Promises to Keep

by Dave Camire

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
And miles to go before I sleep.
Robert Frost

Race winner Chris Teague photo Michael Amarello

Derry, NH -- Robert Frost, one of Derry New Hampshire's most famous residents aptly described how I felt about this year's Boston Prep 16 Miler. After running in the race last year for the first time, I promised myself that I would return this year to race the run (see Hills are our Friends). Well let me tell you, by the time I reached the 11 mile mark, I felt like I was doing what another famous Derry resident, astronaut Alan Shepard, did 40 years ago - leaving this planet! This is one difficult road race!

Now I've been around the block a few times. I have run Stu's and it's tough. I have run Cape Ann and it's also tough. Actually it's a lot like Stu's, but warmer. I have even run that Race to the Clouds up in the White Mountains and that was tough, but it had only one hill! Without a doubt the Boston Prep 16-Miler takes them all on. I'm not sure if race founder Mike Beeman should be canonized or crucified for finding 16 miles of road that would humble the most hardened New England runner.

With that said, you would think half the civilized running world would by pass Exit 5 and head to the Manchester Mall for a nice day of shopping instead of attempting this gut wrenching, body slamming event, but this is not the case. In fact the race has flourished. Nevermind that it was 11 degrees at the start of the race. Entry into this event has climbed as steeply as that hill at eleven miles --from 370 entries in year one, to 500 in year two and to around 700 this year - what gives?

My theory is that runners from New England are tough, no make that very tough, and nothing is more enticing to them then a challenge. Well folks, race director Jeff Litchfield and his group from the Greater Derry Track Club has done a superb job of supplying one. If there were a baptism to becoming a tough runner, completing this race would be it.

A pair of Greater Lowell Road Runners, Chris Teague of Norwood, MA and Lisa Senatore of Chelmsford, MA dominated this year's race. Teague outlasted Bradford's Dan Verrington with a 1:26:52 and a new course record by one second! Lisa Senatore made easy work of the rest of the women's field and the course record with a 1:46:38. For their efforts both runners will have very sore legs tomorrow.

For the third year in a row, Peg Donovan (1:51:00) took the women's masters title while Marty Lechleider (1:39:19) took the men's. Wendy Burbank (2:19:17) was a repeat winner in the women's senior division while Brian Byrne (1:48:38) captured the men's title. Sixty-nine year old Don Ross (2:14:00) won the veterans' title and John Di Comandrea (2:29:12) took the 70-plus honors.

This year's race served as the first installment on the RRCA NH Grand Prix Series. The defending champion Gate City Striders of Nashua picked up right where they left off garnering 105 points. They were followed by the host Greater Derry Track Club (55 points) and the Granite State Racing Team (48 points).

Complete Results