Ayer Fire Dept. Thanksgiving 5K - November 22, 2007
Contributed by Anthony Mavilia, Race Director
Three from the Reeves family in the Top 26, Row/Russell battle to finish, Ursula & Vanessa hold off Sam & David!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The day was Thanksgiving morning, the site was the fire station in Ayer, and the event was the 3rd Annual AFD 5K Road Race. After months of planning, race day finally arrived. The fire station was soon emptied of its usual red apparatus, and filled with registration tables, piles of swag, and skinny runners who can finish a 3.1 mile course in less than 20 minutes. As weary eyed runners started arriving at 6:30 am, there was hot, strong, Starbucks coffee awaiting. Devens' Ladder 1 and its crew arrived on scene mysteriously close to the time the coffee, donuts, and bagels were being set up (coincidence????). The American flag was soon raised over the West Main Street start line.
All was well for most runners early this morning, the air was cool and damp, and the temperature was in the high 40's (absolutely perfect running conditions). At approximately 7:45 am, with coffee and hot chocolate flowing and bagels and donuts mysteriously disappearing, runners were ready to 'hit the line'………..or hit the porta potties. At 7:52 am, the runners were sent to the start line courtesy of the Dropkick Murphy's song 'Shipping of to Boston'. Although runners weren't headed to Boston, they were headed down Main Street in the direction the Ayer Rotary. The runners were amassed at the start line at 7:58 am and at 8:00 am sharp, the 'gun' sounded,……OK, more like the air horn Ayer's Ladder 1.
Three Hundred and forty four runners immediately made their way under the 45' foot American flag that was being presented by Ayer's Ladder 1 and Devens' Ladder 1. The course started with a gentle uphill for the first 1/3 mile and then flattened out at the base of the East Main Street Bridge. In front of the courthouse, the running lane narrowed down a few feet and runners were then at the mercy of the numerous puddles by the side of the road. This is where the trail runners thrived, as some runners where slowing to run around the puddles, the trail runners were seen darting and weaving like whitetail deer during hunting season, gaining as spot or two each hundred feet. Those trail runners are far superior to us `roadies'. The course eventually made its way into a residential section of town, where the winding roads, frequent turns and corners (and puddles), made for some interesting passing. Most runners made it back to Main Street unscathed, and were soon racing back towards the fire station. Coming back to the Park Street intersection (2.5 miles), runners were greeted by enthusiastic friends and family. Encouragement is what most runners need at this stage of a 5K race.......most of us go out too fast for the first mile, then repay their oxygen debt the second mile, then eventually attempt to find the high gear for the finishing kick. One small hill in front of St. Mary's Church challenged the runners before the long downhill finishing stretch. The prize for all may not have been a medal, a bottle of wine, or a door prize, but the warm apple crisp. Over twenty trays of yummy homemade apple crisp was made by Ayer Fire Department member's wives, kids, and girlfriends. I am not ashamed to admit, we as Ayer Fire Department firefighters/EMT' are much better at eating apple crisp than making apple crisp. Now if we were to offer grilled meats--that would be another story.
The Squannacock River Runners were well represented on Thanksgiving morning. Most immediately found their way to the club meeting place (which was under the SQRR banner), but some stumbled upon it, lured to the general vicinity by the scent of Starbucks coffee.
Here is a recap off the SQRR'ers finishers, along with their friends and family that raced as well. I do hope that I didn't miss anyone………..If I did, I apologize and I will take 15 seconds off your race time next year!!!!!!!
The Reeves family certainly showed up ready to race, paced by the elder Brian (17:42, 2 nd Place M40-49) and Mark (20:44). Chris and Kyle Reeves finished side by side in 19:15, while Kayla finished in 21:38, very respectable for high school students. Will we soon see the kids finishing ahead of the more mature Reeves', stay tuned?
Paul Funch finished in 19:08, which was good for 1 st Place in the M50-59 Division. Please see above comment about trail runners.
Gordon Row (19:34) and Christopher Russell (19:43) were engaged in a heated battle the entire morning. Gordon was last seen darting around the puddles on Main Street, while Chris was seen splashing thru those puddles. Chris races in LOCO sneakers dammit!!!!!!!!!!!
