Exeter Trail Race - USATF New England Trail Championship

Todd Callaghan picked me up and headed to Exeter, NH for the 10 mile Exeter Trail Race which was a New England Trail Championship for 2017. I knew zip about the course and terrain but was looking forward to racing on the trails which were sure to be competitive with $1K in prize money. Here is a nice description of the course (found after I ran the race).

"This a very technical trail race. There is arguably no better urban trail running and mountain biking network in the northeast than the Oaklands & Henderson-Swasey Town Forests. Located just minutes from downtown Exeter, NH these trails are better known as Fort Rock. If it’s technical trail running you are looking for…search no further. This may be the most technical trail race anywhere in New England!" - Visit Exeter New Hampshire

I warmed up on the course with CMS mates Ed Sheldon and Paul Bazanchuk and got a feel for what the legs would be in for. I would compare it to the single track found in Ravenswood in Gloucester or Greenwood Ave in Beverly Farms. One eye would be needed on the ground and the other up looking ahead for trail markings.

The start of the race narrowed down after 300m of road down to the single track trail in a hurry. I settled into about 14^th place. I quickly determined that I had to move up and around the gent in front of me. I wanted to keep Ed Sheldon close and his orange shirt was quickly getting out of sight after a few miles. I passed the runner in front of me and was rolling pretty well. After 3.5 miles, I found Ed on the ground. He was in pain, taking a hard one to the earth. I asked if he was OK and he confirmed. I was not convinced yet I ran by certain he would be back on his feet chasing me soon enough.

My failure to have my Garmin watch on me was biting me big time. I was lost without it. I wanted to know how far into the race I was on several occasions. I had nothing to go by except for knowing water stops were at 3, 6, and 9 miles. The trails continued to roll. Not once did the course have a wide flat fire road. Miles of single track, navigating the turns, rock hopping, planks, and board walks got surprisingly tiring.

I managed to pass a few more runners in the middle of the race, the last of which was one of the two Jeff Walker’s – this one from RI who is in his 50’s. He hung close behind me in the 2^nd half of the race. His presence kept me honest and to keep attention to the course markings which were a bit sparse in several areas. We managed to keep course all the way but was not too confident on several occasions. The legs were junk over the last few miles. The goal was to not get passed and to stay on my feet.

I finished 10^th overall with a time of 1:13:07.4. Jeff was just 23 seconds back. I finished a whopping 4 minutes behind the 3^rd place master, Ryan Carrara and almost two and a half minutes behind 9^th place (Scott Leslie).

After finishing, I turned my attention to looking for Ed. Soon enough, he would come in with a bloody elbow. I have said it before, and will say it again, this guy is tough as nails. I got him a bag of ice where I had to poke a hole to get water to clear out his wound on the elbow. He was in good spirits and carried a great sense of humor. If that were me, I am not so sure I would be as positive as he was. He deserves a hard hat of the race award!

Full results

Ribfest 5 mile

Steps before the finish line
Courtesy of Millennium Running

I headed up to the 3^rd USATF New England Grand Prix race in Merrimack, NH (Ribfest 5 miler) with Nakri and Krissy. It was cloudy but warm and humid. I met up with new CMS racing team member Ben Fazio and DJ Raboin to get some team gear to them. That was followed by a half mile bus ride from the parking lot to the race. The layout was easy to navigate so getting the race number and shirt was easy. I warmed up with Nakri and Kevin Gorman covering the 1^st and last miles. I ran a mid-27 minute race back in 2014, thus familiar with the course.

I got to the starting line and settled in next to teammates about five rows deep. Getting a clean start with a few quick turns in the 1^st 300m was the goal. I did hear someone go down right behind me at the first right turn up the hill. My first two miles were decent, around 5:45 pace and I was in CMS master company with Josh Perks and Arthur Besse. Kevin Gorman and Jason Dunklee were about 20 seconds ahead on the lollipop loop. I came out of that loop into 3 miles very flat and that set the tone for my last two miles milking 6 minute pace from there into the finish. I got a net time of 29:54.5, 96^th place, and 14^th in the 40-49 age group.

2017 Ribfest 5 mile race results 

KrissyK Ribfest 5 mile photos

Passing mile 4 at the Ribfest 5 mile
Photo by KrissyK

Finish line video, thanks to the Millennium Running crew who put on a 1st class event. Wish I stayed around for the post race festivities.

Scamper for the Campers Camp Fire North Shore 5K

I got a flyer on the car at the Lynn Woods race for a local race on Saturday for the Scamper for the Campers Camp Fire North Shore 5K. The course map was on the back of it and was surprised to see that it ran through the Fays Estates neighborhood. I decided not to attend the US Mountain Running Championship at Cranmore Mountain so my Saturday was open for this as I was curious. I emailed the race director, Laurie Hamill, early in the morning and she confirmed that I could sign up at the race. I ran about a mile to the race and signed up 25 minutes before the start. It was a small field, over 30 entrants. 

I ran as hard as I could from the start getting the police escort through the streets that I train on (also Matt Veiga lives in the area too). The course was flat with the exception of the downhill start to Fays Ave and the hill to go up Western Ave to the finish where it all started on Belleaire Ave. I took the win for the 2.9 mile course in 17:16. It was a new course for the race. The post-race pizza, beer, soda, and awards were at the Camp Fire North Shore grounds a quarter mile up near the Salem/Lynn line. I would like to see the race get more runners next year. Overall, it was a decent low key event that for the entry fee, you get fed, a race shirt, and an honest 2.9 mile course through the flat Fays Estates. Yeah there is a hill at the end, but that is offset with the downhill start. Results