Fall racing season is in full bloom. However, the temperatures have fallen faster than usual.
Overnight rain kept a cloud cover, and I awoke to 50 degrees, drizzle, and winds gusting to 18 miles per hour.
By 6:35 am, I started my journey to Spotsyltucky Courthouse to run the 10km Run through History.
Today was the 13th edition for this race and the 10th edition using the course through the Spotsylvania Battlefield. This race was my seventh finish and fourth on the new route.
The Spotsy YMCA managed this race. The race course went through the subdivision, south and east of the courthouse, for the first three years. By 2014, the YMCA worked with the National Park Service and Spotsy Sheriff Dept to run on Brock Road, Route 208 bypass, and the Spotsylvania Battlefields.
The Battle of Spotsylvania between May 9 and 21, 1864, was the second major battle between Grant’s and Lee’s forces. The first battle was at Wilderness, about 10 miles to the northwest, which was inconclusive. Grant’s troops outnumbered Lee’s 2 to 1, and Grant searched for more favorable ground.
The YMCA placed historical signs along the race route with information on the battle for those who wanted to learn as they ran.
This battle was inconclusive, and Lee moved south toward Richmond with battles at North Anna and Cold Harbor before the nine-month siege of Petersburg.
I headed out around 7:25 am to run for 20 minutes before coming back in time for the FARC group photo and hit the porta pot line. That line was short, and I returned to my car six minutes before the start.
I wore shorts over compression shorts, my red FARC singlet over a long-sleeved shirt, a ball cap, a neck gaiter, gloves, and my Saucony Triumph 20 shoes. I heard the “4-minute” call, drank water, and jogged to the start, arriving with a minute to spare.
By then, the temperature was still 50 degrees with a 49-degree dew point and sunny skies. Winds were eight miles per hour from the northwest, gusting to 18 miles per hour. By my expected finish time, the temperature was expected to rise a few degrees.
My goal for the day was to run under 60 minutes, roughly a 9:40 minute per mile pace. With the ten-year age groups, I did not expect to finish in the top three of the 60 to 69-year-old group. There were two water stops on the course, and I planned to walk 45 seconds at each,
The first mile is slightly uphill and flat on Brock Road, directly into the wind. We got into the battlefield park at about mile 1.5. The route through the park is downhill until the two-mile marker, then ups and downs until mile five. The course leaves the park just after mile 5 and runs straight on Route 208 bypass with a slight uphill, finishing in Spotsylvania Courthouse Village.
The first mile felt more uphill than I remembered, and there was a headwind. My breathing was labored, but I still ran a 9:11. This location was the last time I looked at my mile splits until 5 miles. Before entering the park, two dead deer were on the shoulder. The latter smelled of being there for some time.
The road winds, and I keep on the tangents after getting into the park and out of the wind. With the aid of a few downhills, my second mile was 9:24. At this point, there were no other male runners in sight. If I kept pushing, I may catch one or two and a few more grand prix points.
Coming up the hill to the water stop at the Bloody Angle, I knew I would have a little rest. My legs were sore from last week’s marathon, but I was not getting a repeat of the chest pains I experienced in that race. My neck was getting warm, so I removed my gaiter and tucked in my shorts. After taking the walk break, my third mile was 9:42.
In the fourth mile, there is a sharp 150-degree turn. I glanced back to see any male runners near me. After a flat section, there is an uphill that has a headwind. My fourth mile was a 9:09.
The fifth mile was out of the wind and was a series of ups and downs with a few turns. Just before the 5-mile mark, I see a male runner to chase. Still running well, my fifth mile was a 9:11. After passing the sign, I looked at my watch to see 46:38. If I can run a good last mile and a quarter, I can meet my time goal.
The second water stop was after the 5-mile mark. I passed the male runner before the water stop. During my 45-second walk break, he passed by me. Two grand prix points are important, and I passed him again before turning onto the Route 208 bypass.
I can feel the wind to my right on the bypass, but not a direct headwind. I ran as hard as I could and, on the final uphill, passed the 6-mile marker with a mile time of 9:45. I had a 3 1/2 minute cushion to break 60 minutes.
Entering Old Battlefield Drive, a few spectators are cheering on runners. I keep listening for their cheers to the runners behind me. I hit the right tangent on the traffic circle, then the straight line on the left tangent to the finish line. I hear the cheers 5 seconds behind me. Knowing the male was younger and might be able to run faster, I pushed the last 100 meters to the finish.
My finish time of 58:23 was 1:26 slower than last 2021. Perhaps last week’s marathon or the two years had an impact.
I ran a 12-minute cooldown into the subdivision across Brock Road. Coming back across Brock, I was in the crosswalk with a car coming toward me. I started jogging to cross. The cramp in my right calf was an exciting twist.
I put on a sweatshirt, picked up the third piece to the Coldwell Banker Elite Grand Prix finisher medal, and hung out for the awards in the sun.
I finished 67th overall, 42nd male, and 5th in the 60 to 69-year-old age group.
I’m happy with my even and negative splits. There are three more Grand Prix races to run.