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Monadnock Runner News. . . . July 21st. . . Delivered punctually, courteously and joyfully and free -of -charge to all citizens of The Nation (Sizzler City, Sizzler Proper, Sizzlerville , Sizzler Twsp, izzler Outer Limits, Sizzler Village, Sizzler- By- The- Sea, Sizzler Metro West, Sizzlerborough, & Sizzlerville) . . . . Unwrap this sizzlin' issue for . . . . * Alex McGrath, J. D. Drew Co-MVP's In NY City & Nuby Tue Last. . . . * Updated World Cup Standings. . . * Nuby Story(& Story Behind Story). . . . . . * Results (& Record Field)For ' Beat The Race Director Night '. . . . . . . *Ethan McBrien Shines In Dublin Days 5k. . . . . . . . * Get Pumped For Sizzler Nation's Signature Event:'The Bananarama Relay'!. . . . . . * McGovern, With 8th place finish, Takes Yellow Flag From Caz In Tour De Sizzler's Mountainous Stage. . . . . . . * Shauna, Alpha Lady:'I can taste victory;I feel the pressure but I won't cave down the stretch'. . . . . . . *Welcome Back, Thos. B, Jeff Topping, Xtina Xtides, & Hen Lady. . . . . . . . * It's Official:Kimball's Ice Cream Crowd Fave Over Nashua Pride & Baseball. . . . . . . . . . * Jaffrey's John Morgan Race Returns!. . . . . . . Humidity, Training & Pace Lessons. . . . . * Andrew Hunt, Mystery Meat Winner, Gets 6-min Headstart. . . . . * Newcomers Galore. . . . . *All-ComerTrack Meets, Anyone? *Momentum, Energy In The Nation. . . . *Bill Engle Pumped! Hi Kids! Well, there is so much news to report. Let's get right to it. Shall we? My reporters have been working feverishly running to and fro, hither and thither. . I think My City Editor and Managing Ed are both ready for a vacation. They need it, but not till the Fall when things slow down a bit around here. Everyone has been doing yeoman's work to bring you the latest news in timely, accurate fashion in the quality manner you have come to expect from us. We hope you like our new layout, colorgraphics, and Sizzler tote bags that you should have received by now in your newsaper box. Our Circulation Director makes sure you get your hard copy of MRN every morning. Our paper boys(and girls) are the best. . and we are proud of them. Don't forget to tip them in gold, S&H Green stamps, or ice cream. ---------------------------------------------- * Holy Cow! What a turnout we had for Beat The RD Night. You could feel the electricity, the energy, the ZAP on the shores of Lake Nuby. . . right at High Tide with seagulls swirling about overhead while pretzel, hot dog and fried dough vendors made a killing last Tuesday. It takes along time to mark the course, put out the trivia questions, etc. So when I came back to the start around race time, I was pleased to see we had record # for the year. Thirty -three! A great crowd, very positive and lots of good interaction and camaraderie. The way it ought to be. Best so far. * Scott McGovern , sans the steroids that they regularly employ in The Other Summer World Cup (Tour De France), utilized his vast experience, raw power, and innate talent to wrest the lead from 5-time Champ Mikey Casner over the most mountainous stage of the tour. He now wears the yellow jersey and bears the burden of having a big bullseye on his back. He did have it earlier in the season but relinquished it to wily M Caz when a spectator ventured directly into his path, causing the normally affable Scott to take a tumble, which meant lost time that has been a hard to make up. The top three:Scott with 49 points , Casner with 47 and Ed Glidden with 45. * Speaking of pressure, Shauna Burt is displaying grit, passion and desire as she eyes her first World Cup. She has nerves of steel and is cool as the proverbial cuke. Shauna has vowed not to fold or crumble. 'Failure:It's not an option, 'she whispered in a tough guy Clint Eastwood-type voice (between spitting out Red Man chewin' tobaccky) when asked about her chances of winnig the whole shebang. Not so fast, Lady. Shannon may have somethning to say about that. And how do you and eat watermelon and hang onto The chaw in your mouth at the same time? Yucka. I tried it once in college, swallowed it, got sick as a dog, dizzy like you wouldn't believe, and sweat like I was gonna die. Tough dudette, that Shauna. * Hey! Andrew Hunt got a 6-minute headstart Tuesday last. Everyone got a 5 min handicap on me as part of the gimmick. But young Mr Hunt was the Mystery Meat Winner the previous week, and thus earned an extra 60 secs on me and the rest of the field. That proved to be the difference. He won his baseball ticket to the Nashua Pride as a result of it. . and was one happy camper. Congrats! * Speaking of same. . . . . . 