Mill Cities Relay

 I’d done the Mill Cities Relay 13 times previously with 8 of those times being on the long leg (always more than 9 miles but less than 10).  I was a little surprised when the GLRR 60+ team put me on the long leg but was up for the challenge.  Although I’d raced 25 times this year I’d only gone longer than 5k five times.  This would be my longest race of the year and I was a bit nervous about lack of long runs.  Although I’m averaging over 80 miles per week my typical run is only about 5 miles (so obviously I’m doing a lot of double and triples).  I figured I could give a good 10k at least and then hopefully hang on to the finish.  Based on my recent 5k times my projected pace was about 6:55’s.  I did a four mile tempo run on Tuesday and hit 6:56’s for that and felt confident I could do that for 9.8 miles.  In the back of my mind I had 6:40’s as my stretch goal.

189 full teams and 29 “Sunshine” start teams which would run the final three legs lined up in Nashua and took off at 8 a.m.  They would cover a little under 13 miles before getting to the Lowell Boathouse where I’d be getting the baton.  We’d gotten a coating of snow overnight which didn’t really stick on the road but made the sidewalks and pathways (which we’d run on) a bit tricky.  I met up with Dan Verrington who was also doing the long leg and we carpooled to the start.  We did an easy 2 mile warm-up (bumping into fellow CMS Jeff Goupil) and then quickly changed into race gear.

I didn’t have long to wait as our team was very close to predicted time.  I did get a chance for a quick “hello” to CMS teammates Dan Vassallo and Todd Callaghan.  Great to see our guys out there.  I got the baton from Mark Blaisdell and cautiously made the first couple of snowy turns on the riverfront path.  In the first ¼ mile I heard footsteps and Lauren Tilton (Whirlaway) stormed by.  It was way too fast for me to even consider trying to go with her, after 3 miles I wouldn’t even be able to see her.  My first half-mile was a bit too cautious and at 3:24 I was a little slower than hoped for I rebounded with 321, 321, and 319 for splits with the 319 being on the only uphill on the course (up to University Ave).  The next ½ mile was one of the worst with no advantage on the downhill as it was all very slick with snow and a somewhat narrow sidewalk with the railings sticking out.  The 3:26 for that half would be my slowest split until 9 miles.  I hit 3 miles in 20:14, so only a little slower than my stretch goal.  The next 3 would have 5 people pass me despite running a little under 20 minutes (19:56).  Jim Rhodes on another GLRR team slowed down as he went by to give me some grief about this being retribution for beating him at Chelmsford.  I kind of chuckled, he should have easily been able to beat me at Chelmsford…and I’ll take that overall win to a “win” in a relay.  He was soon out of sight.  I’d only pass some of the Sunshine start runners, no one in the longer race came back to me and ultimately 7 people passed me.  I stayed consistent through 9 with that 3 mile split being 20:05.  Literally as my watch beeped at 9 miles my right glute/hip grabbed.  I went into a limping jog for a bit as it slowly loosened its grip.  I hobbled into the finish and handed off to Dave Lapierre and then continued on for the addition .2 to get a full 10 miles in.  That last mile was a difficult 7:09, more than 20 seconds slower than my next slowest mile in the race.  I was happy enough with getting through in 6:44 pace, so not too far off my outside goal.  The team had a great day taking the win in the 60+ age group (and 43^rd overall) in 3:09:11, nearly 10 minutes ahead of the second place team!

 

Male Veterans

Place W Team Name                                          Club    Pts    Time      

    1 A PORCH ROCKERS                                      GLRR    10 3:09:11

    2 A THE BIONIC MEN                                     WCRC     9   3:20:10

    3 A SRR - MV1                                               SRR       8    3:20:24

    4 A NEXT MAN UP                                          SRC       7    3:22:18

    5 A 60 IS THE NEW 40                                   TF          6   3:28:37

    6 A BOBS WILD OLD MEN                               SQRR     5   3:33:32

    7 A WE ARE A PORSCHE WITH NO BRAKES      GMRC     4   3:39:35

    8 A SUPER 60'S AND 70'S                                MR        3   3:55:34

    9 A WICKED OLD BUT NOT DEAD YET              WRC      2   3:56:22

   10 A STILL KICKIN' SIXTIES                              MRC      1   3:57:12