6/7/08
La Sportiva Northfield Mountain Race
Distance: 6.5 miles - the course was on Northfield Mountain a winter resort for snowshoeing and cross country. Northern MA - just outside of Greenfield - it was an easy drive, but after a late night cruising Relays with Judy & Sue Ann - I woke the boys and drove the 45 min north! Nice people, reminding me of my winter friends, I warmed up with Schuyler who is "jonesing" to run a kids race soon! I looked around & registered, noted that the results with points for the series didn't have my Wachusett results - so I talked to the race director.... great guy & very well organized race.
The start of the race was an intro to the course, marks, the championship NE mountain trail running and the La Sportiva series. There were all sorts of girls from the running clubs on the line as we started up the grass trail - then dirt road, then trail to the top... Grind it up the hills and let it fly down the hills was in my mind from Steve reading the brochure on the way to the race - - I had a pretty good run - felt very fast on the downhill, banging my knees, but still solid.
I finished in 49:08 - 51st overall - 7th woman and 1st in my age group! YIPPEE! Finally a WIN!
I realized the girls that had beat me weren't there - - but I was thrilled, got this very cool tech tshirt - a new pair of mountain trail sneakers and a Fuel Belt water bottle and carrier. SO COOL - and VERY happy!
Link to the article about the race
Link to the results
6/4/08
Opportunity Knocks -
The beginning of my week was traveling to Atlanta to attend the 2008 National Conference on Volunteering & Service put on by the Points of Light foundation. My role was man a "booth" for the American Cancer Society with aspirations to link to our current corporate constituents and to look at the potential companies for our workplace solutions programs. It was a great conference - with a theme "the urgency of NOW" - which I found very inspiring. We were surrounded by some wonderful non-profit volunteer recruitment and engagement companies and major sponsors of the event such as UPS, Loreal, Delta Air Lines & Home Depot. It was great to meet people excited about volunteering in their community and how to connect with what they had to offer volunteers.
One of great people I met was Lynne Norton of "opportunity knocks" - an online job site for non-profits. The traffic of people was slow that morning and we sat and talked for quite some time. She told me about her move from corporate to non-profit and the transfer of skills and experiences, and then I spoke about my career history with ski patrol, acquatics, American Red Cross & American Cancer Society and how I have grown as a professional within ACS. It was fun to talk to her about the journey and she then asked if I would be interested in being interviewed as a part of her podcast series on "OK Radio" highlighting professionals in non-profits. What a great "opportunity" for me to share my story. And very appropriate after the presentation with the AMA!
6/1/08
Pack Monadnock - #7 woman - 2nd race in the La Sportiva series
Just got home from the race... It was pretty grueling - rolling hills to the 1.3 mark -- and then "straight" up to the top. My goal was not to walk on the steeps.... just to keep picking up my feet! I thought I could walk faster at one point, but no... it was better to keep picking the feet up as if to run. I passed 2 girls on the last 1/2 mile. I finished in 1 hour 25 minutes (approximately - unofficial). Crazy. I think I was 6th woman and no idea for age group, but I beat the last year master winner time. Looking forward to seeing the results. Anyone who finishes this one is a winner! 4 more to go!
Found the results.... so crazy how these 40 year olds are kicking my butt! : )
5th in my age, but 7th overall woman!
Funny story that I encouraged the 20 year olds around me to race against eachother - "You better pass her, she looks like more your age group than she is in mine" Turns out mine were all way ahead! 30 year old wins, then 5 40 year olds, a 20 year old and me! : )
53 overall out of 277 ppl (last finisher came in at 2 1/2 hours)
5/37 in age F4049
Nancy Cook 43 F Belchertown MA
1:23:36 overall time
8:22 min mile.
Mother's Day at the Road House - tshirt sighting
Yes- -I had to get this one.... asked the waitress to turn around.... very nice. This place is great ! Organic food you can't beat the eggs and the french toast. It was a special day of days to remember. forever. My boy and my true love with me on mother's day!
5/29/08
Samantha's UMASS graduation!
We were really excited to be able to attend the UMASS graduation to celebrate the end of 4 years and Samantha receiving her undergraduate degree. It was a beautiful day and there were more than 4000 students receiving more than 100 majors sitting in the Mullins Center at UMASS watching the ceremony on the stage as the top honors and the honorary degrees were being announced. The whole thing was broadcast on 2 large screens flanking the stage and there were tents inside the arena and parents baracaded outside the area and up the stairs filling the stands of the field. It was enormous! We finally found Sam and I was able to get my zoom in on the area to get her and then her and her 2 roommates. We had a nice dinner at our house for her with Lucas (her boyfriend) Stephen, Cait & Uncle Tom! Very happy to share in the day and glad her father was there to support her during this special time and rite of passage moving forward in her life.
