Classy 3 Mile Fun Run

I walked over to Rolley’s Tavern to sign up for this 3 mile road race that sends all proceeds to support the Lynn Classical Girls Track Team. I caught up with Stephen Martin (race director) and Bill Mullen (all things Lynn Woods Running) as we joked about the night’s snow that put about four inches of white stuff on the city. By late morning, the main roads were down to wet pavement. 

I ran a mile and a half warm up with Nakri Dao before lining up on Broadway Street for the start. It was sunny and around 37 degrees. I jumped into 5^th place early on. By the time I reached the mile, Nakri went by followed by Joe O'Leary a minute later. They would put nothing but road between them and I. I got clipped at the very end of the 3 mile course by one more runner. I finished up in 8^th place with a time of 21:20. My mile splits were 6:36, 7:07, 7:19 for the GPS measured 3:04 miles (7:00 / mile average). I grabbed my gear after the race and ended up running home to take care of the days errands.

2020 Classy 3 Mile Fun Run results

Nakri and I before the race
Photo by Mike Fitzgerald

With Stephen Martin and Bill Mullen

Wicked Frosty Four

10AM start for this one in Salem that goes out to the Salem Willows and back. Mile 1 went by in 7:07 and fell to a 7:22. Took my eye off the ball there while the knee did not feel so great. Now heading back toward the finish for the next two miles, did not regroup against folks that passed me earlier in the Willows. 7:56 and 7:39 for the last two miles losing at least ten finishing spots from 2 to 3 miles. 30:22 finish time. The good news for the day was having Dave Dunham in action. Finished not too far behind me after he started at the back of the race. Here is to good health for 2020. 

2020 Wicked Frosty Four photos by KrissyK 2020 Wicked Frosty Four Photos

Run A Latke 5K - Swampscott

Nice downhill start out to Humphrey Street had the legs rolling quicker into mile 1, 6:39. I got some encouragement from a fellow competitor in the hills of Puritan running away from the Ocean views. A Soul Sister passed us. Mile two was on Humphrey Street (7:06) and I lost some strides to those two. Thought I would have a sprint from the church at the last hill for the last 400m but nadda, nothing. Mile 3 was a 7:08 split. GPS gave me 6:57 pace for the 5K for the 9th place finish but North Shore Timing mat to mat gave me seven even. Not bad.

Good spread of veggies, tuna, bagels, latke, et cetera inside. Photos by Krissy. 

Festivus 5K

1 mile warm up on Pickering Wharf with Ian Edwards from Finz. First time running this race. Got the scoop and course layout from Krissy who ran or took photos years ago. Weather was decent, some head wind when heading north. Pretty even splits around 7:11 to 7:20. A few hills broke me but it all evened out in the end. No cool down, stayed in Finz for water and a banana. Overall fun event with plenty of Sienfeld Festivus or ugly Christmas Sweater themes going on. 22:24 for the 5K. 

Thanks for the Trails 5K before a root canal

Woke up and did not want to run alone on this Friday after Thanksgiving. Drove the Rabbit Pickup (big red) over to Patton Park in Hamilton arriving 20 minutes before the 10AM start. I was 4th here last year, running 18:XX. Fun cross country race with a nice hill in the last mile. Temps in the low 40's but the sun was warm if not feeling the wind. Warmed up for about a mile and got over to the start line.

About 150 runners working the Turkey off from yesterday. I settled in after the horn behind Jenn Brooks (CMS / Team Gloucester). I was huffing and puffing all the way. Lost a few spots in the 2nd mile and then two more in the last 3/4 of a mile. Still had fun, pace feeling quicker than 24 hours ago in Lynn with the Lynne's Kids 3 mile. I finished with a time of 22:38.5, 33rd place. 6th out of 16 in the 40-49 age group. GPS measured out to 3.03 miles, compared to the 3.02 mile road race yesterday. Todays splits were 7:01, 7:22 and 8:06. And yes, getting a root canal this afternoon. Good times! Results

Video

Pictures!

Lynne's Kids Turkey Trot

First race since the DNF at the Masters New England XC Championships on Nov 3rd. Took two weeks off since then and ran 1 mile, 2.5, and 2.7 miles in the Monday through Wednesday this week. Krissy was walking with her mom.  The morning rain stopped. I ran over to the race and grabbed my number 5 minutes before the 9:30 AM start.

I saw the gang, Jay Euzikonis, Nakri Dao, Dennis Floyd, Stephen Martin, and Kenny Noyes. Nakri, in the same boat as me, not running a lot, ran with me as we looped around Flax Pond and passed two women after 2 miles. I ignored the watch splits, ran on feel. Breathing heavy, knees held up OK finishing 13th and a time of 23:22 next to Nakri. Dennis took the win! Results

Great Bay 5K

Favorite time of the year for running, not going to lie. Late October, leaves orange and yellow on the tree or falling. Doesn't matter. Ran low 17's a couple of years ago at this Great Bay 5K race a few years ago. Today, fingers crossed and willing, maybe sub 7's or 21 minutes? Easy half mile warm up from the pickup truck to the start line. Settled  in the roomy 3rd row in my black CMS technical tee reminding me of Dave Dunham. Race feels like it falls from Stratham to Greenland, NH. Quick course. CR was broken later that morning (low 15).

Off to a quick, good, clean, start, mile 1 just under goal pace with well over 75 runners single file strung out. Mile 2 was just over seven minute mile pace. Came down to the last mile really with another consistent just barely sub 7 to cross the finish line at 21:41. Translates to 6:59 pace. 84th place, 10th out of 28 in my age group. I will take what I get, battling, yes, racing. Feels so good. Competing. Times will improve with patience and smart diligence. 

Grabbed a water and a slice of watermelon beyond the finish and jogged a mile back to the truck, headed home. Happy. Competing. Keep it simple. 

Great Bay 5K 2019 race results