Branford Man Feted For Contributions to Long Distance Running

BRANFORD, CT - A Branford resident who has spent most of his life helping coordinating long distance races in the area has won a prestigious award from the USA Track and Field.

John Tolbert was recently feted for his "contributions to women's long distance running."

Tolbert has been on the New Haven Road Race board of directors since 1995. The New Haven Labor Day Race has been the 20km National Championship since 1996.

He was appointed as the Elite Athlete Coordinator in 2001 by John Bysiewicz, the race director, also of Branford.

"My duties as the EAC includes reviewing perspective athlete’s running resumes to make sure they make the cutoff times for our national championship, schedule travel, hotels, meals, press, for invited athletes," Tolbert said.

"I’m also the contact for USADA (U.S. anti doping agency) since we are a national championship, athletes are typically tested here every year by USADA.

"My duties are year ‘round. I stay in contact with athletes on social media, and mail birthday, holiday, and thank you cards to make them feel noticed and hope it will give our race more consideration by some big names that might be otherwise looking for races with a larger budget. "

Tolbert continued: "Most runners are out of state. So I do little things like have New Haven pizza for them Saturday night. Make little swag bags to be brought to their rooms , etc. we compete against races with much bigger budgets, and have to be creative.”

Tolbert said he was honored to be recognized. "They flew me to their annual meeting and presented me the award at a banquet in a room full of Olympic athletes and I got congratulations from all kinds of famous former and present Olympic athletes. It was awesome."

Tolbert lives in Branford with his wife, Berni, and their chocolate Labrador, Millie.

He ran cross country at SCSU.

Photos via John Tolbert