USATF NE 10K Championship, James Joyce Ramble, 05.01.11 (PR)

photo courtesy Krissy Kozlosky

I had not been to James Joyce since 2001 and 2002 when it was USATF NE 10K Championships.  Being very distant memories, I had forgotten about the hills... at least until they started popping up in front of me this year.   Despite that, I still hoped to beat my 10K PR  (Lone Gull 2009, 6:56 pace) but didn't know how it would all play out in the end. 

The first mile was slightly downhill, so I didn't panic about a 6:14.   Anxiety time was later, ahhh the hills.   Keep it together, try not to look at my watch, just focus. 

The final stretch was also an incline, so I looked for the American flag and sprinted towards the clock... was it going to be close to the number I wanted?   I had my finger on my watch for final time 41:53, a 65 second PR!

As soon as I was over the finish line, my Whirlaway teammates seemed to be everywhere, the boys & the girls.   I feel very honored to be part of the team... the Whirlaway "boys" even let me warm-up with them before the race...  yup, the really fast boys.  

After the race, I checked in with photographer Scott Mason & friends about how their races went... then an enjoyable long warm-down for a 13 mile day.  Results were posted and not only had a PR, but I scored in the top 10 for Masters and my Whirlaway Women's Masters Team placed 1st!  The Whirlaway Men Masters & Seniors also were 1st and Whirlaway Men's Open was only 4 seconds behind CMS for 2nd place. 

Thanks to Coach Fernando, Dave &Whirlaway teammates and all my running friends & training partners!

Full results

10/271 F4049   42:03   41:54   6:45   (PR by 65 seconds)



photo by Scott Mason



USATF NE 6K Championship, SNHMC 05.08.11 (PR)



Photo by Ted Tyler - eyes closed?!?

 I've raced the Southern NH Medical Center 6K twice before, first in 2003, then 2008 when it was also USATF NE Championship.

6K is an odd distance (3.75 miles)...  fast like a 5K, but hang on a little longer.  Being an obscure distance, I was able to get a State Age Record in 2003, but this being the 10th year of the race, achieving another State Age Record was very much a "reach."



Warmed up with Whirlaway teammates Cathy Pearce & Susan Trudel Burgess and took a look at the 1 mile uphill early on the course.   I lined up with Rick Bayko for the second time in 2 weeks and he shared a sip of water.  We were off and at the first turn I hit a jam... cursing, I pulled to the left and got away from people.  It was a good move because a GBTC girl went down and I didn't go with her! 

I attacked the hill repeating "work the hill" in my head... a quick breathe and up some more.  I edged by Tom Derderian who beat me last week and continued my attacking.  The downhill was not "recovery" and last half mile was try not to throw-up.  At some point I must have passed Whirlaway teammate Susannah Landreth, but I was so zoned I don't remember.  Before the left to uphill finish, Whirlaway coach Dave Kazanjian yelled that I was going to score... it partially sunk in... I wouldn't let up a bit on the "uncomfortably uncomfortable" push.  

I had not looked at my watch during the race, just hit the split button.  Approaching the finish line, a Whirlaway teammate helped me saying, "you've got a great run going, don't let up!!!!"... then there was the clock 24:35.  Wow. wow, wow.  It's hard to think correctly even when you're done, so I wanted to get back to my car to check post-it note of State Age Record "reach" time....  double-checked... 24:47... I beat it by 11 seconds.

Excited, I re-ran the course (13 mile day), part with teammate Karen Durante and part with GBTC girls who I "adopted"... it was Mother's Day.  Getting back, I checked with Steve Vaitones, USATF-NE managing director for results...  a PR; a State Age Record; Scored USATF NE Grand Prix points; Scored for winning Whirlaway Women Master's team;  Scored for the Whirlaway Open team too!   Holy cow, this will need to sink in... lots of celebrating!  

Whirlaway teams did fantastic:  Women's and Men's Masters and Seniors all 1st and the Whirlaway Open teams placed in the top 3.

Thanks to Coach Fernando, Dave &Whirlaway teammates and all my running friends & training partners!


8/116  F4049   24:35  6:36 pace   (PR)

Full results