18 runners finished ahead of moi. . Diferent world running from behind. . and I got a chance to experience the nastiness of this course. They should shoot the guy who thought up this route. . especially for the turnaround on a cruel hill. Or at least put him in stocks for a day , tie his shoelaces together and maybe the tar and feather tx. * Food For Thought:Well, I guess harriers enjoy a cryogenic bovine product more than they do our national pastime. How else to explain the overwhelming choice of Kimball's Ice cream over Nashua Pride Baseball. Of the 18 I didn't catch, all but 2 or 3 took the tasty dessert. Especially the top dogs. I went to the Pride game in Sat night. It is a good take, parking is free and they even had fireworks after the game. You can't beat that. I love the whole atmosphere. * Return Of Jack Morgan! It is back. After a 5 year hiatus(has it been that long?), the John Morgan 5 Mile Race has returned to its place on the local running calendar. Next Saturday, July 26th, at 9 bells, the renewed version kicks off, under the able tutelage and direction of the highly esteemed Lisa Ramey, local veterinarian who makes house calls, delivers baby horses and shoots old ones(or maybe not a vet. . it just sounds good). I will have some aps tomorrow at Norway Hill. Also access CoolRunning. It is basically the same course as before. It had a rich history, fell into disrepair faded away, but now is back. It is only 10. 00 pre-entry, 15. 00 day of . . Come on out and participate. * How about that Ethan McBrien? The Con-Val senior -to -be ran a brilliant race Saturday en route to taking top honors at The Dwyer 5k in Dublin this past Saturday. It was especially meaningful for EB, as he is a hometown boy. To grab first in your back yard is sweet, particularly the manner in which he won. It was fascinating to watch. Sam Wood was leading until 2. 8 miles, wehn Ethan caught him and sped to glory. He didn't pass me until 7mins plus into the contest, cruised through mile one in a calm 5:30, then stealthily moved up. I thought as he passed me that he waited too long. I was wrong. He showed poise, patience, maturity and great talent. It was an athletic work of art. Nice going, Ethan!Perfectly executed. * Welcome Back, Thomas Brumaghim! Great to have him hjoin us at Nuby the other night. He came with a couple canine companions. TB is a seasoned and talented marathoner and owns a 3:03 and change PR (at DeMar in 2002). Hah! See?I remembered, Tom. He won ice cream. I wonder if he gave his dogs any. Welcome back, Hen Lady Helzel, Xtina Xtides(C2), and Jeff Topping. Come back for the relay. * Speaking of the relay. . . are you ready? Have you assembled your team? We have 5 divisions. All Male, all Female, Mixed, Family adn 60 plus(new for this year). It is our marquee event, very popular, and most exciting. We use a baby banana as a relay baton because it makes us different. It starts at 6:35 pm, Tuesday, July 22nd, at the Norway Hill Apple Orchards. Rain Or Shine. Cost is $15. 00 per team. Registration will begin an hour early(5:30). Parking is at The Christmas Tree Farm. Please allow time for your 2nd and 3rd legs to get to the exchange zones. Don't wait till the last minute to register. I picked up the nifty awards Saturday. I am happy with them. I hope our champs are as well. Winning members of the five teams will receive. . . well. . . you will just have to wait and see. So be there. . fast or slow. . it don't matter no how. Anyone can do a mile. First mile is all down, while the 2nd is flat, and third is nosebleed city. . . up the Nasty Norway Hill. Oh! If you are doing the first or second leg, please don't run through the chute! ONLY the anchor(leg 3) is to run across the finish line. No one else. Otherwise, the results will be very much messed up. Vital. * We are getting more newcomers out. . vacationers, foreigners, flatlanders, visitors, Martians, etc. . This is good. Let's keep it up, and continue the positive momentum