Next up was the finale in the Capital Area Race Series (CARS). The ninth race in the series was the Tom Walton Memorial 5k/10. I struggled with recovery from the 5 mile, maybe in part with consecutive days in the upper 90s with tropical humidity. I was in third place in the series going into the final race, but five guys would likely pass me if they ran (best 6 of 9 races and a bunch had only done 5). There really was nothing for me to do other than run my own race and see how things shook out. The 8 a.m. start meant getting to Delta Dental by 7. I was one of the earliest to arrive and parked in the shade. It was not hot like the previous few days but still seemed warm enough in the full sun. I got my number and then headed out to preview the course. It would be basically and out and back 5k that we’d do twice. They decided to turn the 10k runners in the parking lot at almost exactly 3 miles, this meant a short 10k. I felt okay warming up but the course had no shade and it was warming up quickly. I switched to racing flats and did another mile with Sam Wood, he had decided to run the 5k so although we’d be out there on the same course we had different goals. My goal was a top 10 finish and break 40 minutes for 10k. Anything under 6:30 per mile would be okay by me. The field shot out at the start at what seemed crazy fast to me. I checked my watch at ½ mile and was 3:06, which was just a little too fast. I was in 20th place which was a surprise. By the mile I was starting to catch some of the early speedsters and by 2 miles I’d moved up to 15th place. I would not move up any more. I started counting guys heading back out for their second loop and found myself in 7th place in the 10k as I turned at 3 miles at a little over 19 minutes and 5k in about 19:45. Most of my CARS 5ks were slower than that and I was only halfway! I felt pretty good but my right foot was bothering me. The location of the cyst had been sore this week and my right knee had also been particularly sore this week as well. I think I was favoring it and had now developed a painful blister on my left heel (which only caused me to favor more). By 4 miles I was limping but I hadn’t really slowed. I was hoping I could muscle my way through it. The 6th place guy was well ahead of me and it was over 2 minutes to the next guy behind me, so I was out there on my own. I kept pushing right to the line and managed 38:34 for a little over 6 miles (most got 6.05 on Garmin) that would have been about 39:40 for 10k and I’ll definitely take that (6:24 pace). Unfortunately, I could barely walk after the race. The top of my foot at the ankle was tender as was the ligament from my big toe all the way back to the navicular. I stuck around for the longest awards ceremony in the history of NH racing (so said announcer Andy Sachat) and picked up a little cash for winning the series Age Graded Masters. The next day I lost my consecutive days running streak at 358. I just couldn’t hobble for a run on Sunday. I’m hoping I can get the inflammation down quickly and get back out there.
Place Time Name Sex Age Div/Tot Proj 10k Div City, St
1 32:49 Sean McCauley M 33 1 33:44 M3039 Canterbury, NH
2 35:26 Nicholas Gosling M 42 1 36:26 M4049 Meredith, NH
3 36:33 Max Acree M 33 2 37:35 M3039 Concord, NH
4 36:34 Terrence Ferns M 56 1 37:36 M5059 Sutton, NH
5 36:41 Nathan Huppe M 45 2 37:43 M4049 Dover, NH
6 37:53 Andrew Strauss M 22 1 38:57 M2029 Amherst, NH
7 38:34 Dave Dunham M 61 1 39:40 M6069 Bradford, MA
8 41:52 Ed McKenna M 43 3 43:03 M4049 Bow, NH
9 42:45 Harrison Roakes M 35 3 43:57 M3039 Northwood, NH
10 44:27 Elizabeth Jansen F 34 1 45:42 F3039 Concord, NH
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