Kelley and Me The 35th Historic Beaufort Road Race on July 19, 2014 marked my seventeenth consecutive year of running my hometown race. This was my first ever road race back in 1997 where I ran the 5K. I've ran the 5K the most, followed by the 10K six times counting this year, and the mile twice. I've been second overall in all three events. I chose to do the 10K again this year because I am better at the longer distances and felt the 10K was my best shot at an overall win. My best 10K time at Beaufort is 37:21 set in 2007. This race is known for being hot and humid. I had one goal for this year's race, to win! I didn't care about time, I just wanted to win for Sonny Hyman. Sonny passed away earlier this year and I wanted the win to honor him. Sonny and his wife Taylor started the big three races in Carteret County; The Lookout Rotary Spring Road Race, The Historic Beaufort Road Race, and the Twin Bridges 8K Road Race. Although Sonny never ran the 10K at Beaufort, he told me July was just to hot and humid for a 10K, he ran the 5K and won countless mile, 5K, and 10K races in his lifetime.
We got a little break with the weather this year. It was overcast and breezy when my Dad and I arrived at the race at 7am. I was thankful for no sun and was hoping it would even rain. The forecast did call for a 30% chance of rain but it didn't rain. It was 75 degrees and 90% humidity but that is about the best you can hope for in July in Beaufort. We've had much worse in the past.
I walked around and talked with some friends before meeting Jamie and before I started my dynamic warm-up. Jamie drove from Greenville with our dogs, Justus and Bud. After my warm-up I headed off for an easy 1.5 miles or so run around 7:40-8:00 min pace. I was nervous. I get more nervous for this race than I do bigger races like marathons. I think that has a lot to do with wanting to win so badly I put a lot of pressure on myself. I kept telling myself to stay clam on the warm-up and later while waiting on the starting line.
We got a little break with the weather this year. It was overcast and breezy when my Dad and I arrived at the race at 7am. I was thankful for no sun and was hoping it would even rain. The forecast did call for a 30% chance of rain but it didn't rain. It was 75 degrees and 90% humidity but that is about the best you can hope for in July in Beaufort. We've had much worse in the past.
I walked around and talked with some friends before meeting Jamie and before I started my dynamic warm-up. Jamie drove from Greenville with our dogs, Justus and Bud. After my warm-up I headed off for an easy 1.5 miles or so run around 7:40-8:00 min pace. I was nervous. I get more nervous for this race than I do bigger races like marathons. I think that has a lot to do with wanting to win so badly I put a lot of pressure on myself. I kept telling myself to stay clam on the warm-up and later while waiting on the starting line.
Start of the 5K and 10K I lined up on the starting line next to Katherine Price and Heidi Tucker. They were both running the 5K with a goal of sub 19. I believed they would run sub 19 and sweep the top two spots. The race started and I was out fast for the first 400m but then settled into my goal pace with Katherine and Heidi ahead of me. I ran the first mile in 6:05, right on goal pace. Katherine went out fast and ran the first mile in 5:43 and was leading the women's 5K with Heidi not far behind.
I kept an eye on the leaders as we neared the 5K turn-around. I wanted to see who would turn and who, if anyone, would continue straight on the 10K course. Everyone but one runner ahead of me turned. When I hit the 5K turn-around I checked my watch and noted the 10K leader was about 40 seconds ahead of me. I didn't panic. I stayed on my planned pace thinking he would slow down and come to me. At mile two, the 10K leader was only 20 seconds or so ahead of me. I ran mile two in 6:08. I was gaining on the leader without picking up my own pace. I felt good as we ran down Lennoxville Road. The leader passed, Paul Kelly who was leading the 10K wheelchair race. I checked my watch again his lead was down to 15 seconds.
I kept gaining on the 10K leader as we neared the 3 mile mark. I had caught him and passed him shortly after three miles. I ran mile three in 6:05. He stayed close to me for about a quarter mile on Ann Street before I felt like I was pulling away from him. I felt good enough to pick up the pace but didn't see the need if I was pulling away while staying around 6:05 min/mile pace.
I kept an eye on the leaders as we neared the 5K turn-around. I wanted to see who would turn and who, if anyone, would continue straight on the 10K course. Everyone but one runner ahead of me turned. When I hit the 5K turn-around I checked my watch and noted the 10K leader was about 40 seconds ahead of me. I didn't panic. I stayed on my planned pace thinking he would slow down and come to me. At mile two, the 10K leader was only 20 seconds or so ahead of me. I ran mile two in 6:08. I was gaining on the leader without picking up my own pace. I felt good as we ran down Lennoxville Road. The leader passed, Paul Kelly who was leading the 10K wheelchair race. I checked my watch again his lead was down to 15 seconds.
I kept gaining on the 10K leader as we neared the 3 mile mark. I had caught him and passed him shortly after three miles. I ran mile three in 6:05. He stayed close to me for about a quarter mile on Ann Street before I felt like I was pulling away from him. I felt good enough to pick up the pace but didn't see the need if I was pulling away while staying around 6:05 min/mile pace.
Just after four miles The course then makes a right turn onto Live Oak Street and a left onto Broad Street. Shortly after turning onto Broad Street a car blatantly cut me off. I was running straight on Broad while the car was trying to make a left turn off Broad onto Marsh Street. There was no cop or volunteer at the intersection. The car came very close to hitting me. I slapped the side of their small SUV and shouted at them before continuing on. They should have had a cop or volunteer at all intersections at signs out saying "caution road race" to alert traffic that runners were on the road.
