2009 Baystate Marathon

Sunday was my third go at the road marathon distance and my 2nd time doing this particular marathon.  The Baystate Marathon (results) once again served as the USATF-New England Marathon Championships this year.  This course is pretty flat, with only a couple of rolls at around 8 miles or so, and a couple of hills up over the many  bridges you cross in and around the Lowell, MA area.

It is no secret that my first two attempts at the marathon were nothing short of horrendous.  I brought the results upon myself with inadequate training and preparation, and unfortunately, this time around, the pre-race routine didn't vary much from the past couple attempts. I started off August with the mindset of getting ready for this race, but that quickly died down and I settled back into my usual routine of just getting out there and running whatever/whenever, and racing all the time.  No workouts, no tempo efforts inside of long runs, and only a couple of 'long runs' in the mix.  Nothing close to 'marathon training' and again, I have no explanation for it other than to just say that I'm just not that into it.  I like racing mountain and trail stuff and running local road races...it's just what I do.  But on the other hand, when I do get on the line at a marathon, I want to do well, but I can't expect to run my potential, unless I do things right, leading up to it...and I'm not sure I can sacrifice the other stuff to properly prepare....

That said, my goals for this time around were the following (with the last 3 being progressive):

1) Try to help the team and score in the top 3 for CMS
2) Try to run faster than last time at Baystate (2:45)
3) Try to break 2:40
3) Try to run 6 min pace (2:37)

Let's just say, I didn't help the team (I was 4th for CMS and only top 3 score), and I just missed 2:37 flat, but I did run faster than last time, and I did break 2:40...so I was about 50%.

And now for the writeup....  Let's just say that anyone who lives in New England, or anyone who watched the Patriots game on TV, knows how horrendous the weather was.  It was freezing cold and raining. Couple that with wind and soaked roads, and it pointed to a slightly slower slog out there for sure.  I only warmed up about a mile total, between jogging over to the start and then running around a bit before the gun.  As we lined up, I saw Kevin Tilton, Andy McCarron, Justin Fyffe, Jeremy Huckins, Dave Quintal, Dan Verrington, and Dave Dunham, so I knew everyone had made it and we'd have enough to score.  I didn't see Scott Leslie because he wasn't wearing a singlet and I hadn't actually met him yet.  I briefly said hi to some other usual suspects like Mike Girouard, Scotty Graham (who once again, reminded me that he beat DD in this race many many moons ago...like in the 60's).

First Half (approximately): As the gun went off, the usual lead pack went out with Justin right in the mix with Joseph Koech (R.UN).  I settled in behind Kevin Tilton and Andy.  Chris Mahoney (Whirl) pulled up along side me and there he would stay for about 15 miles.  The lead pack really took off and Chris and I both agreed that many of them would come back. Scott Leslie (CMS) went by us pretty early and then stayed about the same distance ahead of us for about 10 miles.  There was also an unattached runner, Matthew Terrasi (a potential nice pickup for a team!), with him and they literally stayed the same distance up on us for what seemed to be half the race.  For most of the race, this was the story.  Chris and I just chugged along and could sometimes see the chase pack, but then seemed to lose it again and again.  For as long as I was running along side Chris, we clicked sub 6s for each mile except the very last one before I pulled away a bit. Chris started to indicate that his hamstring (same one that has given him problems this year) started to go on him.  He was grimacing a lot and had to sprint ahead to try to loosen it up.  By mile 15, we went through at 6 flat and I started to feel it, but Chris was rigging up a bit and backed off.  I never saw sub 6 again.  Up until that point, my hamstrings up high (under my butt) started to sting a bit and my lower back started to tighten up worse than ever before in a race.  I think my back started to be an issue at around 12 miles.  The cold, wet weather and a soaked, cold uniform didn't help any of the above.  Also, at around 9 miles I had bouts with stomach discomfort and actually contemplated pulling off to use the bathroom.  I held off and that led to a very slight cramp at around 10 miles or so.  By a mile or so later, it was a non-issue.  Chris and I came through the half way point in around 1:16:10.  This is the part of the course with probably the most spectators.  You come up over the Rourke Bridge and there was plenty of noise to keep you movin'.