Brian Irwin (20:17) was still adjusting to the cooler weather. Brian's blood is obviously still a little thin from his extended stay in the Southwest. Don't worry Brian; a few Sunday Group Runs will get the viscosity back up to 10 W 30. Welcome Back.
Jason Shamberger (21:00) had his sister, Lindsay Shamberger (25:48) visiting from New York and brought her along to race. What a nice brother.
Kim Sheffield had a great race at 21:30 and finished just off the podium ( 4 th Place).
Mark Graf (22:00) needed to finish fast, and he did. Immediately after the race, Mark, packed up and headed to Buffalo, NY, where he was promptly greeted with 6 ½ feet of `Lake Effect Snow'. Does that happen in Ashburnham of Lake Watatic????? The big question remains, `Was Mark aided'? The AFD is awaiting our post race blood test results. When reached for comment, Mark responded, "I am clean, I only had 8 cups of Starbucks coffee."
Howard Hersey (22:08) finished just behind Mark. He needed to run fast as well…..he had many angry SQRR'ers looking for him after the roster for the Mill Cities Relay teams were posted. Ok, maybe I was the only one. 9.5 Miles, UUUGGHHH. Hahahahaha
Jeanne Carney and Tracey Christianson-Shea had AMAZING races. Jeanne finished in 22:36, which was good for 1 st Place in the F40-49 Division and Tracey finished just on her heels at 22:51, which was good for 2 nd Place in the F40-49 Division. Congratulations Jeanne & Tracey.
Maria Noya finished just off the podium ( 4 th Place) in the F40-49 Division in 24:38. Maria may not be allowed to run our race next year; I would like to make her an offer to become the AFD 5K Road Race "Social Director and Refreshment Consultant." My times have gotten slower since joining the SQRR'ers………all that great food and socialization. Hahahaha
Leann Mavilia provided the greatest upset of the day, finishing as the 1 st Female FF/EMT in 25:14. Maybe she should take my place in the Mill City Relay. It is not too often a Race Director gets to kiss an award winner and not get in trouble.
Shoko Yoshikawa brought home some hardware again this year, finishing in 1 st Place in the F50-59 Division with a time of 25:44.
Lysa Mosca (26:19) and Kevin Shea (26:48) seemed to enjoy the pre-race festivities and the puddles along the course. Both finished with wet sneakers and smiles.
After sprinting to the finish with Gordon, Chris Russell (AKA Mr. Compulsive Runner Guy), ran back on the course to finish with his daughter Teresa (27:23). What a great guy!!!! To the parents out there, run with your children now…………they WILL remember and appreciate your efforts, and in 10-15 years, they will be the ones running back on the course to help us finish (or bringing us our walkers).
Bruce Walker (28:56) had a great run and out sprinted a few runners half his age at the finish!!!!!!
The Myette family, Lindsay (29:18) and Peter (29:19), ran as a family with Lindsay finishing one stride ahead of Peter. Lindsay heard that the quickest Myette family member doesn't have to do any dishes after Thanksgiving Dinner.
Razia Shoyeb (31:37) made the trek to Ayer to run with the SQRR'ers on Thanksgiving Morning. Razia was obviously in great race shape after participating in a few Sunday Morning Group Runs.
Donnie Funch (32:15) lost the dishes bet with Paul and was ready to wash all the dishes after the Funch Family Feast.
Was there any truth to the rumor that Kelly Wilson (32:51) and Ellie Maguire (33:23) stopped at Carlins for some liquid refreshment?????? Our spies are checking into this
And in the most heated battle of the day, Ursula Graf (37:10) and Vanessa Smith-Boyle (37:10) pulled away from Sam Smith-Boyle (41:40) and David Boyle (41:41) at mile 2 and never looked back. I will have to check with Sam and David to see how many dishes they had to wash.
Well that is a wrap for the 2007 AFD 5K Road Race. I would like to thank everyone for their support and kind words. If you have any comments or feedback, please see me. We continue to strive to stage the best race possible.
Thanks again,
Anthony Mavilia