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Home Road Racing

NB Falmouth Diary: Day One-Arrival and Traversing the World of Tommy Leonard

Jeff Benjaminby Jeff Benjamin
August 17, 2017
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We asked Jeff Benjamin to provide a daily diary of his goings on during the weekend of the 2017 New Balance Falmouth Road Race. Here is day one!

image1.JPGThe Quarterdeck is the HQ of Tommy Leonard, founder of NB Falmouth Road Race, photo by Jeff Benjamin

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image2.JPGPainting of Tommy Leonard, photo by Jeff Benjamin

Without a doubt, Main Street in Falmouth has changed with the times. Like many Main Streets in the USA, shops, stores, restaurants and bars have been part of the local landscape, with modernity mixing in with the character of the past. So far, as the years have gone on, The Quarterdeck Bar & Restaurant has still thrived, no doubt due to the presence and legacy of Falmouth Race founder, Tommy Leonard. When this writer arrived there Thursday night, Tommy was not around, as he’s no doubt saving up his energies for the festivities which will move into full blast by the weekend!

The indefatigable bartender, who brought his love of road running to Falmouth and arguably to the country, just celebrated his 84th birthday, living his life as the larger than life bartender whose passion led to the “Boom”. With Leonard leading the way, the Quarterdeck is the Central Command Center of sorts and, a state of mind. Olympic Legend Frank Shorter visited yesterday, and running legends Bill Rodgers, Steve Jones and others will come by during the next few days, and it is all to pay respects and homage to Leonard. The Quarterdeck is also replete with race mementoes (including little flags flown, acknowledging the nationalities of Falmouth race participants) as well as a portrait of the Leonard himself. And while he has not financially benefitted from his creation, Leonard, in an interview 10 years ago, summed up how he has accumulated “wealth” in his life–

“This whole thing — the race, the town of Falmouth, the runners, the volunteers, everyone — it all has a seductive hold on me….I feel like Peter Pan. I’m not a rich man, but you can’t buy the friends I have and the relationships I’ve gained from this. I live to make people smile, that’s my thing. If I can give you that, then it makes life worth living.”

Perhaps that’s why he’s been around this long!

Author

  • Jeff Benjamin

    Jeff Benjamin has written for 30 years for American Track and Field along with RunBlogRun. The Former President of the Staten Island AC & Chair of the Staten Island Running Association was the 5th man scorer for his Susan Wagner High School NYC XC City Championship team. Also a member of the College of Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame for XC, Jeff currently serves as the LDR Chairman for USATF NY. A passionate (or fanatical) follower of the Sport, some of Jeff's subjects have included Sebastian Coe, Emma Coburn, Eamonn Coghlan, Matt Centrowitz, Jim Spivey, Galen Rupp, Joe Newton, Tom Fleming, Ajee’ Wilson, Bill Rodgers, Allan Webb, Abel Kiviat, Jordan Hassay, Marty Liquori, Caster Semenya, Rod Dixon, Carl Lewis and Jim Ryun as well as Book Reviews and articles covering meets and races in the Northeast U.S.

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Jeff Benjamin

Jeff Benjamin

Jeff Benjamin has written for 30 years for American Track and Field along with RunBlogRun. The Former President of the Staten Island AC & Chair of the Staten Island Running Association was the 5th man scorer for his Susan Wagner High School NYC XC City Championship team. Also a member of the College of Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame for XC, Jeff currently serves as the LDR Chairman for USATF NY. A passionate (or fanatical) follower of the Sport, some of Jeff's subjects have included Sebastian Coe, Emma Coburn, Eamonn Coghlan, Matt Centrowitz, Jim Spivey, Galen Rupp, Joe Newton, Tom Fleming, Ajee’ Wilson, Bill Rodgers, Allan Webb, Abel Kiviat, Jordan Hassay, Marty Liquori, Caster Semenya, Rod Dixon, Carl Lewis and Jim Ryun as well as Book Reviews and articles covering meets and races in the Northeast U.S.

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