Second Half (approximately): (Ok, back to mile 15.  From 15 on, I was running mostly alone.  Somewhere near mile 17 or so, I had been catching Titus Mutinda who had gone out with the leaders and had fallen off the pack.  It was no surprise to me actually, because just 2 weeks ago, he ran 2:29 at the Hartford Marathon for 2nd place overall.  Props to him for jumping in and trying to help his team.  I was catching him and right as I was getting close, Ryan Aschbrenner (GBTC) and Mike Brown Dowling (BAA) (who ran VERY well) passed me together. I was slowly but surely slowing down and couldn't react to them at all.  Just as I was about to pass Titus, he pulled off into the woods for a pitstop.  By about 19 miles, he caught back up to me and passed me.  By 20, I was right with him again and then he pulled back away.   At around 21, I thought I had lost him.  He looked great and had a good armswing motion and stride going and I was sure he'd pull away for good.  But at around 22, as you wind up and start to run along the river, I started to catch up again.  This part of the race kind of rejuvenates you, because up until this point, from the Tyngsboro Bridge, it is the longest, most boring part of the course for sure.  Once you can see the river, and pass the Rourke Bridge without having to go up and over it, you know you are getting close to the end.  Just before the bridge, a girl (not sure who it was because I was pretty out of it) yelled that 'Kevin was just ahead'.  I couldn't fathom that it was Kevin Tilton because he had been so far ahead of me for the entire race...so I yelled back 'who?' and she said 'Kevin Tilton'.  At that point, I looked up and saw the back of his jersey and knew that the early pace had been a bit too much for him to continue busting out the quick miles in the latter parts of the race.  I pulled past him at 23 or so and also Titus.  Titus hung for a bit but was done for the day.  Before I had passed Titus, one of the lapped marathoners I went by had told me I was '16th'.  I figured that it had to be right or pretty close, so I started keeping track, in hopes that I could catch a few other guys.  I had been clicking 6:20s-6:15s for a while so I knew I wouldn't be catching many people with that pace, but maybe a couple more guys who may have gone out too hard over the first half of the race. Passing Titus and Kevin put me in 14th.  As I passed Mammoth Rd. and up the hill to University Ave, I was absolutely shocked to see Joseph Koech practically walking on the side of the road.  He was weaving all over and looked out of it.   He was the pre-race favorite and the runner with the best marathon PR that started the day.  I went by him at the top of the hill and gave him some encouragement, but I don't think he realized what was going on.  Just as I came down off the hill, I felt great.  I got my second wind and knew I could probably blast sub 6 pace from then on in.  No sooner did I pick up the pace, did my hamstring completely go on me.  I'm talking, cramp up so that I could barely bend my leg back down.  I practically stopped in my tracks.   I grabbed it and tried to massage as best I could, while still running.  Nobody was in sight either in front of me or behind me at this point, so I knew I just had to finish.  I slowed down to a manageable stride, trying to keep my hamstring in check.  Right before the last right hand turn onto Bridge St., it went on me again.  I literally screamed out and ran a few strides while squeezing my hamstring.  As I took the last couple turns into the baseball stadium and to the finish, I was just in finish mode. I knew the hamstring was going to prevent me from going under 2:37, but I was thrilled to have been able to finish in the 2:30s, which was a big goal of mine, considering the shape I'm in.  I came in officially in 13th place (so the guy was right) with a time of 2:37:46 (6:01 pace).

