June 27. At the Fairfield Half Marathon, Harry B. exceeded his training benchmark with a solid sub-7:30 pace. With his 1:37:40 net time, Harry appears to be well on his way to making his 3:30 goal this fall at MDI.

Harry writes: I had heard at the gym that there was a half marathon coming up in about a week, which surprised me since it is midsummer. It looked like we were going to be out of town anyhow, but when those plans were cancelled, I decided to run it. Fairfield CT is a yuppy town on the shoreline about 40 miles west of my home. I figured it would be a good way to see how close I was to ready for MDI. The race predictors (marathonguide.com) indicated that I would need a 1:40:16, or a 7:40 pace, to translate to an 8:00 pace, or 3:30, for a full marathon. My best 5k time was in line with that, but my fastest training runs of 6 miles were typically at about 7:25 pace, which felt hard. But I knew that I didn’t push myself hard enough at sugarloaf, so I decided to go for a 7:40 pace at Fairfield come what may.

The conditions were close to ideal- 70 F with a mild breeze and full sunshine. 2000 runners and great ambience. Excellent organization. I’ve never seen so many extremely fit runners before. I lined up within 50 feet of the start but it still took about 20 seconds to cross the starting line. The first half mile or so was crowded, but then from then on it was fine. I had no idea if it was going to be flat or not. For the town of Fairfield there’s no way they can call it flat, I think they found every hill in that town. Having said that, it’s probably dead flat compared to MDI…

My first few splits were about 7:30, pretty close to ideal. Through the hills I was about 7:40, and for the biggest hill I was at 8:00 which was just about right. Then huge downhills, I was 7:20…and at that point I realized things were looking good. I felt fine, like I was holding back. From 6-9 I was steady at about 7:30. There was a last big hill at 9-10, and I passed a lot of people on it, which felt good. I picked it up from 10-13, doing about 7:25 or so, and I was working hard for those miles. The last mile I went as hard as I can, but I don’t know what the split was. Great finish, tons of fans. I sprinted as usual. I did, however, slow down for the last 10 feet and tried to put on a casual look (based on a photo I’d seen of Judson Cake winning the Hyannis Marathon) but alas there were no pictures being taken.
If any of you have run this course I’d be interested in what you think about it. For me it was well organized and fun. It’s a shame it never runs within view of the water, but down here most of that space has been “deeded” to the rich and is fenced off.

I did wear the crow singlet (Gary did you get the money?).

June 26. At the 3.2 mi. Cherryfield Salmon Run, in a field of 32 Ty-Daniel D. took 8th overall with a time of 23:15.

June 26. At the Bucksport Tour du Lac 10-miler, Crows took six out of the top ten spots and produced the fastest times in the electronic age for that challenging course. Setting the pace for the leaders for the first part of the course, Clay C. took a minute off his best 5-mile time going thorough the half in 26:34 and finishing the race fourth overall. Finishing third with 54:34, Mike B. took a minute and a half off his previous best time while Judson and Evan hung together right to the line for an impressive finish of 52:37 and 52:38 respectively. Gary A, 8th overall with 1:02:31, helped pace the first woman finisher, 16 year-old Cassie Hintz. Finishing 10th with an even 1:05, Brian took 14 seconds off his Cape Elizabeth PR Robin E won her age group and, at her first time at this distance, Judy B. finished looking strong and steady. Despite a delayed start of 25 minutes, John R.'s adjusted time improved on last winter's at Cape Elizabeth. [MDIlander: Cake, Graves take top spots at Tour du Lac]

Judson writes: Crows really looked great out there today. We took 6 of the top 10 spots.

We finally spotted John R. He showed up about 30-minutes after the start but still ran a solid 1:24.

Clayton got his 5-mile PR. He dragged Evan and I though 4-miles, then we yelled at him the entire 5th mile to stay with us. 5 mile split for us was 26:24, Clayton going through in 26:34 and minute PR for 5-miles. Evan and I hammered the last half in 26:13 running 52:37 and 52:38. Splits of 5:19, 5:19, 5:08, 5:26, 5:10, 5:31, 5:15, 5:07, 5:15, 5:04. We ran as hard as we could for Fred. I actually had my eyes closed most of the last 100 meters and Evan and I were totally going crazy fast. Not sure if I could ever duplicate it. But it was lots of fun, and Fred would have loved it if he were able to come watch.

