Looking back - April 2006

 20 years ago – April 2006: I raced four times during this month, three of those were trail races.  Dan Verrington and I were taking part in a trail series (we’d both win some trail shoes for completing the series).  I started off the month (04/01/06) with the SEA 5k in Concord NH on a warm and sunny day.  I (barely) managed a top 10 finish taking 9^th in 17:21. Dan topped the master’s category running 16:22.  Next up (04/08/06) was the Merrimack River Trail Race.  Paul Low took down my course record running 56:30.  Petey (Steve Peterson) took me down holding me of the whole race and taking it to me by 2 seconds as I finished in 12^th place in 1:03:58, again Dan topped the master’s with a 1:02:29.  The following weekend (04/15/06) Dan, Rob Smith, and I headed to Union CT for the Northern Nipmuck trail race. This was a very tough 16 mile out/back run with 3,200’ of climb and descent, and it was warm and muggy on race morning.  I was outside of the top 10 (12^th) at the 8 mile turn and started catching people soon after.  I caught Rob at around 12 miles as we both power-walked one of the tougher climbs.  I struggled over the last four miles but managed to finish in fourth in 2:18:48. Dan took second in 2:13:14 and Rob was 5^th in 2:19:54. The final race of the month (04/23/06) was the Muddy Moose 14 mile in Wolfeboro NH.  I picked up a nasty cold and was still feeling sick on this 45 degree drizzly morning.  I found myself in 7^th place in the early going and caught up to Dave Hannon and Paul Young on the steep “escarpment” climb.  We ran back and forth for the next 10 miles with me leading on the ups and them taking me on the downs.  I finally gapped Dave around 12 miles and dropped Paul with about a mile to go to take 5^th place in 1:37:44. Dmitry Drozdov took the win in a CR 1:29:20 and Dan was top master in 1:33:07.

1 56:30         Paul Low       32      CMS

2 59:35        Kevin Tilton   24      CMS

3 59:39        Greg Hammett        28               

4 59:44        Ben Nephew 30      CMS

5 1:01:29      Dan Verrington        43      CMS

6 1:01:30      David Hinga  30      Whirlaway

7 1:02:04      Matt Germain 24      Sisu

8 1:02:05      Ryan Miller    23      Sisu

9 1:02:46      Philip Galebach        14               

10 1:02:55    James Pawlicki        31      CMS

11 1:03:56    Steve Peterson        40      CMS

12 1:03:58    Dave Dunham         42      CMS

13 1:03:59    Ken Tripp      36      WCRC

14 1:04:54    Matthew Curran       48      Team Gloucester

15 1:05:15    Kevin Sullivan          35      MVS

Looking back - April 2001

 25 years ago – April 2001: April had some big highs and lows for me. I had been training hard preparing to go after the American record for 50km at the Chicago Lakefront 50k. Conditions were not ideal (a little warm for me – 75 degrees) and windy (20-40mph) but I had company through the first 25k and ran comfortably alone through the marathon in 2:30:04.  I crossed the finish line in 2:57:36 to break the record. I was later upset to learn that although the race had been certified and all the paperwork was in place, the course came up just under 50 meters short of certified. That was definitely an unwelcome surprise as I had really dogged the race director about having the proper measurement and all of the paperwork in line. In the end they neglected to add the 1% of “extra” distance on at the end which is required for a certified course. I didn’t race again for three weeks but made the most of the final weekend of the month by running three races within 24 hours (I was looking to score points in the all-important Hockomock Swamp Rat series). I took third at the Les Pawson 5m (27:37) on Saturday, running as easy as possible in anticipation of a hard Sunday. Early in the day I took 11th (30:45) at the James Joyce Ramble 10k, which served as the USATF NE championship. I didn’t warm-down, just jumped in the car and drove to Groton where I took fourth in the 10km in 34:31. I like to say that this was the day I went from being a 30 minute 10k runner to a 34 minute 10k runner. Sort of joking, but that really was about the end of my “fast” racing. I’d have some glimmers of past glory but a combination of health issues and just plain getting older led to the inevitable slow-down that we all have if we stay at it long enough.

