Wicked Running Club » Races

On The Road With James DeLuca

Tim Short — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:14:53 +0000

Race Report by James DeLuca

“Every time I race in Europe I decide to quit running.”

It hasn’t stuck either time.

In 2009 I ran the Rotterdam Marathon on a broken leg. Check that. In 2009 I was stupid enough to try to run the Rotterdam Marathon despite s stress fracture. I ended up hopping on one leg across the 22km line and getting pulled off the course. I swore up and down that it was my last race and that marathons were idiotic, etc. I ended up drinking scorpion bowls at the Hong Kong Cafe in the Chinatown section of Rotterdam sure I would never run again. (I have a theory that nowhere in the world are you ever more than 10 miles from a Hong Kong Cafe, but this theory has no bearing on this story so I’m not going to bring it up again.) That resolution lasted from 4/6/2009 until 4/15/2009.

This year my retirement lasted even shorter.

The day did not start the way a race day should. I turned on the news to find out that it was 39C in the shade. For those of you who don’t have google handy to convert: 37C is 102.2F. They also said that in the direct sunlight the “skin-feel” was 59C (138.2F). The news kept on coming! There was an ozone warning in effect for the Dresden area today because the sun was apparently so intense that it was breaking apart the O2 in the near ground atmosphere and turning it into O3. The point being that you breath O2…you can’t do anything with O3.

“Well, everyone has to deal with the heat equally,” I told myself as I pulled my singlet over my shoulders and headed for my hotel door.

Fortunately I left my hotel 4 hours before the race which started about 30 minutes North of where I was staying. The Autobahn (A4) was easy enough to follow even though everyone was passing me like I was standing still (my company car while here is an old Ford Mondeo so while I had it in fifth with the pedal stamped firmly to the floor it just couldn’t get up over 160 to try to keep up with everyone else). The trouble started when I got off the A4 near Pulsnitz. I had looked up directions but my German wasn’t good enough to process half-mile long street names before I needed to turn onto them. Eventually I found a map near a train station showing the area and took a picture of it to help me get to Oberlichtenau.

I found the race site with about two and a half hours to spare so I went in search of water. I found beer. Then I found more beer. Isn’t there water anywhere in Germany? Apparently not. I had to settle for a 0,20 liter glass of Cola Light. The kids race (700 meters) went off, then the 4km race started. The 4km was won in about 17 minutes. My first thought was: “Wow, these Germans aren’t that fast, I can run 5km in about that time.” I was sitting in the shade and hadn’t warmed up yet so I didn’t realize how tough it was out there.

My race started at 16:00. The sun sets in Dresden around 21:00 so this was still the heat of the day. We went out and everything was good. It was hot in the sun but it felt nice to be running across a farm in the heart of what once was East Germany. We probably went out too fast. I was running with the chase pack for the first 5km; our split was 18:13 andeverything felt good.

Then we left the farmland and started up the mountain. We had a slow rolling climb for the next 4km my legs were burning by the time we were nearing the 9km mark. Then up ahead was a beautiful sight! There was a small wooden building ahead and there was a road in front of the building leading the way back down the mountain! Then the guy who was about 50m ahead of me got to that building and took a hairpin left turn to go straight up the mountain rather than back down. I came to the turn and saw the arrows painted on the ground urging us on higher.

I stopped to take a cup of water from the table at the building (it was soda water just like every other water-stop) and I just looked up the slope. I used to think Stone Tower was tough. The Stone Tower hill has nothing on this anonymous peak that I looked up at. I decided right then and there that I was going to quit running. It was over, this mountain in the middle of no where Germany had beaten me. As soon as I got back to my hotel I was going to cancel my entry into the NYC Marathon. I got passed by a group of four runners from a Dresden running club (this race was apparently part of 4 various grand prix series so there were loads of running teams present).

“Well it is 9km back to my car if I turn around and only 4.5km back if I keep going,” I told myself and I started jogging up the hill again.

