Donovan Memorial 5k

I headed up to Concord on Saturday for the Frank Donovan Memorial 5k.  I've run at NHTI and Delta Dental a bunch of times over a variety of courses.  I got there with plenty of time to scope out the course.  After checking the map a few times I headed out and ran the course for a warm-up.  It was a nice course with a mix of road and about a mile of trail.  The trail section kept us out of the wind that was mostly cross-wind or tail wind.

At the end of my warm-up a car pulled along side and Nacho Henando shouted out a "hello".  I hadn't seen Nacho since Snowshoe Nationals back in March but he was tearing things up.  That meant no worrying about winning today, so I was focused on getting a quick time.  I switched into my lite racing flats and headed back out for another mile with a few strides to get the blood flowing.  I made it back just as they were doing the final instructions and off we went.

Nacho took it out hard and was gone right from the start, I couldn't even see him after the first mile.  Three other guys went out pretty hard but by about a half-mile I'd moved up into second.  Jamie Wilkes hung tough and we ran together through the mile - 5:30.  He tucked in behind me as we hit the trail section and after that I slowly gapped him.  By the finish I was nearly 2 minutes behind Nacho who was hoping to crack 15.  I was able to put 25 seconds on third place.

The time 17:11.6 is my best this year taking a little bit off my time from Exeter back in May.  As such it is my 50+ PR.

Frank Donovan Memorial 5k 11/15/2014

Place     First            Last            Time            Pace            Division            DivPL     Age            Sex            City, State     Team                    1          Nacho Hernando         15:35.8            5:02            MOPEN            1            21            M            Concord, NH      NHTI

2          Dave Dunham             17:11.6            5:33            MOPEN            2            50            M            Ward Hill, MA  CMS

3          Jamie Wilkes                17:37.3            5:41            MOPEN            3            15            M            Concord, NH                 

4          Quinn Parker              17:43.3            5:43            M20-29            1            21            M            Hampton, NH    NHTI

5          David Audet                18:13.8            5:53            M40-49            1            49            M            Concord, NH     

1 of 12 in the 50-59

Total Finishers 102