Amherst 10 mile

First off...it is a 10 mile, not a 10 "miler".  I hate that term.  If you run a 10 mile then YOU are a 10 miler but the race isn't.

Anyway...

This weekend USATF New England kicks off the 2015 Grand Prix series (a series of 7 road races at various distances, each being the New England championship).  The “Five Colleges” 10 mile in Amherst has served as the 10 mile championship six times.  The 10 mile is not considered a “mandatory” distance so it has only been part of the GP 20 of 30 possible years.

This will be the 210^th USATF NE grand prix race.  Here is the breakdown by distance:

Distance	Times in GP
5k	30
10k	30
Mar	30
5m/8k	27
1/2 mar	24
10m	20
30k	12
12k	10
8m	8
15k	8
20k	5
25k	3
6k	2
Total	209

 

Of the 103 GP races I’ve done,  I’ve run the 10 mile distance twelve times.  I picked up one overall win passing Scott Bagley at 9.2 miles and college roommate Denis Simoniatis at 9.9 miles for a 2 second victory in 49:36.  My only other “win” was topping the 45-49 age group in 2013 with a 57:51.

Date	Result	Pl	Name	Location	Notes
05/01/88	DNR	-	CMHC	Worcester
05/07/89	DNR	-	CMHC	Worcester
05/06/90	49:58	3	CMHC	Worcester	1 Schille 49:34
05/05/91	49:36	1	CMHC	Worcester	2 Simoniatis 49:38
07/28/92	50:17	3	NEAC 10M	Newburyport
08/03/93	50:25	3	Yankee Homecoming	Newburyport	1 Karari 48:56
08/02/94	DNR	-	Yankee Homecoming	Newburyport
08/01/95	51:26	5	Yankee Homecoming	Newburyport	1 Cody 51:01 NBTC
07/30/96	50:23	5	Yankee Homecoming	Newburyport	1 Fram 49:57 CMS
07/29/97	DNR	-	Yankee Homecoming	Newburyport	1 Fitzpatrick 49:36
07/28/98	52:39	7	USATF NE 10m	Newburyport	1 Giffen 51:24
02/28/99	52:27	9	USATF NE 10m	Amherst	1 Darley 51:35
10/01/06	DNR		Apple Harvest	Harvard
09/23/07	DNR		Apple Harvest	Harvard
07/29/08	59:29	80	Yankee Homecoming (USATF GP)	Newburyport	14th 40+
02/22/09	59:56	77	DH Jones USATF NE champs	Amherst	16th 40+
02/28/10	DNR		DH Jones	Amherst
02/26/12	57:15	64	DH Jones - USATF NE	Amherst	2nd 45+ (8th 40+)
02/24/13	57:51	47	DH Jones - USATF NE	Amherst	1st 45+ (6th 40+)
02/23/14	DNR		DH Jones - USATF NE	Amherst

 

I’ve had decent luck at Amherst (despite not really enjoying a February 10 mile).  Of the six times I’ve made the trek to Western MA I’ve picked up overall wins twice (1992 & 2001) along with the top 45-49 place in 2013.

 

Date	Time	Place	Field	Name	Notes
02/23/92	50:36	1	476	DH Jones	Outkicked Ed Sheehan (50:40)
02/28/99	52:27	9	940	USATF NE 10m	Drizzle, 30's, icy
02/25/01	55:04	1	355	DH Jones	Very slick snow, ice rain, lousy footing.
02/22/09	59:56	77	596	DH Jones USATF NE champs
02/26/12	57:15	62	607	USATF NE 10 mile
02/24/13	57:51	47	500	USATF NE champs (DH Jones)	1st in the 45-49

 

Good luck to everyone racing at Amherst this weekend.  Be careful out there!