Newton 10K

NAME: Newton 10K for Newton Firefighters Association

DATE: June 8, 2008

LOCATION: Horace Mann School, 368 Watertown St., Newton, MA

WEBSITE

CONDITIONS: Hot, humid, sunny

RACE:
      Course Difficulty: This was a pretty tough course. It was fairly hilly and it featured a portion of the Boston Marathon course, which we all know is tough.
       Course Appearance: Nice, but nothing special. It ran through some of the back roads, and it also ran along I-90, which of course isn’t the nicest thing in the world.
      Race Organization: Very good organization, with three water/Gatorade stops, I believe two splits, six mile markers, and plenty of directional signs.
      Course Safety: Cops were present at most every intersection, but there were a couple times that the runners had to cross the street and there wasn’t any kind of presence by the cops.
      Support: The volunteers and the already finished racers were good, but other than that, support from bystanders was sparse.
      Recommend: Yes, hopefully, it will be cooler next year, but this was pretty good, especially considering that this was the first time that this event has been held.

RESULT: 34/216 – Third in age group (Official Results from Cool Running)

BACKGROUND: This was the first annual Newton 10K. The cost was $35 when you show up there, and most of the proceeds from the race go directly to the Newton Firefighters Association. Since this is the first annual event, there really isn’t a whole lot to put in this section.

MY EXPERIENCE: I overslept big time today, so I literally got there as they were closing down the registration table, and I believe that I was the last one to register for the race. Basically, my warm up was the jog from the car to the registration table, because as soon as I had my number clipped on, I had to go to the starting line and get ready to race.

Since I was basically the last one to arrive, I politely made my way to the back of the pack. When I pulled into the parking lot, the temperature monitor in my truck read at about 85 degrees, and it felt much worse due to the humidity. The heat would get to me and would only get worse as the race went on. My truck’s thermometer read at 93 degrees when I hopped in after the race.

The race started on time (I think – I was so rushed I couldn’t even tell), but I unfortunately forgot my Nike+ SportBand so I couldn’t check to see whether or not it was calibrated correctly. Oh well, not the end of the world.

This was my first 10K, and my longest race to date, so I needed to be sure that I paced myself, especially since the conditions were so hot. I have never trained in this kind of heat, let alone raced in it. My first mile was about 6:45 – usually I come out at about a 6:15 pace, so I was definitely going slower. I have developed the trend of coming out of the gate hard, and then, after the first mile, setting into a much steadier pace that reflects my overall pace.

Through the first two miles, I was fine. Between miles two and three, I started to slow down, and then, after about mile 3.5, the heat really started to get to me. That combined with the several difficult hills spread throughout the middle of the course wore me down, and I have to imagine that my pace skyrocketed. My calves were sore and cramping, and I was dog tired. Again, I really believe that the intense heat was what really got me. There were several times where I really wanted to stop and walk, but I told myself that I couldn’t – it took all of my mental strength at that point (we’re talking mile 4.5 or so) but I was able to keep myself from walking.

An unfortunate little thing that I have is that negative voice in the back of my head that always tries to rationalize walking, dropping out, not going for a training run, etc. It is very difficult to ignore, and it was at its strongest today. It seems like every time I run, it’s always there for something, and, every time, I have to convince myself to ignore it. I am happy to say that I have been pretty successful so far, but it is just so annoying.

For the most part, the course was pretty good. However, there were several locations that were very difficult not only for me, but I would imagine for all runners. Not every road along the course was closed. So, in order to keep traffic flowing, the police wanted all the runners to remain to the right. This worked pretty well for the most part, however, there were several locations without police presence that the runners that would have to cut across the road to make a left turn. Runners would have to stop traffic themselves and make sure that there was no one else coming before they crossed the street. That would be the one complaint that I have that is of real concern for the race committee to straighten out for next years’ race.

While the heat did get to me as the race progressed, I was able to increase my pace slightly on the final half mile or so towards the finish line. This final push helped me net a 48:09 time, which is a 7:45 pace. While I was hoping for something a little better, I do realize that the combination of this being my longest race and it being about 20 degrees hotter out than my previous temperature high wore me down. On the whole, I have to say that I am pretty happy with the race.

