Today was the 23rd time I had finished this Fourth of July race in Fredericksburg, Virginia. From 1990 to 2019, the local Lions club managed this race. In 2021, the Fredericksburg Fallen Heroes took over the event.
We had a nice break in the heat and humidity with a 63-degree dew point, 69-degree temperature, and sunny skies for the 7:30 am start.
I arrived just before 6:30 am and parked on Princess Anne Street within 50 meters of the finish line. I roamed around looking for isolated porta pots I might need before the start.
My goal was to finish in under 50 minutes. My 2021 effort in this race was the last best race I ran. On July 5, 2021, I strained a groin muscle since it’s been downhill. Though six minutes slower than 2021, 50 minutes is a realistic goal time.
At 6:45 am, I started my warmup of four repeats of 2-minute walks and 6-minute runs. I returned in time to put on my singlet and head for the start line. I melted into the middle of the start pack.
Around 2001, I bought a pair of American Flag running shorts. I’ve only worn them for July 4th races. Even sitting in a drawer, the waistband elastic will degrade. As a precaution, I wore a pair of compression shorts underneath.
I need to verify the miles on my Saucony Triumph 19 shoes. The first 300 miles sucked.
They have been more flexible and bouncy in the last 200 miles. I used them today.
After the gun went off, it took around 15 seconds to cross the start line. I was feeling pretty good in the first mile. Of course, who doesn’t? This mile in town on Caroline Street is shaded with a slight downhill. I went through in 9:39.
After passing Old Mill Park and the line of cars trying to enter the park, the route turns onto the paved Heritage Trail. There are a few ups and a few sunny spots. I finish my second mile in 9:37.
I’m not sure how long I can hold this pace. My breathing and legs feel fine. My third mile is a 9:50.
There is a water table at about 3.6 miles. I speed up to get ahead of a runner who could be a potential roadblock. Doing so may have pushed me past my threshold, and my breathing became more labored. My fourth mile is 9:44.
And then, there is the fifth mile. Some cruel person must have designed this route. The last 1/2 mile of the race course lacks shade, and the warmth can be felt. The course turns onto the only significant hill a quarter-mile from the finish. Fortunately, the home stretch is downhill to the finish.
In past years, I’ve been able to push up the hill, rest a couple of seconds and run hard to the finish. Today, the hill put me past my threshold. Though I increased my turnover, I did not feel like I was going anywhere. Once reaching the top, I had no recovery and no kick. My final mile is 10:08.
I finished in 49 minutes flat, good for 134th overall, 84th male, and 13th in the male 60 to 69-year-old age group. I was in the top half of the field and the age group.
After cooling down and hanging around at the awards ceremony, I headed home. For lunch, I walked over to Wawa only to e disappointed that they had no hot dogs. July 4, no hot dogs. Is this a supply chain issue?
The Fredericksburg Fallen Heroes organization did a tremendous job managing this race.
There were water stops at miles 1.8 and 3.6. They covered every intersection with one or more course marshalls. A big thumbs up!