Eastern New England Trail Race Series

How does he do it? At 61 years young, Marshall Randolph amassed an unthinkable 1109 points to win the Eastern New England Trail Series in 2009. Throughout the year he dealt with injuries, burnout and a solid challenge by second-place finisher and teammate Jack Burke.

Recently, Dave Hannon of New England Track & Trail sat down with Marshall to get his thoughts on the long campaign that led to his topping the leaderboard this year.

Q: First off, I wanted to get your overall thoughts on what you’ve accomplished in winning this series.

Perhaps the most notable thing about the New England Trail Race Series this year was the remarkably good weather at the races I ran. As a Virginia native the New England weather can be quite a challenge for me, particularly when you toss in the black flies of summer. If it were me on the Mayflower, stepping off onto Plymouth Rock in a Nor'easter or swarmed by black flies, I would have yelled back to Myles Standish (or Pocahontas, or whoever it was), “Whoa, dude, wrong place—turn this puppy around and set the GPS for San Diego.”

But overall, the worst weather we had was a light drizzle at the Edaville Rail Run. And maybe the best was the gorgeous day running the Wapack Trail Race.

Q: Had you planned to do this series from the start of the year?

I didn't intend to compete in the eastern New England Trail Race Series. It may have been you [Dave Hannon] who mentioned that you could find a listing of trail races at their website. I checked the site and went to the results page, since I had done perhaps four of them already. I scanned down to about halfway through the rankings where I thought my name should be and I couldn't find it, not realizing that I was actually leading the series-- I don’t usually look up that high! Well, now, I thought, “Maybe old age and treachery will stand a chance against youth and good looks.”

I started to target the series races, only to find out that Jack Burke was doing the same thing (fortunately his old age and treachery aren't as well developed as mine). We were pretty much neck and neck through the weeks, but heading into the last race, I had a lead and we decided to run the last race, the Fells Trail Race, together. It was really enjoyable coming across the last finish line with Jack, a class act if ever there was one, each of us having some similar tales of the year, no doubt.

Q: Which was the most difficult race in the series?

Wapack certainly gave me the toughest test. It's not enough to run over four mountains, but then you turn around and run back?? And nobody dies during this thing? Unbelievable.

To make it even more challenging at Wapack, I lost my gel flask before I ever had a chance to down any, so I only had some fluids, making the last 3 or 4 miles a real sufferfest. I missed most of the jaw-dropping views keeping my eyes glued to the trail. Summiting Watatic on the return, I tripped right at the edge of the granite crest with such force that three hikers came rushing over to see if I was okay. Fortunately only my little finger took the brunt of that one. I took a couple more spills before finishing, but looking back on the season, though, these were the only three falls I took so I’d say that’s a good thing.

Q: What was your favorite race in the series?

I can't really pick out a favorite trail race among the many but there are aspects of many that I liked a lot. I didn’t know what to expect at these races, so there was a lot to be savored at these races.

For example, one place that sticks in my mind was part of the Blue Hills race that we ran in April. Perhaps halfway into the race the trail cuts uphill through stunted trees and beautiful single-track, skirting the odd block of rock. I ran alone through this area and it reminded me of some of the alpine trails up in the White Mountains and it was hard to remember that we were just miles from Downtown Boston.

Almost as enjoyable as the trail races were the cross country races in the series and I really like the variety they bring to the series. After longer races like Wapack, races like the Thomas Chamberas 6K and the Wayland XC Challenge are a breath of fresh air. They are open to all but get some real speedsters, like Olympian Jarrod Shoemaker, so it’s fun to mix it up that way.

And each race has similar things that stick in my mind. The Merrimack River Trail Race has the flats and compensating muddy cliffs (that sucked off one of my tightly laced shoes which ended up 30 feet above me since I couldn't stop on the downhill). Not to be missed, of course, is the post race stand-up comedy routine that Steve “Petey” Peterson puts on each year! The Groton Town Forest race has its intricate trails, welcome mid-race flat interlude, and the up and down swoops near the end. The Overlook race, which has one of the most enjoyable last miles of any trail race--slight descent making it feel like, “Yes, I really can run!” The Busa Bushwack is special too, because in addition to being a great course, it honors our own running legend Richard Busa.

Q: Did you have any navigational issues during the races?

Surprisingly, I didn't get lost once in the 14 races, so that alone is pretty cool. Well, actually I guess I did get “lost” at the Busa Bushwack, but that was due to a race marshal sending us back up part of the course. Most of the folks in the pack I was with were chuckling at the minor chaos. Instead of being “lost,” it turned out the marshal was wrong and we inadvertently short-cut the course by maybe a minute or two. Does that disqualify me from the series?

