Dave
Dunham’s Training log
1988
I’m not sure why I decided to
run Mt Washington that first time. I’m
guessing it had something to do with my teammate Bob Hodge. We were doing a lot of racing together and
even some track workouts. The Greater
Lowell Road Runners were trying to build a strong road racing team around
Hodgie and me.
Racing had gone pretty well
in ’88 I had raced a total of 32 times which is pretty low for me. Heading into Mt Washington I had done three
races in May. I was fourth in the NEAC
(New England Athletic Congress) Grand Prix 10K in Nashua NH in 29:17. I also traveled out to Boulder CO for the
Bolder Boulder 10K race and ran 32:04, which was pretty disappointing as time
bonus money ended at 32:00. Training was
going well leading up to the race. The
week of the Mt Washington I had 99 miles and 80 miles of biking despite the
100-degree heat (Wednesday).
I drove up to the White
Mountains on Friday night and did 5 miles on route 16 at 10:00 PM. On the morning of the race Petey (Steve
Peterson) and I did a three-mile warmup and some strides to get ready. George Davis, who was our college coach and
team coach for the GLRR, had predicted that we would walk and that Petey would
walk before half way. Neither of us
walked.
I remember that the
conditions were very good and the view was great. I kept expecting the course to level out at
every turn and was really disappointed when it didn’t. Once I moved into the lead, I just enjoyed
the run. I recall not being sure where
to go when I got into the lower parking lot near the summit and remarking after
the race that the only way they could make it tougher would be to have the
runners climb up the radio tower.
Petey and I ran back down to
the base in 65 minutes. I was given
$1,100 total for the win, course record, and leading at half way. After the race I had a long chat with Jay
Johnson. He seemed like a nice guy, but
I had a hard time believing some of his tales of mountain racing in Europe. I just couldn’t believe that someone would
pay to have me come over to Europe to run up mountains. It would be a few years before I took the
plunge and headed over to Europe to run the circuit of races over there.
The next day I did a
seven-mile run to my parents’ house in Billerica at 4 AM and played a round of
golf with my Dad. After the game I ran
seven miles back to Lowell. The week
after the race I covered 103 miles with one day off and biked 90 miles. I also won the Cappy’s Copper Kettle race in
Lowell that week with a 25:03 and got $500 for the effort.
Splits = 1 mile 06:05. 2 mile 13:42.
Half 29:02. 5 mile 38:21. 1:00:50 Finish. Second half 31:48.
1989
My training was focused on
getting ready for the Boston Marathon, which was to be my debut at that
distance. Training was geared to race at
5:10 pace and I did tempo runs up to 13 miles at that pace. I didn’t race as much in ’89 because of my
marathon plans, and leading into Mt Washington I had only raced six times. I had trouble recovering from Boston where I
ran 2:22 (17th place), but was on 2:14 pace at 20 miles.
I felt that I was in good
form as I had weeks of 100, 85 (with a day off), 95, and 99 miles leading up to
Mt Washington. I had also done some
solid workouts including a four mile tempo run of 20:35, a six mile tempo in
29:45 and two times two miles on the track in 9:28 and 9:27. The week before Mt Washington I raced the
Nipmuck half marathon, which is a tough trail race, and set a course record.
On Friday morning I ran eight
miles then took the day off from work and went to the Eagle Mountain House
where I stayed courtesy of race director Bob Teschek. I ran an easy four miles in the afternoon and
got to bed early.
On race day I felt
lousy. I ran with my Greater Lowell Road
Runners teammate Bob Hodge (Hodgie) from the gun and at half way I was ready to
drop out despite being just over course record pace. I stuck it out and stayed
with Bob through seven miles. We ran
side-by-side, neither of us tucking in.
It was windy and very foggy at the summit. Conditions for the lower half of the race were
moderate with temperatures in the low 70s.
Once we got higher up, the 50 mph winds and 40-degree temperatures
slowed the pace. At seven miles I asked
Bob if he wanted to tie and he said something like “The sponsors paid for a
race.” I hung with him until the final
brutal climb and launched into a kick. I
nipped him by a little over one second in the closest finish to date. I garnered $600 for the win.