Week Ending 04/19/26

 How have I been doing with sticking to my 80 miles per week cap? Not so great recently. This was a 90 mile week but mostly due to the race on Friday which gave me a 19 mile day. Probably not the best idea to get to the starting line having run 14 miles that day, but I do enjoy running and like my pattern. Hopefully I won't have any more night races this year. Good week with the exception of the "bleh" race. Fun weekend with the race already done :-)

Week - 90

Month - 235

Year - 1,285

life - 168,285

Looking back - April 1996

 30 years ago - April 1996: I only raced twice during this month, but I made the most of those opportunities with two wins and two course records.  (04/14/96) I set the still standing course record at the Red’s Shoe Barn 5 mile in Dover, NH.  It was 35 degrees on race day and CMS had a good pack with me, Dan Verrington, Eric Morse, and Byrne Decker among the leaders.  I pulled away in the second half of the course and won by 25 seconds in 24:12.01 taking 13 seconds off of Mike O’Brien’s record and brought home $325 for the win and the record.  CMS put four in the top five. 

 

15^th Annual Red’s Shoe Barn

April 14, 1996 5 Miles (USATF Certified #NH91003WN) Dover, NH

    1   Dave Dunham          32 M Bradford, MA   24:12.01 CMS

    2   Dan Verrington         33 M Bradford, MA   24:37      CMS

    3   Mike O’Brien   35 M Durham, NH   24:47     

    4   Eric Morse      31 M Waterbury, VT 24:57      CMS

    5   Byrne Decker           29 M Londonderry, NH       25:09      CMS

    6   Wilson Perez            17 M Newmarket, NH         26:48  

 

Here are the top times since 1996 (I don’t have any pre-1996 results except O’Brien’s CR from 1993):

1996 Dave Dunham           24:12.01

1997 Craig Fram               24:13

2006 Patrick Moulton         24:17

1993 Mike O’Brien (CR)                24:25

1999 Chris Teague            24:26

1998 Mike O’Brien             24:28

1997 Mike O’Brien             24:33

1997 Eric Morse                24:36

1996 Dan Verrington         24:37

1999 Dave Dunham           24:41

1996 Mike O’Brien             24:47

2002 David Hinga             24:48

1997 Byrne Decker            24:51

1999 Mike O’Brien             24:52

1996 Eric Morse                24:57

1999 Tom Anderson          24:59

 

Two weeks later (04/28/1996) I headed to Groton for the hilly but always competitive Groton Road Race.  I set the then course record (the course was later changed).  It was windy and 65 degrees when a pack of CMS runners took off at the 1 p.m. start.  I was in that pack with Eric Morse, Dan Verrington, Mike Casner and Tom Anderson.  Caz and Tommy dropped off after 2 miles.   Dan and Eric stayed close until 4 miles.  Eric stuck with me a bit longer and I finally managed to gap him.  He closed over the final 300 meters on the track, but I was able to hold on for an 8 second win and 36 seconds under the old record.  I came away from the race with badly blistered feet and $300 for the win and the CR.

 

1 30:49 Dave Dunham     32M Bradford, MA               CMS

2 30:57 Eric Morse          31M Barre, VT                    CMS

3 31:17 Dan Verrington    33M Bradford, MA              CMS

4 32:17 Mike Casner        33M Marlow, NH                 CMS

5 32:20 Tom Anderson    31M Keene, NH                   CMS

6 32:32 Sean Dillon         26M Jamaica Pln, MA

7 32:41 Evan Soririou      21M Hanover, NH

8 32:51 James Garcia      37M Westford, MA              CMS

9 33:25 Thomas Carroll   46M Dunstable, MA             GLRR

10 33:44 Van Townsend  38M Southboro, MA

NHTI 5k

 Quick turnaround from racing last weekend to racing on Friday night. I think this is the shortest time between races in the CARS (Capital Area Race Series). I don't do well racing at night since I'm usually asleep by 7pm. Friday started as usual with a 6m run at 430am. I followed that with my usual lunch run at 1130am. I was feeling a bit tired (maybe I ran a bit too hard on Thursday?), I kept the pace in control and spotted the lucky white squirrel as I closed out the run.

After work I drove up to Concord with a quick stop for a haircut. I was still among the first to arrive for the race. I got organized, got my number, and did some extra hydrating as the 70 degree temps and sun made it feel warmer than it was. Dave La joined me for a warm-up/course preview. We bumped into John Tuttle and chatted a bit about lifetime miles (John has about the same miles as I have, just not as well documented as mine). I put in another mile in flats and headed to the line.

