Looking back - January 2008

 

15 years ago: January 2008 – I raced six times this month, mixing it up with road, indoor track, and snowshoe races.  I started the month with the “Hangover Classic” setting a masters PR of 35:04 finishing 11^th overall in a field of 439 on a very windy day.  Moulton won the race in 31:44.  Five days later (01/06) I kicked off the snowshoe racing season with a second place finish at the Brave the Blizzard.  Josh Merlis (the race director) and Tim Van Orden sat behind me on the longest 5km ever (it was about 4 miles).  Josh knew the course and flew by me with a half-mile to go to seal the victory.

Brave the Blizzard 01/06/08

1 Josh Merlis       26 M Albany NY               28:01 

2 Dave Dunham   43 M Bradford MA            28:15

3 Tim Van Orden 39 M Venice CA               28:22

I guess the snowshoe racing got me in decent shape as I hit the track at the Dartmouth Relays for the 5,000 meters.  Although I finished in 11^th place I was pleased as I set a masters PR of 16:28.2.  The next weekend (01/19) I was back to snowshoe and the “South Pond Shuffle”.  I had four guys right on me for the first mile plus then was able to drop them on a hard uphill section.  

 1 Dave Dunham   M43 29:40

2 Josh Merlis       M26 30:16

3 Ethan Nedeau   M34 30:26

4 Tim Mahoney   M28 30:33

5 Tim VanOrden M39 30:36

The following weekend I doubled-up.  On Saturday I ran one of the first races that acidotic put on.  This was an interesting course around and over Cobble Mountain on a mix of XC ski trails and single-track.  I ran with Geoff Cunningham for the first 4 mile or so then slowly pulled away for a 2 minute victory.  The next day I headed out to Pittsfield for Curly’s Record Run.  There was a very solid field gathered for this 4 mile with a brutal climb.  Tim Mahoney did the early pace setting and I got around him about half-way up the mountain.  I was able to hold off the quick descenders for a 30 second win.

 

Cobble Mountain 01/26/08

1 Dave Dunham               27:46 BRADFORD, MA CMS M 43   

2 Geoff Cunningham         29:53 MEREDITH, NH   M 30  

 

Curly's Record run - 4m Snowshoe race  01/27/08

1 Dave Dunham               M43 32:02

2 Matt Cartier                  M32 32:32

3 Tim Van Orden             M39 32:59 

4 Ben Nephew                 M32 33:32 

5 Tim Mahoney               M28 33:34

7 Abby Woods                F29 36:29

8 Paul Bazanchuch           M53 36:45

10 Edward Alibozek          M45 38:17