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NOVEMBERFEST TRAIL RUN

RECORD FIELD ENJOYS TRAILS, HUMOR, AND LOW KEY APPROACH

by Skip Cleaver

Dan Jones of Gils' Athletic Club

Nashua, NH - For a really good time, call the Novemberfest Race Committee. The Novemberfest Trail Run at Mine Falls Park in Nashua last Sunday had the perfect mix of humor, exercise, and camaraderie, good food and beverages for the entire field of participants to enjoy. The third annual 6.333 mile jaunt through the snow-covered Mine Falls trails drew a record crowd, an increase of 53% over last year, and none left disappointed. The low key approach began with one of the most humorous race applications found anywhere, and right on through the registration. Runners were off and sliding in a field of snow, and the run continued with no clocks, all of which were accurate to within one third of a second. The course included two "refreshment stops" along the way. At the finish, most of the runners were recorded, seeing their names go up on a used pizza box, with the majority even listed in the correct sequence. As luck would have it, the New England Patriots did their part for the festivities, winning the game which was one of the focal points of the post race party.

It was clear from early registration, to the explosion of the pop top starting gun--and I do mean explosion--right on through the low key pace, and mid race refreshments; this was going to be very different. "I've never been to a race like this before," said one of the lead women after leaving the first mid-race refreshment area, it's table complete with candelabra (lit), bubbly orange juice, cheese and crackers (excellent), V-8 juice, along with other beverages, snacks, and decorative effects. "That's the whole idea", shouted a nearby runner, who finally pried himself away from the table, but only after learning that there would be another in a few miles. Stations were manned in extraordinary fashion by Dick Welch, Jerry Roache, Leon Barry, Rich Macdonald, and Steve Doyle--all the best in the business, giving all runners the business in the woods.

"This is what running should be like in November", agreed two mid-pack runners. The course was beautiful, with a blend of tree borne color, white snow, and evergreens. Much of it was along the banks of the Nashua River, and along the Nashua Mill Canal, favorite haunts of many local runners. Native Nashuans gained an appreciation of this beautiful park through the eyes of residents from several Boston suburbs. The footing was difficult on the frozen track, but there were few complaints. Thanks to the "lead vehicles", mountain bikes which were somehow ridden by John Lysik and Rick Smith, there were no lost runners on the myriad of turns and loops. All negotiated the treacherous trails. All "three" Race Directors (Doyle, Thompson, Raiche, LeCours, Macdonald, and the other three) took pride in presenting a truly unique event, which will be fondly remembered by all participants. Whining and heart monitors were causes for disqualification. Jokes outnumbered complaints 123 to 1/3.

There was little emphasis on competition. Gate City Striders President Dave Beauley led most of the way, challenged only by Dwaine McDuffie and Tom Doody of Pelham. This trio thought they were in the lead. But, alas, Tom Long Knife of Hudson arrived at the finish line first, followed shortly by Bob Corrigan Cote of Nashua. Both Knife and Cote attended the Rozie Ruiz Running Camp recently, and the experience paid handsome dividends (she would be so proud). No such controversy clouded the women's "race", as Brenda Baxter of Groton arrived first, followed by Patricia French of Sommerville.

Finishers were greeted with hot soup

Donna Edwards of Dunstable, and Molly Walsh of Contoocook finished third and fourth. A record of three individuals actually looked for a clock at the finish--they were not surprised or disappointed to find none. Half the field was from Massachusetts, and the other half from New Hampshire. There was also an even split between those that thought the trail run was the most enjoyable, and those who voted for the post-race party. All finishers received an award at the finish line, a unique pair of "beverage gloves" with specially designed grips--unique dual purpose grip and flip gloves with screen printed instructions. Another well received reward was the excellent hot chicken-vegetable soup, donated by the National Club, helping to warm cold bodies on a frigid day. Additional prizes were offered at the post race party, including several dozen Weld-Cellucci campaign watches (true), all of which are guaranteed to be accurate twice each day. Actually, there were some good raffle prizes, to go along with the high fat, low nutrition post race food--and a lot of carbohydrates. The Novemberfest race and party are additional reasons why Greater Nashua was listed as the number one place to live. How many times do you see runners sprinting back along the course from the finish line to the refreshment tables? The top 100 finishers:

