Meet Matthew Olsen: Nominee for Flyer of the Year
I am honored to be nominated for Flyer of the Year in 2024. The Flyers thrive because of many incredible contributors, and I view my role as one of many in our community giving back to a group that gives me so much. The 40-49 Age Group Flyers know that I like to share my thoughts through wondering and rambling… and don’t see why this bio submission should be any different.
I grew up with a strong dislike for running more than 90 feet to first base on a baseball diamond. After college, I ran a few NYRR races and eventually the 2010 NYC marathon. I swore that would be my one and only marathon, and indeed, took a few years off from 2014-2018. After noticing I was a bit more out of shape than I’d like to admit, I set off for 9+1 in 2018 for a 2019 NYCM bib.
I joined the Flyers looking for community after being disappointed with my 2019 New York City marathon effort and training without a team. My first run with the group was February 2020 where I met a handful of people, including David Ezra. Then the world shutdown, so my second run with the group was more than a year later, when I started showing up to holiday runs. After a few sales pitches from Guy Simoneau to join the group on Thursday nights, I became a regular TNFer the beginning of 2022.
As a Thursday night regular, I offer 100% attendance at social following the run. While I do this because I enjoy it, it also provides consistency and reliability that we will have social for any new members or drop-ins. And for me personally, this is my most consistent social engagement, leading to great friendships and bonds within the Flyers community.
Additional contributions to the Flyers include:
- Serve as captain of the 40-49 Age Group, writing a semi-regular newsletter (“Flyers in Their Forties” / “FITF”) that includes various personal musings and articles I find interesting about running distributed to the 280 members in their 40s.
- Co-lead the February Five Bridges Run with Laila Saleh.
- Serve on the awards committee.
- Volunteer at the Three Bridges Run.
- New York Road Runners Club Counsel representative with Hiromi Nobata, attending meetings, and sharing insights with the executive board, often highlighting NYRR's tech issues.
While likely outside the scope of consideration for this award, I did have a satisfying 2024 season. I set my marathon PR by 30 minutes, breaking 4:00 for the first time in Chicago (pictured here), set PRs in 4m, 10k and 15k, and missed PRs in the 5k by 12 seconds and half marathon by 15 seconds. I competed in the Escape From Alcatraz triathlon in San Francisco in June and ran my first ultra marathon, a 50k in Staten Island in November. I attribute much of my momentum for completion and robust numbers to our Flyers community, and while intangible in many ways, I know the team was always behind me.
When I’m not running or cross-training, talking about running, or recovering from running, I am the director of business development at a large law firm. I grew up in Lake Tahoe, Nevada and have lived in New York City for 20 years.
Meet Jessica Baez: Nominee for Flyer of the Year
Greetings fellow Flyers!
For those of you whom I may not know, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jessica Baez and I have been a Flyer for approximately 9 years. I was quite surprised, and extremely humbled, to receive word that I had been named one of the nominees for the Flyer of the Year Award. Thank you, Board, for considering me as one who is deserving of this title and congratulations to the other nominees! Never did I expect to receive such an email, and I graciously accept the nomination.
My time with the team has been wonderful, encouraging and inspiring. Over the years, I have met many people and made beautiful friendships. Additionally, I have participated in both the Speed Pass and MTP programs where I have learned valuable running and training information from both our coaches and my teammates. Lastly, I have been able to give back to the team by in various capacities. I have been part of our Election Committee, I co-manage the Instagram page, I have volunteered as a pacer at group runs, assisted with the group run check-in / out process, and helped at aide stations. This year I have the privilege of being part of The Awards Committee and I’m looking forward to trying something new!
Thank you, once again, to the Board for this special honor of being nominated for Flyer of the Year! Congratulations to all the nominees!
Go Flyers!
Meet John McCreech: Nominee for Flyer of the Year
I am very honored to be nominated for Flyer of the Year. I joined the Flyers in 2012 after being paced by the Flyers in the NYRR Marathon Long Training Run. The pacers for that group are still active members and good friends, Denise, David, Jen, David and Dana.
At the time, I was training for my first marathon and I just wanted to run the 3 Bridges and Final 10 Miles. Then I started running races and meeting more Flyers, and I wanted to become more involved with the club.
I enjoyed being President for 3 years because I was able to meet so many more Flyers as president and work with other Board members who were equally committed to the Club.
I enjoy assisting Ed with the 3 Bridges and volunteering and/or participating in all of the Flyers events, and having food with friends after the races.
I only intended to run the 2012 NYC marathon, but since joining the Flyers I’ve run 181 NYRR races, 21 marathons (11 NYC’s), but more importantly I’ve met a lot of great runners and friends over the last 12 years.
Happy running and go Flyers.