to the the end. Thanks to all who faithfully come out week after week. I think of Clan Earley, Jeff R, Sterling, Libster, Gliddens, Hunts, Cazman, Scottie Mac, the Newtmeister. I think we will have a record crowd at Norway Hill. * The relay is named in honor of Patriarch Bill Engle, the Godfather of the sport . He is from New Jersey, has connections, and is nicknamed Vito for a reason. That's right. He has made a bundle in the 'olive oil' business. At least that is what we are told. Any questions? Good. It is best if you keep it under your hat. Or else. So we WILL see you tomorrow night then, right? Good. That is what I thought. It is named in honor of MISTER Engle. He will be the man in the trenchcoat, dark sunglasses, very very, VERY large men as bodyguards, and arriving in a black Rolls ( or Bentley) with tinted windows. Scroll down for overall points standings race story, results at Nuby. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Summer Sizzler World Cup Grand Prix Overall Standings (after 8 races). . . . those in contention. . . The Gents. . . . . . . The Damsels. . . . . . . 1. Scott McGovern 49 1. Shauna Burt 62 2. Mike Casner 47 2. Shannon Glidden 55 3. Eddie Glidden 45 3. Liberty Twitchell 43 4. Nathan Earley 35 4. Lizzy Webber 40 5. Troy French 33 5. Kathy Engle 25 6. Bill Earley 28 7. Andrew Hunt 25 8. Ethan McBrien 19 9. Andrew Briggs 18 10. Dylan Fisher 17 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *(Sizzler Race #8 Story Behind The Story) ' McGrath Crushes Field, Wins MVP in House That Ruth Built Over Record Field. . . . Lifts A. L. to big victory in All-Star Game, Gets Chunky Monkey Ice Cream Cone;Everyone Has Good Time & Goes For Dip in Cool Nuby Waters after ' ------------------------------------------------- Okay, that was a little superfluous for a headline. I confess. But where does one begin? This race had it all:A record number of participants for the year (thus far), a lickety-split field of gazelles, an electric atmosphere, plus baseball and ice cream as awards that proved to be the perfect prelude to the marathon all-star contest that would ensue in The Land Of The Evil Empire later that evening. All-Star Alex McGrath, who re-wote the track and x-c books while running for Con-Val, crushed a grand slam into the short porch in right field and trotted to a 29:23 win on the shores of Lake Nubanusitt in Hancock on Tuesday evening over a killer out-and back five mile route. McGrath cruised , enjoyed a decent lead by the halfway mark, and was never seriously challenged. He was named MVP of the night by Chevrolet (or at least named MVP by concensus). Alex will attend Billy & Mary College in the Fall. We wish him the very best. A cluster of constellational all-star talent dogged Mr. Gatorade. Last week's champ, Ethan McBrien, teammates Dylan Fisher and Noah Fournier, and crusty Sizzler veteran Troy French(just off the 21 day DL and fresh from a rehab start with the Lowell Spinners. . so I understand) duked it out, finishing second through fifth respectively in 30:51, 30:51, 30;53 and 30:57. Once again, Stoddard's Lil Eliza Webber proved tougher than Home Depot's coarsest sandpaper, nailing down the top spot for women(and sixth uber alles!) with her time of 33:08. It was E. W's fourth win in as many attempts. Newcomer to Sizzler Nation Tara Germond, up from Providence Rhode Island, earned a silver medal with a 38:02 performance. Don't mess with nobody from Providence. See, they may know someone . . . . who knows someone. . . . who knows someone. . . . . who knows Luca Brazzi. . who knows Vito Corleone. . . . who runs things and can make life good. . . or NOT so good. . for you. . Just a word to the wise. It is all in the rDNA, isn't it? Momma (Tamara) Webber gathered a bronze amongst fillies in 39:05. She was followed by series leader Shauna Burt in 41:05, with 2006 World Cup Tour Sizzler Titleist Rachel Lakin rounding out the top five in 46:02. All who finished ahead of the aging, half-blind, recently- lobotomized, goofy Race Director(who spotted the gang a five minute head start) received either an ice cream gift certificate to Kimball's or a general admission ticket to any 2008 Nashua Pride baseball game. Beat that! There were 18 harriers who took full advantage of the promo. Most chose the cryogenic bovine product