Wachusett Mt. Race Report 5/26/12
This is race #2 in the USATF-New England Mountain Running Series. It takes place in Princeton, Massachusetts. and is less than two hours from home. I know its a long way to go for a short race but I was shooting for a P.R. and need the hill training for The “Big One”. Its a hard and fast 4.7 mile run with some road and some trail. The weather was 75 degrees, warm and humid with some sunshine. The coarse has not changed from the previous year since there is still construction on the summit road. This race presents a real challenge. 
The first climb after the start is a 1.2 mile hill on Mile Hill Rd. How ironic. Everyone is huffing and puffing and the sweat off my brow is pouring. I fall into a strong uphill pace and stay mindful of my breathing technique I developed in last years race. Thanks to Mr. Bimble I have learned to pass runners on a uphill no matter what % of grade. Immediately the course turns from pavement to a downhill trail run. I keep a fast downhill pace but not too fast on the first downhill because the next climb is another mile or so on gravel grassy roads that cross the ski slopes. The coarse then goes up this steep hiking trail called “Old Indian Trail” to “Semuhenna Trail” through the Old Growth Trees. This section is very hard and beautiful. There is no time to hug trees as I am going for a PR.
The downhill section is just ahead so I diesel up to the last water station at the high point of the coarse. From here it is over 1.5 miles of fast but manageable downhill on grassy gravel dirt roads. Just before you get to the bottom of the mountain the course jets off the road and onto this rocky, rooty, single track. Some where along this downhill section I came across a younger runner who was experiencing some side cramping. I told him to run with his hands over his head as I passed him. He chased me all the way down that dirt road telling me about his love to trail run. I told him he was doing fine. He didn’t seem to have those cramps anymore so he continued to chase me onto that single track. He was so excited to be near the finish and to be running amongst mountain running champions. At one point another runner told us to “Be Quiet” as we booked along the trail. I said excuse me I have never been hushed before on the trail and said runner left. We quickly passed that guy and floored it to the finish. I kindly let that young kid pass to the finish and thanked him after the race for the motivation to run fast the last mile or so. I did get my P.R.! and stayed to make sure my name appeared on the results. Due to last years U.R.O. hiccup and this years mix up at registration I was sure to wait. All was good and I was off to work for the closing shift. One last glimpse of the mountain and some thanks for how good it was for me to be up there this day. I hope to go back and spend time hugging those really old trees. Sudssie