Today was the second year for this 3 mile race held at the Rouse Center in Stafford, Virginia. I completed this race for the second consecutive year, three weeks after JFK and one week after the Blue Gray 1/2 Marathon.
From 2017 to 2019, the Rouse Center hosted this race as a 5km using the same roads as the Stafford Christmas Parade. In those years, I timed the race with Race Timing Unlimited.
By 2020, Arsenal Events took over race management, and Mine Road construction was completed. Arsenal wanted to avoid the big uphill of Embrey Mill Road used by the Halloween Race. They asked me to measure a 5km course that stayed on Mine Road.
After measuring, a 5 km course would block either the entrance to the Rouse Center or cross Austin Ridge Rd. Neither option was acceptable to the Stafford Sheriff Department. So, we reduced the race distance to 3 miles.
Before the race, I looked at the registered runner list for men in my age group. There were three men that I could not beat. So, I took the approach of not running a stressful race, doing my best, and relaxing.
Last year, I looked at the same list, and there was a possibility to finish third in the men 60 and over age group. I pushed too hard from the start and bonked, finishing fourth. I had run mile splits of 8:08, 8:42, and 9:41 for a 26:30 with favorable weather conditions. I didn’t want a repeat performance.
The course is a simple out and back on Mine Road, 1.5 miles out, and 1.5 miles back. There is a kid’s mile race before the 3 Mile race. So, their turnaround point is 1/2 mile from the start. With the 1 mile marked, taking 1/2 splits is possible.
The morning forecast was temperatures in the low sixties, cloudy, and headwinds of 15 to 20 mph in the last 1.5 miles.
With a race start time of 9:30 am, I started my warmup at 8:45. I ran on the bike path that paralleled the racecourse doing four repeats of 2-minute walks and 6-minute runs. I ran 2.5 miles and experienced the headwinds that would be challenging in the race’s homestretch.
By 9:20 am, the actual weather was 61 degrees with a 54-degree dew point, cloudy skies, and 15 mph winds from the south. I decided to wear shorts over compression shorts, singlet, neck gaiter, gloves, Santa hat, and my Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 shoes.
Walking to the start, I asked one of the other three in my age group if he was running or walking in the race. He is an excellent runner and would go under 21 minutes for the 3 miles. He was coming off a cold and had decided to walk. Now, there was a chance to podium the age group. I had to change my plan and run harder and smarter than in 2020.
With the predicted weather for the race, I thought of going topless or full Borat with a Santa hat and gloves. It’s not often that in Virginia to run a Frosty December race in such attire. Probably not a good idea to disgust the spectators and officials.
As I stood in the start corral, I saw many in tights and jackets and some excellent costumes. Their dress was based on the calendar rather than the weather; to each their own.
Buddy the Elf fired the starter’s pistol, and we’re off going uphill with a tailwind. I’m trying to run at a restrained relaxed pace. After 200 meters, the course heads downhill. An unknown gray-haired man is in front of me. I don’t recognize him and let him go. Keeping his pace would not be suitable for me. The first 1/2 mile is a 4:18.
Shortly after that, there is another up and then a down. My second 1/2 mile is a 4:30, a good first mile, and I’m not feeling any strain.
The third 1/2 mile flattens out a bit, and I could see the turnaround from 600 meters out. I didn’t think the turnaround would ever arrive. I did the segment in 4:26 and felt good but apprehensive about what was to come.
Turning back into the wind, I started to feel the strain. But, the wind was not punishing, and the fourth 1/2 mile went by in 4:49.
Into the fifth 1/2 Mile, on the initial uphill portion, I rode in the slipstream of a teenager for a while, caught my breath, and then moved in front to break wind. He didn’t stay on my tail. There is another downhill, and I ran 4:36 for this 1/2 mile.
In the last 1/2 mile, the first 600 meters is uphill and a direct headwind of 15 mph that felt much stronger. I caught a young lady’s slipstream for a bit of rest then passed her. There were no other runners in front of me to key off, and I felt as if I was moving backward at a snail’s pace.
Eventually, I crested the hill to see the finish 200 downhill meters ahead. The display clock was just below 27 minutes. I ran as hard as possible with the strong winds still in my contorted face. The final 1/2 mile was a 4:55.
I crossed the finish line at 27:36 for 56th overall, 33rd male, and second in the 60 and over age group. One of the three was a no-show, one walked, and the gray-haired that pulled away from me in the first mile was in his fifties.
I ran a 15 minutes cooldown. Then, hung around for the awards ceremony and a frosted, sparkled Dunkin Donut. This race was my last of the year, and I may have had too many extra calories today. The donut was just the appetizer.
This race was the fifth in the 2021 Stafford Race series. After finishing all five, we received a series medal and Headsweat hat. It’s now onto 2022.
Nice job! I bought your book and the advice helped me finish my first JFK this year.