Recently I’ve tried to get out running when I’m travelling with work, even doing a race if possible. There’s something nice about going to a local race and checking out the local scene. It’s fun, and I find that it’s a good way to unwind from a lot of air travel and interacting with colleagues. It also helps me avoid the usual situations that arise when I spend too much time alone in a hotel room. A fortnight ago I was told that I would be sent to the States over a weekend, so obviously a race or run was required!
I was being sent to Boston, home of the Boston Marathon, on the weekend of the Boston Marathon, staying in a hotel near the Boston Marathon finish line. Everything was set for doing a race called “The Boston Marathon”. So.…I promptly entered the “Moose On The Loose” half marathon in New Hampshire, 40 miles north of Boston. I ditched the Boston Marathon because I knew that the race has a general downhill profile, so if I managed to break the world record then that record time would not be valid. That would clearly be quite annoying. I really do feel that I could smash that 2hr barrier one day*, but if I did then I would expect the official world record at the very least – money has no meaning to me**, it’s all about bragging rights. Additionally, my last-minute tentative entry enquiry to the Boston Marathon was met with a polite request to eff-off***.
The flexible entry of Moose On The Loose allowed me to extend an invitation to Annie and other half Michael, Carnethy’s finest who are based in the greater Boston area. Annie moved back to Boston some time last year, and I promised to get in touch should I ever head to Boston for work. They were free, and keen! Carnethy were going to form a team for a race 3000miles away from KB!
Race day opened with a warm sun but a bit of a cold wind. I met Annie and Michael just before the start, both looking well, and both in good cheer! I awarded Michael a new Carnethy vest for the race. In return they gave me a t-shirt from their Boston running club, which was very kind of them (cheers!). The race ahead was a slightly confusing route involving a running track, some roads, some riverside trails, an industrial estate, and some wonderful examples of empty car parks. Michael donned his new vest, we got a quick photo, and then we all set out to make a mark on this race. On meeting Michael for the first time I realised that despite travelling 3000 miles to get away from Andy Fallas and the other fast lads, it looked like I still wasn’t going to finish as first Carnethy! A quick race talk from the Moose (a man in a moose hat), we were ready for the off. It was the furthest distance that Annie and I had ran in months, but Michael clocked up an easy 20miles the day before (cue further groans from me).
A fast couple of laps of a running track started the race, then meandering along roads and car parks until we reached the river . Amazingly, I had sneaked ahead of Michael and was sitting in 4th place (4TH PLACE!!!). I should have been happier at the time, but the guy in third place was pushing a baby stroller with at least one baby inside****. Trying to run as hard as you can whilst being beaten by a gurgling baby is really quite distracting. Ah well. We ran alongside the Nashua Canal for a while, which was very pleasant, popping over bridges and passing very pretty ponds. As many roadrunners will know, there is inevitably a point in a fixed-distance road race where they add some silly section or loop to get the required distance, and this race was no different. Once off the pleasant paths, we were taken round for a tour of the local industrial estate before heading back to the point where we broke-off from the canalside trails. A little tedious. Anyway, once back onto the trail I realised that I was under halfway round the route and I was….well…fecked. Nothing amazing was going to happen, not that I had any reason to think anything amazing would happen, it was just a matter of holding on for dear life. Back to the school there was another lap of the race track, then back out for a final lap of the course. I was holding on, but others were only starting to stretch out and so I started to lose a few places. It was a painful experience, but at least I knew what lay ahead, including that loop of the industrial estate. Still, we all finished well, and I was grateful that it was over!
I managed to get round in 7th place, Michael a few places behind in 16th, Annie not much later in 126th. A grand day out, and many thanks to the organisers and marshals! It was good to see young Annie again, and glad to see that she and Michael are doing well over there. Maybe they can set up the Boston branch of Carnethy?
* This is not true.
** This is not true.
*** This is true.
*** This is, depressingly, true.