Fred Merriam’s favorite characterization of himself came second-hand, from that rarity of rarities: A Central Maine runner he did not know . . . yet…This new face to the road racing scene, who had not learned to match Merriam’s name to the actual person, described him to a local veteran “as that guy who was always smiling, and who seemed to know everyone.” “Oh, of course . . . Fred,” thought the veteran runner and identified, aloud, the man who had done as much as anyone to promote the sport of running in Maine, for nearly a quarter of century—through the decades of the 1980s and 1990s and, sadly and tragically, until his death in the early summer of 2004. To many of his friends and acquaintances, Fred Merriam was the personification of the most wonderful “face” for road racing in Maine, a delicate balance of challenging, friendly competitiveness with a generous desire to create, promote and present quality events for elite and casual runner alike. Few who knew him would attempt to suggest that they could match Fred’s record for tireless devotion, year after year, and the thousands upon thousands of volunteer hours he gave. He’d always been competitive, pushing barriers for times he felt would reflect the best runner he could find within. But along with that competitive urge was an equal drive that guided him: “Keep the fires burning” (to use one of Merriam’s favorite expressions) in yourself and others, but always do what you can to better the sport of running and promote it. Born on August 30,1947 in Rockland, Merriam ran on a strong Rockland High School cross country team, headlined by legendary Maine runner Bob Hillgrove, long a member of the Maine Running Hall of Fame. Merriam worked hard to get the most out of his own running abilities in the 1960s. And that continued anew when he resumed running, recreationally, in the early 1980s, after serving a four-year stint in the U.S. Coast Guard, earning a degree from Beal College, and putting in the first few years of a 30-year career that would evolve into becoming operations manager and head of technology at Maine Distributors in Bangor It began with his contribution to the Central Maine Striders, remembered Gene Roy, in the early days of Fred’s involvement with that organization. Merriam took on the role of a captain, reporting local results to the president of the club so these could be put into the newsletter, keeping track of or outright storing the club’s equipment, making club members aware of races in the area, and recruiting runners for races that awarded team trophies.. When Merriam and his wife Joan joined the fledgling Sub 5 Track Club in 1989 they both immediately became instrumental in helping the club to grow membership and prosper as an exciting, innovative organization to promote running. Not very long after joining, Fred replaced an out-going Sub 5 president. A golden era began for the club. By the time Fred stepped down from the presidency, after serving the maximum three-year term, he received a plaque and a prolonged standing ovation from members who honored him at the club’s annual banquet for his tireless and extraordinary efforts in the office. Successor Rene Collins made it clear the most intimidating factor of all about the job was: “How do you replace Fred?” During his tenure Fred Merriam seemed to be everywhere, developing a variety of ways to improve the club. For instance, Fred upgraded the club’s computer resources to produce far faster and more accurate race results. He was instrumental in modernizing production of race results in the Central Maine area, by learning computerized timing and teaching it to others in the club; ultimately, he would found his own business “How Did I Do?” results and single-handedly do results for races all over the state. He also helped develop a Sub 5 web site, featuring recent results and upcoming races, which he updated regularly. He remained a fixture at high school cross country and track meets, as well as one of the most popular individuals to handle race results and coordinate finish line crews, for established road races too numerous to list. He and Joan took over the race directors’ reins of the Tour du Lac 10-Mile Race in their hometown of Bucksport in 1986, from Ann and Steve Norton, and that race continues its proud heritage as a 30-year-old racing rite of passage, from spring into late June. Fred and Joan Merriam together logged 18 years putting the race on, and it is presently used as a fund-raiser for the Sub 5 Track Club’s scholarship fund, providing money for college for a deserving student/running athlete in the area, voted upon annually by a committee from the club. In the mid-1990s, Merriam was an instrumental player in helping to lay the groundwork that has led to the organizing of an extremely popular and successful race series, held annually, that emanates from the greater Bangor area and covers Central Maine. Awards are presented each year at the club’s annual banquet for overall male and female winners, plus age group winners in all divisions, from school youngsters to those well over “retirement” age. After serving as president, Merriam helped produce the club’s newsletter on computer and served as membership director and executive board member for the club. In the late 1990s Merriam began to organize
and serve as captain for an over 50-years-of-age team that makes the
journey to Nova Scotia’s beautiful Cape Breton, to compete in
the Cabot Trail 181-mile, 27-hour relay, held annually on Memorial
Day weekend. One year, to insure his team was accepted into the relay,
Merriam and teammate Dick Storch actually made the 600-mile, 12-hour
trek to Beddeck to hand deliver the Maine Running Fossils entry right
at the first minute of the acceptance time for applications. Even in the dead of winter, Fred and Joan Merriam found a way to make their home “a hotbed” for a wonderful and well-attended running event. For many years they hosted the “Cabin Fevah Relievah,” a weekend group run in January using their beloved Tour du Lac course, followed by a sumptuous potluck dinner. In 1999, Merriam began a “Road Race Report” heard every Wednesday morning on WZON 620-AM, Sports Talk Radio, which continues to this day. His knowledge of runners of all ages, from all over the region, was amazing. He’d make every effort to point out some outstanding times for individuals, of all ages and abilities; and sometimes noting those who were overcoming physical difficulties or other of life’s little hurdles. And it was Fred Merriam who stepped in when the Bangor Labor Day 5-Mile Road Race, Maine’s second oldest foot race (begun in 1963), had fallen on particularly hard times. Working with Bangor Parks and Recreation director Mike Lucas, Merriam helped create a new course and new promotions—such as annually honoring a runner from the race’s storied past. Today, Fred Merriam has a “retired number” at the race, honored for his important role in the race’s history himself. Merriam’s own running was highly competitive in its own right. He had a very credible 36-minute, 45-second 10-K personal best, set at the Great Pumpkin race; a 3-hour, 08-minute Marathon PR, set at Casco Bay; and an excellent 61-minute, 45-second 10-miler, run on his own, very difficult Tour du Lac course. After battling a malignant brain tumor for more than a year, Fred Merriam died the evening of June 29, 2004, a couple of hours after being elected that very night to the Maine Running Hall of Fame. One of Merriam’s favorite places to run was on the famed carriage path trails of Acadia National Park. He and Joan frequently led groups of friends on training runs there. On one such run, on the winding and beautiful climb up Sargent Mountain, Merriam had one of his most cherished memories when he neared the summit and was treated to the awe-inspiring sight of an eagle soaring, on the same eye level plane he was running, within yards of him. Like that eagle, Fred Merriam soared and inspired runners of all ages and abilities, and he made a major contribution in helping to take the sport of running to spectacular heights in Maine.
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