USATF NE 10 mile course preview

2017 Amherst 10 mile preview

This will be the 23^rd time that the Grand Prix (1985-2017) has had a 10 mile as part of the series. It has previously been held in Newburyport (8 times), Amherst (7 times), Worcester (4 times), Harvard (2 times), and Auburn NH once.  CMS has won the team championship 11 times; BAA 8 times, GBTC has won twice and WMDP once. The team record, held by CMS, is 4:13:21 set in 1992. That is an impressive average of 50:40 for five runners.

Winning teams:

08/27/16            BAA       4:29:14 (53:51)
02/22/15            BAA       4:33:18  (54:40)
02/26/14            BAA       4:25:21  (53:04)
02/24/13            WMDP   4:23:50  (52:46)
02/26/12            BAA       4:21:34  (52:19)
02/28/10            BAA       4:22:21  (52:28)
02/29/09            BAA       4:19:04  (51:49)
07/29/08            GBTC     4:30:12 (54:02)
09/23/07            GBTC     4:30:22 (54:04)
10/01/06            BAA       4:19:49 (51:58)
02/28/99            BAA       4:22:21 (52:28)
07/28/98            CMS      4:22:52 (52:34)
07/29/97            CMS      4:19:26 (51:53)
07/30/96            CMS      4:15:40 (51:08)
08/01/95            CMS      4:21:24 (52:17)
08/02/94            CMS      4:17:28 (51:30)
08/03/93            CMS      4:18:52 (51:46)
07/28/92            CMS      4:13:21 (50:40) Team Record
05/05/91            CMS      4:15:10 (51:02)
05/06/90            CMS      4:19:44 (51:57)
05/07/89            CMS      4:27:20 (53:28)
05/01/88            CMS      4:17:56 (51:35)
 
Fastest times by USATF NE runners in a USATF NE 10 mile championship race
1 49:34  Chris Schille         NB        1990 CMHC Worcester
2t 49:36 Teddy Fitzpatrick             1997 Yankee Homecoming Newburyport
2t 49:36 Dave Dunham     GLRR     1991 CHMC Worcester
2t 49:36 Scott Bagley       CMS      1988 CMHC Worcester
5 49:38  Dennis Simonaitis RRT      1991 CMHC Worcester
 
Top times at Amherst (only times run in years that Amherst was the USATF NE championships)
Rank     Pl           Time      Name                                  Age        Team                    Year
1          1          49:51     Patrick Tarpy                  26         RUN                  2009
2          1          50:34     Eric Ashe                        26         BAA                   2015
3          2          50:34     Ruben Sanca                   28         WRT                  2015
4          3          50:39     Louis Serafini                  23         Heartbreakers     2015
5          1          50:43     Eric Ashe                        25         BAA                   2014
6          2          50:50     Ruben Sanca                   27         WRT                  2014
7          1          50:53     Brendan Callahan             28         BAA                   2010
8          2          50:58     Justin Fyffe                     29         CMS                  2010
9          1          51:12     Kevin Johnson                 23         GBTC                 2012
10         4          51:23     Matt Pelletier                   35         Brooks               2015
11         2          51:26     Nate Jenkins                   31         CMS                  2012
12         3          51:29     Dan Vassallo                   28         CMS                  2014
13         2          51:28     Patrick Moulton               27         BAA                   2009 
Course record at Amherst = 48:57 Bob Hodge - 1984

Course Profile:

The first mile features three 90 degree turns including one in the first minute of racing.  You will drop 30’ in the first ½ mile and take two 90 degree turns just after the ½ mile mark.  After that you climb 90’ in a ½ mile, there is a temptation to push this hill but there is still a lot of racing to be done so be cautious.

After the mile you drop 150’ and take two turns and cross a set of railroad tracks, keep your eyes open. This is typically the fastest mile of the race.

From 2 miles to 3 miles is almost all on North East Street.  This mile has 120’ of climb but almost all of that is in the last half mile (4-5% grade).

The climb really increases as you turn onto Shutesbury road (7-10% grades in spots) three to four has a 135’ climb in the first 3/10ths then drops 85’ from 3.3 to 3.7, after that it is nearly flat to the 4 mile mark.  This is probably the toughest mile on the course.

Four to five miles starts with a tough little 50’ hill over 1/10^th of a mile, but then it is basically flat as you turn onto Cushman St.  Unfortunately Cushman borders the Atkins reservoir, this dirt road is not treated in the winter so it can be muddy (or worse icy).

Five to 5.5 continues flat on Cushman then there is a 30’ bump on Market Hill road beofe and 80’ drop over the final 3/10ths of a mile.

 

Six to Seven continues the steady drop losing another 80’ on Market hill and Henry Street.

Seven to Eight continues down Henry Street and completes the loop as you merge back onto North East Street at 7.8 miles.  The mile drops a total of 80’ but has a tough little 30’ rise from 7.4 to 7.5.

Eight to Nine drops 50’ in the first ½ mile then has a tough climb of 60’ over 2/10ths as you near the turn off of North East Street.

The final mile is pretty tough.  The first 1/10^th has a 30’ climb then a quick 30’ drop before the grind from 9.2 to 9.6 which climbs 100’.  Finally you drop 50’ as you head down to the Elementary school and the frustrating loop around the parking lot while in sight of the finish line.