I composed myself and continued on, running mile four in 6:04. Shortly after mile four, I saw Jamie and my Dad. I asked them how far back, referring to second place, and Jamie estimated 15 seconds. After running to the end of Broad Street the course makes a left turn onto Moore Street and another left back onto Ann Street. I was still feeling good and gaining more confidence as I neared the five mile mark. I ran mile 5 in 6:09.
The 10K runners that are still going towards mile four get a chance to see the leaders after mile 5 on Ann Street between the intersections of Live Oak and Hill Street when runners meet going in opposite directions. I first saw Sonny's daughter, Kelley, and she cheered me on. I next saw my friend Eric Rowe and he was very excited to see me leading. He cheered the loudest as he shouted "Go Tyler" as I passed him. This was the latest I had led at Beaufort.
I made the right turn onto Hill Street and another right turn, the turn for home, and was back on Front Street with about 0.70 miles to go to the finish line. I felt confident this was finally going to be my year to win. I started thinking of how I could celebrate as I hit the finish line. I started smiling bigger and bigger as I passed the Old Post Office, about 400m to go.
I composed myself and continued on, running mile four in 6:04. Shortly after mile four, I saw Jamie and my Dad. I asked them how far back, referring to second place, and Jamie estimated 15 seconds. After running to the end of Broad Street the course makes a left turn onto Moore Street and another left back onto Ann Street. I was still feeling good and gaining more confidence as I neared the five mile mark. I ran mile 5 in 6:09.
The 10K runners that are still going towards mile four get a chance to see the leaders after mile 5 on Ann Street between the intersections of Live Oak and Hill Street when runners meet going in opposite directions. I first saw Sonny's daughter, Kelley, and she cheered me on. I next saw my friend Eric Rowe and he was very excited to see me leading. He cheered the loudest as he shouted "Go Tyler" as I passed him. This was the latest I had led at Beaufort.
I made the right turn onto Hill Street and another right turn, the turn for home, and was back on Front Street with about 0.70 miles to go to the finish line. I felt confident this was finally going to be my year to win. I started thinking of how I could celebrate as I hit the finish line. I started smiling bigger and bigger as I passed the Old Post Office, about 400m to go.
Celebrating my win as I finish I started raising my arms, pointing to Heaven and shouting "For you Sonny" and "Finally" repeatedly as I finished. I finally won! My time was 38:15, not my fastest 10K and not my fastest 10K at Beaufort but it was fast enough to win by 37 seconds. One of my training partners, Ryan Bingham, finished 3rd overall in 38:57 in his first time ever running the 10K at Beaufort. I kept shouting "For Sonny" and "Finally" as walked through the finish chute. I greeted Jamie with a sweaty hug after I had calmed down some.
In Honor of Sonny Hyman Kelley won her age group in the 10K. Kelley wrote "Sonny" on one arm and "Taylor" on the other to honor her parents. The Carteret County News-Times interviewed me and Kelley after the race and printed our picture.
Katherine and Heidi had a close race in the 5K. Katherine led the first 1.55 miles and more until Heidi caught and passed her. Katherine didn't give up and ran Heidi back down. They finished with the same time of 18:59 but Heidi was given 1st place female 5K. They both got their sub 19 goal and finished 1-2.
My friend Duane Novotni ran the mile and 10K double. He placed third overall in the mile in 5:55 and fifth overall in the 10K in 40:43. His wife, Michelle, ran the mile and 5K double; placing 2nd overall female in the mile and 2nd in her age group in the 5K.
Paul Kelly won the 10K wheelchair in 49:16.
Katherine and Heidi had a close race in the 5K. Katherine led the first 1.55 miles and more until Heidi caught and passed her. Katherine didn't give up and ran Heidi back down. They finished with the same time of 18:59 but Heidi was given 1st place female 5K. They both got their sub 19 goal and finished 1-2.
My friend Duane Novotni ran the mile and 10K double. He placed third overall in the mile in 5:55 and fifth overall in the 10K in 40:43. His wife, Michelle, ran the mile and 5K double; placing 2nd overall female in the mile and 2nd in her age group in the 5K.
Paul Kelly won the 10K wheelchair in 49:16.
Duane and Me post race A total of 662 participated in the Beaufort Road Race this year, down 143 from last year. The Beaufort Rotary Club as a goal of reaching 1,000 participants and I think they can with some improvements. I recommend they start engraving the back of the award medals like they used to do instead of passing out medals that do not have the date, event, age group or overall, listed on the back. They should also consider tech shirts instead of cotton. Another suggestion would be to start earlier. July is hot and humid. I think if they asked the participants if they would be in favor of a 7:00am or 7:30am start for the 5K and 10K the majority would say yes. A final suggestion would be to pass out gift cards to local restaurants and the local running store to overall and award winners. They used to have better awards than just a medal and I don't know why they changed it. Doing those things would make the race better and more likely to get more participants and more competitive runners.
I'm still very excited and happy I won Beaufort. This win was a long time coming. I asked people in the Crystal Coast Running Club facebook group to wear their neon green at this race and was glad to see that so many did. Sonny was known for wearing neon green when he ran. I plan on doing it again for the Twin Bridges 8K Road Race October 4, 2014. Sonny will never be forgotten and I plan to carry on his legacy and honor him as best as I can. Sonny will always be with me when I run.
I'm still very excited and happy I won Beaufort. This win was a long time coming. I asked people in the Crystal Coast Running Club facebook group to wear their neon green at this race and was glad to see that so many did. Sonny was known for wearing neon green when he ran. I plan on doing it again for the Twin Bridges 8K Road Race October 4, 2014. Sonny will never be forgotten and I plan to carry on his legacy and honor him as best as I can. Sonny will always be with me when I run.
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