Race Series 2014

Race #1

Dunning Dash 5K

2nd Annual 5K Road Race & Fun Run

Saturday, April 12, 9AM

Charlotte A. Dunning Elementary School

48 Frost Street, Framingham

Course     Results     News

Race Report: Wonderful Spring Day.  Lots of families having fun outside. 

I ran well for a mile or two but ran out of energy.  Fun time!  Room to do better next time.

Time: 24:12     Pace: 7:47 

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Race #2

McCarthy/Fuller 5K & Fun Run

Annual 5K Road Race & Fun Run for

McCarthy Elementary and Fuller Middle Schools

Sunday, May 4, 10AM

Miriam McCarthy Elementary School

8 Flagg Drive, Framingham

Course     Results     News

Race Report: Nice race.  Fun crowd.  Felt comfortable the whole way.  Let up at the end so I wouldn't overtake an over-achieving 10-year old.  Meanwhile, an opportunistic PTO mom blew by me at the finish line.  Hah!

Time: 24:20     Pace: 7:51 

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Race #3

Walsh Middle School 5K

12th Annual 5K Run Walk & Track Events

for Best Buddies and Technology

Saturday, May 17, 10AM

Walsh Middle School

301 Brook Street, Framingham

Course     Results

Race Report:  Easy run after heavy overnight rains.  I didn't do as well as hoped, but my kids dominated.  My 13 year old son ran an amazing 22;24 to win the middle school boys division and my 10 year old daughter finished in a super fast 29:30 to win the elementary girls division.  That's awesome baby!

Time: 24:25      Pace: 7:53 

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Race #4

Ashland Trail Race

5K and 10K Trail Races thru Ashland State Park

Once around the lake for 5K, Twice for 10K

Saturday, June 7, 8AM

Ashland State Park

162 West Union Street. Ashland

Course     Results

Race Report:  Beautiful sunny day.  Awesome course that totally kicked my butt.  So many roots & rocks, short ups & downs.  Made it difficult to take full strides and find a rhythm.  Ran the first loop without holding back.  29:55.  One fall that I rolled with nicely.  Second loop I tried to hold it together.  32:12.  One bounce off of a tree that gouged my arm a bit.  Extremely slow time, but I finished.  Plunged into the lake imediately on completion.  Nice!  Want to run this course again!

Time: 1:02:07     Pace: 9:59 

 

 

 

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Race #5

Marathon Sports Five Miler

39th Annual

Thursday, July 24, 7:00PM

Weston High School

444 Wellesley Street, Weston

Course     Results     News

Race Report: Perfect evening for a run.  Best organized race ever.  Great race shirt and sponsor freebies.  Lotsa free food.  Easy parking.  No traffic.  Water stations.  Race began on a football field, went down a super street hill and then followed a maze of rolling hill roads.  The end was a stretch of grass before the high school track finish.

Splits: 7:25 8:30 8:00 8:30 8:10 ... Just a little erratic.      

Time: 40:45     Pace: 8:09 

Starting Line

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Race #6

 

Barbieri 5K & Fun Run

3rd Annual

Sunday, October 5, 1:00PM

Barbieri School

100 Dudley Road, Framingham

Course     Results     News

Race Report: We always have a lot of fun at this one. Francisco & Mariana are both proud alumnae of Barbieri and have cleaned up at the awards over the years. This year's race coincided with a fair across the street so it was especially fun. Beautiful weather brought out extra runners. Maybe they came to hear the fantastic rendition of the national anthem. I was trying to finish under 24 minutes but it didn't happen. Instead I nearly matched my previous 3 5K times of 2014: 24:12, 24:20, 24:25. Not much improvement, but how about that consistency?    