Brian got a PR running 1:05:03, Very awesome on a hilly course. Gary ran the first half at about 6:30 pace before running 6:00 minute pace for the last half to run 1:02:??

Robin Emery and Judy made up the womens team. Sorry not sure of times, but they both looked great coming in, and I know that was Judy's first 10-mile race.

Lastly, Mike Bunker ran 54:30 to shatter his PR for 10-miles by one and a half minutes running his first half in 27:?? and his second in 26:2?

Awesome job Everyone, Fred will be proud.

Gary writes: Important to put all this running chatter in perspective and always think about what Fred and family are going thru it makes PRs and bad days completely inconsequential.

Judson and Evan blasted the fastest time in at least 20 years the Tour has seen. Perhaps all time top 5?

Running with Jim Newett, Brian the Beast and Judd Esty today was as I put it, like a geriatric convention gone wrong...FUN! Then hooking up with a 16 year old girl for some spirited miles. Cassie is the(bright)future of Maine running and it was a pleasure to run with her eagering sharing the workload. I think we ran about 30:00 over the last 5, MORE FUN!

On a completely self indulgent note: I am finally coming back into pretty good shape this felt like a moderate tempo effort. I ran with little regard to splits or time or effort and I believe there were several more gears today should I have wanted them.

Brian responds: Agree to all that. It was inspiring to see what Judson, Evan, Mike and Clay accomplished as a team. And, judging from the close finish times, I'd say you and Cassie made a good pair also. I was lucky to end up riding a sort of rocking chair between Peter Cannon and Judd Esty-K.

Weather was perfect, just like Sugarloaf. I think it was the first time in five outings on that course that I felt relaxed and in control over the last half -- as if it were, as you described, a tempo training run.

Great job everybody.

Judy writes: ...my first 10 miles in 1:30:56 which I'm please with (9:06 pace)since I finished stongly and not totally zonked as I have in 5Ks. Now if I can just do the same for 26.2....

I think John passed me around mile 6; I did wonder what his game was as he ran by and disappeared ahead.

This was a pretty course with few cars. A nice crowd too, lots of local support and runners.

June 20. At the Greylock Trail Races in Adams, MA, Crow of the Month Peter Keeney finished 8th overall.

June 19. At the Mount Washington Road Race, under particularly wet and cold conditions, the phenomenal Bruce Bridgham, finished 20th overall, 3rd in his division, with a time of 1:10:39. That's Bruce in the red shirt and white cap in the foreground on the right side of the field.

Bruce writes: The only thing I'll say about Jonathan Wyatt, the new record holder is: If we look at all of the major races in the U.S. at the end of this year (2004) his effort today has to be near the top of the heap. It was simply a phenomenal performance, and the conditions were less than stellar. In fact, it was quite ugly for the last couple of miles. The visibility was poor (about 2 feet!)and especially difficult for those of us who wear glasses - Brian! It was windy with a nice hard cold rain. I struggled the whole way, but whaddaya do! It poured before the START & as we neared the top, a lot of people, me included were getting cold. Good thing they had the heat turned on in the lodge!

I also met a David Herr today - winner of MDI! The Moose Milers & Marathoners needed an extra team member earlier in the week so I hooked up with them, and he was also on the team. Great runner & a great guy. We ended up finishing 2nd as a team, which made a tough day, a bit better.

As for the fastest Maine time ever JC, I think that honor goes to Robert Pierce a few years back. I'm not sure, but I think that I might be number two -- I ran a couple of minutes faster last year. I noticed that most of the times were off a bit this year compared to last year's also -- makes you wonder what Wyatt would have done it in when the weather was good.

Thanks for all of the CROW spirit!

June 19. At the Penobscot Bay YMCA Harbor View 5K in Rockport, on a course that may have been a tenth long, Mike B. narrowly beat Judson at the line with both of them finishing in 15:45. Phil L. took the pace out fast in 4:38 and held on for fourth. Matt took 6th. Here's Judson in psychological warfare with Andy Spaulding..