Following the race, there were plenty of refreshments, and sprinkler like thing for runners to cool off, and tents for both City Sports (they were giving away free stuff – that’s where I got the running vest in the picture above) and Marathon Sports Therapy. Like the Baldi River Run, prizes were again very useful, as I got a pint glass as the ‘trophy.’ In addition, runners who placed had a choice between a pizzeria gift certificate, special New Balance socks, and a couple other things. I personally chose the socks since I don’t have a pair of pure running socks yet.

At the end of the day, this was a pretty good race for a first time. The cost of $35 was a little high, and it was in no doubt padded because of the extra prizes available. Personally, I would prefer a lower price and fewer perks (the extra prizes, for example). However, on the whole, this was a pretty good race. For a first time out, I was pleased with the quality of this event. Hopefully, next year, it will be a little cooler.

Foxboro Against Diabetes 5K

NAME: The Foxboro Against Diabetes 5K Run/Walk

DATE: May 31, 2008

LOCATION: The Foxboro Company, 38 Neponset Ave, Foxboro, MA

WEBSITE

CONDITIONS: Partly sunny, mild, light wind

RACE:
Course Difficulty: A great course for everyone. A loop that is flat and fast.
Course Appearance: A nice course laid out along the back roads of Foxboro.
Race Organization: This was the biggest race I have been to so far, and it was as well run as the Baldi River Run last weekend, meaning that everything was efficient and well done.
Course Safety: Plenty of police presence, I think that three different department were represented. All of the roads that we ran on were closed to through traffic (residents of the streets were allowed to access them).
Support: There were two big pockets of supporters, one at the start/finish and another about halfway through the course. There were also some sprinklings of support throughout the rest of the course.
Recommend: Yes, definitely. An excellent event for a great cause!

RESULT: 44/756 (Official Results from Cool Running)

BACKGROUND: The 8th annual running of the Foxboro Against Diabetes 5K was a huge hit! Located at the Foxboro Company cafeteria, this race aims to raise awareness and raise money to help find a cure for diabetes. The race usually gets a pretty big turnout, and this year was no exception. Every year, the race is run in memory of Shannon E. Hurley, who lost her life to diabetes some 13 years ago. All proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in her name.

MY EXPERIENCE: I was a little nervous about this race, not because of the distance or anything, but simply because I have never participated in a race of this size before. Over 900 runners and walkers registered (756 of whom were runners) and my next closest race in terms of numbers was the Baldi River Run last weekend with 262 runners.

Things didn’t start out so hot when I got there. I had to burn all my cash on gas so I didn’t have enough to get a T-Shirt (they gave away 300 to the first pre-registered) and I was also there late (by my standards) so I didn’t have enough time to really warm up. This unfortunately was one of those races where I didn’t really get to hang around and enjoy the atmosphere of the race. It was really get there, quick warm up, run, go home. They did have an after party at a nearby restaurant (the name escapes me at the moment) but I didn’t have time to join in with the festivities.

While I wasn’t necessarily able to soak everything in, I did notice some very nice touches about the overall setup. First off they had excellent music, which always makes everything better. They were also able to get a Foxboro Fire Department ladder truck to hang a huge American flag over the starting area. It was really cool for the horn to go off and then run under the flag maybe 500 ft. down the starting stretch. They also had balloons stretching in an arc over the finish line.

The start of the race was a little tough for me. Because I had gotten there a little late (I had to pick my car up at the shop) I had to do a very much abbreviated warm up routine. When the horn sounded and I started running, I immediately felt my calves and my hamstrings tighten. I slowed up a tad to try and let them catch up, and eventually my hamstrings did, but my calves were a nuisance the entire race. I did my best to try and ignore them, and it worked pretty well, until the last half mile (roughly guessing here) stretch. This is where I would usually try and use an extra burst of energy to try and finish off the race at a faster pace, but my calves immediately tightened as soon as I tried it.

The first mile was excellent for me, as I passed the split in about 6:15. Since it was a shorter race than I have been running recently, I felt like I could really try and push it without having to worry so much about maintaining a solid pace throughout the race. The course was pretty flat, so I was able to maintain a relatively quick pace (for me, anyways) and passed the second split in about 6:30 (I think). It was at about this point that we came across a fairly significant patch of spectators that were very supportive, and it gave me a slight boost in energy and it made me forget about those danged calves, even if it was just for a little bit.

