Looking back - 10 years ago

10 years ago – I raced four times during November 2011, running two cross-country races and two road races.  I’d missed some time in October with a pulled calf muscle and was still building back up in November.  I did manage to put in 390 miles during this month with weeks of 92, 94, 100, and 86.  I started the month (11/13/11) testing out the calf at the Portland Bayside 5k (Portland ME).  I never felt great over the longish 5k race on the bike path but put in a solid effort taking 5th in 17:16. 

The next weekend I met up with Eric and Murdock and we did a fun 14 mile run up and down Mt Greylock.  Murdock probably did 20 miles as he was chasing squirrels then catching back up to us.

On 11/20/11 I hit the streets of Lowell for the Marcia Lemkin 5k.  The race was probably a little short, but no complaints as I got the win in 16:51.  Kara Haas was close behind taking 3rd overall in 17:35.

I finished off the month with a double dose of XC.  On Thanksgiving (11/24/11) I joined about 500 others for the Wild Turkey XC race (WCRC) at Pipestave.  I found myself alone in third place and stayed there as Tim Murtagh won in 16:48 and Mark Coogan was top master in 2nd overall in 17:18. I came in over a minute ahead of fourth place in 17:37.   On Sunday (11/27/11) I ran in another big field for a cross country race (370) at the Andover Country Club XC 3.5 mile race. I ended up running nearly a minute faster than 2010 and was tops in the 40+ with a fourth place overall.  I had a good battle with David Quintal as we went back and forth through about 2 miles before I was able to gap him.

1 16:53 Nate Jenkins        Saucony
2 17:03 Eric Ashe
3 18:14 Mike Quintal       CMS
4 18:43 Dave Dunham     CMS
5 18:57 David Quintal      CMS
8 19:16 James Pawlicki    CMS