Old Goat Track Club XC Classic USATF New England Grand Prix #1

I headed out to Waters Farm in Sutton, MA for the first USATF New England Grand Prix XC race of 2025 season with Donald Withee and Shaun Conway as Notch had six 50+ guys signed up. The Old Goat Track Club XC Classic 5K has been kicking off the Grand Prix over the last few years in late August. The weather was sunny and in the mid-70’s for the 11AM men’s start. I was the last Notch guy heading into the opening woods loop but not too far from Brian Davis (Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School XC/Track coach). 

I got around him after the 2^nd loop in the woods and managed to keep a few runners tracking me in the last mile into the 24:00 finish, 12 seconds behind the ageless, 70 year old Paul Bazanchuk from CMS. I finished 83^rd out of 102 men. I felt good about my race/effort which felt consistent while the splits show slowing per mile with 7:43, 8:00, 8:10. I compared the 2025 race to my 2023 race (24:12 for 3.2 miles). The 2025 course was shorter by 0.17 miles per my measurement as I captured 3:03 miles. I was the 5^th Notch runner for the senior team which placed 1^st in the Senior Team category. Going forward, I plan on getting to a few more XC races this season. 

2025 Old Goat Track Club XC Classic Results 

Waters Farm, Sutton MA  -  8/24/25

5k MALE 50+ TEAM SCORE

1.    15  Notch Run Club 

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

1      1  JASON WERTZ          20:49 

2      2  BRIAN JUNEAU         20:51 

3      3  DONALD WITHEE    21:00 

4      4  SHAWN CONWAY   22:13 

5      5  JAMES PAWLICKI     24:00 

6   (  9) BRIAN DAVIS             24:56

Rachel’s Run USATF NE XC GP #5 – Tyngsboro

November 19, 2022 – Rachel’s Run 5K hosted by the Greater Lowell Road Runners was the last of the five cross country races in the USATF New England Cross Country Grand Prix Series. I got to all in the series this fall except #3 hosted in Wayland. This course is a tough one with Abrams Hill. The 5K course is the same 1.5 mile loop done twice. The hill is in the middle of the loop. I warmed up with Todd Callaghan and Nate Jenkins – making his masters debut for CMS. I counted nine CMS guys on the 10:45AM start line made up of three masters and six seniors. 

I was wearing a new pair of New Balance waffle racers which felt awesome. I got out and settled into the back end of the field toward the Notre Dame Academy. Krissy got some race footage as the race stretched out one the trail next to the pond 600m into the distance. Rachel’s Run opening lap video by Kristen

Mark Reeder and John Barbour would pass by me before the mile. I kept them close after Abrams Hill and back out through the end of the first loop but they would open up a gap. I managed to close the gap a bit on Mark after the 2^nd pass of Abrams, getting to within 11 seconds at the finish line where I crossed the finish in 22:21 (7:13) and or 62^nd out of 81 men. 

I had fun and did not feel I left much out on the course. I rounded the guys together for a team photo or two (thank you Krissy!) A half hour later, headed out for a cool down with Iain, Dave H., Nate and Kara. I got into some warm clothes and headed over to Maxamillions down the street for pizza hosted by USATF New England. My splits were 717, 658, 730 (6:04 pace for the last 10^th of a mile). CMS masters and seniors would place 1^st as a team. 

Next up: Wild Turkey 5 Mile in Salem on Thanksgiving Day!

Rachel’s Run 2022 Race Results 

Brown Bear Invitational XC

October 1, 2022 - This was race #2 in the New England XC Grand Prix Cross Country series which has five races total. I was not thrilled with the 1pm start for the men’s combined 8K (all ages), I was looking forward to running a race at Highland Park in Attleboro which was purchased by the town and converted much of the former golf course into a cross country course for the local schools and community. The CMS limo arrived with Dunham behind the wheel and Verrington riding shot gun. Parking was tight as we were the last race of the day while the women were just getting started. 

