Thanksgiving Weekend Racing Results

2004 Turkey Trot 5k X Country @ Maudslay State Park
Newburyport Ma November 25, 2003

CMS Men take 1-2-3-4

1 BERNIER ALAN M 30 16:38 CMS
2 PAWLICKI JAMES M 30 17:00 CMS
3 BECK KEVIN M 34 17:05 CMS
4 DUNHAM DAVE M 40 17:09 CMS
5 FLOYD DENNIS M 28 17:15
6 CURRAN BRENDAN M 19 17:25
7 MAHONEY CHRIS M 27 17:29
8 KEALEY CHRIS M 37 17:43
9 COLLINS CHRIS M 19 18:07
10 DUNFORD NICK M 22 18:12


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26th TALKING TURKEY 6 MILE CROSS-COUNTRY RACE




1 ERIK NEDEAU --- 30:10 5:02
2 MARK MAYALL --- 30:44 5:08
3 LARRY SAYERS --- 30:57 5:10 CMS/Polar
4 KENT LEMME 754 --- 31:37 5:17
5 PETER MAKSIMOW --- 31:42 5:17 CMS/Polar
6 MICHAEL OWENS 1029 M 4/121 31 GOSHEN CT 31:48 5:18
7 CARLOS RIVERA 1063 M 5/121 30 SPRINGFIELD MA 31:53 5:19
8 TOM BOUSQUET 627 M 2/57 23 CHICOPEE MA 31:56 5:20
9 TODD LAGIMONIER 574 M 6/121 39 LOWELL MA 32:08 5:22
10 PAUL FRATINI 39 M 7/121 39 LUDLOW MA 32:15 5:23

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Andover Country Club 3.5 Miler XC Race
Andover, MA, November 28, 2004

1 ALAN BERNIER 1/54 30 M DOVER NH 18:04 5:10 CMS/Polar
2 TOM DOODY 1/76 42 M PELHAM NH 18:14 5:13
3 ERIC BEAUCHESNE 2/54 34 M CHELMSFORD MA 18:19 5:14
4 TERRY MCNATT 3/54 39 M NEEDHAM MA 18:21 5:15
5 JAMES PAWLICKI 4/54 30 M BEVERLY MA 18:31 5:18 CMS/Polar
6 GREGORY PULMAN 5/54 35 M READING MA 18:35 5:19
7 DAN VERRINGTON 2/76 42 M HAVERHILL MA 18:40 5:20 CMS/Polar
8 DAVE DUNHAM 3/76 40 M HAVERHILL MA 18:43 5:21 CMS/Polar
9 PAUL MILLER 6/54 35 M WATERTOWN MA 18:52 5:24
10 STEPHEN ALLISON 7/54 26 M BRIGHTON MA 19:19 5:32
11 BOB KEARNS 8/54 33 M LOWELL MA 19:22 5:32
12 SAM HORN 1/25 17 M READING MA 19:24 5:33
13 WESTON FORSBLAD 9/54 21 M DANVILLE NH 19:27 5:34
14 HARRIS HARDY 4/76 41 M SOMERVILLE MA 19:32 5:35
15 JIM RHOADES 10/54 36 M LOWELL MA 19:48 5:40
16 FLOYD LAVERY 5/76 47 M GORHAM ME 19:52 5:41
17 PAUL YOUNG 11/54 39 M ANDOVER MA 19:55 5:42 CMS/Polar

Ben's USATF 50k race report

The CMS assault on the USATF 50k Road Championship was unlike any other race. The excitement began when we went to preview the course the day before the race and learned two things:

1. There would be no mile markers.

2. There would be golf carts on the race course.

Although the race was six 5.18 mile loops and you could get your time at the end of each loop, if you are running a bit too hard for five miles, slowing down at that point might be too little too late. Since we were running the entire race on cart paths, and the city of Peachtree relays on these paths for everyday transportation, we were going to have to dodge golf carts during the race. After struggling the find our own way around the course, which was unmarked during the preview, we dined at the Macaroni Grill while being seranaded by our waitress.

With the gun going off at 7:30 am, there wasn't a lot of time to waste prior to the start. Due to the small number of competitors and laid-back attitude of the race organization staff, I didn't think the race was going to actually start on time. I was wrong, and had to quickly shed my warmups to avoid giving everyone else a head start.

