She Runs by the Seashore

For 14 years, I’ve started Labor Day Weekend with the Mike Sterling 10K in Crisfield. I had plans with family across the bridge later on Saturday, Aug. 30, but I didn’t want to miss this race. So, I headed south from Salisbury before heading back to my house and then continuing north/west.

After a hot and humid summer, the weather for the 46th annual Mike Sterling race was much appreciated. It felt so much cooler than it had recently, and that helped me to one of my faster recent times at this race. I ran 1:02:53, beating my 2024 time by almost three minutes and also running faster than my times at this race in 2022, 2021 and 2020 (2023 and 2019 and prior were faster). After the race, my phone showed a temperature of 65 degrees, with a dew point of 52 and a “feels like” temperature of 59.

I usually get my race packet the day before, but because of all the driving I’d be doing over the weekend, I opted to pick up my packet race morning. I got to the race early and it was easy to get my T-shirt and bib. I did a mile warm-up beforehand and was able to use the bathroom before the race.

The Eastern Shore Running Club had a great showing at the event, as we have for the past several years. The 10K and 5K began at 7:30 a.m., with a ruck kicking off at 7 a.m. I watched the start of the ruck and got a few photos. Between this start and the 5K/10K start, we got our ESRC group photo, and then I put my phone in the car for the race.

Since I’ve run the course so many times, I’m very familiar with where to go, and mentally know how far I have left, which helps. It’s also extremely flat.

We start near the City Dock, and the course then heads past Somers Cove Marina before an out-and-back portion with a water stop, where Trent always is with at least one of his kids. Then, it continues into residential areas before heading onto a straightaway along the main road back to the dock area just before hitting the Mile 5 marker.

I’d wanted to run a sub-1:00 10K this year, and I ran 1:00:33 at this race in 2023 — not that long ago. However, after running for 21 years, I pretty much always know about where I am, race-wise, with my running, and I didn’t think I was in sub-1:00 shape. I actually figured I’d probably be able to run about 1:02.

I was able to run the first 5K of the Mike Sterling 10K as my fastest 5K (at the time) of the year, in 30:50 — I ran 30:54 at the Ben Layton 5K. With a finish time of 1:02:53, that meant my second half really wasn’t that much slower than my first; I was able to keep it pretty consistent. All of my miles started with a “10” except the first mile, which I ran in 9:31. The last bit at the end (0.21) was also slightly faster.

After a challenging course at the Annapolis 10 Mile Run the week prior, it felt awesome to feel so good during the race and run in cooler weather on a flat course.

I did not expect to win any age group awards, and I didn’t, but I stuck around, as there are always some awesome door prizes. In the past, I’ve won a Smith Island cake and a pound of crab meat. I didn’t win any prizes this year, but it was still fun to hang around.

Race entry is always affordable (it’s been $25 for the last several years), and it’s a well-organized, small-town event. Though it’s a small-town event, it’s grown over the years. This year, there were 256 registered participants — a new record, according to the race’s Facebook page. I came in 59th of 81 who ran the 10K. Back in 2013, it was a much smaller event, and I was the first overall female (I was faster then, but not as fast as the current winners).

Looking forward to continuing the annual tradition for year 15 next year!

Splits

Mile 1: 9:31
Mile 2: 10:00
Mile 3: 10:10
Mile 4: 10:28
Mile 5: 10:38
Mile 6: 10:10
Last bit (watch had .21): 1:58 (9:12 pace)

Finish time: 1:02:53 (10:07 pace) on results; 1:02:57 (10:08 pace) on watch