Howard Kalfus: email

I have completed 21 marathons including New York City, Chicago, Miami, Boston, Toronto, Steamtown, Philadelphia, Green Mountain and the Vermont City Marathon (9 times) as well as 5 ultramarathons (50K and 50 miles).  My marathon PR is 3:13 (Chicago, 2005 and Steamtown, 2007) and my fastest PUBVCM is 3:27 (2006).  My most recent marathon was PUBVCM 2015 where I ran 3:40.  In the past, I’ve paced two teams as well as individual marathoners.  I’ve been running with the Green Mountain Athletic Association’s Sunday running group since around 1999 and run at least part of the PUBVCM course on almost a weekly basis.  I can’t get enough of the magnificent scenery and the wonderful crowd support that the Vermont City Marathon has to offer.  A former VCM winner once described the race to me as the best indicator of one’s marathoning ability.  It is not exaggeratedly flat or hilly.  The moderate yet diverse course makes this marathon comfortable while not stressing any one particular muscle.  Because there are very few long hills (up or down), it’s an easy course to maintain generally a steady pace.  The great thing is that community knows where the tough spots are and they come out in full force to cheer us through those spots!  I look forward to helping you cross the finish line in just under 4 hours.

Tom Nuovo: email

I am happy to be back pacing the four hour pace group, this time with my good friend Howard. This is my fifth time pacing the this group for the Vermont City Marathon and my seventh time pacing. I have found this is a special group since there are so many people who want to do a marathon in under four hours.

I want to let you know that you can do it. The first marathon I ran was the New York City Marathon in 1983 when I was 20 years old. I went to New York City with my father and we handed in our applications that day at Central Park. I finished the New York City Marathon in 3:48:52 (gun time) with minimal training because I was young and foolish. I was so sore after that marathon I could not walk down stairs. Over the years I ran occasionally, but never ran another race until the Vermont City Marathon in 2001. I was older, slower, but had found a new passion. I have now completed seventeen marathons, and I have run the Vermont 50 for the past three years and plan to run it again this year. I got a PR just this past fall in Atlantic City with a time of 3:23.57. So yes, you can get faster with age.

What I like about running is the freedom it gives me and that it helps me stay physically fit so I can do all of the things I enjoy doing, especially hiking and camping. I am now 53 years old and I am in the best shape of my life and am racing faster than I have ever raced before with the Green Mountain Athletic Association. I credit it to one piece of dark chocolate a day (go ahead Google it) and my change in running styles. I run in minimalist shoes because I have bad knees (torn meniscus in both knees). Several years ago I was told to stop running, but instead I changed how I run and I now run in either FiveFingers or a zero drop shoe.

My plan is to be your guide and cheerleader and help you keep a good pace. I will pace the group at a steady 4 hour pace with the goal at arriving at the finish line with a minute to spare. I wait there until the last 10 seconds to cheer you on so you can make your time. I will be pacing using chip time, so you should be behind me when we start, that way you know if you pass me you will make it. Keep training and remember to stay well hydrated. Please feel free to email me with any questions you may have.