Looking back - 2011

 15 Years ago (Sept 2011) – I raced three times this month while my focus was a bit more on peak bagging.  I wanted to race before I headed off with Eric to bag some state high points and I settled on a Thursday night race (Atkinson Road Race). Teammate David Quintal took it out hard with the lead pack of Pat Fullerton, Kevin Alliette, Casey Carroll and Andie Colon. I found myself off the back and alone in the first half mile. When David stopped to tie his shoe I motored by him but could hear him right behind me as I hit the mile in 5:24. I caught Colon with about 1/2 mile to go working the downhill for all it was worth. We turned the corner for the final uphill 400m and he took off like a shot. I ended up taking 5th place in 16:34 with DQ 6 seconds back. The course was a bit short of 5k, maybe 15 seconds.

 

1 15:04 Pat Fullerton M2029

2 15:39 Kevin Aliette M3039

3 16:07 Casey Carroll M4049

4 16:24 Andie Colon M3039

5 16:34 Dave Dunham M4049

6 16:40 David Quintal M4049

 

Next up was a small trail race in Chester NH at Wason Pond. I ran the 10km version of this race last year and had fun so I was back this year for a 5km race. I checked out the course as a warm-up, it had a lot of variety. I felt pretty lousy; the head cold I'd picked up this week left me dragging. I went out hard but controlled. By 200m into the race I was in the lead but I could hear footsteps close behind. Eventually they faded.  I was happy to get a win! I gave a good effort and topped 90 miles again this week.

 

1 18:13.1 Dave Dunham 47M

2 18:59.9 Patrick Connelly 47m

3 21:53.4 Richard McNeel 14M

                                                                                                             

The final race of the month was the Lone Gull 10km where I was hoping to run a “fast” time.  I was not feeling good. I'd woken up with a sinus headache each of the last few mornings and my throat was still lousy from whatever I was still sick with. Dan Verrington, David Quintal, and I were all in about the same shape, so it looked to be an interesting race. I was hoping for a 40+ PR (34:28) but knew that the wind would make for a tough second half of the race. I hit three miles in 16:26 and was very happy with that. I caught Dan just after and he said "go get 'em" as I went by but about a quarter mile later he went by me like I was standing still. With about 1/2 mile to go I started to close on Dan and finally got him on the last uphill of course. I hit six miles in 33:33 (5:44) just a stride or two up on Dan and I pushed as hard as I could on the downhill and flat. I hit the finish (actually two strides beyond the SECOND timing mat) in 34:41 missing my PR by 13 seconds.  Our team had a solid run, just missing beating GBTC in the open and taking the masters team title. We did beat GBTC in total age of scoring members.  CMS = 144 GBTC = 74

 

Team results

1. GREATER BOSTON TRACK CLUB         32:30 34:28 37:01 = 1:43:59

2. CENTRAL MASS STRIDERS       34:41 34:48 35:00 = 1:44:29

3. GREATER LOWELL RR              35:41 36:45 42:50 = 1:55:16

 

40+ Team Results

1. CENTRAL MASS STRIDERS       34:41 34:48 35:00 = 1:44:29

2. GREATER LOWELL RR              35:41 36:45 42:50 = 1:55:16

Individual results

1 32:30 Brennan Bonner    26      M2039 GBTC

2 33:20 Brian Deal  26      M2039

3 33:30 Mark Mayall 40      M4049 NB-BOSTON

4 33:36 Ethan Crain 38      M2039 GCS TRIAD

5 34:20 Joe Donnelly         43      M4049 WHIRLAWAY

6 34:28 Caleb Evanter       24      M2039 GBTC

7 34:41 Dave Dunham       47      M4049 CMS

8 34:48 Dan Verrington     49      M4049 CMS

9 35:00 David Quintal        48      M4049 CMS                                                                        

 

Rounding third at the “Field of Dreams”