This year marked the 36th running of the Historic Beaufort Road Race. I've been participating in it since my first in 1997. I've ran the 5K the most times but I've also ran the mile and 10K. I was fortunate enough last year to finally win the 10K. I had to try to defend my title this year.
This was only my fourth race of the year and my second 10K. I've been dealing with some upper right hamstring/pirformis tightness on and off since February. I've been injured free most of my running career, just some minor overuse injuries so this is totally new to me. I've been getting physical therapy sessions from my friend Katherine Price, owner of The Body Shoppe Physical Therapy in Beaufort. The exercises she's given me have helped a lot. I recently started seeing another friend, Holly Fisher, owner of Holly Fisher Massage Therapy. She's amazing as well and I highly recommend them both. There is a lot of debate about getting a massage the day before a race but I got an hour massage from Holly yesterday. It was well worth it and when I woke up this morning I was a lot looser than I have been in months. The combination of the exercises from Katherine and the massages from Holly have decreased the tightness and a pain substantially. I know I got to keep working on my muscle imbalances and loosing up more with a foam roller and getting a massage more often.
This was only my fourth race of the year and my second 10K. I've been dealing with some upper right hamstring/pirformis tightness on and off since February. I've been injured free most of my running career, just some minor overuse injuries so this is totally new to me. I've been getting physical therapy sessions from my friend Katherine Price, owner of The Body Shoppe Physical Therapy in Beaufort. The exercises she's given me have helped a lot. I recently started seeing another friend, Holly Fisher, owner of Holly Fisher Massage Therapy. She's amazing as well and I highly recommend them both. There is a lot of debate about getting a massage the day before a race but I got an hour massage from Holly yesterday. It was well worth it and when I woke up this morning I was a lot looser than I have been in months. The combination of the exercises from Katherine and the massages from Holly have decreased the tightness and a pain substantially. I know I got to keep working on my muscle imbalances and loosing up more with a foam roller and getting a massage more often.
Carrying Sonny Hyman with us My Dad and I arrived at the race at 7am and quickly found some friends. That's one of my favorite things about running local races. I love seeing friends I've known for years and ran with for years. I always brag about the running community in Carteret County and it's because it is amazing; very friendly and supportive. I decided to write Sonny's name on my right arm for this race and I wasn't the only one there that did the same thing. Actually, Katherine did the honors for me and wrote his name on my arm. I think I'm going to keep doing it for the Carteret County races along with wearing neon green, his favorite color that he was known for wearing on most of his runs.
I typically eat a powerbar an hour before a race but did not do that this year. Instead I drank a Generation UCAN pre-run drink about 40 minutes before. I've been using Generation UCAN for a couple months now and I like it. It's a lot easier on my stomach and it has no added sugar. One packet of the powdered drink mix is good for about 2 hours of activity. For a marathon you would need to take more in during it and although they don't have a gel it's easy to make your own UCAN gel. For marathon training I also plan to double up and do two packets before. If you've had stomach issues in the past with gels and other sports nutrition give UCAN a try!
I made my way down to the start of the 1 mile race to cheer for my friend Melissa Garrett. She hadn't raced in 3 years. She's always been a good friend and I wanted to support her. She had some good goals for the race and she ended up beating her goal and winning first place in her age group! I was so happy for her and I know she was surprised and overcome with emotion as well. She deserved it and I was glad she did so well.
I made my way down to the start of the 1 mile race to cheer for my friend Melissa Garrett. She hadn't raced in 3 years. She's always been a good friend and I wanted to support her. She had some good goals for the race and she ended up beating her goal and winning first place in her age group! I was so happy for her and I know she was surprised and overcome with emotion as well. She deserved it and I was glad she did so well.
Awaiting the 5K and 10K Start I did my dynamic warm-up and headed off for a 1.5 miles easy warm-up jog. My legs felt good, no tightness in my upper right hamstring at all. I took that as a good sign. After my warm-up I grabbed a bother of water and poured some on my head. It was hot and humid already. It was 79 with a heat index of 84 and getting warmer. The last couple years we had a breeze and even a strong wind last year. No wind or breeze this year which made it worse. About 5 minutes before the start I dumped more cold water on my head to cool me down and it did work.
