Sandown Rogue Runners is the brain child of it's founding father, Steve Grande. who without his determination, energy, enthusiasm and love of running, this club would not exist. The following was his initial letter introducing this innovative and exciting club to the NH running community:

Welcome To the Sandown Rogue Runners

I want to thank all the local runners that inspired me to go for this undertaking. First & foremost, Sandown's Top(& only) Senior Runner Jack Norton! I kept bouncing some ideas for a local club on our running days, He listened, he said I was nuts. You might say I had a captive audience......

Bob Flinn has been Most enthusiastic about this new club concept & is working on an idea for an icon. Bob will have his own little corner. (As soon as he writes something you will be the first to see it.) I will have even more entertainment for you in the coming days uh....months stay tuned. as soon as I see My Shrink.

Honorable mention goes to Vickie Kalil of our sister club GDTC for inspiring me. Let us not forget the Disalvo Boys. They had a hand in it also. Sue Wentworth was also the first to know & gave me some ideas.

I also thought I better mention my dearest wife Elaine for her unconditional love & support......Ya dee, yadee, yada

So U people mentioned deserve most of the Credit or Blame for this Club

StevyG, Founder

THE ART OF ROGUENESS

Neither to the meek, nor to the tame of heart, but to the bold and to the daring, to those who gut it out through whatever the race course presents them. To those go victory and the coveted title: "Rogue Runner"

Having endured the long and arduous training and tutelage of one of the two founding Rogue Brothers, the great Jack Norton (the other being the great Brother Rogue, Steve Grande), I finally earned the highly coveted title "Rogue Runner" at the Brewery Exchange 5k in Lowell, MA earlier this year. I thank the great Rogue Jack Norton for instilling in me the physical courage and mental toughness needed to run my sub 17:45 at Brewery, smashing my 5k pr by 26 seconds. Innocently, the great Rogue Jack Norton began his tutelage sometime back in July. It was July, and I had just moved to Andover for the sole reason of wanting to run with the also great Tom and Lyn Licciardello and their Merrimack Valley Striders. After moving my bedroom set (a sleeping bag) into my condo, I took a relaxing jog to what I have come to know as the Rogue Runners’ most hallowed ground, the temple: "The Athlete’s Corner." There I spoke with the great Rogue Runner Jack Norton. He explained the First Tenant of The Art of Rogueness, and the First Commandment that the Rogue Spirit passed on to him while running in the Sandown Mountains in southern, NH , ROGUE RUNNERS NEVER COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING, THEY JUST SHUT UP AND RUN!

(Legend has it that Rogue Runner Brothers Steve Grande and Jack Norton received 5 of the Rogue Runner Commandments from the Rogue Runner Spirit while running through the southern New Hampshire woods.Legend also has it that they received the other 5 through divine inspiration from the Rogue Spirit while meditating somewhere near the front desk of the Rogue temple Andover: "The Athletes Corner".) He then also blessed me with the other 9 Rogue Runner Commandments, knowing that I would need to adhere to them if I were ever to become a Rogue and learn the Art of Rogueness

2. WHEN RUNNING A RACE, YOU RUN IT AS IF IT WERE GOING TO BE THE LAST RACE OF YOUR LIFE! (As the Rogue Runner Spirit explained, the harder you run the more, all the more you are blessed.)

3. REGARDLESS OF YOUR PACE, YOUR PAINS, OR YOUR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FATIGUE, YOU RUN AS HARD AS YOU CAN AND YOU FINISH YOUR RACE, YOU’RE A ROGUE!

4. WHEN RACING, NEVER EXCHANGE "PLEASANTRIES" WITH THE RUNNERS AROUND YOU, IF YOU HAVE THE ENERGY TO SPEAK TO THEM THEN YOU’RE NOT RUNNING HARD ENOUGH!

5. IF YOU EVER HAVE THE UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE OF BEING "PASSED" IN A RACE, DON’T WISH THE RUNNER PASSING YOU "GOOD LUCK" OR "GOOD JOB," IF YOU HAVE THE ENERGY TO SPEAK TO THEM THEN YOU’RE NOT RUNNING HARD ENOUGH! (As the Rogue Runner Spirit explained, Rogues can grunt a reply of "eeerrrrr," in an effort of comraderie, but no words!)

6. WHEN PASSING ANOTHER RUNNER, IT IS GOOD TO OFFER ENCOURAGEMENT: "KEEP IT UP," "GOOD JOB!"

7. ROGUE RUNNERS MUST ALWAYS RUN IN A SPIRIT OF TRUE JOY AND EXHILERATION, ALWAYS SUPPORTING FELLOW ROGUES AND THOSE STILL STRIVING TO EARN THE TITLE "ROGUE RUNNER!"

