Run-A-Latke 5K

This 5K in Swampscott offers a bit of coastal scenery and views of Boston. This is just a few miles from the house. Kristen was hired as the photographer so this presented a chance to get a quick timed run in. Run-A-Latke 5K Photos and Start video

My calf was still tight and took the day before off from running. I got off the line and counted over 20 people head after 400m. I ran sort of flat footed to ease the strain on the calf. Mile 1 went by in 7:11. Then the course climbs a bit before getting out to Humphries Street. I passed the last runner at that point. Mile two slowed to 7:21. 

I was trying to not get caught from anyone I passed in the previous mile. I caught up to a youngster in the last 400m but couldn't catch him into the finish which climbed a bit. Last mile was clocked at 7:07. 11th place. Time was 22:20. I lived and did not die. I jogged another mile before shutting it down and calling it a day. 

Chanukah Run-a-Latke 5K results

ECTA Thanks for the Trails 5K

Tough week had me hobbled with a calf issue since Monday's attempted tempo run. I passed on running the WCRC Turkey Trot in Newbury on Thanksgiving Day. This race, the next day on Friday, would at least allow me to get a run in. I adjusted all expectations to just finish and enjoy the show. Rain was approaching and started 20 minutes before the 10am start in Patton Park, Hamilton.

Coming down the hill. Photo by Roger Perham

I ran a warm-up in the park, running through an area selling Christmas Trees. They were freshly cut, offering a long lasting pine scent. I started off the race in the 2nd row next to neighbor and trail wiz, Freddie Tribeck. She would navigate us through a half mile before I went ahead. My calf was annoyed and each stride reminded me. Oh, new course by the way, now mile 1 stays in the trails, no more Rt 1A road/sidewalk. 

With Roger Perham and Paul Croft

Up and down the hill. I got passed by five runners on the way up. On the 2nd loop, up another hill, shorter and steeper, I passed them all back but one. I walked the 15 yards before cresting through the top of the hill. Two more runners were picked off on the way to the finish. 

George S. Patton Park and a tank of a landmark

Roger Perham caught photos on the bottom of the hill. Matt Curran, cheered me onward with 400m to go. Miss those days we battled. He is tied up with a bad knee unfortunately. 

26th place awaited me. 7th 40-49. GPS measured out 3.25, so race pace was sub 8's instead of the 8:16 paced 25:39 race time for a 5K distance. Overall, I lived, did not drop out, no drama, just slower. Runners are stubborn creatures. I need to be smart, get healthy. Hard to do. 

ECTA Thanks for the Trails 5K results 2021

Thanks for the Trails Video Recap

Rachel's Run - Tyngsboro

This was the 5th and final race of the 2021 USATF New England Cross Country Grand Prix series. This would be my 3rd XC Grand Prix event this fall after running the GBTC Invite in Carlisle and the New England Cross Country Championships at Franklin Park two weeks ago. Rachel's Run would be a 5K course run behind the Academy of Notre Dame combining everything cross country from rolling hills to mud. CMS would have exactly five runners. We had an incentive to finish a masters or senior team to compete for the last of the team cash prizes in the series. My goal was to hang with CMS teammate, Paul Bazanchuk as he finished about a minute faster than my effort at XC Nationals in October.

Trailing Paul After 600M

The opening of the race goes across a baseball and soccer field, up to the school driveway, then dips sharply to the pond (see video below about 600m into the race). Runners are met with a slight climb through orange and white painted roots approaching the hum of Rt 3. The trees get taller and the woods darker with a little mud before going up the steep climb through Abrams Hill. Runners crash down and it rolls gently before flattening out of the woods and back onto the baseball field to complete lap 1 or exactly 1.5 miles. 

Dave Dunham making sure I stay on course

The plan to stick with Paul was working in the first half of the race as I trailed by 5 seconds. He gapped me up and down the rest of the hills in the second lap. I got past a few runners in the last mile to finish with a time of 22:26, 35th place, 5th CMS runner. Paul finished 21 seconds ahead. Our mix of age groups finished 5th in open and 1st 40+. 

