ShoreTurtle – Running in and around New Jersey

9 on the 9th

I ran the 9 on the 9th virtual race today.

Update: The race reports have been posted here. I was in the breakneck brothers category last time. This time I’m a part of the “Rapid Romeos”. Ooh-la-la.

My virtual race had a late start–3:31pm. Race time temperature was in the upper 30s but wind gusts were reported to be in the 30s as well (up to 35mph). When I stepped out on my front porch the wind made me go back in and add another layer of clothes.

The route was an out and back. For the most part, the first half was either into the wind or perpendicular to the wind. I wondered several times if the wind gusts from the side would knock me over. I felt like a rag doll. There were snow flurries even thought the sun was still out. I looked for a snowbow but I never saw one.

Miles 1 & 2 were on the sidewalk. They passed in 17:39. Just after mile two, I entered Veteran’s Park. I always enjoy running there. There are several paved trails through the woods. Not many people were out and about.

Around 3.5 miles, I left the park and ran directly into the wind and uphill. I didn’t mind too much because I knew that soon my situation would be reversed. The 4.5 mile marker and turnaround point was in front of Kentucky Fried Chicken. I was glad to see Colonel Sanders.

Running with the wind at my back felt great. There was a constant breeze and the occasional gust that literally pushed me along. The wind pushed me up some of the hills. Mile 6 and 7 were back in the park. 8 and 9 were back on the sidewalk along the road with the last tenth of a mile into the wind. My time for the 9 miles was 1:17:22.

My splits reflect the benefits of the wind during the second half of the run:
8:43, 8:56, 8:46, 8:47, 8:51, 8:26, 8:17, 8:18, 8:18

The weather made this an interesting experience.

21.4 miles total for the week.

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