Sara Mae and Larry Berman

[GRP Rower Jen Forbes shares her experience in this blog post.]

As athletes at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center we have a unique opportunity to meet athletes at the dining hall that we may not have otherwise gotten to know. Daily meals at the center are unifying. Without the distraction of cell or WiFi service, the time spent at the table is sacred and focused on either mindful eating or conversation — and sometimes when all forces are aligned - we have some truly insightful conversations while also enjoying our meals. An opportunity that forces us to slow down, listen, and pay attention to the people and sensations that we often glaze over in our hurry to get on with the business of our own lives.

Over the years and seasons, we have sat down at tables with strangers and friends alike, with the understanding that we can choose to engage or simply listen. We’ve had the opportunity to meet incredible athletes from many disciplines: rowing , running, cycling, skiing, orienteering — the list goes on. Sometimes these athletes are household names, but many times they are athletes that went unnoticed by the masses for years — decades in some cases—for whatever reason.

Last month, we had the pleasure of chatting with the founders of Cambridge Sports Union who are now in their 80s and recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on December 18th! During their week long training camp (an annual trip they make from their home in Cambridge, MA) they each logged a bit over 15 hours of Skiing and orienteering practice along with a few hours in between of eating and napping, as any good training trip should be sure to include.

What was most striking and inspiring about these two was their respect and love for each other,and the sports they have shared for the last 64 years together. They are, simply put, best friends.

In 1969, after just 4 years of marathon training with Larry, and very much still in the process of raising three young kids, Sara Mae enjoyed a her first Boston Marathon win. She did it again in 70 & 71. As “America’s First Couple of Aerobic Exercise” they together, built the oldest, and also — most importantly — the first running club in New England for both men and women. This act of unifying men and women in sport sent a strong message to the rest of the world that was received by other athletes very well. Sara Mae recalls getting flak from race officials, but the men in the marathon were always supportive because they knew she was a legitimate athlete that meant business. As any good sport should—they wanted to give her the support she needed and deserved for her efforts.

As they added Nordic skiing and orienteering to the CSU, Larry and Sara Mae spent several years traveling the world and attending Ski Orienteering championships. At the 1986 Ski World Champs in Bulgaria they made a connection with now Green Racing Project ski coach Pepa Miloucheva - who had just won the World Championships and Krum Sergiev. They helped both Pepa and Krum make a connection with the Outdoor Center and the rest is history.

Sport and food has a special way of bringing people together. While there are more accolades to celebrate for Sara Mae and Larry, we are happy and proud to have them as friends and members of the sport community. Thank you for your dedication to something you love. It’s been fun.

Podiumrunner.com covered a story on Sara Mae this July shortly after the 50th anniversary of her first Boston win. Check it out here.