February 6th - Super 5K - Lowell, MA - 4.1

Today was the race that was born on the day the Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2002. Thats right, its the Super 5K! Race director Jim Rhoades put on yet another outstanding event this year (even without the beer). It was in the upper 30's to lower 40's at race time when the 332 runners gathered at the start of the 10th annual race.

As we got close to the start, Steve Moland welcomed everyone to the start before playing the National Anthem. Once finished, runners secured their spots on the starting line and waited for Steve to give us the G-O word before we took off.

I noticed that I was right behind the Team RUN girls. These young and talented girls were right on my butt two weeks ago at the Fudgcicle 5K in Tewksbury so I figured they would be great at pacing me for this race in which I was looking for a new PR. They said they were looking to run a 20 minute 5K. This may be a little fast but I was feeling good and figured I would give it a shot. After all, my goal for the year is to break 20 minutes in a 5K.

The G-O word was said and we were off. I stayed right with the run girls until mile 1 which we reached at approximately 6:08 at which point one of them picked it up and one dropped off a bit. I did my best to keep the pace. At about 1.8 miles Fil caught up to me and gave me a few words of encouragement which was able to pull me (against the wind) to about the 2.5 mile mark where I gave myself no other option but to drop the hammer and try to catch someone. Unfortunately, the first someone who I could catch was about 60 yards ahead of me. This was going to be a battle!

I took the final turn back onto the main road which we started on and had about one tenth of a mile to go and ending up battling with Jacob Sword who was pushing to pass me with about 50 yards to go. I saw him out of the corner of my eye and had no other option but to put my head down, bite down hard and sprint to the finish to ensure he did not pass.

I crossed the finish line with a time of 20:18 (6:33 min./mile) and a new PR. The only thing that could of made this race any better would be if there were no headwind on the 1.5 mile stretch of the Boulevard. But honestly, what a great day, what a great race, what great people, and what a great time had by all.  Thank you Jim for another great race, Steve for announcing, GLRR and other volunteers for the course support, and everyone else who showed to support your favorite local runners.

Click HERE for the results of the race!

The Greater Lowell Road Runners were out in force today! Check out all the green!

(In order of finish)

JASON BUI

 EJ HRYNOWSKI

FRANK GEORGES

FIL FARIA 

GLENN STEWART

CULLEN JEEVES MASON MADDEN 

TRISH BOURNE

MATT STORY

ANDREW PUPA

MICHAEL BRODEUR 

BEN BOURNE 

 DAN DORAZIO

KELLY YONAKER (White Shirt)

DERIC FARIA (Green Shirt)

GREAT JOB GLRR!