The Twin Bridges 8K Road Race is one of my favorite races in my hometown. The race is part of the North Carolina Seafood Festival that is held the first weekend in October in Morehead City, NC. I've done the race every year but one since my first in 2000. This marked my thirteenth year of running it. The race starts in front of the Beaufort Drawbridge on the Morehead-Beaufort Causeway. It follows Highway 70 West from the Beaufort Drawbridge, over the Beaufort High-rise Bridge into Morehead City, through Morehead City to the Atlantic Beach High-rise Bridge, ending in front of the Bella Pizza & Subs on the Atlantic Beach Causeway. The course is flat minus the two high rise bridges. I have many top three and top five finishes including a second place finish last year but I have not won the race before.
I have been training for the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on November 2nd. This race fell on a cutback week in total mileage and intensity for me. Despite the cutback week, I was feeling tired on most of my runs the week of Twin Bridges due to the heavy intensity and volume of marathon training. The week before the 2013 Twin Bridges 8K Road Race on October 5th consisted of 71.5 miles of weekly mileage with a 7 miles tempo run on Thursday at 6:02 min/mile pace in the middle of 12 miles total and my longest run of the marathon training cycle on Sunday in William B. Umstead State Park where I ran 23 miles in 2:48:52 and gained over 1,500 feet.
I had two goals for Twin Bridges. I wanted to win it and break 29:00. I haven't broken 29:00 at Twin Bridges. I ran a 28:49 for five miles in September at The Belmont 5 in Rocky Mount so I thought I should be under 29:00 at Twin Bridges.
New for this years Twin Bridges Race was chip timing. The race had previously been timed with pull tags. This year, Run The East, timed it using bib chips. It made getting results faster but I wasn't a fan of the bib chips. It was an extra cost and the pull tag system worked well in the past. My issue with the bib chips are they are big, bulky, and stiff feeling. The chip isn't a little thin strip in the middle of the bib like other bib chips, it is a thick strip that goes all the way around the perimeter of the number.
I drove to the start line and my Dad headed to the finish in his car to wait for me. I arrived at the start around 7:00 am and ate my usual Powerbar and drank some water. I sat in the car and relaxed while watching the shuttle buses drop off runners that parked at the finish line. Once my friends Anne, Heidi, and Katherine arrived I got out and talked with them. We talked about race strategy and headed off for am easy 2 miles warm-up run. It was warmer than I would have liked at 70 degrees but it wasn't windy. There was a slight breeze.
After talking with other friends running the race we lined up and waited for the start. We waited and waited. The race usually starts at 8am but for some reason we didn't get started till 8:12 am this year. Once the race started I was off with Anne right with me. Her plan was to stay with me as long as possible and that has worked well for her in the past. A couple runners were ahead of us but I didn't worry. I knew some would go out too fast. My plan was to go out at 5:50 for the first mile then pick it up into the low 5:40s the rest of the race like I had at The Belmont 5. A high school runner from Swansboro, Pier Dick, was leading as we started up the first bridge. I was gaining on him after the first half mile. I caught and passed him right at the first mile marker going up the Morehead high-rise bridge. He said in the newspaper article after the race that his goal was to win the first mile. I ran the first mile in 5:51. I did a surge up the bridge after taking the lead. I saw Paul Kelly's wife Sally on the left side of the bridge taking pictures and I appreciated her support and cheering for me.
I have been training for the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on November 2nd. This race fell on a cutback week in total mileage and intensity for me. Despite the cutback week, I was feeling tired on most of my runs the week of Twin Bridges due to the heavy intensity and volume of marathon training. The week before the 2013 Twin Bridges 8K Road Race on October 5th consisted of 71.5 miles of weekly mileage with a 7 miles tempo run on Thursday at 6:02 min/mile pace in the middle of 12 miles total and my longest run of the marathon training cycle on Sunday in William B. Umstead State Park where I ran 23 miles in 2:48:52 and gained over 1,500 feet.
