Former PRV President's Daughter Runs in China

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Jodi's daughter recently had quite an exciting and rewarding trip. Jodi explains.

Erin Dromgoole, my 24 year old daughter, ran Cross Country & Track through high school.  She was the Massachusetts' State Champion in  XC in her Junior and Senior years.  She also she ran the Footlocker National Cross Country (XC) meet in San Diego, CA in her Junior and Senior years.  In 1995 she came in 15th of 32 high school runners in this national meet. In 1996 she came in 10th of 32 high school runners in this national meet….becoming an All-American High School runner. In 1997 as a Freshman, she came in 26th place in the national race --top 25 Americans are "All-American"-- missing her goal by just 1 second!. She then was essentially injured for 2 years but, as a Senior at Dartmouth College, she was the only Dartmouth woman to qualify for the NCAA Division 1 National XC race in Iowa (6 kilometers or 3.73 miles).  She raced in weather that was -19 (that's MINUS 19) wind chill factor and came in 23rd of 253 female runners, earning her All American status!

After college she joined the Reebok Boston running club in Boston. She has participated in a few races (Cardinal Invitational @ Stanford and 2004 USA National XC Championships in Indianapolis ) with Reebok paying for travel, hotel, race fees, and a small stipend for food.   

Recently Erin was chosen by the USATF (US Association of Track and Field) to run the Ekiden Relay Marathon Race (representing USA women) in Beijing, China. This is a relay race that has a total distance of a marathon.   USATF members are paid for travel, hotel, race fees, food, and receive a duffel bag with multiple style USATF uniforms...the same ones you see worn in the Olympics. There were 6 team members running in this order: a 5K (kilometer), 10K, 5K, 10K, 5K, and 7.195K. Erin ran the next to the last leg...a 5K. The race started and finished in Tianemen Square!

In 2002, the USA women finished in 2.23:33. This year only 6 teams ran (probably because people are training for the Athens Olympics). The times were slower for every team than in the past, perhaps due to the weather conditions. The results are listed below.

The ladies won $8000 for 3rd place with the money divided amongst the 6 participants and 1 alternate. In addition to the race, they enjoyed running daily in Tianemen Square and sightseeing along the Great Wall, in the Forbidden City , and via a rickshaw tour. They had a wonderful time seeing the sights, running their race, and exchanging items with the other runners, none of whom spoke English…which made it all the more fun! Erin’s racing has offered her so many opportunities…for college choices, friendships, travel, and personal joy. It has been such a delight to watch her run from the roads around Paul Revere Village to Beijing China. 

1 China 2:19:52
  

2. Japan 2:22:31
                             

 3 USA 2:29:57
 

4 Korea 2:35:27