Mountain series history

The USATF Mountain circuit was founded in 1996 as a way to get runners to enjoy the distinct aspects of various mountain races in New England.  The number of races and dates they have been held have changed on occasion and a few races have been added or removed over the years.  Scoring has always been based on the winner’s time, with the winner receiving 100 points and all others receiving points based on their percentage behind the winners time. 

Dave Dunham was involved with USATF since the late 80’s (when it was still known as TAC) working as an athlete’s rep. on the New England board.  After traveling to Europe for a couple of years to race in the mountains he began wondering why there wasn’t any real organization to the many mountain races in his own backyard.  Dave took it upon himself and approached the race directors and asked them to be part of a circuit, and so it began.  He was in charge of the series from 1996-2001.  From 2002 to 2005 Richard Bolt took control and from 2006 to present the circuit has be ably managed by Paul Kirsch.

The USATF New England circuit champions in the Open, 40+, 50+, 60+, and 70+ categories have been decided based on the best five results from the six race circuit since 2005.  Points are given for each USATF finisher based on a percentage of the winner’s time.  All current USATF members are scored in the circuit.  A special “Mountain Goat” award is presented to those who complete all races, along with a Lottery By-Pass to the following years Mt Washington road race.

USATF New England, various sponsors, and the efforts of the race directors involved make the circuit happen.  

Races in the series:

1996  Kearsarge, Wachusett, Temple (Pack)                                                    34 completed all 3

1997  Kearsarge, Wachusett, Temple (Pack)                                                    37 completed all 3

1998  Kearsarge, Wachusett , Pack, Stratton                                                    40 completed all 4

1999  Kearsarge, Wachusett, Pack, Stratton                                                    27 completed all 4

2000 Kearsarge, Wachusett, Pack                                                                         35 completed all 3

2001 Kearsarge, Windblown, Wachusett, Pack, Ascutney                           18 completed all 5 (Best 4 scored)

2002 Kearsarge, Wachusett, Pack, Ascutney                                                   39 completed all 4

2003 Wachusett, Kearsarge, Pack, Northfield, Ascutney                                   14 completed all 5 (Best 4 scored)

2004 Kearsarge, Wachusett, Northfield, Ascutney                                               25 completed all 4

2005 Kearsarge, Wachusett, Pack, Northfield, Ascutney, Cranmore                       25 completed all 6 (Best 5 scored)

2006 Wachusett, Pack, Northfield, Ascutney, Cranmore, Loon                         18 completed all6 (Best 5 scored)

2007 Wachusett, Pack, Northfield, Ascutney, Cranmore, Loon                         61 completed all 6 (Best 5 scored)

2008 Wachusett, Pack, Northfield, Ascutney, Cranmore, Loon                         58 completed all 6 (Best 5 scored)

2009 Wachusett, Pack, Northfield, Cranmore, Loon, Ascutney                                   100 completed all 6 (Best 5 scored)

2010 Northfield, Wachusett, Pack, Cranmore, Loon, Ascutney                           105 completed all 6 (Best 5 scored)

2011 Northfield, Wachusett, Pack, Cranmore, Loon, Ascutney                           99 completed all 6 (Best 5 scored)

2012 Sleepy Hollow, Wachusett, Pack, Cranmore, Loon, Ascutney               59 completed all 6 (Best 5 scored)

2013 Sleepy Hollow, Wachusett, Bretton Woods, Loon, Ascutney, Cranmore            89 completed all 6 (Best 5 scored)

2014 Sleepy Hollow, Pack, Wachusett, Ascutney, Loon, Cranmore, Bretton Woods               (Best 6 scored)

Series winners:

