I’ve only run the USATF NE 5k road championships three times since turning 40. I’ve never enjoyed the 5k distance, it just never feels comfortable and it is rarely an enjoyable experience. I’ve been fortunate enough to be reasonably healthy so far this year and picked up a few 40+ personal bests. Dan and I (and sometimes Craig Fram) have been hitting the track in hopes of getting the leg turnover needed for the shorter races. So, I headed down to RI in hopes of running a season best (under 16:40) with a stretch goal of breaking my 40+ PR (16:27). The weather cooperated with temperatures right around 70 and low humidity.
I headed out to check out the new course with a group of CMS runners. I was a bit worried about the first couple of turns early in the race and the u-turn at ¾ of a mile. Running the course, none of them looked all that bad and the new version of the course actually looked to be a better course than any they’d held at Twin Rivers previously. After changing into racing flats I headed out for another mile and did some strides. I was a bit surprised by how tired the strides made me feel as I jogged over to the start line.
It seemed like most people didn’t want to get on/near the starting line so I went to the right side of the line and found myself right on the line. The right side seemed the safest place to be with the sharp right turn early on, I’d take the turn wide. The start was kind of funny, there was supposed to be some sort of signal and whatever it was it wasn’t very loud. I jumped at the sound then sort of half-stopped as no one started…then everyone took off. I stayed on the right and stayed out of trouble as people went by. I tried to key off of familiar faces and found myself right about where I wanted to be as we took the 180 degree turn and headed toward the mile. I passed the mile in 5:17, which was about 2 seconds slower than I’d planned. Nothing to panic about, I just kept working and tried to reel in the group in front of me.
I may have pushed a bit too hard on the only hill on the course (leading up to the 2-mile mark) and closed the gap a bit. I hit 2 miles in 10:38 (5:21) which was right about where I’d hoped to be. My plan was to try and hit 5:15/10:40 then come back with a 5:15. It was not to be, I just didn’t have the wheels to get moving. The group in front of me slowly pulled away and the kickers behind me began to close. I gave it my all and hit 3 miles in 16:02 (5:24) and kicked in with a 16:36.
I ended up 12th in the 40+ and 64th overall, and I can’t complain about that. The CMS 40+ team had a solid day (I was 4th man) taking second place behind Whirlaway. I met my goal of a season best and now look to longer races and Mountain races where I feel a lot more at home.
12th Annual Rhody 5K – USATF championship
Place Div/Tot Div Time Pace Name Ag S Race# City/state Team
1 1/68 M1929 14:25# 4:39 Abiyot Worku 26 M 318 Bronx NY
2 2/68 M1929 14:27# 4:39 Derise Deniboba 29 M 316 Bronx NY
3 3/68 M1929 14:59 4:50 Kevin Johnson 22 M 247 Ludlow
4 1/74 M3039 15:00 4:50 Justin Freeman 34 M 308 New Hampton NH
5 4/68 M1929 15:04 4:51 David Johnson 22 M 246 Ludlow
11 5/68 M1929 15:24 4:58 Nick Crowell 24 M 284 Portsmouth
15 7/74 M3039 15:33 5:01 Alan Bernier 36 M 282 Providence
23 13/68 M1929 15:44 5:04 Andy McCarron 28 M 290 Keene
24 8/74 M3039 15:45 5:05 Greg Hammett 33 M 287 Chesterfield
27 9/74 M3039 15:49 5:06 Mike Quintal 33 M 293 N Andover
36 5/93 M4049 15:59 5:09 Greg Putnam 41 M 292 Wakefield
37 22/68 M1929 16:03 5:10 Scott Leslie 29 M 289 Rutland
49 9/93 M4049 16:15 5:14 George Adams 41 M 343 Gilsum NH CMS 40+
51 15/74 M3039 16:17 5:15 Greg Ward 39 M 297 W Boylston MA CMS
54 16/74 M3039 16:24 5:17 Ben Strain 32 M 295 Beverly
56 11/93 M4049 16:24 5:17 Joe Shairs 43 M 294 Peabody
58 18/74 M3039 16:25 5:17 Jim Pawlicki 36 M 291 Beverly
63 30/68 M1929 16:36 5:21 Jeff Goupil 23 M 286 Keene
64 13/93 M4049 16:36* 5:21 Dave Dunham 47 M 285 Bradford MA CMS 40+
69 17/93 M4049 16:44* 5:24 Daniel Verrington 48 M 296 Bradford MA CMS 40+
89 23/93 M4049 17:33 5:39 David Qunintal 48 M 366 Salem
100 26/93 M4049 18:03 5:49 John Pajer 48 M 130 Leicester MA CMS 40+
My results as a master in USATF NE
05/06/07 Westford , MA
06/01/08 Lincoln , RI
06/07/09 Lincoln , RI
06/05/11 Lincoln , RI
Results in USATF NE
09/13/87 Concord , NH
07/17/88 Greenwich , RI
06/25/89 Greenwich , RI
08/26/90 Greenwich , RI
08/25/91 Greenwich , RI
06/28/92 Worcester , MA
09/26/93 Manchester , NH 14:30 2nd Elliot Hospital
05/02/98 Manchester , NH
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