Whitaker Woods Snowshoe Scramble

Drive 3 and a half hours, run 4 mile race and drive 3 and a half hours back. Why, because i want to. I guess it also helps when you are joining a bunch of your teammates and other friends from the north to run a snowshoe race.


Saturday was the second race of the Granite State Snowshoe Series and my first one. I had been sick for most of the week and had not run in 8 days, so i was coming into the race with only one goal....finish comfortably. The race was at Whitaker Woods, right in the middle of North Conway. It is a nice park, with groomed XC trails and some great views of Mt Washington. The race uses both groomed and single track trails on some nice rolling terrain. We had 11 Turtles up here for the race, funny how we can't organize that many to run a race in RI as a team, but we drive 3+ hours here.

Photo by Gianina Lindsey

At the race start, i lined up way over to the side to stay out of the way of most of the runners. Race Director, Kevin Tilton said a few words and then we were off. We headed off across the groomed trails, there was already separation as the front half of the field was pulling away. I hear it was a very fast start. I stuck with my plan of running comfortably, moving up and down the first hill easily. Footing was great, but i did feel that my snowshoes weren't adjusted to my liking, i had loaned them out last week and the straps were definitely off. On the second uphill, Jackie Jackman went cruising on by, i just kept my pace. All the climbing in the race was done in the first 2 miles, about 400 feet worth. Just after the mile, we came out onto one trail where you had a great view of Mt Washington totally covered in snow. Five months from now, i hope to be running up that hill. Once past the 2 mile mark, things started feeling better, downhills will do that. I seemed to pick up the pace a little, coming into 3 miles, i caught up to and passed Don Fredrickson. Don and i go way back to the 80's and racing in RI. He had mentioned later that this was his chance to finally beat me. Sorry Don, maybe next time. It will be the battle of running has beens. I finished up right behind Tim Lindsey, Tim was in my sights for a while, but i just could not and really did not feel like trying to catch him. Over the finish line and then the effects of the race and my week long cold hit, i had a 3+ minute coughing fit, then i was fine. I ran better than i thought i would.

Up front, the Turtles had a good day. Bob Jackman was 9th, Dave Principe, Martin Tighe and Matt Keefe all made the top 20. Jim Johnson/CMS won the race in 26.53.

Next week is Sidehiller in Center Sandwich, NH. I have run this race the past 2 years. Lack of snow last year caused them to change the course, with a lot more snow this year, we should be back on the original course. That is a good thing!

After a short awards ceremony, most of the Turtles headed over to the Moat Mountain Smokehouse  and Brewing Co. Joining us there were Don Fredrickson and Jess & Kevin Tilton for some food and excellent beer. My beer of choice was the Double Bock, the menu said you could only have 2 of these, usually they say this when it is a real strong beer, i did not find it strong but it was very tasty. In the number of times i have been to the Moat, i have yet to see an IPA on tap. I'll have to contact them a month before i show up there again and beg them to brew a big, hopped up IPA, maybe for the Mt Washington Road Race. We had a great time there, Don and myself got to talk about the old running scene here in RI, i could have stayed for hours, but we had to get back so John Peabody could get out on his lobster boat for 8pm.

One nice thing about going up to Sidehiller is that we get to hit Milly's Tavern in Manchester afterwards.

See ya next week.

Race Reports:

DoubleJ Running
Acidotic Racing

Feel Good Farm Snowshoe Race

Finally, enough snow on the ground to start the Granite State Snowshoe Series. After postponing the first two races to February, I was really looking forward to running at Feel Good Farm in Lyndeborough. Of course, i was not planning on catching a nasty cold the day before the race so this race was a no go for me. I could have probably been able to run most of the races, but seeing as this is the tuffest course on the circuit, there just was no way. It wasn't really a problem though, i seem to be a better photographer than a runner these days.

For the Tuesday Night Turtles, this was a big day. We had a bunch of newbies coming up for their first taste of snowshoe racing. This was supposed to happen at Beaver Brook a few weeks ago, but with the postponements, this was the one. A few of us "veteran" snowshoers in the Turtles have been talking up the GSSS series since last winter and we have quite a bit of interest this year, not bad for a bunch of flatlanders here in RI. Today, our rookie list was long, Jake Scheiffelin, Jackie Jackman, Martin Tighe, Warren Angell, Tara Cardi, Tony Wild and George Ross. We also had Bob Jackman, Dave and DJ Principe, Chris Jasparro with his wife, Vicki and myself on the DL list for the day. It should also be noted that Ben and Matt Keefe ran, but got to the race a half hour late and only did one lap.

