a pair of Asics.
Vicki Arel - Vice-President
When did you start running? I started running in High School when I joined the first girls cross-country team at Traip Academy. I stopped running after college and had my children. In 2004 I started running again.
How long have you been a member of CAA? I have been a CAA member for one year.
Other interests/hobbies? I love concerts of all kinds but I really enjoy 80's hair bands.
Favorite Race? Tufts Womens 10K
Favorite movie? Mary Poppins
An unknown fact? I love to do karaoke and won a karoake contest a couple of years ago.
Simon Trigg
When did you start running? Starting running in 2000 when I moved to the US, I ran my first marathon in 2006.
How long have you been a member of CAA? 2 years
Other interests/hobbies? Cycling, traveling, movies, reading and cooking
Favorite Race? San Francisco Marathon
Favorite movie? The Shawshank Redemption
An unknown fact? When I was in Middle School I had my photo taken for inclusion in a leaflet to promote natural gas home safety. I demonstrated using a fire blanket and extinguisher.
Beth Lindquist
When did you start running? I have been running and competing since I was 8. My first race was at a fair and my mother told me she would buy me an ice cream if I won. I did win, but am still waiting for my ice cream!
How long have you been a member of CAA? 9 years
Other interests/hobbies? Reading, any kind of skiing, traveling, volunteering, boating (with or without motors), walking my dog, baking, swimming
Favorite Race? Stratham Fair
Favorite movie? Any Pink Panther movie (originals with Peter Sellers)
An unknown fact? Like Sybil, I was extremely shy as a child, they wanted to hold me back in school.
Clayton Smith
When did you start running? Not sure - can't remember starting, only doing it.
Other interests/hobbies? Reading, local/regional conservation efforts, GIS/mapping related projects, working with 4th & 5th graders to encourage interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) through building and programing Lego Robots. Skiing, climbing, kayaking, canyoneering, and biking with my wife and hiking with her and our Golden Retriever. I like the outdoors.
Favorite Race? I do not like to race -- too much to see during a run to race past it all. It is the journey that I enjoy, so why rush it...I'll get there in good time, after all I am running.
Malcolm Brown
When did you start running? Not sure what got me into running seriously. I did not run in school; I started seriously in my 30's. So my how-did-I-get started story is rather undramatic; I just started and really took to it.
Other interests/hobbies? I've actually stated to learn to play the piano. I've been working on it for about three years. It's hard to be an adult beginner and to make even modest progress takes a lot of practice. Still I am very much enjoying it. I've never really "viewed" music from the inside before; it's great fun being able to begin to understand a bit about it.
Favorite Race? I'm pretty much a 5K/10K/13.1 racer. I've never done a marathon, believe it or not; the half always seemed like a big enough "mouthful." While in California I was focused primarily on the 1oK; since moving to New Hampshire I've tended to favor the half marathon. The Seacoast Half is one of my favorite races.
