She Runs by the Seashore

I don’t race a ton of 5Ks, but I do enjoy the distance. This year, I’m actually a little ahead of the norm, with my 10th Run, White & Blue 5K being my fourth 5K race of the year. Before this race, in 2025, I hadn’t been able to get below 30:00 for a 5K, so that was my goal. Since I started running as a teenager and I used to be a lot faster, I don’t think a year has gone by since I started running 5Ks in 2005 that I haven’t gotten at least one sub-30 in a year.

Thankfully, I was able to break that barrier at the Run, White & Blue 5K, held the evening of Thursday, Sept. 4, on the Delaware Technical Community College Jack F. Owens Campus in Georgetown.

After hitting my fastest 5K of the year during a race twice as long — the Mike Sterling 10K — several days prior, I did think a sub-30:00 5K would be possible at this event. While it was warm, it definitely wasn’t as hot as it’s been in previous years at this race. I feel like with this summer’s intense humidity, pretty much anything has felt better after that.

Pre-race packet pickup was offered this year, but I picked up my shirt and bib on race evening as usual. I got in a 0.6-mile easy warmup and was able to use the bathroom before the race (always important!).

The race benefits scholarships for veterans and first responders, and it’s always held near Sept. 11. We started under a large American flag hung from firetrucks.

I know banking time is not generally a great race strategy, but for this race, relatively shorter for me, I did want to start out fast and see how long I could hold on. I ran the first mile in 9:10, faster than I’d need to break 30:00. The course is two loops around the campus on roads, with the first loop being a little longer than the second.

I stopped at one water stop about halfway through, but skipped the other ones (there was another one we passed twice). This was during the second mile, and my second and third miles were close, at 9:51 and 9:49.

I ran the last bit in 9:06, running until my watch showed 3.11, which was slightly past the finish. I was near Woody for much of the race, until I stopped to get water. Then, I couldn’t quite catch back up to him, but I finished right behind him.

I crossed the finish line with a chip time of 29:35, which I felt great about! Afterward, there is always a full spread of food, with a band playing live music and yard games for kids. I always go to the Vanderwende Farm Creamery ice cream truck first. After that, I waited in the food line, got my dinner, had a beer and met up with friends.

I’ve won age group awards before at this race, but not this year — I placed eighth of 27 in the female 30-39 age group. This race is always a fun time and I’m glad I was there for year 10!

Splits

Mile 1: 9:10
Mile 2: 9:51
Mile 3: 9:49
Last bit (ran past finish to get .11): 59.4 (9:06/mile pace)

Final time: 29:35 (9:32/mile pace); time on watch: 29:50 (9:36/mile pace)