I shot the start of the race and then hiked up Moose Mountain to get some good downhill running shots. First time by, Josh Ferenc and Kevin Tilton had a sizable lead on Ben Nephew, they were all moving pretty quickly out there. Bob Jackman was first Turtle by, followed by Dave Principe and surprisingly, his son DJ on his tail. DJ is 12 years old and he was hanging with the big boys on the first loop. As the rest of the Turtles made their way by, they looked pretty comfortable, well, all but one. George Ross was complaining his calf was cramping up, so he ended up bailing at the end of the first lap. George was listed in the Coolrunning results as finishing the 2.7 mile Wimp Run, as race director Mike Amorello calls it. At the brewpub later, George summed it up by saying it " Was the fucking hardest thing i ever did"

On the second time around, most of the TNT gang held their spot. DJ dropped of a bit. Martin and Warren were running a few seconds apart as were Jake and Jackie. Tara was enjoying her run, i think. She did yell to me to put that camera away, that ain't gonna happen. :) As a team, i would say we had a good day with ten Turtles finishing the two loops. It was a great start to the season. The next two races are a much longer drive for us, so i don't expect to see too many Turtles racing until February when the series gets back to southern NH. We will have some runners at Whittaker Woods and Sidehiller though.

Post race, we did the usual thing and went the local brewpub. This time it was a favorite, Martha's Exchange in Nashua. With a cold, my taste buds were a bit off, but the cask IPA was very tasty and would have been even better if they had filled the glasses up to a proper level. A good time was had by all.

See the photographs i took at the race here: scottmasonphoto.com 

Read Chris Dunn's race report HERE .

Beaver Brook Non-Snowshoe Race

Hi everyone, Happy New Year!! I know, i haven't updated my blog in 3 months, but with the new year and all, it is time to get it going again.

Today was to be the start of the Granite State Snowshoe Series at Beaver Brook in Hollis NH. With last weekends storm dumping 12-16 inches of snow over the area we shoers were excited for a start to the race season. I had managed to get in 3 SS runs during the week, including our first Tuesday Night Turtle Snowshoe Team group run on a frigid Monday night and a shorter run with Martin Tighe on Thursday. Getting in some snowshoe runs was great, but looking at the extended forecast was really depressing knowing that the snow might be gone before Sunday. Sure enough, word came out on Saturday that the race was postponed until February 19th as a day/night double header with the Kingman Farm night race.

Even with the postponement, RD Mike Amarello was still going to hold a trail run and include entry to the rescheduled SS run. With nothing better to do, some of us Turtles decided to go anyway.We pulled into the lot about an hour and a half before race time, we being Jackie and Bob Jackman, Dave Principe and me, greeted by Mike A, who was a bit surprised to see us there. I think the only others there were a couple from Huntsville, Al. that were up on vacation and wanted to do a snowshoe race. We ran a few mile warmup on the local trails and then were joined by other Turtle snowshoers, Vicki and Chris Jasparro and Warren Angell.

At race time, there were 17 of us taking the line, 7 Turtles, 2 from Alabama, Richie Blake and 7 others. As Mike said GO! We took off down the muddy then snow, slush covered dirt road. The race is about 2.5-2.6 miles, downhill, then flat, then uphill. Footing sucked, i was a bit better off than most wearing INOV8 X-Talon 212's that are almost like wearing spikes, still, it was tough going on the uphill to the finish. I felt ok out there, but backed off on the final stretch of the hill as i had no one close to me and really just wanted mileage today. Finishing first was Bob Jackman, followed by Dave Principe, Warren Angell, Chris Jasparro and me. For the women, it was Vicki Jasparro taking first followed by Jackie Jackman. So Turtle men took top 5 and women the top 2. Not that it really means anything seeing the field was very sparse, still it was a good hard workout. We warmed down with a few more trail miles around Beaver Brook followed by some kale soup that Mike had made for the race. He had enough for an army, needless to say, he took a lot home.

