' I hadn't run a road race since July 4th. The week after racing the Chelmsford 2 mile (my best race of the year - 11:02) I tore a calf muscle at the Loon Mountain race. After missing nearly a month I focused on getting back as quickly as possible and circled November 6 on the calendar, figuring if all went well I'd be ready to race at the USATF NE XC championships. Leading up to that I've been doing nothing but XC races, but I've been doing some speed work and hoped that would translate to a decent road 5k. With no XC on the schedule this weekend I chose the Great Bay 5k.
I visited the course the day before to refresh my memory as I'd only done this once before back in 2009. This is a FAST course with 150' of downhill (but it also has 95' of uphill). Most of the up is in the first 1/2 mile then the only uphill is just after 2 miles where you climb 25' over 200 meters. The final 3/4 mile is very fast. My goal was to crack the top 10 times for 50+ and the top 5 in the 55-59. I'd need to get under 18 and really hoped to break 17:45
It was 31 degrees when I arrived on site at 8am. Frosty! I headed out for a 3 mile warm-up and wouldn't you know it I bumped into long-time teammate Al Bernier. He stopped to say "hi" and headed off to work. I continued on my warm-up and switched to racing gear and headed out for another mile with some strides. I felt pretty good but also nervous. This was going to hurt.
Over 600 lined up (decent numbers but down from the "normal" 800+ they'd get) and it was up to 40 degrees, sunny, and calm. Perfect for racing. Teammate Jim Pawlicki said I "looked fast", that bolstered my confidence. I got on the line as no one really seemed all that intent on getting to the front. Steve Dowsett gave me a fist bump (great to see him!) and it was time to go.
I kept out of traffic at the start and found myself setting in with the second woman. I was also keying off of Kevin St Laurent who was a few seconds ahead, no one knows the course better than Kevin and I knew he was aiming for sub-17. I hit the mile at 5:41 which was right where I was hoping to be. There was a little back and forth with the 2nd woman and another guy but otherwise the road was clear and I was cutting tangents (you really needed to on this course). I hit 2 miles in 11:22 (5:41), and was gearing up for the tough little hill. We dropped the woman on the hill and I had a bit more back and forth with the guy I was with until he sprinted away at the 3 mile mark. A 5:42 final mile got me to the line in 17:43 (rounded up by Granite state timing to 17:44).
I gave it my all and was happy to get through unscathed (I think). Jim Pawlicki seemed happy with his race but a balky leg kept him from doing a warm-down.
I arrived just in time to catch the overall awards and pick up 2nd place in the age-graded results ($50). It was very close between me and 3rd place which was $25 (3 seconds in the age graded). I was very happy about that but even happier with running the 3rd fastest time ever for a 55-59...and a top 10 all time in the 50+.
On to the USATF NE XC champs!
Male 50+
1 2005 Tom Ryan 50 16:26 5:18 Cape Elizabeth ME
2 2022 Anthony
Balakier 50 16:39 5:22 Portsmouth NH
3 2017 Pete Bottomly 56 17:04 5:30 Cape Elizabeth ME
4 2001 Stephen Reed 53 17:06 5:30 WISCASSET ME
5 2004 Randy Waterman 52 17:30 5:38 Sunapee NH
6 2005 Steve Reed 57 17:32 5:39 Wiscasset ME
7 2002 Stephen Reed 54 17:41 5:42 WISCASSET ME
8 2022 Dave
Dunham 58 17:44 5:43 Bradford MA
9 2003 Randy Waterman 51 17:44 5:43 Sunapee NH
10 2004 Steve
Reed 56 17:45 5:43 Wiscasset ME
Male 50 to 54
1 2005 Tom Ryan 50 16:26 5:18 Cape Elizabeth ME
2 2022 Anthony
Balakier 50 16:39 5:22 Portsmouth NH
3 2001 Stephen Reed 53 17:06 5:30 WISCASSET ME
4 2004 Randy Waterman 52 17:30 5:38 Sunapee NH
5 2002 Stephen Reed 54 17:41 5:42 WISCASSET ME
6 2003 Randy Waterman 51 17:44 5:43 Sunapee NH
7 2010 Gary Mastin 52 17:49 5:44 Newmarket NH
8 2007 Floyd Lavery 50 17:49 5:45 Portland ME
9 2006 Jim Boulanger 52 17:57 5:47 Somersworth NH
10 2008 Gary
Mastin 50 18:01 5:48 Newmarket NH
Male 55 to 59
1 2017 Pete Bottomly 56 17:04 5:30 Cape Elizabeth ME
2 2005 Steve Reed 57 17:32 5:39 Wiscasset ME
3 2022 Dave
Dunham 58 17:44 5:43 Bradford MA
4 2004 Steve Reed 56 17:45 5:43 Wiscasset ME
5 2022 Chris
Kealey 55 17:49 5:44 Newburyport MA
6 2021 Mike McGuire 56 18:49 6:04 Stratham NH
7 2009 Ron Newbury 59 18:57 6:06 Freedom NH
8 2012 Bob Strout 56 18:58 6:07 Salisbury MA
9 2005 Walter Fortier 56 18:59 6:07 Concord NH
10 2017 Todd Gerrish
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