Sweetheart 5K Fun Run & Facebook Virtual 5K Recap

**This was supposed to post on Sunday. Don't know what happened.**

I signed up for the February Facebook Virtual 5K and it just so happened to be on the same day as the Sweetheart 5K Fun Run on base. So I joined the two and used my Sweetheart 5K race results for the virtual race. And I got a PR this race for the 5K distance!!

The race started at 9am on the Bangor base. They charted out a 5K course around the base. The Sweetheart 5K is part of the Captain's Cup race that the MWR puts on so I knew it would be better for me to stay to the side. There were some really fast runners in the group.

The elevation changes on the course are in green.

I didn't know what the course would be but I figured there would be some hills in there since they are all over base. It was a gun start and we were off. I stayed to the back and side. I wanted to keep a steady pace on the flat parts so I would be able to keep going up the hills. It worked for the most of the hills.

I was around the same group of people for most of the run. It was a small group. We kept passing each other on different parts of the course. There were three guys that were running together. They were all wearing their USS Ronald Reagan sweatshirts. There was one that was struggling more than the other two. But you never saw his friends leave him. They kept encouraging him throughout the entire course. As we neared the end of the course we could see the end of the course. There was one more corner to go. The two guys were cheering on his friend. I checked my watch and turned around and said "You can do it. There is only a quarter mile left to go." Something inside him must have clicked and he kicked up his speed. He was having some trouble beforehand but in that last quarter mile you wouldn't have known it. His friends followed him and were cheering him on as he crossed the finish line. It was a great sight to see throughout the course. His friends were encouraging him the entire way, they never left him behind, and they stuck together to the end.

The shirt from the race.

It was a great race. I really enjoyed it. The races on base are family and dog friendly. There was a family running with their Bernese Mountain dog. Another few families had strollers with their kids in it. There is even kids divisions for both the 5K and the 1 mile run. I wasn't sure if I was going to sign up for it and I am glad I did. I am looking forward to the St. Paddy's Day 5K Fun Run next month.

Stats:
Miles: 3.1 (5K)
Time: 33:47
Average Pace: 10:53
NEW PR FOR THE 5K!!!!