Time for the ride home, but first a stop at Watch City Brewing for lunch and a beer. In the last 2 years of snowshoe racing, it has become a Turtle tradition that we hit a brewpub after the race. There were many to choose from, but with Watch City being right off the highway in Waltham Ma., it was perfect. I started with a Hops Explosion IPA as did Dave and Chris. Funny, i did not taste any hops exploding. They say it has a "powerful conflagration of hop flavor", could be if you were a Bud drinker, I did not notice it. I'll call it a good pale ale. I ordered the pesto provolone chicken sandwich, it was tasty and we had a bucket of sweet potato fries. Yes, they bring them out in a bucket. As sweet potato fries go, these were quite good, crisp and meaty. Second beer was Titan Ale, a brown ale that was good for the style. We also sampled an IPA that had spearmint added to it, very subtle taste, but i don't think i would want a pint of it. All in all, this a good brewpub, i return when i get the chance.

Next weeks snowshoe race is the Bear Paw Classic in Northwood, NH. I hope there is snow on the ground, but the extended forecast isn't great at this point. They are calling for snow on Friday and Saturday, how much? Who knows?

Grog and Dog Jog

If it is Columbus Day weekend, it is also time for another Grog and Dog Jog.
 The Grog and Dog, Put on by the Wild Colonial Tavern in Providence is a relay with a twist. You run one and a quarter miles, eat a hot dog, drink a beer and hand off to your next runner, this happens four times. This getting to be a very popular event with 70 teams entered, up from 50 a year ago. Many teams dress in some sort of costume, though not mandatory, it does make for a lot of fun. For the average person out for a Sunday afternoon  drive in Providence, they probably don't, believe their eyes at what is running down the side of the road. 

Me, Peiter, Mark and Pali...the Droogs

We had two teams entered in this years event. The "A" team, who are the two time
defending champs consisted of Bob Jackman, Dave Principe, Zak Kudlak and Alan Bernier. They were in costume, but we really don't know what they were supposed to be. Our team, the "B" team was Mark Howard, Peiter Snoeren, Pali Frazier and myself. We were dressed as the Droogs of Clockwork Orange fame. We were there to have fun, unlike the "A" squad that had the target on their backs..

Dave P. (with the orange hair) keeping an eye on the competition

As we lined up at the start, the final instructions were given out by race director, Brien Lang, who was running with his team of Merry Maids. The race started at the sound of a tuba. The race went out fast as a pack of 8 or so gapped the field almost quickly. I dropped in with the second pack as we made our way across the Point Street bridge and then up the other side of the Providence River. It is great for spectators and competitors alike because you watch your runner across the river and cheer them on. I was concentrating on staying with one of the maids. I haven't the slightest idea of what pace i was running, but does it really matter in something like this? Coming on to the final stretch on South Water Street, i had planned top back off a bit to make it easier to eat and drink while not gasping for air. So much for that plan. I came blasting into the table where you grab a beer, Narragansett Lager to be exact and your choice of tofu dog or saugy. I went for the tofu dog because i am not a red meat eater. First, i dipped the dog into the beer to make the bun go down quicker, one big bite, swallow, down the beer and shove the rest of the dog in my mouth. Sounds easy, doesn't it. It isn't. It is not easy to chug a beer after running a hard mile and a half. I handed off to Peiter Snoeren, giving him the mug and our Droog cane to carry on his leg. 

Alan Bernier finishing up for the win with some very fast onlookers

Up front the TNT A team was locked in a battle with the Providence Cobra team. At the end of the second leg, they were neck and neck, but Bob J was much quicker eating than the Cobra runner and handed off a 30 second lead to Zak Kudlak. Essentially, the race was over with their quickest runner, Alan Bernier anchoring the race and there was no way in hell they would lose unless Alan fell in the river. As for us Droogs, Peiter, Pali and Mark ran well. Mark did suffer a bit after the race, maybe a little indegestion. We finished somewhere in the top third, and enjoyed every minute of it.

This is a great event for a good cause, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, and on top of that, what else are you going to do on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

CVS Downtown 5K

This past Sunday i headed over to Providence to watch some of the USA's top runners compete at the CVS Caremark Downtown 5k. The race is the 5k National Championship.It was a beautiful day to spectate. See my photos of the race here: scottmasonphoto.com.  

