Looking back - March 2012

10 years ago (March 2012) - I had a big March with over 400 miles of running while mixing it up over five races including 2 snowshoe races, 1 road race, a trail race, and a cross country race. I headed to Merrimack NH for the Horse Hill 3.7 mile snowshoe race and it was pouring rain when I arrived. The snow was very slushy and stepping on the single-track left very little on the ground. This was going to be rough! 19 hardcore racers lined up and off we went on a Wolfie-designed 3.7 mile trek.
 
1 30:53 8:19 Kevin Tilton              CMS Polar Bears               30 M North Conway NH
2 33:37 9:03 Dave Dunham          CMS Polar Bears               47 M Bradford MA
3 34:02 9:09 Michael Daigeaun                                               32 M Philadelphia PA
4 35:35 9:34 Chris Dunn acidotic RACING                              43 M Strafford NH
5 41:58 11:17 David Hippert                                                     29 M Manchester NH
6 42:41 11:29 Richie Blake           acidotic RACING                              43 M Tyngsboro MA

 
I headed up to Great Glen (at the base of Mt Washington) to close out this short season on snowshoes. Acidotic King Chris Dunn was hosting the final race of the NH series which doubled as the Granite State snowshoe championships. It was over 40 degrees and bright sun, the view of Mt Washington was spectacular. Jim Johnson took it out like a man possessed and won going away.
 
1 Jim Johnson 34 M         MADISON, NH   CMS POLAR BEARS          37:30 6:03
2 Dave Dunham 47 M BRADFORD, MA CMS POLAR BEARS             40:38 6:34
3 Chris Dunn 43 M           STRAFFORD, NH ACIDOTIC RACING           42:56 6:56
8 Keith O’Brien 47 M      CHELMSFORD, MA GLRR                              46:13 7:28
 

Next up was the New England in the ½ marathon championship at New Bedford. I thought if I had a really good day I might crack 1:16. I would be very disappointed if I didn’t break my masters PR of 1:17:11.  I was a bit shocked when Dan came by right around 6 miles. He must have been feeling good because he just flew by! My legs just ran out of gas. The last 3.1 miles were a struggle. I ended up 11th in the masters in 1:16:48. The CMS masters team had another excellent day, taking second in a hotly contested Grand Prix race.
 
MALE MASTERS TEAM RESULTS (17 teams)
1. BAA   1:11:00 1:11:13 1:14:54 1:19:18 1:19:38 (1:20:52) (1:21:15) = 6:16:03
2. CMS  1:14:39 1:15:12 1:15:54 1:16:30 1:16:48 (1:17:36) (1:36:02) = 6:19:03
GEORGE ADAMS 41 M, JOE SHAIRS 43 M, JASON PORTER 43 M, DAN VERRINGTON 42 M, DAVE DUNHAM 47 M,
JOHN PAJER 49 M, JOSEPH ALFANO 46 M
3. Somerville Road Runners          1:14:20 1:14:55 1:16:01 1:17:11 1:21:27 (1:25:53)
 
Next up was the Olde Salem Greens XC race. Last time I was there (2007) we had 2” of snow, this year would be just about ideal conditions! Close to 300 lined up for the sprint through the parking lot and onto the 9-hole golf course. I had a good back and forth with Nick Sousa and teammate Mike Quintal but both buried me in the last ½ mile.
 
1 269 Nick Sousa              17:34 5:40 1/16 M1829 28 M Salem        MA
2 260 Mike Quintal          17:37 5:41 1/27 M3039 34 M N.Andover               MA
3 258 Dave Dunham        17:40 5:42 1/46 M4049 47 M Bradford   MA
4 259 Dan Verrington      18:23 5:56 2/46 M4049 49 M Bradford   MA

 
The final week of the month would find me heading down to Florida to visit my parents. While searching for things to do I came across a few races. The Robinson Preserve race looked like the most interesting. It was warm (80) and windy, but at least there were some high clouds keeping the sun from making it worse even at 6:30 at night. I bumped into some Greater Lowell Road Runners right before the start.  I got a good spot on the line way over on the side and got out cleanly, which was important, there was only about ¼ mile before we got on to the narrow trail. By the time I hit the trail I was in 7th place with the lead group pulling away. I ran the entire race alone (no one to block the wind) and rolled into the finish in 17:29 for 7th overall and 2nd in the 40+. Nearly 1,300 finished the race including mom who took 5th in the 65-69 and beat over 200 people!
 
 
 
Pl Time Name                                  Age        City                       Pace
1 16:07 Hank Campbell                  32 St Pete, FL                    5:11
2 16:17 Sean Daugherty                19 Bradenton, FL             5:15
3 16:24 Michael Rosato                23 Gainesville, FL             5:17
4 16:35 Douglas Morton                              40 Sebring, FL                   5:21
5 16:51 Bruce Bragg                       17 Bradenton, FL             5:26
6 17:08 John Biffan                        28                                         5:31
7 17:29 Dave Dunham                   48 Bradford, MA                             5:38
8 17:48 Alexander Oberg              29 Unknown, XX               5:44
9 17:52 Scott Lafferty                    40 Gainesville, FL             5:45
10 18:39 Kevin Brennen                24 Tampa, FL                     6:01
516 Men 1,254 total finishers
 
494        38:45 Regina Dunham     69 Zephryhills, FL             12:26