HAVERHILL — Craig Fram Sr. of Plaistow, N.H., may have recently turned 50-years-old, but it certainly hasn't slowed him very much.
In fact, as he showed Sunday at the Bobby Bell 5-Miler, he's relishing the milestone, which officially took place Sept. 21
On a beautiful morning to run, Fram smoked the Bobby Bell field on Sunday, coming in first with a 26:25.6, far ahead of runner-up Stephen Gendron, who was clocked in 27:22.7 and is 28 years younger than Fram.
Fram, who runs for the Whirlaway Racing Team, was bothered by a nagging ankle injury during the summer, but there were no signs of that Sunday as he took the lead from Gendron at the half-mile mark then won going away.
It was Fram's second win in two weeks since turning 50, having also won a 5-miler in West Newbury.
"It (turning 50) was a long time coming and I was actually looking forward to it," said Fram. "Plus I feel really good now. It wasn't until the last month that I starting feeling good again."
Fram, who still owns the course record with a 24:40 set in 1996, has now won the Bobby Bell four times. He is planning on taking the rest of the fall off in order to train for indoor track this winter. He is setting his sights on the 50-and-over American (8:54) and world (8:48) record in the 3,000 meters.
"I think I have a decent shot at them," he said. "I ran 8:36 when I was 45 and last year, without being in shape, I ran 9:03."
The top female finisher was Mara Lappin of Dedham. She ran a fine 34:32 which, according to the gender-adjusted times that are used at the Bobby Bell, put her in 12th place.
Overall, there were 324 entrants and 275 finishers in the race, which is the sixth out of seven in the New England Pub Series. North Reading cross country coach Derek Dorval came in 13th and John Ottaviani Jr. finished 25th.
Bobby Bell 5-Miler
Top 10 finishers
1. Craig Fram 26:25, 2. Stephen Gendron 27:22, 3. Terry McNatt 27:27, 4, John Noland 27:55, 5. Lee Danforth 28:22, 6. John Tolbert 28:26, 7. Chris Smith 28:43, 8. Patrick Bazinet 29:13, 9. Ed Donovan 29:17, 10. Michael McGrane 29:57
Top Female
Mara Lappin 34:32
John Wall talks about the loss to the Heat-2/10
Collins takes the blame for the Sixers' final possession
Sixers vs. Clippers highlights
Sixers defensive effort not enough vs. Clippers
Post game plus crew on the Sixers loss
Rose and Zumoff recap the Sixers last second loss
Penn vs. Harvard highlights
Stefon Diggs chooses Maryland, Randy Edsall comments-2/10
Cal Ripken says the Orioles will go as far as their pitching-2/10
Sandusky makes a statement
Collegiate Corner: Philly College Hoops - 2/9
Ovechkin: "I don't think we deserved to lose today."
Brayden Schenn scores a goal against his brother Luke
What is ailing the Flyers?
Briere on facing the Maple Leafs
Flyers on Bobrovsky starting and work ethic
Schenn and Hartnell help the Flyers snap their skid
Iguodala is selected to his first All-Star Game
What is the injury situation with Hawes?
Brayden Schenn on trade rumors surrounding his brother, Luke Schenn
Julien: 'did it the hard way'
McAdam's Spring Training primer
Doc: Team's effort is 'un-Celtic'
Pierce stresses mental toughness
Globe 10.0 Who was the best free agent in Boston?
Maria Menounos dons a Giants-colored bikini after losing Super Bowl bet-2/7
Thomas' moratorium: 'I'm out, peace'
Gasol: 'Not pleasant' being part of trade rumor
Blakely: Gasol-for-Rondo trade unlikely
Brady-ing is Latest Internet Meme
Globe 10.0: Is Paul Pierce the Celtics greatest scorer?
Ranking Pierce among Celtics greats
Garnett's tale of first meeting Paul Pierce
Pierce's loyalty touted after big night
Hurt Locker: Patriots react to Super Bowl loss
Brown: 'Eli Manning is better than Tom Brady'
Local fans crushed by Patriots loss in Super Bowl XLVI
Marcus Johansson Caps lone goal in loss to Bruins-2/5
Matt Hendricks throws down with the Bruins' Adam McQuaid--2/5
Vinatieri, Law, Brown recount Super Bowl XXXVI
