She Runs by the Seashore

I went into last month’s Ben Layton 5K knowing it would probably be a tough one for me to finish with a fast-for-me time — and it was — but it was a fun gathering of the running community for a good cause.

This was my third year in a row running the Ben Layton 5K in Salisbury; I’ve also volunteered at this race in the past with the Eastern Shore Running Club. I’m the president of ESRC, and ESRC was able to be listed as a race team sponsor because we had more than 10 people sign up for our team.

The race was the morning of June 8. I live close to the Salisbury City Park and the Ben’s Red Swings playground, where the race starts, so I did a quick warm-up run down to get the race premium — custom socks, which I like, as I have a ton of shirts — and back to my house to put them inside, then back to the start again.

Although it’s since gotten much warmer, it felt hot and sunny to me for this race, which starts out taking runners through the Salisbury Zoo and then continues around the main crushed stone path of the Salisbury City Park. I had donated blood about a week-and-a-half prior. Having prior experience racing 1.5 weeks after a blood donation, I figured that would still be affecting me, and I certainly think it did (even though donating blood was worth it!).

Earlier in the year I had run 29:01 at the Orlando Magic 5K, and last year, I ran my fastest 5K in years, 27:41, at the Firecracker 5K. I wasn’t overly convinced I’d beat either of those times, especially not 27:41, though I thought it would be nice to come in sub-30.

I ran the first mile in 9:21, but I could tell I wouldn’t be able to hold that pace. After that first mile, I had to walk a decent amount — five times, including the water stop. My next two miles were very close in pace, at 10:40 and 10:49.

During the last mile, I told myself I’d walk at mile 2 and 2.5, but I also ended up having to walk when my watch read 2.87. The number stuck out to me because I was so close to the end and about to cross the bridge on to Picnic Island. However, I just felt like I had to walk, so I did. I noticed multiple times that my heart rate was in the 180s, and my watch logged my average heart rate for the 3.1 miles at 180.

I crossed the finish line in 31:48. This put me just about in the middle of the pack, at 70 of 150 total participants, according to the results.

The race is held in memory of Ben Layton, who died at age 4 of cancer, and it benefits the Ben’s Red Swings playground and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. So, it’s always nice to support a good cause, and I got to see many running friends as well. Afterward, there were plenty of treats, including bagels — with toasters — brownies, iced coffee from Rise Up, and more. Overall and age group winners also won pies from The Ugly Pie, which is an awesome prize. There were plenty of door prizes, too, but I didn’t win any.

I’m looking forward to running another 5K not as soon after a blood donation, and after acclimating to the heat a bit, to see what I can do! I do plan to run the Red, White and Blue 5K that I run each September again, and maybe I’ll decide on a 5K before then.

Splits

Mile 1: 9:21
Mile 2: 10:40
Mile 3: 10:49
Last bit: 52.7 for 0.10 (8:49 pace)

Final time on results: 31:48; final time on watch: 31:44