USATF Cross Country Nationals

Mark Reeder and John Barbour sharing a not-so-private moment.
Photo by Liane Pancoast

By Matt Story

The 2013 USATF Club National Cross Country Meet was held on December 14th in Bend, OR.  A small band of GLRR made their way out for the race, which was being touted as a return to the "real roots of cross country, of Europeans racing from one town to the next across plowed fields, through ditches, and over fences."  The post-race festivities also featured fire pits and free flowing beer.

Kevin, Mark, Mike, and EJ find Lauren Fleshman flying the Jolly Roger.
Photo courtesy of someone with Kevin Carnabucci's phone.

GLRR was only able to field one team as runners cannot "score down" as they do in the USATF-NE events.  The men's 50+ team finished an impressive 7th in their category.  Mark Reeder capped off a great year with an 8th place showing in his age group.

Next year's championship will be a bit easier to get to.  It will be held at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.  If you are interested in XC this might be a great year to give it a go.  Rumors of getting a team bus have been floated.




Women's Individual Results:
Place No.  Name                       S Ag Div/Tot  Div   City               St Time  Pace  
===== ==== ========================== = == ======== ===== ================== == ===== ===== 
   86 1043 Liane Pancoast             F 55  12/13   F5559 Westford           MA 32:34  8:45 

   98 1042 Mary Casey-Gorman          F 51  25/25   F5054 Dracut             MA 35:59  9:39 

http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2013/USATF-National-Club-Cross-Country-Championships/Results/Masters-Women-Overall.aspx

Men's Individual Results:
Place No.  Name                       S Ag Div/Tot  Div   City               St Time  Pace  
===== ==== ========================== = == ======== ===== ================== == ===== ===== 
   80 1303 Mark Reeder                M 54   8/72   M5054 Brighton           MA 38:29  6:12 

  129 1298 Michael Girouard           M 44  63/85   M4044 Reading            MA 39:59  6:26 

  166 1300 E J Hrynowski              M 51  41/72   M5054 Arlington          MA 41:20  6:40 

  176 1302 Keith O'Brien              M 49  47/69   M4549 Chelmsford         MA 41:48  6:44 

  190 1299 Andrew Gordon              M 51  47/72   M5054 North Chelmsford   MA 42:33  6:51 

  206 1297 Kevin Carnabucci           M 40  80/85   M4044 Stoneham           MA 43:16  6:58 

  219 1301 Peter Lagoy                M 54  61/72   M5054 Hopkinton          MA 44:24  7:09 

  241 1296 John Barbour               M 59  17/25   M5559 West Roxbury       MA 45:58  7:24 

http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2013/USATF-National-Club-Cross-Country-Championships/Results/Masters-Men-Overall.aspx

Men's 50+ Team Results:
  7.   209  Greater Lowell Road Runners                        (  42:33  3:32:44)
=================================================================
  1      9  Mark Reeder                       54 80    38:29
  2     37  E J Hrynowski                     51 166   41:20
  3     42  Andrew Gordon                     51 190   42:33
  4     57  Peter Lagoy                       54 219   44:24
  5     64  John Barbour                      59 241   45:58
http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2013/USATF-National-Club-Cross-Country-Championships/Results/Masters-Mens-50-Plus-Team-Scores.aspx

Manchester City Marathon Caps the Grand Prix Season

BQers Tom and Andy
Photo Courtesy of Jimmy Shelton

The Manchester Marathon was the final stop on the 2013 New England Grand Prix tour.  The GLRR runners braved a hilly course on a chilly morning and posted strong performances.

The male open team had an excellent showing, finishing 3rd and fielding five runners under 3 hours.  The male masters team also placed third, while the male seniors and male veterans teams were second and first respectively.  The women's teams were 8th (open) and 6th (masters).

For individuals, Jill Trotter (F40-44), EJ Hrynowski (M50-54), Tom Peters (M60-64), and Denny LeBlanc (M70-74) all won their USATF age groups.  Jill, EJ, and Denny also won their 10 year age groups for the marathon at large.  Several runners also netted their BQ for 2015.

For the USATF-NE series, the men's teams finished 7th (open), 4th (masters), 2nd (seniors), and 2nd (veterans).  The women's teams finished 9th (open), tied for 2nd (masters), and 4th (seniors).  EJ (3rd), Nick (2nd), Denny (1st), Kara Haas (3rd), and Liane (2nd) all placed in their USATF-NE age groups for the season.

