Spring Classic 5K Cambridge

Cool (high 30’s) and cloudy ruled the air in Cambridge for the Spring Classic 5K. The course is flat thus in theory, fast. I ran this course back when it was a New England Grand Prix 5K Championship a decade ago. Team Notch was set up in the tent area. The quad was loaded with tents, probably over 40 made up of running clubs or local Cambridge companies. Cases of Castle Island piled under each tent.

Bib pickup was seamless and plenty of port-o-johns ready. I ran a 12 minute warm up and got into the start line 30 rows deep within a huge field (2.5K runners). After the start line pistol went off, the start was crowded for the first three turns all within the first .3 miles before reaching Mass Ave. I reached the mile at 7:27. I slowed during the second mile to a 7:53 but was well under the 8:00 minute per mile pace goal for the day. My right quad, the strong one, was burning in a good way.

The last mile slowed again to an 8:02 before opening up a bit for the last .17 at 7:10 pace. I crossed the finish line in 24:35 per my watch, measured 3.17 miles and 7:45 pace. The unofficial time had me at 23:34, 7:55 pace. My average heart rate was only 140 bpm for the event, well under the 160+ per race since getting back into it in February. Am I seeing fitness improve with my 18 miles run per week? I headed out for cool down out to the Charles River and a lap around the MIT track where I spent many workouts and races in the late 90’s early 2000’s.

Spring Classic 5K race results March 30, 2025

Hibernian 5K

The Lynn Hibernian 5K race was on the radar. Krissy and I arrived an hour before the 11AM start with plenty of parking at Market Basket. The Racewire team was setting up the start and finish outside the Hibernian Club. It was sunny but windy with temps in the mid 30’s. Before getting to the start line, I ran a warm up less than .75 miles.

The race went off and I settled in letting the youngsters sprint out and about. A slight tail wind was behind us heading down Boston Street. I found it odd to stay on the right side of the road when we turned left at the VA Hospital. In the past, the race would run right against the traffic and hug the tangents on the counterclockwise direction of the course. Lynn native, Dennis Donahue would pass me around 1 mile (8:04). We crossed a few busy intersections like Myrtle Steet finding plenty of Lynn’s finest keeping the runners safe. Mile two slowed into some wind with an 8:25 mile just before reaching the left at Lynn Classical High School.

Keslar Ave rose up at the end for us to then turn left on Boston Street for the last of the climb past the Tower Hill Fire Station. From there on to the finish it can be fast if you have something left in the tank. I went back and forth with another competitor over the last 800m. My last mile was 8:12 with the last 0.11 was at 7:09 pace. I crossed the finish line in 35^th overall, 25:23 (8:10.2) mile pace. I gathered myself in a minute and headed back out to find Krissy and run her in for 34:51 being her quickest 5K this year.  

Lynn Hibernian 5K road race results March 23, 2025

Great Bay 5K Race for a Healthy Estuary

It was a perfect fall day in the upper 40’s for the race start in Stratham, NH with the fast point to point course finishing at the Great Bay Discovery Center in Greenland, NH. The race had well deserved moment of silence and notice of race dedication for Bob Kennedy who was the long-time race director who tragically passed away this past July. I did a 2 mile warm up and got on the starting line with Thom Lubas of Wicked and NE 65+, about a dozen rows back. My watch was not ready as the start went off so I was fiddling with that as I started the race. 

It did not bother my pace as I caught up to Karen about a half mile into the race. She, Don Withee and I were repping Notch. Karen and I ran together through 1.5 miles passing the mile around 7:25. I motored through for a 7:18 second mile. A few hills in the final mile had me slowing back down for a 7:29. I lost about a dozen places coming into the finish with a 23:15 net time, good for 5^th place in the 50-54 age group. It was my first race as a senior age group runner. Don set a lifetime PR (while in his mid 50’s) with a 19:11 and Karen ran 23:46. Krissy, Maryann and I hung out for a great post race at the Discovery Center. Where else can you get Pizza, Cookies, Brownies and Starbucks Coffee at 9:30AM following a fast 5K?