The morning rain let up on our noon time arrival. After a warm up and picking up my bib number, team CMS got on the line that included five seniors and me the lone master. There were a few open clubs but mostly the collegiate running clubs. The course was four continuous loops that went through the start line area thus was very spectator friendly. It was surprisingly mud free and not saturated so footing was decent under my Adidas spikes. On the opening loop, I moved past teammate, Brent Ashmore, getting into the 5^th place for the team.

Back and forth with Mark Reeder on the rolling terrain

Trailing Mark on the steepest and shortest hill that we saw three times

I had a little back and forth with a few but could feel a fade half way through the race. As the laps passed by, the race would thin out. Mark Reeder would move on by around 3 miles and I kept him close enough over the next 3K to reel him in on the final straight away. I ran 35:57.9 good for 180^th place out of 215 overall. I could see such a course lay host to a National USATF Cross Country race in the future if parking could accommodate. 

Brown Bear Invitational Men’s XC 2022 results

 

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 Masters Cross Country Championships - Franklin Park

October 5th - Joe Shairs, Todd Callaghan, Dennis Floyd, and I arrived at Franklin Park for the USATF New England Open and Masters Cross Country Championships. They set up the CMS tent while I went to pick up the team bib numbers. It was cool and sunny. The Friday and Saturday rains soaked the course to the point where the race had a detour for the start of the Wilderness loop. I never saw the standing water but it was best to avoid it from what I heard. The start of the Wilderness loop was basically the exit. I measured the course as 5.0 miles after my race was done.

With Brian heading around the backstop
Photo by Kim Gordon

I warmed up 30 minutes before the 10AM start time (mastersr ace was the first of the day) with some of the CMS guys to see how the course looked. We ran the Wilderness loop, the back side of White Stadium, and Bear Cage Hill. The upper half of the Wilderness loop was soggy and the area behind White Stadium was a little muddy but one could dance past most of it. The messy part of the course would be in front of White Stadium on the field. This I did not see before the race so it was a surprise. Good old cross country mud! I picked the New Balance Trail shoes over the Inov8 flats.  We had 12 CMS masters and seniors at the starting line.

The opening mile of the race was the usual crazy chaos of 120 men sprinting out across the field which I found a few slippery spots. I got behind Chris Smith and Mark Reeder early and through mile 1 which looked like 5:35 per Garmin after the race. Teamate, Nick Taormina was just in front of us. He has been racing so well this fall. Brian Rhum from Gate City Striders and I kept company back and forth. 

He pushed us through Wilderness, loop one. I pushed us through Wilnderness the second time, passing Nick and Michael McGrane (BAA) in the process. I was trying to get close to two guys ahead at mile 4, one turned out to be John Sullivan from HFC. Brian went by me before the entry to Bear Cage Hill. We clawed to the top. Once I got myself together, I pushed down the backside of the hill. This is how it would set me up to the final straight away. I held my place, 39^th overall with a finish time of 29:37. Nick was right behind me. The masters team would finish 3^rdoverall and the Senior team would do the same.

Trailing Brian again at Franklin Park
Photo by Kim Gordon

I ran another 1.5 miles with the team and camped out atthe CMS tent to watch the women’s race and then the men’s open race. The CMS open team would finish 10^th in a competitive race. The guys picked the tent up and met me at the finish line where I was fixing some errors in theteam results. We went to Backlash Beer Company for some Pizza.

The 8K turned into a 5 mile. Blue spot is where the water flooded the start of the wilderness loop.

2018 USATF New England Masters Cross Country Championship race results
Pictures from Kim Gordon

GBTC XC Festival 5K

Shawn Conway and I arrived early at Elm Bank in Wellesleyfor the GBTC XC Festival. This was race number one in the Cross Country Grand Prix. The start and finish area moved to the other side ofthe park next to the last of the soccer fields. CMS had five masters runnerssigned up. The weather was perfect, overcast and in the low 60’s. I rounded up GregPutnam, Nick Taormina, and David Principe for a warm up over loop 1 a fewminutes before the women started their 5K. The course was over the same terrainand loops as in the past. I was familiar with them last running here in 2015. Iran a second warm up in my Inov8 flats, waiting for masters race to start as itwas delayed fifteen minutes to allow the women’s race to conclude.