I started at 6 minute pace and, to my surprise, suddenly opened a lead. Kevin and about 5 others loitered a few steps back, and I waved to Kevin for him to join me. Before long, we all went through the half mile in 2:57. I did not lie when I said there were no mile markers for the race. The markings that we used were placed by a local women who did her training runs on the cart paths. Since her route was about .6 shorter than the race course, Kevin concocted a complex mathematical formula to figure out our mile splits for each loop. Instead of looking at my watch, I just asked Kevin for splits from time to time. Usually I was not asking for my own education, it was meant to serve as a passive suggestion to slow down.

The first loop was great. It was a bit faster than the six minute pace I wanted to run, but not fast enough to do any harm. The race loop had some gradual uphills in the first 2.5 miles, and the second half was quicker due to some gradual downhills. Kevin, Mike Dudley, and I traded the lead from time to time as we dodged some early morning traffic, which would increase as the day progressed.

I was hoping we might slow about 20 seonds during the seond lap, but whenever I would assume the lead and run at 6 minute pace, I was immediately passed. This is when I would loudly ask Kevin for the split on the last mile. On the downhill miles we tossed in a 5:38 and a 5:40-something. I was just glad that Kevin was keeping track, because the problem was not that it felt hard, it felt too easy. I am sure we would have been running faster if no one had been checking our pace. After running the exact same split for the second loop, Kevin again agreed that we should relax on the third loop.

We relaxed about 3 seconds. I knew the pace was likely to make the second 15 miles somewhat unpleasant, but I didn't want to abandon the benefit of having Mike and Kevin to pull me along. After trying to do my part at the front for 1.5 loops, I felt no shame in drafting. I was willing to take the lead, but they weren't really interested in my pace. Mike began to insert surges towards the end of the third loop, and Kevin and I agreed to let him go. We were all still quite close after 15.6 miles.

Mike began to stretch his legs early in the fourth loop. Kevin began to gradually pull away from me as he tried to stay in contact with Mike. I was hoping to conserve some strength for the last two loops, and decided to let Kevin go. As he was cutting a tangent on one of the many turns on the course, he was nearly run over by a couple of kids in a golf cart. From my vantage point, it was a pretty close call. There were several such incidents during the race, but Kevin's encounter was the most dramatic. He swerved, the cart swerved, and Kevin uttered some lively comments. I actually caught up with Kevin about 3 miles into the fourth loop, but he soon passed me back and increased his tempo. He was well ahead by the end of the loop, 20.8 miles into the race. During these middle miles, my hamstrings started to tighten as the pavement was taking a toll on my trail running muscles. In training for the race, I knew I should have done more road running, but was unwilling to give up the 90% of my mileage on the trails. I did get in a few runs on the roads in Foxboro, but the fall weather was just too good to waste on pavement.


By this point in the race (21 miles), I knew Mike and Kevin were out of my reach unless they slowed down. I asked Kevin to drop back and hang with me, but he wasn't interested. My stride was shortening, and I tried to simply focus on staying relaxed. Considering how sheltered the course seemed, it was quite windy over the last two loops without Kevin and Mike to hide behind. I was shocked to see that Kevin was right behind Mike when the three of us were on the out and back section of the fifth loop. I later learned this was due to Mike's foray off the course. Although I was obviously slowing, my legs felt somewhat better after about 24 miles.

I ran harder on the last lap, but it was only damage control. My knee lift was gone, and I couldn't compensate by increasing my stride cadence enough to prevent my pace from slowing. While my 3:11:14 was a substantial PR, my summer and fall racing suggested that I might be able to run a few minutes faster. In hindsight, it is possible that running easier during the early miles would have led to a better time, but it could have also led to a slower time. I think that I saved a great deal of energy by drafting off of Kevin and Mike for 20 miles, and I attribute my late race fade more to my lack of road running than premature glycogen depletion. In contrast to my training, Kevin does much of his running on roads, and this seemed to be refected in his ultra-steady race and vastly superior post-race walking ability.

I would like to thank Dave, Dan, Kevin, and Eric for a great time down in Peachtree City. I am not sure if the locals appreciated our cynical Northeastern humor, but we sure did amuse ourselves. I wouldn't have run as well without Kevin's help during the race, and Dave was his thorough self in making sure we were all ready to go by race day.

On a final note, I would like to dedicate this blog to my dwarf lop eared rabbit, Choca, who went to the meadow in the sky on Tuesday after six years in our family. Choca would regularly keep me company while I wrote my race stories late at night. Just last year, Choca launched his own line of Christmass cards, and was hoping to expand his business to other holidays, such as Easter. He is survived by his parents, Ben and Stephanie Nephew, and a brother, Precious, who hops wild in the Fells. He was a good bunny, and was admired by all who knew him.