My last 1.1 miles was solid. I cannot remember what my watch said for my split, and I am a little too tired to do the math right now (did not sleep well last night at all). All I know is that I crossed the finish line in 21:11, good for a 6:50 pace. This was a great race for me to run because it allowed me to see how far I had really come since my first week of running. When compared side by side with the Officer Stewart Savage 5K race that I was in four weeks ago, I have shaved about 19 seconds off of my mile time (I had a 7:09 pace that race)! It was a great feeling to see such improvement!

I hung around for the awards ceremony. While it was my first week not receiving any kind of award, I didn’t really care. I had run a good race and I was benefiting a great cause while I was at it. At the end of the day. I have to give this race two big thumbs up. It was well organized, had a nice course, and the people were friendly there as well. I definitely recommend this race to anybody. No matter what your age or ability you can enjoy this race! I will be back next year (I hope)!

Baldi River Run – May 25, 2008

NAME: Baldi River Run & Fitness Walk

DATE: May 25, 2008

LOCATION: Start and end outside Garibaldi Club; 86 Washington St., Haverhill, MA

WEBSITE

CONDITIONS: Sunny, warm, breezy

RACE:
      Course Difficulty: A relatively easy, flat, out-and-back course.
       Course Appearance: A scenic route along the Merrimac River that starts and ends in what appeared to be Haverhill center.
       Race Organization: A well organized event. Started on time, and the after race events were very well done.
       Course Safety: Good police presence throughout. Controlled intersections, and there were cop cars leading up front and bringing up the rear as well.
       Support: The walkers, who went ahead, were very supportive. Some spectators scattered throughout the course; a large, very supportive crowd at the finish line.
       Recommend: Absolutely. A fun, well organized event.

RESULT: 34/262 – First in age division (Official Results from Cool Running)

BACKGROUND: A five mile run and fitness walk are the main events for the Memorial Day Weekend celebration. However, the fun doesn’t stop with the race, as there is a great BBQ right afterwards in a nice secluded area by the river. Great music and food along with the awards ceremony highlight the event. All proceeds from the event go to the Eric Steinman Scholarship Fund. It’s a great race that attracts many great runners from MA and NH.

MY EXPERIENCE: After learning that I was not going to be able to do the Run for Dave on Saturday like I had planned, I was a little disappointed going into the weekend. Friday night, I frantically was looking for a race that was simply going to fit my schedule, let alone find one that I thought was going to be a great race. Despite my lack of research and hasty selection, I believe that I hit gold in the Baldi River Run.

A 45 minute drive from my house in Lexington, the Baldi River Run starts just outside the Garibaldi Club on Washington St. in downtown Haverhill. The setting is scenic, as it is right along the Merrimac River and the start and end is situated between a nice sretch of historic brick buildings along Washington St. While it may not be the ‘nicest’ block in the world, the area certainly has what many other areas lack these days: character.

Anyway, the runners go off at 10:30 am. This was a half hour after the walkers, which I initially found interesting, but later realized that it didn’t really matter, considering that the course was an out-and-back style route, meaning we would encounter them at some point no matter what time the gun went off. The start was well organized, and the gun went off on time. The police presence was good, as the shut off the stretch where the start/finish lines were, and they also had plenty of cops along the course to control traffic at intersections.

As mentioned before, the course itself is out-and-back. It is flat and fast right along the Merrimac River. Unfortunately, today was a tad too hot, and there was some wind that was great on the out stretch, but it gave me some problems after we turned around and were then heading into it. Wasn’t a huge issue though, the breeze only came in spurts. Another problem was that my dinner was still sitting in my stomach by the time the race rolled around. This was very annoying since it felt like I was carrying around dead weight. It was more of an annoyance than anything else, and it didn’t seem to have a huge effect on my time.

I passed the first split in about 6:35. The mile splits at miles 2 and 3 I missed, but they had one other split at mile 4, but I cannot remember what it was, I was just focusing on the road ahead at that point. It was something like 27+ minutes, but that’s a rough guess. When I crossed the finish line, I was clocked at 34:48, good for a pace of 6:58. I am definitely happy with this result, as it is the first time that I have officially broken the seven minute mark on one of my races.

