It was cold, damn cold when I arrived at 745am. I quickly picked up my number and dashed back to the car, the wind was howling and it was about 25 degrees. What a contrast to the 70 degree day we had earlier this week.
I did my warm-up checking out the course, it was pretty rough at the beginning on the downhill stretch with a lot of leaves down on the rooty rocky trail. The rest of the trail was a mix of nice single-track, wide forest road, and some boardwalks. The course came up a bit short of the advertised distance (4km=2.48 miles), I got 2.3 on my Garmin.
I quickly changed into racing flats and three top layers to keep warm (it took the full 3 miles for my hands to warm up). I was the only one at the start braving the course in shorts (with half-tights). After a mile running around staying relatively warm I headed to the start. Only 26 lined up, maybe due to the temps/wind and it being a first year "fun run".
Off we went and Brian Atherton and his little dog went sprinting to the lead. I didn't recognize them but they headed out pretty fast. The dog made it a little difficult as he wasn't sure what to do when I tried to go by. I pushed the pace on the downhill and pulled clear of them. After that I just focused on pushing as hard as I could. I hit the turn (it was an out/back course) and counted 10 seconds until I passed the duo. I felt pretty safe at that point with a 20 second lead and only a mile to go. I didn't ease up, trying to give a good strong effort right to the finish. I got a nice cheer from the volunteers as I rolled in at 14 minutes (I could've sworn it was more like 13:58) and ended up with a win by 1:32.
I went back out and got in another 3 miles checking out some of the other trails in the forest. I got a nice cheer as I came back in to the finish again as they were just wrapping up the awards ceremony and were waiting for me (!!!!!). Gotta love a race that starts at 9am and is done with EVERYTHING by 10am. My kind of race indeed. I even got $50 at Marathon sports for the win!
I finished the day with another (bonky) 5 mile run at Ward reservation on my way home.
PAWS on the Trail 4K
Saturday, November 11, 2017 Start Time: 9 AM
Place Name No. Div/Tot Div Ag S City St Time Pace
===== =================== === ======== ===== == =
1 Dave Dunham 110 1/5 M5059 53 M Bradford MA 14:00 5:38
2 Brian Atherton 101 1/3 M3039 35 M Ashland MA 15:32 6:15
3 Heather Barackman 102 1/4 F4049 43 F 17:57 7:14
4 Robert Lucci 121 2/5 M5059 50 M WAKEFIELD MA 18:35 7:29
5 Alison Lackey 118 1/5 F3039 36 F Woburn MA 18:49 7:35
6 Michael Ii McLane 128 1/2 M2029 24 M Wakefield MA 19:54 8:01
7 Matthew Carter 107 2/2 M2029 26 M Wakefield MA 19:55 8:01
8 Kelly Iosua 147 2/5 F3039 34 F Reading MA 20:17 8:10
9 Vineet Mehta 129 3/5 M5059 50 M READING MA 20:27 8:14
10 David McCann 144 1/1 M0119 10 M Reading MA 20:31 8:15
11 Steve Marzeotti 123 4/5 M5059 55 M Lynnfield MA 21:02 8:28
12 Michael McLane 127 5/5 M5059 59 M Wakefield MA 21:03 8:29
13 Rich Matson 125 2/3 M3039 30 M STONEHAM MA 21:45 8:45
14 Chayil Timmerman 140 3/3 M3039 38 M Melrose MA 24:16 9:46
15 Sarah Alger 146 3/5 F3039 39 F Wakefield MA 25:51 10:24
16 Melissa Rousselle 137 2/4 F4049 41 F HAVERHILL MA 26:03 10:29
17 Jennifer Newman 132 4/5 F3039 30 F Superior CO 28:26 11:27
18 Lucy Skeldon 139 1/1 F5059 53 F Wakefield MA 28:55 11:38
19 Lisa White 145 3/4 F4049 48 F Wakefield MA 29:43 11:58
20 Cinthia McLane 126 1/3 F6069 60 F Wakefield MA 29:47 11:59
21 Simon Rosenthal 136 1/1 M7099 71 M Malden MA 31:05 12:31
22 Judith Jacoby 117 2/3 F6069 64 F Wakefield MA 35:29 14:17
23 Terry Lee Harringto 115 3/3 F6069 67 F Salisbury MA 35:31 14:18
24 Jennifer Pustz 135 4/4 F4049 45 F Wakefield MA 37:22 15:02
25 Julia Zioto 143 1/1 F2029 27 F Boston MA 44:41 17:59
26 Charlotte Pearce 134 5/5 F3039 32 F Wakefield MA 44:43 18:00
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