Autumn Marathon

Binghamton Race Report

Ran a half-marathon PR last Sunday in the Binghamton “Bridge Run” Half Marathon - 1:48:09.  It’s actually my “middle-aged PR” (I ran much faster race as a 20 year-old) and only by a few seconds.  Nevertheless, it is an accomplishment because it was the best race I have run since becoming a CrossFitter one year ago.  My running training has consisted almost entirely of sprints, intervals and medium-length tempo runs (or races).  In addition, I have been doing CrossFit gym workouts 3-5 times per week.

The race took place in a warm (60-degree), steady rain through the streets and over the bridges of downtown Binghamton.  There were about 1200 participants which made the streets seem almost empty by my usual standard of NYRR mega-fields.  Downtown Binghamton is run-down, though some of buildings have an early 20th century elegance.  The natural setting, in a valley formed by the joining of two rivers, is beautiful, particularly  clad in early spring green.  The Binghamton Chamber of Commerce did a fantastic job - there were plenty of volunteers, water stops, and a surprising number of spectators for 730am on a Sunday.  

I was shooting for 8:30/mile average pace and took it out a little hard, figuring I could hang on at the end.  Somewhere around mile 3, I found my rhythm with a group of strong local women who were using the race as a workout.  They ran an 8:15 pace and I was able to keep up for a while.  The race’s highlight came for me on the biggest hill of the race in mile 9 right after I had been dropped by the fast ladies.  Cresting the hill, another young woman who had caught up to me offered me a “way to go” and a high-five.  That completely reenergized me and I ran better to keep up with her.  We fell into a conversation and ran together for the remaining 4+ miles; in the process, passing many other runners including the original group of “fast ladies.”  My finishing pace was 8:15/mile.

As one of my Brooklyn running friends said recently, “I was reminded again that one of the pleasures of running is the wonderful friends you meet along the way.”  And occasionally, those wonderful people are runners you meet in passing and share only a few minutes of hard running and a brief chat.  Thank you!

Now - on to the Brooklyn Half tomorrow which is the final event in my spring racing campaign!