I got on the front row and jumped out to get good positionbefore the course narrowed down into a double track after 50 yards. It was essentiallysingle file after 75 yards. We had to contend with the exposed roots after ahalf mile along the Charles River. They were easy to see and navigate as long as you had a line ofsight. Nick pulled up next to me before mile 1 and gave me encouragement tostick with him. We had Arthur Besse, Greg, and David up ahead and it was looking goodfor the team. I got ahead of Nick before mile 2 near the soccer fields. Gregstopped and walked off the course with a hamstring issue. Down a man, we were unable to score a team. 

I pressed ahead in the last mile trying to close a five seconds gapbetween I and both Justin Renz and Scott Grandfield from HFC. Neither one let up an inchover the roots and back to the finish. I finished in 10^th place anda time of 18:21. Nick finished in 18:35. I felt good with the effort. I wascurious what I ran for my last effort at this race in 2015 (my first crosscountry race as a 40 year old master runner). I finished 3^rd  with a time of 17:29 behind Josh Perks (17:07)and Joe Shairs (17:21).

Greg was down and out after the race when we talked. Team doctors will have to take a look at the MRI later this week. I gathered the CMS guys and we ran 3.5 loops around Elm Bank for another 4 miles giving me close to 10 for the day.

Top 20 results of the 40+ race below.

Greater Boston Track Club XC Festival

Elm Bank Park, Wellesley, MA September 9,2018

Men 40+

Place No.  Name                Club             City    St S Ag Menma Pace     

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

    1  182 TJ UNGER                   HFC STRIDERS     WESTWOO MA M 40 16:33  5:20 

    2  352 LEE DANFORTH        HFC STRIDERS        NORWOOD MA M 40 16:40  5:22 

    3  103 ANDY GARDINER                    BAA              DOVER   MA M 53 17:13  5:33 

    4  106 ARTHUR BESSE                      CMS              TEMPLET MA M 46 17:26  5:37 

    5  138 JUSTIN DAGLISH                   GLRR             CARLISL MA M 41 17:46  5:44 

    6  108 DAVID PRINCIPE SR                CMS              JOHNSTO RI M 51 18:00  5:48 

    7  171 TIMOTHY GAVIN         HFC STRIDERS        WESTON  MA M 42 18:06  5:50 

    8  179 JUSTIN RENZ                  HFC STRIDERS     MILTON  MA M 46 18:14  5:52 

    9  172 SCOTT GRANDFIELD  HFC STRIDERS        REHOBOT MA M 53 18:16  5:53 

   10  107 JAMES PAWLICKI                     CMS            LYNN    MA M 43 18:21  5:55 

   11  104 MICHAEL MCGRANE         BAA                 ASHLAND MA M 48 18:24  5:56 

   12  110 NICK TAORMINA                 CMS              GLOUCES MA M 46 18:35  5:59 

   13  183 TOM VOSSEN           HFC STRIDERS       NORWOOD MA M 44 18:40  6:01 

   14  137 SHAWN CONWAY                GLRR             WAKEFIE MA M 47 18:52  6:05 

   15  325 MARK REEDER                    GLRR             BRIGHTO MA M 58 18:54  6:05 

   16  353 TITUS MUTINDA                 GBTC             DORCHES MA M 53 18:58  6:07 

   17  181 PATRICK TROY            HFC STRIDERS        MEDFIEL MA M 42 19:13  6:11 

   18  148 EDWARD PARROT   GR SPRINGFIELD      AMHERST MA M 48 19:29  6:17 

   19  174 CHRIS KELLY            HFC STRIDERS     WESTWOO MA M 56 19:52  6:24 

   20  359 EJ HRYNOWSKI                    GLRR         ARLINGT MA M 56 19:57  6:25

USATF New England Cross Country Championships

I was looking forward to the USATF New England XC Championships for the master’s race which is a 8K distance. As Joe Shairs and I drove to Franklin Park, we chatted about the CMS men lining up for more team competition up north in Manchester, NH via Manchester City Marathon. I was anxious and excited for them - wishing to a degree that I was up there being a part of that. While waiting for our race, we were getting updates from Sasha Mindel who was getting a play by play about her husband, Scott Mindel, racing for CMS, leading the marathon in the early miles with Dan Vassallo just a few strides back. Just pure awesome. It pumped me up for my race.

