Wayland XC festial

 The Wayland XC festival was the third race in the USATF NE XC series.  I felt ready for this race after doing an XC workout during the week and breaking in my new spikes.  I hadn't raced in spikes in nearly 30 years.  My goal was to go with teammate Dan Verrington for as long as possible.  He has owned me so far in the series and my hope was to give him a bit of a battle.

We carpooled to the race and bumped into Joe Shairs (a quiet entrant for CMS and a pleasant surprise).  After grabbing out numbers Joe joined us for a course preview.  After that I switched into spikes and did another mile with some strides.  I felt sluggish and just not right.

A smallish field of only 103 set off and I found myself very nearly in last place.  Dan was aleady 5 seconds up 1/4 mile in and steadily increasing the gap.  I felt like I was moving well but my watched told a different story.  I upped the tempo and started passing people.  I would pass people the rest of the way and only one person would pass me...that'd be the one positive I could take from the race.  I caught up to Brad K at the mile (we have been close at the other races) and could see Dan well up.

The climb up to the Aqueduct was TOUGH (8 minute pace for a 1/4 mile!).  Dan was over 15 seconds up when I saw him on top, and he could see exactly how close I was.  I was shocked at how slowly he too the downhill (bad hips will do that).  I very nearly caught him, but then he recovered and pulled away.  I kept working hoping that I'd have a shot at him on the final downhill.  Brad came flying by with 600 to go and I couldn't latch on.  I kicked for all I was worth but neither gained nor lost any places.

I ended up 9 seconds behind Dan which is the closest so far but I'd never really run with him despite my plan.  Maybe next time?  CMS had a good day with the 50+ dominating and all the guys scoring down to also win in the 40+.

50-59 age group

Overall