Phil L. writes: First of all thanks for pushing me through the first half to go through @ 4:38 and physically be able to tell you all the time without passing out says it all. Second; We drove the course before heading to the yard sales, I got 3.25 that's in the car and without tangets. When I saw my time of 16:38 I knew just from my effort and pacing that It had to be long. Great job everyone and Cranberry Island should get ready for a sub 15:00 for the 4th.

Judson writes: Mike also measured and got about that measurement. It doesn't matter to much, it was still a great run. But if we can as fast as we did on that hilly course, 1200meters of dirt roads and a course that was long, I'm very happy.

Matt responds: After the conversion, my time was still slower than Seadogs 5K, but with the hills, the hangover, and the lack of company during the race, I figure I'm good for a few more seconds at least! Look forward to seeing you again.

Mike B writes: glad to see that it was long, at least 160 mtrs that is, good for 30sec off everyone's times who ran there, and the course had an overall elevation gain of almost100 feet or so. sub 15 will come within the next year is my prediction and almost certainly within the next 2 years. I can be patient and won't give up until I'm well into the 14s, mark my words, anyone who wants in for the ride, cranberry island is the next attempt, hope to have some guys there that are in that kind of shape to go with as long as i can, the achilles was a little iffy going into the race onsaturday and I was unsure, but now I am confident that it is all set, I think that the race did more good than bad.

June 19. In Freeport, Claton Conrad won the Close to the Coast 5K in 16:07.

June 18. Reviewing the Inaugural "Like a Virgin" Hash House Harriers run,

PMS writes:

Bar Harbor
Hash House Harriers BHH3
Hash Trash---
The Like a Virgin Run

It was with great anticipation, and not a little trepidation, that the pack of Virgins gathered at the Village Green on June 18th, 2004, for the inaugural run of the Bar Harbor Hash House Harriers. It was with HUGE trepidation that the hares, PMS and Endor Gurgling Bubbler, gave the pre-run brief to the largely untested crowd. Our confidence was not boosted by the impression that a few people, like Susie and John, had trouble grasping the concept that they needed to put their clothes in the B-Van. Only the presence of Bubba Gump and Just Michelle gave us any confidence that we wouldn’t be lynched at the ON-IN, providing anyone found it. Leah Rae confidently announce that we would be ending at Café This Way, which she wrongly deduced by it being both Bubbler’s workplace and adjacent to the start.
Kevin looked stylish in his tie, and quite a few eyebrows were raised when Judson appeared with his new Marine Corps haircut, and sporting a beer funnel. Eyebrows then disappeared above the collective hairline when Gary showed up wearing a dress, as he had promised to do. Fortunately, Eve hadn’t brought her flock of teenagers, so no immediate psychotherapy from this visual shock was needed.
The pre-run brief was given in due course and the hares set out, while Just Michelle explained the art-of-the-trail. She apparently did a pretty good job, since only Susie ended up stumbling around in the woods lost—but more about that later. The pack caught on to the subtleties of the trail quickly and descended on the first beer check at Kebo St.—bartended by Just Michelle. Although a few bashful Harrietts, such as Judy, didn’t partake of the official Hash beverage, Gary and Judson apparently took up the slack without too much arm twisting required.
On-On, and it was up Kebo for the turkeys and the Parkloop Rd. for the eagles, where Bubbler had prepared some nice shiggy for them. Or almost prepared, since he failed to anticipate just how fast the FRBs in this crowd were, and was ignobly snared by the TRB (Trail Running Bastard) Peter as he broke out onto Rt. 233. Dan, bartended the second beer check on Cleftstone Rd., and also acted as official Hash paparrazi, as the thirsty pack made short work of the goodies.
At this point, the pack had already decided that they were headed to Jack Russell’s, and led by Gary, they completely blew through the backtrack on Rt. 3, hammering home in their lust for beer.. Fortunately, reason prevailed in the guise of Bubba Gump, who led the errant virgins back to the check and to the ON-IN at Little Anthony’s. Meanwhile, Bubbler went back to comb the woods for little lost Susie.
The ON-IN was lively and the mood was lifted further by the appearance of Sister Harriett, acting as Religious Advisor, and the eventual appearance of the Lost Hashers. Down-Downs were drained as fast as they could be poured, and a good time was had by all. Judging by the posts on the Crows board the next day, too good a time was had by many! In all, a great first Hash!
ON-ON, PMS
(read on for Down-Downs)

