Jim Pawlicki had mentioned he was trying to get CMS teams in the Open, Masters, and Seniors to compete at the Lynn Woods relay. I didn’t really think about it since I’d only just started running at the time. A few days before the relay he noted that he was short one guy in the 50+. I agreed to take the spot if he couldn’t find anyone but my plan was to RUN it and not RACE it. Then the relay got postponed due to wildfires! That has to be a first. That gave me an extra week to train and also a chance to do a little workout to see how my calf was feeling. On Monday I did my longest run (10 miles) since coming back and added in three times 1 mile during the run. The workout went better than expected, but part of the reason for doing it on Monday was that I knew I’d still be recovering by Wednesday night when the relay was happening. This would be a good and a bad thing. Good since I wouldn’t be able to run as fast as I would if I were fresh but bad since I’d probably be kicking myself for not running it fresh (laugh).
I headed to Lynn right after work and was among the first few to arrive. Bill Mullen (the RD forever) was already setting things up and I chatted with him for a bit. He asked if I would be the honorary starter, which was pretty cool, I’d never done that before.
Not the day to park at Lynn Woods
Longtime RD Bill Mullen
I had plenty of time to catch up with old friends as people arrived and had to pass by my car to get to packet pick-up. Eventually it was time to warm-up and Dan Verrington joined me for a loop of the course. It was pretty warm even in the woods but at least it wasn’t crazy humid like the last few days. We got back just in time for me to change shoes and head to the start. I got to give the start command and then ring the big cowbell to send off the 61 teams.
I did another mile to stay loose and felt hot and tired. The first couple of guys came flying in and our lead leg runner (Scott Grandfield) came storming home in just over 15 minute. I headed out and felt sluggish right from the start. Two guys went by me in the first very slow half-mile (a lot of climbing). I started to feel a bit more into it as I rolled along to the out/back section. It was the first time I’d seen anyone out there and I was about 20 seconds behind the guy in front of me. The goat path hill was tough, but I knew it was (mostly) downhill for the last mile. I had hoped to run around 7:00 pace (17:30 for 2.5 miles) but secretly hoped to crack 17 minutes. I was checking my splits and counting how much I was over 17. With a mile left I thought I still had a chance. It was not to be, I just could not get going any faster. My calf was okay, but my ankle was bothering me, and I was just sluggish and unable to get moving. I hit the line with the clock at 32:20 for a 17:08 split. Not too bad since I’ve only been running for 4 weeks. Dan took on the third leg and clocked a 17-flat. He gave the RD a little good-natured flak about him not being able to find a tenth of a second to get him under 17. Our final leg runner Mike McKie ran a solid 17:20 to bring our squad home in 1:06:40 which topped the 50+ teams (nearly four minutes ahead of the second 50+ team) and got us sixth place overall. It was also the 9th fastest time ever run by a senior squad.
SENIOR MEN (50-59)
1 . CENTRAL MASS STR 50+ 1:06:40
2 . WICKED TOUCH OF GRAY 1:10:38
3 . MYSTIC MEN ON FIRE 1:13:13
4 . NSS WOODS TEAM 1:15:20
5 . WICKED SMOKIN' 1:29:13
50+ Men (fastest splits)
1 15:12 Scott Grandfield Central Mass Str 50+
2 15:59 John Ayers Nss I Signed Up For What
3 16:34 Shawn Conway Notch Brewin Lagered Forever
4 17:00 Dan Verrington Central Mass Str 50+
5 17:02 Eric Jellison Mystic Men On Fire
6 17:06 Donald Withee Wicked Touch Of Gray
7 17:07 Bob Callahan Wicked Touch Of Gray
8 17:08 Dave Dunham Central Mass Str 50+
9 17:20 Mike McKie Central Mass Str 50+
All-time Senior team times:
Rank Time Team Year
1 1:03:47 CMS 2017
2 1:04:39 NSS 1992
3 1:04:40 TG 2002
4 1:04:47 GBTC 2004
5 1:05:23 NSS 2002
6 1:05:30 GAC 2014
7 1:06:05 CMS 2018
8 1:06:19 SRR 2019
9 1:06:40 CMS 2022
10 1:07:21 GAC 1996
11 1:07:23 CMS 2019
I’ve had a good time running the relay across the years. I still hold the “course record” with my 12:05 from 1991, but in 2010 they changed the course to the current configuration which eliminated the flat paved section at the start and finish and added on the distance on the main dirt road. I think the current version is slightly more difficult but I don’t know if anyone has come in under 13 minutes since 2010 (I’ll have to check that).
My results:
Date Dist. Time PL Fin Master Senior
08/21/91 2.50 12:05 1 180 504/954/1205 – Team record 50:10
08/24/05 2.50 14:13 24 280 3 60's humid. Anchor leg. Felt lousy, 10 seconds out of 1st 40+ team
08/20/08 2.50 14:03 14 287 3 Team record, 2nd place overall 55:12. Shairs 13:18, Quintal 14:04, Dan V 13:47.
08/24/11 2.50 14:05 7 328 3 Anchor leg. Shairs 14:12, Dave Q 14:15, Dan V 14:30
08/22/12 2.50 14:24 12 376 2 Had a slow night, seemed like everyone was slow
08/23/17 2.50 14:44 R 88 1 Senior team record and 5th place overall. My leg 12th fastest
08/22/18 2.50 15:10 15 360 2 1st leg, 8th place, team 5th place, Dan 16:15, DQ 18:48, Joe Shairs 15:50
08/21/19 2.50 16:18 31 344 5 Migraine the day before, hungover for this. 8th place team, 2nd in the 50+
08/31/22 2.50 17:08 44 244 8 First run back ran hard but felt very tired, team won with 9th fastest ever for 50+
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