Time: 24:24     Pace: 7:52 

Anthem Singers

Starting Line

Big Finish

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Race #7

Laborious Labor Day Ten Miler

Annual Labor Day morning tortuous ten mile run through the stunning back roads

of Marlborough and Hudson

Monday, September 1, 8:00AM

Ghiloni Park

125 Concord Road, Marlborough

Course     Results     News

Race Report: Love the simplicity of this race. Instead of a race fee, runners bring a sack of food to be donated to a local pantry. No swag, but there are water stations and volunteers to keep you on course and time you. Nice group of people at this race. The morning we ran was especially hot & humid. Tough conditions for ten-miler. I was in a group of four early on running around 8:30 pace. It felt good. But the weather and gentle hills sapped our energy and we fell off one-by-one. There's a mile long hill around mile 8 that I'll never forget. Managed to keep going and finished in just under 90.  Not great, but damn it was hot!   

   Time: 1:29:53     Pace: 8:59 

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Race #8

 Ashland Half Marathon

Half Marathon and 5K at historical Marathon Park 

Sunday, October 26, 10:00AM

Marathon Park

375 Pleasant Street, Ashland

Course     Results    News

Race Report: Overcast fall day. Temps in low 50's. Hilly course. Breezy. Race wasn't particularly well organized. I ran to plan, 8:50 pace for first four or five, then we hit ridiculous hills and I slowed. Still under 90 minutes at 10 miles, then struggled for last 3 miles through a slight drizzle. Race was close to home. Weather could have been worse. Enjoyed a cold beer at the VFW after the race. Oh well. I finished!        

Time: 2:00:22     Pace: 9:10 

What is the kid doing there?

 

Dexter

Dexter Dog Slideshow

 

Dexter T Dog.  Yellow Husky. 1999-2014.  Best dog ever.    

Thanks for the good times old friend.  See you on the other side.       

Championship Ours

My son's CYO basketball team played for the league championship Sunday afternoon.  This is a fun group that loves basketball and is very motivated.

The core of the team is a group of 8th graders who lost in the finals last season.  As we moved up from the 6th & 7th grade league to the 8th & 9th grade league, we picked up a couple of new players.  This season the guys won 8 of 11 regular season games to take 3rd place of 18 teams.  In this year's playoffs they needed to win 3 straight to get back to the finals.  They played well in the first round to beat a competitive Bulls team by 6 points.  Then in the quarterfinals, after falling behind early, they won against a very talented and physically big team of 9th graders from Framingham.  And in the Friday night semifinals they faced a Lakers team that had beaten them by 22 points earlier in the season.  Though the guys started off well in the semifinals they found themselves down by 11 in the second half.  Things seemed to be slipping away.  But they never doubted themselves.  They rallied together.  Somehow they found the strength to overcome the deficit and win. 

In the Saturday afternoon championship game, they faced the Suns, who'd won six straight and were playing with great confidence.  Before the game, the Marian guys were more pumped than I've seen them before any game in the last two seasons.  They came out flying.  They were pushing the ball up court, passing, and rebounding.  Midway through the first half they were up by 12 points and playing extremely well.  But the Suns weren't going to let the game get away from them so easily.  They used outside shooting to get back into the game.  At the half, Marian led 26 -22. 

In the second half Marian stretched the lead to 8, only to see the Suns regain their hot hand from outside.  The Suns hit an amazing 11 3-point shots in the game.  Not only did the Suns shoot their way back into the game, they took a 6 point lead of their own.  In the last 5 minutes the lead changed hands a few times, with Marian dominating inside and the Suns scoring from outside.  With under a minute left, and the game tied at 49, the Suns rebounded a Marian missed foul shot and decided to hold the ball for the last shot.  They'd either win it at the buzzer or miss and send the game into overtime.  But it didn't work out that way.  Marian's super-quick guard stole the ball at half court and sprinted to the basket for an uncontested layup.  That put Marian up by 2 with 10 seconds left and brought the Marian crowd to their feet roaring!  The Suns inbounded at half court with 6 seconds remaining.  Marian's defense forced them into a difficult shot, but the Suns rebounded the miss.  Their tenacious rebounder, who hadn't scored a basket all day, shot quickly in desperation.  The ball left his hand an instant before the buzzer sounded.  It went off the backboard and around the rim, seemed to be falling out of the basket, and then inexplicably dropped through the net, tying the game at 51.  The Suns home crowd went wild!  Overtime.
 

