Half Way Point

Well we're half way through the 2011 Mt. Circuit and before my memory either permanently archives or deletes what I remember from Wachusett or Pack I figured it was time for a couple brief reports.

WACHUSETT

While waiting for the race to return to it's summit finish via the road we were treated to yet another course modification; the final stretch being run along some moderately technical single track. Not too bad by Holyoke Range standards but plenty of loop forming roots to hook your feet and send you to the ground.

This race must have the record for early arrivals as 50 runners were there when I pulled in the parking lot almost an hour and a half before the start.
After registering and some jawing with mates a group of us warmed up by running the new finish section. The most interesting part of it was the hairpin turn in the last 100 meters that you'd hit on a fast downhill run.

I laced up my Inov8 190's and headed over to the usual start location along with 307 other runners ready to head up the road at the gun. Actually I don't remember a gun; must be race directors don't own starters pistols or it's not the "pc" way to start a race anymore.

Jim Johnson and a small group took the race out. Because the road up is relatively straight for the first mile you can watch the leaders until they turn right into the Park. Check out his report for the view as lead dog

Back in the cheap seats I settled into what I felt was a good pace but was too prove a bit fast. All asphalt for the first mile and a bit beyond before turning onto the first single track descent. This part is not at all technical but it is narrow and winding. It's easy to rip down here but at the bottom you turn uphill again on a dirt access road for a bit of climbing then a left turn onto the crux pitch that is uphill single track. Not too technical but always steeper in sections than you remember. This is where my "hey my legs feel pretty good today" pace from the first mile came back to haunt me. Fortunately when you emerge from the woods you're at the high point of the race. Another short section of pavement then turn onto the dirt access road again and descend for what seemed like an eternity until a left onto the new single track section until the finish line.

Except for feeling way to bogged down on the second climb I was content with my result. Today the fast guys showed up and I got schooled big time (3 minutes big time) by Matthew Curran to end up as 2cd in the M50 with a 35:39.

Top 5 M50-59

9    32:30  Matthew Chuuran

26   35:39  Paul Bazanchuk

33   36:37  Bob Sharkey

35   36:52  Peter LaFox

51   39:01  John Martin

Full Results



PACK MONADNOCK TEN MILER

For race number three in the series I got my good friend and training partner TW to join in the days effort. Todd, who after a winter of hard training, has decided to take a sabbatical from the ultra circuit and do a bunch of shorter races. I described the course as 8.5 miles of DH Jones, our home town race, followed by 1.5 miles of Mt. Washington. He was uncertain how it would go having no idea how well he'd climb up the summit road. Knowing the new found enthusiasm he has for running this season plus his competitive nature once you cross the start line I predicted he'd go about 1:13:00. He had his doubts but crossed the line in 1:13:07 for 14th place.

My own race was about 5 minutes slower with a 1:18:06 finish. The fast M50 guys who usually run 1:09 - 1:13 at Pack stayed away and left it for us mortals to duke it out.

Top 5 M50

25   1:18:06    7:48   Bazanchuk        Paul              56

31   1:19:31    7:57   Sharkey          Bob               59

34   1:21:04    8:06   Snow             Ken               55

35   1:21:56    8:11   Martin           John              59

42   1:23:57    8:23   Wight            Erik              51


Full Results