“This absolutely sucks,” I thought. “I might as well pick up the pace and try to get this last race overwith as soon as I can.”

I lengthened my stride and relaxed my shoulders. I wasn’t racing anymore in my mind, I was getting back to my car to take a shower and get out of the sun. I passed the four Dresden runners that had passed me at the 9km turn. Then I got to the summit and started the run down the last 3km to the finish. I ended up passing a few more runners and finishing in 1:02:08 (7:24 pace).

I only waited around after the race because the Germany-Argentina match was on; I knew I wasn’t going to win anything in a stacked race with a 7:24 pace. To my surprise I heard my name called and I went over to the awards area where they gave me a bottle of wine, a certificate and put my on a real podium for photos. Clearly the 138F heat in the sun and the 1380ft tall mountain had gotten to everyone else also. I shared the podium with the 1st place and 2nd place runners but I only took 3rd in my age group: in Germany they don’t take the top 3 out of their age groups after giving them their overall awards.

All in all it was an aweful race. I will never sign up for it again (though the odds of me being in Dresden over 4th of July weekend are low anyway) but it felt great hearing: “…aus dem Wicked Running Club aus dem U.S.A.!” when I crossed the finish and when I was called up to the podium.

Oh, and by the way, I am totally not retired anymore.

Wicked @ Run the Q

Tim Short — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 01:11:15 +0000

Last night the Mystic Runners held their weekly Run the Q race, but with a small twist. It was Wicked Wednesday at Lake Q! A great group of Wicked Runners made the trek down to Wakefield to participate in the weekly 5K that is flat, fast and very fun. For a $2.oo entry runners get to enjoy the beautiful Lake Quannapowitt, have some excellent pizza and have their run timed. There are plenty of volunteers on the course, which is awesome, but it’s hard to get lost when you are only taking right hand turns! It’s a very well organized race and one that everyone should try to do at least once a month.

Dave Cobertt, President of Mystic, wanted me to let everyone know that the Lake Quannapowitt Swimsuit Classic 5K is coming up on Sunday August 8th. For more information please visit www.mysticrunners.com.

Check out some great photos from the race last night that were taken by Angel Green over on Facebook. Her Cannon Digital SLR Camera cleaned the floor with my iPhone 3G!

North Shore Trail Series

Tim Short — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 10:35:52 +0000

A brand new trail race series has hit the North Shore and it’s pretty amazing! The New England Running Company has teamed up with Montrail to bring together 6 of the best trail races from across the area for the Inaugural North Shore Trail Series. Check out http://www.northshoretrailseries.com/ for more details

Race# 1: June 5, 2010 Kupenda 5K Results

Race# 2: July 17: ECG’s Run For The Hills

Race# 3: August 28: ECG’s Beverly Commons 8 Mile Trail Run

Race# 4: September 18: ECTA 10 Mile Trail Run

Race# 5: October 17: Ravenswood 4.1 Mile Trail Race

Race# 6: November 6: Stonecat 26.2 Mile Trail Run

Introducing the 2010 Inaugural North Shore Trail Series, brought to you by New England Running Company and Montrail!

The North Shore Trail Series features six local trail races spread across six months. We’ve worked hard to put together a series that showcases the best trail running the North Shore has to offer. Over the course of the series you will experience gentle carriage roads, rocky single track, ocean vistas, and private estates normally closed to the public. With races ranging from a 5k to marathon, by the end of the series you will have experienced the full gamut of trail racing here on the North Shore of Massachusetts. Though the emphasis is on participation, we will be offering awards to top overall finishers and to top age group finishers.

Packet pick up will be held at New England Running Company the day before each race from 10-7PM. Those who pick up their number early will be eligible to enter to win a pair of Montrail shoes. Winners will be announced after each race. In addition, all non sale Montrail shoes will be discounted 20% for the day.