1996 Dave Dunham, CMS & Margot Webber, CMS

1997 Eric Morse, CMS & Margot Webber, CMS

1998 Dave Dunham, CMS & Margot Webber, CMS

1999 Eric Morse, CMS & Sue Lachance, CSU

2000 Eric Morse, CMS & Suzy West, CSU

2001 Eric Morse, CMS & Yuki Minami, GCS

2002 Eric Morse, CMS & Cathy Pearce, WRT

2003 Eric Morse, CMS & Suzy West, CSU

2004 Josh Ferenc, BAA & Helen Bradler, MRM

2005 Paul Low, CMS & Suzy West, CSU

2006 Paul Low, CMS & Dawn Heinrich, PRMM

2007 Paul Low, CMS & Abby Woods, GSH

2008 Justin Fyffe, GCS & Nancy Cook

2009 Andy McCarron, CMS & Abby Mahoney, CMS

2010 Jim Johnson, CMS & Gina Lucrezi, Inov-8

2011 Jim Johnson, CMS & Kath Hardcastle

2012 Jim Johnson, CMS & Karen Encarnacion, SRR

2013 Brandon Newbould, WRT & Christin Doneski, WRT

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.  The race will serve as both the USATF NE Mountain championship and the Trail championship.  The first runner to the top of the first climb will claim the title of “King of the Mountain”.

Winners:

2012 Josh Ferenc 39:14 & Bridget Ferrin-Smith 52:17

2013 Josh Ferenc 38:17 & Christin Doneski 48:59

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.

Winners:

1996 Dave Dunham 59:13 (CR) & Margo Webber 1:15:03 (CR) – 196 finishers

1997 Eric Morse 1:00:12 & Margo Webber 1:14:18 (CR) – 209 finishers

1998 Dave Dunham 1:01:40 & Margo Webber 1:16:02 – 210 finishers

1999 Eric Morse 58:35 (CR) & Suzy West 1:16:13 – 157 finishers

2000 Eric Morse 1:01:25 & Suzy West 1:15:22 – 132 finishers

2001 Eric Morse 59:07 & Nikki Kimball 1:14:46 – 191 finishers

2002 Craig Fram 1:00:58 & Cathy Pearce 1:17:20 – 158 finishers

2003 Rod Viens 1:06:15 & Suzy West 1:18:39 – 189 finishers

2004 Not held

2005 Greg Ward 1:07:14 & Suzy West 1:22:25 – 184 finishers

2006 Paul Low 1:03:55 & Kelli Lusk 1:13:35 (CR) – 173 finishers

2007 Paul Low 1:04:42 & Kelli Lusk 1:14:20 – 225 finishers

2008 Glenn Guillemette 1:05:52 & Tara Cardi 1:15:35 – 277 finishers

2009 Brendan Callahan 1:02:37 & Abby Mahoney 1:17:27 – 292 finishers

2010 Eric Blake 59:55 & Gina Lucrezi 1:13:25 – 361 finishers

2011 Jim Johnson 1:02:47 & Kath Hardcastle 1:19:18 – 190 finishers

2012 Brandon Newbould 1:02:02 & Joanie Bohlke 1:16:46 – 201 finishers

2013 Not held

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 race.  Amenities include a very reasonable entry fee, baggage to the finish, prizes in five age groups excellent management by the Central Mass. Striders.  The 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.

Winners:

1996 Dave Dunham 24:35(CR) & Margo Webber 30:06 (CR) – 208 finishers

1997 Eric Morse 24:39 & Margo Webber 30:19 – 233 finishers

1998 Dave Dunham 25:29 & Margo Webber 30:52 – 243 finishers

1999 Eric Morse 24:14(CR) & Julie Peterson 29:24(CR) – 243 finishers

2000 Eric Morse 24:32 & Julie Peterson 29:38 – 260 finishers

2001 Eric Morse 24:30 & Suzy West     30:57 – 209 finishers

2002 Eric Morse 24:20 & Cathy Pearce 30:35 – 305 finishers

2003 Paul Low 24:50 & Suzy West 31:22 – 247 finishers

2004 Paul Low 25:17 & Nikki Kimball 30:38 – 204 finishers

2005 Paul Low 25:29 & Kara Haas 30:24 – 197 finishers

2006 Paul Low 25:07 & Carly Graytock 31:11 – 275 finishers

2007 Paul Low 25:44 & Barbara McManus 31:02 – 328 finishers

2008 Ryan Carrara 25:21 & Amy Nedeau 29:13(CR) – 338 finishers

2009 Ryan Carrara 30:44 & Adrienne Shields 38:20 – 335 finishers

2010 Eric Blake 29:43 & Gina Lucrezi 36:41 – 324 finishers

2011 Jim Johnson 28:54 & Abbey Gosling 35:15 – 308 finishers

2012 Brandon Newbould 29:01 & Joanie Bohke – 226 finishers        

2013 Eric MacKnight 35:50 & Abby Mahoney 42:46 – 297 finishers

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.  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.  In 2009 the course was modified to include trail sections but returned to the traditional course in 2010.