5/27/08
"Nanny Goat"
My dad nicknamed me "nanny goat" when I was a little girl. Not sure why except because of my love for animals and the "nanny" in my name... Laura was "Miss Susie Sunshine" which totally fits her happy, bubbly personality - I guess I was more like the "goat", tough and in the mountains..... so now I think back to how my love of mountains began as a child.. it has to do with my dad! He loved the outdoors, loved to hike, to work the land and to enjoy all of those around him when we played outside! I miss my dad and as we work the land this weekend I think of him often and how the hard work just made him happy to accomplish something, to build something and be proud because it was from the fruits of his labor.
This is some more detail of the mountain goat series that I thought was interesting to post.
Be a “Mountain Goat” a “Granite Runner” and win a pass to the Mt. Washington lottery.
Pack Monadnock is part of the 2008 LaSportiva USATF New England Mountain Running Circuit. The circuit consists of six races, with runners' points scored from their best five races. Races include:
Wachusett Mt.
Pack Monadnock
Northfield Mt.
Cranmore Mt.
Loon Mt.
and Mount Ascutney
This year will be the 13th annual series promoting competition in New England Mountain Running and encouraging the running community "to support the sport" by becoming a USATF member. If you run all the races you earn the title “Mountain Goat” and get to bypass the lottery for Mt. Washington.
There is a new twist this year – the race is also part of the New Hampshire Grand Prix a series of 7 New Hampshire Races. Any runner who completes the series earns the moniker “Granite Runner”. Potentially a runner at Pack Monadnock could be scoring in two race series at the same time.
I LOVE the elevation gain graph of all the mountains that I am planning to run in this series. Very cool.
Note on the graph - Loon and Ascutney VERY steep grade - but short. Cranmore is up and down the mountain twice. Monadnock is a 10 mile gradual uphill. Looking forward to the races!
More on the Mountain Goat series!
Taken from a posting from last year, but as I am training and getting psyched about these races, I thought this was a good one to explain what is in store for me at each race....
The thirteenth annual La Sportiva USATF-New England Mountain Circuit blasts off on Saturday, May 26th, at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts. This kick-off contest is the moderately steep 4.3-mile Wachusett Mountain Hill Climb. It's a great way to start because Wachusett has the least amount of elevation change of the six. And the second race is in the Granite State, the Pack Monadnock 10-Mile Challenge. These two uphill battles, along with Mount Kearsarge, made up the original Mountain Circuit twelve years ago when it began as the only such series in the country-it still is the one and only.
Three of the Mountain Circuit Races are on roads, and the other three mostly on trails. Four are all uphill, point-to-point to mountain peaks, and two are up-down loops. Runners must be members of USATF to score in the series. You can sign up at www.usatfne.org, or call the New England office of USATF at (617) 566-7600. As for Circuit scoring, USATF officials have decided on a best five-out-of-six scoring format. Points will be awarded as a percentage of the winner's time, first man and first woman, but only the best five runs' totals will be counted. This will allow runners to miss a race--or have a bad day--without penalty.
Awards will be given for the series in women and men's open, masters, seniors, and veteran's categories. There are separate awards for the individual races. A unique T-shirt will be given to all "Mountain Goats" who complete all contests. Cash and gift certificates will be awarded to the first three women and men in series points.
And all races have on-line registration.
You can check out the fascinating history of the Mountain Running Circuit, founded by Dave Dunham (former Chair of the USATF-New England Mountain, Ultra, and Trail [MUT] Committee). It includes all past winners, all-time points leaders, all-time appearance leaders, and all age group champions. Dunham, by the way, three-time winner and former record holder at Mount Washington, won the open championship the first two years and the masters' championship the last two. The circuit has included nine different mountain races over twelve years. Go to www.usatfne.org and click on Mountain/Trail.
As noted, the USATF New England Mountain Running Circuit is the only one of its kind in the nation. And the interest and success it has generated helped spur the National USATF to organize the National Mountain Running Championship. The fourth annual USA Championship will run at Mount Cranmore after such past venues as Vail and Mount Washington.
National Mountain Running Championship
One of these six outstanding races, Mount Cranmore, will host the USA National Mountain Running Championships. It will also serve as a selection race for the National Mountain Running Team. This will be the second year in a row New Englanders have had the National Championship in their back yard, and the second straight year it has been in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It will run at Cranmore Mountain Resort on Sunday, June 24th. The 20th Annual Cranmore Hill Climb was awarded the bid for the National Championship at the December meeting of USA Track and Field in Indianapolis. In 2006, the Mount Washington Road Race served as the National Championship.
Mount Cranmore will also serve as a qualifying race for the Teva US National Mountain Running Team. The top two U.S. men and top U.S. woman will be awarded automatic spots on the team. The Hill Climb is one of three qualifying races, the other two taking place in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and at Mt. Tam in Mill Valley, California.
Mount Cranmore is a terrific mountain race, and very challenging, as a championship race should be. It has great facilities and sponsorship, thanks to Inov-8, a premier maker of trail running and mountain shoes, as well as host Cranmore Mountain Resort.
