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.