Winners

2001 Eric Morse 28:47 (CR) & Nixie Raymond 40:27 (CR) – 104 finishers

2002 Eric Morse 28:44 (CR) & Cathy Pearce 37:29 (CR) – 99 finishers

2003 Eric Morse 29:49 & Suzy West 36:52 (CR) – 80 finishers

2004 Kevin Tilton 29:02 & Emily Willems 41:00 – 70 finishers

2005 Paul Low 29:27 & Suzy West 38:00 – 81 finishers

2006 Paul Low 29:39 & Abby Woods 41:37 – 56 finishers

2007 Dave Dunham 31:36 & Kasie Enman 35:07 (CR) – 133 finishers

2008 Eric Morse 29:47 & Dorcas Wonsavage 37:56 – 131 finishers

2009 Jim Johnson 37:26 & Kasie Enman 41:25 – 176 finishers

2010 Eric Blake 28:16 (CR) & Gina Lucrezi 37:48 - 191 finishers

2011 Jim Johnson 30:08 & Kasie Enman 33:33 – 192 finishers

2012 Jim Johnson 30:04 & Carolyn Stocker 35:29 – 174 finishers

2013 Josh Ferenc 29:54 & Abby Mahoney 37:11 – 179 finishers

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%.  Race features include a low entry fee, baggage transport to the summit, and wild strawberries lining sections of the course.

2006 Paul Low 47:08 & Kelli Lusk 1:00:46 – 96 finishers

2007 Paul Low 47:50 (CR) & Kasie Enman 53:36 (CR) - 192 finishers

2008 Eric Blake 46:01(CR) & Jennifer Johnson 1:04:15 – 170 finishers

2009 Jim Johnson 48:25 & Kasie Enman 53:17 (CR) – 204 finishers 

2010 Eric Blake 46:52 & Gina Lucrezi 1:00:49 – 209 finishers

2011 Brandon Newbould 48:03 & Kath Hardcastle 1:00:56 – 216 finishers

2012 Jim Johnson 43:16 & Morgan Arritola 46:16 – 291 finishers

2013 Eric Blake 44:58 (CR) & Christin Doneski 1:00:07 – 315 finishers

Course records: 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 one week after Mt Washington. 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 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.

Winners

2005 Eric Blake 1:03:46 & Julie Bryan 51:29 – 129 finishers

2006 David Hunt 48:15 & Dawn Heinrich 1:05:05 – 101 finishers

2007 Rickey Gates 1:02:48 & Anna Pichrtova 46:45 – 173 finishers

2008 Justin Fyffe 53:51 & Abby Woods 1:08:36 – 139 finishers

2009 Joe Gray 48:37 & Christine Lundy 57:16 – 236 finishers

2010 Kevin Tilton 51:52 & Gina Lucrezi 1:04:19 – 181 finishers

2011 Max King 42:21 & Kasie Enman 32:59 - 219 finishers

2012 Marco De Gasperi 38:46 & Kelsey Allen 52:43 – 139 finishers

2013 Joseph Gray 56:23 & Morgan Arritola 42:31 – 279 finishers

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

will be held on Oct. 4^th.  This is the only Fell race in the series and the first time a series race has been held in the fall.  This is 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 is marked giving runners the choice to follow the somewhat longer route without having to navigate.

Winners

2012 Brent Perdrizet 55:41 & Sarah Schlaack 1:08:46 – 24 finishers

2013 Brandon Newbould 1:10:13 & Christin Doneski 1:29:07 – 131 finishers

Gone but not forgotten:

Northfield Mountain: Northfield was normally held the Saturday after Pack Monadnock and had been the home for the USATF New England Association championships for Mountain or trail running from 2003 to 2011.  The event served as a qualifier for the USA Mountain running team in 2003 and 2005.  The most recent version of the course was first incorporated in 2006 is a 10.3K featuring 1,200’ of climb and descent.  The footing was very good and the surface was 100% trail.  Amenities included the lowest entry fee in the series ($10 pre) and excellent facilities for a mountain race.  In 2010 the race served as the USATF NE trail championship and was part of the WMAC trail series and the HSR Grand Prix series.

