This race was first held on March 1, 2020, a couple of weeks before the COVID panic. It was one of the last races I timed, and we were training Arsenal Events on the use of the timing equipment we sold them.
For two years, the race was held at the Spotsylvania Convenience Center on Harrison Road. In 2022, they moved the race venue to the First Day of Chancellorsville Battlefield. Last year, they added a 10 km race option, which I ran.
Over those 5 years, the organizers had asked to join the Coldwell Banker Elite Grand Prix series. With a few races dropping from the series, there was an opportunity to add them to the 2026 series. Adding has helped them, as participation in the two races increased from 31 to 127 finishers. Not wanting to have another early year longer race, only the 5km was part of the series.
This past August, I measured the 5km course for USATF certification. The course is an out-and-back on a rough gravel and loose crushed-stone vehicle-wide path.
I’m still in recovery mode and will be until 2027. I wanted to keep my heart rate at or below 60% of my max (115 bpm). I set the alarm on my watch for that limit. I’m not supposed to run for another day, but I could as long as I kept my heart rate under 115.
The 10km started at 8 am, the 5km at 8:10 am, and the mile at 9:15 am. Participating in the shorter distance race, I knew I would not be trying the volunteers’ patience by starting with the general field, even with my anticipated 54-minute finish time.
The 10 km used the 5 km course twice, with an elongation at the turnaround so runners do not need to come all the way back to the start line to start their second loop. My secondary goal was to reach the turnaround before the 10 km runners reached it the second time.
By 7:15 am, I started my journey to Spotsylvania. I did not want to stand around much before the race started. There was not enough parking at the start venue, so we had to park about half a mile away at the Tree of Life Preparatory School, which was on the south side of the divided highway. They had two vans shuttling runners to the start. Arriving around 7:40 am, I decided to walk across Route 3 into the Battlefield park and the half-mile to the start. I used this as my warmup and arrived in time for the FARC group picture.
The Battle of Chancellorsville occurred between April 30 and May 6, 1863. The race’s start and finish were on the fields of the May 1, 1863 conflict.
I wore shorts over compression shorts, my red FARC singlet over a long-sleeved shirt, a ball cap, a gaiter, gloves, and my Saucony Triumph 23 shoes. To stay warm while walking, I wore a long-sleeved overshirt, which I removed before the halfway point.
The temperature was 49 degrees, with a 46-degree dew point, sunny skies, and light winds.
The gun went off, and I started my watches as I walked across the start line. I watched as the front-runners took off. The last I saw of them was after they passed the ruins and entered the woods near the 11th Infantry Memorial.
The first mile is on loose crushed stone, giving some with each step. There were some downs in the woods followed by a short up after returning to the fields. My first mile was 16:29. After passing the first mile mark, there is a steep descent into a creek crossing, followed by a long uphill. Through this point, my heart rate stayed below 105.
Almost at the top of the hill, my watch alarm vibrated. Looking down, I was at 117. I slowed to a crawl until my heart rate dropped below the limit. I was able to return to a normal pace as the course flattened. At the turnaround, my total time for the first half was 26:38.
Turning around, I was relieved not to be DFL. I walked down the long hill to the creek bed. The second-mile mark was at the bottom of the steep uphill. My second mile was a 17:29.
After cresting the hill, I noticed a male walker in front of me. I made no effort to move faster, but I was gaining ground. I passed him near the ruins about 1/2 mile from the finish. Moving toward the finish, there is another male walker in sight, whom I passed before reaching mile three. My third mile was a 16:33.
After the last crossroad and within sight of the finish, I didn’t want to give up the four grand prix points I had just passed. So, I started running until my heart monitor alarm went off. I looked down to see 117 and started walking. About 20 meters from the finish, I noticed my heart rate back below 115 and ran to the finish.
The last tenth of a mile took 82 seconds. My second half of the race was 25:25 for a finish time of 51:55, good for 83rd overall, 42nd male, and 14th of 16 males 60 and over. My average heart rate was 107, and my maximum was 119.
I walked a little and put on a dry shirt. I hung around for the awards ceremony, where I received the first piece of the 2026 Coldwell Banker Elite Grand Prix medal for finishing three races. My finish streak is now at 73. The Stafford Hospital 5km is on April 11. Tomorrow, my heart rate limit raises to 70% (124 bpm), and I’m allowed to run some short segments up to 30 seconds.
I’m not pushing to run fast again. I walked the half-mile back to my car crossing Route 3.