I’ve been attending the Manchester Invitational over the past on and off since its inception, first as a participant, then as a coach, and just recently as a spectator/commentator. I’ve seen it get bigger, add different race divisions, get rid of different race divisions, change hosts, and grow a thriving middle school variant. I remember running the old course, back when the reservoir was smaller, you came out by the tower at the top, ran a portion down the paved road, and ran an additional loop around the main park to the finish. Safe to say things have changed over these 42 years, some for good, others simply because it was time.
Being on the cameras for the varsity races, its safe to say this year was a big year for Manch. Not only were the number of entries high, the level of competition at the two different size levels was amazing. Having watched this race a lot of times, these races seemed to mimic what we see when NH hosts New Englands. Generally the numbers of Manchester entries swell when we host, but with NEs in Connecticut there was no specific reason for the high entries. Additionally the strength of the races was unbelievable, with so many ranked teams in both sets of races. You could hear the excitement in my voice during the commentary.
Which was awesome. It’s great to host many other schools from other states on our historic course that is the most continuously used course for hosting New Englands. Notoriously tough, with only Thetford of Vermont even close to rival ours in difficulty, Derryfield Park is the one constant when it comes to New England courses. Sure, Thetford and Ponaganset are now Vermont’s and Rhode Island’s “state” course, but Derryfield = NH State Championship course for almost ever. Which is cool. Like I said, I ran here during the first Manchester Invite.
However there’s been some grumbling about the new course design and how we are breaking tradition by changing things up. First and foremost, the course has been changed many times over the life of the meet; however, it’s always held the same components that make Derryfield- Derryfield. We’ve got the great uphill start, we’ve got both sides of McIntyre, we’ve got the long fast decent down from the two mile mark and the tower, and we’ve got the classic run into the finishing uprights. All the mainstays that make Derryfield- Derryfield.
And let’s face it, Manchester has been evolving since the beginning anyway. As the changing humanity which makes up the greater Manchester area has grown more urban, and usage of the park has changed, the course has seen the addition of more asphalt and loss of grass through the decades. I remember them adding the parking lot at the tennis courts and wincing, seeing myself as a candidate for catching a toe, either stepping onto the parking lot, or coming off the parking lot, and going down. Thankfully that never happened while I was spectating there, fingers crossed.
People also forget the changes which have happened on the other side of the street. Again, one time, the reservoir was smaller, and you didn’t go all the way back along the fence. Not to mention, there wasn’t always a fence there quite like it is today, with that path having narrowed considerably. The ski mountain has brought change as well, the last bit happening in 2023 when they opened up a lot more of the top, ensuring the course was short last year.
Which brings me to this year’s changes that are being bantered around as we speak. These latest changes are two part. First, a measurement of the course after last year’s championship identified that the course was approximately 120 meters short of 5000 meters. Again, as I mentioned before, changes to the park have been shortening the course unintentionally for a long time. It makes no sense to host the state championships on a course that’s short.
Secondly, the city is looking to aid in the drainage problem that has plagued the course for a long time, with wet spots during the best of conditions and full blown swamps when we get a lot of rain. The addition of more pavement means the accumulation of more water. So the city is digging a retention pond to absorb the extra water, and that construction impacts the old final straightaway of the course.
The cross country committee in conjunction with John Mortimer of Millennium Running recognized they needed to circumvent the new construction plan and in doing so, realized it was proper to re-distance the course to be 5K. In the next few weeks the course will be certified as 5000 meters. And from then on we will have more legitimacy with regard to the fast times being run here. So if you’re lamenting the changes and don’t like the new configuration, it was going to change regardless. We should be happy they’re taking charge and doing the recalibration at the same time.
Change is a part of growth. Growth is necessary, in sport as in life. It’s how you respond to change that makes the most difference. You can stand and howl against it, or you can grab hold, take it in, and respond to the challenge it presents. Much like the difference super shoes have made in track and marathoning, you might not like it but it’s here to stay. So you can either change with it, or reject it and live in the past. While I might not like it, I prefer the future.
See you out there.
