Recap by Mike Pelletier.
On one of my all-time un-favorite courses along the hot-topped Daniel Webster Highway in Merrimack, NH, three Striders laced up their running shoes and competed in the Ribfest 5 Miler–USATF/NE 5 Mile Championship.
After 10 days of no running and lots of ice, I was testing out my balky IT band. My IT band passed the test with flying colors, but I came away disgusted with the course. 4 of the 5 miles of the race were along a black-topped highway with absolutely no shade. The only thing that prevented a repeat of last year’s Bobby Doyle 5M race in August in RI was the 9am start.
Bill Kobus, Dave Newhall, and I made up a M60+ team. Team results aren’t yet available; only individual results:
| Place | Age Group | Time | Age-graded | |
| Bill Kobus | 10th | M60-64 | 39:46 | 68.3% |
| Dave Newhall | 15/24 | M70+ | 46:50 | 63.9% |
| Mike Pelletier | 16/24 | M70+ | 49:49 | 61% |
Use age-grading to judge performance, using an achievement percentile, without bias for gender or the aging process (in other words, you are measured against a specific standard for your age and sex). These percentiles can be interpreted as follows:
- Over 90% — World Class
- Over 80% — National Class
- Over 70% — Regional Class
- Over 60% — Local Class
Kudo’s for three great performances! Sometimes it seems the weather is just against us. I think we can all relate to the sun beating on asphalt and having the heat from not only overhead but radiated upward as well.