New Bedford Half-Marathon
 
Last year I had a major bonk during the last 4 miles of the 1/2 marathon, so my goal this year was to avoid the same fate.  I did a few long runs this year (longer than 6m!) and felt my training was going well.  I dropped down to 80 miles for this week which was my lowest weekly mileage total in 6 months.  I hate to taper and felt pretty lousy once I cut back a bit.

I met up with teammates Jim Pawlicki and Joe Shairs and we motored down to New Bedford, leaving ample time for number pick-up.  Giving extra time was important, the bathroom lines were pretty serious.  We headed out on the course and warmed-up doing an easy 2 miles.  It was brisk (30's) and windy (15+ mph).  It was an unusual wind, it'd be a headwind for the first 3 miles and the last 4 but mostly a tail to cross-wind for the other 7 miles.  We changed into race gear and got to the line about 10 minutes before the start, man I hate big races (and city races).

I had my splits on my wrist with the goal time of 1:16:00, running "even" on this course is impossible so I've worked out splits based on my last 9 races at NB.  I started about 5 rows back and got a decent start.  I found Joe almost right away and we hit the mile right on pace.  It felt a little harder effort than I hoped but it was early and there was plenty of time to settle in.  Joe and I hit right on pace for 2 and 3 miles.  Right after 3 the top woman blew by us like we were standing still.  She put about 5 seconds on us and then we seemed to be running the same pace.  I kind of liked having the big clock on the truck out in front where I could see it rolling along.

Four through six miles are always quick with a slight downhill and in this case a slight tail-wind.  Joe and I were locked in step and if either of us got a gap the other would close it.  I felt okay but not great, but kept my head up and could see Jason Porter and Wayne Levy (two top masters) up ahead.  Around 7 miles I started feeling pretty good (maybe it was the gel I'd taken?) and I upped the tempo a bit and Joe didn't go with me.  By 8 miles I'd finally caught the first woman and was still looking ahead. 

That was the point were my wheels came off last year, this year I felt pretty good.  Right before 9 I surged to close the gap on Matt Germain, I wanted to get behind him before we hit wind.  I tucked in behind him just as we turned into the wind.  I didn't stay behind him all that long and surged a bit to get the next guy.  I found myself slowly moving up and catching people.  Around 10 miles I latched onto Bob Jackman and he was still motoring.  We ran by random guys here and there and slowly closed on Wayne, who is usually the top 45+ guy so I was aiming for him.  We caught Wayne and a couple of guys and I tried to move, Wayne has great leg speed and I was not confident in my ability to out-kick him.  Our group stuck together during the long grind up from 12 miles.

With a half-mile to go I looked at my watch and tried to throw in everything I had.  Wayne dropped back a bit and I gave all I had.  Down the final straight a couple of guys I'd passed came by me and got me right at the line but I was happy to get over the line nearly a minute ahead of my goal and 1:37 under my masters personal best.

I did a very slow 2 mile warm-down and went out on the course to cheer people in.  By the time I got into the post-race food I was bonking and very sore.  I guess that is a good sign that I had nothing left. 

 

Splits: 532/552/558/554/530/534/526/539/542/544/554/554/555/37

Next up:  An easy week then back to racing and mileage, I'm hoping to get fit and fast in time for the James Joyce Ramble which will host the US masters 10km championships.