Yes, back to cross country. I was thrilled to have a few extra CMS master runners (Alan Bernier, Steve Brightman, and Martin Tighe) in our race beyond what we had at the Franklin Park 5K two weeks ago.  I jumped out at the start and followed Steve for a short while before having to settle in. I had good position within the race among folks that I usually finish near. Mile 1 went by in 5:28 (per GPS). Up and over Bear Cage Hill and a Wilderness Loop brought me through the 5K right at what I ran two weeks ago in 18:13. 

The wheels came off in the 2^nd Wilderness Loop and I felt my cadence back down from Ron Lombardi (GSH) who motored on pretty good. Steve Brightman got into the mix while I was being hunted by Senior’s John Sullivan and Wayne Levy in the last mile. Their presence kept me racing scared to the finish two seconds behind Steve. My time was 29:07, 8^th runner for CMS, placing 36 overall out of 107 runners in the race. My goal was 28:45. The team finished 2^nd to a strong BAA squad. Results and awesome photos by Scott Mason of all three races (men's open, women's open/masters, and men's masters).

Splits

5:28

5:43

5:59

6:00

5:52

Within an hour after our race we would get random updates for the marathon. Dan would go on to win the race with Scott finishing 2^nd. Eric Narcisi rounded out the scoring helping the CMS open team to a first place finish. Our masters team, 2/3 of them Seniors (Ed Sheldon & Dave Dunham), would finish 2^nd and also go on to win the Senior team division. 

Striding out with Ron Lombardi and Steve Brighman before 3 miles
Photo by Scott Mason

My apologies - Mayors Cup - Franklin Park Open 5K

This was my second year tour of the 5K within the Mayor's Cup races at Franklin Park. This is, after all, the New England Masters Grand Prix race (my 1^st GP XC race this year after 3 passed already). I used to joke that the 5K was the Junior Varsity race at Mayor’s Cup while I was still capable of bringing up the rear in the 8K. Times have changed. I apologize. This is where my slowing stride belongs. My last race in the big boy race, Men’s Championship 8K, was when I turned 40 in 2014. I managed a respectable 27:58 to help the team score with just five guys.

Joe and I arrived just before the ladies 6K. We got our numbers and parked our gear 50 yards away from our traditional spot so as to take advantage of the sun and warmth. The temps were warmer than expected although the wind was slicing into our grill at the start and anytime we had raced toward the wilderness loop. A two mile warm up with the team found the course to be surprisingly dry after Saturday’s rain. This was to my benefit as I left my racing shoes at home (realized this about 15 minutes into the drive to Franklin Park). The training shoes had to do and I worried no more.

I stood next to Dan Verrington at the start with Tim Van Orden, Gregory Putnam, Todd Callaghan, Joe Shairs, and Arthur Besse in our non-existent cross country starting box. Our seven bolted across the field among the three hundred strong seeking a cross country battle under sunny skies and foliage falling with the wind. I held the far right line, a step behind Arthur Besse. I ran up next to former GBTC teammate John Blouin after a half mile – still crowded. I signaled to cut in front to get on the heels of BAA’s Christopher Lawrence which John allowed. I heard a mile split of 5:32. I moved on dodging the only mud bath charged up (more like crawled up) Bear Cage Hill. Arthur, 5^th man for our team, started to gap me on the exit of the hill. His workout on this course weeks prior proved to pay off.

Now facing the wind, heading toward mile two, I considered ordering a hot dog and coke from a vendor. However, I could not find enough money. Onward. Arthur Besse was wheeling and dealing a can of whoop ass on me and his company through shade and shelter within the Wilderness loop. I had a battle with a young pup exiting the loop out to the field. I was drained but managed to hold him off.

I expected a group to blow past me on the final stretch but it never came. I reached the line in 18:14 and 26^th place, 6^th CMS runner. Arthur buried me in the last mile, passed two BAA runners with his 17:51. As slow as I felt and ran in the last mile, no one passed me and beat me to the finish line. Despite the awesome effort from the five CMS gents ahead of me, the team fell 3 points shy (30 to 33) to the BAA. I waited until today to lookup what I ran last year, 17:36. If only I could have run that time yesterday…..