It offers a different challenge with three laps up and down the mountain for men (total 13.5K), and two laps up and down for women and juniors (9K). Each loop is approximately 4.5K with a steep downhill section. The race is designed to mirror the course of this year's World Mountain Trophy in Saillon, Switzerland, the primary target race of the National Team. The World Mountain Running Trophy alternates between uphill only in even years, and then up and down in odd years. Therefore 2007 will be up-down at Saillon. Also, nearly all World Championship races have been mostly on trails, as is Mount Cranmore.
The Mount Cranmore Hill Climb will also serve as the La Sportiva USA Track and Field New England Mountain Running Championship. This is the 20th annual Mount Cranmore race, one of the oldest mountain races in New England after Mount Washington.
Paul Kirsch is the Chair of the USATF-New England Mountain, Ultra, and Trail (MUT) Committee, and also serves as the Cranmore Hill Climb Race Director. He also directs the Loon Mountain race. Paul can be reached at 603-367-8676 or pkirsch@adelphia.net.
The Circuit Includes USATF-New England Trail Running Championship
New this year, the Northfield Mountain 10.3K race (6.4-miler, 1,200 feet climb and descent) is the third of the series, and will serve as the USATF New England Trail Running Championship race in addition to the Mountain Circuit. The Northfield Mountain race runs on June 9 in Northfield, Massachusetts. Northfield's course is rolling, as well as up and down. It is 100% trail, with single track and double track (maintenance roads), and it is both up and down. This race has also been chosen as part of the famous Hockomock Swamp Rat Series. Check it out at www.hockomock.net. It will run from the Northfield Mountain Visitors Center, 99 Millers Falls Road (Route 63), just two miles north of Route 2.
The USATF New England Mountain Running Circuit is the only one of its kind in the nation. The New England Championship race has also been unique to New England, and the interest and success it has generated helped spur the National USATF to organize the national championship, running for the fourth time at Mount Cranmore after such venues as Vail and Mount Washington. The first US woman and man at each of the three qualifying races win automatic berths to the national teams. The remaining members-three men and two women--will be selected by the USATF Mountain, Ultra, and Trail Running Sports Council. The men's team will have 7 members, the junior men (under 20) four; the women's senior team has 5 members and juniors three.
The Other Races of the New England Mountain Running Circuit
Many of the past and future members of the USA Mountain Running Team will be racing the New England Circuit and the National Mountain Running Championship, hoping to qualify for the World Championships (World Mountain Running Trophy) in September. The New England Circuit presents unique challenges-each race singly, and especially as a group of six. Teva, Inov-8, and the All-American Trail Running Association (AATRA) support the USATF New England Circuit.
Mount Wachusett: The Wachusett climb runs Saturday, May 26 at 9:30 a.m. This is the fifteenth annual 4.3-mile run to the top of the ski mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts. There are "only" 1095 feet to climb, with much of that elevation change in the first mile and the last mile. There is a short downhill section after the one-mile mark. The race fittingly begins on Mile Hill Road just below the ski lodge. The last 3.3 miles are entirely within Wachusett State Park. The final assault on the summit parking area for the finish is very steep. The route is closed to traffic. There are spectacular views all around with a wide-open summit. Eric Morse (24:14 in '99) and Julie Peterson (29:38 in 2000) hold the records.
Pack Monadnock: The second event is the Pack Monadnock Challenge 10 Miler, running from Wilton-Lyndeborough High School to the top of Pack Monadnock Mountain in Temple, New Hampshire. This is the 12th annual edition of the race, the oldest continuous mountain race in the circuit. Pack Monadnock is often compared in difficulty with Mount Washington, mostly because after running 8 miles on rolling hills, the last two miles are exceptionally steep. Total climb is 2,000 feet, but most of that is in the first mile and final two miles. The last 1.3 miles on the summit road becomes very steep-especially the final 200 meters. Pack is the longest of the six mountain races.
The course is beautifully picturesque on country roads, woods and farms, including 1.5 miles of dirt roads. It will run on Sunday, June 3, at 9:00 a.m. Registration and number pickup will be at the Wilton-Lyndeborough High School. It is point-to-point with a 1.5 mile walk down from the summit through Miller State Park for the post race cookout and awards at the former Temple Mountain Ski Area, directly across from Miller State Park and the summit road.