Hodgie and I lead GLRR to its
second consecutive win in 5:50:24.
Petey, Tom Carroll and I ran down to the base in a quick (for us) 59:47.
I stayed at the Eagle
Mountain House that night and ran 12 miles the next day to complete the week
with 97 miles. The following weekend,
Bob and I duked it out at the NEAC 5K championships. I got him on a kick 14:23 to 14:26 as we
repeated our finish order.
Splits = 1 mile 6:05. 2 mile 13:46.
3 mile 21:55. Half 29:12. 4 mile 30:00.
6 mile 47:54. Finish
1:02:59. Second Half 33:47.
1990
My preparation for this
year’s run was not my best. I had weeks of 87, 102, and 100 miles leading up to
and including the week of the race. I
had been racing sparingly, having completed only nine races leading up to the
Mountain. Earlier in the year I ran my
first race outside the USA, the Omhe 30K in Japan. The trip included two runs in the same day
more than 24 hours apart (thanks to the International Date Line). I had a good run at New Bedford for the NEAC
half-marathon finishing eighteenth in 1:05:27 and then placed fourteenth at the
Boston Milk Run (29:52 10K) where I met a very cute Uta Pippig just beginning
to make her mark in the States. In May I
ran the Worcester 10 mile, which was also the NEAC Champs, in 49:58 to take
third. My last two races leading up to
the Mountain were the Pepsi Police chase in Nashua and the NEAC 10k in
Attleboro. Times of 30:06 and 30:38 and
places of second and eight respectively, didn’t bode well for being in my best
form. I did have a good workout the week
prior which bolstered my confidence running a 4:38 mile, 9:27 two-mile, and
4:38 mile on the track in Derry.
I took off work on Friday and
ran seven miles in the morning before driving up North. I ran another three miles in the afternoon to
stay loose after the long drive. On race
day I felt sick and had stomach cramps.
I ran with Petey for a three-mile warmup. I heard that Derek Froude was the guy to beat
although some other names were being thrown.
Froude had some fast personal bests but you can never be sure how that
will translate to mountain running.
I didn’t like the warm
temperatures in the early going, but tried to go with Froude. He was tough and just floated away. I settled in to second place and aimed for a
respectable time. One of the reasons I
felt lousy was the early pace, which was fast.
We hit the mile in 6:00, which is pretty darn quick on this course,
despite the flat running in the first minute and the fact that the mile post is
actually .9 miles. This opening mile
still remains my fastest start.
I was pretty happy with my
time. Scott Elliott, the third place
finisher, was quoted in one of the papers saying something like “If it had been
a mile longer I would have gotten second.”
That quote got a lot of mileage among my teammates and me. At races and workouts we’d claim, “If it had
been ten miles longer I would have won.” or “If it were 100 yards I would have
won.” It was one of the many bizarre
quotes from Mt Washington competitors.
My team (GLRR) took the win in a fast time. It was cool to be on a team that was focused
on a race that I really liked doing.
Petey and I did the run down
to the base in 1:02 and the next day I did an 11-mile run from the Eagle
Mountain House. I stayed there for three
extra days as a mini-vacation.
Splits = 1 mile 6:00. 2 mile 13:37.
3 mile 21:36. Half 29:02. 4 mile 29:49.
5 mile 38:33. 6 mile 47:06. 7 mile 55:49.
Finish 1:01:37. Second half 32:35.
1991
I came into the race in
pretty decent shape this year. I had run
the Nipmuck trail marathon the first week in June and set a course record. I followed that with a third place at the
USATF New England 10K championships in Winthrop with a 30:50. Hodgie finished a couple of seconds behind me
at the 10K. Leading up to the race I had
weeks of 97, 80, and 80. I took Friday
off from work and ran five miles in the morning then drove up to the Eagle
Mountain house. I ran a tough loop that
is part of the Jackson 10K and was sacked out by 9:00 PM.
On race day I was up at 7:00
AM and felt lousy. I did a three-mile
warmup but still felt beat so I didn’t do much in the way of strides. I just focused on staying relaxed. I liked the conditions a bit better this
year. It was rainy and cold in the
second half and the wind was pretty tough. I went out conservatively, not
wanting to run “the other guy’s” race. I
was in fifth place at the mile and passed Hodgie to get into second a little
after two miles. Froude moved out early
and was almost a minute ahead by the half.
