Kimball story

Nice story about Mark Kimball
http://www.eagletribune.com/sports/x1271723852/Capping-incredible-comeback

Mt Washington RR Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame inauguration highlights 50th Mt. Washington Road Race

· Hodge, Pichrtova, Norris, Crossan first inductees

On the eve of the 50th running of the Mt. Washington Road Race, four of the greatest runners in the race’s history will become the first members of the new Mt. Washington Road Race Hall of Fame. Bob Hodge of Massachusetts, Anna Pichrtova of the Czech Republic, legendary English coal-miner-turned runner Fred Norris, and the late Gary Crossan of New Hampshire have been chosen by a committee made up of the race’s organizers. These runners, each with an outstanding history at Mt. Washington, were selected from a larger list of nominees with exceptional accomplishments in this all-uphill race to the summit of the highest peak in the Northeast.

Presented by Northeast Delta Dental, with additional sponsorship by New England Runner magazine and La Sportiva, this year's Mt. Washington Road Race takes place on Saturday, June 19. The inaugural Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at a ceremony on Friday, June 18, the night before the race, at the Eagle Mountain House in Jackson, N.H.

The inductees and their accomplishments:

Bob Hodge- The only person ever to win this race seven times, Hodge won from 1976-1980 and again in 1985 and 1987, setting a new course record in 1977, 1978 and 1979. He has finished thirteen times in the top ten, including finishing second in 1989 in the narrowest margin ever, losing by one second.

Anna Pichrtova- A former World Mountain Running Champion, Pichrtova, from the Czech Republic, has won the race six times, including four wins in four consecutive attempts (2001-2004) and then two more in 2006 and 2007. In 2005 she finished second while running the third-fastest time of any woman in this race ever --1:10:26.

Gary Crossan- A New Hampshire native, Crossan won the race four times and finished in the top ten two other times between 1980 and 1986. He set a course record of 1:01:13 in his 1984 victory, also winning in 1981, ’82 and ’86. Now, in his memory, the race each year awards the Crossan Cup to the first male and female finishers from New Hampshire.

Fred Norris- An English coal-miner who came to the United States on a track scholarship, Norris won the race in 1962, at the age of 40, with a then-course record time of 1:04:57. That time remained the course record until 1977, and it stayed on the books as the master’s record until it was finally broken in 2001. His time is still the 9th fastest ever run by anyone over the age of 40, and he remains the oldest man ever to win the race.

The Mt. Washington Road Race was first held in 1936 and continued in 1937 and 1938. It was forgotten during World War II but then resumed in 1961 for the centennial of the opening of the Mt. Washington Carriage Road, now the Mt. Washington Auto Road. After a three-year hiatus, the race has been run continuously since 1966. In its history the race has hosted some of the greatest names in running, such as Olympic gold medalist Joan Samuelson and Boston Marathon winners John J Kelley and Jacqueline Gareau.

In 2010 the Mt. Washington Road Race will serve as the USA Track and Field Mountain Running Championship. This will mark the fourth time USATF has selected the Mt. Washington race as a national championship event. The top six American male and top four American female finishers will become members of the U.S. National Mountain Running team, which will compete in the World Mountain Trophy later this year.

In addition to the induction ceremony for the inaugural Hall of Fame class, other activities during the Friday festivities, focusing on the 50th Mt. Washington Road Race, will include naming the 50 memorable runners and 50 memorable moments in the race's history.

Week Ending 04/25/10

Another week on the IR, but one step closer to coming back.  Mid-week I got out of the boot and started walking in my new orthotics.  Felt good to be able to start back working out.  Hit the bike which means a lot of early morning riding.  Tried to ride 2 hours per day.