As I moved through the finish area, I immediately started to get the back spasms and calf/hamstring cramps.  I met my sister and Chico in the stands and walked up to the food area.  My mom came over to help me maneuver down to the tables on the lower level, where I tried to eat.  I was shivering uncontrollably and was completely soaked.  A very nice gentleman came over and threw some blankets on me and helped Kristin massage my back.  He was very concerned with my condition and got the medical personnel. They put me in a chair and wheeled me inside to the medical area.  It was nice and warm when they wheeled me in there, and I noticed the only other person in there getting worked on was Joseph Koech.  He was hooked up to an IV and was sitting up eating.  He appeared to be relatively OK, although they said he was pretty out of it. As a precaution, they came in and put in him on a stretcher and took him to the hospital.  As for me, my initial temperature (about 35-40 minutes after the race) was 93.5.  They wrapped me in blankets, got all my wet clothes off, and gave me some Gatorade, as I warmed up.  About 30 or so minutes later, I was back up to 97  for a temp, so they discharged me.

Here's the damage.... see if you can spot where I started to 'get a little winded'....

Splits: Road Marathon - 2:37:46 (6:01 pace)

Mile 01) 5:52
Mile 02) 5:42 (11:34)
Mile 03) 5:50 (17:25)
Mile 04) 5:50 (23:15)
Mile 05) 5:46 (29:02)
Mile 06) 5:51 (34:53)
Mile 07) 5:48 (40:41)
Mile 08) 5:45 (46:27)
Mile 09) 5:43 (52:11)
Mile 10) 5:39 (57:51)
Mile 11) 5:50 (1:03:41)
Mile 12) 5:49 (1:09:31)
Mile 13) 5:57 (1:15:29)
Mile 14) 5:57 (1:21:20)
Mile 15) 6:00 (1:27:20)
Mile 16) 6:00 (1:33:20)
Mile 17) 6:05 (1:39:26)
Mile 18) 6:07 (1:45:34)
Mile 19) 6:13 (1:51:47)
Mile 20) 6:16 (1:58:03)
Mile 21) 6:26 (2:04:30)
Mile 22) 6:25 (2:10:56)
Mile 23) 6:25 (2:17:21)
Mile 24) 6:26 (2:23:48)
Mile 25) 6:20 (2:30:26)
Mile 26) 6:15 (2:36:23)
last .2) 1:22 (2:37:46)

Top 20 (of 1560) plus CMS in blue.

Place	Guntime	Pace	Name	Age	City/State	Team
1	2:27:53	5:39	Brandon Newbould	28	Dover NH	WHIRL
2	2:28:15	5:40	Justin Fyffe	29	East Dummerston VT	CMS
3	2:29:02	5:41	Andy McCarron	26	Keene NH	CMS
4	2:31:40	5:48	Mark Hudson	32	Reading MA	WHIRL
5	2:32:26	5:49	Tom Casey	23	Smithfield RI	RUN
6	2:32:46	5:50	Tom Deeg	28	Eastham MA	WHIRL
7	2:33:08	5:51	Scott Leslie	28	Rutland MA	CMS
8	2:34:33	5:54	Joe Navas	38	N Eastham MA	WHIRL
9	2:34:35	5:54	Matthew Terrasi	22	Pepperell MA
10	2:34:39	5:54	Mike Brown Dowling	26	Boston MA	BAA
11	2:34:48	5:55	Ryan Aschbrenner	32	Waltham MA	GBTC
12	2:35:11	5:56	Mike Brouillette	31	South Hadley MA	GSH
13	2:37:46	6:01	Jim Johnson	32	Salem NH	CMS
14	2:38:05	6:02	Titus Mutinda	44	Lowell MA	RUN
15	2:38:46	6:04	Per Ekegerd	37	Pierrefonds QC
16	2:39:14	6:05	Joseph Ryan	23	Dracut MA	RUN
17	2:41:32	6:10	Kevin Tilton	27	No Conway NH	CMS
18	2:41:58	6:11	Chris Mahoney	31	Haverhill MA	WHIRL
19	2:42:31	6:12	Tomoaki Uchiki	35	Jamaica Plain MA	GBTC
20	2:43:13	6:14	Robert Emord	28	Glastonbury CT	GBTC
32	2:47:08	6:23	Daniel Verrington	47	Bradford, MA	CMS
75	2:59:41	6:52	Dave Dunham	45	Bradford, MA	CMS
80	3:00:33	6:54	Jeremy Huckins	26	Enfield, NH	CMS
287	3:22:17	7:42	Joe Alfano	43	Holden, MA	CMS
505	3:35:58	8:14	Travis Wheeler	29	Lancaster MA	CMS
620	3:41:24	8:24	Michael Sullivan	55	Sterling MA	CMS
805	3:50:49	8:48	Edward Coleman	47	Auburn MA	CMS
911	3:56:28	8:59	Stephen Moro	55	Sterling MA	CMS
992	4:01:03	9:11	Sean Blood	38	Worcester MA	CMS

