The Belmont 5 on September 7, 2013 was my seventh race of the year and it came on week nine of a sixteen week training plan for the Monumental Marathon in Indianapolis on November 2nd. I normally don't race that early in a marathon training cycle but I've wanted to do one of the Tar River Running Company races for awhile to support my friend Michael Forrester, the race director. The Belmont 5 was a brand new race, formally a 5K and 10K, on the Belmont Lake Golf Club in Rocky Mount, NC. I was excited to race somewhere new and on a golf course even if we were restricted to the golf cart paths and not the finely manicured grass. The 5 mile race course was one loop around 14 of the 18 holes of the golf course on gently rolling terrain, a couple brick bridges, and a couple off road segments that were a hard packed dirt road.
It had been a hot and humid summer, typical North Carolina weather, but despite the weather training for my fall marathon had been going well. I was hitting my paces on tempos, intervals, and goal marathon pace miles pretty well. The week before this race I ran 65 total miles and my long run was 19 miles with the final 10 at goal marathon pace. That run went well and I was able to do the final 10 at 6:34 min/mile pace average. The week of the race was a cut back week but still had a good 800m interval workout on Tuesday with Jarrod followed by an 11 miles medium long run on Wednesday and a recovery 6 miles on Thursday. I took Friday off to rest for the race on Saturday.
I haven't ran a true 5 mile race before. I have done many 8Ks and ran my 8K PR last October at the Twin Bridges 8K Road Race. An 8K is 4.97 miles so close to five miles. I had a couple goals for The Belmont 5. I wanted to win, of course. My other goals were to break 29 minutes along with my 8K time. The Twin Bridges course has two high rise bridges at mile one and four. I knew this race didn't have hills that steep or long so I thought I had a legitimate shot at my goals. I do like hills in races though. I think it's easier to go fast with a couple hills than running flat all the time. In a flat race your muscles don't get to shorten and lengthen much, they're lengthening for the most part. I tend to drop people around me on hills as well and I grew up in Carteret County where the only hills we had were the high rise bridges but I ran those a lot for intervals, long runs, and tempos.
It had been a hot and humid summer, typical North Carolina weather, but despite the weather training for my fall marathon had been going well. I was hitting my paces on tempos, intervals, and goal marathon pace miles pretty well. The week before this race I ran 65 total miles and my long run was 19 miles with the final 10 at goal marathon pace. That run went well and I was able to do the final 10 at 6:34 min/mile pace average. The week of the race was a cut back week but still had a good 800m interval workout on Tuesday with Jarrod followed by an 11 miles medium long run on Wednesday and a recovery 6 miles on Thursday. I took Friday off to rest for the race on Saturday.
I haven't ran a true 5 mile race before. I have done many 8Ks and ran my 8K PR last October at the Twin Bridges 8K Road Race. An 8K is 4.97 miles so close to five miles. I had a couple goals for The Belmont 5. I wanted to win, of course. My other goals were to break 29 minutes along with my 8K time. The Twin Bridges course has two high rise bridges at mile one and four. I knew this race didn't have hills that steep or long so I thought I had a legitimate shot at my goals. I do like hills in races though. I think it's easier to go fast with a couple hills than running flat all the time. In a flat race your muscles don't get to shorten and lengthen much, they're lengthening for the most part. I tend to drop people around me on hills as well and I grew up in Carteret County where the only hills we had were the high rise bridges but I ran those a lot for intervals, long runs, and tempos.
Personalized Bib Numbers After seeing the personalized bib numbers posted, nice touch by the race director, I realized I was seeded second and had bib number 2. Bib number 1 went to Gavin Coombs, a former N.C. State University runner. Gavin has ran a 2:25 marathon. I knew I had my work cut out for me if I was going to win the race because I was going to have to beat him to do it.
Jamie and I arrived at the golf club shortly after 7am. The race started at 8am. I like to get to races an hour before the start because it gives me time to get my packet if I didn't attend packet pickup the day before, get my race day powerbar and water in me, and then have time to relax before doing a warm-run. If you travel to this race it is off 301 and take the entrance to the golf club that is across from Hospira. Do not take the entrance across from Sheetz.
After doing an easy 2 miles warm-up I made my way to the starting line. I talked with several Greenville friends that also made the trip to run the race. Several of them are in marathon training too and had added on miles before the race started. This race had a true chip start. Most races are chipped timed these days but many do not have chip mats at the start so everyone is on gun time regardless of where you line up. Those races without chips at the start just use them at the finish to make scoring faster. I'm sure the people that lined up in the middle and back of the pack appreciated the timing mats at the start so their time would be more accurate.
After introducing myself to Gavin and talking with him I was ready for the start. Gavin and I had on the same shoes but in different colors, the Brooks Green Silence. The weather was great; temperature was low 60s and we had a nice breeze. The gun went off and I was out side by side with Gavin. It was a little bit of an uphill start but then flattened out as we ran on a dirt road and then a very little section of pine straw before we were on the paved bike paths of the golf course. The gently rolling hills started as soon as we hit the cart paths. I was still right behind Gavin. I ran the first mile in 5:50.
I felt good and was enjoying the course. I was focused on staying with Gavin for as long as I could. I ran mile two in 5:48. Gavin did a surge and started to pull away from me. I was mentally prepared for this and figured he was about to leave me and I would have to run tough solo the rest of the way in order to get the time I wanted because third place was no where near us. We were all alone and ahead of third place my minutes. To my surprise Gavin didn't get that far ahead. I kept him in sight and did a surge of my own to pull even with him.
