The 20th annual Run to the Rock allowed me to race in soaking wet conditions...and it didn't even rain a single drop! Autumn in New England is known for having unpredictable weather, but I did not expect to find 87-degree weather in September.
Despite the near-record heat, the race was well-organized and showed a lot of community spirit. There were 3 different distances (5k, 10k, and half-marathon), plus a BBQ afterwards for both spectators and runners. I opted to run the half-marathon, which started in the Myles Standish State Forest and ended at the Plymouth Rock. These point-to-point races are always more fun for me because I can say I actually ran somewhere (as opposed to the more-common "loop" courses, where racers literally finish in the same place they started).
The half-marathon field was small (only around 500 people), but as everyone assembled in the starting corral, I could tell that they were mostly "real runners". They chatted with each other about past marathon experiences, their favorite gear for training, and what to expect from this course.
The first six miles were solitary and peaceful, as we ran along the deserted road and barely saw anything besides trees. I was a little surprised by the large number of hills, although they do help to break up the monotony as I pep-talk myself up to the top of each one.
Once we got into the residential area, we were running alongside some traffic and only saw occasional spectators to cheer on the runners. To be honest, I don't remember much other than working hard to maintain my pace behind the guy in front of me. I knew I would never pass him, but he was a good anchor to keep up my personal effort.
The last mile of the race felt like it would never end. In retrospect, my slow finish time did make me wonder if we had run longer than 13.1 miles. Maybe it was just my body slowing down to compensate for the heat. Either way, I was proud of my effort and my placement.
It was great to see my parents cheering me along at the finish line. Once the race ended, I grabbed some food and we sat around - mostly to enjoy the atmosphere, but also to await the age group results. When they were finally posted, I was happy to see that I had finished 2nd in my age group. I picked up my trophy and we celebrated with an ice cream before heading home.
Despite having grown up so close to this historic town, I only remember coming down to Plymouth once before. "America's Hometown" is a popular place for school trips to learn about how the Pilgrims lived when they first arrived here in 1620. A replica of the Mayflower still sits in the water near Plymouth Rock, and I was amazed that the Pilgrims could have made it across the Atlantic ocean in this top-heavy, wooden structure.
One of the many reasons I love to race is because it gives me an excuse to visit places that I otherwise would not take the time to see. If anyone is considering a small race in a city with historic relevance, Run to the Rock is a great choice.
Despite the near-record heat, the race was well-organized and showed a lot of community spirit. There were 3 different distances (5k, 10k, and half-marathon), plus a BBQ afterwards for both spectators and runners. I opted to run the half-marathon, which started in the Myles Standish State Forest and ended at the Plymouth Rock. These point-to-point races are always more fun for me because I can say I actually ran somewhere (as opposed to the more-common "loop" courses, where racers literally finish in the same place they started).
The half-marathon field was small (only around 500 people), but as everyone assembled in the starting corral, I could tell that they were mostly "real runners". They chatted with each other about past marathon experiences, their favorite gear for training, and what to expect from this course.
The first six miles were solitary and peaceful, as we ran along the deserted road and barely saw anything besides trees. I was a little surprised by the large number of hills, although they do help to break up the monotony as I pep-talk myself up to the top of each one.
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| Candid photo from the race |
Once we got into the residential area, we were running alongside some traffic and only saw occasional spectators to cheer on the runners. To be honest, I don't remember much other than working hard to maintain my pace behind the guy in front of me. I knew I would never pass him, but he was a good anchor to keep up my personal effort.
The last mile of the race felt like it would never end. In retrospect, my slow finish time did make me wonder if we had run longer than 13.1 miles. Maybe it was just my body slowing down to compensate for the heat. Either way, I was proud of my effort and my placement.
It was great to see my parents cheering me along at the finish line. Once the race ended, I grabbed some food and we sat around - mostly to enjoy the atmosphere, but also to await the age group results. When they were finally posted, I was happy to see that I had finished 2nd in my age group. I picked up my trophy and we celebrated with an ice cream before heading home.
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| 2nd place in the 30-39 age group! |
Despite having grown up so close to this historic town, I only remember coming down to Plymouth once before. "America's Hometown" is a popular place for school trips to learn about how the Pilgrims lived when they first arrived here in 1620. A replica of the Mayflower still sits in the water near Plymouth Rock, and I was amazed that the Pilgrims could have made it across the Atlantic ocean in this top-heavy, wooden structure.
 |
| A replica of the Mayflower sits in Plymouth Harbor |
One of the many reasons I love to race is because it gives me an excuse to visit places that I otherwise would not take the time to see. If anyone is considering a small race in a city with historic relevance, Run to the Rock is a great choice.
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