Looking back - November 1981

 45 years ago: I raced 3 times in November 1981, closing out my senior year of cross country (XC) at Billerica High School.  The three races were “podium” finishes for me.  On 11/07/81 I took 2^nd place (15:08) with Steve Perkins (Danvers) first in 14:58 at the State Coaches meet on the 3 mile course in Franklin Park.  Back in those days we raced on the south side of Circuit road.  We’d start down by the Shattuck Hospital and the first half-mile was all uphill, the next mile was on the sidewalk along Circuit drive. The finish changed a few times over my high school years but would generally be back down at the bottom of the bowl.   The following weekend (11/14/81) I managed to knock six seconds off my time taking a win in the State Class meet.

1 Dave Dunham      Billerica                   15:02

2 Shawn Coughlan   Brockton                 15:10

3 Curtis Splain         Attleboro                15:26

4 Paul Partridge       Newton North         15:39

5 Tim Gannon         Beverly                   15:41

6 George Fulk         Newton North         15:45

7 Bob Sheehan       Cambridge R&L       15:48

8 Tom Carleo          Newton North         15:49

9 Helder Braz          Peabody                15:52

10 Jose Rocha         New Bedford         15:59

 

Tri-Captains – Bernie Brown, Jim Sullivan, me

On a cold day (11/21/81) on a very slick trip around the same course I slowed to 15:20 and took third in the Mass State Meet. Chris Gorman (Weymouth) won in 14:56 with Steve Perkins (Peabody) second in 15:16. BMHS teammate Mike Busnach took 42^nd in 16:24 and on the girl’s side Billerica put two in the top 10 with Senior Kathy Norton (6^th – 18:18) and Sophomore Dawn Hartnett (8^th – 18:24).  Full Billerica boys’ results at the state meet: 103 Kevin Healy 17:20, 124 Scott McKinnon 17:46, and 128 Jim Sullivan 17:53, 135 Bernie Brown 18:11.  Due to “Proposition 2 1/2” there was no official State meet as funding had been cut.  This meet was put on thanks to Nike and a bunch of volunteers from the Mass Track & Field Officials Association. 

Week Ending 11/08/26

 Not too many complaints (laugh). Got some decent miles in and even did a little workout on Wednesday. Ankle has been pretty bad for a few weeks and will not improve just hoping so I'll look into the next possible treatment. I may be able to get into a trial for Low Dose Radiation (LDR) treatment. Hoping to make it through the USATF NE XC championships next weekend. I haven't raced in 9 weeks!

Week - 86

Month - 94

Year - 3,447

Life - 170,447

A November record of five 70 degree days in a row

October totals

This was nearly my lowest mileage month this year. Recovering from a torn MCL. I also had the most single run days of any month this year. The two "low" weeks were almost entirely all one run a day.

Week Ending 11/01/26

 Cannot complain about this week...but I will (laugh). Ankle, knees, and adductor all bothersome all week but otherwise felt pretty good. Had my fastest morning run of the year and my fastest 8m run of the year (that is a pretty long run for me). My first 80 mile week since hurting my MCL back in September. Hoping to get in a workout or race before running the USATF NE XC in 2 weeks.

Week - 82

Month - Oct = 260 & Nov. = 8

Year - 3,361

Life - 170,361

Nipmuck Trail Marathon - CR from 1991 lives on

35 years ago I set the still standing course record at the Nipmuck trail marathon breaking Rich Fargo’s 3:07.  The race moved from June to October a few years back, the course remains unchanged. The course featured two out & back runs, first south for 6.5 miles then the northern section for 6.6 miles.   From my training log.  “2 mile warm-up, felt okay. Felt very good, going easy through the ½.  Moved into first at 18 miles and really pushed the last section.  Splits: 6.5 – 41:15, 6.5 43:24, 6.6 48:14, 6.6 49:01.  Petey (Steve Peterson) won the ½ in 1:33:15”.  

