Looking back - 25 years ago (April 1996)

25 years ago - April 1996: I only raced twice during this month, but I made the most of those opportunities with two wins and two course records.  (04/14/96) I set the still standing course record at the Red’s Shoe Barn 5 mile in Dover, NH.  It was 35 degrees on race day and CMS had a good pack with me, Dan Verrington, Eric Morse, and Byrne Decker among the leaders.  I pulled away in the second half of the course and won by 25 seconds in 24:12.01 taking 13 seconds off of Mike O’Brien’s record and brought home $325 for the win and the record.  CMS put four in the top five. 
 
15TH ANNUAL RED'S SHOE BARN
April 14, 1996 5 Miles (USATF Certified #NH91003WN) Dover, NH
    1   Dave Dunham      32 M Bradford, MA         24:12.01 CMS
    2   Dan Verrington     33 M Bradford, MA         24:37      CMS
    3   Mike O’Brien         35 M Durham, NH          24:47     
    4   Eric Morse           31 M Waterbury, VT      24:57      CMS
    5   Byrne Decker       29 M Londonderry, NH   25:09      CMS
    6   Wilson Perez        17 M Newmarket, NH     26:48  
 
Here are the top times since 1996 (I don’t have any pre-1996 results except O’Brien’s CR from 1993):
1996 Dave Dunham                   24:12.01
1997 Craig Fram                       24:13
2006 Patrick Moulton                 24:17
1993 Mike O’Brien (CR)              24:25
1999 Chris Teague                    24:26
1998 Mike O’Brien                     24:28
1997 Mike O’Brien                     24:33
1997 Eric Morse                        24:36
1996 Dan Verrington                 24:37
1999 Dave Dunham                   24:41
1996 Mike O’Brien                     24:47
2002 David Hinga                     24:48
1997 Byrne Decker                    24:51
1999 Mike O’Brien                     24:52
1996 Eric Morse                        24:57
1999 Tom Anderson                  24:59
 
Two weeks later (04/28/1996) I headed to Groton for the hilly but always competitive Groton Road Race.  I set the then course record (the course was later changed).  It was windy and 65 degrees when a pack of CMS runners took off at the 1:00 pm start.  I was in that pack with Eric Morse, Dan Verrington, Mike Casner and Tom Anderson.  Caz and Tommy dropped off after 2 miles.   Dan and Eric stayed close until 4 miles.  Eric stuck with me a bit longer and I finally managed to gap him.  He closed over the final 300 meters on the track, but I was able to hold on for an 8 second win and 36 seconds under the old record.  I came away from the race with badly blistered feet and $300 for the win and the CR.
 
1 30:49 Dave Dunham     32M Bradford, MA                  CMS
2 30:57 Eric Morse          31M Barre, VT                        CMS
3 31:17 Dan Verrington    33M Bradford, MA                  CMS
4 32:17 Mike Casner        33M Marlow, NH                    CMS
5 32:20 Tom Anderson    31M Keene, NH                      CMS
6 32:32 Sean Dillon         26M Jamaica Pln, MA
7 32:41 Evan Soririou      21M Hanover, NH
8 32:51 James Garcia      37M Westford, MA                  CMS
9 33:25 Thomas Carroll   46M Dunstable, MA                 GLRR
10 33:44 Van Townsend  38M Southboro, MA