Mt Greylock Hill Climb – I’d only run this mountain race twice before but I’ve been up the mountain many times including on road bike, mountain bike, eliptiGo, and most recently a dozen times by car over the Highpointers Konvention weekend. I figured if nothing else I was very familiar with this climb. This is not my favorite mountain race although I can’t gripe about the excellent $15 entry fee. There just isn’t a long steady climb that suits my climbing skills. At about 300’ per mile (with some relatively flat sections) it is one of the faster mountain races (based on pace per mile). Last year conditions were ideal with cool temps, clear skies and little wind. This year featured temps around 50 degrees, wind, and at times buckets of rain. It wouldn’t be too bad while racing but the poor volunteers at water-stops or working the finish would be out in the elements for a long time. I met up with Teammate Paul Bazanchuk and we ran an easy 2 miles checking out the first mile of the race. I switched into race gear and headed back out for another half-mile to stay warm.
Nearly 200 took off from the Reservoir and headed up the paved road 7.7 miles to the summit. The pace seemed “relaxed” at the start and Brandon Newbould (WRT) asked me how steep the grade would be. I don’t like to chat while racing so I told him “30%”, I doubt he took me seriously. CMS teammate and fellow 50+ runner Ed Sheldon moved to the front and Brandon went with him and I found myself behind the second group in 7th place as I reached the mile. Soon after we passed the gate and started the real climbing. I could see Brandon accelerate and then would see him no more as he ran alone to the finish for the win (and a perfect score of 500 points to win the USATF NE mountain series). Todd Callaghan (CMS) had moved up and passed Ed. Meanwhile I rolled up on Josh Fields (aR) and passed him right before the 2 mile mark. Soon after Erik Vandendries (also a CMS teammate and 50+ runner) caught up and just eased on by. I couldn’t go with him but in his wake I caught Dan Princic (WRT) and Mark Rabasco (WMDP). So by three miles I’d moved up to 5th place but was 3rd in the 50+ and fourth CMS.
Not much changed for me after that. Erik passed Ed and even caught Todd. They battled right to the line with Todd winning the duel by a second. In the thick fog I couldn’t see them but I could see Ed as I closed the gap on him to about 10 seconds but would get no closer. I ran out of steam in the last 1.7 miles of the race and was a bit surprised at the 7 mile mark when the volunteers cheered for me then cheered again a few seconds later. Both Dan and Mark had rallied on the upper parts of the mountain and were reeling me in. I was able to hold them off (barely) and kept my 5th place which was one spot and 27 seconds better than last year.
CMS swept the men’s teams with wins in the open, 40+, 50+, and 60+. Our guys also took individual wins in the 40+ and 50+. In all it was a good day for the squad. We also got a bonus as the “lighthouse” on the summit was open. Although there were no views, it was cool to get to go inside and climb to the top.
Place
|
Time
|
Name
|
Age
|
Team
|
Points
|
2016 time
| |||
1
|
55:25
|
BRANDON
|
NEWBOULD
|
M
|
35
|
WRT
|
100.00
|
-
| |
2
|
57:27
|
TODD
|
CALLAGHAN
|
M
|
47
|
CMS
|
96.44
|
-
| |
3
|
57:28
|
ERIK
|
VANDENDRIES
|
M
|
52
|
CMS
|
96.43
|
0:57:48
|
-20
|
4
|
57:58
|
ED
|
SHELDON
|
M
|
53
|
CMS
|
95.59
|
0:58:33
|
-35
|
5
|
58:16
|
DAVE
|
DUNHAM
|
M
|
53
|
CMS
|
95.09
|
0:58:43
|
-27
|
6
|
58:23
|
DANIEL
|
PRINCIC
|
M
|
37
|
WRT
|
94.92
|
-
| |
7
|
58:37
|
MARK
|
RABASCO
|
M
|
23
|
WMDP
|
94.54
|
-
| |
8
|
59:47
|
JOSH
|
FIELDS
|
M
|
28
|
aR
|
92.70
|
-
| |
9
|
1:01:41
|
MARK
|
MAYALL
|
M
|
46
|
89.84
|
1:00:05
|
96
| |
10
|
1:02:05
|
MICHAEL
|
NARCISI
|
M
|
33
|
Sisu
|
89.26
|
1:02:40
|
-35
|
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