|
|
| |
This is Predator Running.....
The Predator Running Team was formed in the early 1990's by a group of amateur running enthusiasts. Our team is comprised of runners who possess a wide array of running skills and levels of dedication to the sport. While our elite runners train regularly, our middle tier and beginner tier members ("opportunistic" runners) also enjoy the sport. Our team participates in local road races throughout Southern Connecticut and occasionally out of state. We have been known to run in events as short as a 5k and as long as a marathon. As individuals - we're out to set personal records - and to cheer on our fellow teammates as they strive to do the same. As a team - we enjoy the fresh air and comraderie that comes with this truly self-fulfilling activity.
The Predator Running Team Home Page will post the adventures of our team - unfiltered and raw - just the way our followers demand it!
Tuesday, October 28
Predators Excel at 2008 Pumpkin Classic
 |  | | Ryan Kraynak Wins 3rd Place at 2008 Great Pumpkin Classic 4-miler | |
Trumbull, CT (10/19/2008) The Predators running team faired very well at the 2008 Pumpkin Classic. The Fred Bialka, Ryan Kraynak and Matt Kraynak teamed up for the 1st time since 2006 to take on the 4-mile route. Of 497 runners in this year's race - Ryan Kraynak finished 26th overall, taking a 3rd place trophy for his division. Fred Bialka cruised in with a fine time of 31:32 to finish 134th overall and 2nd among the Predators. Matt Kraynak, running in his 14th Great Pumpkin Classic, established a new personal best with a time of 34:08, eclipsing his previous mark of 34:50 set in 2005. Kraynak finished 211th out of 497 runnes in the field today.
Sunday, December 3
Kraynaks Participate in 2006 NIA Jingle Bell 5K Run
Trumbull, CT (12/2/2006) In their 4th road race of the Fall 2006 Running Season, Matt and Ryan Kraynak participated in the NIA Jingle Bell 5K Run in Trumbull. The late Fall race included 545 participants having a wide array of running skills. Ryan Kraynak finished the cource of rolling hills with a time of 22 minutes flat (7 minute 6 second mile split times). Ryan finished in 98th place overall. Matt running in the race for the second year in a row fell short of his 2005 pace by less than a minute - finishing with a time of 27 minutes 37 seconds.
Thursday, November 23
Kraynaks Overcome Cold and Wet Conditions at 2006 Pequot Runners 5-Miler
Southport, CT (11/23/2006) Enduring unusually gusty wind, rain, and air temperatures in the upper 30's, Matt and Ryan Kraynak followed through on their commitment to run in the 29th Annual Pequot 5-Miler Thanksgiving race. As expected - Ryan did well in this his first-ever 5-mile distance race. In a field having over 2,100 finishers, Ryan finished in 376th place with a time of 38 minutes 55 seconds. Running in the Pequot 5-miler for the third time in four years, Matt established a new personal best of 46 minutes 50 seconds - improving just over a minute from his previous personal best set in 2005.
As usual - the start of the race was downright crazy. The first half mile of the race route is extremely narrow. Often runners will resort to running up on the curb and on front lawns to make headway through the initial stages of the race. During the first mile - Matt witnessed three teens sprinting along the grass by the curb - until WHAM! The teens crashed into a mailbox! Gee - who put that there??!!!
This year Barry Kresen and Fred Bialka were unable to participate - but we do look forward to their return in 2007.
Sunday, November 5
Ryan Kraynak Finishes 40th Overall in 2006 Platt Tech 5k Race
Milford, CT (11/5/2006) Rookie Predator Runner Ryan Kraynak set a personal best today at the Platt Tech 5k - finishing the race in 20 minutes 54 seconds - averaging 6 minutes 45 seconds per mile. That pace was good enouth to finish 40th overall in a race having more than 200 runners in it. Matt Kraynak started off on a very good pace for the first two miles - but then ran a sluggish final mile finishing the race in 26 minutes 47 seconds.
Additional details to follow...
