Paul Soskind Interviews Majo Tinoco, Patricia Perlo, Regina Cahill and Lynda Mules
INTERVIEW WITH MAJO TINOCO
P.S.: You've been a PPTC member for about a year now. Were we your introduction to running?
Majo: No , I actually started about two years ago. Coogan's Bluff was my first race. So every year I want to do it as a celebration.
P.S.: Well, you sure didn't pick an easy one. Why Coogan’s?
Majo: My friend told me if I completed it, we'd go for some fried chicken. She said "It's only 5k anyone can do this." I surprised myself in doing it in 31:34.
P.S.: How have you evolved since then?
Majo: I did the Turkey Trot that fall, and joined PPTC to gain motivation and encouragement. PPTC helped me to train and complete the 2009 Brooklyn Half.
P.S.: How did you feel after that?
Majo: Great, and I'm doing the NYC Marathon this fall.
P.S.: What do you attribute your ability to bridge from a 5K to a marathon in two years?
Majo: Being cautious enough to find a balance between miles and intensity. I try
to key in on someone during a race who will make me put out the effort I need without causing injury by overdoing it. I also look at photos of myself running to attempt to improve my form and become more efficient..
P.S.: So while you have running goals, you want to avoid being sidelined.
Majo: I'm in this for the long haul, I want to be running pain free many years from now.
P.S.: You certainly have a wise and balanced outlook. Much success in many years to come.
INTERVIEW WITH PATRICIA PERLO
P.S.: When did you get involved with running?
Patricia: In 1976 when the New York Marathon took to the streets, my mother and I visited the
exhibit about it at Sak's 5th Avenue. Mom said "You can do this." Six years later, I did.
P.S:.How did you train until that day you toed the line in1982?
Patricia: I started running, upping my mileage, and eventually ran with Nina Kuscik (the first N.Y. woman to complete a 50 miler and break three hours on the old Yonkers Marathon course}. She inspired me. I was doing 20 miles on a low week and as high as 50 miles in a hard week. I ran N.Y. until 1987.
P.S. So now you’re back, what are your goals?
Patricia: To go faster, be stronger. do better. I'm stronger, have
greater bone density, and more muscle mass then I did in 1982.
P.S.: How has PPTC helped you?
Patricia: When I decided to train hard PPTC was there for me with arranged workouts, people who encouraged me, exhorted me to try harder without the nasty elitism found in some
other clubs. Running has been a lifesaver for me and PPTC has helped me realize much of it.
INTERVIEW WITH REGINA CAHILL
P.S.: What was running like when you became involved?
Regina: There were few female participants. Women were often accepted grudgingly. PPTC
had included several talented women - Flavia Marin, Vicky Collette, and Claire Murphy (twin of PPTC’s 2:33 marathoner Harry Murphy Jr.). Bob Muller and Harry Murphy encouraged me to join and were very supportive.
P.S.: So, you already had a running background?
Regina: No, I played basketball and softball in high school, wearing gym uniforms with "numbers" written on them in magic marker. During college I worked, but continued participation in those sports.
P.S.: So, you were never a track athlete in college?
Regina: Actually, when I went back at age 29 to do graduate work, I competed on a college level, against much younger women in the 1500 and 800.
P.S.: That explains your ability to this day to dig deep and best many younger rivals. Now,
however, you seem to have a particular affinity for cross country. Why?
Regina: It was probably spawned out of those long Sunday runs with Harry over the old Yonkers Marathon course. Out in the woods, in rural settings, natural running.
P.S.: How have things changed since the late seventies?
Regina: Back then there were fewer participants and far fewer women in the sport, but people had fewer other commitments, so they could devote far more time to training and racing. Rivalries were very intense, but so was the support and camaraderie. For a long time PPTC was somewhat lacking in those aspects, but lately we've gained a group of female runners who are helping to carry on the PPTC tradition of competition, camaraderie and pride. The men are also taking up the challenge, so I have great hope for the future. I'm glad I still compete on an intense level and hope to inspire others as well.
P>S. As someone who has followed your running, I'm sure I thank you on behalf of us all for your contributions to PPTC
INTERVIEW WITH LYNDA MULES
P.S.: Were you a born runner?
Lynda: No, the only running I did way back was a compulsory mile for high school gym class, which was traumatic! I was doing yoga and biking until about three years ago when I did a
5K in Philadelphia. Running became a metaphor for something I couldn't do; so starting to run was a challenge against negativity.
P.S.: How did you join PPTC?
Lynda: When I moved to Brooklyn, I wanted a club that was community oriented. My participation in the speed workouts introduced me to a diverse, supportive, encouraging group of people,
so I felt I wanted to become an integral part of the club.
P.S.: How have you done this?
Lynda: By volunteering at events, encouraging others, and helping to implement any new ideas we develop.
P.S.: So how do you feel we can improve?
Lynda: We should have club uniforms readily available to all members, we should all show our colors at races; and we should massively extend our participation outside of Prospect Park and Brooklyn.
P.S. What do you aspire to for yourself?
Lynda: To run faster, and complete my first marathon this year; then use the strength from marathon training to run faster in shorter races.
P.S.: I'm sure I speak for all of PPTC when I say we're glad you're on board and continue to have great success.