Lonely in the 2nd lap

My splits for the 3.09 distance were: 7:25, 7:03, 7:26

CMS finishers: Tim Van Orden 18:29, Steve Brightman 18:48, David Harper 20:30, Paul Bazanchuk 22:05, James Pawlicki 22:26

Photos and Video credit to Kristen Pawlicki

My finish 

Video taken by Kristen Pawlicki, 600m after the start

2021 Rachel's Run 5K men's results

2021 Rachel's Run 5K team results

USATF New England Cross Country Championships

It was good to be back at Franklin Park for the New England Cross Country Championships. The race was held at Mine Falls last year as a 5K during the pandemic while USATF New England flirted with in person racing. The year before, I had very little training off meniscus surgery in the summer of 2019 and dropped out before two miles into the 8K. 

My goal today was to get through 5K quicker than the 5K National XC effort weeks earlier (under 22:30) and keep the pace up for the full 8K. I found myself running with John Barbour early on in this race. We have competed against each other going back into the 1990's. John actually made a friendly comment after the mile marker, running next to me. It must be a good day if I am running in John's company. I would be lying if I said I was not feeling a bit nostalgic running with John who has a tremendous racing background. He is one of the nicest runners out there. The type that is complimenting you and asking how you are doing before you can shake his hand after he won a race. 

John put some earth between us in the wilderness loop. However, I caught up with Brian Bealieau. We went through the 5K mark where I was 40 seconds quicker than at Nationals. I noted and mentioned to Brian that he appeared to be 40 seconds slower than then. He whipped me that day by almost a minute. I was able to get a few strides on Brian over the next mile and a half and hold him off at the end by seven seconds. I would finish with a time of 34:58. John would finish one place ahead in 34:43. Meanwhile, my teammates from CMS, the 50+ team, would duplicate their win at Nationals with a win at New Englands. Scott Leslie (40) would finish 7th overall, cracking the top ten as I told him he would under the CMS tent prior to the race. 

I ran a cool down with Brian B. and Matt Lyons. We cheered on the open race where CMS had Scott Mindel (racing team manager) and Keith McAteer running 32:57 and 33:58 respectively. I broke down the CMS tent, took a few photos of the seniors and hit the road with Todd Callaghan. Photo credits below to Dave Dunham who made sure I kept motivated during my race.

splits: 6:43, 6:57, 6:57, 7:03, 7:01

Masters Results

All other results

USATF National Masters XC Championships - Franklin Park

Todd Callaghan and I car pooled into Franklin Park and had the Central Mass Striders tent set up nearly 2 hours before the 10:45 start time for the 40/50 year old race. It was nice to have this race being hosted in Boston as the 2020 race was cancelled due to Covid-19. I had to show my vaccination card for the first time today. The other option was to show results of a negative test. I was competing for the CMS masters 40+ team today and was the 5th man behind Scott Leslie, Erik Johnson, Dave Dunham and Dan Verrington. Dave and Dan were declared down into the 40+ team so we could score a team. The senior team, 50+ had six runners: Greg Putnam, Tim Van Orden, Scott Grandfield, Todd Callaghan, Joe Shairs and Steve Brightman. Paul Bazanchuk was the teams lone 60+ runner on the day.

After the teams checked in 25 minutes before the start time to verify we all had the same singlet with front and back bibs, I headed out for a 13 minute warmup (1.5 miles). I jumped into a quick team photo and got onto team box # 2. The senior team was in team box #13. The starting gun went off and away the race went. I settled in and ran through mile 1 just under 6:40 and not feeling too sharp slowing down through Bear Cage Hill and losing ground to Brian Bealieau (21:33) who I was hoping to run with after he was with me half a mile in. I saw mile two around 14:15. I ended up passing one runner from there on out finishing 80th out of about 100 runners. My time was 22:30. My goal was to run a low 21 minutes. So overall, was pretty flat out there after the opening mile. The 40+ team finished 6th out of 7 teams. The senior team, placed first overall! I ran a 2 mile cool down with the team and hung out with them for the awards ceremony.  

