I always enjoy races in Atlantic City. There is plenty of parking and usually flat and fast. Last year I ran the Bungalow Beach 5 miler, and I knew I wanted to come back this year too.
I arrived around 7:10, and after getting lost in the Tropicana, I made it to the start line. The packet pickup line was long, and it delayed the start of the race.
Instead of starting around 8, the race delayed until 8:15. After the race went off, I found myself in the 5th woman.
Last year I won, so it was hard to absorb, but I’ve gotten better at racing where my fitness currently is.
I hit the first mile in 6:43. Around 1.5 miles, we went off the boardwalk and looped around the street. I made my move to pass a woman. I passed her, attempted to look strong, and moved forward. We got back up on the boardwalk around mile 2.
The next 3 miles were a straight line towards the end. One of my favorite parts of AC is I always seem to know a lot of people racing. During the next couple of miles, I got to see friends going the opposite way and cheer for them.
I ran between 6:50-6:55 miles. I felt like I could keep going but struggled to pick up my legs and move any faster. It’s a problem I’ve had lately. I can’t seem to break out of running 6:50 pace. I just trucked along.
Around mile 4, someone yelled, “don’t let her beat you.” I assumed it was too another female. Since I was in third, I didn’t lose my podium spot. I mentally tried to run faster, although I don’t think I did.
The finish goes over a pedestrian bridge into the sand, and me trying to hustle on soft sand is comical. I crossed in 34:14 and as 3rd female. It turns out the person behind me was another male.
I cooled down for a couple of miles and enjoyed my time on the shore. When I picked up my race award, I found out I won an ice scraper from the sponsor: Lexus. Useful and also random.
Questions for you:
What’s the most random race award you’ve won?
Have you ever run on sand?
I’ve done a triathlon in Rocky Point Mexico a few times, and the finish is a couple hundred yards through dry, loose beach sand. Tough finish, but there was always a beer tent on the other side of the finish line!
Oh wow that sounds tough. Anything motivated for beer right LOL?
Interesting award! Especially for a beach race?? Ha! Most interesting…a flattened wine bottle from Biltmore (I know… a full bottle of wine would have been nice haha). And sand running is hard! Well, the few times I’ve done it. I’m impressed with those paces on sand!
Congratulations! Use that ice scraper with pride… next winter!