The 10K used to be my favorite race distance before moving up to half and full marathons. I still enjoy racing the 10K but they are getting harder to find. My road 10K PR was set in March of 2012 during Boston Marathon training. I’ve ran 10Ks since then but they have either been at low tide in the sand during a Beach Run or at the Historic Beaufort Road Race which is too hot and humid to PR on. I was excited when my friend and race director Shannon Adams told me the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center was going to have a 5K and 10K road race at the end of the road on Harkers Island. I hadn’t run on Harkers Island before but was familiar with the area, growing up just 20 minutes away. I was also excited when Shannon asked for my opinion and help on some of the planning. I knew the courses would be pancake flat and the time of year, a March race, would be good as well as it wouldn’t be hot and humid. I recommended a loop course instead of an out and back and was happy when the course maps were posted and both courses were a loop.
The race was two weeks after winning the Crystal Coast Half Marathon on March 21st. I did just one hard workout between the two races. That workout was six by half mile intervals with a quarter mile recovery with my friend Jarrod on March 12th. That workout went well and we had some wind to deal with. After an easy two miles warm-up we ran the first three half mile intervals at 5:45 pace and then was able to pick it up to finish the last three at 5:31, 5:36, and 5:26 pace. It was a quality workout.
My Dad and I arrived at the race around 8am for the 9am start. I picked up my packet and ate a Powerbar before doing my dynamic warm-up routine. I then headed off for an easy 10 minutes at 8:10 min/mile pace. The weather was cool with temperature at 45 degrees which I prefer for racing. There was some wind but it wasn’t terrible. After doing the warm-up run I did some 30 second strides. I wanted to run a good time but knew I would need someone to run with and the 10K race only had 45 runners in it. I met Steven Neshkoff before the start. We talked and he was a former college runner with some fast times so I knew I had someone to run with.
The race was two weeks after winning the Crystal Coast Half Marathon on March 21st. I did just one hard workout between the two races. That workout was six by half mile intervals with a quarter mile recovery with my friend Jarrod on March 12th. That workout went well and we had some wind to deal with. After an easy two miles warm-up we ran the first three half mile intervals at 5:45 pace and then was able to pick it up to finish the last three at 5:31, 5:36, and 5:26 pace. It was a quality workout.
My Dad and I arrived at the race around 8am for the 9am start. I picked up my packet and ate a Powerbar before doing my dynamic warm-up routine. I then headed off for an easy 10 minutes at 8:10 min/mile pace. The weather was cool with temperature at 45 degrees which I prefer for racing. There was some wind but it wasn’t terrible. After doing the warm-up run I did some 30 second strides. I wanted to run a good time but knew I would need someone to run with and the 10K race only had 45 runners in it. I met Steven Neshkoff before the start. We talked and he was a former college runner with some fast times so I knew I had someone to run with.
Steve and I take the lead The 10K started first, right across the water from Cape Lookout National Seashore and lighthouse. It is one of the most beautiful start/finish areas I’ve seen. Two Havelock HS kids bolted off the start line and led for the first quarter mile before Steven and I passed them and easily pulled away. We were planning on running the first mile in 6:00 but Steven picked it up some shortly after we turned right onto Davis Street. We made another left on Bayview and a right on Diamond City Drive. I ran the first mile in 5:50 and Steve was about 5:32 I think before he pulled up. I first thought he was hurt but he just went out too fast and wanted someone to run with. Once I caught up to him, we ran side by side talking about running mostly. It felt like a training run but was nice to have someone to run with.
We slowed up some as we ran mile two in 6:07. At that point, a dog came out of a person’s yard and started running beside us then cutting in front and behind us. He was friendly and just wanted to run and had a lot of energy. The owner came up beside us and apologized as he tried to get the dog in his truck but the dog kept sprinting ahead of him and us. The dog didn’t bother us and we had fun watching the dog speed away and eventually pull off the road into a yard leaving me and Steven alone again. The two high school kids were so far back already we couldn’t even see them when we turned to look. Steven and I stayed side by side clicking off the miles and enjoying the course. We ran mile three in 6:01.
