Looking back - 5 years ago

5 years ago: I didn’t have much in the way of expectations going into the Loon Mountain race.  I’d raced 32+ miles the week before and my nagging glute/hip issue left me running very slowly during the week.  I wanted to run all of the Mountain series races this year so I figured worst case I’d just show up and run through it.  I decided I’d go very easy on the flat and downhill parts and run as hard as possible on any uphill (as long as my hip didn’t protest). Nearly 500 lined up for the 12^th annual race that is known for getting progressively more difficult as the miles go by.  I went out relaxed and was well out of the top 100 as we started climbing the cat-track.  I passed quite a few of them as we climbed to the entrance to the “Nordic” section of the race.  At just after 3 miles we were back on the cat-track and a short tough climb.  There was a line of guys in front of me and I was ready to start climbing.  The “Grass hill” is a very difficult ½ mile climb, I passed at least 15 guys on this part as I ran the whole way and most were power-walking. I was looking forward to the brutal kilometer (.62) climb that has an average grade of 27%!  I ran most of it, but the upper part was really chewed up and there was a section where I was using my hands to claw my way up.  Crazy fun!  I passed 10 people on the Upper Walking Boss and held onto my place on the final ½ mile of downhill, crossing the line in 22^nd.  I was surprised to find after the race that I’d gotten 2^nd in the 50+ and that my time on the UWB was third fastest for the day. 

1  Noah Hoffman             27 M West Lebanon NH                 57:22
2  Brandon Newbould       35 M Nottingham NH WRT             59:02
3  Stephen Pretak            32 M Fort Collins CO                     59:37
Top CMS finishers
8  Todd Callaghan            47 M Beverly MA              1:02:18 
9  Tim Van Orden             49 M Bennington VT         1:03:38 
16  Matthew Veiga           30 M Lynn MA                 1:07:17 
19  Steve Brightman         48 M Providence RI          1:07:51 
22  Dave Dunham            53 M Bradford MA            1:09:27 
24  Erik Vandendries         52 M Chestnut Hill MA       1:10:01 
27  Kevin Tilton               35 M Conway NH             1:11:16
 
Top 50+ Finishers
1/64  M50-59 Jim Boule                 50 M Campton NH            acidiotic RACING             1:05:35 
2/64  M50-59 Dave Dunham           53 M Bradford MA            Central Mass Striders        1:09:27 
3/64  M50-59 Erik Vandendries       52 M Chestnut Hill MA       Central Mass Striders        1:10:01 
4/64  M50-59 Brian Ruhm              52 M Nashua NH              Gate City Striders             1:11:07