Rich on Running: Lynn Woods runners must battle both heat and hills

On a day when temperatures reached the mid-90s, runners and race organizers at Lynn Woods approached the weather with a mixture of optimism and practicality on Wednesday.One runner who symbolized both was Sharon Dobbyn of the Lynn YMCA, who drove in with a stuffed dog in a Santa Claus cap that played the Christmas carol “Deck the Halls,” to help the crowd think of cooler temperatures.Then, when asked if she had any advice to deal with the heat, she said, “Yeah. Slow. Nice and slow.”Lynn Woods race director Bill Mullen also found some practical responses to the high temperatures.The original slate featured an 11-to-12-miler, a 7.7-miler, a 2.49-miler and a kids race.Mullen shortened the distances of the first two races, with the ‘extra-long’ runners going 10.8 miles and the ‘long’ runners going 6.8 miles.With three minutes to go before the extra-long run (which started at 6 p.m.; the other races started at 6:30), Mullen told the runners they could get sports-drink bottles if they did not already have water.”Hydrate,” he said. “It’s horrible out there.”Indeed, when the extra-long run looped back to the Great Woods Road parking lot, runners had a chance to stop for water or sports drinks.I followed the advice of both Dobbyn and Mullen when I did the 2.49-mile race.I had some water from one of the orange containers, and when the hills proved too much, I walked.Going up Steel Tower, I was actually rewarded for walking, with a beautiful, breathtaking view on my right.The post-race goodies included the wonderful chocolate-chip cookies they seem to have after each one of the races I’ve done (where DO they get them?), plus bananas and, of course, water and sports drinks.Congratulations to all those who ran the course yesterday ? even though, along with the respectful wishes, I would just like to ask one question: “What were we all thinking?”Race resultsIn the 6.8-mile race, Michael Smith of Beverly finished first (43:17), followed by Mark Dawson, Peabody (46:16). Tony Ryerson of Vail, Colo. took third (46:41) and Mark Flaherty of Lynn finished fourth (49:43). Nancy Hathaway of Peabody was the top female finisher, taking 16th place (55:05).In the 2.49-mile race, James Wigglesworth of Marblehead finished first (16:04); Paul DeFelice, Centennial, Colo., second (16:30); and Nicholas Hartmann, Swampscott, third (16:43). Lai-Sahn Hackett of Peabody was the top female finisher, taking 12th (19:42).In the 10.8-mile race, Ryan Hayes of Woburn was the winner (1:14.30); Greg Esbitt of Salem, second (1:15.35) and William Keefe, Danvers, third (1:16). Chris Carmody was the top Lynn finisher (seventh, 1:28.40) and Maura O’Day of Salem was the top female (1:38.46).In the Kids Race (1.59 miles), Finn Lacy of Salem was the winner (12:35); Katherine Clancy of Lynn took second (13:23) and Michael Patten of Nahant, third (15:20).Rich Tenorio can be reached at [email protected].