Molly Huddle

In the past 20 years that this race has been held, i have only managed to run it once in 1998 when i was first a master. The race was not a national championship then, but it did have plenty of prize money that brought in a very competitive field. The course was flat as a pancake then, not like now with the hill to launch you at the start and climb to finish. I don'y remember too many details from the race itself, it was too short and fast. I do remember have the top three Kenyan women led by Catherine Ndereba come buy me with a quarter to go and not being able to do a thing about it. I think i was more concerned with trying to beat the guys around me that i thought might be masters. Turns out there were 4 of us within 11 seconds, i ran 15.25, good for 5th in age group, 7th master ran 15.32, like i said, it was a good field.

Harvard Pilgrim 5K

Providence, RI

September 20, 1998

Results by AB-MAC Finish Systems (800-745-5152)

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#'s 1001- 2000 - - #'s 2001 - 2245 - - Kids Races - - Kids Photos - - Team Results- - Story - - Photos

PLACE FIRST NAME  LAST  S AG DIV/TOT  DIV   CITY       ST PACE  time
===== ================= = == ======== ===== ========== == ===== =======
    1 KHALID KHANNOUCHI M 27   1/658  M0139 MOROCCO        4:20   13:27
    2 STEPHEN KIOGORA   M 26   2/658  M0139 KENYA          4:22   13:32
    3 JOSHUA CHELANGA   M 23   3/658  M0139 KENYA          4:22   13:32
    4 PETER GITHUKA     M 29   4/658  M0139 KENYA          4:22   13:33
    5 JAMES KARIUKI     M 27   5/658  M0139 KENYA          4:22   13:33
    6 HEZRON OTWORI     M 25   6/658  M0139 KENYA          4:24   13:40
    7 JAMES BUNGEL      M 26   7/658  M0139 KENYA          4:25   13:42
    8 PAUL MBUGUA       M 32   8/658  M0139 NEW PALTZ  NY  4:26   13:45
    9 ISSIAH KUREISHA   M 23   9/658  M0139 KENYA          4:26   13:46
   10 GODFREY KIPROTICH M 27  10/658  M0139 KENYA          4:26   13:46
   11 ANDREW LETHERBY   M 22  11/658  M0139 AUSTRALIA      4:26   13:46
   12 PAUL MWANGI       M 25  12/658  M0139 KENYA          4:29   13:54
   13 SAMMY NYAMONGO    M 28  13/658  M0139 KENYA          4:31   14:01
   14 PLILMOM HENNEK    M 28  14/658  M0139 ZIMBAWAE       4:32   14:03
   15 JOHN KAGWE        M 28  15/658  M0139 KENYA          4:32   14:05
   16 CHARLES MULINGA   M 26  16/658  M0139 ZAMBIA         4:33   14:07
   17 JOESEPH KARIUKI   M 27  17/658  M0139 KENYA          4:36   14:16
   18 JULIUS RANDICH    M 31  18/658  M0139 DALLAS     TX  4:37   14:18
   19 DONAL O'SULLIVAN  M 25  19/658  M0139 USA            4:41   14:32
   20 CASEY O'SHEA      M 24  20/658  M0139 USA            4:42   14:34
   21 PETER KOECH       M 42   1/391  M4049 ALBERQUQUE NM  4:42   14:36
   22 RISTO ULMALA      M 31  21/658  M0139 FINLAND        4:43   14:37
   23 JIM DANDENEAY     M                   TAUNTON    MA  4:48   14:54
   24 ANDREA WITCZAK    M 42   2/391  M4049 POLAND         4:50   15:01
   25 CHRIS MAGILL      M 25  22/658  M0139 CUMBERLAND RI  4:52   15:06
   26 KEVIN O'NEIL      M 28  23/658  M0139 N KINGSTON RI  4:52   15:07
   27 AMIT NEEMAN       M 42   3/391  M4049 ISRAEL         4:52   15:07
   28 CHRIS VOLANTE     M 24  24/658  M0139 PAWTUCKET  RI  4:53   15:09
   29 DAN JOHNSON       M 26  25/658  M0139 USA            4:55   15:14
   30 CHRISTIAN LYNCH   M 23  26/658  M0139 USA            4:55   15:14
   31 CATHERINE NDEREBA F 27   1/640  F0139 KENYA          4:55   15:15
   32 DELILAH ASIAGO    F 27   2/640  F0139 KENYA          4:56   15:18
   33 TERESA WANJIKU    F 25   3/640  F0139 KENYA          4:56   15:19
   34 JIM HAGE          M 42   4/391  M4049 USA            4:57   15:21
   35 ANTHONY ANDERSON  M 22  27/658  M0139 USA            4:58   15:25
   36 SCOTT MASON       M 40   5/391  M4049 WARWICK    RI  4:58   15:25
   37 KEVIN MCCAFFREY   M 41   6/391  M4049                4:59   15:28
   38 ANDY WEDLAKE      M 26  28/658  M0139 WALTHAM    MA  5:00   15:30
   39 LIBBY HICKMAN     F 28   4/640  F0139 USA            5:00   15:31
   40 BARRY HARTWICK    M 43   7/391  M4049 USA            5:00   15:32
   41 MATTHEW RUANE     M 22  29/658  M0139 BOSTON     MA  5:02   15:37
   42 EDGAR GONZALES    M 35  30/658  M0139 FRAMINGHAM MA  5:02   15:37
   43 ROBERT JOHNSON    M 23  31/658  M0139 USA            5:03   15:40
   44 DON SIKORSKI      M 32  32/658  M0139 NORWICH    CT  5:03   15:40
   45 AMY RUDOLPH       F 25   5/640  F0139 USA            5:04   15:43
   46 JANE OMORO        F 27   6/640  F0139 KENYA          5:05   15:45
   47 CHARLES STOCK     M 23  33/658  M0139 USA            5:08   15:54
   48 JON LAWSON        M 26  34/658  M0139 BRISTOL    RI  5:08   15:55
   49 JANE NGOTHO       F 24   7/640  F0139 KENYA          5:09   15:57
   50 CHRIS LAWRENCE    M 32  35/658  M0139 PROVIDENCE RI  5:09   16:00
   51 MICHAEL GRAZIOSI  M 36  36/658  M0139 GLASTONBUR CT  5:10   16:02
   52 JOHN ANTHONY      M 23  37/658  M0139 NORWICH    CT  5:11   16:06
   53 LESLEY LEHANE     F 35   8/640  F0139 CHESTNUT H MA  5:12   16:07
   54 LUDMILA PETROVA   F 29   9/640  F0139 RUSSIA         5:13   16:11
   55 CHRIS BIANCHI     M 29  38/658  M0139 PROVIDENCE RI  5:13   16:11
   56 GEARY DANIELS     M 44   8/391  M4049 DUDLEY     MA  5:13   16:12
   57 MARGARET KAGIRI   F 26  10/640  F0139 KENYA          5:13   16:12
   58 ED ZUBRITSKY      M 38  39/658  M0139 GROTON     CT  5:14   16:13
   59 JOE SULLIVAN      M 42   9/391  M4049 USA            5:14   16:14
   60 LYNN DENIRRO      F 36  11/640  F0139                5:14   16:14

