Today was the 41st annual Heritage Festival 5 Mile in downtown Fredericksburg. Since 1990, I have been involved with the race as either a participant or timer.
In 1976, Dale Saylor and Kevin Breen helped the city hold a centennial 10 km race that included the Chatham Bridge, Falmouth Bridge, River Road, and the City’s roads.
Starting in 1980, the Battlefield Lions took over the race management and current 5-mile format. This race was in the first year of the FARC Grand Prix in 1994. Watching this race in the mid-80s got me back into running.
In 1995, the Battlefield Lions gave the race to the Fredericksburg Host Lions. That year I measured the course for USATF certification. Participants claimed the route was 5.1 miles, mainly because of their slower heat-affected times. The measurement came out to 32 feet longer than 5 miles.
Through 2007, I helped the Lions with their timing and results processing until RTU took over their timing in 2008. Today was the start of Arsenal timing this race and my slacking off and just running.
Today was my 22nd time finishing this race.
Over the years, the course has changed to accommodate the traffic increases. The race has always started and finished near the visitor center downtown.
The original course headed out Caroline Street and connected to Jeff Davis Highway, sending runners up to College Avenue. We ran College to William and did some zig-zags until we reached the finish on Charlotte.
In the 1996 race on the old Jeff Davis Highway course, I ran my 33:38 5 Mile PR. That was a memorable day for the weather, with temps in the low 60s and a 46-degree dew point.
Today was the best weather day for this race since 1996. It was clear 64 degrees with a 57-degree dew point.
The most popular days for races in the US are Thanksgiving and then July 4. In 2019, the Lions decided they did not want to continue managing this race and gave up their gold mine. The Fredericksburg Fallen Heroes stepped up and became the new race managers for 2020 and beyond.
Previously, the Fredericksburg Fallen Heroes managed a sparsely attended 5 km race in early September. Its mission is to support veterans and first responders, and their families. They are involved in the “Wreath’s Across America” program. Proceeds from today’s race went toward their mission.
At packet pickup, I forgot to ask the race organizers about water locations on the course. Being their first race, I was not sure if they would do the same as past organizers.
I got to the race at 6:30 am and ran a 40-minute warmup. I did my typical one-minute walk every eight minutes routine.
My warmup route went past where I expected a water location and the dog park. Nobody was setting up a water table, and the porta pot was gone from the dog park.
Knowing where all the porta pots are can give me a home-field advantage. However, in the past couple of years, Parks and Rec have build bathrooms and eliminated the porta pots. The bathrooms have time locks on the doors. Today, those time locks did not open until 8 am. A little late for the 7:30 am start. Oh well, I got back to the visitor’s center, and there was not much of a line.
Being concerned about no water on the course, I drank about 10 ounces of water before heading to the start.
Five minutes before the start, FFH President Leisa Billington spoke on their mission and then played the National Anthem on her cell phone through a small but powerful speaker. The race started on time.
I lined up about 50 feet behind the start line with more than 100 runners in front of me.
During the first mile, I had many conversations as people who should have started in front of me passed. I questioned if they started late and asked about their desired finish times to find somebody to pace off. I went through the first mile in 8:48. Not bad after yesterday’s 5 km.
The second mile picks up the Heritage Trail at Old Mill Park. I greeted the regular trail users with a friendly “Good Morning” as I passed, and most were pleasant. My second mile was 8:44. There was no water at the regular location. I started to worry, but the cool temps helped.
The third mile crosses some trail bridges. And, they are as slippery in the summer as they are in the winter. I made sure to run on the nails to get a little grip. I was a little sloppy in the third mile slowing to 8:57.
After the third mile marker, I started running minor surges to close the gap formed in front of me. Gaps form more from me slowing than the whole field in front speeding up. It took a little while until I closed the gap.
There was water a mile 3.6, which was a new location. The surges got me back down to an 8:49 fourth mile. I looked at my watch and saw a 9:30 mile would get me a sub-45-minute finish, which was my goal.
It was only going to hurt for nine more minutes. If it hurts to run slow, I might as well run fast. I pushed when I could and rested when needed.
Then, I turned onto the Prince Edward Street hill. This hill is the one notable rise on the course, less than 1/4 mile from the finish. I pushed what I could up the hill and then needed to rest on Charlotte Street before starting a final kick.
Approaching the finish, I saw the display clock in the 43:50 range and tried to get under 44 minutes. My watch read 44:01, with a personal time was 43:51 for an 8:32 last mile.
The Fallen Heroes did an excellent job for their first race on this course. All of the course marshals were bikers. Why do they call people who ride bicycles, cyclists, and people who ride motorcycles, bikers? There were course marshals on every crossroad and turn. On a typical hot day, they will need to have 1 or 2 more water locations.
I ran a 15-minute cooldown and hung out at the award ceremony.
This time was my fastest since 2011—a new CPR. I finished 111 of 263 runners, 69 to 130 males and 13 of 36 men 60 and over.
Yes, men 60 and over comprised 14% of the total field and 27% of all men. I guess 65 is the new 45.
I’m happy with my race performance and being able to run on the city streets again.