There is no way to sugar coat it. It was freaking cold this morning as we made our way to the Super Sunday 5 Miler in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Layered up and trying to soak in every ounce of heat in the car before race time, the Super Sunday 5 Miler was the February Grand Prix Race for the Thirsty Irish Runners so the sea of green clothing was out in full force at the race. The race time temperatures were in the teens and when a cold wind blew through the area you could really feel the chill throughout your bones.

The race was hugely attended and was sponsored by Sanofi Oncology and Genzyme and benefited the Race Cancer Foundation. The race featured both a 5k and a 5 mile option and it was the 5 miler option that will make the bad foods that will accompany me to the couch while watching the Super Bowl a little less guilty.

The five mile course runs throughout Cambridge and for the most part is pancake flat. There are a couple of really minimal uphills mixed into the race but overall you are running on flat terrain for your five miles. The streets were narrow due to all of the blizzard snow still kicking around from earlier in the week but the course was well patrolled at intersections and except for a few pretentious snobs trying to aim for runners shins while driving the course was a decent loop through Cambridge.

The race had a nice post-race lineup of breweries pouring their craft offerings including some great local options like Backlash Beer, Clown Shoes and Notch Brewing. A band rocked out to some pretty classic rock anthem songs but due to the cold we opted to hit the road after having a beer and head back to the warmth of the car.

It took about the first two miles to feel my toes but I still maintained a rather nice pace of 7:46/miles with an overall time of 38:47. A great morning of running and fingers crossed a great evening of football viewing ahead. Go Pats!

Th