My final race of the month was the Capital Classic 5k in Concord. I had circled this one in the calendar at the beginning of the year.  This is the fastest race in the CARS and my fastest 5k last year.  My goal was to break 19 minutes and hopefully run an even race.  I didn’t exactly set myself up for success with a week of fairly high mileage (86) and an additional 7 hours on the bike.  I also spent a couple of days camping and sleeping on the ground isn’t conducive to getting a great night sleep. I needed to test out my gear for the upcoming Erie Canal tour so this was the price I’d pay.  

It was 70 degrees and very humid when I arrived in Concord at 7 a.m. for the early morning race (8am start).  I felt lousy warming up while previewing the course but tried to keep a positive mindset.  Quick switch into race gear and headed out for another mile.  Got into the second row at the start and took a look around, kind of surprised how far back some of the top women were (I don’t understand why they don’t seed themselves better, maybe they like passing people?).  Over 300 took off from the state capital and 100 meters in was the first turn.  I was very cautious as it was a bit slick and all of the turns had big puddles.  At the quarter mile we turned onto Pleasant street and I counted at least 30 ahead of me.  That was a little surprising as I’d finished 6^th last year.  This year the race was part of the NH grand prix which brought out some club runners.  I reached the mile in 6:01 (although I didn’t know it as I had messed up my watch at the start and didn’t actually start it until after the half mile).  I was right where I’d hoped to be pace-wise but not feeling great.  I was passing people here and there but never running with anyone.  I got to the top of Fruit street near the highest point in the race (all gentle steady climb) and hit 2 miles in 12:17 (6:16).  I was still close to sub-19 pace but I’d need to press on the final mile that fortunately had a decent downhill. A 6:05 closing mile had me slipping under 19 with an 18:54.8.  I was pretty gassed at the finish but pulled it together quickly and went back out on the course with Brian Ruhm who had just turn 60 and was stalking me during the race. I finished out the day (and my extra-long weekend) with a nice 2-hour ride.

 

 

Place	Nettime	Name		Sex	Age	City	St	Div	Pace
1	16:20	Eli	Lemire	M	18	Weare	NH	MOPEN	5:16
2	16:31	Sean	McCauley	M	33	Canterbury	NH	M3039	5:19
3	16:40	David	Chorney	M	37	Concord	NH	M3039	5:22
4	16:49	Max	Goupil	M	15	Contoocook	NH	M1115	5:25
5	16:49	Kyle	Dunn	M	35	Lebanon	NH	M3039	5:25
6	16:49	Alden	Betterley	M	19	Bow	NH	M1619	5:25
7	17:10	Russell	Leino	M	42	Hopkinton	NH	M4049	5:32
8	17:15	Dave	Beaudoin	M	47	Manchester	NH	M4049	5:34
9	17:31	Maike	Geng	M	42	Salem	NH	M4049	5:39
10	17:42	Sam	Evans-Brown	M	39	Concord	NH	M3039	5:42
11	17:50	Amber	Ferreira	F	43	Concord	NH	F4049	5:45
12	17:51	Michael	Olszewski	M	34	Chester	NH	M3039	5:45
13	18:04	Nicholas	Gregory	M	39	Derry	NH	M3039	5:49
14	18:12	John	Mortimer	M	49	Bedford	NH	M4049	5:52
15	18:17	Nolan	Roberts	M	32	Penacook	NH	M3039	5:53
16	18:18	Logan	Foster	M	28	Hampstead	NH	M2029	5:54
17	18:21	Mary	Klene	F	41	Manchester	NH	FOPEN	5:55
18	18:22	Max	Acree	M	33	Deer Park	OH	M3039	5:55
19	18:27	Randall	Scroggins	M	25	Henniker	NH	M2029	5:57
20	18:27	Finn	Kovar	M	15	Hopkinton	NH	M1115	5:57
21	18:30	Michael	O'Neill	M	56	Hollis	NH	M5059	5:58
22	18:36	Thomas	Cook	M	39	Amherst	NH	M3039	6:00
23	18:38	Nicholas	Gosling	M	42	Meredith	NH	M4049	6:00
24	18:38	Edward	Ferris	M	48	Manchester	NH	M4049	6:00
25	18:40	Brian	Severance	M	44	Goffstown	NH	M4049	6:01
26	18:55	Dave	Dunham	M	61	Bradford	MA	M6064	6:06
27	18:58	Andrew	Strauss	M	21	Amherst	NH	M2029	6:07
28	19:00	Graham	Hayslip	M	34	Canterbury	NH	M3039	6:07
29	19:09	Jason	Schoeller	M	26	Suncook	NH	M2029	6:10
30	19:12	Alonso	Martinez	M	26	Concord	NH	M2029	6:11
31	19:14	Brian	Ruhm	M	60	Hollis	NH	M6064	6:12

 

1	18:55	Dave	Dunham	M	61	Bradford	MA	M6064	6:06
2	19:14	Brian	Ruhm	M	60	Hollis	NH	M6064	6:12
3	20:37	Paul	Simmons	M	64	Sandwich	NH	M6064	6:38
4	21:28	David	Audet	M	60	Concord	NH	M6064	6:55
5	22:14	Vincent	Perelli	M	61	Hopkinton	NH	M6064	7:10
6	22:41	Richard	Clymer	M	64	Concord	NH	M6064	7:18
7	24:15	Tony	Caplan	M	64	Henniker	NH	M6064	7:49
8	25:09	Rick	Roy	M	64	Nashua	NH	M6064	8:06
9	26:51	George	McGrath	M	62	Hopkinton	NH	M6064	8:39
10	26:51	Sean	Coyle	M	62	Salem	NH	M6064	8:39