Jamie and I arrived at the golf club shortly after 7am. The race started at 8am. I like to get to races an hour before the start because it gives me time to get my packet if I didn't attend packet pickup the day before, get my race day powerbar and water in me, and then have time to relax before doing a warm-run. If you travel to this race it is off 301 and take the entrance to the golf club that is across from Hospira. Do not take the entrance across from Sheetz.
After doing an easy 2 miles warm-up I made my way to the starting line. I talked with several Greenville friends that also made the trip to run the race. Several of them are in marathon training too and had added on miles before the race started. This race had a true chip start. Most races are chipped timed these days but many do not have chip mats at the start so everyone is on gun time regardless of where you line up. Those races without chips at the start just use them at the finish to make scoring faster. I'm sure the people that lined up in the middle and back of the pack appreciated the timing mats at the start so their time would be more accurate.
After introducing myself to Gavin and talking with him I was ready for the start. Gavin and I had on the same shoes but in different colors, the Brooks Green Silence. The weather was great; temperature was low 60s and we had a nice breeze. The gun went off and I was out side by side with Gavin. It was a little bit of an uphill start but then flattened out as we ran on a dirt road and then a very little section of pine straw before we were on the paved bike paths of the golf course. The gently rolling hills started as soon as we hit the cart paths. I was still right behind Gavin. I ran the first mile in 5:50.
I felt good and was enjoying the course. I was focused on staying with Gavin for as long as I could. I ran mile two in 5:48. Gavin did a surge and started to pull away from me. I was mentally prepared for this and figured he was about to leave me and I would have to run tough solo the rest of the way in order to get the time I wanted because third place was no where near us. We were all alone and ahead of third place my minutes. To my surprise Gavin didn't get that far ahead. I kept him in sight and did a surge of my own to pull even with him.
Side by Side with Gavin after 5K Mile three was my fastest of the race, a 5:41. I was side by side with Gavin and began to realize I had a shot at winning this race. I didn't expect to be this close to Gavin after we passed the 5K mark. I starting thinking of ways to win this race. I thought about doing surges in order to run the kick out of him. I did not want it to come down to a kick the final 100-200m. I also thought about picking up the pace and just holding it to distance myself from him. I opted for a surge but Gavin stayed right with me. I took the lead though but he was on my right shoulder in step with my stride.
We were pushing each other well over the rolling hills. None of the hills were really steep or long, just enough to change your stride. Gavin did another surge and I stayed with him. We started trading the lead back and forth as we stayed side by side. I ran mile four in 5:45. I was still feeling good and was enjoying having someone to push the pace with. It's a lot easier to run faster if you have at least one person with you instead of being all alone by yourself.
We were pushing each other well over the rolling hills. None of the hills were really steep or long, just enough to change your stride. Gavin did another surge and I stayed with him. We started trading the lead back and forth as we stayed side by side. I ran mile four in 5:45. I was still feeling good and was enjoying having someone to push the pace with. It's a lot easier to run faster if you have at least one person with you instead of being all alone by yourself.
Finishing With less than a mile to go, Gavin and I were still side by side. He would pull ahead some and I would follow suit, pull even, and even pull ahead a little bit. Every time one of us made a move the other countered. I knew I still had a shot to win this race but I needed to do something and do it soon or it was coming down to final kick to the finish line. I picked it up and Gavin stayed right there with me again. I knew I was going to have to dig deep for the kick to the finish. We made one final left and could see the finish line. Gavin went to his kick and I tried to counter. Gavin left me and won the race in 28:40. I finished in 2nd place overall, just nine seconds behind Gavin, in 28:49. My final mile was a 5:43, my second fastest of the race.
I was thrilled with my time I reached both goals I had for the race. I broke 29:00 and beat my 8K PR too. I don't think I would have been as fast without Gavin. Having him side by side racing together was a lot of fun and very beneficial to me. I just settled into goal pace and went along for the ride. I didn't have much of a kick for the finish but I felt I could have held my low-mid 5:40 min/mile pace longer if the race had been a 10K. I received a Raleigh Running Outfitters $50 gift card and a nice pint glass with the Belmont 5 logo on it.
I really enjoyed this race! I loved the course. It felt fast course and the gently rolling hills were nice. It was shady thanks to the trees on the golf course but the parts in full sun did feel warmer than what the temperature was but that was due to the pace I was running. Michael Forrester and the Tar River Running Company did a wonderful job organizing, timing, and scoring the race. They put on a great race in a great location. I'm glad the Belmont Lake Golf Club allowed a race to take place on their beautiful course. I highly recommend doing The Belmont 5 and any other races hosted by The Tar River Running Company.
I was thrilled with my time I reached both goals I had for the race. I broke 29:00 and beat my 8K PR too. I don't think I would have been as fast without Gavin. Having him side by side racing together was a lot of fun and very beneficial to me. I just settled into goal pace and went along for the ride. I didn't have much of a kick for the finish but I felt I could have held my low-mid 5:40 min/mile pace longer if the race had been a 10K. I received a Raleigh Running Outfitters $50 gift card and a nice pint glass with the Belmont 5 logo on it.
I really enjoyed this race! I loved the course. It felt fast course and the gently rolling hills were nice. It was shady thanks to the trees on the golf course but the parts in full sun did feel warmer than what the temperature was but that was due to the pace I was running. Michael Forrester and the Tar River Running Company did a wonderful job organizing, timing, and scoring the race. They put on a great race in a great location. I'm glad the Belmont Lake Golf Club allowed a race to take place on their beautiful course. I highly recommend doing The Belmont 5 and any other races hosted by The Tar River Running Company.
Jamie and Me post race
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