over America's pastime, leaving the leadership wondering if commies had infiltrated Sizzler City. Many of the athletes remained for the closing awards ceremony to pick up some booty, test their trivia knowledge, maybe win a raffle prize, go for a dip in one of the more pristine bodies of water in the state, and enjoy some savory watermelon with fellow road warriors. Great venue on a vintage summery night. In the overall point standings, as Alex was doing the home run trot a la Boston's J. D. Drew, we experienced a lead change on the men's side. Scott McGovern seized the yellow flag( in the always-perilous mountainous region of the Tour De Sizzler!) from Mike Casner, local running's version of Lance Armstrong. The cagey Mr. McGee now has 49 points, 3 better than Mr. Casner. Third place belongs to Ed Glidden, who is nursing a thigh injury. EG has won a trio of individual stages on 'The Tour' this season. It promises to go down to the wire. Many fans are abuzz, seeking autographs and photos from Scott, Mike & Mr. Ed. For the distaff side, Shauna Burt clings to her top spot with 62 points, while Shannon Glidden remains 7 points back, eying the leader like a lion licking its chops over a wandering and wounded wildebeast. Yes. . . . waiting. . . . waiting. . . . waiting is Shannon. . . . for JUST the right moment when the poor prey rests its weary hoofs pro tem, satiating its parched tongue and quenching that thirst in the refreshing waters of the Nile. Then:'Dinnertime!' But Shauna is smart, tough, vigilant and runs like a gazelle. She may elude the voracious, intimidating feline tracking her like Big Bother's latest privacy-intruding invention. Time will tell. How hungry is the lioness? How much does the wildebeast want to survive? Stay tuned. Trailing in third is Libster(Betsy's senior sibling) Twitchell, who's got 45 points. She may pick up the big pay day(and the tasty scraps!), if the two devour one another in a fight to the finish, a knock 'em down, drag 'em out out sanguinous donnybrook. L. T. is licking her chops , perched on a grassy knoll observing. Behind her? My goodness. . . . the most talented promising alpha female in the field: Eliza Webber, biding her time when she assumes the title of Top Cat & rules the Sizzler animal kingdom. I am glad we are at a safe distance with our safari leader. . . . in an RV watching at a safe distance with super binoculars. Next week is Race Nine. It is once again time for the Sizzler's most well-attended event: 'Bill Engle's Baby Banarama Relay' Cost is $15. 00 per team, with each runner covering one mile. Venue is The Norway Hill Apple Orchards, Duncan Road, Hancock. Start time is 6:35 pm, E. D. T. , Tuesday July 22nd. There are five divisions: All Male, All Female, Mixed Nuts, Over 60, & Family. Registration is on day of race only. So start training, practice those hand-offs with bananas, and we will see you on The Big Night. Contact 525-9357 and/or sizzlermania@hotmail. com for more information, to volunteer, to run or to become a title sponsor. eat The Race Director Night'. . . . . . July 15th, 2008. . . . . . . Summer Sizler Race #8 Nubanusitt Lake. . . . . Hancock. . . . . 5 miles. . . . 33 finishers . . . * Official Results 1. Alex McGrath 29:23 2. Ethan McBrien 30:51 3. Dylan Fisher 30:51 4. Noah Fournier 30:53 5. Troy French 30:57 6. Eliza Webber 33:08 7. Scott McGovern 33:58 8. Dan Ellingwood 34:07 9. Pat Pollard 34:12 10. Jeff Holmes 35:15 11. Mike Casner 35:53 12. Rob Clemens 35:51 13. Thos Brumaghim 37:37 14. Tara Germond 38:02 15. Jeff Topping 38:17 16. Nathan Earley 38:29 17. Andrew Hunt 39:39 18. Tamara Webber 39:05 19. Davey Birse 34:32 20. Bill Earley 40:58 21. Shauna Burt 41:05 22. Hunt Dowse 42:18 23. Andy Briggs 43:45 24. Jeff Richardson 44:40 25. Rachel Lakin 46:02 26. Shannon Glidden 46:13 27. Newt Tolman 46:34 28. Jenn Helsel 48:07 29. Libster Twitchell 48:09 30. Kathy Engle 50:17 31. Aaron Harris 52:56 32. Mike Gardner 53:17 33. Xtina Christides 53:29 Next Week. . . . . . Bill Engle's Baby Banarama Relay (3 x 1 miles) Tuesday July 22nd, 6:35 pm Norway Hill Apple Orchards, Hancock $15. 00 per team 525-9357 mistermarathon@juno. com or sizzlermania@hotmail. com Come on out! Submitted, Davey Birse, Archives Director & Reference Librarian, Sizzler Public Library |
Friday, July 25, 2008 10:00 PM