 

 

The Marian guys weren't phased by the improbable turn of events.  They were hungry to win this thing.  They amped up their effort at both ends.  In overtime Marian scored on drives to the basket and put-backs of missed shots.  They clamped down on the Suns outside scorers and aggressively rebounded every missed shot.  Marian brought home the championship 57-51.  Oh what a game!

 

Run!

Perfect Season

My son's recreational middle school basketball team won their league championship yesterday afternoon.  The guys went 8-0 in the regular season and 3-0 in the playoffs.  The championship game was broadcast on Framingham Cable TV.  After the game came the league banquet.  The guys chowed down a bunch of pizzas and collected their hardware.  Great job Leprechauns!
.

Congratulations on your Perfect Season!

Leprechauns TBA Hoops

Kids' Basketball 2013-2014

We're at it again. For the past several years I've coached my son's and daughter's basketball teams. It's always a great experience. This year we have three teams.

At one end of the development spectrum is my daughter's 4th and 5th grade girls' rec team. This team I co-coach with one of the moms. We emphasize fundamentals and fun. A few of these kids are quite athletic and have played before. Some of the others are developmental and new to the sport. All of them have great energy and enjoy being part of a team.

The Flaming Red Platipi are currently 3-3 and are looking to finish the season strong.

Next up is my son's middle school rec team. This league includes 3 grade levels and the range of size, strength and talent is broad. The boys are far more competitive and aggressive than the girls. It's a challenge balancing their drive to win and developing new skills.

The Leprechauns stand in first place at 6-0 and are chasing a magical perfect season.
https://tbahoops.shutterfly.com/

Third is my son's 8th grade CYO team. This league is more competitive. Most of these guys played on my 7th grade team and have been playing for a while. We have skilled guards, strong forwards and guys who can score. These guys want to win above all else, but they also need to work on fundamentals.

The Mustangs are 5-2 so far and have high hopes for making a deep playoff run.
https://mariancadets.shutterfly.com/

Coaching the three teams takes a lot of time. It is rewarding to spend time with the kids, help them get better, and accomplish things as a team.

Specialization is for Insects

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. 

-Robert A. Heinlein. The Notebooks of Lazarus Long

Chilly Half Marathon

I targeted this race a while back as an incentive to run regularly. I figured that if I paid the registration fee and put the race on my calendar, then I'd need to get in shape. It didn't really matter which race I chose. There are a whole bunch of great half marathons in New England in the fall. I picked this one because it was scheduled the latest of them all and I needed that extra time to get in shape. I liked that it benefits a good cause. Plus it's close to home. Also I like chili.    

Sunday, November 10, 2013. 7:30 AM, Newton, MA

Race Website       Cool Running Advertisement

 

 

 

It wasn't until later that I found out it's called 'Chilly' for the weather not 'Chili' for the delicious food. Hah. I've also learned that the course is described as 'challenging' .. that's code for hilly.  Yikes. Oh well. For me the race has already served it's purpose. I'm not concerned with my time or my pace. The main thing is that I'm running again. And enjoying it.

 

 Half Marathon Result: 2:03:02



Race Report.  Well organized race. 1200 runners. Started and ended at Newton South HS. 40 and drizzling at start.  Cleared and warmed after. Run through suburban streets. Lots of turns, small hills and street crossings (police blocked traffic). Little level ground. Killer uphills at miles 6 and 7. Long downhill around 9. This was a difficult run for me. Overweight and not properly trained. I worked hard to finish with a poor time. Ran the first 5 in 45. Endured the hills. Ran hard down Heartbreak (fun to run DOWN Heartbreak Hill for a change!). Lost my legs around 10. Staggered home. Happy to have completed my fifth half marathon. 

Youth Basketball in Framingham

There are 4 Winter Basketball Leagues in Framingham.  Combined they serve over 1,000 players.  All 4 leagues are private, non-denominational and receive no funding through the town.  Each depends on volunteer coaches, organizers and sponsors.   

Temple Beth Am (TBA) and YMCA are recreational leagues.  Between the two, they offer organized basketball for boys from kindergarten to grade 12, and for girls from kindergarten to grade 8.  Over 800 kids play in the 2 rec leagues.

