Merry Place 5K in Havertown

Merry Place 5K in Havertown - race #9

After a summer swimming in a crystal blue outdoor pool, I headed back to the pavement and started running a week after Labor Day. After running eight races in eight weeks last spring, I was excited to try and accomplish that goal again for the fall. I was looking forward to my fourth annual 5K Run for Merry Place Oct. 2 in Havertown. The event benefited Merry Place, which is located in Glendale Park and includes a playground and nature area. The run also kicked off Haverford Township Day, which included a parade (that I drove my yellow VW Bug in), food, music and more. See photos and video of the race at http://tinyurl.com/4x4oqja.

This year the run was at a new location, the Haverford Reserve off of Darby Road. On the grounds of the former Haverford State Hospital, the Reserve boasts carriage homes, trails, athletic fields, Freedom Playground and a dog park. Thankfully, the forecasted rain never materialized and when I arrived at the Reserve, the sun actually began to appear and the temperature was 57 degrees.


All smiles after winning a free pizza!

     Starting off, we headed around the new homes, pass the fields and dog park and down a steep hill towards Darby Creek Road. The trees shaded the runners as we raced beside the creek. While I missed running the previous route by Haverford High School and hearing the residents cheer us on, the new path made me more relaxed and I was able to enjoy the fall scenery.
     Heading down Darby Creek Road and to the turnaround, the lead runners whizzed passed me to the finish line. I’m always amazed how fast they are! After reaching the turnaround, I headed back and paced myself for that monster hill I knew was awaiting me near the finish line.
     Trudging up the hill, I turned right and crossed the finish line. While I like to finish strong, unfortunately my legs felt like jelly after climbing my way back. I crossed over with a time of 29:51, ok but I really want to start pushing myself more. After the race I ran into one of my summer pool co-workers, Adam, who ran his first ever 5K. He finished with a great time of 23:30.
     For my next race I’m signed up for the Red Cross Delaware County Run/Walk For Life on Oct. 9 in Brookhaven.

Comments

Kevin Cain Make My Day 5K in Havertown - race #1

My goal is to run a 5K race each weekend in Delaware County (and one 10-miler in Philadelphia) for the next six weeks. They're fun, a goal I can work toward each week & they're almost all in a five-mile radius of my house. The races are usually $20, I get a T-shirt I can brag about & the money raised always go to a good cause. Back in 2008, my New Year's resolution was to run a 5K, and since then I've done 14 races. That year I started with the Kevin Cain Make My Day 5K in Havertown. (See photos & video of the race at http://tinyurl.com/6kfhcyb ). Being in good shape, I thought I could translate my swimmer's endurance from the pool to the pavement. It was a little bit tougher than that, and the Kevin Cain race is one of the more challenging 5K routes I've done. After taking off from it last year, I was back to race it last Sunday, April 3. It's a huge party, with a DJ pumping up the crowd beforehand and supporters line the ro

Forty Foot in Dublin Bay, Ireland

I love to mix a race with a vacation. When I ran a half-marathon in Arizona for my 40th birthday, we stayed for few days longer & visited the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Navajo National Monument, Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend. Running & swimming are such great ways to experience a new environment. So when Kevin & I were planning our long-planned vacation to Ireland, I tried to find out if there were any open water swim races and/or groups I could join for a quick dip. I learned about the Dunmurry Dippers , a group that swims everyday at the Colin River in Northern Ireland, & the Walrus Winter Swimming Group , who jump into the Dublin Bay at Forty Foot. Logistically we could not meet up with the Dippers, so we set our sights on the Walruses. After picking up our rental car, which Kevin did an amazing job driving on the left side of the road, we headed to Forty Foot at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove. If you don't have a car, Forty Foot is a

Swimming on in honor of Coach Rick Field

I thought of swimming as a solitary activity. The rhythmic breathing, 18-20 strokes to the wall, flip turn, repeat, blocking out all sound and sights and just following the black line. Other than being a part of my high school swim team, which I had joined because my friend Tara encouraged me, I’ve been swimming laps by myself for more than 20 years. Coach Rick I was in the pool at Rocky Run Y several years ago, when Rick Field walked over and told me my right hand was entering the water too far to the side. I had met Rick in 2011, when he first started as a swim coach and teacher at the Y. I didn’t know what to make of him at first, he seemed loud and maybe a bit pushy, but he grew on me and I saw how much he cared for his swimmers to succeed. The Cedar Island 5K So in November 2019, after many years of asking me to join his swim workouts, I broke away from the solitary swim life to be part of a team again. Every Sunday from 7-8:30 a.m., our swim group would try our best following

Exercising to the Beat of the Street

Search This Blog