Westfield Fast 5K

I met Dennis Floyd in Lynnfield to hit the road for the Westfield Fast 5K, a point to point course with a little drop in the last mile after the initial first two flat miles. Prior results confirmed that it was a quick course, maybe as much as 30 seconds for the top guys. We left the North Shore around 9:35 and rolled onto the Westfield State University Campus around 11:45 for the 1pm start. We hit three tough stretches of traffic on the Mass Pike that slowed us down.

I bumped into Barbara McManus who was not going to use her bib number. The transfer process was quite the ordeal as the folks at registration had no process for it. I took charge and said I would handle the administrative leg work. After some running around I got it done. I wrote transfer to # 285, Barbara McManus, all over my race application. I was nice to see my name in the results hours later. One less thing to worry about after the race.

After warming up for less than a mile with Dennis, I put myself about 20 rows back. Gun went off and I got my legs moving up and out of the WSU South Parking lot driveway for the only uphill. I stayed to the far left on the main road which was a flat straight away past Stanley Park where I have run many cross country races with Salem State.

My first mile was around 6:34, the first time seeing a six something mile in almost two and a half months. The next mile was a few seconds slower, 6:38 but I was feeling all right. The last mile dropped down a bit in terms of elevation into down town and I tried to open up the stride a bit but was not too sure if I could. I ran 6:20 and pretty much kept that pace to the finish line with a 20:11.1 chip time or 20:20 clock time.

I converged with some teammates to see how they did. Everyone ran really fast. Plenty of smiles all around. CMS had 24 guys. The open team was 3^rd, masters 1^st, seniors 1^st, and vets were 3^rd. I ran back to the start line with some CMS teammates.

This was my first race in a while and was curious about how my knee and lungs were going to react to the race after a lay off and minimal training. I received MRI results on Friday, the day before race. The knee pain that I have been dealing with is the result of a torn meniscus. I will be looking to an arthroscopic procedure soon which sounds like I will be back to running after 5 to 6 weeks.

Westfield Fast 5K results 2019

New Bedford Half Marathon

I headed down to New Bedford for the New Bedford Half Marathon with Dennis Floyd, Nick Taormina, and Katie Misuraca. As we discussed expectations for the first Grand Prix Road Race of the year, I could not come to terms that I was banged up and should not get on the starting line. The medial side of my right knee has me heading to physical therapy soon. I had not run all week. I was bummed out. 

Still, I pinned the number on and jogged (my warmup) over to the starting line and hid behind 50 rows of runners waiting for the start. The plan was to feel out each mile as it went along. I could always turn back if the leg was going to be trouble in the opening miles or bail out a little later. I really never got into trouble but keeping 8:00 miles felt OK until the last 5K where I slowed to 8:15’s. The New Bedford wind was not there as in past years. Several CMS guys like Kevin Hankens, Arthur Besse, Bryan Trinque, Nick Taormina all ran PR’s.

Photo by Leslie Whiting Poitras

The official results are yet to come out but looks like as of now, I ran 1:46:28 (net time), 805^th place. I ran a few miles with CMS runner Jay Morrissey in the closing miles which I felt good about as he ran a 3 minute PR. Below are the results from Nick, Katie, Dennis, and I. Nick shows up as Scott Leslie on iresultslive, but we transferred the number at registration so that should be fixed. Lastly, it looks like the CMS open team will get bumped to 5^th, masters placed 1^st, and seniors broke a tie to take 2^nd. We will wait for the official results to get posted to coolrunning.

