Long time member Andrew Coyle joined the club in 1977, just after he ran the second annual Ridgewood Run. Not quite a runner, a friend had suggested he would like the venue and he did. "I was always an athlete and active in sports but not a runner," sags Coyle, of Leonia. "I had no idea how long 5 miles was." The race almost did him in but he came back for more. Thirty years later Coyle is an active member of the club, a respected board member, and Mr. Tee Shirt at the Ridgewood Run. He probably has the best collection of past Ridgewood Run tee shirts of anyone in the club. Coyle grew up in Hoboken, (it wasn't a yuppie haven back then he states) and after high school went to work for Bell New Jersey. He joined the Navy Reserves in 1966 and after his tenure returned to the phone company, now Verizon. He ran his first marathon, the 1978 NYC Marathon, with only 14 miles logged as his longest distance and finished in 4:09. He ran it again in 1979. A steady USATF-NJ racer, he now enjoys the 5K and half marathon distance. Reflecting on the all the changes in club that he has seen over the years, he says the best move the club made was moving the race start from the YMCA to Linwood Ave to allow for more participants. He credits fellow club member and past race director Arne Olsen with bringing the Ridgewood Run into the forefront of the east coast racing circuit. What has kept Coyle in the club for so many years is the people and friendships he has made. "I've always met the nicest people in our club. The friendships and warm camaraderie is a real plus. That, and becoming a better runner," says Coyle.
He and his wife Judy, who was the club secretary in the early years, have been married for 37 years and have a son who lives in Oregon. They enjoy getting away to their vacation home in New Hampshire. |