Me and Petey in 1991 (at the Lifetime Baystate marathon)

I noted that I passed Petey at 22 miles.  The half marathon ran over the second half of the course (the northern part which was much tougher) and started after the marathon.

Here are the top ten times run at Nipmuck. 1991 was a fast year with three of the top 9 times coming from that year. I recall tucking behind Fargo and Turner for the first 13 miles (out & back south) then gaining some ground on the northern section of the course.

I stopped momentarily at 19+ miles at the turn to pick up a fuel-belt with de-fizzed coke to get me through the last part. The incredible Ben Nephew barely missed the top 10 with his 3:12:08 win in 2009.

1. 3:01:51 Dave Dunham (27) 1991
2. 3:02:45 Kevin McGovern (37) 1995
3. 3:07:05 Rich Fargo (29) 1988
4. 3:07:26 Jim Garcia (35) 1994
5. 3:09:47 Rich Fargo (30) 1989
6. 3:10:27 Rich Fargo (28) 1987
7. 3:10:45 Keith Turner (31) 1991
8. 3:11:17 Gary Burdick (39) 1994
9. 3:11:44 Rich Fargo (32) 1991
10. 3:11:57 Leigh Schmitt (28) 2001

Week Ending 10/25/26

 This was my second week of ramping up miles while lowering time on the Go & Bike. Hoping next week to get back up to 80 miles and cut out the weekday biking. On the good side of the ledger, I had two of my 10 fastest 430am runs during this week (for this year). I've still got some soreness in my knee along with issues with my adductor, right knee and as always painful arthritis in my ankle. Happy to be able to get out there. I got in 7:01 on the bike and Go for a total of (2:30 on the Go = 35 miles and 4:31 on the Bike = 72.9) - 107.9 miles.

Week - 70

Month - 186

Year - 3,279

Life - 170,279

Vacation week

I had a week of vacation which normally would mean a lot of running. With my 2 weeks of low mileage over I was ready to ease back to more running but had to be cautious not to do too much too soon. I had booked a site at the Little River state campground (VT) and planned out a bunch of other things I could do in addition to some running.

During the week I ran on 11 different trails/rail trails:

Sunflower trail (Concord NH)

Freeman rail trail (Chelmsford MA)

Middleton rail trail (Middleton MA)

Stevens rail trail (Hopkinton NH)

Barre bike path (Barre VT)

Montpellier bike path (Montpellier VT)

D&H rail trail (Castleton VT)

Stowe bike path (Stowe VT)

Northern rail trail (Lebanon NH)

Concord & Sunapee rail trail (Concord NH)

Londonderry rail trail (Londonderry NH)

sunflower

Stevens

Barre

D&H

Stowe

Montpelier

Northern

Concord & Sunapee

Londonderry

 

I also hiked to two town high points (Barre City VT & Williamstown VT) and later biked to four town high points (Essex Junction, Winooski, S. Burlington, Burlington)...and one Geocache. The hikes were in pouring rain. The 24 mile bike ride was on the nicest day and featured a mix of busy main streets, great bike paths, and quiet country roads.

Williamstown

 

I had hoped to do more road biking, but rain and wet leaves made it less than ideal. I did get in a nice (tough) ride from Stowe to the top of Smuggler’s Notch. It was just shy of 10 miles with 1,800’ of climb. The last mile in the notch had nearly 500’ of climb and the final ½ mile was very steep single lane road with switchbacks. The wet leaves nearly caused me to crash on one of the steepest parts during the ascent. The return to Stowe was fun once I got down below the switchbacks. I maxed out at 36 mph on the descent.

 

Over the course of my vacation I got in runs with Eric and Dan and checked out the progress of the house Dan is building. 

I also got in runs with Petey, including one with Dave La who hasn’t been down as much since moving to NH. I beat dad twice in cribbage, but both were close competitive games. The vacation was bookended with excellent “Turtle Pond” rides in Concord. Chilly, but always great fun.