Preview - USATF NE 15k ( Boston Tune-up)

USATF New England 15 km championship

The 15km (9.3 mile) distance has rarely been contested in the Grand Prix.  This year marks only the ninth time the Grand Prix has included a 15km.  The distance was part of the GP from 1985-1991, then not included again until 2014.  In 1985 there were two 15k’s, the Butternut 15k (Great Barrington, MA) and the NEAC Women’s 15k in Wellesley.  In 1986 the Tewksbury “Run your turkey off” hosted.  In 1987 the selected race was the City of Worcester 15k.  For the years 1988-1990 the Wilton 15k played host and in 1991 Douglas Vending/Juice Bowl (Webster, MA) did.  The 15k returned to the scene in 2014 when the Green Mountain Athletic Alliance hosted the championship in Burlington VT.  None of the races are currently contested. 

The CMS open team has won five times with GLRR and WRT both taking one victory.  CMS has the team record with a 3:57:42 from 1987 which works out to the five runners averaging 47:32 (5:06 pace).  GLRR has four wins in the master’s category and the CR of 4:20:07 (5:35 pace).  CMS has two wins and GMAA has one win.  Senior teams were not contested in the “early” years.  The BAA has two team victories in the 50+ and GMAA has one. 

Information regarding this years “Boston Tune-up” race can be found here:

http://www.tri-valleyfrontrunners.com/tuneup/tune-up.php

The current scenic rolling course has been used since 2007, there have been some very fast times run.  Course records:

Overall  Casey Moulton  47:34  2007 
40 - 49  Keiron Tumbleton  51:44  2007 
50 - 59  David Oliver  53:30  2007 
60 - 69  Larry Olsen  55:46  2007 
70+  Harry Carter  1:06:24  2007 
 
Overall  Steph Reilly  54:21  2013 
40 - 49  Meredith Dutton  58:44  2009 
50 - 59  Kris Gleason  1:07:01  2013 
60 - 69  Linda Usher  1:20:27  2011 
70+  Paulina Berman  1:49:33  2012 
 
The course is definitely “rolling” but with a total of 253’ of climb and descent that makes it much easier than the Amherst 10 mile (591’) or the USATF NE 10m champs in Auburn NH last year (469’).  None of the hills were particularly memorable but they could take a collective toll.

Here is what the course looks like:



First 5k



2nd 5k

Final 5k