Team Febo finish their 2nd marathon in two weeks.
Photo Courtesy of Jimmy Shelton

Also, congrats to our Iron Runners for running all seven races!
Fil Faria                
Antonio Febo              

Madeline Febo            

Jim Garcia                

E J Hrynowski              

Nicholas Kanaracus         

Denny Leblanc              

Cullen Madden              

Justin Patronick           

Thomas Peters              

James Sullivan             

Race results can be found at http://www.coolrunning.com/results/13/nh/Nov3_Manche_set1.shtml.
USATF-NE results can be found at http://usatfne.org/road/results/2013gpt.html.

A Truly Grand, Grand Prix

Nick at the start of the Manchester City Marathon.
Photo Courtesy of Jimmy Shelton.

By Nicholas Kanaracus

It came down to the last race – the Manchester City Marathon – and would Chuck show up? Would Chuck finish?

I was locked in an ongoing racing challenge with Chuck Arnold of the Green Mountain Athletic Association for first-place bragging rights in the New England Grand Prix series. I had won the first three and he won the last three. So this was it.

At the Amherst 10 Miler I edged him out by seconds, catching him in the final mile. Then at the New Bedford Half Marathon I beat him by a whopping nine minutes. He wasn’t on my radar for a while after that. At the downhill Hollis 5K Chuck got a jump on me but I caught him again in the last half mile. The Grand Prix is scored by getting points for place-of-finish and after three races, I led by five points. Images of the winner’s jacket presented at the awards dinner were floating in my head.

Now for a bit of advice. Don’t do a hard speed session then drive 250 miles to a race and expect to do well. I had just finished an exhausting (but fun) week at a running camp in Craftsbury, Vermont, drove home on Friday night and then up early for the Saturday morning race.

I knew something wasn’t right when loosening up was not happening. I had a terrible race at the Carver 5 miler, losing four points in the standings. Now the racing was getting interesting. Maybe Chuck will miss a race. After all, he has to travel all the way from Burlington, Vermont. Come to find out, he didn’t make a solo trek each time, but travelled with the club motorcoach – they sent 40 to the New Bedford Half – and slept in a hotel the night before.

After many track sessions, I was ready for the Lone Gull 10K. I had a good race. Chuck had a better one, gaining 2 more points on me. Now he was ahead by one. Two weeks later the 30K. “I’ll run my own race,” I  said to myself. A lot can happen over a long distance. Maybe he will fade if he goes out too hard. Well, he did fade but not enough and I lost another point.

Finally, the marathon. Given the small number of runners in my age group, 65-69, I could not get enough points by just beating Chuck. He would have to miss the race or not finish, and I would have a chance. The rules award five points at a minimum even if only one person competes in the category. Chuck indeed showed up and the GMAA team was rested and ready, having stayed at the Radisson Hotel,100 yards from the starting line. Chuck blew me away.

For me, the Grand Prix series achieved its goal. It provided a platform for spirited competition. It added that spark that makes running a sport and not just an activity.  Special thanks to the GLRR for encouraging our participation in the series. I can’t wait for next year.

Final Grand Prix Standings for the 65-69 Age Group.

GLRR Junior Olympics Cross Country

The Renegades ready for the Junior Olympics

By Joe Ferris

For the fourth straight year, the Greater Lowell Road Runners Youth Program qualified runners to the Junior Olympics Cross Country National Championships in San Antonio, Texas.

GLRR fielded 17 athletes for the New England Association Qualifier in Smithfield, R.I. — Makayla Paige, Riley Clark, Riley Veits (Tewksbury), Alisa Crueger-Cain (Lowell), Lily Robinson, McKenzie Clark, Devyn Veits (Tewksbury), Terryn Fraser-Mines (Tyngsboro), Sarah Cain (Andover), Mason Veits (Tewksbury), Hunter Williams (Lowell), Cameron Gondola, Joseph Balboni, Lucas Gondola (Tewksbury), Eliot Lyle (Billerica), Jack Balboni and Bobby Clark (Tewksbury).

Riley, Makayla, and Alisa enjoy Sea World.

Three athletes qualified to compete at the national championships in San Antonio, Texas. 10-year-old runner Makayla Paige competed for the first time at nationals in the girls 9-10 age group over 3K. Paige finished sixth at the Regional Qualifiers in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.. Riley Clark, 9, competed for the second time at nationals. Alisa Crueger-Cain, 12, competed in her fourth consecutive nationals. The girls finished, 110th, 204th, and 46th respectively against the best the nation had to offer.

Our first track and field meet in 2014 will be at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston on February 9th. Anyone who has a young athlete between the ages of 7-14 that would like to be part of the 2014 program can contact the coach, Joe Ferris, at jdfhere@yahoo.com for information.

