Athletes

As real people, we struggle everyday with the delicate balance between our athletic passions and our personal lives.  Although we come from diverse backgrounds, we share a common love for training and racing.  We're pleased to introduce you to our teammates.

acidotic RACING, LLC.  Copyright © 2009.

Lower Porcupine Singletrack

Moab, UTAH

Chris J. Dunn

Chris is one of acidotic RACING's founders and currently serves as President & CEO of the business and captain of all team sports.  His racing schedule typically begins in February with snowshoe racing and continues through October with a full schedule of adventure races, mountain bike races, cross country races, and road races.  As if that wasn't enough, he and his athlete wife recently competed for the first time at the North American Wife Carrying Championships at Sunday River in Maine.

Jay J. Dunn

A true original, Jay has been alongside his older brother from the beginning.  As the lead navigator, he routinely guides his adventure racing teammates to Top 10 finishes.  An expert mountain biker, snowboarder, and avid high altitude mountaineer, Jay competes with a level of aggression and toughness that endurance athletes rarely possess.  He recently led a group of teammates on an epic mountain biking expedition to Moab, UT. 

More teammate profiles coming soon!

Andrea McCusker

As a veteran off-road ultramarathon specialist, 'Drea took the sport by surprise in her first full season with several Top 3 finishes including a runner-up effort at the 2006 Pineland Farms 50k Trail Challenge.  She typically competes in over a dozen events each season including the New England Mountain Running Circuit.  In 2007 she led her Reach The Beach team to their first Top 100 finish.

Steve McCusker

One of the most versatile athletes on the team, Steve competes with both the adventure racing and mountain biking teams.  He led his adventure racing team to the Masters title at the Conquer Concord adventure race in the spring of 2007. He also keeps a busy individual racing schedule including snowshoe, trail, and road races.  His performance at the 2007 24 Hours of Great Glen earned him the title of King of the Glen. 

Jerry Fitzgibbon

As an aging veteran with a full life and work schedule, Jerry's racing is a mixture of competitive challenge, athletic adventure, and mostly just plain fun.  A veteran of 12 Ironman races (from Kona to Austria) and some of the old NE events like Martha’s Vineyard and Sunapee he has recently begun focusing more on half irons, half marathons, and fun events like Reach The Beach, Muddy Moose Wolfeboro, and a swim from the Isle of Shoals to shore. 

Dwight Hartman

A veteran team athlete Dwight now competes in an impressive collection of endurance sports including adventure racing (winter & summer) and off-road ultramarathoning.  A true warrior, Dwight brings a valuable mix of intelligence and intensity to the team.  In the winter of 2009 he'll attempt to finish the ultimate "survival ordeal" when he travels to the UK for the world renowned Tough Guy Year of the Guy Gorilla.  His gutty performance in the Ultimate XC Challenge this summer demonstrated his incredible tenacity.   

Michael Amarello

Ordinary road races no longer do it for this professional race producer and timer.  Despite missing parts of both knees due to injuries suffered in college cross country and basketball many years ago, Michael continues to run for his health and sanity --- just not road races.  Michael races on snowshoes every winter, the occasional trail race, and off-track steeplechases whenever they can be found. 

   

Proudly refreshed by:

Geoff Cunningham

A collegiate runner at Brandeis University, Cunningham made the switch to the trails and mountains shortly after graduation.  His fierce tenacity earned him a Top 25 finish at the 2007 US Mountain Running Championships at Cranmore Mountain.  In his first full season of snowshoe racing he won three events and took our series championship.

Ri Fahnestock

Look up versatile in the dictionary and you're likely to see Ri's picture.  No athlete competes in a more diverse collection of events.  From toboggan racing and wife carrying to adventure racing and ultramarathoning he does it all.  And he does it well.  His Top 10 finish at the Pittsfield Snowshoe Marathon was as impressive as the course was brutal.  He battled seemingly endless 6.5 mile loops and freezing rain for just under 7 hours.

Leslie Dillon

As a student-athlete at DePauw University she earned DIII Cross Country All-American recognition in 2005.  Since graduation, she has consistently scored Top 5 finishes in the 5k.  In 2007 she began racing the 1/2 and full marathon distance.  She won the Run to the Border 1/2 Marathon in Rye in 2007 and was a runner-up in 2008.  Her 3:15:24 at the Manchester City Marathon in '07 was good enough for 4th place and a spot in the '08 Boston Marathon.