1765 Nick Taormina  46 37:30 1:20:00 6:07 1:20:08 CENTRAL MASS STRIDERS Gloucester MA

2042 Katie Misuraca 38  40:09 1:25:47 6:33 1:25:53 BAA Gloucester MA

1759 Dennis Floyd   42 M 40:48 1:27:57 6:43 1:28:05 CENTRAL MASS STRIDERS Georgetown MA

1760 James Pawlicki 44 M 49:28 1:46:28 8:08 1:46:51 CENTRAL MASS STRIDERS Lynn MA

Malden 5 mile

Snowblind by Black Sabbath

Krissy and I signed up the Malden 5 mile which also had a Half Marathon a few months ago. I was looking forward to a new event and new city to race in (I never raced in Malden). This race was a first time event and appeared to be organized by the folks who put on the Cambridge Half Marathon in the past. Krissy, Liz, Lisa, Maryann, and I grabbed our race numbers, jackets, and brunch the day before the race. Sunday rolled in fast along with the time change, ahead an hour. We got to the Stop and Shop parking lot in Malden just as the Half Marathon started at 7AM. We parked next to Dave Dunham. We had a front row seat to the race which was about a half mile into the 2.4 mile loop that would be toured multiple times for 13.1 miles. The 5 mile race would be just two loops, starting at 8:30.

We had VIP access to the bathrooms at Stop & Shop so that was useful before heading out on the course for a warmup with Dave while the half marathon was going on. I saw several Wicked, Notch, and SRR runners out there. Dave and I ran the 2.4 mile loop  and a little extra for 3 miles. Once last pit stop at Stop & Shop before getting to the cars to put on a dry shirt and get the race groove on.

Photo courtesy Malden Rotary Road Race

Dave and I headed over to the start line and got right up front like a pro. A classy guy in a C5K winter hat who may have been part of the Malden Rotary walked up to the front row of the race looked me in the eye, welcomed us for the first time race, and calmly said we are shooting right into the half marathon race so be careful. He said it in a way that showed appreciation for us and the event.  

Gun went off and we had a gradual decent into the 2.4 mile loop for a seamless start with a few turns putting us within the half marathoners who were 91 minutes into their race. I was on the back of the lead pack feeling amped up for the opening mile before falling back into my race pace. I figured I was in 10^th place or so. I lost one spot within the first loop and one more about half way. I was not taking inventory of splits but felt that I was keeping a good cadence despite weaving around a few half marathoners along the way and being super cautious on the turns. It started to snow about 3 miles into our race. It was pretty funny. One more guy passed by with 1.5 miles to go. 

I caught the guy who passed me half way through the race with a bit more than a mile to go. I was ready for the battle. We went around a crowd on one of the last left turns. I took the inside and he took the outside. His gamble paid off as I got squeezed out by a few half marathoners to chicken step slush on the street corner. My legs we starting to tie up as I hustled into the finish. I was happy to break 30 minutes (29:52 gun time, 29:50 chip time). Looks like I was 14^th overall and first master. I waited for Dave to come in just over 31 minutes (18th). We both beat our race goals.

Photo courtesy Malden Rotary Road Race

I grabbed a medal, water, and boogied back to the car as fast as I could walk. I bailed on the cool down with Dave to ice my knee which was feeling pretty shitty. I got in the car and started it to warm up and change into warm clothes. I hung out there until the girls came back and we were leaving as the race was breaking down the course under a light flurry.

Malden Half + 5 results

With Dave Dunham post race

USATF New England Indoor Track & Field Championships Masters 800M

As a runner in recent years, I have neglected the "speed" discipline of interval sessions. You know, for example, run 6 times 800M at 5K race pace with 400M or 2 minute recovery stuff once a week. Thus, I get into trouble when I get a birdbrain idea to run, uh race, a track race. I have barely averaged one track race a year for the last decade.

I have to thank the incentive or schedule of the All Terrain Runner Series hosted by USATF New England. Over each of the last five years or so, the series has consisted of a snowshoe, trail, road, cross country, mountain, and indoor or outdoor track race. The lack of snow has usually found the snowshoe event getting cancelled. However, all other disciplines have been staples.

The track event within the 2019 ATR series was an 800M which had to be run at one of three meets: USATF New England Indoor Masters meet in January (Providence, RI), USATF New England Indoor Open Championship (Harvard), or USATF New England Open Outdoor Championships in July (Holy Cross). I selected the meet at Harvard late this week.