Sunday, October 22
Rookie Ryan Kraynak Leads Predators at 2006 Great Pumpkin Classic
|  | | Matt and Ryan minutes before start of race... | |
Trumbull, CT (10/22/2006) In his first ever road race - Predator Running Team Rookie Ryan Kraynak - wearing his Predator #1 shirt - led the Predator Running team at the Great Pumpkin Classic. Ryan finished the 4-mile race in Trumbull with a time of 30 minutes 54 seconds (a 7:44 mile split) and 118th out of 503 runners overall. Predator veteran Fred Bialka hung in with the rookie until the end of the third mile where the rookie's youthful energy took over. Bialka finished with a time of 32 minutes 15 seconds (running 8:04 mile splits). Matt Kraynak - sporting his Predator #3 shirt finished third today with a time of 36 minutes 41 seconds. This time was 1 minute 51 seconds short of is personal best set in 2005.
The Predators are looking at several races in the coming weeks - including 5k Runs on October 29th and November 5th.
 | | Fred and Ryan pose for a Press Release photo... |
Saturday, October 21
Bialka, Kraynak and Kraynak to Run 2006 Great Pumpkin Classic 4 Miler
Trumbull, CT (10/21/2006) The Predator running team kicks off their Fall running series Sunday October 22nd at the Great Pumpkin Classic 4 mile run in Trumbull. As has been tradition for many previous seasons - veteran runners Fred Bialka and Matt Kraynak will represent the Predator squad. In addition - rookie runner Ryan Kraynak joins the Predator Running Team in his first ever Great Pumpkin Classic. Experts already project that Ryan will set a Kraynak family record in the annual Trumbull race. (No pressure now....!)
As for other Predator running Team members, Barry Kresen remains unavailable - still resting his achilles heel from last winter. Mike "Juice" Krajewski will also be unavailable due to his Rock 'n Roll Star obligations.
Predators Endure Sub-Freezing Wind Chill at NIA Jingle Bell 5K
Trumbull, CT (12/3/2005) The Predators Running Team took on the Nichols Improvement Association's 16th Annual Jingle Bell run in Trumbull this morning. Although it was a bright and sunny day - gusty winds paired with an air temperature of just 33 degrees made the wind-chill temperature drop to the mid-teens for today's event.
It had been a few years since the Predators had taken on the Jingle Bell 5k in force. Barry Kresen was most recent Predator run the Jingle Bell back in 2003. Matt Kraynak was making his first appearance at the Jingle Bell run since December 1, 2001. Matt "Martini Man" Parnell made his NIA Jingle Bell Run debut at todays event. Parnell led the Predator Running Team with a great time of 25 minutes 29 seconds, averaging 8 minutes 13 seconds per mile. Matt "Iron Horse" Kraynak took home his 4th consecutive Personal Best run of 2005 by completing today's race in 26 minutes 46 seconds averaging 8 minutes 38 seconds per mile. Kraynak smashed his previous personal best set at the NIA Jingle Bell in 2001 by a whopping 4 minutes 21 seconds. Barry Kresen who was running with some soreness from a pre-existing injury finished todays run in 33 minutes 31 seconds averaging 10 minutes 49 seconds per mile.
The Predator Running Team has now completed their Fall Running Schedule - and now looks to take a short period off before revving things up again in 2006.
Kraynak Sets Another Personal Best At 2005 Pequot 5-Miler
Southport, CT (11/24/2005) The Predator running team arrived in Southport to participate in the 28th Annual Pequot Runners 5-Mile Road Race. Earlier in the morning, a late-fall storm dumped a few inches of wet snow north of the I-95 corridor, but had somehow spared the "Gold Coast" of Southport where today's event was held. By race time - the temperature had risen to the mid-30's with occasional light rain falling.
Matt Kraynak and Barry Kresen each planned to improve upon their results when they last ran the Pequot 5-miler in 2003. Unfortunately Kresen suffered an achilles injury and had to abstain from running today. In true Predator team spirit, Barry became Matt's official photographer and equipment manager for the day. Having already set "personal bests" in the Great Pumpkin Classic 4-miler and the Platt Tech 5k over the last few weeks - Kraynak was looking to set another personal best today.
Elite Predator Runner Fred Bialka was not spotted at the race today. It was widely rumored that Bialka may have avoided the press by running under an assumed name and number as he has done quite successfully in previous races...
