Blue Talon Bistro 5K

A year ago I ran couple 5Ks with some level of effort and did well, with only one notable Age Group finish with a satisfactory finish time. My strength has never really been in the short course, so I don’t typically do much speed work throughout the year, and focus more on longer miles. Earlier this month I ran a 5K after just starting a program of track workouts and specific training for a shorter, faster race with my coach. While PRing by a few seconds, but still finishing with a strong time, my coach and I felt like I could do... well.. better. Time for the annual Blue Talon Bistro 5K in Williamsburg, Va. Jared put me through a gauntlet of focused workouts to maximise my strengths and condition me for a better race on Thanksgiving. Most of all, he told me to have fun, and enjoy the race.

The Blue Talon Bistro 5K in my hometown of Williamsburg is becoming one of my favourite holiday races. It supports Meals on Wheels, tours through Colonial Williamsburg and the campus of my Alma Mater (The College of William and Mary), but most of all, it’s extremely easy to get to. Last year I raced this for the first time just before my marathon, finishing top 30 out of about 1500 runners, which included the likes of Williamsburg hometown hero Ed Moran (with a 14:44 finish if I remember correctly). This race, despite being a turkey trot, draws some of the fastest people around. 

Why am I with all the fast kids?

The weather gods smiled on us on race day with a sunny morning and moderate temperatures in the morning, floating around the mid 50s. Perfect race weather. My dad accompanied me to the race site just a few minutes from the house and is my walking gear truck, as mom is at home finishing the wonderful turkey meal she makes every year. It’s a little brisk, and my warmup goes smoothly, even running into an old friend of mine from the College, who graduated a few years beforehand. Doffing my warmups I moved along with the crowd, which had grown to over 2300 racers, to the start at Confusion Corner where Duke of Glaucester (DoG) Street begins.



The Race:
DoG Street is a cobbled stone street leading from Jamestown Road down to the Capitol Building (the first capitol in America). The faster racers gathered at the beginning of DoG Street to wait for the signal to start. I found myself up in the front to make sure I didn’t get stuck behind the masses of other runners, as well as with the thought that I could have the faster guys pull me along. 

When the start sounded, we took off at a very brisk trot, though I could tell the guys around me were relaxed, calm, and using this as their buildup. I felt pretty confident that I could hang with them for a little while, but by the time we got to the Capitol I could feel them quickening the pace and slowly pulling away from me. Or was I slowing down? Maybe a little bit of both. Regardless, I was simply happy that the Colonial Willaimsburg folks cleaned up all the horse droppings that usually blanket the road.

Below my feet I felt the course change from brick and cobbled stone to crushed oyster shells and white gravel as we circled behind the Capitol Building and back toward the Governors Palace. It reminded me of a cross country course, but much less grass. Before I knew it we were back onto pavement. I looked for mileage markers but saw none, so I don’t know what I was doing for the first mile, probably 5:40s or so. Miles 1-2 I felt the worst, to be quite honest. I felt this sudden sensation of warmth in my chest, but not the heart-warming, what a wonderful experience kind of feeling, but more of the I seriously think I’m going to vom way. This precipitated my slowing down and thinking whether or not I really wanted to finish this. I was hurting. I felt terrible. I was running faster than I ever do during races, and my body didn’t like it. I spent a considerable number of minutes actually asking myself if I wanted to slow down, finish comfortably. In my mind I wasn’t even going to hit my PR.

Jared told me to be ready for pain, to be ready to hurt. Luckily he put me through enough of that in the workouts he guided me through to help me familiarise myself with this awful feeling.

As we passed the University Center and began the slight incline by the area of the campus known as Old Campus near the Sunken Gardens I began to pick up speed. Back in college I passed through this place often, but that was when I was on my way to class. That’s not quite what was going through my head during the race, but fun for me to reflect on. I charged faster and closed in on a few folks who’d passed me earlier. Kind of a nice feeling, but I still tried to give words of encouragement as I passed them.

Unfortunately most of those words sounded like “Greeaabtoobgeepehuup”. I can’t really talk when I’m running like that.

A face only a mother could love

At the end of the race I was really pleased with how well I felt. Honestly, I had no idea how many people were in front of me at that point. It’s a wonder I can even remember this much to write about in my finish. Hell, I couldn’t even tell who was even remotely in my age group or not. I went for a cool down jog and stretch and met back up with my dad.

I couldn’t resist, however, sneaking away for a croissant... or 5... and some to-go... They were coming out tray after tray, hot and flaky from the Blue Talon Bistro. It’s for recovery. I swear!

After waiting around while and them not posting results, I had to ask a man who looked like he was connected to the race if he could find where I finished. I needed to know if it was worth hanging around or not, as I was a little hungry and my mum was at home slaving over a delicious turkey.

The man informed me that I had actually won my age group, much to my surprise. I was certain I had missed my mark. Had I really? I was so taken aback that I didn’t even ask him what my time was! When I finally took the podium and got my trophy I missed my finish time announcement... again... It wasn’t until they posted the results online some time later to know how I did. 

Huzzah! Now where are those croissants?

A 40 second PR. First place Age Group. That’s what I was thankful for this Thanksgiving. Hope everyone had a great holiday!