The Wall - 22%

Fortunately, no Goons tripped and fell off the side

Know the signs on the side of the road warning trucks about a 8% or 9% hill?

The Mt. Washington Auto Road is 7.6 miles in length, has an average grade of 11.5% with extended sections of 18%, and the last 50 yards is a 22% "wall" to the finish. The course rises 4650 vertical feet from start to finish.

Top photo is of my backside, no but really, you can see the clouds to the right and a bit of the incline. The second shot, look at the angle of my body. Thank you Kristin for the great photos.

Mt Washington Road Race

It was an incredible day at the rock pile

Happy goat hooves with a 2.5 minute PR... thank you Doc for pushing me through the long training runs... thanks MT, Enforcer & my buddies for all their support... couldn't do it without you... Professor, I took the GTD to the top with pride!

Ahhh, this race is so "pure" ... not wimpified, yuppified, megamerchandised.

Just before race director Bob Teschek starts the race, he always reminds you "there is only one hill." Of course that hill is more than 7.6 miles long with nearly 5,000 feet of climb, a sadistic test of running ability. It's really no mystery why there are so many runners willing to put themselves through this anaerobic hell, and why hundreds of disappointed more wish they could, but were not "lucky" enough to get picked in the lottery. It's the challenge, of course. The fact that it is so difficult is precisely the reason so many are so driven to try a race that leaves even the most accomplished runners gasping for breath. As one famous writer once said, " I don't enjoy writing at all, but I do enjoy having written." That pretty much sums up running up Mt. Washington. Courtesy Don Allison.

MG Race report to come

MG race info:

** 3rd consecutive Mt. Washington

** 1:41:03 (2.5 min PR)

** 6th in division

Thanks for the photos Scott Mason!!

GTD² Recognition

GTD² ~~ Going The Distance ~~ Getting Things Done

At the whistle, GTD runners circle around the coaches for last minute instruction. Then unexpectedly last night, the coaches also announced recognition for three GTD runners who contributed in a broader scope to our GTD family & running community... for Getting Things Done... Dave Smith, Donna Phaneuf and me.

We three were humbled listening to descriptions of ourselves, because we simply do what we do because we love running, we love Coach Fernando & we love our GTD family. It gives back to us. The handsome, limited edition black t-shirts embroidered with the Going The Distance logo were graciously presented by Fernando... they will be cherished... one, for the GTD² honor they represent and two, because we know the "gem" of what we have with GTD. Get it? GTD squared... two...

GTD wear

I'm all Goon and registered for Hollis Fast 5K race last Wednesday as a Goon, plus wanted to give my coach, friend and fellow Goon some visibility... my debut of GTD uniform... GTD is Going the Distance, Fernando's coaching service.

GTD runners from four clubs competed at Hollis... including women's winner Tammie Robie (16:54) who loved the "FB" on the back of the singlet... typical Goat move, gave it a wiggle.

Can you see the FB logo on the shorts too?
The logo reminds me of Japanese rising sun... remember Fernando was U.S.A. Coach for Women's Ekiden Team in Japan?

Race Report, Rhody 5K, USATF-NE Championship 2009

Part of me wanted to treat Rhody 5K like a “check mark” in the USATF-NE Grand Prix series… just 4 days after unfathomable 5K PR at Hollis… I didn’t feel it would be right to ask too much of the Goon Gods.

Goons - HCM, Doc D, MG, Judge, Enforcer & special guest, Codfather (see photo) piled into the Goonmobile limo and headed to Rhode Island… I knew the Goon boys were going with serious race goals, including Spanky & Brewski who met us there. Brewski sported his Big Bold G and he and OCG are true, loyal Goons already… perfect.

Enforcer, OCG & I intended to warm up along the course while cheering for the men… but Goats are easily confused by left & right, so took the long way around the casino to the start.

Out of nowhere, striding in front of us was the stunning Smokin’ Ivy… her presence meant a complete women’s masters team… no way would I let down my Goons with a “check mark” race… Goon Gods have at me, I would be putting it on the line.

Getting serious, we stripped down to bras. Codfather came to the corral to check out tiny heinies… oh, I mean offer us water. I was uncomfortable by the first half mile and would mentally push through each mile separately… hitting the split button, but not looking at miles 2 & 3. The Goon boys were out on the course several places yelling to push us along. Onto the track and saw clock, I was well within what I had hoped to do. It was my first, ever “non-Hollis” 5K to take it into “6’s”… whatever Professor is doing, absolutely paying off.

Each of the Goon girls reported pleasure with their races… we jogged to find the Goon dudes for a cooldown to hear how their races went. Doctor Death ran the exact same time I had run four days prior!!

Their post-race food is highly regarded, but I wasn’t too hungry…. I tasted the chicken which was phenomenal… svelte Enforcer knows what to eat.

As 6th visit to Rhody, thought back to Rhody ’08 and the hugely positive changes in the past year … for our coach, trackmates & teammates… OCG has it right, it feels so good to be GOON.

MG race info
** 21:16 (6:51 pace)
** Goon Masters Women, 4th, USATF-NE 5K Championship

Special thanks to Official Goon Photographer, Scott Mason, for photos http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/

Rhody 5K, USATF-NE Championship

Rhody 5K photos by Scott Mason



My race report will be coming soon... Goons had a spectacular time in RI yesterday. Visit #6 to Rhody and a "non-Hollis" 5K PR for little Goatie. Scott Mason never fails to impress with his photos... we Goons love him!! See more of his photos here http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/


MG race info
** 6th Rhody, USATF-NE 5K Championship
** 21:16 (6:51 pace)
** Goon Masters Women, 4th, USATF-NE 5K Championship

Bad Goat

MG has been bad about keeping her blog updated... BUT, did write a race report... click link here to the Goon Squad Runners website for my race report