Top 20 masters

13	KEVIN	COLLINS		42	M	1:09:23	5:18
24	CHRIS	MAGILL	BAA	40	M	1:10:56	5:25
40	JOSEPH	NAVAS	Whirlaway	42	M	1:11:54	5:30
45	GREGORY	PICKLESIMER	Somerville Roa	46	M	1:12:20	5:32
62	KEVEN	O'NEIL	BAA	43	M	1:14:02	5:39
70	JASON	PORTER	Central Mass S	43	M	1:14:25	5:41
74	HARRY	STANTS	BAA	40	M	1:14:49	5:43
77	ANDY	SPAULDING	Dirigo RC	42	M	1:15:03	5:44
81	DAVE	DUNHAM	Central Mass S	48	M	1:15:11	5:45
83	WAYNE	LEVY	BAA	47	M	1:15:17	5:45
85	SCOTT	ANDERSON	Whirlaway	48	M	1:15:25	5:46
91	JOE	SHAIRS	Central Mass S	44	M	1:15:52	5:48
94	PETER	BOTTOMLEY	Dirigo RC	43	M	1:16:03	5:49
100	JUSTIN	RENZ	HFC Striders	41	M	1:16:38	5:51
102	PATRICK	CALLAGHAN	BAA	40	M	1:16:39	5:51
110	DAVID	PRINCIPE	Tuesday Night	46	M	1:17:36	5:56
128	TERRY	MCNATT	CSU	48	M	1:18:47	6:01
130	BRIAN	ALLEN	Whirlaway	41	M	1:18:52	6:01
142	MIKE	GIROUARD	GLRR	43	M	1:19:56	6:06
144	KEVIN	HILL	BAA	40	M	1:20:14	6:08

 

USATF NE 10 mile championship

I dropped my mileage down a bit this week in anticipation of a hard race at the Amherst 10 mile.  The predictions of a major storm and the shift to a 1:00 pm start time had me wondering about how much I really wanted to do this race.  USATF really needs to come up with some sort of a plan to address the possible delay or postponement of a championship race.  I’ve filled out the sanction form and you have to come up with a lengthy plan for medical coverage, so why not a plan for possible inclement weather?

Anyway, I headed out on Saturday to be sure to get to the race.  On Sunday morn I went out on the Manhan bike path for an easy three miles to loosen up.  Then it was a matter of killing 5 hours until the race.  I met up with the CMS crew, which was definitely thinned out due to travel concerns.  The conditions were not bad in Amherst but this is a NEW ENGLAND championship so it gets people from all over.  We’d be lucky if we had five guys on the master’s squad.  We headed out on the course and I bailed after a mile and headed back, I only wanted to get in two miles for a warm-up.  There would be plenty of time to get rolling during the race.

I lined up a couple of rows from the line and got a clean start, by the first turn I’d found Wayne Levy (BAA) and tucked in behind him.  Wayne was the top 45+ runner last year and I was hoping to keep him in sight. I could see teammates Joe Shairs and Jason Porter up ahead.  At the mile Joe and Jason were at least 5 seconds ahead and I was a few seconds slower than I’d hoped to be (5:43).  I found myself in between groups and it was a bit breezy so when Kevin Alliette (WRT) flew by I went with him.  A 5:16 mostly downhill mile got me back up behind Jason and Joe.  During the next mostly uphill mile I even got a step or two ahead and hit 3 miles in 16:59 (6:00).  Jason and I got passed by the “Pocatello Kid” (that is what his singlet had on it) and as we hit the section of dirt road by the reservoir he asked “is this the dirt road section”.  I was working too hard to answer but looked at Jason who just shrugged; it was a very strange question.  Anyway, I felt pretty tired from 4-6 part of that may have been the crappy footing (slush and mud) and part may have been from the heavy snow we got for about 10 minutes.  I lost ground on Jason and was struggling to keep rolling.  The sixth mile was a 5:43 and I was caught by Joe.  We worked together, but I just kept thinking “stay with him for one more mile”.  Our 7^th mile was 5:29 and we were losing ground.  What can you do?  I was all-out.  I never felt comfortable; it always felt like I was pressing.  The next two miles were 5:49 and 5:40 and Kevin Alliette went blowing by.  I tried to go with him and maybe break away from Joe but really didn’t have the turnover.  Joe and I we still locked in step and I tried to work the climb but just couldn’t get around him.  He had a good kick taking me by a couple of seconds in the last 400 meters.

I was pleased with the effort, but the time was about a minute slower than I’d hoped for and 35 seconds slower than last year.  Jason had a sold run taking fourth in the 40+ and Joe and I went four and five.  Martin Tighe (6^th in the 50+ in 1:01:59) was our fourth man and Arthur Besse closed out our team scoring in 1:03:19.  We finished four minutes behind Whirlaway but solidly in second place.  Hopefully we can keep it rolling at New Bedford in three weeks!