Winners:

2003 Paul Low 50:05 & Kelli Lusk 1:00:03 – 84 finishers

2004 Joshua Ferenc 49:18 & Kelli Lusk 1:03:04 – 128 finishers

2005 Simon Gutierrez 58:30 & Anna Pichrtova 42:17 – 93 finishers

2006 Dmitry Drozdov 35:32 (CR) & Suzy West 47:19 (CR) – 97 finishers

2007 Paul Low 36:36 & Kelly Lusk 43:29 (CR) – 228 finishers

2008 Mark Miller 35:47 & Amy Nedeau 41:12 (CR) – 174 finishers

2009 Josh Ferenc 36:26 & Abby Mahoney 43:42 – 216 finishers

2010 Erik Blake 32:14 & Gina Lucrezi 37:31 – 264 finishers (short course due to construction)

2011 Eric MacKnight 36:27 & Kasie Enman 40:47 – 225 finishers

Course records (10.3k): Dmitry Drozdov 35:32 & Kasie Enman 40:47

Mount Kearsarge Last held May 29, 2005.  The course climbs 2,400 feet and drops 400 feet over 8.5 miles. Kearsarge was part of the circuit starting in 1996.  The first Kearsarge race was in 1995; previously many local runners had used the course as a tune-up for Mount Washington.  The first 5 miles is a rolling country road.  The real climb begins just after entering the Rollins State park at the 5-mile mark.  Typically racers will run about the same time for the first five as they do for the last 3-½ miles!  In 2001 the race had to stop at the 5-mile mark due to dangerous road conditions. 

Winners

1996 Dave Dunham 51:23 (CR) & Margo Webber 1:05:53 (CR) – 97 finishers

1997 Eric Morse 52:32 & Margo Webber 1:04:50 (CR) - 124 finishers

1998 Mike Casner 54:48 & Amber Duncan 1:05:29 – 151 finishers

1999 Dave Dunham 51:02 (CR) & Suzy West 1:06:29 – 108 finishers

2000 Eric Morse 51:22 & Suzy West 1:05:58 – 155 finishers

2001 Eric Morse 28:26 & Suzy West 34:08 – 124 finishers

2002 Eric Morse 51:49 & Nikki Kimball 1:04:30 (CR) – 162 finishers

2003 Eric Morse 53:36 & Barbara McManus 1:04:55 – 121 finishers

2004 Paul Low 53:07 & Kelli Lusk 1:03:40 (CR) – 161 finishers

2005 Kevin Tilton 52:25 & Suzy West 1:08:06 – 158 finishers

                                                                       

Stratton Mountain 12k: Held in 1998 and 1999.  The facilities and course were excellent as were the people at Stratton who put on the race.  Unfortunately it just didn’t attract enough runners to the site for it to remain feasible.  It was the New England championship the two years it was held, this was the first time the Association hosted a Mountain Championship.  The course was entirely on trails and had over 2,000’ of climb.  It is also the site of the rock climbing wall where the guide told me “stick your hand in the crack and make a fist”, needless to say the entire group was in stitches about that for days (actually the quote is thrown out every once in a while to this day). 

Winners

1998 Thierry Icart 51:27 & Amber Duncan 1:05:40 – 85 finishers

1999 Eric Morse 46:33 & Julie Peterson 58:28 – 56 finishers

Windblown 10K: Held once in 2001.  A multiple loop 10K was held in 2001 over the Windblown XC ski area in New Ipswich NH.  The course was created to mirror (as best as possible) the up/down course of the World Trophy.  The course twice passed over the summit of Barrett Mountain and was run over parts of the Wapack trail.  Eric Morse was leading the race after one lap before going off course.  Dan Verrington and I tied, thinking we were second and third.  Nikki Kimball took the women’s victory.  I designed this course to be one that I could win, so I thought.  It had tough climbs, but very non-technical descents.  Had Morse been able to follow the profusely marked course he would have crushed my time.  This was a great place to hold a race; however the user-fee was a bit too steep for my tastes.

2001 Dan Verrington 41:08 & Nikki Kimball 47:51 – 55 finishers