The Runner’s Wife

Coco and Ashley preparing for Boston 2013

By Coco Sullivan

For every runner there is a spouse, significant other, love interest, or whatever you will call it that endures with you every training run, 5k, marathon training cycle, track workout, club meeting… the list goes on. We clean up the stinky, salty running clothes left on the bathroom floor, clean out the gu left in your pockets, step over the running shoes left by the door and pick up the lovely snotty mittens you left on the counter. We don’t complain because there really isn’t any point, you certainly cannot tell a runner to stop running. At least that’s what I’velearned in the past 5 years.

You’re right; sometimes I don’t listen when you go on about your mile repeats or pick-ups. Waking up at 6am to drop you off at the top of Mt. Wachusett was EXACTLY how I wanted to spend my weekend. How did you know? Stumbling downstairsat 6am with my hair a mess and in PJ’s to 6 strangers in my kitchen decked out in running gear has become the norm…

Don’t forget the phone calls… “Can you pick me up? I got lost on my 20 mile run.” Like I have a choice? “Ok where should I pick you up?” “Just drive…you’ll see me.” Or when I have to pack an extra set of clothes because you are meeting me at the family BBQ so you can get in a few more miles in.

I kept my mouth shut when we I picked up your race bib for you. I never complained that you have more shoes than me ;) I’ve looked at enough marathon training plans to last me a lifetime. I’ve watched multiple marathons on TV with you andevery time I pretend like I know who that guy from Kenya is.You run in sub artic temps and never complain but when you get that little blister I listen to you complain for days. I endure the taper, although I dread it every year. You are so damn grumpy.I’ve never complained that every vacation is centered on a marathon even when you take me to grand places like a motel in Idaho...

I do this because I’ve been there on the dark days. I’ve seen yourface at mile 19 too many times. You know that one is full of disappointment and frustration that is trying to hold it together, just enough to say, “I don’t have it in me today, I just don’t.”I’ve watched that clock tick past your BQ at the finish line too many times with you just out of reach. Every second that goesby the heart sinks lower and lower.

I do this because I’ve been there on the good days. The ones where my heart is in my throat as you approach mile 19, and you look at me for a half a sec and I can tell. Today is the day, today is a really good day. I’ve hugged you at the finish line when you finally got the BQ, the PR, the sub 3 and the “holy shit my husband’s really fast Boston 2013” That feeling…It never gets old. I feel the same accomplishment you do and that’s why I do this. I want to see you do your best, to succeed, I want to see you that happy, EVERYDAY.

So runners... hug that person in your life and say thanks for being there… and thanks for putting up with my ugly feet. J

Western Mass Distance Project XC Meet

By John Barbour

Congratulations to the Greater Lowellites who raced last Sunday in the second stop in the USATF-NE cross country series, the Western Mass Distance Project meet in Westfield.

Trish Bourne finished in the top half of the women’s field and kicked Heineken over all masters in 20:14 for the tough 5K course.

Ryan Gough led the way among dudes with a fine 14th-place 27:36 for 8K, with ageless Mark Reeder not far behind in 27:55 to whomp up on Seniors.  Yours truly came in at 32:08 chased by Bill Dixon in 32:34 – almost certainly the top Vet, but race-day signer-ups’ ages were not recorded, which affects team scores.  Let’s just say that GLRR won the Senior team title and leave it at that.  Which of course we did.

Upcoming Races

Manchester Marathon

Nov. 3rd in Manchester, NH.

Register online at http://www.cityofmanchestermarathon.com/, notify Glenn, and the club will reimburse you $70.  Make sure your USATF membership is up to date.

Race for Justice 

When: Saturday November 9th. Race starts at 10:30.

Where: 40 Old Ferry Road, Lowell (Lowell Elks Lodge)

Course: 5 mile out-and-back into the Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsborough State Forest. Pretty flat. Mostly on roads, with a short bit on dirt.

More info and registration: http://www.race4justice.com/

Details: t-shirts to first 250, chip timing by Yankee Timing, planning by SOAR Events, AG prizes from Mann Orchards, cash prizes for first female and male. All proceeds benefit Merrimack Valley Legal Services, providing free legal aid to those in need. 

NE Grand Prix XC Championships

October 10th at Franklin Park.

Contact John Barbour at (617) 325-1376 or mcbarbour@verizon.net.

Mill Cities Relay

The Mill Cities Relay is Dec 8th this year.

If you are interested in running, please send your First Name, Last Name, Age, Contact Email, Contact Phone #, and Average Pace for a 5K.

Please send that info to: glrrmillcities@gmail.com.

We ask that you renew your GLRR membership before signing up for the relay if you are currently not up-to-date on your dues.

More info on the relay: http://millcities.com/.

Club National XC Championships

December 14th in Bend, Oregon.

Runners who have run at least two XC races including the NE championships should contact John Barbour at (617) 325-1376 or mcbarbour@verizon.net if they're interested.