Bound for the Sound 10K

Old Lyme, CT

Saturday, September 20, 2025

Final race of the 2025 USATF-CT Road Grand Prix.  Eight races, of which I ran six.  I had previewed this course three weeks prior, and with favorable impressions.  I was excited to race here, with my only apprehension being that I was coming into this with low expectations given that I arrived home the night prior after a 13-day vacation to Newfoundland with not the best eating and nearly 3,000 miles of driving.

I arrived onsite at about 7:10AM ahead of an 8:00AM race start.  I followed the race instructions to drive down Hartford Avenue (finish line) to be directed by parking marshals.  There was a line of cars going both down to the beach and away from the beach, which perplexed me.  The short story here is the parking marshals could've done a better job, as we got down close to the beach only to be turned around one car at a time with awkward three point turns.  (I think the beach parking lots had filled, and they hadn't coordinated very well to have cars stopped further up the road once that happened.)  But it cost me less than five minutes, and I was turned around, and parked at a different lot, so if that's the worst of the day's issues, no complaints!  And knowing the RD Chris C, he'll get it fixed for next year.

Parking was just under 1/4 mile away (if I had gotten there earlier, it would have been even closer).  Check-in was quick and simple, as was shirt pickup.  It was the bathroom line where I lost another 10 minutes.  Pinned my bib to the team singlet I would be wearing, and off for 1.5 mile warmup.

Changed into my race kit including shoes, and jogged to the start line, where Boston's "Cool the Engines" was playing.  I told the RD great job on his choice of music, ran a few strides, and lined up about four rows back just before the national anthem was sung.

Course Map:  Note the author in highlighted text at left of map!  RD Chris, knowing I was
previewing the course, asked if I'd make a Strava route of my preview run, which I was
happy to do.

Start to Mile 2:  My only other issue (besides parking) was the start was a little chaotic where you quickly make a left turn, and I was boxed in a bit and got stuck behind other runners, and then within a quarter mile, you make a sharp right turn and sharp left, but I completely understand that with the roads ending (and starting) at the Sound, there is just isn't opportunity for the RD to plan out a long straight start.  The rest of the coursed I really enjoyed.

Immediate first left turn; boxed in behind several runners
(I'm in red singlet below red arrow)

Somewhere early in the first mile I couldn't help but notice a sea of green ahead of me, representing Manchester Running Club.  I had thought that our own club, Mohegan Striders, would have a large contingency today given our proximity to the race (40 minute drive for me, but even shorter for the majority of members living in SE CT).  But for whatever reason our ranks weren't well represented today.

At about 1/2 mile in, you turn onto Shore Road (Route 156) for a very short stretch, before crossing Shore Road to the north and starting a long, quiet loop, with basically the first 1.5 miles uphill at an easy grade.  My Mile 1 split was 5:56, but I was thinking there was no way I would be able to hold that and would soon be looking at 6:15 or worse.  

At the start of Mile 2, we turn onto Mile Creek Road, the only part of the course with lane restrictions, as you needed to stay on the left side of the road.  There were cones on the far left side of the road, and most runners were staying inside the cones, but that looked a bit too congested for me, so I stayed just to the right of the cones but always to the left of the center medium line.  I passed teammate Jared here briefly, but he repassed me and I kept him in sight.  At the end of Mile 2, we start the only hill descent that is greater than 5%, and there are no inclines greater than 5%.  Mile 2 split 6:01.

Mile 3 to 4:  We have an 80 foot drop in which I pass five runners, including Jared again and surprisingly Ryan Murdoch.  Once this leveled out a bit, four out of the five runners re-passed me, which was not surprising.  The rest of the mile, or I should say the rest of the race, was basically flat, with a few small rollers but nothing over a 25' drop or incline.  The only perceptible hill climb remaining was in the fourth mile up to and over a railroad bridge crossing.

Mile 3 split 5:48!  (downhill first quarter mile)

Mile 4 split 5:58

Mile 5 to Finish:  I am thrilled with my continuing fast splits, but I also know the game is far from over.  In Mile 5, we cross Route 156 (thank you police for stopping traffic) and run a quiet road parallel to Route 156 and then the final mile (Mile 6) is on Route 156 itself.  On the final mile, there were 1-2 runners that passed me, but none even close to my age group so I just focused on my own race as I kept looking for "Where is that final turn off?!"  Mile 5 split 6:02 (slowest), Mile 6 split 5:54.  With the finish line is sight, I kicked it in as best I could, with a pace for the last .22 miles of 5:24.  I was happy to pass two runners in this final section.

With finish line in sight

Final result:  Gun time 36:53, chip time 36:51!  Average 5:55 pace!  1st 40+, 1st 50+, 1st 60+.  Full results here.

This was my fastest time ever on a certified, non-downhill 10K.  I went into this race with a little bit of apprehension, wondering if I'd break 38 minutes, and everything just clicked in this race.  Fun, well organized race.  I'm not sure why it didn't attract more runners than it did.

I really enjoyed this race, and would definitely put it on my repeat race list.

With the rest of the team that showed up.  I'm in blue cap below the "I" in "STRIDERS".
We didn't have a lot of depth today,
especially in 40+ age groups.