CYO programs from Marian/St Stephens and St Tarcisius offer semi-competitive basketball in the Wellesley-Framingham CYO league for boys and girls grades 4-9.  Metrowest Travel offers competitive basketball for boys and girls grades 4-8.  Over 200 Framingham kids play in these leagues.  There are also AAU teams in the area and there are boys & girls middle school travel teams. 

Framingham Basketball attempts to serve as an umbrella for the various leagues in town.  Thus far it helps announce league registrations, tryout dates, area clinics and events.  As yet there is no coordination of the various leagues.  

1. TBA – Recreational, Non-denominational, No Travel, 5 Divisions, Boys Grades 4-12, Girls Grades 4-8    

• Boys Division C Grades 4-5
• Boys Division B Grades 6-8
• Boys Division A Grades 9-12
• Girls Division C Grades 4-5
• Girls Division B Grades 6-8
• Grades 4-8 - One Tuesday practice + One Sunday game per week
• Grades 9-12 One Sunday game per week, no practice.
• 1^st Child $170, Each Additional Child $140, Late Fee $15
• Registration Deadline Nov 4
• Player Evaluations Dec 8, Player Draft Dec 15
• Season runs late December through early March
• Championship and Banquet Mar 9
• Facilities used include Fay School in Southboro, Keefe Tech, Framingham State University
• 475 players total, majority from Framingham
• TBA Basketball Directors: Rich Steckloff and Len Brenner 
  

2. YMCA – Recreational, Non-denominational, No Travel, 6 Divisions, Boys & Girls, Grades K-8

• Boys & Girls Rookies Division Grades K-
• Boys Small Shots Division Grades 2-3
• Boys Big Shots Division Grades 4-5
• Boys Hot Shots Division Grades 6-8
• Girls Small Shots Division Grades 2-3
• Girls Big Shots Division Grades 4-5
• Girls Hot Shots Division Grades 6-8
• Grades K-3 - One Saturday game per week ($99 members / $139 non-members
• Grades 4-8 - One weeknight practice + One Saturday game per week ($102 members / $149 non-members)
• Registration Deadline Oct 31
• Season runs from December through early March
• Championship & Banquet early March
• Facilities used include Framingham Schools, Metrowest YMCA
• Around 400 players total, majority from Framingham
• YMCA Basketball Director: Brian Kowalski

3. CYO (Marian & St Tarcisius) – Semi-Competitive, Non-denominational, Limited Travel, 6 Divisions, Boys & Girls, Grades 4-9

• Boys Juniors Division Grades 4-5
• Boys Bantams Division Grades 6-7
• Boys Cadets Division Grades 8-9
• Girls Juniors Division Grades 4-5
• Girls Bantams Division Grades 6-7
• Girls Cadets Division Grades 8-9
• One weeknight practice per week + One  game per week on Saturday
• Early Nov Player Evaluations, Teams Formed
• Season runs late November through early March
• Playoff and Championship early March
• Around 800 players in Wellesley-Framingham league, Around 140 players from Framingham

       Marian

• 1^st Child $110, 2^nd Child $85, Each Additional Child $60
• Oct 11 Registration Deadline
• Facilities used include Marian High School, St Stephen’s
• Marian Basketball Director: Kellianne Erath 

       St Tarcisius

• $150 per child
• Facilities used include St Tarcisius
• St Tarcisius Basketball Director: Ken Seitz 

4. Metrowest Travel – Most-Competitive, Non-denominational, Travel, 1 Division per Grade/Gender, Boys & Girls, Grades 4-8, when numbers permit

• Boys Division Grade 5
• Boys Division Grade 6
• Boys Division Grade 7
• Boys Division Grade 8
• Girls Division Grade 7
• Girls Division Grade 8
• Two weeknight practices per week + One  game per week on Sunday
• Registration ($180 YMCA members / $225 YMCA non-members, Uniforms extra)
• Tryouts October 5, 6, 19, 20
• Facilities used include Metrowest YMCA
• Unknown number of players in Metrowest Travel league, Around 100 players from Framingham
• Metrowest Travel Basketball Director: Raul Matos

For AAU information contact Raul Matos. 

