Pack Monadnock, Sunday, June 5
So, there's Matt with a fistful of medals, 2nd in age category, 1st for the masters Team Gloucester he led, 3rd for the open team, 5th overall in Sunday's Pack Monadnock, trying to explain to Mark Asaro and Peter Watson how if only race officials figured things this way or that he might qualify for a fourth medal. "Matt Spitz," says Mark recalling the 7 time gold medal winning U.S, swimmer in the 1972 Olympics. "That might stick, Matt Spitz."
In 90-degree heat that added minutes to most of this year's 184 runners at the Pack 10-miler Team Gloucester runners came away with even more medals than Matt's alone. Bob Gillis was third in his category and 28th overall and with Mark Asaro, 32nd, comprised the winning masters and open teams. And Peter Watson was also 3rd in category. In placement, Dave Geary moved up the most from 67 two years ago to 44th this year and for his reward got to leave the mountain immediately for work in Saugus. Gus Saulnier, "the old panther," drove up and lent moral support.
The Pack starts in Wilton, N.H.. and winds through rolling hills for 8.7 miles until it gets to the to the base of Pack Monadnock Mountain in Miller State Park across from Temple Mountain. And then you run up the 1.3 miles up the mountain "as steep or steeper than Mt. Washington." Yes it is. And if going up it doesn't get you then walking/running back down will as there are no shuttles and you're on your own.
The Pack is the third leg of the mountain series, Wachusett being last week and Kearsage the week before. So far Dave Geary, Peter Vadala and Greg Lowe have done all three. Ascutney comes up next week followed after Mt. Washington, which is not part of the series, by Northfield and Cranmore.
Overall winners were Greg Ward, 1:07:14 and Suzy West, 1:22:25.
Team Gloucester runners were:
- Matt Curran, 5th, 1:16:03
- Bob Gillis, 28th, 1:24:16
- Mark Asaro, 32nd, 1:26:23
- Greg Lowe, 35th, 1:27:17
- Dave Geary, 44th, 1:30:35
- Peter Vadala, 65th, 1:35:56
- Peter Watson, 132nd, 1:54:53
