The Twin Bridges 8K Road Race has always been special to me. It is a point to point course from the Beaufort draw bridge down the causeway, up and over the Morehead City high rise bridge, through downtown Morehead City, up and over the Atlantic Beach high rise bridge, and finishes at the Scotchman store just before the Circle at Atlantic Beach. My first Twin Bridges Race in 2000 was just two days after a high school cross country race; I finished 4th in 29:35. I love the course because I like running the bridges. I also love the point to point as it goes by faster running it than driving it. The race also meant a lot to Sonny and Taylor Hyman as they were the ones who started it. As Katherine Price said it's also the kickoff to Fall and cooler weather. It's the last big road race in the area for the year as well. I've won the race once; in 2013. I've only missed the race twice since 2000. I try really hard to make it back home for the race and the Seafood Festival it is apart of every year. I have strong ties to my hometown and love the running community in Carteret County.
This year was the 30th running of the event. Severe thunderstorms threatened the race but they stopped just hours before leaving wet roads and a headwind in our face the whole way. It used to be rare for this race to have a headwind however the last couple years it has happened more often. I missed the race last year when it was a tailwind and when I last ran it in 2014 it was a headwind. I arrived at the starting line shortly after 7am and waited for most runners to arrive via the bus service from the finish line. I've been parking at the start and getting my car afterwards on the way back home for years because it's a lot less hassle.
I did a scoop of Generation UCAN about 35 minutes before the start and then started my dynamic warm-up. I then met Katherine and Heidi and we headed off for an easy warm-up run to the Beaufort waterfront and back. We had overcast skies and cooler temperature to go along with the headwind. At least it wasn't sunny, hot, and humid. I wore my Adidas neon green shorts for Sonny Hyman because it was his favorite color and mine too. I also wore my Adidas Adizero Boston 5 boost shoes.
I was drafted the entire way during the 2014 race until the final half mile when 3 runners passed me and I finished 4th. I swear if I had stopped and walked earlier in that race they would have done the same just to say behind me in the headwind. After finishing my warm-up I decided I wasn't going to let that happen in the headwind this year. I was going to be more aggressive and break the pack up.
This year was the 30th running of the event. Severe thunderstorms threatened the race but they stopped just hours before leaving wet roads and a headwind in our face the whole way. It used to be rare for this race to have a headwind however the last couple years it has happened more often. I missed the race last year when it was a tailwind and when I last ran it in 2014 it was a headwind. I arrived at the starting line shortly after 7am and waited for most runners to arrive via the bus service from the finish line. I've been parking at the start and getting my car afterwards on the way back home for years because it's a lot less hassle.
I did a scoop of Generation UCAN about 35 minutes before the start and then started my dynamic warm-up. I then met Katherine and Heidi and we headed off for an easy warm-up run to the Beaufort waterfront and back. We had overcast skies and cooler temperature to go along with the headwind. At least it wasn't sunny, hot, and humid. I wore my Adidas neon green shorts for Sonny Hyman because it was his favorite color and mine too. I also wore my Adidas Adizero Boston 5 boost shoes.
I was drafted the entire way during the 2014 race until the final half mile when 3 runners passed me and I finished 4th. I swear if I had stopped and walked earlier in that race they would have done the same just to say behind me in the headwind. After finishing my warm-up I decided I wasn't going to let that happen in the headwind this year. I was going to be more aggressive and break the pack up.
Running Up the Morehead City High Rise. Photo by Sally Kelly The race started and a couple kids bolted out fast but that didn't last long. Katherine and I soon took the lead with our friend Brendon Hodge with us. We ran side by side as we started up the first bridge, the Morehead City high rise at 0.75 miles. We ran the first mile in 6:01 and kept climbing to the top into the headwind. Our pace slowed going uphill into the headwind but I knew we could pick it back up going down the other side. We saw Sally Kelly on the side at the top taking pictures. I love that she gets them on the first bridge every year.
After coming off the second bridge I did a surge to pick the pace up and to start to break up any group of runners that was with me and Katherine. I didn't look back to see who was still with us after my surge but it didn't feel like there was many. We ran mile two in 6:07. I did another surge after the second mile to keep anyone from hanging with us. Around 2.5 miles we saw our friend David Garrison and he was cheering us on and said we were alone out in front. I smiled and told him he should be out here with us running. He's a good runner and I had many close races against him and Sonny over the years.
The wind was tough but I knew it was going to get tougher when we started up and over the final bridge. Katherine and I were still clicking off the miles together. It felt like a training run with her beside me. We talked back and forth and enjoyed the race and running together. After a third mile in 6:09 I told Katherine if we were still clear of the field at the final bridge it would be really cool to finish side by side as a tribute to Sonny and Taylor. We talked about that and got a little emotional thinking about them and what their reaction would be seeing us finish together. We just had to make sure no one ran us down from behind so we could have that moment.
