Looking back - April 1996

 30 years ago - April 1996: I only raced twice during this month, but I made the most of those opportunities with two wins and two course records.  (04/14/96) I set the still standing course record at the Red’s Shoe Barn 5 mile in Dover, NH.  It was 35 degrees on race day and CMS had a good pack with me, Dan Verrington, Eric Morse, and Byrne Decker among the leaders.  I pulled away in the second half of the course and won by 25 seconds in 24:12.01 taking 13 seconds off of Mike O’Brien’s record and brought home $325 for the win and the record.  CMS put four in the top five. 

 

15^th Annual Red’s Shoe Barn

April 14, 1996 5 Miles (USATF Certified #NH91003WN) Dover, NH

    1   Dave Dunham          32 M Bradford, MA   24:12.01 CMS

    2   Dan Verrington         33 M Bradford, MA   24:37      CMS

    3   Mike O’Brien   35 M Durham, NH   24:47     

    4   Eric Morse      31 M Waterbury, VT 24:57      CMS

    5   Byrne Decker           29 M Londonderry, NH       25:09      CMS

    6   Wilson Perez            17 M Newmarket, NH         26:48  

 

Here are the top times since 1996 (I don’t have any pre-1996 results except O’Brien’s CR from 1993):

1996 Dave Dunham           24:12.01

1997 Craig Fram               24:13

2006 Patrick Moulton         24:17

1993 Mike O’Brien (CR)                24:25

1999 Chris Teague            24:26

1998 Mike O’Brien             24:28

1997 Mike O’Brien             24:33

1997 Eric Morse                24:36

1996 Dan Verrington         24:37

1999 Dave Dunham           24:41

1996 Mike O’Brien             24:47

2002 David Hinga             24:48

1997 Byrne Decker            24:51

1999 Mike O’Brien             24:52

1996 Eric Morse                24:57

1999 Tom Anderson          24:59

 

Two weeks later (04/28/1996) I headed to Groton for the hilly but always competitive Groton Road Race.  I set the then course record (the course was later changed).  It was windy and 65 degrees when a pack of CMS runners took off at the 1 p.m. start.  I was in that pack with Eric Morse, Dan Verrington, Mike Casner and Tom Anderson.  Caz and Tommy dropped off after 2 miles.   Dan and Eric stayed close until 4 miles.  Eric stuck with me a bit longer and I finally managed to gap him.  He closed over the final 300 meters on the track, but I was able to hold on for an 8 second win and 36 seconds under the old record.  I came away from the race with badly blistered feet and $300 for the win and the CR.

 

1 30:49 Dave Dunham     32M Bradford, MA               CMS

2 30:57 Eric Morse          31M Barre, VT                    CMS

3 31:17 Dan Verrington    33M Bradford, MA              CMS

4 32:17 Mike Casner        33M Marlow, NH                 CMS

5 32:20 Tom Anderson    31M Keene, NH                   CMS

6 32:32 Sean Dillon         26M Jamaica Pln, MA

7 32:41 Evan Soririou      21M Hanover, NH

8 32:51 James Garcia      37M Westford, MA              CMS

9 33:25 Thomas Carroll   46M Dunstable, MA             GLRR

10 33:44 Van Townsend  38M Southboro, MA