NOVA Featured Runner: Dawn Gillis

Dawn Gillis at the Lynchburg Half Marathon

2 February 2015

NOVA  runner Dawn Gillis has been selected as the NOVA Featured Runner, based on her excellent performance at the JFK 20K on January 18, where she finished First Female Overall with a time of 1:26:00 on a challenging course and harsh weather conditions.

Dawn was gracious enough to sit down with NOVA and share some insights into her running career to date, running goals for 2015, and her thoughts on Coach Jerry and the NOVA team!

1. PRs: 

5k - 20:06, 10k - 41:42, 10 mile - 1:10:55, 20k - 1:26:00, Half - 1:31:04, Marathon - 3:14:17

2) Goal race(s) for this year? Other races planned?

This spring I am doing the Shamrock Half and probably the New Jersey Marathon. I really want to get a marathon PR because my current one is from 2013. I also plan to get a sub 1:30half and a sub 20 minute 5k. Long term I am working towards a sub 3 hour marathon.

3) What do you consider your best race performance to date?

I try to make my best performance my most recent race, so I am equally proud of my JFK 20K performance and my Charlottesville Half performance in October. I think the best race I've run so far was my first marathon, the Shamrock in March 2013, because I ran smart. I paced myself well and sped up over the course of the race to finish strong. It is also the only marathon, to date, that I haven't stopped and walked in. I have since beat my time from then, but I haven't run smarter since then, unfortunately. 

4) How did you find  NOVA, and what do you like best about the team?

I found NOVA online after I noticed my husband's eyes glaze over whenever I talked about running. I like running with other people for hard workouts because it makes it more difficult to quit when others are watching. There is also a vast amount of knowledge and running experience on the team to give advice about what works and what doesn't.

5) What's the best piece of advice you've received from Coach Jerry?

Coach Jerry's best advice has been to rest. I am a type A person who can push myself endlessly but now I hear him in my head telling me to take it easy. Resting well and running slow on my easy days makes it easier to run faster on race day.

6) What thoughts do you have on your performance at the JFK 20K?

The JFK 20K was really tough with the icy conditions, forcing everyone to run single file down the edge of the trail. I enjoyed having other runners at a similar pace who helped to pull me along and keep me motivated in the second half, when there was a strong headwind. I also knew that I was the first female for most of the race, which makes me run faster, since I never know if someone is coming up behind me or not.

7. What non-running fitness related activities do you enjoy?

I enjoy swimming and biking for triathlons. I do yoga, Pilates, and strength training but not because I enjoy it, but because I know I need some cross - training.

Coach Jerry had this to say about Dawn:

"When Dawn came to NOVA I could tell immediately that she had a whole lot of untapped potential, and she's been making great progress, as her excellent run in the JFK 20k showed.  I expect big things from her this spring, and beyond."

NOVA 2014 End Of Year Party Highlights

2014 was a great year for NOVA! Here's to an awesome 2015! Here are some highlights from a great end of the year party.

2014 Team Award Winners

Men’s MVP: Michael Naff
2014 was the best year of Mike’s running career, as he set PRs of 30:52 for 8k and 61:32 for 10 miles, barely missed his PR in the half marathon by running 1:23:38 on a very hilly course (which surely would have been a PR in a faster race), and ran three marathons, including an excellent 3:06:46. Mike’s consistently strong performances throughout the year were even more impressive given the fact that health problems curtailed his training and racing for the last two years. Mike was back better than ever in 2014, and his success will spur him on as he pursues his long-sought goal of breaking 3 hours in the marathon.



Women’s MVP: Erin Masterson
Erin arguably deserves the MVP award for the incredible amount of time and effort she puts in to her duties as NOVA President, but she unquestionably earned the MVP award with her running. After her banner 2013 in which she ran 30 races to celebrate her 30th birthday, Erin upped the ante in 2014 by running 31 races. And run them she did, setting PRs at 10k (40:05), 10 miles (65:47), and the marathon (3:14:21), and running her fastest 5k since her illustrious college career at William and Mary (19:28). Erin won several races, including each of the four Lost Dog 5ks, and ran consistently well over various distances throughout the year. Erin is looking for more in 2015, when she intends to break 3:10 in the marathon.
 
Coach’s Award: Mark Drosky
Mark has been a fixture at NOVA for years, which is only fitting for a man who has run every single day for the last 26 years. Mark, a past President of NOVA, continues to perform at a very high level. In 2014 he ran an excellent 1:25:53 for the half marathon, and 3:10:14 for the marathon, and he placed in his age group in even the most competitive local races. Mark brings a level of consistency and dedication to the team that is as instructive as it is inspirational, and his enthusiasm for and love of NOVA is contagious.

2014 Top Performances

1. Lisa McNichols              5:28     DCRRC Mile Championship
2. Dave Wertz                  15:11     Swarthmore Last Chance 5,000
3. Katie Tomlinson         2:56:40     Philadelphia Marathon
4. Dave O’Hara                32:18     Pikes Peak 10K
5. Stephanie Lundeby        30:20    Alexandria Turkey Trot 5 Miler
6. Cory Schwartz           2:52:23    Philadelphia Marathon
7. Erin Masterson           3:14:21    Richmond Marathon
8. Allen Denson             1:22:02    Wilson Bridge Half Marathon
9. Dawn Gillis               1:31:04    Charlottesville Half Marathon
10. Abhaya Menon           59:25    Cherry Blossom 10 Mile

Welcome to our 2015 NOVA Board Members!

President: Erin Masterson
Vice President: Justin Buenaflor
Treasurer: Mike Naff
Secretary: Dan Wallace
Communications and Social Media Director: Nene Reed
Membership Coordinator: Katie Tomlinson
Members at Large: Samantha Kirby Cole, Mark Drosky, Bernadette Flynn, Bob Weiner
And farewell to our 2013/2014 NOVA Treasurer Bob Koeppen. Thanks for your service, Bob!!



Many thanks to all the members who generously contributed to NOVA! 

• Ben Brooks 
• Justin Buenaflor 
• Erin Masterson 
• Jessica McGuire 
• Lisa McNichols 
• Abhaya Menon 
• Nene Reed 
• Greg Swiatocha 
• Dan Wallace 
• Bob Weiner

                

Coach Jerry

Many thanks from all of us to our very own Coach Jerry! Throughout the years, Coach Jerry has helped to guide thousands of runners to great performances under his watch. Here’s to many more, with much appreciation from the NOVA gang!