Loon Mountain: This is a 10K trail race to the summit of Loon Mountain, running Sunday July 8, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. The start and race headquarters are located at the Loon Mountain Ski Area, Lincoln, New Hampshire. Registration and number pick up will be at the Octagon Base Lodge, Loon Mountain Ski Area, 60 Loon Mountain Road in Lincoln just off the Kancamagus Highway. Registration will be open from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
The start is in a parking area adjacent to the Pemigewasset River. The course winds its way to service trails heading up Loon Mountain, then follows a combination of single track trails, service roads, and ski trails to the Summit Lodge. From there it travels across the ridge and up North Peak, with a final loop around the summit, returning to the finish at the gondola lift. It is an ascent-only race. For course maps and more information visit www.whitemountainmilers.com
Mount Ascutney: The final race is the Mount Ascutney Run to the Summit, starting at 9:30 a.m. July 14th, and runs entirely in the state park. No rolling hills warm-up for this one. It is short at 3.8 miles, but it starts immediately uphill and continues at a 12% grade to the summit. The mountain road is on the east side of the mountain with spectacular views of the Connecticut River Valley from the top. There are several switchbacks where you can take stock of the competition. Mount Ascutney is near Windsor, the birthplace of Vermont. Ascutney is also the steepest of the six races on average, as well as the highest elevation. It is very similar to the first half of the Mount Washington Road Race. The grade is constant with only a few brief level spots. This is the seventh year for Mount Ascutney, the concluding climb for the Circuit where the overall Circuit and age group champions will be decided.
*The Mount Washington Road Race (closed entry)
Take the Challenge
Yes, this is the chance to challenge yourself and set an entirely new type of goals for your running in 2007. This is nothing like those flatland races with their minor rolls. Gravity offers a new challenge, and mountains offer a way to get in really good shape for other races later in the year. The six unique events take place within a seven week time frame, the last week in May to the middle of July. After you run these events, your racing (and attitude about hills) will never be the same. The sense of accomplishment, and often the spectacular views, will change your running career. You will also view mountain peaks in a whole new light. Try it. Accept the challenge. Set those unique goals that come with the distinction of being a "Mountain Runner"!
The thirteenth annual La Sportiva USATF-New England Mountain Circuit blasts off on Saturday, May 26th, at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts. This kick-off contest is the moderately steep 4.3-mile Wachusett Mountain Hill Climb. It's a great way to start because Wachusett has the least amount of elevation change of the six. And the second race is in the Granite State, the Pack Monadnock 10-Mile Challenge. These two uphill battles, along with Mount Kearsarge, made up the original Mountain Circuit twelve years ago when it began as the only such series in the country-it still is the one and only.
Three of the Mountain Circuit Races are on roads, and the other three mostly on trails. Four are all uphill, point-to-point to mountain peaks, and two are up-down loops. Runners must be members of USATF to score in the series. You can sign up at www.usatfne.org, or call the New England office of USATF at (617) 566-7600. As for Circuit scoring, USATF officials have decided on a best five-out-of-six scoring format. Points will be awarded as a percentage of the winner's time, first man and first woman, but only the best five runs' totals will be counted. This will allow runners to miss a race--or have a bad day--without penalty.
Awards will be given for the series in women and men's open, masters, seniors, and veteran's categories. There are separate awards for the individual races. A unique T-shirt will be given to all "Mountain Goats" who complete all contests. Cash and gift certificates will be awarded to the first three women and men in series points.
And all races have on-line registration.
You can check out the fascinating history of the Mountain Running Circuit, founded by Dave Dunham (former Chair of the USATF-New England Mountain, Ultra, and Trail [MUT] Committee). It includes all past winners, all-time points leaders, all-time appearance leaders, and all age group champions. Dunham, by the way, three-time winner and former record holder at Mount Washington, won the open championship the first two years and the masters' championship the last two. The circuit has included nine different mountain races over twelve years. Go to www.usatfne.org and click on Mountain/Trail.
As noted, the USATF New England Mountain Running Circuit is the only one of its kind in the nation. And the interest and success it has generated helped spur the National USATF to organize the National Mountain Running Championship. The fourth annual USA Championship will run at Mount Cranmore after such past venues as Vail and Mount Washington.
National Mountain Running Championship
One of these six outstanding races, Mount Cranmore, will host the USA National Mountain Running Championships. It will also serve as a selection race for the National Mountain Running Team. This will be the second year in a row New Englanders have had the National Championship in their back yard, and the second straight year it has been in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It will run at Cranmore Mountain Resort on Sunday, June 24th. The 20th Annual Cranmore Hill Climb was awarded the bid for the National Championship at the December meeting of USA Track and Field in Indianapolis. In 2006, the Mount Washington Road Race served as the National Championship.
Mount Cranmore will also serve as a qualifying race for the Teva US National Mountain Running Team. The top two U.S. men and top U.S. woman will be awarded automatic spots on the team. The Hill Climb is one of three qualifying races, the other two taking place in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and at Mt. Tam in Mill Valley, California.
Mount Cranmore is a terrific mountain race, and very challenging, as a championship race should be. It has great facilities and sponsorship, thanks to Inov-8, a premier maker of trail running and mountain shoes, as well as host Cranmore Mountain Resort.
It offers a different challenge with three laps up and down the mountain for men (total 13.5K), and two laps up and down for women and juniors (9K). Each loop is approximately 4.5K with a steep downhill section. The race is designed to mirror the course of this year's World Mountain Trophy in Saillon, Switzerland, the primary target race of the National Team. The World Mountain Running Trophy alternates between uphill only in even years, and then up and down in odd years. Therefore 2007 will be up-down at Saillon. Also, nearly all World Championship races have been mostly on trails, as is Mount Cranmore.