1560 Total Finishers.

As for the team competition, CMS was the winner (no real thanks to me, as only 3 score). DD may eventually post some history about the last CMS win in a GP (and/or a GP Marathon), but I think this was an awesome effort by my teammates.  Justin Fyffe wrapped up the individual Grand Prix championship in style, with a second place finish in 2:28:15.  Not quite as fast as he was looking for, but a solid effort nonetheless.  He ran a 2:34 marathon earlier in the month.   Andy McCarron ran his arse off to the tune of 2:29:02.  A HUGE day for this kid, who is one of the hardest workers I've seen.  Finishing out the scoring for CMS, was new guy Scott Leslie, in a very good 2:33:08.

Men's Open Team Competition (top 5 teams of 27)

Place	Team	Total Time (3 guys)
1	CMS	7:30:25
2	Whirlaway (Whirl)	7:32:19
3	Retailers Union (R.UN)	7:49:45
4	Greater Boston Track Club (GBTC)	8:00:32
5	Greater Springfield Harriers (GSH)	8:34:44

The fact that we not only won today, but also put 2 teams in between us and GBTC, moves us into a tie for first place in the overall Grand Prix standings.  Although Mike Brown Dowling ran VERY well today, BAA didn't really field a deep team for this event, and adidas Boston didn't send anybody.  Both of these factors plus the fact that Whirlaway (who was already trailing us in the overall standings by 4 points, so they couldn't catch us) ran very well for second place, and R.UN was able to put enough guys together to finish 3rd.  My thoughts are basically that it's a long year, a long GP season, and fielding teams is tough.  It's half the battle sometimes, and you simply gotta show up to get the points.


USA TRACK & FIELD - NEW ENGLAND 2009 GRAND PRIX

UNOFFICIAL Final Team Standings -  After 7 Events  - Always Subject to Review.

Top 5 Teams of about 26 total scoring clubs.

Team	10M	13.1M	12k	5K	5M	10K	26.2M	Points
CMS	13	19	12	13	10	12	27	106
GBTC	12	21	11	15	12	11	24	106
BAA	14	22		17	14	15	21	103
WHIRL	11	17	13	12	9	13	26	101
adidas		20	14	14	13	16		77

Special thanks to Kristin for braving the elements and getting some shots at the finish.  It was too wet for her to get a lot of photos, as the camera was getting soaked.  The pictures she did get are on Smugmug.

Also, special thanks to my parents for also taking the trip down from the mountains to watch us finish on the soggy stadium grass.  It's always nice to have the parents there for support.  I hope they get to see a lot more of my races before I get too old and slow :).

Lastly, congratulations to my sister Kristin, who finished 604th and my friend Chico, who finished 605th (they ran together) in the half marathon.  They finished up in 2:00:50 (9:13 pace) which is absolutely fantastic for them on this tough day.  I also think they secretly enjoyed themselves too!


Special Thanks to Scott Mason for the photos!!!