Greg Putnam, Steve Brightman, Scott Grandfield, Todd Callaghan, Joe Shairs, Tim Van Orden

Frank Nealon Boston Tune-Up 15K

Hit the road for an easy one hour drive to Upton, MA for the 4th of the USATF New England Road Race Grand Prix races - Frank Nealon Boston Tune-Up 15K. Since the series got underway in August, a 5 mile, 10 mile, and 10K have been hosted in short order before the end of September. I failed to make a presence at any. This race was a chance to do a CMS team race on the roads. This is also, potentially may be the last race of the shortened Grand Prix, Covid-19 recovery year of 2021. A recent runner survey seems to have some interest with a 5K road championship to be held in November. That may align well for me as I have run more 5K's this year than I have in the last decade. 

Around mile 9

Photo by Barbara McManus

I ran this race about 3 years ago so was well versed in the rolling nature and quiet roads. I checked in with my CMS teammates, handing out fist bumps before the national anthem. I was anxious. My longest race all year was a 10K in and around seven and a half minute pace. I set off at the start with no serious expectations other than running comfortably hard. And that I did. Most miles were under 8 minute pace and reached the finish line with an overall pace of 7:53. Chip Time was 1:13:27. That placed me 27th out of 37 in the 40-49 age group and or 128th out of 216 runners. Splits below. CMS Open and Masters Men's Teams were 4th and 2nd.

Full Individual 15K Results

742, 749, 803, 749, 759, 749, 805, 752, 731, 704 pace for the last 0.4 miles

Following the race, I got a chance to scout out a 1989 San Marino Yello Chrysler Conquest TSI for sale. It was an automatic and the owner owns four, all automatics. It was not registered so could only test drive it around the Storage Facility. It needs some work and would be a fun project. If anyone knows of a Conquest TSI or Mitsubishi Starion ESI for sale, please let me know. 

Stride Along the Tide 5K - Nahant

Many things to love about this YMCA race. 

• Free Entry thanks to East Boston Savings Bank who sponsored the race
  
• Nahant offers the best scenery and least vehicle traffic
• Early Saturday start at 8:30, enjoy the rest of the day and weekend
• Event was 15 minutes from home

Dave Dunham and I ran the course as a warm-up. He had a map to guide us and I had a very rough idea of the course but not the terrain on Wharf Road. Key take-aways: know where the hills are and recognize the fast to flat finish. I told Dave that I was going to dog the race a bit; save some muscle for a 15K 25.5 hours later with in a USATF New England Grand Prix Road Race. 

Not going to lie, it was ok to chill in the opening miles with a 7:21 and 7:20. I pushed down to a 7:09 for the final mile to make room for a "do not make me sprint" to the finish. My watch captured 3.07 miles, 7:16 pace and a time of 22:18. Officially: 22:16 for 13th place, that is 7:11 mile pace based on a 5K. Good enough for 1st in the 40-49 age group.

Dave picked up 2nd place and a wicked decent time even with the hills around 17:41. We got 3 miles in after the race heading toward Lynn. We the ran into Nakri who we convinced to run back with us. He agreed but turned down a rare cotton baby blue race t-shirt. 

Stride Along the Tide 5K results, Nahant, MA 2021

13th overall

Photo by Kristen Pawlicki

S.E.A. 5K

Last race of CARS, #8 in Concord, NH. This course was flat and fast running the perimeter and a few loops around some state buildings and various parking lots. Basically zero traffic and a few cones. The course had plenty of volunteers at key turns. After the course warmup with my Duct Tape and Spit teammates of Dave Dunham and Doug Deangelis, I stood in the narrow start about 6 rows back in the sub 7 minute mile group, maybe 25 runners.

Mile 1 was quick with a 6:26. I managed to cheer the guys up front on when they exited a parking lot and I entered. Dave and Doug were about 8 seconds apart. I got through mile 2 with a 6:40 and was getting gapplebees from the 2 guys ahead of me. Last mile, 6:54. Overall, watch time was 20:50 for 3.13 miles or 6:39 pace. 

Pictures above are led with a rare sight: Dave on a Pay Phone complete with a phone book, calling back to fast times from the 1980's. 2nd photo is my prize, Maple Syrup which looks bigger than it was, 3rd photo in an old CMS non-official singlet with syrup, 4th is team Duct Tape and Spit: Doug, Dave and I. Photos by Kristen Pawlicki who attended at least half of these races. Bless her patience.