I felt crappy in the first half, but after the four-mile turn I felt a
lot better and settled in. With Hodgie
pretty far back and Derek just as far in front, the race was pretty much over
for me by the half way mark. At the
summit I continued through the chute and ran to the top of the rock pile,
becoming the first runner that day to actual summit. Petey and I ran down to the base in a slow
1:10.
GLRR took the team champs
with the second fastest team time only two minutes behind the record. I ran 11 miles in the morning the next day
and played a mosquito-enshrouded golf game at the Eagle Mountain course before
heading home.
Splits = 1 mile 6:14. 2 mile 13:59.
3 mile 21:55. Half 29:20. 4 mile 30:08.
5 mile 38:44. 6 mile 47:41. 7 mile 56:28.
Finish 1:02:07. Second Half 32:47.
1992
This was a big year of racing
for me; I did 47 races through the year.
I was pretty happy with my fitness leading into the race as I had run a
2:21 at the Olympic trials marathon and followed that with a 29:26 10K. The final tune-ups prior to Mt Washington
were the NEAC 10K championship where I ran 30:12 and the Litchfield hills 7.1m
where I finished fifth in 34:59, which was 34 seconds behind Froude’s winning
time. This was my first year running for
the Central MA striders (CMS) and we took the team title.
In the weeks leading up to
the race I logged miles of 94, 94, 100, and 94 miles. On Friday I ran in the morning and then
completed another three miles in the afternoon.
On race day I found it to be very humid.
I did an easy three-mile warmup with Petey.
Carpenter and Froude pushed
each other until three miles when Carpenter pulled ahead. I was off of the back early on. They passed the half in 29:00 and 29:30 with
me just under 30 minutes. Froude slowed
to a walk at one point but kept going. I
caught him at five miles but he regrouped and pulled away.
Post race, Petey and I ran
down to the base in 1:10. On Sunday I
ran eight miles in the morning then went to an Orienteering meet in the
afternoon. Later in the summer I went to
Europe with Jay Johnson, although still having a hard time believing that
someone would pay to bring me over to race.
We ran the Challenge Stellina and followed that up with the World
Mountain Trophy race in Italy where I finished ninth.
Splits = 1 mile 6:14. 2 mile 14:06.
3 mile 22:20. Half 29:55. 4 mile 30:44.
5 mile 39:43. 6 mile 48:34. 7 mile 57:28.
Finish 1:03:18. Second half 33:23.
1993
My training was going well,
although not my best heading into the race.
I had run the Dipsea race in Mill Valley CA a couple of weeks prior to
Mt Washington, which was a new experience.
The Dipsea is one of the oldest continuous races in the country and also
one of the most unusual. Start times are
adjusted based on age and sex. As a
“scratch” runner I started last and had to pass the 500+ runners who had
already started. The course was a mix of
narrow trail, major climbs/descents, and over 500 stairs. I ended up finishing sixth despite running
the fastest time of the day. My final
tune-up was the NEAC 8K race where I ran a 23:59 for third place. I had weeks of 74, 83, 82, 84 and 87 miles
leading up to the race.
On Friday I ran in the
morning and then drove to the Eagle Mountain House where I ran another three
miles. It was warm and muggy during the three-mile
warmup with Hodge, Eric Morse, and Dan Verrington. I felt tired and lousy. I didn’t feel much better in the race as Matt
Carpenter broke away after the mile and I stayed about 15 seconds back. I lost him in the fog after five miles. It was very wet and muddy over the last three
miles. I ran my best time, but as Eric
Morse was quick to point out “you are the first loser.” I did the run down with Hodgie in about 1:10. The next day I did nine miles in the morning
before heading home.
Splits = 1 mile 6:13. 2 mile 13:43.
3 mile 21:27. Half 28:38. 4 mile 29:23.
5 mile 37:57. 6 mile 46:39. 7 mile 55:17.
Finish 1:00:44. Second half 32:06.
