Oleksak Lumber Spring Half Marathon, Westfield, MA

Photo credit: MassLive / The Republican


The usual suspects - the handful of local fast guys that return here each year to be specific - were not to be found today. So the race got out to a slow start for once. I had one runner about 15 seconds ahead when we reached the 3/4 mile split between the 5k and half.

I ran the hills pretty darn poorly, but it was a cool, windy day. Getting out in front early was not a good strategy. Another runner caught me at mile 2. We worked together trading front position slowly reeling in the #1. By the top-out at mile 3 thru 4 we had the # 1 guy reeled-in for sure. The guy I was running with seemed to be working as much if not more than me but he was striding strong keeping the pace up and not interested in tucking behind me whenever I tried to get in front to share the work load blocking the wind.

So after a while I let him have at it. He held a decent pace for the next 3-4 miles and at times I thought he was going to break away from me but then he would ease back and I would pass but only briefly.

By the time we reached mile 8 the grade goes from downhill to more level, the pace soften just a touch and we drew about even. Then all of a sudden I found myself in the lead during mile 9 - at the downhill before the right turn onto the bridge. I suddenly was in lead without him right on me as I reached the quick uphill to finish mile 10. It only took a 1/4 mile before he fell several seconds behind and that took me by surprise. I know the course well. The last 5k is fast; pancake flat or
downhill. If I could extend the lead some more in the next mile, I felt with the speed I could gather on the final downhill it would be difficult for him to catch me.

And thats how it played out. The gap got a little larger in miles 11 and 12 5:50, 5:49 and I finished with a 5:39 thanks to that one last downhill and the the fear one has when out front all alone; unsure if someone is going to come up and snatch victory from right underneath you in the final hundred yards.

Not my best result here but happy with the result. I'm glad I didn't give in at mile 4 when I was about a minute and half slower than previous years. I feel good now but very tired. The day finished with the annual post party at Whip City Brewery for a couple Post Race, Post St. Patricks Day, Guiness.

My Splits
6:14,

12:30 (6:16),
19:11 (6:41),
25:26 (6:15),
36:47 (11:21),
42:30 (5:43),
48:11 (5:42),
54:12 (6:01),
1:00:24 (6:11),
1:06:13 (5:50),
1:12:02 (5:49),
1:17:39 (5:38),
1:18:16 (:36)

Photo Credit: Barbara Landry

http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/03/ludlows_bob_landry_wins_oleksa.html

The Oleksak Lumber Spring Half-Marathon (MA02004RN)

Sunday , March 28, 2010 @ 11:00 AM

The Boys and Girls Club, 28 West Silver St, Westfield, Massachusetts

Timing by Greystone Electronics (860)485-1991 www.greystoneracing.net

Overcast, breezy, dry, temperatures in the low 30's.

Record 1:08:34

1 Robert Landry 41 M Ludlow MA 1 1:18:15 5:59
2 Patrick Byrne 25 M Manchester CT 1 1:18:59 6:02
3 Jeffrey Hayes 25 M Arlington MA 2 1:19:07 6:03
4 Kyle Dunn 20 M Fiskdale MA 3 1:20:53 6:11
5 Scott Blumenthal 21 M Stoughton MA 4 1:22:11 6:17
6 Eileen Combs 32 F Schenectady NY 1 1:23:02 6:21
7 John Toner 30 M Longmeadow MA 1 1:23:15 6:22
8 Michael Kelly 39 M Selkirk NY 2 1:23:28 6:23
9 Gregory Czuczman 30 M Boston MA 3 1:24:32 6:28
10 Norris Pearson 44 M Troy NY 2 1:24:46 6:29
11 Jim Sullivan 45 M Westfield MA 3 1:24:52 6:29
12 Tim Gerry 35 M Monson MA 4 1:25:02 6:30
13 Richard Larsen 58 M Shelbourne MA 1 1:25:12 6:31
14 Paul McCloskey 24 M Belchertown MA 5 1:25:15 6:31
15 Stephen Forrest 46 M unknown 4 1:26:09 6:35
16 Grant Gonzalez 24 M Mount Herman MA 6 1:26:40 6:37
17 Todd Salvesvold 40 M Buskirk NY 5 1:27:22 6:41
18 John Stevens 30 M Holyoke MA 5 1:27:32 6:41
19 James Sullivan 46 M West Hartford CT 6 1:27:41 6:42
20 Matt Musiak 28 M East Hampton MA 7 1:27:53 6:43
21 Peter Midura 24 M Agawam MA 7 1:28:26 6:45
22 Jeff Hansen 40 M Greenfield MA 8 1:28:27 6:46
23 Beth Krasemann 36 F Suffield CT 2 1:28:35 6:46
24 Craig Stokowski 52 M Blandford MA 2 1:28:50 6:47
25 Allan Bates 61 M Pittsfield MA 3 1:29:07 6:49
26 Brian Debraccio 44 M Scotia NY 9 1:29:13 6:49
27 Meghan Lout 31 F Holyoke MA 3 1:29:22 6:50
28 Patrick Culligan 50 M Round Lake NY 4 1:29:27 6:50
29 Damien Morvidelli 31 M Easthampton MA 6 1:29:49 6:52
30 Thomas Renaud 22 F Worcester MA 1 1:29:54 6:52
31 Anne Paredes 27 F Westfield MA 2 1:30:47 6:56
32 Mike Prukalski 48 M Westfield MA 10 1:31:02 6:57
33 Spencer Beaver 33 M Agawam MA 7 1:31:54 7:01
34 John Haley 55 M Albany NY 5 1:31:59 7:02
35 Mark Baillargeon 47 M Chicopee MA 11 1:32:08 7:02


Finally, Bill Wells has asked myself and Bill Romito, the grandfather of marathons who will be running his 24th consecitive Boston this year, to join him on ESPN radio 1450 AM Springfield to talk Boston Marathon.

Me and the two Bills we will be appearing on the 'Average Joe Show', Friday, April 16th at 5pm. Should be cool. I wasn't aware that this talk show existed. They have a couple running related podcasts online including talking about Griffins Friend's, St. Patricks Day Road Race, some local high school standouts; South Hadley's John Horstman and Brianna Tabin and also Westfield High's junior Carolyn Stocker. I tried setting up a RSS Feed to the podcast on my blog but something is not working. I'll try fixing that later.
In the meantime check out their podcast here...

http://www.espnspringfield.com/sectional.asp?id=32745