Club Spotlight: Adult Sentinel Striders
Tell us about your club!
The Adult Sentinel Striders club was founded in late 2023 when Smithfield HS alumni Evan DeBassio and Ryan Pagliaro decided to create a formal, but casual, space for friends to come run. Our mission is simple: create a welcoming environment for adults to enjoy the sport of running, and to have fun while doing (somewhat) hard things.
Who is your club open to?
Our club is open to Adults (18+) of all ranges and abilities. While we do race competitively, it is not required to be an Adult Sentinel Strider. Anyone can join us simply for the joy of training or getting some exercise in.
When and where do you typically meet to run?
We are currently meeting once weekly on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm at the Smithfield High School track. We typically warm up on the track and chat, and then hit the road or trails for some light miles (a headlamp and vest are required if the sun has set – safety first!) No one is left alone on these runs and we utilize the buddy system. We want to make sure people feel welcome and safe while running in Smithfield. Our type of runs typically vary. Sometimes we have folks who want to run easy on the roads, or trails at the nearby park, or others who want to get in a more rigorous workout on the track or roads. We discuss as a group before the run and people break off from there if they want to.
Do you host any other non-running events?
Our favorite place to go after most of our runs on Thursdays is the Thirsty Beaver in Smithfield. It’s very casual and convenient! Upcoming daytime summer runs might dictate bagels and coffee after. And of course who can say no to post-racing brunch.
Aside from the Grand Prix, are there any other races that your club attends/competes in as a team?
Some of us currently have plans to compete in the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) 5k, BAA 10k, and BAA Half Marathon. Other events we plan on attending are the Battle Road Track Club Twilight Meets and the Narragansett Blessing of the Fleet 10 Miler in the summer.
Does your club offer any coaching or assistance with training plan development?
With a lot of seasoned and post collegiate runners, we are always sharing workouts, training plans, and exercises, and bouncing ideas off each other! We are open to giving any and all advice, including home buying, relationships, and cool date spots.
Does your club support any philanthropic efforts?
We would love to find a spot where we can annually donate our time with our members. Open to suggestions!
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your club?
We know that putting yourself out there can be intimidating, especially in a fitness setting. We want to emphasize that all are welcome, and we’d really like to diversify our club. We sometimes describe our club as a “casual” low commitment club; you come when you can and for a good time! Even if you walk, you are welcome.
If someone is interested in joining your club, what is the best way to reach you?
Slide into our Instagram DMs (@adultsentinelstriders) or find our club on Strava (Adult Sentinel Striders). Alternatively, you can email Rpagliaro10@gmail.com or DeBassio98@gmail.com
