On Friday evening, I ran the End of Summer Classic hosted by Marathon Sports. The race was held at Bare Cove Park in Hingham (aka the “dog park” where we take Murphy all the time), and the event offered both a 3-mile and 5-mile option.
I ran the 5-miler and picked up my bib right before the race. I waited in line maybe 30 seconds and everything went really smoothly: I got my bib, safety pins, race tech t-shirt, and I was ready to go!
Even number. Meh.
Both races had about 300 runners total, so it was definitely a smaller sized event, but I was surprised by how many sponsors were involved. There were all sorts of food samples and products to try before and after the race.
Kerrie and a bunch of ladies from KFIT ran the race too, so I tagged along and hung out with them before the race. SUCK IT UP!
The race kicked off at 6:30 PM and both groups of runners (3-miler and 5-miler) started out along the paths of Bare Cove Park. The course was entirely inside the park, so we ran along mostly paved roads (there was a tiny bit of trail running at one point), which were fast and flat. (There were a couple of rolling inclines on mile 4, but nothing too crazy””I wouldn’t even call them hills.)
I loved this course. I take Murphy to Bare Cove Park all the time, but I’ve never run there””unless it’s a run-walk with the pug. I’ve thought about running there on my own, but I always feel guilty about going to Bare Cove Park without Murphy because I know how much he loves it. (I know I have issues.) Long story short, I was really excited for the chance to run along the paths at Bare Cove Park and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love running road races, but I didn’t experience that excited energy that I usually get before lining up to the start line. I had a really crappy run the day before, so I just wasn’t super pumped about this race. And, as you know, I’m coming off a bad flare, so I wasn’t feeling awesome. I knew I wasn’t 100%, so I didn’t set any time goals for myself, but instead I challenged myself to run all 5 miles without stopping to walk.
I started out slow and steady for the first few miles of the race. I had a great playlist (The Killers + Macklemore) on my iPhone, so I zoned out and appreciated the experience””the sights, sounds, and runners. It was a gorgeous evening (we had perfect running weather), and Bare Cove Park is such a pretty place to run.
- Mile 1: 8:40
- Mile 2: 8:30
- Mile 3: 8:36
As I approached mile 4, I felt pretty good (with no potential digestive issues on the horizon), so picked up the pace. Before I knew it, I saw the sign for the final mile, so I continued to truck along and sped by all sorts of runners in the final 400 meters. Usually, I’m the person getting picked-off by other runners, so it was actually kind of fun finishing that way!
- Mile 4: 8:19
- Mile 5: 8:15
Total time: 42:55 (8:35 mile)
Obviously, it wasn’t my fastest 5-miler, but I’m happy with my time and the fact that I didn’t stop to walk. Heyyyyy, I’m making a comeback!
Questions of the Day
What non-time goals do you set for yourself on race day?
Are you superstitious about your bib number?
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