The 2015 USATF NE mountain circuit was named yesterday.
The big changes are the addition of the Mount Greylock road race and the “goat”
requirement change to best 6 out of 8 races. Mountain goat status is coveted as
it comes with not only bragging rights but a lottery by-pass into the following
years Mt Washington road race. Over 100 runners completed 6 of 7 in 2014,
earning the goat moniker.
The USATF NE Mountain series
enters its 20th year and as such is the oldest mountain race circuit
in the country.
The 2015 schedule:
5/17 - Sleepy Hollow5/23 - Wachusett
6/7 - Pack Monadnock
6/TBD - Ascutney
7/5 - Loon Mountain Race & USATF-NE Mountain Championships
7/12 - Cranmore Hill Climb
9/6 - Mt. Greylock Road Race
10/3 - Bretton Woods Fell Race
According to senior series director Paul
Kirsch “we decided to add another race but
keep mountain goat at 6 out of 8. The new race will be the 40th Annual Mount
Greylock Road Race, an uphill-only 8 mile paved road race. We hope this gives
those who are downhill averse another opportunity for an uphill race for
goatliness. Word is still out on whether Wachusett will be up/down or up
only”.
Questions for 2015:
Will Richard Stockdale (GCS) continue his amazing streak of 82 consecutive series finishes from 2000 – 2014?
Will Laurel Shortell (WMAC) hold on to here lead in the women’s “most finishes” category with 70 or will Emer O’Donoghue (SRR) catch her (she has 68)?
The Races
Sleepy Hollow: First held in May of 2012, the 10km course features three climbs and descents and a mixture of single-track, fields, dirt roads, and wide grassy paths. The total climb/drop is 1,200’ and there is always mud somewhere on the course which is a cross-country ski area in the winter. In 2014 the race served as the USATF NE Trail championship. The first runner to the top of the first climb will claim the title of “King of the Mountain”. Course records: Josh Ferenc 38:17 & Christin Doneski 48:59
Pack Monadnock: Typically held the first
Sunday in June. Pack has been part of the circuit since 1996. The race was been
held continuously from 1990 through 2003. The event was not held in 2004, but
returned in 2005. The tem mile course climbs 2,000 feet and drops 300 feet over
mostly paved roads from Wilton NH to the summit of Pack Monadnock in Temple NH.
The last mile, which is entirely within Miller State park, has climbs steeper
than Mt Washington (11.5% average grade). The final 200m has a grade of about
30%. Amenities include mile markers, water stops, and baggage to the
finish. Course records: Eric Morse 58:35 & Kelli Lusk
1:13:35
Wachusett Mountain Typically held on the
last Saturday in May. The race is hosted by the Central Mass Striders. The
first race was held (twice!) in 1978 and was fairly successful. It was
contested from 1978 to 1986 when the host Montachusett Regional YMCA decided to
cut back on its road race calendar. CMS brought the race back in 1992 and it
has been held continuously since. The traditional course climbs over 1400 feet
with 400 feet of drop in 4.3 miles of paved road. This is a tough mountain race
because it is something of a “sprint”; times are generally equal to a 5-mile
flat raceThe race has been part of the series since 1996. In 2009 the course
was changed to an up/down version as construction on the summit road made the
original route unusable. The course had slight changes in 2010-2012 with a
number of different trails and finish line locations tested. In 2013 the course
changed again, this time returning to the summit and descending via paved and
dirt roads. This version was again used in 2014 but there has been no
confirmation that it will be used again in 2015. Amenities include a very
reasonable entry fee, baggage to the finish, prizes in five age groups excellent
management by the Central Mass. Striders. Course records (Various)
Ascutney Mountain: The race was
first held in the early 70’s as a tune-up for local XC skiers and has always
been popular with roller-skiers. After many years of inactivity it was brought
back in 2001 as part of the circuit. There is also a popular bike race to the
summit in late July. Until 2009 the course was the paved toll road to the
summit parking lot near the top of Ascutney in Windsor VT. In 2009 the course
was modified to include trail sections but returned to the traditional course in
2010. The average grade (12%) and the many twists in the road are reminiscent
of the Mount Washington road race. The course climbs 2,300 feet in 3.7 miles.
Amenities include mile markers, a water stop, and post-race refreshments. All
runners are expected to arrange transport down or run down after the race. The
race originally was held a week before Mt Washington but in moved to mid-July,
recently it has moved back to early June
Course records: Eric Blake 28:16 & Kasie Enman
33:33
Loon Mountain: Loon Mountain has been held
on the first Sunday of July although it has been run as early as the final
weekend in June. Loon has been part of the series since its creation by USATF
NE Mountain chair Paul Kirsch in 2006. The race was designated the USATF NE
mountain running championship and served as a qualifier for the US Mountain
running team in 2006. The course was designed to mirror the 2006 World Trophy
course in Turkey, thus giving runners in New England a taste of an international
mountain race. In 2007 the ½ mile of flat running on paved road at the base of
the mountain was eliminated and the course is currently 5.6 miles with 2,800’ of
climb and descent. In 2012 the race was again the US champs and a qualifier for
the women. The elite women ran first and the men started 30 minutes later, both
races covered a shorter 5 mile version of the course which finished at the top
of West Loon Mountain. The signature feature of the race is the 1 kilometer
stretch climbing Upper Walking Boss, a grass slope with an average grade over
30%. In 2014 the race again hosted the US champs and was the sole qualifier for
men and women. An additional 2 miles of “cross country” style trail was added
(and may remain as part of the course). Race features include a low entry fee,
baggage transport to the summit, and wild strawberries lining sections of the
course. Course records: (Traditional course) Eric Blake 46:01 & Kasie
Enman 53:17
Mt Cranmore: Cranmore may be the oldest
continuously held mountain race in New England with over 20 years of history.
The race has been held on various dates, in more recent years in mid-July. The
course has been varied throughout the years, from a straight run to the summit,
to a three loop quad buster. The current version of the course features two or
three loops up and down the mountain climbing and descending 2,000’ over 11K.
The race is hosted by the White Mountain milers. The race has hosted the
National championships five times (2005/2007/2009/2011/2013) and been a
selection race for the US team. In 2009 & 2013 the race was also the NACAC
championship. Course records (Various)
Bretton Woods Fell Race: First held in the
fall of 2012, it was moved to June last year as a replacement for Pack
Monadnock. In 2014 it was held on Oct. 4th. This is the only Fell
race in the series the only race held in the fall. It is also the only Fell
race held in the country. Fell is a term mainly used in the Lake District of
England to describe mountains or high moorland. The sport of fell running can be
traced to traditionally held races in those regions. The major difference
between fell running and mountain (or trail running) is that true fell running
requires you to be able to navigate the course (often without paths) with route
choice between checkpoints being left to the individual. At Bretton Woods a
“consensus” course has been marked for “some” of the course, giving runners the
choice to follow the somewhat longer route without having to navigate.
Mt Greylock road Race: This year will mark
the first foray to Western Mass for the series since Northfield ended a few
years ago. The Greylock uphill 8 mile road race will be held for the
40th consecutive year on Sept. 6, 2015. This will be the first time
the race has been part of the series.
