Looking
back 20 years ago (July 2000): Eric Morse and I went out
to Vail CO (July 2, 2000) for the Vail Hill Climb, which was a qualifier
for the US Mountain running team. The 2,200’ climb over 7.5 miles wasn’t
particularly steep but the altitude was tough for us sea-level runners. Local
boy Matt Carpenter took the win (he was out of sight in the first mile), I
ended up in second place (49:06) and Eric took third. This was the start of a
stretch in which I ran seven races over 14 days (I think Richard Bolt did all of these races as
well?).
I doubled-up on Independence Day, kicking it off with the Chelmsford 2 mile.
Richard Bolt took the lead early with me in fifth trailing him, Ryan Carrera,
Sean Livingston, and Mike Maceiko. With 400 to go everyone kicked and I ended
up in third place ($50).
1.Ryan
Carrera 9:17 2.Sean Livingston 9:19 3.Dave Dunham 9:20 4.Mike Maceiko 9:22
5.Richard Bolt 9:28
I had
the rest of the day to relax (?) before heading to Durham NH for the FORT 5k
at 6pm. It was humid and 84 degrees at the start and I was feeling a little
sluggish. I went out with Wilson Perez and Mike Brady through 2 miles but just
couldn’t go with Perez when he upped the pace. I picked up $75 for my second
place finish.
1
Perez 15:02
2 Dunham 15:07 3 Brady
15:33
4 Ben Strain 16:13
Four
days (07/08/00) later I was back at it, doing another double. Richard Bolt and
I headed over to Portsmouth for the Harbor trails 5k. A group of six
passed through a quick opening mile. Dave Hinga led the charge, with me, Bolt,
Craig Fram and Mike Brady in tow. After the mile Hinga broke away and Rich and
I lost ground on him as we also broke from the chase pack. I picked up some
cash for my second place finish.
1
Dave Hinga 14:50 2 Dave Dunham 15:02 3
Richard Bolt 15:03 4 Craig Fram 15:24
5 Mike Brady 15:33
Later
that morning Richard and I showed up at the Amherst NH 10k, looking to
take home a little more cash. We went out easy for the first mile in a good
size pack then lost 20+ seconds when we went the wrong way. We regrouped and by
3 miles had moved into the lead (miles of 5:40, 5:10, 5:13). From three on
Richard and I worked together, easing up at 5 when we knew we had 1st and 2nd
wrapped up. Miles of 5:18, 5:13, and 5:26 brought me home in 33:08 for the win
and $75. I don’t have it listed but maybe Richard and I tied?
1
Dunham 33:08 2 Bolt
3 Larry Sayers
The
next weekend (07/15/00) I headed up to Concord NH for the Bill Luti 5 mile.
In the early miles I ran behind Dave Hinga and Chris Magill. Hinga made a move
with a mile to go and I couldn’t cover. Magill dropped in behind me until we
hit the track where he blew by me right at the line. I picked up $75 for third
place.
1 Dave Hinga
24:33 2 Chris Magill
24:42 3 Dave Dunham 24:43
The
next day (07/16/00) I
went to Lowell for the East End Club 5 mile. I’d done this race many
times since the early 1980’s and returned this year as it was part of the
Hockomock Swamp Rat series which I was attempting to win. I couldn’t miss a
race, so my motivation was high. Unfortunately, my body was not willing as I
sprained my ankle badly during my warm-up. I didn’t have any way of securing
the ankle other than a roll of duct tape I had in the car. I taped it up the
best I could and lined up with 400 other runners. Eric Beauchesne took it out
hard and I followed but by 2 miles my ankle was really bad. I limped home in second
place (picking up the points I needed) with a 26:32. Thus ended the crazy
stretch of 7 races in 14 days.
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