Rich on Running: Last hurrah at Lynn Woods

After four months and many miles, the Lynn Woods Summer Cross Country Races have concluded their 44th season.And they did so in style on Wednesday, with a strong turnout at Great Woods Road. There were 34 pizzas from Nickey?s on Lynnfield Street (all of which were consumed) and raffles after everyone crossed the finish line. Thankfully, despite the cloudy skies, it didn?t rain.?I have bittersweet feelings on the last night,” race director Bill Mullen said. “I?ll miss seeing a lot of the folks who come on Wednesday.”Reflecting on the season, Mullen and race founder Joe Abelon (who assists with scoring) both mentioned the amount of people who showed up to run this season, including crowds of 300 on four occasions.?Certainly, a highlight was the number of people who showed up regularly,” Mullen said. “During the height of summer, 300 people almost became the norm for races. We had a remarkable number of new runners who found out and want to keep going to the Woods.”Asked what brought people back, Mullen and Abelon had several answers.?I think they were presented with a staff who takes care of their needs and makes it comfortable,” said Abelon, who also mentioned “the fellowship among each other. The activity itself is a reward.”Abelon added, “They enjoy the fact there is a different course each week, and that there are several courses they can choose from.”Mullen said that the natural beauty of the Woods is an attraction, too.?The beauty and peace of running without traffic around you,” he said. “It?s really refreshing and pleasant with no cars that you have to be concerned with.”Several volunteers were thanked before the start of Wednesday?s race. Those who helped out last night included Abelon, Al Peterson, Pam and Doug Wilson and their son Doug, Mike Fitzgerald (?the official photographer,” Mullen said) and Liam Brady (?who does the sound system and was the DJ the last several weeks,” Mullen said).In a sign of the changing of the seasons, the sun had set by the time of the raffles.?You get to September and it?s really tough,” Mullen said. “College kids go back to school, getting to a 6 o?clock start is tough if you?re coming from Boston, families with young kids are coming back from school activities.”He also said that he has “the same feeling I have every year, a combination of happy and sad at the same time.”?A lot of people are disappointed it?s over,” Abelon said. However, he added, “(we?ll) start up again in May.”In the last installment of the races, Greg Esbitt of Salem won the long race, a 4-mile out and back on Penny Bridge, in 24:33. He was followed by Michael Smith of Beverly (24:51) and Michael McKie of North Andover (25:36). The top Lynn finisher was Nakri Dao (26:52, 10th) and the top female finisher was Deirdre Lowe of Salem (27:12, 12th). In the short race (2.2 miles, Left on Goat Path), Eric Bowden of Lynn won (16:54), followed by Paul Hennessey of Melrose (17:12), Ted Kennedy of Swampscott (17:25), David Quinn of Lynn (18:00) and Nurian Garcia of Lynn (18:56, top female finisher). In the 1.59-mile Kids Race, Joey Armstrong of Lynn won (14:59) followed by Sabrina Armstrong of Lynn (16:46), Olivia Ford of Essex (16:52), Michael Kelley of Lynn (19:31) and Christopher Kelley of Lynn (19:40). In the Game Face 3/4 Mile, Juan Imul of Lynn won in 9:12.