Today we were greeted with a pleasant surprise. We had expected to have the school locked due to vacation week, and we were all prepared to run it out of the back of our cars, when we noticed the door to the lobby was propped open. Quick, Squatter's Rights in effect! Get in and claim our spot before anyone notices us!

Well, it worked out great! 27 runners came and we had an end of the year blowout sale, $1 per runner! We had some out of town guests too, with Brian Reed making it 3 years in a row running the last and final 5k of the series.

David Flynn, of the Ireland Flynn's, came by way of Boston to our humble loop. Prior to the race, he had indicated he would stay with the lead runner, but once the gun went off, he quickly shot into the lead. Interesting way to follow, huh?? After some friendly shout-outs from some of the regulars on the first few turns, he decided to ease off a bit, or more likely, Mike Sawyer, having run the course before, reeled him in and didn't look back. Still, David held on for a very respectable second place, but sources say he was running scared, looking back 20 or so times at the ever dangerous Barbara McManus.

Speaking of which, a young college cross country runner from St Michael's in Vermont also came by, to Barbara's dismay. I think Barbara wanted to run it easy but with her unbeaten streak running on many years now, she was not going to go down without a fight. Being on her home course, Barbara edged out Mary Lynn Denholm for 3rd overall and first woman. Further on in the pack, Evelyn Dolan, obviously not a subscriber to the Age Before Beauty saying, surged past Stan Vancelette at the finish line.

... Next week we will start a brand new series, the 2008 CMS 52 Week Series. It will be oddly similar to the 2007 but with a brand new shiny waiver sheet for people to sign! Come and enjoy the fun!

   
   
    1  17:59  Mike Sawyer           -1mm- M40-49  Bellingham       TVFR	
    2  18:50  David Flynn           -1mo- M20-39  Boston/Ireland		
    3  19:05  Barbara McManus       -1fo- F20-39  Oakham           CMS
    4  19:15  MaryLynn Denholm            F20-39  Sparks, MD       St Michael's XC	
    5  19:22  Charlie Salmond       -1ms- M50-59  Fitchburg        CMS/NMC	
    6  19:32  Joe Bolton                  M50-59  Shrewsbury       CMS
    7  20:37  Brian Reed                  M20-39  Alexandria, VA		
    8  22:44  John McCarthy               M50-59  Auburn           CMS
    9  23:23  Karen Berni-Giarusso  -1fm- F40-49  Worcester        CMS
   10  23:36  Glenn Richards              M50-59  Holden           CMS
   11  23:53  Linda Usher           -1fs- F50-59  Upton            CMS
   12  23:53  Doug Usher                  M50-59  Upton            CMS
   13  25:50  Juan Santana                M50-59  Worcester        CMS
   14  26:07  Laura Beckwith        -1fv- F60-69  Holden           CMS
   15  26:15  Ray Boutotte          -1mv- M60-69  Pepperell        CMS
   16  27:15  David White                 M40-49  Bolton			
   17  27:50  Bob Pacetti                 M50-59  Fitchburg        CMS/NMC	
   18  27:56  Art French                  M60-69  Shrewsbury       CMS
   19  27:56  Ken Deary                   M50-59  Dudley           CMS
   20  30:01  Evelyn Dolan                F40-49  Fitchburg        CMS
   21  30:02  Stan Vancelette      -1mV-  M70-79  Amherst, NH      CMS
   22  31:07  Jerry Lembcke               M60-69  Worcester        CMS
   23  32:01  Daniel Dodson               M60-69  Methuen          NMC	
   24  32:02  Jamie Cruz           -1fj-  F00-19  Shrewsbury       CMS
   25  32:58  Max Cruz             -1mj-  M00-19  Shrewsbury       CMS
   26  37:14  Hector Cruz                 M40-49  Shrewsbury       CMS
   27  39:03  Sydney Cruz                 F00-19  Shrewsbury       CMS