M - Not a damn thing
T - The same
W - Bike AM 1:00, Bike outside PM 1:00
Th - Bike AM 1:00, Bike PM 1:00
F - Bike AM 1:00, Bike PM 1:00
S - Bike AM 2:00 (1 hour very easy 1 hour hard)
S - Bike AM 1:30, Bike PM :30

Totals for the week:
Bike: 10:00

Looking ahead - Hope to get 14 - 20 hours of biking in next week.  Checking in with the Dr. on Monday and starting PT on Tuesday.  PT cuts into the afternoon biking so I'll have to ramp up the AM biking which means getting on the bike by 4:00 AM at the latest.  Not ideal, but zombies do not like indoor bikes.

Day one

I got out of the boot and started biking yesterday.  It has been 17 days since the plantar surgery and I'm glad to be finally walking again.  Felt good to be on the bike.  I did one hour in the morning (indoors) and one hour in the afternoon (outdoors).  I'm not sure why I look puzzled/confused in the picture...it was great to be outside and working out.

U.S. & World

Even though I'm injured I'm making big plans for later this year. I just entered the Mt Ashland hill climb (and booked my flight), and I want to run in a couple of the US national championships. I'm hoping to peak for the Lithia Loop marathon (16th place/4th master last year), but also want to do the 15km trail champs and the 10km trail champs. I'm hoping to rebound quickly and get some decent training in by July. Without hope what do you have?


Here are my results from National and World championships:

Week ending 04-18-10

Totals for the week - None

Looking forward to getting out of the boot this Wednesday and starting on the bike.  My goal is to be ready to run 10.3km by May 22 (Northfield Mountain), so that I'll be able to mark the course.

More on the Grand Prix

NEAC/USATF New England Grand Prix
161 races from 5km to 26.2m over 23 years
I've done 82 of the 161 possible
8 - series wins
2 - runner-up
2 - 4th place
1 - 5th place

Favorite year: 1996 - Craig Fram and I went back and forth all year. My only shot was to beat him at the marathon. He won in 2:23:52 I got second 13 seconds back and lost the GP by 2 points, but the 50 points was my best point total.

Above: I'm leading Craig up Powerline hill (April 1, 1995).  Craig outkicked me in the race's closest finishe - 57:36 to 57:37.
My results in the Grand Prix
1987-38 Points - 1st place
1988-42 Points - 1st place
1989-37 Points - 1st place
1990-61 Points - 1st place
1991-41 Points - 1st place
1992-46 Points - 1st place
1993-48 Points - 1st place
1994 - Out most of the year stress fracture
1995 - 22 points - 4th pl (Fram 33 pts)
1996 - 50 points - 2nd pl (Fram 52 pts)
1997 -Out for the year stress fracture
1998 - 18 points - 5th pl (O'brien 48 pts)
1999 - 27 points - 2nd pl (Morse 31 pts)
2000 - 34 points - 1st place
2001 - 22 points - 4th pl (Magill 49)

USATF Grand Prix

Over the last 23 year I've done at least one Grand Prix race (New England Championship road race).  It looks like I won't get one this year until at least July.  Here are my results from every GP race (82) that I've done over the years.

Injury log

Here are the updated stats on injuries since December 1978.  I haven't included the current injury, plantar fascia, because I'm not sure how many day's off I'll have.  I'm hoping for 28, but probably more like 35.

The Rivah!

Here are the current stats....everyone who has broken 1:05.  Only 73 people have done it and it's only been done 135 times. 

Snowshoe champions

Season	Series Champ	Points	Races
1998	Bryan Dragon	197.06	2
1999	Ken Clark	233.80	3
2000	Ken Clark	487.16	5
2001	Ken Clark	585.63	6
2002	Leigh Schmitt	400.00	6	Best 4 of 6
2003	Richard Bolt	596.43	10	Best 6 of 10
2004	Ben Nephew	585.64	12	Best 6 of 12
2005	Paul Low	593.82	15	Best 6 of 15
2006	Richard Bolt/Paul Low	300.00	9	Best 3 of 9
2007	Dave Dunham	576.42	14	Best 6 of 14
2008	Dave Dunham	598.09	16	Best 6 of 16
2009	Ben Nephew	591.94	17	Best 6 of 17
2010	Jim Johnson	600.00	14	Best 6 of 14

Blue = CMS

Plantar Fascia

Got the bandages off yesterday and my foot isn't too bruised.  Looks like crap because I haven't washed it in a week (which is at least a day longer than I usually go without washing it).  10 more days in the boot then I can start biking and physical therapy.  Hoping that it will be 4 weeks (not 6) when I can start back.

