CMS 5K Series Race #52

Worcester, MA

December 27, 1997

Results courtesy of the Central Mass Striders.

A week ago, in the process of traveling to a CMS 52-Week 5K Series race for the first time, Dave Birse of Hancock, NH managed to get lost enroute and, as a result, started the race late and ended up finishing 4th. This week Birse arrived well before the start of the race and with less than a mile to go seemed to be on his way to a first-place finish. At this point, however, the gods seemed determined to consign him once again to a 4th place finish.

While warming up prior to the race, some of the runners reported that one of the side roads on the course was ice-covered and treacherous. Therefore, the race officials declared the "snow rules" to be in effect. This included giving runners the option of running on the aforementioned ice-covered road or circumventing it by using an alternate route.

As he approached the road in question, Birse decided to opt for the alternate route. What the race officials failed to explain was that the alternate route was about 300 yards longer. Those running directly behind him chose the shorter route - a wise choice inasmuch as not only did they save 300 yards, but much of the ice had melted. So what was a 150 yard lead turned into a 150 yard deficit and a resulting 4th place finish for Birse.

1	18:46	Matt Rossetti		00-19M	Worcester, MA		CMS/DHS
2	18:47	Mike Maloney		20-39M	S. Grafton, MA		GLRR
3	19:03	Bob Girouard		50-59M	Fitchburg, MA		CMS
4	19:13	Dave Birse		20-39M	Hancock, NH		CMS
5	19:23	Dennis Maccallum	40-49M	Lancaster, MA		CMS
6	20:19	Bob Brady		40-49M	Worcester, MA		CMS
7	20:35	Peter Orni		50-59M	Fitchburg, MA		CMS
8	20:38	Dave Greenslit		40-49M	Worcester, MA		CMS
9	21:05	Meg Ryan		20-39F	Worcester, MA		CMS	
10	21:08	John Grenier		40-49M	Leicester, MA		CMS
11	21:11	Joanne Lachapelle	40-49F	Worcester, MA		CMS
12	21:16	Ken Lemerise		40-49M	Charlton, MA		CMS
13	22:15	Bill Ferrara		50-59M	Milford, MA		CMS
14	22:19	Jim Conley		40-49M	Worcester, MA		CMS
15	22:31	Carol Hurley		40-49M	Spencer, MA		CMS
16	22:33	Eddie Gallivan		60-69M	Worcester, MA		CMS
17	22:44	Lisa Mentzer		20-39F	Millbury, MA		CMS
18	22:51	Rick Davis		40-49M	Oakham, MA		CMS
19	23:22	Stu Thurston		60-69M	Boylston, MA		CMS
20	24:32	Cheryl Herring		20-39F	Phoenix, AZ		ARR
21	24:59	Karl Tuomivaara		60-69M	Paxton, MA		CMS
22	26:58	Steve Plaza		40-49M	Dudley, MA
23	31:21	Ed Sato			60-69M	Worcester, MA		CMS
24	31:25	Nick Anastasi		60-69M	Atkinson, NH		CMS