Holyoke St. Patrick's Road Race

This weekend started the spring race schedule for Western Massachusetts with the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race.  An icon in the area for running, it’s one of the two “must run” races every year.  Now in its 37^th year, and bigger than ever.  Saturday afternoon, the race had a record breaking 6005 finishers for the 6.2 mile course, and the weather was nearly perfect… Overcast and about 50 degrees (the sun came out to play after the running was complete, and the festivities began.)

Now this year, I had conflicting thoughts on what I should set for a goal.  Should I try to beat my time from two years ago (was I ready for this), or should I pace myself for about a 9 minute mile?  As the start was approaching, I made the decision to just go with what feels good.

Many of my friends/co-workers were also running the race, so I started with a group of about 6, and with the crowds, that quickly faded to two of us.  By mile marker one, I was by myself (as far as knowing anyone around me).  My time was 8:36.  This is where the 2.5 mile uphill began, at mile two, I was still at a 8:39 pace, so I thought “let’s see if I can hold this until the top of the hill, and try for an 8:30 pace overall.

I actually picked-up the pace for mile 3 and 4, and now came the downhill.  I relaxed and let gravity help me (later to find that I ran mile 5 in a 7:22).  One more small uphill, and then it’s down until the finish.  I pushed the hill, and relaxed again.  Turning the corner to see the finish line with one more push into the finish.  As I neared the finish, I could hear names being called out over the PA system, and I heard my name.  The feeling was incredible.

My official finish time was 51:19.1 (8:16 / mile) – 4:15 better than 2010, and I finished 1429 out of 6005.

With another St. Pat’s Race under my belt, it was time for the post race festivities.  Erin go bragh.