For Kraynak - it would be a very good run. Kraynak shaved time off the early miles by employing new tactics: He started the race in a position further up in the field, and he aggressively gained ground by weaving in and out of the crowd, hurdling large puddles and loose debris as if he was Walter Payton driving to a 1st down. As a result of his efforts - Kraynak finished the 5-mile race with a time of 47 minutes 52 seconds - setting a new personal best by crushing his previous record (set in 2003) by 5 minutes and 11 seconds.
The next race for the Predator Running Team will be the NIA Jingle Bell 5k on Saturday December 3rd in Trumbull.
 | | Kraynak waiting to start; passing the finish line and finally resting |
Bialka, Kraynak & Kresen To Run Pequot 5-Miler
Southport, CT (11/19/2005) The Predator Running Team will continue their fall tour of Southern Connecticut next week as they return to the Pequot Runners 5-Mile road race on Thanksgiving morning. Fred Bialka is expected to lead the team by a wide margin, while Barry Kresen and Matt Kraynak will be found somewhere in the middle of the pack. Kraynak and Kresen are returning to holiday run for the first time since 2003. Despite a light training schedule - Matt Kraynak is looking to establish his third straight "personal best" of the Fall 2005 running season.
Kraynak Revisits Platt Tech 5K - Snags Another Personal Best
Milford, CT (11/6/2005) The Predator Running team was represented by a single runner today in the 13th Annual Platt Tech 5k. The Platt Tech 5k is run on the first Sunday of each November to raise funds for the Platt Tech School's athletic programs. This race is not particularly popular - but does draw a faithful core. Today's race had only 209 runners overall.
This morning Matt Kraynak set his second "Personal Best" for a road race in two weeks by completing today's 5K in 26 minutes 23 seconds - averaging 8 minutes 31 seconds per mile. This represented an 83 second improvement over his previous personal best for this race established back in 2003. With the number of race participants being very low - Kraynak also managed to achieve his first-ever "Top 10" finish in the Submasters category (Ages 30-39). Kraynak finished 9th in this category.
Missing from today's run were:
Fred Bialka: Whereabouts unconfirmed by reliable sources....
Chuck Schroeder: At Gulf Beach sipping coffee and reading the New York Times....
Mike "Juice" Krajewski: Also sipping coffee at Gulf Beach....
Next stop for Predator Running will be the Pequot Runners 5-Mile Run in Southport on Thanksgiving morning.
Bialka Takes 2005 Great Pumpkin Classic 4-Miler
Trumbull, CT (10/23/2005) The Predator Running Team took to the roads of Trumbull Connecticut for the 15th Annual Great Pumpkin Classic - a 4 mile road race in support of the Trumbull Scholarship Fund. Once again - Fred Bialka and Matt Kraynak carried the torch for the Predator running team as they kicked off their Fall 2005 campaign. Among the Predator "regulars" missing from today's event included Barry Kresen and Chuck Schroeder. Mike "Juice" Krajewski was also missing from today's event, and was presumed to be sleeping at racetime.
Bialka - despite running without his usual "sparring partner" Chuck Schroeder, finished today's race with a fine time of 30:56 - averaging 7 minutes and 44 seconds per mile. A few minutes later - Matt Kraynak established a new Personal Best (PB) in his 11th try at the Great Pumpkin - posted a time of 34:50 - averaging 8 minutes and 43 seconds per mile. Kraynak gives some credit for this new PB to Matt "Martini Man" Parnell - who helped Kraynak maintain a solid pace in the first half of the race. Parnell went on to set a Personal Best of his own with a terrific 33:46 - averaging 8 minutes and 27 seconds per mile.
Next stop for Predator Running will be the Platt Tech 5K run in Milford on Sunday November 6th.
Predator Running Team Preliminary Schedule For Fall 2005
The Predator Running Team plans to participate in each of the following events during their Fall 2005 running season:
Sunday October 23rd - 10:00am - The Great Pumpkin Classic (4mi) Trumbull, CT
Sunday November 6th - 10:00am - Platt Tech Run (5k) Milford, CT
Thursday November 24th - 9:30am - Pequot Runners Thanksgiving Run (5mi) Southport, CT
Saturday December 3rd, 9:30am - NIA Jingle Bell Run (5k) Trumbull, CT
Additional event announcements are anticipated in the next few weeks....
