After spending late winter and early spring running light and recovering from the IT band injury I sustained at Hyannis in February, I raced a first race for the season tonight at the Merrimack Rock N Race in Concord. And while I was about 34 seconds off my 5K PR from last November, the beautiful, summer-like evening, awesome race with live rock bands playing all along the course, Kris and the kids there to cheer on me, my pal Curt running the first couple of miles with me (he kicked it up after mile two and nailed his goal time – awesome!), made it a perfect race to kick off the season.
Before Merrimack Rock N Race 2009
The race is a huge event and goes out from the Statehouse lawn and raises money for Concord Hospital Payson Center for Cancer Care patients– among the dignitaries who spoke at the start was Governor Lynch.
The setting made it an extra special race for me. We lived in downtown Concord when our first two kids were born, and walks for ice cream and to let the kids run around on the lawn were regular summer night events. Seeing David and Sofia (and now Isobel, too!) gamboling around the lawn was pure nostalgia – as was running on streets I ran on so many summer evenings when we lived there. Concord is a great town to see by foot.
The food was also terrific – best post race chow in the state, including grilled chicken and Caesar salads from Outback or hamburgers, or pizza, and plenty of the requisite cookies and baked goods. The bands were good – I especially liked the guys playing Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes about 1.3 miles or so into the race.
In general, it’s good to finally be back off the injured list and running again. And specifically, warm night, running, guitar rock and roll, family and food? Man, what else do you need? (Well, maybe a cold beer later.) Race results are here.
And after...
Tags: 5K, Concord, Merrimack Rock N Race, Running
Great job! 9th in your age group. Not bad!
You guys were smokin’ across the finish line! Had no time to set up my camera shots!
Glad to see that you are back, feeling good and running strong. Now you can start to plan for a marathon in autumn, right?
Also, thanks for your kind comment on my blog.
Ernesto, I enjoyed following your lead. What a great start to a season that really never ended! Nice picture Kristen.
Thanks all. Am going to work hard to make the next one a little faster!
Oh, and Frank… yes, October for the next marathon for sure. And a 200 mile six-person team relay in September!