1994
I was doing decent mileage
leading up to this year’s race and was feeling pretty good. I had weekly mileage of 90, 79, 80, and 116
miles prior to the race. Racing was
going well with a win at the USATF 12K in 36:59, and a 24:19 8K in Manchester
NH. Petey and I went to the Dipsea race
again. This time I finished fourth
overall despite running the fastest time (it is a handicap race). Petey and I took off for Yosemite right after
the race and did 16 miles at 8,000’ the day after the race. We followed that up with a run from the
valley floor to Glacier point, a 5,000’ climb with spectacular views. We flew home overnight and I then headed up
to Mt Washington.
It was very hot when race day
dawned. A big group of us (CMS runners
and CMS wannabees) did a two-mile warmup and tried to hydrate properly for this
extremely warm day. I felt okay as I eased
out in sixth place at the mile, 30 seconds behind the leader. I caught Morse at two miles and took the lead
just before three miles. I felt in
control in the second half and was surprised that no one went with me. In an unusual turn, I took a ride down for a
rare time and did two miles warm down with Petey and Spinney at the base. Spinney’s wife had the quote of the day
yelling to Keith, as she drove to the summit, “Don’t embarrass me!” We stayed over night and went to Bretton
Woods on Sunday for a Summer Biathlon (run and shoot). My wife, Cathy, turned out to be the best
shooter in the group. I ended up with
the second fastest time, behind Keith Woodward.
Splits = 1 mile 06:23. 2 mile 14:14.
3 mile 22:33. Half 30:14. 4 mile 31:00.
5 mile 40:14. 6 mile 49:04. 7 mile 57:42.
Finish 1:03:22. Second half
33:08.
1995
My training was going pretty
well leading up to the Mountain. I had
weeks of 94, 100, 82, and 80 miles prior to the race. Warmup races included the Wachusett mountain
race where I set a course record, winning in 24:31 on the 4.3m 900’ climb road
race. I also returned to California for
the Dipsea race (90th running of the race). I ended up in second place, despite running
the fastest time. Such is the outcome
when running a handicap race. Friday
before Mt Washington I did four miles in the early morning, three miles at
lunch, and then drove up the Thornhill Inn.
A few of us went out for a three-mile run to loosen up. Caz (Mike
Casner), Jim Garcia, and Craig Fram were in the group. On race day I did a three-mile warmup with
Petey, Fram, and Byrne Decker and felt pretty decent. I started out feeling good, running with Fram
and Eddy Hellebuyck. By the time we hit
the mile the Kenyan runner was way out in front. Once we got above treeline it got very
windy. Hellebuyck noted, “This sucks.”
and I replied, “No, actually this blows.”
Soon after our exchange he dropped off and Craig and I were on our own
in second/third. At seven miles we
decided it would be best to tie as we were teammates and really had nothing to
gain by fighting it out. Eric Morse had
moved into fourth but was far enough back that he wouldn’t catch us.
I started the run down alone
and when I reached the three-mile post a car pulled along side me. Petey, Hodgie, and Byrne were in the
vehicle. Byrne opened the door and said,
“You ARE getting in.” This was
one of the rare times I didn’t run down the entire way; I completed 4.6 miles
in 33:59.
Splits = 1 mile 6:11. 2 mile 13:53.
3 mile 22:00. Half 29:30. 4 mile 30:17.
5 mile 39:10. 6 mile 48:41. 7 mile 57:52.
Finish 1:03:20. Second half 33:50.
1996
This year I felt that things
were going really well leading up to the race.
I ran a course record at the Kearsarge Mountain race in Warner, NH,
covering the 8.5m course in 51:23. I
followed that up with decent runs at Agawam (5 miles), Wachusett Mountain (just
missing my course record), and Pack Monadnock.
Kearsarge, Wachusett, and Pack were the races in the newly formed USATF
New England Mountain circuit. They
worked well as a build-up to the big race.
My final tune-up was the Litchfield 7.1 mile race where I placed seventh
in 35:41. Some of the top guys would
also be at Mt Washington including Gideon Mutisya (second – 34:02) and Daniel
Kihara (third – 34:41).