Place 135 (5^th 50-54)

Pace 7:29

Net time 23:15 (Gun Time 23:23)

http://www.iresultslive.com/?op=summary&eid=6196

BSC 5K – Marlborough, MA

Full Results: https://my.racewire.com/result/9556839

34^th place, 24:37 and 7/22 in the 40-49 age group. I went out on the downhill as easy as possible. Still ran 7:11 for the 1^st mile and 7:37 for the 2^nd mile. The gut check was the uphill last mile which hurt, checking in with a 9:04 for the last 1.1 miles. Overall the time was about 90 seconds slower than last year. The race does not get any easier. 

Boston Scientific was able to raise over $5K from the race entries and donate to Community Servings. 

Long overdue race results from February, March and April

Race Results that I have been long overdue to capture on the blog:

StretchLAB Super Sunday 4 Miler - Bedford, NH 2/11/24. This was a USATF New England Championship Race. I missed my goal for a 7 minute pace, running a 28:25 overall net time or 7:07. 426^th place. Gun time was 28:47. Course had a slight change for the better in the middle from the ’23 version. Splits: 6:59, 6:52, 7:14, 7:15

https://results.raceroster.com/v2/en-US/results/feu2urjjeskf44qz/results

Hibernian 5K – Lynn, MA 2/24/24 – Race #1 for the day. I forgot my watch but in the end, everyone said the distance wound up at 3 miles. I liked the counter-clockwise direction for the first time, really no elevation until after 2 miles where the course raised up to Boston Street. Good flat and fast finish but I was spent for the last half mile. Rich Lally pulled away from me as I settled for 21^st place and official time of 21:25, 6:54/mile.             

https://my.racewire.com/results/37784

Hamantasch Run 5K – Arlington, MA 2/24/24 – Race #2 for the day. Comp entry as Kristen was the race photographer. I think this was my first race in Arlington. The course seemed to go down for mile one after starting in front of the town hall, flat second mile and then effort to get back up to the finish over the last 700m or so. 23^rd out of 142. 25:22 was the time good for 8:10 pace. Splits: 8:17, 7:59, 8:03 and 7:33 for the last 10^th. Cool bright blue beanie for each entry.

https://results.raceroster.com/v2/en-US/results/pq2fwxj2nq7fhh9k/results

Frank Nealon Boston Tune-Up 15K – Upton, MA 3/20/24 – Our Tri-Valley Front Runners hosting another solid event out of Upton for the USATF New England 15K Road Championship. I wanted to run a faster pace than the Great Stew Chase effort in February. Mission accomplished on this rolling course. An average of 161 on the beats per minute (heart rate) says it all. Gun time: 1:13:58, Chip Time: 1:13:39. 376^th out of 614 overall.

Splits were: 739, 739, 802, 733, 751, 753, 800, 812, 803 and 7:15 for the last point four. 7:54 pace per mile. Felt pretty good about the effort!

https://www.athlinks.com/event/51543/results/Event/1069936/Course/2430334/Results

April Fools 4 Mile – Salisbury, MA April 6, 2024 - This flat and fast out and back four mile is hosted by our Winner’s Circle Running Club friends. I ran my PR of 21:59 (5:15/mi) twenty years ago – with Joe Shairs right on my heels! Light rain started as the field took off. I felt a tweak of the right hamstring in mile 1 so that kept my attention for the rest of the way. Still hit 162 BPM average. 30^th place. 30:21 chip (7:36/mi pace), 30:24 gun time. Splits were 7:37, 7:41, 7:46 and 7:51.

https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/139499?customResultsPageId=66785

2023 Chanukah Run-A-Latke 5K

Last road race for 2023 in the books with the Chanukah Run-A-Latke 5K out of Chabad Lubavitch of the North Shore in Swampscott. The weather was decent for mid-December. Mile splits were 707, 723, 705 and 618 for the last 10th. Lost a pack of eight in the middle mile where I got gapped. Official results: 20th place, 6th in the old guy category, 22:15, 7:10 pace per mile. Needed some extra miles so I ran the course again after the race. I cheered on every runner and walker that I ran by while doing the course clock-wise. 

