Groton, MA 10K

Check it on the google maps contours

Anyone run this one and have any info or opinion about the course? I was kind of wondering about it myself...

I won the race in '05 on the old course, and got smacked around last year on the new course. The new course doesn't have any long sustained hills like the old one did and has more of a rolling aspect. Enough roll to keep it from being a PR type course but no hills like the races in nearby Harvard. The only hill of any length comes in the last mile and as such isn't pleasant, even though it's not particularly steep.

It is the New England USATF Grand Prix Championship so competition should be top notch. Hosted by the awesome Squannacook River Runners.

Who is coming?

You start out on the track, run to the road. The first 1 to 2 miles are pretty much flat. Then the rolling hills start and they don't let up until right near the finish. Up and down, very few flat spots.

There's one section around 4.5 miles where you go down a long, gradual hill, then make a "V" turn and come right back up pretty much the same hill (on a different road). Vector is right that that is the longest hill but it is very gradual. It's also a great place to put the hurt on someone you're trying to beat. Save it going down that thing and try to get them for good going up.

After that, you bang a right and it's pretty much flat back to the track.

Pretty course. Nice but definitely not a PR course.

I won't be running but I'll be there watching. Good luck.

Joe,

Will Somerville have teams?

Tom

Thanks guys... just what I was looking for. (Well, not necessarily the hills and such, but the descriptions.)

Gotta love the NE Grand Prix races. Fun, but... talk about getting smacked around!

Derderian wrote:

Joe,

Will Somerville have teams?

Tom

Yes but I'm afraid we're not going to be anywhere near our best. Greg P. is out with a stress fracture (which is why he didn't run Boston). Carlos D. and Seaghan M. are running but did both run Boston. Personally I'm going for marathon #2 next weekend (which means I'll also miss Westford!) so I decided not to race it. Not sure if that's playing it too safe or what but there you have it.

On the women's side, we won't have Diona and I don't know about Mariah T (who ran Boston) or Larissa B (who is running VCM). And Jen R. has had some other life commitments over the past few months that have prevented her from running much at all.

We're in the middle of our break from track so communication has admittedly not been very good lately.

Try this:

http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=118032

I wonder how much the Groton race will be diluted up front by Boston and by the JJ Ramble (which has money) held that same day. Most of the faster people, to be honest, don't especially give a shit about the GP races that aren't on fast courses.

Average Joe-

Go get em at the Poconos! I was part of the "Fall Marathon training" thread (til I got ridiculously injured) and have also followed the Spring thread - I really hope it all comes together for you at the Pocono Marathon - you're due!

I've run the new Groton course - but not raced it - the above posts were right on, nothing major in the way of hills, but enough rolls to keep it from being a PR course. The Squanners do a great job with the race, though - I ran the old 10k course about 10 years in a row. Good luck to everybody running!

Run7 - Are you running on Sunday? I will be there running the 5K then cheering on the team for the 10K. Just to let you know registration for St. George is until May 1st. I've signed up for this year again.

Hey BEM!!

Good luck to YOU at the Poconos!

No, I'm not running this weekend - I've been back almost 8 weeks now, and I think I would majorly embarass myself if I ran Sunday! Good luck in the 5k...

If I can ever get somewhat fast again, I'm planning on St. George!!

Good luck again!