James Pawlicki FINISH TIME: 20:47 OVERALL PLACE: 16 DIVISION 

PLACE: M4549 :  2 TOTAL IN DIVISION

S.E.A. 5K results

I ran a 3 mile cool down. Then the next 30 minutes were handed over to the race awards and the CARS awards. I picked up a small bottle of maple syrup for the age group placing. As for the series, I placed first in the 40-49 age group for the best of 4 races. The team placed 2nd in the series. Dave was generous to toss me a few pesos of the team prize money. We had a fun group all year with injuries, smiles, hills, trails, roads and miles all within 10 miles of Concord, NH since May. 

GBTC XC Invite 5K

Finally got a CMS team race under the belt nine months into the calendar year with some cross country racing at the Great Brook State Park trails in Carlisle, MA. The course is a fair mix of grass, single track, corn field scenery along with back woods hills to break any momentum. This was race numero uno in the USATF XC Grand Prix.

The masters race was small (32 runners) but competitive. It was nice to see the fellow teams like HFC, Greater Lowell Road Runners and GBTC. I have not seen the new course which changed a few years ago. I ran the course during the warm up with the CMS guys. It was awesome to see guys I have not seen since last year: Tim Van Orden, Steve Brightman and Arthur Besse. 

I put on my New Balance waffle racers and got on a wide start line with the team. I was giddy to be back racing with other master runners (age 40 and older). Loop 1 paraded around the corn field and out into a bigger loop for the 2nd loop. I got through the mile behind Chris Kelly and Jimmy Fallon from HFC around 6:30 in. Former Salem State Viking and teammate, Brian Beaulieu running with GBTC was right behind me. So good, again, to be rubbing elbows. Photo of Brian and heading to loop two. Photo by our then SSC coach, Tom Derderian - now coach of GBTC.

The last loop, the largest of three on the day, was the toughest with rolling hills that were short and steep (for my legs). Those slowed me down a lot. I managed to rally over the last 500m around the corn field to just outstretch the guys mentioned above into the finish line. I placed 20th overall with a time of 20:14. 7th CMS runner. Had a blast. It meant a lot to be back for a cross country race with some peers. It is my favorite season and racing discipline. I hope to run a few more races in the XC Grand Prix.

Results

I ran a nice slow cool down with the CMS gang: Steve Brightman, Dan Verrington, TiVo, new to CMS but not the group - Doug Deangelis and Dave Dunham - both mates I have been racing with in the CARS (Concord Area Race Series) this Spring and Summer. I have my last series race this Saturday in Concord NH, SEA 5K, which is supposed to be a fast one. Can I break 20:30? 

Dave Dunham's locker room, er, Honda Civic with over 250K miles.

Hollis Fast 5K

The Hollis Fast 5K is a point to point race that drops down to the finish gradually. Dave Dunham picked me up and we car pooled into the school near the start. Plenty of time for the 3 mile warm-up and photo opportunity with CEO of NH Delta Dental and competitor, Tom Raffio who has donated a lot to the sport and races. 

Got on the starting line. Someone asked me what I was looking to run. 20 minutes I said with a straight face. That was the 2021 goal. I jumped out actually holding back on the quick drop in the first 100 yards. The early morning sun on this fine Labor Day broke onto the street off and on. Mile 1 passed by in 6:19. The folks around me pressed forward and soon felt I had to ease up. I found mile 2 with a 6:31. Bill Newsham pulled up as I got that 3rd mile in 6:54 and ready to wrap it up. Finished with a chip time of 20:36.7. Short of the goal but had fun trying.

Dave waited for me as I downed 3 cups of water. We headed back to the start line which was now a 3 mile climb. Overall, a good day, over 9 miles combined with the warmup, race and cool down.

NHTI Delta Dental 5K

The second to last C.A.R.S. race was back in Concord, at NHTI for a fast 5K. I was worried about the traffic on 93 North on a Friday evening so Krissy took the wheel and got us up there very early around 3:45 for the 6pm start. Perry Seagroves, head xc coach at NHTI, let me hunker down in the athletic building to wrap up some work stuff. Once wrapped up, I found Dave Dunham wandering the halls scaring coeds. I convinced him to find a shirt and do a course warm up with Darin Brown. It was going to be a fast course over two flat loops. 

