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

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.

Capital City Classic 10K

C.A.R.S race number 3 was hosted by Runner's Alley in Concord, NH with the Capital City Classic 10K. The 8AM start was met with warm and muggy air under bright sun. A strong field of 300 plus enjoyed a mass-start, my first of which,  post-Covid. I started 12 rows back. Jumped out at the start and settled in with no sense of urgency. 

The 7:00 flat opening mile gave me no confidence that I was going to run any faster for the next 5 miles. Each mile thereafter slowed down. After 4 miles, there was a hill that seemed to break some or make some. A few began to walk. I had dead legs on the backside and saw my slowest mile of 8:08. I rallied a bit in the last 400m to find 73rd place and find a 7:39 pace, 47:29 chip time. I grabbed a water and had a seat in the shade for a few minutes.

I went for a slow cool down with the Duct Tape and Spit guys (Dave Dunham, Doug Deangelis, and Darren Brown) who placed 2nd as a team. My right calf cramped so bailed before another mile. Looking forward to the next race but a few degrees cooler or with a lower dew point.