Guest Blogger - Ray Nelson

Hi all, I have decided to include a guest blogger to the site. He is longtime runner and friend, Ray Nelson who is a USATF certified course measurer. I thought it would be interesting to get a little insight into the measurement of race courses.

Take it away Ray:

I have been measuring course for over 30 years, starting out in 1978 with a measuring / surveyor’s wheel, and walking courses.   As a competitive runner back then, I wanted to know the ‘actual’ distance of race courses, rather than the ‘stated’ distance which was usually not accurate.  I wanted to be able to compare and assess my race performances and check my performance level and progress.  And if a 5 miler was short, say 4.8 miles, I couldn’t get a decent reading on how I was doing.  So it was kind of for selfish reasons that I first got into course measurement, wanting to know the actual distance so I could then calculate my real per mile average, and compares races, etc.

In 1978, I recall flying from westerly, RI  to block island with Pat McNulty, friend and Johnson &  Wales AC teammate, to “wheel walk’ the Run Around the Block 15K. It took us a long time to walk the course, compared to using a bicycle, but  we marked the course which as far as I know is still being used today, and has not changed !!!

In the early 80’s I learned that there was a road running “technical council” founded by Ted Corbitt, and got hold of a Procedures Manual, bought a Jones counter, and basically taught myself how to measure a course according to TAC standards (The Athletics Congress), the name for the sports governing body at the time, since changed to USATF.