Rest in peace, little buddy, you'll be missed.

Ben

11/15/2004 Racing Resultts

Monson Memorial Classic Half-Marathon November 14, 2004, Monson, MA




1 PAUL LOW 1:09:58 5:21 CMS/Polar
2 ADAM FITZGERALD 1:11:26 5:28
3 LARRY SAYERS 1:12:03 5:30 CMS/Polar
4 BRADFORD KLINEDINST 1:12:25 5:32
5 IAN NURSE 1:13:55 5:39

50K Champs!

Central Mass. Striders win USATF 50K title

The Polar beverage sponsored CMS men's team of Kevin Beck, Ben Nephew and Dan Verrington captured the National championship team title at the USATF 50K National championships by taking 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place in Peachtree city GA on November 14.

CMS was the favored team heading into the race as they had won the last 50K road championships in Pittsburgh in 2002 (the championships were not held in 2003).
The Darkside running club hosted the race, which was contested on cart paths that run throughout the city. The course was a 5.2 mile loop, which had a short out/back section in order to get the correct distance over 6 loops. Race day conditions were good with temperatures in the upper 30's at the 7:30 AM start and mid 40's when most had finished. Skies were clear and there was very low humidity, however it was quite windy even with most of the course shielded by trees. The course had very few turns, gently rolling hills, a few tunnels under main roads and one BIG tree that had blown down and completely blocked the path about ½ way through the loop.

Approximately 45 runners lined up at the start finish area to determine who was the top USATF team, overall, and age group winners. The men's race looked to be a contest between 2:14 marathoner Michael Dudley, 2:24 marathoner Kevin Beck, USATF trail marathon runner-up Ben Nephew, and reigning 50K road champ Dan Verrington. On the ladies side Anne Riddle was the fastest entrant, fresh off her victory two weeks ago at the trail marathon championships.

A lead pack formed right from the gun with Nephew, Beck, Dudley and Verrington quickly pulling away. Ryne Melcher and Danny Fink ran together and the rest of the field strung out. At the end of the first loop (5.2 miles) Nephew, Beck and Dudley had a 13 second lead on Verrington with a 30:47 to 31:00. Melcher and the 40 year old Fink cam through 2 minutes later, and former sub 3 hour 50K runner Dave Dunham passed in 34:24 in 7th place. Anne Riddle lead the women's field by about 30 seconds passing through the first loop in 10th place overall.

The second lap saw little change with Dudley sitting behind the CMS teammates through another 30:47 lap (1:01:34 @ 10.4m). Verrington slipped another 6 seconds back running alone in 4th. Melcher moved ahead of Fink and Dunham ran another 34:24 split. Riddle began to slowly pull away from the other women.

There were very few developments in the third lap as the runners fell into a groove. The community began waking up and there were some vocal run-ins with speeding golf carts. Nephew led the group with a 30:50 split (1:32:24 @ ½ way). Verrington held fast with a 32:19, as Fink began to move up on Melcher for the last money spot. Dunham continued to run even with another 34:24 split (1:43:15).

The fourth lap saw things shake up as Dudley made a decisive move. Beck followed him as they split in 31:31 (2:03:56 @ 20.8m). Nephew followed 24 seconds back and Verrington looked to have settled into a comfortable pace splitting in 32:59. Melcher began to slow and was passed by Fink and Dunham (who ran his fastest loop, 34:14). Riddle continued to cruise in the top 10 overall as she extended her lead over Floren Ansley.

During the fifth lap Dudley went off course twice, missing the minimally mark turns (course markings were mostly from other races help on the paths, and mile markers for the race were non-existent). Beck was passed twice in the lap as he rolled through with a 31:14 split and continued through the marathon in 2:37:07. Nephew followed with a 33:00 split in 3rd place and hit the marathon in 3:39:30. Verrington was next with a 34:15 split (marathon in 2:43:20). There was a substantial gap to Fink who passed the marathon in 2:52 and Dunham who continued to close with a 34:31 lap (2:54:12 marathon).

Very little changed during the final lap as Dudley powered home in 3:05. Beck finished his first ultra with a final lap of 31:10 for an excellent 3:06. Nephew slowed a bit but easily held 3rd place with a 33:55 lap and a three minute PR in 3:11. Verrington closed out the race with a 35:15 to take 4th and win the master's title. Dunham passed Fink early in the final lap and ran a 35:14 last lap to take 5th and 2nd master. Fink held on to take 6th (3rd master), and Melcher closed the gap to take 7th. Anne Riddle finished 8th overall in 3:39:58 to take a 5 minute victory over Floren Ansley. Four women finished in the top 12.

