An Ra’s Mo’r 5K Opens NER Pub Series XIV

The “Feature” photo is of former Somerville Road Runners
prez Paul Vincent Clark, who lost a
bet with the owner of the host Asgard Restaurant & Pub and, hence,
ran as a leprechaun.

 

Clarkie wasn’t alone among green-clad runners in the
People’s Republic of Cambridge for the opening salvo in NER Pub Series XIV ‰ÛÓ
the 14th Annual An Ra’s M’or 5K.

 

The weather was a bit more conducive to racing (40s &
overcast) than throwing a block party in MIT’s University Park Common, but
there was no shortage of takers for both.

 

Former Holy Cross Crusader  Brad Mish phoned
RD Brendan Kearney of the host Somerville Road Runners to ask what it
would take to win. “I told him 15:30 should probably do it,” said Kearney.

 

Mish ran 15:31 with a vision from Pub Series XIII playing out
behind him, i.e. Hurtin’ For Certain’s Lee
Danforth outsprinting an adversary to the finish line. Danforth and 2010
Doyle’s winner Mike Quintal were
both timed in 15:47 with the nod given to our 2010 Co-Gold Medal winner.

 

Series Sponsor New
Balance was repped by Mark Mayall
in fourth with many familiar (& many new) faces filling in behind.

 

BAA ace Kristin
Murphy is now 7-for-7 in the Series after winning in 18:04 but is more
excited about hubby Pat’s comeback.
“He’s really fast but he’s been injured a long time. There’ll be a big
difference by Doyle’s.” Pat ran 19:14, coming in right behind Series stalwart Theo Kinderman of CSU.

 

SRR’s Rachel Shanley,
27, and GBTC’s Kyle Linn MacQueen,
25, were just 10 & 12 seconds behind our resident speedster so things
should be interesting if they show at Doyle’s on April 10. Quintal is ready to
defend at Doyle’s so that should be
a worthy rematch.

 

In The Legends Corner: National class age groupers
were already duking it out at this early season brew-ha-ha as RI’s Marge Bellisle (4th woman overall
in  2010) had to kick past Linda Jennings coming off Mass. Ave.
for a 2-second Senior victory in 20:58.

 

The answer to who’ll fill the Veteran’s void left by Maine’s
Kevin McDonald and “The Duke” was answered by former Pub Series
Vet winner Gordon MacFarland, 62,
absent for a year but back and rolling in 18:26.

 

The answer to who’ll grab McDonald’s Golden Gas Guzzler award: “We’re not letting any guy from Maine win
that this year,” snarled Stowe, Vermont’s Tom
Foltz, whose wife Patty placed
second to Veteran superstar Jan
Holmquist, 66, who ran 22:15 on the certified course (yes, that’s 7:10
pace).

 

The crowd moved from the park to the Asgard for the noon
award ceremony with a live band and much merriment to follow. Special thanks to
the Asgard and, of course, the mighty Somerville Road Runners for
getting the Pub Series off to a raucous start. See you at Doyle’s! Women’s Standings  Men’s Standings  Series, Races, Rules & Manifesto