Racing is back!
The story is familiar to legions of runners: We welcomed a busier race schedule in March and shelled out race fees in anticipation of a full slate of spring races. We even squeezed a couple of races in as talk of coronavirus and a pandemic gradually consumed the news.
Then everything shut down, races were cancelled or run virtually, and millions were left wondering if they would be able to participate in another traditional race in 2020.
Fortunately for runners in Central New York, the organizers at Willow Running took on the daunting task of organizing events that adhered to New York’s COVID guidelines. Granted, the races look quite different from the events run just a few months ago. Runners and walkers now start in waves of 50; masks or buffs, which are provided by Willow Running, are required when participants can’t maintain physical distance; and packet pickup and post race festivities are time restricted or, in the case of award announcements, conducted over email.
These are understandable precautions in the time of COVID, and after a break of nearly four-and-a-half months since my last in-person race, today’s event was a welcome return to competition.
This is Willow’s second in-person event since restrictions were partially relaxed last month. The Earth Day half marathon and 5k was held two weeks ago. I ran the half marathon course in May and hoped to participate in one of the waves on the weekend of July 11-12, but a sore knee and blazing temperatures meant that I was unlikely to beat my earlier time, and I opted for a group run instead.
My last in-person race, the Race For Pi, held in Baldwinsville on March 14, was also a Willow event. I set a personal record for the 5k (although the race was slightly longer), and I was able to match this pace in a pair of virtual races last month, but the Montezuma race would be a true test of my mid-summer fitness.
My left knee still hurts, probably as a result of increased mileage the past few months, but I’ve found that it doesn’t really slow me down.
The heat is another story. My best times all came in races under 60 degrees, with 40-50 being my ideal range. The temperature was in the mid 70s by the time we arrived in Savannah, the air was still, and the sun bore down on the exposed course.
The 5k course was a mostly-flat out-and-back affair with a dog-leg 1km from the start. The course was open to traffic, which was sparse, though strategically-placed cones created a lane for outbound 5k participants and inbound half marathoners on Savannah Spring Lake Road. There was very little shade on the course, and this certainly played a role in the various events as the temperatures crept up.
Roughly 50 masked runners started on Savannah Spring LakeRoad; a small group bolted away at the start while I set off with what I perceived to be a brisk but comfortable pace. I passed a few runners, then focused on catching a man who was maintaining a solid pace a few meters ahead of me.
It turns out my pace was a little over 7 minutes, well under my usual 5k pace. As with the Pi Day race, I started too quickly, but apart from a twinge in my left knee, I felt good at this point.
I caught and passed the other runner shortly after we turned onto Vandyne Spoor Road, but he moved to the center of the lane and matched my pace just a few feet behind me, which was just as well since the leaders now had a sizable lead on us. His presence kept me alert and motivated through the second mile of the course.
The heat started to wear me down a little, and I gradually eased my pace, though I managed to hold a small gap to my pursuer. I’d been passed meters away from the finish line before, and I was determined to save enough to either pull away in the final mile or sprint it out at the finish.
The heat likely affected him as well; I slowed slightly in the third mile, but I could no longer hear his footsteps behind me. A small rise near the finish stung my legs a little more than it should have, then a right turn brought me to the finish.
My time was 24:50.6, a personal best in a 5k in spite of my “positive” split. I finished 12th out of 61 finishers, who were split between two waves and a virtual run. Given the heat, this is an encouraging sign for possible fall races, provided my knee heals.
A tent awaited runners seeking shelter from the sun; a race volunteer would periodically venture over to politely ask runners and walkers to leave the tent once they’d cooled off to ensure that incoming waves of participants would have ample room to rest. A volunteer passed out medals wrapped in plastic bags, and others handed out sandwiches and cookies to participants.
Giveaways were generous: A sleeveless shirt/women’s tank, a Willow Running gaiter, a medal, and food and beverages for participants. There was a self-serve water stop at the turnaround as well.
Medal, sleeveless shirt, and gaiter.
COVID adds a series of complications for race directors who already have to deal with myriad challenges. Waves of runners require multiple start times spread over several days, participants, who have limited windows for packet pickup, are encouraged to leave the venue in a timely fashion, and it’s crucial that runners and walkers wear face coverings until the field spreads out. Medals and food must now be distributed to the runners (no more post race “buffet!”), necessitating additional volunteers. Given the smaller fields and logistical challenges, Willow Running ran a fine event, and I hope other organizers are looking into ways to conduct races that adhere to state regulations while providing us with safe, in-person events.
Location: Savannah, NY
Website: Willow Running
Cost: $40
Swag: Shirt, medal, gaiter, post race food
Events: Half marathon, 10K, 5K
Field (excluding virtual): 5K: 59; 10K: 42; Half Marathon: 114. Fields were divided into waves of 50 and start times were spread over two days.
Result: 12/61@24:50.6; 7:50; 2/4
