Over the years, I’ve measured three 5km courses on the Stafford Airport grounds. In 2022, I measured a course for Ebenezer Church that used the runway, taxiway, and apron. They have managed the Go for Bo 5km from the building off Embrey Mill Road for many years. In 2022, with increased traffic around the church, they moved their race to the airport with an evening start.
I thought I was done running virtual races. However, this year, the in-person race conflicted with the UVA home football game with Maryland. I wanted to continue my streak of Stafford Race Series finishes, so I ran the 2024 race virtually.
The race started at 6:30 pm on Saturday, September 14, 2024. So, I did my virtual race that morning with the 8 am FARC group run.
It was a warm morning, with temperatures in the low 60s and an equivalent dew point. I wore compression shorts, a safety yellow T-shirt, and my Saucony Triumph 21 shoes.
I left my house at 7:35 am for the 1.2-mile run to the corner of William and Princess Anne Streets. I ran 30 paces every 3 minutes to warm up until I reached the Chatham Bridge. I ran the entire 3 minutes with the next interval, reaching Caroline Street. I walked the rest of the way to the group.
I arrived early and talked with Brian Pessolano about the 3-mile group route. He pulled it up on his phone. I asked if there was an 11-—to 13-minute no-walk 3-mile group. He wasn’t sure. Though others were running 3 miles, I ended up running solo.
After the group photo and a few minutes after the church bells, I started south on Princess Anne Street.
The group-run route does not face traffic as it follows Princess Anne Street, Dixon Street, and Caroline Street. Most of the group runs on the sidewalks. I’ve tripped on too many sidewalk cracks and preferred to run in the street. The first mile is flat, and I complete it in 11:21,
After Caroline Street passes Ford Street, the route turns left up the Heritage Trail switchbacks. This section is the most challenging portion of the group-run course, and I feel stressed. My mile pace slows to more than 15 minutes, and my second mile is 11:48.
Since last November, I’ve only completed 5 km without walking once. I kept running through the third mile, though slower, in 12:29.
My watch hits the 3-mile mark on Kenmore Avenue. I realize that the group 3-mile course is longer than the published distance. After turning on William Street, the sidewalk is challengingly uphill. Partway up, I get to 3.1 miles and stop running.
My final time was 37:04, which would have placed me third in the in-person male 60- to 69-year-old age group. As bad as I’m running, I’m surprised.
I walk a little, jog back to the group finish location, then home.
After getting home, I stretched and then attended a 2025 Grand Prix planning meeting.
Around 2:15 pm, I headed south to pick up my oldest grandson in Richmond for the UVA football game in Charlottesville. It’s going to be another long season.