Race recap: Fairfield Half Marathon

Alek and I left for the Fairfield Half Marathon around 6am on Sunday.  From Brooklyn, the drive was about 1:10.  By the time we got to Jennings Beach, where the half marathon would start and finish, the main parking area was closed.  We parked in another area within easy walking distance to the start.

I picked up my number and then had to go onto the beach to get my technical race shirt.  Shirt pickup on the beach was a bit unfortunate since I got sand in my shoes before the race (Note to race organizers: this is a BAD thing).  After getting everything we had about an hour to kill before the race would start at 8:30 AM.

In the shade, waiting for the race to start!

Even by 8:00 AM the temperature was quite warm.  I was a bit nervous about how the temperature would rise as the morning wore on.  I'd also only looked at the elevation profile of the race the day before and realized there would be hills to rival Sleepy Hollow.  At least I knew going in that I wouldn't be setting any personal records on the course!

Course map, but more importantly check out the elevation change between miles 4 and 6!  Yikes!

Shortly before the race started, I ran into Kathy who came from Hoboken to run this race with me!  It was the first race we've started together (I can't say run together because Kathy is faster than me)!

Around 8:30 we were off.  Women had a separate starting area than men, although several men did start with the women.  I believe this was to make starting bearable on somewhat narrow streets.  From the first mile, the Fairfield community was out supporting and welcoming all of the runners.  Through out the race there were folks with hoses and sprinklers aimed at the street giving us a much needed spritz to help cool off.  Also similar to Sleepy Hollow, there were kids at the water stations and throughout the course excited to get high fives from the runners.

The CT Post wrote a piece on the race spectators including some images, so you can see for yourself.  Alek was even interviewed and is included in the article!

Despite my fears about the heat early on, having much of the race course in the shade and spectators sprinkling the course with hoses helped keep the temperature from being too overwhelming.  I did see a few runners getting medical attention along the course, this made me be more cautious about hydrating at all of the water stops.

After 2:11:35 of running up and down massive hills, I finished with a 10:03 average pace!  Not only was this my longest run since the NJ Marathon, it was also my hilliest!  The challenge and success gives me the confidence that I am completely recovered after the marathon!

Finish line behind me!

We didn't stick around for the beach party after the race.  We were both tired, and I'd forgotten sunscreen. Overall it was a really fun race and I loved the town's spirit when people were on their lawns cheering and being supportive.
Full results can be found here.