Always love when a road race is just down the road. Yesterday it was about a seven minute drive over to the starting line of the Raynham Knights of Columbus 5 Miler held in Raynham, Massachusetts. This road race benefits local charities supported by the Raynham Knights of Columbus.

The race was postponed a few weeks due to a snow storm hitting the area a few weeks prior and yesterday morning featured no snow left on the ground but some chilly temps in the area at the start of the race. That said, it’s still March so running in thirty degree temperatures in New England is certainly to be expected.

The course for this race is quite familiar as a good chunk of it is part of the same route as the Monday Night Fun Runs that are sponsored throughout the summer by the Colonial Road Runners. Plus, because we live just down the road it’s a familiar area for training runs. A brilliant uphill start takes runners up the hill at King Phillip Street and it’s nice to get the major hill out of the way so early into the run. For the rest of the run, most of the running is along residential roads with gentle rollers mixed in but nothing too substantial. I must say, the race organizers do a remarkable job having volunteers at turns along the way and police crossing runners at a few of the trickier intersections for the race.

I was pleased to learn that I came in first place in the 40-49 age group bracket during yesterday’s run and finished up the race with a time of 44:51, good for 8:58/miles. Sure, the field was a bit light than some larger races but banging out a first place finish is never something to sneeze at so I’ll take it, proudly! Not a bad morning of running!