Full Results: 2016 Boston Mayor's Cup Cross Country Races

Crossing the finish line in the 5K at Franklin Park
Photo credit to Granite State Race Services

I arrived at Franklin Park with Todd Callaghan and met up with Tim Van Orden and Dave Dunham who helped set up the canopy tent for the team. I ran a warm up and got on the line behind my CMS team and to the right of BAA for the 8K masters race at the USATF New England Championships. The weather was great and the course was dry. I got into good position behind (maybe 10th) the lead pack of BAA and CMS runners who seemed to be setting a rather comfortable pace but it picked up after the mile. I did not hear a split but the GPS tagged a 5:12. My second mile slowed to a 5:33 with an up and over Bear Cage hill. 

At the top of Bear Cage Hill in front of Christopher Lawrence
Photo by Michael Quintal

I lost a few positions but continued a good battle with Robert Bottomley and Francis Burdett whom I noticed had a racing flat come untied. He would eventually lose it and finish the race without it. I went through the 5K just a few ticks slower than my 5K at Mayor’s Cup two weeks ago. I was pretty happy with that. Wayne Levy and Kevin O’Neal from BAA passed by with about a mile to go. I kept them close climbing Bear Cage Hill but they took off with good momentum on the backside. I would not catch either from there to the finish line. I wound up with an 18th place finish in the masters race. I was the 6th CMS runner on the day and felt I had a pretty good race, similar time to my 8K at Mayors Cup in 2014. I had three teammates with Alan Bernier, Joshua Perks, and Todd Callaghan in view the whole race and all within 24 seconds of my finish.

Francis and Christopher Lawrence chasing
Photo by Urvi Mujumdar

I was aiming for a top 15 finish but that was optimistic with the talented runners and Seniors (50+) around me. The team ran very well for a 2nd place finish to the BAA. I finished the Cross Country Grand Prix Series (5 races since August) and would appeared to have won the masters division. Justin Renz, last year's GP Series Master Champ, was just a few points behind me going into the race today. After the race, he admitted that he just ran the New York City Marathon last Sunday and was tired. I know how he felt as I did this race last November, one week after the Manchester City Marathon.

Running away from White Stadium and to Bear Cage Hill
Peter Bottomley and Francis Burdett in pursuit
Photo by Dave Dunham

GPS splits below

5:12

5:33

5:38

5:43

5:44

2015 USATF New England Masters Cross Country Championships

Coming out of the Bear Cage Hill with Michael Quintal in the background
Photo by Dave Dunham

Franklin Park 5K Mayor's Cup

Stephen Trainor picked me up and we arrived at Franklin Park an hour before his open 8K race. I had nearly two hours before my race but wanted to set up camp for the CMS guys coming. I fumbled around trying to set up the canopy tent. I even had a young lady from New Balance Boston come over twice to point out what we were doing wrong. It took four people to figure it out. The morning rain that stopped by 9:30 had zero effect on the course. It was dry as could be so I went with my Inov-8 flats instead of spikes. I watched Eric Narcisi and Stephen run their first XC races for CMS in the 8K. I got on the start line after that race with exactly five CMS men (Gregory Putnam, Ben Nephew, Tim Van Orden, and Dan Verrington) for the last race of the day, Franklin Park 5K. The race was number four of the XC Grand Prix and also the masters race. 

The race bolted out and I hunted for a visual on Justin Renz (HFC) as we were seeking coveted individual Grand Prix master division series points. I went by him on the downhill 600m in and was about five runners away from Ben Nephew. I went through the mile in what I heard as 5:20. Chris Lawrence and James Callaghan (no relation to teammate, Todd) from the BAA pulled away going down into the Bear Cage Hill. I was able to catch Ben up the hill. On the exit, I got by Chris and we went back and forth through mile 2. I heard a 10:56 split while Chris pulled away a bit as we got into the Wilderness Loop. As we ran a short climb in there I got past him and pushed on the downhill exiting the woods. 