Krissy took photos. Chanukah Run-A-Latke 5K race results. 

Livestrong at the Y 5k

I got a comp entry by the YMCA folks who were set up at a Lynn Woods weekly race over the summer. It was interesting to try a new race for me. It turns out this was a flat and fast 5K. The start and finish are within Lt. Ross Park in West Peabody. The Saturday morning fell with rain. Perfect running weather! I was running late so approached the registration tables with 20 minutes to spare before the 8:30 start time. The opening mile jumped onto the local paved bike path filled with the occasional puddle. I settled in. 

The course crossed Lowell Street going behind the Big Y plaza, took a left onto Russell Street, left onto Roosevelt, back to Lowell - bike path and to the finish which had us running behind a baseball field for 100 yards of grass. Splits were 7:21, 7:48, 7:39, 7:09. Chip time 23:39, 7:37 pace/mi. 18^th out of 137. There were some age group runners within striking distance and the top 40+ outside of the top 3 overall, ran 22:53. I ran a cool down with Thom Lubas up and down the trail to cap off the day.

Livestrong at the Y 5K - November 18, 2023 - Peabody, MA Race Results

Super Sunday 5K USATF New England 5K Championships

The Super Sunday 5K in Cambridge was the USATF New England 5K Championship. It was also the first Grand Prix Race of the series. The weather was mild for February 12^th in the high 40’s. Free parking in the garage brought Krissy and I right into the team tent area. Race numbers were picked up a block away with long lines that had Joe, Greg and I waiting 30 minutes to secure them. I had 40 minutes to get a warm up in so I ran about a mile and half.

Joe, Greg and I finish the first race to get bib numbers

I got to the start and walked in about 20 rows into the 22 minute 5K corral. I was in good company knowing those guys around me. We then heard an announcement for a 10 minute delay. That turned into 15 minutes. Gun goes off and it took me 15 seconds to reach the start line and I start my watch. There was two 90 degree left hand turns right away. It was crowded. My first mile was 6:28. 

I slowed in the 2^nd mile to a 6:54 and knew it. The lone rise on the course, a bump, came after mile 2. I rallied back down to 6:46 through 3 miles and then to 6:15 pace for the last .13. I finished 451^st with a chip time of 21:10. My goal was a sub 21 so I was close. 

This was a fast and flat course with a lot of competition today. I headed out for a 2.8 mile cool down with Mike McCormick, Ernst Linder and Dan Verrington out along the Charles River. Thanks to Scott Mindel for getting 23 CMS guys to the race and setting up the team tent. CMS men and team results below. Also congrats to Arthur Besse posted an all time PR at gage 50!

Results: https://my.raceresult.com/233423/

Super Sunday 5K February 12, 2023 Cambridge, MA

USATF New England 5K Championships

Plc     Name     Club     Group     Group              Chip Pace         Chip Gun