40+ Finishers

24         0:55:42 Joseph Navas      42         M4049   WRT

33         0:56:46 Binney Mitchell    44         M4049   GMAA

37         0:57:12 Erik Nedeau        41         M4049   NBB

39         0:57:17 Jason Porter       43         M4049   CMS

46         0:57:49 Joe Shairs           44         M4049   CMS

47         0:57:51 Dave Dunham     48         M4049   CMS

50         0:58:21 Todd Callaghan   43         M4049   GCS

51         0:58:24 Joe Noonan        44         M4049   GMAA

54         0:58:35 Scott Anderson   48         M4049   WRT

65         0:59:20 Wayne Levy       47         M4049   BAA

69         0:59:37 Brian Allen          41         M4049   WRT

74         1:00:10 Michael Cooney   51         M5059   WRT

75         1:00:11 Paul Doe                        53         M5059   WRT

79         1:00:19 Reno Stirrat        58         M5059   WRT

83         1:00:27 Douglas Martyn   52         M5059   WRT

86         1:00:40 Titus Mutinda      47         M4049   TEAM RUN

91         1:01:00 Alejandro Heuck  48         M4049   GSH

93         1:01:09 Mike Girouard      43         M4049   GLRR

101       1:01:56 Bob Lynch          50         M5059   EORC

103       1:01:59 Martin Tighe       54         M5059   CMS

104       1:02:05 Matt Czaplinski     46         M4049   CSU

105       1:02:09 Peter Fratini        47         M4049   GSH

107       1:02:09 John Noland       50         M5059   WRT

110       1:02:25 Chrstopher Gould            47         M4049   GSH

112       1:02:30 Paul Hammond    53         M5059   WRT

116       1:02:49 Jon Waldron       55         M5059   CSU

117       1:03:08 Kevin Delaney     44         M4049   CSU

118       1:03:11 Christopher Smith            47         M4049   SRR

120       1:03:19 Arthur Besse       40         M4049   CMS

Week Ending 12-16-12

A decent week for me.  Calf has been feeling fine although the other "creaky parts" have been really making noise this week.  Hoping to do a little track workout mid-week and if all goes well hit the oval at B.U.

M - Lunch 6 in 42:19
       PM Dan's double cemetery bang with a red-line of the AVIS trail 7 in 50:56

T - 4am industrial park 6 in 47:08
      Lunch 6 in 41:33

W - Lunch 6 in 39:56
       PM Dan's woods 7 in 51:03

Th - Lunch 6 in 39:13
        PM Dan's woods 7 in 50:40

F - Lunch 6 in 37:18 (Fast!)
      PM Dan's woods 7 in 49:49

Sat - 26 minutes alone into 1:00 with Petey on the Chelmsford Rail Trail
        Later am a nice relaxing 4 in 35:04

Sun - Out/back 18 on the Peabody/Danvers/Topsfield/Wenham rail trail with Dan, Jim, Joe, Martin & Greg in 2:17:10

Totals
Week - 96
Month - 210
Year - 4,496
Life - 118,569

Newton 10k - USATF NE championship

I took it pretty easy this week in anticipation of the tough competition at the 10k championships this week.  I dropped down to 80 miles for the week and did a shorter (8x400) workout midweek to get some turnover.  I felt sluggish all week, probably feeling the 10 mile Pack Monadnock race in my legs.  I went into the race planning to key off of Joe Shairs and some of the other top masters and see what happens.

Dave La, DQ, and I headed to the race a bit early so that we could drive the course and get some feel for what the race would be like.  It looked "rolling" but rolling UP through 5k then rolling DOWN to the finish.  It also looked like it'd be a warm day with the bright sun and climbing temperatures.  We hooked up with some CMS teammates (Joe, Jim, and Martin) and headed out for an easy 3 mile warm-up.  After that I changed into race gear and headed out for another mile with some strides.  I felt a bit tired and just the right amount of nervous.  I hit the line with 5 minutes to go and staked out a spot at the front.

