From the Presidents (By Becka Lyons & Mike Smith)

Change ahead! 

If you haven’t heard or seen me (Becka) you may not know the news yet…Baby Lyons is on the way this Fall! Reuben & I are beyond excited for this next chapter of our lives to begin and as we have done with all of the MANY changes we have had over the last 10 years, we are looking ahead as to how our priorities will need to shift. 

Currently, that looks like keeping the sails fixed. I am loving Wednesday Night Track (although I am working a bit harder to go a bit slower) and get a bit of a high each week as the numbers remain steadily high and new faces keep arriving! But, looking further ahead, it means adjusting our sails to make our family the top priority, while keeping Elevation Physical Therapy running as smoothly as possible. 

What does not make the priority list at this time, is maintaining my position as Co-President of the Monadnock Milers. With that being said, I am looking forward to remaining a member of this awesome community that I’ve been a part of since I was 16 years old, participating in events and running excursions, volunteering as able and including a baby stroller in my workouts! 

At this point, most folks know that the Smith & Becka Duo is just that - Ying & Yang, Peanut Butter & Jelly, A Cold Deck Beer & A Slower Consumed Cold Deck Beer…we’ve been running together, coaching together, and co-presiding together for quite some time. One of us alone just doesn’t bring to the table what we bring as a team. So, on that note, yes, you have figured it out, Smith will also be stepping down from the Co-Presidency position. 

The Milers has grown leaps and bounds over the last couple of years with a wonderful showing of OGs and Newbies coming together to continue building our running community and a variety of physical, educational, and social opportunities! We are hopeful that folks are feeling inspired to bring new ideas, outlooks, and ways of doing things to the table while continuing the tradition of what is the “Monadnock Regional Milers!” 

Becka Lyons

The other co president Becka Lyons has been running since the 5th grade, joining the high school cross country team in the 7th grade to be coached by Mike Smith when the middle school team didn’t have enough participation. Under Smith, Becka learned not only the ins and outs of running and won the 2006 Division 3 XC Championship Team title, but also all of the life skills that go with it; perseverance, goal setting, determination, and grit just to name a few. It would be those life skills that carried her from Mascenic Regional High School onto Quinnipiac University to earn her Doctorate of Physical Therapy and eventually open her own PT clinic with her husband, Elevation Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab in Peterborough, NH. Combining her passions for running and therapy, Becka held the Assistant Coach position for all things running at Mascenic for the last 4 years, bringing home both a boy’s and girl’s Division 3 team titles (only other Girl’s title since 2006!). When not at Elevation PT, Becka is usually found on the trails with her husband and black lab, gardening, or curled up with a book and a cup of tea. 

Previous
Previous

Scorched Sneakers Summer Series 2025

Next
Next

Wednesday Night track at Con Val HS, April 2025