1.  Long Knife, Hudson
2.  Bob Cote, Nashua
3.  Dave Beauley, Nashua
4.  Dwaine McDuffie
5.  Tom Doody, Pelham
6.  Mark Gagnon, New Ipswich
7.  Mike Collins
8.  Jerimiah Fitzgibbon, Bedford, NH
9.  Tom Carroll, Dunstable
10. Brook Mullens, Contoocook
11. Don Arsenault
12. Dave Tyler, Tewksbury
13. Michael Ballou
14. Sean Foster
15. Ruben Gutierrez
16. Jim Croke
17. Pete Davison, Nashua
18. Drew Hamerinck
19. Walter Swanbon, Brookline, NH
20. Dave Camire, Dracut
21. Wayne Sholds
22. Jim Boiry, Lynn
23. Bob Hall, Hudson
24. Ed Mulvey
25. Mad Dog McGlinchey, Nashua
26. Brenda Baxter, Groton
27. Eric Hall
28. Brian Barnes
29. Ed Deichler, Merrimack
30. Patricia French, Sommerville
31. Damien Rowe, Milford
32. Donna Edwards, Dunstable
33. Ed Sutcliff, Hudson
34. Molly Walsh, Contoocook
35. Chris Hammond
36.  Unknown Soldier
37. Warren Church, Dunstable
38. Robin Squire, Brighton
39. Roger Martell
40. Bill Hicks, Sommerville
41. Kathy Clark
42. Pam Hall, Litchfield
43. James Guilford, Topsfield
44. Deborah Hall
45. Chris Langathianos
46. Brian Sanborn, Milford
47. Kathy Kirby, Nashua
48. Byron Telege, Nashua
49. Richard Allison
50. David McClean, Lowell
51. Gary Alexander, Merrimack
52. Leo Jones, Middleton, MA
53. Jim Ecke, Merrimack
54. Capt. James Killeen, Nashua
55. Jeff Ouimette, Danvers
56. Mike DiMauro, North Andover
57. Michael Page, Beverly
58. Joe Shairs, Peabody
59. Fran Dwyer, Nashua
60. Jean Boswell, Lowell
61. Peter Bonaccorsi
62. Larry Godbout, Lynn
63. Stephen Hewlitt, Malden
64. Neal Grant
65. Nick Nicholson, Nashua
66. Roger Hall, Litchfield
67. Shaun Scanlon, Nashua
68. Shusuki Minami, Nashua
69. Kevin Reynolds
70. Dan Jones, Topsfield
71. Dave Mahan
72. Don Wilson
73. Peter Paelinck, Merrimack
74. Michael Quigley, Melrose
75. Martha Guilford, Topsfield
76. Bob Erickson
77. Don Goodwin
78. Richard Green, Lynn
79. Traci Swanbon, Brookline
80. Skip Cleaver, Nashua
81. Paul Clark
82. John Wang
83. Katherine Chabot, Andover
84. Bruce Dias
85. Polci Aurelio,  Sommerville
86. Linda Hamerinck
87. Tamsen Love, Concord, MA
88. Lydia Love, Concord, MA
89. Pat Milkulis, Nashua
90. Genia Sanborn, Milford
91. Andy Cotreau, Nashua
92. Peggy Labrosse, Merrimack
93. Peggy Borasso
94. Gerri Moriarity
95. Phyllis Mays, Wellesley
96. Dyanna DeMarco, Worcester
97. Jerry Roache, Hudson
98. Dicky Welch, Nashua
99. Leon Barry, Nashua
100. Curly Goulet, Nashua