Robyn Olivares and Jackie Thorpe

I have highlighted two members of Coastal Athletic Association. Robyn has been a member since 2003 and Jackie joined the club just about a year ago. I met Robyn with the help of Sybil, our club President. I had recently moved back to the Seacoast and needed to know if Sybil could find me a running partner in the North Hampton area. Sybil was quick to respond, and gave me contact information for Robyn Olivares in Hampton. Robyn and Jackie live in Hampton. If you know Robyn, you know Jackie, which is great! I not only found one running partner, but after a year or two of running with Robyn, Jackie was lured into running as well, and now the three of us run together often. I asked Robyn and Jackie just to provide me with a little bit of background information about themselves to share with other CAA Members.

Robyn Olivares

Robyn works for KTP in their Web design department. Her primary sport is running, however does enjoy taking Body Combat at Synergy in Exeter, and also enjoys Yoga. Robyn started running in 2003 by joining a 5K Group Training program at Synergy, and trained for the Bruce Ellis 5K, and has been running ever since. Her weekly average mileage is 15-20 miles per week, depending on what she is training for. Except for a minor bout of plantar fasciitis, Robyn has not experienced any long term injuries from running, and considers herself lucky – thinking maybe this is because she never OVER trains for any race. Robyn normally runs early a.m. hours, and sees many sunrises here on the seacoast, starting her runs about 5:30 a.m. Having running partners to meet that early helps. You might not be so willing to get up that early, but knowing someone else is depending on you to be out there, you do it. Robyn ran her first Marathon in Richmond Virginia in November 2007, and wants to do another marathon in 2010. I asked Robyn to just list some of her favorite races on the Seacoast – Market Square 10K, Great Island 5K (for the beauty) and the Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. When Robyn is not running, she enjoys being entertained by her THREE dogs!

Jackie Thorpe

Jackie works for Liberty Mutual as a Sr. Software Engineer. Jackie started running in March 2008, and earned her first Seacoast Series Jacket last year, and working on her second one this year. Way to go Jackie! Jackie joined us in Richmond to cheer myself and Robyn on through our first marathon, and never imagined in November 2007 that she would be running the next Spring. Although Robyn had been trying to get her interested in running, Jackie admits it wasn’t until two co-workers wanted to start the couch to 5K program that she actually started to run. “I’m proud to say I was the only one that stuck with the program and completed the 5K”. She now averages about 9-11 miles per week. Jackie also is a member of Synergy and enjoys the Body Pump and Body Combat, saying she really feels these classes have improved her running, increasing her stamina. Jackie has not had any running injuries, however, does have asthma and that can be a challenge. Jackie used to do her running after work, however, she is now out there at 5:30 a.m. with Robyn and I, and likes it this way, saying it gets the running “out of the way and done”. Although there is not a Marathon in her future yet, Jackie is considering a half marathon – maybe Seacoast Half in November 2009. One of her favorite races is the Great Island 5K as well, for the beauty of the surroundings, and good raffles at the end? When Jackie isn’t running, and entertaining the THREE dogs, she plays the Sax in a band called Lucky Mary.

Thank you Sybil for connecting me to these two women. I have not only found running partners, but also very good friends. Robyn and I did our very first marathon in Richmond Virginia, and Jackie was there to cheer us on with the rest of our family and friends. We have traveled to the Beach to Beacon 10K together now for 3 years, and the three of us are always planning our next run together. I consider both of them great people to know!

April Pratt