7. JOSH COAKLEY  Central Mass Striders   M19-29 7th Overall 4:43/mile 14:42 14:42

21. DAN VASSALLO Central Mass Striders   M30-39 3rd 4:48/mile 14:53 14:56            3^rd 30+

30. KEITH MCATEER  Central Mass Striders   M19-29 7th 4:51/mile 15:05 15:07

32. PAUL GENNARO  Central Mass Striders   M19-29 10th 4:54/mile 15:13 15:14

56. SCOTT MINDEL  Central Mass Striders   M30-39 23rd 5:02/mile 15:40 15:40

70. DANIEL RABOIN  Central Mass Striders   M30-39 27th 5:07/mile 15:53 15:56

75. COLE CROSBY  Central Mass Striders   M30-39 31st 5:08/mile 15:58 16:00

98. GREGORY PUTNAM  Central Mass Striders M50-59 AG Champ 5:16/mile 16:19 16:25 1^st 50+

106. ARTHUR BESSE  Central Mass Striders   M50-59 2nd 5:18/mile 16:30 16:31         2^nd 50+

107. SCOTT LESLIE  Central Mass Striders   M40-49 12th 5:19/mile 16:30 16:32

117. IAIN RIDGWAY  Central Mass Striders   M40-49 16th 5:21/mile 16:39 16:41

166. SCOTT GRANDFIELD  Central Mass Striders   M50-59 3rd 5:37/mile 17:23 17:29  3^rd 50+

174. JOE SHAIRS  Central Mass Striders   M50-59 4th 5:38/mile 17:27 17:32

199. ROBERT JACKMAN  Central Mass Striders   M40-49 37th 5:44/mile 17:42 17:52

270. DANIEL VERRINGTON  Central Mass Striders   M60-69 3rd  6:00/mile 18:34 18:42 3^rd 60+

284. EDDY FLYNN  Central Mass Striders   M40-49 53rd  6:05/mile 18:35 18:55

451. JAMES PAWLICKI  Central Mass Striders   M40-49 84th 6:53/mile 21:10 21:25

455. PHILIP SAVOY  Central Mass Striders   M60-69 15th  6:55/mile 21:20 21:32

473. MIKE MCCORMICK  Central Mass Striders   M60-69 18th 7:00/mile 21:39 21:47

506. ERNST LINDER  Central Mass Striders   M60-69 22nd 7:14/mile 22:22 22:30

584. FRANK RUGGIERO  Central Mass Striders   M60-69 28th  7:40/mile 23:24 23:50

592. ANDY SIERACKI  Central Mass Striders   M50-59 50th  7:42/mile 23:39 23:59

962. LARRY MORRIS  Central Mass Striders   M70+ 14th  10:46/mile 32:50 33:28

CMS Team Position: 

Open 4th

Masters 3rd

Seniors 1st

Veterans 2nd

Run-A-Latke 5K - Swampscott

Word at registration was nearly 300 signed up for this scenic 5K course in what remains one of the few road races in Swampscott. This would be a record turn out. Krissy, Nakri and I rolled in an hour before the race 10AM start.  

Nakri and I joined up with Emily McDivitt for a 2 mile warm up. The sun made mid 30's feel mild. I opened up with a 6:19 mile with a slight tail wind. The 2nd mile climbed a bit and got me closer to Christopher Kay as we turned left onto Humphrey Street. This put us into a head wind and inched ahead of Christopher. The course with rise up to 3 miles and I would be passed by him and two others. 

This put me into 11th with the closing 300m and that is where I would finish, 21:09 (6:49 pace), 3rd in the 40-49. My 2nd mile was 6:57 and last was 7:03. Nakri finished 4th, 19:22 (1st 40-49) and Emily was right behind me as first female, 21:42. We headed out for a 2.5 mile cool down before finishing the event with fresh Latke and Sufganiyot (Israeli Doughnut with Jelly). 2022 Run-A-Latke 5K results Race Photos By KrissyK

BIGGSteps 5K USATF New England 5K Championship Grand Prix Needham, MA

New 5K within the USATF Grand Prix Series here in Needham. I warmed up on the course with Terry McNatt and CMS teammate Sam Wood. It was flatter than what the course profile looked like with a dip down to 2 miles and a climb out of that. There was a light drizzle for the 10:30 start time. I settled in 10 rows deep next to Shawn Conway. I eased out, took me 8 seconds to cross the timing mat and made sure I did not trip or fall on another competitor. 