I tried to relax in the first mile as many runners blew by me, my plan of running with Joe was over by 400 meters in.  It just felt too fast for me.  I was hoping to run right around 5:30 per mile and was happy with a 5:24 opening mile.  The rolling nature of the course had me slowing for miles 2 and 3 but I was also reeling in some runners.  I caught Joe and Dmitri Drozdov (SRR) just before the 3 mile mark.  Dmitri asked what the time was and I told him (16:40).  Joe noted "I'm toast, go".  I could see Wayne Levy (BAA) not too far ahead and he is leading the grand prix in the 45-49 age group.  I hoped to reel him in on some of the downhill running.

I never really shook Joe and never really reeled in Wayne.  Basically I stayed in the same place from 5k on.  I didn't feel great when we hit the 5m mark (in a personal best 27:46) but I gave everything I had.  I caught Kevin Tilton who was having a rough day and could see Joe closing on Al Bernier who was also having a tough go of it.  I kicked for all I had, knowing it'd be close to my PR and I slid by Kevin in the last 50 meters before the finish.  I ended up taking 9th in the masters with a new PR of 34:27.2 which is a scant one second faster than what I ran at the NE championships (James Joyce 10k) last year.

I'll take it easy again this week and not even hit the track.  All the training is in the bank now and I just need to get to the top of Mt Washington without messing up my calf and I'll be happy!

Splits: 5:25 11:02 (5:37) 16:40 (5:38) 22:22 (5:42) 27:46 (5:24) 34:27 (6:41)

Results:

      1    RUBEN SANCA              DRACUT, MA  MA        810    24   M       1 Top Fin  30:15.4     

      2    KEVIN JOHNSON            HANOVER  NH          8523    23   M       2 Top Fin  30:16.3     

      3    NATE JENKINS       CMS   ANDOVER  MA           866    31   M       3 Top Fin  31:12.2     

CMS finishers

     25    KEVIN GORMAN             NORWOOD  MA           863    35   M       6 30-39    33:40.9     

     26    GREG HAMMETT             CHESTERFIELD  NH      864    34   M       7 30-39    33:43.4     

     38    ALAN BERNIER             PROVIDENCE  RI        861    37   M       9 30-39    34:15.3     

     39    JOE SHAIRS               PEABODY  MA           869    44   M       8 40-49    34:16.4     

     43    DAVE DUNHAM              BRADFORD  MA          862    48   M       9 40-49    34:27.2     

     44    KEVIN TILTON             NORTH CONWAY  NH      870    30   M      11 30-39    34:27.1     

     57    JIM PAWLICKI             LYNN  MA              867    37   M      17 30-39    35:22.3     

     79    JASON PORTER             BEDFORD  NH           875    42   M      17 40-49    36:36.0     

     94    MARTIN TIGHE             PROVIDENCE  RI        871    54   M       9 50-59    37:24.6     

    134    DAVE MINGORI             CHARLTON  MA          745    45   M      30 40-49    38:54.8     

    179    DAVID QUINTAL            SALEM  NH             874    49   M      44 40-49    41:00.7     

    246    DAVID LAPIERRE           CHELMSFORD  MA        159    48   M      58 40-49    43:09.8     

Top 10 masters

      7    JOSEPH KOECH             CHELMSFORD  MA       8662    43   M       1 40-49     32:36.2     

     20    JOSEPH NAVAS             NORTH EASTHAM  MA    8595    41   M       2 40-49     33:19.4     

     23    KENT LEMME               PITTSFIELD  MA        683    45   M       3 40-49     33:31.5     

     24    GREG PUTNAM       CMS    STONEHAM  MA          868    42   M       4 40-49     33:36.1     

     31    DMITRY DROZDOV           LINCOLN  MA          8710    40   M       5 40-49     33:59.8     

     32    TODD CALLAGHAN           BEVERLY  MA           885    42   M       6 40-49     34:02.7     

     36    WAYNE LEVY               WABAN  MA            8532    46   M       7 40-49     34:10.0     

     39    JOE SHAIRS     CMS       PEABODY  MA           869    44   M       8 40-49     34:16.4     

     43    DAVE DUNHAM    CMS       BRADFORD  MA          862    48   M       9 40-49     34:27.2     

     54    JONATHAN MAY             CHARLESTOWN  MA      8649    43   M      10 40-49     35:02.2