The “Covid comeback 5k” billed itself as the first race in Massachusetts in 2021. I don’t know if that is true, but it was the first race I did in MA since the USATF relay back in December. I was struggling a bit leading up to the race as the second COVID shot followed by the race last weekend left me a bit out of sorts. Then of course I added to my recovery time by doing a workout on Wednesday (and just missing a sub-5 minute mile (downhill)). It looked like it was going to get close to 90 degrees on Sunday and like most everyone else I was not prepared for hot weather running this early in the season.
I got to the race an hour before the start and hung out a bit waiting from teammate Jim Pawlicki to join me for the warm-up. I gave him less than a minute past the designated time (8:10) before I headed off to warm-up by running the course. I felt pretty lousy which is usually a good sing or a REALLY bad sign. I switched into my racing flats and headed out for another mile feeling slow, hot, and tired. Then it was over to the line for the start. They had us line up pretty much wherever we wanted in rows of three with about 30 runners per starting wave. I was in the second row and headed out pretty quickly but by 200 meters into the race found myself alone in 13th place as the lead group strung out and it was a long way back to the next person. I checked my watch at ½ mile and was right where I wanted to be (2:53). My goal based on the course was to run about 5:50 for the first two miles which were flat or downhill. Then a 6:20 mile on the very tough 3rd one would get me home at 6:00 pace. I hit the mile in 5:49 and began catching people. Some of the younger guys had gone out very aggressively and were starting to feel it. Unfortunately, I’d catch someone and get no benefit as they just fall back. It was nice to track people down, but it would have been better to have someone to work with. I hit 2 miles in 11:32 which was a pleasant surprise as I moved into the top 10. Then we hit the tough ¼ mile on Canterbury road which climbed 100’. The 8% grade was definitely a punch in the gut. I caught another guy on the climb and got into 8th place with ½ mile to go. I didn’t have much of a kick and lost back a spot in the final ¼ mile.
No complaints from me as I broke 6:00 pace (5:54’s) and finished in the top 10. Jim ended up arriving just as the race started. Since chip timing was being used, he hustled to the line and was the last person to start at 9:08am. Jim and I met up for a warm-down which included a visit to the highest point in Georgetown and the fire tower on the summit of Baldpate hill.
1 Steve Dowsett M33 16:15
2 Carl Hartford M36 16:44
3 Colin McGinn M19 17:12
4 Nick Moore M22 17:47
5 Jarret Harrigan M28 17:49
6 Peter Siess M28 17:53
7 Jonathan Fascetti M18 18:10
8 Connor Gorman M34 18:15
9 Dave Dunham M57 18:19
10 Patrick McGucken M17 18:47
Age Graded
1 Dave Dunham M57 84.4% 15:12
2 Steve Dowsett M33 79.6% 16:08
3 Carl Harford M36 78.5% 16:22
4 Linda Jennings F68 75.9% 19:23
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