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.