In 1986, I was invited by John McGrath, former publisher of NER magazine, to measure the Boston Marathon, along with David Katz, an expert certifier from NY.  We rode our bikes together but did independent measurements.  When we got to 10 miles we compared notes, and discovered that we were within 1 foot apart – an extremely close correlation!!  From that point on, I had gained considerable respect and personal validation that I was going the job right !

After serving a year-long apprenticeship, I was appointed NATIONAL CERTIFIER in 1992 by Wayne Nicoll – the Eastern Chairman of RRTC at the time. Wayne and I had done some measurements together, and he was my mentor, who showed me the fine points of course measurement.  So I have been a USATF certifier for 18 years, and have measured 100’s of courses, probably close to 1000, mostly in RI and MA.

Accuracy is important to standardize performances so they can be graded and count legitimately as PR’s, and for records in general, including world / American, and age group records.  In 1993 Elana Meyer set a world record for 5k on the roads at the downtown 5k in Providence.  In order for her record to count, the course had to be accurate, and not less than 5000 meters.  The following week Pete Riegel from OH,  national chairman of RRTC at the time, come to Providence to perform a ‘validation’ measurement of the course to make sure it was at least 5000 meters, so that Meyer’s record could be ratified.  So my work, her performance, and the race reputation were all on the line. Bottom line was that the course passed !!

Anyone is eligible to measure a course by following the procedures, and submitting an application and course map to the certifier for that particular state.  You need a Jones counter which attaches to the front wheel of the bike, and a calibration course of at least 1000 feet or 300 meters.  The calibration course is tape measured, usually 100 feet at a time, and the endpoints are marked with nails. There is a separate section in the procedures manual  for measuring a calibration course.  Prior to measuring a course, the bike must by ‘calibrated’ on the ‘cal’ course. This takes 4 straight, wobble-free rides and recording the number of “counts” for each ride from end to end.  From the average number of counts of the four rides, the number of counts is figured for each mile or kilometer, and for the total course distance.   Now you are ready to do the actual course measurement.   For USATF certification, you must measure according to SPR (shortest possible route) that the runner can take, i.e. measuring by tangents.  This can be challenging without police escort with traffic coming at you both ways!!  This is why early Sunday mornings are generally best for measuring when there is the least amount of traffic, but it can still be tricky.  The course must be measured at least twice, and the difference between measurements cannot be greater than 0.08% of the race distance (4 meter for a 5k).  After the course measurements, the bike must be post-calibrated to again figure the number of counts for each mile, etc.   The details of these procedures can be found at www.rrtc.net  .

I think the most dangerous course I measured was a 10 miler in Worcester, MA in heavy traffic without a police escort. The race director did follow me in his car with flashers on, but it was quite a harrowing experience with more than a few close calls, and getting called every name in the book!! I definitely used up 1or 2 of my ‘cat lives’ on that measurement, and looking back on it, I probably should not have done it.

Ray @ Block Island in 1980

I measured the Boston Run to Remember Half Marathon in South Boston a half dozen years or so ago, and then found out the day before  the race that the course had to be changed, as part of it went through private property and the owner said NO  to using his land !!!  So I was called upon to adjust and re-measure the course with the race a day away.  Driving up to Boston on that Saturday in early March, it was snowing hard  in blizzard-like conditions.  I was wondering how I would be able to do the measurement in this horrible weather, and thought how bizarre it was.  Fortunately the snow shifted over to slush, and rain, and the temperature did not drop below freezing, so I was able to ride my bike and get it done, but now without incident.  On Day Blvd. I biked through a large puddle, as that was the ‘shortest line’ to take, and for accuracy sake did not want to go around it.  Unbeknownst to me, I  hit a pot hole, and lost control of the bike and went  head over heels into the puddle.  I was wearing several layers of clothes and a gortex outer layer, so I did not get chilled to the bone.   I shook it off and went back the previous mile mark and continued on the remaining few miles to the finish. After a hot shower and dry clothes I was fine, and the course was done!!

Don’t get the wrong idea, most course measurements during peaceable weather, and minimal or no traffic , are not catastrophic, and are quite enjoyable. I get to go to places I would not ordinarily go to, and some are like mini-vacations in a sense. The best one was the Mt. Desert Marathon in Maine, starting at Bar Harbor and going by Arcadia National Park. It is by far the most scenic course I have ever measured. I was awestruck by the majesty of this course.

