2007 John H. Chafee Memorial 10k

March 25, 2007
Bristol, RI
10k
41:28
6:41 pace
11th place

This was a scenic run around Colt State Park and Bristol.  Cold along the water, and just a week after my marathon PR.  Definitely not up for a fast race that day, but still managed a decent finish.

2007 Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon, Virginia Beach, VA

Full Marathon

3:13:32 Official Time

3:13:22 Net time

BQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Virginia Beach, VA

I did it!!! I can honestly say this race made up for the last few months of agony. I trained my butt off after Philly, for which I had trained my butt off already. I have been so depressed about missing qualifying for Boston, being so close, I just had to do well in this race. I've worked hard, and I knew this was my day.

I landed in Virginia Beach the day before the race, pretty early. It's not yet beach season, and the town was pretty quiet. After picking up my number, I headed to a theater. What better way to inspire a run than 300? Spartans were pretty badass.

I was travelling alone but meeting someone there, and his flight was held up. I wasn't quite sure if he was going to make it, actually, but the marvels of modern aviation pulled through. The weather was much colder than I expected, and I bought a knit hat for the race. So much for beach weather.

At gun time, the mercury was hanging around 29. Not exactly ideal, but predicted to climb into the 50s. I knew my pace perfectly, and fell into rhythm in the first mile. We were running together, and keeping good time. The course is a figure 8, starting at the beach, running south, back along the boardwalk, up north of the town, and back again. The only hill was a bridge over an inlet, not exactly a small bridge, but early enough in the race (twice) that it was manageable. The run back along the boardwalk was into a pretty stiff headwind, and we moved ahead of the 3:10 pace group. Probably should have taken shelter behind them, but they were falling a few minutes behind, and we weren't taking any chances. Around mile 21, we met another runner shooting for a 3:10 BQ. My buddy turned to me and asked if I could do 3:15 on my own, and I still felt good. The two of them took off to get the faster time, and I kept plugging away toward my own goal.

I never felt better than finishing this race. I felt like I won the World Series, that's how much qualifying for Boston meant to me. We immediately headed to the beer tent to celebrate, followed by a quick dip in the frigid Atlantic.

Now, I feel like a marathoner!