On Friday I ran three miles
at 4:30 AM then went to work. I did
another three miles at lunch and then motored up to Attitash after work. Dan Verrington and Craig Fram joined me for a
three-mile run. I felt lousy and tired.
On race day I felt okay,
which in and of itself is unusual. I had
an interview with New Hampshire Cross Roads, a local PBS show that was doing a
feature on the race. They wanted me to
run with a microphone so they could get the “sounds of the race.” I agreed, although I was a little nervous
about the battery pack and transmitter that I had to wear around my waist.
A big group of CMS guys and
other friends did a three-mile warmup.
It was warm and muggy and I felt a bit tired. After the gun sounded Craig and some of the
other guys were giving me grief, so that it would be picked up on the
mike. I put in a sprint and took the
lead before we even got to the tollbooth.
The lead was very short lived as I slowed to “normal” pace and Daniel
Kihara stormed past. Craig and I ran
together through three miles then I pulled ahead. At the half, I couldn’t see Kihara ahead of
me and Eric Morse had moved into third about 20 seconds behind me. I gained a bit more on Eric in the second
half but Kihara was in his own world.
The run down was fun, with
great views; Petey and I ran comfortably in 1:06:44. After the race I went to the Eagle Mountain
House and played the buggiest round of golf ever. The black flies were brutal and I was happy
with a 60 for nine holes. Obviously golf
is not my strong suit.
Splits = 1 mile 6:18. 2 mile 14:06.
3 mile 22:15. Half 29:42. 4 mile 30:30.
5 mile 39:19. 6 mile 48:08. 7 mile 56:48.
Finish 1:02:24. Second half 32:42.
1997 I
spent the good part of the year in a walking cast. What was thought to be a stress fracture
turned out to be a non-union fracture. I
ended up having a screw put into my foot and didn’t run for almost six
months. I stayed away from the race, as
I couldn’t bear to watch it while injured.
1998
I returned to running in
December of 1997 and started the long buildup back. I was in pretty good shape by the time the
race rolled around, but nowhere near what I hoped for. I had weeks of 84, 80, 80, and 80 miles
heading into the race. I also had a
Cortisone shot in my ankle a few days before to the race. As was the case in 1996 I prepared for the
big race by running the USATF Mountain circuit races. I fared well, but was considerably slower
than in years past. My speed wasn’t
quite what I had hoped as I finished the Market Square 10K in 31:33 the week
before Mt Washington.
On Friday I headed up to
Attitash, where Bob Teschek had set up a place for me and some of my teammates,
and did an eight-mile run with Mike Casner, Dan Verrington, Bob Hodge, George
Adams and Thierry Icart. Thierry came
over from France and was staying with Caz.
He was among the favorites for the race.
I had a lousy night sleep and woke up feeling terrible. A huge group of CMS and CMS-wannabees
(including Francis Burdett one of the group favorites despite his predilection
for racing for the Greater Lowell Road Runners) did a two-mile warmup. We cut our normal warmup to just two miles,
as it was very warm and humid. I went
out conservatively and moved through the pack throughout the race. I had hoped to run under 1:08 and was quite
pleased with breaking 1:04. I thought I
had a shot at Simon Gutierrez, but he maintained his distance in the second
half.
It was in the 50s and calm on
top, which made for a nice run down with Eric Morse in 1:03:48. I put in 11 miles the next day with a big
group. Most of our group also traveled
to Stratton Mountain the following week for the USATF NE mountain
championships. It was a pretty cool race
and a fun weekend. The quote of the
weekend was from a guide who was talking me through my first attempt at rock
climbing. He said, “Stick your hand in
the crack and make a fist.” Needless to
say the gang I was with got a good laugh from that for a long time.
Splits = 1 mile 6:33. 2 mile 14:26.
3 mile 22:45. Half 30:21. 4 mile 31:10.
5 mile 40:15. 6 mile 49:09. 7 mile 57:55.
Finish 1:03:38. Second half
33:17.
