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We tested the best running watches out there to find which ones are the best of the best. Here’s how we did it and which ones you need on your wrist. Melissa Rorech, Reviewed.com

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What motivates a championship-caliber runner? Is it the inevitable awards that await after a hard-fought race? Is it titles and trophies? Or is it to exert the best effort possible from start to finish?

Marisa Sutera Strange has won more races than anyone can count. As a masters runner, she is compiling an impressive total of national masters championships as well. Motivation for her can come from multiple places and multiple sources.

Earlier this month at the USATF National Masters 5 km Cross Country Championships at Mission Bay Park in San Diego, Strange was preparing to battle the best age-group runners in the country. The day before the championship, she was told she was in a three-way tie for the Cross Country Harrier of the Year and that the next day’s race would determine the outcome.

“I got real nervous about it,’’ she said, “and at the same time I was glad I made the trip. I decided to just keep my same goals, which was to run the best I could, not against anyone in particular.”

At 56 years old, such process-oriented goals seem to work well for the Pleasant Valley runner at this stage of her long and distinguished racing career. The outcome was good. Very good. Strange ran 19:31 on the deceptively challenging course. She won the age-graded title. She won her age group. And she took home the coveted award.

“They waited till the end of the meet to announce it,’’ she said. “I was so thrilled and surprised!’’

She said the course was deceiving in its toughness — you figure San Diego and you think flat — but she still managed to average 6:17 per mile on it. No matter her focus or goals, Strange continues to be at the top of the results listings, race after race, year after year.

Chicago Marathon

It was a great day at the Chicago Marathon for young local runners who have continued to race after standout high school and collegiate running careers.

Spackenkill High School graduate Deirdre Dwyer ran a personal-best time of 2:55:59, placing 60th in her age group. Dwyer ran for Team Debra, raising money for the treatment and cure of Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). Her State University of New York at Oneonta cross-country and track teammate, Millbrook High School graduate Mary Bida, also ran strong, finishing in 2:57:29.

Our Lady of Lourdes High School and Marist College graduate Omar Perez had a strong showing as well. He ran part of the race with Dwyer and ended up finishing a few strides ahead of her in 2:54:58.

Other alumni of the Marist running programs represented the red-and-white well in the Windy City. Spencer Johnson, a 2017 (undergraduate) and 2018 (masters) graduate of Marist now running for the San Diego Track Club, ran a personal-best time by nine minutes in a elite-level time of 2:29:45. Mike Guarascio, a 2007 alum, wore his alumni racing team uniform proudly. The 36-year-old from New Hampshire notched a 10-minute personal-best time in 2:43:47. And 2010 alum John Keenan notched a 3:11:24 in Chicago.

New Paltz races

As noted last week, there will be two races on the same day (Nov. 10) in the New Paltz area, highlighting some of the best Shawangunk Ridge trails and views around.

The second annual Fall Challenge 5 K, which debuted last year, has added the 10 k distance this year. It highlights the amazing River To Ridge Trail in New Paltz, featuring stunning views of the Shawangunk Ridge. A little further up the ridge, the After the Leaves Have Fallen Half Marathon will be run at Minnewaska State Park in New Paltz.

We are blessed to have world-class running so close in Ulster County. And now on the same day, local runners can choose from a variety of distances — 5 k, 10 kK, half-marathon — with great views and great local support. Go to runsignup.com or shawangunkrunners.com for race details and registration.

Challenging Shawangunk Trail run

Next week, we will highlight Hyde Park runner Jessica Velez, who conquered the incredibly challenging Shawangunk Ridge Trail (SRT) trail run, a 70-mile test of fitness, toughness and sleep deprivation, earlier this fall.

Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club member Pete Colaizzo, the track coach at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, writes on running every week in Players. He can be reached at runhed246@hotmail.com. For more club information, go to www.mhrrc.org

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