Snowshoe rankings

1. Kevin Tilton (CMS) – Moves up to the top spot with his win at the Merrimack River. 10 miles of trail racing at sub 6:00’s = 38:25 for a snowshoe 10km in 6” of powder.

2. Jim Johnson (CMS) – Drops to second with his excellent sub 5:00 effort for 5km at the George Davis invitational. Skipping the River cost him the top ranking (had he doubled he would have earned super-extra-bonus points).

3. Ben Nephew (CMS) – Solid run finishing 11 seconds behind Tilton at the River.

4. Geoff Cunningham (Acidotic) – Excellent debut at the River keeps him firmly in fourth place.

5 Tim Van Orden (CMS) – Lost his momentum, came up lame last week and at last notice I had more mileage last week than he did (I got 7 miles in before pf surgery).

Week Ending 04-11-10

This is the start of 4-6 weeks off to heal my plantar fascia.

M - 5am - 7m (short) with Petey 56:00, ob on the Freeman rail trail.  Later AM - Topaz surgery on PF.

T - Not a damn thing

W - See T

Th - More of the same, but off crutches.

F - See Th

Sat - Worked the Merrimack river trail race.  Foot pretty sore from standing for 4 hours

Sun - Walked about 1m picking up course markings on the River.  Picked up Petey at the turn.

Totals:
Week - 7m
Month - 54m
Year - 617
Life - 107,988


Working the finish with John & Denise

Merrimack River trail race

Videos and links to over 1,500 pictures posted on the River blog:

http://rivertrailrace.blogspot.com/

Course records still out there

I have three course records, set in April long gone by, two could be broken this year.

The oldest is the Leatherman’s 10km trail race that could reach 17 years on 04-25. I ran a 36:52 back in 1993 and it has stood since then. This year will be the 24th annual running of this race that features a couple of waist deep stream crossings and a huge sand hill.

The Red Shoe Barn 5m is the next oldest, it could reach 14 years on April 14. I ran 24:12.01 in 1996. Dan finished 2nd that year in 24:37, Mike O’Brien was 3rd in 24:47, Eric Beauchesne finished 4h in 24:57 and Byrne Decker ran 25:09 that day. This year will be the 29th annual.

The Chicago Lakefront 50k record reached nine years (today). I set the course record of 2:57:36 in 2001. This year was the 11th annual, and it was won in 3:39.

Snowshoe rankings

1. Jim Johnson (CMS) – Ran the third fastest time ever at Northern Nipmuck 16 mile trail race (more like 30km trail race), and the course was not in "fast" shape.

2. Kevin Tilton (CMS) – Did not race.  Saving it for the Merrimack River?  Kevin has one of the longest winning streaks in WMAC snowshoe racing.  He did not lose a WMAC race between 2007-2010.

3. Ben Nephew (CMS) – Ran a very fast 2:02 at Northern Nipmuck which equals a sub 60 effort at the OLD 7 mile version of the Hawley Kiln Snowshoe race.

4. Geoff Cunningham (Acidotic) – Did not race.

5 Tim Van Orden (above)  (CMS) – Ran 16:12 at the SEA 5km road race (top master).  That equals a masters CR at the Mass State champs at Northfield.  Creeping up on Geoff Cunningham in the rankings.

Week Ending 04-04

Final week of running for a while.  Put in a lot, just to be outside for a while and enjoy the feeling of running.  Foot hurt, but this too shall pass.

