The Tobacco Trail 4 Miler on October 27th was chance to let loose and race as a final tuneup before the Richmond Marathon in two weeks. No more holding back and doing a race as part of a workout. The 4 miler is a new event added to the 10 miler that has been going on since 2007. I raced the 10 miler in 2014; running 59:25. It's a simple out and back on the American Tobacco Trail from the White Oak Church parking lot. The race course heads south towards Apex and back. The Tobacco Trail is a packed in rail to trail dirt path that is great for training in the Triangle. It's not flat like many will tell you. The hills aren't steep by any means but they are long, very subtle and gradual hills that go on for miles at a time.
John Barry and I got entries thanks to 1 Red Shoe Realty. Kristin and I bought our house with 1 Red Shoe and we highly recommend them. Their knowledge and years of experience is just what we needed as first time home buyers. John and I have been training together a lot more thanks to my new work schedule. It’s been nice having his company at 5:30am during the week especially chasing him on intervals and tempos. I’ve told him and a few other masters running friends that I wanna be fast like them when I grow up. John and I did an easy 3.25 miles before making our way over to the start line for the 9:10am start.
At the start we saw friends Catherine, Erin, and Bill who were also doing the 4 miler. The race started and John was out fast with me in second giving chase. I knew I wasn't as fast as him but I wanted to keep him as close as I could for as long as I could. The first 2 miles are the fastest because they're all downhill or flat. The drop is around 101 feet according to Strava. I opened with a 5:35 first mile. John was about 15 seconds ahead of me as we continued to mile two and the turnaround. I ran mile two in a more reasonable 5:49.
John Barry and I got entries thanks to 1 Red Shoe Realty. Kristin and I bought our house with 1 Red Shoe and we highly recommend them. Their knowledge and years of experience is just what we needed as first time home buyers. John and I have been training together a lot more thanks to my new work schedule. It’s been nice having his company at 5:30am during the week especially chasing him on intervals and tempos. I’ve told him and a few other masters running friends that I wanna be fast like them when I grow up. John and I did an easy 3.25 miles before making our way over to the start line for the 9:10am start.
At the start we saw friends Catherine, Erin, and Bill who were also doing the 4 miler. The race started and John was out fast with me in second giving chase. I knew I wasn't as fast as him but I wanted to keep him as close as I could for as long as I could. The first 2 miles are the fastest because they're all downhill or flat. The drop is around 101 feet according to Strava. I opened with a 5:35 first mile. John was about 15 seconds ahead of me as we continued to mile two and the turnaround. I ran mile two in a more reasonable 5:49.
Photo by Mike Welker After the turnaround the real work began as the final two miles would be the uphill grind back. The hills aren't bad on an easy or long run but at race pace, intervals, or tempos you know you're working by having to dig. I ran mile three in 5:57. I saw our friend Mike Welker on the course which was great because he got pictures of us. Unfortunately mile four was slowest, a 6:08. John won in 21:53 and I was second in 23:30. We were followed by Catherine, Erin, and Bill in 26:00.
I was happy with my performance. I went out too fast chasing John but it was fun and hard not to go out fast when you open with 2 miles of downhill. I slowed more than I wanted the second half but it was still a good race. I hope they continue the 4 miler event as I think it will be a great option to those racing a November half or full marathon as the 10 miler can be a little too far to race with your goal race a couple weeks away. The North Carolina Road Runners once again did a great job with one of their races.
Race Gear
Socks: Smartwool PhD Run Ultra Light low cut
Shoes: New Balance 1400v4
Shorts: 2XU MCS Run Compression Shorts
Singlet: Zap Fitness singlet
Road ID Wrist ID Slim
Watch: Garmin 920XT
Hat: Zap Fitness tech hat
I was happy with my performance. I went out too fast chasing John but it was fun and hard not to go out fast when you open with 2 miles of downhill. I slowed more than I wanted the second half but it was still a good race. I hope they continue the 4 miler event as I think it will be a great option to those racing a November half or full marathon as the 10 miler can be a little too far to race with your goal race a couple weeks away. The North Carolina Road Runners once again did a great job with one of their races.
Race Gear
Socks: Smartwool PhD Run Ultra Light low cut
Shoes: New Balance 1400v4
Shorts: 2XU MCS Run Compression Shorts
Singlet: Zap Fitness singlet
Road ID Wrist ID Slim
Watch: Garmin 920XT
Hat: Zap Fitness tech hat
Anne (ran the 10 miles as a workout), John, and I
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