New Year’s Day Freezer Five Miler

RACE DAY!

Today was the 28th Annual New Year’s Day Freezer Five Miler in Sterling, Mass. It was arctic cold (8 degrees) and the course was still covered in snow. This was a true runner’s race. There were no spectators, only runners and race officials. It was a straight out and back course. The first 2.5 miles were into the wind, but that also meant that the last 2.5 miles were with the wind. This was the first race that I have ever stopped in. The pain in my legs was too unbearable. I stopped three times between mile 3 and mile 5. I limped almost the entire race. Conseqently, this was my slowest race time EVER!

Here I am in a photo from the Central Mass Striders website.