************************************************************
Below are MUCH OLDER stories about the PREDATOR RUNNING TEAM.
You may anticipate many new and interesting stories of both triumph and woe during the Fall of 2005. Come back and see !!!
************************************************************
Kresen Runs Solo at NIA Jingle Bell 5K in Trumbull
Trumbull, CT (12/20/2003) The Nichols Improvement Association's Jingle Bell 5k was finally run this cold morning after being postponed from the major snow event of December 6th. Barry Kresen and Matt Kraynak were each registered to participate in this race - however Kraynak was unavailable due to prior Predator commitments. (A player recruitment function in the Bahamas and a walk-through of the new Predator facility in Miami.)
Kresen completed today's run in a time of 29:33 (according to the organizer's timing systems) however Barry believes he was at least 6 seconds faster than that. "My watch is synchronized to the World Clock in Greenwich England dammit!! I know I was faster than 29:33 - I'm going to file a protest!!"
Predators Join Pequots in Thanksgiving 5 Miler
|  | | Matt Kraynak's Racing Bib & Barry Kresen's Red Bull Can | |
Southport, CT (11/27/2003) On a chilly but fabulously sunny Thursday morning, the Predators represented well at the 26th Annual Pequot Runners Thanksgiving 5 Mile Road race in Southport. The race included 3,000 registered runners, and scores of walk-ons to participate in the scenic run across the Gold Coast of Southport Connecticut. Many spectators were on hand to cheer their family and friends on.
Representing the Predators A-Tier Team was Freddy Bialka who ran the course in a blazing 39:03. In a surprise move, A-Tier runner Chuck Schroeder thought it was best to be a spectator this year earning him some Minimal Training Cup Points in the process.
Representing the Predators B-Tier Team were Barry Kresen and Matt Kraynak, who finished with times of 53:02 & 53:03 respectively. This was Matt's first 5 mile race since the 1980s. It was a tough start today.... commented Kraynak,
with all those runners on that skinny road it took us 2 minutes to walk to the starting line and another 2 just to get moving. To top it all off - I really had to go to the bathroom!" Barry Kresen revealed his training secrets for today's run: I drank Red Dog Beer last night, and Red Bull power drink this morning. I was flying man!
The Predators next race will be the Jingle Bell 5k on December 6th in Trumbull.
 | | Predators B-Tier Squad (Matt and Barry) Thanksgiving 2003 |
Predators Return to Run In Platt Tech 5K
Milford, CT (11/2/2003) The Predators returned to the Platt Tech 5k road race today, making their first official appearance since 1999. Among the Predator team members present were Matt Kraynak and Chuck Schroeder with a surprise team entry - Jean Olbrish. Noticeably absent from todays run were Freddy Bialka and Barry Kresen whose whereabouts were unknown as of this writing. Also missing from todays race was Jim Greenwald who was believed to be resting and recovering at home from the Great Pumpkin Classic run some 14 days ago. Also among the missing was Mike Krajewski who was spotted at Gulf Beach sipping coffee at race time.
It was an awesome day to run with temperatures at race time in the mid-60s. As expected, Chuck Schroeder kicked butt and set the Predator standard today with a nice run of 23:28. The run for Chuck was pretty close to his 1999 time when he posted a 22:39. Matt Kraynak did a little better than he anticipated today finishing with a run time of 27:46. That reflects a significant improvement over his 1999 run time (31:34). Jean Olbrish also finished much better than she had anticipated completing the race with a time of 30:49. Also notable at today's race was the appearance of former Shop-Rite Softball player (and fan favorite) Brian Burrows - who finished todays race in 26th place overall- posting an amazing run time of 19:49.
The Predators now set focus on their next race scheduled Thanksgiving morning. Chuck Schroeder and Freddy Bialka are set to battle in the Pequot Runners 5 Miler in Southport. Matt Kraynak and Barry Kresen are weighing their options to join Chuck and Freddy or to represent the Predators in the Commodore Hull 5k in Shelton & Derby. Stay tuned!
