I was excited to run the One City Maritime 5k in Newport News, Va. I’ve always wanted to be apart of that race series but the timing was never great (especially running the Los Angeles Marathon the last few years). Plus, was it worth the airfare to go home? I’m sure, but I never did. This year, I had a work trip and decided to take a few days of PTO and spend some time with my family.
I didn’t have high hopes for the Maritime 5k. It was my first race since my marathon DNF in December and it has been almost 3 months since I crossed a finish line of any race. My goal was a good ole rust buster. The week before was busy in DC and while I made time to run, it didn’t lend itself for being well rested. I knew that and I was not expecting my fastest time in a few years. I also don’t love that you have to pick up your race packet the day before for the One City Maritime 5k. There were plenty of spots/opportunities to have a race packet pickup day of at the location.
Before the Maritime 5k:
I got to Newport News around 7 for the 8 am Maritime 5k start time. I did about 2.5 miles warm up and it was fairly uneventful. Parking for the Maritime 5k was easy. I do wish there were better places to warmup and cooldown around there since it was in a busier area of town. I could tell my legs were tired in a way that I wasn’t going to surprise myself. I thought on a good day I could probably run around 6:30 pace.
When I got to the Maritime 5k start, I saw a bunch of fast people…which was honestly kind of nice because it removes the pressure of thinking you’ll place.
Maritime 5k Race:
The Maritime 5k race went off right at 8 and off we went. I immediately found myself as 6th woman. The weather was a perfect 40 degrees with almost no wind and the course was flat. The Maritime 5k isn’t the fastest course due to some turns but also the road has a ton of potholes so are often weaving around those.
I hit my first mile in 6:26 and I was pleasantly surprised. My legs were tired and it felt like I was running through sand. During the second mile, I started passing a few people including a woman. I was gaining confidence, although I felt super tired. When I hit the second mile in 6:27, I was actually shook. I was working hard and I felt tired but I expected to be around 6:40. From there, I just focused on the end. The Maritime 5k consists of a lot of straight, long roads, so you feel like you can see the finish line for miles. I hit mile 3 in 6:32 and crossed the Maritime 5k finish line in 20:15 and as 5th woman overall.
Maritime 5k Thoughts:
I ran a good amount of sub 20 minute 5ks last year, so I’m looking forward to getting back there. I am happy with this though because just two years ago, 20:15 was one of my faster times in recent years. I believe I can probably run under 19 minutes with continued speed work. Also, in things I’ve never seen before, the One City Maritime 5k race photos were emailed to us same day…how neat is that? (Although mine were all…not great) but no wait.
Questions I’ve been asked:
Is the One City Maritime 5K a good race?
Yes, the One City Maritime 5K is a solid race if you are looking for a competitive but approachable 5K in the Newport News area. The event is part of the larger One City race series, which has become fairly popular in Hampton Roads.
Is the Maritime 5K course fast?
The Maritime 5K course is fairly flat, which helps make it a good course for running a solid time. However, it is not necessarily a PR course. The route includes several turns, and parts of the road surface can be uneven with potholes, which means runners often weave around them. While the elevation profile is flat, the turns and road conditions can slow things down.
What is the weather usually like for the One City Maritime 5K?
The Maritime 5K takes place in early spring in Newport News, Virginia, which typically brings cool racing temperatures. Many years see temperatures in the 30s or 40s at the start, which can be ideal for racing a 5K. Overall, the race timing tends to line up with weather that is favorable for faster running but make no mistake that time of year can bring torrential rain, snow, 20 degrees or 80.
Is the One City Maritime 5K competitive?
Yes, the Maritime 5K tends to attract a fairly competitive field, especially among local runners in the Hampton Roads region. At the same time, the race still feels accessible for runners of many different levels, which is part of why it has become a popular local event.
Is the One City Maritime 5K worth running?
If you enjoy racing shorter distances and want a well organized event in the Hampton Roads area, the Maritime 5K is worth adding to your schedule. The race is straightforward, easy to navigate, and typically offers good racing conditions.
You can see Strava here and all race recaps here.
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Questions for you:
What is your favorite 5k?
What is your ideal running weather?