Sarah Silverberg

Her performance at the Frigid Infliction Winter Adventure Race in March of 2008 was nothing short of awesome.  Her impressive technical Nordic skills and boundless energy may have made it easy to forget that it was her first adventure race.  With a background in gymnastics, climbing, and skiing she's no stranger to either hard work or the outdoors.   Along with teammate Ri, she also competes in the North American Wife Carrying Championships.

Chris Ebbrecht

There are athletes in our stable that are arguably faster and stronger, but perhaps no athlete has come as far.  A smoker until his early 40's, he has utterly transformed his life.  In a matter of a few short years he is now a veteran of more than 25 triathlons. In the fall of '07 he joined us for the Pinnacle Challenge double duathlon.  An incredibly strong cyclist, his road bike split was the 13th fastest in a field of over 70 competitors. 

Kate Ouellette

Whether it's a 4000 foot peak in Maine or a duck blind in New Hampshire, if it has anything to do with the outdoors you'll find Kate doing it.  An accomplished hiker, she hopes to complete all of New England's 4k's by the end of 2009.  This surfer girl recently hung up her snowboard and took up alpine skiing just for the challenge of learning something new.  In '08 she'll add road racing to her resume when she competes in the Seacoast Racing Series.

Karen Dunn

My loving partner is the glue that holds all of this operation together.  She is however, a highly competitive athlete in her own right.  There are very few who have logged more miles in bitterly cold temperatures and monsoon rains before 5:00 AM than Karen.  She is the most dedicated runner I have ever seen.  A veteran of the longest running ultra distance relay in the United States, Reach The Beach, she anchored the effort in '06 and helped the team to a Top 100 finish in '07. 

Erin Meserve

To see her race, you'd never know she's only in her 3rd year of competitive running.  An incredibly supportive Team In Training mentor, Erin has completed two 1/2 marathons and annually races the Seacoast Racing Series consisting of local 5 & 10k's.  Erin led her team at the grueling 24+ hour Reach The Beach Relay in the fall of 2007.  We're excited to add her infectious smile and toughness to our adventure racing team in the fall of 2008.

Jamie Lesniak

After overcoming two devastating foot injuries in less than six months Jamie has returned back to form in most dramatic fashion.  Her victory at the '08 Mom's On The Run 5k signaled to herself and the entire seacoast that she was back.  She recently followed up that performance with a runner-up finish to fellow teammate Leslie Dillon at the United Way Challenge in Newington.  Her performance at the '07 Reach The Beach Relay is the stuff of legend as she ran over 15 miles on a broken foot!

Dave Edwards

He is perhaps the best all-around athlete on the team.  A trail running veteran he is a multiple time finisher at the rugged Shut-In Ridge Run in North Carolina and has run a PB of 10:14:46 at the JFK 50 Mile Race in Hagerstown, MD.  Dave is also an accomplished adventure racer whose toughness and intelligence is a constant.  In August, he added mountain bike racing to his repertoire at the 24 Hours of Great Glen where he and fellow teammate Chris raced as a duo.

Steve Sprague

Since joining us in 2008, Steve has been a valuable asset to our adventure and mountain bike racing teams.  His tremendous experience as an adventure racer paid dividends right away when he helped to lead a team at the NH-12 AR.  Incredibly selfless,  he volunteered to ride solo at the 24 Hours of Great Glen at the last minute to spare a teammate who was recovering from an illness.  An all around endurance athlete he also competes in wide range of multisport events.   If it's tough and involves more than one sport...he's doing it!

Nick Lavoie

Trust me, there isn't anyone you'd rather spend 30 hours with in a van more then our own professional eater.  His humor and gastronomic exploits are the stuff of legend.  Originator of the expression "Pain is temporary, tuna fish sandwiches are forever." Nick is a veteran of our Reach The Beach team.  Road racing isn't the only trick he's got up his sleeve.  He is also an accomplished triathlete who regularly competes in a busy schedule of sprint and Olympic distance events throughout northern New England.

Steve Wolfe

To the New England endurance community he needs no introduction.  This Merrimack, NH native posts one of the busiest racing schedules imaginable.  Proficient from 5k and beyond including tri's, Steve added snowshoe racing in the winter of 2008 and immediately became one of the "athletes to beat".  Author of the popular blog Have2Run, Steve will represent us during the highly anticipated Granite State Snowshoe Series.  Don't be surprised to see him consistently racing in the Top 10.

'Sherpa' John Lacroix

What do you say about an athlete who has accomplished so much in such a short period of time?  A skilled mountaineer, his 2004 documentary "48: A White Mountain Documentary Film" chronicled his pursuit of the legendary 4000' club.  He is also no stranger to ultradistance racing and has logged finishes at such epics as the Vermont 100, Grand Teton 100, and the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100.  Finally, when he's not training or racing look for him directing some of the most brutal ultra's in New England.

