The La Sportiva GoLite USATF New England Mountain Running Circuit

By Dave Dunham

" ...Tesfaye Bekele (a sub 2:15 marathoner) showed up gunning for the course record.   He said something like "I read that the record was 24:35 for 4.3 miles and figured I could run a lot faster than that".   Eric Morse ran with him for the first mile then showed him his back.   Eric missed the CR by four seconds, but beat Bekele by thirty seconds.   Another road runner gets a taste for mountain running and finds it not to his liking ..."

History

The USATF Mountain circuit was founded in 1996 as a way to help runners enjoy the distinct aspects of various mountain races in New England.   I was involved with USATF since the late 80's (when it was still known as TAC) and worked as an athlete's rep. on the New England board.   I had been traveling to Europe for a couple of years to mountain races and wondered why there wasn't any real organization to the many mountain races in my own backyard.   Since no one else seemed interested in trying to pump up involvement in mountain running I took it upon myself.   I approached the races that I knew of and asked them to be part of a circuit, and so it began.

Scoring

	The author finishing Mt Ashutney

All current USATF members are scored in the circuit.   In 2006 the best five finishes will be counted and a special "Mountain Goat" award will be presented to those who complete all six races.   Points are given based on a percentage of the winner's time.

This seems to make more sense than place. You could finish two seconds behind the winner in a highly competitive race and come in tenth, which didn't seem fair to me.   I'm amazed at how even people run from race to race - they score essentially the same every time.

A lot of people work to make the Circuit happen.   La Sportiva/GoLite came on board for 2006 as the title sponsor and will award $1,000 cash divided among the top three men and women in the overall series, as well as gift certificates to the top age group finishers.

The Races

The number of races and their dates have changed on occasion, and a few races have been added or dropped during the last eleven years.   This year we have a lineup of six classics:

The course climbs over 1400 feet with 400 feet of drop in 4.3 miles.   Course records:   Open Eric Morse 24:14 ('99), Julie Peterson 29:38 ('00).  

	New England is known for its long grinds in inclement weather

Wachusett has been in the circuit since 1996.   The first race was held in 1977, but it was not contested for from 1979 to 1991.   The current incarnation has been held continuously since 1992.   The course is paved from start to finish.   The first mile is the toughest in the race as it climbs 377' for an average grade of 7%.   The course flattens out and drops as you enter the State park. The second mile has 246' of climb and drops 33', the average grade is 4%. The third mile has 147' of climb and 115' of descent.   The final 1.3 is a long grind.   There are some nice views of the "windmill farm" at four miles and on a clear day you can see Boston to the South and the Wapack range to the North.   The final climb in the parking lot adds insult to injury with a gut busting 200m stretch. This is a tough mountain race as it is something of a "sprint"; times are generally equal to a 5-mile flat race.   Amenities include a very reasonable entry fee, baggage to the finish, prizes in five age groups, and excellent management by the Central Mass. Striders.

I remember watching the race in 1997 when I couldn't run due to an injury.   Tesfaye Bekele (a sub 2:15 marathoner) showed up gunning for the course record.   He said something like "I read that the record was 24:35 for 4.3 miles and figured I could run a lot faster than that".   Eric Morse ran with him for the first mile then showed him his back.   Eric missed the CR by four seconds, but beat Bekele by thirty seconds.   Another road runner gets a taste for mountain running and finds it not to his liking; Bekele never returned.

The course climbs 2,000 feet and drops 300 feet in 10 miles.   Pack has been part of the circuit since 1996.   The race was been held continuously from 1990 through 2003; it was not held in 2004 but returned in 2005.   The course is mostly paved with a couple of stretches of dirt road from Wilton NH to the summit of Pack Monadnock in Temple NH.   Pack means "Little" although there is nothing little about the final climb!   The race features some very scenic back roads of New Hampshire.   The first mile is a tough long climb that was the signature of the now defunct Wilton 15k.   The next 7 miles are rolling hilly roads; there is a fine view of the finish line from the 5-mile mark (be sure to look up!).   Eight to the nine-mile mark are the first major test, a long climb on route 101, then a brief respite before turning into Miller State Park.   The last mile in Miller State park has climbs steeper than Mt Washington (11.5% average grade).   The final 200m has a grade of about 30%.   Amenities include mile markers, water stops, baggage to the finish, and a fire tower view if you are willing to climb it.

I really like this one, although I haven't had much luck getting to the summit first (three wins in nine tries).   2005 was brutal, it was in the 80s at 9 AM and very humid.   I just tried to make it from one water-stop to the next.   I ran five minutes slower than my personal worst and still was able to place third (most of the CMS boys were racing at the NE 5K championships).   It was a tough day for all.

	Typical field at Northfield Mountain

Northfield has been the home for the USATF New England Association championships for Mountain running from 2003 to 2005.   The event has served as a qualifier for the TEVA USA Mountain Running Team in 2003 and 2005.   The race will be part of the USATF NE Mountain running circuit, the "Grand Tree" (trail running circuit), and has been designated as the La Sportiva - USATF NE Trail Running Championship for 2006. The 2006 course is a 10K featuring 1,000' of climb and descent.   The footing is very good.   It is 100% trail - 50% single track, 50% wide grass trail.