The course gets back on Island Road at 3.6 miles then it’s a straight shot all the way to the finish. We ran mile four in 5:57. Island Road is the main road on Harkers Island. It’s a small two lane road. The course wasn’t closed to traffic and we did not have a lead police vehicle in front of us. For the most part it wasn’t a problem until the final home stretch. It started to get congested as we started to pass slower 5K runners while having to deal with traffic going both ways. We ended up running on the center yellow line and squeezing in. Steven started to pull away from me a little bit after four miles but I was keeping him close hoping to have a good kick for the finish. I ran mile five in 5:49 and Steven was just a couple seconds ahead of me.
We slowed up some as we ran mile two in 6:07. At that point, a dog came out of a person’s yard and started running beside us then cutting in front and behind us. He was friendly and just wanted to run and had a lot of energy. The owner came up beside us and apologized as he tried to get the dog in his truck but the dog kept sprinting ahead of him and us. The dog didn’t bother us and we had fun watching the dog speed away and eventually pull off the road into a yard leaving me and Steven alone again. The two high school kids were so far back already we couldn’t even see them when we turned to look. Steven and I stayed side by side clicking off the miles and enjoying the course. We ran mile three in 6:01.
The course gets back on Island Road at 3.6 miles then it’s a straight shot all the way to the finish. We ran mile four in 5:57. Island Road is the main road on Harkers Island. It’s a small two lane road. The course wasn’t closed to traffic and we did not have a lead police vehicle in front of us. For the most part it wasn’t a problem until the final home stretch. It started to get congested as we started to pass slower 5K runners while having to deal with traffic going both ways. We ended up running on the center yellow line and squeezing in. Steven started to pull away from me a little bit after four miles but I was keeping him close hoping to have a good kick for the finish. I ran mile five in 5:49 and Steven was just a couple seconds ahead of me.
Me and Steven after the race This was a great first year race. I think the race organizers did great job. The only issue was the traffic the final 2 miles on Island Road. They have to lock the road down in the future and have a lead police vehicle. I know it’s the main road on the Island but they have to close it and traffic can wait. The awards were awesome! The overall male and female 5K and 10K winners got a very nice decoy. I got a $25 gift card to the gift shop at the museum for 2nd place which I used on a nice photo print of Cape Lookout. Age group winners received hand painted seashell awards.
10K races are getting harder to find across the state and country. As far as Carteret County goes, The Crystal Coast Half Marathon has a 10K part of it and that is a great course which includes going over the AB Bridge. The Run Like A Kid 10K also starts on the Morehead Waterfront and goes over the AB Bridge and back. The Lookout Rotary Spring Road Race used to have a great 10K before they changed their course to an out and back in a neighborhood and on the greenway. The annual Beach Run Series has a 10K as well and running in the sand at low tide is great and I’ve ran low 38 minutes for those. The Beaufort Road Race 10K is just too hot and humid to run a PR but still a great race. The Core Sound Run 10K has the potential to be the best 10K in the county and one of the best in the state. This race has a great loop course, the prizes are great, and the time of year is more conducive to faster times.
10K races are getting harder to find across the state and country. As far as Carteret County goes, The Crystal Coast Half Marathon has a 10K part of it and that is a great course which includes going over the AB Bridge. The Run Like A Kid 10K also starts on the Morehead Waterfront and goes over the AB Bridge and back. The Lookout Rotary Spring Road Race used to have a great 10K before they changed their course to an out and back in a neighborhood and on the greenway. The annual Beach Run Series has a 10K as well and running in the sand at low tide is great and I’ve ran low 38 minutes for those. The Beaufort Road Race 10K is just too hot and humid to run a PR but still a great race. The Core Sound Run 10K has the potential to be the best 10K in the county and one of the best in the state. This race has a great loop course, the prizes are great, and the time of year is more conducive to faster times.
Finishing in 36:49 Steven was looking strong and staying a consistent distance ahead. I didn’t feel like I had the extra gear to make a move yet so was going to wait. I felt good and needed to dig deeper if I wanted to win. I ran mile six in 5:51. I picked it up for the final 0.2 miles and ran that at 5:30 pace but it wasn’t enough to win. I waited too long to pick it up. Steven won in 36:42 and I finished 2nd overall in 36:49. The two high school kids that went out too fast the first quarter mile ended up finishing seven minutes behind us. I was happy with my time. It was my fastest road 10K since March 2012 during Boston marathon training.
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