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31st Annual New Bedford 1/2 Marathon |
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Written by Kimberly Thompson
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 bottoms up, a pre-reace toast
Don’t think it’s the scenery (ok, the section along the coast is nice when you aren’t getting hammered by a serious headwind), it’s definitely not the post race clam chowder (nothing like the aroma of seafood after a long hard run), probably isn’t the timing (no mat at the start throws times off a teeny bit). Hmmm!?
Must be the company… This year Josh, Chris, Mary Ellen, I (Kimberly) and “race sherpa Jorge” made the trip. We met up for a quick photo opp. just before the start. Chris went for the one part super hero, two parts Richard Simmons look (photo right) – nice.
Race strategies were simple, Josh and Chris were going out hard and Mary Ellen and I planned to stick together. We’ve often talked about racing together but this would be our first time to actually give it a shot. I wondered how it would go. Mary Ellen’s legs must be a good three inches longer than mine - turns out that we stayed together for most of the race.
The course was pretty much as I remember it from last year. A long slow hill around mile three and then a lonnnnnggg grinding hill at the finish with a sharp right hand turn, then a short, fast, flat stretch to the cross the line. All in all the race was pretty uneventful, nothing as exciting (or strange) as Kathy’s swollen earlobe (which has since returned to normal) incident from last year.
How did we do? Josh finished first for the group with a 1:33:54, Chris was on his heels with a 1:37:34, Mary Ellen clocked a 1:47:38 and I was right behind her with a 1:48:13.
 Josh, Chris, Kimberly & Mary Ellen
Full results here.
Lots more pics here.
Would I do it again? Probably. Even though the scenery isn’t the greatest, it’s well organized and good spring race to get early season momentum going.
Side note, I was particularly impressed that Jorge made the trip down after an evening of birthday revelry - talk about sherpa dedication. I’m pretty sure I heard him say “thank goodness for greasy food, coffee and spacious back seat for the car ride home…” just before he konked out on the trip home. |
