Former college cross-country and track runners are invited to enjoy a reunion weekend of light or serious running at a beautiful camp on the shores of Panther Pond in the Sebago Lake region of Maine. Optional morning and afternoon running sessions will take place at the same time as recreational and cross-training activity periods. Cross-training options will include kayaking, canoeing, swimming, hiking, and beach volleyball.
The program will be directed by Bowdoin College cross-country and track coach Peter Slovenski and long-time Tufts coach Connie Putnam. Slovenski has been involved with college running as a spectator, participant, and coach since 1965. Peter’s father, Walt Slovenski, was the Bates College coach from 1952 through 1994.
"This will be an active reunion for college runners," said Coach Slovenski. "We'll have a lot of recreational activities and competitions. A lot of former runners cannot run much anymore, but they are still very competitive!"
Slovenski and Coach Connie Putnam of Tufts will be the program directors. Alumni team competitions will include a 2-mile race, beach volleyball tournament, Texas Hold 'em tournament, wiffle ball tournament, kayak race, canoe race, tug-of-war, and tug-of-war in canoes.
Each day will include running route options as short as a mile and as long as 10 miles. Groups will be formed with paces from 11:00 per mile all the way down to 6:30 per mile. The camp has a mile of scenic trails on a beautiful Maine lake peninsula, and then ten more miles of dirt roads, trails, and country roads around Panther Pond and the nearby Raymond radio tower.
Children and spouses are welcome to enroll in the camp.
Each evening will feature a happy hour, and reunion gatherings on the beach, lodge deck, and around a campfire. Campfires will include music, awards, contests, readings, and college running stories about historic workouts, travel adventures, and eccentric coaches.