After running the Boston Marathon, most of us want to recover, get back into training and start planning our spring and summer race schedule.  My first entry back to racing was the Law Enforcement 5 Miler in May.  My time was respectable and I came home with an award and a baseline on my fitness.  Next up, a 5K.

A lot of the Goons were doing the fast 5K in Hollis and I planned on joining the party, but there was a stronger pull that put a possible PR aside and instead help out my community.  You may know my husband is a police officer and since we moved to Middleton, we got to know the Police Chief and some officers in the department.  They are big supporters of the Special Olympic Torch run, which brings awareness and financial support for the Special Olympic athletes.  Inspiring athletes and men (and women) in uniform.  What could be better than that!  The Chief had mentioned he would like us to participate in the race.  Well, maybe “mentioned” is not a strong enough word.  He literally stopped me and Mamacita during a run in near my house to give us an application!

The course was a point to point, so we parked at the Beverly Hospital in Danvers and waited to get on a school bus to take us to the start.  Well, Mamacita thought there were going to be big crowds, since there were 4 school buses to get us to the start.  There were actually about 100 participants!  You could feel it was a small local race, since everyone seemed to know each other.  I think there were actually more police officers for the course support than runners!  That was fine with me.  

Per the Professor, Mamacita and I got off the bus and did our warm up.  They shot the gun (not a real one…) and we were off.  The first mile had a lot of downhill, so I tried not to go out too fast.

Oops…I just didn’t want to lose sight of Mamacita, and we definitely were a little speedy for the first mile.   Mile 2 – not so bad.  Then came the hills.  Actually one kind of big hill.  OK, stay uncomfortably, uncomfortable and don’t give up!  Take a left, into the driveway of the State Police building which was of course uphill.  And wait, there’s more.  Go behind the building – where is that damn clock! I finally saw it at 21:33.  I had hoped to break 7s, which I did.   Of course I wanted to be closer to 21, but that will come.  I better get some benefits from those tough track workouts.

The best part was after the race.  I was with my husband, my friends a great group of dedicated volunteers.  There was a yummy BBQ and inspiring speeches by the Special Olympics athletes.  I know I run, because I love it.  But isn’t it great we get to have fun, get in shape and help our community all at the same time.