Since coming back from my hamstring injury I've been aiming for the New England XC championships. I'm WAY behind where I was last year but still enjoying getting out there and competing (time be damned). The NE champs are the finale in the XC series (5 races from late August to early November) and as they mark the end of the season for most, there is always great competition at the race.
I've been having a lot of trouble with my knee since running in the Catskills last month and had not raced since very early in October. That had me a little nervous about this race. Based on my times in the other XC races it looked like I could run around 33:30 and if I had a good day probably around 33-flat. This is a far cry from the 31:29 I'd run last year.
Although the race was reasonably early (10am) I got up at my "normal" time and went out for a 3 mile run. For some crazy reason I decided that cinnamon/sugar raison toast would be a good light breakfast. Ugh, I'd be tasting that the remainder of the morning. I picked up Danny V who was making his debut after having hip replacement surgery back in May. We caught up on the 50 minute drive to Franklin Park.
On arrival we used the 'parking hack' and told the park rangers that we were here to visit the zoo. Hey, if we just put one foot beyond the gate we visited the zoo. We were quite early but nowhere near being the first CMS guys to arrive. Joe Shairs and Scott Grandfield were already present as was occasional CMS runner (but really Greater Springfield Harriers) Francis Burdett. We had a little time to chat before heading out for a warm-up. Dan ran with Ernst Linder (I've known Ernst since the early 1990's when we both ran on the Up North Orienteers club) and I teamed up with Dave Harper. Somehow Dave and I went off course! I guess all of the years of running this race have not sunk in. We safely got back on course and finished our warm-up with plenty of time.
Now I had a hard decision to make. I'd brought road flats, Inov-8 trail shoes, and XC spikes. I was ready for any conditions. The course seemed dry so I went with the road flats, this would also have the benefit of not aggrivating my arthritic ankle. I did another mile to ensure that the shoes would be okay on the grass and then hit the line with 107 others. That seemed like a smallish field and I knew I'd be near the back.
Off we went and it took me quite a while to get into a good rhythm or to really get going. I think the lack of any speed-work makes it hard for me to get out aggressively which is probably for best. I was hoping to run a very even race and counted on others going out too fast and being able to reel them back in. I was focused on John Barbour (GLRR 65+) who had beaten me twice this XC season. He pulled away in the early going and was still 5 seconds up at the mile (629). I closed on him as we climbed Bear Cage hill for the first time and went by at 1.5 miles on the descent off of Bear Cage. Next up was a group in front of me by maybe 10 seconds. Francis was at the tail-end of the group and we'd battled it out last year so I was focusing on closing on him. A second mile of 6:35 had me getting a little closer and feeling like I'd found my pace. A third mile of 6:38 had me catching Francis as we passed the 5k mark at the start/finish line. I'd hit 5k faster than I'd raced any of the other 5k XC races this year and was still feeling decent.
I caught up to two of the guys in the pack (Binney Mitchell and Tom Geisler both of the GMAA) and slowly pulled away during a 6:37 fourth mile. There was only one more guy in sight (Peter Fratini from GSH). I could hear the announcer calling the top finishers right after I passed four miles. Yikes, I was a MILE behind. I focused on Fratini and was surprised when he walked on the final part of Bear Cage. That helped me get even closer and at the final turn (about 200 to go) I caught him and we both gave our all to the line. I barely got him, but it counts...I'm not sure for what, but it counts. My 6:37 last mile got me to the line at a surprising 32:29, well under what I thought I could run. I was definitely pleased with that. I would have liked to score for my team but I was 8th man and didn't even count for displacing.
I ended up 65th out of 108 finishers and was 24th of 61 in the 50+ age group. In the 55-59 I took 13th place. I was pleased to see that only 2 guys older than me finished ahead with Dave Westerberg winning the 65+ in 31:25 and teammate Warren Angel topping the 60+ in 31:55. Danny V had a great return to action running 33:59 and taking 2nd in the 60-64 age group.
Only 12 weeks until I turn 60!
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