Notes
Coming back from injury, was lucky enough to get the opportunity of taking leg 5 of the open team. Very cold morning, probably around 22 degrees at the start, maybe 28 by my leg.
Got the handoff in 4th place, maintained the placement during my leg. No brick to take home this year, but tough to complain going against an Olympian (Sanca - Whirlaway) and a solid marathoner (Moultin). Sometimes you just have to tip your hat and recognize the better runner.
Have to say I am happy with my leg. A month ago I was running about 9 miles a week, so didn't have much expectation. First mile started off a little too fast with the usual adrenaline out of the gate, then settled into 5:21 pace as I exited the office park which was more sustainable. Relaxed a little too much over mile 2 falling back into 5:26 over that mile, but still in the ballpark of where I wanted to be. Didn't have a goal per se, but figured around 5:25 would be reasonable for the whole leg.
Mile 3 includes a 1/2 mile uphill. Knew it would be a challenge and unfortunately let it get the better of me. By the time I crested the hill and hit the 3 mile split, I was at 5:37. At this point I knew I needed to work. I got the handoff around 4-5 minutes out of 1st and at least 1:30 out of 3rd. When I got the baton from Sean, the SRR coed open team was probably about 10 second behind us and I wanted to create a gap from them, if not catch up on the other 3 open teams in front. Unfortunately never saw the open teams in front of me.
Mile four saw some downhills to gain back some elevation from the previous mile and dropped down to a 5:18 pace. Solid, but knew it benefited from the downhill Disappointed to not gain any ground ahead of me, no sign of any of the other teams in sight.
The last mile was a battle. Thought I was through at the uphill during mile 3, but managed to get a kick during mile 4. The last 3/4 of a mile of the leg was just adrenaline keeping me going. Pushed hard and made the final turns to the last straightaway. The last stretch of Boylston street of Boston if tough, this is also a challenge seeing the finish far ahead but still having 1/2 mile to kick. Granted this was only after 4.5 miles of running as opposed to 26, so not perfect apples-to-apples. Wanted to coast in, but finished out at 5:10 pace over the last 3/4 of a mile.
We finished 4th in our division, but think we had a solid performance. No complaints, we ran well and just had better runners going against us. I finished and one of the GLRR guys threw out his time which was probably a minute faster than mine. On all legs, the other teams just brought their better runners tonight. No shame in that.
Thinking back, happy to think that I'm getting back into shape and ready to start competing again. Looking forward to training with the crew again.
On other news, Culla had a solid performance cracking 2:50 at CIM. Good day for SRR. 4th in men's open, but 2nd in overall.
1 239 WHIRLAWAY BRATS WRT MO PAT ARD SCOTT MCGRATH NICK KARWOSKI RUBEN SANCA KEVIN ALLIETTE 2:26:11
2 70 GREEN MACHINE GLRR MO JAMES SULLIVAN STEVE GENDRON JEFFERSON WELCH CODY FREIHOFER RYAN GOUGH 2:26:32
3 24 THE ARTIE PARTY GCS MO JAKE WORMWALD JUSTIN SOUCY HUMZA JAFFERJI PAT MOULTON MOIZ JAFFERJI 2:28:09
4 141 SRR - MAY THE SCHWARTZ BE WITH YOU SRR MO MIKE QUINTAL ANDY CLIFFORD MATT FUHRMEISTER SEAN MCDONOUGH CHRIS KLUCZNIK 2:30:24
___
Total Points for GATE CITY STRIDERS
Team Name Div Time W Pts
================================================== === ======= = ===
GCS TRIPLE THREAT FS 2:05:27 B 7
SUNSHINE STREAKERS CV 2:06:41 B 6
THE ARTIE PARTY MO 2:28:09 A 13
GCS HALL OF FAME ON ICE MA 2:33:58 B 3
AGAIN TO LAWRENCE CO 2:36:24 A 17
GRATEFULLY NOT DEAD MM 2:36:42 A 12
STAY CLASSY GCS CM 2:48:18 A 11
DEM STRONG FV 2:50:24 B 2
GRUMPY OLD MEN MS 2:54:31 A 9
WE RUN LIKE GIRLS...TRY TO KEEP UP FO 2:54:52 A 13
AGELESS ANTIQUES CA 2:55:51 B 2
THE DREAM TEAM FM 3:04:18 A 8
EARLEY BIRD?S GET THE WIN CS 3:11:28 A 6
DEPENDS ON US MV 3:12:21 A 4
113
Total Points for SOMERVILLE ROAD RUNNERS
Team Name Div Time W Pts
================================================== === ======= = ===
SRR - FEMALE SENIORS FS 2:10:18 B 5
SRR - MAY THE SCHWARTZ BE WITH YOU MO 2:30:24 A 12
SRR - ZIP COED CV 2:32:15 B 2
SRR - ALEX'S BULK ORGANIC PRODUCE CO 2:35:08 A 18
SRR - SIXTY SISTERS FV 2:38:47 B 4
SRR - LET'S GET PICKLED MM 2:48:24 A 6
SRR - SENIOR MOMENT MS 2:50:03 A 10
SRR - HAILSTORM FO 2:50:36 A 14
SRR - AGE BEFORE BEAUTY CM 2:53:16 A 10
SRR - DAVIS SQUARE MASTER MINDS FM 3:01:23 A 9
SRR - ROBERT CAN'T MISS THE HAND OFF IF HE'S 1ST CS 3:10:34 A 7
97
Total Points for WINNERS CIRCLE RUNNING CLUB
Team Name Div Time W Pts
================================================== === ======= = ===
THE BIONIC WOMEN FS 2:03:05 B 8
ALICE AND WONDERFUL MEN CV 2:10:46 B 3
THE UNTOUCHABLES FV 2:23:11 B 5
LEGENDS OF THE ROAD MA 2:27:39 B 5
FAST AND FURIOUS MO 2:38:21 A 10
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS MM 2:47:40 A 7
FANTASTIC FIVE CO 2:49:53 A 13
ROYAL FLUSH CM 2:59:33 A 9
SMOKING ACES MS 3:00:15 A 7
GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN FO 3:00:47 A 11
LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN FM 3:05:36 A 7
CATCH US IF YOU CAN CS 3:08:57 A 8
THE BIONIC MEN MV 3:25:00 A 2
95
Total Points for GREATER LOWELL ROAD RUNNERS
Team Name Div Time W Pts
================================================== === ======= = ===
CHICK'N DICKS CV 2:01:59 B 7
SENIOR CHICKS FS 2:12:56 B 4
GREEN MACHINE MO 2:26:32 A 14
WICKED FAST CHICKENS CO 2:39:04 A 15
GLRR SENIORS MS 2:39:28 A 12
BOURNE TO TROTT II CM 2:46:19 A 12
BEER CAN CHICKEN MM 2:58:44 A 4
SILVER CHICKENS CA 3:01:49 B 1
THE FLYING GEEZERS MV 3:07:25 A 5
CHICKS WITH KICKS FO 3:14:34 A 9
FOXY FAB & 40 FM 3:14:59 A 6
AARP -- ANDRE'S ANCIENT RUNNING PACK CS 3:15:50 A 5
94