I have run the Hangover Classic in Salisbury, MA for five of the past seven years. Usually I run the 10K, last year I ran the 5K with my daughter. And I always jump in the ocean!

The Winner’s Circle Running Club always puts on a well-organized and fun event. If you’ve never run their New Year’s Day race, you should put it on your schedule for 2018.

Hangover Classic 2017 10K

This year Cynthia Berger drove us up to Salisbury with her husband Greg and Gail Severt. It’s always more fun to go to a race with friends!

I could not talk my daughter into running the Hangover Classic 5K with me again this year, so I’m back to the 10K. The novelty of running on New Year’s Day and with Dad are over.

Due to road construction on Ocean Front Street, the race start and finish was moved around the corner to Broadway.

The Smuttynose Palooza 5K begins in this area and the 5K runners ran about the same course as the Palooza.

The 10K course had some minor adjustments, but nothing major.

The 5K folks went straight down Broadway and took a left onto State Beach Road and turned around in the reservation on State Reservation Road. It’s a nice piece of lightly traveled road so the pavement is in great condition. 5K Course Map

Running The Hangover Classic 10K

The 10K runners were instructed to line up on the left side of the corral and be ready for a quick left onto Railroad Ave. We make this turn every year, just a little further down the road. 10K Course Map

We looped back through town and headed for the New Hampshire border on US Rt. 1A.

My goal for this race was to run 9 minute miles and come in under 54 minutes. My first miles were 8:14 and 8:16. I told my self that I could run the last two miles at 9:45 and still hit my goal. I’m always planning for the worse case scenario.

We hit mile three just before the turn around. The course took a short jog through the neighborhood side street and looped back out onto Rt. 1A. My mile pace was 8:23.

As I approached the turn I watched the leaders on their way back and started counting runners. I had no idea how many people were on the side street already and knew my count didn’t mean anything.

I saw my buddy Jon Barachowitz looking strong in 8th place. He finished 2nd in the 10K at 36:14 for a pace of 5:51!

Counting runners helps take my mind off of the race. This is really helpful if I’m not feeling well or dealing with an injury. On New Year’s Day I felt okay.

I began to feel confident. My knee wasn’t bothering me and nothing else really hurt. I also began to notice that my legs were outrunning my lungs.

I just didn’t have the cardio fitness to run any faster. My legs felt the three-mile fatigue, but I knew I could push them harder if I could get more breathe.

As we ran back down Rt. 1A, I was conscious of my breathing. Normally, I just breath. It was odd to wonder if each breath would blow an alveoli.

Mile four chimed in at 8:30. I was slowing down, but not by much. I had plenty of time in the bank, all I had to do was hold on for another 2.2 miles.

Finishing The Hangover Classic 10K

We hit mile five just as we crossed Broadway. My mile pace was 8:36. We could hear and even see the finish line as we crossed Broadway. But we all had another 1.2 miles to go!

We turned onto Railroad Street and people began to kick. I had run at lung bursting capacity for just about the entire race, so I didn’t have any kick in me. People began to pass me. I knew I was ahead of my goal, so I didn’t care.

We hit mile six as we crossed Ocean Street at a “full sprint.” My mile pace was 8:37.

I tossed the last of the coal onto the fire and pushed for the finish. We turned right onto Broadway and the finish was right there! I ran the last 0.16 of my race at a pace of 8:31.

My finish time was 51:55 for a pace of 8:27! More than 2 minutes better than I had hoped for. I finished in 162nd place and 31 out of 55 in my age group.

I grabbed a water and headed to the beach.

Ocean Plunge

The unofficial bag drop was a section of hurricane fence on the beach. I had hung my bag on the fence, so it was easy to spot. People were actually hanging out in front of the fence blocking people from grabbing their bags.

I hustled down the beach and sorted out my gear. I didn’t want to be digging around for my towel when I got out of the water.The air temp was in the low 40’s and there was a light breeze.

I took off my shoes, socks and shirt and headed for the shock of a lifetime!

I’ve done this before. The key is to get into the water fast and not wade in and try to adjust to the water. Your body will never adjust to 50° water. It just never will.

I charged in up to my knees, turned around and flopped backwards into the Atlantic Ocean. As I floated there in a state of shock I thought about taking a few strokes. It seemed like the humorous thing to do.

Then, like fluorescent light bulbs, my neurons began to flicker back to life and the primal drive for self-preservation got me moving back towards the beach!

As I headed for my bag like a guided missile, someone handed me a Popsicle stick for my plunge pint glass and I clenched it between my teeth like bullet. It seemed to help with the shivers.

I toweled off expeditiously and put on my race shirt and jacket. My feet were covered in sand so I walked back up the beach and down the street in bare feet. It was freakin cold!

I found a bench to sit on, dusted off my feet and put my shoes and socks back on. I was still soaked through. The party was at The Carousel Lounge, so I headed in for my two beers.

I made my way to the back of the bar and traded my tickets for two tasty, foamy beers. As I stood in line Cynthia tried to tell me where they were standing but she was too far away for me to hear. Someone else interpreted and then I watched where she walked back to.

While I drank my beers the race kegs went dry. No one felt like hanging out and drinking so we all jumped into Cynthia’s car and headed home.

Once again, this was a fun race. During almost any race you question why you signed up for this race, why do you run? It’s a mini existential crisis that can go on for miles or a second.

When you are hanging out with friends when the running is done, it all makes sense.

2017 PHOTOS

Run well My Friends!

Andy