10 Years ago (August 2016): I raced four times this month mixing it up with XC, roads, and track. The goal was helping the team out at the two USATF NE championship races. I started the month off (08/04/16) with the Thunder Chicken 5k cross-country race in Portsmouth, NH. The race normally drew about 300 runners but with the switch from roads to XC only 63 would finish on this night. Dan Verrington joined me for this one and flew by me in the early going. Before the mile a volunteer sent the top 3 the wrong way which brought the leaders back to Dan (and helped me close a little on Dan). A little after the mile another volunteer said nothing as the leaders went straight and finally realized it as I reached him and turned right. The four in front of me quickly bushwhacked through the woods but lost about 10 seconds which put me in the lead. I got caught by two guys around 2 miles and in the final 200 on the track I lost another spot.
1 18:32 Yuri Horwitz M37
2 18:39 Andrew Cunningham M38
3 18:42 Leigh Schmitt M44
4 18:45 Dave Dunham M52
7 19:02 Dan Verrington M54
Next up (08/14/16) was the USATF NE 5m championships (Narragansett, RI). It was 85 degrees and 90% humidity despite the early start and location near the ocean. I tried to keep teammates Ed Sheldon and Dan Verrington in sight. I never quite got close to them as I took 10th in the 50+ and our team took a win over Whirlaway.
Top 50-59
1 29:06 Michael Cooney WRT
2 29:11 John Sullivan HFC
3 29:24 Robert Cipriano SRR
4 29:45 Dan Verrington CMS
5 30:05 Titus Mutinda GBTC
6 30:10 Mark Reeder GLRR
7 30:14 Chris Smith SRR
8 30:20 Ed Sheldon CMS
9 30:32 Jason Cakorous HFC
10 30:37 Dave Dunham CMS
A week later (08/21/16) I shifted gears and headed for the track for the NH Senior Games. It was “warm” (80) and sunny on the Manchester High School track. Only six guys and one lady lined up for the 5,000 meters which was the first event of the day. My goal was 5:40 pace and I’d be running alone. I ended up winning by nearly 3 minutes with a 17:48 (5:43 pace).
My final race of the month (08/27/16) was the USATFNE 10 mile championships (Auburn, NH). Race morning was a lot drier than previous days, but it would get up to 80 degrees during the race. I was hoping to run somewhere around 6 minute pace and keep Dan Verrington in sight. I kept him reasonably close for the first 4 miles then he buried me on the tough climb up Mine Hill. I reached half-way in 30:59 and was hopeful I’d make up some ground in the second half. Dan was only 10 seconds ahead, but he put nearly a minute on me in the second half. Dan won in the 50-54 and I was surprised to take third running 1:02:03.
Top 50-54
1 60:57 Dan Verrington M54 CMS
2 61:37 Charlie Bemis M53 WRT
3 62:03 Dave Dunham M52 CMS
4 63:25 Mike Cooney M54 WRT
5 64:08 EJ Hrynowski M53 GLRR
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