8. ROGUE RUNNERS ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN WIN, ROGUES FEAR NO RUNNER, THEY ALWAYS BELIEVE! ROGUE RUNNERS JUST BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN!

9. NO RULES! ROGUE RUNNERS RUN WHENEVER THEY WANT, WHEREEVER THEY WANT, AND FOR AS LONG AS THEY WANT!

10. RUN FREE OR DIE! NO DUES! ROGUE RUNNERS MUST NEVER PAY ("DUES") TO BE A ROGUE. THE TITLE "ROGUE RUNNER" CANNOT BE BOUGHT, BUT MUST BE EARNED THROUGH ADHEARANCE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE Art of Rogueness.

Having been passed the above 10 Rogue Runner Commandments, I have since qualified for my first Boston Marathon, I have run my first sub 30 min 5 miler, have run with great and inspirational runners and people of the likes of Elaine Grande, Bob Flin, Harry Dow, Charlie Farrington, et. al., and have acquired a new appreciation for running and life in general! I have allowed Art of Rogueness to successfully lead me in all of my non-running endeavors. I have learned that anyone can attain and can come to know the true joy and satisfaction of acquiring and of adhearance to the Art of Rogueness. As the Rogue Runner Spirit has passed in the Spirit’s 8^th Commandment, ROGUE RUNNERS JUST BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN!

Rogue Runners Unite!
by Rich DiSalvo

Are you a Rogue Runner? Before you take offense to the question, let me explain a little bit about what could be one of the hottest ideas in local running in years!

It's a new running club. And it's called the Sandown Rogue Runners.

I myself wasn't sure what to make of the name at first, so I went to the dictionary to see what I could find for a definition of rogue. Scoundrel? (Well, ok, I guess I can live with that but I don't know about everyone else!) But seriously, the true definition of the rogue runner can really only be obtained from one source. The man behind it all - Steve Grande of Sandown. But it's certainly not a one or two word definition. It's more of an idea of what a stress-free running club ought to be.

One way to sum it up is by looking to the club's mission statement:

"We Do What We Want,
When We Want.

The "Unconventional" Club for the "Uncommitted" Runner

No Rules (By-Laws) No Dues"The mission statement goes on to ask a series of questions - such as "Do you feel guilty because you don't have enough time to volunteer?" and "Are you under pressure with your current club?" It's all in good fun, of course, but it also touches on a potentially sensitive area with many runners.

Yes, it can take time to volunteer for various events throughout the year especially if your plate is already overflowing with loads of other things from - well, life. More responsibilities - more pressure - even if it is something to do with running.

"I was running with Jack Norton one day, and we were talking about how stressful it can be for club members and officers to run a club," he said. Grande went on to explain how some people he talks with really want to belong to a club, but find it difficult to devote time and energy due to family and work constraints.

"I thought, running used to be fun for a lot of people - call up a few people, get together, trade some stories and run."

Then he started thinking about themes or slogans for a club - some of which have been listed above. Grande sums up his new venture best, however, when he says, "It's about being your own person but belonging when the need is there."

Don't get me wrong, the founding members of the Rogue Runners are very active themselves in other clubs throughout the area including the Greater Derry Track Club, The Merrimack Valley Striders, and the Greater Lowell Road Runners just to name a few. All of these organizations do tremendous work in the communities they serve. Grande himself and his business the Cleaning Police has been a solid supporter and sponsor of many local races over the past several years - something that's not going to change.

But now he's also taken a wonderful step forward by going back to basics and creating something unique and very simple. Simple? Indeed. Do you want to be a member? Just fill out the application form and send it in. Want to go to a meeting? Well, there are no regular meetings... and no dues... and no rules... Grande welcomes comments in his written introduction of what the club is all about - just drop them in the comment box - oh that's right - there isn't one of those either.

What there is, however, is a goal to promote camaraderie within the sport and community. One way, is by getting together for monthly breakfast runs where those who attend should be prepared to run and eat

Grande credits many locals for the inspiration to turn his idea into reality, including fellow Sandown residents Norton, Bob Flinn, Phil DiSalvo and Vickie Kalil of Auburn - and of course his wife Elaine who supports all of his running efforts.

"I kept bouncing all these ideas off Jack on our running days," said Grande. "He listened, and said I was nuts."

Of course, Norton ended up with his very own section on the club website entitled 'Jack's Corner', where he recounts running stories of the past.

So what do people think of the idea so far?

"The Response has been tremendous,"Grande said. "At the Brewery Exchange 5K in Lowell, the shirts were a big hit. We sold out of all the shirts in the 1st week."