The Mount Cranmore Hill Climb will also serve as the La Sportiva USA Track and Field New England Mountain Running Championship. This is the 20th annual Mount Cranmore race, one of the oldest mountain races in New England after Mount Washington.
Paul Kirsch is the Chair of the USATF-New England Mountain, Ultra, and Trail (MUT) Committee, and also serves as the Cranmore Hill Climb Race Director. He also directs the Loon Mountain race. Paul can be reached at 603-367-8676 or pkirsch@adelphia.net.
The Circuit Includes USATF-New England Trail Running Championship
New this year, the Northfield Mountain 10.3K race (6.4-miler, 1,200 feet climb and descent) is the third of the series, and will serve as the USATF New England Trail Running Championship race in addition to the Mountain Circuit. The Northfield Mountain race runs on June 9 in Northfield, Massachusetts. Northfield's course is rolling, as well as up and down. It is 100% trail, with single track and double track (maintenance roads), and it is both up and down. This race has also been chosen as part of the famous Hockomock Swamp Rat Series. Check it out at www.hockomock.net. It will run from the Northfield Mountain Visitors Center, 99 Millers Falls Road (Route 63), just two miles north of Route 2.
The USATF New England Mountain Running Circuit is the only one of its kind in the nation. The New England Championship race has also been unique to New England, and the interest and success it has generated helped spur the National USATF to organize the national championship, running for the fourth time at Mount Cranmore after such venues as Vail and Mount Washington. The first US woman and man at each of the three qualifying races win automatic berths to the national teams. The remaining members-three men and two women--will be selected by the USATF Mountain, Ultra, and Trail Running Sports Council. The men's team will have 7 members, the junior men (under 20) four; the women's senior team has 5 members and juniors three.
The Other Races of the New England Mountain Running Circuit
Many of the past and future members of the USA Mountain Running Team will be racing the New England Circuit and the National Mountain Running Championship, hoping to qualify for the World Championships (World Mountain Running Trophy) in September. The New England Circuit presents unique challenges-each race singly, and especially as a group of six. Teva, Inov-8, and the All-American Trail Running Association (AATRA) support the USATF New England Circuit.
Mount Wachusett: The Wachusett climb runs Saturday, May 26 at 9:30 a.m. This is the fifteenth annual 4.3-mile run to the top of the ski mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts. There are "only" 1095 feet to climb, with much of that elevation change in the first mile and the last mile. There is a short downhill section after the one-mile mark. The race fittingly begins on Mile Hill Road just below the ski lodge. The last 3.3 miles are entirely within Wachusett State Park. The final assault on the summit parking area for the finish is very steep. The route is closed to traffic. There are spectacular views all around with a wide-open summit. Eric Morse (24:14 in '99) and Julie Peterson (29:38 in 2000) hold the records.
Pack Monadnock: The second event is the Pack Monadnock Challenge 10 Miler, running from Wilton-Lyndeborough High School to the top of Pack Monadnock Mountain in Temple, New Hampshire. This is the 12th annual edition of the race, the oldest continuous mountain race in the circuit. Pack Monadnock is often compared in difficulty with Mount Washington, mostly because after running 8 miles on rolling hills, the last two miles are exceptionally steep. Total climb is 2,000 feet, but most of that is in the first mile and final two miles. The last 1.3 miles on the summit road becomes very steep-especially the final 200 meters. Pack is the longest of the six mountain races.
The course is beautifully picturesque on country roads, woods and farms, including 1.5 miles of dirt roads. It will run on Sunday, June 3, at 9:00 a.m. Registration and number pickup will be at the Wilton-Lyndeborough High School. It is point-to-point with a 1.5 mile walk down from the summit through Miller State Park for the post race cookout and awards at the former Temple Mountain Ski Area, directly across from Miller State Park and the summit road.
Loon Mountain: This is a 10K trail race to the summit of Loon Mountain, running Sunday July 8, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. The start and race headquarters are located at the Loon Mountain Ski Area, Lincoln, New Hampshire. Registration and number pick up will be at the Octagon Base Lodge, Loon Mountain Ski Area, 60 Loon Mountain Road in Lincoln just off the Kancamagus Highway. Registration will be open from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
The start is in a parking area adjacent to the Pemigewasset River. The course winds its way to service trails heading up Loon Mountain, then follows a combination of single track trails, service roads, and ski trails to the Summit Lodge. From there it travels across the ridge and up North Peak, with a final loop around the summit, returning to the finish at the gondola lift. It is an ascent-only race. For course maps and more information visit www.whitemountainmilers.com
Mount Ascutney: The final race is the Mount Ascutney Run to the Summit, starting at 9:30 a.m. July 14th, and runs entirely in the state park. No rolling hills warm-up for this one. It is short at 3.8 miles, but it starts immediately uphill and continues at a 12% grade to the summit. The mountain road is on the east side of the mountain with spectacular views of the Connecticut River Valley from the top. There are several switchbacks where you can take stock of the competition. Mount Ascutney is near Windsor, the birthplace of Vermont. Ascutney is also the steepest of the six races on average, as well as the highest elevation. It is very similar to the first half of the Mount Washington Road Race. The grade is constant with only a few brief level spots. This is the seventh year for Mount Ascutney, the concluding climb for the Circuit where the overall Circuit and age group champions will be decided.
