It's one of those years when you go down to Houghton's Pond twice -- once for dual meets, and a second time for the league meet. It looks like pretty nice weather for today's meet, which means that the league meet will probably be cold and rainy.
I've always liked the Houghton's Pond course, set at the foot of the Blue Hills with miles of trails all around it. The course itself is challenging with that long hill that punishes those who run too fast in the first 3/4 mile. The steep downhill that follows is even worse than the uphill, and footing at the bottom can be treacherous. A long stretch on the path along the road, then a swing around the circle and past the bathhouse, and then a mile around the pond. It's a course that demands a plan.
Newton North will be at Houghton's Pond today, taking on Natick and Milton. The girls race will be exciting. Natick has the best runner in the league in Becca White, but hasn't found a strong pack to support her. Milton has been turning heads in the league with its deep pack, and will certainly give North a battle. As for the boys race, unless I'm missing something Newton North should win both contests easily.
Meanwhile, in a private school league far, far away, Concord Academy faces its stiffest test of the season, taking on Portsmouth Abbey School at Great Brook State Park in Carlisle. Great Brook is another course surrounded by beautiful woods. The Dual-County League held their league championship at Great Brook one year -- the year that Sam Donovan injured his ankle -- and it is still the site of a big middle school meet. I know CA vs PAS doesn't rise to the level of Newton North vs. Milton, but it's a big deal to us.
Good luck to all teams, and enjoy the woods!
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4 comments:
that's a shame that you guys are running at great brooks... that place has the potential to be a nice 5k, but is just way too treacherous
Definitely a beautiful location that has the potential to be an excellent cross course, as cliff mentioned. The woods can be pretty narrow and pretty rocky with a few rolling hills. The rolling hills are short and somewhat exciting, the rocks are something to look out for. If I were observing a meet there, I'd tell kids to watch their footing especially when they're in the woods.
It's funny that you noted my ankle injury that ended my senior year of high school cross country at the DCL meet there. Up until the point where I was limping home after that one bad step on that course, my impression of the place was that it was one of the most gorgeous places that I had run on.
Of course I was forced to pull out and ended up on crutches for 12 days, but if someone took a step to clean up the woods and get rid of the medium/big sized rocks that plague the half-miles of rolling hills then that course could be a pleasure to race on.
Milton over Natick over NN
Hope the Chameleons had a big day. You stole my official so you better have won.
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