GBTC XC

I’m hoping to do the five races in the USATF New England Cross-Country (XC) series this fall.  I kicked off the season two weeks ago at the Old Goat TC race in Sutton.  Next up was the Greater Boston TC race at Great Brook (Carlisle).  I’d done this twice before so I knew what I was in for.  Last year I’d run 19:58 for the 5k course and knowing I’m not quite back since my hamstring tear (and stress reaction in my knee) I figured a good goal would be 20:30.  The course has three loops and gets progressively tougher, with a ½ mile loop, then a mile, and finally a 1.5 mile.  Each time we’d come back through the start/finish area, so nowhere to really hide if you are having a tough day.  The field was kind of small (less than 50) for the 40+ crowd as we lined up on the “Lantern Loop”.  After a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner (lyrics be damned), we were sent on our way.  It was only 70 degrees but was very uncomfortable with dew points in the 70s (tropical).  I found myself with Brian Ruhm (Gate City) in the early going and hoped to stick with him.  After the initial loop he turned to me as I was falling back and encouraged me to stay with him as he was “keying off” me.  He wouldn’t have to worry about me as he pulled away.  I pushed as hard as I could and just was not feeling great.  I passed one guy before the mile (Teszler – HHS) and got three other guys (Hemmingway, Leeds, and Mancini) between 2 miles and 2.5.  Sadly I spotted teammate Tim Van Orden on the sidelines around 2 miles dealing with ongoing heart issues.  I encouraged him to walk in if he could, we only had 5 entered so if he was able to a finish would give us a scoring team.  I held my position until 400 to go when Mancini went past and I had no response.  I ended up running 20:53 which was disappointing.  I finished exactly half-way in the field of 42 with a 21^st place and took 8^th in the 50+.  Our team had a great day with Greg Putnam taking top honors in the 50+ and our squad taking first.

 

Next up the Brown Bear 8k in two weeks.  I ran a low 32 at that last year, nervous I won’t break 35 this year.  Ugh!

 

Pl	Time	Name		Age	Team	Cat
1	16:33.2	TJ	Unger	45	HFC	40+
2	16:57.7	Aaron	Price		BAA	40+
3	17:26.2	Lee	Danforth	45	HFC	40+
4	17:45.3	Gregory	Putnam		CMS	50+
5	18:04.0	Timothy	Gavin		HFC	40+
6	18:07.9	Dave	Dugan		Tracksmith	50+
7	18:13.3	Steve	Brightman	54	CMS	50+
8	18:18.1	Jason	Cakouros	58	HFC	50+
9	18:27.1	Brian	McCarthy		HFC	40+
10	18:28.7	Shamus	Brady		Tracksmith	40+
11	18:49.6	Mark	Furler	40	GCS	40+
12	18:51.8	Eric	Silva		Tracksmith	40+
13	18:57.0	Douglas	Hall		Tracksmith	40+
14	19:22.5	David	Harper	56	CMS	50+
15	19:35.1	Ross	Tucker		Unnatached
16	19:39.8	Mathew	Swanson	45	Tracksmith	40+
17	19:56.4	Eli	Queen	45	Tracksmith	40+
18	19:59.1	Frank	Nelson		HFC	50+
19	20:18.6	Brian	Ruhm		GCS	50+
20	20:49.4	Chris	Mancini	43	Tracksmith	40+
21	20:53.3	Dave	Dunham	59	CMS	50+
22	20:56.0	Tyler	Leeds	40	GLRR	40+
23	20:57.8	Rodney	Hemingway		GLRR	40+
24	21:09.1	Tim	Van Orden		CMS	50+
25	21:31.5	David	Teszler	57	HHS	50+
26	21:41.1	Peter	LaGoy		GLRR	50+
27	21:50.0	Mark	Blaisdell		GLRR	50+
28	21:53.8	Gerard	Cnossen		Tracksmith
29	21:56.4	John	Barbour	69	GLRR	60+
30	22:18.3	Jimmy	Fallon	63	HFC	60+
31	22:29.6	Matt	Story		GLRR	40+
32	22:41.2	Robert	Ruel	71	HFC	60+
33	22:54.7	Paul	Stacy	56	Unnatached	50+
34	23:18.1	Brian	Beaulieu	49	GBTC	40+
35	25:03.1	Paul	Corcoran		HFC	50+
36	25:14.6	Tim	Hagerty		GLRR	50+
37	25:45.7	Glenn	Stewart	73	GLRR	60+
38	26:55.6	Stephen	Peckiconis		CSU	60+
39	27:14.1	Scott	Casper	55	GLRR	50+
40	27:27.8	Peter	Hogan		Unnatached
41	27:47.1	Matt	Lynch	63	HFC	60+
42	42:52.4	Raymond	Boutotte	77	GCS	60+