*The Mount Washington Road Race (closed entry)
Take the Challenge
Yes, this is the chance to challenge yourself and set an entirely new type of goals for your running in 2007. This is nothing like those flatland races with their minor rolls. Gravity offers a new challenge, and mountains offer a way to get in really good shape for other races later in the year. The six unique events take place within a seven week time frame, the last week in May to the middle of July. After you run these events, your racing (and attitude about hills) will never be the same. The sense of accomplishment, and often the spectacular views, will change your running career. You will also view mountain peaks in a whole new light. Try it. Accept the challenge. Set those unique goals that come with the distinction of being a "Mountain Runner"!
16th Annual Mt. Wachusett Road Race
Race #1 (of the six race Mountain Goat Quest) in the La Sportiva Mountain Running series was at Mt. Wachusett, Saturday morning
4.3 miles mostly uphill with 2 downhill sections. It was very interesting to run uphill most of the time. Definitely a new test of my system! The weather was perfect and the runners were pretty competitive, hailing from CMS (central mass striders) and BAA (Boston Athletic Association). I was pretty happy with the results and look forward to the next one this coming weekend... Pack Monadnock 10 miler!
My stats:
Nancy E Cook F40-49 Belchertown MA
65 overall out of 338 finishers
10 woman, 4th in age group
Rank 65 Time: 33:42 Bib#: 60
A course record was set by a 20 year old BAA girl - 29:27 - very fast indeed!
(Me - a fake pose running to the top!)
(My #1 fan!)
(The view of Boston from the top of the mountain)
5/22/08
The Tiger Cub Scout Scavenger Hunt
It worked out perfectly - I read the list to the boys and they were aware of each piece that they were supposed to collect. We gave them plastic cups to collect the stuff they wanted to bring back and off we went into the woods. At the end we went over the list and the boys showed us their collection. Also it was key that we did the hunt "in pairs" as not to create competition and keep it more fun!
Fun times!
5/20/08
A hike in the woods with the Tiger Scouts!
Great photo opportunity of the nature around us.... in the woods with the boys last night for the hike at our house as part of the activities that the boys need to do as part of their Cub Scout experience. I made up a scavenger hunt and the parents and boys walked the 1/2 mile hike I measured from our back yard and back to the house. See the great photos and I will attach the scavenger hunt list later .. it was really so much fun with these great 6 year old boys!
5/19/08
Exposing the rock!
They say that most of Belchertown is rock and we are living right on top of it - lots of rock and dirt! The grass is growing in the backyard, but the window outside the kitchen needed more light and landscaping - so we began the journey of "lopping it" off and spent about 9 hours this weekend spraying with the pressure washer and Steve on the tractor removing the dirt - chainsaw to a few trees and boy what a change! The screened in porch overlooking it all is our new favorite place - and Oakley's too! Here are a few photos and I will post more later!
Steve also raked the driveway with me on the tractor waving at Gerry & Brian at the bottom of the driveway like I was in a parade. We have so much fun together - and what a beautiful weekend!
5/16/08
Jim's Angels
We are prepping for our bi-annual EI staff meeting and needing to keep this underground, but had to share our latest brainstorm for the Mission Support team - - these are all the girls that report to Jim.... Kyla (MSABC NTP), Miranda (Workplace Giving), Detra (Corporate Recognition) & soon to add Dannica (our NHO point) and of course... me!
I think the theme is right on and with such style and grace, we really do make quite the team! More later!
Flowers in the yard
Oh the beauty of spring and the many colors that bloom .... The french garden that you walk through to get to the front door needs just a little weeding and hopefully I will get to it this weekend, but right now I captured some of the beauty in the yard to share.
5/15/08
Grass is ALWAYS greener growing it from scratch!
Reaching to the heavens for the sun and the rain!
Our new baby grass!
Our BIG backyard - - & my latest favorite thing to do - - "watch the grass grow". It is starting to look green out there - just check it out for yourself!
5/14/08
TIlapia - - the vegetarian fish - it is what's for dinner tonight!
Baked Tilapia with White Wine & Herbs
2 fresh Tilapia fillets, approximately 8-10oz each
150ml (1/4pint) medium white wine
1-2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 tablespoons freshly chopped mixed herbs
6 salad onions, diagonally sliced
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2oz butter
Arrange the Tilapia side by side in a lightly oiled roasting tin or ovenproof dish.