M - 5am: 6m run on the rail trail with Petey 49:59, PM rain and 40's Bird Sanct 6 w Dan & JJ 46:33
T - 5am: 3 on the treadmill 22:58, PM Bird Sanct 6 w Dan 45:27
W - 5am: Industrial park 4m 30:19, PM Bird Sanct 6 w Dan 43:27
Th- 5am Ind Pk 5m 37:10, PM out/back 5m on rail trail in Chelmsford 36:36
F - 5am Ind Pk 5m 36:57, PM Bird Sanct 6 w Dan 43:18 (70 degrees)
Sat - 2m out/back to summit of Hall Mtn, 2m o/b summit Catamount hill, 3m w/up with the CMS guys at SEA race, 1m during race, 3m w/dwn with the guys.  PM 5m with Eric Winnikenni loop 38:37 (muddy)
Sun - 7am 10m on the River trail 79:53 (not muddy)

Total 78 miles

Me, Murdock, and Eric at Winni

Merrimack River trail conditions

Ran the course this morning and it is in great shape. The flood waters have abated and the course is almost completely dry. I finished without getting my feet wet and only getting a little mud on my shoes. With the weather this coming week the course should be in super shape for the race on 04-10.  It was fun to get out there, especially know it will be a while until I get to run again.  Thanks for joining me Eric, Dan, Michael,JJ, and Matt!

Clubs I've run for

GLRR - 1981-1982
Whirlaway - 1985
New Balance - 1987-1992
GLRR (again) - 1987-1991
Powerbar Elite- 1988 - 2002
Flynn Travel - 1989?
Mike Beeman's Total Sports - 1989 - Present
Winners Circle Running Club - 1989? - present
Hockomock Swamp rats - 1989-2010
Sandown Rogue Runners - 1990?
Gray Wolves - 1992-present
Sully's Ice cream - 1990 - ???
CMS - 1992-present
NEOC - 1992-present
UNO - 1994 - present
WMAC - 2000-present
Atlas snowshoe - 2002 - present
GLRR (yet again) - 2002-present
La Sportiva - 2002? - 2008 (pictured above)
Gate City Striders - 2007 - present
DRC - 2008 - Present

Topaz treatment information

After over 8 months of struggling with my plantar fascia I've decided to move to the next step.  I've done physical therapy, ultrasound, cortisone shots, stretching, icing, medrol dose packs, lowered mileage, time off, etc....  Nothing has seemed to get rid of the pain.  Over the last few months I've had other problems with my foot which may or may not be related to the PF.  Last week I went in for a follow-up appointment and decided that it was time to get a more aggressive treatment.  This means 4-6 weeks off which is (to put it mildly) difficult for me.  It also means hardly any alternative excercise, especially for the first three weeks.  I'm pretty bummed about this, but 2010 has been a bust anyway and I just want to be able to run and enjoy it rather than hobble through a run and be miserable.

The "minimally invasive surgical treatment" is called Topaz (which sounds pretty lame).  Here is a little info for thos interested.
http://www.podiatryinfo.com/topaz.pdf

http://www.google.com/search?q=topaz+treatment+for+plantar+fasciitis&hl=en&rlz=1R2ADBR_enUS364&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=rcqzS9yfNYGB8ga4n4jtCg&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CCgQqwQwAw&cts=1270074555093

I hope to be back out there by mid-May and maybe even racing by mid-July.  I've adjusted my goals and now hope to be in decent shape to do the Baystate marathon and the US trail marathon championships in November.

I head in for surgery on Monday...fingers crossed.

Snowshoe rankings

1. Jim Johnson (CMS) – His sub 2:00 run at the Eastern States 20m is equal to a sub-19:00 5km on snowshoes or a top 2 placing at Sidehiller.  That moves him up to #1.

2. Kevin Tilton (CMS) – Kevin loses a spot in the rankings for twisting his ankle (again).  He may lose another spot if he doesn't learn to wear socks when racing a half-marathon.
 