Predators Battle In 2003 Great Pumpkin Classic
| |  | | Jim, Freddy, Chuck and Matt at Great Pumpkin Classic 10/19/2003 | | view full size |
Trumbull,CT (10/19/2003) This morning the Predators Running Team returned to glory in a battle at the Great Pumpkin Classic, a 4 mile road race in Trumbull. Representing the Predator "A-Tier" competetors included Freddy Bialka and Chuck Schroeder. Representing the Predator "B-Tier" competetors included Matt Kraynak and Jim Greenwald. The October race marked Greenwald's first public appearance since ending his 23-month exile at sea in August. Noticably missing from the "B-Tier" squad was Mike Krajewski, who was probably at home sleeping. Barry Kresen was also missing in action - although it is believed that Barry was - in fact - awake by race time. The big story of today's competetion was the continued success of Freddy Bialka, who stormed to his second straight win over Chuck Schroeder. Freddy finished with a time of 30:17 - a full 64 seconds ahead of Chuck's 31:21 pace. "I'm really not sure what has happened to Chuck the last couple of races", Bialka said, "he (Schroeder) used to kick my ass... but lately he's been too far behind to reach it." Bialka recently defeated Schroeder at the legendary Falmouth Road Race - snapping a long standing losing streak with his most fierce competetor. In the "B-Tier" competetion, Matt Kraynak improved for the 4th straight Great Pumpkin Classic, finishing with a time of 37:10 - 73 seconds faster than his run in 2002. Jim Greenwald - coming back from his long rest at sea - finished with a time of 37:58. Both Kraynak and Greenwald remain in contention for the 2003 "Minimal Training Cup Championship". By default, Mike Krajewski has jumped out to a significant lead in overall MTCC Points by staying home for today's race. The next road race for the Predators will be a homecoming of sorts as they compete in the "Platt Tech 5k" in Milford on Sunday November 2nd.
Bialka Finally Beats Schroeder at Falmouth 7.1 Miler
| |  | | Map of Falmouth Road Race |
Falmouth, MA (8/10/2003) Today, a major Predator Running Team milestone was reached. For the first time in 15 tries at the grueling 7.1 mile Falmouth Road Race, Freddy Bialka upset long-time Predator pace-setter Chuck Schroeder. Bialka completed the nationally recognized event in a time of 1:01:48 to Schroeder's 1:04:53. This apparently marks the end of Schroeder's dominance in the sport. He will be missed.
Freddy and Chuck each declined to comment further regarding the results of today's race.
Pumpkin Classics of the Past....
|  | | Matt's Running Bib Signed by Bill Rodgers 10/22/1995 | |
On October 22, 1995, Matt Kraynak, Chuck Schroeder, Mike Krajewski and Jim Greenwald participated in their second Great Pumpkin Classic race in Trumbull. Unlike the previous year - Matt actually trained for this one! At that race - Matt had an opportunity to meet (and snag an autograph from) running legend Bill Rodgers. Rodgers is known for winning the New York City Marathon and Boston Marathon 4 times each between 1975 and 1980. Mr Rodgers ran in several of the first Great Pumpkin Classic races, and in 1994 he set the standard in the Masters category with a time of 19:54. That record still holds to this day.
Interestingly enough - what we all seem to remember from the 1995 race (outside of Bill Rodgers) was that Playboy's "Playmate of the Year" was also running the GPC - and she had a dog on a leash running with her. Both the young lady and her dog finished just ahead of Mike Krajewski.
Other "Early" Running Days Stuff...
| |  | | Mike, Brian, Chuck, Freddy and Matt 7/4/1996 |
From the "Pre-Predator Running Team" days - here is a photo of the boys at the Independence 5000 (5k) race in Milford taken July 4, 1996. In the photo from left to right are Mike Krajewski, Brian Burrows, Chuck Schroeder, Freddy Bialka and Matt Kraynak. The Independence 5k is run each 4th of July at Joseph A. Foran High School in Milford. The Independence 5k is one of our "traditional" races.
|
|
|
|