1999
I was finally feeling like I
was over my 1997 injury. I ran a 2:21 in
Pittsburgh at the USATF National championships to qualify for the Olympic
trials and followed that with a record run up Mt Kearsarge six days later. I ran decent times at Wachusett and Pack
Monadnock and ran 30:31 at the USATF NE 10K championships. With weeks of 83, 86, 90, 85, and 72 miles I
felt my chances were good for a respectable run.
On Friday I got up at 4:30 AM
and ran an easy five miles, then worked for a half day. I went up to Attitash and ran five miles on
the trails along the river, which was nice and relaxing but buggy. On race day I did a warmup with a big group
of guys and felt lousy and sluggish.
I felt good during the race
and went out strong, running with Eric Morse for the first two miles. Around 2.5 miles I passed Joe Lemay and then
went by Simon Gutierrez at around three miles.
Soon after that I was able to pull away from Eric. I didn’t gain anything on Kihara and
Carpenter who were long gone and basically just held a 20 second lead over Eric
to the finish. Conditions were very good
and CMS set a new team record.
The run down was a lot of fun
with incredible views thanks to the 90 miles of visibility. I ran down to the base in 1:10:42 with
Eric, Petey, and Richard Bolt.
Splits = 1 mile 6:14. 3 mile 21:49.
Half 29:07. 4 mile 29:54. 5 mile 38:30.
6 mile 46:54. 7 mile 55:14. Finish 1:00:37. Second half 31:30.
2000
This year I was running some
decent mileage leading up to the race but wasn’t feeling fit. I had weeks of 100, 96, and 100 miles the
three weeks leading up to the race. I
had raced up Wachusett at the end of May and my time wasn’t great. I followed up with a 30:57 at Portsmouth and
raced at Pack Monadnock the next day.
On Friday I took the day off
from work and did eight miles with Dan and then drove up to Attitash. I ran another easy three miles once I got up
there. On race day I did about two miles
on the Glen trails and felt pretty good.
I felt okay early on as the
two Kenyans took off. I settled in with
teammates Eric Morse and Mark Donahue.
At about 1.5 miles Donahue was off the back. Morse fell off at 2.5 and I was on my own in
third place. I looked back at five miles
and figured I had about a minute on Eric and finished with a sub 1:03.
The run down with Eric Morse,
Mark Donahue, Dan Verrington and Mark Behan was the fastest I had ever
done. We had a good time zipping down
the hill in 58:33.
Splits = 1 mile 6:20. 2 mile 14:09.
3 mile 22:13. Half 29:38. 4 mile 30:26.
5 mile 39:11. 6 mile 47:59. 7 mile 57:00.
Finish 1:02:48. Second half
33:10.
2001
Injuries this year left me
hoping for a good run but not really sure of my fitness. I did have a good month leading up to the
race with weeks of 109, 90, 80, 80, but only had 51 miles the week of the race
as I missed three days. Racing leading
up to the big one included a five-mile version of the Mt Kearsarge race, which
really wasn’t a mountain race as it ended at the entrance to the park due to
snow on the road. Dan Verrington and I
tied at the USATF NE Mountain championships that I also directed at the
Windblown ski area. We tied because we
thought Eric Morse had won the race going away, only to find out that he went
off course. Other races included the
Wachusett mountain race where I ran 25:01, Pack Monadnock where I ran 59:41,
and Whiteface Mountain where Eric and I tied for first in a course record.
On Friday I ran five miles in
the morning with Hungarian au pair Robert Molnar, who was training with me in
Bradford. We drove up to Attitash and
did another five miles on the trails.
Race day dawned very warm. I
warmed up with a big CMS group but only did about 12 minutes of running then
just sat in the shade since the temperature was already in the 80s and the
summit was up to 60 degrees.
Kihara took off from the
start and the race was on for second place.
I ran with Eric Morse and Craig Fram.
We were dead even through the half, then Eric fell back a bit. Craig almost ran into the press van with his
head down. I called out at the last
moment and he dodged the van. I was
aiming for second, but also keeping my eye on the watch, I wanted Craig to
break the master’s record. I broke away
from him in the last ½ mile to take second.
I ran down in 1:03:53 and did
ten miles on Sunday morning on the trails around Attitash.
Splits = 1 mile 6:29. 2 mile 14:32.