Down-Downs:
Demonstration—Just Michelle
Turkey FRBs—John and Eve
Cross Dressing Virgin Confusion—Gary
Snared Hare—Endor Drooling Bubbler
New Shoes—Robin, assisted by Chris
Bringing a funnel, shaving his head, and general FRB mayhem.—Judson.
Best dressed—Kevin
Worst dressed—Steve, for wearing a marathon shirt AND hat.

Collective Down-Down in salute of Peter, for hare snaring, ultra-trail running, and general FRB madness---Everyone.

Showing up late and missing his own tribute—Peter.

Gary was named “Reusable Virgin” for wearing a white dress and attempting to pretend he’s not a complete degenerate.

Judson was named FRB—Funnel Running Bastard, for obvious reasons.

HashShit nominations were:

Reusable Virgin—for being himself.
Funnel Running Bastard—same reason.
Endor Drooling Bubbler—for failing to outwit a bunch of virgin hashers.

The overwhelming winner and Inaugural HashShit award goes to: Endor Drooling Bubbler.

Photos:

* It's only a flesh wound--i've had worse
* Prior to debauchery, still virgins
* The Bee's Knees
* Waiter, there's a hare at my beer check......
* Just Michelle has traumatic Catholic school flashback episode
* E.D.Bubbler contemplates which hymn he'd like to accompany his Award
* Sister Harriett punishes student Robin at Our Lady of Perpetual Motion school

June 12 & 13. Phil LeBreton made it two for two this weekend with first place in both the Bangor Main Street Milk Mile on Saturday and the Hampden 8-1.2 miler on Sunday.

June 12, In an enormous turnout, 76 kids ran the MDI YMCA's Spring Fun Run. In the 5K, Mike Bunker, (15:20, a two second PR), Evan and Judson finished 1,2,3. Brian, Matt, & Dr. Dave finished 11,12,&13. Both Ty-Daniel D. & Mary D. PR'd with age division wins. In the 1-mile fun run, Judson paced Nora to a 7:24 PR. Results.

Evan writes: From the smallest...Nora in the fun run, to ty in the 5k, Jud, Mike, Brians PR, Matt over coming illness, Cecelia, nice to see Gary at mile 1, Liddy's cheers, good to see Doug (my dad) out their (he'll be joining soon, a good addition of old school!) Maybe no sub 15 today, but definetly another lesson...as all the bad, and good races are! a good day in crowville!!!!

Mike B. writes: glad to see the accomplishments and the effort made by all, everyone was having fun pumping us all up for the sub 15 bid although it didn't happen, still, fast times had by all and all is well in crowville, I saw a crow watching over the last mile of the course during my warm up and it just struck me funny, like he was awaiting our race.

June 11. Supported on the initial leg by a group of Crows and local police, as part of the Special Olympics Torch Run, Peter Keeney ran 65 miles from Bar Harbor to Orono.