I had two goals for Twin Bridges. I wanted to win it and break 29:00. I haven't broken 29:00 at Twin Bridges. I ran a 28:49 for five miles in September at The Belmont 5 in Rocky Mount so I thought I should be under 29:00 at Twin Bridges.
New for this years Twin Bridges Race was chip timing. The race had previously been timed with pull tags. This year, Run The East, timed it using bib chips. It made getting results faster but I wasn't a fan of the bib chips. It was an extra cost and the pull tag system worked well in the past. My issue with the bib chips are they are big, bulky, and stiff feeling. The chip isn't a little thin strip in the middle of the bib like other bib chips, it is a thick strip that goes all the way around the perimeter of the number.
I drove to the start line and my Dad headed to the finish in his car to wait for me. I arrived at the start around 7:00 am and ate my usual Powerbar and drank some water. I sat in the car and relaxed while watching the shuttle buses drop off runners that parked at the finish line. Once my friends Anne, Heidi, and Katherine arrived I got out and talked with them. We talked about race strategy and headed off for am easy 2 miles warm-up run. It was warmer than I would have liked at 70 degrees but it wasn't windy. There was a slight breeze.
After talking with other friends running the race we lined up and waited for the start. We waited and waited. The race usually starts at 8am but for some reason we didn't get started till 8:12 am this year. Once the race started I was off with Anne right with me. Her plan was to stay with me as long as possible and that has worked well for her in the past. A couple runners were ahead of us but I didn't worry. I knew some would go out too fast. My plan was to go out at 5:50 for the first mile then pick it up into the low 5:40s the rest of the race like I had at The Belmont 5. A high school runner from Swansboro, Pier Dick, was leading as we started up the first bridge. I was gaining on him after the first half mile. I caught and passed him right at the first mile marker going up the Morehead high-rise bridge. He said in the newspaper article after the race that his goal was to win the first mile. I ran the first mile in 5:51. I did a surge up the bridge after taking the lead. I saw Paul Kelly's wife Sally on the left side of the bridge taking pictures and I appreciated her support and cheering for me.
Morehead high rise bridge. Photo by Sally Kelly I hit the top of the bridge and did another surge downhill. I normally don't push downhills but Sam Bland was biking on the course and he encouraged me to push the downhill to get more separation from second place. Sam and I have been good friends for years and he's been a great person to go to for advice. He stayed near me on the bike as I came off the bridge in the lead with the police car ahead of me. Once you come off the bridge you have a long, flat, straight run until you turn left to go up the Atlantic Beach bridge. This may be the toughest part of the race. Running fast by yourself on a flat course isn't as easy as it sounds. There were some friends out on the course and some spectators cheering the runners on but not many. The festival wasn't getting cranked up till later in the morning. My friend Kimberly Hollifield Smith cheered for me and took pictures as I neared the two miles marker. Mile two was 5:52.
I wanted mile two to be faster, in the mid to low 5:40s but it wasn't. I was still leading and tried to stay consistent on pace. Sam kept encouraging me and telling me the margin of my lead. My lead was staying a consistent 20-30 seconds ahead of second place. It was starting to feel warmer than it was. I know 70 degrees may not be hot to most but when you're racing on a course with no shade and only a slight breeze it is. Mile three slowed to a 5:59. I knew I had to pick it up so I would not be caught from behind. I didn't want anyone chasing me to think I was slowing. I did not want them to think they had any chance at all of catching me. I picked up the pace while Sam encouraged me to push up and over the Atlantic Beach Bridge to seal the deal and to leave everyone else fighting for second.
I made the left turn and the lead police car got beside me. The officer told me I was looking smooth and great race. I told him thanks as I made the move into the far right lane going up the Atlantic Beach high rise bridge. I love running this bridge! I run it a lot when I'm home. It's great for intervals because it is 400m straight up until it flattens out going from the Morehead side towards Atlantic Beach. It's also 1.5 miles over and back on the bridge. I've been running this bridge in training runs with friends since high school. I started my push up the bridge with Sam on his bike close by. The mile four marker had to be off. I think I ran faster than the volunteer said I did. I didn't hit the lap button on my watch until I hit the volunteer and my watch said 6:37 for mile four. Other runners after the race questioned if the mile marker was in the right place because it was then many ran the final mile in 5:00 or close.