The first mile was flat, taken out around 6:30 next to Matt Adams from Beverly (Wicked). I had time to give a fist bump to Dirk Walther from SRR who was watching on the side of the road. He just missed his marathon PR at age 40 in Chicago by less than 5 seconds last month. The 2^nd mile dipped down a bit showing another mid-6 paced mile split. The only climb I recall was after mile two and then it flattened out. Paul Hammond was heard coming on me so I pushed in the last quarter mile to get some room from him and Matt. Last climb came after 3 miles up to the finish in front of the Needham High School where I rolled into a chip time of 21:01, 6:45 mile pace! Paul and Matt finished ahead in the results. Results

Garmin Splits: 626, 638, 701, 623 (.15)

Great Bay 5K

Great Bay 5K results October 29, 2022

This is a fast point to point course. I got to the race late, 30 minutes before the start. Sadly was thinking about bailing as the right achilles has been hurting. Not wanting to lose another entry fee, put the NB flats on, warmed up and got on the line five rows back from the start. Weather was nice maybe around 40 degrees. Jumped into a 6:22 mile, going off far before the Garmin GPS mile which never picked up a single at the start. The 2nd mile was a bit slower but never saw a split. The folks I was tagging along with pulled away a bit. I tried to stay focused on the last mile that rolls a bit. Coming onto the finish line, was shocked to see 19's as I closed in. Crossed the line in 20:02 official time, 47th place. I was pumped as it was the fastest 5K since 2019 for me before the meniscus surgery. I was pretty close to breaking 20 minutes which was my 5K goal last year. 

With Dave and Krissy after the race in front of the Great Bay Discovery Center

Crossing the finish line

Striding into the finish

Photo by GSRS over the line

Next race: New England XC Championships, Masters 8K, Franklin Park

Boston Scientific 5K Marlborough

Boston Scientific 5K September 27, 2022 Marlborough, MAResults 

My company put on a 5K on a Tuesday afternoon in Marlborough. It has been three years since the last time the race was hosted (June of 2019) where I ran mid-19’s. I bumped into a former Salem State Cross Country buddy, Tony Brancleone, who works for RaceWire as a Sales Representative. I have not seen Tony since his days at Saucony over seven years ago.  

I got in a mile warm up around the campus. The start was a nice slow descent which put me in around 12^th place 400 meters in. It flattened out for the first mile but dropped down into mile 2 along the Assabet River Rail Trail. 

Coming back up the Assabet Rail Trail

I picked up two places in the last 400 meters on the tough climb back to the campus finish. My finish time was 21:16, 11^th place, 4^th master. I jogged a short distance to grab a dry shirt followed by hanging out for the BBQ and ice cream. This was the perfect way to spend a lunch hour.  

Mile       Pace      Elevation

1              6:29        -40ft

2              6:40        -84ft

3              7:30        116ft

.10          6:26        8ft

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

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

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.

Covid Comeback 5K - Georgetown

I was late for the race. My mental clock off by an hour on this morning. Runners going by as I drove into the Black Swan Country Club. Great! As soon as I had the key out of the ignition, Krissy ran to get my bib number and pins. I removed my cargo shorts and pinned the number on, and walked over to the start line taking off with the clock now at eight minutes. I think the race had three waves that started taking off at 9:00. 

I was rather calm as I took off. I knew I could rely on the chip time so I did not stress. After breathing hard after a minute of running, figured pace was right. I caught the back end of the 3rd wave less than a half mile in on the warm sunny day. Mile one passed by 6:52. Mile two dropped down with a big drop so that mile dropped to 6:31 but what goes down must come up. I took a turn and saw a string of runners walking up. I chugged up very slowly. Tough climb that was sure to impact the overall pace. After recovering, I continued to pass some runners but less frequent than the 2nd mile. The last mile was 7:33. I rolled into the finish line with a watch time of 21:51 and 3.13 measured via GPS. Official time was 21:47, 7:02/mile pace. No time to reflect what could have been if I started with the race. 

Covid Comeback 5K 2021 Results

Dave Dunham (13th at age 57) offered to take me out for a 4 mile cooldown of which included a visit to the Baldpate Fire Tower. I could not pass it up. We were able to squeeze through the locked gate to access the tower. Got to admit, not really being afraid of heights, every flight of steps up got my attention. It helped to look straight ahead and up. Going down was easier. Good views at the top made it worth it. 

Canterbury Shaker Village Cross Country 5K

The first 2021 race of the Concord Area Race Series was hosted with the Canterbury Shaker Village XC 5K. This was my first time to this neat little village about 15 minutes north of Concord. After running the course as a warm-up, it was clear the terrain would not disappoint with elevation changes. 