CMS defended the team title with an excellent combined time of 9:34:15.

1 Mike Dudley 3:05:35 USATF National Champion
2 Kevin Beck 3:06:25
3 Ben Nephew 3:11:15
4 Dan Verrington 3:16:40 USATF Master Champion
5 Dave Dunham 3:27:14 2nd 40+
6 Danny Fink 3:33:50 3rd 40+
7 Ryne Melcher 3:34:33
8 Anne Riddle 3:39:58 USATF National Champion
9 Jack McDermott 3:44:00
10 Floren Ansely 3:44:56 2nd Female
11 Regan Petrie 3:51:21 3rd Female
12 Patricia Zerfus 3:51:40 4th Female

Pictures available on request...

Week ending November 7, 2004

CMS runners take on everything from road 5k's to Marathons, trails, and Cross-Country... Verington and Morse win at 5K; Blake in the New York Marathon, and more...

(click for full image)

2004 BRUCE ELLIS 3.1 MILE ROAD RACE

1 DAN VERRINGTON --- 42 M 16:27 5:19 CMS
2 ALAN BERNIER ---30 M 16:36 5:22 CMS
3 SARAD TOMLINSON ---20 M 16:54 5:28
4 DAVID CHAMBERLAIN --28 M 17:27 5:38

Daniel Webster Council 5k Turkey Trot Nov. 6, 2004 5K Manchester, NH

1 1/14 M3039 15:28 4:59 Eric Morse 39 M 136 Berlin VT CMS
2 2/14 M3039 15:34 5:01 Richard Bolt 34 M 157 Manchester NH CMS
3 3/14 M3039 16:17 5:15 Rod Viens 37 M 111 Sunapee NH
4 1/20 F2029 16:39 5:22 Atalelech Ketema 21 F 8 Bronx NY
5 1/17 F3039 17:01 5:29 Kathy Fleming 36 F 9 Natick MA 6 1/11 M2029

Country Club 5K XC Classic

1 GREGORY PUTNAM READING 208 1/12 M3039 16:12 5:13
2 ROBERT SANTORO NO. EASTON 107 1/9 M2029 16:14 5:14
3 DAN VERRINGTON BRADFORD 214 1/30 M4049 16:39 5:22
4 DENNIS FLOYD LYNN 219 2/9 M2029 17:12 5:32
5 PETER WARRINGTON JAMAICA PLAIN 206 3/9 M2029 17:48 5:44
6 DEREK DORVAL SALISBURY 205 2/12 M3039 17:55 5:46
7 PAUL C YOUNG ANDOVER 260 3/12 M3039 17:57 5:47 CMS
8 MARK BLAISDELL WILMINGTON 244 2/30 M4049 17:59 5:48
9 MIKE TOOMEY SALEM 222 4/12 M3039 18:05 5:50
10 TOM ROLDAN ATKINSON 209 3/30 M4049 18:14 5:52

USATF - NEW ENGLAND Cross Country Championships
Franklin Park November 7, 2004 Boston, MA

1 433 Reid Coolsaet 25 Speed River Track 30:13 4:52
2 565 Vinny Mulvey 26 New Rochelle NY NY Running Company 30:29 4:55
3 526 Ryan Sheehan 21 Pittsburgh PA 30:58 4:59
35 401 James Pawlicki 30 Beverly MA Central Mass Strid 33:17 5:22

11th Wachusett Reservoir Deer Run 5-miler
Boylston, MA, November 6, 2004

1 26:32 Greg Ward M30-39 Holden MMM
2 26:54 Dave Hannon M30-39
3 27:14 Nick Cotton M30-39 CMS
4 27:28 Paul Young M30-39 Andover CMS
5 27:29 Kurt Gustafson -1j- M00-19 Shrewsbury


