I ran 11:01 last year and all of my times this year have been about 10 seconds per mile slower, so my expectation was around 11:20. My plan was to go out in about 5:35 and then hopefully hold on for a sub-11:20.
I got to the race extra early, got my number and my "Sullivan Farms Racing Team" singlet before meeting up with D-La for a warm-up. He wasn't racing but was in the area doing some street bagging. It was already getting hot as we ran the first 1.5 of the course (out/back). Terry McNatt (CSU) joined us for the last mile. Terry finished 2nd to me in the 50+ last year so I knew there would be good competition. I bumped into Bob Tremblay (Chelmsford) who was looking to run fast but leery of the heat.
Nearly 2,000 lined up and Tom moved us up from one fake start line to the next. RD Bob Sullivan showed up, gave the final instruction and we got ready to go. On the final move up to the start I got boxed in by a couple of kids. I wasn't too concerned as this is typical at Chelmsford. The kids usually sprint out for 200m then you have to be careful as they slow (or sometimes stop!). The gun went off, I took off, and one step into the race I tangled up with one of the kids and went down in a heap.
I had no time to think, I popped back up with an assist from Terry McNatt and was on my way. I probably lost a few seconds (3 or 4?) and my knee and hands were scraped. I could see Bob well up ahead but didn't see any other 50+. The first half-mile drops 10' then climbs 15' in the last 200 meters. I hoped to be about 2:45 and hit that in 2:50. Pretty much on pace given the fall. By this point I'd passed a lot of people who went out way to hard which is typical at Chelmsford. I continued to pass people steadily during the next half mile which climbs 25'. That doesn't sound like much but I definitely could feel it. I reached the mile in 5:43 (2:53), much slower than I'd hoped for! The climb continued through 1.2 (another 10') before dropping 25' into 1.5 miles. I was still catching people which helped and felt good heading downhill. I reached 1.5 in 8:32 (2:49) and continued to pass people as we dropped down to Chelmsford center. That last 1/2 mile drops 25' before the final 300 meters where you gain 15'. That last 15' of climb really hurts and you can't see the finish line as it is around the corner at the town center. With 100 meters to go I got passed by a younger guy who blew by on the inside (that'd be the only person who passed me in the race). I got to the finish in 11:21.something. Basically what I'd thought I could run but not quite what I'd hoped for.
I got in an extended warm-down on the rail trail and a nice section of Lowell to cap a 15 mile day. Hopefully I'll stay on my feet at Loon mountain this weekend!
MALE AGE GROUP: 50 to 59
Place O'All Time Name Age Sex Race# City/state
===== ===== ======= ======================== === === ===== =======================
1 21 10:53 Bob Tremblay 52 M 703 Chelmsford MA
2 27 11:22 Dave Dunham 55 M 11 Bradford MA
3 29 11:26 Scott Grandfield 54 M 1622 Rehoboth MA
4 33 11:29 Terry McNatt 54 M 1544 Needham MA
5 66 12:55 Bob Sullivan 55 M 33 Chelmsford MA
6 90 13:21 Adam Sherer 53 M 1192 Chelmsford MA
7 96 13:24 Scott Keohane 54 M 1213 Littleton MA
8 99 13:25 David Cohen 50 M 276 N Chelmsford MA