Scoring: Runners score points based on their time as a percentage of the winner’s overall time, making every second count! For example, a winning time of 41:08 gets 100.00 points; a time of 42:21 is worth 97.13, and 1:20:32 gets 51.08 (the winning time being just about 50 percent of that runner’s time). Women’s scoring is based on 100.00 points for the first female finisher. A runner’s top 5 of 6 races are totaled. Twentyfive bonus points will be awarded to any runner completing all 6 races.

Awards:

Runners who complete all six races will be awarded a Montrail series sweatshirt. Runners who complete 5 of 6 races will be awarded a series t-shirt.

Overall male/female winners will be awarded one free pair of Montrail shoes along with a $250.00 gift certificate to New England Running Company and a gift package from the Essex County Greenbelt Association.

Age group male/female winners will receive awards in the following four divisions:

39 and under
40-49
50-59
60 and over

There will be an awards banquet at New England Running Company on November 17, at 7PM.

Wicked places third in Snowshoe Classic!

Tim Short — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:08:22 +0000





Conditions were snowy, chilly, and sunny for the first Olde Salem Greens Snowshoe Classic that took place over the past weekend. Wicked did well, placing third in the team division! Melissa Jaynes placed second in the 20-29 age group, while Rachel Hunt picked up a first place victory in the 30-39 age group.Congratulations to Gail Gordon who ran for Dungeon Rock Racing and was the first overall female!

 


Wicked Runners Chris Anderson and Melissa Jaynes (77) running strong.  



  
 Video from the awads ceremony.  
 


Wicked Results 
16   27:32   82.36 Tim Short 29 M   111 Burlington MA 
32   30:28   74.44 Aaron Toleos 38 M   106 Boxford MA 
34   30:38   74.01 Richard Tomlins 44 M    67 Swampscott MA 
51   33:44   67.22 Colin Maclay 41 M   108 Salem MA 166 
52   33:45   67.20 Mike Toomey 37 M   151 Marblehead MA
60   35:50   63.29 Rachel Hunt 36 F   109 Salem MA 
76   39:00   58.14 Melissa Jaynes 29 F    77 Salem MA


90   40:32   55.94 Chris Anderson 41 M    27 Salem MA 
108   42:41   53.12 Bethany Radabaugh 34 F    89 Swampscott MA 
124   48:07   47.12 Beth O'Grady  49 F    46 Salem MA 
131   49:12   46.09 Patricia Curley 46 F    24 Beverly MA 
146   50:13   45.16 Angel Green 00 F   165 Lynn MA 
166 55:56   40.54 Laurie Fontaine 47 F   123 Peabody MA 
170   56:28   40.15 Darla Johnson 47 F    11 Beverly MA 
182 1:07:13   33.73 Debbie Shahidi 48 F   196 Beverly MA 
190 1:20:53   28.03 Tricia Pini 40 F    85 Salem MA
Friends from Dungeon Rock Racing 
24   28:49   78.71 Jay Curry  38 M     2 Lynn MA
25   28:59   78.26 Patrick Smith 47 M    49 Salem MA
38   31:17   72.49 Dan Cooper 37 M    92 Salem MA
43   32:33   69.67 Gail Gordon 38 F    18 Lynn MA
45   32:56   68.84 Bill Morse  58 M   112 Dracut MA
46   33:07   68.47 Bruce Campbell  52 M   180 Peabody MA
54   34:11   66.34 Daniel Barrett 47 M    17 Lynn MA
94   40:41   55.74 Stephanie Cooper 38 F    93 Salem MA
125   48:16   46.97 Allison Rourke 34 F    31 Salem MA
126   48:19   46.94 Denise Murphy 45 F    48 Salem MA
139   49:55   45.43 Kathey Moskal 39 F    52 Danvers MA

Wild Turkey in the Salem News

Tim Short — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:03:51 +0000

Below is a story from the November 27th edition of the Salem News. Adam Fitch, TR Ramsdell and of course our favorite race Director Doug Bollen were all quoted!

Wild Turkey Road Race has grown into a local tradition

By Chris Cassidy

STAFF WRITER

SALEM — Thanksgiving isn’t just a day for turkey and football and falling asleep on the couch anymore.

