double d mountain runner: Merrimack River Trail Race

The following week I sat firmly on the fence about racing. I did a workout on Tuesday (2 x 1 mile in 5:44 & 5:36) that left me a little sore, but happy about where my fitness is at. On Thursday I got my 2^nd COVID booster and ran the River course putting out the mile markers. The course was in great shape and running it got me fired up to race. Thursday night into Friday I was pretty sick from the shot. Fever, chills, and just feeling miserable. I bounced back a bit Friday afternoon and decided I’d go to the race and play it by ear.

I was not back to 100% but felt a lot better than the previous day. I met up with Greg Putnam and headed out on the course for a warm-up. As is always the case it was a bit muddy over the first 200 meters and then it was nice running. Greg continued on for a long run while I headed back to get into race gear. I went with Inov-8 trail shoes which have great traction. Right before the start I bumped into teammate Adam Malek who was wearing Kahtoolah traction devices over his race flats. He was going to have EXCELLENT traction! After a few final instructions the field of 118 was sent on our way. I got out well and had no trouble over the messy and narrow first part. Once we turned onto the trail proper a few guys flew by. I settled in with Kassandra Marin in about 15^th place. My goal was to run around 7:00 miles for the first and last 3 miles and try to average about 8:00’s for the tough four miles. That’d get me home in about 1:10, which based on how I was feeling seemed about right. A 6:50 and a 6:53 got me to the 2 mile mark feeling pretty good. I moved ahead of Kassandra and closed on two guys in front of me during the third mile (6:37). Jeff Walker (the one from Maine) apologized for breathing down my neck on a downhill and then flew by wishing me well. I caught up to the Londonderry High School XC kid when he stopped at the 4 mile waterstop (8:34). I knew that’d be the slowest mile of the day and tried to enjoy the fantastic stretch of running on the new trail from 4 to 5 miles (7:55). The next couple of miles had me closing on Jeff on the uphills and him burying me on the downhills. Running back through the crowds heading out meant really paying attention. It was also nice getting cheers from folks along the way. Richie Blake was the first person I saw on the way back as he was heading up the powerline hill, he still had the energy to offer encouragement. I also saw Emer O’Donoghue and Paul Grant who both gave me an enthusiastic “go get him”. As late as 8 miles I still thought I had a shot at Jeff, but he had something left in reserve and really buried me over the final mile. I closed with a 6:53 and 6:57, so I didn’t fall apart but I did not have anything left. I think the lack of running over the last 6 months played into that. Jeff ended up breaking his 55-59 age group record and my time got me the 3^rd fastest ever in the 55-59. Pretty happy with breaking 1:10, but surprised that 13^th place overall was only good enough for 6^th in the 50+. A very strong age group indeed! I finished my 15^th River, so I’ve officially run half of the races. There are 14 people who have done 15 or more of the races. So happy that North Medford Club (and Sau-Mei) took on the race and kept it going.