31st Annual Andover Cross Country Club Classic

Myself, Matt Fuhrmeister, Dave Dunham, Matt Fischetti. Photo by Gianina Lindsey.

Krissy and I headed up to Andover for the Andover Country Club Cross Country 6K race. Most of the course is all over the roller coaster golf course. I tried to warn Krissy and my friend Patrick who was running his first cross country race since High School. They both held their own but admitted this was no flat road race.  I had a little back and forth with Dave Dunham early on. Dave Quintal threw in the surge of the race over a mile in, sending me a message that he was going to run Dunham down. I tried to keep them in sight but my legs were toast. Jonathan May went by me with over a mile to go, looking strong up the residential road. I gave one last push but minutes later had me fading again. He finished strong and I had to hustle in to keep a fast charging Joe O’Leary a few steps behind. I finished 8^th overall with a time of 19:16.33 (5:31 / mile pace). Next up is the Mill Cities Relay with the Somerville Road Runners. I have the long leg  (9.4 miles) of the day. It will be interesting. This was my first road race ever way back in the 90’s where I had leg number two with the North Shore Strider men's open team. It should be fun.

31st Annual Andover Cross Country Club Classic results

Wild Turkey 5 mile run - Salem, Ma

I signed Krissy and myself up for the race a few weeks ago. My plantar has been feeling a lot better. I have been wearing orthotics since October 25 and being more diligent with calf stretching recently. Krissy and I had a five minute drive over the bridge and into Salem. I met up with Scott Carrier and his friend Marc Gillaume for a warm up. The Nike Lunaracer2 was the weapon of choice to hit the Salem streets. After exchanging a few words at the starting line with Salem State University stud, Alex Gomes, the race of over 1400 runners bolted. My short lived lead for the first 200m saw Alex and Nick Rennie take command and down Derby Street. I passed the mile about three seconds back of them in 5:15. I was passed by Michael Nickeron leaving the Winter Island loop (2 miles or so). About two minutes later Christopher Chapruet went by me in the neighborhood behind the Salem Willows. Mile 3 provided a time of 16:25.72 about 10 yards behind Christopher. We were running the same pace through mile four (22:05, 5:39 split) after a climb after Dead Horse Beach that exits the Willows. I felt pretty good and thought that I could take a run at him. That surge never came forward aside from picking up my pace in the last 400m to see where my legs were at. I closed within four seconds of him for 5th overall and a respectable 27:30.6. I ran slower (27:43) last year so to run a quicker time a year later is solid.

Wild Turkey 5 Mile Salem, MA, November 24, 2011

1 ALEX GOMES PEABODY MA                           22 M * 20-24     26:18.9 5:16/M

2 NICK RENNIE SALEM MA                               28 M 1 25-29     26:53.6 5:23/M

3 MICHAEL NICKERSON SALEM MA                   22 M 1 20-24     27:15.0 5:27/M

4 CHRISTOPHER CHAPRUET DANVERS MA        19 M 1 15-19     27:26.7 5:29/M

5 JAMES PAWLICKI BEVERLY MA                     37 M 1 35-39     27:30.6 5:30/M