Pour over the wine, then sprinkle over the chopped garlic, most of the herbs, the salad onions and seasoning to taste. Place half the butter on each fish.
Cover with a sheet of lightly oiled foil, seal in the fish then bake in a preheated oven 350F, for 30-35 minutes.
Transfer the Tilapia to a serving dish and keep warm. Pour the juices into a pan and serve immediately, sprinkled with the remaining herbs.
Cooking Time: Approximately 35 minutes Serves: 2
Recipe from American Tilapia Association
Photo is from our dinner - - here in Belchertown - - "oh so yummy"
Boston Marathon - news from the Globe & the Republican (local paper)
We bought the Boston Globe on the way out of town with this incredible coverage of the marathon. Finally I had a few moments to look at the great pics and the print - so I scanned to post on the blog.
The Hoyts - this father / son team that I see in many of the races (marathons and triathlons) that I compete in the New England area are featured right near my results and I am thrilled to have them and a post to their story here on my blog. They are truly an inspiration and really amazing people to see in action.
The other cool thing about this post is that last year I was #1 in the "Upper Valley" and this year #1 in the "Happy Valley". Pretty neat to share this newspaper article sent to us in the mail. Great feel good stuff!
The Hoyts - this father / son team that I see in many of the races (marathons and triathlons) that I compete in the New England area are featured right near my results and I am thrilled to have them and a post to their story here on my blog. They are truly an inspiration and really amazing people to see in action.
The goal of Team Hoyt is to integrate the physically challenged into everyday life. One way to accomplish this is to educate the able-bodied, making them more aware of the issues that the disabled face every day. Another is by actively helping the disabled to participate in activities that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. Team Hoyt targets both of these areas.
The other cool thing about this post is that last year I was #1 in the "Upper Valley" and this year #1 in the "Happy Valley". Pretty neat to share this newspaper article sent to us in the mail. Great feel good stuff!
US Amatuer Triathlon Rankings for 2007 - I rank 161 in the US and 25th for New England in age group!
Here is the list I searched on the USAT site - looking to see if I qualified for All American - which last year I was honorable mention. The closer your score is to 100, the higher your ranking. This is the unfiltered ranking.
National Ranking (40-44 age group) - #161 (not bad!)
161 NANCY PECK 44 76.73102 84.40412 (#159 if you take out the pros that were ranked)
New England ranking in the 40-44 age group = #25 (not bad at all!)
Pretty psyched with these results!
Here is the link to my last year's results - which my points ranking was 83 - so I moved up one notch! : ) 141 National, 10th in New England - 2006. I think you have to do at least 3 races to get ranked so we shall see what happens in 2008 - considering a new running focus. But very, very happy with the results. And I LOVE to see my name in "print" for my efforts!
Order First Name Last Name Age Score Gender Grading
1 CASSIE MCWILLIAM 42 86.80092 95.48101
2 LISBETH KENYON 43 85.3127 93.84397
3 KERRY SIMMONS 42 83.69292 92.06221
4 MARTHA GRINNELL 42 83.40799 91.74879
5 JULIE DENNEY 41 83.049 91.3539
6 JEANETTE SHELOW-MACDOUGALL 45 81.36969 89.50666
7 CAROL WILKE 42 81.2289 89.3518
8 MARIA CIMONETTI 43 80.90172 88.99189
9 ANNA STAUSS 41 80.68547 88.75402
10 BARBARA SESSA 44 80.25039 88.27543
11 ELAINE DEBITETTO 45 80.09196 88.10117
12 DONNA DESOUSA-SCHMIDT 42 79.91704 87.90874
13 CATHARINE PAYSON 43 79.82848 87.81133
14 LESLIE MYERS 41 79.50777 87.45854
15 ROBYN PASSANDER 45 79.42077 87.36285
16 KATHLEEN HAYDEN 43 78.91225 86.80348
17 LAUREN WARREN 42 78.83897 86.72287
18 ERIN BRENNAN 43 78.26292 86.08922
19 KAREN MONKS 41 78.18105 85.99915
20 MICHELLE HORGAN 42 77.99111 85.79022
21 TAMELA LYNCH 45 77.5341 85.28751
22 KAREN MACKIN 43 77.5224 85.27464
23 ELIZABETH DUGAN 45 77.50735 85.25809
24 BARBARA BRITTAN 43 76.96582 84.66241
25 NANCY PECK 44 76.73102 84.40412
26 MEGAN SEARFOSS 43 76.35442 83.98987
27 JENNIFER MILLER 43 76.24192 83.86611
28 TRICIA WESTON 41 76.22392 83.84631
29 MARY MISIASZEK 42 75.80978 83.39075
30 NANCY THOMSON 44 75.29725 82.82697
31 HEIDI CLERMONT 41 75.21867 82.74053
32 MELISSA SMITH 42 75.06745 82.5742
33 CELESTE LARAJA 42 75.00206 82.50227
Celeste is a friend who I see at the local triathlons here in the Northeast.
