Asย this is a running as well as a food blog – you get to (from time to time) hear me ramble about running, so settle in. ๐
Earlier in the year, when I was injured and not running, I signed upย for the Bolton Road Race.ย As many runner’s will tell you – those who can’t run…. sign up for races.ย I don’t know why we do it – maybe to make us feel better and give us a glimmer of hope that whatever injury or ailment we are currently dealing with willย not last forever (although many times it feels that way).
Well, I am back to running and more importantly training for the Amica Half Marathon in June BUTย I have just started doing “quality workouts”, so I was by no means ready to give this race an “Olympic Effort”.
Luckily I was told that this was going to be a quality workout session – phew – until I read the workout plan.
1 mile warm up
drills
1×2 at easy pace
1×2 at marathon pace
1×1 at threshold pace
This might not seem like a problem – I mean I ran a similar workout on the track last Sunday – BUT the last mile, the threshold pace that I was to run – seemed (and was) difficult and nearly impossible.
Why might you ask – because the Bolton Road Race is “famous” for the hill. ย I mean the tag line for the race is “Come Run The Hill”.
Connecticut is known for what I like to call “rolling hills” and this race has a doozy and it’s at the end and (from the rumors that I overheard before the race started) the grade is from 12% to 40%.
BUT – I just wanted to get back out there – to see my friends – and to get that “race feeling” that runners get when surrounded my like minded people.ย I mean how many others do you know that would drive to Bolton, CT on a Sunday afternoon – to run up “THE HILL”.ย Well – about 300 this past Sunday.
I had never run the Bolton Road Raceย until Sunday but I have heard about it for years – it’s a really grass roots race, put on to support the Bolton Boosters and run expertly by Dani Kennedy – whom I have never met but silently cursed up that hill.
But what did I have to lose – I know I am working toward something bigger but nerves still took over.ย I wanted to do well, I wanted to run fast but I knew I had to stick to the plan.
And I am glad I did – the Bolton Road Race courseย is a figure 8 loop and there are some pretty steep declines, even one before the hill, but I kept telling myself over and over – stick to the plan, stick to the plan.
And for the most part I did. ย I am not going to lie – the hill sucked and I did not hit my pace for the last mile but I ran up the entire hill. ย I did not stop and once I saw Dani – asking her if she was the race director and she confirming – I knew I had nothing but sweet sailing down hill to the finish.
The time was not what I wanted BUT I got back out there and saw some great people in the process. ย I “speak” to them often on Facebook throughout my non racing months but it was great catching up and knowing that for the next couple of months I will be seeing some, if not all of them, often.
And really isn’t that what running is about – a sense of community.
So – would I run the Bolton Road Raceย again next year. ย Definitely – the hill and I have some unfinished business.
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very proud of you and excited that you were able to successfully able to conquer the hill!
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Hope to see you at a race soon
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Good job!
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So glad to have “met” you through Brett! I’ve run this race a few times but not for many years. That hill is NO JOKE but you feel amazing once it’s done. Nice job out there and maybe we’ll see each other at a local race…:-)
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Yes – I love meeting other CT runners! I will look for your Oiselle singlet ๐
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Ha, 1 mile is 2/3rd of my run! I signed up for a 1.5 mile run next month and have been practicing…. Slowly!
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Slow and steady my friend! Running is not always fun, believe me!
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I like to call it, “A hill you can be proud of!” Plus, there are brownies at the end! Introduce yourself next time! Thanks for the nice write up.
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I was proud I made it up without stopping. I remember coming over the top and you telling me “you can hate me if you want” – I just remember seeing the pictures of the sweet treats you baked on Facebook earlier in the week and that soon I would be devouring them
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Nice work! Good for you getting back out there! I have a race this weekend and will definitely be applying some of your tips.
-Lauren
http://www.rosesandrainboots.com
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Good luck. I would love to hear how it goes
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Like in the movie “Galaxy Quest”, “never give up…never surrender!”
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What I good mantra. I think I might have to borrow that. Thanks for reading
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Love your description of the race – particularly the hill! It was so nice “running” into you at the BRR. It is a race that I look forward to each year. And this year we were treated to such great weather! And a wedding! ๐
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