The shirts Grande referred to, are racing singlets designed by Bob Flinn that depict a rogue runner just as you might imagine from the dictionary definition. They'll undoubtedly be showing up at races all across the area.

After all, in a world of countless obligations and commitments - even in something like a recreational running club- it's nice to be able to be part of something so simple and straightforward. Rogue runners? Well, we're runners, that's for sure. We like to run and we like to have fun (doesn't everybody?). And that's what being a rogue runner is really all about.

Hey Rogues

This week is the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Sandown Rogue Runners. The adventurous idea of Steve Grande and Jack Norton has blossomed over these ten years to include members not only from our local community of southern New Hampshire, but boasts members from around the country. Steve Grande, our Founding Father and one of our local running icons, gave the Rogues their initial "shot in the arm". Steve was a regular face at all of the local races, representing the Rogues, recruiting members, selling shirts, and taking pictures. Supported by his wonderful wife Elaine, another avid runner, and many other local and celebrated runners in the Southern New Hampshire community Steve helped to turn the Rogues into the celebrated running club that they are today. Vicki Kalil, Phil DiSalvo and Rich DiSalvo offered their initial support and encouragement to Steve Grande to help with the development and implementation of the club, Bob Flinn designed our celebrated and unique logo that has become synonymous with the Rogues, and Sue Wentworth who is probably responsible for directly and indirectly training more marathon and triathlon runners within the southern NH regional than any other one individual is, and continues to be, the local female face and voice of the Sandown Rogue Runners.

The Rogues have grown tremendously over the ten years since their inception. With the inspiration of Steve Grande who has run 165 marathons over the course of his running career, and the training and encouragement provided by Sue Wentworth, the Rogues expanded from local short races to marathons. In addition to marathons across the country, the Rogues each year give four runners from the club, who would otherwise not be able to qualify to run the Boston Marathon, a chance to run in that celebrated race. The Rogues continued to expand. With the encouragement of Sue Wentworth the Rogues expanded from marathon competitions to triathlons. Initially starting with Sprints, this past year, the Rogues expanded their repertoire once again as four of our clubmates, Joe Gordon, Jimmie Cochraine, Alton Elkel and Ken Peake ran the Lake Placid Ironman.

Others clubmates over the years have grabbed the Rogue gauntlet and continue to expand the mission of this local No Rules and No Dues club. Mark Traegar, years ago stepped up to the plate and organized the Sandown 5 Miler Road Race that is held each year in August. It is touted as the toughest 5 Miler in New England. It has been host to the NH Grand Prix on multiple occasions and as a result of his efforts, has contributed thousands of dollars over the years to local food pantries and education scholarships. It was also Mark's brainchild to have the Rogues adopt a section of Route 121A in Sandown. Every few months, fellow Rogues unite to help keep the roads in Sandown clean and presentable.

The Rogues also entered the field of Adventure running years ago as Sue Wentworth, Mark Traegar, and Paula Bonin constructed the Rogues first team for Reach The Beach, "Sandown Rogue Runner Locals" . That first team, which continues to compete year after year, eventually gave birth to the Rogues second team, the "Sandown Rogue Runner Mongrels". Under Kathy Hamiltons tutelage and management, the Mongrels have continued to be a regular presence at the RTB.

The Rogues continued to expand over the years. Because of Steve Grande's strong relationship with the BAA, the Rogues were able to work closely with the BAA in significant and important volunteer positions with the Boston Marathon Expo and the race itself. The Rogues were also represented at the Inaugural event of the Boston Half Marathon.

The Rogues also continue as part of the Mill Cities Alliance. With a voting seat on the Mill Cities Alliance board, the Rogues help to manage and support the Alliance and it's much celebrated annual event, The Mill Cities Relay. Each year , this small New Hampshire club with No Rules and No Dues enters four or five teams in this great event.

It's hard to believe that ten years have passed since Steve Grande came up with his brainchild of the Sandown Rogue Runners. The club continues to expand, getting new members every month. We continue to represent the running community primarily across New England in 5K, 5 miler, 1/2 marathon, marathons, Sprint triathlons, Iron Man triathlons, and Adventure races.

We continue to a be a club designed for all runners, regardless of running ability. All you need to have is the desire to get out there. As quoted in Rich DiSalvo's original article about the Rogues: "after all, in a world of countless obligations and commitments-even something like a recreational running club-it's nice to be part of something so simple and straightforward. Rogue Runners, we're runners, we like to run, we like to have fun. And that's what being a Rogue Runner is really all about.

So thank you Steve for starting this great organization, and for all the work that you put into it to give us all the opportunity to run together, to play together, and have another opportunity to laugh together.

Jim Gulla
President Sandown Rogue Runners