USATF NE 5 mile championships

I didn't decide to run at Carver until Thursday.  I've been coming back from a strained calf muscle and haven't raced since Mt Washington (June 18).  Dan Verrington and I did a track workout on Wednesday (2x1mile @ 5:29) and on Thursday my calf still felt okay so I felt it would be safe to test it out at the five mile.

We (me, Dan, and David Quintal) got to the race site a bit early and drove the course to get a feel for what we were in for.  This is always a good move and definitely helps out mentally when running the race.  The first 1.5 was generally downhill, then it was pretty flat with a "little" bump in the last 1/4 mile that was definitely going to hurt.  I thought it looked a lot quicker than James Joyce but my lack of fitness over the last 6 weeks tempered my goal.  I was aiming to run 5:40's = 28:20 and hopefully score for the team.

A huge group of CMS runners went out for a 3 mile warm-up and I followed that with another mile doing strides.  It was hot and I really did not feel up to doing anything quick but needed to follow the routine.  I hit the line 5 minutes before the start and CMS had all gathered on one side of the line.

I thought the start went out very fast and I tried to run in control.  About 1/2 mile in I passed the top 4 or 5 women who were bunched together.  I focused on Terry McNatt, Mike Platt, and Reno Stirrat who weren't that far in front of me at the mile (5:21) - downhill/tailwind.  We turned off of Main street at 1.5 and I worked my way around Mike and Reno as Terry pulled away.  Next I focused on catching David Q who was a few seconds up at 2 miles (10:59/5:38).  I passed David before three miles and closed on the first place woman.  It was hot out there and NONE of the water-stops had more than 2 people at them.  At one stop I got 2 empty cups of water and another I got a cup that was "hot enough to have a nice cup of tea".  I hit 3 miles in 16:43/5:44 and felt I had a good shot at reaching my goal.  I felt pretty good during the fourth mile and caught a couple of guys and passed the lead woman.  I hit four in 22:35/5:52, my worst mile of the day but one that I felt I ran pretty well.  The final mile was tough, especially the last uphill part.  I pushed as hard as I could (checking my watch 3 times during the last mile) and hit the line in 28:20/5:45 right at my predicted time.  If nothing else I can gauge my fitness level pretty well.

Our team ran really well, taking second place to Whirlaway by only 29 seconds!

I'm not sure what I'll be doing the rest of the summer but it will definitely include a lot of racing as long as my body allows.  I need to make up for those 6 weeks I lost...

 33rd Annual Carver Cranberry 5 Miler Road Race   
  1   24:42  4:56    1 16-29    1 M   149 Kevin Johnson               Ludlow,MA            Greater Springfield Harriers            
  2   25:03  5:01    1 30-39    2 M   453 Justin Freeman              New Hampton,NH       Retailers Union (RUN)                   
  3   25:15  5:03    2 16-29    3 M   371 Dan Vassallo                Reading,MA           Addidas New England RC                  
  4   25:19  5:04    2 30-39    4 M    98 Justin Fyffe                East Dummerston,VT   Boston Athletic Association             
  5   25:31  5:06    3 30-39    5 M   233 Eric Narcisi                Charlestown,MA       Whirlaway Racing Team                    
  7   25:36  5:07    4 30-39    7 M   463 Jim Johnson                 Salem,MA             Central Mass Striders                   
10   25:46  5:09    5 16-29   10 M   419 Nick Crowell                Portsmouth,NH        Central Mass Striders                   
15   26:08  5:14    7 16-29   15 M   462 Peter Mallett               Manchester,NH        Central Mass Striders                   
17   26:13  5:15    9 16-29   17 M   461 Andy McCarron               Keene,NH             Central Mass Striders                   
20   26:24  5:17   11 16-29   20 M   260 Tim Pipp                    Keene,NH             Central Mass Striders                   
26   26:49  5:22   10 30-39   26 M   465 Greg Hammett                Chesterfield,NH      Central Mass Striders                   
27   26:50  5:22   11 30-39   27 M   353 Greg Ward                   W. Boylston,MA       Central Mass Striders                   
32   27:07  5:25    4 40-49   32 M   267 Greg Putnam                 Wakefield,MA         Central Mass Striders                   
34   27:14  5:27    5 40-49   34 M   305 Joe Shairs                  Peabody,MA           Central Mass Striders                   
38   27:31  5:30    7 40-49   38 M   344 Dan Verrington              Bradford,MA          Central Mass Striders                   
41   27:42  5:32   18 16-29   41 M   466 Matt Clark                  Amherst,MA           Central Mass Striders                   
43   27:46  5:33   15 30-39   43 M   464 Chris Mahoney               Haverhill,MA         Central Mass Striders                   
44   27:46  5:33   16 30-39   44 M   449 Kevin Gorman                Norwood,MA           Central Mass Striders                   
52   27:53  5:35   19 30-39   52 M   251 Jim Pawlicki                Beverly,MA           Central Mass Striders                   
57   28:20  5:40   13 40-49   57 M   404 Dave Dunham                 Bradford,MA          Central Mass Striders                   
60   28:32  5:42   14 40-49   59 M   407 David Quintal               Salem,MA             Central Mass Striders                   
67   29:01  5:48   22 16-29   65 M   365 Sam Wood                    Laconia,NH           Central Mass Striders               
68   29:01  5:48   16 40-49   66 M   388 John Pajer                  Leicester,MA         Central Mass Striders                  

Almost naked run