I lined up next to Steve Kozischek and Katherine. I've known Steve for years and spent plenty of races chasing him and Sonny Hyman. It's always good to see Steve and race with him. Katherine opted to do the 10K this year, her first 10K at Beaufort. The race started and we were headed down Front Street. Several guys took off fast and I hoped they were in the 5K. I went out side by side with Hunter Newman, a West Carteret High Shcool runner that was also in the 10K.
I ran the first mile too fast; 5:52. As we continued down Front Street and I kept a look at the runners ahead of us as we neared the 5K turnaround to see if anyone would continue straight on the 10K course. All the runners ahead of me and Hunter turned so him and I were leading the 10K. We backed off the pace and were running around 6:07. The second mile maker was off and was off last year as well. Hunter and I made the left turn onto Lennoxville Rd and I did a quick look back and we had a little lead on 3rd place. Hunter and I kept the pace pretty consistent after the fast start. I was feeling good but it was an effort to just run 6:07 min/mile pace due to the heat.
We turned off Lennoxville and hit the 3 mile mark. Our three mile split was right on 18:00. Hunter started pulling away a little bit after 3.5 miles. I should have gone with him but I let him get a few seconds ahead. I was just trying to keep the pace consistent and make a surge the final 2 miles. Hunter kept the same gap on me as we passed four miles in 24:31.
I lined up next to Steve Kozischek and Katherine. I've known Steve for years and spent plenty of races chasing him and Sonny Hyman. It's always good to see Steve and race with him. Katherine opted to do the 10K this year, her first 10K at Beaufort. The race started and we were headed down Front Street. Several guys took off fast and I hoped they were in the 5K. I went out side by side with Hunter Newman, a West Carteret High Shcool runner that was also in the 10K.
I ran the first mile too fast; 5:52. As we continued down Front Street and I kept a look at the runners ahead of us as we neared the 5K turnaround to see if anyone would continue straight on the 10K course. All the runners ahead of me and Hunter turned so him and I were leading the 10K. We backed off the pace and were running around 6:07. The second mile maker was off and was off last year as well. Hunter and I made the left turn onto Lennoxville Rd and I did a quick look back and we had a little lead on 3rd place. Hunter and I kept the pace pretty consistent after the fast start. I was feeling good but it was an effort to just run 6:07 min/mile pace due to the heat.
We turned off Lennoxville and hit the 3 mile mark. Our three mile split was right on 18:00. Hunter started pulling away a little bit after 3.5 miles. I should have gone with him but I let him get a few seconds ahead. I was just trying to keep the pace consistent and make a surge the final 2 miles. Hunter kept the same gap on me as we passed four miles in 24:31.
Finishing the 10K in 2nd place, 38:52 I was slowing down but he wasn't getting too much father ahead so felt I still had a chance to catch him. I missed the five mile mark because there was no sign. My friend Eric cheered me on and told me I still had time to catch Hunter. I tried picking it up but I just didn't have it in the heat and humidity. Hunter went on to win the race in 38:00 and I placed 2nd overall in 38:52. At least another local runner won it. Katherine won the women's 10K in 40:50 and placed 4th overall.
It wasn't the race I wanted at all. It was slower than last year but it was also hotter than last year. Not having a breeze at all was brutal. It is a PR course but not in July. I would love for someone to start a 10K race on this course in the fall, winter, or spring. The 8am start is also rough. I'd love it if they would start the 10K at 7am or even 7:30 instead of 8am. It's going to be hot and humid in Beaufort in July but starting earlier would help some. The positive is I didn't have any tightness in my upper right hamstring/pirformis during the race.
It wasn't the race I wanted at all. It was slower than last year but it was also hotter than last year. Not having a breeze at all was brutal. It is a PR course but not in July. I would love for someone to start a 10K race on this course in the fall, winter, or spring. The 8am start is also rough. I'd love it if they would start the 10K at 7am or even 7:30 instead of 8am. It's going to be hot and humid in Beaufort in July but starting earlier would help some. The positive is I didn't have any tightness in my upper right hamstring/pirformis during the race.
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