Car pooled into Franklin Park bright and early with Shawn, Eric and Krissy so we could get the team packet and set up the Notch Tent. The masters race was the 1st of the morning at 10:30 for the Cross Country Championships. I warmed up a half hour before the start to find some mud and standing water around mile 1 on Playstead Field, within view of the start and finish. The 8K course was the same as what I saw for Codfish Bowl on September 20th, modified due to the stadium construction. It was partly sunny, in the high 40’s but the wind was picking up (more later).
Eleven masters lined up for Notch, four of which had hit the
previous four cross country races (Shawn Conway, Brian Davis, Jason Wertz and
I) in the USATF NE XC Grand Prix Series that started in August. A few others missed
just one race. My expectations were low, just wanted to finish the race, secure
the 5th race in the series and get a winter hat.
I missed a lot of training with back and hamstring issues.
Most recently, I have been spelled with a right knee issue. Fueled on
Starbucks, Ibuprofen and hope, I reached the mile in 8:17. I was met by fellow
Lynn Wood runner, Mark Rosenblum. We traded places at the top of Bear Cage Hill
and I opened my stride forcefully down the back side to keep him close. I passed
him before the Wilderness loop (into a headwind). I kept that place for the
next 3 miles maintaining most miles under 8:30. Mark would finish just 26
seconds after I crossed the finish line. The chip time was 41:26.2, 77th
place out of 86 (8:21 mile pace). GPS measured 4.96 miles.
The Notch guys were kind to wait for me at the finish, all
seemed happy with the efforts they raced. The masters team finished 5th
and the 50+ finished 4th. We walked back to the tent area to find
the tent, eh, missing. In fact, several tents were down and out. Only one out
of a dozen was still standing. The wind during our race, according to eye
witnesses saw a few teams tent blow away and take out the Notch Tent and
others. The result was a few broken aluminum posts. RIP.
Meanwhile, Danny Cosgrove found the rest of us and secured
his number for the open race. The old guys watched the race with conviction as
Danny was in the top six or seven until moving up to 3rd in the last
two miles. He closed the gap on the leader and with a furious kick into the final
straight, and a headwind, would close with in .8 seconds at the line for 2nd
place. A thrilling race against a sub 2:10 marathoner residing in Providence, RI!
Mile splits were: 8:17, 8:29, 8:26, 8:41, 8:03
Results: Mens Masters 8K 40+ USATF-NE Cross Country November16, 2025
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