3. Geoff Cunningham (Acidotic) –  Almost dropped him to 4th but he asked me about the Mt Washington lottery.  Entering the lottery is equal to a top 30 finish at snowshoe nationals.  Getting in via the lottery is equal to a top 25 at nationals.  Getting in via a lottery by-pass is work top 20 and getting an invitation to race at Mt W = top 10.

4. Ben Nephew (CMS) – Training for the Merrimack River Trail race?

5 Tim Van Orden (CMS) – Ran up some stairs in Seattle.  Top ranked Raw food snowshoe racer.  Winning a stair climb = top 25 at nationals.  Having the $$$ to enter a stair climb is worth a top 15.

100 County high points

I reached the century mark for county high points last weekend. It sounds (and looks) like a lot, but on the map it is less than impressive.

First climbed	Name	Location	State	Elevation
12/18/2009	Mt Magazine	Logan	AR	2,753
12/19/2009	Rich Mountain	Polk	AR	2,681
12/18/2009	Petit Jean	Yell	AR	2,440
12/20/2009	Bismark benchmark	Hot Springs	AR	1,282
10/12/2003	Frissell - south slope	Litchfield	CT	2,372
04/27/2008	Hartland	Hartland	CT	1,421
01/20/2008	Burley Hill	Tolland	CT	1,314
08/18/2008	Fairfield COHP	Fairfield	CT	1,290
01/20/2008	Snow Hill	Windham	CT	1,200
04/27/2008	Lindsley Hill - SW of	Wolcott	CT	1,050
04/27/2008	Meshomasic BM	East Hampton	CT	916
01/20/2008	Gates Hill	New London	CT	660
08/18/2008	Towerhill	Newcastle Co	DE	442
03/28/2009	Pasco COHP	FL	FL	301
08/27/2009	Brasstown Bald	Towns & Union	GA	4,784
08/27/2009	Brasstown Bald	Towns & Union	GA	4,784
10/08/2008	Mauna Kea	Hawaii Co	HI	13,796
09/15/1988	Haleakala	Maui Co	HI	10,023
11/30/2007	Ka'ala	Honolulu Co	HI	4,040
12/04/2009	Hoosier Hill	Wayne Co	IN	1,257
12/03/2009	Marion County HP	Marion	IN	915
03/17/2009	Miami COHP	KS	KS	1,155
03/17/2009	Johnson COHP	KS	KS	1,130
08/28/2009	Black	Harlan Co	KY	4,139
12/19/2009	Driskill Mountain	Bienville	LA	535
12/19/2009	Lincoln	Lincoln	LA	420
10/17/2002	Greylock	Berkshire	MA	3,488
11/24/2007	Crum hill	Franklin	MA	2,835
11/24/2007	West Mountain	Hampshire	MA	2,106
05/27/1995	Wachusett mountain	Worcester	MA	1,998
10/18/2007	Round top hill	Hampden	MA	1,781
03/23/2007	Nutting hill - NE slope	Middlesex	MA	1,585
10/23/1993	Great blue hill	Norfolk	MA	640
01/30/1995	Holt Hill	Essex	MA	423
10/28/2007	Manomet hill	Plymouth	MA	395
11/17/2007	Surise hill	Bristol	MA	394
11/17/2007	Bellevue hill	Suffok	MA	325
02/15/2008	Peaked Hill	Dukes	MA	311
04/19/2008	Pine Hill	Barnstable	MA	306
11/10/2008	Sankaty head	Nantucket	MA	111
09/13/2009	Backbone Mountain	Garrett Co	MD	3,360
09/30/2006	Katahdin Baxter	Piscataquis	ME	5,268