Mother nature added a challenge of the heat and humidity. There were three heats going off at 6pm and I got into the back of heat one running with John Tuttle in the first mile. We traded back and forth before I tailed off about 1.5 miles in. We talked before the race and both agreed to help each other. I faded a bit more in the last mile only finding energy to convince Heather Searles (21:02) to jump back into the race and help me out. John finished with a 20:51 to my 21:11. I placed 24th overall and first in the 40-49 age group. I was still sweating while getting back into my street clothes heading off for another hour or two of work. 

Splits: 6:31, 6:50, 6:54 (6:13) with an average heart rate of 176bpm

Lynn Woods Relay

Team Dos Amigos placed fourth overall on a hot and muggy Wednesday evening at the Lynn Woods Relay. This was the 50th running of the relay. Nakri Dao ran 7.5 miles total by running the first, second and last leg. I gave him a rest by running the 3rd leg. Splits below.

 4 . DOS AMIGOS (21) 1:10:07

  NAKRI DAO                  16:57     16:57
  NAKRI DAO                  34:27     17:30
  JIM PAWLICKI               52:56     18:29
  NAKRI DAO                1:10:07     17:11

Angels 5K

Race # 6 of the Capital Area Race Series took us to Penacook, NH which is about 10 minutes north of Concord. I was late for the strict 7:05 warm up with Dave Dunham and the gang so went off and ensured that I ran the last mile of the course so that I knew how the end of the 5K would finish. I ran into them as they were finishing the course. I got into my New Balance racing flats 10 minutes before the start. After a prayer and national anthem, the race took off. I settled into a pace that felt right and let the fast folk zip away. The 2nd half of mile dropped nicely letting me into a 6:36 mile. Rumors of the mile into mile two were true. Everyone baked on the hot pavement on the long climb that offered some shade at the top. I was cooked. 

John Tuttle got a step on me at the top and recovered well enough to gap me by 10 seconds from there to the finish. I managed a back and forth with one other runner but in the end lost that battle in the flat ending back to the Merrimack Middle School. 27th overall, 2nd age group, 22:26 chip time, 22:28 gun time. There were about 150 finishers on this warm and humid day. The last three days have been 90+ and humid and today was not as hot but certainly just as nasty with the high dew point. No excuses though. 

Crew setting up the finish line before the race started

Splits: 6:35, 7:35, 7:22, 6:24 for last .14

Angels 5K Road Race 2021 results 

While cooling down with Tim Cox, Lucas Fisher and Darin Brown, we witnessed a Black Bear crossing our path, It was just 50 yards ahead on the residential neighborhood. It was tagged and had zero interest in us as we ran toward it crossing from one yard to the next. It was pretty cool to see and my first bear sighting while running. We slowed down to ensure no cubs were trailing and that the coast was clear and it was. The 2 mile cool down gave me about 7 miles for the day. After taking down a few more waters and a banana, I hit the road back home.

Up next is a leg of the Lynn Woods Relay followed by the NHTI Delta Dental 5K. 

Beverly Homecoming 5K

Signed up for this Thursday night classic in my old haunt of Beverly. Start and finish at Lynch Park. A few rollers in mile 2 cramp the effort but overall fast with a drop into the park with the ocean in the background for the finish line. After a mile and a half warm up, tossed the Notch singlet and fast shoes on. My dad dropped by to watch me race. First time in a few years that he has been in attendance. 

Before the start, I discussed the race approach with Ian Edwards and Matt Adams. I said sub 6:30 and hang on. They agreed. Well, I felt good in the first mile and after running by Krissy, knew it was fast as in 6:25. It felt just right but pulled up a touch just a tad on a climb past Sandy Milligan Park. I was ahead of Matt but not by much and Ian passed by with Alen Yen. I ran 6:58 for the 2nd mile with the hills with Matt passing me on the longer hill. I had a calf cramp before that hill and then the rain began at mile 2. It felt pretty good. I got around Ian with half a mile to go but Matt kept 8 seconds away from there to the finish line. 6:40 or so last mile. 44th place, 20:46 (6:40 pace). Ian was 20:53 and Matt was 20:38. Thinking we should put a Lynn Woods Relay Team together.

