Although this is only the third of 50 runs, the CVS/ Downtown 5k in Providence, RI has taken the # 1 spot in terms of race event excitement. Over 4000 runners for the 5k, plus another several thousand spectators converged on the RI state house lawn and the Providence Place mall for a very festive morning and early afternoon. Even though I was dealing with the somewhat unseasonable high-70 degree weather, it was definitely a race to enjoy. There were at least three different bands playing live along the race course, and the run through the downtown area of the tall buildings produces plenty of spectators and a fair bit of shade.
My post-race photo at finish line of the CVS/Downtown 5k. September 21, 2008
Great fun running with so many other participants. Times were a little slower with the heat, and when I obviously did not get the chip timer laced to shoe correctly, I did have to “pull into the pit stop” to relace and reaffix that timer chip. Even with that, I was only a good ten minutes behind eventual champ and US Olympian Anthony Familglietti. Anthony was one of several current or former Olympians participating in the event.
Next week, it off to NY.