Vineyard Hill Trail Run - Hamilton, MA

ECTA, Essex County Trail Association, hosted this 5K/10K combination trail race in Hamilton. I have never been within the Vineyard Hill area despite being next to Bradley Palmer State Park. I miss running over there and since a paid parking requirement in the parking lots, my presence has been missing. 

I met Dan Verrington for a course preview and warmup over the 5K course. We joined up with Paul Stacey on the course. The 10K runners would do the course twice. I was glad that I was just doing the 5K and seemed just right for my fitness. 

After a good clean start from the parking lot, I settled into 10th place before hitting single track a few minutes into the course. I managed to move up a few places after a mile while being careful on every down hill. 

I got away from the nearest runner behind me and I lost track of the sight of Dave Hannon ahead. The ensuing hills proved to test the heart rate and provide periods of recovery while being isolated of competitors to the end aside from seeing the 10K runners heading back out as I neared the finish. 

I crossed the finish line in 5th place, 2 minutes and 10 seconds behind Dan, with a time of 24:08 (7:46 pace). Old friend, Dave Hannon, would embark another tour of the 5K course to win the 10K edition twenty minutes later. After a few cups of water and a banana, I did a short cool down with Paul Stacey, Dave Long and Dan Verrington. I got a gift certificate to New England Runner for taking the age group, excluding the top 3 overall runners. 

Vineyard Hill Trail Run 5K results 2022

Trav's Trail Run

Headed up to the race with the girls (Krissy, Maryann, and Katie) to Maudsley State Park in Newburyport for Trav's Trail Run (almost 3 miles). I warmed up with Greg Putnam and a big Wicked Running Club group over the three mile course. I saw Nate Jenkins at the start next to Melissa (wearing the CMS singlet!) and gave them a fist bump. We bolted down the hill and rolled through. I got passed twice after 800m. I passed one of them up a hill soon after. I caught up to Dan Chruniak (Wicked RC) shortly about half way through the race encouraging him to come along. I wanted to run hard to the stone bridge and not give anyone a chance to pull up from behind. I could see Greg Putnam ahead putting the hurt on three youngsters up the hill. Steve Dowsett (of New England Runner cover hall of fame) seemed to fall back a bit but no one was close to me to offer a surge on the hill. Nate cheered for me as I crested the last bump before flattening out into the finish line. 6th overall, 2nd 40+ to Greg. The 16:44 this year was slower than the 16:27 last year. I high fived a few and cheered some on into the finish before heading out on a cool down with Greg and Steve for close to another three miles. I picked up a Trav's Trail 2015 mug and a card to redeem a pair of New Balance shoes. The girls got some gear in the raffle. It was a good day. Full results

Please recycle!
Photo by KrissyK

Ipswich Rotary 5K/10K Trail Ramble at Appleton Farms

Off the start
Photo by Roger Perham

I woke up on Saturday morning with no plan (training or racing) so I went to the coolrunning race calendar to see what was available. I found the Ipswich Rotary 5K/10K Trail Ramble at Appleton Farms. My previous history was a 4^th place finish behind gents such as Mike Degennaro, John Ayers, Patrick Rich back in 2005 in the 5K (the 10K did not exist). I ran a warm up with Alex Vlahos from Ipswich and then added in another 12 minutes on my own before lining up at the start. The race goes up hill over the Newburyport line (rail road) and then down to Rt 1 where we took a right and entered Appleton Farms. Aside from Mark Mayall and Alex, I did not know anyone else. 5:39 at the first mile while the group of six was still collected. I was anxious but chilled out next to the leader on the dirt road as we slowly pulled away. We came to the point on the course where the 10K runners go left and the 5K goes straight. The young man I was next to took a left and wished me luck in my race (5K) and I yelled back the same to him. I peeked back a minute later and all was quiet – maybe 40 yard lead. I pressed along – the course now winding along beside what we used to race on back in 2005 (roads) this time on the trails. A few hills later popped me out to the road back to the finish for one last dirt road sprint for the win in 17:21. 2^nd place, Fabio Piergentili, was 17:59. Alex finished 4th. I cooled down with Alex and then added in more miles to get in 10 for the day.

2005 results

2014 results 

Finish Photo by Roger Perham