This morning it was off to the Cape Cod town of Bourne, Massachusetts for the Weary Traveler Road Race. This iconic January run is a great race usually followed by merriment inside the Weary Traveler lodge complete with chowder, clam fritters and cold pints but the most recent COVID surge certainly slimmed down the race field and post-run I made may way back to the car to head on back home upon finishing.

Kudos to the organizers of the race, the Cape Cod Road Runners, for taking runner safety seriously and moving registration outdoors complete with masks being worn while at the table. At the starting line many runners ran masks or gaiters while heading out on the course and all in all the race went off without a hitch despite the COVID world around us.

The race time temperatures were certainly warmer than they have been in some years past with temperatures in the mid 40’s upon toeing the starting line. There was an interesting wind to contend with throughout the run which at times felt to be at your back, at other times was right in your face and other times seemed to be just swirling around you.

The Weary Traveler Road Race takes runners past the Monument Beach section of Bourne and is a tricky, hilly 4.9 mile course. The first mile doesn’t seem as downhill as it is but later in the race the uphills can certainly be felt and noticed much more.

Felt good running on the course and tackled the hills pretty well. I finished the 2022 Weary Traveler Road Race with a finishing time of 41:26, good for 8:23/miles. Having run this race a number of times over the years, not my best finish at the Weary Traveler Road Race but not too bad of a result!