After coming off the second bridge I did a surge to pick the pace up and to start to break up any group of runners that was with me and Katherine. I didn't look back to see who was still with us after my surge but it didn't feel like there was many. We ran mile two in 6:07. I did another surge after the second mile to keep anyone from hanging with us. Around 2.5 miles we saw our friend David Garrison and he was cheering us on and said we were alone out in front. I smiled and told him he should be out here with us running. He's a good runner and I had many close races against him and Sonny over the years.
The wind was tough but I knew it was going to get tougher when we started up and over the final bridge. Katherine and I were still clicking off the miles together. It felt like a training run with her beside me. We talked back and forth and enjoyed the race and running together. After a third mile in 6:09 I told Katherine if we were still clear of the field at the final bridge it would be really cool to finish side by side as a tribute to Sonny and Taylor. We talked about that and got a little emotional thinking about them and what their reaction would be seeing us finish together. We just had to make sure no one ran us down from behind so we could have that moment.
Carteret County News Times photo by Zach Nally We started up the final bridge, the Atlantic Beach high rise bridge, around 3. 8 miles. The wind was the strongest in our face now. I still felt pretty good. At one point going up Katherine told me to go ahead because she thought she was slowing me down. I told her I wouldn't leave her. I wasn't going to leave her unless we started getting caught from behind because I wasn't going to lose the race.
We ran mile four in 6:16 which wasn't bad going uphill into the headwind. We saw my Dad at the four mile marker and he took pictures and cheered us on. I think he told us we were all clear and he couldn't see anyone behind us. We were able to pick it up going down the bridge. A downhill even in a headwind is a good thing. Coming off the bridge we still had about half a mile of flat running to go to get to the finish line. I did a quick look over my shoulder and didn't see anyone. As we neared the finish I had the idea to grab Katherine's left hand and we raised our arms together as we crossed the finish line side by side in a tie for 1st place Overall in 30:46. Run The East got a great video of us finishing that you can watch on YouTube. Second place was two minutes behind us. Our friend Brendon placed 5th in 33:04 and Heidi was 6th Overall and second woman in 33:26.
Despite the wind my friend Eric beat his time from last year by 3:39 running 43:34 this year. He credits his girlfriend Kathryn for getting him to run more and having faster progression runs. This was Kathryn's first Twin Bridges Road Race and she placed 3rd in her age group.
We ran mile four in 6:16 which wasn't bad going uphill into the headwind. We saw my Dad at the four mile marker and he took pictures and cheered us on. I think he told us we were all clear and he couldn't see anyone behind us. We were able to pick it up going down the bridge. A downhill even in a headwind is a good thing. Coming off the bridge we still had about half a mile of flat running to go to get to the finish line. I did a quick look over my shoulder and didn't see anyone. As we neared the finish I had the idea to grab Katherine's left hand and we raised our arms together as we crossed the finish line side by side in a tie for 1st place Overall in 30:46. Run The East got a great video of us finishing that you can watch on YouTube. Second place was two minutes behind us. Our friend Brendon placed 5th in 33:04 and Heidi was 6th Overall and second woman in 33:26.
Despite the wind my friend Eric beat his time from last year by 3:39 running 43:34 this year. He credits his girlfriend Kathryn for getting him to run more and having faster progression runs. This was Kathryn's first Twin Bridges Road Race and she placed 3rd in her age group.
Me, Katherine, Paul, and Heidi. Photo by Sally Kelly We may not get many chances to finish like that so I'm thankful Katherine and I got the opportunity to finish side by side for Sonny and Taylor. I knew Sonny and Taylor were smiling down from Heaven with pride and happiness seeing two of their runners and friends finish side by side for the win. They meant so much to us and the whole running community that I am honored I was as close to them as I was. As a result it is one of the most special and meaningful races I have ran. The Carteret County News Times did a great job covering the event, as always. They did interviews with us after the race and wrote a wonderful article. I am thankful for their support and covering of my running since high school. You just don't get the newspaper to cover road races in larger areas and it's another thing that makes Carteret County special.
This was the 30th Annual Twin Bridges 8K Road Race. My bib number had a 3 in it. Sonny loved the number 3. The number 3 has been my favorite since elementary school. Call it foreshadowing or fate. The results were meant to be. I believe Sonny and Taylor had a direct impact on the race and were with me and Katherine.
This was the 30th Annual Twin Bridges 8K Road Race. My bib number had a 3 in it. Sonny loved the number 3. The number 3 has been my favorite since elementary school. Call it foreshadowing or fate. The results were meant to be. I believe Sonny and Taylor had a direct impact on the race and were with me and Katherine.
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