Kent Lemme

Kent Lemme is a nationally ranked runner in Grand Prix events, and has been the owner of the Berkshire Running Center in Pittsfield for the past 15 years, along with his wife Shiobbean. In addition to his impressive running accomplishments, Kent’s contributions to the running community include coaching high school and college cross-country, leading run training groups, and timing and hosting numerous local races.

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Kent was a multi-sport high school athlete, and in particular excelled at basketball, golf, and soccer. Running was just a way to keep in shape in order to train to play other sports. But in his early 30’s, Kent decided to focus on being the best runner he could be. Two years later, in 2003, Kent completed the Boston Marathon with a time of 2:44:56. And later that year, Kent was the winner of the Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon with a time of 2:32:15. Kent ran a few more marathons, including the 2009 Boston Marathon, but his real passion was running shorter distances, particularly 5K and 1-mile events.

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In 2006, at age 40, Kent completed the Millennium Mile in Londonderry, NH with a time of 4:11. Two years later, in 2008, Kent won the Masters Mile event at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix with a time of 4:25. Also in 2008, while running for the Greater Springfield Harriers, Kent and the Harriers won a number of USATF New England cross-country Grand Prix events, including an 8:45 3K which qualified him for the 2008 Olympic Trials. Throughout his 40’s, Kent represented the Harriers in a number of Grand Prix events, and once he turned 50 he proceeded to win 3 consecutive USATF National Grand Prix championship titles.

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In addition to running, Kent competed in kayak Ironman events. He is a legendary figure at the Josh Billings Runaground Triathlon, having won the Ironman title 7 times.

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In 2011, Kent and his wife Shiobbean opened the Berkshire Running Center in Pittsfield, the first and only run specialty store in the Berkshires. At the Running Center, Kent has led both novice and advanced run training groups. The Running Center is also a race timing and race directing company, hosting over 25 races a year while timing more than 100 events annually from local races to the high school cross country seasons to the Steel Rail Marathon and Half Marathon, which the Lemmes founded. Kent and Shiobbean also created the Berkshire Running Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing and supporting the positive impact the running community makes in the neighborhoods of Berkshire County. The Foundation supports local charities.

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Kent coached track & field at Mt. Greylock Regional School and coached cross-country at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.