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What a difference 3-years makes. The Riverwalk Brewery IPA 5K in Newburyport was a big hit with the Pub Series crowd in 2023. That year the skies blackened and thunderstorms threatened, but didn’t open until Larry Cole, 88, crossed the finish line. So, there was the first difference. A few weeks before this year’s race we learned no one 80 or over could sign up. The RD was quizzed on this a few times and never gave an answer as to why.
Jason Goldschmidt motoring to glory in Newburyport.
Conscientious Octogenarian objectors Betsy Knapp and Dave Pember, although MIA, were informed that they’ll get participation credit to go toward end of Series swag. Crafty Rich Paulson signed up in the 75-79 division (an available option) and has thus vaulted Pember in the 80-89 standings. There’s one asterisk.
Pub Series leader Patrick Bugbee and The Kid!
Here’s another to add to Patrick Bugbee’s resume after being a tad flu addled at Connolly’s Kick in For Kids. Non-addled but misdirected, our resident Pub Series leader went off course along with fellow Pubster Scott Grandfield and Gloucester HS Super Soph Isaiah Nicastro. Grandfield’s watch had the top trio running 3.42-miles. Seems right as Bugbee ran 17:29 at Connolly’s and 18:41 at Riverwalk. Grandfield ran 17:43 at Connolly’s and 19:33 at Riverwalk.
CSU’s Jason Goldschmidt (3-seconds ahead of Bugbee at Connolly’s) stayed the course and won in 18:27 followed by The Kid and Bugbee. Norwich U. Coach Michael McGrane was next followed by Grandfield who still managed to jump ahead of former teen idol Terry McNatt in the Veteran’s division. McGrane was the big winner here as M50 leader Doug Johnson was off on an Italian vacation with the family and HFC’s Tim Gavin, who can never stay the course in this Series, couldn’t stay the course. McGrane is now leading the Senior division by 5-points with CSU’s Kevin Delaney also seizing the opportunity with a 3-point lead over 3rd place.
Bugbee still holds a 3-point lead over Goldschmidt in the overall standings and Grandfield leads the Veteran’s division so it could have been worse.
Stacey Harrison of the Winner’s Circle (in the background) would trail Women’s winner Elizabeth Bugbee by 16-seconds. Hoo-ahh!
Now, on the brighter side of the street, flu ravaged (at Connolly’s) yet valiant warrior Elizabeth Bugbee was back on point, winning the women’s division in 21:44 after struggling home in 22:26 at Connolly’s. Liberty AC assassin and past Pub Series women’s champion Mimi Fallon jumped all over that and vaulted to a 6-point lead over Bugbee, now cut to 4 as Stacey Harrison of the Winner’s Circle RC arrived second followed by Mimi.
Super Septuagenarian Gary Morin padded his Pub Series lead at Riverwalk.
A final observation as to why the Series will not be back to Riverwalk (although we love the brewery and Newburyport) is the addition of a half marathon that lowered the starting time for the 5K to 8:15 with the brewery not opening until 11:00. There were few Publicans still around at that point although Somerville RR strongman Greg Picklesimer was one of them. We’ll also give Pickle participatory status as he actually worked registration as a volunteer but still couldn’t get to run because the race was sold out. What a sellout. Yegads!
Nora “The Explorer” Shanahan copped 2-points to vault onto the Pub Series Leaderboard.
Looking forward to the Notch Brewing RC hosting of the North Shore Runfest 5K in Salem on Sunday, August 30, at the Notch Brewery in Salem for Malt & Hops Tour stop No. 4!
Pub Series Manifesto & Schedule
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