RunVassar

The RunVassarCoach of the RunVassar.com forum is actually a group of experienced varsity athletes at Vassar College who share the screen name to provide you with the most informed advice and tips possible.  Among those posting on the forums are: Senior men's cross country runner and RunVassar president, Andrew Utas; Senior men's cross country runner and RunVassar treasurer, Alex Booth; Sophomore men's cross country runner and RunVassar vice president, Jon Erickson; Senior women's cross country runner and 2005 NCAA All-Atlantic Region runner, Laura Coogan.

This group of runners combines for nearly 40 years of competitive running experience, but they all understand the trials of a beginning runner - everyone started somewhere.  To contact the RunVassarCoach, click "Ask A Coach" in the left panel and ask a question under the appropriate category.

Jamie Anderson '08 served as Vassar Track Club Treasurer during the 2005-2006 season, and returned from a semester abroad as President of the club for the 2007-2008 season.  With the creation of a varsity track program at Vassar, Anderson, with the help of co-founder Andrew Utas, evolved the Track Club into RunVassar.com.  The concept developed over the course of a short run in August, and the website was created shortly thereafter.  After presenting the idea to the Vassar Student Association, the new club was approved, and development of the site continued into what it has become today.  Anderson was co-captain of the men's cross country and track teams from 2006-2008.  As a member of the cross country team, Anderson ran as Vassar's 7th man during the 2006 and 2007 seasons, finishing 142nd at the 2007 NCAA Atlantic Regionals.  On the track, Anderson ran the 1500 for the Brewers, with a PR of 4:17.83.  He also ran on the 4x400 and 4x800 relays for the team.  Anderson was a French and Education major, and hails from Queensbury, NY.  In February 2008, Anderson earned USATF Level 1 Coaching Certification.

Anderson is currently lives in Los Angeles, and can be reached by email at james.anderson1986@gmail.com.

Schuyler Schuster is a 2005 graduate of Vassar College with a degree in History.  He was a 3-time varsity runner on the men's cross country team during his time at Vassar, finishing his senior season in 2004 with All-Region honors after finishing 34th at the NCAA Atlantic Regional championships.  Schuster was also named to the 2004 All-ECAC team, and was the Vassar College Club Sport Athlete of the Year for the 2004-2005 academic year.

After graduating from Vassar, Schuster went on to pursue a graduate degree in Information & Library Science at Southern Connecticut State University while serving as an assistant coach to the Conard High School track and cross country teams, his alma mater.  Schuster is a USATF Level I certified coach. 

Schuster has worked as an employee of the Fleet Feet running store in Hartford Connecticut since 2005 where he gained extensive knowledge of running equipment including shoes, racing spikes, watches, shorts, and socks.  He will join the RunVassar coaching staff as a satellite resource, reachable via email at scschuster@alum.vassar.edu.

Senior Andrew Utas helped to develop RunVassar in August 2007, and was elected President of the club in 2008.  Working with Asst. Coach Jamie Anderson, Utas realized the demand that exists at Vassar for easy-to-understand training information, and worked to create what has become RunVassar.com.  Utas is a three-time varsity runner on the Vassar Cross Country team, finishing 128th in the 2007 NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship.  Utas is an Economics and Political Science double major from Los Angeles, California.

Utas is a resident of TH A10, and can be reached by email at president@runvassar.com.

Sophomore Jon Erickson was elected Vice President of RunVassar in 2008.  Erickson was a member of the varsity track and cross country team's as a Freshman, and will continue that involvement through his sophomore year.  As a freshman, Erickson finished 3rd for the Brewers at the 2007 NCAA Atlantic Regional cross country meet, placing 113th.  In the Spring, Erickson battled back from injury to rewrite the Vassar record books.  He currently holds the Vassar record for the 800m run and the 4x400m relay.

Erickson is a resident of College Ave. in Poughkeepsie, and can be reached by email at vicepresident@runvassar.com.

Senior Alex Booth was appointed Treasurer of RunVassar after serving as Vassar Track Club Treasurer for the 2006-2007 academic year, and was re-elected for the 2008-2009 academic year.  Booth is a three-year veteran of the track and cross country teams, and has been the first alternate to the men's Regionals squad since the 2005 season.  Booth's Vassar highlights include leading the team to victory at the 2005 Halloween Classic.  Despite battling injury throughout the entire 2006 cross country season, Booth was able to rebound well in the 2007 outdoor track season, turning out several notable performances for the VCTC.  In 2007, Booth was named Junior Captain of the Men's Cross Country Team.  That Spring, Booth performed well on the track, and is a member of the school record 4x400m relay team.  In February 2008, Booth earned a USATF Level 1 Coaching Certificate.  Alex is a History and Economics double major from Bethesda, MD. 

Booth is a resident of TH A10 and can be reached by email at treasurer@runvassar.com.