Nearly 1,300 runners began Turkey Day yesterday with a 5-mile jaunt through downtown Salem in the annual Wild Turkey Road Race.

When race director Doug Bollen started the event five years ago, about 300 runners showed up. Since then, it’s grown so quickly that Bollen plans to change the course next year and find a bigger pre- and post-race venue to accommodate the swelling field of runners.

“We’re not a small race anymore,” said Bollen. “… The reputation has gotten out that it’s a good race.”

Thanksgiving is the single-largest running day in America with “turkey trots” all over the country, including the Feaster Five in Andover that draws about 7,000 runners and walkers.

Bollen noticed the closest Thanksgiving races on the North Shore were in Newburyport and Andover and figured a race in Salem might save runners a long drive.

The race has drawn hundreds of mostly North Shore runners and their out-of-town family members. Yesterday’s record-breaking field came from about 20 states, Canada and even Italy, Bollen said.

“Running is getting really big around here,” said Adam Fitch of Salem, a member of the city’s Wicked Running Club, who finished yesterday in a time of 45:42.

At least part of the draw for some runners to come to Salem has been the success of the Feaster Five, particularly that the Andover race has become overly popular and crowded.

“Doug Bollen’sdone a great job with this,” said T.R. Ramsdell of Beverly, moments after crossing the Hawthorne Boulevard finish line yesterday. “… The Feaster Five has gotten too big. We actually drew a lot of people from that race to this one, because it just got too big, and I hope that doesn’t happen to this one.”

Dan Vassallo, 24, of Wilmington, won the race for the second year in a row, finishing with a time of 25:41. The first female to cross was Lyne Bessette, 34, of Beverly, who finished in 31:06.

Most, however, ran the race for fun or to alleviate an inevitable sense of guilt over an anticipated afternoon itinerary of eating, sleeping and watching television.

“I know what’s going to happen later on today,” said Jack McManus of Danvers, running in his first Wild Turkey race. “I’ll be on the couch.”

“Before you eat and pig out, you have to run,” said Matt Condon of Salem, who went on to cross in a time of 44:56. “You get a workout in and then you can sit around all day.”

Chad O’Connor of Salem is training for the 2010 Boston Marathon and finished yesterday by sprinting to the finish line and picking up third place in his division.

“I was trying to beat my time from last year, which I did by (1 minute, 20 seconds),” said O’Connor. “My family comes down and then we go have turkey all day and I feel like I did something to earn it.”

Steven Gallant of Topsfield ran yesterday with his daughter, Monique, of Salem, and their dog, a yellow Lab named “Daisy.” The race has been their traditional start-of-Thanksgiving for the last three or four years, they said.

“It’s a father-daughter thing,” said Monique Gallant.

Last year, the race raised $15,000 for the Boys & Girls Club and programs for the Recreation Department. Bollen expected to match or surpass that figure this year.

But even Bollen admits he doesn’t know what the race’s limit is yet.

“Every year it’s grown,” said Bollen. “Hopefully it will continue to grow.”

Staff writer Chris Cassidy can be reached at ccassidy@salemnews.com.

The Devil’s Chase

Tim Short — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:29:01 +0000

Halloween 2009 proved to be “Wicked” spectacular as B&S hosted the first Devil’s Chase in Salem yesterday. Below are results of Wicked Runners who ran, if you noticed that your name is not in the list email your time to newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com. In the mean time take a look at some of the photos from the race over at photobucket.com. Great job to all the Wicked Runners who ran today, and let me say there were some very nice costumes as well!

Patrick Smith and Denise Murphy looking very devilish after the first Devils Chase!