Immediately after the race, the cookout started. Burger, dogs, chips, and watermelon were all laid out. There was good music and even some bocce ball going on as well. The location was on a grassy spot overlooking the river. It was a great setting, and both my dad and I agreed that this was definitely the most organized and ‘most fun’ of the four races that I have participated in to date. The awards ceremony took place here as well, and they without a doubt had the best prizes so far as well. A glass beer mug with the race decal on it. Since I’m 18, I won’t be able to put it to good use for another two and a half years, but it is still pretty cool.

On the note of beer mugs, the one concern that I had with the event was that beer was flowing freely and often. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that Michelob was the sponsor of the event, but I am generally not comfortable when I see people start downing beers at 10:30 in the morning. A minor glitch on the face of what truly is a great race.

In short, a great event. A good race accompanied by good fun and good people cannot be beat. If I am home from college at this time next year, I will definitely make my way back up to Haverhill so that I can participate in next years’ Baldi River Run!

Thanks to John O for pointing out some mistakes (start time & number of time splits)!

Race Change

Work can be a pain in the ass sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy working where I do and the people there are very nice, but someone has gotten very sick and won’t be able to go in tomorrow. So, guess who is picking up the slack? Yours truly. So, this means that the Run for Dave that I had been looking forward to is now undoable. I simply cannot make the drive there, race, and get back in time to be at work by one in the afternoon (it would be an hour plus drive for me) while maintaining my sanity.

However, all is not lost. There is an equally great race on Sunday that I have chosen to participate in: The Baldi River Run (5 miles) in Haverhill, MA. Boston’s Run to Remember came to mind, but unfortunately, I will end up working late, and I am not sure that I would be able to wake up in time to get to South Boston early enough to register and still put together a good race. The 10 AM start in Haverhill will be much better for me, as it is the same distance and I will be able to snag a couple more hours of sleep.

So in conclusion, I will run the Baldi River Run on Sunday, and not the Run for Dave on Saturday. Oh well, at least I’m still racing this weekend.

The Parker Road Race – May 18, 2008

NAME: The Parker Road Race & Springfest

DATE: May 18, 2008

LOCATION: Start and end at the FW Parker Charter Essential School in Devens, MA

WEBSITE

CONDITIONS: Sunny, mild

RACE: 
      Course Difficulty: Moderate – Hilly course, several gradual climbs and declines
      Course Appearance: Pretty – Goes through the wooded residential sections of Devens
      Race Organization: Good – Well organized and streamlined, awards ceremony could have been a tad smoother
      Course Safety: Excellent – Light traffic, state police in all necessary locations
      Support: Below Average – Sparse support throughout course, solid crowd at the finish line
      Recommend: Yes – A small race (numbers wise) but a good course and a fun time

RESULT: 14/84 – First in age division (Official Results from Cool Running)

BACKGROUND: An all day event that is focused around the 5 Mile road race. Benefiting the FW Parker Charter Essential School, this years proceeds went to the new building fund, as the school is looking to add a new wing on to the school. Three races take place during the event, the Tot Trot, 2 Mile, and the 5 Mile. After the race, you can listen to music, play games, get a massage, participate in raffles, or simply hang out on the lawn during the Springfest. It really is a great time!

MY EXPERIENCE: I can easily say that, as a package, this was the best event that I have been a part of so far. The course was fun and provided a nice challenge for a beginning runner, it was well organized, and the festivities were awesome as well.

My hip was still a little stiff, but it loosened up quickly into the race. My first mile I ran a 6:13 pace, but that quickly fell off. I think that I started off too quickly because each mile was a little longer in terms of my time. However, it still felt good to know that I could actually run a mile that quickly.

The race course was very nice, in my opinion. For the most part, it was gradual rolling hills. There were a handful of brief flat spots, but those were not exactly common. Throughout the course, there were accurate time splits, several water stops, and some ok support (mostly from the volunteers, but that’s ok). The accurate time splits were refreshing after last week, as my overall time was way off last week at the Helen Driscoll Road Race (more on that later).