I was still leading and began my push down the bridge. I pushed hard going down the bridge, pounding my quads hard. My Dad walked from the finish line and was half the way up the bridge when I saw him. He cheered, took a picture, and told me I was leading by 30 seconds. He started making his way back to the finish but I knew he wouldn't make it in time to see me finish. He called my Mom on his way to the finish and told her he thought I was finally going to win the race. I kept pushing hard as I got closer to the finish line. The fans cheering from the bottom of the bridge to the finish line were wonderful.
I wanted mile two to be faster, in the mid to low 5:40s but it wasn't. I was still leading and tried to stay consistent on pace. Sam kept encouraging me and telling me the margin of my lead. My lead was staying a consistent 20-30 seconds ahead of second place. It was starting to feel warmer than it was. I know 70 degrees may not be hot to most but when you're racing on a course with no shade and only a slight breeze it is. Mile three slowed to a 5:59. I knew I had to pick it up so I would not be caught from behind. I didn't want anyone chasing me to think I was slowing. I did not want them to think they had any chance at all of catching me. I picked up the pace while Sam encouraged me to push up and over the Atlantic Beach Bridge to seal the deal and to leave everyone else fighting for second.
I made the left turn and the lead police car got beside me. The officer told me I was looking smooth and great race. I told him thanks as I made the move into the far right lane going up the Atlantic Beach high rise bridge. I love running this bridge! I run it a lot when I'm home. It's great for intervals because it is 400m straight up until it flattens out going from the Morehead side towards Atlantic Beach. It's also 1.5 miles over and back on the bridge. I've been running this bridge in training runs with friends since high school. I started my push up the bridge with Sam on his bike close by. The mile four marker had to be off. I think I ran faster than the volunteer said I did. I didn't hit the lap button on my watch until I hit the volunteer and my watch said 6:37 for mile four. Other runners after the race questioned if the mile marker was in the right place because it was then many ran the final mile in 5:00 or close.
I was still leading and began my push down the bridge. I pushed hard going down the bridge, pounding my quads hard. My Dad walked from the finish line and was half the way up the bridge when I saw him. He cheered, took a picture, and told me I was leading by 30 seconds. He started making his way back to the finish but I knew he wouldn't make it in time to see me finish. He called my Mom on his way to the finish and told her he thought I was finally going to win the race. I kept pushing hard as I got closer to the finish line. The fans cheering from the bottom of the bridge to the finish line were wonderful.
Finishing Photo by J.J. Smith Thanks to Sam and my Dad I knew there wasn't anyone really close to me as I was finishing. I began thinking about what to do when I hit the finish line. I had to do something after thirteen years of trying to win this race and finally accomplishing the feat. I started pumping my fists and smiling really big. At the finish line I jumped high and shouted "Finally". I finished 1st Overall in 29:26.
I watched Anne and Heidi finish 1-2 in the women's race just one second part. It was Anne's seventh time winning the race. Anne and Heidi are running the NYC Marathon as guides for Paul Kelly. They're going to get an awesome tour of the city while helping a good friend rock the course. Becky finished third in the women's race and my friend Katherine, who had a baby four weeks ago, finished 2nd in her age group and 21st overall out of 310 runners in 34:20.
I watched Anne and Heidi finish 1-2 in the women's race just one second part. It was Anne's seventh time winning the race. Anne and Heidi are running the NYC Marathon as guides for Paul Kelly. They're going to get an awesome tour of the city while helping a good friend rock the course. Becky finished third in the women's race and my friend Katherine, who had a baby four weeks ago, finished 2nd in her age group and 21st overall out of 310 runners in 34:20.
Heidi, Me, Anne post race with our awards. Photo by Sally Kelly
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