Looking back - November 1996

I was back in Tewksbury for another go at the “Run your turkey off” 15k...5 years after my last go at this race, this time over a big loop course. My time was 7 seconds faster than 5 years ago and I again took the win (46:37), this time over Dan Verrington (47:17) and Ed Sheehan (47:27).

 A week later I headed over to Slattery’s to run the fast five mile race in Fitchburg. I ran back and forth with CMS teammate Eric Morse (24:05), pulling away from him in the last ½ mile to take second in 23:58. The winner (from Kenya via NY) ran 23:35. 

(pictured above 901=Morse, Polar shirt = me, 1037 = unnamed winner of the race).

Four days later I raced Danny V and 3,000 others at the Feaster five road race. I tried to lose Dan in the mass of people running the 5k, but he hung tough finishing 10 seconds back in 2nd place with me winning in 24:38.  

Crossing the line – Verrington is in the background taking the final turn

Looking back - November 1991

 35 Years ago: I had a busy November 1991, putting in five races ranging from four miles to the marathon. I started the month with a 2nd place finish at the Rhode Island marathon running 2:29:28 as a “hard workout”.

1 Gregg Cornell       2:25:21

2 John Strickland     2:28:56

3 Dave Dunham      2:29:28

4 Jeff Mutter           2:31:00

5 Mike Woodman     2:32:30

1F Kim Goff             2:54:15

 

The following weekend I finished in fourth place running 24:15 at the Alamo Alumni race. The highlight of the day was a warm-down run with local legends Bob Hodge and Bill Rogers.

1 23:37 Are Nakkim            BU

2 24:00 Brian Harshman    Bucknell

3 24:14 Bob Hodge            Lowell

4 24:15 Dave Dunham       Lowell

5 24:26 Ed Sheehan          Harvard

40+

1 24:34 Keith Woodward   Keene St

2 24:44 Bill Rodgers          esleyan

3 25:24 Frank Shorter        Yale

The next weekend I ran the “Run your turkey off” 15k which was a three loop affair over the popular Fudge loop in Tewksbury. It was windy (20mph) and I spent most of the race with Larry Barthlow and Ed Sheehan before making a move on the final lap to take the win (and $200). Splits for the 5k loop were 15:25 / 15:54 / 15:20 for a 46:43.

 

1 46:43 Dave Dunham       GLRR

2 46:58 Ed Sheehan          BAA

3 47:26 Larry Barthlow      BAA

4 50:10 Don Alvey             GLRR

5 50:29 Jim Quadros                    GLRR

 

The next weekend I headed off to watch U-Lowell win the D2 nationals near St Louis. A few of us alumni went to the Deaconess 4 mile road race. I took the win in the final ¼ mile running a 19:35. I closed out the month at the US XC national championships at Franklin Park. I spent the early miles in over 100th place but slowly worked my way up (with GLRR teammate Bob Hodge). I finished in 30:49 over 6.25 miles to take 45th place.

Looking back - November 1986

 40 years ago: I raced 3 times in November 1986, closing out my senior year of cross country at the University of Lowell.  I started the month with a third place finish behind Dean Crowe and Are Naakim (both from BC). Crowe won the New England championship with a 24:06 over the 5 mile Franklin Park course around and through the golf course. I finished six seconds back and one second behind Crowe.  

Leading the way at 2 miles in the New Englands                    

In 2^nd place at New Englands

The following week I was leading the NCAA qualifier race in Philadelphia with a little over a mile to go I was sent off course. The first 50 runners were sent the wrong way and the result was the top ranked teams were given a pass to the National Championships. My final college XC race was a windy and warm 10k in Riverside California. I ran with the lead pack for the first 4.5 miles then got buried as the guys with speed took off. I finished in fourth place in 31:09 with mile splits of 4:36/9:52/15:08/20:16/25:24/30:11 over the rolling terrain.

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