New York City Marathon 11-07-04

1 1 1 Hendrik Ramaala (32) RSA 2:09:28 30:33 1:04:17 1:37:44 4:56
2 2 1 Meb Keflezighi (29) NIKE, CA 2:09:53 30:32 1:04:18 1:37:47 4:57
3 3 2 Timothy Cherigat (27) NEWB, KEN 2:10:00 30:31 1:04:17 1:37:43 4:57
4 4 3 Patrick Tambwe (29) COD 2:10:11 30:33 1:04:19 1:37:56 4:58
5 5 4 Benson Cherono (20) FILA, KEN 2:11:23 30:32 1:04:18 1:38:10 5:00
6 6 5 Christopher Cheboiboch (27) NIKE, 2:12:34 30:32 1:04:18 1:38:15 5:03
7 7 2 John Kagwe (35) NIKE, KEN 2:12:35 30:32 1:04:18 1:38:16 5:03
8 8 6 Paul Kirui (24) NIKE, KEN 2:14:04 30:32 1:04:18 1:38:58 5:07
9 9 7 Ryan Shay (25) NIKE, MI 2:14:08 30:56 1:05:24 1:40:41 5:07
10 10 3 Ottavio Andriani (30) ITA 2:14:51 30:32 1:04:19 1:39:24 5:08
11 11 4 El Arbi Khattabi (37) MAR 2:15:22 30:33 1:04:19 1:39:58 5:10
12 12 5 Andrew Letherby (31) CO 2:15:48 31:12 1:06:26 1:42:08 5:10
13 13 8 Vasily Matviychuk (22) UKR 2:16:12 30:45 1:04:49 1:40:07 5:11
14 14 9 Abdihakim Abdiraham (26) NIKE, 2:17:09 30:33 1:04:18 1:38:11 5:14
15 15 10 John Yuda (25) PUMA, TAN 2:18:04 30:32 1:04:18 1:39:49 5:16
16 16 11 Matt Downin (27) NEWB, NJ 2:18:50 31:53 1:07:06 1:43:28 5:17
17 17 1 Angelo Carosi (40) ITA 2:19:53 31:34 1:07:14 1:43:50 5:20
18 18 12 Enos Kibet Ketter (22) KEN 2:20:24 30:32 1:04:17 1:38:08 5:21
19 19 13 Kassahun Kabiso (21) WTC, NY 2:22:21 31:12 1:06:38 1:44:47 5:25
20 F 1 1 Paula Radcliffe (30) NIKE, GBR 2:23:10 33:20 1:10:51 1:48:31 5:27
21 F 2 1 Susan Chepkemei (29) NIKE, KEN 2:23:14 33:21 1:10:52 1:48:32 5:28
22 20 14 Dan Browne (29) NIKE, CO 2:23:27 30:57 1:05:24 1:43:01 5:28
23 21 2 Philippe Remond (40) FRA 2:23:32 33:43 1:10:44 1:48:20 5:28
24 22 6 Greg Van Hest (31) NED 2:24:25 31:35 1:07:44 1:46:11 5:30
25 23 7 Elly Rono (34) KEN 2:24:38 30:46 1:07:46 1:46:45 5:31
26 24 8 Christopher Zieman (32) WVTC, 2:24:57 32:20 1:09:13 1:47:23 5:31
27 25 9 Alexander Belavin (31) WS, NY 2:25:00 2:24:58 33:25 1:10:28 1:48:53 5:31
28 F 3 2 Lyubov Denisova (33) RUS 2:25:18 34:42 1:12:54 1:50:33 5:32
29 26 10 Jorge Eliecer Real (34) WSX, NY 2:26:03 33:35 1:11:52 1:50:10 5:34
30 F 4 2 Margaret Okayo (28) FILA, -- 2:26:31 33:20 1:10:55 1:49:25 5:35
31 27 3 Peder Troldborg (41) DEN 2:26:36 33:07 1:10:57 1:49:37 5:35
32 F 5 3 Jelena Prokopcuka (28) LAT 2:26:51 33:45 1:12:40 1:50:59 5:36
33 28 11 Dennis Jensen (35) DEN 2:27:19 31:48 1:09:32 1:48:07 5:37
34 29 15 Retta Feyissa (29) WTC, NY 2:27:29 33:34 1:11:51 1:51:01 5:37
35 30 12 Esteban Vanegas (34) WSX, NY 2:27:41 33:05 1:11:41 1:50:53 5:38
36 31 16 Eric Blake (25) CMS, NY 2:27:51 33:42 1:11:13 1:50:11 5:38
37 F 6 3 Luminita Zaituc (35) ASIC, GER2:28:15 33:45 1:12:44 1:52:19 5:39
38 32 13 Philippe Rolly (32) WTC, NY 2:28:15 33:42 1:11:24 1:51:02 5:39
39 33 14 Hermann Achmueller (33) ITA 2:28:18 32:49 1:10:27 1:50:17 5:39
40 F 7 4 Lornah Kiplagat (30) ADID, 2:28:21 33:20 1:10:51 1:48:32 5:39


Willard Brook Trail Race

1 Steve Peterson 55:46 CMS
2 Rob Smith 55:50 CMS