Run to Fall XC race

I started of the month with a return to Northwood for the “Run to Fall” which had been postponed (four times!).  I thought for sure it would be postponed again as we got heavy snow the day before.  Northwood ended up getting 4-6” of snow but Tim Cox and his crew of volunteers did a fantastic job clearing trees and packing down the course in order to make the course “run-able”.  With the noon start time I decided to get in little run in the morning (after shoveling and chipping the ice off my car).  I did a cautious 3 miles over some icy roads and was surprised at how bad I felt.  Dead legged and just not feeling it.  It happens from time to time but you have to hope that it doesn’t happen on a race day.  When it does the only thing you can do is gut it out and give it your best.  I met up with Dan Verrington and we checked out the course as a warm-up.  It was a bit different from when I’d raced it back in November.  The fields were very slow and the woods was a bit faster with somewhat packed down snow.  We only saw one other guy out warming up on the course.  Next up were some tough decisions on what to race in.  I went with shorts, two tops, and gloves and Inov-8 trail shoes.  Dan dressed similarly (except no gloves which he regretted) and went with spikes.  Most wore more clothing in the 30 degree temps and strong winds but most also seemed to be wearing road flats or training shoes.  At noon the first group (of about 20) took off and as we crossed the opening field Tim Cox noted that we were in last place (Dan chuckled a bit as he was actually behind us).  I tried to settle into a good pace and by ½ mile had passed Tim.  I tried to focus on the guys in front of me and kept in mind that this course is sneaky tough and if you go out too hard you really pay the price.  I kept an eye on Kevin Alliette who was about 5 seconds ahead at the mile as we started passing people.  After the mile I couldn’t hear Dan behind me but didn’t want to look back which would let him know I was worried.  As we passed through the field again at 1.5 miles I gained some ground on Alliette and David DeLuca.  I caught DeLuca before the 2 mile mark and right when I went by him my foot slipped out and I crashed into him nearly knocking the both of us down!  I apologized and we both rambled on and soon after passed Alliette.  DeLuca then went back by me on the climb up to the single-track section.  I seemed to be running a bit faster on the down and he on the up.  We were still close going through the single-track but he gapped me on the uphill at 3 miles and I had nothing left as we hit the track (deep snow) for the final 150 meters.  I ended up crossing the line in 21:57 which was 2:28 slower than I’d run three weeks ago (under much better conditions).  Dan came in two places later and 47 seconds behind me which gave me a slim victory in the age graded masters and got me $50.  We quickly changed shoes and went back on the course for a warm-down (and a chance to watch the next wave including teammate Jim Pawlicki get there race done).  In all only about 1/3 of the people who originally entered turned up on, probably due to the multiple postponements and the tough conditions of the day.  Fantastic job by the volunteers and a lot of fun!
 
Run To Fall 5k – Age Graded Results
December 6, 2020   5 Kilometers       Northwood, NH
Place Time    Pace  Name             Age/Sex Race# City/state   Age %     
    1   21:57  7:04 Dave Dunham     56 M      23 Bradford MA    70.42
    2   22:44  7:19 Dan Verrington  58 M      21 Bradford MA    69.10
    3   24:45  7:58 Michael Barry     64 M      39 Northwood NH 66.72
    4   25:05  8:05 Amy Tkaczyk     46 F       35 Northwood NH 63.21
    5   22:54  7:23 Timothy Cox       47 M      18 Northwood NH 62.98
    6   25:57  8:21 Jay Smith           62 M      40 Concord NH     62.56
    7   24:44  7:58 Johan Hogne      55 M      59 Strafford NH    62.01
    8   24:20  7:50 Brent Tkaczyk    51 M      36 Northwood NH 61.09
    9   30:08  9:42 Walter Fortier     71 M      93 Concord NH     58.67
   10   23:45  7:39 Justin Pagnotta  40 M      54 Strafford NH     57.72
   11   24:55  8:02 James Pawlicki   46 M      49 Lynn MA           57.46
   12   31:29 10:08 Diane Bishop     55 F       84 Northwood NH  55.50
   13   31:29 10:08 Karyn Fisher      52 F       82 Strafford NH     53.65
   14   28:52  9:18 Taryn Litterbrant 43 F       57 Dover NH         53.57
   15   28:14  9:06 Michael Smith    53 M      70 New Ipswich NH 53.47
   16   28:04  9:02 Willem Verweij   51 M      64 Barrington NH   52.96
   17   30:28  9:49 Will Naser          56 M      76 Concord MA      50.74
   18   33:13 10:42 Sandra Kerivan  44 F      89 Strafford NH     46.91
   19   30:30  9:49 Charles Leas      45 M      87 Strafford NH      46.59
   20   30:44  9:54 Jonathan White  42 M      77 Northwood NH   45.24
   21   33:27 10:46 James Dupuis    45 M      94 Pembrike NH      42.48
   22   35:05 11:18 Timothy Taylor  45 M      79 Strafford NH      40.51
   23   42:13 13:36 Carrie Burke      48 F       108 Dover NH        38.31
   24   49:52 16:03 Ray Boutotte     75 M      118 Peppereii MA   37.59
   25   42:08 13:34 Kim Jennison    43 F       106 Dover NH        36.70
   26   42:09 13:34 Kendra Finch    43 F       110 Rochester NH  36.69
 
 
Run To Fall 5k – Overall Results
December 6, 2020   5 Kilometers       Northwood, NH
Pl          Time     Pace     Name                Age       Gend     City/St   No.
1          18:06    5:50      Luke Tkaczyk      17         M          Northwood, NH   4
2          18:44    6:02      Lars Hogne         17         M          Strafford, NH      9
3          19:12    6:11      Ryan Lafrance     23         M          Gilford, NH         3
4          19:38    6:19      Carter Sylvester   17         M          Northwood, NH   5
5          20:24    6:34      Logan Mihelich    18         M          Northwood, NH   6
6          20:35    6:38      Forest MacKenzie 19         M          Deerfield , NH      16
7          20:42    6:40      Mike Guarascio   37         M          Stratham, NH      17
8          21:15    6:51      Jeffrey Allen       19         M          Lowell, MA          7
9          21:16    6:51      Lucas Fisher       23         M          Strafford, NH      22
10         21:27    6:54      Tyler Tkaczyk      15         M          Northwood, NH   8
11         21:52    7:03      David Deluca      21         M          Nottingham, NH  138
12         21:57    7:04      Dave Dunham     56         M          Bradford, MA       23
13         22:15    7:10      Kevin Alliette      39         M          Methuen, MA      12
14         22:44    7:19      Dan Verrington    58         M          Bradford, MA       21
15         22:54    7:23      Timothy Cox       47         M          Northwood, NH   18
16         22:57    7:23      Wesley Thompson 16       M          Concord, NH       25
17         23:13    7:29      Isaac Wells        19         M          Northwood, NH   27
18         23:24    7:32      Elisha Dodenhoff 18         M          Loudon, NH        28
19         23:45    7:39      Justin Pagnotta   40         M          Strafford, NH      54
20         24:20    7:50      Brent Tkaczyk     51         M          Northwood, NH   36
21         24:44    7:58      Johan Hogne      55         M          Strafford, NH      59
22         24:45    7:58      Michael Barry      64         M          Northwood, NH   39
23         24:55    8:02      James Pawlicki    46         M          Lynn, MA            49
24         25:05    8:05      Amy Tkaczyk       46         F           Northwood, NH   35
25         25:17    8:09      Aurora Goodwin  23         F           Concord, NH       52