There was a big field (275 finishers) and it seemed like everyone shot out. I counted 26 at the first turn and tried to settle in. It felt so FAST. By the half-mile (307) things had shaken out a bit and there was a clear path ahead. I could see Sam Wood a little ahead, my goal was to keep him close. I slowly moved up through some of the early fast starters but never gained any ground on Sam. I ran as hard as I could and never felt comfortable. I guess that is good but would like to see some better results. I can't complain too much as this is only my second road race of the year. I'm hoping to get down under 19:30 sometime this year. I'm not sure what is up next, but I'm signed up for the NE 5k champs in mid-May.

35 years ago - April 1991

 35 years ago – April 1991: I was all over the charts racing from 1 mile on the track to 12 miles on the trails and race sizes from a field of five to over 2,300. I started (04/07/91) the month with a win at the “Wang run”, no it wasn’t a naked race, it was run from the Wang offices in Lowell. I ran 25:31 for the win on a hot (85 degree) day for that early in the spring. In my log I noted that the five miles was “quite a bit longer than advertised” and that Mixon, Alvey and Nasatka took it out hard and then I made a move after 2 miles with Nasatka throwing surges at me.  A couple of days later I did a reasonably hard 3 mile “tempo run” in 14:25 on the Dracut high school track and then (04/15/91) I went down to Washington DC for the Sallie Mae 10k. I’m not sure why I went but I think they were listed in “Road Race Management guide”, which listed prize money races and what you needed to do to qualify for invitation.  They were willing to fly me down and put me in a hotel, so I went.  I had a lousy run with a 30:21 for 10th place. The next week (04/21/91) I ran the always interesting Leatherman’s 10k trail race in NY. I ended up losing by three seconds to British Fell runner Andy Moffatt (37:23 to 37:26), Petey took 3^rd in 39:26.  A couple of days later I tried to get my legs moving again with a track workout.  This time Artie led me for the first ¼ as I did 5 x ½ mile in 2:13, 2:15, 2:14, 2:14, and 2:12 with ¼ rest. That weekend (04/27/91) I battled Scott Clark over a mile at the Granite state mile during a track meet at Londonderry High School. I took first in 4:20.9 with Scott a little over 2 seconds back.  The following day (04/28/91) I really changed speeds doing the Seven Sisters trail race in Amherst. I went off course twice losing over five minutes and ended up losing to Moffat again, this time by a little over 2 minutes. I found the course to be way too rough for me and vowed to never run it again (15 years later I ran it again and it was still too dangerous for me).

 

Looking back - April 1981

 Looking back: 45 years ago - April of 1981 was a busy month for me. I started my junior year outdoor track season with nine races. I set a personal best of 9:35 to win the Wilmington invitational (04/11/81). The following week I ran an “easy” mile (4:37) saving something for the relay (440 in 57.4) in a dual meet against Andover (04/15/81). I also ran the two mile at the Haverhill invitational (04/18/81) taking third in a PR of 9:34. I set a PR in the 440 in the relay against Lowell (04/21/81) running 53.9. Earlier in the meet I won the 2 mile in 10:17 running as easy as possible to save something for the relay. We won the meet by 2 points with the relay clinching it.  Mike Healey, Bernie Brown, me, and John Dangora combined to run a 3:46.0.  That weekend our team took third in the Distance Medley Relay at the State Relays, I ran the ¾ mile leg in 3:20. I finished the month with a win at 2 miles (9:36) against Chelmsford where I also ran the relay (58.0).  Chelmsford (our archrivals) destroyed us 110 to 35.  We got wins in the pole vault (George Busnach – 11’ 6”), the mile (John Dangora – 4:33.4), and my 2 mile win.  We also took the mile relay (3:45.1) and the 4x110 which set a school record (45.8 – Kevin Norman, John Grella, Bob Follett, and Ron Caterino).

 

Wilmington Invitational 2m

1 Dunham (Bill) 9:35.8

2 Terrill (Hav) 9:45.4

3 Norwood (Bev) 9:48.5

4 O’Brien (Reading) 9:48.7

5 Donahue (Meth) 9:54.2

6 Lemieux (Meth) 10:00.1