All about Mystic! Week of 5-25 to 5-31

This week starts with a race in Mystic and ends with another race in Mystic.  First, the Mystic "Bearathon" 5k on Memorial Day, which I've done a couple of times.  Second, the inaugural Mystic Half Marathon kicks off on Sunday, and I'm excited about this race, as I haven't done a road half in a while.  The weather looks to be really warm this week, with temps hitting the upper 80s to lower 90s all week.  I'll be working Tuesday through Friday, so I'll have to pack some running gear and hit some trails near the job site!

Monday, 5-25 - 5-ish Miles.  Mystic Bearathon 5k.  20:34, 13th overall, 3rd in age group.  Awesome!  I'm really happy with my running lately.  I told Jeff on Saturday that I felt like my running was a lot stronger and more consistent lately, and I feel that it's totally the case.  Sub-20 for a 5k is damn close to becoming a reality.  I showed up to a muggy, warmer than expected morning at the Mystic Y, and who taps me on the shoulder?  Mikey B!  Finally jumping back into racing.  Ran into Roy from the club, as well as Way and a few other friends and familiar faces, then did a short warmup and got ready to race.  Lined up in front near local fast dude Jeff Wadecki (last year's winner), and off we went!  I felt good for the first 2 miles, in spite of the humidity, and maintained a pretty steady pace.  Kept Mike in my sights until the last 1/2 mile (he finished 4th, 1st AG). I almost got hit by some asshole backing a boat trailer out of the small marina by the bridge as well.  The last half mile has a slight rise before the downhill to the finish, and it was there that I checked my watch, and saw that I was close to 20, but wouldn't get sub-20.  Crossed the line at 20:34, did a short cooldown run with Mike, and found out I placed 3rd in my age group.  Got a medal, and a picture with the Stonington High School Bear!  Fun day!

Tuesday, 5-26 - 2 Miles.  Seven Falls State Park, Middletown.  After leaving the jobsite in Canton, I wanted to just make it through Middletown before the traffic got really bad.  Too late, some gal rear-ended a big truck at the worst possible place for it, near the stoplights.  Spent an extra 30-40 minutes in standstill traffic, during which I looked up parks on the other side of town.  Hey!  Seven Falls State Park, right off the highway, with trails!  I was running late, but I stopped and did a two-mile run to clear my head.  Turns out the Mattabesett Trail runs right through there, so now I have a go-to spot until the Canton job is done!  Huzzah!

Wednesday, 5-27 - 0

Thursday, 5-28 - 0

Friday, 5-29 - 2.2 Miles.  Seven Falls.  I mapped out a short mid-commute loop this time, the welcome reprieve amid the 2-hour drive.  Nice trails!

Saturday, 5-30 - 3 Miles.  DPNC trails, Mystic.  Went to pick up my bib/packet for Sunday's race, and although it was very warm and humid, I needed to get a short trail run in.  3 sweaty miles on trails next door to the hotel where the half marathon fever was peaking.  Nice and quiet in the woods though :)

Sunday, 5-31 - 1st Annual Mystic Half Marathon and 5k, hosted by the Hartford Marathon Foundation.  Official result?  1:47, #121 of 1044 finishers.  I run in Mystic a lot, and signed up for this race as soon as it was a definite go.  The weather forecast looked like low-60s and overcast, with a chance of showers (not even close!).  I got up early, used local knowledge to get awesome parking, and cruised around for a bit, chatting with a number of friends, fellow WTAC'ers, one Boston Marathon winner (Amby, '68) and a number of spectators and others.

It got very humid, very fast.  I did a mile warmup, and went back to my truck the change my singlet.  Lined up with the other 1600 or so runners (1/2 and 10k mass start), and we were off and running.  I felt really good the first few miles, even darting out ahead of Jeff and his 1:45 pace group.  About 4 miles in, out on river road, I was already drenched with sweat and tried to wipe the sweat out of my eye, and flipped my contact.  Shit.  I slowed and tried to fix it, thought I'd lost it, and was trying to deal with a half blurry/half clear scenario playing out for the next 9 miles, when it righted itself and my vision cleared.  Crisis averted, but I started feeling sluggish, heavy and slow.  I'd started in the mid-7 pace, and was now in the low-8's on the flat, easy part of the course.  Hills yet to come.  At mile 6, the 10k people split off for their cruise to the finish (take me with you!!!), and the rest of us turned into the first of several lovely hills.  Scenic race, but on a humid, warm day those hills felt bigger than they were...and there you go.  I was coming into the finish and caught up to my friend Antone, and we finished 121 and 122, so that was cool!

I got through the race, that's my summary.  I've had trail HMs where I was an hour more on the course and put in a better effort.  Course PR?  Yes.  Did I run a good race?  Open to debate, I say no way.  Did I have fun?  Always, even when it sucks and I feel like crap, which I did.  What got me through the race had more to do with my fellow runners, friends out on the course cheering and volunteering, and everyone involved with putting on a world-class event like this.  HMF puts on an awesome event, period.  I collected my medal, chatted for a bit and got the Hell outta Dodge.  End of story!