These are excellent facilities for a mountain race.   Northfield has been very receptive to having us race on the mountain (I also direct a snowshoe race here in February).   In 2005 Chad Newton hurdled the metal gate on his final lap; he claimed it saved him a couple of seconds.

This first time race is a joint effort of experienced race directors Paul Kirsch (White Mountain Milers president and RD of the Cranmore Hill Climb) and Dave Dunham.   The race has been designated the USATF NE Mountain Running Championship and will serve as a qualifier for the TEVA US Mountain Running Team.   The course has been designed to mirror the 2006 World Trophy course in Turkey, thus giving runners in New England a taste of an international mountain race.

The 19 th annual run up Mt Cranmore in North Conway NH features a two loop up/down course which climbs/descends 2,000' over 10K.

This is one of the oldest (the oldest?) continuously held mountain races in New England.   I had run the race in 1996 and set the course record.   I ran it with the goal of breaking the course record and winning a pair of racing snowshoes.   I got a pair of Tubbs 10K's which replaced my "Good Thunder" snowshoes, and got me to realize that it was in fact possible to race in snowshoes.

The race was first held in the early 70's as a tune-up for local XC skiers and has always been popular with roller-skiers.   After many years of inactivity it was brought back in 2001 as part of the Circuit.   There is also a popular bike race to the summit in early July.   The course is a paved toll road to the summit of Ascutney in Windsor VT.   The average grade (12%) and the many twists in the road are reminiscent of the Mount Washington road race.   The course climbs 2300 feet in 3.8 miles.   This is a very tough race, but thankfully not a long run.   Amenities include mile markers, a water stop, and post-race refreshments. Eric Morse holds the course record with a 28:47 and Suzy West tops the women with a 36:52.

This is a very tough race; you really never get to settle in as it is a "sprint". In the past the race was held prior to Mt Washington and was a good gauge of your halfway split at the big mountain.

The Records

All-time Points Leaders and Races Leaders

Year by year

1996 - The circuit kicked off at Mt Kearsarge, which was the youngest of the races, as it was only the second annual.   The other two races were the Wachusett mountain race, which had first been run in 1978 and continuously since 1992, and the Pack Monadnock 10-mile.   Thirty-five runners completed the three races, with circuit founder Dave Dunham leading the way with a perfect 300 points.    Ronald Johnston won the 40+ title with 239 points and Margo Webber was the women's winner with 238 points.

1997 - Eric Morse scored a perfect 300 points to take the individual title in the second year of the circuit.   The races were the same, Kearsarge, Wachusett, and Pack. Forty-eight runners completed all three races.

1998 - Stratton Mountain was added to the circuit in 1998 as the first ever USATF NE Mountain running championship.   Despite having a fourth race the circuit continued to attract runners looking to test themselves as forty-two runners completed all four races.

1999 - Eric Morse continued his winning ways taking three of the four circuit races for a total of 399.20 points.   Morse's only loss was to Dunham at Kearsarge.   Sue Lachance was the women's winner with 302.00 points.   Twenty-seven runners completed all four races.

2000 - Stratton mountain exited the series after two years, which returned the circuit to the original three races.   Eric Morse scored a perfect three hundred points to lead the way.   Thirty-five runners completed all three races.    Suzy West was the women's champion.

2001 - The circuit expanded to five races with the addition of Windblown and Ascutney.   Morse won the best four of five races format with a perfect 400 points.   He missed a turn at Windblown and did not finish.   Eighteen runners completed all five races and additional thirteen runners completed four.

2002 - Windblown exited the series which returned to four races.   Scoring was based on results from all four races.   Cathy Pearce was the women's winner with 312.09 points which was good enough for seventh overall.   Thirty-nine runners completed all four races.

2003 - Northfield Mountain was added to the circuit as the New England Mountain running championships, thus increasing the circuit to five races.   Eric Morse won his fifth straight crown - and sixth in the circuit's 8 year history.   Eleven runners finished the full five race calendar, with 34 runners completing four of five.

2004 - The circuit contracted to four races as Pack Monadnock was not held.   Mountain running newcomer Josh Ferenc (Keene NH) out-dueled Kevin Tilton (CMS/Conway NH) to win 392.42 to383.48 points.   Eldon Burkinshaw (Gate City Striders) was the 60+ winner, and also moved into the lead for all-time race appearances in Mountain Circuit races.   The Women's winner was also the 40+ champion as Helen Bradler (MRM) scored 269.77.

2005 - The circuit increased to six races with the finale being held in North Conway at the 18 th annual Mt Cranmore race.    A total of 109 USATF members scored points in the circuit.   Paul Low (488.48) and Suzy West (473.49) came away with the top point totals in the best five-of-six format.   Twenty-one runners ran each of the six races and another sixteen completed five races.

The author and Eric Morse in an epic duel on Mt Ashutney