In 2007 I helped design, measure and certify the Women’s Olympic Trials course in Boston.  After a short opening loop, the course repeated an exact 6 mile loop four times. I designed it so that the mile marks on the 6-mile loops overlapped at the same points, making for easier splits and course management.  That was a difficult assignment and one in which I take considerable pride.

I recently measured the B.A.A. Half Marathon in Boston, a major race that just last week (mid-july) sold out in just two hours !!!!!!!!!!!!

I take pride in the maps I produce, doing my best to make sure they are clear, neat, and accurately depict the course.   I look back on some of the maps I made 25 years ago and note the poor quality, as with most jobs, it takes time to develop one’s skills and get better and better at what one does. That is what I strive for……….. to find ways to improve, there is always room for that.

Course maps for all states at all distances by different measurers and certifiers  can be accessed from the rrtc.net website.

Run to the Top of Vermont Weekend

OK, So i know i haven't blogged in a while, as i was reminded over the weekend by another fellow blogger. So here goes....


Over the weekend the Turtles headed up to Stowe, Vt for the 3rd Race to the Top of Vermont up Mt Mansfield, the highest point in Vermont. Heading up on Saturday were Bob Jackman, Larry Walker, John Peabody, Vicki & Chris Jasparro and myself. We all made this trip last year only Vicki did not run, this was to be her first mountain run. We arrived at the Golden Eagle Resort on Saturday afternoon, we had rented the "White House" out on the main road in front of the resort. It was too early to go pick up numbers so Ken Skier of RunwithKen fame came over with a growler of Berkshire Beer and we all chilled out for a while, then it was up to the ski resort for number pickup and then dinner.


One thing we love to do is hit up brewpubs wherever we go and this was no different. Heading back from the ski resort, we stopped at The Shed Brewpub where we had eaten last year also. Sorry to say, the beer was just mediocre at best and the food was overpriced. Fifteen dollars for a quesidilla? Of course the real reason we went was for the beer, too bad all the beers i sampled tasted like the main ingredient was a handful of caramels. Now i've hit enough brewpubs and i also homebrew, so i know what a beer should taste like. I know...I am a beer snob. I just don't know how a brewer can not taste the off flavors in a beer. Maybe they like this "flavor". The IPA did not taste of hops. The DunkelWeizen did not have that wheat taste i like. The stout just tasted wrong. I could get more taste out of PBR's. I suggest they try a different yeast, it could make a huge difference. Of course, if you only want to sell so- so beer to tourists, keep doing what your doing. Looking for a beer in Stowe, don't go here. Funny thing is we went here last year and the beer wasn't bad otherwise i would not have returned this year.  I should have stopped at Millie's in Manchester, NH on the way home just to say i had some great beer on this trip. So much for my beer rant, on to the race.


Race morning dawns and everyone is up early for the 9am start, it is nice to be 10 minutes down the road from the race. Last years winner, Jim "DoubleJ" Johnson stayed with us Turtles and payed the price as the TV was on til 2:35 in the morning which doesn't help with sleep. You should have had a few beers with us JJ, that would have helped knock you out. My back was killing me in the morning, I popped a handful of Motrin and hoped for the best. Once at the race lot, i went for a warmup (do you need a so called warmup when it is 70 degrees at 8am?) with Bob and JP. The back really wasn't any better. We were at the start area with a half hour to go, i was getting hot and i could use more water.....water, at a race...nowhere to be seen. Why in hell was there no water before the race, i know we runners should always be prepared and there was more water in the car, but the cars were at least a 1/4 mile down the road, and i mean down! It is hot out, try supplying some water for the runners before the race next time!!


The race goes off on time at 9am. You start on an uphill so the pace goes out slow for me and John Peabody, who i started next to. I went through the mile in under 12 minutes and i knew today would suck. I got to the 1 1/2 mile point of the course just as a car! was coming up the road through the crowded dirt road which begs the question, WHY is there a car being let up the road right after the race starts? At this point i realized that my race was over, why should i suffer for 3 more miles when my back is stiff as a board. I turn around, remove my number and jog down the mountain. Now i know how Kevin Tilton felt at Mt Washington, only i am a slow middle of the pack runner, not a favorite. It was nice how many runners asked if i was ok as i ran past them on the way down, we really are a caring lot.


