Today was the 24th time I had finished this Fourth of July race in Fredericksburg, Virginia. From 1980 to 2019, the local Lions Club managed this race. In 2020, the Fredericksburg Fallen Heroes took over the event.
We’ve had lovely weather for our spring races. Now in the summer of 2023, the temperature was 74 degrees with a 70-degree dew point and sunny skies for the 7:30 am start.
Though the conditions may not be much better at 7 am, there could be more shade on the course. The Lions clubs had difficulty getting volunteers out for their 7:45 am start. With all the volunteers the Fredericksburg Fallen Heroes had on the route, a future year 7 am start looks promising.
A 70-degree dew point sounds terrible. But, as recently as 2018 and 2019, the dew point has been 74 degrees with temps in the high 70s.
My performance in last year’s race was a catalyst for seeing my doctor and figuring out my breathing issues. Last year’s conditions were 69 degrees with a 63-degree dew point, and I ran 49:00 two weeks after completing a marathon in Washington.
Two weeks ago, I completed a marathon in Alaska. My easy runs in the past two weeks were much better than last year’s during the same time frame. With the more severe conditions and a readiness level of 82%, I hoped to finish in 47 flat, about a 9:20 pace.
I ran from my house at 6:45 am, doing four intervals of 2-minute walks and 6-minute runs. After the second repeat, I dropped my bag under the Arsenal table at the finish line. I arrived at the start line with 10 minutes to spare and hung out in the shade.
The national anthem finished at 7:29 am (good timing by the organizers), and I slid over to the start line in the sun going through the left railroad underpass. There were about 100 people in front of me at the start.
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 degrades. As a precaution, I wore a pair of compression shorts underneath. Also, I wore my white singlet with stars and stripes highlights, a ball cap, and my Saucony Triumph 20 shoes.
After the gun went off, crossing the start line took around 10 seconds. I was feeling pretty good in the first mile. This mile in town on Caroline Street is shaded with a slight downhill. I went through mile one in 8:59, a little faster than expected.
This year, the city is charging $10 per car to park in Old Mill Park for non-residents. As we ran past, no vehicles were blocking the course trying to get into the park. After passing the park, the route turns onto the paved Heritage Trail and the first water stop. I took a cup and walked for a few seconds.
There are a few ups and downs. The ups felt more demanding than in the past. A few too many people walk dogs with the dogs on the paved path rather than the grass sides. I’d rather run next to the handler as they probably won’t bite. I finished my second mile in 9:04.
My breathing felt good, and my legs were holding together. I pushed mile 3 in 9:15.
After passing the dog park, I see Jeff Peterson about 150 meters in front of me. After his fast run at the SPCA 5km, I was surprised to be in contact. He became a carrot to pull me along.
After leaving the Canal Path and turning onto Mary Ball Street, I assumed I would see the second water table. I was catching Jeff, but I could use a short break. It wasn’t until turning onto Kenmore Avenue that I saw the water table just before the 4-mile sign. I took two cups of water and walked the 50 meters to the mile marker. My fourth mile was 9:21.
Back running, I started closing the gap to Jeff. I only had to hurt for nine more minutes. Around Hanover Street, he began to walk, and I went past for a short while. After he started running again, he caught me and was ahead going up the Prince Edward Street hill.
For 43 years, the most brutal hill on the course is within the last 1/3 mile. We made the left turn onto Prince Edward Street up to Charlotte. Before 1998, the route continued for a 1/2 mile loop downtown. Since then, we’ve taken a right on Charlotte Street and can see the finish arch about 200 meters away. Fortunately, the home stretch is downhill to the finish.
I pushed the hill and could not make up ground on Jeff. Turning onto Charlotte, he pulled away from me, and I could not run any harder until the final 50 meters. My last mile is 9:01.
I finished in 45:42, good for 109th overall, 73rd male, and 9th in the male 60 to 69-year-old age group. I was in the top third of the field and the age group and top half of the males.
After cooling down and hanging around at the awards ceremony, I walked home.
Another Coldwell Banker Elite Grand Prix race is in the books. My finish streak is up to 39. I was surprised to finish ahead of a few runners I’ve only seen from behind for the last 30 years.
I have appointments with my pulmonologist, cardiologist, and primary care physician in the next few weeks. Today, my heart rate peaked at 189 bpm, going up Prince Edward Street. I was above 85% of max for 38 of 45 minutes. I guess I’m doing OK. I want to stop taking the preventive drugs. But I still have symptoms. 🙁
The Fredericksburg Fallen Heroes organization did a tremendous job managing this race. There were water stops at miles 1.4 and 4.0. They covered every intersection with one or more course marshall. In addition to a race shirt, we received an arm cell phone carrier. A big thumbs up!