18 353 Annie Rose Willis 2/105 F2029 29 Danvers MA 43:49 6:35

41 93 T.R. Ramsdell 6/55 M4049 46 Beverly MA 45:35 6:51

44 394 Aaron Toleos 12/70 M3039 38 Boxford MA 46:15 6:57

65 107 Dan Sullivan 17/50 M2029 25 Revere MA 48:41 7:19

67 106 Steve Touchette 4/24 M5059 54 Salem MA 48:52 7:21

71 304 Kai Nalipinski 1/5 M0119 16 Salem MA 49:03 7:22

83 104 Elizabeth Touchette 9/105 F2029 26 Revere MA 49:45 7:29

86 105 Deb Touchette 1/13 F5059 54 Salem MA 49:52 7:30

90 203 Patrick Smith 13/55 M4049 47 Salem MA 50:02 7:31

112 218 Danny Leadvaro 16/55 M4049 43 Salem MA 50:50 7:38

144 214 Jay Curry 33/70 M3039 38 Lynn MA 52:59 7:58

198 462 Paul McCabe 31/50 M2029 23 Salem MA 55:50 8:23

206 196 Ken Hewson 34/55 M4049 41 Beverly MA 56:17 8:28

211 325 Amber Macione 33/105 F2029 28 Salem MA 56:28 8:29

212 504 Elaine Ambrozaitis 34/105 F2029 28 Swampscott MA 56:28 8:29

227 151 Allison Rourke 40/142 F3039 34 Salem MA 56:58 8:34

228 115 Melissa Jaynes 38/105 F2029 29 Salem MA 57:01 8:34

231 303 John McDonough 36/55 M4049 47 Nahant MA 57:05 8:35

244 16 Adam Fitch 46/70 M3039 38 Salem MA 57:41 8:40

251 453 Rick Johnson 48/70 M3039 37 Salem MA 57:53 8:42

256 195 Shari Hewson 14/73 F4049 47 Beverly MA 58:11 8:45

287 685 Billy Prentiss 4/7 M6069 62 Danvers MA 58:51 8:51

293 449 Stacey Adams 56/142 F3039 35 Beverly MA 59:05 8:53

301 357 Denise Murphy 23/73 F4049 45 Salem MA 59:21 8:55

303 137 Peter Raymond 39/55 M4049 48 Salem MA 59:23 8:55

307 136 Shannon Mary O’Donn 26/73 F4049 46 Salem MA 59:33 8:57

316 138 Kathey Moskal 62/142 F3039 38 Danvers MA 59:45 8:59

402 124 Ann Sousa 89/142 F3039 35 Salem MA 1:03:24 9:32

406 333 Marisa Wagoner 73/105 F2029 28 Salem MA 1:03:43 9:35

427 548 Caron Weiner 11/13 F5059 51 Boston MA 1:04:47 9:44

428 452 Robin Lermond 98/142 F3039 38 Salem MA 1:04:47 9:44

456 133 Ruth Brediger 57/73 F4049 48 Lynn MA 1:06:30 10:00

489 44 Laurie Fontaine 66/73 F4049 47 Lynn MA 1:08:27 10:17

459 148 Michele Campbell 107/142 F3039 37 Salem MA 1:06:35 10:00

524 41 Susan Keezer 133/142 F3039 39 Salem MA 1:12:18 10:52

542 207 Maggie Delaney 104/105 F2029 20 Salem MA 1:20:18 12:04

548 519 Tricia Pini 73/73 F4049 40 Salem MA 1:23:42 12:34

Wicked takes 6 of the top 7 places in Central Square 5K

Tim Short — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:38:14 +0000

It was another tremendous showing from the Wicked Running Club at a local road race. Last night Wicked not only ran 1-2-3 in the Central Square 5K, it placed 6 out of the 7 top runners as well!!

Mike Toomey (17:33) and Doug Chick (17:34) broke the tape together in a photo finish. James DeLuca (18:08) wasn’t far behind to complete the sweep of the top three spots.

1-2 tandem Mike Toomey and Doug Chick crossing the finish line

But wait there is more good news! The Women of Wicked also had a great night as well. Annie Rose Willis (19:36) and Beth Clancy (21:29) were the top two Females overall. Danny Chick, Aaron Toleos and Wicked Kidz Runner Kyle Hewson all placed in their respective divisions. Check out the results below. Great job to all who ran!