As I climbed out into the field loop, a race official holding flags pointed to me and said that the team race was coming down to me. I was not sure because I was the 3rd CMS guy. I think she was keeping tabs on the front of the race where Gregory and Tim were battling the top three guys from the BAA. I got passed by a runner as we fell into the field with just two more right hand turns remaining into the finish line other other side of the field. I told him to get going as this race was going to be over in less than 700m. I was trying to keep Chris behind me which I did. I finished with a time of 17:36 and in 18th place, 3rd CMS runner. Ben and Dan finished right behind me to help us finish 2nd to the BAA. The results are here. I felt pretty good about the effort and execution that was not planned, instead flourished with the race around me. I think the last time I ran a 5K at Franklin Park was in a USATF New England development race 17 years ago. The guy that finished behind me then was Ben Nephew. We have been teammates ever since.

Wayland Cross Country Festival

My prior experience at the Wayland 5K cross country race was 17:27 and 15th place back in 2007. The race today was the third race of the New England XC Grand Prix. The course is a mix of running through athletic fields and trails around Wayland High School. There are a few hills to break momentum. I rolled out and clawed my way through a 5:31 mile. The big hill got in the way after 1.2 miles. I reached the top and picked off a few runners along the ridge and downhills back to the school fields. My momentum settled after mile 2 while just five seconds behind Mark Mayall, a master who was in between Joe Shairs and I. I passed maybe three more runners to the track where we had 300 meters before reaching the finish line. I ran 17:47 and 39th place. The race went by so quick. I felt good about the effort, maybe some fading after 2 miles but battled to the line, finishing just behind Brendan Lynch from HFC who is prepping for a marathon in November. I reminded him before the race of his awesome Chicago Marathon in 2003 where he ran mid 2:30's (I ran 2:38). It was awesome to see Antonietta and Larry O'Toole (xc and track teammates at Salem State) who were on hand cheering and coaching their kids in the earlier races. Meanwhile, CMS took one on the team chin today, placing 5th overall. Results

Salem State was a long time ago...
Antonietta O'Toole, Tom Derderian, myself, Larry O'Toole
Photo by KrissyK

CMS had solid performances with Tim Van Orden placing as the top 40+ male and Joe Shairs just behind him. These guys are going to have a great race next weekend at the USATF National Masters Cross Country Championships in Saratoga Springs, NY.

GBTC XC Festival

Nakri, Joe and I arrived at Elm Bank Reservation for a quick canopy set up for the team and to register for the GBTC XC Festival 5K. This was the second of the five USATF New England Cross Country Grand Prix races. Our open team was second in the 1st race in Manchester, while our men's masters team had the only masters team with five men. We met up with Nate Jenkins, Dan Verrington, and Joshua Perks who were already there. We headed out for a warm up to preview the course. The course was dry (no puddles or mud) even though some light rain and drizzle was about earlier in the morning. If anything, the grass was damp. I ran this course the last few years (last year 17:19 in the 5K open race) so I knew the course well. I was happy about two things today: having five guys for the masters team, and the rain holding off.  After a 10 minute delay, we got our masters 5K race started.  Joe, Josh, and I got right to the front to lead the race. I led them through the first 800 meters but took a back seat to them into the mile, 5:33. We went past the start/finish at 2K as the top three in the race which I was pretty excited about. We went past the soccer fields and I felt Josh picking it up, dropping Joe and I through mile 2 (5:39). We hit the rooted trail along the Charles River with good command of the top three overall but l lost a few more strides to them. Josh (17:07), Joe (17:21) and I (17:29) finished in that exact order. Dan and Nakri were 9th and 21st. Our combined cross country scoring (finish place vs all other teams with the five scorers) beat all other teams. We got a team pie for which Joe picked out Blueberry. However, he nor Nakri wanted to cut it up so it came back to my house. Here is to the rest of the cross country season. 

