50th Annual Walter Childs Memorial Race of Champions Marathon
Holyoke, Massachusetts
6 May 2012 (70 degrees at the start; humid)
The race isn't advertised. Only 80-plus starters and 74 finishers this year. John J. Kelley, Ron Daws, and Nina Kuscsik were winners in the early years.
the start: about one mile to a reservoir
Above left: in the woods, looking across the reservoir, first lap of 2 2/3 (about 3+ miles each); above right, some of the leaders
The three laps around the reservoir had good footing, dirt trails with some rocks, on a forest path.
Above: near the finish
The race moved onto the roads at about 10 miles -- narrow, winding roads with a lot of traffic. Because of the small field and the fact that I was so far back, I didn't see another runner from then until about 20 miles, when I passed a guy who was walking. After that, I didn't see any other runners. The last two miles were uphill, with a steep uphill most of the last half-mile. I got a calf cramp at about 18 miles and walked about half the way in from there.
Above right: Dick with Peter Kuchinski, the 1974 winner in 2:33:04. He finished 3 minutes ahead of me. He's 8 years younger than I am.