I ran a 4 X 400M workout on the treadmill late in the week. The 400's we're run at a mild 6:00 per mile clip (about my 5K race pace). I entered the meet with a 2:34 seed time which was #12 or at the cutoff for the men's masters "fast" heat. I was good with that. The alternative was a combined men's and women's 800M heat. I watched Harris Hardy win that heat with a 2:36 before I walked onto the Harvard oval up on the outside lane next to Bill Newsham (GBTC) and Jon Waldron (CSU).

The gun went off and followed Jon around for lap one. There was no competitor behind me. Pressure on. My stride was not smooth as I tried to get around Jon but failed. I did pass before 400M and put dropped the gauntlet I guess putting all my eggs in that 3rd lap. I caught Bill entering the final lap and moved into 8th place. I caught one runner. Now my stride was really clumsy. No kick here friends. Form failure lights went off. I was lucky to stay upright and keep moving forward in lane one. 

So much for looking good for the finish line. Dust settled at 2:29.5, 7th place. I really had a blast. It was not pretty but I managed a smile and fist bumps for the finishers next to me. Wish I had another chance for a 800M soon. Shall I take another crack in July?

http://www.newengland.usatf.org/USATF_ASSOC_2/files/01/01c8b127-323a-4aa8-9e5d-8be968876370.txt

Photos and video by Krissy

Bradford Valentine Race - 5 miles

Bradford is a village and former town according to Wikipedia. Go get your history. Not too many road races out there for the tough folks seeking to hit the pavement in early February. Bradford just so happens to be home of Dave Dunham and Dan Verrington, long time CMS studs. Mr. Verrington lives steps away from the start and finish. In fact, three generations of Verrington’s ran in the race on Saturday.

The Bradford Valentine Race has a 6K and 5 mile distance. I tried to convince Krissy to take part in the team event where I run a distance and she runs the other. She would have none of it and I stubbornly ran the same 5 mile distance she wanted to tackle with friends. Sure. No problem. I seem to have forgotten the hills and elevation on this one. A mile in, I was reminded. Into mile 2, yep, just passing by Bradford Ski Area. Enough said.

I got a huge can a whoop ass laid on my legs and trainers. But nice course though. I got zero company after setting up camp once Jaclyn Solomine (the UML alum and her dad won the team event for father/daughter) went by after a mile. I had one 19 year old constantly 15 seconds ahead but no head or tail wind on the day was going to help me. 31:24 for a time at the finish line, 11^th place, 1^st 40 plus age group.

Dug deep into the archives to see what I ran here back in 2006 at age 31. 7^th place with a sterling 27:57, rather respectable that I would not have called it a hilly course then. Dave Hinga smoked the course in 25:45. Time flies. Splits below, stopped my watch about 7 seconds after the finish. 2019 Bradford Valentine 5 mile results.

Lazy Dog Classy 3 mile

Shawn and I jumped into the front from the gun. I led down Euclid Ave and Shawn led up the hill at mile 1. We would swap the lead back and forth for mile 2. Our pace was right around 5:50 per mile. I had a stride up Magnolia and back down Euclid for the final left hand turn back onto Broadway. I barely held Shawn off by 2 seconds to cross the line first in 17:47.

I am glad Shawn was there for the company in not only the race but for the warm up and cool down. I want to thank race director Stephen Martin for his dedication to put the race on to support the Lynn Classical Girls Track Team. Shawn and I won Rolly's Gift Cards and a scratch ticket (mine did not hit any jackpot). Shout out to Mike Fitzgerald for the photos race photos and after. Grab a copy of the Lynn Journal this Thursday for a juicy interview with yours truly.

45th Annual 15K Great Stew Chase

Attendance was down this year with under 200 finishers. Need to see an increase in attendance. Picked up a fleece blanket for 2nd in the age group. Tail wind heading out and in our face for the last few miles. Kept my place after the 1 mile marker until 7.5 and got gapped by over 20 ticks plus to the end. Think I was 58 and change last year. Still had some surges throughout today.

James Pawlicki, Bib:   78, Age: 44, has finished the 45th Annual 15K Great Stew Chase in a place and time of   59:22.1  6:23 010   59:22.8 0

Ran to the race for the warm up and a bit over 2 mile cool down with EJ and Rob. Picture below of me passing my dad and coach. Photo by John Mulroy.