GBTC XC Festival results

NH XC Festival Manchester NH

The NH XC Festival was on the calendar as part of two USATF New England related series: All Terrain and race # 1 of the XC Grand Prix. It was rather easy to get a five guy contingent from the North Shore to Manchester for the race. William Jackson, Todd Callaghan, Matt Veiga, and I piled into Nakri’s SUV and got to Derryfield Park in an hour. The race started at 4:00, after a pair of high school races and a community race. We bumped into old CMS friend Tim Cox, who coaches Coe-Brown Northwood Academy. We are hoping that he can stay healthy and represent the CMS singlet soon. He showed us the course which was a constant run in with hills. I did not mind and this was a classic style xc course. The race got on the line and it was cool to hear the New England teams introduced. The race headed up hill for the spectator friendly course. I went through the mile in 5:49 behind master Justin Renz. We hit a few hills and I still had him in sight into mile 2 but never got any closer than a second of him. Sam Wood was coming back a bit. I caught up and we had Kasie Enman come by trying to chase female leader, up by five seconds, Laura Hagley. We had less than 400m to go up a slight hill and a 160 degree turn before the final runway. I finished just behind Sam and Kasie for 33^rd place, 4^th master, overall time was 17:48 (5:44/mile). We ran the course again after catching our breath. The trip continued down to Elm Street for the post race party for a few plates of Nachos before heading home. The team, Central Mass Striders open team took second while the masters team was 1^st - only team with five 40+ men. 

USATF NE Grand Prix Team Results

USATF Competitive Individual Results

USATF New England XC Championships

I had a blast today. Joe drove Todd and I into Franklin Park. Dave Dunham did the team a solid by setting up a tent so we could crash and keep our stuff together. He had an assortment of CMS singlets over the past 20 years hanging over the front side of it. I was excited to be racing the masters 8K - same course as Mayor's Cup from two weeks ago. My first mile split was identical to then - just under 5:20 and a step away from Todd. He pulled away and ran down several runners over the next few miles. I had to back off a touch up Bear Cage hill but I was trailing good company in Mark Reeder (GLRR) and Wayne Levy (BAA). It was this company that I kept for the rest of the race, only getting past Wayne up Bear Cage in the last mile. I finished 22nd overall, 3rd CMS runner, with a time of 28:17.51. This was 20 seconds slower than two weeks ago. I will chalk that up to marathon legs from Sunday. However, the execution was good and did my best out there. The CMS masters team finished 3rd overall behind the BAA and Greater Springfield. The Seniors team took first place. I am looking forward to racing with these guys at USATF Club XC Nationals in December.  

Masters 8K results

Paul Bazanchuk, Erik Vandendries, Dave Mingori, Joe Shairs, John Gillis, Todd Callaghan, Jim Pawlicki, Greg Putnam, Martin Tighe, Dave Dunham, Dan Verrington

GBTC XC Festival - Wellesley

The Greater Boston Track Club was hosting the first race of the USATF New England Cross Country Grand Prix at Elm Park in Wellesley. They hosted an 8K two years ago. Today was cut down to a 5K which I approve of as a fine start to the cross country season. The open race (39 masters had a race 30 minutes before us) got started about twenty minutes late. I did a 3 mile warm up with Rodney Hemingway and Dennis Floyd on the course and had to hang around for a while. Michael P. Mahone did the Star Spangled Banner just after Tom Derderian busted out the Harmonica for some Dixie. The race went out fast as it should. 300m into the race narrowed onto a trail along the Charles River. I was way back with a 5:28 mile according to Garmin. The second mile had the only hill up onto a soccer field. I passed a few runners before mile 2 (5:34) before heading into the shaded roots along the Charles River for a loop. I slowed in here and I knew it. Time was running out and I was just watching my steps along the roots. I got to the finish line in 30th place (out of 56 runners) and a time of 17:18. I did a 4.25 mile cool down with a big group out to Wellesley College (Boston Marathon Course) and back via Pond Street. Next on the racing schedule is the Lone Gull 10K.

