Cross Country season

I’ve always enjoyed cross-country (XC) running.  The team aspect reminds me of the good old days of high school and college running.  In XC time is irrelevant, the only thing that matters is beating the guy in front of you.  I had the opportunity to put in a full XC season as it didn’t conflict with any of the other series I was competing in.  I ended up running 9 XC races which is the most I’ve done since my senior year in High school!  I was happily surprised to pick up a win in the USATF NE XC series.  The rules of the series made for some weird scoring.  I picked up LESS points for winning (in the 50+) at Stowe than I did finishing WAY back at the New England’s.  I also ended up with the win despite scoring fewer points than two other guys.  They did not compete in the required minimum number of races.  Anyway, it was a fun season and here is my take on each race.

Date      Loc                   Dist       Climb    Time     Pace     Place     Field      Name                50+ place          Notes

08/23/17 Lynn        MA           2.50         177          14:44       5:54         R              88            Lynn Woods relay   1             

Senior team record and 5th place overall.  My leg 12th fastest overall.

09/09/17 Wellsely  MA           3.10         66            17:57       5:47         9              50            GBTC XC                  4             

Tight race with Titus and Reeder (they both kicked my ass in the last ½ mile)

10/08/17 Wayland  MA           3.11         220          18:50       6:03         51            213          Wayland XC            6             

Lost to Ruhm and Reeder in last 1/2 mile, Gardiner absolutely sick in the 50+ with a 17:11

10/15/17 Boston    MA           3.20         131          18:34       5:48         73            158          USA 40+ XC champs               26           

Thought I ran well, only Reeder and Ed Sheldon passed me (I caught Ed at 2 and he kicked by me in last 400), Reeder went by 800 to go.  50+ Team took 3^rd place!

10/28/17 Stowe      VT            3.20         394          20:36       6:26         24            139          The Hills are alive   1             

Out conservatively passed a bunch after the mile, won the 50+ by 37 seconds (Tony Bates 2^nd).  Very hilly course!

11/05/17 Boston    MA           4.96         223          29:47       6:00         45            106          USATF NE XC champs             15           

Out conservatively, not many to pass, ankle pretty sore after.  50+ Team took 2^nd place!

11/18/17 Lynn        MA           2.50         161          14:53       5:57         2              3              Frost on the fairways              1             

Gannon XC postponed due to frost so we jogged to Lynn woods and raced it.  Pawlicki won on a kick.

11/24/17 Chelmsford             MA           3.22         112          18:41       5:48         1              23            Chelmsford Alumni XC            1             

Out hard on my own (5:34), tough 2nd mile, good finish.  50 degrees sunny, just a little mud on the baseball field

12/09/17 Lexington KY            6.28         312          37:34       5:59         136          272          USA team XC champs             31           

31 of 77 in the 50-54, 7^th man on the masters team which took fourth place.