Rachel's Run

I ’d had Rachel’s Run on my calendar since it was announced as the “trail” leg of the USATF NE All-Terrain series. I’d only missed the XC race in the series with my injury back in August.  Oddly, Rachel’s has been in the series in the past as the XC leg.  Looking at the course it makes sense as you might call the course a rough cross-country race or an “easy” trail race.  I was a bit worried as my ankles and knee took a real beating after the XC race the previous weekend. I hobbled through my runs for a few days before things started to loosen up.  The short week (six days) turnaround is a little less than I need now into my 6^th decade of racing.  I was a little encouraged that I was feeling a lot better by Friday.  Part of that may have been finally getting back to work after 5 weeks out due to the Government shutdown.  It was good to get back to work and get back to my normal rhythms.

On race morning I headed out before sunrise for an easy 3 miles to loosen up a bit.  The 9:45 start time for the race is at the early end of when I’d attempt a morning run first. I got to Tyngsboro at 8:30 and grabbed my number and said “hi” to many familiar faces.  Such a nice community and so many of my fellow Greater Lowell Road Runners present (I would be wearing GLRR colors for this race).  

I met up with CMS teammate Paul Bazanchuk and we headed out for a preview of the course. Paul noted that it was a bit more “rooty” than he had remembered.  There is also a tough little hill and a tougher (for me) downhill. The course was 1.6 miles and you did the loop twice.  Paul joined me for 2 miles then headed off to finish his prep as he was also returning from injury.  I completed two laps then quickly changed into Hoka XC flats and headed out for another loop.  I like even mileage and although 1.6 miles is a bit more than I’d usually do right before the start it would get me to an even number for the day.

 

I got back to start with just enough time to get a quick drink and head to the start.  It was 42 degrees and drizzling as nearly 100 runners toed the line.  I’d call it ideal conditions for a trail/XC race. I had trouble getting going and 100 meters in had to carefully make my way around a couple of 9-year-old kids who had shot out quickly.  Soon after Trail Troll Dave Hannon sauntered by and noted “I’m not sure what shape I’m in”.  He had beaten me here last year and my hope was to keep him in sight.  I could hear Kara Haas behind me as she chose to wear spikes and the distinct clicking gave her away.  I felt pretty decent getting up and over the hill and thought I was moving well as I neared the end of the first lap.  John Barbour and then Kara both blew by me as we hit the baseball field at the end of lap 1.  John had beaten me by 1:30 last weekend so I was also just hoping to keep him in sight.  I made it up and over the hill again in decent shape and even got to within a couple of steps of Kara by the bottom.  That left about 1 kilometer to go and John and Kara both kicked well as I struggled to just keep from falling apart.  I crossed the line in 23:05 and could not complain with only losing 15 seconds to my time from last year.  I took first in the 6069 age group (but Barbour was 24 seconds ahead winning the 7079). I was surprised to find later (when I finished the scoring for the ATR series) that I ended up taking second in the series!

 

I finished the morning with a nice 4 mile warm-down and then hobbled around the rest of the weekend as my right ankle and right knee became swollen and painful.  It seemed to be not as bad as the previous weekend, so I’m hopeful I can turn it around and race again this week.

 

 

Place  Time   Name            Gen/Age City St                 Div     Div/Tot          Pace

1        19:08  Jacob Wormald        M30    Nashua NH    M3039 1        5:59

2        19:44  Mark Rabasco          M31    Greenfield MA          M3039 2          6:10

3        19:52  Peter Caron   M27    Nashua NH    M2029 1        6:13

4        20:06  Willem Khoo  M19    Medway MA  M1319 1        6:17

5        20:35  James Bernard        M19    Uxbridge MA M1319 2        6:26

6        21:39  David Richardson M42       S Weymouth M4049 1        6:46

7        22:10  Chris Smith   M59    Woburn MA   M5059 1        6:56

8        22:14  John Paquet III       M31    Lowell MA     M3039 3        6:57

9        22:41  John Barbour M71    W Roxbury MA        M7079 1        7:05

10      22:45  Dave Hannon M54    W Roxbury MA        M5059 2        7:07

11      22:52  Kara Haas     F55     Chelmsford MA        F5059 1        7:09

12      23:05  Dave Dunham         M61    Bradford MA  M6069 1        7:13

13      23:42  Andrew Bragg         M56    Pepperell MA M5059 3        7:24

14      24:32  Trish Bourne F61     Tewksbury MA         F6069 1        7:40

15      24:45  Declan Rowley        M9      Westford MA M0112 1        7:44