Lazy Dog Classy 3 mile fun run

Smiling before the pace would slow
Photo by Sandy Armstrong

Dad, Krissy, and I before the race
Photo by Dean Malerba

Joe OLeary sent out an email to the SRR email list and suggested this 3 mile road race last month. It is directed by a long time SRR member, Steve Martin who works at Lynn City Hall and coaches the Lynn Classical High School Girls Track team. The Lazy Dog Sports Bar played host to the race and funds support the Classical Girls track team. Krissy and I were all in for a local event that was no more than a mile from the casa. I ran over to the race, taking the long way for a 15 minute warm up. I got my number and ran for a few more minutes before getting sorted into the racing gear - lining up next to fellow SRR runners: Neil Finnegain and Amie. Ready, Set, Go was given by Steve and the crowd of 120 took off for the loop around Flax Pond. I passed the mile in 5:09. The pace slowed a bit as some head wind dominated on Rt. 129. Neighbor and friend Sandy was all over the course with baby Mia. I finished hard to the finish line in front of the Lazy Dog and my dad coaching, in 16:11 - 5:24 per mile pace for the 3 miles (full results). Krissy handled the course well as she and Sandy run the loop a few times a week. The sometimes coned course was well marked, had plenty of volunteers where needed at intersections, and the Lynn Police pace car looked out for my well being throughout the course which was mostly flat (two momentum breakers on Euclid Ave before mile 1 and Magnolia Ave around 2.4 miles). Kris and I hung out for the post race party with friends and neighbors. I spent the awarded gift certificate on lunch and wound up meeting a former owner of mi casa. It was a pleasure to get some interesting history. Looking ahead, I will be participating in the Great Stew Chase 15K in Lynn (pay $1/kilometer for pre-entry) on Super Bowl Sunday which unfortunately will not include the Patriots who got stuffed in the 2nd half tonight - picking a bad time to provide turnovers.

Wicked Frosty Four

Focused through Mile 1. Photo by KrissyK

I got off on the right foot, so to speak, at the Wicked Frosty Four mile road race in Salem with a rare road race win on the first day of the new year. I got lucky as the top three guys from last year were not on the starting line. I saw Alex Gomes and David Corbett at registration and knew they would be in the mix. My dad was at the start line. I ran over and gave him a hug and welcomed in the new year. He said, “make sure you come in top ten.” I got on the starting line next to EJ Hrynowski who had a nice Q&A profile LevelRenner. I lead the race after the first turn off of Front Street. I was waiting for Alex or David to catch up but it never materialized. Alex ended up pacing the female winner, former Salem State University runner (now with GBTC) Taylor Krajewski. His name was absent in the results so he saved his entry fee. I expect to see him on the indoor track busting out sub 5’s for a 5K in the next six weeks. I ran past Krissy somewhere near mile 1 as she was taking photos. I went forward chasing the lead vehicle, Salem Police Department’s cruiser with co-race director Allison Phelan in the passenger side seat. The wind was at my back, as expected and scouted during my warm up. Thus, the first two miles were effortless into the Salem Willows neighborhood despite the lack of company. The head wind was rather sobering leaving the Salem Willows at 2.5 miles and along Dead Horse Beach. It was me against the elements, really a true test of character. I thought of Dave Dunahm in this stretch toward mile three as I wished he was there in the battle as he was last year. I passed Krissy again now in another spot watching her cross the street to get the best camera angle for the following 686 runners. I never looked back to see how close second place was but stayed alert throughout the race, acknowledging for any vocal support behind me anytime I ran by spectators on the course. I high fived an officer holding up traffic to get me through a busy intersection and tried to stay focused and ensure that I don’t get run down in the last mile. The last turn finally came about with a slight decline down Front Street and into the finish seeing that my time was slower than last year (22:21 vs 21:51). My time would have put me in at 8^th place last year. David came through shortly after I got a bottle of water. I gave a fist bump to the top ten runners before heading right out, wasting no time in the 30 degree weather, to run the four mile course again. The Salem News put out some positive press on the race in the paper which had the biggest turnout ever with 687 finishers.

Somewhere around 3 miles. Photo by KrissyK

Sixth Annual Wicked Frosty Four Miler 

Salem, MA, January 1, 2013

1  690 James Pawlicki        1/74   M3039 38 M Lynn            MA   22:21   22:22  5:36

2  401 David Corbett         1/34   M2029 29 M Stoneham     MA   23:06   23:07  5:47

3  673 Jason Barnes          1/58   M5059 50 M Salem           MA   23:29   23:30  5:53

Full results and photos by KrissyK