When I crossed the finish line, I was able to clock a 34:59 total time, good for basically a 7:00 minute mile. For me, I was pleased. First, I placed first in my division (even though there were only three people in my age group), and secondly, it means that I have shaved about 10 seconds off my mile time – and this was on a course almost two miles longer and much hillier than my baseline (the Stewart Savage 5K). I was suspicious of last weeks’ time of 6:33 per mile at the Helen Driscoll Road Race, and this pretty much confirms my hunch that the clock was way off last weekend. I’ll leave the times as is on that page since those are the official results, but keep in mind that those are off.

Unfortunately, I was unable to hang around for the Springfest portion of the event, but it looked like a good time.

Overall, this was a great event. I hope that I am around to do it again next year (I’ll likely be at college), and it was well worth it! I haven’t chosen my race for next weekend (I can’t do Boston’s Run to Remember…sigh), but it’ll likely be a similar distance. On the whole very pleased after this event!

Helen Driscoll Road Race – May 10, 2008

NAME: Annual Mother’s Day Weekend Helen Driscoll Road Race

DATE: May 10, 2008

LOCATION: Start and end at VFW 1012 in Medford, MA

WEBSITE

CONDITIONS: Overcast and then partly sunny

RACE:
    Course Difficulty: Easy – Mostly flat, many cars that you need to be careful of
     Course Appearance: Average – Some nice suburban sections, around I-93, other concrete landscapes
     Race Organization: Good – Started on time, one water stop, mile markers, slow but nice post-race festivities
     Course Safety: Below Average - Not enough cops, lots of cars and several busy intersections, small directional signs
     Support: Bad – Other than the handful of finish line supporters the course was pretty empty
     Recommend: Yes – However, the MMRF 5K is on the same day and it sounded like a better, safer course

RESULT: 5/129 – First in age division (Official Results from Cool Running)

BACKGROUND: A non-profit road race that benefits multiple charity organizations. All money from entrance fees, raffles, T-Shirt sales and additional donations goes to the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts Chapter and the Community Family, an organization that helps area families that have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or other conditions that cause memory loss.

MY EXPERIENCE: Following my successful run at the Officer Stewart Savage 5K, I wanted to up the distance a little bit, so I chose the Helen Driscoll Road Race (4.2 miles) over the MMRF 5K race in South Boston.

I showed up to the Medford VFW 1012 post about 45 minutes before race time (11 AM). The $18 entrance fee was very reasonable, so I chipped some extra cash by purchasing one of their T-Shirts for an additional $15. The parking lot area was a little crowded, so it was a little difficult to find a place to myself to stretch out and warm-up. I felt a little tight when the gun went off at exactly the 11 AM mark, but I loosened up after the first half mile.

Unlike the last race I was in, I ended up getting pushed towards the front of the pack at the starting line (more by necessity than choice). I was a little nervous because I was with the more experienced runners of the group, but I quickly realized that I could run with most of them…the question was whether or not I could sustain my pace over the entire course.

Initially, the police presence along the route was very good, as cops on motorcycles would stop an intersection and then whiz along to the next one, working efficiently in tandem. Unfortunately, as the three front runners began to move ahead, the cops seemed to as well, leaving me, and many others behind. I actually almost got hit once by a guy who clearly had no idea that there was a road race going on and was pulling onto the street I was running on. The only other issue I had with the course was that some of the directional signs were small and somewhat hard to locate, but there were usually some people nearby to make sure that the runners stayed on track.

After a small climb over the first quarter- to half-mile, the road course was pretty flat. While the beginning and end went through some *very* busy areas around where I-93 cuts through the town, a good portion of the race was secluded away in the back streets of Medford. On the whole, it was a decent course.

As for my performance, I felt very good about it. I never felt like I was slowing down, and only one guy (who was clearly a far more experienced runner than I) passed me throughout the entire race. My dad was there as well once I hit the stretch run, and it provided me with a little extra boost. At the end, there was a nice small crowd (mostly other runners and their families) around the finish line supporting myself and others as we came in across the finish line. I finished in 5th out of a field of approximately 150 runners. My time was 27:29, good for a 6:33 pace.

I was a little surprised that my pace had improved so much over the course of just one week (I had not even sniffed this mile pace during my runs throughout the week). The only thing I can say is competition – I love competing and it always brings the best out of me.