I ran another 1.5 mile cool down over to Dane Street Beach and back to Lynch Park. By this time, the rain stopped and skies broke with a nice orange and pink sun set. 

2021 Beverly Yankee Homecoming 5K race results

A step ahead of Ian before 1 mile

Rains abound entering Lynch Park

Canterbury Woodchuck Classic 5K

Not just another Concord Area Race Series Race in Canterbury, NH here folks. You are signing up for a fast opening mile which sets up for a tough finish. 

What I have been appreciating with these races is that they are are fresh and new to me. I am glad I ran the course as a warm up with Dave Dunham, Doug Deangelis and Darin Brown. A 172ft drop through the first mile took me through a 6:06 - no doubt fastest mile in two years. Mile 2 was not entirely flat but brought the pace back down to earth with a 6:54. The last mile has four hills to get up and over. I was looking forward to the finish as mile three past by in 7:21. I think I lost 3 placings in the last half mile. 20:54 for the 5K (6:44), 3rd AG. More importantly, I was able to finish in front of a few who were ahead of me in the last two series races (10K and 5 mile) which I felt good about. Nice way to finish up the month of July. 

2021 Canterbury Woodchuck Classic Overall Results

Bill Luti 5 miler

The CARS events continued with the Bill Luti 5 mile road race in Concord, NH. Joe Shairs drove us to the race for the 8AM mass start. After a mile plus warmup, did some light stretching and got in about four rows back from the line. Felt decent, good form for the 6:55 opening mile. That was followed by a long climb and a 7:34 mile. 

The course rolled from there but would say more fast than slow. Knee had some issue before mile 4 which had me easing up on any downhills. Wrapped up with a 7:10 last mile to place 104th, 6th in age group and chip time of 36:08 (7:14). Not too bad and quicker than the 10K three weeks ago.

Joe killed it with a 28:58, top senior. Dave Dunham was the 2nd Senior. The team placed 2nd overall which has been the norm the whole series.

Wiener 4.5 mile Asbury Grove

This traditionally 10K Monday evening run put on by Roger Perham (race director of the Great Stew Chase 15K in Lynn) changed to a 4.5 mile distance this year. About 30 runners lined up at 6:30 on a humid and cloudy evening. The course is basically a lollipop loop entering into Bradley Palmer via next to Pingree. The big change was to take a left around 2.5 miles onto a trail that will exit Bradley Palmer beyond 3 miles. 

AJ Migonis had the lead into Bradley Palmer and took the correct left hand turn onto the trail to take the race back to the finish. However, Dave Corbett, Adam Cook and Dan Verrington missed the turn (which was not marked) and ran to the opposing entrance of Bradely Palmer, essentially doing the former course. 

I had the left hand turn onto the trail in my mind before the race started so was comfortable about knowing the full course. As I approached the turn, I was surprised to not see an arrow, marker, sign or even a volunteer (heard that one showed up after I ran by). I took the turn and yelled back to Heather Rich if this was the correct trail and she agreed. I had 2.5 miles on the GPS and made sense that we would be half way through the course in which Roger was guessing to be 5+ miles. So as I ran back to the finish and saw only 4.5 miles measured on my watch, I had doubts we fulfilled said course but we did. Heather was a few seconds behind me, keeping my average of 7:13's honest all night. 2nd place overall but nothing to jump about with three guys in front of me missing a turn and were on pace for 6 flat pace all the way. 

Krissy and had hung around until the last finisher came in. A few others missed a turn or two so some ran 4.75 and the guys ahead of me ran 6 miles. Had to skip out on the post race Hot Dogs and hit the road.

Amesbury Days 5K

After confirmation that the Sullivan Farms, John Carson 2 mile would not be held, I signed up for the Amesbury Days 5K. It was a first time race that got over 550 to sign up for the July 3rd event. After a 3 mile warmup with Dan Verrington and Joe Shairs I put the Notch Brewing singlet on and got in 3 rows behind the start line of the mass start. 