Middle School Travel – There is one 8th grade middle school travel team for boys and another for girls.  Players are selected after tryouts and minumum grades need to be maintained.  The teams practice after school with shuttles between the schools and buses to games provided.  The teams practice three times a week and play games twice a week.  Participation is free. 
Contacts: Boys Varsity Coach Adam Cluff
                  Girls Varsity Coach Dee King

All information collected 2013

2nd Annual Barbieri 5K & Fun Run

2nd Annual Barbieri 5K & Fun Run

October 6, 2013

  

Join us for a fun-filled, family-fitness morning! Proceeds will support educational programs for the children at Barbieri.

 

Race Results

 

Cool YouTube Race Video

            


 

Francicso 24:39 (7:57/Mile Pace) 1st Place Middle School Boys
Big Papi 25:11 (8:07/Mile Pace) 3rd Place Old Fat Guys
Mariana 30:10 (9:44/Mile Pace) 1st Place Elementary School Girls

Over 200 participants in both the 5K and Fun Run
Raised close to $1,500! Well done!!!

Barbieri Elementary
100 Dudley Road
Framingham, MA 01702

Cool Quotes II

“Not all those who wander are lost.” -- J. R. R. Tolkien.

"Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet." -- Bob Marley.

“To have everything you need is the definition of affluence.” -- Jack Reacher.

“One of my heroes has always been Barbie. She may not do anything, but she always looks amazing doing it.” -- Paris Hilton.

"Everybody pulls for David, nobody roots for Goliath." -- Wilt Chamberlain.

“When in doubt, drink coffee.” -- Jack Reacher.

"Think great. Be great." -- Me.

"Jarvis, sometimes you gotta run before you can walk" -- Tony Stark.

“Hit them fast, hit them hard, and hit them a lot” -- Jack Reacher.

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second." -- William James.

“I don't really think, I just walk.” -- Paris Hilton.

"The best way to keep one's word is not to give it." -- Napoleon Bonaparte.

“If in doubt, say nothing.” -- Jack Reacher.

“Never volunteer for anything.” -- Jack Reacher.

"The more I practice, the luckier I get." -- Gary Player.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page" -- Saint Augustine.

What I Really Think -- The First 50

1. Giselle is overrated
2. Cold days and long nights are bad

3. Mark Twain was funny
4. Trail running is cool
5. Increasing efficiency without limiting consumption is unwise
6. Cars are too expensive
7. Contact lenses are mind boggling
8. David Ortiz is way overpaid
9. Roller coasters are really fun
10. All religions are the same
11. Budgets with deficits are dumb

12. Steeplechase is a great event
13. Ice age mammals were interesting
14. Soccer is the best kids sport
15. Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher is ridiculous
16. Listening to languages I don't understand is irritating
17. Pats should have kept Wes Welker
18. Old people shouldn't decide our future
19. Fast forward is better than reverse
20. Travel writers have it made
21. Baseball is boring
22. Stones are the best band ever

23. We should be striving toward a 4-day workweek
24. C's should have traded Pierce and Garnett
25. Greatest benefit of being in shape is having more energy
26. Kayaks are better than canoes
27. There are too many states
28. Tom Hanks is the best actor ever
29. Weather is important
30. A journey of one thousand miles really does begin with one step
31. Social media is a fad
32. Golf is not a sport

33. They should put vitamins in beer
34. Salt tastes good
35. The pope is too old
36. People who travel are more interesting
37. Zone defenses should be banned from youth basketball
38. Running water is more important than electricity
39. I shouldn't have google imaged 'compound fracture'

40. De-extinction is the greatest concept of the 21^st century
41. Gov should leave marriage to church
42. Daylight savings would be good year round
43. Reggae music is all I need
44. Being too hot is better than being too cold
45. Fire is fascinating
46. Marathons are too far

47. Teaching should be a high status profession
48. Car racing is not a sport
49. Time travel would be better than space travel
50. People who like dark coffee like dark chocolate