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The Running Place Staff
We would like to take this opportunity to tell you more about our crew – Jodi, Diane and Mary have been with us since year one while Bill, Sue and Sharon joined us a few years back. As a group, we have more than 180 years of running experience. We continue to stay abreast of the latest shoe and clothing technologies and trends – and look forward to sharing them with you for years to come. |
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 Bill Frawley started running when he was cut from his H.S. freshman basketball team, and then joined the winter track program. After a self-described lackluster college career, Bill graduated from Niagara University and committed himself to approaching the running potential he felt he hadn’t realized in college. He spent nine of the next 12 years working in specialty shops which offered flexible hours and allowed the time and energy to pursue his running goals. In that time Bill achieved elite level PRs – marathon 2:17.34, half-marathon 63:25, 10K 29:23 and 5K 14:19. He also qualified for and ran the 1996 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, where he had the thrill of racing against the nation’s top 120 marathoners. Bill says, “years and years of running and working with runners has provided me with a wealth of experience to draw on when fitting customers with shoes, answering training questions, and solving issues of aches and pains.” |
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 Diane Elliott moved from Rhode Island to Los Angeles in 1975 and within a few weeks met a new friend at a new job who convinced her to start running at the Beverly Hills H.S. track. Within a few weeks, Diane was completely hooked. She found running to be a great stress reducer and a way to keep her weight in check. While in Beverly Hills, Diane worked at an import clothing store which catered to the movie industry. She also worked with major studios dressing actors for T.V.! When Diane married Tom Elliott (yes, Jumbo Elliott’s son) she found herself back on the East Coast and in 1999 she joined Fast Tracks running club. This group inspired her to race and even try her hand at marathoning. About the Running Place, Diane says, “I love playing a part in getting runners in the correct shoes and gear. Sharing how enjoyable running can be and the feelings of accomplishment and self confidence that have had a profound effect on my life is very rewarding.” |
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 Jodi O’Neill started running as a young girl to spend time with her Dad and continued running to keep herself in shape to play field hockey and lacrosse at the University of Delaware. She is married to Justin and they have 3 ½ kids. Given her young family you would think Jodi might have trouble finding the time to run but she always manages. In fact, she’s completed three marathons and is striving for a PR faster than 3:20. She has also walked two Breast Cancer 3-Day events – motivating many others to join her. Jodi worked retail jobs through high school and then led a successful corporate career. She loves the time she spends at The Running Place. She says, “I’ve experienced the great along with the disappointment. My positive attitude and experience running at many different levels allows me to relate and motivate customers as well as provide them with knowledge about shoes and training”. |
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 Sue McClatchy graduated from Penn State and has an M.B.A. from Drexel. She started running for fitness in college but at age 40 decided to run just one marathon. She is now training for her 6th! Sue feels that having running goals and accomplishing them has given her lots more confidence -- enough to walk off a cliff and hang glide over the California coast! Sue is married to Michael and has three daughters, one son and two dogs. She says her greatest ambition is to raise happy children who are caring and productive members of our society. (She adds that having a beach house would also be nice!) About working at The Running Place, Sue says,” I bring a true enthusiasm for running/exercising because of the many benefits I have gained. I also have the experience of training for a marathon as a middle-aged person while juggling family and work.” |
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 Sharon Shuman graduated from Juniata College. She is married to Pete, has two teenagers and a Yellow Lab. Sharon started running as conditioning for college tennis and basketball but took the sport more seriously when she joined Fast Tracks running club. She is a trail runner at heart, and spends cross-training time in the pool. So, it’s no surprise that Sharon is looking forward to competing in the Philadelphia Women’s Triathlon – someday. Before her children were born, Sharon worked as a program analyst and project leader for Contemporary Software Concepts. She is The Running Place bookkeeper and computer guru! Sharon explains that she “loves talking to customers about their trail runs and appreciates the friendliness of everyone who walks through the door.” |
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 Mary Fanelli Lund, a 4th grade teacher, graduated from St. Joe’s University and received an M.Ed. She became a runner as a way of relieving stress while in college and has been running for 27 years. Her PR’s are impressive – marathon 3:16, half-marathon 1:24, 10K 37:36, and 5K 18:03. Once Mary ran the steps of the Empire State Building (3 months after her first son was born) and couldn’t believe the Sumo Wrestlers she passed on the way. Another time she was competing in a 25K trail run when she fell into poison ivy but continued the run after using a rope to pull herself out. Mary is married to Bob and has two sons. She worked at Super Runners Shop in Peekskill N.Y. for 5 years. Mary loves helping The Running Place customers. She says, “I know what it’s like to run for hours and be uncomfortable. I appreciate the benefits that running provides and can share that with customers. I have been in the ‘same shoes’ other runners have and appreciate their triumphs and concerns along the way.” |
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