Scott "PHAT" Graham

Scott has spent 30+ years racing around New England from the mile up to ½ Ironman’s and everything in between.  He has completed in 1000’s of races, just ask his wife about his t-shirt collection.  He has competed in the Boston Marathon for 23 consecutive years and counting.  Scott started snowshoe racing in 2008 and consistently finishes in the Top 10.  What’s the “PHAT” stand for?  It’s an acronym for Scott’s forecast on what a race is going to feel like: Pain, Heavy At Times!

Erika DeGeorge

One of the greatest gifts is to help others.  This stay at home mom is the triathlon leader for a local Moms In Motion team.  A tenacious competitor she routinely competes in sprint tri but will tackle the Olympic and 1/2 Iron distances in 2009.  Always searching for more challenges she'll race her first marathon in the fall when she travels to DC for the Marine Corp Marathon.  Don't be fooled into thinking she's just a fair weather athlete...this winter she joins our snowshoe racing team for a whole new experience!

Amy & Brent Tkaczyk

These two live by the adage, “The couple that plays together stays together.” .  For the past twelve years they have been competing together in anything from mud-volleyball to road races. Some of their favorites have been a run up Mt. Hood, Muddy Moose Trail Race, and Wife Carrying Championship.  They stay in shape by coaching the X-C and Track teams at Coe-Brown and of course, their favorite workouts...P90-X.  Their ultimate goal is in 10 years to adventure race with their two boys Luke and Tyler.

Jay Myers

To give anything less than everything he has simply wouldn't be acceptable to this veteran endurance athlete.  His list of personal athletic achievements is as formidable as any; marathoning & ultramarathoning, triathlon, bike racing, off-road duathlon, snowshoe and canoe racing.  He can also lay claim to racing to the top of Mt. Washington on both his bike and his running shoes...in the same year!  Always looking for more challenges, this winter he'll add adventure racing to the list!

Austin Stonebreaker

There are few that personify our motto, Dare Mighty Things, more than Austin.  In his first year of competitive endurance sports he trained for and completed a 1/2 marathon, a six hour mountain bike race and a 50 mile footrace finishing on the podium.  He's not one dimensional however...he finished 2nd at the '08 North American Wife Carrying Championships to fellow teammates Ri & Sarah after a stumble in the water pit.  Always up for a new challenge, this winter he's added snowshoe racing and is consistently logging Top 20 finishes.

Mike O'Connor

Mike is a year round athlete and has participated in many of the New England "classics".  The Mt Washington Bicycle Hill Climb, Vermont 50 Mountain Bike, Vermont 50K Run, Pan Mass Challenge, Falmouth Road Race, Boston Marathon and Reach The Beach are some of his favorites.  He'll be participating in the Granite State Snowshoe Series, Pittsfield Snowshoe Marathon and the Vermont 50 again in 2010.  Mike also brings some race directing to aR with his  experience in helping at the Baystate Marathon.

Justin Snair

This former US Marine has been excelling on the roads, trails, and track for the better part of the past 10 years.  After spending a considerable amount of time racing distances from the 800m to the 10k he'll join us this summer to dare mighty things and test the limits of his will and physical endurance starting with our team entry at the Pineland Farms 25k Trail Challenge.  He also plans to gain valuable experience mountain biking, paddling, and trekking with the hopes of joining our adventure racing team soon.

Jen Smith

It's the rare runner that's comfortable on the roads, trails, and snow.  But Jen's no ordinary runner.  She's been running for more than a decade and is already a veteran of five Reach the Beach Relays, Jay Peak, the Mt. Washington Road Race, and 50 New England trail and road races.  Oh, and don't forget the snowshoe racing.  Despite those impressive athletic accomplishment, her most important goal is to be a good role model for her two sons, Sam & Cooper.  Excited to join acidotic RACING, she's looking forward to new challenges and adventures.

Jay Curry

Two Ironman distance triathlons (Florida & Lake Placid) are enough to fill out any endurance racing resume but this no ordinary resume and no ordinary endurance athlete.  Daring mighty things defines Jay's racing philosophy.  Now focusing on standard and ultradistance trail racing he has completed some of the toughest races in the northeast including 7 Sisters, Escarpment, Jay Mnt Marathon, and the Vermont 50.  And like many of our athletes when the snow flies you'll find him with snowshoes on racing nearly every winter weekend.