Super Bowl 4 (plus) mile race

I struggled quite a bit to start out this month.  My glute/hip has been bothering me for nearly a month but took a turn for the worse this week.  I’m not sure if the shoveling or running in snow made it worse but by the end of the week my entire right leg was yelling at me.  I headed up to Bedford NH for the Super Bowl 4 mile, getting there a little over an hour before my 9:32am start time.  It was 19 degrees, cloudy, and calm when I headed out to run the course as a warm-up.  I ended up having a nice run after bumping into Sam Fazioli, Jackie Solimine, and Kevin Sheehan and getting to run with them.  Top 60+ runner (and former CMS) John Matthews also joined in the fun after 2 miles.  It definitely took some of the edge off getting to chat with everyone.

I changed into race gear, spending about 5 minutes debating whether it was ‘shorts weather’ or not.  I decided at 22 degrees it was probably best to go with tights.  I think I made the right choice as I was pretty cold running another mile over to the start.  I was hoping to take a shot at my 50+ personal best for 4 miles (23:19) but was worried about my hip/glute.  With two people starting every 10 seconds there wasn’t likely to be anyone to run with but seeing the guys in front and worrying about others catching up would be a good motivator.  I was a little bummed to see that there were a few who didn’t show up including a couple 10 and 20 seconds ahead.  I did luck out as Zachary Miller who started with me would give me someone to latch onto.  He took it out HARD.  I reeled him back in and by the first turn (1/2 mile in) we were together.  At the same time I noticed that my right shoe had come untied.  Ugh!  I had double-knotted both shoes as always but should have re-tightened right before the start.   Rookie mistake.  Not much to do about it as I was not going to stop and tie it.  We hit the mile in 5:51 which was pretty much where I wanted to be.  Not much changed in the second mile as we traded the “lead” back and forth depending on who was feeling better.  I was a little cautious on the downhills (nothing too steep) but otherwise the shoe pretty much stayed in place.  We hit two miles in 11:41 (5:50).  I tried to press the pace over the next mile and although it was a slower mile (5:56 – 3m = 17:37), I was able to pull away from Miller and started closing another guy.  I struggled a bit on the final uphill but still managed a 5:55 mile (4m = 23:32) and kicked for home over the slightly long 4 mile course (most got 4.05 – 4.08).

 I ended up taking first in the 50+ but was 37 seconds behind Casey Carroll who will be turning 50 SOON.

 Place     Div       Div Pl    Name                            Age       Gender  Bib #    Time

1          MOPEN  1          Samuel Fazioli               28         M          103       20:25

2          MOPEN  2          Evan Thornton-Sherman             16         M          102       20:53

3          MOPEN  3          Thomas Paquette           29         M          106       21:03

4          M35-39 1          Dan Chruniak                37         M          108       21:27

5          M30-34 1          Conor Sleith                   34         M          115       21:40

6          M25-29 1          Andrew Schwingel          27         M          107       21:52

7          M25-29 2          Cameron Cook               26         M          105       21:52

8          M25-29 3          Mark Rabasco                26         M          111       22:13

9          M30-34 2          Jason Dedonato             34         M          112       22:26

10         M35-39 2          Nathaniel Olson             37         M          117       22:28

11         M35-39 3          Corey Girard                  38         M          119       22:53

12         M45-49 1          Casey Carroll                 49         M          122       23:10

13         M25-29 4          Madhav Rajan               29         M          118       23:12

14         M30-34 3          Kevin Sheehan               31         M          113       23:20

15         M13-19 1          Matthew Reynolds         19         M          114       23:25

16         M30-34 4          Steven Vargo                 32         M          124       23:26

17         M35-39 4          Dan Donato                   39         M          123       23:34

18         M55-59 1          Dave Dunham                56         M          127       23:47

19         M35-39 5          Brent Wilmot                 39         M          126       24:04

20         FOPEN  1          Heather Stover              34         F          140       24:06

21         M30-34 5          Zachary Miller                30         M          128       24:12

22         M13-19 2          Will Plante                     16         M          110       24:22

23         M35-39 6          Luke Legendre               36         M          135       24:32

24         M30-34 6          Conor Cullinane             30         M          130       24:35

25         M45-49 2          Mark Laprade                48         M          131       25:01