This was my 19th consecutive year of running the Historic Beaufort Road Race. It was my first road race back in 1997. I've the 5k the most at eleven times from 1997-2007, the 10K eight times from 2007-2010 and 2013-2016, and the mile in 2011 and 2012. I've been second place overall in all three distances but I did win the 10K in 2014. My best 10K time there is 37:21 in 2007 on a rare cooler July day in Beaufort that was cloudy and even some light rain where my friend Anne Wheatly and I tied at the line for 2nd place overall. Beaufort is tough because of the heat and humidity in July. It's much warmer on the coast and more humid in the mornings than it is inland. It's been tough to train for it living inland. The course are flat and the 10K is a good course, just not in July but I 've been doing the 10K because I think I'm better at that distance than the 5K and I do tolerate heat and humidity better than most as evident as my 3:04 marathon in the 90 degree heat at the Boston Marathon in 2012.
My training has been improving since the spring. I still have some upper right hamstring and pirformis tightness but it's a lot better than it was last year this time. It mostly bothers me now on longer tempos and pushing the pace to sub 6:00 min/mile for an extended time. I've been working on building my mileage back up into the mid 50s per week. My goal for Beaufort is the same every year. I want to win! I always want to win my hometown races. I probably put too much pressure on myself than I should and I get more nervous for races back home than I do much bigger races elsewhere.
I arrived at the race at my usual one hour before the start. After parking I went and met up with Steve, Eric, and Lauren and her Dad before doing my dynamic warm-up and an easy 1.3 miles before the start. It was already hot and humid with the heat index at 92 but we had some clouds and a breeze coming off the water. I took two frozen water bottles with me on my warm-up to try and keep the body temp lower. I think it helped some but they were both half melted after 10 minutes. I went and told my friend Paul Kelly Good Luck as he lined up for the wheelchair start. After that I saw Mr. and Mrs. Teachey. I've known them since high school and they coached at Swansboro.
After the start I lined up for the start and we were off. Several guys went out fast and I figured they were under estimating the heat and humidity. I settled in running with Hunter Newman, last year's 10K winner. My plan was to go out between 6:10-6:15 pace, slower than last year because I wanted to pace this year better. I felt good but could tell the effort was high for that pace so early in the race. The guy calling out the first mile splits was standing about .05-0.10 before the mile marker so the first mile was off. He had me and Hunter at 5:48 the first mile but my watch had us pacing at 6:08 pace.
I felt good but Hunter started to pull away from me some after the first mile. I thought there was 2 guys ahead of me counting him once the 5K runners made the turn-around and headed back to the finish. I kept my pace between 6:10 and 6:15 as we neared the two mile marker which was a little farther away than it should have been. I've been running the 10K for eight times now so I know where the mile markers should be. I don't understand why their locations vary some every year. I ran mile two in 6:15 and passed Hunter as we turned left onto Lennoxville Road. I could see another guy far ahead of me in the distance and knew I was either going to have to start dropping sub 5:50s to catch him or he was going to blowup from going out too fast.
I tried staying consistent on my pace but was slowing down some in the heat and humidity. Once we turned off of Lennosville we entered the Historic District. The breeze that was coming off the water was now being blocked by the houses being so close together but we had some shade thanks to the trees. I ran miles three and four in 6:20 and 6:31. I wasn't gaining any on 2nd place. It was just tough. The effort was there and I was trying to run faster but kept losing time.
I felt good but Hunter started to pull away from me some after the first mile. I thought there was 2 guys ahead of me counting him once the 5K runners made the turn-around and headed back to the finish. I kept my pace between 6:10 and 6:15 as we neared the two mile marker which was a little farther away than it should have been. I've been running the 10K for eight times now so I know where the mile markers should be. I don't understand why their locations vary some every year. I ran mile two in 6:15 and passed Hunter as we turned left onto Lennoxville Road. I could see another guy far ahead of me in the distance and knew I was either going to have to start dropping sub 5:50s to catch him or he was going to blowup from going out too fast.
I tried staying consistent on my pace but was slowing down some in the heat and humidity. Once we turned off of Lennosville we entered the Historic District. The breeze that was coming off the water was now being blocked by the houses being so close together but we had some shade thanks to the trees. I ran miles three and four in 6:20 and 6:31. I wasn't gaining any on 2nd place. It was just tough. The effort was there and I was trying to run faster but kept losing time.
Finishing 3rd Overall in the 10K in 40:22 I ran mile five in 6:45 but was almost out of the historic district. At 5.46 miles you make a right turn back onto Front Street after running down Hill Street. I was thankful to be back on Front Street because there was the breeze and it helped some. I was hoping to be able to pick up the pace for a final drive to the finish but I didn't have anything left. What I also didn't know was I wasn't in 2nd place like I thought. There were two guys ahead of me, not one. The guy that went out really fast faded some and got passed by another runner. So I finished 3rd Overall in 40:22. The winner was 23 year old Kevin Bennert in 35:37; a really impressive time in the heat and humidity.
It wasn't the race I wanted. I was hoping to beat my 38:52 from last year but that didn't happen. Just a tough day with the heat and humidity. That's Beaufort in July though. I still enjoy doing it and getting back home as much as I can and supporting the races. My favorite thing about the Beaufort Road Race is seeing the same crowd and friends every year. Carteret County has a great running community; one that I've said is the best I've been apart of.
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