3 mile 22:56. Half 30:43. 4 mile 31:34.
5 mile 40:42. 6 mile 49:42. 7 mile 58:36.
Finish 1:04:20. Second half 33:37.
2002
My form was definitely not
good, as I had been injured off and on for a good portion of the previous
year. Mileage was not very good with
weeks of 59, 70, and 73 miles leading up to the race. I had pretty good runs at Mt Kearsarge
(53:33), Wachusett (24:59), and Pack Monadnock (1:04:51). I went out to Alaska and ran the Wolverine
Peak race, which was a qualifier for the US Mountain team and finished second
to Eric Morse.
On Thursday I headed up to
Attitash and Friday did an easy eight miles in the morning. In the afternoon my wife, Cathy, and my
college roommate Mike Woodman and I went out and played miniature golf. After the game I ran five miles with Woody
and called it a day. Race day was gloomy
and raining. I couldn’t believe it when
I was told the race was shortened to halfway, for me that would be a
“sprint.” This was not exactly my
strength. It was taking me a few miles
just to get loose in a race, probably from the Ultra (longer than marathon)
racing I’d been doing.
I went out with a big CMS
group for a warmup on the trails and did about two miles then an additional
mile on my own. Just before the start
Anna Pichrtova, one of the favorites, pulled my tail and gave me a big smile. Boy, talk about losing your concentration
right before the start! It was amazing
how fast everyone started out. I was
about thirtieth at the base of the hill at only a minute into the race. By the mile, which was not much faster than a
typical first mile on the mountain, I had moved up to the top twenty. It was definitely a record for the number of
people in the lead group at that point.
Typically, the field is strung out by a half mile into the race, this
was not typical. I moved up to tenth by
two miles and started reeling in some of the fast starters and in the last mile
passed Kihara to take fifth. I ran down
with a big group, as everyone had to run down since cars were not allowed
up. We reached the bottom in 31:00 and
then went out on the trails for additional mileage. On Sunday I did eight miles before heading
home.
Splits = 1 mile 6:15. 2 mile 14:12.
3 mile 22:28. Finish 28:57.
2003
This was another year of not
being quite ready for the race. This
time I had spent a good portion of the second half of 2002 in and out of
various hospitals. After a bunch of
years struggling with Anorexia I got drastically worse and spent a fair amount
of time getting back to the point where I could run consistently. I did learn an important lesson; you can’t
run or race without being properly fueled.
I had weeks of 76, 73, 75, 88 and 91 miles leading up to Mt
Washington. In a new twist this year
Eric Morse, Rich Bolt and I went out to Prospect Mountain in NY to test
ourselves on that course. It was a great
race, and a nice view from the top. We
took the top three spots, with Eric setting a course record ahead of Rich. I had a lousy run at Wachusett finishing
seventh and a decent run at Kearsarge getting fourth. I tried a different tactic at Kearsarge,
running the first five less than all-out and then hammering the final 3.5
mountain section. I got fifth at Pack
Monadnock and sixth at a new race that I directed at Northfield Mountain. This was a new version of the USATF NE mountain
championships on trails around the Northfield Mountain recreation area in
Western Mass. It seemed like a decent
lead-in for Mt Washington.
I headed up to Attitash on
Thursday and had a good time relaxing around the “cottage”. On Friday I went seven miles in the morning
and another four in the afternoon. Our
big CMS group went over to the Eagle Mountain House and picked up our
numbers. I also gave a speech describing
different parts of the race and tactics for getting through it.
On race day I got up with a
terrible headache and dead legs. I did a
two-mile warmup with Craig Fram, Dan Verrington, Steve Peterson, and Mike
Woodman. Conditions looked to be pretty
good and the field actually looked to be a bit weak, especially with Eric Morse
pulling out with an injury. It was warm
at the start and clear and sunny at the top. I ran with Rich Bolt from the mile and lost
him when I moved into fourth around 2.5 miles.
I caught the early leading Kenyan at seven miles and he was moving very
slowly. I was pleased with the run all
things considered.
I had a fun run down with
Eric who had gone to the top to watch and Mike Woodman who raced. We ran down in 1:09:53 and I got in a nice 10
mile run the next day at Attitash.