National Ranking (40-44 age group) - #161 (not bad!)
161 NANCY PECK 44 76.73102 84.40412 (#159 if you take out the pros that were ranked)
New England ranking in the 40-44 age group = #25 (not bad at all!)
Pretty psyched with these results!
Here is the link to my last year's results - which my points ranking was 83 - so I moved up one notch! : ) 141 National, 10th in New England - 2006. I think you have to do at least 3 races to get ranked so we shall see what happens in 2008 - considering a new running focus. But very, very happy with the results. And I LOVE to see my name in "print" for my efforts!
Order First Name Last Name Age Score Gender Grading
1 CASSIE MCWILLIAM 42 86.80092 95.48101
2 LISBETH KENYON 43 85.3127 93.84397
3 KERRY SIMMONS 42 83.69292 92.06221
4 MARTHA GRINNELL 42 83.40799 91.74879
5 JULIE DENNEY 41 83.049 91.3539
6 JEANETTE SHELOW-MACDOUGALL 45 81.36969 89.50666
7 CAROL WILKE 42 81.2289 89.3518
8 MARIA CIMONETTI 43 80.90172 88.99189
9 ANNA STAUSS 41 80.68547 88.75402
10 BARBARA SESSA 44 80.25039 88.27543
11 ELAINE DEBITETTO 45 80.09196 88.10117
12 DONNA DESOUSA-SCHMIDT 42 79.91704 87.90874
13 CATHARINE PAYSON 43 79.82848 87.81133
14 LESLIE MYERS 41 79.50777 87.45854
15 ROBYN PASSANDER 45 79.42077 87.36285
16 KATHLEEN HAYDEN 43 78.91225 86.80348
17 LAUREN WARREN 42 78.83897 86.72287
18 ERIN BRENNAN 43 78.26292 86.08922
19 KAREN MONKS 41 78.18105 85.99915
20 MICHELLE HORGAN 42 77.99111 85.79022
21 TAMELA LYNCH 45 77.5341 85.28751
22 KAREN MACKIN 43 77.5224 85.27464
23 ELIZABETH DUGAN 45 77.50735 85.25809
24 BARBARA BRITTAN 43 76.96582 84.66241
25 NANCY PECK 44 76.73102 84.40412
26 MEGAN SEARFOSS 43 76.35442 83.98987
27 JENNIFER MILLER 43 76.24192 83.86611
28 TRICIA WESTON 41 76.22392 83.84631
29 MARY MISIASZEK 42 75.80978 83.39075
30 NANCY THOMSON 44 75.29725 82.82697
31 HEIDI CLERMONT 41 75.21867 82.74053
32 MELISSA SMITH 42 75.06745 82.5742
33 CELESTE LARAJA 42 75.00206 82.50227
Celeste is a friend who I see at the local triathlons here in the Northeast.
5/12/08
Happy Mother's Day!
"My day"
7 AM - run 7 miles with Oakley
9:00 AM - clean a little house and play games with Schuyler & Steve while drinking Rao's coffee
10:30 AM - Go to the "Roadhouse" for Brunch - French Toast, Pancakes, Omlette and the best organic coffee around!
12 - Shopping in Hadley - TJ Maxx, Stop & Shop, Blockbuster, Dicks, Liquor 44 - all my favorite stores!
Flowers
PJ's
Perfume
Speed Stacks - Schuyler's 4th set! Although we played competition with them today!
3 PM - Steve spread grass, I cleaned house and did laundry and played with the Pitch Back with Schuyler
5:30 PM - dinner with my favorite guys!
6 PM - The Golden Compass - movie with popcorn and some J. Lohr Chardonnay!
To sleep early and some very special sweet dreams!
7 AM - run 7 miles with Oakley
9:00 AM - clean a little house and play games with Schuyler & Steve while drinking Rao's coffee
10:30 AM - Go to the "Roadhouse" for Brunch - French Toast, Pancakes, Omlette and the best organic coffee around!
12 - Shopping in Hadley - TJ Maxx, Stop & Shop, Blockbuster, Dicks, Liquor 44 - all my favorite stores!
Flowers
PJ's
Perfume
Speed Stacks - Schuyler's 4th set! Although we played competition with them today!
3 PM - Steve spread grass, I cleaned house and did laundry and played with the Pitch Back with Schuyler
5:30 PM - dinner with my favorite guys!
6 PM - The Golden Compass - movie with popcorn and some J. Lohr Chardonnay!
To sleep early and some very special sweet dreams!
5/10/08
We are growing grass!!
Some really beautiful photos from the back yard to share on this post as I was wandering around seeing the beautiful colors in the flowers that spring has to bring... AND WE HAVE GRASS! Such a cool thing to see the seed turning to grass. Pretty funny how the line in the yard delineates where we stopped planting.... can't wait to see the see of green lawn - - soon, oh so very soon..... sun keep shining!
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