Favorable Weather

Last year, this race, known as the Sayville Running Company 10-mile run to the brewery, was postponed due to a heavy snowfall and was staged a weekend later when the temperature was in teens. The roads were not plowed and the course was altered—two loops instead of one. The weather forecast the evening before the run decided about my participation. I verified the forecast in the morning again—calm, partly sunny, high 30s. This year, the race won over skiing.

After the usual pre-race breakfast—oatmeal with walnuts and craisins, I hopped in the car and drove to Patchogue. I always prefer to arrive early and did so this time as well. I have never run here and was not pre-registered, so I wanted to make sure I have time to park and stand in line. It paid off. There is not a single parking spot, but many small lots spread over the area of half mile. The heated tent helped the registration process and runners were also grouped around the outdoor gas heaters. As the staging area started to fill before the race, it was evident that the number of toilets wasn’t sufficient for those 1000 participants.

The start was delayed, but no one was complaining. The weather was really great for running 10 miles. I started conservatively on the slower side and caught myself slowing even more at mile 3 or 4. I didn’t see anybody around me who I would compete with in my age category. Either they were younger or older. The course was simple—run forward, make u-turn, and run back to the finish. There were few little hills, if they can be called hills. It’s South Shore of Long Island. Around mile 5, I picked the pace and the last 2 miles I went as fast as I could. Those were my fastest miles. I finished 2nd in my age category, in 1:03:51 in the pace of 6:23/mile.

After the race, I talked to few friends while enjoying the refreshments, Blue Point beer, bagels, All Round Foods muffins, and baked ziti. The wait for the award ceremony was long, but understandable. There were 1035 finishers. I was awarded the blue glass stain with the brewery logo. I’ll definitely be back next year, if the weather will be runner friendly.