Each runner went off every 10 seconds after lining up per your seed time. I was the 34th runner to go from the start line with an introduction from the announcer. The first mile drops down pretty good with a mix of grass and trail. Mile 1 was just under 7 minute pace. Mile 2 had us climbing up and down on the property. I was pretty flat getting passed by Christin Doneski who did encourage me to hang in the last mile and climb.

My legs had other thoughts. I was wiped out and was just looking to finish up. I passed one runner with about 500m to go to offset one runner passing me around the mile. 

I finished 28th overall with the 22:44 time and 3rd in my age group. In summary, tough course with every second earned the hard way. I was the fourth runner on the 2nd place, Duct Tape and Spit team behind Scott Clark, Dave Dunham and Doug Deangelis. 

https://www.gsrs.com/results/4225 

Mine Falls Trail Running Festival

Fall and cross country racing in New England is my favorite of all disciplines within the year. Being a crazy year with the "crona" and tight grouping/event restrictions in the state of Massachusetts, racing has been a huge void since mid-March. That has left us with virtual races. I just can't get fired up for the virtual races. I did a few Lynn Woods virtual races in May/June and a 1 mile in April. Otherwise, not a fan of virtual racing. 

New Hampshire seems to be ahead of the curve with getting events off the ground in recent months - even with some restrictions such as staggered start, small waves of runners, limited numbers of racers, et cetera. If you are looking for a centralized site or app to find a race, good luck, I don't know of any. Enter social media....read that CMS teammate Dave Dunham was targeting an Ultra Distance race in Mine Falls in Nashua, NH slated for early October. I never ran in Mine Falls and was very curious about the venue and running in a real race. There were various race distances offered as part of the Mine Falls Running Festival hosted by Sub5racing. Being that they had hosted a non-virtual set of races late in the summer and very reasonable COVID Common Sense requirements was a plus in my book. I booked the 5K and was looking forward to my first paid entry and race since January. 

I met up with Dave Dunham and Dan Verrington for a warmup over the 5K course which started from the Pine Street extension of the park. The single track trails were very runnable. A few small bumps, would not even call them hills along the way. Most of the 5K course was fire road width. There was a set of 20 long steps to stumble down with 300m to go but that was the only hazard on the course. 

About 60+ gathered at the start line at 9AM. Everyone was masked and spaced out evenly based on their comfort level. No one wanted to line up on the start line. I found that funny. I stood about 3 rows back, excited to run my first race since January. As we started, I focused on getting some room and settling into something around 7 minute pace. I took my mask off in a hurry so I could breath. Soon, a single track path had me caught behind some folks and I struggled to pick a spot to go around them. I respected the tight quarter to pass with 6ft surrounding so I waited for some room after what felt like several long minutes.

Mile one was around 7:22 and seemed content as I was working for that. Mile 2 was around 7:44, slower with the bumpy part of the course. After two miles, the course had a generous flat section along a canal. The guy in front of me laid some "gapplebees" like I was standing still. It was lonely out there but no complaints. A youngster past me after I managed to not trip down the steps at the end. From there, it was a flat 300 meters to the finish. A tiny participant trophy awaited me in my black CMS shirt, sweating out the almost 25 minute effort over 3.34 miles (note longer than 5K). Low 7:20 pace hurt a bit but so happy to get a race and heart rate up.

Mine Falls Running Festival results, October 11, 2020 Nashua, NH

6th place James Pawlicki 24:49.0 Gun Time

Dan would run 22:34 for 3rd place while the winner, Ian Post ran 20:16. Dave changed his race down to the 16 mile (8 and 16 milers started together) and would take the win. I unofficially joined the Dunham Running Club for the team competition. Still not sure how the team did or how the scoring worked out. But I scored the best gift of all with Dave sneaking a DRC patch and sticker into my race bag.

Trophies!

Dan Verrington and I after the start

Limited Edition Dunham Running Club patch and sticker