1 MICHAEL TOOMEY M 37 17:33 5:29 1/9 M3039 91 MARBLEHEAD MA

2 DOUG CHICK M 30 17:34 5:30 2/9 M3039 119 LYNN MA

3 JAMES DELUCA M 26 18:08 5:40 1/13 M2029 114 BEVERLY MA

5 DANIEL CHICK M 50 18:46 5:52 1/18 M5059 126 LYNN MA

6 AARON TOLEOS M 38 19:28 6:05 3/9 M3039 90 BOXFORD MA

7 ANNIE ROSE WILLIS F 29 19:36 6:08 1/7 F2029 96 DANVERS MA

23 KENNETH HEWSON M 41 24:02 7:31 4/15 M4049 109 BEVERLY MA

62 ROBIN LERMOND F 38 28:10 8:48 4/9 F3039 102 SALEM MA

70 KYLE HEWSON M 8 29:43 9:18 3/4 M0119 111 BEVERLY MA

71 SHARI HEWSON F 47 29:45 9:18 7/17 F4049 110 BEVERLY MA

Reach the Beach Relay

Tim Short — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:42:04 +0000

While most of us will be working in a office or getting ready for the weekend, a small group of Wicked Runners will be teaming up with other runners from Salem Academy Charter School tomorrow to take on the 200 mile relay known as Reach the Beach. For those who have never dreamed of running this well known relay, teams will start in Franconia Notch and end at Hampton Beach.

Colin Maclay, Tim Clarke, Marke Meche and Mark Tuttle from the Wicked Runing Club will be joining others from the Salem Academy Charter School to form Team Salem Academy. Starting tomorrow you can track Team Salem Academy in a few different ways. 1) Twitter @SalemAcademyCS, 2) Blog sacsrtb.wordpress.com, 3) Facebook Salem Academy Charter School.

You can also show your support by making a donation at http://www.firstgiving.com/sacs

Be sure to check back here over the weekend to find out how Team Salem Academy did.

Good luck Team Salem Academy, and Go Wicked!

Wicked Runner wins Peabody race, another travels to Montreal for a Marathon

Tim Short — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:56:34 +0000

Here we are the third week of September and it’s time for the fall road racing season to begin!For the Wicked Running Club, it started off with a bang.

The wind and rain didn’t stop Doug Chick from winning the Race for Progeria Research 5K on Saturday. Doug came in 1st place overall with a solid time of 18:22.

This past weekend also included the first fall marathon for a Wicked Runner, in Monteral! Katlyn Porter-Mahoney finished Montreal Marathon in 4 hr 57 min.

If you have results from the past weekend please send them to newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com

Montreal Marathon September 13, 2009

1495 Katlyn Porter-Mahoney 4:57:32.4 7:07

Race for Progeria Research September 12, 2009

1 93 Doug Chick 1/11 M3039 30 M Lynn MA 18:20 5:55

26 110 Rosemary Poppe 2/12 F1929 23 F Salem MA 24:42 7:57

61 23 Laurie Fontaine 9/13 F4049 47 F Peabody MA 31:07 10:01

88 94 Shannon Downey 8/8 F3039 38 F Peabody MA 38:31 12:24

Irish American 5K/10K

Tim Short — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:18:23 +0000

Labor Day featured a couple of great races, and the Irish American 5K/10K was at the top of that list. The Chicks (Doug and Danny that is) represented Wicked in the Irish American 5K. Oh and they represented well. Doug Chick cruised to a first place victory winning the race in 17:00. While Danny Chick took care of business in the 50-59 age group with a 1st place performance and a time of 18:42. Great job guys!

1 17:00 5:29 1 30-39 1 M 277 Doug Chick Lynn, MA

11 18:42 6:02 2 50-59 11 M 278 Daniel Chick Lynn,MA