Millennium Finish Line
A beautiful summer Friday holiday and the nerves, uncertainty, anticipation of racing fast, TWICE! I’d never done a double race this close to each other (an hour difference) and never raced this late at night before ( 7 & 8 PM). The logistics were beyond smooth, easy number pick-up at Derryfield Park, easy parking right near the Pulaski Park finish. A few of us walked the mile up Bridge Street as warm up, but were totally low key… more like, what did we get ourselves into?
Can you find me? Whirlaway red & black !
5K @ 7:00 PM – fast downhill start then off into neighborhoods, winding our way back up towards Derryfield Park. Recognizing parts from Manchester Marathon as I tried to reel in Ellen Tidd and Jim Monahan. The relief at getting to Derryfield Park for some downhill, then the ugh, flattening last 1/4+ mile. Andy Schachat was announcing and gave me a spectacular shout out and the Millennium finish is always so visible. My time seemed quick on this great fast course. My results on the screen showed a podium finish, 3rd female master!! 22:09, yay!!! Wow, wow!! I connected with friends and we walked the mile up Bridge Street… again.
Postrace at Wild Rover. Celebration toast, Jim Monahan
1 mile @ 8:00 PM – not knowing what to expect for a “double”, I set a modest goal and after national anthem, GO! I focused for quick turnover. Ellen is so fast, I blink and can’t even see her. I was actually having a blast, I love downhills. Wondering if my calves/knees/lungs would continue hanging in OK, I reeled in Ellen and ran hard. Friends were cheering on the side of the road and we closed in towards that fantastic finish. I heard race announcer Andy Schacht say something like, here comes one of NH’s most prolific female runners, or something really nice & complimentary like that, I eyed the clock, just over 6:00 minutes and was psyched. What fun!!! I’ve only done one other mile race, so this was a PR at 6:08, also finished in top 5 of female masters. Friends gathered and shared race stories and hung out for awards. Our bibs had beer tickets for Wild Rover, so we checked it out and stayed around for start of fireworks at 9:30.
Good pre-race video: WMUR press about race
Previous videos: 2012 video regarding race and 2014 video regarding race
Millennium Points Chase: Points Standings Link
People lined Bridge Street
runnersarah 