Q: Any secrets to your success this year that others can learn from?

Well when it comes to year-long series like this, stubbornness is the more important virtue and I’m the perfect example!

I would like to thank Rene and Rob for being instrumental in maintaining the series this year. And of course all the individual race directors doing the work on their end. On a personal level, it was really nice to see the committed trail runners routinely, like Emily Trespas, Dan Scotina, and Rob MacDonald, and to be befriended by all the new folks I met out there as well as the friendly faces from NETT that were at many of the races. It really is a great community.

Twenty-four races and over two thousand participants are just a couple of the numbers that stand out as we have completed the nine month long Eastern New England Trail Race Series. Once again it demonstrates the interest in the sport and how widespread it exists throughout New England. Each year the series is contacted by race directors who wish to participate. Growth is good if not altogether welcomed by the persons who calculate the results and standings. This year that unenviable job was the responsibility of Rob MacDonald. It is an extraordinary task that Rob has handled with an expertise that is truly admirable. I am for one extremely grateful to him. For you that know him send him along a note of thanks. It is also a task that I am sure requires more than one person to keep up with. If you read this and feel you can volunteer some expertise please contact myself or Rob. We will take a breather through the holidays and then reevaluate the series and the website. My hope is that it will continue for another year. We did not award prizes to series winners this year preferring to contribute all entry fee proceeds to the causes that the races were run for. We are considering opening the website to sponsors who could support the awarding of prizes for next year. We encourage anyone with any suggestions on how to improve on the series or website to contact myself or any of the race directors involved in the series. Once again, congradulations to all who participated in the series this year and am looking forward to another year.

2009 Eastern New England Trail Race Series
Final Standings Report
In total, this season saw 2,501 men and women participate in the series (1578 men, 923 women). Below are the top three men and women for the series overall and in each age class. Below the overall and age groups is a listing of all runners that completed 6 or more series races in 2009.

Men Overall:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Marshall Randolph 60 Wellesley, MA NETT/ CSU 14 1109.70
2. John Burke 43 Cambridge, MA NETT 15 1095.09
3. Rob MacDonald 30 Rowley, MA 10 648.49

Women Overall:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Emily Trespas 38 Andover, MA 10 755.03
2. Michelle Roy 39 Groton, MA WMAC 5 402.87
3. Sherisa Sterling 56 Ashburnham, MA NMC 5 399.13

Age Groups
Women 19 and Under:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Vivian Wehner 17 2 143.30
2. Alison Joyce 1 100.00
3. Annaliese Vander Baan Uxbridge, MA 1 100.00

Men 19 and Under:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Kelis Secrest 18 Newport, RI Navy Prep 2 184.86
2. Andrew Coco 18 Newport, RI Navy Prep 2 180.77
3. Ross Mungeam Douglas, MA TVFR 2 179.82

Women 20 to 29:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Elizabeth Touchette 26 Revere, MA Wicked Running 4 308.52
2. Linda Solomon Brockton, MA 3 267.20
3. Janine Fellone 27 North Easton, MA 3 253.71

Men 20 to 29:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Eric Marshall 26 Rumney, NH 3 240.06
2. Mike Griffin 22 Scarborough, ME Sisu Project 2 191.85
3. Brandon Newbould 27 Dover, NH Whirlaway 2 191.76

Women 30 to 39:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Emily Trespas 38 Andover, MA 10 755.03
2. Michelle Roy 39 Groton, MA WMAC 5 402.87
3. Adrienne Cyruilik 35 Belmont, MA NETT 4 349.12

Men 30 to 39:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Rob MacDonald 30 Rowley, MA 10 648.49
2. Dave Hannon 38 West Roxbury, MA NETT 6 542.15
3. Robert Low 34 West Hartford, CT 5 425.66

Women 40 to 49:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Kristin Hall 42 Arlington, MA NETT 4 755.03
2. Shelly Rodier Taunton, MA 3 402.87
3. Robyn Couturier 40 Barrington, RI 3 399.13

Men 40 to 49:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. John Burke 43 Cambridge, MA NETT 15 1095.09
2. Thomas Parker 42 Nashua, NH CSU 7 451.26
3. Steve Wolfe 45 Merrimack, NH Gate City Striders 5 412.66

