44th Annual Great Stew Chase, Lynn

I ran over to the Knights of Columbus to sign up for the Great Stew Chase 15K which was only $25 that morning. I saw my dad driving over through Wyoma Square so I knew he was coming to watch the race. I timed my warm up over to the race so that I could sign up, change into the racing clothes and Adidas flats and head to the starting line. Martin Tighe and I talked the day before about hitting miles in the 6:20’s. Thus the 6:28 mile to start off with was just what I needed. The weather was perfect for late January: high 40’s. Martin was about five seconds ahead. His gap on me got bigger. I was in a good mix, behind Nakri Dao, EJ and three Mystic Runners heading into Centennial Drive in Peabody. Ryan Hayes scooted by and into that pack.

I was jealous that they were having all the fun, working together. I had to hustle to rejoin them up the big hill leading up toward Rt. 1. I trailed them at the turn around by a few seconds. I worked the downhill and area leaving Centennial Park. I caught up to EJ only because he stopped to rip a pebble out of his shoe. We shared a good chuckle about it. He tagged along while I was moving in on the guys ahead. I managed to catch them all but Martin with a half mile to go. I did yell ahead to Martin so he would know that I was charging in. I caught him on Rt. 129 with 400m to go. I finished up in 11^th place with a chip time of 59:15.5, 6:22 pace per mile., a few strides ahead of Martin. It was a few minutes slower than last year but I was pretty good with the effort here to finish strong. 

Mile Splits 

1                     6:28

2                     6:22

3                     6:16

4                     6:18

5                     6:36

6                     6:05

7                     6:12

8                     6:15

9                     6:00

.46       5:52

44th Annual 15K Great Stew Chase

Sunday, January 28, 2018 - Lynn, MA.

Place No.  Name     Ag S Div/Tot  Div   S City             St Chiptime  Pace  Guntime   Pace    

===== ==== =================== == = ======== ===== = ================ 

11  304 James Pawlicki      43 M   1/21   M4044 M Lynn   MA   59:14.5  6:22   59:14.5  6:22

New Years Day Frosty Four mile road race

Heading out into single digit weather is never easy. But when the entry fee is paid for and you know you are showing up with several hundred friends, it is easy. The Frosty Four Mile, hosted by the Tavern in the Square and directed by the Wicked Running Club in the Witch City of Salem. The area was several days into a sub-20 degree cold spell.  I was bundled up pretty good head to toe for the race. Two to three layers depending on the area of the body. I saw plenty of people with just their eye balls exposed on the starting line.

Leaving the Salem Willows on the hunt
Photo by Roger Perham

Ice beard anyone?
Photo by Roger Perham

Dave Dunham and Dan Verrington were the top seeds for each of their Senior age groups heading into the race. My opening six minute mile had me in a deficit trailing Dave by what I judged as 12 seconds and Dan by 4.  I was able to take in the beauty of the 4 degree weather in and out of the area behind the Salem Willows. The water to the right sparkled and shined with ice below the surface. A Christmas tree that lights up at night was in the middle of the secluded cove. 

Mile two clocked in 20 seconds slower but I managed to stay in my place in the race by losing one spot and getting it back passing a runner leaving the willows neighborhood.  A nasty head wind waited while stepping on Resttaurant Row to Dead Horse Beach (faces the Beverly Harbor).

The wind was more or less a cross wind from there back to the finish line. I crossed the finish line in good spirits, seeing my dad on the right hand side, freezing his ass off. He would want it no other way. He admitted not feeling his hands. He bolted home and I regrouped with Dave (placed 6^th, 23:48) and Dan (placed 8^th, 24:27) with a pace I could maintain on a cool down.  

I came back to the Tavern and found myself in the results: 10^th place overall, 1^st in the 40-45 age group, with a time of 25:05.5, 6:17 pace per mile. Jay Frontierro, the gent I passed around mile two, was 11 seconds back, also the same age. Full Results

Dan, Dave and I cooling down after the race
Photo by Roger Perham