2014 Greater Boston Track Club Cross Country Festival results

New England Cross Country Championships

Krissy, Nick, and I got to Franklin Park early enough to set up a tent for the team. I picked up the team packet and waited for our CMS runners to come one by one - trading bib numbers for signatures. The masters race went off first and was fun to watch and cheer on all of the runners and clubs competing. I ran a warm up with Tim and Ryan showing them the wilderness loop and Bear Cage Hill. I got changed into the racing gear and picked the INOV8 f-lite 195's. I got to the line, proud to have six guys on the line representing CMS: Nate Jenkins, Dan Vassallo, Sam Wood, and new-comers Tim Liponis and Ryan Collins from Worcester. I knew as soon as the race got going that I needed to let the massive field go ahead as I settled into the back. The 10K race ahead was going to be tough for me so I wanted to keep the pace reasonable. The mile passed in 5:28 for me and focused on catching Ryan who was ahead by 10 seconds. I rolled through 2 miles around 11:15. I passed Ryan in the next mile and rolled through the 5K around 18 minutes. I went back and forth with a few other guys from SISU and Western Mass passing through the 8K around 28 and a half. I wished I could have finished there. As a master (age 40 - 49) next year, I will be able to run in the masters event where they race 8K instead of 10K. I am looking forward to that. I did my best to compete in the last mile and was fortunate to have company of three or four to mix it up with. I rounded the last turn and got by a few guys and into the finish with a time of 35:39. I placed 82 out of 110 runners. The time might be my slowest for 10K at Franklin Park but I battled from start to finish here. My time is what it is. I did not really promote the goal but thought 35 minutes was possible if all went well. At any rate, I love cross country racing and was proud to be part of the teams out there competing. I got a lot of support from the crowd watching the race. That was huge and if you read this, thank you. I recall giving a shout out to Rodney Hemmingway from GBTC asking for some love out there in my last loop. He sprinted around the corner and snapped a photo of me 200 yards later. Hahaha! CMS placed 5th out of the nine teams (top five fastest times score for a team).  In all it was a good day. Krissy's photos are up. Full Results

The kick is unleashed into the finish at the USATF New England XC championships
Photo by KrissyK

Thomas Chamberas 6K XC race

Narrow start at the Thomas Chamberas 6K XC race in Carlisle.
Photo by KrissyK

Trailing Jason Cakouros before 1 mile

This race kicks off the USATF New England Cross Country Grand Prix for 2013. I was scheduled to race in the trails in Beverly but I also wanted to field a CMS team in Carlisle. So I donated the entry fee for the Beverly Commons trail race and sacrificed North Shore Trail Series points (I was leading the series) for the team event. Dan Vassallo picked up Krissy and I and we were at the 6K race 35 minutes later. Upon arrival, we found CMS mates Arthur Besse (nice Corvette by the way), Michael Quintal, and Dan Verrington. Thankfully we had five guys otherwise we would not have scored as a team. We warmed up on the course along with Dave Menard (BAA) and Steve Dowsett (Whirlaway) which was the usual course, however, with a new narrow start and different finish. I did not mind the narrow start but the long winded Michael P. Mahone speech was a stretch.
Maybe five minutes long while the race is on the starting line is too much. It was concluded with the star spangled banner and cheers from two hundred plus runners and spectators. I started in row two and got a clear start with a few light handed pushes on my back on the up hill start around the corn field. Dust kicked up as it usually does. The race went out fast as one has to jockey for position as single track a mile in awaited. I ran behind Jason Cakouros (HFC Striders) for the first mile or so. The single track and tight s-turns were fun and the pace was good. Once we got to open up on wider trails I tried to battle with some GBTC guys. I came out of the lolli-pop loop chasing down top master Justin Renz (HFC Striders) with whom I have not been able to beat this year so I was motivated to go for it today. I passed him with less than 800 meters to go and held him off crossing the line in 19:52 and 29th place. The team finished 4th overall with the bare minimum to score (five). I cooled down the team and reflected on how our races went. It was awesome to hear Arthur Besse have so much fun out there as he experiences these races for the first time. My Garmin measured 3.35 miles and calculated 5:56 pace.....

Photos by KrissyK

Thomas Chamberas 6K XC Race

Carlisle,MA August 24, 2013

Place  Name             No. S Ag City          St Div Team  Time   Pace

29  JAMES PAWLICKI 10 M 38 BEVERLY   MA   5 CMS   19:52  5:20