After a successful race, there was a nice after party in the VFW Post. Various drinks, hot dogs, hamburgers, pasta, pizza, salad and a variety of desserts were all laid out at us. I couldn’t help but think that a lot of the foods probably didn’t belong at a race, but whatever, I snagged a slice of pizza and some salad for lunch and had some nice, brief conversation with other runners. The event was a little long and dragged out, but on the whole it was a good time.

While the Officer Stewart Savage 5K was definitely the superior race in my opinion, the Helen Driscoll Road Race was a nice event that provided everyone with a good time. Some tweaks would do the event a lot of good, but I like what they have going. If I had to do it all over again, I might have done the MMRF in South Boston, but this was a good experience for a good cause.

Officer Stewart Savage 5K – May 4, 2008

NAME: The 8th Annual Officer Stewart Savage 5K Road Race and Family Fun Run

DATE: May 4, 2008

LOCATION: Start at Babson College in Needham, MA.

WEBSITE: http://www.wellesleypolice.com/Savage%20Race/Stewart%20Savage%20Race.htm

CONDITIONS: Overcast with a light drizzle.

RACE:
     Course Difficulty: Easy – Mostly flat and downhill, gradual climb for the last portion of the race
      Course Appearance: Pretty, Suburban – Winds through the pretty back roads of Needham/Wellesley, MA.
      Race Organization: Good – Started on time, people called out mile-time at several splits, one water spot
      Course Safety: Good – Street remained open, plenty of cops at intersections
      Support: Bad – Probably due to rain, very few people along course other than the finish line
      Recommend: Yes – A nice race for the beginning runner looking to get his/her feet wet

RESULT: 39/242 – First in age division (Complete Results from Cool Running)

BACKGROUND: On March 18, 1995, Officer Stewart Savage of the Wellesley Police Department suffered fatal injuries in the line of duty. In 2001, the Wellesley Police Department began this race in his memory. Many police departments from around the area participate in this event, and it makes it a special one to be a part of. Office Savage enjoyed staying fit, so the proceeds from this event go to youth organizations in the town of Wellesley and towards maintaining the Wellesley Police Department fitness center.

MY EXPERIENCE: Given the fact that I had only had three training runs going into this race, I obviously had modest expectations for myself. Wrong. I always place high expectations on myself, and, while I wasn’t anticipating winning in this race of some 250 participants, I wanted to do well, possibly placing in my division.

I had a little trouble getting there (my GPS took me to the wrong entrance at Babson), but once I got there, everything went pretty smoothly. I registered, paid my $20 and began warming up around the indoor track in Babson College’s athletic center. After about twenty minutes, I headed outside to do some final warmups before the race started. It was chilly and there was some drizzle and fog with little to no wind.

After some pre-race activities (including the singing of the National Anthem) I headed towards the middle of the pack to start the race. The siren went off and the racers poured out onto the street following a police motor cycle to clear the way.

Before I continue, I must say that the police presence around the course was very good, and not once did I have to concern myself with watching out for cars, and I could just focus on running, which was very helpful given that this was my first race.

The course started out slightly downhill to flat. The all road course took us through the pretty suburban neighborhoods of Wellesley and Needham. When I approached the first mile marker, there was a man with a sign calling out times to runners as they past. My first mile was at a pace of 6:54, which surprised me a little, considering most of my miles had been in the 7:10-7:15 range during the week.

While the pace didn’t last, I was able to maintain a solid speed throughout the course. The final mile seemed to be mostly up hill as we ran through the Babson campus up to the athletic center where we started. I crossed the finish line in 22:12 (a 7:09 pace) – a success for my first ever race.

The post race activities were fun as well. They were unfortunately moved indoors due to the cold and rain, but that was ok. A nice (but limited) spread was laid out for the runners, featuring burgers, hot dogs, chips, oranges, bananas, and various drinks. The awards ceremony was quick. I ended up winning my age division (18 and below – male) which was really an awesome thing. To be honest, I was expecting it since I saw very few runners that appeared to be in my age bracket throughout the race.

Overall, a great experience. Honestly, if I had had a poor time during this race (talking about experience rather than results), I am not sure if I would have had continued. Thankfully, I had an awesome time. Thanks to everyone at the Wellesley Police Department that helped put on a great race!