9 107 13:37 Mark Gallagher 55 M 1354 Chelmsford MA
10 110 13:40 Joseph Callaghan 50 M 1758 Westford MA
 |
| Note the clock goes from 11:19 to 11:29 then to 11:20 |
1 1/110 M1929 8:54 4:27 Daniel Curtis 23 M 8 Ellsworth ME
2 2/110 M1929 9:07 4:34 Henry Sterling 27 M 316 Providence RI
3 3/110 M1929 9:15 4:38 Neal Darmody 29 M 158 Bow NH
4 1/107 M3039 9:26 4:43 Adam Malek 31 M 43 Providence RI
5 4/110 M1929 9:31 4:46 Conor Cashin 26 M 1673 Brighton MA
6 1/33 M1718 9:39 4:50 Mike Griffin 17 M 1770 Wrentham MA
7 5/110 M1929 9:45 4:53 Ben Bosworth 24 M 25 Boston MA
8 6/110 M1929 9:45 4:53 John Schilkowsky 27 M 30 Providence RI
9 7/110 M1929 10:04 5:02 Jason Dolan 20 M 169 Westford MA
10 8/110 M1929 10:18 5:09 Peter Caron 21 M 1813 Lowell MA
11 9/110 M1929 10:21 5:11 Justin Britton 29 M 1681 Brookline MA
12 10/110 M1929 10:23 5:12 Timothy McNamara 21 M 1075 Chelmsford MA
13 11/110 M1929 10:26 5:13 David Perloff 26 M 21 Chelmsford MA
14 12/110 M1929 10:36 5:18 Drew Fottler 19 M 500 Chelmsford MA
15 13/110 M1929 10:38 5:19 Joe Rand 27 M 1782
16 1/56 M1516 10:39 5:20 Drew Madsen 16 M 1726 Chelmsford MA
17 2/56 M1516 10:41 5:21 Aidan Hennessey 16 M 27 Chelmsford MA
18 14/110 M1929 10:48 5:24 Nick McArdle 24 M 1477 Lowell MA
19 1/126 F1929 10:52 5:26 Haley Abing 27 F 1666 Boston MA
20 15/110 M1929 10:52 5:26 Timothy Loylebangan 29 M 1678 Cambridge MA
21 1/121 M5059 10:53 5:27 Bob Tremblay 52 M 703 Chelmsford MA
22 2/107 M3039 10:56 5:28 Nick Cunkelman 30 M 1482 Acton MA
23 1/165 M4049 11:11 5:36 Chris McDermott 48 M 749 Barrington RI
24 2/33 M1718 11:12 5:36 Michael Norberg 17 M 1771 Norfolk MA
25 2/165 M4049 11:13 5:37 Andrew Wedlake 47 M 655 Westford MA
26 3/107 M3039 11:21 5:41 Matthew Freitas 34 M 476 Chelmsford MA
27 2/121 M5059 11:22 5:41 Dave Dunham 55 M 11 Bradford MA
28 16/110 M1929 11:24 5:42 Nate Webber 27 M 1688 Atkinson NH
29 3/121 M5059 11:26 5:43 Scott Grandfield 54 M 1622 Rehoboth MA
30 3/56 M1516 11:27 5:44 Aidan Mahony 15 M 1441 Westford MA
31 1/31 F1718 11:28 5:44 Caroline Fischer 17 F 987 Merrimack NH
32 2/126 F1929 11:28 5:44 Emily Ruggiero 24 F 617 Westford MA
33 4/121 M5059 11:29 5:45 Terry McNatt 54 M 1544 Needham MA
34 3/33 M1718 11:31 5:46 Ben Trantanella 17 M 42 Westford MA
35 4/107 M3039 11:33 5:47 John Nacsin 35 M 144 Foxboro MA
36 4/56 M1516 11:35 5:48 James Barrett 16 M 45 Chelmsford MA
37 17/110 M1929 11:38 5:49 John Paquet 3rd 24 M 1930 Woburn MA
38 3/165 M4049 11:41 5:51 Ryan Hunt 47 M 28 Melrose MA
39 18/110 M1929 11:44 5:52 Travis Kellegrew 28 M 10 Littleton MA
40 5/56 M1516 11:44 5:52 Kenny Goodwin 16 M 1249 Chelmsford MA
41 1/45 F1516 11:47 5:54 Cali Coffin 16 F 1258 Nashua NH
42 1/54 M1314 11:49 5:55 Bona Bradshaw 13 M 730 Littleton MA
43 5/107 M3039 11:54 5:57 Brian Betsold 37 M 1109 Chelmsford MA
44 2/54 M1314 11:58 5:59 Thomas Woodlock 14 M 906 Lowell MA
45 3/126 F1929 11:59 6:00 Caroline O'Shea 20 F 426 Nashua NH
46 4/126 F1929 12:00 6:00 Shannon Lustiber 19 F 427 Chelmsford MA
47 19/110 M1929 12:02 6:01 Graham Lustiber 24 M 428 Jersey City NJ
48 20/110 M1929 12:02 6:01 Jack Benjamin 29 M 1667 Chicopee MA
49 21/110 M1929 12:09 6:05 Matt Arseneault 24 M 20 Chelmsford MA
50 6/107 M3039 12:14 6:07 Tyler Leeds 36 M 1755 Chelmsford MA
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