Mile one had some climbing which had me clocking in at 7:02. Some down hill followed into a bike path and got back down to a 6:42 split at 2 miles. The last mile slowed down to a 6:54 which had a little climb exiting the bike path and to the right hand turn for the last tenth of a mile. I placed 59th, 3rd in the 45-49 age group with the 21:21 time. Results

I rounded up Joe Shairs who won his age group with a 17:38. We headed out for another three miles around Amesbury, running past the Pow Wow River and falls that zip down this former Coach Works town.

Capital City Classic 10K

C.A.R.S race number 3 was hosted by Runner's Alley in Concord, NH with the Capital City Classic 10K. The 8AM start was met with warm and muggy air under bright sun. A strong field of 300 plus enjoyed a mass-start, my first of which,  post-Covid. I started 12 rows back. Jumped out at the start and settled in with no sense of urgency. 

The 7:00 flat opening mile gave me no confidence that I was going to run any faster for the next 5 miles. Each mile thereafter slowed down. After 4 miles, there was a hill that seemed to break some or make some. A few began to walk. I had dead legs on the backside and saw my slowest mile of 8:08. I rallied a bit in the last 400m to find 73rd place and find a 7:39 pace, 47:29 chip time. I grabbed a water and had a seat in the shade for a few minutes.

I went for a slow cool down with the Duct Tape and Spit guys (Dave Dunham, Doug Deangelis, and Darren Brown) who placed 2nd as a team. My right calf cramped so bailed before another mile. Looking forward to the next race but a few degrees cooler or with a lower dew point.

Over the River and Through the Woods 5K

A hybrid, mostly a road race with a stretch of trails in the middle made CARS #2 a fun one on a sunny Saturday morning. Got a chance to warm up and see the course before the 9AM start with the CMS and friends crew. Lined up at cone 34 and zipped out for the start where each runner got about a 4 or 5 second head start. Mile 1 passed just under 6:40. 

I hung with Christin Doneski in the trails pulling me through a 6:55 paced 2nd mile. Lost her in the final mile with another similar paced mile but finished strong at the Delta Dental Northeast Headquarters. Surprised at the age group win but was buried behind many seniors in the 50-59 age group. 

ATHLETE NAME: James Pawlicki 

FINISH TIME:   21:23 

OVERALL PLACE:    36 

DIVISION PLACE: M4049 :  1 

Results 

Got in a 2 mile cool down with Joe Shairs. He crushed the course with an age group win, 11th place, low 18 minutes. Dave Dunham was a half minute behind him. Looks like our team placed 2nd overall, without Joe in the team results.

VFW 5K

It was tough for this guy to find a Memorial Day weekend race. So many websites to scour, very few opportunities. Dave Dunham tipped me off on this one in Manchester, NH and put on by Millennium Running and sponsor Northeast Delta Dental. 100% of the intake goes straight to the vets in Contocook, NH. 

Rain held off for this Sunday morning start. Dave and I warmed up on the course. Pretty flat being most on a former railway. Safe out and back on the bike path with a river and few roads to cross. I had bib #6 based on seed time of 21 minutes. Lined up on cone #6 as one runner at a time started every 5 seconds. Runner 7 caught me a quarter mile in. I passed him after we crossed the Merrimack River a half mile in. 6:34 passed upon mile 1. 

The leaders already turned back and were coming at me. Dave trailed by a stride. I had nothing to yell other than "yup" confirming the battle Dave knew he signed up for with Mark Laprade who would hold on for the win. I soon turned around on the trail (about 10:25 on the watch) and opened the stride a bit to shake foot steps shadowing me. Mile 2 was around 6:39. The runner ahead was no where in sight so it was me and my thoughts. I ran another 6:39 and finished up 5th and 20:39. Pretty happy with it. 

http://m.raceresults360.com/#/race/LsL5vf/5k/results/ALL

Set off with a 3 mile cool down with Dave and Jim Angell (3rd). We got back to the post race awards and got a blanket for the age group win. Only fitting for a cool May weather day that required the heat to be turned up when getting home. Thank you to Krissy for the company and photos.