Women 50 to 59:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Sherisa Sterling 56 Ashburnham, MA NMC 5 399.13
2. Mary Lou White 54 Bolton, CT Silk City Striders 5 328.17
3. Deb Touchette 54 Salem, MA Wicked Running 4 304.64

Men 50 to 59:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Dan Scotina 54 Saugus, MA WMAC 9 617.79
2. Jeff Hattem 58 Natick, MA GFRC 6 356.57
3. Bob Sharkey 57 Newport, RI 4 304.22

Women 60 to 69:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Karen Oleski 60 Ashland, MA GFRC 3 204.83
2. Elizabeth Riordan 60 1 76.54
3. Linda Usher 60 1 69.92

Men 60 to 69:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Marshall Randolph 61 Wellesley, MA CSU/ NETT 14 1109.70
2. Bill Howard 60 Winchester, MA 9 613.74
3. Peter Orni 66 Ashburnham, MA NMC 3 236.60

Women 70 and Over:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Mary Harada 73 1 58.28
2. Maud Chaplin Dover, MA 1 35.98

Men 70 and Over:
Place Name Age Town Team Races Points
1. Tony Federer 70 Kearsarge, NH 5 299.29
2. Richard Busa 79 Marlboro, MA WMAC 4 196.26
3. John Parker 70 2 107.03

Runners with 6 or More Races:
Name Town Team Races
John Burke Cambridge, MA NETT 15
Marshall Randolph Wellesley, MA NETT/ CSU 14
Rob MacDonald Rowley, MA 10
Emily Trespas Andover, MA 10
Bill Howard Winchester, MA 9
Dan Scotina Saugus, MA WMAC 9
Thomas Parker Nashua, NH CSU 7
Dave Hannon West Roxbury, MA NETT 6
Jeff Hattem Natick, MA GFRC 6
Kevin Zelechoski Boston, MA Team Extreme 6

With the running of the Edaville Rail Run 5M Trail Race this past weekend the Eastern New England Trail Race Series has nearly completed its season. The two remaining races are the Rhody Runaround 8M Trail Race November 22nd and the Fells 8M Trail Race on December 5th. There have been nearly 2000 runners who have participated in this year's series. I believe this is an indication of the health and continued interest in trail running. For a newcomer to the sport I hope it has offered an alternative to road running and training. Training runs in the woods offers some peace and solitude a runner can enjoy away from traffic and its accompanying noise. The races provide a level of challenge unlike road racing. Practically each step requires some sort of strategy. Road racing may depend on pace and speed while trail running often relies on agility and adapting to the changing terrain. With the winter coming many of us will lose our favorite trails and will be back on the pavement. What I look forward to are those occasional days when there might be a thaw and I can get back into the woods in the middle of the winter and reexperience that natural serenity of off road running.

As always, many thanks to Rob MacDonald who has worked tirelessly to calculate results and standings. Check them out.

Traditionally the fall is a popular time for racing in general and trail racing in particular. The ENETRS offers many choices beginning this month. The very challenging and long running Wapack 17.5M Trail Race kicks off the fall schedule September 6th. Paul Funch should be commended for keeping this unique New England event going. For those who have run it in the past need no introduction to its character. For the rest of us we will find out for ourselves.

On September 13th the North Medford Club will be hosting its biannual 7M Overlook Trail Race and 5K Walk/Run. (For the purpose of full disclosure the writer of this blog is a NMC member and race director for this trail race.) This race is in its seventh running. Conditions have ranged from ideal to torrential rain and mud. As a seasoned trail runner you may judge the latter as the ideal conditions. The course offers many changes in terrain meant to appeal to all. Never a dull moment.

This year the ENETRS welcomes the first running of the Kismet Cliff 5M Trail Run. According to race director Gabe Flanders he describes the course as relatively compact and very technical. The course circumnavigates Cathedral and Whitehorse Ledges and is held inside Echo Lake State Park in North Conway, NH. The date of the race is September 20th.

October will be a month of several ENETRS events. Check out the schedule and plan your end of the season.

Happy Trails.

Race results and series standings are now posted on the website. As usual, if you notice any ommisions or errors please contact me at rainman52@verizon.net. The Oxford Dam 10.5M Trail Race are being tabulated and will be posted as soon as they become available. Once again, many thanks to Rob MacDonald for his efforts in compiling the series results and standings.

Upcoming trail races include the Moose On The Loose 10M Trail Race in Nashua, NH August 23rd and the Thomas Chamberas 5-6K Trail Race in Carlisle, MA August 29th.