CARS #6 - Angels 5km

I started out the month sidelined, missing two days with sharp stabbing pain that landed me on the ground during a run.  I came back tentatively.  The MRI results showed a hip impingement, and I was given the okay to run and “let pain be my guide”.  

It felt pretty lousy, but I did a small workout (2 x ½mile in 2:47 & 2:55) to see how it felt doing something faster.  It wasn’t bad during the workout but the next day I was paying the price. My hope was to make it through the Angels 5k (race #6 in the CARS).  Ernie Brake and I are in a very close battle in the age graded masters standings.  With the best 4 of 8 races counting, I really needed to get a decent result to wipe out some of the lower scores I’ve had.  This race along with the last two (NHTI & SEA) are the fastest races in the series so typically your score will be higher since it is based on the time you run.  Ultimately, I’d need to run under 18:30 and was hoping to run under my time at the last race (Woodchuck = 18:19) which was hillier than Angels.

Jim A, Christin D, and I warmed-up checking out the course. It was already closing on 80 degrees and humid at 7am.  At least it wasn’t in the 90’s like the previous few days.  I did another mile then joined 150 others for a very long and strange prayer before the start (I have no objection to a prayer, but this one seemed to go on forever and really started to lose people by the end).  I hoped to get out strong and was happy to hit the half-mile in 2:56 in 7^th place.   Teammate Tim Cox went by with Lucas Fisher, I tried to keep them close.  I got back by Fisher before the end of the long downhill to the mile (2:36 ½ mile) 5:32. I was a bit surprised that this opening mile was faster than the one at Woodchuck, but now the racing would begin.  I kept Tim in sight but could not close. At 1.6 we hit the only uphill in the course, and it was nasty.  I closed a bit on Connor Bernard and Timothy Lindberg, but Tim Cox was still 5 seconds up as I passed 2 miles in 11:45 (6:13).  I was right where I wanted to be but could not get going again.  I had hoped for around 5:50 for the final mile but mustered a 6-flat.  I did pass the two young guys and moved up to 6^th but never closed on Tim.

 
1          16:53    Warren Bartlett              24         Male     Loudon, NH       MOPEN             
2          17:13    Drew Tuttle                   26         Male     Alton, NH          MOPEN             
3          17:25    Edward Stowell              20         Male     Sutton, NH        MOPEN             
4          17:37    Benjamin Neff               18         Male     Bow, NH           M1519              
5          18:16    Timothy Cox                  48         Male     Northwood, NH M4049   Duct Tape & Spit          
6          18:22    Dave Dunham                57         Male     Bradford, MA     M5059   Duct Tape & Spit          
7          18:24    Connor Bernard             17         Male     Bow, NH           M1519              
8          18:27    Timothy Lindberg           27         Male     Ashland, NH      M2029              
9          18:33    Jim Angell                     57         Male     Hopkinton, NH   M5059   Kezar   
10         18:58    Terrence Ferns              52         Male     Nw London, NH M5059   Kezar   
11         19:19    Lucas Fisher                  25         Male     Penacook, NH    M2029              
12         19:26    Matt Deschuytner           34         Male     Canterbury, NH M3039              
13         19:39    Christin Doneski             50         Female  Hopkinton, NH   FOPEN             
14         19:50    James Brady                 20         Male     Newbury, NH     M2029   Kezar   
15         19:55    Darin Brown                  54         Male     Madison, NH     M5059   Duct Tape & Spit          
27         22:26    James Pawlicki              46         Male     Lynn, MA          M4049   Duct Tape & Spit