Pack Monadnock
Second race in the La Sportiva GoLite USATF NE Mountain Circuit
June 4
By Dave Dunham
Kelli Lusk took advantage of the excellent conditions to set a new course record on the hilly 8 miles and mountainous 2 miles of the Wilton to summit of Pack Monadnock race. Lusk (CMS) won by nearly five minutes in the rain/drizzle and 55 degree temperatures, to break Margo Webbers course record by over one minute with a 14 th place overall finish of 1:13:35.
Paul Low (CMS) was the winner on the men's side, running comfortably throughout, only picking up the pace during the final two miles of climbing. Low topped a field of 173 runners who seemed much happier running in temperatures 30 degrees cooler than last year. Randy MacNeil (Coastal) and Dave Dunham had a close race for second place. MacNeil was over 30 seconds up with 3 miles to go and 1,200' to climb. Dunham caught MacNeil on the final steep pitch as MacNeil walked, then regrouped to pass Dunham in the final 50 meters. They ran the third and fourth fastest times ever for a 40+ runner, trailing only the incredible sub-61 times that Craig Fram ran in 2001 and 2002.
The women's 40+ age group was topped by Suzy West (CSU), who also finished second overall. Suzy's time of 1:18:41 was two seconds shy of her course record for 40+, set in 2003. Kathy Maddock was third overall and second 40+ with the fifth best 40+ time ever (1:20:23). Of the top ten women, eight were in the 40+ age group. Sin Koulas was the 50+ women's champion in 1:35:22. Heidy McGaffican was top finisher in the 60+ age group with a course record (by 11 minutes), running 1:44:59
Mark Asaro was the 50+ champion in 1:14:34, taking the victory by four minutes, running the fourth fastest 50+ time ever. Stanley Dutton topped the 60+ category in 1:21:34, the fourth fastest 60+ time ever.
Paul Low Notes -
Pack is the worst of the series races. Yeah it's a good race, the area is beautiful, and the volunteers are great but the course is a combination of eight miles of hilly road race followed by two miles of mountain race that is just really difficult and painful.
The race starts up a decent hill and then rolls for eight miles on scenic backcountry New England roads. Just before the eight-mile mark, runners turn onto RT-101 and the mountain race begins. From there, it's all uphill with the final two kilometers steeper than Mt. Washington.
I wanted to run easy for the first eight miles and then hammer the last two (uphill) miles. Even thought I did run easy for the first eight, those last two really sucked.
Kelli ran really well today. The temperature was good for a CR but it was pretty windy out there. This is a good course for her (the mix of fast and mountain running) and she smashed the CR by quite a bit without any competition.
Kelli Lusk adds -
I finally experienced the "Pack".....so many horror-filled pain stories from the race! Pack was on my radar as a tune-up for Mt Washington, so no matter what, I was planning to run it this year.
Before the race, I checked out the course records and best times run over the years. Even though I hadn't run the course and had only heard how difficult it was (yes, from great mountain racers like Paul Low and Dave Dunham!), I still set my goal at breaking the course record and running sub-1:14 (course record set by Margo Webber in 1997 was 1:14:18). It looked like the second fastest time on the course was set by Nikki Kimball in 1:14:46 (which gave me a better idea of time since I had only competed against Nikki).
The first mile was a bit slow (7:00), but it basically goes straight uphill (and is considered one of the three 'tougher' miles of the course). My race strategy was to run hard, but steady. I knew I had to go through mile 8 around 54-minutes in order to hit my goal time, since the last two miles are definitely the toughes and will destroy the pace per mile compared to the first eight miles!
I was stoked to see the clock at 1:13:35 when I crossed the finish line at the top. It was cold and rainy, so when I saw Paul at the finish chute, I smiled and said, "course record!"....then promptly headed to the shuttle van to get some warm clothes on.
Circuit notes
After two events Kelli Lusk leads the ladies with 199.15 points. Suzy West is second overall, and leads the 40+ age group, with 180..91 points. West's teammates Donna Smyth and Nixie Raymond of the Cambridge Sports Union trail by 11 and 14 points respectively in the 40+ category.
Paul Low leads the men with a perfect 200 points. Dave Dunham (also of CMS) leads the 40+, and is in second overall with 185.53 points. Dave Audet of NMC is 15 points back in the 40+. Paul Bazanchuk of GSH leads the 50+ by 1.5 points and 5 points respectively over Bob Mulvaney (PR Moose Milers) and Richard Stockdale (Gate City). Peter Orni (CMS) leads the 60+ with 137.8 points, 9 points up on Charles Johns (SQRR).
Emer O'Donoghue continues her incredible streak of 26 mountain circuit finishes dating back to 2001. Richard MacDonald leads the men with 14 consecutive finishes. Donna Smyth continues to lead the overall circuit (1996 to present) with 30 finishes and 2,580.95 points. Fred Ross III moved ahead of Eldon Burkinshaw for the most finishes with 36. Dave Dunham continues to lead the point totals with 3,348.46 and moved into a tie for second with 35 finishes.
A total of 39 runners have completed both races in the six race series. The best five results will count for prizes and $$$ at the end of the series. Next up: The series heads to Western MA for the La Sportiva GoLite Northfield Mountain 10.3K on June 10.
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