Another Saturday Morning Run..

I was one of the over 2300 in Saturday’s Bridge The Gap Run in Quincy.  This was the fifth time I’ve participated and it was my third half marathon. 13.1 miles in three hours flat. Not bad for someone of my age and weight.

Weather was good. I wouldn’t have wanted it any warmer—especially with that sort of distance to cover. The first time I ran, we had temperatures in the 30s, lots of wind and horizontal snow flurries on the bridges.

I lined up back with the 10 and 11 minute milers, right where I belonged. I also used the first couple miles to warm up, get settled into a good gait and enjoy the view from the bridges. No sense in pushing early. Those bridges also seem to be all uphill..

Best parts of the race were for me were reaching the highest point on Bayview Bridge. That meant a nice downhill grade for a while. Next good point was the top of the hill in the park. That’s also around the three mile mark for the half marathoners and 10K participants. From there it was downhill or a very gentle grade through the river bottom. Getting to the finish line was a good thing too. For the first time, I got there with something left in the tank. I also managed to get into my car without cramping up and yelling bad words at the steering wheel and windshield. Another half marathon first for me...

Worst part of the race was a 20 yard stretch that was downwind from a very big and very dead possum on the shoulder up on North Bottom Road.  The north wind was also getting a bit annoying in the last mile before the turnaround up on North Bottom Road. I also run that road enough to know that north wind can be much worse.  Think December…

I’ll be ready to go again in the spring. I’ll also be somewhere in the pack for the Hannibal Cannibal.