Up the mountain, Vicki was running good, taking 3rd place overall for the women. Bob, Chris and John were off last years times and Larry ran faster than the previous year. I heard the was a big lack of water at the top of the mountain too. Maybe one of next years sponsors should be a water company. Maybe they can import some from Maine.


I really want to like this race, but there are too many little things that seem to be overlooked. Oh well, it doesn't matter now, i won't be coming back again. I would like to do the 100 on 100 relay that starts in Stowe the day before and runs 100 miles down Rte 100 to the Okemo Ski area. Long relay races can be a lot of fun.

I'm A Goon!

First let me say that i am still a Tuesday Night Turtle and will always be one. I was there at the beginning of the Turtles, 21 years ago in 1989 and would not think of leaving this great group of runners.

That being said, yesterday after the Mt Ascutney Mountain Race in Windsor, Vt, I was inducted into the Goon Squad Runners. I consider it an honor to be a Goon. I love the name of the club, much like the Turtle's, it is unconventional which gets noticed. I like the way you race in numbers, your turnout at Grand Prix races is admiral. The race shirt is great too, the lone "G" in a collegiate style that shows up for miles, trust me on that as a photographer. I have met some of the Goons at various races and know some of you through cyberspace and know most of you through a lens. I hope to meet more of you in the near future. Thanks to Doctor Death (Chris C.) for presenting the coveted "G" shirt at the river after Mt Ascutney with assist from Thunder God (Thor K.) and Taz (JJ). It was a great setting to find out you are a Goon. Doc...Good thing you did this after the race because it might have been incentive for me to grab back that 9 second lead you had on me at the finish and beat you!

Oh Yeah, My official Goon Name -"Flash".  Here with Thunder God, Doctor Death and Taz.

As for the race.........

This was my fourth race of the year, the first one not on snowshoes. I ran here last year as my first mountain race ever. It was brutal, half pavement, half muddy trails probably not the best choice to get into mountain running. This year it was back to the road for the whole run. I was liking it already. I arrived at the race real early, making much better time from RI than planned. Drive time was 2:40 for the 185 miles to Windsor, VT, slightly over the speed limit. The drive went by fast, some Motown and Bob Marley helped. One thing i notice with mountain/trail runners is that they like to show up early to races and when you are in nice settings like this, why not!  I had no sooner parked when Dave Dunham pulled in next to me with Little Dave. After that it was just a steady stream of cars and still a hour and a half to race time. I started my warmup with some of the CMS and INOV8 crew but cut back early as i wanted to keep some energy for the run up.

The race started a minute or two after 10am, just as the sun seemed to blast out from behind the overcast sky. I started out slow, real slow, knowing i have only been running steady for two weeks. The hill slams you right away and it is a good steady climb. I probably started too far back as i passed a number of runners in the first quarter and then settled in with a lot of runners i would be with all the way to the top. I pulled up with Doctor Death, No not the grim reaper but Chris Chetsas of the Goon Squad and we chatted for a second or two and i pulled away. Shortly after, he came back by me and we went back and forth to the top. I slowed to a walk at about 3/4 miles and then alternated run/power walk to the top. Everyone around me was doing the same. My first mile was about 12.05, second was 13 change and not sure of the rest. In the end, i ran 13.04 pace for 48.18 and 98th place, about mid pack. Not bad for where i am right now, I do hope to improve by the time of the Race for the Top at Mt Mansfield at the end of August. After the race, i ran back down the mountain with Doc D, it was a slow but enjoyable run. He had mentioned walking down the mountain earlier, but he beat me so i figured the hell with that, we are running down. 

Post race, a huge group headed over to the river a few miles from the race. The water was cool but not cold, it felt great anyway. The beers flowed and the conversation was great. When does a group this big meet in a setting like this after a race....uh...never, well, almost never. What a fun time.

It is always kind of sad to see the USATF-NE Mountain Series come to an end. I went to 5 races this year, 4 as photographer and one to run. Now i look at next weekend and say to myself, what am i going to do? Yard needs some work...ugh! 

Time to get me into shape too. Snowshoe season will be here before you know it and i would really like to be competitive this year.

Congratulations to Eric Blake and Gina Lucrezi on their 1st place finish in the series.

Congratulations to everyone else out there who competed in this great mountain series. I look forward to next year already.

Later

Scott (Flash)