Ascutney mountain

Windsor, VT, July 15, 2006

Ascutney

Images from the race

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2006 Ascutney Mountain race

The 2006 USATF NE mountain running circuit wrapped up today at the summit of Ascutney in Windsor Vermont. 55 runners gathered from five states for the 3.8 mile grind. The course had an average grade of 11% with extended sections of 19%. The weather was typical for New England in July. Temperatures reached the low 80's and the humidity was over 90%.

2006 TEVA USA Mountain team member Paul Low handily took the win by over five minutes. Low continued through the chute and completed the trail run to the true summit of Ascutney. Low's time of 29:39 ties Dave Dunham for the fifth fastest time on the mountain. Abby Woods was the women's champion in 41:37, taking the win by a little over a minute. Dawn Heinrich and Donna Smyth had a close fight in the women's 40-49 age group taking second and third overall in 42:54 and 43:02 respectively. Their times rank ninth and tenth fastest (all-time) for women 40-49. Dave Audet, who ran over 150 races last year, took top honors for the men in the 40-49 age group. He finished in fourth place overall with a time of 35:14. Bob Dion of Readsboro, VT was the top 50-59 finisher taking 11th overall in 38:05. Dion led the charge of six 50-59 runners in the top 20. The 50-59 men was the largest age group with 17 finishers. Dion's time was the fourth fastest ever run for a 50-59 man. Corrine Gaugler was the top 50-59 woman, taking 8th in 55:12. Marcia Masland was the top 60+ woman running a new course record of 53:03. The top 60-69 man was Peter Orni in 27th overall with a time of 45:35. His time was the fourth fastest ever run in the 60-69 age group. Richard Snyder, Tewksbury MA, was the top 70+ runner in 1:00:24. Halley Heinrich was the top finisher under 19 with a 51:07. Snyder (70) and Heinrich (13) were on either end of the age spectrum.

My (Dave Dunham) run of 33:42 was the sixth fastest for the 40-49 age group. I ran the race at 7:00 AM as my race directing duties would make it impossible to compete and do the timing/scoring.

Much thanks to everyone who pitched in to help out with anything that needed doing. Special thanks to Cathy Dunham for helping this race happen, and to the Vermont State Parks department for allowing us to have the race (and assisting with setup and the waterstop).