Peter writes: Hi Team! I made it and I feel great! The last ten were the tougest miles from Bangor Greyhound to Orono. The Bar Harbor leg was inspiring run with the team and I felt very focused during this. With Gary's advice of sticking with the State Police support the water and aid were never out of reach. Also with the aid packages dropped by Rob Hetzer along the hills from Ellsworth Falls through to Dedham were crucual. The packages had ice, Ho's Ho's, juice, sports bars and drinks and encouragement notes. From Ellsworth I hooked up with two twin brother's who started from Stueben and planned on the through trip to Orono. There company took the milage right out of fucus as they were busy abusing eachother and horsing around the whole time. First moment that stick's in mind is at the fruit stand right before Lucerne a lady pulled up across from us and blocked traffic while calling us to come over. Finally one of the twins ran over to her car to see what she wanted and she handed him 15$ dollars donation. Two biker's joined us at the turn after the friut stand and they rode with us all the way from there on in. The Next highlight was at the Dedham elementary School where we were joined by special olympian Paul who planned on the rest of the way to Orono. After a holdover at the Brewer Bowling Lanes we were off to bangor Greyhound to meet up with the Newport leg with the meeting time of 3:00 P.M. Newport ran behing so we were held over at Bangor until 3:30ish. By this time i was cramping and the through runners were antzy. We tried to keep loose for the last ten miles. In Bangor the other leg arrived and they had Ben a special olympian running with their leg and planning on finishing in Orono. Ben was very excited when I offered him a Ho-Ho and said these were his favorite and asked me how I knew this. Me and Ben ate ho-ho's that fueled us the rest of the way.( thank's Rob!) The pace was slow and at times a walk from here on out. The runner's joining in and the runner's jumping in a bus behind us slowed the pace down. In Veazy a fresh group of three runners joined us and pushed the pace back up to 7 minute miles. This was less painfull than the ten minute miles on us through runners. When we reached entrance to Umaine the big clock read 5:01 P.M. We ran in to the main parking and waitied for the parade to coordinate. It was decided to have the two special olympians and one runner to run in and light the torch after the parade of all the athlete's so we passed some six-hundred of them in the line-up from the parking lot to the stadium gate and then stood next to the state police officer's and greeted each athlete as they marched in to the staduim for the ceremony. This was the best part seeing the pride and excitement of these special athlete's as they marched into to the stadium. we watched the ceremony from this point on. Getting back was as exciting too as I had to car pool to Bucksport and meet the Hancock County for a ride to Thompson Island and the Bar Harbor Officer dropped me at home. The clock in my kitchen said 11:00 P.M. I was still hungry so I ate again. Totals: aprox. 60 to 65 miles. Time without stop-over 8 hours and 20 minutes. Stop-over time aprox 1 hour and 15 minites. Big thanks to team Crow and the local and state police fro the best support imaginable. I can not verify this but I heard the total donation to the Special Olympics this year has passed the one million mark. way to go! We are all part of this!

On June 6, Kevin posted the following:

So why do you run? Here are some suggested answers, but respond with what ever is the reason(s) you run. Multiple answers are fine; just rank them in order of the most important first.

- Race road kill.
- I enjoy running and it makes me feel good.
- Running is hard but it feels good when I stop.
- To maintain my svelte figure.
- Running is my life’s passion.
- Because George W. Bush is a runner.
- I run because I can do it anywhere, at anytime.
- For the endorphins.
- So I can get into the Boston Marathon and race with some of the fastest humans on the planet.
- I’m training for a race.
- It gets me outdoors.
- I can exercise indoors on my treadmill.
- So I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want, and not feel guilty.
- I run to improve my fitness and health.
- For the prize money.
- So I can hang out with the cool Crows.

And here are the responses:

Chris T.: Simple- I run for the pain. I have thought about this, and it came me on our past Monday run. While in the middle of Cadillac running up from the beach and my body was in total agony, and I was cursing and screaming at myself it came to me, this is awesome! This "pain" I feel from working harder then I ever have is better then any drug out there, no question. This is also a pain you can only earn with others, lucky for me I have the greatest support group in the world, the CROWS. So, for me, I do it for the "pain".

Judson: I do like to hang out with the crows, and the fact President Bush runs, but the real reason I like running is it teaches me to challenge myself, fail, learn, teach, and that makes lifes challenges easier to deal with.

Clay Student of the sport and trying to master it. Running is fun also. I dislike training, but love the results during race time.

Bruce: Somewhere, once upon a time I read that running may not help us live longer, but it adds life to our years while we're alive. There's a lot of truth in that statement, but I guess my reason for running is that I feel just downright awful (not to mention, I get ugly) when I can't!

Shannon: I'm with you. I'm just about intolerable if I don't do something athletic. My husband can attest to the fact that I'm a grumpy pain in the ass if I can't run or swim.

Gary: Why I run? Good damn question. I really don't remember not running, been at it almost continuously since I was 13. I think the reasons evolve and multiply as the years go by.

At the beginning their weren't enough kids out here(cranberry island) for team sports, running as we all know is the perfect alone sport. I do vaguely remember Frank Shorter winning the Munich Olympics did it inspire me? Maybe? Maybe not?

