Congrats to Jim Spisak on being named the USATF-NE Athlete of the Month for exerting his power over all other card carrying runners in the region during the month of October.

From the USATF-NE release:

Jim Spisak (NE Distance / Woonsocket RI) is USA Track & Field - New England’s Athlete of the Month for October 2015. He had quality races on two surfaces. On October 43, he placed fourth at the US 10 Mile Championship in Minneapolis MN, clocking a fast 46:59. At the Boston Mayor’s Cup on October 25, he was runner-up in the championship race in 23:20, second fastest time of the year by any runner on the Franklin Park course. In September, the former Duquesne runner was seventh in the USA 20K Championship in New Haven CT. Spisak also works with NE Distance in coaching their middle school cross country development program in Providence and Woonsocket.

NE Distance program director Nich Haber had this to add:

“We are truly lucky to have Jim in the NE Distance program. He’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met and not just in the running world. He has really embraced the entire NE Distance concept and feeds off of the community aspect of the program. He volunteered to be the coach of middle school in Providence that has some of the toughest kids and they just absolutely love him.

After the middle school cross country season ended, he found a part-time job at the local elementary school in Woonsocket near where the NE Distance apartment is and will be tutoring kids and teaching math.

He is, of course, a phenomenal running talent, and someone that is inspirational to everyone around him. It’s not just that he’s an incredible runner, but he makes everyone with him better.

Thank you to USATF New England for recognizing Jim as Athlete of the Month. We’re looking forward to seeing how he does at the .US National 12k on Sunday.”

Be on the lookout for Jim in the headlines even in November (and beyond!) as we doubt his abilities vanished at midnight on 10/31. Congrats Jim!