The saga of the endless pandemic effects continues. The Black Cat is typically run in March as a training race for the Boston Marathon – with the 20-mile distance being a healthy part of a solid training plan. Well, as we’re aware the 2020 races just didn’t happen, so this got deferred to 2021. Which too didn’t happen on schedule.
Now the company that runs the Black Cat, also runs a half marathon called the “Wicked Half,” a race I ran in 2019…you know, in the “beforetimes.” So, incorporating the majority of both courses and combining the races made sense for 2021 and here we are.

Now, where the Laborious Labor Day 10-Miler was a struggle, this felt good for the majority of the race. I finished with an official overall pace of 7:59 – the only mile that was really significantly outside of that was mile 8 with an 8:11. Incidentally mile 4 was a 7:45 and given this was an out-and-back course it would seem that same stretch worked for and against me.
Basically, I held a consistent pace across 10-miles and I came away pleased. I didn’t do any special preparation, no special attention to hydration. I just came out and ran. I was really pleased with this race.
Chip Time 1:19:46
Gun Time 1:19:53
Pace 7:59
Overall 21 of 132
Male Overall Winner 13 of 49
Male 50-59 2 of 10
10-Miler History
Old Fashioned 10 Miler, Foxborough, MA | 2/16/2020 | 1:18:20.79 |
Black Cat 10-Miler Salem MA | 9/19/2021 | 1:19:46 |
Mattapoisett 10-Miler, Mattapoisett MA | 11/10/2017 | 1:22:08 |
Laborious Labor Day 10-Miler Marlborough MA | 9/2/2019 | 1:22:24 |
Newport 10 Miler, Newport RI | 6/3/2018 | 1:25:32 |
Black Cat 10M, Salem MA | 3/11/2017 | 1:25:41 |
Laborious Labor Day 10-Miler Marlborough MA | 9/6/2021 | 1:25:57 |
Old Fashioned 10 Miler, Foxborough, MA | 2/18/2018 | 1:26:17.85 |
Newport 10 Miler, Newport RI | 6/4/2017 | 1:26:27 |
Tough 10 Mile Turkey Trot Marlborough MA | 11/26/2017 | 1:28:56 |
Tough 10 Mile Turkey Trot Marlborough MA | 11/27/2016 | 1:30:26 |
Old Fashioned 10 Miler, Foxborough, MA | 2/19/2017 | 1:36:10.20 |