08/16/2007	Cadillac mountain	Hanckock	ME	1,530
03/17/2009	Cass COHP	MO	MO	1,130
03/17/2009	Jackson COHP	MO	MO	1,100
03/16/2009	Clay COHP	MO	MO	1,090
05/02/2009	Fallon county high point	Fallon	MT	3,620
08/28/2009	Mitchell	Yancey Co	NC	6,684
08/27/2009	Clingmans dome	Seriver & Swain	NC	6,643
05/01/2009	White Butte	Slope	ND	3,506
05/01/2009	Whetstone Buttes	Adams	ND	3,149
05/01/2009	Brown Benchmark	Stark	ND	3,061
05/01/2009	Black Butte	Hettinger	ND	3,012
06/18/1988	Washington	Coos	NH	6,288
07/29/2006	Lafayette	Grafton Co	NH	5,260
12/03/2008	Sandwich	Carroll Co	NH	3,960
08/15/1999	Monadnock	Cheshire Co	NH	3,165
04/22/1995	Mt Kearsarge	Merrimack Co	NH	2,937
05/11/2008	Croydon	Sullivan	NH	2,671
11/12/2007	Belknap	Belknap Co	NH	2,382
05/31/1992	Pack Monadnock	Hillsborough Co	NH	2,290
11/10/2007	Copple crown mtn	Strafford	NH	1,700
11/10/2007	Nottingham Mtn	Rockingham	NH	1,340
08/18/2008	Highpoint	Sussex Co	NJ	1,803
12/05/2008	Snow Valley	Carson City Co	NV	9,214
12/06/2008	Mt Davidson	Storey Co	NV	7,864
09/26/2009	Mt Marcy	Essex Co	NY	5,344
06/13/2008	Ostego COHP	Ostego Co	NY	2,420
06/13/2008	Slawson BM	Broome Co	NY	2,080
06/13/2008	Chenango COHP	Chenango Co	NY	2,040
08/18/2008	Bailey BM	Westchester Co	NY	980
03/01/2009	Jaynes Hill	Suffolk Co	NY	386
12/04/2009	Campbell Hill	Logan Co	OH	1,549
12/04/2009	Preble county HP	Preble	OH	1,240
09/13/2009	Mount Davis	Somerset Co	PA	3,213
10/12/2003	Jerimoth hill	Providence Co	RI	812
01/20/2008	Bald Hill	Kent	RI	629
01/20/2008	Black Plain	Washington	RI	560
01/20/2008	Pocassett Hill	Newport	RI	320
01/20/2008	Mt Hope	Bristol	RI	221
08/27/2009	Sassafras	Pickens Co	SC	3,560
05/03/2009	Harney Peak	Pennington Co	SD	7,242
05/03/2009	Sylvan hill	Custer	SD	7,000
08/27/2009	Clingmans dome	Seriver & Swain	TN	6,643
08/29/2009	Rodgers	Grayson Co	VA	5,729
08/29/2009	Rodgers	Smyth Co	VA	5,729
10/11/2003	Mansfield The chin	Chittenden	VT	4,393
06/27/1998	Stratton Mtn	Windham Co	VT	3,940
06/30/2007	Equinox	Bennington Co	VT	3,850
06/28/2008	Sugar hill vineyard	Grand Isle	VT	279
09/13/2009	Spruce Knob	Pendleton Co	WV	4,861
03/05/2010	Hawes	Schenectady Co	NY	1,456
03/05/2010	Willse Hill	Montgomery Co	NY	1,600
03/05/2010	Tassel Hill	Oneida	NY	1,940
03/05/2010	Morrow Mountain	Madison	NY	2,140
03/05/2010	Morgan Hill	Onondaga	NY	2,080
03/05/2010	Tioga co hp	Tioga	NY	1,994
03/05/2010	Virgil Mountain	Cortland	NY	2,132
03/20/2010	Alander	Columbia	NY	2,110
03/21/2010	Brace	Dutchess	NY
03/25/2010	Woodhall	Alcorn	MS	806
03/25/2010	Cheaha	Cleburne	AL	2,405
03/25/2010	Hernandez	Clay	AL	2,342
03/26/2010	Britton hill	Walton	FL	345
03/26/2010	Oak hill	Washington	FL	331