12/02/11 - Weekly Update!

BI-WEEKLY NEWS SUMMARY

12-02-11 NORTHEAST VELOCROSS CYCLOCROSS (LONDONDERRY, NH – 11/19) - Comp covered several men’s races on this crazy Velo/BMX/Woods course, walking away with a Top 10 and a couple Top 20s. Congrats to Iron-Jay Curry (Top 10), Paul “Clyde-with- Glide” Penaskovic, Scott “Wooly” Wilson, and Capt P for some good finishes and some good air time on the BMX bumps.

BOSTON ROAD CLUB CYCLCROSS AT SHEDD PARK (LOWELL, MA – 11/20) – Comp not only covered several men’s races but also several female races as well with some great results all around and a couple top 25s to boot. Big congrats to our growing female corp, Roz “Luna-Chick” Puleo, Capt Jen “DaVinci” Linanne, Catherine “Cat” Quinn, Nancy “Wrapper-Happy” Hatfield, and Greta “the Great” Zygmont. On the boys side tearing up the course we had Capt Kurt “Elmo-Ironmuppet” Maw, Dan “Super-Cooper”, Iron-Jay Curry, Admiral Bucketlist Morse, Eric “Quiet-Assassin” Whewell, Paul “Clyde-with- Glide” Penaskovic and Scott “Wooly” Wilson. And we even covered the Juniors race with young Madeleine “Mad-Z” Zygmont (daughter of Scottie and Greta) taking to the mud. Because one race is just not enough pain, Dan Coop and Capt Kurt stuck around for a double race day in the PM. We just love to suffer.

BAYSTATE CYCLOCROSS VERGE SERIES RACE #12-#13 (STERLING, MA - 11/26, 11/27)- A 2 race weekend in central mass with Comp covering them both, and racing them well, taking a Top 10, a couple Top 20s and a podium. But who would take it? The Boys? The gals? The Juniors? Saturday had some strong performances with Capt Kurt, Capt Jen and Dan Supper-Cooper diggin hard and covering 2 races. While on Sunday Comp covered 3 different races with Iron-Jay, Capt P, Capt Kurt , Scottie Wooly-Wilson, and Madeleine Mad-Z, hittin’ a cold morning that froze a few fingers. And who took to the podium? None other than Comp’s new upstart, young Madeleine “Mad-Z” Zygmont in the Junior Female category. Way to go Mad-Z!

WILD TURKEY 5-MILER (SALEM, MA – 11/24) – A record turnout again for this local running race that has gone from 160 runners 7 years ago to 1,450 this year. Congrats to Tim “Kona-Slim-Speedy” Clarke, Artie “One-Man-Party” Gray, Colin “Green Monstah” Doherty, Denise “TRX-girl” Murphy, Capt P and Tula “the canine puppy terror” on crossing the line. Tula ran the 5mi in a PR 46:05 with Mom and Dad Smurphy. But if that’s on 4 legs do you cut the time in half or double it?

FEASTER FIVE 5MILE (ANDOVER, MA 11/24) – This race is beyond records, as near 10,000 runners attended this one. And at this one Comp’s Mighty-John Young stood head and shoulders above the rest as he was invited by Dave McGillvary (Boston Marathon Director) to speak before the runners prior to the race. Now there’s a big honor. MJ had a few other bonuses as this one as well, as ESPN8 the Ocho caught up with MJ, “What a great morning! Finished the Feaster Five (mile) in 1:10. I was asked to speak to the 10,000 runners prior to the race. ‘Doesn't matter if it's a 5 minute mile or a 14 minute mile, it's still a mile’ A true gift this morning. Thanks to Dave McGillivray and all of the Merrimack Striders! Had a chance to meet and talk with Joan Benoit and Bill Rodgers both the night before and just prior to the race.” Now that’s a good race morning.

GABE’S RUN 5K AND 1MI RUN (HAMILTON, MA 11/25) - Looks like more of our young offspring are getting into the race spirit as young Owen joined his dad Mighty-John for a little run and schooled him in the 1-mi “fun” run! As MJ calls it, “Owen took off at the start and never stopped running. I had to cut across the cross-country course twice to catch him and even then he got to the finish before I did. He finished the 1 mile course in 11:45. I asked him when he was running if it hurt at all and he said, ‘Part way through my right rib was sore, but I ignored it.’ I am so PROUD of him.” Congrats to the Young family.

OTHER THANKSGIVING TURKEY TROTS – I’m sure several other Comp members were at various turkey trots that I’m unaware of, so this is a blanket CONGRATS to you all for earning your 3,000 calorie turkey day dinner and fixins’.