Notes
I didn't feel particularly great, but the first couple miles were fast, 6:45 pace. At the big hill, Mile 3 was 21:30ish. I passed a few and was passed by more. One young shaggy over dressed guy with a bottle, and others pulled ahead on the flat ahead. My pace was good but I had a side stitch that took a mile to shake. Paul B. caught up to me around mile 4, he runs negative and consistent, so not a bad spot tobe at 29:00. Mile five was 36:00 so I felt I had gotten the hard work over with. I had stated a goal of 1:10 to Dan M. before the race, Ed B. caught up to me after mile 5 and I hung with him for a couple few miles, gaining some of what I'd need for sure. At the hil on mile 7 a heaving old guy raced past, down the hill. He was leaning to one side and despite obvious mechanical challenges had good momentum. Boston Track Club on his back, quite an impression. I allowed myself to calculate what I needed to do at mile 8, about 57:00. I usually avoid this as it distracts from what matters on the course. Whatever It was I recall needing to shave 1:30 off in 2 miles, then the hills began. I easily passed the young shaggy over dressed dude again, the old dude and made gains on this dark Indian looking guy, can't remember if I passed him. Every trick in the book from the previous 1 miles went into that last half mile, though I still should have cranked it up on that hill. I heard the heaving sound of Boston Track Club behind me in the Parking lot, rounding toward the finish he made his move crunching through the snow. After the race I'd learn this was Tom Derderian, columnist in NE Runner, designer of the course. Star struck, I chatted very briefly with him. His recent article 'The Daley Show' made this a very special race indeed, that and the fact that our team scored 3rd place, with myself among the winners!