Splits = 1 mile 6:36. 2 mile 14:56.
3 mile 23:37. Half 31:34. 4 mile 32:26.
5 mile 41:51. 6 mile 51:08. 7 mile 1:00:17.
Finish 1:06:18. Second half 34:44.
2004
I partially tore my Achilles
tendon in late May which left me on the sidelines for the race. I went up to support CMS and to assist Rich
Bolt in a speech on Mountain running. I
also joined teammate Alan Bernier in the lead press vehicle to do the
commentary on the race. It was a lot of
fun but was difficult to watch my favorite race without being really part of
it.
In August I went up to Mt
Washington on the day of the annual bicycle hill climb. Rich Bolt and Kevin Tilton joined me for a
jog to the summit. We ran evenly despite
a strong wind, fog, and rain above treeline.
We completed the run in 1:29 and got to watch the top riders come
in. Our run back down was a different
experience as we went through the huge packs of riders. I was truly surprised to see a tandem bike
competing; I can only imagine how tough that would be.
2005
Once again I was recovering
from extended injuries leading up to Mt Washington. This time I tore a hip muscle while competing
in a 33 mile trail race in December of 2004.
Leading up to the race I had weeks around 70 miles. Training included a run with Team Gloucester
on their Mt Washington prep day. We did
an interesting mix of trail and road running, repeat hills, and a 30’ jump into
a very cold quarry. I was not very
confident of my ability to run well at Mt Washington based on poor showings at
Mt Kearsarge, Wachusett, and Pack Monadnock.
The week prior to Mt Washington I ran 33:39 at Mt Ascutney which is very
similar to a half-way run up Washington.
I figured, based on that result, that a sub 1:15 was a reasonable goal.
I went up to Attitash on Thursday
and had a relaxing run with Cathy. On
Friday Rich Bolt and I did the dog & pony show at the Eagle Mountain
house. It seemed to go over well. We had dinner at the traditional spot, the
spaghetti shed, and a late bed time of 11:30 PM. Race day dawned drizzly and cool, which was a
major relief after the hot weather of the past few weeks. The CMS group plus various other runners
(including Anna Pichrtova) did an easy three miles of running on the Great Glen
trails.
I started out slowly in the
race, with a goal of running with teammate Steve Peterson. It seemed to me that a lot of people went out
too fast as I was passing many in the first few miles. At two miles I caught Petey and we could see
Anna and Melissa Moon a few seconds ahead.
At around three miles we caught Tristan Colangelo who had gone fast, but
was now walking. I motioned for him to
tuck in with us and told him “Find a rhythm”.
He replied “I had a rhythm”, meaning that walking was the way to go for
him. Soon after this I pulled ahead on
my own. Just before halfway, Sean
Livingston passed me and said “Stay with me, I’m going to run a fast second
half”. I tried, but his pace was a
little quick for me. He went on to
finish in the top ten. I hovered about
10-20 seconds behind the lead women and got a great view of an epic
battle. Moon stayed just off of
Pichrtova’s shoulder and covered every move she made. At five miles I heard a runner catching me,
at this point the only person to pass me was Livingston, and I was surprised as
I was maintaining an even pace. Tim
Livingston, Sean’s brother, stormed by on his way to a personal best. They were the only two to pass me during the
race.
At seven miles the ladies
threw it into another gear and I slogged on to the finish. It was exciting to watch their race come down
to the final steep pitch. I beat my goal
of 1:15, but my stretch goal of sub-1:10 was just out of reach. I was happy to finish in the top twenty and
be part of the CMS 40+ team which broke the team record. I made a quick trot to the actual summit
then headed down. Teammates Petey, Mike
Woodman, Eric Morse, Larry Sayers and I did a leisurely run down the mountain
in 1:12.
Splits: 1 mile 7:09, 2 miles
15:59, 3 miles 25:04, halfway 33:24, 4 miles 34:17, 5 miles 44:21, 6 miles
54:13, 7 miles 1:04:05.
Finish 1:10:37. Second half 37:13.
Youngsters on the Mountain – Fred Ross IV and Chris
Ross from 1992.
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