The next stage (HS years) something along the lines of team and belonging that HS kids seem to thrive on. Also the best coach in Maine who always inspired us to be better than we thought we ever would.

Post school (no fancy diplomas here) I was working fishing, boat building, caretaking and building a house from scratch by hand from timber I cut on my land.(Homesteading) all those things Mainers do. Whatever I did, running was always there and no matter how tired I was I always ran. Once had a 3 year streak of 0 days off while doing very physical work like clearing another 4 acres of our land to make fields(of course all by hand) and building 5 greenhouses to start a small organic farm. There was always room for a 10 mile run after 10 hours of back breaking work ripping stumps out of the ground. It never was a question,like eating you just do it because you need to to be alive.

Now, because I'm a knarly old bastard and I like competition now more than ever, not so much against others but against myself. I think weakness of body is weakness of mind. I often think that not pushing your limits is short changing yourself to what you should know.

Future? who knows but the crowd, the miles and the ridiculousness of this sport are worth sticking around for, I mean what else is there to do that you can have so much fun doing? I often think we runners are the smart ones as the world spirals into more and more chaos. There is something refreshingly simple and reassuring about just sweating and feeling the road under your feet.

Catlin: I run for the prize money, of course! All the rest is just icing! And if Joan wants to race me for it, all the better! I may even give her my autograph if she asks nicely:)

Rob: because I like to drool and spit and blame it on my running glands. seriously, it's awesome to go from point A to B in a reasonable time with my physical devices (crawling counts)

John M.: I run for health and fitness. I love the feeling after a hard run. Everything is perfect when I'm running. :)

Chris G.: I run because I can't afford psychotherapy...or liposuction!

Gary: gold medal response!

Dr Dave: So I can hang out with the cool Crows. Not really. I run as primarily an acceptable introverted activity... On occasion the social run has its place, but my nature is mostly anti-social. My best effect from running is that meditative transcendence "flow" which occurs for me solo and at times in races. Now I'm open to new routes to bliss. . .if any know the way

Eve: It's the best deal in town...Running gives back exponentially what is invested. Too bad we can't bottle it!

Steve: -It use to be so I could run Boston (been there, done that).
-Stay fit
-Addicted
-Love it!

Mike B.: I run because the sport offers an open ended source of achievements and structure, working tirelessly towards goals that, when achieved, will only serve as a base for future endeavors. the drama of defeat and victory that fuels the torch for the next upcoming race in a sport where we only work off our own success, not the defeat of our opponents, success is relative to each person and can be found in more ways than one. I think that the reasons for running are surmountable and can change day to day, it can be a fun social run, a lone run that offers personal reflection and solitary thought, or it can be a vice for personal punishment under which one pushes themselves to the point of physical limits for nothing more than the satisfaction that comes from not quitting when the going gets tuff. running can be an activity, a tool, a friend, or a foe, depending on the circumstance. This diversity is appealing.

June 6. Chris G., Shannon, and Adria all participated in the Peter Ott 10K in Camden. Here's a photo of Shannon and Adria.

June 6. At the Cobscook 5K & 10K in Pembroke, young Crow Ty-Daniel D. finished 6th overall with a time of 23:31 in the 5K, taking 12 seconds off his time two weeks ago in Ellsworth. In the 10K, Phil L. was 2nd in 35:39 and Brian was 6th with 39:43. Tom K. ran 47:02, Bill P. 50:33, Robin E., 56:39.

Brian writes: Ty-Daniel was, I think, 6th in the 5K, with a time around 23 min. Phil L. was 2nd in the 10K behind Jeremy who won with a fairly slow 35:xx. Newell was 3rd just under 38. I finished 6th in 39:43. Other Crow sightings on the course: Bill Pinkham, Tom Kirby, Robin Emery, & Tom Miller.

My overall time was slower than Orrington, but I ran a little better race. My 2nd 5K time was almost exactly the same for both races. But as Cobscook's 2nd half is definitely more challenging, I think this was better. Could have used a little company to inspire me toward some competition toward the end. Nice sunny day with a mild breeze in our faces to keep things cool.

June 5, Running with Judson, Crow of the Month Chris T. smashed his Eagle Lake PR by 2-1/2 minutes with an amazing 36:52.