December 1995

 30 years ago (December 1995): December 3,1995 the Central Mass Striders team were the top Association team at the USA XC national championships which were held in Franklin Park. Scoring was split into “national” and “association” with national teams able to have athletes from all over the country (mostly shoe companies) and association teams where all athletes had to be from the same region.  I had a lousy start to the day spraining my ankle during the warm-up at Franklin Park.  The race itself went okay despite mud and frozen puddles over the 9.855 km course (6.12 miles).  I was our second scorer three seconds and five places behind Eric Morse.  We had some serious depth back then with our top four within 15 seconds and our top seven within 55 seconds.  I got a lousy start on the CMS squad but passed Scott Clark at ¾ mile, went by Bianchi & Prince at 1.5 miles and was actually the top CMS runner at 3 miles.  Bagley got me soon after and then Morse absolutely FLEW by.  I ran back and forth with Chris Magill and thought I had a shot at Morse but couldn’t quite get back to him.

1       28:49  Brad Schlapk         Brighton, MA             New York Athletic Club - National      

2       28:50  Ruben Reina         Fayetteville, AR          Foot Locker Athletic Club              
3       28:53  Terrance Mahon                                   Reebok Enclave - National              
4       28:56  Brian Baker           Fayeteville, AR          Team New Balance - National            
5       28:58  Bob Kempainen     Beaverton, OR           Nike 'A' - National                    

65         30:15    Eric Morse         Moretown, VT     Central Mass Striders 'A' - Assoc

70         30:18    Dave Dunham    Bradford, MA      Central Mass Striders 'A' - Assoc
77         30:25    Scott Bagley       Holden, MA        Central Mass Striders 'A' - Assoc
85         30:30    Mike Nahom       New Milford, CT  Central Mass Striders 'A' - Assoc
121       31:04    Nathaniel Halsey Wellesley, MA     Central Mass Striders 'A' - Assoc
163       31:32    Scott Clark         Gilmanton, NH    Central Mass Striders 'B' - Assoc
192       31:55    Gary Gardner      Keene, NH         Central Mass Striders 'A' - Assoc
216       32:20    Rod Viens          Claremont, NH    Central Mass Striders 'B' - Assoc
246       32:50    Dan Verrington   Bradford, MA      Central Mass Striders 'A' - Assoc
275       33:24    Tom Anderson    Keene, NH         Central Mass Striders 'B' - Assoc
373 finishers

USA XC championships (30 Assoc teams)
1    328   Central Mass Striders 'A' - Assoc      
2    335   Club Northwest - Assoc                 
3    348   Boston Running Club 'A' - Assoc        

My only other race during the month was the Rocket City marathon (12/09/95).  I was in a big pack through half-way in 1:10:15. It was a windy day (37 degrees and 25 mph winds) and when we turned into the wind at 15 miles the pack broke up and the field started to “snake” across the road as the leader would move to drop anyone drafting.  It was kind of funny as we ran from one side of the road to another.  By 17 miles I fell off the back as Dan Verrington moved up.  I ended up running with Fernando Braz and went back and forth with him over the last four miles.  CMS ended up putting three in the top 10 (Dan, me, Byrne Decker).

1 2:20:43 David Honea      Raleigh, NC

2 2:23:58 Bruce Raymer    Toronto, CAN

3 2:24:31 Dan Verrington  Bradford, MA           CMS

4 2:24:59 Selwyn Blake     Columbia, SC

5 2:25:24 Randy Damkot   Sheboygan, WI

6 2:25:27 Chris Chattin      Columbia, SC

7 2:25:37 Fernando Braz    Peabody, MA

8 2:25:39 Mike Harrison     Virginia Beach, MD

9 2:25:41 Dave Dunham    Bradford, MA CMS

10 2:26:07 Byrne Decker   Londonderry, NH     CMS

21 2:31:12 Scott Clark       Gilmanton, NH         CMS

31 2:36:55 Reno Stirrat     Spartenburg, SC

27 2:34:12 Vin Connelly                         CMS

   Top 5 30-39 Dan Verrington (1), Fernando Braz (4), and me (5